Israel Demands a King Like Other Nations

1. When Samuel was old, he made his sons judges over Israel. 2. Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abijah. They were judges in Beersheba. 3. His sons didn’t walk in his ways, but turned away after dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice. 4. Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together and came to Samuel to Ramah. 5. They said to him, “Behold, you are old, and your sons don’t walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.” 6. But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” Samuel prayed to Yahweh. 7. Yahweh said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they tell you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me as the king over them. 8. According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, in that they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so they also do to you. 9. Now therefore listen to their voice. However you shall protest solemnly to them, and shall show them the way of the king who will reign over them.” 10. Samuel told all Yahweh’s words to the people who asked him for a king. 11. He said, “This will be the way of the king who shall reign over you: he will take your sons, and appoint them as his servants, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and they will run before his chariots. 12. He will appoint them to him for captains of thousands, and captains of fifties; and he will assign some to plow his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and the instruments of his chariots. 13. He will take your daughters to be perfumers, to be cooks, and to be bakers. 14. He will take your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves, even their best, and give them to his servants. 15. He will take one tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give it to his officers, and to his servants. 16. He will take your male servants, your female servants, your best young men, and your donkeys, and assign them to his own work. 17. He will take one tenth of your flocks; and you will be his servants. 18. You will cry out in that day because of your king whom you will have chosen for yourselves; and Yahweh will not answer you in that day.” 19. But the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel; and they said, “No; but we will have a king over us, 20. that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.” 21. Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of Yahweh. 22. Yahweh said to Samuel, “Listen to their voice, and make them a king.” Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Everyone go to your own city.” 1. Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah, the son of a Benjamite, a mighty man of valor. 2. He had a son, whose name was Saul, an impressive young man; and there was not among the children of Israel a better person than he. From his shoulders and upward he was taller than any of the people. 3. The donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, were lost. Kish said to Saul his son, “Take now one of the servants with you, and arise, go look for the donkeys.” 4. He passed through the hill country of Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalishah, but they didn’t find them. Then they passed through the land of Shaalim, and there they weren’t there. Then he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they didn’t find them. 5. When they had come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, “Come, and let us return, lest my father stop caring about the donkeys, and be anxious for us.” 6. The servant said to him, “Behold now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is a man who is held in honor. All that he says surely happens. Now let us go there. Perhaps he can tell us which way to go.” 7. Then Saul said to his servant, “But, behold, if we go, what should we bring the man? For the bread is spent in our sacks, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God. What do we have?” 8. The servant answered Saul again, and said, “Behold, I have in my hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver. I will give that to the man of God, to tell us our way.” 9. (In earlier times in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, he said, “Come, and let us go to the seer”; for he who is now called a prophet was before called a seer.) 10. Then Saul said to his servant, “Well said. Come, let us go.” So they went to the city where the man of God was. 11. As they went up the ascent to the city, they found young maidens going out to draw water, and said to them, “Is the seer here?” 12. They answered them, and said, “He is. Behold, he is before you. Hurry now, for he has come today into the city; for the people have a sacrifice today in the high place. 13. As soon as you have come into the city, you will immediately find him, before he goes up to the high place to eat; for the people will not eat until he come, because he blesses the sacrifice. Afterwards those who are invited eat. Now therefore go up; for at this time you will find him.” 14. They went up to the city. As they came within the city, behold, Samuel came out toward them, to go up to the high place. 15. Now Yahweh had revealed to Samuel a day before Saul came, saying, 16. “Tomorrow about this time I will send you a man out of the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be prince over my people Israel. He will save my people out of the hand of the Philistines; for I have looked upon my people, because their cry has come to me.” 17. When Samuel saw Saul, Yahweh said to him, “Behold, the man of whom I spoke to you! He will have authority over my people.” 18. Then Saul approached Samuel in the gateway, and said, “Please tell me where the seer’s house is.” 19. Samuel answered Saul, and said, “I am the seer. Go up before me to the high place, for you are to eat with me today. In the morning I will let you go, and will tell you all that is in your heart. 20. As for your donkeys who were lost three days ago, don’t set your mind on them; for they have been found. For whom is all that is desirable in Israel? Is it not for you, and for all your father’s house?” 21. Saul answered, “Am I not a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? And my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then do you speak to me like this?” 22. Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the guest room, and made them sit in the best place among those who were invited, who were about thirty persons. 23. Samuel said to the cook, “Bring the portion which I gave you, of which I said to you, ‘Set it aside.’” 24. The cook took up the thigh, and that which was on it, and set it before Saul. Samuel said, “Behold, that which has been reserved! Set it before yourself and eat; because for the appointed time has it been kept for you, for I said, ‘I have invited the people.’” So Saul ate with Samuel that day. 25. When they had come down from the high place into the city, he talked with Saul on the housetop. 26. They arose early; and about daybreak, Samuel called to Saul on the housetop, saying, “Get up, that I may send you away.” Saul arose, and they both went outside, he and Samuel, together. 27. As they were going down at the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, “Tell the servant to go on ahead of us.” He went ahead, then Samuel said, “But stand still first, that I may cause you to hear God’s message.” 1. Then Samuel took the vial of oil, and poured it on his head, and kissed him, and said, “Hasn’t Yahweh anointed you to be prince over his inheritance? 2. When you have departed from me today, then you will find two men by Rachel’s tomb, on the border of Benjamin at Zelzah. They will tell you, ‘The donkeys which you went to look for have been found; and behold, your father has stopped caring about the donkeys, and is anxious for you, saying, “What shall I do for my son?”’ 3. “Then you will go on forward from there, and you will come to the oak of Tabor. Three men will meet you there going up to God to Bethel, one carrying three young goats, and another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a bottle of wine. 4. They will greet you, and give you two loaves of bread, which you shall receive from their hand. 5. “After that you will come to the hill of God, where the garrison of the Philistines is; and it will happen, when you have come there to the city, that you will meet a band of prophets coming down from the high place with a lute, a tambourine, a pipe, and a harp before them; and they will be prophesying. 6. Then Yahweh’s Spirit will come mightily on you, and you will prophesy with them, and will be turned into another man. 7. Let it be, when these signs have come to you, that you do what is appropriate for the occasion; for God is with you. 8. “Go down ahead of me to Gilgal; and behold, I will come down to you, to offer burnt offerings, and to sacrifice sacrifices of peace offerings. Wait seven days, until I come to you, and show you what you are to do.” 9. It was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart; and all those signs happened that day. 10. When they came there to the hill, behold, a band of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came mightily on him, and he prophesied among them. 11. When all who knew him before saw that, behold, he prophesied with the prophets, then the people said to one another, “What is this that has come to the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?” 12. One of the same place answered, “Who is their father?” Therefore it became a proverb, “Is Saul also among the prophets?” 13. When he had finished prophesying, he came to the high place. 14. Saul’s uncle said to him and to his servant, “Where did you go?” He said, “To seek the donkeys. When we saw that they were not found, we came to Samuel.” 15. Saul’s uncle said, “Please tell me what Samuel said to you.” 16. Saul said to his uncle, “He told us plainly that the donkeys were found.” But concerning the matter of the kingdom, of which Samuel spoke, he didn’t tell him. 17. Samuel called the people together to Yahweh to Mizpah; 18. and he said to the children of Israel, “Yahweh, the God of Israel, says ‘I brought Israel up out of Egypt, and I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all the kingdoms that oppressed you.’ 19. But you have today rejected your God, who himself saves you out of all your calamities and your distresses; and you have said to him, ‘No! Set a king over us.’ Now therefore present yourselves before Yahweh by your tribes, and by your thousands.” 20. So Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, and the tribe of Benjamin was chosen. 21. He brought the tribe of Benjamin near by their families; and the family of the Matrites was chosen. Then Saul the son of Kish was chosen; but when they looked for him, he could not be found. 22. Therefore they asked of Yahweh further, “Is there yet a man to come here?” Yahweh answered, “Behold, he has hidden himself among the baggage.” 23. They ran and got him there. When he stood among the people, he was higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward. 24. Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see him whom Yahweh has chosen, that there is no one like him among all the people?” All the people shouted, and said, “Long live the king!” 25. Then Samuel told the people the regulations of the kingdom, and wrote it in a book, and laid it up before Yahweh. Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house. 26. Saul also went to his house to Gibeah; and the army went with him, whose hearts God had touched. 27. But certain worthless fellows said, “How could this man save us?” They despised him, and brought him no present. But he held his peace.

1. He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no occasions of stumbling should come, but woe to him through whom they come! 2. It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, rather than that he should cause one of these little ones to stumble. 3. Be careful. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him. If he repents, forgive him. 4. If he sins against you seven times in the day, and seven times returns, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.” 5. The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.” 6. The Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you would tell this sycamore tree, ‘Be uprooted, and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you. 7. But who is there among you, having a servant plowing or keeping sheep, that will say, when he comes in from the field, ‘Come immediately and sit down at the table,’ 8. and will not rather tell him, ‘Prepare my supper, clothe yourself properly, and serve me, while I eat and drink. Afterward you shall eat and drink’? 9. Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded? I think not. 10. Even so you also, when you have done all the things that are commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy servants. We have done our duty.’” 11. As he was on his way to Jerusalem, he was passing along the borders of Samaria and Galilee. 12. As he entered into a certain village, ten men who were lepers met him, who stood at a distance. 13. They lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” 14. When he saw them, he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” As they went, they were cleansed. 15. One of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice. 16. He fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks; and he was a Samaritan. 17. Jesus answered, “Weren’t the ten cleansed? But where are the nine? 18. Were there none found who returned to give glory to God, except this stranger?” 19. Then he said to him, “Get up, and go your way. Your faith has healed you.” 20. Being asked by the Pharisees when God’s Kingdom would come, he answered them, “God’s Kingdom doesn’t come with observation; 21. neither will they say, ‘Look, here!’ or, ‘Look, there!’ for behold, God’s Kingdom is within you.” 22. He said to the disciples, “The days will come, when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. 23. They will tell you, ‘Look, here!’ or ‘Look, there!’ Don’t go away, nor follow after them, 24. for as the lightning, when it flashes out of the one part under the sky, shines to the other part under the sky; so will the Son of Man be in his day. 25. But first, he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. 26. As it was in the days of Noah, even so will it be also in the days of the Son of Man. 27. They ate, they drank, they married, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ship, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. 28. Likewise, even as it was in the days of Lot: they ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; 29. but in the day that Lot went out from Sodom, it rained fire and sulfur from the sky, and destroyed them all. 30. It will be the same way in the day that the Son of Man is revealed. 31. In that day, he who will be on the housetop, and his goods in the house, let him not go down to take them away. Let him who is in the field likewise not turn back. 32. Remember Lot’s wife! 33. Whoever seeks to save his life loses it, but whoever loses his life preserves it. 34. I tell you, in that night there will be two people in one bed. The one will be taken, and the other will be left. 35. There will be two grinding grain together. One will be taken, and the other will be left.” 36. 37. They, answering, asked him, “Where, Lord?” He said to them, “Where the body is, there will the vultures also be gathered together.” 1. He also spoke a parable to them that they must always pray, and not give up, 2. saying, “There was a judge in a certain city who didn’t fear God, and didn’t respect man. 3. A widow was in that city, and she often came to him, saying, ‘Defend me from my adversary!’ 4. He wouldn’t for a while, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God, nor respect man, 5. yet because this widow bothers me, I will defend her, or else she will wear me out by her continual coming.’” 6. The Lord said, “Listen to what the unrighteous judge says. 7. Won’t God avenge his chosen ones, who are crying out to him day and night, and yet he exercises patience with them? 8. I tell you that he will avenge them quickly. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” 9. He spoke also this parable to certain people who were convinced of their own righteousness, and who despised all others. 10. “Two men went up into the temple to pray; one was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector. 11. The Pharisee stood and prayed to himself like this: ‘God, I thank you, that I am not like the rest of men, extortionists, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12. I fast twice a week. I give tithes of all that I get.’ 13. But the tax collector, standing far away, wouldn’t even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.” 15. They were also bringing their babies to him, that he might touch them. But when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. 16. Jesus summoned them, saying, “Allow the little children to come to me, and don’t hinder them, for God’s Kingdom belongs to such as these. 17. Most certainly, I tell you, whoever doesn’t receive God’s Kingdom like a little child, he will in no way enter into it.” 18. A certain ruler asked him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 19. Jesus asked him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good, except one—God. 20. You know the commandments: ‘Don’t commit adultery,’ ‘Don’t murder,’ ‘Don’t steal,’ ‘Don’t give false testimony,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’” 21. He said, “I have observed all these things from my youth up.” 22. When Jesus heard these things, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have, and distribute it to the poor. You will have treasure in heaven. Come, follow me.” 23. But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was very rich. 24. Jesus, seeing that he became very sad, said, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter into God’s Kingdom! 25. For it is easier for a camel to enter in through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into God’s Kingdom.” 26. Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” 27. But he said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.” 28. Peter said, “Look, we have left everything, and followed you.” 29. He said to them, “Most certainly I tell you, there is no one who has left house, or wife, or brothers, or parents, or children, for God’s Kingdom’s sake, 30. who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the world to come, eternal life.” 31. He took the twelve aside, and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all the things that are written through the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be completed. 32. For he will be delivered up to the Gentiles, will be mocked, treated shamefully, and spit on. 33. They will scourge and kill him. On the third day, he will rise again.” 34. They understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they didn’t understand the things that were said. 35. As he came near Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the road, begging. 36. Hearing a multitude going by, he asked what this meant. 37. They told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. 38. He cried out, “Jesus, you son of David, have mercy on me!” 39. Those who led the way rebuked him, that he should be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “You son of David, have mercy on me!” 40. Standing still, Jesus commanded him to be brought to him. When he had come near, he asked him, 41. “What do you want me to do?” He said, “Lord, that I may see again.” 42. Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight. Your faith has healed you.” 43. Immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God. All the people, when they saw it, praised God. 1. He entered and was passing through Jericho. 2. There was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. 3. He was trying to see who Jesus was, and couldn’t because of the crowd, because he was short. 4. He ran on ahead, and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was going to pass that way. 5. When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” 6. He hurried, came down, and received him joyfully. 7. When they saw it, they all murmured, saying, “He has gone in to lodge with a man who is a sinner.” 8. Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, half of my goods I give to the poor. If I have wrongfully exacted anything of anyone, I restore four times as much.” 9. Jesus said to him, “Today, salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham. 10. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost.” 11. As they heard these things, he went on and told a parable, because he was near Jerusalem, and they supposed that God’s Kingdom would be revealed immediately. 12. He said therefore, “A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. 13. He called ten servants of his, and gave them ten mina coins, and told them, ‘Conduct business until I come.’ 14. But his citizens hated him, and sent an envoy after him, saying, ‘We don’t want this man to reign over us.’ 15. “When he had come back again, having received the kingdom, he commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by conducting business. 16. The first came before him, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has made ten more minas.’ 17. “He said to him, ‘Well done, you good servant! Because you were found faithful with very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.’ 18. “The second came, saying, ‘Your mina, Lord, has made five minas.’ 19. “So he said to him, ‘And you are to be over five cities.’ 20. Another came, saying, ‘Lord, behold, your mina, which I kept laid away in a handkerchief, 21. for I feared you, because you are an exacting man. You take up that which you didn’t lay down, and reap that which you didn’t sow.’ 22. “He said to him, ‘Out of your own mouth will I judge you, you wicked servant! You knew that I am an exacting man, taking up that which I didn’t lay down, and reaping that which I didn’t sow. 23. Then why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank, and at my coming, I might have earned interest on it?’ 24. He said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina away from him, and give it to him who has the ten minas.’ 25. “They said to him, ‘Lord, he has ten minas!’ 26. ‘For I tell you that to everyone who has, will more be given; but from him who doesn’t have, even that which he has will be taken away from him. 27. But bring those enemies of mine who didn’t want me to reign over them here, and kill them before me.’” 28. Having said these things, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29. When he came near to Bethsphage and Bethany, at the mountain that is called Olivet, he sent two of his disciples, 30. saying, “Go your way into the village on the other side, in which, as you enter, you will find a colt tied, which no man had ever sat upon. Untie it, and bring it. 31. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ say to him: ‘The Lord needs it.’” 32. Those who were sent went away, and found things just as he had told them. 33. As they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?” 34. They said, “The Lord needs it.” 35. They brought it to Jesus. They threw their cloaks on the colt, and set Jesus on them. 36. As he went, they spread their cloaks on the road. 37. As he was now getting near, at the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works which they had seen, 38. saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest!” 39. Some of the Pharisees from the multitude said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” 40. He answered them, “I tell you that if these were silent, the stones would cry out.” 41. When he came near, he saw the city and wept over it, 42. saying, “If you, even you, had known today the things which belong to your peace! But now, they are hidden from your eyes. 43. For the days will come on you, when your enemies will throw up a barricade against you, surround you, hem you in on every side, 44. and will dash you and your children within you to the ground. They will not leave in you one stone on another, because you didn’t know the time of your visitation.” 45. He entered into the temple, and began to drive out those who bought and sold in it, 46. saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house is a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of robbers’!” 47. He was teaching daily in the temple, but the chief priests and the scribes and the leading men among the people sought to destroy him. 48. They couldn’t find what they might do, for all the people hung on to every word that he said. 1. On one of those days, as he was teaching the people in the temple and preaching the Good News, the priests and scribes came to him with the elders. 2. They asked him, “Tell us: by what authority do you do these things? Or who is giving you this authority?” 3. He answered them, “I also will ask you one question. Tell me: 4. the baptism of John, was it from heaven, or from men?” 5. They reasoned with themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why didn’t you believe him?’ 6. But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us, for they are persuaded that John was a prophet.” 7. They answered that they didn’t know where it was from. 8. Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.” 9. He began to tell the people this parable. “A man planted a vineyard, and rented it out to some farmers, and went into another country for a long time. 10. At the proper season, he sent a servant to the farmers to collect his share of the fruit of the vineyard. But the farmers beat him, and sent him away empty. 11. He sent yet another servant, and they also beat him, and treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty. 12. He sent yet a third, and they also wounded him, and threw him out. 13. The lord of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son. It may be that seeing him, they will respect him.’ 14. “But when the farmers saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.’ 15. They threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore will the lord of the vineyard do to them? 16. He will come and destroy these farmers, and will give the vineyard to others.” When they heard it, they said, “May it never be!” 17. But he looked at them, and said, “Then what is this that is written, ‘The stone which the builders rejected, the same was made the chief cornerstone?’ 18. Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, but it will crush whomever it falls on to dust.” 19. The chief priests and the scribes sought to lay hands on him that very hour, but they feared the people—for they knew he had spoken this parable against them. 20. They watched him, and sent out spies, who pretended to be righteous, that they might trap him in something he said, so as to deliver him up to the power and authority of the governor. 21. They asked him, “Teacher, we know that you say and teach what is right, and aren’t partial to anyone, but truly teach the way of God. 22. Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” 23. But he perceived their craftiness, and said to them, “Why do you test me? 24. Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?” They answered, “Caesar’s.” 25. He said to them, “Then give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” 26. They weren’t able to trap him in his words before the people. They marveled at his answer, and were silent. 27. Some of the Sadducees came to him, those who deny that there is a resurrection. 28. They asked him, “Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man’s brother dies having a wife, and he is childless, his brother should take the wife, and raise up children for his brother. 29. There were therefore seven brothers. The first took a wife, and died childless. 30. The second took her as wife, and he died childless. 31. The third took her, and likewise the seven all left no children, and died. 32. Afterward the woman also died. 33. Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them will she be? For the seven had her as a wife.” 34. Jesus said to them, “The children of this age marry, and are given in marriage. 35. But those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage. 36. For they can’t die any more, for they are like the angels, and are children of God, being children of the resurrection. 37. But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed at the bush, when he called the Lord ‘The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ 38. Now he is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for all are alive to him.” 39. Some of the scribes answered, “Teacher, you speak well.” 40. They didn’t dare to ask him any more questions. 41. He said to them, “Why do they say that the Christ is David’s son? 42. David himself says in the book of Psalms, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, 43. until I make your enemies the footstool of your feet.”’ 44. “David therefore calls him Lord, so how is he his son?” 45. In the hearing of all the people, he said to his disciples, 46. “Beware of those scribes who like to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts; 47. who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers: these will receive greater condemnation.”

1. Those who trust in Yahweh are as Mount Zion, which can’t be moved, but remains forever. 2. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so Yahweh surrounds his people from this time forward and forever more. 3. For the scepter of wickedness won’t remain over the allotment of the righteous; so that the righteous won’t use their hands to do evil. 4. Do good, Yahweh, to those who are good, to those who are upright in their hearts. 5. But as for those who turn away to their crooked ways, Yahweh will lead them away with the workers of iniquity. Peace be on Israel.