From Reckless Youth to Divine Calling

1. Now it fell on a day, that Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man who bore his armor, “Come, and let us go over to the Philistines’ garrison, that is on the other side.” But he didn’t tell his father. 2. Saul stayed in the uttermost part of Gibeah under the pomegranate tree which is in Migron: and the people who were with him were about six hundred men; 3. including Ahijah, the son of Ahitub, Ichabod’s brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the priest of Yahweh in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. The people didn’t know that Jonathan was gone. 4. Between the passes, by which Jonathan sought to go over to the Philistines’ garrison, there was a rocky crag on the one side, and a rocky crag on the other side: and the name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh. 5. The one crag rose up on the north in front of Michmash, and the other on the south in front of Geba. 6. Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armor, “Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised. It may be that Yahweh will work for us; for there is no restraint on Yahweh to save by many or by few.” 7. His armor bearer said to him, “Do all that is in your heart. Turn and, behold, I am with you according to your heart.” 8. Then Jonathan said, “Behold, we will pass over to the men, and we will reveal ourselves to them. 9. If they say thus to us, ‘Wait until we come to you!’ then we will stand still in our place, and will not go up to them. 10. But if they say this, ‘Come up to us!’ then we will go up; for Yahweh has delivered them into our hand. This shall be the sign to us.” 11. Both of them revealed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines: and the Philistines said, “Behold, the Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they had hidden themselves!” 12. The men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armor bearer, and said, “Come up to us, and we will show you something!” Jonathan said to his armor bearer, “Come up after me; for Yahweh has delivered them into the hand of Israel.” 13. Jonathan climbed up on his hands and on his feet, and his armor bearer after him: and they fell before Jonathan; and his armor bearer killed them after him. 14. That first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armor bearer made, was about twenty men, within as it were half a furrow’s length in an acre of land. 15. There was a trembling in the camp, in the field, and among all the people; the garrison, and the raiders, also trembled; and the earth quaked, so there was an exceedingly great trembling. 16. The watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and behold, the multitude melted away and scattered. 17. Then Saul said to the people who were with him, “Count now, and see who is missing from us.” When they had counted, behold, Jonathan and his armor bearer were not there. 18. Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring God’s ark here.” For God’s ark was with the children of Israel at that time. 19. While Saul talked to the priest, the tumult that was in the camp of the Philistines went on and increased; and Saul said to the priest, “Withdraw your hand!” 20. Saul and all the people who were with him were gathered together, and came to the battle; and behold, they were all striking each other with their swords in very great confusion. 21. Now the Hebrews who were with the Philistines before, and who went up with them into the camp, from all around, even they also turned to be with the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. 22. Likewise all the men of Israel who had hidden themselves in the hill country of Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines fled, even they also followed hard after them in the battle. 23. So Yahweh saved Israel that day; and the battle passed over by Beth Aven. 24. The men of Israel were distressed that day; for Saul had adjured the people, saying, “Cursed is the man who eats any food until it is evening, and I am avenged of my enemies.” So none of the people tasted food. 25. All the people came into the forest; and there was honey on the ground. 26. When the people had come to the forest, behold, honey was dripping, but no one put his hand to his mouth; for the people feared the oath. 27. But Jonathan didn’t hear when his father commanded the people with the oath. Therefore he put out the end of the rod that was in his hand, and dipped it in the honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes brightened. 28. Then one of the people answered, and said, “Your father directly commanded the people with an oath, saying, ‘Cursed is the man who eats food today.’” The people were faint. 29. Then Jonathan said, “My father has troubled the land. Please look how my eyes have brightened, because I tasted a little of this honey. 30. How much more, if perhaps the people had eaten freely today of the plunder of their enemies which they found? For now has there been no great slaughter among the Philistines.” 31. They struck the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon. The people were very faint; 32. and the people pounced on the plunder, and took sheep, cattle, and calves, and killed them on the ground; and the people ate them with the blood. 33. Then they told Saul, saying, “Behold, the people are sinning against Yahweh, in that they eat meat with the blood.” He said, “You have dealt treacherously. Roll a large stone to me today!” 34. Saul said, “Disperse yourselves among the people, and tell them, ‘Every man bring me here his ox, and every man his sheep, and kill them here, and eat; and don’t sin against Yahweh in eating meat with the blood.’” All the people brought every man his ox with him that night, and killed them there. 35. Saul built an altar to Yahweh. This was the first altar that he built to Yahweh. 36. Saul said, “Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and take plunder among them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them.” They said, “Do whatever seems good to you.” Then the priest said, “Let us draw near here to God.” 37. Saul asked counsel of God, “Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will you deliver them into the hand of Israel?” But he didn’t answer him that day. 38. Saul said, “Draw near here, all you chiefs of the people; and know and see in which this sin has been today. 39. For, as Yahweh lives, who saves Israel, though it is in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die.” But there was not a man among all the people who answered him. 40. Then he said to all Israel, “You be on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side.” The people said to Saul, “Do what seems good to you.” 41. Therefore Saul said to Yahweh, the God of Israel, “Show the right.” Jonathan and Saul were chosen, but the people escaped. 42. Saul said, “Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son.” Jonathan was selected. 43. Then Saul said to Jonathan, “Tell me what you have done!” Jonathan told him, and said, “I certainly did taste a little honey with the end of the rod that was in my hand; and behold, I must die.” 44. Saul said, “God do so and more also; for you shall surely die, Jonathan.” 45. The people said to Saul, “Shall Jonathan die, who has worked this great salvation in Israel? Far from it! As Yahweh lives, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he has worked with God today!” So the people rescued Jonathan, that he didn’t die. 46. Then Saul went up from following the Philistines; and the Philistines went to their own place. 47. Now when Saul had taken the kingdom over Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, and against the children of Ammon, and against Edom, and against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines. Wherever he turned himself, he defeated them. 48. He did valiantly, and struck the Amalekites, and delivered Israel out of the hands of those who plundered them. 49. Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchishua; and the names of his two daughters were these: the name of the firstborn Merab, and the name of the younger Michal. 50. The name of Saul’s wife was Ahinoam the daughter of Ahimaaz. The name of the captain of his army was Abner the son of Ner, Saul’s uncle. 51. Kish was the father of Saul; and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel. 52. There was severe war against the Philistines all the days of Saul; and when Saul saw any mighty man, or any valiant man, he took him into his service. 1. Samuel said to Saul, “Yahweh sent me to anoint you to be king over his people, over Israel. Now therefore listen to the voice of Yahweh’s words. 2. Yahweh of Armies says, ‘I remember what Amalek did to Israel, how he set himself against him on the way, when he came up out of Egypt. 3. Now go and strike Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and don’t spare them; but kill both man and woman, infant and nursing baby, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’” 4. Saul summoned the people, and counted them in Telaim, two hundred thousand footmen, and ten thousand men of Judah. 5. Saul came to the city of Amalek, and set an ambush in the valley. 6. Saul said to the Kenites, “Go, depart, go down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them; for you showed kindness to all the children of Israel, when they came up out of Egypt.” So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites. 7. Saul struck the Amalekites, from Havilah as you go to Shur, that is before Egypt. 8. He took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword. 9. But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, of the cattle, and of the fat calves, and the lambs, and all that was good, and were not willing to utterly destroy them; but everything that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly. 10. Then Yahweh’s word came to Samuel, saying, 11. “It grieves me that I have set up Saul to be king; for he has turned back from following me, and has not performed my commandments.” Samuel was angry; and he cried to Yahweh all night. 12. Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning; and Samuel was told, saying, “Saul came to Carmel, and behold, he set up a monument for himself, and turned, and passed on, and went down to Gilgal.” 13. Samuel came to Saul; and Saul said to him, “You are blessed by Yahweh! I have performed the commandment of Yahweh.” 14. Samuel said, “Then what does this bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the lowing of the cattle which I hear mean?” 15. Saul said, “They have brought them from the Amalekites; for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the cattle, to sacrifice to Yahweh your God. We have utterly destroyed the rest.” 16. Then Samuel said to Saul, “Stay, and I will tell you what Yahweh said to me last night.” He said to him, “Say on.” 17. Samuel said, “Though you were little in your own sight, weren’t you made the head of the tribes of Israel? Yahweh anointed you king over Israel; 18. and Yahweh sent you on a journey, and said, ‘Go, and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed.’ 19. Why then didn’t you obey Yahweh’s voice, but took the plunder, and did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight?” 20. Saul said to Samuel, “But I have obeyed Yahweh’s voice, and have gone the way which Yahweh sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. 21. But the people took of the plunder, sheep and cattle, the chief of the devoted things, to sacrifice to Yahweh your God in Gilgal.” 22. Samuel said, “Has Yahweh as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying Yahweh’s voice? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. 23. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as idolatry and teraphim. Because you have rejected Yahweh’s word, he has also rejected you from being king.” 24. Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned; for I have transgressed the commandment of Yahweh, and your words, because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice. 25. Now therefore, please pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship Yahweh.” 26. Samuel said to Saul, “I will not return with you; for you have rejected Yahweh’s word, and Yahweh has rejected you from being king over Israel.” 27. As Samuel turned around to go away, Saul grabbed the skirt of his robe, and it tore. 28. Samuel said to him, “Yahweh has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today, and has given it to a neighbor of yours who is better than you. 29. Also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent; for he is not a man, that he should repent.” 30. Then he said, “I have sinned; yet please honor me now before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and come back with me, that I may worship Yahweh your God.” 31. So Samuel went back with Saul; and Saul worshiped Yahweh. 32. Then Samuel said, “Bring Agag the king of the Amalekites here to me!” Agag came to him cheerfully. Agag said, “Surely the bitterness of death is past.” 33. Samuel said, “As your sword has made women childless, so your mother will be childless among women!” Then Samuel cut Agag in pieces before Yahweh in Gilgal. 34. Then Samuel went to Ramah; and Saul went up to his house to Gibeah of Saul. 35. Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death; for Samuel mourned for Saul: and Yahweh grieved that he had made Saul king over Israel. 1. Yahweh said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite; for I have provided a king for myself among his sons.” 2. Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me.” Yahweh said, “Take a heifer with you, and say, I have come to sacrifice to Yahweh. 3. Call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do. You shall anoint to me him whom I name to you.” 4. Samuel did that which Yahweh spoke, and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and said, “Do you come peaceably?” 5. He said, “Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to Yahweh. Sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice.” He sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice. 6. When they had come, he looked at Eliab, and said, “Surely Yahweh’s anointed is before him.” 7. But Yahweh said to Samuel, “Don’t look on his face, or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for I don’t see as man sees. For man looks at the outward appearance, but Yahweh looks at the heart.” 8. Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. He said, “Yahweh has not chosen this one, either.” 9. Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. He said, “Yahweh has not chosen this one, either.” 10. Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. Samuel said to Jesse, “Yahweh has not chosen these.” 11. Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your children here?” He said, “There remains yet the youngest. Behold, he is keeping the sheep.” Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and get him, for we will not sit down until he comes here.” 12. He sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with a handsome face and good appearance. Yahweh said, “Arise! Anoint him, for this is he.” 13. Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the middle of his brothers. Then Yahweh’s Spirit came mightily on David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up and went to Ramah. 14. Now Yahweh’s Spirit departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from Yahweh troubled him. 15. Saul’s servants said to him, “See now, an evil spirit from God troubles you. 16. Let our lord now command your servants who are in front of you to seek out a man who is a skillful player on the harp. Then when the evil spirit from God is on you, he will play with his hand, and you will be well.” 17. Saul said to his servants, “Provide me now a man who can play well, and bring him to me.” 18. Then one of the young men answered, and said, “Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who is skillful in playing, a mighty man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a handsome person; and Yahweh is with him.” 19. Therefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse, and said, “Send me David your son, who is with the sheep.” 20. Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a young goat, and sent them by David his son to Saul. 21. David came to Saul, and stood before him. He loved him greatly; and he became his armor bearer. 22. Saul sent to Jesse, saying, “Please let David stand before me; for he has found favor in my sight.” 23. When the spirit from God was on Saul, David took the harp, and played with his hand; so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.

1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2. The same was in the beginning with God. 3. All things were made through him. Without him was not anything made that has been made. 4. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness hasn’t overcome it. 6. There came a man, sent from God, whose name was John. 7. The same came as a witness, that he might testify about the light, that all might believe through him. 8. He was not the light, but was sent that he might testify about the light. 9. The true light that enlightens everyone was coming into the world. 10. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world didn’t recognize him. 11. He came to his own, and those who were his own didn’t receive him. 12. But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become God’s children, to those who believe in his name: 13. who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14. The Word became flesh, and lived among us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the one and only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth. 15. John testified about him. He cried out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me, for he was before me.’” 16. From his fullness we all received grace upon grace. 17. For the law was given through Moses. Grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. 18. No one has seen God at any time. The one and only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has declared him. 19. This is John’s testimony, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20. He declared, and didn’t deny, but he declared, “I am not the Christ.” 21. They asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” He answered, “No.” 22. They said therefore to him, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23. He said, “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.” 24. The ones who had been sent were from the Pharisees. 25. They asked him, “Why then do you baptize, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?” 26. John answered them, “I baptize in water, but among you stands one whom you don’t know. 27. He is the one who comes after me, who is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I’m not worthy to loosen.” 28. These things were done in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing. 29. The next day, he saw Jesus coming to him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30. This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who is preferred before me, for he was before me.’ 31. I didn’t know him, but for this reason I came baptizing in water: that he would be revealed to Israel.” 32. John testified, saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending like a dove out of heaven, and it remained on him. 33. I didn’t recognize him, but he who sent me to baptize in water, he said to me, ‘On whomever you will see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’ 34. I have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God.” 35. Again, the next day, John was standing with two of his disciples, 36. and he looked at Jesus as he walked, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” 37. The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 38. Jesus turned, and saw them following, and said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which is to say, being interpreted, Teacher), “where are you staying?” 39. He said to them, “Come, and see.” They came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. It was about the tenth hour. 40. One of the two who heard John, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41. He first found his own brother, Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah!” (which is, being interpreted, Christ). 42. He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him, and said, “You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas” (which is by interpretation, Peter). 43. On the next day, he was determined to go out into Galilee, and he found Philip. Jesus said to him, “Follow me.” 44. Now Philip was from Bethsaida, of the city of Andrew and Peter. 45. Philip found Nathanael, and said to him, “We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, wrote: Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 46. Nathanael said to him, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” 47. Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said about him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!” 48. Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” 49. Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are King of Israel!” 50. Jesus answered him, “Because I told you, ‘I saw you underneath the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these!” 51. He said to him, “Most certainly, I tell you all, hereafter you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” 1. The third day, there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there. 2. Jesus also was invited, with his disciples, to the marriage. 3. When the wine ran out, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no wine.” 4. Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does that have to do with you and me? My hour has not yet come.” 5. His mother said to the servants, “Whatever he says to you, do it.” 6. Now there were six water pots of stone set there after the Jews’ way of purifying, containing two or three metretes apiece. 7. Jesus said to them, “Fill the water pots with water.” They filled them up to the brim. 8. He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the ruler of the feast.” So they took it. 9. When the ruler of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and didn’t know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the ruler of the feast called the bridegroom, 10. and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when the guests have drunk freely, then that which is worse. You have kept the good wine until now!” 11. This beginning of his signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him. 12. After this, he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, his brothers, and his disciples; and they stayed there a few days. 13. The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14. He found in the temple those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, and the changers of money sitting. 15. He made a whip of cords, and threw all out of the temple, both the sheep and the oxen; and he poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew their tables. 16. To those who sold the doves, he said, “Take these things out of here! Don’t make my Father’s house a marketplace!” 17. His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will eat me up.” 18. The Jews therefore answered him, “What sign do you show us, seeing that you do these things?” 19. Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20. The Jews therefore said, “It took forty-six years to build this temple! Will you raise it up in three days?” 21. But he spoke of the temple of his body. 22. When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he said this, and they believed the Scripture, and the word which Jesus had said. 23. Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in his name, observing his signs which he did. 24. But Jesus didn’t entrust himself to them, because he knew everyone, 25. and because he didn’t need for anyone to testify concerning man; for he himself knew what was in man. 1. Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2. The same came to him by night, and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do, unless God is with him.” 3. Jesus answered him, “Most certainly, I tell you, unless one is born anew, he can’t see God’s Kingdom.” 4. Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?” 5. Jesus answered, “Most certainly I tell you, unless one is born of water and spirit, he can’t enter into God’s Kingdom. 6. That which is born of the flesh is flesh. That which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7. Don’t marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born anew.’ 8. The wind blows where it wants to, and you hear its sound, but don’t know where it comes from and where it is going. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” 9. Nicodemus answered him, “How can these things be?” 10. Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and don’t understand these things? 11. Most certainly I tell you, we speak that which we know, and testify of that which we have seen, and you don’t receive our witness. 12. If I told you earthly things and you don’t believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13. No one has ascended into heaven, but he who descended out of heaven, the Son of Man, who is in heaven. 14. As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15. that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16. For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 17. For God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him. 18. He who believes in him is not judged. He who doesn’t believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God. 19. This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their works were evil. 20. For everyone who does evil hates the light, and doesn’t come to the light, lest his works would be exposed. 21. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his works may be revealed, that they have been done in God.” 22. After these things, Jesus came with his disciples into the land of Judea. He stayed there with them, and baptized. 23. John also was baptizing in Enon near Salim, because there was much water there. They came, and were baptized. 24. For John was not yet thrown into prison. 25. There arose therefore a questioning on the part of John’s disciples with some Jews about purification. 26. They came to John, and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified, behold, the same baptizes, and everyone is coming to him.” 27. John answered, “A man can receive nothing, unless it has been given him from heaven. 28. You yourselves testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before him.’ 29. He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. This, my joy, therefore is made full. 30. He must increase, but I must decrease. 31. He who comes from above is above all. He who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. 32. What he has seen and heard, of that he testifies; and no one receives his witness. 33. He who has received his witness has set his seal to this, that God is true. 34. For he whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for God gives the Spirit without measure. 35. The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand. 36. One who believes in the Son has eternal life, but one who disobeys the Son won’t see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” 1. Therefore when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John 2. (although Jesus himself didn’t baptize, but his disciples), 3. he left Judea, and departed into Galilee. 4. He needed to pass through Samaria. 5. So he came to a city of Samaria, called Sychar, near the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son, Joseph. 6. Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being tired from his journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour. 7. A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” 8. For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. 9. The Samaritan woman therefore said to him, “How is it that you, being a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) 10. Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” 11. The woman said to him, “Sir, you have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. So where do you get that living water? 12. Are you greater than our father, Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank of it himself, as did his children, and his livestock?” 13. Jesus answered her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again, 14. but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never thirst again; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.” 15. The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I don’t get thirsty, neither come all the way here to draw.” 16. Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.” 17. The woman answered, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You said well, ‘I have no husband,’ 18. for you have had five husbands; and he whom you now have is not your husband. This you have said truly.” 19. The woman said to him, “Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. 20. Our fathers worshiped in this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.” 21. Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour comes, when neither in this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, will you worship the Father. 22. You worship that which you don’t know. We worship that which we know; for salvation is from the Jews. 23. But the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such to be his worshipers. 24. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” 25. The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah comes, he who is called Christ. When he has come, he will declare to us all things.” 26. Jesus said to her, “I am he, the one who speaks to you.” 27. At this, his disciples came. They marveled that he was speaking with a woman; yet no one said, “What are you looking for?” or, “Why do you speak with her?” 28. So the woman left her water pot, and went away into the city, and said to the people, 29. “Come, see a man who told me everything that I did. Can this be the Christ?” 30. They went out of the city, and were coming to him. 31. In the meanwhile, the disciples urged him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.” 32. But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you don’t know about.” 33. The disciples therefore said to one another, “Has anyone brought him something to eat?” 34. Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me, and to accomplish his work. 35. Don’t you say, ‘There are yet four months until the harvest?’ Behold, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and look at the fields, that they are white for harvest already. 36. He who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit to eternal life; that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. 37. For in this the saying is true, ‘One sows, and another reaps.’ 38. I sent you to reap that for which you haven’t labored. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.” 39. From that city many of the Samaritans believed in him because of the word of the woman, who testified, “He told me everything that I did.” 40. So when the Samaritans came to him, they begged him to stay with them. He stayed there two days. 41. Many more believed because of his word. 42. They said to the woman, “Now we believe, not because of your speaking; for we have heard for ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.” 43. After the two days he went out from there and went into Galilee. 44. For Jesus himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country. 45. So when he came into Galilee, the Galileans received him, having seen all the things that he did in Jerusalem at the feast, for they also went to the feast. 46. Jesus came therefore again to Cana of Galilee, where he made the water into wine. There was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum. 47. When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to him, and begged him that he would come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. 48. Jesus therefore said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders, you will in no way believe.” 49. The nobleman said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” 50. Jesus said to him, “Go your way. Your son lives.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way. 51. As he was now going down, his servants met him and reported, saying “Your child lives!” 52. So he inquired of them the hour when he began to get better. They said therefore to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour, the fever left him.” 53. So the father knew that it was at that hour in which Jesus said to him, “Your son lives.” He believed, as did his whole house. 54. This is again the second sign that Jesus did, having come out of Judea into Galilee.

1. Unless Yahweh builds the house, they labor in vain who build it. Unless Yahweh watches over the city, the watchman guards it in vain. 2. It is vain for you to rise up early, to stay up late, eating the bread of toil; for he gives sleep to his loved ones. 3. Behold, children are a heritage of Yahweh. The fruit of the womb is his reward. 4. As arrows in the hand of a mighty man, so are the children of youth. 5. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them. They won’t be disappointed when they speak with their enemies in the gate.