Idolatry's Cost and Paul's Apostolic Freedom

1. Behold, a man of God came out of Judah by Yahweh’s word to Beth El; and Jeroboam was standing by the altar to burn incense. 2. He cried against the altar by Yahweh’s word, and said, “Altar! Altar! Yahweh says: ‘Behold, a son will be born to David’s house, Josiah by name. On you he will sacrifice the priests of the high places who burn incense on you, and they will burn men’s bones on you.’” 3. He gave a sign the same day, saying, “This is the sign which Yahweh has spoken: Behold, the altar will be split apart, and the ashes that are on it will be poured out.” 4. When the king heard the saying of the man of God, which he cried against the altar in Bethel, Jeroboam put out his hand from the altar, saying, “Seize him!” His hand, which he put out against him, dried up, so that he could not draw it back again to himself. 5. The altar was also split apart, and the ashes poured out from the altar, according to the sign which the man of God had given by Yahweh’s word. 6. The king answered the man of God, “Now intercede for the favor of Yahweh your God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored me again.” The man of God interceded with Yahweh, and the king’s hand was restored to him again, and became as it was before. 7. The king said to the man of God, “Come home with me, and refresh yourself, and I will give you a reward.” 8. The man of God said to the king, “Even if you gave me half of your house, I would not go in with you, neither would I eat bread nor drink water in this place; 9. for so was it commanded me by Yahweh’s word, saying, ‘You shall eat no bread, drink no water, and don’t return by the way that you came.’” 10. So he went another way, and didn’t return by the way that he came to Bethel. 11. Now an old prophet lived in Bethel, and one of his sons came and told him all the works that the man of God had done that day in Bethel. They also told their father the words which he had spoken to the king. 12. Their father said to them, “Which way did he go?” Now his sons had seen which way the man of God went, who came from Judah. 13. He said to his sons, “Saddle the donkey for me.” So they saddled the donkey for him; and he rode on it. 14. He went after the man of God, and found him sitting under an oak. He said to him, “Are you the man of God who came from Judah?” He said, “I am.” 15. Then he said to him, “Come home with me, and eat bread.” 16. He said, “I may not return with you, nor go in with you. I will not eat bread or drink water with you in this place. 17. For it was said to me by Yahweh’s word, ‘You shall eat no bread or drink water there, and don’t turn again to go by the way that you came.’” 18. He said to him, “I also am a prophet as you are; and an angel spoke to me by Yahweh’s word, saying, ‘Bring him back with you into your house, that he may eat bread and drink water.’” He lied to him. 19. So he went back with him, ate bread in his house, and drank water. 20. As they sat at the table, Yahweh’s word came to the prophet who brought him back; 21. and he cried out to the man of God who came from Judah, saying, “Yahweh says, ‘Because you have been disobedient to Yahweh’s mouth, and have not kept the commandment which Yahweh your God commanded you, 22. but came back, and have eaten bread and drank water in the place of which he said to you, “Eat no bread, and drink no water”; your body will not come to the tomb of your fathers.’” 23. After he had eaten bread, and after he drank, he saddled the donkey for the prophet whom he had brought back. 24. When he had gone, a lion met him by the way and killed him. His body was thrown on the path, and the donkey stood by it. The lion also stood by the body. 25. Behold, men passed by, and saw the body thrown on the path, and the lion standing by the body; and they came and told it in the city where the old prophet lived. 26. When the prophet who brought him back from the way heard of it, he said, “It is the man of God who was disobedient to Yahweh’s mouth. Therefore Yahweh has delivered him to the lion, which has mauled him and slain him, according to Yahweh’s word, which he spoke to him.” 27. He said to his sons, saying, “Saddle the donkey for me,” and they saddled it. 28. He went and found his body thrown on the path, and the donkey and the lion standing by the body. The lion had not eaten the body, nor mauled the donkey. 29. The prophet took up the body of the man of God, and laid it on the donkey, and brought it back. He came to the city of the old prophet to mourn, and to bury him. 30. He laid his body in his own grave; and they mourned over him, saying, “Alas, my brother!” 31. After he had buried him, he spoke to his sons, saying, “When I am dead, bury me in the tomb in which the man of God is buried. Lay my bones beside his bones. 32. For the saying which he cried by Yahweh’s word against the altar in Bethel, and against all the houses of the high places which are in the cities of Samaria, will surely happen.” 33. After this thing Jeroboam didn’t return from his evil way, but again made priests of the high places from among all the people. Whoever wanted to, he consecrated him, that there might be priests of the high places. 34. This thing became sin to the house of Jeroboam, even to cut it off, and to destroy it from off the surface of the earth. 1. At that time Abijah the son of Jeroboam became sick. 2. Jeroboam said to his wife, “Please get up and disguise yourself, so that you won’t be recognized as Jeroboam’s wife. Go to Shiloh. Behold, Ahijah the prophet is there, who said that that I would be king over this people. 3. Take with you ten loaves of bread, some cakes, and a jar of honey, and go to him. He will tell you what will become of the child.” 4. Jeroboam’s wife did so, and arose, and went to Shiloh, and came to Ahijah’s house. Now Ahijah could not see; for his eyes were set by reason of his age. 5. Yahweh said to Ahijah, “Behold, Jeroboam’s wife is coming to inquire of you concerning her son; for he is sick. Tell her such and such; for it will be, when she comes in, that she will pretend to be another woman.” 6. So when Ahijah heard the sound of her feet as she came in at the door, he said, “Come in, Jeroboam’s wife! Why do you pretend to be another? For I am sent to you with heavy news. 7. Go, tell Jeroboam, ‘Yahweh, the God of Israel, says: “Because I exalted you from among the people, and made you prince over my people Israel, 8. and tore the kingdom away from David’s house, and gave it you; and yet you have not been as my servant David, who kept my commandments, and who followed me with all his heart, to do that only which was right in my eyes, 9. but have done evil above all who were before you, and have gone and made for yourself other gods, molten images, to provoke me to anger, and have cast me behind your back; 10. therefore, behold, I will bring evil on the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam everyone who urinates on a wall, he who is shut up and he who is left at large in Israel, and will utterly sweep away the house of Jeroboam, as a man sweeps away dung, until it is all gone. 11. The dogs will eat he who belongs to Jeroboam who dies in the city; and the birds of the sky will eat he who dies in the field: for Yahweh has spoken it.”’ 12. Arise therefore, and go to your house. When your feet enter into the city, the child will die. 13. All Israel will mourn for him and bury him; for he only of Jeroboam will come to the grave, because in him there is found some good thing toward Yahweh, the God of Israel, in the house of Jeroboam. 14. Moreover Yahweh will raise up a king for himself over Israel, who will cut off the house of Jeroboam. This is the day! What? Even now. 15. For Yahweh will strike Israel, as a reed is shaken in the water; and he will root up Israel out of this good land which he gave to their fathers, and will scatter them beyond the River, because they have made their Asherah poles, provoking Yahweh to anger. 16. He will give Israel up because of the sins of Jeroboam, which he has sinned, and with which he has made Israel to sin.” 17. Jeroboam’s wife arose and departed, and came to Tirzah. As she came to the threshold of the house, the child died. 18. All Israel buried him and mourned for him, according to Yahweh’s word, which he spoke by his servant Ahijah the prophet. 19. The rest of the acts of Jeroboam, how he fought, and how he reigned, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel. 20. The days which Jeroboam reigned were twenty two years, then he slept with his fathers, and Nadab his son reigned in his place. 21. Rehoboam the son of Solomon reigned in Judah. Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which Yahweh had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his name there. His mother’s name was Naamah the Ammonitess. 22. Judah did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight, and they provoked him to jealousy with their sins which they committed, above all that their fathers had done. 23. For they also built for themselves high places, sacred pillars, and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree. 24. There were also sodomites in the land. They did according to all the abominations of the nations which Yahweh drove out before the children of Israel. 25. In the fifth year of king Rehoboam, Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, 26. and he took away the treasures of Yahweh’s house, and the treasures of the king’s house. He even took away all of it, including all the gold shields which Solomon had made. 27. King Rehoboam made shields of brass in their place, and committed them to the hands of the captains of the guard, who kept the door of the king’s house. 28. It was so, that as often as the king went into Yahweh’s house, the guard bore them, and brought them back into the guard room. 29. Now the rest of the acts of Rehoboam, and all that he did, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? 30. There was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam continually. 31. Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in David’s city. His mother’s name was Naamah the Ammonitess. Abijam his son reigned in his place. 1. Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam the son of Nebat, Abijam began to reign over Judah. 2. He reigned three years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Maacah the daughter of Abishalom. 3. He walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him; and his heart was not perfect with Yahweh his God, as the heart of David his father. 4. Nevertheless for David’s sake, Yahweh his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem, to set up his son after him, and to establish Jerusalem; 5. because David did that which was right in Yahweh’s eyes, and didn’t turn away from anything that he commanded him all the days of his life, except only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite. 6. Now there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all the days of his life. 7. The rest of the acts of Abijam, and all that he did, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? There was war between Abijam and Jeroboam. 8. Abijam slept with his fathers, and they buried him in David’s city; and Asa his son reigned in his place. 9. In the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Asa began to reign over Judah. 10. He reigned forty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Maacah the daughter of Abishalom. 11. Asa did that which was right in Yahweh’s eyes, as David his father did. 12. He put away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made. 13. He also removed Maacah his mother from being queen, because she had made an abominable image for an Asherah. Asa cut down her image and burned it at the brook Kidron. 14. But the high places were not taken away. Nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect with Yahweh all his days. 15. He brought into Yahweh’s house the things that his father had dedicated, and the things that he himself had dedicated: silver, gold, and utensils. 16. There was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days. 17. Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah, and built Ramah, that he might not allow anyone to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah. 18. Then Asa took all the silver and the gold that was left in the treasures of Yahweh’s house, and the treasures of the king’s house, and delivered it into the hand of his servants. Then King Asa sent them to Ben Hadad, the son of Tabrimmon, the son of Hezion, king of Syria, who lived at Damascus, saying, 19. “There is a treaty between me and you, between my father and your father. Behold, I have sent to you a present of silver and gold. Go, break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me.” 20. Ben Hadad listened to king Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel, and struck Ijon, and Dan, and Abel Beth Maacah, and all Chinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali. 21. When Baasha heard of it, he stopped building Ramah, and lived in Tirzah. 22. Then king Asa made a proclamation to all Judah. No one was exempted. They carried away the stones of Ramah, and its timber, with which Baasha had built; and king Asa used it to build Geba of Benjamin, and Mizpah. 23. Now the rest of all the acts of Asa, and all his might, and all that he did, and the cities which he built, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? But in the time of his old age he was diseased in his feet. 24. Asa slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in his father David’s city; and Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his place. 25. Nadab the son of Jeroboam began to reign over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah; and he reigned over Israel two years. 26. He did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight, and walked in the way of his father, and in his sin with which he made Israel to sin. 27. Baasha the son of Ahijah, of the house of Issachar, conspired against him; and Baasha struck him at Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines; for Nadab and all Israel were besieging Gibbethon. 28. Even in the third year of Asa king of Judah, Baasha killed him, and reigned in his place. 29. As soon as he was king, he struck all the house of Jeroboam. He didn’t leave to Jeroboam any who breathed, until he had destroyed him; according to the saying of Yahweh, which he spoke by his servant Ahijah the Shilonite; 30. for the sins of Jeroboam which he sinned, and with which he made Israel to sin, because of his provocation with which he provoked Yahweh, the God of Israel, to anger. 31. Now the rest of the acts of Nadab, and all that he did, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 32. There was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days. 33. In the third year of Asa king of Judah, Baasha the son of Ahijah began to reign over all Israel in Tirzah for twenty-four years. 34. He did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight, and walked in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin with which he made Israel to sin.

1. Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Haven’t I seen Jesus Christ, our Lord? Aren’t you my work in the Lord? 2. If to others I am not an apostle, yet at least I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. 3. My defense to those who examine me is this. 4. Have we no right to eat and to drink? 5. Have we no right to take along a wife who is a believer, even as the rest of the apostles, and the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas? 6. Or have only Barnabas and I no right to not work? 7. What soldier ever serves at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard, and doesn’t eat of its fruit? Or who feeds a flock, and doesn’t drink from the flock’s milk? 8. Do I speak these things according to the ways of men? Or doesn’t the law also say the same thing? 9. For it is written in the law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.” Is it for the oxen that God cares, 10. or does he say it assuredly for our sake? Yes, it was written for our sake, because he who plows ought to plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should partake of his hope. 11. If we sowed to you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we reap your fleshly things? 12. If others partake of this right over you, don’t we yet more? Nevertheless we did not use this right, but we bear all things, that we may cause no hindrance to the Good News of Christ. 13. Don’t you know that those who serve around sacred things eat from the things of the temple, and those who wait on the altar have their portion with the altar? 14. Even so the Lord ordained that those who proclaim the Good News should live from the Good News. 15. But I have used none of these things, and I don’t write these things that it may be done so in my case; for I would rather die, than that anyone should make my boasting void. 16. For if I preach the Good News, I have nothing to boast about; for necessity is laid on me; but woe is to me, if I don’t preach the Good News. 17. For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward. But if not of my own will, I have a stewardship entrusted to me. 18. What then is my reward? That, when I preach the Good News, I may present the Good News of Christ without charge, so as not to abuse my authority in the Good News. 19. For though I was free from all, I brought myself under bondage to all, that I might gain the more. 20. To the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain those who are under the law; 21. to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law. 22. To the weak I became as weak, that I might gain the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I may by all means save some. 23. Now I do this for the sake of the Good News, that I may be a joint partaker of it. 24. Don’t you know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run like that, that you may win. 25. Every man who strives in the games exercises self-control in all things. Now they do it to receive a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible. 26. I therefore run like that, not aimlessly. I fight like that, not beating the air, 27. but I beat my body and bring it into submission, lest by any means, after I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected. 1. Now I would not have you ignorant, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2. and were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3. and all ate the same spiritual food; 4. and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of a spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ. 5. However with most of them, God was not well pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness. 6. Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. 7. Don’t be idolaters, as some of them were. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.” 8. Let us not commit sexual immorality, as some of them committed, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell. 9. Let us not test Christ, as some of them tested, and perished by the serpents. 10. Don’t grumble, as some of them also grumbled, and perished by the destroyer. 11. Now all these things happened to them by way of example, and they were written for our admonition, on whom the ends of the ages have come. 12. Therefore let him who thinks he stands be careful that he doesn’t fall. 13. No temptation has taken you except what is common to man. God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, but will with the temptation also make the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. 14. Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. 15. I speak as to wise men. Judge what I say. 16. The cup of blessing which we bless, isn’t it a sharing of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, isn’t it a sharing of the body of Christ? 17. Because there is one loaf of bread, we, who are many, are one body; for we all partake of the one loaf of bread. 18. Consider Israel according to the flesh. Don’t those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar? 19. What am I saying then? That a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20. But I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God, and I don’t desire that you would have fellowship with demons. 21. You can’t both drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You can’t both partake of the table of the Lord, and of the table of demons. 22. Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he? 23. “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are profitable. “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things build up. 24. Let no one seek his own, but each one his neighbor’s good. 25. Whatever is sold in the butcher shop, eat, asking no question for the sake of conscience, 26. for “the earth is the Lord’s, and its fullness.” 27. But if one of those who don’t believe invites you to a meal, and you are inclined to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no questions for the sake of conscience. 28. But if anyone says to you, “This was offered to idols,” don’t eat it for the sake of the one who told you, and for the sake of conscience. For “the earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness.” 29. Conscience, I say, not your own, but the other’s conscience. For why is my liberty judged by another conscience? 30. If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced for something I give thanks for? 31. Whether therefore you eat, or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32. Give no occasion for stumbling, either to Jews, or to Greeks, or to the assembly of God; 33. even as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of the many, that they may be saved. 1. Be imitators of me, even as I also am of Christ. 2. Now I praise you, brothers, that you remember me in all things, and hold firm the traditions, even as I delivered them to you. 3. But I would have you know that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. 4. Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head. 5. But every woman praying or prophesying with her head uncovered dishonors her head. For it is one and the same thing as if she were shaved. 6. For if a woman is not covered, let her hair also be cut off. But if it is shameful for a woman to have her hair cut off or be shaved, let her be covered. 7. For a man indeed ought not to have his head covered, because he is the image and glory of God, but the woman is the glory of the man. 8. For man is not from woman, but woman from man; 9. for man wasn’t created for the woman, but woman for the man. 10. For this cause the woman ought to have authority over her own head, because of the angels. 11. Nevertheless, neither is the woman independent of the man, nor the man independent of the woman, in the Lord. 12. For as woman came from man, so a man also comes through a woman; but all things are from God. 13. Judge for yourselves. Is it appropriate that a woman pray to God unveiled? 14. Doesn’t even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him? 15. But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her, for her hair is given to her for a covering. 16. But if any man seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither do God’s assemblies. 17. But in giving you this command, I don’t praise you, that you come together not for the better but for the worse. 18. For first of all, when you come together in the assembly, I hear that divisions exist among you, and I partly believe it. 19. For there also must be factions among you, that those who are approved may be revealed among you. 20. When therefore you assemble yourselves together, it is not the Lord’s supper that you eat. 21. For in your eating each one takes his own supper first. One is hungry, and another is drunken. 22. What, don’t you have houses to eat and to drink in? Or do you despise God’s assembly, and put them to shame who don’t have enough? What shall I tell you? Shall I praise you? In this I don’t praise you. 23. For I received from the Lord that which also I delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night in which he was betrayed took bread. 24. When he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “Take, eat. This is my body, which is broken for you. Do this in memory of me.” 25. In the same way he also took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink, in memory of me.” 26. For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. 27. Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks the Lord’s cup in a way unworthy of the Lord will be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. 28. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread, and drink of the cup. 29. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy way eats and drinks judgment to himself, if he doesn’t discern the Lord’s body. 30. For this cause many among you are weak and sickly, and not a few sleep. 31. For if we discerned ourselves, we wouldn’t be judged. 32. But when we are judged, we are punished by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world. 33. Therefore, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. 34. But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest your coming together be for judgment. The rest I will set in order whenever I come. 1. Now concerning spiritual things, brothers, I don’t want you to be ignorant. 2. You know that when you were heathen, you were led away to those mute idols, however you might be led. 3. Therefore I make known to you that no man speaking by God’s Spirit says, “Jesus is accursed.” No one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” but by the Holy Spirit. 4. Now there are various kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5. There are various kinds of service, and the same Lord. 6. There are various kinds of workings, but the same God, who works all things in all. 7. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the profit of all. 8. For to one is given through the Spirit the word of wisdom, and to another the word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit; 9. to another faith, by the same Spirit; and to another gifts of healings, by the same Spirit; 10. and to another workings of miracles; and to another prophecy; and to another discerning of spirits; to another different kinds of languages; and to another the interpretation of languages. 11. But the one and the same Spirit produces all of these, distributing to each one separately as he desires. 12. For as the body is one, and has many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ. 13. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all given to drink into one Spirit. 14. For the body is not one member, but many. 15. If the foot would say, “Because I’m not the hand, I’m not part of the body,” it is not therefore not part of the body. 16. If the ear would say, “Because I’m not the eye, I’m not part of the body,” it’s not therefore not part of the body. 17. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the smelling be? 18. But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body, just as he desired. 19. If they were all one member, where would the body be? 20. But now they are many members, but one body. 21. The eye can’t tell the hand, “I have no need for you,” or again the head to the feet, “I have no need for you.” 22. No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. 23. Those parts of the body which we think to be less honorable, on those we bestow more abundant honor; and our unpresentable parts have more abundant propriety; 24. whereas our presentable parts have no such need. But God composed the body together, giving more abundant honor to the inferior part, 25. that there should be no division in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. 26. When one member suffers, all the members suffer with it. Or when one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. 27. Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. 28. God has set some in the assembly: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracle workers, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, and various kinds of languages. 29. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all miracle workers? 30. Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with various languages? Do all interpret? 31. But earnestly desire the best gifts. Moreover, I show a most excellent way to you.

1. I will exalt you, my God, the King. I will praise your name forever and ever. 2. Every day I will praise you. I will extol your name forever and ever. 3. Great is Yahweh, and greatly to be praised! His greatness is unsearchable. 4. One generation will commend your works to another, and will declare your mighty acts. 5. Of the glorious majesty of your honor, of your wondrous works, I will meditate. 6. Men will speak of the might of your awesome acts. I will declare your greatness. 7. They will utter the memory of your great goodness, and will sing of your righteousness. 8. Yahweh is gracious, merciful, slow to anger, and of great loving kindness. 9. Yahweh is good to all. His tender mercies are over all his works. 10. All your works will give thanks to you, Yahweh. Your saints will extol you. 11. They will speak of the glory of your kingdom, and talk about your power; 12. to make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, the glory of the majesty of his kingdom. 13. Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. Your dominion endures throughout all generations. Yahweh is faithful in all his words, and loving in all his deeds. 14. Yahweh upholds all who fall, and raises up all those who are bowed down. 15. The eyes of all wait for you. You give them their food in due season. 16. You open your hand, and satisfy the desire of every living thing. 17. Yahweh is righteous in all his ways, and gracious in all his works. 18. Yahweh is near to all those who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. 19. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear him. He also will hear their cry, and will save them. 20. Yahweh preserves all those who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy. 21. My mouth will speak the praise of Yahweh. Let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.