Repentance Restores, Godliness Guards the Soul

1. After Abimelech, Tola the son of Puah, the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar, arose to save Israel. He lived in Shamir in the hill country of Ephraim. 2. He judged Israel twenty-three years, and died, and was buried in Shamir. 3. After him Jair, the Gileadite arose, and he judged Israel twenty-two years. 4. He had thirty sons who rode on thirty donkey colts, and they had thirty cities, which are called Havvoth Jair to this day, which are in the land of Gilead. 5. Jair died, and was buried in Kamon. 6. The children of Israel again did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight, and served the Baals, the Ashtaroth, the gods of Syria, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines. They abandoned Yahweh, and didn’t serve him. 7. Yahweh’s anger burned against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the children of Ammon. 8. They troubled and oppressed the children of Israel that year. For eighteen years, they oppressed all the children of Israel that were beyond the Jordan in the land of the Amorites, which is in Gilead. 9. The children of Ammon passed over the Jordan to fight also against Judah, and against Benjamin, and against the house of Ephraim, so that Israel was very distressed. 10. The children of Israel cried to Yahweh, saying, “We have sinned against you, even because we have forsaken our God, and have served the Baals.” 11. Yahweh said to the children of Israel, “Didn’t I save you from the Egyptians, and from the Amorites, from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines? 12. The Sidonians also, and the Amalekites, and the Maonites, oppressed you; and you cried to me, and I saved you out of their hand. 13. Yet you have forsaken me, and served other gods. Therefore I will save you no more. 14. Go and cry to the gods which you have chosen. Let them save you in the time of your distress!” 15. The children of Israel said to Yahweh, “We have sinned! Do you to us whatever seems good to you; only deliver us, please, today.” 16. They put away the foreign gods from among them, and served Yahweh; and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel. 17. Then the children of Ammon were gathered together and encamped in Gilead. The children of Israel assembled themselves together and encamped in Mizpah. 18. The people, the princes of Gilead, said to one another, “Who is the man who will begin to fight against the children of Ammon? He shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.” 1. Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valor, and he was the son of a prostitute. Gilead became the father of Jephthah. 2. Gilead’s wife bore him sons. When his wife’s sons grew up, they drove Jephthah out, and said to him, “You will not inherit in our father’s house, for you are the son of another woman.” 3. Then Jephthah fled from his brothers, and lived in the land of Tob. Outlaws joined up with Jephthah, and they went out with him. 4. After a while, the children of Ammon made war against Israel. 5. When the children of Ammon made war against Israel, the elders of Gilead went to get Jephthah out of the land of Tob. 6. They said to Jephthah, “Come and be our chief, that we may fight with the children of Ammon.” 7. Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, “Didn’t you hate me, and drive me out of my father’s house? Why have you come to me now when you are in distress?” 8. The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “Therefore we have turned again to you now, that you may go with us, and fight with the children of Ammon. You will be our head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.” 9. Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, “If you bring me home again to fight with the children of Ammon, and Yahweh delivers them before me, will I be your head?” 10. The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “Yahweh will be witness between us. Surely we will do what you say.” 11. Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and chief over them. Jephthah spoke all his words before Yahweh in Mizpah. 12. Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the children of Ammon, saying, “What have you to do with me, that you have come to me to fight against my land?” 13. The king of the children of Ammon answered to the messengers of Jephthah, “Because Israel took away my land, when he came up out of Egypt, from the Arnon even to the Jabbok, and to the Jordan. Now therefore restore that territory again peaceably.” 14. Jephthah sent messengers again to the king of the children of Ammon; 15. and he said to him, “Thus says Jephthah: Israel didn’t take away the land of Moab, nor the land of the children of Ammon, 16. but when they came up from Egypt, and Israel went through the wilderness to the Red Sea, and came to Kadesh; 17. then Israel sent messengers to the king of Edom, saying, ‘Please let me pass through your land;’ but the king of Edom didn’t listen. In the same way, he sent to the king of Moab; but he would not: and Israel stayed in Kadesh. 18. Then they went through the wilderness, and went around the land of Edom, and the land of Moab, and came by the east side of the land of Moab, and they encamped on the other side of the Arnon; but they didn’t come within the border of Moab, for the Arnon was the border of Moab. 19. Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, the king of Heshbon; and Israel said to him, ‘Please let us pass through your land to my place.’ 20. But Sihon didn’t trust Israel to pass through his border; but Sihon gathered all his people together, and encamped in Jahaz, and fought against Israel. 21. Yahweh, the God of Israel, delivered Sihon and all his people into the hand of Israel, and they struck them. So Israel possessed all the land of the Amorites, the inhabitants of that country. 22. They possessed all the border of the Amorites, from the Arnon even to the Jabbok, and from the wilderness even to the Jordan. 23. So now Yahweh, the God of Israel, has dispossessed the Amorites from before his people Israel, and should you possess them? 24. Won’t you possess that which Chemosh your god gives you to possess? So whoever Yahweh our God has dispossessed from before us, them will we possess. 25. Now are you anything better than Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab? Did he ever strive against Israel, or did he ever fight against them? 26. While Israel lived in Heshbon and its towns, and in Aroer and its towns, and in all the cities that are along by the side of the Arnon, three hundred years; why didn’t you recover them within that time? 27. I therefore have not sinned against you, but you do me wrong to war against me. May Yahweh the Judge be judge today between the children of Israel and the children of Ammon.” 28. However the king of the children of Ammon didn’t listen to the words of Jephthah which he sent him. 29. Then Yahweh’s Spirit came on Jephthah, and he passed over Gilead and Manasseh, and passed over Mizpah of Gilead, and from Mizpah of Gilead he passed over to the children of Ammon. 30. Jephthah vowed a vow to Yahweh, and said, “If you will indeed deliver the children of Ammon into my hand, 31. then it shall be, that whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, it shall be Yahweh’s, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering.” 32. So Jephthah passed over to the children of Ammon to fight against them; and Yahweh delivered them into his hand. 33. He struck them from Aroer until you come to Minnith, even twenty cities, and to Abelcheramim, with a very great slaughter. So the children of Ammon were subdued before the children of Israel. 34. Jephthah came to Mizpah to his house; and behold, his daughter came out to meet him with tambourines and with dances. She was his only child. Besides her he had neither son nor daughter. 35. When he saw her, he tore his clothes, and said, “Alas, my daughter! You have brought me very low, and you are one of those who trouble me; for I have opened my mouth to Yahweh, and I can’t go back.” 36. She said to him, “My father, you have opened your mouth to Yahweh; do to me according to that which has proceeded out of your mouth, because Yahweh has taken vengeance for you on your enemies, even on the children of Ammon.” 37. She said to her father, “Let this thing be done for me. Leave me alone two months, that I may depart and go down on the mountains, and bewail my virginity, I and my companions.” 38. He said, “Go.” He sent her away for two months: and she departed, she and her companions, and mourned her virginity on the mountains. 39. At the end of two months, she returned to her father, who did with her according to his vow which he had vowed. She was a virgin. It was a custom in Israel 40. that the daughters of Israel went yearly to celebrate the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite four days in a year. 1. The men of Ephraim were gathered together, and passed northward; and they said to Jephthah, “Why did you pass over to fight against the children of Ammon, and didn’t call us to go with you? We will burn your house around you with fire!” 2. Jephthah said to them, “I and my people were at great strife with the children of Ammon; and when I called you, you didn’t save me out of their hand. 3. When I saw that you didn’t save me, I put my life in my hand, and passed over against the children of Ammon, and Yahweh delivered them into my hand. Why then have you come up to me today, to fight against me?” 4. Then Jephthah gathered together all the men of Gilead, and fought with Ephraim. The men of Gilead struck Ephraim, because they said, “You are fugitives of Ephraim, you Gileadites, in the middle of Ephraim, and in the middle of Manasseh.” 5. The Gileadites took the fords of the Jordan against the Ephraimites. When the fugitives of Ephraim said, “Let me go over,” the men of Gilead said to him, “Are you an Ephraimite?” If he said, “No”; 6. then they said to him, “Now say ‘Shibboleth;’” and he said “Sibboleth”; for he couldn’t manage to pronounce it right: then they seized him, and killed him at the fords of the Jordan. At that time, forty-two thousand of Ephraim fell. 7. Jephthah judged Israel six years. Then Jephthah the Gileadite died, and was buried in the cities of Gilead. 8. After him Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel. 9. He had thirty sons; and thirty daughters he sent outside his clan, and thirty daughters he brought in from outside his clan for his sons. He judged Israel seven years. 10. Ibzan died, and was buried at Bethlehem. 11. After him Elon the Zebulunite judged Israel; and he judged Israel ten years. 12. Elon the Zebulunite died, and was buried in Aijalon in the land of Zebulun. 13. After him Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite judged Israel. 14. He had forty sons and thirty sons’ sons, who rode on seventy donkey colts. He judged Israel eight years. 15. Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite died, and was buried in Pirathon in the land of Ephraim, in the hill country of the Amalekites.

1. But the Spirit says expressly that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons, 2. through the hypocrisy of men who speak lies, branded in their own conscience as with a hot iron; 3. forbidding marriage and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4. For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, if it is received with thanksgiving. 5. For it is sanctified through the word of God and prayer. 6. If you instruct the brothers of these things, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished in the words of the faith, and of the good doctrine which you have followed. 7. But refuse profane and old wives’ fables. Exercise yourself toward godliness. 8. For bodily exercise has some value, but godliness has value in all things, having the promise of the life which is now, and of that which is to come. 9. This saying is faithful and worthy of all acceptance. 10. For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we have set our trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. 11. Command and teach these things. 12. Let no man despise your youth; but be an example to those who believe, in word, in your way of life, in love, in spirit, in faith, and in purity. 13. Until I come, pay attention to reading, to exhortation, and to teaching. 14. Don’t neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the elders. 15. Be diligent in these things. Give yourself wholly to them, that your progress may be revealed to all. 16. Pay attention to yourself, and to your teaching. Continue in these things, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you. 1. Don’t rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father; the younger men as brothers; 2. the elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, in all purity. 3. Honor widows who are widows indeed. 4. But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them learn first to show piety towards their own family, and to repay their parents, for this is acceptable in the sight of God. 5. Now she who is a widow indeed, and desolate, has her hope set on God, and continues in petitions and prayers night and day. 6. But she who gives herself to pleasure is dead while she lives. 7. Also command these things, that they may be without reproach. 8. But if anyone doesn’t provide for his own, and especially his own household, he has denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever. 9. Let no one be enrolled as a widow under sixty years old, having been the wife of one man, 10. being approved by good works, if she has brought up children, if she has been hospitable to strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, and if she has diligently followed every good work. 11. But refuse younger widows, for when they have grown wanton against Christ, they desire to marry; 12. having condemnation, because they have rejected their first pledge. 13. Besides, they also learn to be idle, going about from house to house. Not only idle, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not. 14. I desire therefore that the younger widows marry, bear children, rule the household, and give no occasion to the adversary for insulting. 15. For already some have turned away after Satan. 16. If any man or woman who believes has widows, let them relieve them, and don’t let the assembly be burdened; that it might relieve those who are widows indeed. 17. Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and in teaching. 18. For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle the ox when it treads out the grain.” And, “The laborer is worthy of his wages.” 19. Don’t receive an accusation against an elder, except at the word of two or three witnesses. 20. Those who sin, reprove in the sight of all, that the rest also may be in fear. 21. I command you in the sight of God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the chosen angels, that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing by partiality. 22. Lay hands hastily on no one, neither be a participant in other men’s sins. Keep yourself pure. 23. Be no longer a drinker of water only, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities. 24. Some men’s sins are evident, preceding them to judgment, and some also follow later. 25. In the same way also there are good works that are obvious, and those that are otherwise can’t be hidden. 1. Let as many as are bondservants under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, that the name of God and the doctrine not be blasphemed. 2. Those who have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brothers, but rather let them serve them, because those who partake of the benefit are believing and beloved. Teach and exhort these things. 3. If anyone teaches a different doctrine, and doesn’t consent to sound words, the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness, 4. he is conceited, knowing nothing, but obsessed with arguments, disputes, and word battles, from which come envy, strife, insulting, evil suspicions, 5. constant friction of people of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. Withdraw yourself from such. 6. But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7. For we brought nothing into the world, and we certainly can’t carry anything out. 8. But having food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9. But those who are determined to be rich fall into a temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful lusts, such as drown men in ruin and destruction. 10. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some have been led astray from the faith in their greed, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 11. But you, man of God, flee these things, and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. 12. Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you confessed the good confession in the sight of many witnesses. 13. I command you before God, who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate testified the good confession, 14. that you keep the commandment without spot, blameless, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ; 15. which in its own times he will show, who is the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; 16. who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light; whom no man has seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and eternal power. Amen. 17. Charge those who are rich in this present world that they not be haughty, nor have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches, but on the living God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy; 18. that they do good, that they be rich in good works, that they be ready to distribute, willing to share; 19. laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold of eternal life. 20. Timothy, guard that which is committed to you, turning away from the empty chatter and oppositions of what is falsely called knowledge; 21. which some profess, and thus have wandered from the faith. Grace be with you. Amen.

1. Let God arise! Let his enemies be scattered! Let them who hate him also flee before him. 2. As smoke is driven away, so drive them away. As wax melts before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God. 3. But let the righteous be glad. Let them rejoice before God. Yes, let them rejoice with gladness. 4. Sing to God! Sing praises to his name! Extol him who rides on the clouds: to Yah, his name! Rejoice before him! 5. A father of the fatherless, and a defender of the widows, is God in his holy habitation. 6. God sets the lonely in families. He brings out the prisoners with singing, but the rebellious dwell in a sun-scorched land. 7. God, when you went out before your people, when you marched through the wilderness... Selah. 8. The earth trembled. The sky also poured down rain at the presence of the God of Sinai— at the presence of God, the God of Israel. 9. You, God, sent a plentiful rain. You confirmed your inheritance, when it was weary. 10. Your congregation lived therein. You, God, prepared your goodness for the poor. 11. The Lord announced the word. The ones who proclaim it are a great company. 12. “Kings of armies flee! They flee!” She who waits at home divides the plunder, 13. while you sleep among the camp fires, the wings of a dove sheathed with silver, her feathers with shining gold. 14. When the Almighty scattered kings in her, it snowed on Zalmon. 15. The mountains of Bashan are majestic mountains. The mountains of Bashan are rugged. 16. Why do you look in envy, you rugged mountains, at the mountain where God chooses to reign? Yes, Yahweh will dwell there forever. 17. The chariots of God are tens of thousands and thousands of thousands. The Lord is among them, from Sinai, into the sanctuary. 18. You have ascended on high. You have led away captives. You have received gifts among men, yes, among the rebellious also, that Yah God might dwell there. 19. Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burdens, even the God who is our salvation. Selah. 20. God is to us a God of deliverance. To Yahweh, the Lord, belongs escape from death. 21. But God will strike through the head of his enemies, the hairy scalp of such a one as still continues in his guiltiness. 22. The Lord said, “I will bring you again from Bashan, I will bring you again from the depths of the sea; 23. That you may crush them, dipping your foot in blood, that the tongues of your dogs may have their portion from your enemies.” 24. They have seen your processions, God, even the processions of my God, my King, into the sanctuary. 25. The singers went before, the minstrels followed after, among the ladies playing with tambourines, 26. “Bless God in the congregations, even the Lord in the assembly of Israel!” 27. There is little Benjamin, their ruler, the princes of Judah, their council, the princes of Zebulun, and the princes of Naphtali. 28. Your God has commanded your strength. Strengthen, God, that which you have done for us. 29. Because of your temple at Jerusalem, kings shall bring presents to you. 30. Rebuke the wild animal of the reeds, the multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the peoples. Being humbled, may it bring bars of silver. Scatter the nations that delight in war. 31. Princes shall come out of Egypt. Ethiopia shall hurry to stretch out her hands to God. 32. Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth! Sing praises to the Lord! Selah. 33. To him who rides on the heaven of heavens, which are of old; behold, he utters his voice, a mighty voice. 34. Ascribe strength to God! His excellency is over Israel, his strength is in the skies. 35. You are awesome, God, in your sanctuaries. The God of Israel gives strength and power to his people. Praise be to God!