Finding a Bride, Seeking Justice, Honoring Servants

1. Abraham was old, and well stricken in age. Yahweh had blessed Abraham in all things. 2. Abraham said to his servant, the elder of his house, who ruled over all that he had, “Please put your hand under my thigh. 3. I will make you swear by Yahweh, the God of heaven and the God of the earth, that you shall not take a wife for my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I live. 4. But you shall go to my country, and to my relatives, and take a wife for my son Isaac.” 5. The servant said to him, “What if the woman isn’t willing to follow me to this land? Must I bring your son again to the land you came from?” 6. Abraham said to him, “Beware that you don’t bring my son there again. 7. Yahweh, the God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house, and from the land of my birth, who spoke to me, and who swore to me, saying, ‘I will give this land to your offspring. He will send his angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there. 8. If the woman isn’t willing to follow you, then you shall be clear from this oath to me. Only you shall not bring my son there again.” 9. The servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and swore to him concerning this matter. 10. The servant took ten camels, of his master’s camels, and departed, having a variety of good things of his master’s with him. He arose, and went to Mesopotamia, to the city of Nahor. 11. He made the camels kneel down outside the city by the well of water at the time of evening, the time that women go out to draw water. 12. He said, “Yahweh, the God of my master Abraham, please give me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham. 13. Behold, I am standing by the spring of water. The daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water. 14. Let it happen, that the young lady to whom I will say, ‘Please let down your pitcher, that I may drink,’ and she will say, ‘Drink, and I will also give your camels a drink,’—let her be the one you have appointed for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master.” 15. Before he had finished speaking, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel the son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother, with her pitcher on her shoulder. 16. The young lady was very beautiful to look at, a virgin. No man had known her. She went down to the spring, filled her pitcher, and came up. 17. The servant ran to meet her, and said, “Please give me a drink, a little water from your pitcher.” 18. She said, “Drink, my lord.” She hurried, and let down her pitcher on her hand, and gave him a drink. 19. When she had finished giving him a drink, she said, “I will also draw for your camels, until they have finished drinking.” 20. She hurried, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again to the well to draw, and drew for all his camels. 21. The man looked steadfastly at her, remaining silent, to know whether Yahweh had made his journey prosperous or not. 22. As the camels had done drinking, the man took a golden ring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold, 23. and said, “Whose daughter are you? Please tell me. Is there room in your father’s house for us to stay?” 24. She said to him, “I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor.” 25. She said moreover to him, “We have both straw and feed enough, and room to lodge in.” 26. The man bowed his head, and worshiped Yahweh. 27. He said, “Blessed be Yahweh, the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken his loving kindness and his truth toward my master. As for me, Yahweh has led me on the way to the house of my master’s relatives.” 28. The young lady ran, and told her mother’s house about these words. 29. Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban. Laban ran out to the man, to the spring. 30. When he saw the ring, and the bracelets on his sister’s hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, “This is what the man said to me,” he came to the man. Behold, he was standing by the camels at the spring. 31. He said, “Come in, you blessed of Yahweh. Why do you stand outside? For I have prepared the house, and room for the camels.” 32. The man came into the house, and he unloaded the camels. He gave straw and feed for the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him. 33. Food was set before him to eat, but he said, “I will not eat until I have told my message.” He said, “Speak on.” 34. He said, “I am Abraham’s servant. 35. Yahweh has blessed my master greatly. He has become great. He has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male servants and female servants, and camels and donkeys. 36. Sarah, my master’s wife, bore a son to my master when she was old. He has given all that he has to him. 37. My master made me swear, saying, ‘You shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I live, 38. but you shall go to my father’s house, and to my relatives, and take a wife for my son.’ 39. I asked my master, ‘What if the woman will not follow me?’ 40. He said to me, ‘Yahweh, before whom I walk, will send his angel with you, and prosper your way. You shall take a wife for my son from my relatives, and of my father’s house. 41. Then will you be clear from my oath, when you come to my relatives. If they don’t give her to you, you shall be clear from my oath.’ 42. I came today to the spring, and said, ‘Yahweh, the God of my master Abraham, if now you do prosper my way which I go— 43. behold, I am standing by this spring of water. Let it happen, that the maiden who comes out to draw, to whom I will say, “Please give me a little water from your pitcher to drink,” 44. and she will tell me, “Drink, and I will also draw for your camels,”—let her be the woman whom Yahweh has appointed for my master’s son.’ 45. Before I had finished speaking in my heart, behold, Rebekah came out with her pitcher on her shoulder. She went down to the spring, and drew. I said to her, ‘Please let me drink.’ 46. She hurried and let down her pitcher from her shoulder, and said, ‘Drink, and I will also give your camels a drink.’ So I drank, and she also gave the camels a drink. 47. I asked her, and said, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ She said, ‘The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor’s son, whom Milcah bore to him.’ I put the ring on her nose, and the bracelets on her hands. 48. I bowed my head, and worshiped Yahweh, and blessed Yahweh, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me in the right way to take my master’s brother’s daughter for his son. 49. Now if you will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me. If not, tell me, that I may turn to the right hand, or to the left.” 50. Then Laban and Bethuel answered, “The thing proceeds from Yahweh. We can’t speak to you bad or good. 51. Behold, Rebekah is before you. Take her, and go, and let her be your master’s son’s wife, as Yahweh has spoken.” 52. When Abraham’s servant heard their words, he bowed himself down to the earth to Yahweh. 53. The servant brought out jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and clothing, and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave precious things to her brother and her mother. 54. They ate and drank, he and the men who were with him, and stayed all night. They rose up in the morning, and he said, “Send me away to my master.” 55. Her brother and her mother said, “Let the young lady stay with us a few days, at least ten. After that she will go.” 56. He said to them, “Don’t hinder me, since Yahweh has prospered my way. Send me away that I may go to my master.” 57. They said, “We will call the young lady, and ask her.” 58. They called Rebekah, and said to her, “Will you go with this man?” She said, “I will go.” 59. They sent away Rebekah, their sister, with her nurse, Abraham’s servant, and his men. 60. They blessed Rebekah, and said to her, “Our sister, may you be the mother of thousands of ten thousands, and let your offspring possess the gate of those who hate them.” 61. Rebekah arose with her ladies. They rode on the camels, and followed the man. The servant took Rebekah, and went his way. 62. Isaac came from the way of Beer Lahai Roi, for he lived in the land of the South. 63. Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the evening. He lifted up his eyes and looked. Behold, there were camels coming. 64. Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she got off the camel. 65. She said to the servant, “Who is the man who is walking in the field to meet us?” The servant said, “It is my master.” She took her veil, and covered herself. 66. The servant told Isaac all the things that he had done. 67. Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife. He loved her. Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death. 1. Abraham took another wife, and her name was Keturah. 2. She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. 3. Jokshan became the father of Sheba, and Dedan. The sons of Dedan were Asshurim, Letushim, and Leummim. 4. The sons of Midian were: Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah. 5. Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac, 6. but to the sons of Abraham’s concubines, Abraham gave gifts. He sent them away from Isaac his son, while he yet lived, eastward, to the east country. 7. These are the days of the years of Abraham’s life which he lived: one hundred seventy-five years. 8. Abraham gave up his spirit, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years, and was gathered to his people. 9. Isaac and Ishmael, his sons, buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron, the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is before Mamre, 10. the field which Abraham purchased of the children of Heth. Abraham was buried there with Sarah, his wife. 11. After the death of Abraham, God blessed Isaac, his son. Isaac lived by Beer Lahai Roi. 12. Now this is the history of the generations of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s servant, bore to Abraham. 13. These are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to the order of their birth: the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebaioth, then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, 14. Mishma, Dumah, Massa, 15. Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. 16. These are the sons of Ishmael, and these are their names, by their villages, and by their encampments: twelve princes, according to their nations. 17. These are the years of the life of Ishmael: one hundred thirty-seven years. He gave up his spirit and died, and was gathered to his people. 18. They lived from Havilah to Shur that is before Egypt, as you go toward Assyria. He lived opposite all his relatives. 19. This is the history of the generations of Isaac, Abraham’s son. Abraham became the father of Isaac. 20. Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Paddan Aram, the sister of Laban the Syrian, to be his wife. 21. Isaac entreated Yahweh for his wife, because she was barren. Yahweh was entreated by him, and Rebekah his wife conceived. 22. The children struggled together within her. She said, “If it is so, why do I live?” She went to inquire of Yahweh. 23. Yahweh said to her, “Two nations are in your womb. Two peoples will be separated from your body. The one people will be stronger than the other people. The elder will serve the younger.” 24. When her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb. 25. The first came out red all over, like a hairy garment. They named him Esau. 26. After that, his brother came out, and his hand had hold on Esau’s heel. He was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them. 27. The boys grew. Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field. Jacob was a quiet man, living in tents. 28. Now Isaac loved Esau, because he ate his venison. Rebekah loved Jacob. 29. Jacob boiled stew. Esau came in from the field, and he was famished. 30. Esau said to Jacob, “Please feed me with that same red stew, for I am famished.” Therefore his name was called Edom. 31. Jacob said, “First, sell me your birthright.” 32. Esau said, “Behold, I am about to die. What good is the birthright to me?” 33. Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” He swore to him. He sold his birthright to Jacob. 34. Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils. He ate and drank, rose up, and went his way. So Esau despised his birthright. 1. There was a famine in the land, besides the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines, to Gerar. 2. Yahweh appeared to him, and said, “Don’t go down into Egypt. Live in the land I will tell you about. 3. Live in this land, and I will be with you, and will bless you. For I will give to you, and to your offspring, all these lands, and I will establish the oath which I swore to Abraham your father. 4. I will multiply your offspring as the stars of the sky, and will give all these lands to your offspring. In your offspring will all the nations of the earth be blessed, 5. because Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my requirements, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.” 6. Isaac lived in Gerar. 7. The men of the place asked him about his wife. He said, “She is my sister,” for he was afraid to say, “My wife”, lest, he thought, “the men of the place might kill me for Rebekah, because she is beautiful to look at.” 8. When he had been there a long time, Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out at a window, and saw, and, behold, Isaac was caressing Rebekah, his wife. 9. Abimelech called Isaac, and said, “Behold, surely she is your wife. Why did you say, ‘She is my sister?’” Isaac said to him, “Because I said, ‘Lest I die because of her.’” 10. Abimelech said, “What is this you have done to us? One of the people might easily have lain with your wife, and you would have brought guilt on us!” 11. Abimelech commanded all the people, saying, “He who touches this man or his wife will surely be put to death.” 12. Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year one hundred times what he planted. Yahweh blessed him. 13. The man grew great, and grew more and more until he became very great. 14. He had possessions of flocks, possessions of herds, and a great household. The Philistines envied him. 15. Now all the wells which his father’s servants had dug in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines had stopped, and filled with earth. 16. Abimelech said to Isaac, “Go away from us, for you are much mightier than we.” 17. Isaac departed from there, encamped in the valley of Gerar, and lived there. 18. Isaac dug again the wells of water, which they had dug in the days of Abraham his father. For the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham. He called their names after the names by which his father had called them. 19. Isaac’s servants dug in the valley, and found there a well of springing water. 20. The herdsmen of Gerar argued with Isaac’s herdsmen, saying, “The water is ours.” He called the name of the well Esek, because they contended with him. 21. They dug another well, and they argued over that, also. He called its name Sitnah. 22. He left that place, and dug another well. They didn’t argue over that one. He called it Rehoboth. He said, “For now Yahweh has made room for us, and we will be fruitful in the land.” 23. He went up from there to Beersheba. 24. Yahweh appeared to him the same night, and said, “I am the God of Abraham your father. Don’t be afraid, for I am with you, and will bless you, and multiply your offspring for my servant Abraham’s sake.” 25. He built an altar there, and called on Yahweh’s name, and pitched his tent there. There Isaac’s servants dug a well. 26. Then Abimelech went to him from Gerar, and Ahuzzath his friend, and Phicol the captain of his army. 27. Isaac said to them, “Why have you come to me, since you hate me, and have sent me away from you?” 28. They said, “We saw plainly that Yahweh was with you. We said, ‘Let there now be an oath between us, even between us and you, and let us make a covenant with you, 29. that you will do us no harm, as we have not touched you, and as we have done to you nothing but good, and have sent you away in peace.’ You are now the blessed of Yahweh.” 30. He made them a feast, and they ate and drank. 31. They rose up some time in the morning, and swore an oath to one another. Isaac sent them away, and they departed from him in peace. 32. The same day, Isaac’s servants came, and told him concerning the well which they had dug, and said to him, “We have found water.” 33. He called it Shibah. Therefore the name of the city is Beersheba to this day. 34. When Esau was forty years old, he took as wife Judith, the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Basemath, the daughter of Elon the Hittite. 35. They grieved Isaac’s and Rebekah’s spirits.

1. “For the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who was the master of a household, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2. When he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3. He went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace. 4. He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went their way. 5. Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise. 6. About the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle. He said to them, ‘Why do you stand here all day idle?’ 7. “They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ “He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and you will receive whatever is right.’ 8. When evening had come, the lord of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning from the last to the first.’ 9. “When those who were hired at about the eleventh hour came, they each received a denarius. 10. When the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise each received a denarius. 11. When they received it, they murmured against the master of the household, 12. saying, ‘These last have spent one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat!’ 13. “But he answered one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Didn’t you agree with me for a denarius? 14. Take that which is yours, and go your way. It is my desire to give to this last just as much as to you. 15. Isn’t it lawful for me to do what I want to with what I own? Or is your eye evil, because I am good?’ 16. So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few are chosen.” 17. As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them, 18. “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death, 19. and will hand him over to the Gentiles to mock, to scourge, and to crucify; and the third day he will be raised up.” 20. Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her sons, kneeling and asking a certain thing of him. 21. He said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Command that these, my two sons, may sit, one on your right hand, and one on your left hand, in your Kingdom.” 22. But Jesus answered, “You don’t know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” They said to him, “We are able.” 23. He said to them, “You will indeed drink my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with, but to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it is for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” 24. When the ten heard it, they were indignant with the two brothers. 25. But Jesus summoned them, and said, “You know that the rulers of the nations lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 26. It shall not be so among you, but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. 27. Whoever desires to be first among you shall be your bondservant, 28. even as the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” 29. As they went out from Jericho, a great multitude followed him. 30. Behold, two blind men sitting by the road, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, “Lord, have mercy on us, you son of David!” 31. The multitude rebuked them, telling them that they should be quiet, but they cried out even more, “Lord, have mercy on us, you son of David!” 32. Jesus stood still, and called them, and asked, “What do you want me to do for you?” 33. They told him, “Lord, that our eyes may be opened.” 34. Jesus, being moved with compassion, touched their eyes; and immediately their eyes received their sight, and they followed him. 1. When they came near to Jerusalem, and came to Bethsphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2. saying to them, “Go into the village that is opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them, and bring them to me. 3. If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and immediately he will send them.” 4. All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophet, saying, 5. “Tell the daughter of Zion, behold, your King comes to you, humble, and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” 6. The disciples went, and did just as Jesus commanded them, 7. and brought the donkey and the colt, and laid their clothes on them; and he sat on them. 8. A very great multitude spread their clothes on the road. Others cut branches from the trees, and spread them on the road. 9. The multitudes who went in front of him, and those who followed, kept shouting, “Hosanna to the son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” 10. When he had come into Jerusalem, all the city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” 11. The multitudes said, “This is the prophet, Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.” 12. Jesus entered into the temple of God, and drove out all of those who sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the money changers’ tables and the seats of those who sold the doves. 13. He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a den of robbers!” 14. The blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them. 15. But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children who were crying in the temple and saying, “Hosanna to the son of David!” they were indignant, 16. and said to him, “Do you hear what these are saying?” Jesus said to them, “Yes. Did you never read, ‘Out of the mouth of babes and nursing babies you have perfected praise?’” 17. He left them, and went out of the city to Bethany, and camped there. 18. Now in the morning, as he returned to the city, he was hungry. 19. Seeing a fig tree by the road, he came to it, and found nothing on it but leaves. He said to it, “Let there be no fruit from you forever!” Immediately the fig tree withered away. 20. When the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree immediately wither away?” 21. Jesus answered them, “Most certainly I tell you, if you have faith, and don’t doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you told this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ it would be done. 22. All things, whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” 23. When he had come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority do you do these things? Who gave you this authority?” 24. Jesus answered them, “I also will ask you one question, which if you tell me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things. 25. The baptism of John, where was it from? From heaven or from men?” They reasoned with themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 26. But if we say, ‘From men,’ we fear the multitude, for all hold John as a prophet.” 27. They answered Jesus, and said, “We don’t know.” He also said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things. 28. But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first, and said, ‘Son, go work today in my vineyard.’ 29. He answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind, and went. 30. He came to the second, and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I’ m going, sir,’ but he didn’t go. 31. Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said to him, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Most certainly I tell you that the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering into God’s Kingdom before you. 32. For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you didn’t believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. When you saw it, you didn’t even repent afterward, that you might believe him. 33. “Hear another parable. There was a man who was a master of a household, who planted a vineyard, set a hedge about it, dug a wine press in it, built a tower, leased it out to farmers, and went into another country. 34. When the season for the fruit came near, he sent his servants to the farmers, to receive his fruit. 35. The farmers took his servants, beat one, killed another, and stoned another. 36. Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they treated them the same way. 37. But afterward he sent to them his son, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 38. But the farmers, when they saw the son, said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him, and seize his inheritance.’ 39. So they took him, and threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. 40. When therefore the lord of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those farmers?” 41. They told him, “He will miserably destroy those miserable men, and will lease out the vineyard to other farmers, who will give him the fruit in its season.” 42. Jesus said to them, “Did you never read in the Scriptures, ‘The stone which the builders rejected, the same was made the head of the corner. This was from the Lord. It is marvelous in our eyes?’ 43. “Therefore I tell you, God’s Kingdom will be taken away from you, and will be given to a nation producing its fruit. 44. He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but on whomever it will fall, it will scatter him as dust.” 45. When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that he spoke about them. 46. When they sought to seize him, they feared the multitudes, because they considered him to be a prophet. 1. Jesus answered and spoke to them again in parables, saying, 2. “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a certain king, who made a marriage feast for his son, 3. and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the marriage feast, but they would not come. 4. Again he sent out other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “Behold, I have prepared my dinner. My cattle and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the marriage feast!”’ 5. But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his merchandise, 6. and the rest grabbed his servants, and treated them shamefully, and killed them. 7. When the king heard that, he was angry, and sent his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. 8. “Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited weren’t worthy. 9. Go therefore to the intersections of the highways, and as many as you may find, invite to the marriage feast.’ 10. Those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together as many as they found, both bad and good. The wedding was filled with guests. 11. But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man who didn’t have on wedding clothing, 12. and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here not wearing wedding clothing?’ He was speechless. 13. Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and throw him into the outer darkness. That is where the weeping and grinding of teeth will be.’ 14. For many are called, but few chosen.” 15. Then the Pharisees went and took counsel how they might entrap him in his talk. 16. They sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are honest, and teach the way of God in truth, no matter whom you teach, for you aren’t partial to anyone. 17. Tell us therefore, what do you think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” 18. But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, “Why do you test me, you hypocrites? 19. Show me the tax money.” They brought to him a denarius. 20. He asked them, “Whose is this image and inscription?” 21. They said to him, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Give therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” 22. When they heard it, they marveled, and left him, and went away. 23. On that day Sadducees (those who say that there is no resurrection) came to him. They asked him, 24. saying, “Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up offspring for his brother.’ 25. Now there were with us seven brothers. The first married and died, and having no offspring left his wife to his brother. 26. In the same way, the second also, and the third, to the seventh. 27. After them all, the woman died. 28. In the resurrection therefore, whose wife will she be of the seven? For they all had her.” 29. But Jesus answered them, “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God. 30. For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are like God’s angels in heaven. 31. But concerning the resurrection of the dead, haven’t you read that which was spoken to you by God, saying, 32. ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?’ God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” 33. When the multitudes heard it, they were astonished at his teaching. 34. But the Pharisees, when they heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, gathered themselves together. 35. One of them, a lawyer, asked him a question, testing him. 36. “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?” 37. Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38. This is the first and great commandment. 39. A second likewise is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.” 41. Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question, 42. saying, “What do you think of the Christ? Whose son is he?” They said to him, “Of David.” 43. He said to them, “How then does David in the Spirit call him Lord, saying, 44. ‘The Lord said to my Lord, sit on my right hand, until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet?’ 45. “If then David calls him Lord, how is he his son?” 46. No one was able to answer him a word, neither did any man dare ask him any more questions from that day forward.

1. Yahweh, my God, I take refuge in you. Save me from all those who pursue me, and deliver me, 2. lest they tear apart my soul like a lion, ripping it in pieces, while there is no one to deliver. 3. Yahweh, my God, if I have done this, if there is iniquity in my hands, 4. if I have rewarded evil to him who was at peace with me (yes, I have delivered him who without cause was my adversary), 5. let the enemy pursue my soul, and overtake it; yes, let him tread my life down to the earth, and lay my glory in the dust. Selah. 6. Arise, Yahweh, in your anger. Lift up yourself against the rage of my adversaries. Awake for me. You have commanded judgment. 7. Let the congregation of the peoples surround you. Rule over them on high. 8. Yahweh administers judgment to the peoples. Judge me, Yahweh, according to my righteousness, and to my integrity that is in me. 9. Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous; their minds and hearts are searched by the righteous God. 10. My shield is with God, who saves the upright in heart. 11. God is a righteous judge, yes, a God who has indignation every day. 12. If a man doesn’t relent, he will sharpen his sword; he has bent and strung his bow. 13. He has also prepared for himself the instruments of death. He makes ready his flaming arrows. 14. Behold, he travails with iniquity. Yes, he has conceived mischief, and brought out falsehood. 15. He has dug a hole, and has fallen into the pit which he made. 16. The trouble he causes shall return to his own head. His violence shall come down on the crown of his own head. 17. I will give thanks to Yahweh according to his righteousness, and will sing praise to the name of Yahweh Most High.