JUDGES 19
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A Levite and His Concubine 19:1 In those days, when there was no king in Israel, a certain Levite was sojourning in the remote parts of the hill country of Ephraim, who took to himself a concubine from Bethlehem in Judah. 2 And his concubine was unfaithful to him, and she went away from him to her father’s house at Bethlehem in Judah, and was there some four months. 3 Then her husband arose and went after her, to speak kindly to her and bring her back. He had with him his servant and a couple of donkeys. And she brought him into her father’s house. And when the girl’s father saw him, he came with joy to meet him. 4 And his father-in-law, the girl’s father, made him stay, and he remained with him three days. So they ate and drank and spent the night there. 5 And on the fourth day they arose early in the morning, and he prepared to go, but the girl’s father said to his son-in-law, “Strengthen your heart with a morsel of bread, and after that you may go.” 6 So the two of them sat and ate and drank together. And the girl’s father said to the man, “Be pleased to spend the night, and let your heart be merry.” 7 And when the man rose up to go, his father-in-law pressed him, till he spent the night there again. 8 And on the fifth day he arose early in the morning to depart. And the girl’s father said, “Strengthen your heart and wait until the day declines.” So they ate, both of them. 9 And when the man and his concubine and his servant rose up to depart, his father-in-law, the girl’s father, said to him, “Behold, now the day has waned toward evening. Please, spend the night. Behold, the day draws to its close. Lodge here and let your heart be merry, and tomorrow you shall arise early in the morning for your journey, and go home.”PSALM 94
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The Lord Will Not Forsake His People94:1 O Lord, God of vengeance,O God of vengeance, shine forth! 2 Rise up, O judge of the earth;repay to the proud what they deserve! 3 O Lord, how long shall the wicked,how long shall the wicked exult? 4 They pour out their arrogant words;all the evildoers boast. 5 They crush your people, O Lord,and afflict your heritage. 6 They kill the widow and the sojourner,and murder the fatherless; 7 and they say, “The Lord does not see;the God of Jacob does not perceive.”PROVERBS 20
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20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler,and whoever is led astray by it is not wise. 2 The terror of a king is like the growling of a lion;whoever provokes him to anger forfeits his life. 3 It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife,but every fool will be quarreling. 4 The sluggard does not plow in the autumn;he will seek at harvest and have nothing. 5 The purpose in a man’s heart is like deep water,but a man of understanding will draw it out. 6 Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love,but a faithful man who can find? 7 The righteous who walks in his integrity—blessed are his children after him! 8 A king who sits on the throne of judgmentwinnows all evil with his eyes. 9 Who can say, “I have made my heart pure;I am clean from my sin”? 10 Unequal weights and unequal measuresare both alike an abomination to the Lord. 11 Even a child makes himself known by his acts,by whether his conduct is pure and upright. 12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye,the Lord has made them both. 13 Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty;open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread. 14 “Bad, bad,” says the buyer,but when he goes away, then he boasts. 15 There is gold and abundance of costly stones,but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel. 16 Take a man’s garment when he has put up security for a stranger,and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for foreigners. 17 Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man,but afterward his mouth will be full of gravel. 18 Plans are established by counsel;by wise guidance wage war. 19 Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets;therefore do not associate with a simple babbler. 20 If one curses his father or his mother,his lamp will be put out in utter darkness. 21 An inheritance gained hastily in the beginningwill not be blessed in the end. 22 Do not say, “I will repay evil”;wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you. 23 Unequal weights are an abomination to the Lord,and false scales are not good. 24 A man’s steps are from the Lord;how then can man understand his way? 25 It is a snare to say rashly, “It is holy,”and to reflect only after making vows. 26 A wise king winnows the wickedand drives the wheel over them. 27 The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord,searching all his innermost parts. 28 Steadfast love and faithfulness preserve the king,and by steadfast love his throne is upheld. 29 The glory of young men is their strength,but the splendor of old men is their gray hair. 30 Blows that wound cleanse away evil;strokes make clean the innermost parts.The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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