‘He told him, “I will condemn you by what you have said, you evil servant! If you knew I was a harsh man, collecting what I didn’t deposit and reaping what I didn’t sow,
Then Ben-hadad sent messengers to him and said, ‘May the gods punish me and do so severely if Samaria’s dust amounts to a handful for each of the people who follow me.’
And tell Amasa, “Aren’t you my flesh and blood? May God punish me and do so severely if you don’t become commander of my army from now on instead of Joab! ” ’
Then they came to urge David to eat food while it was still day, but David took an oath: ‘May God punish me and do so severely if I taste bread or anything else before sunset! ’
So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, ‘May the gods punish me and do so severely if I don’t make your life like the life of one of them by this time tomorrow! ’