Therefore, this is what the Lord God of Armies says: Because you have spoken this word, I am going to make my words become fire in your mouth. These people are the wood, and the fire will consume them.
For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
The righteous Lord is in her; he does no wrong. He applies his justice morning by morning; he does not fail at dawn, yet the one who does wrong knows no shame.
I have made your forehead like a diamond, harder than flint. Don’t be afraid of them or discouraged by the look on their faces, though they are a rebellious house.’
And you will say to them, “This is what the Lord says: I am about to fill all who live in this land #– #the kings who reign for David on his throne, the priests, the prophets, and all the residents of Jerusalem #– #with drunkenness.
Today, I am the one who has made you a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls against the whole land #– #against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and the population.
but he will judge the poor righteously and execute justice for the oppressed of the land. He will strike the land with a sceptre from his mouth, and he will kill the wicked with a command from his lips.
Then a letter came to Jehoram from the prophet Elijah, saying: This is what the Lord, the God of your ancestor David says: ‘Because you have not walked in the ways of your father Jehoshaphat or in the ways of King Asa of Judah
Then Elijah said to King Ahaziah, ‘This is what the Lord says: “Because you have sent messengers to enquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron #– #is it because there is no God in Israel for you to enquire of his will? #– #you will not get up from your sick-bed; you will certainly die.” ’
Now Elijah the Tishbite, from the Gilead settlers, , said to Ahab, ‘As the Lord God of Israel lives, in whose presence I stand, there will be no dew or rain during these years except by my command! ’
Then Samuel said: Does the Lord take pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? Look: to obey is better than sacrifice, to pay attention is better than the fat of rams.
Samuel said to Saul, ‘You have been foolish. You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you. It was at this time that the Lord would have permanently established your reign over Israel,
You could not possibly do such a thing: to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. You could not possibly do that! Won’t the Judge of the whole earth do what is just? ’
Samuel declared: As your sword has made women childless, so your mother will be childless among women. Then he hacked Agag to pieces before the Lord at Gilgal.
‘Son of man, wail over the hordes of Egypt and bring Egypt and the daughters of mighty nations down to the underworld, to be with those who descend to the Pit: