David touched the hearts of all the people of Judah, so that they agreed like one man. The people of Judah sent {a message} to the king. They said, “You and all your officers come back!”
All the people in all the family groups of Israel began to argue. They said, “King David saved us from the Philistines and our other enemies. David ran away from Absalom.
Then the woman spoke very wisely to all the people of the city. The people cut off the head of Sheba son of Bicri. Then the people threw Sheba’s head over the city wall to Joab.
There was war for a long time between Saul’s family and David’s family. David became stronger and stronger. And Saul’s family became weaker and weaker.
There are nations in places you don’t know,\par but you will call for those nations.\par Those nations don’t know you,\par but they will run to you.\par This will happen because the Lord,\par your God, wants it.\par This will happen because the Holy One\par of Israel honors you.\par
The Lord says, “I helped people that had not come to me for advice. The people that found me were not looking for me. I spoke to a nation that does not wear my name. I said, ‘Here I am! Here I am!’
“The person that looked like a human being was given authority, glory, and complete ruling power. People from every nation and every language will worship him. His rule will last forever. His kingdom will continue forever. It will never be destroyed.
I will sow her many seeds {\cf2\super [21]} on her land.\par To Lo-Ruhamah, {\cf2\super [22]} \par I will show mercy.\par To Lo-Ammi, {\cf2\super [23]} \par I will say, ‘You are my people.’\par And they will say to me,\par ‘You are my God.’”\par
The Lord will make you be like the head, not the tail. You will be on top, not on the bottom. This will happen if you listen to the commands of the Lord your God that I tell you today. You must carefully obey these commands.