Now a certainwomanof the wivesof the sonsof the prophetscriedout to Elisha,"Your servantmy husbandis dead,and you knowthat your servantfearedthe LORD;and the creditorhas cometo takemy twochildrento be his slaves."
He said,"Do not stretchout your handagainstthe lad,and donothingto him; for nowI knowthat you fearGod,since you have not withheldyour son,your onlyson, from Me."
AhabcalledObadiahwho[was] overthe household.(Now Obadiahfearedthe LORDgreatly;
Now a certainmanof the sonsof the prophetssaidto anotherby the wordof the LORD,"Pleasestrikeme." But the manrefusedto strikehim.
Now when the sonsof the prophetswho[were] at Jerichoopposite[him] sawhim, they said,"The spiritof Elijahrestson Elisha."And they cameto meethim and bowedthemselves to the groundbefore him.
Then the sonsof the prophetswho[were at] Bethelcameout to Elishaand saidto him, "Do you knowthat the LORDwill takeaway your masterfrom overyou today?"And he said,"Yes,I know;be still."
The sonsof the prophetswho[were] at JerichoapproachedElishaand saidto him, "Do you knowthat the LORDwill takeaway your masterfrom overyou today?"And he answered,"Yes,I know;be still."
Now fiftymenof the sonsof the prophetswentand stoodopposite[them] at a distance,while the twoof them stoodby the Jordan.
When Elishareturnedto Gilgal,[there was] a faminein the land.As the sonsof the prophetswere sittingbeforehim, he saidto his servant,"Puton the largepotand boilstewfor the sonsof the prophets."
The manof Godsent[word] to the kingof Israelsaying,"Bewarethat you do not passthisplace,for the Arameansare comingdownthere."
As for the peoplesof the landwho bringwaresor anygrainon the sabbathdayto sell,we will not buyfrom them on the sabbathor a holyday;and we will forego[the crops] the seventhyearand the exactionof everydebt.
then I putHananimy brother,and Hananiahthe commanderof the fortress,in chargeof Jerusalem,for he was a faithfulmanand fearedGodmorethanmany.
For as highas the heavensare abovethe earth,So greatis His lovingkindnesstowardthose who fearHim.
But the lovingkindnessof the LORDis from everlastingto everlastingon those who fearHim, And His righteousnessto children'schildren,
He will blessthose who fearthe LORD,The smalltogetherwith the great.
The LORDfavorsthose who fearHim, Those who waitfor His lovingkindness.
The richrulesover the poor,And the borrower[becomes] the lender'sslave.
The conclusion,when allhas been heard,[is]: fearGodand keepHis commandments,becausethis[applies to] everyperson.
Althougha sinnerdoesevila hundred[times] and may lengthenhis [life], stillI knowthat it will be wellfor those who fearGod,whofearHim openly.
Thussaysthe LORD,"Whereis the certificateof divorceBy whichI have sentyour motheraway?Orto whomof My creditorsdid I sellyou? Behold,you were soldfor your iniquities,And for your transgressionsyour motherwas sentaway.
"At the endof sevenyearseachof you shall setfreehis Hebrewbrotherwhohas been soldto you and has servedyou sixyears,you shall sendhim out freefrom you; but your forefathersdid not obeyMe or inclinetheir earto Me.
then he shall haveredemptionrightafterhe has been sold.Oneof his brothersmay redeemhim,
Thenthose who fearedthe LORDspoketo oneanother,and the LORDgaveattentionand heard[it], and a bookof remembrancewas writtenbeforeHim for those who fearthe LORDand who esteemHis name.
"But for you who fearMy name,the sunof righteousnesswill risewith healingin its wings;and you will goforthand skipaboutlike calvesfrom the stall.
"But since he did not have[the means] to repay,his lordcommandedhim to be sold,alongwith his wifeand childrenand allthat he had,and repayment to be made.
"But he was unwillingand wentand threwhim in prisonuntilhe should pay backwhatwas owed.
"My heavenlyFatherwill alsodothe sameto you, ifeachof you does not forgivehis brotherfrom your heart."
"Brethren,sonsof Abraham'sfamily,and thoseamongyou who fearGod,to us the messageof thissalvationhas been sent.
For judgment[will be] mercilessto one who has shownnomercy;mercytriumphs overjudgment.
"Whowill not fear,O Lord,and glorifyYour name?For You aloneare holy;For ALLTHE NATIONSWILL COMEAND WORSHIPBEFOREYOU, FOR YOUR RIGHTEOUS ACTSHAVE BEEN REVEALED."
And a voicecamefrom the throne,saying,"Give praiseto our God,allyou His bond-servants,you who fearHim, the smalland the great."
Then Elimelech,Naomi'shusband,died;and she was leftwith her twosons.
Everyonewho was in distress,and everyonewhowas in debt,and everyonewho was discontentedgatheredto him; and he becamecaptainoverthem. Now there were about fourhundredmenwith him.
