So the kingsaid,"Is the handof Joabwith you in allthis?"And the womanreplied,"As your soullives,my lordthe king,noone can turnto the rightor to the leftfrom anythingthat my lordthe kinghas spoken.Indeed,it was your servantJoabwhocommandedme, and it was he who putallthesewordsin the mouthof your maidservant;
Uriahsaidto David,"The arkand Israeland Judahare stayingin temporaryshelters,and my lordJoaband the servantsof my lordare campingin the openfield.Shall I then goto my houseto eatand to drinkand to liewith my wife?By your lifeand the lifeof your soul,I will not dothisthing."
Then the kingansweredand saidto the woman,"Pleasedo not hideanythingfrom me that I am about to askyou." And the womansaid,"Let my lordthe kingpleasespeak."
then goto the kingand speakto him in thismanner."So Joabputthe wordsin her mouth.
"Otherwise,if I had dealttreacherouslyagainst his life(and there is nothinghiddenfrom the king),then you yourselfwould have stoodaloof."
So when Abnerreturnedto Hebron,Joabtookhim asideinto the middleof the gateto speakwith him privately,and therehe struckhim in the bellyso that he diedon account of the bloodof Asahelhis brother.
"May it fallon the headof Joaband on allhis father'shouse;and may there not failfrom the houseof Joabone who has a discharge,or who is a leper,or who takesholdof a distaff,or who fallsby the sword,or who lacksbread."
"Your handswere not bound,noryour feetputin fetters;As one fallsbeforethe wicked,you have fallen."And allthe peopleweptagainoverhim.
Elijahsaidto Elisha,"Stayhereplease,for the LORDhas sentme as faras Bethel."But Elishasaid,"As the LORDlivesand as you yourselflive,I will not leaveyou." So they wentdownto Bethel.
"You are to speakto him and putthe wordsin his mouth;and I, even I, will be with your mouthand his mouth,and I will teachyou whatyou are to do.
It is the gloryof Godto conceala matter,But the gloryof kingsis to searchout a matter.
Do not turnto the rightnorto the left;Turnyour footfrom evil.
Pleaselet us passthrough your land.We will not passthroughfieldor through vineyard;we will not even drinkwaterfrom a well.We will goalong the king'shighway,not turningto the rightor left,untilwe passthroughyour territory.'"
for I will giveyou utteranceand wisdomwhichnoneof your opponentswill be ableto resistorrefute.
and do not turnasidefrom anyof the wordswhichI commandyou today,to the rightor to the left,to goafterothergodsto servethem.
"So you shall observeto dojustas the LORDyour Godhas commandedyou; you shall not turnasideto the rightor to the left.
"Onlybe strongand verycourageous;be carefulto doaccording to allthe lawwhichMosesMy servantcommandedyou; do not turnfrom it to the rightor to the left,sothat you may havesuccesswhereveryou go.
She said,"Oh,my lord!As your soullives,my lord,I am the womanwho stoodherebesideyou, prayingto the LORD.
Now when SaulsawDavidgoingout againstthe Philistine,he saidto Abnerthe commanderof the army,"Abner,whosesonis thisyoungman?"And Abnersaid,"By your life,O king,I do not know."
Yet Davidvowedagain,saying,"Your fatherknowswellthat I have foundfavorin your sight,and he has said,'Do not let Jonathanknowthis,orhe will be grieved.'But trulyas the LORDlivesand as your soullives,there is hardly a stepbetweenme and death."
"Nowtherefore, my lord,as the LORDlives,and as your soullives,sincethe LORDhas restrainedyou from sheddingblood,and from avengingyourself by your own hand,nowthen let your enemiesand those who seekevilagainstmy lord,be as Nabal.
