some worthlessmenhave goneout from amongyou and have seducedthe inhabitantsof their city,saying,Let us goand serveothergods(whomyou have not known),
ThusShimeisaidwhen he cursed,"Getout, getout, you manof bloodshed,and worthlessfellow!
Now a worthlessfellowhappenedto be therewhose namewas Sheba,the sonof Bichri,a Benjamite;and he blewthe trumpetand said,"We havenoportionin David,Nordo we have inheritancein the sonof Jesse;Everymanto his tents,O Israel!"
"But the worthless,everyoneof them will be thrustawaylike thorns,Becausethey cannotbe takenin hand;
and seattwoworthlessmenbeforehim, and let them testifyagainst him, saying,You cursedGodand the king.'Then takehim out and stonehim to death."
Then the twoworthlessmencamein and satbeforehim; and the worthlessmentestifiedagainst him, even against Naboth,beforethe people,saying,"NabothcursedGodand the king."So they tookhim outsidethe cityand stonedhim to deathwith stones.
WhenHe had tornIsraelfrom the houseof David,they madeJeroboamthe sonof Nebatking.Then JeroboamdroveIsraelawayfrom followingthe LORDand made them commita greatsin.
and worthlessmengatheredabouthim, scoundrels,who provedtoostrongfor Rehoboam,the sonof Solomon,when he was youngand timidand could not holdhis ownagainstthem.
"You are of [your] fatherthe devil,and you wantto dothe desiresof your father.He was a murdererfrom the beginning,and does not standin the truthbecausethere is notruthin him. Wheneverhe speaksa lie,he speaksfrom his own[nature], for he is a liarand the fatherof lies.
Orwhatharmonyhas Christwith Belial,orwhathas a believerin commonwith an unbeliever?
"Ifyou hearin oneof your cities,whichthe LORDyour Godis givingyou to livein, [anyone] saying[that]
then you shall investigateand searchout and inquirethoroughly.Ifit is true [and] the matterestablishedthat thisabominationhas been doneamongyou,
and the signor the wondercomestrue, concerning whichhe spoketo you, saying,Let us goafterothergods(whomyou have not known)and let us servethem,'
"Ifyour brother,your mother'sson,oryour sonordaughter,orthe wifeyou cherish,oryour friendwhois as your own soul,enticeyou secretly,saying,Let us goand serveothergods(whomneitheryou noryour fathershave known,
and if it is toldyou and you have heardof it, then you shall inquirethoroughly.Behold,if it is true and the thingcertainthat thisdetestablethinghas been donein Israel,
"And [beware] not to liftup your eyesto heavenand seethe sunand the moonand the stars,allthe hostof heaven,and be drawnawayand worshipthem and servethem, those whichthe LORDyour Godhas allottedto allthe peoplesunderthe wholeheaven.
They wentout from us, but they were not [really] of us; for ifthey had beenof us, they would have remainedwith us; but [they went out], sothat it would be shownthat they allare not of us.
By thisthe childrenof Godand the childrenof the devilare obvious:anyonewho does not practicerighteousnessis not of God,northe one who does not lovehis brother.
Theseare the ones who cause divisions,worldly-minded,devoidof the Spirit.
While they were celebrating,behold,the menof the city,certainworthlessfellows,surroundedthe house,poundingthe door;and they spoketo the ownerof the house,the oldman,saying,"Bringout the manwhocameinto your housethat we may haverelationswith him."
"Nowthen, deliverup the men,the worthlessfellowsin Gibeah,that we may putthem to deathand remove[this] wickednessfrom Israel."But the sonsof Benjaminwouldnot listento the voiceof their brothers,the sonsof Israel.
But certain worthlessmensaid,"Howcan thisonedeliverus?" And they despisedhim and did not bringhim any present.But he keptsilent.
Now the sonsof Eliwere worthlessmen;they did not knowthe LORD
"Nowtherefore, knowand considerwhatyou should do,for evilis plottedagainstour masterand againstallhis household;and he is such a worthlessmanthat noone can speakto him."
"Pleasedo not let my lordpayattentionto thisworthlessman,Nabal,for as his nameis, sois he. Nabalis his nameand follyis with him; but I your maidservantdid not seethe youngmenof my lordwhomyou sent.
