Judahsaidto his brothers,"Whatprofitis it for us to killour brotherand coverup his blood?
Esausaid,"Behold,I amaboutto die;so of what[use] then is the birthrightto me?"
"Nowthen, comeand let us killhim and throwhim into oneof the pits;and we will say,'A wildbeastdevouredhim.' Then let us seewhatwill becomeof his dreams!"
He said,"Whathave you done?The voiceof your brother'sbloodis cryingto Me from the ground.
Then the LORDsaidto Cain,"Whereis Abelyour brother?"And he said,"I do not know.Am I my brother'skeeper?"
"For I was in factkidnappedfrom the landof the Hebrews,and evenhereI have donenothingthat they should have putme into the dungeon."
Then they saidto oneanother,"Trulywe are guiltyconcerningour brother,becausewe sawthe distressof his soulwhen he pleadedwith us, yet we would not listen;thereforethisdistresshas comeupon us."
"As for you, you meantevilagainstme, [but] Godmeantit for goodin orderto bringaboutthispresentresult, to preservemanypeoplealive.
Davidsaidto him, "Your bloodis on your head,for your mouthhas testifiedagainst you, saying,'I have killedthe LORD'Sanointed.'"
"O earth,do not covermy blood,And let there be no[resting] placefor my cry.
"Whatprofitis there in my blood,if I godownto the pit?Will the dustpraiseYou? Will it declareYour faithfulness?
Even thoughElnathanand Delaiahand Gemariahpleadedwith the kingnot to burnthe scroll,he would not listento them.
But tenmenwho were foundamong them saidto Ishmael,"Do not putus to death;for we havestoresof wheat,barley,oiland honeyhiddenin the field."So he refrainedand did not putthem to deathalongwith their companions.
"For her bloodis in her midst;She placedit on the barerock;She did not pourit on the groundTo coverit with dust.
"For whatwill it profita manifhe gainsthe wholeworldand forfeitshis soul?Orwhatwill a mangivein exchangefor his soul?
Thereforewhatbenefitwere you thenderivingfrom the things of whichyou are nowashamed?For the outcomeof those thingsis death.
"Ifany caseis toodifficultfor you to decide,betweenone kind of homicideor another,betweenone kind of lawsuitor another,and betweenone kind of assaultor another,being casesof disputein your courts,then you shall ariseand goup to the placewhichthe LORDyour Godchooses.
