Woeto me, my mother,that you have borneme [As] a manof strifeand a manof contentionto allthe land!I have not lent,norhave men lentmoney to me, [Yet] everyonecursesme.
Ahabsaidto Elijah,"Have you foundme, O my enemy?"And he answered,"I have found[you], becauseyou have soldyourself to doevilin the sightof the LORD.
The kingof Israelsaidto Jehoshaphat,"There is yetonemanby whom we may inquireof the LORD,but I hatehim, becausehe does not prophesygoodconcerningme, but evil.[He is] Micaiahsonof Imlah."But Jehoshaphatsaid,"Let not the kingsayso."
Let them curse,but You bless;When they arise,they shall be ashamed,But Your servantshall be glad.
He does not putout his moneyat interest,Nordoes he takea bribeagainstthe innocent.He who doesthesethingswill neverbe shaken.
Those who hateme withouta causeare morethanthe hairsof my head;Those who would destroyme are powerful,being wrongfullymy enemies;WhatI did not steal,I thenhave to restore.
"Ifyou lendmoneyto My people,to the pooramongyou, you are not to actas a creditorto him; you shall not chargehim interest.
Like a sparrowin [its] flitting,like a swallowin [its] flying,Soa cursewithoutcausedoes not alight.
"Then I will makeyou to thispeopleA fortifiedwallof bronze;And though they fightagainstyou, They will not prevailover you; For I am with you to saveyou And deliveryou," declaresthe LORD.
Do not takeusuriousinterestfrom him, but revereyour God,that your countrymanmay livewith you.
You shall not givehim your silverat interest,noryour foodfor gain.
Whydo You makeme seeiniquity,And cause [me] to lookon wickedness?Yes, destructionand violenceare beforeme; Strifeexistsand contentionarises.
"Thenthey will deliveryou to tribulation,and will killyou, and you will be hatedby allnationsbecauseof My name.
"But I sayto you, loveyour enemiesand prayfor thosewho persecuteyou,
And Simeonblessedthem and saidto MaryHis mother,"Behold,this[Child] is appointedfor the falland riseof manyin Israel,and for a signto be opposed--
"Blessedare you whenmenhateyou, and ostracizeyou, and insultyou, and scornyour nameas evil,for the sakeof the Sonof Man.
"But we desireto hearfrom you whatyour viewsare; for concerningthissect,it is knownto us that it is spoken againsteverywhere."
