"As Godlives,who has takenawaymy right,And the Almighty,who has embitteredmy soul,
Joabsaid,"As Godlives,ifyou had not spoken,surelythenthe peoplewould have goneawayin the morning,eachfrom followinghis brother."
Now Elijahthe Tishbite,who was of the settlersof Gilead,saidto Ahab,"As the LORD,the Godof Israellives,beforewhomI stand,surelythere shall be neitherdewnor raintheseyears,exceptby my word."
Elijahsaid,"As the LORDof hostslives,beforewhomI stand,I will surelyshowmyself to him today."
When she cameto the manof Godto the hill,she caughtholdof his feet.And Gehazicamenearto pushher away;but the manof Godsaid,"Lether alone,for her soulis troubledwithin her; and the LORDhas hiddenit from me and has not toldme."
Is it rightfor You indeedto oppress,To rejectthe laborof Your hands,And to lookfavorablyon the schemesof the wicked?
"Godhandsme overto ruffiansAnd tossesme into the handsof the wicked.
Knowthenthat Godhas wrongedme And has closedHis netaroundme.
"[It is] God[who] has made my heartfaint,And the Almighty[who] has dismayedme,
"For Jobhas said,I am righteous,But Godhas takenawaymy right;
"Do you thinkthisis according to justice?Do you say,'My righteousnessis morethanGod's'?
"Will you reallyannulMy judgment?Will you condemnMe that you may be justified?
"For He bruisesme with a tempestAnd multipliesmy woundswithoutcause.
"He will not allowme to getmy breath,But saturatesme with bitterness.
Whydo you say,O Jacob,and assert,O Israel,"My wayis hiddenfrom the LORD,And the justicedue me escapesthe noticeof my God"?
"Then ifthey will reallylearnthe waysof My people,to swearby My name,'As the LORDlives,'evenas they taughtMy peopleto swearby Baal,they will be builtup in the midstof My people.
And you will swear,'As the LORDlives,'In truth,in justiceand in righteousness;Then the nationswill blessthemselves in Him, And in Him they will glory."
"And althoughthey say,'As the LORDlives,'Surelythey swearfalsely."
"Sayto them, 'As I live!'declaresthe LordGOD,'I takenopleasurein the deathof the wicked,but ratherthat the wickedturnfrom his wayand live.Turnback,turnbackfrom your evilways!Whythen will you die,O houseof Israel?'
but indeed,as I live,allthe earthwill be filledwith the gloryof the LORD.
"Remainthis night,and when morningcomes,ifhe will redeemyou, good;let him redeemyou. But ifhe does not wishto redeemyou, then I will redeemyou, as the LORDlives.Liedownuntilmorning."
"For as the LORDlives,who deliversIsrael,thoughit is in Jonathanmy son,he shall surelydie."But not oneof allthe peopleansweredhim.
But the peoplesaidto Saul,"Must Jonathandie,whohas broughtaboutthisgreatdeliverancein Israel?Farfrom it! As the LORDlives,not one hairof his headshall fallto the ground,for he has workedwith Godthisday."So the peoplerescuedJonathanand he did not die.
"And behold,I will sendthe lad,[saying], 'Go,findthe arrows.'IfI specificallysayto the lad,'Behold,the arrowsare on thissideof you, getthem,' then come;for there is safetyfor you and noharm,as the LORDlives.
"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.
"Nevertheless,as the LORDGodof Israellives,whohas restrainedme from harmingyou, unlessyou had comequicklyto meetme, surelythere would not have been leftto Nabaluntilthe morninglight[as much as] one male."
