I summon ¹  my servant, but he does not respond, even though I implore ²  him with my own mouth.

The sluggard will not plow ¹  during the planting season, ²  so at harvest time he looks ³  for the crop ⁴  but has nothing.

I said, “Sovereign Lord, stop! How can Jacob survive? ¹  He is too weak!” ² 

But one after another they all ¹  began to make excuses. ²  The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, ³  and I must go out and see it. Please excuse me.’ ⁴ 

now I ask that when I am present I may not have to be bold with the confidence that (I expect) I will dare to use against some who consider us to be behaving ¹  according to human standards. ² 

And they came to Balaam and said to him, “Thus says Balak son of Zippor: ‘Please do not let anything hinder you from coming ¹  to me.

Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His plea ¹  through us. We plead with you ²  on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God!”

Now regarding the arrival ¹  of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to be with him, ²  we ask you, brothers and sisters, ³ 

‘Tell Joseph this: Please forgive the sin of your brothers and the wrong they did when they treated you so badly.’ Now please forgive the sin of the servants of the God of your father.” When this message was reported to him, Joseph wept. ¹ 

Then Moses cried to the Lord, “Heal her now, O God.” ¹ 

“But now, O Job, listen to my words, and hear ¹  everything I have to say! ² 

Two things ¹  I ask from you; ²  do not refuse me before I die:

And they began to beg ¹  him not to order ²  them to depart into the abyss. ³ 

I especially ask you to pray ¹  that I may be restored to you very soon.

then, my child, do this in order to deliver yourself, ¹  because you have fallen into your neighbor’s power: ²  go, humble yourself, ³  and appeal firmly ⁴  to your neighbor.

But now plead for God’s favor ¹  that he might be gracious to us. ²  “With this kind of offering in your hands, how can he be pleased with you?” asks the Lord who rules over all.

He said, “My lord, ¹  if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by and leave your servant. ² 

Now please forgive my sin! Go back with me so I can worship ¹  the Lord.”

Call to mind now: ¹  Who, ²  being innocent, ever perished? ³  And where were upright people ⁴  ever destroyed? ⁵ 

Or ‘Deliver me ¹  from the enemy’s power, ²  and from the hand of tyrants ³  ransom ⁴  me’?