so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow – in heaven and on earth and under the earth –

For it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow to me, and every tongue will give praise to God.” ¹ 

But what was the divine response ¹  to him? “I have kept for myself seven thousand people ²  who have not bent the knee to Baal.” ³ 

I solemnly make this oath ¹  – what I say is true and reliable: ²  ‘Surely every knee will bow to me, every tongue will solemnly affirm; ³ 

All of their hands will hang limp; their knees will be wet with urine. ¹ 

Pharaoh ¹  had him ride in the chariot used by his second-in-command, ²  and they cried out before him, “Kneel down!” ³  So he placed him over all the land of Egypt.

Again he measured 1,750 feet and led me through the water, which was now knee deep. Once more he measured 1,750 feet and led me through the water, which was waist deep.

What we have heard and learned ¹  – that which our ancestors ²  have told us –

and after braiding ¹  a crown of thorns, ²  they put it on his head. They ³  put a staff ⁴  in his right hand, and kneeling down before him, they mocked him: ⁵  “Hail, king of the Jews!” ⁶ 

Make for them linen undergarments to cover their naked bodies; ¹  they must cover ²  from the waist to the thighs.

Listen, ¹  my child, ²  to the instruction ³  from ⁴  your father, and do not forsake the teaching ⁵  from ⁶  your mother.

When I was a son to my father, ¹  a tender only child ²  before my mother,

The Lord who rules over all said, “I will kill all the archers of Elam, who are the chief source of her military might. ¹ 

Those who revolt are knee-deep in slaughter, ¹  but I will discipline them all. ² 

He brings an end to wars throughout the earth; ¹  he shatters ²  the bow and breaks ³  the spear; he burns ⁴  the shields with fire. ⁵ 

Then I took my staff “Pleasantness” and cut it in two to annul my covenant that I had made with all the people.

Then I cut the second staff “Binders” in two in order to annul the covenant of brotherhood between Judah and Israel.

Again and again ¹  they struck him on the head with a staff ²  and spit on him. Then they knelt down and paid homage to him.

When they ask you, ‘Why are you groaning?’ you will reply, ‘Because of the report that has come. Every heart will melt with fear and every hand will be limp; everyone ¹  will faint and every knee will be wet with urine.’ ²  Pay attention – it is coming and it will happen, declares the sovereign Lord.”

All the women who are left in the royal palace of Judah will be led out to the officers of the king of Babylon. They will taunt you saying, ¹  ‘Your trusted friends misled you; they have gotten the best of you. Now that your feet are stuck in the mud, they have turned their backs on you.’ ²