When Athaliah heard the royal guard ¹  shouting and praising the king, she joined the crowd ²  at the Lord’s temple.

All the officials and all the people gladly brought their silver and threw it into the chest until it was full.

If ¹  God ²  puts no trust in ³  his servants ⁴  and attributes ⁵  folly ⁶  to his angels,

the blessing of the dying man descended on me, ¹  and I made the widow’s heart rejoice; ² 

You godly ones, shout for joy because of the Lord! It is appropriate for the morally upright to offer him praise.

Turn your angry gaze away from me, so I can be happy before I pass away. ¹ 

Then ¹  observers ²  will say, “Yes indeed, the godly are rewarded! ³  Yes indeed, there is a God who judges ⁴  in the earth!”

My accusers will be covered ¹  with shame, and draped in humiliation as if it were a robe.

When the righteous do well, ¹  the city rejoices; ²  when the wicked perish, there is joy.

Better is a dry crust of bread ¹  where there is quietness ²  than a house full of feasting with strife. ³ 

Feasts ¹  are made ²  for laughter, and wine makes life merry, ³  but money is the answer ⁴  for everything.

On that day they will say ¹  to Jerusalem, “Don’t be afraid, Zion! Your hands must not be paralyzed from panic! ² 

“But woe ¹  to you who are rich, for you have received ²  your comfort ³  already.

He answered, ¹  “I tell you, if they ²  keep silent, the very stones ³  will cry out!”

Therefore keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God ¹  that it will be just as I have been told.

For if I make you sad, who would be left to make me glad ¹  but the one I caused to be sad?

So then whether we are alive ¹  or away, we make it our ambition to please him. ² 

Whatever you are doing, ¹  work at it with enthusiasm, ²  as to the Lord and not for people, ³ 

Yes, brother, let me have some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ. ¹ 

But the rich person’s pride should be in his humiliation, because he will pass away like a wildflower in the meadow. ¹