Patiently wait for God alone, my soul! ¹  For he is the one who gives me confidence. ² 

They come with red cloth ¹  from Egypt, Ethiopia ²  voluntarily offers tribute ³  to God.

My child, pay attention to my words; listen attentively ¹  to my sayings.

For ¹  I did not obey my teachers ²  and I did not heed ³  my instructors. ⁴ 

Incline your ear ²  and listen to the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my instruction. ³ 

Do not listen to them. Be subject to the king of Babylon. Then you ¹  will continue to live. Why should this city be made a pile of rubble?’” ² 

But the people of Jerusalem and Judah ¹  would not listen or pay any attention. They would not stop the wickedness they were doing nor quit sacrificing to other gods. ² 

Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of the wrath of the authorities ¹  but also because of your conscience. ² 

But ¹  we did not surrender to them ²  even for a moment, ³  in order that the truth of the gospel would remain with you. ⁴ 

For ¹  neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for ²  anything; the only thing that matters is a new creation! ³ 

Remind them to be subject to rulers and ¹  authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work.

Sound your battle cry ¹  against the wild beast of the reeds, ²  and the nations that assemble like a herd of calves led by bulls! ³  They humble themselves ⁴  and offer gold and silver as tribute. ⁵  God ⁶  scatters ⁷  the nations that like to do battle.

Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam and grandson of Shaphan, took an oath so as to give them and their troops some assurance of safety. ¹  “Do not be afraid to submit to the Babylonians. ²  Settle down in the land and submit to the king of Babylon. Then things will go well for you.

In the same way, you who are younger, ¹  be subject to the elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. ² 

You have joy, Israel! Who is like you? You are a people delivered by the Lord, your protective shield and your exalted sword. May your enemies cringe before you; may you trample on their backs.

If it accepts your terms ¹  and submits to you, all the people found in it will become your slaves. ² 

Then the father and mother of the young woman must produce the evidence of virginity ¹  for the elders of the city at the gate.

They went and served other gods and worshiped them, gods they did not know and that he did not permit them to worship. ¹ 

Joshua said, ¹  “Now put aside the foreign gods that are among you and submit to ²  the Lord God of Israel.”

The Lord was with him; he succeeded in all his endeavors. ¹  He rebelled against the king of Assyria and refused to submit to him. ²