Do not be one who strikes hands in pledge or who puts up security for debts.

When you sit down to eat with a ruler, consider carefully ¹  what ²  is before you,

Her husband is well-known ¹  in the city gate ²  when he sits with the elders ³  of the land.

It is better for a person to receive ¹  a rebuke from those who are wise ²  than to listen to the song ³  of fools.

The words of the wise are heard in quiet, more than the shouting of a ruler is heard ¹  among fools.

¹ O Lord, reflect on ²  what has happened to us; consider ³  and look at ⁴  our disgrace.

I will make you pass under ¹  the shepherd’s staff, ²  and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant.

Indeed, look! The Lord is giving the command. ¹  He will smash the large house to bits, and the small house into little pieces.

A day of the Lord ¹  is about to come when your possessions ²  will be divided as plunder in your midst.

But ¹  indeed, ²  some are last ³  who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”

When they sprout leaves, you see ¹  for yourselves and know that summer is now near.

I assure you ¹  that, before God, I am not lying about what I am writing to you! ² 

because her sins have piled ¹  up all the way to heaven ²  and God has remembered ³  her crimes. ⁴ 

When he gets ready to go to sleep, ¹  take careful notice of the place where he lies down. Then go, uncover his legs, ²  and lie down ³  beside him. ⁴  He will tell ⁵  you what you should do.”

Locate precisely all the places where he hides and return to me with dependable information. ¹  Then I will go with you. If he is in the land, I will find him ²  among all the thousands of Judah.”

I will say, ¹  ‘My dear children of Israel, ²  keep in mind the road you took when you were carried off. ³  Mark off in your minds the landmarks. Make a mental note of telltale signs marking the way back. Return, my dear children of Israel. Return to these cities of yours.

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t be impressed by ¹  his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. God does not view things the way men do. ²  People look on the outward appearance, ³  but the Lord looks at the heart.”

The Lord said to me: “Son of man, pay attention, ¹  watch closely and listen carefully to ²  everything I tell you concerning all the statutes of the Lord’s house and all its laws. Pay attention to the entrances ³  to the temple with all the exits of the sanctuary.

“Pay attention to do ¹  everything I have told you, and do not even mention ²  the names of other gods – do not let them be heard on your lips. ³ 

“Obey ¹  what I am commanding you this day. I am going to drive out ²  before you the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite.