Let us not become conceited, ¹  provoking ²  one another, being jealous ³  of one another.

Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu, king of Israel. He said, “Come, let’s meet face to face.” ¹ 

After King Amaziah of Judah consulted with his advisers, ¹  he sent this message to the king of Israel, Joash son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, “Come, face me on the battlefield.” ² 

They willfully challenged God ¹  by asking for food to satisfy their appetite.

They again challenged God, ¹  and offended ²  the Holy One of Israel. ³ 

In the wilderness they had an insatiable craving ¹  for meat; ²  they challenged God ³  in the desert.

As he was speaking with them, the champion named Goliath, the Philistine from Gath, was coming up from the battle lines of the Philistines. He spoke the way he usually did, ¹  and David heard it.

If anyone dares to ¹  challenge you, it will not be my doing! Whoever tries to challenge you will be defeated. ² 

It also acted arrogantly against the Prince of the army, ¹  from whom ²  the daily sacrifice was removed and whose sanctuary ³  was thrown down.

So now we consider the arrogant to be happy; indeed, those who practice evil are successful. ¹  In fact, those who challenge ²  God escape!’”

“A lion coming up from the thick undergrowth along the Jordan scatters the sheep in the pastureland around it. So too I will chase the Babylonians off of their land. Then I will appoint over it whomever I choose. For there is no one like me. There is no one who can call me to account. There is no ruler that can stand up against me.

When Saul and all the Israelites ¹  heard these words of the Philistine, they were upset and very afraid.

He is wise in heart ¹  and mighty ²  in strength ³  – who has resisted ⁴  him and remained safe? ⁵ 

Should he be informed that I want ¹  to speak? If a man speaks, surely he would be swallowed up!

Yet they challenged and defied ¹  the sovereign God, ²  and did not obey ³  his commands. ⁴ 

where your ancestors challenged my authority, ¹  and tried my patience, even though they had seen my work.

So the Pharisees ¹  objected, ²  “You testify about yourself; your testimony is not true!” ³ 

My brothers and sisters, ¹  consider it nothing but joy ²  when you fall into all sorts of trials,

The men of Israel said, “Have you seen this man who is coming up? He does so ¹  to defy Israel. But the king will make the man who can strike him down very wealthy! He will give him his daughter in marriage, and he will make his father’s house exempt from tax obligations in Israel.”

“A lion coming up from the thick undergrowth along the Jordan ¹  scatters the sheep in the pastureland around it. ²  So too I will chase the Edomites off their land. ³  Then I will appoint over it whomever I choose. ⁴  For there is no one like me, and there is no one who can call me to account. ⁵  There is no ⁶  ruler ⁷  who can stand up against me.