ב (Bet) The precious sons of Zion were worth their weight in gold – Alas! – but now they are treated like ¹  broken clay pots, made by a potter. ² 

When ¹  he saw one of them being hurt unfairly, ²  Moses ³  came to his defense ⁴  and avenged the person who was mistreated by striking down the Egyptian.

Abram said to Sarai, “Since your ¹  servant is under your authority, ²  do to her whatever you think best.” ³  Then Sarai treated Hagar ⁴  harshly, ⁵  so she ran away from Sarai. ⁶ 

so that ¹  you will not do us any harm, just as we have not harmed ²  you, but have always treated you well ³  before sending you away ⁴  in peace. Now you are blessed by the Lord.” ⁵ 

When Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he pretended to be a stranger ¹  to them and spoke to them harshly. He asked, “Where do you come from?” They answered, ²  “From the land of Canaan, to buy grain for food.” ³ 

“‘No longer will Israel suffer from the sharp briers ¹  or painful thorns of all who surround and scorn them. ²  Then they will know that I am the sovereign Lord.

Rejoice in that day, and jump for joy, because ¹  your reward is great in heaven. For their ancestors ²  did the same things to the prophets. ³ 

and those members we consider less honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our unpresentable members are clothed with dignity, ¹ 

But although we suffered earlier and were mistreated in Philippi, ¹  as you know, we had the courage in our God to declare to you the gospel of God ²  in spite of much opposition.

For he will be handed over ¹  to the Gentiles; he will be mocked, ²  mistreated, ³  and spat on. ⁴ 

and he made no distinction ¹  between them and us, cleansing ²  their hearts by faith.

through glory and dishonor, through slander and praise; regarded as impostors, ¹  and yet true;

As you know, we treated each one of you as a father treats his own children,

choosing rather to be ill-treated with the people of God than to enjoy sin’s fleeting pleasure.

they will by no means ¹  see the land that I swore to their fathers, nor will any of them who despised me see it.

The Ephraimites said to him, “Why have you done such a thing to us? You did not summon us ¹  when you went to fight the Midianites!” They argued vehemently with him.

“Now, if you have shown loyalty and integrity when you made Abimelech king, if you have done right to Jerub-Baal and his family, ¹  if you have properly repaid him ²  –

You will probably ask yourself, ¹  ‘Why have these things happened to me? Why have I been treated like a disgraced adulteress whose skirt has been torn off and her limbs exposed?’ ²  It is because you have sinned so much. ³ 

Hasn’t he treated us like foreigners? He not only sold us, but completely wasted ¹  the money paid for us! ² 

“The man, the lord of the land, spoke harshly to us and treated us ¹  as if we were ²  spying on the land.