Now I’d like to ask you for just one thing. Please don’t refuse me.” ¹  She said, “Go ahead and ask.” ² 

The king then said to the prophet, “Come home with me and have something to eat. I’d like to give a present.”

Then I would yet have my comfort, ¹  then ²  I would rejoice, ³  in spite of pitiless pain, ⁴  for ⁵  I have not concealed the words ⁶  of the Holy One. ⁷ 

You rescue me from a hostile army; ¹  you make me ²  a leader of nations; people over whom I had no authority are now my subjects. ³ 

I mourned for them as I would for a friend or my brother. ¹  I bowed down ²  in sorrow as if I were mourning for my mother. ³ 

So I loathed all the fruit of ¹  my effort, ²  for which I worked so hard ³  on earth, ⁴  because ⁵  I must leave it ⁶  behind ⁷  in the hands of my successor. ⁸ 

So I spoke to the people in the morning, and my wife died in the evening. In the morning ¹  I acted just as I was commanded.

I gave it over to the leader of the nations. He has judged it thoroughly, ¹  as its sinfulness deserves. I have thrown it out.

Even if they raise their children, I will take away every last one of them. ¹  Woe to them! For I will turn away from them.

Ephraim will be struck down ¹  – their root will be dried up; they will not yield any fruit. Even if they do bear children, I will kill their precious offspring.

But as for me, I promise to offer a sacrifice to you with a public declaration ¹  of praise; ²  I will surely do ³  what I have promised. ⁴  Salvation ⁵  belongs to the Lord!” ⁶ 

So now, Lord, kill me instead, ¹  because I would rather die than live!” ² 

It is easier for a camel ¹  to go through the eye of a needle ²  than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”

yet because this widow keeps on bothering me, I will give her justice, or in the end she will wear me out ¹  by her unending pleas.’” ² 

In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle ¹  than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”

Then as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on ¹  them just as he did ²  on us at the beginning. ³ 

“Regarding all the things I have been accused of by the Jews, King Agrippa, ¹  I consider myself fortunate that I am about to make my defense before you today,

For I could wish ¹  that I myself were accursed – cut off from Christ – for the sake of my people, ²  my fellow countrymen, ³ 

“All things are lawful for me” ¹  – but not everything is beneficial. “All things are lawful for me” – but I will not be controlled by anything.

For if I do this voluntarily, I have a reward. But if I do it unwillingly, I am entrusted with a responsibility.