He said to her, “If they tie me tightly with brand new ropes that have never been used, ¹  I will become weak and be just like any other man.”

Mordecai ¹  wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed it with the king’s signet ring. He then sent letters by couriers on horses, who rode royal horses that were very swift.

Therefore, remember what you received and heard, ¹  and obey it, ²  and repent. If you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will never ³  know at what hour I will come against ⁴  you.

It is to be a Sabbath of complete rest for you, and you must humble yourselves. ¹  It is a perpetual statute. ² 

Indeed, ¹  any person who does not behave with humility on this particular day will be cut off from his people. ² 

“Leave here and travel eastward. Hide out in the Kerith Valley near the Jordan.

Now Elisha was sitting in his house with the community leaders. ¹  The king ²  sent a messenger on ahead, but before he arrived, ³  Elisha ⁴  said to the leaders, ⁵  “Do you realize this assassin intends to cut off my head?” ⁶  Look, when the messenger arrives, shut the door and lean against it. His master will certainly be right behind him.” ⁷ 

So King Sennacherib of Assyria broke camp and went on his way. He went home and stayed in Nineveh. ¹ 

They glide by ¹  like reed ²  boats, like an eagle that swoops ³  down on its prey. ⁴ 

if he retains it for himself and does not let it go, and holds it fast in his mouth, ¹ 

In a dream, a night vision, when deep sleep falls on people as they sleep in their beds.

¹ I say to the proud, “Do not be proud,” and to the wicked, “Do not be so confident of victory! ² 

He humbles princes; ¹  the kings of the earth regard him as awesome. ² 

If I say, “My foot is slipping,” your loyal love, O Lord, supports me.

Hold on to instruction, ¹  do not let it go; protect it, ²  because it is your life.

The discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of fools feeds on folly. ¹ 

“Why do your disciples disobey the tradition of the elders? For they don’t wash their ¹  hands when they eat.” ² 

He answered them, ¹  “And why do you disobey the commandment of God because of your tradition?

(Now the betrayer ¹  had given them a sign, saying, “The one I kiss is the man. ²  Arrest him!”) ³ 

So ¹  the Pharisees ²  went out immediately and began plotting with the Herodians, ³  as to how they could assassinate ⁴  him.