An elder must be blameless, ¹  the husband of one wife, ²  with faithful children ³  who cannot be charged with dissipation or rebellion.

All is pure to those who are pure. But to those who are corrupt and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their minds and consciences are corrupted.

When the men of that place asked him about his wife, he replied, “She is my sister.” ¹  He was afraid to say, “She is my wife,” for he thought to himself, ²  “The men of this place will kill me to get ³  Rebekah because she is very beautiful.”

Then you responded to me and admitted, “We have sinned against the Lord. We will now go up and fight as the Lord our God has told us to do.” So you each put on your battle gear and prepared to go up to the hill country.

Saul replied, “Here is what you should say to David: ‘There is nothing that the king wants as a price for the bride except a hundred Philistine foreskins, so that he can be avenged of his ¹  enemies.’” (Now Saul was thinking that he could kill David by the hand of the Philistines.)

I have now come to speak with my lord the king about this matter, because the people have made me fearful. ¹  But your servant said, ‘I will speak to the king! Perhaps the king will do what his female servant ²  asks.

This seemed like a good idea to Absalom and to all the leaders ¹  of Israel.

They crossed at the ford in order to help the king’s household cross and to do whatever he thought appropriate. Now after he had crossed the Jordan, Shimei son of Gera threw himself down before the king.

At noon Elijah mocked them, “Yell louder! After all, he is a god; he may be deep in thought, or perhaps he stepped out for a moment or has taken a trip. Perhaps he is sleeping and needs to be awakened.” ¹ 

I am blameless. ¹  I do not know myself. ²  I despise my life.

For, when I think ¹  about this, I am terrified ²  and my body feels a shudder. ³ 

See now, I have opened ¹  my mouth; my tongue in my mouth has spoken. ² 

because they have turned away from following him, and have not understood ¹  any of his ways,

She forgets that a foot might crush them, or that a wild animal ¹  might trample them.

Rise up, Lord! ¹  O God, strike him down! ²  Do not forget the oppressed!

See my pain and suffering! Forgive all my sins! ¹ 

Pay attention to me and answer me! I am so upset ¹  and distressed, ²  I am beside myself, ³ 

I will think about all you have done; I will reflect upon your deeds!”

I thought, ¹  ‘You are gods; all of you are sons of the Most High.’ ² 

I will meditate on ¹  your precepts and focus ²  on your behavior. ³