Now Absalom used to get up early and stand beside the road that led to the city gate. Whenever anyone came by who had a complaint to bring to the king for arbitration, Absalom would call out to him, “What city are you from?” The person would answer, “I, your servant, ¹  am from one of the tribes of Israel.”

The king of Assyria sent his commanding general, the chief eunuch, and the chief adviser ¹  from Lachish to King Hezekiah in Jerusalem, ²  along with a large army. They went up and arrived at Jerusalem. They went ³  and stood at the conduit of the upper pool which is located on the road to the field where they wash and dry cloth. ⁴ 

Have you never questioned those who travel the roads? Do you not recognize their accounts ¹  –

Make me understand your ways, O Lord! Teach me your paths! ¹ 

He preserves our lives ¹  and does not allow our feet to slip.

Surely ¹  you put them in slippery places; you bring them down ²  to ruin.

You led your people like a flock of sheep, by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

All who pass by ¹  have robbed him; he has become an object of disdain to his neighbors.

They wandered through the wilderness on a desert road; they found no city in which to live.

From the stream along the road he drinks; then he lifts up his head. ¹ 

who, moreover, do no wrong, but follow in his footsteps. ¹ 

Remove me from the path of deceit! ¹  Graciously give me ²  your law!

Guide me ¹  in the path of your commands, for I delight to walk in it. ² 

Make the path for your feet ¹  level, ²  so that ³  all your ways may be established. ⁴ 

Her house is the way to the grave, ¹  going down ²  to the chambers ³  of death.

and they are afraid of heights and the dangers ¹  in the street; the almond blossoms ²  grow white, ³  and the grasshopper ⁴  drags itself along, ⁵  and the caper berry ⁶  shrivels up ⁷  – because man goes to his eternal home, ⁸  and the mourners go about in the streets –

Those ¹  who passed by defamed him, shaking their heads

So ¹  they went out and preached that all should repent.

And you know the way where I am going.” ¹ 

So God brought the people around by the way of the desert to the Red Sea, ¹  and the Israelites went up from the land of Egypt prepared for battle. ²