At that time Menahem came from Tirzah and attacked Tiphsah. He struck down all who lived in the city and the surrounding territory, because they would not surrender. ¹  He even ripped open the pregnant women.

Ask yourselves this and consider it carefully: ¹  Have you ever seen a man give birth to a baby? Why then do I see all these strong men grabbing their stomachs in pain like ²  a woman giving birth? And why do their faces turn so deathly pale?

“Woe to you, experts in the law ¹  and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You cross land and sea to make one convert, ²  and when you get one, ³  you make him twice as much a child of hell ⁴  as yourselves!

The angel replied, ¹  “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow ²  you. Therefore the child ³  to be born ⁴  will be holy; ⁵  he will be called the Son of God.

While they were bringing her out, she sent word ¹  to her father-in-law: “I am pregnant by the man to whom these belong.” ²  Then she said, “Identify ³  the one to whom the seal, cord, and staff belong.”

but if a priest’s daughter is a widow or divorced, and she has no children so that she returns to live in ¹  her father’s house as in her youth, ²  she may eat from her father’s food, but no lay person may eat it.

“Shout for joy, O barren one who has not given birth! Give a joyful shout and cry out, you who have not been in labor! For the children of the desolate one are more numerous than the children of the married woman,” says the Lord.

When the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, ¹  he enabled her to become pregnant ²  while Rachel remained childless.

returned to his brothers, and said, “The boy isn’t there! And I, where can I go?”

He struck down all the firstborn in their land, the firstfruits of their reproductive power. ¹ 

For the Lord disciplines ¹  those he loves, just as a father ²  disciplines ³  the son in whom he delights.

My child, ²  be attentive to my wisdom, pay close attention ³  to my understanding,

My child, guard the commands of your father and do not forsake the instruction of your mother.

My child, ²  keep my words and treasure up my commands in your own keeping. ³ 

A wise son accepts ¹  his father’s discipline, ²  but a scoffer ³  does not listen to rebuke.

The one who spares his rod ¹  hates ²  his child, ³  but the one who loves his child ⁴  is diligent ⁵  in disciplining ⁶  him.

A wise child ¹  brings joy to his father, but a foolish person ²  despises ³  his mother.

A servant who acts wisely ¹  will rule over ²  an heir ³  who behaves shamefully, ⁴  and will share the inheritance along with the relatives. ⁵ 

Give me your heart, my son, ¹  and let your eyes observe my ways;

He will eat sour milk ¹  and honey, which will help him know how ²  to reject evil and choose what is right.