Then Moses and the Levitical priests spoke to all Israel: “Be quiet and pay attention, Israel. Today you have become the people of the Lord your God.

Some of the crowd concluded ¹  it was about ²  Alexander because the Jews had pushed him to the front. ³  Alexander, gesturing ⁴  with his hand, was wanting to make a defense ⁵  before the public assembly. ⁶ 

“Indeed, I am completely unworthy ¹  – how could I reply to you? I put ²  my hand over my mouth to silence myself. ³ 

After this Job opened his mouth ²  and cursed ³  the day he was born. ⁴ 

He deprives the trusted advisers ¹  of speech ²  and takes away the discernment ³  of elders.

If only you would keep completely silent! ¹  For you, that would be wisdom. ² 

the chief men refrained from talking and covered their mouths with their hands;

May the Lord cut off ¹  all flattering lips, and the tongue that boasts! ² 

For the music director, a psalm of David. O God whom I praise, do not ignore me! ² 

Their peaceful dwelling places will be laid waste ¹  by the fierce anger of the Lord. ² 

Now when the Pharisees ¹  heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, ²  they assembled together. ³ 

But ¹  Jesus rebuked him: ²  “Silence! Come out of him!” ³ 

When you did these things, I was silent, ¹  so you thought I was exactly like you. ²  But now I will condemn ³  you and state my case against you! ⁴ 

Joy and happiness disappear from the orchards, and in the vineyards no one rejoices or shouts; no one treads out juice in the wine vats ¹  – I have brought the joyful shouts to an end. ² 

Though these people make an uproar as loud as the roaring of powerful waves, ¹  when he shouts at ²  them, they will flee to a distant land, driven before the wind like dead weeds on the hills, or like dead thistles ³  before a strong gale.

like heat ¹  in a dry land, you humble the boasting foreigners. ²  Just as the shadow of a cloud causes the heat to subside, ³  so he causes the song of tyrants to cease. ⁴ 

I ¹  post watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they should keep praying all day and all night. ²  You who pray to ³  the Lord, don’t be silent!

I will put an end to the sounds of joy and gladness, or the glad celebration of brides and grooms throughout the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem. For the whole land will become a desolate wasteland.”

For the Lord is ready to destroy Babylon, and put an end to her loud noise. Their waves ¹  will roar like turbulent ²  waters. They will make a deafening noise. ³ 

Groan in silence for the dead, ¹  but do not perform mourning rites. ²  Bind on your turban ³  and put your sandals on your feet. Do not cover your lip ⁴  and do not eat food brought by others.” ⁵