Like ¹  wild donkeys in the desert they ²  go out to their labor, ³  seeking diligently for food; the wasteland provides ⁴  food for them and for their children.

The seed is still in the storehouse, isn’t it? And the vine, fig tree, pomegranate, and olive tree have not produced. Nevertheless, from today on I will bless you.’”

But other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundred times as much, some sixty, and some thirty.

Israel was a fertile vine that yielded fruit. As his fruit multiplied, he multiplied altars to Baal. ¹  As his land prospered, they adorned the fertility pillars.

Naphtali is a free running doe, ¹  he speaks delightful words. ² 

“Take the staff and assemble the community, you and Aaron your brother, and then speak ¹  to the rock before their eyes. It will pour forth ²  its water, and you will bring water out of the rock for them, and so you will give the community and their beasts water to drink.”

(I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh.) ¹  For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.

These kings ¹  have a single intent, and they will give their power and authority to the beast.

You may have the Sabbath produce ¹  of the land to eat – you, your male servant, your female servant, your hired worker, the resident foreigner who stays with you, ² 

From the fruit of a person’s mouth ¹  his stomach is satisfied, ²  with the product of his lips is he satisfied.

¹ The rain and snow fall from the sky and do not return, but instead water the earth and make it produce and yield crops, and provide seed for the planter and food for those who must eat.

Ephraim will be struck down ¹  – their root will be dried up; they will not yield any fruit. Even if they do bear children, I will kill their precious offspring.

The ¹  seed sown among thorns is the person who hears the word, but worldly cares and the seductiveness of wealth ²  choke the word, ³  so it produces nothing.

So do not let them persuade you to do this, ¹  because more than forty of them ²  are lying in ambush ³  for him. They ⁴  have bound themselves with an oath ⁵  not to eat or drink anything ⁶  until they have killed him, and now they are ready, waiting for you to agree to their request.” ⁷ 

So the name of that place was called Kibroth Hattaavah, ¹  because there they buried the people that craved different food. ² 

Relent, ¹  let there be no falsehood; ²  reconsider, ³  for my righteousness is intact! ⁴ 

“Reconcile yourself ¹  with God, ²  and be at peace ³  with him; in this way your prosperity will be good.

You make me happier ¹  than those who have abundant grain and wine. ² 

(May those who hate the Lord ¹  cower in fear ²  before him! May they be permanently humiliated!) ³ 

They bear fruit even when they are old; they are filled with vitality and have many leaves. ¹