We will be innocent if we carefully keep all these commandments ¹  before the Lord our God, just as he demands.” ² 

Instead, you must kill him without fail! ¹  Your own hand must be the first to strike him, ²  and then the hands of the whole community.

He told ¹  them, “Look, set an ambush behind the city. Don’t go very far from the city; all of you be ready!

So she went down to the threshing floor and did everything her mother-in-law had instructed her to do. ¹ 

Now take your positions, so I may confront you ¹  before the Lord regarding all the Lord’s just actions toward you and your ancestors. ² 

Then Joab left David and sent messengers after Abner. They brought him back from the well of Sirah. (But David was not aware of it.)

King David responded, ¹  “Summon Bathsheba!” ²  She came and stood before the king. ³ 

So Shimei got up, saddled his donkey, and went to Achish at Gath to find his servants; Shimei went and brought back his servants from Gath.

Each of them quickly took off his cloak and they spread them out at Jehu’s ¹  feet on the steps. ²  The trumpet was blown ³  and they shouted, “Jehu is ⁴  king!”

They burned incense on all the high places just like the nations whom the Lord had driven away from before them. Their evil practices made the Lord angry. ¹ 

You must serve me as your father David did. Do everything I commanded and obey my rules and regulations. ¹ 

Get up, for this matter concerns you. We are with you, so be strong and act decisively!”

Only Jonathan son of Asahel and Jahzeiah son of Tikvah were ¹  against this, assisted by Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite.

Remember, O my God, Tobiah and Sanballat in light of these actions of theirs – also Noadiah the prophetess and the other prophets who were trying to scare me!

Why do you contend against him, that he does not answer all a person’s ¹  words?

The Lord revealed himself; he accomplished justice; the wicked were ensnared by their own actions. ¹  (Higgaion. ²  Selah)

“Because of the violence done to the oppressed, ¹  because of the painful cries ²  of the needy, I will spring into action,” ³  says the Lord. “I will provide the safety they so desperately desire.” ⁴ 

For the music director; by David. Fools say to themselves, ²  “There is no God.” ³  They sin and commit evil deeds; ⁴  none of them does what is right. ⁵ 

For they do not understand the Lord’s actions, or the way he carries out justice. ¹  The Lord ²  will permanently demolish them. ³ 

O Lord, how long are you going to just stand there and watch this? ¹  Rescue ²  me ³  from their destructive attacks; guard my life ⁴  from the young lions!