He altered his behavior in their presence. ¹  Since he was in their power, ²  he pretended to be insane, making marks on the doors of the gate and letting his saliva run down his beard.

Older women likewise are to exhibit behavior fitting for those who are holy, not slandering, not slaves to excessive drinking, but teaching what is good.

when they see your pure and reverent conduct. ¹ 

“Yet your people ¹  say, ‘The behavior ²  of the Lord is not right,’ ³  when it is their behavior that is not right.

And this very day the noble ladies of Persia and Media who have heard the matter concerning the queen will respond in the same way to all the royal officials, and there will be more than enough contempt and anger!

So see here, I have stretched out my hand against you and cut off your rations. I have delivered you into the power of those who hate you, the daughters of the Philistines, who were ashamed by your obscene conduct.

Yet do it with courtesy and respect, ¹  keeping a good conscience, so that those who slander your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame when they accuse you. ² 

Then all the people will hear and be afraid, and not be so presumptuous again.

I will meditate on ¹  your precepts and focus ²  on your behavior. ³ 

To receive ¹  moral instruction ²  in skillful living, ³  in ⁴  righteousness, ⁵  justice, ⁶  and equity. ⁷ 

For ¹  a period of about forty years he put up with ²  them in the wilderness. ³ 

Therefore, be ¹  imitators of God as dearly loved children

But as for you, communicate the behavior that goes with ¹  sound teaching.

The end is now upon you, and I will release my anger against you; I will judge ¹  you according to your behavior, ²  I will hold you accountable for ³  all your abominable practices.

They will console you when you see their behavior and their deeds, because you will know that it was not without reason that I have done everything which I have done in it, declares the sovereign Lord.”

Yet you say, ‘The behavior of the Lord is not right.’ House of Israel, I will judge each of you according to his behavior.” ¹ 

“Son of man, when the house of Israel was living on their own land, they defiled it by their behavior ¹  and their deeds. In my sight their behavior was like the uncleanness of a woman having her monthly period.

(for rulers cause no fear for good conduct but for bad). Do you desire not to fear authority? Do good and you will receive its commendation,

The Lord rewarded me for my godly deeds; ¹  he took notice of my blameless behavior. ² 

The rest of the events of Abijah’s reign, including his deeds and sayings, ¹  are recorded in the writings of the prophet Iddo.