who says to a king, ¹  ‘Worthless man’ ²  and to nobles, ‘Wicked men,’

The sons of Eli were wicked men. ¹  They did not recognize the Lord’s authority. ² 

The waves of death engulfed me; the currents ¹  of chaos ²  overwhelmed me. ³ 

But evil people are like thorns – all of them are tossed away, for they cannot be held in the hand.

The waves ¹  of death engulfed me, the currents ²  of chaos ³  overwhelmed me. ⁴ 

A worthless and wicked person ¹  walks around saying perverse ²  things; ³ 

A wicked scoundrel ¹  digs up ²  evil, and his slander ³  is like a scorching fire. ⁴ 

A crooked witness ¹  scorns justice, and the mouth of the wicked devours ²  iniquity.

From you, O Nineveh, ¹  one has marched forth who plots evil against the Lord, a wicked military strategist. ² 

As he yelled curses, Shimei said, “Leave! Leave! You man of bloodshed, you wicked man! ¹ 

They say, ¹  ‘An awful disease ²  overwhelms him, ³  and now that he is bed-ridden he will never recover.’ ⁴ 

I will not even consider doing what is dishonest. ¹  I hate doing evil; ²  I will have no part of it. ³ 

The two villains arrived and sat opposite him. Then the villains testified against Naboth right before the people, saying, “Naboth cursed God and the king.” So they dragged him ¹  outside the city and stoned him to death. ² 

some evil people ¹  have departed from among you to entice the inhabitants of their cities, ²  saying, “Let’s go and serve other gods” (whom you have not known before). ³ 

Don’t consider your servant a wicked woman, ¹  for until now I have spoken from my deep pain and anguish.”

But some wicked men ¹  said, “How can this man save us?” They despised him and did not even bring him a gift. But Saul said nothing about it. ² 

Now be aware of this, and see what you can do. For disaster has been planned for our lord and his entire household. ¹  He is such a wicked person ²  that no one tells him anything!”

Also seat two villains opposite him and have them testify, ‘You cursed God and the king.’ Then take him out and stone him to death.”

Be careful lest you entertain the wicked thought that the seventh year, the year of cancellation of debts, has almost arrived, and your attitude ¹  be wrong toward your impoverished fellow Israelite ²  and you do not lend ³  him anything; he will cry out to the Lord against you and you will be regarded as having sinned. ⁴ 

Now, hand over the good-for-nothings ¹  in Gibeah so we can execute them and purge Israel of wickedness.” ²  But the Benjaminites refused to listen to their Israelite brothers.