It ranks first among the works of God, ¹  the One who made it has furnished it with a sword. ² 

He struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, the firstfruits of their reproductive power ¹  in the tents of Ham.

He struck down all the firstborn in their land, the firstfruits of their reproductive power. ¹ 

Fearing the Lord ¹  is the beginning ²  of moral knowledge, ³  but ⁴  fools ⁵  despise ⁶  wisdom and instruction. ⁷ 

Wisdom is supreme ¹  – so ²  acquire wisdom, and whatever you acquire, ³  acquire understanding! ⁴ 

The Lord created ¹  me as the beginning ²  of his works, ³  before his deeds of long ago.

Starting a quarrel ¹  is like letting out water; ²  stop it before strife breaks out! ³ 

The primary regions ¹  of his kingdom were Babel, ²  Erech, ³  Akkad, ⁴  and Calneh ⁵  in the land of Shinar. ⁶ 

The first of the firstfruits of your soil you must bring to the house of the Lord your God. “You must not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk. ¹ 

“The first of the firstfruits of your soil you must bring to the house of the Lord your God. You must not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk.” ¹ 

You can present them to the Lord as an offering of first fruit, ¹  but they must not go up to the altar for a soothing aroma.

You must offer up a cake of the first of your finely ground flour ¹  as a raised offering; as you offer the raised offering of the threshing floor, so you must offer it up.

Then Balaam ¹  looked on Amalek and delivered this oracle: ²  “Amalek was the first ³  of the nations, but his end will be that he will perish.”

You must give them the best of your ¹  grain, new wine, and olive oil, as well as the best of your wool when you shear your flocks.

But the army took from the plunder some of the sheep and cattle – the best of what was to be slaughtered – to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal.”

To obey the Lord is the fundamental principle for wise living; ¹  all who carry out his precepts acquire good moral insight. ²  He will receive praise forever. ³ 

The Lord who rules over all said, “I will kill all the archers of Elam, who are the chief source of her military might. ¹ 

They must not sell or exchange any of it; they must not transfer this choice portion of land, for it is set apart ¹  to the Lord.

He has selected the best part for himself, for the portion of the ruler ¹  is set aside ²  there; he came with the leaders ³  of the people, he obeyed the righteous laws of the Lord and his ordinances with Israel.

When the edict was issued, ¹  the Israelites freely contributed ²  the initial portion of their grain, wine, olive oil, honey, and all the produce of their fields. They brought a tenth of everything, which added up to a huge amount.