I wish I could be with you now and change my tone of voice, ¹  because I am perplexed about you.

All were astounded and greatly confused, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”

We are experiencing trouble on every side, ¹  but are not crushed; we are perplexed, ²  but not driven to despair;

Now Herod ¹  the tetrarch ²  heard about everything that was happening, and he was thoroughly perplexed, ³  because some people were saying that John ⁴  had been raised from the dead,

“And there will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, ¹  and on the earth nations will be in distress, ²  anxious ³  over the roaring of the sea and the surging waves.

While ¹  they were perplexed ²  about this, suddenly ³  two men stood beside them in dazzling ⁴  attire.

Now when the commander ¹  of the temple guard ²  and the chief priests heard this report, ³  they were greatly puzzled concerning it, ⁴  wondering what this could ⁵  be.

Then King Belshazzar was very terrified, and he was visibly shaken. ¹  His nobles were completely dumbfounded.

But ¹  she was greatly troubled ²  by his words and began to wonder about the meaning of this greeting. ³ 

The disciples began to look at one another, worried and perplexed ¹  to know which of them he was talking about.

because Herod stood in awe of ¹  John and protected him, since he knew that John ²  was a righteous and holy man. When Herod ³  heard him, he was thoroughly baffled, ⁴  and yet ⁵  he liked to listen to John. ⁶ 

Now while Peter was puzzling over ¹  what the vision he had seen could signify, the men sent by Cornelius had learned where Simon’s house was ²  and approached ³  the gate.

The messengers ¹  scurried forth ²  with the king’s order. ³  The edict was issued in Susa the citadel. While the king and Haman sat down to drink, the city of Susa was in an uproar! ⁴ 

For the sovereign master, ¹  the Lord who commands armies, has planned a day of panic, defeat, and confusion. ²  In the Valley of Vision ³  people shout ⁴  and cry out to the hill. ⁵ 

Listen to the cattle groan! ¹  The herds of livestock wander around in confusion ²  because they have no pasture. Even the flocks of sheep are suffering.

The best of them is like a thorn; the most godly among them are more dangerous than a row of thorn bushes. ¹  The day you try to avoid by posting watchmen – your appointed time of punishment – is on the way, ²  and then you will experience confusion. ³ 

The disciples were astonished at these words. But again Jesus said to them, ¹  “Children, how hard it is ²  to enter the kingdom of God!

And surely, he drew you ¹  from the mouth of distress, to a wide place, unrestricted, ²  and to the comfort ³  of your table filled with rich food. ⁴ 

Because I was at a loss ¹  how I could investigate these matters, ²  I asked if he were willing to go to Jerusalem and be tried ³  there on these charges. ⁴ 

Now receive the one who is weak in the faith, and do not have disputes over differing opinions. ¹