31 verses
9"But I am Yahweh your God from the land of Egypt. I will yet again make you dwell in tents, as in the days of the solemn feast. 10I have also spoken to the prophets, and I have multiplied visions; and by the ministry of the prophets I have used parables. 11[Is] Gilead wicked?
[The people will] surely be empty [of worth].
[Though] they sacrifice bulls in Gilgal.
Indeed, their altars [will be] like heaps in the furrows of the field.
12Jacob fled into the country of Aram, and Israel served to get a wife, and for a wife he tended flocks and herds. 13By a prophet Yahweh brought Israel up out of Egypt, and by a prophet he was preserved. 14Ephraim has bitterly provoked anger. Therefore his blood will be left on him, and his Lord will repay his contempt.
1When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling. He exalted himself in Israel, but when he became guilty in Baal, he died. 2Now they sin more and more, and have made themselves cast-metal images of their silver, even idols according to their own understanding, all of them the work of the craftsmen. They say of them, 'They offer human sacrifice and kiss the calves.' 3Therefore they will be like the morning mist, and like the dew that passes away early, like the chaff that is driven with the whirlwind out of the threshing floor, and like the smoke out of the chimney. 4"Yet I am Yahweh your God from the land of Egypt; and you shall acknowledge no god but me, and besides me there is no savior. 5I knew you in the wilderness, in the land of great drought. 6According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted. Therefore they have forgotten me. 7Therefore I am like a lion to them. Like a leopard, I will lurk by the path. 8I will meet them like a bear that is bereaved of her cubs, and will tear the covering of their heart. There I will devour them like a lioness. The wild animal will tear them. 9You are destroyed, Israel, because you are against me, against your help. 10Where is your king now, that he may save you in all your cities? And your judges, of whom you said, 'Give me a king and princes?' 11I have given you a king in my anger, and have taken him away in my wrath. 12The guilt of Ephraim is stored up. His sin is stored up. 13The sorrows of a travailing woman will come on him. He is an unwise son; for when it is time, he doesn't come to the opening of the womb. 14I will ransom them from the power of Sheol. I will redeem them from death! Death, where are your plagues? Sheol, where is your destruction? "Compassion will be hidden from my eyes. 15Though he is fruitful among his brothers, an east wind will come, the breath of Yahweh coming up from the wilderness; and his spring will become dry, and his fountain will be dried up. He will plunder the storehouse of treasure. 16Samaria will bear her guilt; for she has rebelled against her God. They will fall by the sword. Their infants will be dashed in pieces, and their pregnant women will be ripped open."
1Israel, return to Yahweh your God; for you have fallen because of your sin. 2Take words with you, and return to Yahweh. Tell him, "Forgive all our sins, and accept what is good: so we offer our lips like bulls. 3Assyria can't save us. We won't ride on horses; nor will we say any more to the work of our hands, 'Our gods!' for in you the fatherless finds mercy." 4"I will heal their waywardness. I will love them freely; for my anger is turned away from him. 5I will be like the dew to Israel. He will blossom like the lily, and send down his roots like Lebanon. 6His branches will spread, and his beauty will be like the olive tree, and his fragrance like Lebanon. 7Men will dwell in his shade. They will revive like the grain, and blossom like the vine. Their fragrance will be like the wine of Lebanon. 8Ephraim, what have I to do any more with idols? I answer, and will take care of him. I am like a green fir tree; from me your fruit is found." 9Who is wise, that he may understand these things? Who is prudent, that he may know them? For the ways of Yahweh are right, and the righteous walk in them; But the rebellious stumble in them. 24 verses
1The Song of songs, which is Solomon's.
2[Beloved]
Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth;
for your love is better than wine.
3Your oils have a pleasing fragrance.
Your name is oil poured out,
therefore the virgins love you.
4Take me away with you.
Let's hurry.
The king has brought me into his rooms.
[Friends]
We will be glad and rejoice in you.
We will praise your love more than wine!
[Beloved]
They are right to love you.
5I am dark, but lovely,
you daughters of Jerusalem,
like Kedar's tents,
like Solomon's curtains.
6Don't stare at me because I am dark,
because the sun has scorched me.
My mother's sons were angry with me.
They made me keeper of the vineyards.
I haven't kept my own vineyard.
7Tell me, you whom my soul loves,
where you graze your flock,
where you rest them at noon;
for why should I be as one who is veiled
beside the flocks of your companions?
8[Lover]
If you don't know, most beautiful among women,
follow the tracks of the sheep.
Graze your young goats beside the shepherds' tents. 9I have compared you, my love,
to a steed in Pharaoh's chariots.
10Your cheeks are beautiful with earrings,
your neck with strings of jewels.
11[Friends]
We will make you earrings of gold,
with studs of silver.
12[Beloved]
While the king sat at his table,
my perfume spread its fragrance.
13My beloved is to me a sachet of myrrh,
that lies between my breasts.
14My beloved is to me a cluster of henna blossoms
from the vineyards of En Gedi.
15[Lover]
Behold, you are beautiful, my love.
Behold, you are beautiful.
Your eyes are doves.
16[Beloved]
Behold, you are beautiful, my beloved, yes, pleasant;
and our couch is verdant.
17[Lover]
The beams of our house are cedars.
Our rafters are firs.
1[Beloved]
I am a rose of Sharon,
a lily of the valleys.
2[Lover]
As a lily among thorns,
so is my love among the daughters.
3[Beloved]
As the apple tree among the trees of the wood,
so is my beloved among the sons.
I sat down under his shadow with great delight,
his fruit was sweet to my taste.
4He brought me to the banquet hall.
His banner over me is love.
5Strengthen me with raisins,
refresh me with apples;
for I am faint with love.
6His left hand is under my head.
His right hand embraces me.
7I solemnly-order you, daughters of Jerusalem,
by the roes, or by the hinds of the field,
that you not stir up, nor awaken love,
until it so desires. 22 verses
12Dear-ones, don't be astonished at the fiery trial which has come upon you testing you, as though a strange thing happened to you. 13But because you are partakers of AnointedOne's sufferings, rejoice that at the revelation of his glory you also may rejoice with exceeding joy. 14If you are insulted for the name of AnointedOne, you are happier because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. On their part he is blasphemed, but on your part he is glorified. 15For let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or an evil doer, or a meddler in other men's matters. 16But if one of you suffers for being a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God in this matter. 17For the time has come for judgment to begin with the household of God. If it begins first with us, what will happen to those who don't obey the Good News of God? 18"If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will happen to the ungodly and the shortcomer?" 19So let them also who suffer according to the will of God in doing good entrust their souls to him, as to a faithful Creator.
1Therefore I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of AnointedOne, and who will also share in the glory that will be revealed: 2shepherd the flock of God which is among you, exercising the oversight, not under compulsion, but voluntarily, not for dishonest gain, but willingly; 3not as domineers of those entrusted to you, but making yourselves examples to the flock. 4When the chief Shepherd is revealed, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.
5Likewise, you younger ones, be subject to the elder. Yes, all of you clothe yourselves with humility, to subject yourselves to one another; for "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." 6So humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time, 7casting all your worries on him, because he cares for you.
8Be sober and self-controlled. Be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, walks around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9Withstand him steadfast in your faith, knowing that your brothers who are in the world are undergoing the same sufferings. 10But may the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory by AnointedOne Jesus, after you have suffered a little while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. 11To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Absolutely.
12Through Silvanus, our faithful brother, as I consider him, I have written to you briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God in which you stand. 13She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, greets you; and so does Mark, my son. 14Greet one another with a kiss of selfless-love. Peace be to all of you who are in AnointedOne Jesus. [*Absolutely].
