The Daily Audio Bible

7 Then Jerubbaal, which also is Gideon, rose by night, and all the people with him, and came to the well which is called Harod. And the tents of Midian were in the valley, at the north coast of the high hill. (Then Jerubbaal, that is Gideon, and all the people with him, rose up early, and they came to the well which is called Harod. And the tents of the Midianites were pitched in the valley to the north of Mount Moreh.)

² And the Lord said to Gideon, (Too) Much people is with thee, and Midian shall not be betaken into the hands thereof, lest Israel have glory against me, and say, I am delivered by my strengths. (And the Lord said to Gideon, Too many people be with thee, and the Midianites shall not be delivered into their hands, lest the people of Israel take the glory from me, and say, We were saved by our own strength.)

³ Speak thou to the people, and preach thou, while all men hear, (and say,) He that is fearedful, and dreadful, turn again. And (so) they (who were afraid) went away from the hill of Gilead, and (in all) two and twenty thousand of men turned again from the people; and only ten thousand (still) dwelled (there).

⁴ And the Lord said to Gideon, Yet the people is (too) much; lead thou them to the waters, and there I shall prove them, and he (shall) go with thee, of whom I shall say, that he (should) go; and turn he again, whom I shall forbid to go.

⁵ And when the people had gone down to the waters, the Lord said to Gideon, Thou shalt separate them by themselves that lap (up the) waters with hand and tongue, as dogs be wont to lap (it up); and those, that drink with knees bowed, shall be in the tother part.

⁶ And so the number of them, that lapped (up the) waters, by the hand casting (it) to the mouth, was three hundred men; and all the tother multitude drank kneeling.

⁷ And the Lord said to Gideon, In three hundred men, that lapped waters, I shall deliver you, and I shall betake Midian in thine hand; and all the tother multitude turn again into their place. (And the Lord said to Gideon, With the three hundred men who lapped up the water, I shall save you, and I shall deliver the Midianites into thy hands; and all the other multitude should return to their homes.)

⁸ And [so] when they had taken meats and trumps for the number of them, he commanded all the tother multitude to go (back) to their tabernacles; and Gideon, with (those) three hundred men, gave himself to [the] battle. And the tents of Midian were beneath in the valley (And the tents of the Midianites were pitched below him in the valley).

⁹ In the same night the Lord said to him, Rise thou (up), and go down into their tents, for I have betaken them in thine hand (for I have delivered them into thy hands);

¹⁰ and if thou dreadest to go alone, Phurah, thy servant, go down with thee. (and if thou fearest to go down alone, let thy servant Phurah go down with thee.)

¹¹ And when thou shalt hear what they speak, then thine hands shall be strengthened, and thou shalt go down securer to the tents of [the] enemies. Therefore he went down, and Phurah, his servant (And so he, and his servant Phurah, went down), into the part of [the] tents, where the watches of (the) armed men were.

¹² And Midian, and Amalek, and all the peoples of the east lay spread abroad in the valley, as the multitude of locusts; and the camels were unnumberable, as gravel that lieth in the brink of the sea. (And the Midianites, and the Amalekites, and all the peoples of the east lay spread abroad in the valley, like a multitude of locusts; and their camels were innumerable, like the gravel, or the sand, that lieth at the seashore.)

¹³ And when Gideon had come down, a man told (of) a dream to his neighbour, and he told by this manner that, that he had seen, (saying,) I saw a dream, and it seemed to me, that as a barley loaf, baken under ashes, was wallowed, and it came down into the tents of Midian; and when it had come to a tabernacle, it smote it, and destroyed it, and made it even utterly to the earth. (And when Gideon had come down, a man told his neighbour about a dream that he had, and he told in this manner what he had seen, saying, I had a dream, and it seemed to me, that a barley loaf, baked under ashes, was rolled down into the tents of the Midianites; and when it came to a tent, it struck it, and destroyed it, and made it utterly even to the ground.)

¹⁴ That man answered, to whom he spake (And that man to whom he spoke, answered), This is none other thing, no but the sword of Gideon, [the] son of Joash, a man of Israel; for the Lord God hath betaken Midian, and all [the] tents thereof, into the hands of Gideon.

¹⁵ And when Gideon had heard the dream, and the interpreting thereof, he worshipped the Lord, and turned again to the tents of Israel, and said, Rise ye (up); for the Lord hath betaken into our hands the tents of Midian (for the Lord hath delivered the host, or the army, of the Midianites into our hands).

¹⁶ And he parted the three hundred men into three parts, and he gave them trumps in their hands, and empty pots, and lamps (with lamps), that is, (with) burning brands, either torches, that might not lightly be quenched, in the midst of the pots.

¹⁷ And he said to them, Do ye this thing which ye see me do; I shall enter into a part of the tents, and follow ye that, that I do.

¹⁸ When the trump in my hand shall sound, sound ye also all about the tents, and cry ye together, To the Lord, and to Gideon.

¹⁹ And Gideon entered, and the three hundred men that were with him, into a part of the tents, when the watches of midnight began; and when the keepers were raised, they began to sound with trumps, and to beat together the pots among themselves (and after the guards had changed, they began to sound with the trumpets, and to beat the pots together).

²⁰ And when they sounded in three places by compass, and had broken the pots, they held [the] lamps in their left hands, and [the] sounding trumps in their right hands; and they cried, The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon;

²¹ and they stood all in their place, about the tents of their enemies. And so all the tents were troubled; and they cried [out], and yelled, and fled; (and they all stood in their places, about the tents of their enemies. And all the army was troubled, and many of the enemies cried out, and yelled, and fled away;)

²² and nevertheless the three hundred men continued, sounding with trumps. And the Lord sent sword in all the tents, and they killed themselves by death each other; and they (who were left) fled till to Bethshittah, (in Zererath), and by the side, from Abelmeholah into Tabbath. (but the three hundred men continued sounding with the trumpets. And the Lord set each man in the camp against his neighbour, and they killed each other with their swords; and those who were left fled to Bethshittah in Zererath, and to Abelmeholah Ridge by Tabbath.)

²³ And men of Israel cried together, of Naphtali, and of Asher, and of all Manasseh, and they pursued Midian; and the Lord gave victory to the people of Israel in that day. (Then the men of Israel from Naphtali, and Asher, and from both parts of Manasseh, were called out, and they pursued the Midianites; and the Lord gave victory to the people of Israel on that day.)

²⁴ And Gideon sent messengers into all the hill (country) of Ephraim, and said, Come ye down against the coming of Midian, and occupy ye the waters till to Bethbarah and (the) Jordan. And all Ephraim cried (And all the men of Ephraim were called out), and before-occupied the waters of the Jordan until Bethbarah.

²⁵ And Ephraim killed two chief men of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb; he killed Oreb in the stone of Oreb, and Zeeb in the presser of Zeeb; and Ephraim pursued Midian, and they bare the heads of Oreb and of Zeeb to Gideon, over the floods of Jordan. (And the Ephraimites killed the two chief men of the Midianites, Oreb and Zeeb; they killed Oreb at the stone of Oreb, and Zeeb at the winepress of Zeeb; and they pursued the Midianites, and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon, on the other side of the Jordan River.)

8 And the men of Ephraim said to Gideon, What is this thing, that thou wouldest do, that thou calledest not us, when thou wentest to battle against Midian? And they chided with him strongly, and well nigh they did to him violence. (And the men of Ephraim said to Gideon, What is this that thou hast done, that thou did not call us when thou wentest to battle against the Midianites? And they strongly complained to him, and they almost did violence to him.)

² To whom he answered, And what such thing might I have done, what manner thing ye have done? (But he answered to them, Could I have done such a thing as ye have done?) Whether a raisin of Ephraim is not better than the vintages of Abiezer?

³ And the Lord hath betaken into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb. What such thing might I have done, what manner thing ye have done? (For the Lord hath delivered Oreb and Zeeb, the princes of the Midianites, into your hands. Could I have done such a thing as ye have done?) And when he had spoken this thing, the spirit of them rested, by which they swelled against him.

⁴ And when Gideon had come to (the) Jordan, he passed it with three hundred men, that were with him; and for weariness they might not pursue them that fled. (And when Gideon had come to the Jordan River, he crossed over it with the three hundred men who were with him; and for weariness they might not pursue those who had fled before them.)

⁵ And he said to the men of Succoth, I beseech (thee), give ye (some) loaves to the people, that is with me; for they failed greatly (for they faint now), (so) that we may then pursue Zebah and Zalmunna, (the) kings of Midian.

⁶ And the princes of Succoth answered in scorn, (and said,) In hap the palms of the hands of Zebah and of Zalmunna be in thine hands, and therefore thou askest, that we give (some) loaves to thine host.

⁷ To whom Gideon said, Therefore, when the Lord shall betake Zebah and Zalmunna into mine hands, and when I shall turn again (as an) overcomer in peace, I shall rend your flesh with thorns and briars of the desert. (To whom Gideon said, And so, when the Lord shall deliver Zebah and Zalmunna into my hands, and when I shall return to you in victory, I shall tear, or shall cut, your flesh with thorns and briars from the desert.)

⁸ And Gideon went up from thence, and came into Penuel; and he spake like things to men of that place, to whom also they answered, as the men of Succoth had answered (and they answered him just like the men of Succoth had answered him).

⁹ And so he said to them, When I shall turn again (as an) overcomer in peace (When I shall return to you in victory), I shall destroy this tower.

¹⁰ Forsooth Zebah and Zalmunna rested with all their host; for fifteen thousand men (were) left of all the companies of the peoples of the east, when an hundred and twenty thousand of fighters and of men drawing out sword were slain. (And Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor with their army; and fifteen thousand men were all who were left of the companies of the peoples of the east, for a hundred and twenty thousand fighting men drawing out swords had been killed.)

¹¹ And Gideon ascended by the way of them that dwelled in tabernacles at the east coast of Nobah and of Jogbehah, and smote the tents of [the] enemies, that were secure, and supposed not anything of adversity.

¹² And Zebah and Zalmunna fled, whom Gideon pursued, and (he) took (hold of them), when all their host was troubled.

¹³ And he turned again from battle before the rising of the sun, (And Gideon returned from the battle by way of the Ascent of Heres,)

¹⁴ and he took (hold of) a young man of the men of Succoth; and he asked him the names of the princes, and of the elder men of Succoth; and he described (to Gideon) seven and seventy men in number.

¹⁵ And he came to Succoth, and said to them, Lo, (here be) Zebah and Zalmunna! of which ye upbraided me (of whom ye upbraided me), and said, In hap the hands of Zebah and of Zalmunna be in thine hands, and therefore thou askest, that we give (some) loaves to (thy) men, that be weary and failed.

¹⁶ Therefore Gideon took the elder men of the city, and thorns and briars of (the) desert, and he rent with those, and all-brake the men of Succoth; (And so Gideon took hold of the city elders, and some thorns and briars from the desert, and he tore, or cut, them with those, and broke the men of Succoth all to pieces;)

¹⁷ also he destroyed the tower of Penuel, when the dwellers of the city were slain. (and he also destroyed the tower of Penuel, and killed the inhabitants of that city.)

¹³ And Pilate called together the princes of priests and the magistrates of the people,

¹⁴ and said to them, Ye have brought to me this man, as turning away the people, and lo! I asking before you find no cause in this man of these things, in which ye accuse him;

¹⁵ neither Herod, for he hath sent him again to us [but neither Herod, for I again sent you to him], and lo! nothing worthy of death is done to him.

¹⁶ And therefore I shall amend him, and deliver him.^[a]

¹⁷ But he must needs deliver to them one by the feast day. [Forsooth he had need to dismiss, or deliver, to them one by the feast day.]

¹⁸ And all the people cried together, and said, Do him away, and deliver to us Barabbas; [Soothly all the company cried, saying, Do him away, and deliver to us Barabbas;]

¹⁹ which was sent into prison for disturbing made in the city, and for manslaying. [the which was sent into prison for some sedition, or disturbing, made in the city, and for manslaying.]

²⁰ And again Pilate spake to them, and would deliver Jesus. [Forsooth again Pilate spake to them, willing to deliver Jesus.]

²¹ And they cried out, and said [And they under-cried, saying], Crucify, crucify him.

²² And the third time he said to them, For what evil hath he done [Soothly what of evil hath he done]? I find no cause of death in him; therefore I shall chastise him, and shall deliver him [and I shall deliver].

²³ And they continued with great voices asking [And they continued asking with great voices], that he should be crucified; and the voices of them waxed strong.

²⁴ And Pilate deemed their asking to be done.

²⁵ And he delivered to them him, that for manslaying and sedition was sent into prison, whom they asked; but he betook Jesus to their will.

²⁶ And when they led him, they took a man, Simon of Cyrene, coming from the town, and they laid on him the cross to bear after Jesus.

²⁷ And there followed him much people [Soothly there followed him much company of people], and [of] women that bewailed, and bemourned him.

²⁸ And Jesus turned to them, and said, Daughters of Jerusalem, do not ye weep on me, but weep ye on yourselves and on your sons.

²⁹ For lo! days shall come, in which it shall be said, Blessed be barren women, and [the] wombs that have not born children, and the teats that have not given suck.^[b]

³⁰ Then they shall begin to say to mountains, Fall ye down on us, and to small hills, Cover ye us.

³¹ For if in a green tree they do these things [For if they do these things in a green tree], what shall be done in a dry?

³² Also [and] other two wicked men were led with him, to be slain.

³³ And when they came into a place, that is called of Calvary^[c], there they crucified him, and the thieves, one on the right half, and the other on the left half.

³⁴ But Jesus said, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. And they parted his clothes, and cast lots [Forsooth they parting his clothes, sent lots].

³⁵ And the people stood abiding; and the princes scorned him with them, and said, Other men he made safe; make he himself safe, if this be Christ, the chosen of God. [And the people stood abiding; and the princes scorned him with them, saying, Other men he made safe; make he himself safe, if he is Christ, the chosen of God.]

³⁶ And the knights approached, and scorned him, and proffered vinegar to him, [Forsooth and knights coming nigh scorned him, and offered vinegar to him,]

³⁷ and said [saying], If thou art king of Jews, make thee safe.

³⁸ And the superscription was written over him with Greek letters [with letters of Greek], and of Latin, and of Hebrew, This is the king of Jews.

³⁹ And one of these thieves that hanged, blasphemed him, and said [Forsooth one of those thieves that hanged, blasphemed him, saying], If thou art Christ, make thyself safe and us.

⁴⁰ But the other answering, blamed him, and said, Neither thou dreadest God, [thou] that art in the same condemnation? [Soothly the tother answering, blamed him, saying, Neither thou dreadest God, thou that art in the same damnation?]

⁴¹ And truly we justly, for we have received worthy things to our works; but this did nothing of evil. [And truly we justly, for we have received worthy things to deeds; soothly this hath done no evil.]

⁴² And he said to Jesus, Lord, have mind of me [Lord, have mind on me], when thou comest into thy kingdom.

⁴³ And Jesus said to him, Truly I say to thee, this day thou shalt be with me in paradise.

97 The Lord hath reigned, the earth make full out joy; many isles be glad. (The Lord reigneth, let the earth rejoice; let the many isles be glad.)

² Cloud and darkness in his compass; rightfulness and doom is [the] amending of his seat. (Clouds and darkness surround him; righteousness and justice be the foundation of his throne.)

³ Fire shall go before him; and shall enflame, either set afire, his enemies in compass. (Fire shall go before him; and shall set his enemies aflame, all around him.)

⁴ His lightnings shined to the world; the earth saw, and was moved (the earth saw it, and trembled).

⁵ Hills as wax floated down from the face of the Lord; all earth from the face of the Lord. (The hills flowed down like wax before the Lord; before the Lord of all the earth.)

⁶ Heavens told his rightfulness; and all peoples saw his glory. (The heavens told out his righteousness; and all the peoples saw his glory.)

⁷ All they that worship graven things, or images, be shamed, and they that have glory in their simulacra; all ye angels of the Lord, worship him. (All those who worship carved images, be put to shame, and they who have glory in their idols; and all ye gods, worship him.)

⁸ Zion heard, and was glad; and the daughters of Judah made full out joy, for thy dooms, Lord. (The people of Zion heard, and were glad; and the daughters of Judah rejoiced, for thy judgements, O Lord.)

⁹ For thou, Lord, art the highest on all earth; thou art greatly enhanced over all gods. (For thou, Lord, art most high over all the earth/For thou, Most High, art lord over all the earth; thou art exalted far above all gods.)

¹⁰ Ye that love the Lord, hate evil (Ye who love the Lord, hate evil); the Lord keepeth (safe) the souls of his saints; he shall deliver them from the hand of the sinner.

¹¹ Light is risen to the rightful man; and gladness to rightful men of heart. (Light hath risen for the righteous; and gladness for those with upright hearts.)

¹² Just men, be ye glad in the Lord; and acknowledge ye to the mind of his hallowing. (Ye righteous, be glad in the Lord; and give ye thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.)

98 A psalm. Sing ye a new song to the Lord; for he hath done marvels. His right hand and his holy arm; hath made health to him. (A song. Sing ye a new song to the Lord; for he hath done marvellous deeds. His right hand, or his power, and his holy arm, have won him the victory.)

² The Lord hath made known his health; in the sight of heathen men he hath showed his rightfulness. (The Lord hath made known his victory; yea, he hath shown his righteousness before the heathen.)

³ He bethought on his mercy; and on his truth, to the house of Israel. All the ends of earth; saw the health of our God. (He remembered his love, and his faithfulness, toward the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth; have seen the victory of our God.)

⁴ All earth, make ye heartily joy to God; sing ye, and make ye full out joy, and say ye psalm. (All the earth, heartily make ye joy to God; sing ye, and rejoice, and sing ye a song.)

⁵ Sing ye to the Lord in an harp, in harp and in voice of psalm; (Sing ye to the Lord on a harp, yea, on a harp, and with the words of a song/and with the strains of a lute;)

⁶ in trumps beaten out with hammer, and in voice of a trump of (a) horn. Heartily sing ye in the sight of the Lord, the king; (and with trumpets beaten out with a hammer, yea, with the sound of trumpets and horns. Heartily sing ye before the Lord, the King;)

⁷ the sea and the fullness thereof be moved; the world, and they that dwell therein. (let the sea roar, and all the creatures in it; yea, the whole world, and all that live in it!)

⁸ Floods shall make joy with hand; together hills shall make full out joy, (The rivers make joy, or clap, with their hands; the hills rejoice together,)

⁹ for the sight of the Lord; for he cometh to deem the earth. He shall deem the world in rightfulness; and peoples in equity. (before the Lord; for he cometh to judge the earth. He shall judge the world with righteousness; and the peoples with justice, or with fairness.)

⁷ Go thou against a man a fool; and he shall not know the lips of prudence. (Go thou away from a foolish person; for he shall not speak words of understanding, that is, sensible words.)

⁸ The wisdom of a fell man is to understand his way; and the unwariness of fools erreth. (The wisdom of a clever person is to understand his own way; but the carelessness of fools maketh them to err.)