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A Dead Boy Opens His Eyes
18 Then the child was grown. And the day came that he went out to his father to the reapers. 19 And he said to his father, “My head, my head.” And he said to [a]his young man, “Carry him to his mother.” 20 Then he carried him and brought him to his mother, and he sat on her knees until noon, and then died. 21 Then she went up and (A)laid him on the bed of (B)the man of God and shut the door behind him and went out. 22 And she called to her husband and said, “Please send me one of the young men and one of the donkeys, that I may run to the man of God and return.” 23 And he said, “Why will you go to him today? It is neither (C)new moon nor sabbath.” And she said, “It is well.” 24 Then she saddled a donkey and said to her young man, “Drive and go; do not hold back the pace of the ride for me unless I tell you.” 25 So she went and came to the man of God to (D)Mount Carmel.
Now it happened that when the man of God saw her at a distance, he said to Gehazi his young man, “Behold, [b]there is the Shunammite. 26 Please run now to meet her and say to her, ‘Is it well with you? Is it well with your husband? Is it well with the child?’” And she [c]answered, “It is well.” 27 Then she came to the man of God (E)to the hill and took hold of his feet. And Gehazi came near to push her away; but the man of God said, “Let her alone, for her soul is bitter within her; and Yahweh has hidden it from me and has not told me.” 28 Then she said, “Did I ask for a son from my lord? Did I not say, ‘(F)Do not deceive me’?”
29 Then he said to Gehazi, “(G)Gird up your loins and (H)take my staff in your hand, and go; if you meet anyone, do not [d](I)greet him, and if anyone [e]greets you, do not answer him; and (J)lay my staff on the boy’s face.” 30 But the mother of the boy said, “(K)As Yahweh lives and as your soul lives, I will not forsake you.” And he arose and followed her. 31 Now Gehazi passed on before them and laid the staff on the boy’s face, but there was no sound or [f]response. So he returned to meet him and told him, saying, “The boy (L)has not awakened.”
32 Then Elisha came into the house, and behold, the boy was dead and laid on his bed. 33 So he entered and (M)shut the door behind them both and prayed to Yahweh. 34 And (N)he went up and lay on the child and put his mouth on his mouth and his eyes on his eyes and his hands on his hands, and he stretched himself on him; and the flesh of the child became warm. 35 Then he returned and walked in the house once back and forth, and went up and (O)stretched himself on him; and the boy sneezed seven times and the boy opened his eyes. 36 Then he called Gehazi and said, “Call this Shunammite.” So he called her. Then she came in to him, and he said, “Take up your son.” 37 Then she came in and fell at his feet and bowed herself to the ground, and (P)she took up her son and went out.
The Death in the Stew
38 Now Elisha returned to (Q)Gilgal, and there was (R)a famine in the land. [g]As (S)the sons of the prophets (T)were sitting before him, he said to his young man, “(U)Put on the large pot and boil stew for the sons of the prophets.” 39 Then one went out into the field to gather herbs and found a wild vine and gathered from it wild gourds filling his cloak and came and sliced them into the pot of stew, for they did not know what they were. 40 So they poured it out for the men to eat. And it happened that as they were eating of the stew, they cried out and said, “O man of God, there is (V)death in the pot.” And they were unable to eat. 41 But he said, “Now bring flour.” (W)He threw it into the pot and said, “Pour it out for the people that they may eat.” Then there was no harm in the pot.
42 Now a man came from Baal-shalishah, and brought the man of God bread of the first fruits, twenty loaves of barley and fresh ears of grain in his sack. And he said, “(X)Give them to the people that they may eat.” 43 And his attendant said, “What, (Y)will I give this before one hundred men?” But he said, “Give them to the people that they may eat, for thus says Yahweh, ‘They shall eat and have some left over.’” 44 So he gave it before them, and they ate and (Z)had some left over, according to the word of Yahweh.
Naaman Cleaned from Leprosy
5 Now (AA)Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man [h]with his master, and [i]highly respected, because by him Yahweh had given salvation to Aram. The man was also a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper. 2 Now the Arameans had gone out (AB)in marauding bands and had taken captive a little girl from the land of Israel; and she [j]waited on Naaman’s wife. 3 And she said to her mistress, “I wish that my master were before the prophet who is in Samaria! Then he would cure him of his leprosy.” 4 Then [k]Naaman went in and told his master, saying, “Thus and thus spoke the girl who is from the land of Israel.” 5 Then the king of Aram said, “Go [l]now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel.” So he went and (AC)took in his hand [m]ten talents of silver and [n]six thousand shekels of gold and ten (AD)changes of clothes.
6 And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, saying,
“So now as this letter comes to you, behold, I have sent Naaman my servant to you, that you may cure him of his leprosy.”
7 Now it happened that when the king of Israel read the letter, (AE)he tore his clothes and said, “(AF)Am I God, to put to death and to make alive, that this man is sending word to me to cure a man of his leprosy? But (AG)know now, and see how he is seeking [o]a quarrel against me.”
8 Now it happened when Elisha (AH)the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, that he sent word to the king, saying, “Why have you torn your clothes? Now let him come to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel.” 9 So Naaman came with his horses and his chariots and stood at the doorway of the house of Elisha. 10 And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “(AI)Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh will be restored to you and you will be clean.” 11 But Naaman was furious and went away and said, “Behold, I said to myself, ‘He will surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of Yahweh his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper.’ 12 Are not [p]Abanah and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and (AJ)went away in wrath. 13 (AK)Then his servants approached and spoke to him and said, “(AL)My father, had the prophet spoken with you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” 14 So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God; and (AM)his flesh was restored like the flesh of a young boy and (AN)he was clean.
Gehazi’s Leprosy
15 Then he returned to the man of God [q]with all his camp, and came and stood before him, and said, “Behold now, (AO)I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel; so now please (AP)take a blessing from your servant.” 16 But he said, “(AQ)As Yahweh lives, before whom I stand, (AR)I will take nothing.” And he urged him to take it, but he refused. 17 So Naaman said, “If not, please let your servant at least be given two mules’ load of (AS)earth; for your servant will no longer offer burnt offering nor will he sacrifice to other gods, but to Yahweh. 18 In this matter may Yahweh pardon your servant: when my master goes into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and (AT)he leans on my hand and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, when I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, Yahweh pardon your servant in this matter.” 19 And he said to him, “(AU)Go in peace.” So he went from him some distance.
20 Then (AV)Gehazi, the young man of Elisha the man of God, said to himself, “Behold, my master has spared this Naaman the Aramean, [r]by not receiving from his hands what he brought. (AW)As Yahweh lives, I will run after him and take something from him.” 21 So Gehazi pursued Naaman. And Naaman saw one running after him, so he came down from the chariot to meet him and said, “Is all at peace?” 22 And he said, “(AX)All is at peace. My master has sent me, saying, ‘Behold, just now two young men of the sons of the prophets have come to me from (AY)the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them a talent of silver and (AZ)two changes of clothes.’” 23 Then Naaman said, “(BA)Be pleased to take two talents.” And he urged him and bound two talents of silver in two bags with two changes of clothes and gave them to two of his young men; and they carried them before him. 24 So he came to the [s]hill, and he took them from their hand and (BB)deposited them in the house. Then he sent the men away, and they departed. 25 But he came in and stood before his master. And Elisha said to him, “Where have you been, Gehazi?” And he said, “(BC)Your servant went nowhere.”
26 Then he said to him, “Did not my heart go with you, when the man turned from his chariot to meet you? (BD)Is it a time to receive money and to receive clothes and olive groves and vineyards and sheep and oxen and male and female slaves? 27 Thus the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and to your seed forever.” So he went out from his presence (BE)a leper as white as snow.
The Jerusalem Council
15 (A)Some men came down from Judea and began teaching (B)the brothers, “Unless you are (C)circumcised according to (D)the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2 And when Paul and Barnabas had not a little dissension and (E)debate with them, (F)the brothers determined that Paul and Barnabas and some others of them should go up to Jerusalem to the (G)apostles and elders concerning this issue. 3 Therefore, being (H)sent on their way by the church, they were passing through both (I)Phoenicia and Samaria, (J)recounting in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and were bringing great joy to all (K)the brothers. 4 When they arrived at Jerusalem, they were received by the church and (L)the apostles and the elders, and they (M)reported all that God had done with them. 5 But some of (N)the sect of the (O)Pharisees who had believed stood up, saying, “It is necessary to (P)circumcise them and to command them to keep the Law of Moses.”
6 (Q)Both the apostles and the elders came together to [a]look into this [b]matter. 7 And after there had been much (R)debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that [c]in the early days (S)God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of (T)the gospel and believe. 8 And God, (U)who knows the heart, testified to them (V)giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us; 9 and (W)He made no distinction between us and them, (X)cleansing their hearts by faith. 10 Now therefore why do you (Y)put God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which (Z)neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? 11 But we believe that we are saved through (AA)the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are.”
12 And all the multitude kept silent, and they were listening to Barnabas and Paul as they were (AB)relating what (AC)signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.
James Issues a Judgment
13 Now after they had stopped speaking, (AD)James answered, saying, “Brothers, listen to me. 14 (AE)Simeon has related how God first concerned Himself about taking from among the Gentiles a people for His name. 15 And with this the words of (AF)the Prophets agree, just as it is written,
16 ‘(AG)After these things (AH)I will return,
And I will rebuild the (AI)fallen [d]booth of David,
And I will rebuild its ruins,
And I will restore it,
17 (AJ)So that the rest of [e]mankind may seek the Lord,
And all the Gentiles [f](AK)who are called by My name,’
18 (AL)Says the [g]Lord, who [h](AM)makes these things known from long ago.
19 Therefore (AN)I judge that we do not trouble those who are turning to God from among the Gentiles, 20 but that we write to them that they abstain from (AO)things contaminated by idols and from (AP)sexual immorality and from (AQ)what is strangled and from blood. 21 For from ancient generations, (AR)Moses has those who preach him in every city, since [i]he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”
22 Then it seemed good to (AS)the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them—Judas called Barsabbas, and (AT)Silas, leading men among (AU)the brothers—to send to (AV)Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, 23 and they [j]sent this letter by them,
“(AW)The apostles and the brothers who are elders, to (AX)the brothers in (AY)Antioch and (AZ)Syria and (BA)Cilicia who are from the Gentiles, (BB)greetings.
24 Since we have heard that (BC)some of us, to whom we gave no instruction, have gone out and (BD)disturbed you with their words, unsettling your souls,
25 (BE)it seemed good to us, having [k]come to one accord, to select men to send to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
26 men who have [l](BF)risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27 Therefore we have sent (BG)Judas and (BH)Silas, and they themselves will report the same things by word of mouth.
28 For (BI)it seemed good to (BJ)the Holy Spirit and to (BK)us to lay upon you no greater burden than these essentials:
29 that you abstain from (BL)things sacrificed to idols and from (BM)blood and from (BN)things strangled and from (BO)sexual immorality, from which if you keep yourselves, you will do well. Farewell.”
30 So when they were sent away, (BP)they went down to Antioch; and having gathered the [m]congregation together, they delivered the letter. 31 And when they had read it, they rejoiced because of its [n]encouragement. 32 (BQ)And both Judas and (BR)Silas, also being (BS)prophets themselves, [o]encouraged and strengthened (BT)the brothers with a lengthy message. 33 And after they had spent time there, they were sent away from the brothers (BU)in peace to those who had (BV)sent them. 34 [p][But it seemed good to Silas to remain there.] 35 But (BW)Paul and Barnabas spent a long time in Antioch, teaching and [q](BX)preaching with many others also, (BY)the word of the Lord.
My Prayer as Incense Before You
A Psalm of David.
141 O Yahweh, I call upon You; (A)hasten to me!
(B)Give ear to my voice when I call to You!
2 May my prayer be established as (C)incense before You;
The (D)lifting up of my hands as the (E)evening offering.
3 Set a (F)guard, O Yahweh, [a]over my mouth;
Keep watch over the (G)door of my lips.
4 (H)Do not incline my heart to any evil thing,
To practice deeds in wickedness
With men who are (I)workers of iniquity;
And (J)do not let me eat of their delicacies.
5 Let the (K)righteous smite me in lovingkindness and reprove me;
It is (L)oil upon the head;
Let not my head refuse it,
[b]For still my prayer (M)is [c]against their evil deeds.
6 Their judges are (N)thrown down by the sides of the cliff,
And they hear my words, for they are pleasant.
7 As when one (O)plows and splits open the earth,
Our (P)bones have been scattered at the (Q)mouth of Sheol.
8 For my (R)eyes are toward You, O Yahweh, O Lord;
In You I (S)take refuge; (T)do not pour out my soul to death.
9 Keep me from the [d](U)jaws of the trap which they have set for me,
And from the (V)snares of workers of iniquity.
10 Let the wicked (W)fall into their own nets,
As for myself—meanwhile, (X)I am passing by.
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