(11) And the Israelites did what was offensive to Adonai. They worshiped the Baalim (12) and forsook Adonai, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt. They followed other gods, from among the gods of the peoples around them, and bowed down to them; they provoked Adonai. (13) They forsook Adonai and worshiped Baal and the Ashtaroth. (14) Then Adonai was incensed at Israel, and God handed them over to foes who plundered them. God surrendered them to their enemies on all sides, and they could no longer hold their own against their enemies. (15) In all their campaigns, the hand of Adonai was against them to their undoing, as Adonai had declared and as Adonai had sworn to them; and they were in great distress. (16) Then Adonai raised up chieftains who delivered them from those who plundered them. (17) But they did not heed their chieftains either; they went astray after other gods and bowed down to them. They were quick to turn aside from the way their fathers had followed in obedience to the commandments of Adonai; they did not do right. (18) When Adonai raised up chieftains for them, Adonai would be with the chieftain and would save them from their enemies during the chieftain’s lifetime; for Adonai would be moved to pity by their moanings because of those who oppressed and crushed them. (19) But when the chieftain died, they would again act basely, even more than the preceding generation—following other gods, worshiping them, and bowing down to them; they omitted none of their practices and stubborn ways. (20) Then Adonai became incensed against Israel, and God said, “Since that nation has transgressed the covenant that I enjoined upon their fathers and has not obeyed Me, (21) I for My part will no longer drive out before them any of the nations that Joshua left when he died.” (22) For it was in order to test Israel by them—[to see] whether or not they would faithfully walk in the ways of Adonai, as their fathers had done— (23) that Adonai had left those nations, instead of driving them out at once, and had not delivered them into the hands of Joshua.
(20) Ahab sent orders to all the Israelites and gathered the prophets at Mount Carmel. (21) Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long will you keep hopping between two opinions? If Adonai is God, follow Him; and if Baal, follow him!” But the people answered him not a word. (22) Then Elijah said to the people, “I am the only prophet of Adonai left, while the prophets of Baal are four hundred and fifty men. (23) Let two young bulls be given to us. Let them choose one bull, cut it up, and lay it on the wood, but let them not apply fire; I will prepare the other bull, and lay it on the wood, and will not apply fire. (24) You will then invoke your god by name, and I will invoke Adonai by name; and let us agree: the god who responds with fire, that one is God.” And all the people answered, “Very good!” (25) Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one bull and prepare it first, for you are the majority; invoke your god by name, but apply no fire.” (26) They took the bull that was given them; they prepared it, and invoked Baal by name from morning until noon, shouting, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was no sound, and none who responded; so they performed a hopping dance about the altar that had been set up. (27) When noon came, Elijah mocked them, saying, “Shout louder! After all, he is a god. But he may be in conversation, he may be detained, or he may be on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and will wake up.” (28) So they shouted louder, and gashed themselves with knives and spears, according to their practice, until the blood streamed over them. (29) When noon passed, they kept raving until the hour of presenting the meal offering. Still there was no sound, and none who responded or heeded. (30) Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come closer to me”; and all the people came closer to him. He repaired the damaged altar of Adonai. (31) Then Elijah took twelve stones, corresponding to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob—to whom the word of Adonai had come: “Israel shall be your name”— (32) and with the stones he built an altar in the name of Adonai. Around the altar he made a trench large enough for two seahs of seed. (33) He laid out the wood, and he cut up the bull and laid it on the wood. (34) And he said, “Fill four jars with water and pour it over the burnt offering and the wood.” Then he said, “Do it a second time”; and they did it a second time. “Do it a third time,” he said; and they did it a third time. (35) The water ran down around the altar, and even the trench was filled with water. (36) When it was time to present the meal offering, the prophet Elijah came forward and said, “O Adonai, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel! Let it be known today that You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your bidding. (37) Answer me, O Adonai, answer me, that this people may know that You, O Adonai, are God; for You have turned their hearts backward.” (38) Then fire from the Adonai descended and consumed the burnt offering, the wood, the stones, and the earth; and it licked up the water that was in the trench. (39) When they saw this, all the people flung themselves on their faces and cried out: “Adonai alone is God, Adonai alone is God!” (40) Then Elijah said to them, “Seize the prophets of Baal, let not a single one of them get away.” They seized them, and Elijah took them down to the Wadi Kishon and slaughtered them there.
(23) In that day, there shall be a highway from Egypt to Assyria. The Assyrians shall join with the Egyptians and Egyptians with the Assyrians, and then the Egyptians together with the Assyrians shall serve [Adonai]. (24) In that day, Israel shall be a third partner with Egypt and Assyria as a blessing on earth; (25) for Adonai of Hosts will bless them, saying, “Blessed be My people Egypt, My handiwork Assyria, and My very own Israel.”
(10) They have returned to the iniquities of their fathers of old, who refused to heed My words. They, too, have followed other gods and served them. The House of Israel and the House of Judah have broken the covenant that I made with their fathers.” (11) Assuredly, thus said Adonai: I am going to bring upon them disaster from which they will not be able to escape. Then they will cry out to me, but I will not listen to them.
(31) See, a time is coming—declares Adonai—when I will make a new covenant with the House of Israel and the House of Judah. (32) It will not be like the covenant I made with their fathers, when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, a covenant which they broke, though I espoused them—declares Adonai. (33) But such is the covenant I will make with the House of Israel after these days—declares Adonai: I will put My Teaching into their inmost being and inscribe it upon their hearts. Then I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
(1) Sing to Adonai a new song, sing to Adonai all the earth. (2) Sing to Adonai, bless God's name, proclaim God's victory day after day. (3) Tell of God's glory among the nations, God's wondrous deeds, among all peoples. (4) For Adonai is great and much acclaimed, God is held in awe by all divine beings. (5) All the gods of the peoples are mere idols, but Adonai made the heavens. (6) Glory and majesty are before God; strength and splendor are in God's temple. (7) Ascribe to Adonai, O families of the peoples, ascribe to Adonai glory and strength. (8) Ascribe to Adonai the glory of God's name, bring tribute and enter God's courts. (9) Bow down to Adonai majestic in holiness; tremble in God's presence, all the earth! (10) Declare among the nations, “Adonai is king!” the world stands firm; it cannot be shaken; God judges the peoples with equity. (11) Let the heavens rejoice and the earth exult; let the sea and all within it thunder, (12) the fields and everything in them exult; then shall all the trees of the forest shout for joy (13) at the presence of Adonai, for God is coming, for God is coming to rule the earth; God will rule the world justly, and its peoples in faithfulness.
(6) One day the divine beings presented themselves before Adonai, and the Adversary-a came along with them. (7) Adonai said to the Adversary, “Where have you been?” The Adversary answered Adonai, “I have been roaming all over the earth.” (8) Adonai said to the Adversary, “Have you noticed My servant Job? There is no one like him on earth, a blameless and upright man who fears God and shuns evil!” (9) The Adversary answered Adonai, “Does Job not have good reason to fear God? (10) Why, it is You who have fenced him round, him and his household and all that he has. You have blessed his efforts so that his possessions spread out in the land. (11) But lay Your hand upon all that he has and he will surely blaspheme You to Your face.” (12) Adonai replied to the Adversary, “See, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on him.” The Adversary departed from the presence of Adonai.
(20) Then Job arose, tore his robe, cut off his hair, and threw himself on the ground and worshiped. (21) He said, “Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there; Adonai has given, and Adonai has taken away; blessed be the name of Adonai.” (22) For all that, Job did not sin nor did he cast reproach on God.
(1) Eliphaz the Temanite said in reply: (2) Can a man be of use to God, A wise man benefit Him? (3) Does Shaddai gain if you are righteous? Does God profit if your conduct is blameless? (4) Is it because of your piety that God arraigns you, And enters into judgment with you? (5) You know that your wickedness is great, And that your iniquities have no limit. (6) You exact pledges from your fellows without reason, And leave them naked, stripped of their clothes; (7) You do not give the thirsty water to drink; You deny bread to the hungry. (8) The land belongs to the strong; The privileged occupy it. (9) You have sent away widows empty-handed; The strength of the fatherless is broken. (10) Therefore snares are all around you, And sudden terrors frighten you, (11) Or darkness, so you cannot see; A flood of waters covers you.
(1) Then Adonai replied to Job out of the tempest and said: (2) Who is this who darkens counsel, Speaking without knowledge? (3) Gird your loins like a man; I will ask and you will inform Me. (4) Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundations? Speak if you have understanding. (5) Do you know who fixed its dimensions Or who measured it with a line? (6) Onto what were its bases sunk? Who set its cornerstone (7) When the morning stars sang together And all the divine beings shouted for joy? (8) Who closed the sea behind doors When it gushed forth out of the womb, (9) When I clothed it in clouds, Swaddled it in dense clouds, (10) When I made breakers My limit for it, And set up its bar and doors, (11) And said, “You may come so far and no farther; Here your surging waves will stop”? (12) Have you ever commanded the day to break, Assigned the dawn its place, (13) So that it seizes the corners of the earth And shakes the wicked out of it? (14) It changes like clay under the seal Till [its hues] are fixed like those of a garment. (15) Their light is withheld from the wicked, And the upraised arm is broken. (16) Have you penetrated to the sources of the sea, Or walked in the recesses of the deep? (17) Have the gates of death been disclosed to you? Have you seen the gates of deep darkness? (18) Have you surveyed the expanses of the earth? If you know of these—tell Me. (19) Which path leads to where light dwells, And where is the place of darkness, (20) That you may take it to its domain And know the way to its home? (21) Surely you know, for you were born then, And the number of your years is many!