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Selected Verse: Zephaniah 2:1 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Zep 2:1	Strong Concordance	Gather yourselves together [07197], yea, gather together [07197], O nation [01471] not desired [03700];
	King James	Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation not desired;

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
EXHORTATION TO REPENT BEFORE THE CHALDEAN INVADERS COME. DOOM OF JUDAH'S FOES, THE PHILISTINES, MOAB, AMMON, WITH THEIR IDOLS, AND ETHIOPIA AND ASSYRIA. (Zep 2:1-15) Gather yourselves--to a religious assembly, to avert the judgment by prayers (Joe 2:16) [GROTIUS]. Or, so as not to be dissipated "as chaff" (Zep 2:2). The Hebrew is akin to a root meaning "chaff." Self-confidence and corrupt desires are the dissipation from which they are exhorted to gather themselves [CALVIN]. The foe otherwise, like the wind, will scatter you "as the chaff." Repentance is the gathering of themselves meant. nation not desired--(Compare Ch2 21:20), that is, not desirable; unworthy of the grace or favor of God; and yet God so magnifies that grace as to be still solicitous for their safety, though they had destroyed themselves and forfeited all claims on His grace [CALVIN]. The Margin from Chaldee Version has, "not desirous," namely of returning to God. MAURER and GESENIUS translate, "Not waxing pale," that is, dead to shame. English Version is best.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

EXHORTATION TO REPENT BEFORE THE CHALDEAN INVADERS COME. DOOM OF JUDAH'S FOES, THE PHILISTINES, MOAB, AMMON, WITH THEIR IDOLS, AND ETHIOPIA AND ASSYRIA. (Zep 2:1-15)

Gather yourselves--to a religious assembly, to avert the judgment by prayers (Joe 2:16) [GROTIUS]. Or, so as not to be dissipated "as chaff" (Zep 2:2). The Hebrew is akin to a root meaning "chaff." Self-confidence and corrupt desires are the dissipation from which they are exhorted to gather themselves [CALVIN]. The foe otherwise, like the wind, will scatter you "as the chaff." Repentance is the gathering of themselves meant.

nation not desired--(Compare Ch2 21:20), that is, not desirable; unworthy of the grace or favor of God; and yet God so magnifies that grace as to be still solicitous for their safety, though they had destroyed themselves and forfeited all claims on His grace [CALVIN]. The Margin from Chaldee Version has, "not desirous," namely of returning to God. MAURER and GESENIUS translate, "Not waxing pale," that is, dead to shame. English Version is best.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
Having set forth the terrors of the Judgment Day, the prophet adds an earnest call to repentance; and then declares how judgments, forerunners of that Day, shall fall, one by one, on those nations around, who know not God, and shall rest upon Nineveh, the great beautiful ancient city of the world. Jerome: "See the mercy of God. It had been enough to have set before the wise the vehemence of the coming evil. But because He willeth not to punish, but to alarm only, Himself calleth to repentance, that He may not do what He threatened." Cyril: "Having set forth clearly the savageness of the war and the greatness of the suffering to come, he suitably turns his discourse to the duty of calling to repentance, when it was easy to persuade them, being terrified. For sometimes when the mind has been numbed, and exceedingly bent to evil, we do not readily admit even the will to repent, but fear often drives us to it, even against our will. He calls us then to friendship with Himself. For as they revolted, became aliens, serving idols and giving up their mind to their passions, so they would, as it were, retrace their steps, and lay hold of the friendship of God, choosing to serve Him, nay and Him Alone, and obey His commandments. Wherefore, while we have time, while the Lord, in His forbearance as God, gives way, let us enact repentance, supplicate, say weeping, "remember not the sins and offences of my youth" Psa 25:7; let us unite ourselves with Him by sanctification and sobriety. So shall we be sheltered in the day of wrath, and wash away the stain of our falls, before the Day of the Lord come upon us. For the Judge will come, He will come from heaven at the due season, and will reward each according to his work." Gather yourselves together, yea gather together - o, rather, "Sift yourselves, yea sift" . The exact image is from gathering stubble or dry sticks, which are picked up one by one, with search and care. So must men deal with the dry and withered leaves of a past evil life. The English rendering however, comes to the same meaning. We use, "collect oneself" for bringing oneself, all one's thoughts, together, and so, having full possession of oneself. Or "gathering ourselves" might stand in contrast with being "abroad," as it were, out of ourselves amid the manifoldness of things seen. Jerome: "Thou who, taken up with the business of the world, hurriest to and fro amid divers things, return to the Church of the saints, and join thyself to their life and assembly, whom thou seest to please God, and bring together the dislocated members of thy soul, which now are not knit together, into one frame of wisdom, and cleave to its embrace." "Gather yourselves" into one, wherein ye have been scattered; to the One God, from whom they had wandered, seeking pleasure from His many creatures; to His one fold and Church, from which they had severed themselves outwardly by joining the worship of Baal, inwardly, by serving him and his abominable rites; joining and joined to the assembly of the faithful, by oneness of faith and life. In order to repent, a man must know himself thoroughly; and this can only be done by taking act by act, word by word, thought by thought, as far as he can, not in a confused heap or mass, as they lie in any man's conscience, but one by one, each picked up apart, and examined, and added to the sear unfruitful heap, plucking them as it were, and gathering them out of himself, that so they may, by the Spirit of burning, the fire of God's Spirit kindling repentance, be burned up, and not the sinner himself be fuel for fire with them. The word too is intensive, "Gather together all which is in you, thoroughly, piece by piece" (for the sinner's whole self becomes chaff, dry and empty). To use another image, "Sift yourselves thoroughly, so that nothing escape, as far as your diligence can reach, and then - "And gather on," that is, "glean on;" examine yourselves, "not lightly and after the manner of dissemblers before God," but repeatedly, gleaning again and again, to see if by any means anything have escaped: continuing on the search and ceasing not. The first earnest search into the soul must be the beginning, not the end. Our search must be continued, until there be no more to be discovered, that is, when sin is no more, and we see ourselves in the full light of the presence of our Judge. For a first search, however diligent, never thoroughly reaches the whole deep disease of the whole man; the most grievous sins hide other grievous sins, though lighter. Some sins flash on the conscience, at one time, some at another; so that few, even upon a diligent search, come at once to the knowledge of all their heaviest sins. When the mist is less thick, we see more clearly what was before one dark dull mass of imperfection and misery. : "Spiritual sins are also with difficulty sifted, (as they are,) by one who is carnal. Whence it happens, that things in themselves heavier he perceives less or very little, and conscience is not grieved so much by the memory of pride or envy, as of impurities and crimes." So having said, "Sift yourselves through and through," he says, "sift on." A diligent sifting and search into himself must be the beginning of all true repentance and pardon. : "What remains, but that we give ourselves wholly to this work, so holy, and needful? "Let us search and try our ways and our doings" , and let each think that he has made progress, not if he find not what to blame, but if he blame what he finds. Thou hast not sifted thyself in vain, if thou hast discovered that thou needest a fresh sitting; and so often has thy search not failed thee, as thou judgest that it must be renewed. But if thou ever dost this, when there is need, thou dost it ever. But ever remember that thou needest help from above and the mercy of Jesus Christ our Lord Who is over all, God blessed forever." The whole course of self-examination then lies in two words of divine Scripture. And withal he warns them, instead of gathering together riches which shall "not be able to deliver them in the day of trouble," to gather themselves into themselves, and so "judge" themselves "thoroughly , that they be not judged of the Lord" Co1 11:31-32. O nation not desired - o, that is, having nothing in itself to be desired or loved, but rather, for its sin, hateful to God. God yearneth with pity and compassion over His creatures; He "hath a desire to the work of His Hands" . Here Israel is spoken to, as what he had made himself, hateful to God by his sins, although still an object of His tender care, in what yet remained to him of nature or grace which was from Himself.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

Having set forth the terrors of the Judgment Day, the prophet adds an earnest call to repentance; and then declares how judgments, forerunners of that Day, shall fall, one by one, on those nations around, who know not God, and shall rest upon Nineveh, the great beautiful ancient city of the world. Jerome: "See the mercy of God. It had been enough to have set before the wise the vehemence of the coming evil. But because He willeth not to punish, but to alarm only, Himself calleth to repentance, that He may not do what He threatened." Cyril: "Having set forth clearly the savageness of the war and the greatness of the suffering to come, he suitably turns his discourse to the duty of calling to repentance, when it was easy to persuade them, being terrified. For sometimes when the mind has been numbed, and exceedingly bent to evil, we do not readily admit even the will to repent, but fear often drives us to it, even against our will. He calls us then to friendship with Himself. For as they revolted, became aliens, serving idols and giving up their mind to their passions, so they would, as it were, retrace their steps, and lay hold of the friendship of God, choosing to serve Him, nay and Him Alone, and obey His commandments. Wherefore, while we have time, while the Lord, in His forbearance as God, gives way, let us enact repentance, supplicate, say weeping, "remember not the sins and offences of my youth" Psa 25:7; let us unite ourselves with Him by sanctification and sobriety. So shall we be sheltered in the day of wrath, and wash away the stain of our falls, before the Day of the Lord come upon us. For the Judge will come, He will come from heaven at the due season, and will reward each according to his work."

Gather yourselves together, yea gather together - o, rather, "Sift yourselves, yea sift" . The exact image is from gathering stubble or dry sticks, which are picked up one by one, with search and care.

So must men deal with the dry and withered leaves of a past evil life. The English rendering however, comes to the same meaning. We use, "collect oneself" for bringing oneself, all one's thoughts, together, and so, having full possession of oneself. Or "gathering ourselves" might stand in contrast with being "abroad," as it were, out of ourselves amid the manifoldness of things seen. Jerome: "Thou who, taken up with the business of the world, hurriest to and fro amid divers things, return to the Church of the saints, and join thyself to their life and assembly, whom thou seest to please God, and bring together the dislocated members of thy soul, which now are not knit together, into one frame of wisdom, and cleave to its embrace." "Gather yourselves" into one, wherein ye have been scattered; to the One God, from whom they had wandered, seeking pleasure from His many creatures; to His one fold and Church, from which they had severed themselves outwardly by joining the worship of Baal, inwardly, by serving him and his abominable rites; joining and joined to the assembly of the faithful, by oneness of faith and life.

In order to repent, a man must know himself thoroughly; and this can only be done by taking act by act, word by word, thought by thought, as far as he can, not in a confused heap or mass, as they lie in any man's conscience, but one by one, each picked up apart, and examined, and added to the sear unfruitful heap, plucking them as it were, and gathering them out of himself, that so they may, by the Spirit of burning, the fire of God's Spirit kindling repentance, be burned up, and not the sinner himself be fuel for fire with them. The word too is intensive, "Gather together all which is in you, thoroughly, piece by piece" (for the sinner's whole self becomes chaff, dry and empty). To use another image, "Sift yourselves thoroughly, so that nothing escape, as far as your diligence can reach, and then - "And gather on," that is, "glean on;" examine yourselves, "not lightly and after the manner of dissemblers before God," but repeatedly, gleaning again and again, to see if by any means anything have escaped: continuing on the search and ceasing not.

The first earnest search into the soul must be the beginning, not the end. Our search must be continued, until there be no more to be discovered, that is, when sin is no more, and we see ourselves in the full light of the presence of our Judge. For a first search, however diligent, never thoroughly reaches the whole deep disease of the whole man; the most grievous sins hide other grievous sins, though lighter. Some sins flash on the conscience, at one time, some at another; so that few, even upon a diligent search, come at once to the knowledge of all their heaviest sins. When the mist is less thick, we see more clearly what was before one dark dull mass of imperfection and misery. : "Spiritual sins are also with difficulty sifted, (as they are,) by one who is carnal. Whence it happens, that things in themselves heavier he perceives less or very little, and conscience is not grieved so much by the memory of pride or envy, as of impurities and crimes."

So having said, "Sift yourselves through and through," he says, "sift on." A diligent sifting and search into himself must be the beginning of all true repentance and pardon. : "What remains, but that we give ourselves wholly to this work, so holy, and needful? "Let us search and try our ways and our doings" , and let each think that he has made progress, not if he find not what to blame, but if he blame what he finds. Thou hast not sifted thyself in vain, if thou hast discovered that thou needest a fresh sitting; and so often has thy search not failed thee, as thou judgest that it must be renewed. But if thou ever dost this, when there is need, thou dost it ever. But ever remember that thou needest help from above and the mercy of Jesus Christ our Lord Who is over all, God blessed forever." The whole course of self-examination then lies in two words of divine Scripture. And withal he warns them, instead of gathering together riches which shall "not be able to deliver them in the day of trouble," to gather themselves into themselves, and so "judge" themselves "thoroughly , that they be not judged of the Lord" Co1 11:31-32.

O nation not desired - o, that is, having nothing in itself to be desired or loved, but rather, for its sin, hateful to God. God yearneth with pity and compassion over His creatures; He "hath a desire to the work of His Hands" . Here Israel is spoken to, as what he had made himself, hateful to God by his sins, although still an object of His tender care, in what yet remained to him of nature or grace which was from Himself.

The Scofield Bible Commentary, by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, [1917]
desired Literally, that hath not shame. Compare (Jer 3:3).

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]
Call to conversion. - Zep 2:1. "Gather yourselves together, and gather together, O nation that dost not grow pale. Zep 2:2. Before the decree bring forth (the day passes away like chaff), before the burning wrath of Jehovah come upon you, before the day of Jehovah's wrath come upon you. Zep 2:3. Seek Jehovah, all ye humble of the land, who have wrought His right; seek righteousness, seek humility, perhaps ye will be hidden in the day of Jehovah's wrath." The summons in Zep 2:1 is addressed to the whole of Judah or Israel. The verb qōshēsh, possibly a denom. from qash, signifies to gather stubble (Exo 5:7, Exo 5:12), then generally to gather together or collect, e.g., branches of wood (Num 15:32-33; Kg1 17:10); in the hithpoel, to gather one's self together, applied to that spiritual gathering which leads to self-examination, and is the first condition of conversion. The attempts of Ewald and Hitzig to prove, by means of doubtful etymological combinations from the Arabic, that the word possesses the meanings, to grow pale, or to purify one's self, cannot be sustained. The kal is combined with the hiphil for the purpose of strengthening it, as in Hab 1:5 and Isa 29:9. Nikhsâph is the perf. nipahl in pause, and not a participle, partly because of the לא which stands before it (see however Ewald, 286, g), and partly on account of the omission of the article; and nikhsâph is to be taken as a relative, "which does not turn pale." Kâsaph has the meaning "to long," both in the niphal (vid., Gen 31:30; Psa 84:3) and kal (cf. Psa 17:12; Job 14:15). This meaning is retained by many here. Thus Jerome renders it, "gens non amabilis, i.e., non desiderata a Deo;" but this is decidedly unsuitable. Others render it "not possessing strong desire," and appeal to the paraphrase of the Chaldee, "a people not wishing to be converted to the law." This is apparently the view upon which the Alex. version rests: ἔθνος ἀπαίδευτον. But although nikhsâph is used to denote the longing of the soul for fellowship with God in Psa 84:3, this idea is not to be found in the word itself, but simply in the object connected with it. We therefore prefer to follow Grotius, Gesenius, Ewald, and others, and take the word in its primary sense of turning pale at anything, becoming white with shame (cf. Isa 29:22), which is favoured by Zep 3:15. The reason for the appeal is given in Zep 2:2, viz., the near approach of the judgment. The resolution brings forth, when that which is resolved upon is realized (for yâlad in this figurative sense, see Pro 27:1). The figure is explained in the second hemistich. The next clause כּמוץ וגו does not depend upon בּטרם, for in that case the verb would stand at the head with Vav cop., but it is a parenthesis inserted to strengthen the admonition: the day comes like chaff, i.e., approaches with the greatest rapidity, like chaff driven by the wind: not "the time passes by like chaff" (Hitzig); for it cannot be shown that yōm was ever used for time in this sense. Yōm is the day of judgment mentioned in Zep 1:7, Zep 1:14-15; and עבר here is not to pass by, but to approach, to come near, as in Nah 3:19. For the figure of the chaff, see Isa 29:5. In the second בּטרם is strengthened by לא; and חרון אף, the burning of wrath in the last clause, is explained by יום אף יי, the day of the revelation of the wrath of God. Zep 2:3 But because the judgment will so speedily burst upon them, all the pious especially - ‛anvē hâ'ârets, the quiet in the land, οι πραεῖς (Amo 2:7; Isa 11:4; Psa 37:11) - are to seek the Lord. The humble (‛ănâvı̄m) are described as those who do Jehovah's right, i.e., who seek diligently to fulfil what Jehovah has prescribed in the law as right. Accordingly, seeking Jehovah is explained as seeking righteousness and humility. The thought is this: they are to strive still more zealously after Jehovah's right, viz., righteousness and humility (cf. Deu 16:20; Isa 51:1, Isa 51:7); then will they probably be hidden in the day of wrath, i.e., be pardoned and saved (cf. Amo 5:15). This admonition is now still further enforced from Zep 2:4 onwards by the announcement of the coming of judgment upon all the heathen, that the kingdom of God may attain completion.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
Gather yourselves - Call a solemn assembly, proclaim a fast. Not desired - Or, not desirous. Unwilling to return, and unworthy to be received on your return.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
Gather yourselves - Others, sift yourselves. Separate the chaff from the wheat, before the judgments of God fall upon you. O nation not desired - unlovely, not delighted in; hated because of your sin. The Israelites are addressed.

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²⁰ Thirty [07970] and two [08147] years old [01121] was he when he began to reign [04427], and he reigned [04427] in Jerusalem [03389] eight [08083] years [08141], and departed [03212] without being desired [02532]. Howbeit they buried [06912] him in the city [05892] of David [01732], but not in the sepulchres [06913] of the kings [04428].

² Before the decree [02706] bring forth [03205], before the day [03117] pass [05674] as the chaff [04671], before [03808] the fierce [02740] anger [0639] of the LORD [03068] come [0935] upon you, before the day [03117] of the LORD'S [03068] anger [0639] come [0935] upon you.

¹⁶ Gather [0622] the people [05971], sanctify [06942] the congregation [06951], assemble [06908] the elders [02205], gather [0622] the children [05768], and those that suck [03243] the breasts [07699]: let the bridegroom [02860] go forth [03318] of his chamber [02315], and the bride [03618] out of her closet [02646].

¹ Gather yourselves together [07197], yea, gather together [07197], O nation [01471] not desired [03700];
² Before the decree [02706] bring forth [03205], before the day [03117] pass [05674] as the chaff [04671], before [03808] the fierce [02740] anger [0639] of the LORD [03068] come [0935] upon you, before the day [03117] of the LORD'S [03068] anger [0639] come [0935] upon you.
³ Seek [01245] ye the LORD [03068], all ye meek [06035] of the earth [0776], which have wrought [06466] his judgment [04941]; seek [01245] righteousness [06664], seek [01245] meekness [06038]: it may be [0194] ye shall be hid [05641] in the day [03117] of the LORD'S [03068] anger [0639].
⁴ For Gaza [05804] shall be forsaken [05800], and Ashkelon [0831] a desolation [08077]: they shall drive out [01644] Ashdod [0795] at the noon day [06672], and Ekron [06138] shall be rooted up [06131].
⁵ Woe [01945] unto the inhabitants [03427] of the sea [03220] coast [02256], the nation [01471] of the Cherethites [03774]! the word [01697] of the LORD [03068] is against you; O Canaan [03667], the land [0776] of the Philistines [06430], I will even destroy [06] thee, that there shall be no inhabitant [03427].
⁶ And the sea [03220] coast [02256] shall be dwellings [05116] and cottages [03741] for shepherds [07462], and folds [01448] for flocks [06629].
⁷ And the coast [02256] shall be for the remnant [07611] of the house [01004] of Judah [03063]; they shall feed [07462] thereupon: in the houses [01004] of Ashkelon [0831] shall they lie down [07257] in the evening [06153]: for the LORD [03068] their God [0430] shall visit [06485] them, and turn away [07725] their captivity [07622] [07622].
⁸ I have heard [08085] the reproach [02781] of Moab [04124], and the revilings [01421] of the children [01121] of Ammon [05983], whereby they have reproached [02778] my people [05971], and magnified [01431] themselves against their border [01366].
⁹ Therefore as I live [02416], saith [05002] the LORD [03068] of hosts [06635], the God [0430] of Israel [03478], Surely Moab [04124] shall be as Sodom [05467], and the children [01121] of Ammon [05983] as Gomorrah [06017], even the breeding [04476] of nettles [02738], and saltpits [04379] [04417], and a perpetual [05704] [05769] desolation [08077]: the residue [07611] of my people [05971] shall spoil [0962] them, and the remnant [03499] of my people [01471] shall possess [05157] them.
¹⁰ This shall they have for their pride [01347], because they have reproached [02778] and magnified [01431] themselves against the people [05971] of the LORD [03068] of hosts [06635].
¹¹ The LORD [03068] will be terrible [03372] unto them: for he will famish [07329] all the gods [0430] of the earth [0776]; and men shall worship [07812] him, every one [0376] from his place [04725], even all the isles [0339] of the heathen [01471].
¹² Ye Ethiopians [03569] also, ye [01992] shall be slain [02491] by my sword [02719].
¹³ And he will stretch out [05186] his hand [03027] against the north [06828], and destroy [06] Assyria [0804]; and will make [07760] Nineveh [05210] a desolation [08077], and dry [06723] like a wilderness [04057].
¹⁴ And flocks [05739] shall lie down [07257] in the midst [08432] of her, all the beasts [02416] of the nations [01471]: both the cormorant [06893] and the bittern [07090] shall lodge [03885] in the upper lintels [03730] of it; their voice [06963] shall sing [07891] in the windows [02474]; desolation [02721] shall be in the thresholds [05592]: for he shall uncover [06168] the cedar work [0731].
¹⁵ This is the rejoicing [05947] city [05892] that dwelt [03427] carelessly [0983], that said [0559] in her heart [03824], I am, and there is none beside [0657] me: how is she become a desolation [08047], a place for beasts [02416] to lie down in [04769]! every one that passeth by [05674] her shall hiss [08319], and wag [05128] his hand [03027].

³¹ For [1063] if [1487] we would judge [1252] ourselves [1438], we should [302] not [3756] be judged [2919].
³² But [1161] when we are judged [2919], we are chastened [3811] of [5259] the Lord [2962], that [3363] we should [2632] not [3363] be condemned [2632] with [4862] the world [2889].

⁷ Remember [02142] not the sins [02403] of my youth [05271], nor my transgressions [06588]: according to thy mercy [02617] remember [02142] thou me for thy goodness [02898]' sake, O LORD [03068].

³ Therefore the showers [07241] have been withholden [04513], and there hath been no latter rain [04456]; and thou hadst a whore's [02181] [0802] forehead [04696], thou refusedst [03985] to be ashamed [03637].

⁴ For Gaza [05804] shall be forsaken [05800], and Ashkelon [0831] a desolation [08077]: they shall drive out [01644] Ashdod [0795] at the noon day [06672], and Ekron [06138] shall be rooted up [06131].

¹⁵ Hate [08130] the evil [07451], and love [0157] the good [02896], and establish [03322] judgment [04941] in the gate [08179]: it may be that the LORD [03068] God [0430] of hosts [06635] will be gracious [02603] unto the remnant [07611] of Joseph [03130].

⁷ Hearken [08085] unto me, ye that know [03045] righteousness [06664], the people [05971] in whose heart [03820] is my law [08451]; fear [03372] ye not the reproach [02781] of men [0582], neither be ye afraid [02865] of their revilings [01421].

¹ Hearken [08085] to me, ye that follow after [07291] righteousness [06664], ye that seek [01245] the LORD [03068]: look [05027] unto the rock [06697] whence ye are hewn [02672], and to the hole [04718] of the pit [0953] whence ye are digged [05365].

²⁰ That which is altogether [06664] just [06664] shalt thou follow [07291], that thou mayest live [02421], and inherit [03423] the land [0776] which the LORD [03068] thy God [0430] giveth [05414] thee.

¹¹ But the meek [06035] shall inherit [03423] the earth [0776]; and shall delight [06026] themselves in the abundance [07230] of peace [07965].

⁴ But with righteousness [06664] shall he judge [08199] the poor [01800], and reprove [03198] with equity [04334] for the meek [06035] of the earth [0776]: and he shall smite [05221] the earth [0776] with the rod [07626] of his mouth [06310], and with the breath [07307] of his lips [08193] shall he slay [04191] the wicked [07563].

⁷ That pant [07602] after the dust [06083] of the earth [0776] on the head [07218] of the poor [01800], and turn aside [05186] the way [01870] of the meek [06035]: and a man [0376] and his father [01] will go [03212] in unto the same maid [05291], to profane [02490] my holy [06944] name [08034]:

³ Seek [01245] ye the LORD [03068], all ye meek [06035] of the earth [0776], which have wrought [06466] his judgment [04941]; seek [01245] righteousness [06664], seek [01245] meekness [06038]: it may be [0194] ye shall be hid [05641] in the day [03117] of the LORD'S [03068] anger [0639].

⁵ Moreover the multitude [01995] of thy strangers [02114] shall be like small [01851] dust [080], and the multitude [01995] of the terrible ones [06184] shall be as chaff [04671] that passeth away [05674]: yea, it shall be at an instant [06621] suddenly [06597].

¹⁹ There is no healing [03545] of thy bruise [07667]; thy wound [04347] is grievous [02470]: all that hear [08085] the bruit [08088] of thee shall clap [08628] the hands [03709] over thee: for upon whom hath not thy wickedness [07451] passed [05674] continually [08548]?

¹⁴ The great [01419] day [03117] of the LORD [03068] is near [07138], it is near [07138], and hasteth [04118] greatly [03966], even the voice [06963] of the day [03117] of the LORD [03068]: the mighty man [01368] shall cry [06873] there bitterly [04751].
¹⁵ That day [03117] is a day [03117] of wrath [05678], a day [03117] of trouble [06869] and distress [04691], a day [03117] of wasteness [07722] and desolation [04875], a day [03117] of darkness [02822] and gloominess [0653], a day [03117] of clouds [06051] and thick darkness [06205],

⁷ Hold thy peace [02013] at the presence [06440] of the Lord [0136] GOD [03069]: for the day [03117] of the LORD [03068] is at hand [07138]: for the LORD [03068] hath prepared [03559] a sacrifice [02077], he hath bid [06942] his guests [07121].

¹ Boast [01984] not thyself of to morrow [04279]; for thou knowest [03045] not what a day [03117] may bring forth [03205].

¹⁵ The LORD [03068] hath taken away [05493] thy judgments [04941], he hath cast out [06437] thine enemy [0341]: the king [04428] of Israel [03478], even the LORD [03068], is in the midst [07130] of thee: thou shalt not see [07200] evil [07451] any more.

²² Therefore thus saith [0559] the LORD [03068], who redeemed [06299] Abraham [085], concerning the house [01004] of Jacob [03290], Jacob [03290] shall not now be ashamed [0954], neither shall his face [06440] now wax pale [02357].

³ Yea, the sparrow [06833] hath found [04672] an house [01004], and the swallow [01866] a nest [07064] for herself, where she may lay [07896] her young [0667], even thine altars [04196], O LORD [03068] of hosts [06635], my King [04428], and my God [0430].

¹⁵ Thou shalt call [07121], and I will answer [06030] thee: thou wilt have a desire [03700] to the work [04639] of thine hands [03027].

¹² Like [01825] as a lion [0738] that is greedy [03700] of his prey [02963], and as it were a young lion [03715] lurking [03427] in secret places [04565].

³⁰ And now, though thou wouldest needs [01980] be gone [01980], because thou sore [03700] longedst [03700] after thy father's [01] house [01004], yet wherefore hast thou stolen [01589] my gods [0430]?

⁹ Stay [04102] yourselves, and wonder [08539]; cry ye out [08173], and cry [08173]: they are drunken [07937], but not with wine [03196]; they stagger [05128], but not with strong drink [07941].

⁵ Behold [07200] ye among the heathen [01471], and regard [05027], and wonder [08539] marvellously [08539]: for I will work [06466] a work [06467] in your days [03117], which ye will not believe [0539], though it be told [05608] you.

¹⁰ So he arose [06965] and went [03212] to Zarephath [06886]. And when he came [0935] to the gate [06607] of the city [05892], behold, the widow [0490] woman [0802] was there gathering [07197] of sticks [06086]: and he called [07121] to her, and said [0559], Fetch [03947] me, I pray thee, a little [04592] water [04325] in a vessel [03627], that I may drink [08354].

³² And while the children [01121] of Israel [03478] were in the wilderness [04057], they found [04672] a man [0376] that gathered [07197] sticks [06086] upon the sabbath [07676] day [03117].
³³ And they that found [04672] him gathering [07197] sticks [06086] brought [07126] him unto Moses [04872] and Aaron [0175], and unto all the congregation [05712].

¹² So the people [05971] were scattered abroad [06327] throughout all the land [0776] of Egypt [04714] to gather [07197] stubble [07179] instead of straw [08401].

⁷ Ye shall no more [03254] give [05414] the people [05971] straw [08401] to make [03835] brick [03843], as heretofore [08032] [08543]: let them go [03212] and gather [07197] straw [08401] for themselves.

¹ Gather yourselves together [07197], yea, gather together [07197], O nation [01471] not desired [03700];