You have done me a great favor and saved my life. But the hills are too far away; the disaster will overtake me, and I will die before I get there.

When the time drew near for him to die, he called for his son Joseph and said to him, "Place your hand between my thighs and make a solemn vow that you will not bury me in Egypt.

When the time of mourning was over, Joseph said to the king's officials, "Please take this message to the king:

Moses said to the LORD, "It is true that you have told me to lead these people to that land, but you did not tell me whom you would send with me. You have said that you know me well and are pleased with me.

Now if you are, tell me your plans, so that I may serve you and continue to please you. Remember also that you have chosen this nation to be your own."

Ruth bowed down with her face touching the ground, and said to Boaz, "Why should you be so concerned about me? Why should you be so kind to a foreigner?"

But David answered, "Your father knows very well how much you like me, and he has decided not to let you know what he plans to do, because you would be deeply hurt. I swear to you by the living LORD that I am only a step away from death!"

In the desert I showed mercy to those people who had escaped death. When the people of Israel longed for rest,

Jacob said, "I have seen God face-to-face, and I am still alive"; so he named the place Peniel.

Judah said to him, "The man sternly warned us that we would not be admitted to his presence unless we had our brother with us.

"Good!" David answered. "I will make an agreement with you on one condition: you must bring Saul's daughter Michal to me when you come to see me."

The king, however, gave orders that Absalom should not live in the palace. "I don't want to see him," the king said. So Absalom lived in his own house and did not appear before the king.

Absalom lived two years in Jerusalem without seeing the king.

Absalom answered, "Because you wouldn't come when I sent for you. I wanted you to go to the king and ask for me: 'Why did I leave Geshur and come here? It would have been better for me to have stayed there.' " And Absalom went on, "I want you to arrange for me to see the king, and if I'm guilty, then let him put me to death."

when they pray, God will answer; they will worship God with joy; God will set things right for them again.

They will not triumph over me, and I will know that you are pleased with me.

"See that you don't despise any of these little ones. Their angels in heaven, I tell you, are always in the presence of my Father in heaven.

They will see his face, and his name will be written on their foreheads.