Gold and silver are tested by fire, and a person's heart is tested by the LORD.

The promises of the LORD can be trusted; they are as genuine as silver refined seven times in the furnace.

You have put us to the test, God; as silver is purified by fire, so you have tested us.

And I will test the third that survives and will purify them as silver is purified by fire. I will test them as gold is tested. Then they will pray to me, and I will answer them. I will tell them that they are my people, and they will confess that I am their God."

He will come to judge like one who refines and purifies silver. As a metalworker refines silver and gold, so the LORD's messenger will purify the priests, so that they will bring to the LORD the right kind of offerings.

Their purpose is to prove that your faith is genuine. Even gold, which can be destroyed, is tested by fire; and so your faith, which is much more precious than gold, must also be tested, so that it may endure. Then you will receive praise and glory and honor on the Day when Jesus Christ is revealed.

My dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful test you are suffering, as though something unusual were happening to you.

In their celebration the women sang, "Saul has killed thousands, but David tens of thousands."

Saul did not like this, and he became very angry. He said, "For David they claim tens of thousands, but only thousands for me. They will be making him king next!"

Saul noticed David's success and became even more afraid of him.

But everyone in Israel and Judah loved David because he was such a successful leader.

The Philistine armies would come and fight, but in every battle David was more successful than any of Saul's other officers. As a result David became very famous.

There was no one in Israel as famous for his good looks as Absalom; he had no defect from head to toe.

Absalom did this with every Israelite who came to the king for judgment, and so he won their loyalty.

While I was living in Geshur in Syria, I promised the LORD that if he would take me back to Jerusalem, I would worship him in Hebron."

But he sent messengers to all the tribes of Israel to say, "When you hear the sound of trumpets, shout, 'Absalom has become king at Hebron!' "

And while he was offering sacrifices, Absalom also sent to the town of Gilo for Ahithophel, who was one of King David's advisers. The plot against the king gained strength, and Absalom's followers grew in number.