As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people, now and forever.

You, Jerusalem, are sitting high above the valleys, like a rock rising above the plain. But I will fight against you. You say that no one can attack you or break through your defenses.

In those days, when the boy Samuel was serving the LORD under the direction of Eli, there were very few messages from the LORD, and visions from him were quite rare.

He gives his message to his people, his instructions and laws to Israel.

He has not done this for other nations; they do not know his laws. Praise the LORD!

A nation without God's guidance is a nation without order. Happy are those who keep God's law!

"Prophets, your day is almost over; the sun is going down on you. Because you mislead my people, you will have no more prophetic visions, and you will not be able to predict anything."

Much, indeed, in every way! In the first place, God trusted his message to the Jews.

They are God's people; he made them his children and revealed his glory to them; he made his covenants with them and gave them the Law; they have the true worship; they have received God's promises;

they are descended from the famous Hebrew ancestors; and Christ, as a human being, belongs to their race. May God, who rules over all, be praised forever! Amen.

God heard the boy crying, and from heaven the angel of God spoke to Hagar, "What are you troubled about, Hagar? Don't be afraid. God has heard the boy crying.

and shouted at them. The Danites turned around and asked Micah, "What's the matter? Why all this mob?"

Saul was just then coming in from the field with his oxen, and he asked, "What's wrong? Why is everyone crying?" They told him what the messengers from Jabesh had reported.

"What do you want?" he asked her. "I am a poor widow, sir," she answered. "My husband is dead.

What's your trouble?" She answered, "The other day this woman here suggested that we eat my child, and then eat her child the next day.

What happened, Sea, to make you run away? And you, O Jordan, why did you stop flowing?

The people in the streets are dressed in sackcloth; in the city squares and on the rooftops people mourn and cry.

"When you build a new house, be sure to put a railing around the edge of the roof. Then you will not be responsible if someone falls off and is killed.

On all the housetops of Moab and in all its public squares there is nothing but mourning, because I have broken Moab like a jar that no one wants.