But {it is} good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.

Hear ye this, O house of Jacob, which are called by the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah, which swear by the name of the LORD, and make mention of the God of Israel, {but} not in truth, nor in righteousness.

Joshua therefore came unto them suddenly, {and} went up from Gilgal all night.

And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall ask {counsel} for him after the judgment of Urim before the LORD: at his word shall they go out, and at his word they shall come in, {both} he, and all the children of Israel with him, even all the congregation.

Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse {your} hands, {ye} sinners; and purify {your} hearts, {ye} double minded.

And stay ye not, {but} pursue after your enemies, and smite the hindmost of them; suffer them not to enter into their cities: for the LORD your God hath delivered them into your hand. {smite...: Heb. cut off the tail}

And Saul said unto Ahiah, Bring hither the ark of God. For the ark of God was at that time with the children of Israel.

And all the spoil of these cities, and the cattle, the children of Israel took for a prey unto themselves; but every man they smote with the edge of the sword, until they had destroyed them, neither left they any to breathe.

And Ahiah, the son of Ahitub, Ichabod's brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the LORD'S priest in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. And the people knew not that Jonathan was gone. {Ahiah: called Ahimelech}

Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God.

For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he {is} the messenger of the LORD of hosts.

Arise, and let us go by night, and let us destroy her palaces.

And it was {so} on the morrow, that Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the host in the morning watch, and slew the Ammonites until the heat of the day: and it came to pass, that they which remained were scattered, so that two of them were not left together.

And let us bring again the ark of our God to us: for we enquired not at it in the days of Saul. {bring...: Heb. bring about}

Then he took his eldest son that should have reigned in his stead, and offered him {for} a burnt offering upon the wall. And there was great indignation against Israel: and they departed from him, and returned to {their own} land.

And his mother said unto him, Upon me {be} thy curse, my son: only obey my voice, and go fetch me {them}.

Then said he unto all Israel, Be ye on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side. And the people said unto Saul, Do what seemeth good unto thee.

Wisdom {is} better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.

And it came to pass, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, {that} he came down {with} an ephod in his hand.

If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;