Topical Scripture

speak / speaks / speaking / spoke / spoken / speech, continued

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[Zedekiah] did evil in the sight of the LORD, his God, and he did not humble himself before the prophet Jeremiah, who spoke the word of the LORD. [Taken from 2CHRON 36:12]

All this was to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah: "Until the land has retrieved its lost sabbaths, during all the time it lies waste it shall have rest while seventy years are fulfilled." [2CHRON 36:21]

In the first year of Cyrus, king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah, the LORD inspired King Cyrus of Persia to issue this proclamation throughout his kingdom, both by word of mouth and in writing: "Thus says Cyrus, king of Persia: 'All the kingdoms of the earth the LORD, the God of heaven, has given to me, and he has also charged me to build him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever, therefore, among you belongs to any part of his people, let him go up, and may his God be with him!'" [2CHRON 36:22-23]

On Mount Sinai you came down, you spoke with them from heaven; You gave them just ordinances, firm laws, good statutes, and commandments [Taken from NEH 9:13]

Also in those days I saw Jews who had married Ashdodite, Ammonite, or Moabite wives. Of their children, half spoke Ashdodite, and none of them knew how to speak Jewish; and so it was in regard to the languages of the various other peoples. I took them to task and cursed them [Taken from NEH 13:23-25]

He continued: "Since you have the right to marry her, listen to me, brother. Tonight I will ask the girl's father to let us have her as your bride. When we return from Rages, we will hold the wedding feast for her. I know that Raguel cannot keep her from you or let her become engaged to another man; that would be a capital crime according to the decree in the Book of Moses, and he knows that it is your right, before all other men, to marry his daughter. So heed my words, brother; tonight we must speak for the girl, so that we may have her engaged to you. And when we return from Rages, we will take her and bring her back with us to your house." [TOBIT 6:13]

"As for me, I exalt my God, and my spirit rejoices in the King of heaven. Let all men speak of his majesty, and sing his praises in Jerusalem." [TOBIT 13:7-8]

Accursed are all who speak a harsh word against you; accursed are all who destroy you and pull down your walls, And all who overthrow your towers and set fire to your homes; but forever blessed are all those who build you up. [TOBIT 13:12]

Just before he died, he called his son Tobiah and Tobiah's seven sons, and gave him this command: "Son, take your children and flee into Media, for I believe God's word which was spoken by Nahum against Nineveh. It shall all happen, and shall overtake Assyria and Nineveh; indeed, whatever was said by Israel's prophets, whom God commissioned, shall occur. Not one of all the oracles shall remain unfulfilled, but everything shall take place in the time appointed for it." [Taken from TOBIT 14:3-4]

For as I live, and by the strength of my kingdom, what I have spoken I will accomplish by my power. [JDTH 2:12]

When Judith, therefore, heard of the harsh words which the people, discouraged by their lack of water, had spoken against their ruler, and of all that Uzziah had said to them in reply, swearing that he would hand over the city to the Assyrians at the end of five days, she sent the maid who was in charge of all her things to ask Uzziah, Chabris, and Charmis, the elders of the city, to visit her. When they came, she said to them: "Listen to me, you rulers of the people of Bethulia. What you said to the people today is not proper. When you promised to hand over the city to our enemies at the end of five days unless within that time the Lord comes to our aid, you interposed between God and yourselves this oath which you took. Who are you, then, that you should have put God to the test this day, setting yourselves in the place of God in human affairs? It is the Lord Almighty for whom you are laying down conditions; will you never understand anything? You cannot plumb the depths of the human heart or grasp the workings of the human mind; how then can you fathom God, who has made all these things, discern his mind, and understand his plan? No, my brothers, do not anger the Lord our God. For if he does not wish to come to our aid within the five days, he has it equally within his power to protect us at such time as he pleases, or to destroy us in the face of our enemies. It is not for you to make the Lord our God give surety for his plans. God is not man that he should be moved by threats, nor human, that he may be given an ultimatum. So while we wait for the salvation that comes from him, let us call upon him to help us, and he will hear our cry if it is his good pleasure." [Taken from JDTH 8:9-17]

Then Uzziah said to her: "All that you have said was spoken with good sense, and no one can gainsay your words. Not today only is your wisdom made evident, but from your earliest years all the people have recognized your prudence, which corresponds to the worthy dispositions of your heart. The people, however, were so tortured with thirst that they forced us to speak to them as we did, and to bind ourselves by an oath that we cannot break. But now, God-fearing woman that you are, pray for us that the Lord may send rain to fill up our cisterns, lest we be weakened still further." [JDTH 8:28-31]

"Please, please, God of my forefather, God of the heritage of Israel, Lord of heaven and earth, Creator of the waters, King of all you have created, hear my prayer! Let my guileful speech bring wound and wale on those who have planned dire things against your covenant, your holy temple, Mount Zion, and the homes your children have inherited. Let your whole nation and all the tribes know clearly that you are the god of all power and might, and that there is no other who protects the people of Israel but you alone." [Taken from JDTH 9:12-14]

When the men heard her words and gazed upon her face, which appeared wondrously beautiful to them, they said to her, "By coming down thus promptly to see our master, you have saved your life. Now go to his tent; some of our men will accompany you to present you to him. When you stand before him, have no fear in your heart; give him the report you speak of, and he will treat you well." [JDTH 10:14-16]

Her words pleased Holofernes and all his servants; they marveled at her wisdom and exclaimed, "No other woman from one end of the world to the other looks so beautiful and speaks so wisely!" Then Holofernes said to her: "God has done well in sending you ahead of your people, to bring victory to our arms, and destruction to those who have despised my lord. You are fair to behold, and your words are well spoken. If you do as you have said, your God will be my God; you shall dwell in the palace of King Nebuchadnezzar, and shall be renowned throughout the earth." [JDTH 11:20-23]

Let your every creature serve you; for you spoke, and they were made, You sent forth your spirit, and they were created; no one can resist your word. [JDTH 16:14]

"Invoke the Lord and speak to the king for us: save us from death." [ESTH B:9]

Raising the golden scepter, he touched her neck with it, embraced her, and said, "Speak to me." She replied: "I saw you, my lord, as an angel of God, and my heart was troubled with fear of your majesty. For you are awesome, my lord, though your glance is full of kindness." As she said this, she fainted. The king became troubled and all his attendants tried to revive her. [ESTH D:12-16]

"Often, too, the fair speech of friends entrusted with the administration of affairs has induced many placed in authority to become accomplices in the shedding of innocent blood, and has involved them in irreparable calamities by deceiving with malicious slander the sincere good will of rulers." [ESTH E:5-6]

After Antiochus had defeated Egypt in the year one hundred and forty-three, he returned and went up to Israel and to Jerusalem with a strong force. He insolently invaded the sanctuary and took away the golden altar, the lampstand for the light with all its fixtures, the offering table, the cups and the bowls, the golden censers, the curtain, the crowns, and the golden ornament on the facade of the temple. He stripped off everything, and took away the gold and silver and the precious vessels; he also took all the hidden treasures he could find. Taking all this, he went back to his own country, after he had spoken with great arrogance and shed much blood. And there was great mourning for Israel, in every place where they dwelt, and the rulers and the elders groaned. Virgins and young men languished, and the beauty of the women was disfigured. Every bridegroom took up lamentation, she who sat in the bridal chamber mourned, And the land was shaken on account of its inhabitants, and all the house of Jacob was covered with shame. Two years later, the king sent the Mysian commander to the cities of Judah, and he came to Jerusalem with a strong force. He spoke to them deceitfully in peaceful terms, and won their trust. Then he attacked the city suddenly, in a great onslaught, and destroyed many of the people in Israel. [1MACC 1:20-30]

As Judas was finishing this speech, a detachment appeared, looking down from the mountain. They saw that their army had been put to flight and their camp was being burned. The smoke that could be seen indicated what had happened. When they realized this, they were terrified; and when they also saw the army of Judas in the plain ready to attack, they all fled to Philistine territory. Then Judas went back to plunder the camp, and his men collected much gold and silver, violet and crimson cloth, and great treasure. As they returned, they were singing hymns and glorifying Heaven, "for he is good, for his mercy endures forever." Thus Israel had a great deliverance that day. [1MACC 4:19-25]

Then the king chose Bacchides, one of the King's Friends, governor of West-of-Euphrates, a great man in the kingdom, and faithful to the king. He sent him and the impious Alcimus, to whom he granted the high priesthood, with orders to take revenge on the Israelites. They set out and, on arriving in the land of Judah with a great army, sent messengers who spoke deceitfully to Judas and his brothers in peaceful terms. But these paid no attention to their words, seeing that they had come with a great army. A group of scribes, however, gathered about Alcimus and Bacchides to ask for a just agreement. The Hasideans were the first among the Israelites to seek peace with them, for they said, "A priest of the line of Aaron has come with the army, and he will not do us any wrong." He spoke with them peacefully and swore to them, "We will not try to injure you or your friends." So they trusted him. But he arrested sixty of them and killed them in one day, according to the text of Scripture: "The flesh of your saints they have strewn, and their blood they have shed round about Jerusalem, and there was no one to bury them." Then fear and dread of them came upon all the people, who said: "There is no truth or justice among them; they violated the agreement and the oath that they swore." [1MACC 7:8-18]

But Judas camped in Adasa with three thousand men. Here Judas uttered this prayer: "When they who were sent by the king blasphemed, your angel went out and killed a hundred and eighty-five thousand of them. In the same way, crush this army before us today, and let the rest know that Nicanor spoke wickedly against your sanctuary; judge him according to his wickedness." The armies met in battle on the thirteenth day of the month Adar. Nicanor's army was crushed, and he himself was the first to fall in the battle. [1MACC 7:40-43]

When Trypho learned that Simon had succeeded his brother Jonathan, and that he intended to fight him, he sent envoys to him with this message: "We have detained your brother Jonathan on account of the money that he owed the royal treasury in connection with the offices that he held. Therefore, if you send us a hundred talents of silver, and two of his sons as hostages to guarantee that when he is set free he will not revolt against us, we will release him." Although Simon knew that they were speaking deceitfully to him, he gave orders to get the money and the boys, for fear of provoking much hostility among the people, who might say that Jonathan perished because Simon would not send Trypho the money and the boys. So he sent the boys and the hundred talents; but Trypho broke his promise and would not let Jonathan go. [1MACC 13:14-19]

But he made up his mind in a noble manner, worthy of his years, the dignity of his advanced age, the merited distinction of his gray hair, and of the admirable life he had lived from childhood; and so he declared that above all he would be loyal to the holy laws given by God. He told them to send him at once to the abode of the dead, explaining: "At our age it would be unbecoming to make such a pretense; many young men would think the ninety-year-old Eleazar had gone over to an alien religion. Should I thus dissimulate for the sake of a brief moment of life, they would be led astray by me, while I would bring shame and dishonor on my old age. Even if, for the time being, I avoid the punishment of men, I shall never, whether alive or dead, escape the hands of the Almighty. Therefore, by manfully giving up my life now, I will prove myself worthy of my old age, and I will leave to the young a noble example of how to die willingly and generously for the revered and holy laws." He spoke thus, and went immediately to the instrument of torture. [2MACC 6:23-28]

One of the brothers, speaking for the others, said: "What do you expect to achieve by questioning us? We are ready to die rather than transgress the laws of our ancestors." [2MACC 7:2]

When the youth paid no attention to him at all, the king appealed to the mother, urging her to advise her boy to save his life. After he had urged her for a long time, she went through the motions of persuading her son. In derision of the cruel tyrant, she leaned over close to her son and said in their native language: "Son, have pity on me, who carried you in my womb for nine months, nursed you for three years, brought you up, educated and supported you to your present age. I beg you, child, to look at the heavens and the earth and see all that is in them; then you will know that God did not make them out of existing things; and in the same way the human race came into existence. Do not be afraid of this executioner, but be worthy of your brothers and accept death, so that in the time of mercy I may receive you again with them." She had scarcely finished speaking when the youth said: "What are you waiting for? I will not obey the king's command. I obey the command of the law given to our forefathers through Moses." [2MACC 7:25-30]

In his utter boastfulness and arrogance Nicanor had determined to erect a public monument of victory over Judas and his men. But Maccabeus remained confident, fully convinced that he would receive help from the LORD. He urged his men not to fear the enemy, but mindful of the help they had received from Heaven in the past, to expect that now, too, victory would be given them by the Almighty. By encouraging them with words from the law and the prophets, and by reminding them of the battles they had already won, he filled them with fresh enthusiasm. Having stirred up their courage, he gave his orders and pointed out at the same time the perfidy of the Gentiles and their violation of oaths. When he had armed each of them, not so much with the safety of shield and spear as with the encouragement of noble words, he cheered them all by relating a dream, a kind of vision, worthy of belief. What he saw was this: Onias, the former high priest, a good and virtuous man, modest in appearance, gentle in manners, distinguished in speech, and trained from childhood in every virtuous practice, was praying with outstretched arms for the whole Jewish community. Then in the same way another man appeared, distinguished by his white hair and dignity, and with an air about him of extraordinary, majestic authority. Onias then said of him, "This is God's prophet Jeremiah, who loves his brethren and fervently prays for his people and their holy city." Stretching out his right hand, Jeremiah presented a gold sword to Judas. As he gave it to him he said, "Accept this holy sword as a gift from God; with it you shall crush your adversaries." [2MACC 15:6-16]

And the LORD said to Satan, "Have you noticed my servant Job, and that there is no one on earth like him, faultless and upright, fearing God and avoiding evil? He still holds fast to his innocence although you incited me against him to ruin him without cause." And Satan answered the LORD and said, "Skin for skin! All that a man has will he give for his life. But now put forth your hand and touch his bone and his flesh, and surely he will blaspheme you to your face." And the LORD said to Satan, "He is in your power; only spare his life." So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD and smote Job with severe boils from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head. And he took a potsherd to scrape himself, as he sat among the ashes. Then his wife said to him, "Are you still holding to your innocence? Curse God and die." But he said to her, "Are even you going to speak as senseless women do? We accept good things from God; and should we not accept evil?" Through all this, Job said nothing sinful. [JOB 2:3-10]

Now when three of Job's friends heard of all the misfortune that had come upon him, they set out each one from his own place: Eliphaz from Teman, Bildad from Shuh, and Zophar from Naamath. They met and journeyed together to give him sympathy and comfort. But when, at a distance, they lifted up their eyes and did not recognize him, they began to weep aloud; they tore their cloaks and threw dust upon their heads. Then they sat down upon the ground with him seven days and seven nights, but none of them spoke a word to him; for they saw how great was his suffering. [JOB 2:11-13]

After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed his day. Job spoke out and said: Perish the day on which I was born, the night when they said, "The child is a boy!" [Taken from JOB 3:1-3]

Then Job answered and said: Ah, could my anguish but be measured and my calamity laid with it in the scales, They would now outweigh the sands of the sea! Because of this I speak without restraint. For the arrows of the Almighty pierce me, and my spirit drinks in their poison; the terrors of God are arrayed against me. [JOB 6:1-4]

My own utterance I will not restrain; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul. [JOB 7:11]

For he is not a man like myself, that I should answer him, that we should come together in judgment. Would that there were an arbiter between us, who could lay his hand upon us both and withdraw his rod from me. Would that his terrors did not frighten me; that I might speak without being afraid of him. Since this is not the case with me, I loathe my life. I will give myself up to complaint; I will speak from the bitterness of my soul. I will say to God: Do not put me in the wrong! Let me know why you oppose me. [JOB 9:32-35, 10:1-2]

But I would speak with the Almighty; I wish to reason with God. You are glossing over falsehoods and offering vain remedies, every one of you! Oh, that you would be altogether silent! This for you would be wisdom. Hear now the rebuke I shall utter and listen to the reproof from my lips. Is it for God that you speak falsehood? Is it for him that you utter deceit? Is it for him that you show partiality? Do you play advocate on behalf of God? Will it be well when he shall search you out? Would you impose on him as one does on men? He will openly rebuke you if even in secret you show partiality. Surely will his majesty affright you and the dread of him fall upon you. Your reminders are ashy maxims, your fabrications are mounds of clay. Be silent, let me alone! that I may speak and give vent to my feelings. I will carry my flesh between my teeth, and take my life in my hand. Slay me though he might, I will wait for him; I will defend my conduct before him. And this shall be my salvation, that no impious man can come into his presence. Pay careful heed to my speech, and give my statement a hearing. Behold, I have prepared my case, I know that I am in the right. If anyone can make a case against me, then I shall be silent and die. These things only do not use against me, then from your presence I need not hide: Withdraw your hand far from me, and let not the terror of you frighten me. Then call me, and I will respond; or let me speak first, and answer me. What are my faults and my sins? My misdeeds and my sins make known to me! Why do you hide your face and consider me your enemy? [Taken from JOB 13:3-24]

Then Job answered and said: I have heard this sort of thing many times. Wearisome comforters are you all! Is there no end to windy words? Or what sickness have you that you speak on? I also could talk as you do, were you in my place. I could declaim over you, or wag my head at you; I could strengthen you with talk, or shake my head with silent lips. If I speak, this pain I have will not be checked; if I leave off, it will not depart from me. But now that I am exhausted and stunned, all my company has closed in on me. As a witness there rises up my traducer, speaking openly against me [Taken from JOB 16:1-8]

My kinsfolk and companions neglect me, and my guests have forgotten me. Even my handmaids treat me as a stranger; I am an alien in their sight. I call my servant, but he gives no answer, though in my speech I plead with him. My breath is abhorred by my wife; I am loathsome to the men of my family. The young children, too, despise me; when I appear, they speak against me. All my intimate friends hold me in horror; those whom I loved have turned against me! [JOB 19:14-19]

Then Job said in reply: At least listen to my words, and let that be the consolation you offer. Bear with me while I speak; and after I have spoken, you can mock! [JOB 21:1-3]

As God lives, who withholds my deserts, the Almighty, who has made bitter my soul, So long as I still have life in me and the breath of God is in my nostrils, My lips shall not speak falsehood, nor my tongue utter deceit! Far be it from me to account you right; till I die I will not renounce my innocence. [JOB 27:2-5]

Oh, that I were as in the months past! as in the days when God watched over me, While he kept his lamp shining above my head, and by his light I walked through darkness; As I was in my flourishing days, when God sheltered my tent; When the Almighty was yet with me, and my children were round about me; When my footsteps were bathed in milk, and the rock flowed with streams of oil; When I went forth to the gate of the city and set up my seat in the square- Then the young men saw me and withdrew, while the elders rose up and stood; The chief men refrained from speaking and covered their mouths with their hands; The voice of the princes was silenced, and their tongues stuck to the roofs of their mouths. For me they listened and waited; they were silent for my counsel. Once I spoke, they said no more, but received my pronouncement drop by drop. [JOB 29:2-10,21-22]

I too will speak my part; I also will show my knowledge! [JOB 32:17]

For God does speak, perhaps once, or even twice, though one perceive it not. [JOB 33:14]

In his hands he holds the lightning, and he commands it to strike the mark. His thunder speaks for him and incites the fury of the storm. [JOB 36:32-33]

Then Job answered the LORD and said: Behold, I am of little account; what can I answer you? I put my hand over my mouth. Though I have spoken once, I will not do so again; though twice, I will do so no more. [JOB 40:3-5]

And it came to pass after the LORD had spoken these words to Job, that the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, "I am angry with you and with your two friends; for you have not spoken rightly concerning me, as has my servant Job." [JOB 42:7]

Why do the nations protest and the peoples grumble in vain? Kings on earth rise up and princes plot together against the LORD and his anointed: "Let us break their shackles and cast off their chains!" The one enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord derides them, Then speaks to them in anger, terrifies them in wrath: "I myself have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain." [Taken from PS 2:1-6]

You are not a god who delights in evil; no wicked person finds refuge with you; the arrogant cannot stand before you. You hate all who do evil; you destroy all who speak falsely. Murderers and deceivers the LORD abhors. [PS 5:5-7]

Help, LORD, for no one loyal remains; the faithful have vanished from the human race Those who tell lies to one another speak with deceiving lips and a double heart. May the LORD cut off all deceiving lips, and every boastful tongue, Those who say, "By our tongues we prevail; when our lips speak, who can lord it over us?" "Because they rob the weak, and the needy groan, I will now arise," says the LORD; "I will grant safety to whoever longs for it." [PS 12:2-6]

LORD, who may abide in your tent? Who may dwell on your holy mountain? Whoever walks without blame, doing what is right, speaking truth from the heart; Who does not slander a neighbor, does no harm to another, never defames a friend; Who disdains the wicked, but honors those who fear the LORD; Who keeps an oath despite the cost, lends no money at interest, accepts no bribe against the innocent. Whoever acts like this shall never be shaken. [PS 15:1-5]

Hear, LORD, my plea for justice; pay heed to my cry; Listen to my prayer spoken without guile. From you let my vindication come; your eyes see what is right. [PS 17:1-2]

Do not drag me off with the wicked, with those who do wrong, Who speak peace to their neighbors though evil is in their hearts. [PS 28:3]

Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all who dwell in the world show reverence. For he spoke, and it came to be, commanded, and it stood in place. [PS 33:8-9] 

Come, children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD. Who among you loves life, takes delight in prosperous days? Keep your tongue from evil, your lips from speaking lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. The LORD has eyes for the just and ears for their cry. The LORD'S face is against evildoers to wipe out their memory from the earth. [PS 34:12-17]

Do not let lying foes smirk at me, my undeserved enemies wink knowingly. They speak no words of peace, but against the quiet in the land they fashion deceitful speech. They open wide their mouths against me. They say, "Aha! Good! Our eyes relish the sight!" You see this, LORD; do not be silent; Lord, do not withdraw from me. Awake, be vigilant in my defense, in my cause, my God and my Lord. Defend me because you are just, LORD; my God, do not let them gloat over me. [PS 35:19-24]

The mouths of the just utter wisdom; their tongues speak what is right. God's teaching is in their hearts; their steps do not falter. [PS 37:30-31]

Those who seek my life lay snares for me; they seek my misfortune, they speak of ruin; they plot treachery all the day. [PS 38:13]

Dumb and silent before the wicked, I refrained from any speech. But my sorrow increased; my heart smoldered within me. In my thoughts a fire blazed up, and I broke into speech [Taken from PS 39:3-4]

When people come to visit me, they speak without sincerity. Their hearts store up malice; they leave and spread their vicious lies. [PS 41:7]

You are the most handsome of men; fair speech has graced your lips, for God has blessed you forever. [PS 45:3]

Hear this, all you peoples! Give ear, all who inhabit the world, You of lowly birth or high estate, rich and poor alike. My mouth shall speak wisdom, my heart shall offer insight. [PS 49:2-4]

The LORD, the God of gods, has spoken and summoned the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting. From Zion God shines forth. perfect in beauty. Our God comes and will not be silent! Devouring fire precedes, storming fiercely round about. [Taken from PS 50:1-3]

"Listen, my people, I will speak; Israel, I will testify against you; God, your God, am I." [PS 50:7]

Why do you glory in evil, you scandalous liar? All day long you plot destruction; your tongue is like a sharpened razor, you skillful deceiver. You love evil rather than good, lies rather than honest speech. You love any word that destroys, you deceitful tongue. Now God will strike you down, leave you crushed forever, Pluck you from your tent, uproot you from the land of the living. The righteous will look on with awe; they will jeer and say: "That one did not take God as a refuge, but trusted in great wealth, relied on devious plots." [Taken from PS 52:3-9]

Softer than butter is their speech, but war is in their hearts. Smoother than oil are their words, but they are unsheathed swords. [PS 55:22]

Do not cast me aside in my old age; as my strength fails, do not forsake me. For my enemies speak against me; they watch and plot against me. They say, "God has abandoned that one Pursue, seize the wretch! No one will come to the rescue!" God, do not stand far from me; my God, hasten to help me. Bring to a shameful end those who attack me; Cover with contempt and scorn those who seek my ruin. I will always hope in you and add to all your praise. My mouth shall proclaim your just deeds, day after day your acts of deliverance, though I cannot number them all. I will speak of the mighty works of the Lord; O GOD, I will tell of your singular justice. [PS 71:9-16]

Had I thought, "I will speak as they do," I would have betrayed your people. [PS 73:15]

So I say to the boastful: "Do not boast!" to the wicked: "Do not raise your horns! Do not raise your horns against heaven! Do not speak arrogantly against the Rock!" For judgment comes not from east or from west, not from the desert or from the mountains, But from God who decides, who brings some low and raises others high. Yes, a cup is in the LORD'S hand, foaming wine, fully spiced. When God pours it out, they will drain it even to the dregs; all the wicked of the earth must drink. [PS 75:5-9]

I cry aloud to God, cry to God to hear me. On the day of my distress I seek the Lord; by night my hands are raised unceasingly; I refuse to be consoled. When I think of God, I groan; as I ponder, my spirit grows faint. My eyes cannot close in sleep; I am troubled and cannot speak. I consider the days of old; the years long past I remember. In the night I meditate in my heart; I ponder and my spirit broods: "Will the Lord reject us forever, never again show favor? Has God's love ceased forever? Has the promise failed for all ages? Has God forgotten mercy, in anger withheld compassion?" [Taken from PS 77:2-10]

They tested God in their hearts, demanding the food they craved. They spoke against God, and said, "Can God spread a table in the desert?" [PS 78:18-19]

"In distress you called and I rescued you; unseen, I spoke to you in thunder; At the waters of Meribah I tested you and said: 'Listen, my people, I give you warning! If only you will obey me, Israel! There must be no foreign god among you; you must not worship an alien god. I, the LORD, am your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt. Open wide your mouth that I may fill it.' But my people did not listen to my words; Israel did not obey me. So I gave them over to hardness of heart; they followed their own designs. But even now if my people would listen, if Israel would walk in my paths, In a moment I would subdue their foes, against their enemies unleash my hand. Those who hate the LORD would tremble, their doom sealed forever. But Israel I would feed with the finest wheat, satisfy them with honey from the rock." [Taken from PS 81:8-17]

Once you spoke in vision; to your faithful ones you said: "I have set a leader over the warriors; I have raised up a hero from the army. I have chosen David, my servant; with my holy oil I have anointed him. My hand will be with him; my arm will make him strong. No enemy shall outwit him, nor shall the wicked defeat him. I will crush his foes before him, strike down those who hate him. My loyalty and love will be with him; through my name his horn will be exalted. I will set his hand upon the sea, his right hand upon the rivers. He shall cry to me, 'You are my father, my God, the Rock that brings me victory!' I myself make him firstborn, Most High over the kings of the earth. Forever I will maintain my love for him; my covenant with him stands firm. I will establish his dynasty forever, his throne as the days of the heavens." [Taken from PS 89:20-30]

How long, LORD, shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked glory? How long will they mouth haughty speeches, go on boasting, all these evildoers? [PS 94:3-4]

Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel among those who called on God's name; they called on the LORD, who answered them. From the pillar of cloud God spoke to them; they kept the decrees, the law they received. O LORD, our God, you answered them; you were a forgiving God, though you punished their offenses. Exalt the LORD, our God; bow down before his holy mountain; holy is the LORD, our God. [PS 99:6-9]

I do not allow into my presence anyone who speaks perversely. Whoever acts shamefully I hate; no such person can be my friend. I shun the devious of heart; the wicked I do not tolerate. Whoever slanders another in secret I reduce to silence. Haughty eyes and arrogant hearts I cannot endure. I look to the faithful of the land; they alone can be my companions. Those who follow the way of integrity, they alone can enter my service. No one who practices deceit can hold a post in my court. No one who speaks falsely can be among my advisors. Each morning I clear the wicked from the land, and rid the LORD'S city of all evildoers. [PS 101:3-8]

He spoke and there came swarms of flies, gnats through all their country. For rain he gave them hail, flashes of lightning throughout their land. He struck down their vines and fig trees, shattered the trees of their country. He spoke and the locusts came, grass hoppers without number. They devoured every plant in the land; they ravaged the crops of their fields. [Taken from PS 105:31-35]

Some went off to sea in ships, plied their trade on the deep waters. They saw the works of the LORD, the wonders of God in the deep. He spoke and roused a storm wind; it tossed the waves on high. They rose up to the heavens, sank to the depths; their hearts trembled at the danger. They reeled, staggered like drunkards; their skill was of no avail. In their distress they cried to the LORD, who brought them out of their peril, Hushed the storm to a murmur; the waves of the sea were stilled. They rejoiced that the sea grew calm, that God brought them to the harbor they longed for. Let them thank the LORD for such kindness, such wondrous deeds for mere mortals. Let them praise him in the assembly of the people, give thanks in the council of the elders. [PS 107:23-32]

O God, whom I praise, do not be silent, for wicked and treacherous mouths attack me. They speak against me with lying tongues; with hateful words they surround me, attacking me without cause. In return for my love they slander me, even though I prayed for them. They repay me evil for good, hatred for my love. [Taken from PS 109:2-5]

May the LORD bring all this upon my accusers, upon those who speak evil against me. [PS 109:20]

Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands. They have mouths but do not speak, eyes but do not see. They have ears but do not hear, noses but do not smell. They have hands but do not feel, feet but do not walk, and no sound rises from their throats. Their makers shall be like them, all who trust in them. [PS 115:4-8]

With my lips I recite all the edicts you have spoken. I find joy in the way of your decrees more than in all riches. [PS 119:13-14]

I will speak openly of your decrees without fear even before kings. [PS 119:46]

How long can your servant survive? When will your edict doom my foes? The arrogant have dug pits for me; defying your teaching. All your commands are steadfast. Help me! I am pursued without cause. They have almost ended my life on earth, but I do not forsake your precepts. In your kindness give me life, to keep the decrees you have spoken. [Taken from PS 119:84-88]

Too long did I live among those who hated peace. When I spoke of peace, they were for war. [PS 120:6-7]

You give victory to kings; you delivered David your servant. From the menacing sword deliver me; rescue me from the hands of foreign foes. Their mouths speak untruth; their right hands are raised in lying oaths. [PS 144:10-11]

Great is the LORD and worthy of high praise; God's grandeur is beyond understanding. One generation praises your deeds to the next and proclaims your mighty works. They speak of the splendor of your majestic glory, tell of your wonderful deeds. They speak of your fearsome power and attest to your great deeds. They publish the renown of your abounding goodness and joyfully sing of your justice. The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in love. The LORD is good to all, compassionate to every creature. All your works give you thanks, O LORD and your faithful bless you. They speak of the glory of your reign and tell of your great works, Making known to all your power, the glorious splendor of your rule. Your reign is a reign for all ages, your dominion for all generations. The LORD is trustworthy in every word, and faithful in every work. The LORD supports all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look hopefully to you; you give them their food in due season. You open wide your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing. You, LORD, are just in all your ways, faithful in all your works. You, LORD, are near to all who call upon you, to all who call upon you in truth. You satisfy the desire of those who fear you; you hear their cry and save them. You, LORD, watch over all who love you, but all the wicked you destroy. My mouth will speak your praises, LORD; all flesh will bless your holy name forever. [PS 145:3-21] 

My son, if you receive my words and treasure my commands, Turning your ear to wisdom, inclining your heart to understanding; Yes, if you call to intelligence, and to understanding raise your voice; If you seek her like silver, and like hidden treasures search her out: Then will you understand the fear of the LORD; the knowledge of God you will find; For the LORD gives wisdom, from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; He has counsel in store for the upright, he is the shield of those who walk honestly, Guarding the paths of justice, protecting the way of his pious ones. Then you will understand rectitude and justice, honesty, every good path; For wisdom will enter your heart, knowledge will please your soul, Discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you; Saving you from the way of evil men, from men of perverse speech, Who leave the straight paths to walk in the way of darkness, Who delight in doing evil, rejoice in perversity; Whose ways are crooked, and devious their paths; Saving you from the wife of another, from the adulteress with her smooth words, Who forsakes the companion of her youth and forgets the pact with her God; For her path sinks down to death, and her footsteps lead to the shades; None who enter thereon come back again, or gain the paths of life. Thus you may walk in the way of good men, and keep to the paths of the just. For the upright will dwell in the land, the honest will remain in it; But the wicked will be cut off from the land, the faithless will be rooted out of it. [PROV 2:1-22]

Put away from you dishonest talk, deceitful speech put far from you. [PROV 4:24]

Does not Wisdom call, and Understanding raise her voice? On the top of the heights along the road, at the crossroads she takes her stand; By the gates at the approaches of the city, in the entryways she cries aloud: "To you, O men, I call; my appeal is to the children of men. You simple ones, gain resource, you fools, gain sense. Give heed! for noble things I speak; honesty opens my lips." Yes, the truth my mouth recounts, but the wickedness my lips abhor. Sincere are all the words of my mouth, no one of them is wily or crooked; All of them are plain to the man of intelligence, and right to those who attain knowledge. Receive my instruction in preference to silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold. [PROV 8:1-10]

The words of the wicked are a deadly ambush, but the speech of the upright saves them. [PROV 12:6]

He tells the truth who states what he is sure of, but a lying witness speaks deceitfully. [PROV 12:17]

The wicked man's schemes are an abomination to the LORD, but the pure speak what is pleasing to him. [PROV 15:26]

Kings have a horror of wrongdoing, for by righteousness the throne endures. The king takes delight in honest lips, and the man who speaks what is right he loves. [PROV 16:12-13]

The wise man is esteemed for his discernment, yet pleasing speech increases his persuasiveness. [PROV 16:21]

He who spares his words is truly wise, and he who is chary of speech is a man of intelligence. Even a fool, if he keeps silent, is considered wise; if he closes his lips, intelligent. [PROV 17:27-28]

The LORD loves the pure of heart; the man of winning speech has the king for his friend. [PROV 22:11]

Speak not for the fool's hearing; he will despise the wisdom of your words. [PROV 23:9]

My son, if your heart be wise, my own heart also will rejoice; And my inmost being will exult, when your lips speak what is right. [PROV 23:15-16]

Be not emulous of evil men, and desire not to be with them; For their hearts plot violence, and their lips speak of foul play. [PROV 24:1-2]

Like golden apples in silver settings are words spoken at the proper time. [PROV 25:11]

With his lips an enemy pretends, but in his inmost being he maintains deceit; When he speaks graciously, trust him not, for seven abominations are in his heart. [PROV 26:24-25]

All speech is labored; there is nothing man can say. The eye is not satisfied with seeing nor is the ear filled with hearing. [ECCL 1:8]

A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to be silent, and a time to speak. [ECCL 3:7]

Better is the end of speech than its beginning; better is the patient spirit than the lofty spirit. [ECCL 7:8]

Do not give heed to every word that is spoken lest you hear your servant speaking ill of you, for you know in your heart that you have many times spoken ill of others. [ECCL 7:21-22]

Your name spoken is a spreading perfume- that is why the maidens love you. [SONG 1:3]

My lover speaks; he says to me, "Arise, my beloved, my beautiful one, and come!" [SONG 2:10]

Now God grant I speak suitably and value these endowments at their worth: For he is the guide of Wisdom and the director of the wise. [WISDOM 7:15]

So I determined to take [Wisdom] to live with me, knowing that she would be my counselor while all was well, and my comfort in care and grief. For her sake I should have glory among the masses, and esteem from the elders, though I be but a youth. I should become keen in judgment, and should be a marvel before rulers. They would abide my silence and attend my utterance; and as I spoke on further, they would place their hands upon their mouths. For her sake I should have immortality and leave to those after me an everlasting memory. I should govern peoples, and nations would be my subjects - terrible princes, hearing of me, would be afraid; in the assembly I should appear noble, and in war courageous. Within my dwelling, I should take my repose beside her; For association with her involves no bitterness and living with her no grief, but rather joy and gladness. [Taken from WISDOM 8:9-16]

Because Wisdom opened the mouths of the dumb, and gave ready speech to infants. [WISDOM 10:21]

Refrain not from speaking at the proper time, and hide not away your wisdom; For it is through speech that wisdom becomes known, and knowledge through the tongue's rejoinder. Never gainsay the truth, and struggle not against the rushing stream. Be not ashamed to acknowledge your guilt, but of your ignorance rather be ashamed. Do not abase yourself before an impious man, nor refuse to do so before rulers. Even to the death fight for truth, and the LORD your God will battle for you. Be not surly in your speech, nor lazy and slack in your deeds. [Taken from SIRACH 4:23-29]

Dispute not with a man of railing speech, heap no wood upon his fire. [SIRACH 8:3]

Be not too familiar with an unruly man, lest he speak ill of your forebears. [SIRACH 8:4]

Feared in the city is the man of railing speech, and he who talks rashly is hated. [SIRACH 9:18]

Before investigating, find no fault; examine first, then criticize. Before hearing, answer not, and interrupt no one in the middle of his speech. Dispute not about what is not your concern; in the strife of the arrogant take no part. [SIRACH 11:7-9]

With his lips an enemy speaks sweetly, but in his heart he schemes to plunge you into the abyss. Though your enemy has tears in his eyes, if given the chance, he will never have enough of your blood. [SIRACH 12:16]

As long as the rich man can use you he will enslave you, but when you are exhausted, he will abandon you. As long as you have anything he will speak fair words to you, and with smiles he will win your confidence; When he needs something from you he will cajole you, then without regret he will impoverish you. While it serves his purpose he will beguile you, then twice or three times he will terrify you; When later he sees you he will pass you by, and shake his head over you. [SIRACH 13:4-7]

Many are the supporters for a rich man when he speaks; though what he says is odious, it wins approval. When a poor man speaks they make sport of him; he speaks wisely and no attention is paid him. A rich man speaks and all are silent, his wisdom they extol to the clouds. A poor man speaks and they say: "Who is that?" If he slips they cast him down. [SIRACH 13:21-22]

Worthless men will not attain to [wisdom], haughty men will not behold her. Far from the impious is she, not to be spoken of by liars. Unseemly is praise on a sinner's lips, for it is not accorded to him by God. But praise is offered by the wise man's tongue; its rightful steward will proclaim it. [Taken from SIRACH 15:7-10]

Be informed before speaking; before sickness prepare the cure. [SIRACH 18:18]

A proverb when spoken by a fool is unwelcome, for he does not utter it at the proper time. [SIRACH 20:19]

Widely known is the boastful speaker but the wise man knows his own faults. [SIRACH 21:7]

Speak but seldom with the stupid man, be not the companion of a brute; Beware of him lest you have trouble and be spattered when he shakes himself; Turn away from him and you will find rest and not be wearied by his lack of sense. What is heavier than lead, and what is its name but "Fool"? Sand and salt and an iron mass are easier to bear than a stupid man. [SIRACH 22:12-15]

Should you draw a sword against a friend, despair not, it can be undone. Should you speak sharply to a friend, fear not, you can be reconciled. But a contemptuous insult, a confidence broken, or a treacherous attack will drive away any friend. [SIRACH 22:21-22]

Happy is he who finds a friend and he who speaks to attentive ears. [SIRACH 25:9]

A gracious wife delights her husband, her thoughtfulness puts flesh on his bones; A gift from the LORD is her governed speech, and her firm virtue is of surpassing worth. [SIRACH 26:13-14]

When a sieve is shaken, the husks appear; so do a man's faults when he speaks. As the test of what the potter molds is in the furnace, so in his conversation is the test of a man. The fruit of a tree shows the care it has had; so too does a man's speech disclose the bent of his mind. Praise no man before he speaks, for it is then that men are tested. [SIRACH 27:4-7]

Many a man who asks for a loan adds to the burdens of those who help him; When he borrows, he kisses the lender's hand and speaks with respect of his creditor's wealth; But when payment is due he disappoints him and says he is helpless to meet the claim. If the lender is able to recover barely half, he considers this an achievement; If not, he is cheated of his wealth and acquires an enemy at no extra charge; With curses and insults the borrower pays him back, with abuse instead of honor. [SIRACH 29:4-6]

Young man, speak only when necessary, when they have asked you more than once; Be brief, but say much in those few words, be like the wise man, taciturn. When among your elders be not forward, and with officials be not too insistent. Like the lightning that flashes before a storm is the esteem that shines on modesty. [SIRACH 32:7-10]

Can the unclean produce the clean? can the liar ever speak the truth? [SIRACH 34:4]

A man with training gains wide knowledge; a man of experience speaks sense. [SIRACH 34:9]

Gather all the tribes of Jacob, that they may inherit the land as of old, Show mercy to the people called by your name; Israel, whom you named your first-born. Take pity on your holy city, Jerusalem, your dwelling place. Fill Zion with your majesty, your temple with your glory. Give evidence of your deeds of old; fulfill the prophecies spoken in your name, Reward those who have hoped in you, and let your prophets be proved true. Hear the prayer of your servants, for you are ever gracious to your people; Thus it will be known to the very ends of the earth that you are the eternal God. [SIRACH 36:10-17]

Though any man may be accepted as a husband, yet one girl will be more suitable than another: A woman's beauty makes her husband's face light up, for it surpasses all else that charms the eye; And if, besides, her speech is kindly, his lot is beyond that of mortal men. A wife is her husband's richest treasure, a helpmate, a steadying column. A vineyard with no hedge will be overrun; a man with no wife becomes a homeless wanderer. Who will trust an armed band that shifts from city to city? Or a man who has no nest, but lodges where night overtakes him? [SIRACH 36:21-27]

Speak not to a woman about her rival, nor to a coward about war, to a merchant about business, to a buyer about value, to a miser about generosity, to a cruel man about mercy, to a lazy man about work, to a seasonal laborer about the harvest, to an idle slave about a great task: pay no attention to any advice they give. [SIRACH 37:11]

How different the man who devotes himself to the study of the law of the Most High! He explores the wisdom of the men of old and occupies himself with the prophecies; He treasures the discourses of famous men, and goes to the heart of involved sayings; He studies obscure parables, and is busied with the hidden meanings of the sages. He is in attendance on the great, and has entrance to the ruler. He travels among the peoples of foreign lands to learn what is good and evil among men. His care is to seek the LORD, his Maker, to petition the Most High, To open his lips in prayer, to ask pardon for his sins. Then, if it pleases the LORD Almighty, he will be filled with the spirit of understanding; He will pour forth his words of wisdom and in prayer give thanks to the LORD, Who will direct his knowledge and his counsel, as he meditates upon his mysteries. He will show the wisdom of what he has learned and glory in the law of the LORD'S covenant. Many will praise his understanding; his fame can never be effaced; Unfading will be his memory, through all generations his name will live; Peoples will speak of his wisdom, and in assembly sing his praises. While he lives he is one out of a thousand, and when he dies his renown will not cease. [SIRACH 39:1-11]

The works of God are all of them good; in its own time every need is supplied. At his word the waters become still as in a flask; he had but to speak and the reservoirs were made. He has but to command and his will is done; nothing can limit his achievement. The works of all mankind are present to him; not a thing escapes his eye. [SIRACH 39:16-19]

Come aside to me, you untutored, and take up lodging in the house of instruction; How long will you be deprived of wisdom's food, how long will you endure such bitter thirst? I open my mouth and speak of her: gain, at no cost, wisdom for yourselves. Submit your neck to her yoke, that your mind may accept her teaching. For she is close to those who seek her, and the one who is in earnest finds her. [Taken from SIRACH 51:23-26]

Hear, O heavens, and listen, O earth, for the LORD speaks: Sons have I raised and reared, but they have disowned me! An ox knows its owner, and an ass, its master's manger; But Israel does not know, my people has not understood. Ah! sinful nation, people laden with wickedness, evil race, corrupt children! They have forsaken the LORD, spurned the Holy One of Israel, apostatized. [Taken from ISA 1:2-4]

When you spread out your hands, I close my eyes to you; Though you pray the more, I will not listen. Your hands are full of blood! Wash yourselves clean! Put away your misdeeds from before my eyes; cease doing evil; learn to do good. Make justice your aim: redress the wronged, hear the orphan's plea, defend the widow. Come now, let us set things right, says the LORD: Though your sins be like scarlet, they may become white as snow; Though they be crimson red, they may become white as wool. If you are willing, and obey, you shall eat the good things of the land; But if you refuse and resist, the sword shall consume you: for the mouth of the LORD has spoken! [ISA 1:15-20]

Jerusalem is crumbling, Judah is falling; for their speech and their deeds are before the LORD, a provocation in the sight of his majesty. [ISA 3:8]

Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz: Ask for a sign from the LORD, your God; let it be deep as the nether world, or high as the sky! But Ahaz answered, "I will not ask! I will not tempt the LORD!" [ISA 7:10-12]

The nether world below is all astir preparing for your coming; It awakens the shades to greet you, all the leaders of the earth; It has the kings of all nations rise from their thrones. All of them speak out and say to you, "You too have become weak like us, you are the same as we. Down to the nether world your pomp is brought, the music of your harps. The couch beneath you is the maggot, your covering, the worm." [ISA 14:9-11]

But now the LORD has spoken: In three years, like those of a hireling, the glory of Moab shall be degraded despite all its great multitude; there shall be a remnant, very small and weak. [ISA 16:14]

On that day there shall be five cities in the land of Egypt speaking the language of Canaan and swearing by the LORD of hosts; one shall be called "City of the Sun." [ISA 19:18]

For thus says the Lord to me: In another year, like those of a hireling, all the glory of Kedar shall come to an end. Few of Kedar's stalwart archers shall remain, for the LORD, the God of Israel, has spoken. [ISA 21:16-17]

On that day I will summon my servant Eliakim, son of Hilkiah; I will clothe him with your robe, and gird him with your sash, and give over to him your authority. He shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah. I will place the key of the House of David on his shoulder; when he opens, no one shall shut, when he shuts, no one shall open. I will fix him like a peg in a sure spot, to be a place of honor for his family; On him shall hang all the glory of his family: descendants and offspring, all the little dishes, from bowls to jugs. On that day, says the LORD of hosts, the peg fixed in a sure spot shall give way, break off and fall, and the weight that hung on it shall be done away with; for the LORD has spoken. [ISA 22:20-25]

Shame, O Sidon, fortress on the sea, for the sea has spoken: "I have not been in labor, nor given birth, nor raised young men, nor reared virgins." [ISA 23:4]

On this mountain the LORD of hosts will provide for all peoples A feast of rich food and choice wines, juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines. On this mountain he will destroy the veil that veils all peoples, The web that is woven over all nations; he will destroy death forever. The Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from all faces; The reproach of his people he will remove from the whole earth; for the LORD has spoken. On that day it will be said: "Behold our God, to whom we looked to save us! This is the LORD for whom we looked; let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us!" [ISA 25:6-9]

Prostrate you shall speak from the earth, and from the base dust your words shall come. Your voice shall be like a ghost's from the earth, and your words like chirping from the dust. [ISA 29:4]

This is a rebellious people, deceitful children, Children who refuse to obey the law of the LORD. They say to the seers, "Have no visions"; to the prophets, "Do not descry for us what is right; speak flatteries to us, conjure up illusions. Out of the way! Out of our path! Let us hear no more of the Holy One of Israel." Therefore, thus says the Holy One of Israel: Because you reject this word, And put your trust in what is crooked and devious, and depend on it, This guilt of yours shall be like a descending rift Bulging out in a high wall whose crash comes suddenly, in an instant. [Taken from ISA 30:9-13]

See the name of the LORD coming from afar in burning wrath, with lowering clouds! His lips are filled with fury, his tongue is like a consuming fire; His breath, like a flood in a ravine that reaches suddenly to the neck, Will winnow the nations with a destructive winnowing, and with repeated winnowings will he battle against them (and a bridle on the jaws of the peoples to send them astray). The LORD will make his glorious voice heard, and let it be seen how his arm descends In raging fury and flame of consuming fire, in driving storm and hail. When the LORD speaks, Assyria will be shattered, as he strikes with the rod; While at every sweep of the rod which the LORD will bring down on him in punishment, You will sing as on a night when a feast is observed, And be merry of heart, as one marching along with a flute Toward the mountain of the LORD, toward the Rock of Israel, accompanied by the timbrels and lyres. For the pyre has long been ready, prepared for the king; Broad and deep it is piled with dry grass and wood in abundance, And the breath of the LORD, like a stream of sulphur, will set it afire. [ISA 30:27-33]

See, a king will reign justly and princes will rule rightly. Each of them will be a shelter from the wind, a retreat from the rain. They will be like streams of water in a dry country, like the shade of a great rock in a parched land. The eyes of those who see will not be closed; the ears of those who hear will be attentive. The flighty will become wise and capable, and the stutterers will speak fluently and clearly. No more will the fool be called noble, nor the trickster be considered honorable. For the fool speaks foolishly, planning evil in his heart: How to do wickedness, to speak perversely against the LORD, To let the hungry go empty and the thirsty be without drink. And the trickster uses wicked trickery, planning crimes: How to ruin the poor with lies, and the needy when they plead their case. But the noble man plans noble things, and by noble things he stands. [ISA 32:1-8]

He who practices virtue and speaks honestly, who spurns what is gained by oppression, Brushing his hands free of contact with a bribe, stopping his ears lest he hear of bloodshed, closing his eyes lest he look on evil - He shall dwell on the heights, his stronghold shall be the rocky fastness, his food and drink in steady supply. [ISA 33:15-16]

To the people of alien tongue you will look no more, the people of obscure speech, stammering in a language not understood. [ISA 33:19]

Then Eliakim and Shebna and Joah said to the commander, "Please speak to your servants in Aramaic; we understand it. Do not speak to us in Judean within earshot of the people who are on the wall." [ISA 36:11]

Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, "Hear the word of the LORD of hosts: Behold, the days shall come when all that is in your house, and everything that your fathers have stored up until this day, shall be carried off to Babylon; nothing shall be left, says the LORD. Some of your own bodily descendants shall be taken and made servants in the palace of the king of Babylon." Hezekiah replied to Isaiah, "The word of the LORD which you have spoken is favorable." For he thought, "There will be peace and security in my lifetime." [ISA 39:5-8]

Comfort, give comfort to my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her service is at an end, her guilt is expiated; Indeed, she has received from the hand of the LORD double for all her sins. A voice cries out: In the desert prepare the way of the LORD! Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God! Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill shall be made low; The rugged land shall be made a plain, the rough country, a broad valley. Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all mankind shall see it together; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken. [ISA 40:1-5]

Keep silence before me, O coastlands; you peoples, wait for my words! Let them draw near and speak; let us come together for judgment. [ISA 41:1]

Would you have me remember, have us come to trial? Speak up, prove your innocence! [ISA 43:26]

Thus says the LORD, Israel's King and redeemer, the LORD of hosts: I am the first and I am the last; there is no God but me. Who is like me? Let him stand up and speak, make it evident, and confront me with it. Who of old announced future events? Let them foretell to us the things to come. [Taken from ISA 44:6-7]

I have not spoken from hiding nor from some dark place of the earth, And I have not said to the descendants of Jacob, "Look for me in an empty waste." I, the LORD, promise justice, I foretell what is right. [ISA 45:19]

Yes, I have spoken, I will accomplish it; I have planned it, and I will do it. [Taken from ISA 46:11]

All of you assemble and listen: Who among you foretold these things? The LORD'S friend shall do his will against Babylon and the progeny of Chaldea. I myself have spoken, I have called him, I have brought him, and his way succeeds! Come near to me and hear this! Not from the beginning did I speak it in secret; At the time it comes to pass, I am present: "Now the Lord GOD has sent me, and his spirit." Thus says the LORD, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I, the LORD, your God, teach you what is for your good, and lead you on the way you should go. If you would hearken to my commandments, your prosperity would be like a river, and your vindication like the waves of the sea; Your descendants would be like the sand, and those born of your stock like its grains, Their name never cut off or blotted out from my presence. [ISA 48:14-19]

For now the LORD has spoken who formed me as his servant from the womb, That Jacob may be brought back to him and Israel gathered to him; And I am made glorious in the sight of the LORD, and my God is now my strength! [ISA 49:5]

The Lord GOD has given me a well-trained tongue, That I might know how to speak to the weary a word that will rouse them. Morning after morning he opens my ear that I may hear; And I have not rebelled, have not turned back. I gave my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who plucked my beard; My face I did not shield from buffets and spitting. The Lord GOD is my help, therefore I am not disgraced; I have set my face like flint, knowing that I shall not be put to shame. [ISA 50:4-7]

Oppressed and condemned, he was taken away, and who would have thought any more of his destiny? When he was cut off from the land of the living, and smitten for the sin of his people, A grave was assigned him among the wicked and a burial place with evildoers, Though he had done no wrong nor spoken any falsehood. (But the LORD was pleased to crush him in infirmity.) If he gives his life as an offering for sin, he shall see his descendants in a long life, and the will of the LORD shall be accomplished through him. Because of his affliction he shall see the light in fullness of days; Through his suffering, my servant shall justify many, and their guilt he shall bear. Therefore I will give him his portion among the great, and he shall divide the spoils with the mighty, Because he surrendered himself to death and was counted among the wicked; And he shall take away the sins of many, and win pardon for their offenses. [Taken from ISA 53:8-12]

If you remove from your midst oppression, false accusation and malicious speech; If you bestow your bread on the hungry and satisfy the afflicted; Then light shall rise for you in the darkness, and the gloom shall become for you like midday; Then the LORD will guide you always and give you plenty even on the parched land. He will renew your strength, and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring whose water never fails. The ancient ruins shall be rebuilt for your sake, and the foundations from ages past you shall raise up; "Repairer of the breach," they shall call you, "Restorer of ruined homesteads." If you hold back your foot on the sabbath from following your own pursuits on my holy day; If you call the sabbath a delight, and the LORD'S holy day honorable; If you honor it by not following your ways, seeking your own interests, or speaking with malice - Then you shall delight in the LORD, and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; I will nourish you with the heritage of Jacob, your father, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken. [Taken from ISA 58:9-14]

Lo, the hand of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. Rather, it is your crimes that separate you from your God, It is your sins that make him hide his face so that he will not hear you. For your hands are stained with blood, your fingers with guilt; Your lips speak falsehood, and your tongue utters deceit. [Taken from ISA 59:1-3]

You I will destine for the sword; you shall all go down in slaughter. Since I called and you did not answer, I spoke and you did not listen, But did what was evil in my sight and preferred things which displease me [Taken from ISA 65:12]

Before they call, I will answer; while they are yet speaking, I will hearken to them. [ISA 65:24]

I in turn will choose ruthless treatment for them and bring upon them what they fear. Because, when I called, no one answered, when I spoke, no one listened; Because they did what was evil in my sight, and chose what gave me displeasure [Taken from ISA 66:4]

The word of the LORD came to me thus: Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you. "Ah, Lord GOD!" I said, "I know not how to speak; I am too young." But the LORD answered me, Say not, "I am too young." To whomever I send you, you shall go; whatever I command you, you shall speak. Have no fear before them, because I am with you to deliver you, says the LORD. Then the LORD extended his hand and touched my mouth, saying, See, I place my words in your mouth! [JER 1:4-9]

Because of this the earth shall mourn, the heavens above shall darken; I have spoken, I will not repent, I have resolved, I will not turn back. [JER 4:28]

I will go to the great ones and speak with them; For they know the way of the LORD, their duty to their God. But, one and all, they had broken the yoke, torn off the harness. [JER 5:5]

Beware, I will bring against you a nation from afar, O house of Israel, says the LORD; A long-lived nation, an ancient nation, a people whose language you know not, whose speech you cannot understand. Their quivers are like open graves; all of them are warriors. [Taken from JER 5:15-16]

To whom shall I speak? whom shall I warn, and be heard? See! their ears are uncircumcised, they cannot give heed; See, the word of the LORD has become for them an object of scorn, which they will not have. [JER 6:10]

And now, because you have committed all these misdeeds, says the LORD, because you did not listen, though I spoke to you untiringly; because you did not answer, though I called you, I will do to this house named after me, in which you trust, and to this place which I gave to you and your fathers, just as I did to Shiloh. I will cast you away from me, as I cast away all your brethren, all the offspring of Ephraim. [JER 7:13-15]

When you speak all these words to them, they will not listen to you either; when you call to them, they will not answer you. Say to them: This is the nation which does not listen to the voice of the LORD, its God, or take correction. Faithfulness has disappeared; the word itself is banished from their speech. [Taken from JER 7:27-28]

I listen closely: they speak what is not true; No one repents of his wickedness, saying, "What have I done!" Everyone keeps on running his course, like a steed dashing into battle. [JER 8:6]

Each one deceives the other, no one speaks the truth. They have accustomed their tongues to lying, and are perverse, and cannot repent. Violence upon violence, deceit upon deceit: They refuse to recognize me, says the LORD. Therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts: I will smelt them and test them; how else should I deal with their wickedness? A murderous arrow is his tongue, his mouth utters deceit; He speaks cordially with his friends, but in his heart he lays an ambush! For these things, says the LORD, shall I not punish them? On a nation such as this shall I not take vengeance? Over the mountains, break out in cries of lamentation, over the pasture lands, intone a dirge: They are scorched, and no man crosses them, unheard is the bleat of the flock; Birds of the air as well as beasts, all have fled, and are gone. I will turn Jerusalem into a heap of ruins, a haunt of jackals; The cities of Judah I will make into a waste, where no one dwells. Who is so wise that he can understand this? Let him to whom the mouth of the LORD has spoken make it known: Why is the land ravaged, scorched like a wasteland untraversed? [Taken from JER 9:4-11]

Give ear, listen humbly, for the LORD speaks. Give glory to the LORD, your God, before it grows dark; Before your feet stumble on darkening mountains; Before the light you look for turns to darkness, changes into black clouds. If you do not listen to this in your pride, I will weep in secret many tears; My eyes will run with tears for the LORD'S flock, led away to exile. [JER 13:15-17]

Lies these prophets utter in my name, the LORD said to me. I did not send them; I gave them no command nor did I speak to them. Lying visions, foolish divination, dreams of their own imagination, they prophesy to you. [JER 14:14]

Heed me, O LORD, and listen to what my adversaries say. Must good be repaid with evil that they should dig a pit to take my life? Remember that I stood before you to speak in their behalf, to turn away your wrath from them. [JER 18:19-20]

Thus said the LORD: Go, buy a potter's earthen flask. Take along some of the elders of the people and of the priests, and go out toward the Valley of Ben-hinnom, at the entrance of the Potsherd Gate; there proclaim the words which I will speak to you: Listen to the word of the LORD, kings of Judah and citizens of Jerusalem: Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: I am going to bring such evil upon this place that all who hear of it will feel their ears tingle. [JER 19:1-3]

Whenever I speak, I must cry out, violence and outrage is my message; The word of the LORD has brought me derision and reproach all the day. I say to myself, I will not mention him, I will speak in his name no more. But then it becomes like fire burning in my heart, imprisoned in my bones; I grow weary holding it in, I cannot endure it. [JER 20:8-9]

I spoke to you when you were secure, but you answered, "I will not listen." This has been your way from your youth, not to listen to my voice. [JER 22:21]

Thus says the LORD of hosts: Listen not to the words of your prophets, who fill you with emptiness; Visions of their own fancy they speak, not from the mouth of the LORD. They say to those who despise the word of the LORD, "Peace shall be yours"; And to everyone who walks in hardness of heart, "No evil shall overtake you." Now, who has stood in the council of the LORD, to see him and to hear his word? Who has heeded his word, so as to announce it? See, the storm of the LORD! His wrath breaks forth In a whirling storm that bursts upon the heads of the wicked. The anger of the LORD shall not abate until he has done and fulfilled what he has determined in his heart. When the time comes, you shall fully understand. I did not send these prophets, yet they ran; I did not speak to them, yet they prophesied. Had they stood in my council, and did they but proclaim to my people my words, They would have brought them back from evil ways and from their wicked deeds. Am I a God near at hand only, says the LORD, and not a God far off? Can a man hide in secret without my seeing him? says the LORD. Do I not fill both heaven and earth? says the LORD. I have heard the prophets who prophesy lies in my name say, "I had a dream! I had a dream!" How long will this continue? Is my name in the hearts of the prophets who prophesy lies and their own deceitful fancies? By their dreams which they recount to each other, they think to make my people forget my name, just as their fathers forgot my name for Baal. Let the prophet who has a dream recount his dream; let him who has my word speak my word truthfully! What has straw to do with the wheat? says the LORD. Is not my word like fire, says the LORD, like a hammer shattering rocks? Therefore I am against the prophets, says the LORD, who steal my words from each other. Yes, I am against the prophets, says the LORD, who borrow speeches to pronounce oracles. Yes, I am against the prophets who prophesy lying dreams, says the LORD, and who lead my people astray by recounting their lies and by their empty boasting. From me they have no mission or command, and they do this people no good at all, says the LORD. [JER 23:16-32]

This word the prophet Jeremiah spoke to all the people of Judah and all the citizens of Jerusalem: Since the thirteenth year of Josiah, son of Amon, king of Judah, to this day-these three and twenty years-the word of the LORD has come to me and I spoke to you untiringly, but you would not listen. Though you refused to listen or pay heed, the LORD has sent you without fail all his servants the prophets with this message: Turn back, each of you, from your evil way and from your evil deeds; then you shall remain in the land which the LORD gave you and your fathers, from of old and forever. Do not follow strange gods to serve and adore them, lest you provoke me with your handiwork, and I bring evil upon you. But you would not listen to me, says the LORD, and so you provoked me with your handiwork to your own harm. [JER 25:2-7]

Against that land I will fulfill all the words I have spoken against it (all that is written in this book, which Jeremiah prophesied against all the nations). [JER 25:13]

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