The Lord sent the prophet Nathan to David. When Nathan came to him, he said,“ Two men lived in the same town. One was rich. The other was poor.

耶和华差遣拿单去见大卫。拿单到了大卫那里，对他说：“在一座城里有两个人：一个是富户，一个是穷人。

耶和华差遣拿单到大卫那里。拿单到了他那里，对他说：“在一座城里有两个人，一个是富翁，一个是穷人。

耶和华差遣拿单到大卫那里。拿单到了他那里，对他说：“在一座城里有两个人，一个是富翁，一个是穷人。

耶和华派拿单先知去见大卫。拿单对大卫说：“一座城里有两个人，一个富有，一个贫穷。

耶和华差派拿单去见大卫。于是拿单来到大卫那里，对他说：“在一座城里有两个人，一个富有，一个贫穷。

耶和華差遣拿單去見大衛。拿單到了大衛那裏，對他說：「在一座城裏有兩個人：一個是富戶，一個是窮人。

耶和華差遣拿單到大衛那裏。拿單到了他那裏，對他說：「在一座城裏有兩個人，一個是富翁，一個是窮人。

耶和華差遣拿單到大衛那裏。拿單到了他那裏，對他說：「在一座城裏有兩個人，一個是富翁，一個是窮人。

耶和華派拿單先知去見大衛。拿單對大衛說：「一座城裡有兩個人，一個富有，一個貧窮。

耶和華差派拿單去見大衛。於是拿單來到大衛那裡，對他說：“在一座城裡有兩個人，一個富有，一個貧窮。

於是永恆主差遣拿單去見大衛。拿單到了大衛那裏，對他說：『在一座城裏有兩個人；一個富足，一個窮乏。

耶和華派遣拿單去見大衛。拿單來到大衛那裡，對他說：「在一座城中有兩個人，一個富有，一個貧窮。

耶和華遣拿單見大衛、遂詣之、曰、有二人居於一邑、一富一貧、

耶和華遣拿單見大闢、告曰、邑中有二人、一富一貧、

主遣拿單往見大衛、拿單至大衛前、謂之曰、二人居一邑、一富一貧、

The Lord sent Nathan to David. When he came to him, he said,“ There were two men in a certain town, one rich and the other poor.

And the Lord sent Nathan to David. He came to him and said to him,“ There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor.

So the Lord sent Nathan the prophet to tell David this story:“ There were two men in a certain town. One was rich, and one was poor.

So the LORD sent Nathan to David. When he arrived, he said to him: There were two men in a certain city, one rich and the other poor.

Then the Lord sent Nathan to David. And he came to him and said,“ There were two men in a city, the one wealthy and the other poor.

Then the Lord sent Nathan to David. And he came to him, and said to him:“ There were two men in one city, one rich and the other poor.

And Jehovah sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor.

So the Lord sent Nathan to David. When he arrived, he said to him: There were two men in a certain city, one rich and the other poor.

And the LORD sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor.

So the LORD sent Nathan to David. When he came to David, Nathan said,“ There were two men in a certain city, one rich and the other poor.

Yahweh sent Nathan to David. He came to him, and said to him,“ There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor.

There was a group of people called the group of the prophets. A message from the Lord came to one of their members. He said to his companion,“ Strike me down with your weapon.” But he wouldn’t do it.The prophet said,“ You haven’t obeyed the Lord. So as soon as you leave me, a lion will kill you.” The companion went away. And a lion found him and killed him.The prophet found another man. He said,“ Please strike me down.” So the man struck him down and wounded him.Then the prophet went and stood by the road. He waited for the king to come by. He pulled his headband down over his eyes so no one would recognize him.The king passed by. Then the prophet called out to him. He said,“ I went into the middle of the battle. Someone came to me with a prisoner. He said,‘ Guard this man. Don’t let him get away. If he does, you will pay for his life with yours. Or you can pay 75 pounds of silver.’While I was busy here and there, the man disappeared.” The king of Israel spoke to him. He told him,“ What you’ve just said is what will happen to you.”Then the prophet quickly removed the headband from his eyes. The king of Israel recognized him as one of the prophets.

I was very angry with them. They always longed for more and more of everything. So I punished them for that sin. I turned my face away from them because I was angry. But they kept on wanting their own way.I have seen what they have done. But I will heal them. I will guide them. I will give those who mourn in Israel the comfort they had before.

Jesus continued,“ There was a man who had two sons.The younger son spoke to his father. He said,‘ Father, give me my share of the family property.’ So the father divided his property between his two sons.“ Not long after that, the younger son packed up all he had. Then he left for a country far away. There he wasted his money on wild living.He spent everything he had. Then the whole country ran low on food. So the son didn’t have what he needed.He went to work for someone who lived in that country. That person sent the son to the fields to feed the pigs.The son wanted to fill his stomach with the food the pigs were eating. But no one gave him anything.“ Then he began to think clearly again. He said,‘ How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough food! But here I am dying from hunger!I will get up and go back to my father. I will say to him,“ Father, I have sinned against heaven. And I have sinned against you.I am no longer fit to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” ’So he got up and went to his father.“ While the son was still a long way off, his father saw him. He was filled with tender love for his son. He ran to him. He threw his arms around him and kissed him.“ The son said to him,‘ Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer fit to be called your son.’“ But the father said to his servants,‘ Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.Bring the fattest calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate.This son of mine was dead. And now he is alive again. He was lost. And now he is found.’ So they began to celebrate.“ The older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing.So he called one of the servants. He asked him what was going on.‘ Your brother has come home,’ the servant replied.‘ Your father has killed the fattest calf. He has done this because your brother is back safe and sound.’“ The older brother became angry. He refused to go in. So his father went out and begged him.But he answered his father,‘ Look! All these years I’ve worked like a slave for you. I have always obeyed your orders. You never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.But this son of yours wasted your money with some prostitutes. Now he comes home. And for him you kill the fattest calf!’“‘ My son,’ the father said,‘ you are always with me. Everything I have is yours.But we had to celebrate and be glad. This brother of yours was dead. And now he is alive again. He was lost. And now he is found.’ ”

Before David got up the next morning, a message from the Lord came to Gad the prophet. He was David’s seer. The message said,“ Go and tell David,‘ The Lord says,“ I could punish you in three different ways. Choose one of them for me to use against you.” ’ ”So Gad went to David. He said to him,“ Take your choice. Do you want three years when there won’t be enough food in your land? Or do you want three months when you will run away from your enemies while they chase you? Or do you want three days when there will be a plague in your land? Think it over. Then take your pick. Tell me how to answer the one who sent me.”

The king asked her,“ What’s bothering you?” She said,“ I’m a widow. My husband is dead.I had two sons. They got into a fight with each other in a field. No one was there to separate them. One of my sons struck down the other one and killed him.Now my whole family group has risen up against me. They say,‘ Hand over the one who struck down his brother. Then we can put him to death for killing his brother. That will also get rid of the one who will receive the family property.’ They want to kill the only living son I have left, just as someone would put out a burning coal. That would leave my husband without any son on the face of the earth to carry on the family name.”The king said to the woman,“ Go home. I’ll give an order to make sure you are taken care of.”But the woman from Tekoa said to him,“ You are my king and master. Please pardon me and my family. You and your royal family won’t be guilty of doing anything wrong.”The king replied,“ If people give you any trouble, bring them to me. They won’t bother you again.”She said,“ Please pray to the Lord your God. Pray that he will keep our nearest male relative from killing my other son. Then my son won’t be destroyed.”“ You can be sure that the Lord lives,” the king said.“ And you can be just as sure that not one hair of your son’s head will fall to the ground.”

David told the messenger,“ Tell Joab,‘ Don’t get upset over what happened. Swords kill one person as well as another. So keep on attacking the city. Destroy it.’ Tell that to Joab. It will cheer him up.”

A man of God went from Judah to Bethel. He had received a message from the Lord. He arrived in Bethel just as Jeroboam was standing by the altar to offer a sacrifice.

All of us must die. We are like water spilled on the ground. It can’t be put back into the jar. But that is not what God desires. Instead, he finds a way to bring back anyone who was driven away from him.

David was told,“ Uriah didn’t go home.” So he sent for Uriah. David said to him,“ You have been away for a long time. Why didn’t you go home?”Uriah said to David,“ The ark and the army of Israel and Judah are out there in tents. My commander Joab and your special troops are camped in the open country. How could I go to my house to eat and drink? How could I go there and sleep with my wife? I could never do a thing like that. And that’s just as sure as you are alive!”Then David said to him,“ Stay here one more day. Tomorrow I’ll send you back to the battle.” So Uriah remained in Jerusalem that day and the next.David invited Uriah to eat and drink with him. David got him drunk. But Uriah still didn’t go home. In the evening he went out and slept on his mat. He stayed there among his master’s servants.The next morning David wrote a letter to Joab. He sent it along with Uriah.In it he wrote,“ Put Uriah out in front. That’s where the fighting is the heaviest. Then pull your men back from him. When you do, the Ammonites will strike him down and kill him.”So Joab attacked the city. He put Uriah at a place where he knew the strongest enemy fighters were.The troops came out of the city. They fought against Joab. Some of the men in David’s army were killed. Uriah, the Hittite, also died.

“ Listen to another story. A man who owned some land planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it. He dug a pit for a winepress in it. He also built a lookout tower. He rented the vineyard out to some farmers. Then he moved to another place.When harvest time approached, he sent his slaves to the renters. He told the slaves to collect his share of the fruit.“ But the renters grabbed his slaves. They beat one of them. They killed another. They threw stones at the third to kill him.Then the man sent other slaves to the renters. He sent more than he did the first time. The renters treated them the same way.Last of all, he sent his son to them.‘ They will respect my son,’ he said.“ But the renters saw the son coming. They said to one another,‘ This is the one who will receive all the owner’s property someday. Come, let’s kill him. Then everything will be ours.’So they took him and threw him out of the vineyard. Then they killed him.“ When the owner of the vineyard comes back, what will he do to those renters?”“ He will destroy those evil people,” they replied.“ Then he will rent the vineyard out to other renters. They will give him his share of the crop at harvest time.”Jesus said to them,“ Haven’t you ever read what the Scriptures say,“‘ The stone the builders didn’t accept has become the most important stone of all. The Lord has done it. It is wonderful in our eyes’?( Psalm 118:22, 23)“ So here is what I tell you. The kingdom of God will be taken away from you. It will be given to people who will produce its fruit.Anyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces. But the stone will crush anyone it falls on.”The chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus’ stories. They knew he was talking about them.

It was now three years since it had rained. A message came to Elijah from the Lord. He said,“ Go. Speak to Ahab. Then I will send rain on the land.”

God, have mercy on me according to your faithful love. Because your love is so tender and kind, wipe out my lawless acts.Wash away all the evil things I’ve done. Make me pure from my sin.I know the lawless acts I’ve committed. I can’t forget my sin.You are the one I’ve really sinned against. I’ve done what is evil in your sight. So you are right when you sentence me. You are fair when you judge me.I know I’ve been a sinner ever since I was born. I’ve been a sinner ever since my mother became pregnant with me.I know that you wanted faithfulness even when I was in my mother’s body. You taught me wisdom in that secret place.Sprinkle me with hyssop, then I will be clean. Wash me, then I will be whiter than snow.Let me hear you say,“ Your sins are forgiven.” That will bring me joy and gladness. Let the body you have broken be glad.Take away all my sins. Wipe away all the evil things I’ve done.God, create a pure heart in me. Give me a new spirit that is faithful to you.Don’t send me away from you. Don’t take your Holy Spirit away from me.Give me back the joy that comes from being saved by you. Give me a spirit that obeys you so that I will keep going.Then I will teach your ways to those who commit lawless acts. And sinners will turn back to you.You are the God who saves me. I have committed murder. God, take away my guilt. Then my tongue will sing about how right you are no matter what you do.Lord, open my lips so that I can speak. Then my mouth will praise you.You don’t take delight in sacrifice. If you did, I would bring it. You don’t take pleasure in burnt offerings.The greatest sacrifice you want is a broken spirit. God, you will gladly accept a heart that is broken because of sadness over sin.May you be pleased to give Zion success. May it please you to build up the walls of Jerusalem.Then you will delight in the sacrifices of those who do what is right. Whole burnt offerings will bring delight to you. And bulls will be offered on your altar.

But the angel of the Lord spoke to Elijah, who was from Tishbe. The angel said,“ Go up to see the messengers of Ahaziah, the king of Samaria. Tell them,‘ You are on your way to ask Baal- Zebub for advice. He is the god of Ekron. Are you going there to pray to that god? Do you think there is no God in Israel?’

The king moved into his palace. The Lord had given him peace and rest from all his enemies around him.Then the king spoke to Nathan the prophet. He said,“ Here I am, living in a house that has beautiful cedar walls. But the ark of God remains in a tent.”Nathan replied to the king,“ Go ahead and do what you want to. The Lord is with you.”But that night the word of the Lord came to Nathan. The Lord said,“ Go and speak to my servant David. Tell him,‘ The Lord says,“ Are you the one to build me a house to live in?

I will sing a song for the Lord. He is the one I love. It’s a song about his vineyard Israel. The one I love had a vineyard. It was on a hillside that had rich soil.He dug up the soil and removed its stones. He planted the very best vines in it. He built a lookout tower there. He also cut out a winepress for it. Then he kept looking for a crop of good grapes. But the vineyard produced only bad fruit.So the Lord said,“ People of Jerusalem and Judah, you be the judge between me and my vineyard.What more could I have done for my vineyard? I did everything I could. I kept looking for a crop of good grapes. So why did it produce only bad ones?Now I will tell you what I am going to do to my vineyard. I will take away its fence. And the vineyard will be destroyed. I will break down its wall. And people will walk all over my vineyard.I will turn my vineyard into a dry and empty desert. It will not be pruned or taken care of. Thorns and bushes will grow there. I will command the clouds not to rain on it.”The vineyard of the Lord who rules over all is the nation of Israel. The people of Judah are the vines he took delight in. He kept looking for them to do what is fair. But all he saw was blood being spilled. He kept looking for them to do what is right. But all he heard were cries of suffering.

Jotham was told about it. So he climbed up on top of Mount Gerizim. He shouted down to them,“ Citizens of Shechem! Listen to me! Then God will listen to you.One day the trees went out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to an olive tree,‘ Be our king.’“ But the olive tree answered,‘ Should I give up my olive oil? It’s used to honor gods and people alike. Should I give that up just to rule over the trees?’“ Next, the trees said to a fig tree,‘ Come and be our king.’“ But the fig tree replied,‘ Should I give up my fruit? It’s so good and sweet. Should I give that up just to rule over the trees?’“ Then the trees said to a vine,‘ Come and be our king.’“ But the vine answered,‘ Should I give up my wine? It cheers up gods and people alike. Should I give that up just to rule over the trees?’“ Finally, all the trees spoke to a bush that had thorns. They said,‘ Come and be our king.’“ The bush asked the trees,‘ Do you really want to anoint me as king over you? If you do, come and rest in my shade. But if you don’t, I will destroy you! Fire will come out of me and burn up the cedar trees of Lebanon!’

Nathan reported to David all the words that the Lord had spoken to him.

“ Once there was a rich man. He was dressed in purple cloth and fine linen. He lived an easy life every day.A man named Lazarus was placed at his gate. Lazarus was a beggar. His body was covered with sores.Even dogs came and licked his sores. All he wanted was to eat what fell from the rich man’s table.“ The time came when the beggar died. The angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried.In the place of the dead, the rich man was suffering terribly. He looked up and saw Abraham far away. Lazarus was by his side.So the rich man called out,‘ Father Abraham! Have pity on me! Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water. Then he can cool my tongue with it. I am in terrible pain in this fire.’“ But Abraham replied,‘ Son, remember what happened in your lifetime. You received your good things. Lazarus received bad things. Now he is comforted here, and you are in terrible pain.Besides, a wide space has been placed between us and you. So those who want to go from here to you can’t go. And no one can cross over from there to us.’“ The rich man answered,‘ Then I beg you, father Abraham. Send Lazarus to my family.I have five brothers. Let Lazarus warn them. Then they will not come to this place of terrible suffering.’“ Abraham replied,‘ They have the teachings of Moses and the Prophets. Let your brothers listen to them.’“‘ No, father Abraham,’ he said.‘ But if someone from the dead goes to them, they will turn away from their sins.’“ Abraham said to him,‘ They do not listen to Moses and the Prophets. So they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’ ”