Then Jezebel his wife said to him, “You now exercise authority over Israel! Arise, eat food, and let your heart be cheerful; I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.”

And she wrote letters in Ahab’s name, sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters to the elders and the nobles who were dwelling in the city with Naboth. She wrote in the letters, saying,

Proclaim a fast, and seat Naboth [a]with high honor among the people; 10 and seat two men, scoundrels, before him to bear witness against him, saying, “You have (A)blasphemed God and the king.” Then take him out, and (B)stone him, that he may die.

11 So the men of his city, the elders and nobles who were inhabitants of his city, did as Jezebel had sent to them, as it was written in the letters which she had sent to them. 12 (C)They proclaimed a fast, and seated Naboth with high honor among the people. 13 And two men, scoundrels, came in and sat before him; and the scoundrels (D)witnessed against him, against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, “Naboth has blasphemed God and the king!” (E)Then they took him outside the city and stoned him with stones, so that he died.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 21:9 Lit. at the head

Jezebel his wife said, “Is this how you act as king over Israel? Get up and eat! Cheer up. I’ll get you the vineyard(A) of Naboth the Jezreelite.”

So she wrote letters(B) in Ahab’s name, placed his seal(C) on them, and sent them to the elders and nobles who lived in Naboth’s city with him. In those letters she wrote:

“Proclaim a day of fasting and seat Naboth in a prominent place among the people. 10 But seat two scoundrels(D) opposite him and have them bring charges that he has cursed(E) both God and the king. Then take him out and stone him to death.”

11 So the elders and nobles who lived in Naboth’s city did as Jezebel directed in the letters she had written to them. 12 They proclaimed a fast(F) and seated Naboth in a prominent place among the people. 13 Then two scoundrels came and sat opposite him and brought charges against Naboth before the people, saying, “Naboth has cursed both God and the king.” So they took him outside the city and stoned him to death.(G)

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13 In transgressing and lying against the Lord,
And departing from our God,
Speaking oppression and revolt,
Conceiving and uttering (A)from the heart words of falsehood.

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13 rebellion(A) and treachery against the Lord,
    turning our backs(B) on our God,
inciting revolt and oppression,(C)
    uttering lies(D) our hearts have conceived.

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14 Justice is turned back,
And righteousness stands afar off;
For truth is fallen in the street,
And equity cannot enter.

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14 So justice(A) is driven back,
    and righteousness(B) stands at a distance;
truth(C) has stumbled in the streets,
    honesty cannot enter.

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They have spoken words,
Swearing falsely in making a covenant.
Thus judgment springs up (A)like hemlock in the furrows of the field.

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They make many promises,
    take false oaths(A)
    and make agreements;(B)
therefore lawsuits spring up
    like poisonous weeds(C) in a plowed field.

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You who (A)turn justice to wormwood,
And lay righteousness to rest in the earth!”

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There are those who turn justice into bitterness(A)
    and cast righteousness(B) to the ground.(C)

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11 (A)Therefore, because you [a]tread down the poor
And take grain [b]taxes from him,
Though (B)you have built houses of hewn stone,
Yet you shall not dwell in them;
You have planted [c]pleasant vineyards,
But you shall not drink wine from them.

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Footnotes

  1. Amos 5:11 trample
  2. Amos 5:11 Or tribute
  3. Amos 5:11 desirable

11 You levy a straw tax on the poor(A)
    and impose a tax on their grain.
Therefore, though you have built stone mansions,(B)
    you will not live in them;(C)
though you have planted lush vineyards,
    you will not drink their wine.(D)

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12 For I (A)know your manifold transgressions
And your mighty sins:
(B)Afflicting the just and taking bribes;
(C)Diverting the poor from justice at the gate.

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12 For I know how many are your offenses
    and how great your sins.(A)

There are those who oppress the innocent and take bribes(B)
    and deprive the poor(C) of justice in the courts.(D)

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