Do not turn to the spirits of the dead and do not seek familiar spirits<n id="1" /> to become unclean by them. I am the <sc>Lordsc> your God.

Be strong and courageous! Do not fear or tremble before them, for the <sc>Lordsc> your God is the one who is going with you. He will not fail you or abandon you!&#8221;

I repeat,<n id="1" /> be strong and brave! Don&#8217;t be afraid and don&#8217;t panic,<n id="2" /> for I, the <sc>Lordsc> your God, am with you in all you do.&#8221;<n id="3" />p>

But don&#8217;t you delay! Chase your enemies and catch them!<n id="1" /> Don&#8217;t allow them to retreat to<n id="2" /> their cities, for the <sc>Lordsc> your God is handing them over to you.&#8221;<n id="3" />

<p class="poetry">Don&#8217;t report it in Gath,p> <p class="poetry">don&#8217;t spread the news in the streets of Ashkelon,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">or the daughters of the Philistines will rejoice,p> <p class="poetry">the daughters of the uncircumcised will celebrate!p>

He said, &#8220;About this time next year<n id="1" /> you will be holding a son.&#8221; She said, &#8220;No, my master! O prophet, do not lie to your servant!&#8221;

&#8220;Be strong and brave! Don&#8217;t be afraid and don&#8217;t panic<n id="1" /> because of the king of Assyria and this huge army that is with him! We have with us one who is stronger than those who are with him.<n id="2" />

Do not cover their iniquity, and do not wipe out their sin from before them. For they have bitterly offended<n id="1" /> the builders!<n id="2" />p>

<t /><p class="psasuper">For the music director, to be accompanied by stringed instruments, according to the <i>sheminithi> style;<n id="2" /> a psalm of David.p> <p class="poetry"><sc>Lordsc>, do not rebuke me in your anger!p> <p class="poetry">Do not discipline me in your raging fury!<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">Let none who rely on you be disgraced because of me,p> <p class="poetry">O sovereign <sc>Lordsc> and king!<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">Let none who seek you be ashamed because of me,p> <p class="poetry">O God of Israel!p>

<p class="poetry">Do not forsake your friend and your father&#8217;s friend,p> <p class="poetry">and do not enter your brother&#8217;s house in the day of your disaster;p> <p class="poetry">a neighbor nearby is better than a brother far away.<n id="1" />p>

<p class="poetry">Do not rush out of the king&#8217;s presence in haste &#8211; do not delay when the matter is unpleasant,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">for he can do whatever he pleases.p>

He said, &#8220;Go and tell these people:p> <p class="poetry">&#8216;Listen continually, but don&#8217;t understand!p> <p class="poetry">Look continually, but don&#8217;t perceive!&#8217;p>

<p class="poetry">Don&#8217;t be afraid, for I am with you!p> <p class="poetry">Don&#8217;t be frightened, for I am your God!<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">I strengthen you &#8211;p> <p class="poetry">yes, I help you &#8211;p> <p class="poetry">yes, I uphold you with my saving right hand!<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">Don&#8217;t panic! Don&#8217;t be afraid!<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">Did I not tell you beforehand and decree it?p> <p class="poetry">You are my witnesses! Is there any God but me?p> <p class="poetry">There is no other sheltering rock;<n id="2" /> I know of none.p>

<p class="poetry">Listen to me, you who know what is right,p> <p class="poetry">you people who are aware of my law!<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">Don&#8217;t be afraid of the insults of men;p> <p class="poetry">don&#8217;t be discouraged because of their abuse!p>

<p class="poetry"><sc>Lordsc>, do not be too angry!p> <p class="poetry">Do not hold our sins against us continually!<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">Take a good look at your people, at all of us!<n id="2" />p>

<p class="bodytext">The <sc>Lordsc> says,p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;Do not start following pagan religious practices.<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">Do not be in awe of signs that occur<n id="2" /> in the skyp> <p class="poetry">even though the nations hold them in awe.p>

<p class="poetry">May those who persecute me be disgraced.p> <p class="poetry">Do not let me be disgraced.p> <p class="poetry">May they be dismayed.p> <p class="poetry">Do not let me be dismayed.p> <p class="poetry">Bring days of disaster on them.p> <p class="poetry">Bring on them the destruction they deserve.&#8221;<n id="1" />p>

<t /><p class="poetry">&#8220;&#8216;Do not weep for the king who was killed.p> <p class="poetry">Do not grieve for him.p> <p class="poetry">But weep mournfully for the king who has gone into exile.p> <p class="poetry">For he will never return to see his native land again.<n id="1" />p>