Reuben heard them and tried to save Joseph. "Let's not kill him," he said.

"Just throw him into this well in the wilderness, but don't hurt him." He said this, planning to save him from them and send him back to his father.

When Reuben came back to the well and found that Joseph was not there, he tore his clothes in sorrow.

He returned to his brothers and said, "The boy is not there! What am I going to do?"

Ours, however, is only right, because we are getting what we deserve for what we did; but he has done no wrong."

Their conduct shows that what the Law commands is written in their hearts. Their consciences also show that this is true, since their thoughts sometimes accuse them and sometimes defend them.

Then the LORD said, "Why have you done this terrible thing? Your brother's blood is crying out to me from the ground, like a voice calling for revenge.

If anyone takes human life, he will be punished. I will punish with death any animal that takes a human life.

Human beings were made like God, so whoever murders one of them will be killed by someone else.

The LORD will punish Joab for those murders, which he committed without my father David's knowledge. Joab killed two innocent men who were better men than he: Abner, commander of the army of Israel, and Amasa, commander of the army of Judah.

The king forgot about the loyal service that Zechariah's father Jehoiada had given him, and he had Zechariah killed. As Zechariah was dying, he called out, "May the LORD see what you are doing and punish you!"

God remembers those who suffer; he does not forget their cry, and he punishes those who wrong them.

If I announce that someone evil is going to die but you do not warn him to change his ways so that he can save his life, he will die, still a sinner, but I will hold you responsible for his death.

So the people of this time will be punished for the murder of all the prophets killed since the creation of the world,

from the murder of Abel to the murder of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the Holy Place. Yes, I tell you, the people of this time will be punished for them all!

The natives saw the snake hanging on Paul's hand and said to one another, "This man must be a murderer, but Fate will not let him live, even though he escaped from the sea."

Whoever is meant to be captured will surely be captured; whoever is meant to be killed by the sword will surely be killed by the sword. This calls for endurance and faith on the part of God's people."

They were burned by the fierce heat, and they cursed the name of God, who has authority over these plagues. But they would not turn from their sins and praise his greatness.