But the LORD says, "Can an ax claim to be greater than the one who uses it? Is a saw more important than the one who saws with it? A club doesn't lift up a person; a person lifts up a club."

Whom do you think you have been insulting and ridiculing? You have been disrespectful to me, the holy God of Israel.

I have received the report of that rage and that pride of yours, and now I will put a hook through your nose and a bit in your mouth and will take you back by the same road you came."

Yet you are still arrogant and refuse to let my people go.

In the morning you will see the dazzling light of the LORD's presence. He has heard your complaints against him---yes, against him, because we are only carrying out his instructions."

Then Moses said, "It is the LORD who will give you meat to eat in the evening and as much bread as you want in the morning, because he has heard how much you have complained against him. When you complain against us, you are really complaining against the LORD."

When you complain against Aaron, it is really against the LORD that you and your followers are rebelling."

Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; and whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me."

He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul! Why do you persecute me?"

(SEE 16:24)

The building was crowded with men and women. All five Philistine kings were there, and there were about three thousand men and women on the roof, watching Samson entertain them.

They talk about me in the streets, and drunkards make up songs about me.

Then they made a crown out of thorny branches and placed it on his head, and put a stick in his right hand; then they knelt before him and made fun of him. "Long live the King of the Jews!" they said.

People passing by shook their heads and hurled insults at Jesus:

In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the Law and the elders made fun of him:

He trusts in God and claims to be God's Son. Well, then, let us see if God wants to save him now!"

and they will be paid with suffering for the suffering they have caused. Pleasure for them is to do anything in broad daylight that will satisfy their bodily appetites; they are a shame and a disgrace as they join you in your meals, all the while enjoying their deceitful ways!

They accuse me, shouting, "We saw what you did!"

Then all of Joshua's men came back safe to him at the camp at Makkedah. No one in the land dared even to speak against the Israelites.

In anger God tears me limb from limb; he glares at me with hate.

People sneer at me; they crowd around me and slap my face.

All who see me make fun of me; they stick out their tongues and shake their heads.

They open their mouths like lions, roaring and tearing at me.

All my bones can be seen. My enemies look at me and stare.

People passing by the city look at you in scorn. They shake their heads and laugh at Jerusalem's ruins: "Is this that lovely city? Is this the pride of the world?"

All your enemies mock you and glare at you with hate. They curl their lips and sneer, "We have destroyed it! This is the day we have waited for!"

You are doomed, you sinful nation, you corrupt and evil people! Your sins drag you down! You have rejected the LORD, the holy God of Israel, and have turned your backs on him.

The LORD has spoken: "Those who rule Judah are doomed because they rebel against me. They follow plans that I did not make, and sign treaties against my will, piling one sin on another.

They are always rebelling against God, always lying, always refusing to listen to the LORD's teachings.

They are stubborn and do not respect me, so I am sending you to tell them what I, the Sovereign LORD, am saying to them.

The LORD says, "The people of Israel have not stopped sinning against me since the time of their sin at Gibeah. So at Gibeah war will catch up with them.

the field is the world; the good seed is the people who belong to the Kingdom; the weeds are the people who belong to the Evil One;

At that time you followed the world's evil way; you obeyed the ruler of the spiritual powers in space, the spirit who now controls the people who disobey God.

Actually all of us were like them and lived according to our natural desires, doing whatever suited the wishes of our own bodies and minds. In our natural condition we, like everyone else, were destined to suffer God's anger.

Do not let anyone deceive you with foolish words; it is because of these very things that God's anger will come upon those who do not obey him.

Because of such things God's anger will come upon those who do not obey him.