Voices of Scripture

The Bible, quoted
in its own voices.

Every passage is traced to the person behind it — stated in the text,
carried by tradition, or spoken where no author is named.

The Lord GOD says: “This shall be the border by which you shall divide the land for inheritance according to the twelve tribes of Israel. Joseph shall have two portions. You shall inherit it, one as well as another; for I swore to give it to your fathers. This land will fall to you for inheritance. “This shall be the border of the land: “On the north side, from the great sea, by the way of Hethlon, to the entrance of Zedad; Hamath, Berothah, Sibraim (which is between the border of Damascus and the border of Hamath), to Hazer Hatticon, which is by the border of Hauran. The border from the sea shall be Hazar Enon at the border of Damascus; and on the north northward is the border of Hamath. This is the north side. “The east side, between Hauran, Damascus, Gilead, and the land of Israel, shall be the Jordan; from the north border to the east sea you shall measure. This is the east side.

Stated in text

Ezekiel 1:1 names Ezekiel.

Isaiah @isaiah · Isaiah 32:16-20

Then justice will dwell in the wilderness; and righteousness will remain in the fruitful field. The work of righteousness will be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness and confidence forever. My people will live in a peaceful habitation, in safe dwellings, and in quiet resting places, though hail flattens the forest, and the city is leveled completely. Blessed are you who sow beside all waters, who send out the feet of the ox and the donkey.

Stated in text

Isaiah 1:1 names Isaiah.

“The eye that mocks at his father, and scorns obedience to his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, the young eagles shall eat it. “There are three things which are too amazing for me, four which I don’t understand: The way of an eagle in the air, the way of a serpent on a rock, the way of a ship in the middle of the sea, and the way of a man with a maiden. “So is the way of an adulterous woman: She eats and wipes her mouth, and says, ‘I have done nothing wrong.’

Stated in text

Proverbs 30:1 names Agur.

Anonymous @anonymous · Psalms 135:8-14

He struck the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and animal. He sent signs and wonders into the middle of you, Egypt, on Pharaoh, and on all his servants. He struck many nations, and killed mighty kings— Sihon king of the Amorites, Og king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan— and gave their land for a heritage, a heritage to Israel, his people. Your name, LORD, endures forever; your renown, LORD, throughout all generations. For the LORD will judge his people and have compassion on his servants.

Unattributed

This psalm has no heading in the text.

Habakkuk @habakkuk · Habakkuk 2:12-17

Woe to him who builds a town with blood, and establishes a city by iniquity! Behold, isn’t it from the LORD of Armies that the peoples labor for the fire, and the nations weary themselves for vanity? For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the LORD’s glory, as the waters cover the sea. “Woe to him who gives his neighbor drink, pouring your inflaming wine until they are drunk, so that you may gaze at their naked bodies! You are filled with shame, and not glory. You will also drink and be exposed! The cup of the LORD’s right hand will come around to you, and disgrace will cover your glory. For the violence done to Lebanon will overwhelm you, and the destruction of the animals will terrify you, because of men’s blood and for the violence done to the land, to every city and to those who dwell in them.

Stated in text

Habakkuk 1:1 names Habakkuk.

Zechariah (prophet) @zechariahprophet · Zechariah 7:8-11

The LORD’s word came to Zechariah, saying, “Thus has the LORD of Armies spoken, saying, ‘Execute true judgment, and show kindness and compassion every man to his brother. Don’t oppress the widow, the fatherless, the foreigner, nor the poor; and let none of you devise evil against his brother in your heart.’ But they refused to listen, and turned their backs, and stopped their ears, that they might not hear.

Stated in text

Zechariah 1:1 names Zechariah.

“What man is there among you who has one sheep, and if this one falls into a pit on the Sabbath day, won’t he grab on to it and lift it out? Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath day.” “Stretch out your hand.”

Speaker, not author

Spoken by Jesus; the Gospel does not name its own author.

A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are a snare to his soul. The words of a gossip are like dainty morsels: they go down into a person’s innermost parts. One who is slack in his work is brother to him who is a master of destruction. The LORD’s name is a strong tower: the righteous run to him, and are safe. The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, like an unscalable wall in his own imagination. Before destruction the heart of man is proud, but before honor is humility.

Stated in text

Proverbs 1:1 and 10:1 attribute these collections to Solomon.

David @david · Psalms 59:7-11

Behold, they spew with their mouth. Swords are in their lips, “For”, they say, “who hears us?” But you, LORD, laugh at them. You scoff at all the nations. Oh, my Strength, I watch for you, for God is my high tower. My God will go before me with his loving kindness. God will let me look at my enemies in triumph. Don’t kill them, or my people may forget. Scatter them by your power, and bring them down, Lord our shield.

Stated in text

Heading: “For the Chief Musician. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A poem by David, when Saul sent, and they watched the house to kill him.”

I saw another great and marvelous sign in the sky: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them God’s wrath is finished. I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who overcame the beast, his image, and the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God. They sang the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, “Great and marvelous are your works, Lord God, the Almighty! Righteous and true are your ways, you King of the nations. Who wouldn’t fear you, Lord, and glorify your name? For you only are holy. For all the nations will come and worship before you. For your righteous acts have been revealed.” After these things I looked, and the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened. The seven angels who had the seven plagues came out, clothed with pure, bright linen, and wearing golden sashes around their chests.

Stated in text

The author names himself John. Which John is debated.