NEW: These three verses from Pentateuch (the first five books of the Old Testament bible) -and from the Psalms of King David, writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit of Almighty God:
David's Requests of God:
Psalm 71:18 "Now also when I am old and greyheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one
that is to come." (KJV, Holy Bible)
Psalm 71:18 "Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to
come." (NIV, Holy Bible)
Psalm 71:9 "Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth." (KJV)
Psalm 71:9 "Do not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake me when my strength is gone." (NIV)
Commentary by the editor, Gordon Watts: These Scriptures are accepted by Jew and Christian alike, and some of other faiths, as well. If that is true,
then the reader will understand that these verses apply also to Theresa "Terri" Schiavo, because her strength certainly is known to have
failed, as is the case for King David's request of God, which we know to be a good request, made under Divine Inspiration. (And, if this is
not true, that is, if the reader of these verses in not accepting of their correctness, said person has a surprise in store for him
or her.)
One Answer to David's request is found in this passage, also Old Testament, accepted by many religions:
Leviticus 19:32 "Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God: I am the LORD." (KJV)
Leviticus 19:32 "Rise in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. I am the LORD." (NIV)
Commentary by the editor, Gordon Watts: This passage underscores the fact that The Almighty protects a person as he or she grows older, and
implies the same for the disabled, but the scriptures below clarify the subject -and, whether you agree or disagree, they provide specific
guidelines.
Below, what follows is the original set of scriptural references, and this above was added in after further study and consideration.
Deuteronomy 1 (KJV – King James Version, no copyright and/or expired. It is definitely in the public domain and may be used by all, for profit or nonprofit, both.)
16 And I charged your judges at that time, saying, Hear the causes between your brethren, and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger that is with him.
17 Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God's: and the cause that is too hard for you, bring it unto me, and I will hear it.
Deuteronomy 1 (MSG Version – I am not sure what it stands for, but it is accurate, trust me – careful: Copyright probably on this version – only for nonprofit use, I suggest)
16At the same time I gave orders to your judges: "Listen carefully to complaints and accusations between your fellow Israelites. Judge fairly between each person and his fellow or foreigner. 17Don't play favorites; treat the little and the big alike; listen carefully to each. Don't be impressed by big names. This is God's judgment you're dealing with. Hard cases you can bring to me; I'll deal with them."
Proverbs 29 (KJV)
2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.
Proverbs 29 (MSG)
2When good people run things, everyone is glad,
but when the ruler is bad, everyone groans.
1 Samuel 15 (KJV)
22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
1 Samuel 15 (NIV – New International Version, also with copyright)
22 But Samuel replied:
"Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD ? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.
23 For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD , he has rejected you as king."
Proverbs 24 (KJV)
11 If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain;
12 If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?
Proverbs 24 (NIV)
11 Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter.
12 If you say, "But we knew nothing about this," does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?
Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay each person according to what he has done?
Proverbs 31 (KJV)
8 Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.
9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
Proverbs 31 (NIV)
8 "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.
9 Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy."
Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character
Matthew 25 (KJV – When Jesus says “Go to hell!” for picking on his kid sister.)
31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
Matthew 25 (NIV – Jesus is not a happy camper at this time.)
The Sheep and the Goats
31"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
41"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'
44"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'
45"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'
46"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."
Sirach 13 (NRSV – New Revised Standard Version, 1989 revision)
(This book, part of the Apocrypha, that is, the Deuteroncanoical additions, canonized and accepted by Catholics, is formally known as Ecclisiasticus, or The Wisdom of Jesus Son of Sirach, and commonly shortened to Sirach)
20 Humility is an abomination to the proud; likewise the poor are an abomination to the rich. 21 When the rich person totters, he is supported by friends, but when the humbled falls, he is pushed away even by friends.
22 If the rich person slips, many come to the rescue; he speaks unseemly words, but they justify him. If the humble person slips, they even criticize him; he talks sense, but is not given a hearing.
23 The rich person speaks and all are silent; they extol to the clouds what he says. The poor person speaks and they say, "Who is this fellow?" And should he stumble, they even push him down.
24 Riches are good if they are free from sin; poverty is evil only in the opinion of the ungodly. 25 The heart changes the countenance, either for good or for evil.e
26 The sign of a happy heart is a cheerful face, but to devise proverbs requires painful thinking.
Sirach 13 (KJV – don’t you like the NRSV best! Also, for a “non-canonized” book, it sure is surprising to have found a King James Version, but that’s exactly what I did at: http://www.ccel.org/bible/kjv-apoc/Sirach/13.txt)
Sir 13:20
As the proud hate humility: so doth the rich abhor the poor.
Sir 13:21
A rich man beginning to fall is held up of his friends: but a poor man being down is thrust away by his friends.
Sir 13:22
When a rich man is fallen, he hath many helpers: he speaketh things not to be spoken, and yet men justify him: the poor man slipped, and yet they rebuked him too; he spake wisely, and could have no place.
Sir 13:23
When a rich man speaketh, every man holdeth his tongue, and, look, what he saith, they extol it to the clouds: but if the poor man speak, they say, What fellow is this? and if he stumble, they will help to overthrow him.
Sir 13:24
Riches are good unto him that hath no sin, and poverty is evil in the mouth of the ungodly.
Sir 13:25
The heart of a man changeth his countenance, whether it be for good or evil: and a merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance.
Sir 13:26
A cheerful countenance is a token of a heart that is in prosperity; and the finding out of parables is a wearisome labour of the mind.
Sirach 8 (NRSV)
14 Do not go to law against a judge, for the decision will favor him because of his standing.
Sir 8:14 (KJV)
Go not to law with a judge; for they will judge for him according to his honour.
Psalm 82 (KJV)
1 God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods.
2 How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah.
3 Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.
4 Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.
5 They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course.
6 I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.
7 But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.
8 Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations.
Psalm 82 (NIV – This is talking about Terri, hello? So is Matthew, chapter 25!)
A psalm of Asaph.
1 God presides in the great assembly; he gives judgment among the "gods":
2 "How long will you defend the unjust and show partiality to the wicked?
Selah
3 Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed.
4 Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.
5 "They know nothing, they understand nothing. They walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken.
6 "I said, 'You are "gods"; you are all sons of the Most High.'
7 But you will die like mere men; you will fall like every other ruler."
8 Rise up, O God, judge the earth, for all the nations are your inheritance.
Footnotes (82:2 The Hebrew is plural for “how long will ‘you’ defend the unjust, implying plurality in the Godhead –literally translated to mean, “how long will YOU ALL defend the unjust,” not unlike “let US make man in OUR image,” in Genesis 1:29, which is a 3-or-more plural by Hebrew grammar, supporting the contention that Jesus and the Holy Spirit were speaking with the Almighty Father regarding participating in creation. – Oh, yeah … can anyone tell me what “Selah” means? Just wondering.)
Romans 13 (KJV – this section tells us that we must obey the law and our rulers, assuming, of course, that they are not asking us to go against God)
1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
6 For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.
7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.
8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
Romans 13 (NIV – again … this section tells us that we must obey the law and our rulers, assuming, of course, that they are not asking us to go against God)
Submission to the Authorities
1Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. 4For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. 6This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. 7Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
Love, for the Day is Near
8Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. 9The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet,"[1] and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself."[2] 10Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
Footnotes
Proverbs 11 (KJV)
21 Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.
Proverbs 11 (KJ21 – 21st Century King James Version – I like it!)
21 Though they join hand in hand, the wicked shall not go unpunished; but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.
Proverbs 11:21 (NKJV - New King James Version) –actually, this is an even better translation – even teamwork will not help against God Almighty!)
21 Though they join forces,[1] the wicked will not go unpunished; But the posterity of the righteous will be delivered. – Footnotes [1] for 11:21 Literally “hand to hand”
Proverbs 12 (KJV – even back then, they had animal rights, and Terri Schiavo is more important than an animal.)
10 A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.
Proverbs 12 (NIV – and the “needs” doesn’t include killing an animal needlessly, nor would that be true of a person – I see PETA was active even in “influencing” the Big Man! “PETA” = People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, a liberal group.)
10 A righteous man cares for the needs of his animal, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.
Proverbs 21 (KJV)
30 There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.
Proverbs 21 (NIV)
30 There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the LORD .
Proverbs 22 (KJV)
22 Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:
23 For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.
Proverbs 22 (NIV – better)
22 Do not exploit the poor because they are poor
and do not crush the needy in court,
23 for the LORD will take up their case
and will plunder those who plunder them.
Proverbs 24 (KJV)
6 For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.
Proverbs 24 (NIV)
6 for waging war you need guidance,
and for victory many advisers.
Ecclesiastes 8 (KJV)
11 Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.
Ecclesiastes 8 (NIV)
11 When the sentence for a crime is not quickly carried out, the hearts of the people are filled with schemes to do wrong.
Proverbs 25 (KJV)
8 Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.
9 Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another:
10 Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away.
Proverbs 25 (NIV)
8 do not bring [1] hastily to court,
for what will you do in the end
if your neighbor puts you to shame?
9 If you argue your case with a neighbor,
do not betray another man's confidence,
10 or he who hears it may shame you
and you will never lose your bad reputation.
Footnotes
Matthew 5 (KJV)
25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.
26 Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.
Matthew 5 (NIV – good advice for Michael Schiavo)
25"Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. 26I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.[1]
1 John 2 (KJV – Jesus, our Advocate, literally, our lawyer)
1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
1 John 2 (NIV – Oh! Our defense lawyer – also Jesus is a prosecutr in Matthew, chapter 25, so He wears both hats)
1My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense--Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.
Jeremiah 7 (KJV)
6 If ye oppress not the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and shed not innocent blood in this place, neither walk after other gods to your hurt:
7 Then will I cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers, for ever and ever.
Jeremiah 7 (NIV)
6 if you do not oppress the alien, the fatherless or the widow and do not shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not follow other gods to your own harm, 7 then I will let you live in this place, in the land I gave your forefathers for ever and ever. 8 But look, you are trusting in deceptive words that are worthless.
9 " 'Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, [1] burn incense to Baal and follow other gods you have not known,
Zechariah 7 (KJV)
10 And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart.
Zechariah 7 (NIV)
10 Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. In your hearts do not think evil of each other.'
James 1 (KJV)
27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
James 1 (NIV)
27Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
(These three passages, Jer. 7:6-7; Zech. 7:10; and, Jam. 1:27 are so similar, except that Jeremiah replaces the “poor” with “innocent blood,” and James does not mention the ethnic foreigners (aliens, strangers), or the poor or innocent. Also, the “aliens,” “strangers,” and the “foreigners attempting to work and/or gain citizenship” are interchangeable terms, meaning the same thing. Surely Terri Schiavo is among the innocent blood that is being shed as well as being poor after having had her medical trust award fund raided.)
Proverbs 24 (KJV – verse 19: Don’t fret or worry: God is in control.)
15 Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place:
16 For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.
17 Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:
18 Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
19 Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked:
20 For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.
21 My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:
22 For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?
23 These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.
24 He that saith unto the wicked, Thou are righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him:
25 But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.
Proverbs 24 (NIV – there’s verse 19 again)
15 Do not lie in wait like an outlaw against a righteous man's house, do not raid his dwelling place;
16 for though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again, but the wicked are brought down by calamity.
17 Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice,
18 or the LORD will see and disapprove and turn his wrath away from him.
19 Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of the wicked,
20 for the evil man has no future hope, and the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.
21 Fear the LORD and the king, my son, and do not join with the rebellious,
22 for those two will send sudden destruction upon them, and who knows what calamities they can bring?
Further Sayings of the Wise
23 These also are sayings of the wise:
To show partiality in judging is not good:
24 Whoever says to the guilty, "You are innocent"- peoples will curse him and nations denounce him.
25 But it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and rich blessing will come upon them.
Proverbs 24 (KJV)
10 If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.
Proverbs 24 (NIV)
10 If you falter in times of trouble, how small is your strength!
“The Wisedome of Solomon.” (KJV – Another Deuteroncanoical book of the Catholic Apocrypha – “Deuteroncanoical” literally means “Second Canon.” – note that in the KJV, “Wisedome” is spelled with an ‘e’.)