²¹ The Lord’s hand was with them,^(A) and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.^(B)

³ the hand^(A) of the Lord will bring a terrible plague^(B) on your livestock in the field—on your horses, donkeys and camels and on your cattle, sheep and goats.

⁶ The Lord’s hand^(A) was heavy on the people of Ashdod and its vicinity; he brought devastation^(B) on them and afflicted them with tumors.^{[a](C) 7} When the people of Ashdod saw what was happening, they said, “The ark of the god of Israel must not stay here with us, because his hand is heavy on us and on Dagon our god.”

¹¹ So they called together all the rulers^(A) of the Philistines and said, “Send the ark of the god of Israel away; let it go back to its own place, or it^[a] will kill us and our people.” For death had filled the city with panic; God’s hand was very heavy on it.

³¹ It is a dreadful thing^(A) to fall into the hands^(B) of the living God.^(C)

⁶ Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.^(A)