A reading from the book of 1 Samuel.

The ark of the Lord was in the country of the Philistines seven months.

And the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners and said,

What shall we do with the ark of the Lord?

Tell us with what we shall send it to its place.

They said,

If you send away the ark of the God of Israel,

do not send it empty,

but by all means return him a guilt offering.

Then you will be healed,

and it will be known to you

why his hand does not turn away from you.

And they said,

What is the guilt offering that we shall return to him?

They answered,

Five golden tumors and five golden mice,

according to the number of the Lords of the Philistines,

for the same plague was on all of you and on your lords.

So you must make images of your tumors and images of your

mice that ravage the land and give glory to the God of Israel. Perhaps he will lighten his hand

from off you and your gods and your land. Why should you harden your hearts as the Egyptians

and Pharaoh hardened their hearts?

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