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1. The Israelites did evil in the LORD's sight, so the LORD turned them over to Midian for seven years.
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1. And the children H1121 of Israel H3478 did H6213 evil H7451 in the sight H5869 of the LORD H3068 : and the LORD H3068 delivered H5414 them into the hand H3027 of Midian H4080 seven H7651 years H8141 .
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2. The Midianites overwhelmed Israel. Because of Midian the Israelites made shelters for themselves in the hills, as well as caves and strongholds.
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2. And the hand H3027 of Midian H4080 prevailed H5810 against H5921 Israel H3478 : and because H4480 H6440 of the Midianites H4080 the children H1121 of Israel H3478 made H6213 them H853 the dens H4492 which H834 are in the mountains H2022 , and caves H4631 , and strongholds H4679 .
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3. Whenever the Israelites planted their crops, the Midianites, Amalekites, and the people from the east would attack them.
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3. And so it was H1961 , when H518 Israel H3478 had sown H2232 , that the Midianites H4080 came up H5927 , and the Amalekites H6003 , and the children H1121 of the east H6924 , even they came up H5927 against H5921 them;
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4. They invaded the land and devoured its crops all the way to Gaza. They left nothing for the Israelites to eat, and they took away the sheep, oxen, and donkeys.
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4. And they encamped H2583 against H5921 them , and destroyed H7843 H853 the increase H2981 of the earth H776 , till H5704 thou come H935 unto Gaza H5804 , and left H7604 no H3808 sustenance H4241 for Israel H3478 , neither sheep H7716 , nor ox H7794 , nor ass H2543 .
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5. When they invaded with their cattle and tents, they were as thick as locusts. Neither they nor their camels could be counted. They came to devour the land.
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5. For H3588 they H1992 came up H5927 with their cattle H4735 and their tents H168 , and they came H935 as H1992 grasshoppers H697 for multitude H7230 ; for both they H1992 and their camels H1581 were without H369 number H4557 : and they entered H935 into the land H776 to destroy H7843 it.
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6. Israel was so severely weakened by Midian that the Israelites cried out to the LORD for help.
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6. And Israel H3478 was greatly H3966 impoverished H1809 because H4480 H6440 of the Midianites H4080 ; and the children H1121 of Israel H3478 cried H2199 unto H413 the LORD H3068 .
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7. When the Israelites cried out to the LORD for help because of Midian,
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7. And it came to pass H1961 , when H3588 the children H1121 of Israel H3478 cried H2199 unto H413 the LORD H3068 because of H5921 H182 the Midianites H4080 ,
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8. he sent a prophet to the Israelites. He said to them, "This is what the LORD God of Israel says: 'I brought you up from Egypt and took you out of that place of slavery.
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8. That the LORD H3068 sent H7971 a prophet H5030 unto H413 the children H1121 of Israel H3478 , which said H559 unto them, Thus H3541 saith H559 the LORD H3068 God H430 of Israel H3478 , I H595 brought you up H5927 H853 from Egypt H4480 H4714 , and brought you forth H3318 H853 out of the house H4480 H1004 of bondage H5650 ;
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9. I rescued you from Egypt's power and from the power of all who oppressed you. I drove them out before you and gave their land to you.
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9. And I delivered H5337 you out of the hand H4480 H3027 of the Egyptians H4714 , and out of the hand H4480 H3027 of all H3605 that oppressed H3905 you , and drove them out H1644 H853 from before H4480 H6440 you , and gave H5414 you H853 their land H776 ;
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10. I said to you, "I am the LORD your God! Do not worship the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are now living!" But you have disobeyed me.'"
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10. And I said H559 unto you, I H589 am the LORD H3068 your God H430 ; fear H3372 not H3808 H853 the gods H430 of the Amorites H567 , in whose H834 land H776 ye H859 dwell H3427 : but ye have not H3808 obeyed H8085 my voice H6963 .
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11. The LORD's angelic messenger came and sat down under the oak tree in Ophrah owned by Joash the Abiezrite. He arrived while Joash's son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress so he could hide it from the Midianites.
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11. And there came H935 an angel H4397 of the LORD H3068 , and sat H3427 under H8478 an oak H424 which H834 was in Ophrah H6084 , that H834 pertained unto Joash H3101 the Abi H33 -ezrite : and his son H1121 Gideon H1439 threshed H2251 wheat H2406 by the winepress H1660 , to hide H5127 it from H4480 H6440 the Midianites H4080 .
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12. The LORD's messenger appeared and said to him, "The LORD is with you, courageous warrior!"
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12. And the angel H4397 of the LORD H3068 appeared H7200 unto H413 him , and said H559 unto H413 him , The LORD H3068 is with H5973 thee , thou mighty man H1368 of valor H2428 .
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13. Gideon said to him, "Pardon me, but if the LORD is with us, why has such disaster overtaken us? Where are all his miraculous deeds our ancestors told us about? They said, 'Did the LORD not bring us up from Egypt?' But now the LORD has abandoned us and handed us over to Midian."
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13. And Gideon H1439 said H559 unto H413 him, Oh H994 my Lord H113 , if the LORD H3068 be H3426 with H5973 us, why H4100 then is all H3605 this H2063 befallen H4672 us? and where H346 be all H3605 his miracles H6381 which H834 our fathers H1 told H5608 us of, saying H559 , Did not H3808 the LORD H3068 bring us up H5927 from Egypt H4480 H4714 ? but now H6258 the LORD H3068 hath forsaken H5203 us , and delivered H5414 us into the hands H3709 of the Midianites H4080 .
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14. Then the LORD himself turned to him and said, "You have the strength. Deliver Israel from the power of the Midianites! Have I not sent you?"
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14. And the LORD H3068 looked H6437 upon H413 him , and said H559 , Go in H1980 this H2088 thy might H3581 , and thou shalt save H3467 H853 Israel H3478 from the hand H4480 H3709 of the Midianites H4080 : have not H3808 I sent H7971 thee?
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15. Gideon said to him, "But Lord, how can I deliver Israel? Just look! My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the youngest in my family."
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15. And he said H559 unto H413 him, Oh H994 my Lord H136 , wherewith H4100 shall I save H3467 H853 Israel H3478 ? behold H2009 , my family H504 is poor H1800 in Manasseh H4519 , and I H595 am the least H6810 in my father H1 's house H1004 .
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16. The LORD said to him, "Ah, but I will be with you! You will strike down the whole Midianite army."
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16. And the LORD H3068 said H559 unto H413 him, Surely H3588 I will be H1961 with H5973 thee , and thou shalt smite H5221 H853 the Midianites H4080 as one H259 man H376 .
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17. Gideon said to him, "If you really are pleased with me, then give me a sign as proof that it is really you speaking with me.
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17. And he said H559 unto H413 him, If H518 now H4994 I have found H4672 grace H2580 in thy sight H5869 , then show H6213 me a sign H226 that thou H7945 H859 talkest H1696 with H5973 me.
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18. Do not leave this place until I come back with a gift and present it to you." The LORD said, "I will stay here until you come back."
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18. Depart H4185 not H408 hence H4480 H2088 , I pray thee H4994 , until H5704 I come H935 unto H413 thee , and bring forth H3318 H853 my present H4503 , and set H5117 it before H6440 thee . And he said H559 , I H595 will tarry H3427 until H5704 thou come again H7725 .
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19. Gideon went and prepared a young goat, along with unleavened bread made from an ephah of flour. He put the meat in a basket and the broth in a pot. He brought the food to him under the oak tree and presented it to him.
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19. And Gideon H1439 went in H935 , and made ready H6213 a kid H1423 H5795 , and unleavened cakes H4682 of an ephah H374 of flour H7058 : the flesh H1320 he put H7760 in a basket H5536 , and he put H7760 the broth H4839 in a pot H6517 , and brought it out H3318 unto H413 him under H413 H8478 the oak H424 , and presented H5066 it .
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20. God's messenger said to him, "Put the meat and unleavened bread on this rock, and pour out the broth." Gideon did as instructed.
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20. And the angel H4397 of God H430 said H559 unto H413 him, Take H3947 H853 the flesh H1320 and the unleavened cakes H4682 , and lay H5117 them upon H413 this H1975 rock H5553 , and pour out H8210 the broth H4839 . And he did H6213 so H3651 .
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21. The LORD's messenger touched the meat and the unleavened bread with the tip of his staff. Fire flared up from the rock and consumed the meat and unleavened bread. The LORD's messenger then disappeared.
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21. Then the angel H4397 of the LORD H3068 put forth H7971 H853 the end H7097 of the staff H4938 that H834 was in his hand H3027 , and touched H5060 the flesh H1320 and the unleavened cakes H4682 ; and there rose up H5927 fire H784 out of H4480 the rock H6697 , and consumed H398 H853 the flesh H1320 and the unleavened cakes H4682 . Then the angel H4397 of the LORD H3068 departed H1980 out of his sight H4480 H5869 .
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22. When Gideon realized that it was the LORD's messenger, he said, "Oh no! Master, LORD! I have seen the LORD's messenger face to face!"
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22. And when Gideon H1439 perceived H7200 that H3588 he H1931 was an angel H4397 of the LORD H3068 , Gideon H1439 said H559 , Alas H162 , O Lord H136 GOD H3069 ! for H3588 because H5921 H3651 I have seen H7200 an angel H4397 of the LORD H3068 face H6440 to H413 face H6440 .
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23. The LORD said to him, "You are safe! Do not be afraid! You are not going to die!"
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23. And the LORD H3068 said H559 unto him, Peace H7965 be unto thee; fear H3372 not H408 : thou shalt not H3808 die H4191 .
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24. Gideon built an altar for the LORD there, and named it "The LORD is on friendly terms with me." To this day it is still there in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
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24. Then Gideon H1439 built H1129 an altar H4196 there H8033 unto the LORD H3068 , and called H7121 it Jehovah H3073 -shalom: unto H5704 this H2088 day H3117 it is yet H5750 in Ophrah H6084 of the Abi H33 -ezrites.
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25. That night the LORD said to him, "Take the bull from your father's herd, as well as a second bull, one that is seven years old. Pull down your father's Baal altar and cut down the nearby Asherah pole.
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25. And it came to pass H1961 the same H1931 night H3915 , that the LORD H3068 said H559 unto him, Take H3947 H853 thy father H1 's young bullock H6499 H7794 , even the second H8145 bullock H6499 of seven H7651 years H8141 old , and throw down H2040 H853 the altar H4196 of Baal H1168 that H834 thy father H1 hath , and cut down H3772 the grove H842 that H834 is by H5921 it:
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26. Then build an altar for the LORD your God on the top of this stronghold according to the proper pattern. Take the second bull and offer it as a burnt sacrifice on the wood from the Asherah pole that you cut down."
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26. And build H1129 an altar H4196 unto the LORD H3068 thy God H430 upon H5921 the top H7218 of this H2088 rock H4581 , in the ordered place H4634 , and take H3947 H853 the second H8145 bullock H6499 , and offer H5927 a burnt sacrifice H5930 with the wood H6086 of the grove H842 which H834 thou shalt cut down H3772 .
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27. So Gideon took ten of his servants and did just as the LORD had told him. He was too afraid of his father's family and the men of the city to do it in broad daylight, so he waited until nighttime.
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27. Then Gideon H1439 took H3947 ten H6235 men H376 of his servants H4480 H5650 , and did H6213 as H834 the LORD H3068 had said H1696 unto H413 him : and so it was H1961 , because H834 he feared H3372 H853 his father H1 's household H1004 , and the men H376 of the city H5892 , that he could not do H4480 H6213 it by day H3119 , that he did H6213 it by night H3915 .
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28. When the men of the city got up the next morning, they saw the Baal altar pulled down, the nearby Asherah pole cut down, and the second bull sacrificed on the newly built altar.
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28. And when the men H376 of the city H5892 arose early H7925 in the morning H1242 , behold H2009 , the altar H4196 of Baal H1168 was cast down H5422 , and the grove H842 was cut down H3772 that H834 was by H5921 it , and the second H8145 bullock H6499 was offered H5927 upon H5921 the altar H4196 that was built H1129 .
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29. They said to one another, "Who did this?" They investigated the matter thoroughly and concluded that Gideon son of Joash had done it.
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29. And they said H559 one H376 to H413 another H7453 , Who H4310 hath done H6213 this H2088 thing H1697 ? And when they inquired H1875 and asked H1245 , they said H559 , Gideon H1439 the son H1121 of Joash H3101 hath done H6213 this H2088 thing H1697 .
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30. The men of the city said to Joash, "Bring out your son, so we can execute him! He pulled down the Baal altar and cut down the nearby Asherah pole."
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30. Then the men H376 of the city H5892 said H559 unto H413 Joash H3101 , Bring out H3318 H853 thy son H1121 , that he may die H4191 : because H3588 he hath cast down H5422 H853 the altar H4196 of Baal H1168 , and because H3588 he hath cut down H3772 the grove H842 that H834 was by H5921 it.
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31. But Joash said to all those who confronted him, "Must you fight Baal's battles? Must you rescue him? Whoever takes up his cause will die by morning! If he really is a god, let him fight his own battles! After all, it was his altar that was pulled down."
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31. And Joash H3101 said H559 unto all H3605 that H834 stood H5975 against H5921 him , Will ye H859 plead H7378 for Baal H1168 ? will ye H859 save H3467 him? he that H834 will plead H7378 for him , let him be put to death H4191 whilst H5704 it is yet morning H1242 : if H518 he H1931 be a god H430 , let him plead H7378 for himself, because H3588 one hath cast down H5422 H853 his altar H4196 .
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32. That very day Gideon's father named him Jerub-Baal, because he had said, "Let Baal fight with him, for it was his altar that was pulled down."
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32. Therefore on that H1931 day H3117 he called H7121 him Jerubbaal H3378 , saying H559 , Let Baal H1168 plead H7378 against him, because H3588 he hath thrown down H5422 H853 his altar H4196 .
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33. All the Midianites, Amalekites, and the people from the east assembled. They crossed the Jordan River and camped in the Jezreel Valley.
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33. Then all H3605 the Midianites H4080 and the Amalekites H6003 and the children H1121 of the east H6924 were gathered H622 together H3162 , and went over H5674 , and pitched H2583 in the valley H6010 of Jezreel H3157 .
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34. The LORD's spirit took control of Gideon. He blew a trumpet, summoning the Abiezrites to follow him.
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34. But the Spirit H7307 of the LORD H3068 came upon H3847 H853 Gideon H1439 , and he blew H8628 a trumpet H7782 ; and Abi H44 -ezer was gathered H2199 after H310 him.
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35. He sent messengers throughout Manasseh and summoned them to follow him as well. He also sent messengers throughout Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, and they came up to meet him.
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35. And he sent H7971 messengers H4397 throughout all H3605 Manasseh H4519 ; who H1931 also H1571 was gathered H2199 after H310 him : and he sent H7971 messengers H4397 unto Asher H836 , and unto Zebulun H2074 , and unto Naphtali H5321 ; and they came up H5927 to meet H7125 them.
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36. Gideon said to God, "If you really intend to use me to deliver Israel, as you promised, then give me a sign as proof.
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36. And Gideon H1439 said H559 unto H413 God H430 , If H518 thou H3426 wilt save H3467 H853 Israel H3478 by mine hand H3027 , as H834 thou hast said H1696 ,
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37. Look, I am putting a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece, and the ground around it is dry, then I will be sure that you will use me to deliver Israel, as you promised."
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37. Behold H2009 , I H595 will put H3322 H853 a fleece H1492 of wool H6785 in the floor H1637 ; and if H518 the dew H2919 be H1961 on H5921 the fleece H1492 only H905 , and it be dry H2721 upon H5921 all H3605 the earth H776 beside , then shall I know H3045 that H3588 thou wilt save H3467 H853 Israel H3478 by mine hand H3027 , as H834 thou hast said H1696 .
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38. The LORD did as he asked. When he got up the next morning, he squeezed the fleece, and enough dew dripped from it to fill a bowl.
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38. And it was H1961 so H3651 : for he rose up early H7925 on the morrow H4480 H4283 , and thrust H2115 H853 the fleece H1492 together H2115 , and wrung H4680 the dew H2919 out of H4480 the fleece H1492 , a bowl H5602 full H4392 of water H4325 .
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39. Gideon said to God, "Please do not get angry at me, when I ask for just one more sign. Please allow me one more test with the fleece. This time make only the fleece dry, while the ground around it is covered with dew."
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39. And Gideon H1439 said H559 unto H413 God H430 , Let not H408 thine anger H639 be hot H2734 against me and I will speak H1696 but H389 this once H6471 : let me prove H5254 , I pray thee H4994 , but H7535 this once H6471 with the fleece H1492 ; let it now H4994 be H1961 dry H2721 only H905 upon H413 the fleece H1492 , and upon H5921 all H3605 the ground H776 let there be H1961 dew H2919 .
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40. That night God did as he asked. Only the fleece was dry and the ground around it was covered with dew.
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40. And God H430 did H6213 so H3651 that H1931 night H3915 : for it was H1961 dry H2721 upon H413 the fleece H1492 only H905 , and there was H1961 dew H2919 on H5921 all H3605 the ground H776 .
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