October 7

John 2:12-25

[12] After this he went down to Capernaum, with his mother and his brothers and his disciples, and they stayed there for a few days.

Jesus Cleanses the Temple

[13] The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. [14] In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. [15] And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. [16] And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade.” [17] His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”

[18] So the Jews said to him, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?” [19] Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” [20] The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” [21] But he was speaking about the temple of his body. [22] When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.

Jesus Knows What Is in Man

[23] Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. [24] But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people [25] and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.

James 3:13-18

Wisdom from Above

[13] Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. [14] But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. [15] This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. [16] For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. [17] But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. [18] And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Ecclesiastes 5

Fear God

[1]  Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil. [2]  Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few. [3] For a dream comes with much business, and a fool’s voice with many words.

[4] When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow. [5] It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. [6] Let not your mouth lead you into sin, and do not say before the messenger that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry at your voice and destroy the work of your hands? [7] For when dreams increase and words grow many, there is vanity; but God is the one you must fear.

The Vanity of Wealth and Honor

[8] If you see in a province the oppression of the poor and the violation of justice and righteousness, do not be amazed at the matter, for the high official is watched by a higher, and there are yet higher ones over them. [9] But this is gain for a land in every way: a king committed to cultivated fields.

[10] He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity. [11] When goods increase, they increase who eat them, and what advantage has their owner but to see them with his eyes? [12] Sweet is the sleep of a laborer, whether he eats little or much, but the full stomach of the rich will not let him sleep.

[13] There is a grievous evil that I have seen under the sun: riches were kept by their owner to his hurt, [14] and those riches were lost in a bad venture. And he is father of a son, but he has nothing in his hand. [15] As he came from his mother’s womb he shall go again, naked as he came, and shall take nothing for his toil that he may carry away in his hand. [16] This also is a grievous evil: just as he came, so shall he go, and what gain is there to him who toils for the wind? [17] Moreover, all his days he eats in darkness in much vexation and sickness and anger.

[18] Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot. [19] Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God. [20] For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart.

Jeremiah 14

Famine, Sword, and Pestilence

[1] The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah concerning the drought:

    [2] “Judah mourns,

        and her gates languish;

    her people lament on the ground,

        and the cry of Jerusalem goes up. 

    [3] Her nobles send their servants for water;

        they come to the cisterns;

    they find no water;

        they return with their vessels empty;

    they are ashamed and confounded

        and cover their heads. 

    [4] Because of the ground that is dismayed,

        since there is no rain on the land,

    the farmers are ashamed;

        they cover their heads. 

    [5] Even the doe in the field forsakes her newborn fawn

        because there is no grass. 

    [6] The wild donkeys stand on the bare heights;

        they pant for air like jackals;

    their eyes fail

        because there is no vegetation.

    [7] “Though our iniquities testify against us,

        act, O LORD, for your name’s sake;

    for our backslidings are many;

        we have sinned against you. 

    [8] O you hope of Israel,

        its savior in time of trouble,

    why should you be like a stranger in the land,

        like a traveler who turns aside to tarry for a night? 

    [9] Why should you be like a man confused,

        like a mighty warrior who cannot save?

    Yet you, O LORD, are in the midst of us,

        and we are called by your name;

        do not leave us.”

    [10] Thus says the LORD concerning this people:

    “They have loved to wander thus;

        they have not restrained their feet;

    therefore the LORD does not accept them;

        now he will remember their iniquity

        and punish their sins.”

    [11] The LORD said to me: “Do not pray for the welfare of this people. [12] Though they fast, I will not hear their cry, and though they offer burnt offering and grain offering, I will not accept them. But I will consume them by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence.”

Lying Prophets

[13] Then I said: “Ah, Lord GOD, behold, the prophets say to them, ‘You shall not see the sword, nor shall you have famine, but I will give you assured peace in this place.’” [14] And the LORD said to me: “The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I did not send them, nor did I command them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a lying vision, worthless divination, and the deceit of their own minds. [15] Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the prophets who prophesy in my name although I did not send them, and who say, ‘Sword and famine shall not come upon this land’: By sword and famine those prophets shall be consumed. [16] And the people to whom they prophesy shall be cast out in the streets of Jerusalem, victims of famine and sword, with none to bury them—them, their wives, their sons, and their daughters. For I will pour out their evil upon them.

    [17] “You shall say to them this word:

    ‘Let my eyes run down with tears night and day,

        and let them not cease,

    for the virgin daughter of my people is shattered with a great wound,

        with a very grievous blow. 

    [18] If I go out into the field,

        behold, those pierced by the sword!

    And if I enter the city,

        behold, the diseases of famine!

    For both prophet and priest ply their trade through the land

        and have no knowledge.’”

    [19] Have you utterly rejected Judah?

        Does your soul loathe Zion?

    Why have you struck us down

        so that there is no healing for us?

    We looked for peace, but no good came;

        for a time of healing, but behold, terror. 

    [20] We acknowledge our wickedness, O LORD,

        and the iniquity of our fathers,

        for we have sinned against you. 

    [21] Do not spurn us, for your name’s sake;

        do not dishonor your glorious throne;

        remember and do not break your covenant with us. 

    [22] Are there any among the false gods of the nations that can bring rain?

        Or can the heavens give showers?

    Are you not he, O LORD our God?

        We set our hope on you,

        for you do all these things.

Jeremiah 15

The LORD Will Not Relent

[1] Then the LORD said to me, “Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my heart would not turn toward this people. Send them out of my sight, and let them go! [2] And when they ask you, ‘Where shall we go?’ you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD: 

    “‘Those who are for pestilence, to pestilence,

        and those who are for the sword, to the sword;

    those who are for famine, to famine,

        and those who are for captivity, to captivity.’

    [3] I will appoint over them four kinds of destroyers, declares the LORD: the sword to kill, the dogs to tear, and the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth to devour and destroy. [4] And I will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth because of what Manasseh the son of Hezekiah, king of Judah, did in Jerusalem.

    [5] “Who will have pity on you, O Jerusalem,

        or who will grieve for you?

    Who will turn aside

        to ask about your welfare? 

    [6] You have rejected me, declares the LORD;

        you keep going backward,

    so I have stretched out my hand against you and destroyed you—

        I am weary of relenting. 

    [7] I have winnowed them with a winnowing fork

        in the gates of the land;

    I have bereaved them; I have destroyed my people;

        they did not turn from their ways. 

    [8] I have made their widows more in number

        than the sand of the seas;

    I have brought against the mothers of young men

        a destroyer at noonday;

    I have made anguish and terror

        fall upon them suddenly. 

    [9] She who bore seven has grown feeble;

        she has fainted away;

    her sun went down while it was yet day;

        she has been shamed and disgraced.

    And the rest of them I will give to the sword

        before their enemies,

    declares the LORD.”

    Jeremiah’s Complaint

[10] Woe is me, my mother, that you bore me, a man of strife and contention to the whole land! I have not lent, nor have I borrowed, yet all of them curse me. [11] The LORD said, “Have I not set you free for their good? Have I not pleaded for you before the enemy in the time of trouble and in the time of distress? [12] Can one break iron, iron from the north, and bronze?

[13] “Your wealth and your treasures I will give as spoil, without price, for all your sins, throughout all your territory. [14] I will make you serve your enemies in a land that you do not know, for in my anger a fire is kindled that shall burn forever.”

    [15] O LORD, you know;

        remember me and visit me,

        and take vengeance for me on my persecutors.

    In your forbearance take me not away;

        know that for your sake I bear reproach. 

    [16] Your words were found, and I ate them,

        and your words became to me a joy

        and the delight of my heart,

    for I am called by your name,

        O LORD, God of hosts. 

    [17] I did not sit in the company of revelers,

        nor did I rejoice;

    I sat alone, because your hand was upon me,

        for you had filled me with indignation. 

    [18] Why is my pain unceasing,

        my wound incurable,

        refusing to be healed?

    Will you be to me like a deceitful brook,

        like waters that fail?

    [19] Therefore thus says the LORD:

    “If you return, I will restore you,

        and you shall stand before me.

    If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless,

        you shall be as my mouth.

    They shall turn to you,

        but you shall not turn to them. 

    [20] And I will make you to this people

        a fortified wall of bronze;

    they will fight against you,

        but they shall not prevail over you,

    for I am with you

        to save you and deliver you,

    declares the LORD. 

    [21] I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked,

        and redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless.”