John 4:27-42
[27]
Just then his disciples came back. They marveled that he was talking
with a woman, but no one said, “What do you seek?” or, “Why are you
talking with her?” [28] So the woman left her water jar and went away
into town and said to the people, [29] “Come, see a man who told me all
that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” [30] They went out of the town
and were coming to him.
[31]
Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.” [32] But
he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” [33]
So the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought him something
to eat?” [34] Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who
sent me and to accomplish his work. [35] Do you not say, ‘There are yet
four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your
eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. [36] Already the
one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life,
so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. [37] For here the saying
holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ [38] I sent you to reap that
for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered
into their labor.”
[39]
Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s
testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.” [40] So when the Samaritans
came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two
days. [41] And many more believed because of his word. [42] They said to
the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe,
for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the
Savior of the world.”
1 Peter 1:1-9
[1] Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To
those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia,
Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, [2] according to the foreknowledge of
God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to
Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood:
May grace and peace be multiplied to you.
[3]
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to
his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, [4] to an
inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in
heaven for you, [5] who by God’s power are being guarded through faith
for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. [6] In this you
rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been
grieved by various trials, [7] so that the tested genuineness of your
faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by
fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the
revelation of Jesus Christ. [8] Though you have not seen him, you love
him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with
joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, [9] obtaining the
outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Ecclesiastes 10
[1] Dead flies make the perfumer’s ointment give off a stench;
so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
[2] A wise man’s heart inclines him to the right,
but a fool’s heart to the left.
[3] Even when the fool walks on the road, he lacks sense,
and he says to everyone that he is a fool.
[4] If the anger of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your place,
for calmness will lay great offenses to rest.
[5] There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as it were an
error proceeding from the ruler: [6] folly is set in many high places,
and the rich sit in a low place. [7] I have seen slaves on horses, and
princes walking on the ground like slaves.
[8] He who digs a pit will fall into it,
and a serpent will bite him who breaks through a wall.
[9] He who quarries stones is hurt by them,
and he who splits logs is endangered by them.
[10] If the iron is blunt, and one does not sharpen the edge,
he must use more strength,
but wisdom helps one to succeed.
[11] If the serpent bites before it is charmed,
there is no advantage to the charmer.
[12] The words of a wise man’s mouth win him favor,
but the lips of a fool consume him.
[13] The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness,
and the end of his talk is evil madness.
[14] A fool multiplies words,
though no man knows what is to be,
and who can tell him what will be after him?
[15] The toil of a fool wearies him,
for he does not know the way to the city.
[16] Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child,
and your princes feast in the morning!
[17] Happy are you, O land, when your king is the son of the nobility,
and your princes feast at the proper time,
for strength, and not for drunkenness!
[18] Through sloth the roof sinks in,
and through indolence the house leaks.
[19] Bread is made for laughter,
and wine gladdens life,
and money answers everything.
[20] Even in your thoughts, do not curse the king,
nor in your bedroom curse the rich,
for a bird of the air will carry your voice,
or some winged creature tell the matter.
Jeremiah 32
[1]
The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD in the tenth year of
Zedekiah king of Judah, which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar.
[2] At that time the army of the king of Babylon was besieging
Jerusalem, and Jeremiah the prophet was shut up in the court of the
guard that was in the palace of the king of Judah. [3] For Zedekiah king
of Judah had imprisoned him, saying, “Why do you prophesy and say,
‘Thus says the LORD: Behold, I am giving this city into the hand of the
king of Babylon, and he shall capture it; [4] Zedekiah king of Judah
shall not escape out of the hand of the Chaldeans, but shall surely be
given into the hand of the king of Babylon, and shall speak with him
face to face and see him eye to eye. [5] And he shall take Zedekiah to
Babylon, and there he shall remain until I visit him, declares the LORD.
Though you fight against the Chaldeans, you shall not succeed’?”
[6]
Jeremiah said, “The word of the LORD came to me: [7] Behold, Hanamel
the son of Shallum your uncle will come to you and say, ‘Buy my field
that is at Anathoth, for the right of redemption by purchase is yours.’
[8] Then Hanamel my cousin came to me in the court of the guard, in
accordance with the word of the LORD, and said to me, ‘Buy my field that
is at Anathoth in the land of Benjamin, for the right of possession and
redemption is yours; buy it for yourself.’ Then I knew that this was
the word of the LORD.
[9]
“And I bought the field at Anathoth from Hanamel my cousin, and weighed
out the money to him, seventeen shekels of silver. [10] I signed the
deed, sealed it, got witnesses, and weighed the money on scales. [11]
Then I took the sealed deed of purchase, containing the terms and
conditions and the open copy. [12] And I gave the deed of purchase to
Baruch the son of Neriah son of Mahseiah, in the presence of Hanamel my
cousin, in the presence of the witnesses who signed the deed of
purchase, and in the presence of all the Judeans who were sitting in the
court of the guard. [13] I charged Baruch in their presence, saying,
[14] ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Take these deeds,
both this sealed deed of purchase and this open deed, and put them in an
earthenware vessel, that they may last for a long time. [15] For thus
says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Houses and fields and
vineyards shall again be bought in this land.’
[16]
“After I had given the deed of purchase to Baruch the son of Neriah, I
prayed to the LORD, saying: [17] ‘Ah, Lord GOD! It is you who have made
the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched
arm! Nothing is too hard for you. [18] You show steadfast love to
thousands, but you repay the guilt of fathers to their children after
them, O great and mighty God, whose name is the LORD of hosts, [19]
great in counsel and mighty in deed, whose eyes are open to all the ways
of the children of man, rewarding each one according to his ways and
according to the fruit of his deeds. [20] You have shown signs and
wonders in the land of Egypt, and to this day in Israel and among all
mankind, and have made a name for yourself, as at this day. [21] You
brought your people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs and
wonders, with a strong hand and outstretched arm, and with great terror.
[22] And you gave them this land, which you swore to their fathers to
give them, a land flowing with milk and honey. [23] And they entered and
took possession of it. But they did not obey your voice or walk in your
law. They did nothing of all you commanded them to do. Therefore you
have made all this disaster come upon them. [24] Behold, the siege
mounds have come up to the city to take it, and because of sword and
famine and pestilence the city is given into the hands of the Chaldeans
who are fighting against it. What you spoke has come to pass, and
behold, you see it. [25] Yet you, O Lord GOD, have said to me, “Buy the
field for money and get witnesses”—though the city is given into the
hands of the Chaldeans.’”
[26]
The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah: [27] “Behold, I am the LORD, the
God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me? [28] Therefore, thus
says the LORD: Behold, I am giving this city into the hands of the
Chaldeans and into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he
shall capture it. [29] The Chaldeans who are fighting against this city
shall come and set this city on fire and burn it, with the houses on
whose roofs offerings have been made to Baal and drink offerings have
been poured out to other gods, to provoke me to anger. [30] For the
children of Israel and the children of Judah have done nothing but evil
in my sight from their youth. The children of Israel have done nothing
but provoke me to anger by the work of their hands, declares the LORD.
[31] This city has aroused my anger and wrath, from the day it was built
to this day, so that I will remove it from my sight [32] because of all
the evil of the children of Israel and the children of Judah that they
did to provoke me to anger—their kings and their officials, their
priests and their prophets, the men of Judah and the inhabitants of
Jerusalem. [33] They have turned to me their back and not their face.
And though I have taught them persistently, they have not listened to
receive instruction. [34] They set up their abominations in the house
that is called by my name, to defile it. [35] They built the high places
of Baal in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, to offer up their sons and
daughters to Molech, though I did not command them, nor did it enter
into my mind, that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to
sin.
[36]
“Now therefore thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning this
city of which you say, ‘It is given into the hand of the king of Babylon
by sword, by famine, and by pestilence’: [37] Behold, I will gather
them from all the countries to which I drove them in my anger and my
wrath and in great indignation. I will bring them back to this place,
and I will make them dwell in safety. [38] And they shall be my people,
and I will be their God. [39] I will give them one heart and one way,
that they may fear me forever, for their own good and the good of their
children after them. [40] I will make with them an everlasting covenant,
that I will not turn away from doing good to them. And I will put the
fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me. [41] I will
rejoice in doing them good, and I will plant them in this land in
faithfulness, with all my heart and all my soul.
[42]
“For thus says the LORD: Just as I have brought all this great disaster
upon this people, so I will bring upon them all the good that I promise
them. [43] Fields shall be bought in this land of which you are saying,
‘It is a desolation, without man or beast; it is given into the hand of
the Chaldeans.’ [44] Fields shall be bought for money, and deeds shall
be signed and sealed and witnessed, in the land of Benjamin, in the
places about Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, in the cities of the
hill country, in the cities of the Shephelah, and in the cities of the
Negeb; for I will restore their fortunes, declares the LORD.”
Jeremiah 33
[1]
The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah a second time, while he was still
shut up in the court of the guard: [2] “Thus says the LORD who made the
earth, the LORD who formed it to establish it—the LORD is his name: [3]
Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden
things that you have not known. [4] For thus says the LORD, the God of
Israel, concerning the houses of this city and the houses of the kings
of Judah that were torn down to make a defense against the siege mounds
and against the sword: [5] They are coming in to fight against the
Chaldeans and to fill them with the dead bodies of men whom I shall
strike down in my anger and my wrath, for I have hidden my face from
this city because of all their evil. [6] Behold, I will bring to it
health and healing, and I will heal them and reveal to them abundance of
prosperity and security. [7] I will restore the fortunes of Judah and
the fortunes of Israel, and rebuild them as they were at first. [8] I
will cleanse them from all the guilt of their sin against me, and I will
forgive all the guilt of their sin and rebellion against me. [9] And
this city shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and a glory before all
the nations of the earth who shall hear of all the good that I do for
them. They shall fear and tremble because of all the good and all the
prosperity I provide for it.
[10]
“Thus says the LORD: In this place of which you say, ‘It is a waste
without man or beast,’ in the cities of Judah and the streets of
Jerusalem that are desolate, without man or inhabitant or beast, there
shall be heard again [11] the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness,
the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voices of
those who sing, as they bring thank offerings to the house of the LORD:
“‘Give thanks to the LORD of hosts,
for the LORD is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever!’
For I will restore the fortunes of the land as at first, says the LORD.
[12]
“Thus says the LORD of hosts: In this place that is waste, without man
or beast, and in all of its cities, there shall again be habitations of
shepherds resting their flocks. [13] In the cities of the hill country,
in the cities of the Shephelah, and in the cities of the Negeb, in the
land of Benjamin, the places about Jerusalem, and in the cities of
Judah, flocks shall again pass under the hands of the one who counts
them, says the LORD.
[14]
“Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will fulfill
the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. [15]
In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring
up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the
land. [16] In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell
securely. And this is the name by which it will be called: ‘The LORD is
our righteousness.’
[17]
“For thus says the LORD: David shall never lack a man to sit on the
throne of the house of Israel, [18] and the Levitical priests shall
never lack a man in my presence to offer burnt offerings, to burn grain
offerings, and to make sacrifices forever.”
[19]
The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah: [20] “Thus says the LORD: If you
can break my covenant with the day and my covenant with the night, so
that day and night will not come at their appointed time, [21] then also
my covenant with David my servant may be broken, so that he shall not
have a son to reign on his throne, and my covenant with the Levitical
priests my ministers. [22] As the host of heaven cannot be numbered and
the sands of the sea cannot be measured, so I will multiply the
offspring of David my servant, and the Levitical priests who minister to
me.”
[23]
The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah: [24] “Have you not observed that
these people are saying, ‘The LORD has rejected the two clans that he
chose’? Thus they have despised my people so that they are no longer a
nation in their sight. [25] Thus says the LORD: If I have not
established my covenant with day and night and the fixed order of heaven
and earth, [26] then I will reject the offspring of Jacob and David my
servant and will not choose one of his offspring to rule over the
offspring of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. For I will restore their
fortunes and will have mercy on them.”
Jeremiah 34
[1]
The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, when Nebuchadnezzar king
of Babylon and all his army and all the kingdoms of the earth under his
dominion and all the peoples were fighting against Jerusalem and all of
its cities: [2] “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Go and speak to
Zedekiah king of Judah and say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD: Behold, I am
giving this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall
burn it with fire. [3] You shall not escape from his hand but shall
surely be captured and delivered into his hand. You shall see the king
of Babylon eye to eye and speak with him face to face. And you shall go
to Babylon.’ [4] Yet hear the word of the LORD, O Zedekiah king of
Judah! Thus says the LORD concerning you: ‘You shall not die by the
sword. [5] You shall die in peace. And as spices were burned for your
fathers, the former kings who were before you, so people shall burn
spices for you and lament for you, saying, “Alas, lord!”’ For I have
spoken the word, declares the LORD.”
[6]
Then Jeremiah the prophet spoke all these words to Zedekiah king of
Judah, in Jerusalem, [7] when the army of the king of Babylon was
fighting against Jerusalem and against all the cities of Judah that were
left, Lachish and Azekah, for these were the only fortified cities of
Judah that remained.
[8]
The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, after King Zedekiah had
made a covenant with all the people in Jerusalem to make a proclamation
of liberty to them, [9] that everyone should set free his Hebrew slaves,
male and female, so that no one should enslave a Jew, his brother. [10]
And they obeyed, all the officials and all the people who had entered
into the covenant that everyone would set free his slave, male or
female, so that they would not be enslaved again. They obeyed and set
them free. [11] But afterward they turned around and took back the male
and female slaves they had set free, and brought them into subjection as
slaves. [12] The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah from the LORD: [13]
“Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: I myself made a covenant with
your fathers when I brought them out of the land of Egypt, out of the
house of slavery, saying, [14] ‘At the end of seven years each of you
must set free the fellow Hebrew who has been sold to you and has served
you six years; you must set him free from your service.’ But your
fathers did not listen to me or incline their ears to me. [15] You
recently repented and did what was right in my eyes by proclaiming
liberty, each to his neighbor, and you made a covenant before me in the
house that is called by my name, [16] but then you turned around and
profaned my name when each of you took back his male and female slaves,
whom you had set free according to their desire, and you brought them
into subjection to be your slaves.
[17]
“Therefore, thus says the LORD: You have not obeyed me by proclaiming
liberty, every one to his brother and to his neighbor; behold, I
proclaim to you liberty to the sword, to pestilence, and to famine,
declares the LORD. I will make you a horror to all the kingdoms of the
earth. [18] And the men who transgressed my covenant and did not keep
the terms of the covenant that they made before me, I will make them
like the calf that they cut in two and passed between its parts—[19] the
officials of Judah, the officials of Jerusalem, the eunuchs, the
priests, and all the people of the land who passed between the parts of
the calf. [20] And I will give them into the hand of their enemies and
into the hand of those who seek their lives. Their dead bodies shall be
food for the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth. [21] And
Zedekiah king of Judah and his officials I will give into the hand of
their enemies and into the hand of those who seek their lives, into the
hand of the army of the king of Babylon which has withdrawn from you.
[22] Behold, I will command, declares the LORD, and will bring them back
to this city. And they will fight against it and take it and burn it
with fire. I will make the cities of Judah a desolation without
inhabitant.”
