John 12:37-50
When
Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them.
[37] Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not
believe in him, [38] so that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might
be fulfilled:
“Lord, who has believed what he heard from us,
and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”
[39] Therefore they could not believe. For again Isaiah said,
[40] “He has blinded their eyes
and hardened their heart,
lest they see with their eyes,
and understand with their heart, and turn,
and I would heal them.”
[41] Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of
him. [42] Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him,
but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they
would not be put out of the synagogue; [43] for they loved the glory
that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.
[44]
And Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in
me but in him who sent me. [45] And whoever sees me sees him who sent
me. [46] I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes
in me may not remain in darkness. [47] If anyone hears my words and does
not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the
world but to save the world. [48] The one who rejects me and does not
receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him
on the last day. [49] For I have not spoken on my own authority, but
the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say
and what to speak. [50] And I know that his commandment is eternal life.
What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.”
2 John 1
[1]
The elder to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and
not only I, but also all who know the truth, [2] because of the truth
that abides in us and will be with us forever:
[3] Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father’s Son, in truth and love.
[4]
I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth,
just as we were commanded by the Father. [5] And now I ask you, dear
lady—not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we
have had from the beginning—that we love one another. [6] And this is
love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the
commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you
should walk in it. [7] For many deceivers have gone out into the world,
those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a
one is the deceiver and the antichrist. [8] Watch yourselves, so that
you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward. [9]
Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of
Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the
Father and the Son. [10] If anyone comes to you and does not bring this
teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting,
[11] for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.
[12]
Though I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and
ink. Instead I hope to come to you and talk face to face, so that our
joy may be complete.
[13] The children of your elect sister greet you.
Job 19
[1] Then Job answered and said:
[2] “How long will you torment me
and break me in pieces with words?
[3] These ten times you have cast reproach upon me;
are you not ashamed to wrong me?
[4] And even if it be true that I have erred,
my error remains with myself.
[5] If indeed you magnify yourselves against me
and make my disgrace an argument against me,
[6] know then that God has put me in the wrong
and closed his net about me.
[7] Behold, I cry out, ‘Violence!’ but I am not answered;
I call for help, but there is no justice.
[8] He has walled up my way, so that I cannot pass,
and he has set darkness upon my paths.
[9] He has stripped from me my glory
and taken the crown from my head.
[10] He breaks me down on every side, and I am gone,
and my hope has he pulled up like a tree.
[11] He has kindled his wrath against me
and counts me as his adversary.
[12] His troops come on together;
they have cast up their siege ramp against me
and encamp around my tent.
[13] “He has put my brothers far from me,
and those who knew me are wholly estranged from me.
[14] My relatives have failed me,
my close friends have forgotten me.
[15] The guests in my house and my maidservants count me as a stranger;
I have become a foreigner in their eyes.
[16] I call to my servant, but he gives me no answer;
I must plead with him with my mouth for mercy.
[17] My breath is strange to my wife,
and I am a stench to the children of my own mother.
[18] Even young children despise me;
when I rise they talk against me.
[19] All my intimate friends abhor me,
and those whom I loved have turned against me.
[20] My bones stick to my skin and to my flesh,
and I have escaped by the skin of my teeth.
[21] Have mercy on me, have mercy on me, O you my friends,
for the hand of God has touched me!
[22] Why do you, like God, pursue me?
Why are you not satisfied with my flesh?
[23] “Oh that my words were written!
Oh that they were inscribed in a book!
[24] Oh that with an iron pen and lead
they were engraved in the rock forever!
[25] For I know that my Redeemer lives,
and at the last he will stand upon the earth.
[26] And after my skin has been thus destroyed,
yet in my flesh I shall see God,
[27] whom I shall see for myself,
and my eyes shall behold, and not another.
My heart faints within me!
[28] If you say, ‘How we will pursue him!’
and, ‘The root of the matter is found in him,’
[29] be afraid of the sword,
for wrath brings the punishment of the sword,
that you may know there is a judgment.”
Daniel 3
[1]
King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, whose height was sixty
cubits and its breadth six cubits. He set it up on the plain of Dura, in
the province of Babylon. [2] Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent to gather
the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the
treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the
provinces to come to the dedication of the image that King
Nebuchadnezzar had set up. [3] Then the satraps, the prefects, and the
governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the
magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces gathered for the
dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. And they
stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. [4] And the
herald proclaimed aloud, “You are commanded, O peoples, nations, and
languages, [5] that when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre,
trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, you are to fall down and
worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. [6] And
whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into a
burning fiery furnace.” [7] Therefore, as soon as all the peoples heard
the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind
of music, all the peoples, nations, and languages fell down and
worshiped the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
[8]
Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and maliciously
accused the Jews. [9] They declared to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king,
live forever! [10] You, O king, have made a decree, that every man who
hears the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and
every kind of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image. [11]
And whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into a burning
fiery furnace. [12] There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over
the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
These men, O king, pay no attention to you; they do not serve your gods
or worship the golden image that you have set up.”
[13]
Then Nebuchadnezzar in furious rage commanded that Shadrach, Meshach,
and Abednego be brought. So they brought these men before the king. [14]
Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, “Is it true, O Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the
golden image that I have set up? [15] Now if you are ready when you hear
the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every
kind of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, well
and good. But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into
a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you out of
my hands?”
[16]
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O
Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. [17] If
this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning
fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. [18]
But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods
or worship the golden image that you have set up.”
[19]
Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury, and the expression of his
face was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered the
furnace heated seven times more than it was usually heated. [20] And he
ordered some of the mighty men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach,
and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. [21] Then
these men were bound in their cloaks, their tunics, their hats, and
their other garments, and they were thrown into the burning fiery
furnace. [22] Because the king’s order was urgent and the furnace
overheated, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego. [23] And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abednego, fell bound into the burning fiery furnace.
[24]
Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He
declared to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the
fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” [25] He
answered and said, “But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of
the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is
like a son of the gods.”
[26]
Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the burning fiery furnace;
he declared, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most
High God, come out, and come here!” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
came out from the fire. [27] And the satraps, the prefects, the
governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together and saw that the
fire had not had any power over the bodies of those men. The hair of
their heads was not singed, their cloaks were not harmed, and no smell
of fire had come upon them. [28] Nebuchadnezzar answered and said,
“Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his
angel and delivered his servants, who trusted in him, and set aside the
king’s command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and
worship any god except their own God. [29] Therefore I make a decree:
Any people, nation, or language that speaks anything against the God of
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb, and their
houses laid in ruins, for there is no other god who is able to rescue in
this way.” [30] Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
in the province of Babylon.
Daniel 4
[1]
King Nebuchadnezzar to all peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell
in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you! [2] It has seemed good to
me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has done for me.
[3] How great are his signs,
how mighty his wonders!
His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and his dominion endures from generation to generation.
[4] I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and prospering in my
palace. [5] I saw a dream that made me afraid. As I lay in bed the
fancies and the visions of my head alarmed me. [6] So I made a decree
that all the wise men of Babylon should be brought before me, that they
might make known to me the interpretation of the dream. [7] Then the
magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers came in,
and I told them the dream, but they could not make known to me its
interpretation. [8] At last Daniel came in before me—he who was named
Belteshazzar after the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the
holy gods—and I told him the dream, saying, [9] “O Belteshazzar, chief
of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in
you and that no mystery is too difficult for you, tell me the visions of
my dream that I saw and their interpretation. [10] The visions of my
head as I lay in bed were these: I saw, and behold, a tree in the midst
of the earth, and its height was great. [11] The tree grew and became
strong, and its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the end of
the whole earth. [12] Its leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant,
and in it was food for all. The beasts of the field found shade under
it, and the birds of the heavens lived in its branches, and all flesh
was fed from it.
[13]
“I saw in the visions of my head as I lay in bed, and behold, a
watcher, a holy one, came down from heaven. [14] He proclaimed aloud and
said thus: ‘Chop down the tree and lop off its branches, strip off its
leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the beasts flee from under it and the
birds from its branches. [15] But leave the stump of its roots in the
earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, amid the tender grass of
the field. Let him be wet with the dew of heaven. Let his portion be
with the beasts in the grass of the earth. [16] Let his mind be changed
from a man’s, and let a beast’s mind be given to him; and let seven
periods of time pass over him. [17] The sentence is by the decree of the
watchers, the decision by the word of the holy ones, to the end that
the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and
gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men.’ [18]
This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw. And you, O Belteshazzar, tell me
the interpretation, because all the wise men of my kingdom are not able
to make known to me the interpretation, but you are able, for the
spirit of the holy gods is in you.”
[19]
Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was dismayed for a while, and
his thoughts alarmed him. The king answered and said, “Belteshazzar,
let not the dream or the interpretation alarm you.” Belteshazzar
answered and said, “My lord, may the dream be for those who hate you and
its interpretation for your enemies! [20] The tree you saw, which grew
and became strong, so that its top reached to heaven, and it was visible
to the end of the whole earth, [21] whose leaves were beautiful and its
fruit abundant, and in which was food for all, under which beasts of
the field found shade, and in whose branches the birds of the heavens
lived—[22] it is you, O king, who have grown and become strong. Your
greatness has grown and reaches to heaven, and your dominion to the ends
of the earth. [23] And because the king saw a watcher, a holy one,
coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Chop down the tree and destroy it,
but leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron
and bronze, in the tender grass of the field, and let him be wet with
the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field,
till seven periods of time pass over him,’ [24] this is the
interpretation, O king: It is a decree of the Most High, which has come
upon my lord the king, [25] that you shall be driven from among men, and
your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. You shall be made
to eat grass like an ox, and you shall be wet with the dew of heaven,
and seven periods of time shall pass over you, till you know that the
Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will. [26]
And as it was commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree,
your kingdom shall be confirmed for you from the time that you know that
Heaven rules. [27] Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to
you: break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your
iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a
lengthening of your prosperity.”
[28]
All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. [29] At the end of twelve
months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, [30]
and the king answered and said, “Is not this great Babylon, which I have
built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my
majesty?” [31] While the words were still in the king’s mouth, there
fell a voice from heaven, “O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken:
The kingdom has departed from you, [32] and you shall be driven from
among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. And
you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven periods of time
shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom
of men and gives it to whom he will.” [33] Immediately the word was
fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven from among men and ate
grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his
hair grew as long as eagles’ feathers, and his nails were like birds’
claws.
[34]
At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and
my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and
honored him who lives forever,
for his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
and his kingdom endures from generation to generation;
[35] all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing,
and he does according to his will among the host of heaven
and among the inhabitants of the earth;
and none can stay his hand
or say to him, “What have you done?”
[36] At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of
my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my
lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more
greatness was added to me. [37] Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol
and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways
are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble.
