Category: DAB Readings

A Prophecy against Edom

35 The word of the Lord came to me: ² “Son of man, face Mount Seir^(A) and prophesy against it. ³ Say to it, ‘This is what the Lord God says:

⁵ “‘Because you maintained a perpetual hatred^(C) and gave the Israelites over to the power of the sword in the time of their disaster, the time of final punishment,^{(D) 6} therefore, as I live—this is the declaration of the Lord God—I will destine you for bloodshed, and it will pursue you. Since you did not hate bloodshed, it will pursue you.^{(E) 7} I will make Mount Seir a desolate waste and will cut off from it those who come and go.^{(F) 8} I will fill its mountains with the slain;^(G) those slain by the sword will fall on your hills, in your valleys, and in all your ravines. ⁹ I will make you a perpetual desolation; your cities will not be inhabited. Then you will know that I am the Lord.

¹⁰ “‘Because you said, “These two nations and two lands will be mine, and we will possess them”—though the Lord was there^(H)— ¹¹ therefore, as I live—this is the declaration of the Lord God—I will treat you according to the anger and jealousy you showed in your hatred of them. I will make myself known among them^[a] when I judge you. ¹² Then you will know that I, the Lord, have heard all the blasphemies you uttered against the mountains of Israel, saying, “They are desolate. They have been given to us to devour!” ¹³ You boasted against me^(I) with your mouth, and spoke many words against me. I heard it myself!

¹⁴ “‘This is what the Lord God says: While the whole world rejoices, I will make you a desolation. ¹⁵ Just as you rejoiced over the inheritance of the house of Israel because it became a desolation, I will deal the same way with you: you will become a desolation, Mount Seir, and so will all Edom in its entirety. Then they will know that I am the Lord.’

Restoration of Israel’s Mountains

36 “Son of man, prophesy to the mountains of Israel and say, ‘Mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord.^{(J) 2} This is what the Lord God says: Because the enemy has said about you, “Aha!^(K) The ancient heights^(L) have become our possession,”’ ³ therefore, prophesy and say, ‘This is what the Lord God says: Because they have made you desolate and have trampled you from every side, so that you became a possession for the rest of the nations and an object of people’s gossip and slander,^{(M) 4} therefore, mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord God. This is what the Lord God says to the mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys, to the desolate ruins and abandoned cities, which have become plunder^(N) and a mockery to the rest of the nations all around.

⁵ “‘This is what the Lord God says: Certainly in my burning zeal I speak against the rest of the nations and all of Edom,^(O) who took^[b] my land as their own possession with wholehearted rejoicing and utter contempt^(P) so that its pastureland became^[c] plunder. ⁶ Therefore, prophesy concerning Israel’s land, and say to the mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys: This is what the Lord God says: Look, I speak in my burning zeal^(Q) because you have endured the insults of the nations. ⁷ Therefore, this is what the Lord God says: I swear^[d] that the nations all around you will endure their own insults.^(R)

⁸ “‘You, mountains of Israel, will produce your branches^(S) and bear your fruit for my people Israel, since their arrival is near. ⁹ Look! I am on your side; I will turn toward you,^(T) and you will be tilled and sown. ¹⁰ I will fill you with people, with the whole house of Israel in its entirety.^(U) The cities will be inhabited and the ruins rebuilt. ¹¹ I will fill you with people and animals,^(V) and they will increase and be fruitful. I will make you inhabited as you once were and make you better off than you were before. Then you will know that I am the Lord.^{(W) 12} I will cause people, my people Israel, to walk on you; they will possess you,^(X) and you will be their inheritance. You will no longer deprive them of their children.

¹³ “‘This is what the Lord God says: Because some are saying to you, “You devour people and deprive your nation of children,”^{(Y) 14} therefore, you will no longer devour people and deprive your nation of children.^[e] This is the declaration of the Lord God. ¹⁵ I will no longer allow the insults of the nations to be heard against you, and you will not have to endure the reproach of the peoples anymore;^(Z) you will no longer cause your nation to stumble.^[f] This is the declaration of the Lord God.’”

Restoration of Israel’s People

¹⁶ The word of the Lord came to me: ¹⁷ “Son of man, while the house of Israel lived in their land, they defiled it with their conduct and actions.^(AA) Their behavior before me was like menstrual impurity.^{(AB) 18} So I poured out my wrath^(AC) on them because of the blood they had shed on the land, and because they had defiled it with their idols. ¹⁹ I dispersed them among the nations, and they were scattered among the countries.^(AD) I judged them according to their conduct and actions.^{(AE) 20} When they came to the nations where they went, they profaned my holy name,^(AF) because it was said about them, ‘These are the people of the Lord, yet they had to leave his land in exile.’ ²¹ Then I had concern for my holy name,^(AG) which the house of Israel profaned among the nations where they went.

²² “Therefore, say to the house of Israel, ‘This is what the Lord God says: It is not for your sake that I will act,^(AH) house of Israel, but for my holy name,^(AI) which you profaned among the nations where you went. ²³ I will honor the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations—the name you have profaned among them. The nations will know that I am the Lord—this is the declaration of the Lord God—when I demonstrate my holiness through you in their sight.^(AJ)

²⁴ “‘For I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries, and will bring you into your own land.^{(AK) 25} I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean.^(AL) I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols.^{(AM) 26} I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you;^(AN) I will remove your heart of stone^[g] and give you a heart of flesh.^{(AO) 27} I will place my Spirit within you^(AP) and cause you to follow my statutes and carefully observe my ordinances.^{(AQ) 28} You will live in the land that I gave your ancestors;^(AR) you will be my people, and I will be your God.^{(AS) 29} I will save you from all your uncleanness. I will summon the grain and make it plentiful, and I will not bring famine on you.^{(AT) 30} I will also make the fruit of the trees and the produce of the field plentiful, so that you will no longer experience reproach among the nations on account of famine.

³¹ “‘You will remember your evil ways and your deeds that were not good,^(AU) and you will loathe yourselves for your iniquities and detestable practices.^{(AV) 32} It is not for your sake that I will act^(AW)—this is the declaration of the Lord God—let this be known to you. Be ashamed and humiliated because of your ways, house of Israel!

³³ “‘This is what the Lord God says: On the day I cleanse you from all your iniquities, I will cause the cities to be inhabited, and the ruins will be rebuilt.^{(AX) 34} The desolate land will be cultivated instead of lying desolate in the sight of everyone who passes by. ³⁵ They will say, “This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden.^(AY) The cities that were once ruined, desolate, and demolished are now fortified and inhabited.” ³⁶ Then the nations that remain around you will know that I, the Lord, have rebuilt what was demolished and have replanted what was desolate. I, the Lord, have spoken and I will do it.^(AZ)

³⁷ “‘This is what the Lord God says: I will respond to the house of Israel and do this for them:^(BA) I will multiply them in number like a flock.^{[h] 38} So the ruined cities will be filled with a flock of people, just as Jerusalem^(BB) is filled with a flock of sheep for sacrifice^[i] during its appointed festivals. Then they will know that I am the Lord.’”

Greeting

1 James,^(A) a servant of God^(B) and of the Lord Jesus Christ:

To the twelve tribes^(C) dispersed abroad.^[a](D)

Greetings.^(E)

Trials and Maturity

² Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials,^{(F) 3} because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. ⁴ And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.

⁵ Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God—who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly—and it will be given to him.^{(G) 6} But let him ask in faith without doubting.^[b] For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind. ⁷ That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord, ⁸ being double-minded and unstable in all his ways.^[c](H)

⁹ Let the brother of humble circumstances boast in his exaltation, ¹⁰ but let the rich boast in his humiliation because he will pass away like a flower of the field.^{(I) 11} For the sun rises and, together with the scorching wind, dries up the grass; its flower falls off, and its beautiful appearance perishes. In the same way, the rich person will wither away while pursuing his activities.^(J)

¹² Blessed is the one who endures trials, because when he has stood the test he will receive the crown^(K) of life that God^[d] has promised to those who love him.^(L)

¹³ No one undergoing a trial should say, “I am being tempted by God,” since God is not tempted by evil, and he himself doesn’t tempt anyone. ¹⁴ But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desire.^{(M) 15} Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death.^(N)

¹⁶ Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters.^{(O) 17} Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.^{(P) 18} By his own choice, he gave us birth by the word of truth so that we would be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.^(Q)

Psalm 116

Thanks to God for Deliverance

Ezekiel as Israel’s Watchman

33 The word of the Lord came to me: ² “Son of man, speak to your people and tell them, ‘Suppose I bring the sword against a land, and the people of that land select a man from among them, appointing him as their watchman. ³ And suppose he sees the sword coming against the land and blows his ram’s horn^(A) to warn the people. ⁴ Then, if anyone hears the sound of the ram’s horn but ignores the warning,^(B) and the sword comes and takes him away, his death will be his own fault.^{[a] 5} Since he heard the sound of the ram’s horn but ignored the warning, his death is his own fault.^[b] If he had taken warning, he would have saved his life. ⁶ However, suppose the watchman sees the sword coming but doesn’t blow the ram’s horn, so that the people aren’t warned, and the sword comes and takes away their lives. Then they have been taken away because of their iniquity, but I will hold the watchman accountable for their blood.’

⁷ “As for you, son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel.^(C) When you hear a word from my mouth, give them a warning from me. ⁸ If I say to the wicked, ‘Wicked one, you will surely die,’^(D) but you do not speak out to warn him about his way, that wicked person will die for his iniquity, yet I will hold you responsible for his blood. ⁹ But if you warn a wicked person to turn from his way and he doesn’t turn from it, he will die for his iniquity, but you will have rescued yourself.

¹⁰ “Now as for you, son of man, say to the house of Israel, ‘You have said this: “Our transgressions and our sins are heavy on us, and we are wasting away because of them!^(E) How then can we survive?”’ ^{(F) 11} Tell them, ‘As I live—this is the declaration of the Lord God—I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked person should turn from his way and live.^(G) Repent, repent of your evil ways! Why will you die, house of Israel?’

¹² “Now, son of man, say to your people, ‘The righteousness of the righteous person will not save him on the day of his transgression; neither will the wickedness of the wicked person cause him to stumble on the day he turns from his wickedness. The righteous person won’t be able to survive by his righteousness on the day he sins. ¹³ When I tell the righteous person that he will surely live, but he trusts in his righteousness and acts unjustly, then none of his righteousness will be remembered, and he will die because of the injustice he has committed.^(H)

¹⁴ “‘So when I tell the wicked person, “You will surely die,” but he repents of his sin and does what is just and right— ¹⁵ he returns collateral, makes restitution for what he has stolen, and walks in the statutes of life^(I) without committing injustice—he will certainly live; he will not die. ¹⁶ None of the sins he committed will be held^[c] against him. He has done what is just and right; he will certainly live.^(J)

¹⁷ “‘But your people say, “The Lord’s way isn’t fair,”^(K) even though it is their own way that isn’t fair. ¹⁸ When a righteous person turns from his righteousness and commits injustice, he will die for it. ¹⁹ But if a wicked person turns from his wickedness and does what is just and right, he will live because of it. ²⁰ Yet you say, “The Lord’s way isn’t fair.” I will judge each of you according to his ways, house of Israel.’”

The News of Jerusalem’s Fall

²¹ In the twelfth year of our exile, in the tenth month, on the fifth day of the month, a fugitive from Jerusalem came to me and reported, “The city has been taken!” ²² Now the hand of the Lord had been on me the evening before the fugitive arrived, and he opened my mouth before the man came to me in the morning. So my mouth was opened and I was no longer mute.^(L)

Israel’s Continued Rebellion

²³ Then the word of the Lord came to me: ²⁴ “Son of man, those who live in the^[d] ruins in the land of Israel are saying, ‘Abraham was only one person,^(M) yet he received possession of the land.^(N) But we are many; surely the land has been given to us as a possession.’^{(O) 25} Therefore say to them, ‘This is what the Lord God says: You eat meat with blood in it,^(P) you look to your idols, and you shed blood. Should you then receive possession of the land? ²⁶ You have relied on your swords, you have committed detestable acts, and each of you has defiled his neighbor’s wife. Should you then receive possession of the land?’ ^(Q)

²⁷ “Tell them this: ‘This is what the Lord God says: As surely as I live, those who are in the ruins will fall by the sword, those in the open field I have given to wild animals to be devoured, and those in the strongholds and caves will die by plague.^{(R) 28} I will make the land a desolate waste,^(S) and its proud strength will come to an end.^(T) The mountains of Israel^(U) will become desolate, with no one passing through. ²⁹ They will know that I am the Lord when I make the land a desolate waste because of all the detestable acts they have committed.’

³⁰ “As for you, son of man, your people are talking about you near the city walls and in the doorways of their houses. One person speaks to another, each saying to his brother, ‘Come and hear what the message is that comes from the Lord!’ ³¹ So my people come to you in crowds,^[e] sit in front of you, and hear your words, but they don’t obey them. Their mouths go on passionately, but their hearts pursue dishonest profit. ³² Yes, to them you are like a singer of passionate songs who has a beautiful voice and plays skillfully on an instrument. They hear your words, but they don’t obey them. ³³ Yet when all this comes true^(V)—and it definitely will—then they will know that a prophet has been among them.”

The Shepherds and God’s Flock

34 The word of the Lord came to me: ² “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy, and say to them, ‘This is what the Lord God says to the shepherds: Woe to the shepherds of Israel, who have been feeding themselves!^(W) Shouldn’t the shepherds feed their flock? ³ You eat the fat, wear the wool, and butcher the fattened animals, but you do not tend the flock.^{(X) 4} You have not strengthened the weak, healed the sick, bandaged the injured, brought back the strays, or sought the lost.^(Y) Instead, you have ruled them with violence and cruelty. ⁵ They were scattered for lack of a shepherd;^(Z) they became food for all the wild animals^(AA) when they were scattered. ⁶ My flock went astray on all the mountains and every high hill.^(AB) My flock was scattered over the whole face of the earth, and there was no one searching or seeking for them.

⁷ “‘Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord. ⁸ As I live—this is the declaration of the Lord God—because my flock, lacking a shepherd, has become prey and food for every wild animal, and because my shepherds do not search for my flock, and because the shepherds feed themselves rather than my flock, ⁹ therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord!

¹⁰ “‘This is what the Lord God says: Look, I am against the shepherds.^(AC) I will demand my flock from them^[f] and prevent them from shepherding the flock. The shepherds will no longer feed themselves, for I will rescue my flock from their mouths so that they will not be food for them.

¹¹ “‘For this is what the Lord God says: See, I myself will search for my flock and look for them. ¹² As a shepherd looks for his sheep on the day he is among his scattered flock, so I will look for my flock. I will rescue them from all the places where they have been scattered^(AD) on a day of clouds and total darkness. ¹³ I will bring them out from the peoples, gather them from the countries, and bring them to their own soil. I will shepherd them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines, and in all the inhabited places of the land. ¹⁴ I will tend them in good pasture, and their grazing place will be on Israel’s lofty mountains. There they will lie down in a good grazing place; they will feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. ¹⁵ I will tend my flock and let them lie down.^(AE) This is the declaration of the Lord God. ¹⁶ I will seek the lost,^(AF) bring back the strays, bandage the injured,^(AG) and strengthen the weak, but I will destroy^[g] the fat and the strong. I will shepherd them with justice.

¹⁷ “‘As for you, my flock, the Lord God says this: Look, I am going to judge between one sheep and another, between the rams and goats.^{(AH) 18} Isn’t it enough for you to feed on the good pasture? Must you also trample the rest of the pasture with your feet? Or isn’t it enough that you drink the clear water? Must you also muddy the rest with your feet? ¹⁹ Yet my flock has to feed on what your feet have trampled, and drink what your feet have muddied.

²⁰ “‘Therefore, this is what the Lord God says to them: See, I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. ²¹ Since you have pushed with flank and shoulder and butted all the weak ones with your horns until you scattered them all over, ²² I will save my flock. They will no longer be prey, and I will judge between one sheep and another. ²³ I will establish over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will shepherd them. He will tend them himself and will be their shepherd.^{(AI) 24} I, the Lord, will be their God, and my servant David^(AJ) will be a prince among them. I, the Lord, have spoken.

²⁵ “‘I will make a covenant of peace^(AK) with them and eliminate dangerous creatures^(AL) from the land, so that they may live securely^(AM) in the wilderness and sleep in the forest. ²⁶ I will make them and the area around my hill^(AN) a blessing: I will send down showers in their season;^(AO) they will be showers of blessing. ²⁷ The trees of the field will yield their fruit, and the land will yield its produce; my flock will be secure in their land. They will know that I am the Lord when I break the bars of their yoke and rescue them from the power of those who enslave them.^{(AP) 28} They will no longer be prey for the nations, and the wild creatures of the earth will not consume them. They will live securely, and no one will frighten them. ²⁹ I will establish for them a place renowned for its agriculture,^[h] and they will no longer be victims of famine in the land. They will no longer endure the insults of the nations.^{(AQ) 30} Then they will know that I, the Lord their God, am with them, and that they, the house of Israel, are my people.^(AR) This is the declaration of the Lord God. ³¹ You are my flock, the human flock of my pasture, and I am your God. This is the declaration of the Lord God.’”^(AS)

Final Exhortations

13 Let brotherly love^(A) continue. ² Don’t neglect to show hospitality, for by doing this some have welcomed angels as guests without knowing it.^{(B) 3} Remember those in prison, as though you were in prison with them, and the mistreated,^[a] as though you yourselves were suffering bodily.^{[b] 4} Marriage is to be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, because God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.^{(C) 5} Keep your life free from the love of money. Be satisfied with what you have, for he himself has said, I will never leave you or abandon you.^{[c](D) 6} Therefore, we may boldly say,

⁷ Remember your leaders who have spoken God’s word to you. As you carefully observe the outcome of their lives, imitate their faith.^{(F) 8} Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.^{(G) 9} Don’t be led astray by various kinds of strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be established by grace and not by food regulations, since those who observe them have not benefited.^{(H) 10} We have an altar from which those who worship at the tabernacle do not have a right to eat.^{(I) 11} For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the most holy place by the high priest^(J) as a sin offering are burned outside the camp.^{(K) 12} Therefore, Jesus also suffered outside the gate,^(L) so that he might sanctify^[e] the people by his own blood. ¹³ Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing his disgrace.^{(M) 14} For we do not have an enduring city here; instead, we seek the one to come.^{(N) 15} Therefore, through him let us continually offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name.^{(O) 16} Don’t neglect to do what is good and to share, for God is pleased with such sacrifices.^{(P) 17} Obey your leaders^[f] and submit to them, since they keep watch^(Q) over your souls as those who will give an account, so that they can do this with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you. ¹⁸ Pray for us, for we are convinced that we have a clear conscience, wanting to conduct ourselves honorably in everything.^{(R) 19} And I urge you all the more to pray^[g] that I may be restored to you very soon.

Benediction and Farewell

²⁰ Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus—the great Shepherd of the sheep^(S)—through the blood of the everlasting covenant,^{(T) 21} equip^[h] you with everything good to do his will, working in us what is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever.^[i](U) Amen.

²² Brothers and sisters, I urge you to receive this message of exhortation, for I have written to you briefly. ²³ Be aware that our brother Timothy has been released. If he comes soon enough, he will be with me when I see you. ²⁴ Greet all your leaders and all the saints. Those who are from Italy send you greetings. ²⁵ Grace be with you all.^(V)

Psalm 115

Glory to God Alone

Downfall of Egypt and Assyria

31 In the eleventh year,^(A) in the third month, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came to me: ² “Son of man, say to Pharaoh king of Egypt and to his hordes,

¹⁰ “‘Therefore, this is what the Lord God says: Since it^[b] towered high in stature and set its top among the clouds, and it^[c] grew proud^(G) on account of its height, ¹¹ I determined to hand it over to a ruler of nations;^(H) he would surely deal with it. I banished it because of its wickedness. ¹² Foreigners, ruthless men from the nations,^(I) cut it down and left it lying. Its limbs fell on the mountains and in every valley; its boughs lay broken in all the earth’s ravines. All the peoples of the earth left its shade and abandoned it. ¹³ All the birds of the sky nested on its fallen trunk, and all the animals of the field were among its boughs. ¹⁴ This happened so that no trees planted beside water would become great in height and set their tops among the clouds, and so that no other well-watered trees would reach them in height. For they have all been consigned to death, to the underworld, among the people^[d] who descend to the Pit.^(J)

¹⁵ “‘This is what the Lord God says: I caused grieving on the day the cedar went down to Sheol.^(K) I closed off the underground deep because of it:^[e] I held back the rivers of the deep, and its abundant water was restrained. I made Lebanon mourn on account of it, and all the trees of the field fainted because of it. ¹⁶ I made the nations quake at the sound of its downfall, when I threw it down to Sheol to be with those who descend to the Pit. Then all the trees of Eden,^(L) the choice and best of Lebanon, all the well-watered trees, were comforted^(M) in the underworld. ¹⁷ They too descended with it to Sheol, to those slain by the sword. As its allies^[f][g] they had lived in its shade among the nations.

¹⁸ “‘Who then are you like in glory and greatness among Eden’s trees? You also will be brought down to the underworld to be with the trees of Eden. You will lie among the uncircumcised with those slain by the sword.^(N) This is Pharaoh and all his hordes. This is the declaration of the Lord God.’”

A Lament for Pharaoh

32 In the twelfth year, in the twelfth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came to me: ² “Son of man, lament^(O) for Pharaoh king of Egypt and say to him,

³ “‘This is what the Lord God says:

¹¹ “‘For this is what the Lord God says:

¹⁶ “‘The daughters of the nations will chant that lament.^(Z) They will chant it over Egypt and all its hordes. This is the declaration of the Lord God.’”

Egypt in Sheol

¹⁷ In the twelfth year,^[l] on the fifteenth day of the month, the word of the Lord came to me: ¹⁸ “Son of man, wail over the hordes of Egypt and bring Egypt and the daughters of mighty nations down to the underworld,^[m] to be with those who descend to the Pit:^(AA)

This is the declaration of the Lord God.

This is the declaration of the Lord God.

Warning against Rejecting God’s Grace

¹⁴ Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness^(A)—without it no one will see the Lord.^{(B) 15} Make sure that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no root of bitterness springs up, causing trouble and defiling many.^{(C) 16} And make sure that there isn’t any immoral^[a] or irreverent^(D) person like Esau, who sold his birthright in exchange for a single meal.^{(E) 17} For you know that later, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, even though he sought it with tears, because he didn’t find any opportunity for repentance.^(F)

¹⁸ For you have not come to what could be touched, to a blazing fire, to darkness, gloom, and storm, ¹⁹ to the blast of a trumpet, and the sound of words. Those who heard it begged that not another word be spoken to them, ²⁰ for they could not bear what was commanded: If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.^{[b](G) 21} The appearance was so terrifying that Moses said, I am trembling with fear.^{[c](H) 22} Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God (the heavenly Jerusalem), to myriads of angels, a festive gathering,^{(I) 23} to the assembly of the firstborn whose names have been written^[d] in heaven, to a Judge, who is God of all, to the spirits of righteous people made perfect,^{(J) 24} and to Jesus, the mediator^(K) of a new covenant,^(L) and to the sprinkled blood, which says better things than the blood of Abel.^(M)

²⁵ See to it that you do not reject the one who speaks. For if they did not escape when they rejected him who warned them on earth, even less will we if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven.^{(N) 26} His voice shook the earth at that time, but now he has promised, Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.^{[e](O) 27} This expression, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of what can be shaken^(P)—that is, created things—so that what is not shaken might remain. ²⁸ Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful. By it, we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe,^{(Q) 29} for our God is a consuming fire.^(R)

Psalm 113

Praise to the Merciful God

Psalm 114

God’s Deliverance of Israel

A Prophecy of Egypt’s Ruin

29 In the tenth year, in the tenth month on the twelfth day of the month, the word of the Lord came to me: ² “Son of man, face Pharaoh king of Egypt and prophesy against him and against all of Egypt.^{(A) 3} Speak to him and say, ‘This is what the Lord God says:

⁸ “‘Therefore, this is what the Lord God says: I am going to bring a sword^(H) against you and cut off both people and animals from you. ⁹ The land of Egypt will be a desolate ruin.^(I) Then they will know that I am the Lord. Because you^[d] said, “The Nile is my own; I made it,” ¹⁰ therefore, I am against you and your Nile. I will turn the land of Egypt into ruins, a desolate waste from Migdol to Syene, as far as the border of Cush. ¹¹ No human foot will pass through it, and no animal foot will pass through it.^(J) It will be uninhabited for forty years. ¹² I will make the land of Egypt a desolation among^[e] desolate lands, and its cities will be a desolation among^[f] ruined cities^(K) for forty years. I will disperse the Egyptians among the nations and scatter them throughout the lands.^(L)

¹³ “‘For this is what the Lord God says: At the end of forty years I will gather the Egyptians from the peoples where they were dispersed.^{(M) 14} I will restore the fortunes of Egypt and bring them back to the land of Pathros, the land of their origin. There they will be a lowly kingdom. ¹⁵ Egypt will be the lowliest of kingdoms and will never again exalt itself over the nations. I will make them so small they cannot rule over the nations. ¹⁶ It will never again be an object of trust^(N) for the house of Israel, drawing attention to their iniquity of turning to the Egyptians. Then they will know that I am the Lord God.’”

Babylon Receives Egypt as Compensation

¹⁷ In the twenty-seventh year, in the first month, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came to me: ¹⁸ “Son of man, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon made his army labor strenuously against Tyre.^(O) Every head was made bald and every shoulder chafed, but he and his army received no compensation from Tyre for the labor he expended against it. ¹⁹ Therefore, this is what the Lord God says: I am going to give the land of Egypt to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon,^(P) and he will carry off its wealth, seizing its spoil and taking its plunder. This will be his army’s compensation. ²⁰ I have given him the land of Egypt as the pay he labored for, since they worked for me.” This is the declaration of the Lord God. ²¹ “In that day I will cause a horn to sprout^(Q) for the house of Israel, and I will enable you to speak out^(R) among them. Then they will know that I am the Lord.”

Egypt’s Doom

30 The word of the Lord came to me: ² “Son of man, prophesy and say, ‘This is what the Lord God says:

⁹ On that day, messengers will go out from me in ships^(Y) to terrify confident Cush. Anguish will come over them on the day of Egypt’s doom.^[l] For indeed it is coming.

¹⁰ “‘This is what the Lord God says:

¹³ “‘This is what the Lord God says:

Pharaoh’s Power Broken

²⁰ In the eleventh year, in the first month, on the seventh day of the month, the word of the Lord came to me: ²¹ “Son of man, I have broken the arm^(AE) of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Look, it has not been bandaged—no medicine has been applied and no splint put on to bandage it so that it can grow strong enough to handle a sword. ²² Therefore, this is what the Lord God says: Look! I am against Pharaoh king of Egypt. I will break his arms, both the strong one and the one already broken, and will make the sword fall from his hand. ²³ I will disperse the Egyptians among the nations and scatter them among the countries.^{(AF) 24} I will strengthen the arms of Babylon’s king and place my sword^(AG) in his hand. But I will break the arms of Pharaoh, and he will groan before him as a mortally wounded man. ²⁵ I will strengthen the arms of Babylon’s king, but Pharaoh’s arms will fall. They will know that I am the Lord when I place my sword in the hand of Babylon’s king and he wields it against the land of Egypt. ²⁶ When I disperse the Egyptians among the nations and scatter them among the countries, they will know that I am the Lord.”

³² And what more can I say? Time is too short for me to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah,^(A) David, Samuel, and the prophets,^{(B) 33} who by faith conquered kingdoms,^(C) administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions,^{(D) 34} quenched the raging of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, gained strength in weakness, became mighty in battle, and put foreign armies to flight.^{(E) 35} Women received their dead, raised to life again. Other people were tortured, not accepting release, so that they might gain a better resurrection. ³⁶ Others experienced mockings and scourgings, as well as bonds and imprisonment.^{(F) 37} They were stoned,^[a](G) they were sawed in two, they died by the sword, they wandered about in sheepskins, in goatskins,^(H) destitute, afflicted, and mistreated. ³⁸ The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and on mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground.

³⁹ All these were approved through their faith, but they did not receive what was promised, ⁴⁰ since God had provided something better for us, so that they would not be made perfect without us.^(I)

The Call to Endurance

12 Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses^(J) surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance^(K) the race that lies before us, ² keeping our eyes on Jesus,^[b] the pioneer and perfecter^[c] of our faith. For the joy that lay before him,^[d] he endured the cross, despising the shame,^(L) and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Fatherly Discipline

³ For consider him who endured such hostility from sinners against himself, so that you won’t grow weary and give up.^{(M) 4} In struggling against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. ⁵ And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons:

⁷ Endure suffering as discipline: God is dealing with you as sons. For what son is there that a father does not discipline? ⁸ But if you are without discipline—which all receive^[f]—then you are illegitimate children and not sons.^{(O) 9} Furthermore, we had human fathers discipline us, and we respected them. Shouldn’t we submit even more to the Father of spirits and live?^{(P) 10} For they disciplined us for a short time based on what seemed good to them, but he does it for our benefit, so that we can share his holiness.^{(Q) 11} No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields the peaceful fruit^(R) of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.^(S)

¹² Therefore, strengthen your tired hands and weakened knees,^{(T) 13} and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated^[g] but healed instead.^(U)

Psalm 112

The Traits of the Righteous

A Lament Over Tyre

27 The word of the Lord came to me. ² You, son of man, take up a lament over Tyre. ³ Tell Tyre, who dwells at the entrances to the sea as a merchant traveling to many coastlands, this is what the Lord God says.

Tyre’s Trade^[g]

¹² Tarshish traded with you because of your great wealth of every kind. They traded silver, iron, tin, and lead for your exports.

¹³ Ionia, Tubal, and Meshek also dealt with you. They traded human beings and articles of bronze for your wares.

¹⁴ From Beth Togarmah, horses, war horses, and mules were traded to you because of the abundance of your products.

¹⁵ The men of Rhodes^[h] also dealt with you. Many coastlands were agents of your trade, bringing back ivory tusks and ebony in payment to you.

¹⁶ Edom^[i] traded with you because of the abundance of your products. They sold turquoise, purple, and finely embroidered cloth, linen, coral, and rubies^[j] to you as exports.

¹⁷ Judah and the land of Israel also dealt with you. With wheat of Minnith, flour, honey, oil, and balm they bought your wares.

¹⁸ Damascus traded with you because of the abundance of your products, because of the abundance of all kinds of wealth. They sold wine of Helbon, wool from Sahar, ¹⁹ and wine casks from Izalla^[k] as exports. Wrought iron, cassia, and calamus were traded for your goods.

²⁰ Dedan traded to you saddle blankets used for riding. ²¹ Arabia and all the rulers of Kedar were your agents for trade in lambs, rams, and goats. They were your agents for those. ²² Merchants of Sheba and Ra’amah dealt with you in all kinds of expensive perfumes and in all kinds of precious stones and gold, which they sold you for your merchandise.

²³ Haran, Kanneh, and Eden, and dealers from Sheba, Assyria, and Kilmad were your dealers. ²⁴ They were your dealers in elegant clothing, in purple garments and finely embroidered cloth, in carpets with multicolored trim, tightly wound with ropes for your marketplaces.

²⁵ Tarshish ships traveled for you with your merchandise.

Tyre’s Collapse

So you were full and very heavily loaded in the midst of the seas. ²⁶ Your rowers brought you out into deep water. An east wind broke you up in the heart of the sea. ²⁷ Your wealth, your exports and your imports, your sailors and your pilots, your repairmen, and those who bring you imports, all your warriors on board—in fact, all your company who were on board—will sink into the heart of the sea on the day of your collapse.

²⁸ At the sound of the cry of distress from your pilots, the fields on the mainland will quake. ²⁹ All who handle the oars will abandon their ships. The sailors and all the pilots of the sea will stand on shore. ³⁰ They will shout loudly because of you and cry out bitterly. They will throw dirt on their heads and roll in ashes. ³¹ They will make themselves bald on account of you and put on sackcloth. They will weep bitterly over you, with a bitter lament. ³² In their grief, they will raise a lament over you. They utter this lament over you, “Who is like Tyre, now silenced in the midst of the sea?” ³³ When your exports were unloaded from the seas, you satisfied many peoples. By your abundant wealth and your imports, you enriched the kings of the earth. ³⁴ Now you have been broken up by the seas and sunk into the watery depths. Your merchandise and the entire company on board have sunk. ³⁵ All the inhabitants of the coastlands are appalled because of you. Their kings’ hair stands on end. Their faces show distress. ³⁶ Traders among the peoples whistle and hiss at you. You have become horrifying, and you will never exist again, forever.

Tyre’s King Is Expelled From Eden

28 The word of the Lord came to me. ² Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre that this is what the Lord God says.

¹¹ The word of the Lord came to me.

An Oracle Against Sidon

²⁰ The word of the Lord came to me.

Hope for Israel

²⁴ Never again will the house of Israel be subjected to those who deride them, who are all around them like prickly briers or painful thorns. Then they will know that I am the Lord God.

²⁵ This is what the Lord God says. When I gather the house of Israel from the peoples where they have been scattered, I will display my holiness through them in the sight of the nations. Then they will live on their own land, which I gave to my servant Jacob. ²⁶ They will live on it in security. They will build houses and plant vineyards. They will live on it in security when I inflict judgments upon all those around them who despise them. Then they will know that I am the Lord, their God.

¹⁷ By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered Isaac. This man, who received the promises, was ready to offer his only son, ¹⁸ about whom it was said, “Through Isaac your offspring will be traced.”^{[a] 19} He reasoned that God also had the ability to raise him from the dead, and in a figurative sense, Abraham did receive him back from the dead.

²⁰ By faith Isaac also blessed Jacob and Esau about things that were going to happen.

²¹ By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons and worshipped as he leaned on the top of his staff.

²² By faith Joseph, as he neared the end of his life, mentioned^[b] the Exodus of the sons of Israel and gave instructions about his bones.

²³ By faith Moses was hidden by his parents for three months after he was born, because they saw he was a special child, and they were not afraid of the king’s order.

²⁴ By faith Moses refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter when he grew up. ²⁵ He chose to be mistreated with God’s people rather than enjoy sin for a little while. ²⁶ He considered disgrace for the sake of Christ as greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.

²⁷ By faith he left Egypt without fearing the king’s wrath, because he persevered as one who sees him who is invisible.

²⁸ By faith he celebrated the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not strike them down.

²⁹ By faith they passed through the Red Sea, as if going through on dry ground. When the Egyptians tried it, they were drowned.

³⁰ By faith the walls of Jericho fell after the people marched around them for seven days.

³¹ By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with the unbelievers, because she welcomed the spies in peace.

Psalm 111

God’s Works and God’s Word

Opening Praise

God’s Works

God’s Word

Closing Praise

A Parable About the Siege of Jerusalem

24 The word of the Lord came to me in the ninth year, in the tenth month, on the tenth day of the month.^[a]

The Death of Ezekiel’s Wife

¹⁵ The word of the Lord came to me.

Oracles Against the Nations
An Oracle Against the Ammonites

25 The word of the Lord came to me.

An Oracle Against Moab and Edom

⁸ This is what the Lord God says.

An Oracle Against the Philistines

¹⁵ This is what the Lord God says.

An Oracle Against Tyre

26 In the eleventh year, on the first day of the month,^[k] the word of the Lord came to me.

Faith

11 Faith is being sure about what we hope for, being convinced about things we do not see. ² For by this faith the ancients were commended in Scripture.^[a]

³ By faith we know that the universe was created by God’s word, so that what is seen did not come from visible things.

⁴ By faith Abel offered a better sacrifice to God than Cain did. By faith he was commended in Scripture as righteous; God testified favorably about his gifts. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.

⁵ By faith Enoch was taken up, so that he would not experience death, and he was not found because God took him away.^[b] In fact, before he was taken away, he was commended in Scripture as one who “pleased God.”^{[c] 6} And without faith it is impossible to please God. Indeed, it is necessary for the one who approaches God to believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

⁷ By faith Noah, when he was warned about things that had not been seen before, built an ark, in reverent fear, in order to save his family. By it he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that is by faith.

⁸ By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go to a place that he was going to receive as an inheritance, and he left without knowing where he was going.

⁹ By faith he lived as a stranger in the Promised Land, as if it did not belong to him, dwelling in tents along with Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. ¹⁰ For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

¹¹ By faith Abraham also received the ability to conceive children, even though Sarah herself was barren and he was past the normal age, because he considered him faithful who made the promise.^{[d] 12} And so from one man, and he as good as dead, descendants were born as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand along the seashore.

¹³ One by one, all of these died in faith, without having received the things that were promised, but they saw and welcomed them from a distance. They confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. ¹⁴ Indeed, people who say things like that make it clear that they are looking for a land of their own. ¹⁵ And if they were remembering the land they had come from, they would have had an opportunity to return. ¹⁶ Instead, they were longing for a better land—a heavenly one. For that reason, God is not ashamed to be called their God, because he prepared a city for them.

Psalm 110

The Lord’s Decree to My Lord

Heading
By David. A psalm.

The First Decree of the Lord

Description of King Messiah’s Rule

The Second Decree of the Lord

Description of King Messiah’s Rule

Two Lewd Sisters Act Like Prostitutes

23 The word of the Lord came to me.

¹⁸ Now where these sins are forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin.

Confidence Through Christ

¹⁹ Brothers,^[a] we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place through the blood of Jesus. ²⁰ It is a new and living way he opened for us through the curtain, that is, his flesh. ²¹ We also have a great priest over the house of God. ²² So let us approach with a sincere heart, in the full confidence of faith, because our hearts have been sprinkled to take away a bad conscience, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. ²³ Let us hold on firmly to the confession of our hope without wavering, since he who promised is faithful.

Do Not Keep On Sinning

²⁴ Let us also consider carefully how to spur each other on to love and good works. ²⁵ Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have the habit of doing. Rather, let us encourage each other, and all the more as you see the Day^[b] approaching.

²⁶ For if we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the full knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains any sacrifice for sins. ²⁷ Instead, there is a certain fearful expectation of judgment and a raging fire that is going to consume the enemies of God. ²⁸ Anyone who rejected the law of Moses was put to death without pity, on the basis of the testimony of two or three witnesses. ²⁹ How much greater punishment do you think will be deserved by the person who trampled the Son of God underfoot, who considered insignificant the blood of the covenant, by which he was sanctified, and who insulted the Spirit of grace? ³⁰ For we know the one who said:

And again:

³¹ It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Endure Suffering Patiently

³² Remember the former days when, after you were enlightened, you patiently endured a great struggle of sufferings. ³³ Sometimes you were publicly shamed by insults and persecutions. At other times you became companions of those who were treated this way. ³⁴ Indeed, you also sympathized with those in prison,^[e] and when your possessions were seized, you accepted it with joy, because you knew that you yourselves had a better and lasting possession. ³⁵ So do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. ³⁶ Certainly you need patient endurance so that, after you do God’s will, you may receive what was promised. ³⁷ For in just a little while:

³⁹ Now we are not part of those who shrink back, resulting in destruction, but of those who have faith, resulting in the soul’s salvation.

Psalm 109

Deceitful Men Have Opened Their Mouths

Heading
For the choir director. By David. A psalm.

The Problem and the Prayer

The Curse

Prayer for Help

Closing Praise

The Lord’s Punishing Sword Is Drawn

21 The word of the Lord came to me.^[a]

⁸ The word of the Lord came to me.

Two Roads for the Sword

¹⁸ The word of the Lord came to me.

Judgment on the Bloody City for Her Abominations

22 The word of the Lord came to me.

¹⁷ The word of the Lord came to me.

²³ The word of the Lord came to me.

Animal Sacrifices Are Not Sufficient

10 In fact, the law is only a shadow of the good things to come, not the actual realization of those things. It will never be able to make perfect those who continually offer the same sacrifices year after year. ² If it could do this, would they not have stopped bringing sacrifices, because the worshippers, once they were cleansed, would no longer have a bad conscience about sins? ³ Instead, these sacrifices reminded them of their sins year after year. ⁴ The fact is that the blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sins.

⁵ Therefore when he entered the world, Christ said:

⁸ First he said:

⁹ Then he said:

He does away with the first in order to establish the second. ¹⁰ By this will, we have been sanctified once and for all, through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ.

Christ’s Sacrifice Is Sufficient

¹¹ In the one case, every priest stood ministering day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which are never able to remove sin. ¹² In the other case, this priest, after he offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God. ¹³ Since then he has been waiting until his enemies are made a footstool under his feet. ¹⁴ By only one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being sanctified.

¹⁵ The Holy Spirit also testifies in Scripture^[d] to us, for first he said:

¹⁷ Then he adds:

Psalm 108

My Heart Is Steadfast
(Psalm 108:1-5 parallels Psalm 57:7-11)
(Psalm 108:6-13 parallels Psalm 60:5-12)

Heading
A song. A psalm by David.

David’s Confident Praise

David’s Prayer

David’s Confidence in God’s Help

A Review of the Old Covenant and a Promise of the New

20 In the seventh year,^[a] in the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month, men came from the elders of Israel to consult the Lord, and they sat down in front of me. ² Then the word of the Lord came to me. ³ “Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel and tell them this.”

This is what the Lord God says to them:

²⁷ Therefore, speak to the house of Israel, son of man, and tell them this.

³⁰ Therefore, say this to the house of Israel.

Prophecy Against the Southland

⁴⁵ The word of the Lord came to me.^[g]

⁴⁹ Then I said, “Oh, Lord God, they are saying about me, ‘Doesn’t he just talk in puzzling parables?’”

Jesus’ Blood

¹¹ But when Christ appeared as the high priest of the good things that were coming,^[a] he went through the greater and more complete tent, which was not made by human hands (that is, it is not part of this creation). ¹² He entered once into the Most Holy Place and obtained eternal redemption, not by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood. ¹³ Now if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkled on those who were unclean, sanctifies them so that their flesh is clean, ¹⁴ how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, cleanse our^[b] consciences from dead works, so that we worship the living God?

¹⁵ For this reason, he is the mediator of a new covenant. A death took place as payment for the trespasses committed under the first covenant, so that those who are called would receive the promised eternal inheritance. ¹⁶ For where a will^[c] exists, it is necessary to establish the death of the one who made the will. ¹⁷ For a will takes effect at the time of death, since it is never in force when the one who made the will is still living.

¹⁸ For this reason, the first covenant was not ratified without blood. ¹⁹ Indeed, after every command was spoken by Moses to all the people, in accordance with the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats,^[d] with water and scarlet wool and a hyssop branch, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people. ²⁰ He said, “This is the blood of the covenant that God established for you.”^{[e] 21} In the same way he sprinkled blood on the tent and all the objects for worship. ²² And nearly everything is cleansed with blood according to the law. And, without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.

One Perfect Sacrifice

²³ Therefore, it was necessary that the copies of the things in heaven be cleansed by these sacrifices, but it was necessary that the heavenly things themselves be cleansed with sacrifices better than these. ²⁴ For Christ did not enter a handmade sanctuary, a representation of the true sanctuary. Instead, he entered into heaven itself, now to appear before God on our behalf. ²⁵ And he did not enter to offer himself many times, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place year after year with blood that is not his own. ²⁶ Otherwise he would have needed to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But now he has appeared once and for all, at the climax of the ages, in order to take away sin by the sacrifice of himself. ²⁷ And, just as it is appointed for people to die only once and after this comes the judgment, ²⁸ so also Christ was offered only once to take away the sins of many, and he will appear a second time—without sin—to bring salvation to those who are eagerly waiting for him.

Book V
Psalms 107–150

Psalm 107

He Redeemed Them From Trouble

Invocation to Give Thanks

First Crisis: The Wilderness

Refrain

Second Crisis: Imprisonment

Refrain

Third Crisis: Rebellion

Refrain

Fourth Crisis: On the Sea

Refrain

Curses and Blessings

Application: Be Wise

The Wicked Will Die; The Righteous Will Live

18 The word of the Lord came to me.

A Parable About Israel’s Princes

19 Now you are to take up a lament for the princes of Israel. ² This is what you are to say:

This is a lament, and it was used as a lament.

The Earthly Tent

9 The first covenant had regulations for worship and for an earthly sanctuary. ² The first room of the tent was furnished with the lampstand, the table, and the Bread of the Presence.^[a] This room was called the Holy Place. ³ And behind the second curtain was the room of the tent called the Most Holy Place. ⁴ It had the golden censer for incense^[b] and the Ark of the Covenant, which was covered entirely with gold. Inside the Ark was the golden jar holding the manna, Aaron’s staff that had sprouted buds, and the stone tablets of the covenant. ⁵ Above the Ark, the glorious cherubim overshadowed the atonement seat. We are not going to talk about these things in detail now.

⁶ After these things had been furnished in this way, the priests would always enter the first room of the tent to perform their ministries. ⁷ But only the high priest would enter the second section of the tent, once each year, and not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people committed in ignorance. ⁸ By this the Holy Spirit indicates that, while the first room of the tent existed, a way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed.

⁹ This tent is a picture pointing to the present time. Since it is only a picture, the gifts and sacrifices that are brought there are not able to clear the conscience of the worshipper. ¹⁰ They are only bodily regulations about foods, drinks, and various washings, which were in force until the time of the new order.

Rebellion Continues in the Land

The Judgment

God’s Grace

Closing Prayer

Closing Doxology