A Walk Through The Word

Jeremiah’s Speech in the Temple

26 At the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim^(A) son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came from the Lord: ² “This is what the Lord says: Stand in the courtyard of the Lord’s temple and speak all the words I have commanded you to speak to all Judah’s cities that are coming to worship there. Do not hold back a word.^{(B) 3} Perhaps they will listen and turn—each from his evil way of life—so that I might relent^(C) concerning the disaster that I plan to do to them because of the evil of their deeds. ⁴ You are to say to them, ‘This is what the Lord says: If you do not listen to me by living according to my instruction that I set before you^{(D) 5} and by listening to the words of my servants the prophets^(E)—whom I have been sending to you time and time again,^[a](F) though you did not listen— ⁶ I will make this temple like Shiloh.^(G) I will make this city an example for cursing for all the nations of the earth.’”

Jeremiah Seized

⁷ The priests, the prophets, and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the temple of the Lord. ⁸ When he finished the address the Lord had commanded him to deliver to all the people, immediately the priests, the prophets, and all the people took hold of him, yelling, “You must surely die! ⁹ How dare you prophesy in the name of the Lord, ‘This temple will become like Shiloh and this city will become an uninhabited ruin’!” Then all the people crowded around Jeremiah at the Lord’s temple.

¹⁰ When the officials of Judah heard about these things, they went from the king’s palace to the Lord’s temple and sat at the entrance of the New Gate of the Lord’s temple.^{[b](H) 11} Then the priests and prophets said to the officials and all the people, “This man deserves the death sentence because he has prophesied against this city, as you have heard with your own ears.”^(I)

Jeremiah’s Defense

¹² Then Jeremiah said to all the officials and all the people, “The Lord sent me to prophesy all the words that you have heard against this temple and city. ¹³ So now, correct your ways and deeds,^(J) and obey the Lord your God so that he might relent concerning the disaster he had pronounced against you. ¹⁴ As for me, here I am in your hands; do to me what you think is good and right. ¹⁵ But know for certain that if you put me to death, you will bring innocent blood^(K) on yourselves, on this city, and on its residents, for it is certain the Lord has sent me to speak all these things directly to you.”

Jeremiah Released

¹⁶ Then the officials and all the people told the priests and prophets, “This man doesn’t deserve the death sentence, for he has spoken to us in the name of the Lord our God!”

¹⁷ Some of the elders of the land stood up^(L) and said to all the assembled people, ¹⁸ “Micah the Moreshite^(M) prophesied in the days of King Hezekiah of Judah^(N) and said to all the people of Judah, ‘This is what the Lord of Armies says:

¹⁹ Did King Hezekiah of Judah and all the people of Judah put him to death? Did not the king fear the Lord and plead for the Lord’s favor,^[c](P) and did not the Lord relent concerning the disaster he had pronounced against them?^(Q) We are about to bring a terrible disaster on ourselves!”

The Prophet Uriah

²⁰ Another man was also prophesying in the name of the Lord—Uriah son of Shemaiah from Kiriath-jearim.^(R) He prophesied against this city and against this land in words like all those of Jeremiah. ²¹ King Jehoiakim, all his warriors, and all the officials heard his words, and the king tried to put him to death. When Uriah heard, he fled in fear and went to Egypt. ²² But King Jehoiakim sent men to Egypt: Elnathan son of Achbor^(S) and certain other men with him went to Egypt. ²³ They brought Uriah out of Egypt and took him to King Jehoiakim, who executed him with the sword and threw his corpse into the burial place of the common people.^[d]

²⁴ But Ahikam^(T) son of Shaphan supported Jeremiah, so he was not handed over to the people to be put to death.

The Yoke of Babylon

27 At the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah^[e] son of Josiah, king of Judah,^(U) this word came to Jeremiah from the Lord:^{[f] 2} This is what the Lord said to me: “Make chains and yoke bars^(V) for yourself and put them on your neck.^{(W) 3} Send word to the king of Edom, the king of Moab, the king of the Ammonites, the king of Tyre, and the king of Sidon^(X) through messengers who are coming to King Zedekiah of Judah in Jerusalem. ⁴ Command them to go to their masters, saying, ‘This is what the Lord of Armies, the God of Israel, says: Tell this to your masters: ⁵ “By my great strength and outstretched arm,^(Y) I made the earth,^(Z) and the people, and animals on the face of the earth. I give it to anyone I please.^{[g](AA) 6} So now I have placed all these lands under the authority of my servant^(AB) Nebuchadnezzar,^(AC) king of Babylon. I have even given him the wild animals to serve him. ⁷ All nations will serve him, his son, and his grandson until the time for his own land comes, and then many nations and great kings will enslave him.^(AD)

⁸ “‘“As for the nation or kingdom that does not serve King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and does not place its neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, that nation I will punish by sword, famine, and plague—this is the Lord’s declaration—until through him I have destroyed it. ⁹ So you should not listen to your prophets, diviners,^(AE) dreamers, fortune-tellers,^(AF) or sorcerers^(AG) who say to you, ‘Don’t serve the king of Babylon!’ ¹⁰ They are prophesying a lie^(AH) to you so that you will be removed from your land. I will banish you, and you will perish. ¹¹ But as for the nation that will put its neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon and serve him, I will leave it in its own land, and that nation will cultivate^[h] it and reside in it. This is the Lord’s declaration.”’”

Warning to Zedekiah

¹² I spoke to King Zedekiah of Judah^(AI) in the same way: “Put your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon, serve him and his people, and live! ¹³ Why should you and your people die^(AJ) by the sword, famine, and plague as the Lord has threatened against any nation that does not serve the king of Babylon? ¹⁴ Do not listen to the words of the prophets who are telling you, ‘Don’t serve the king of Babylon,’ for they are prophesying a lie to you.^{(AK) 15} ‘I have not sent them’—this is the Lord’s declaration—‘and they are prophesying falsely in my name; therefore, I will banish you, and you will perish—you and the prophets who are prophesying to you.’”

¹⁶ Then I spoke to the priests and all these people, saying, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Do not listen to the words of your prophets. They are prophesying to you, claiming, “Look, very soon now the articles of the Lord’s temple will be brought back from Babylon.”^(AL) They are prophesying a lie to you. ¹⁷ Do not listen to them. Serve the king of Babylon and live! Why should this city become a ruin?^{(AM) 18} If they are indeed prophets and if the word of the Lord is with them, let them intercede with the Lord of Armies not to let the articles that remain in the Lord’s temple, in the palace of the king of Judah, and in Jerusalem go to Babylon.’ ¹⁹ For this is what the Lord of Armies says about the pillars, the basin,^[i] the water carts,^(AN) and the rest of the articles that still remain in this city, ²⁰ those King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon did not take when he deported Jeconiah^[j] son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, from Jerusalem to Babylon along with all the nobles of Judah^(AO) and Jerusalem. ²¹ Yes, this is what the Lord of Armies, the God of Israel, says about the articles that remain in the temple of the Lord, in the palace of the king of Judah, and in Jerusalem: ²² ‘They will be taken to Babylon and will remain there until I attend to them again.’^(AP) This is the Lord’s declaration. ‘Then I will bring them up and restore them to this place.’”^(AQ)

Pray for Us

3 In addition, brothers and sisters, pray for us that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you,^{(A) 2} and that we may be delivered^(B) from wicked and evil people, for not all have faith.^{[a] 3} But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.^{(C) 4} We have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will continue to do what we command. ⁵ May the Lord direct your hearts to God’s love and Christ’s endurance.^(D)

Warning against Irresponsible Behavior

⁶ Now we command you, brothers and sisters, in the name^(E) of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from every brother or sister^(F) who is idle and does not live^[b] according to the tradition^(G) received^(H) from us. ⁷ For you yourselves know how you should imitate^(I) us: We were not idle among you; ⁸ we did not eat^(J) anyone’s food free of charge;^(K) instead, we labored^(L) and toiled,^(M) working^(N) night and day, so that we would not be a burden^(O) to any of you. ⁹ It is not that we don’t have the right^(P) to support, but we did it to make ourselves an example to you so that you would imitate^(Q) us. ¹⁰ In fact, when we were with you, this is what we commanded you: “If anyone isn’t willing to work, he should not eat.”^{(R) 11} For we hear that there are some among you who are idle. They are not busy but busybodies.^{(S) 12} Now we command and exhort such people by the Lord Jesus Christ to work quietly and provide for themselves.^{[c] 13} But as for you, brothers and sisters, do not grow weary^(T) in doing good.

¹⁴ If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take note of that person; don’t associate with him, so that he may be ashamed. ¹⁵ Yet don’t consider him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.

Final Greetings

¹⁶ May the Lord of peace^(U) himself give you peace always in every way.^(V) The Lord be with all of you.^{(W) 17} I, Paul, am writing this greeting with my own hand,^(X) which is an authenticating mark in every letter; this is how I write. ¹⁸ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

Psalm 85

Restoration of Favor

For the choir director. A psalm of the sons of Korah.

²³ “Am I a God who is only near”^(D)—this is the Lord’s declaration—“and not a God who is far away? ²⁴ Can a person hide in secret places where I cannot see him?” ^(E)—the Lord’s declaration. “Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?” ^(F)—the Lord’s declaration.

²⁵ “I have heard what the prophets who prophesy a lie in my name have said: ‘I had a dream! I had a dream!’ ^{(G) 26} How long will this continue in the minds of the prophets prophesying lies, prophets of the deceit of their own minds? ²⁷ Through their dreams that they tell one another, they plan to cause my people to forget my name as their ancestors forgot my name through Baal worship.^{(H) 28} The prophet who has only a dream should recount the dream, but the one who has my word should speak my word truthfully, for what is straw compared to grain?”—this is the Lord’s declaration. ²⁹ “Is not my word like fire”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“and like a hammer that pulverizes rock? ³⁰ Therefore, take note! I am against the prophets”^(I)—the Lord’s declaration—“who steal my words from each other. ³¹ I am against the prophets”—the Lord’s declaration—“who use their own tongues to make a declaration. ³² I am against those who prophesy false dreams”^(J)—the Lord’s declaration—“telling them and leading my people astray with their reckless lies. It was not I who sent or commanded them, and they are of no benefit at all^(K) to these people”—this is the Lord’s declaration.

The Burden of the Lord

³³ “Now when these people or a prophet or a priest asks you, ‘What is the burden^[a] of the Lord?’ you will respond to them, ‘What is the burden? I will throw you away! This is the Lord’s declaration.’ ³⁴ As for the prophet, priest, or people who say, ‘The burden of the Lord,’ I will punish that man and his household. ³⁵ This is what each man is to say to his friend and to his brother: ‘What has the Lord answered?’ or ‘What has the Lord spoken?’ ³⁶ But no longer refer to^[b] the burden of the Lord, for each man’s word becomes his burden and you pervert the words of the living God, the Lord of Armies, our God. ³⁷ Say to the prophet, ‘What has the Lord answered you?’ or ‘What has the Lord spoken?’ ³⁸ But if you say, ‘The burden of the Lord,’ then this is what the Lord says: Because you have said, ‘The burden of the Lord,’ and I specifically told you not to say, ‘The burden of the Lord,’ ³⁹ I will surely forget you.^[c] I will throw you away from my presence—both you and the city that I gave you and your ancestors. ⁴⁰ I will bring on you everlasting disgrace and humiliation^(L) that will never be forgotten.”

The Good and the Bad Figs

24 After King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had deported Jeconiah^[d] son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, the officials of Judah, and the craftsmen and metalsmiths^(M) from Jerusalem and had brought them to Babylon, the Lord showed me two baskets of figs^(N) placed in front of the temple of the Lord. ² One basket contained very good figs, like early figs,^(O) but the other basket contained very bad figs, so bad they were inedible. ³ The Lord said to me, “What do you see, Jeremiah?”

I said, “Figs! The good figs are very good, but the bad figs are extremely bad, so bad they are inedible.”

⁴ The word of the Lord came to me: ⁵ “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Like these good figs, so I regard as good the exiles from Judah I sent away from this place to the land of the Chaldeans. ⁶ I will keep my eyes on them for their good^(P) and will return them to this land. I will build them up and not demolish them; I will plant them and not uproot them.^{(Q) 7} I will give them a heart to know me,^(R) that I am the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God because they will return to me with all their heart.^(S)

⁸ “But as for the bad figs, so bad they are inedible,^(T) this is what the Lord says: In this way I will deal with King Zedekiah of Judah, his officials, and the remnant of Jerusalem—those remaining in this land or living in the land of Egypt.^{(U) 9} I will make them an object of horror^(V) and a disaster to all the kingdoms of the earth, an example for disgrace, scorn, ridicule,^(W) and cursing, wherever I have banished them.^{(X) 10} I will send the sword, famine, and plague^(Y) against them until they have perished from the land I gave to them and their ancestors.”

The Seventy-Year Exile

25 This is the word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah in the fourth year of Jehoiakim^(Z) son of Josiah, king of Judah (which was the first year of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon). ² The prophet Jeremiah spoke concerning all the people of Judah and all the residents of Jerusalem as follows: ³ “From the thirteenth year of Josiah son of Amon,^(AA) king of Judah, until this very day—twenty-three years—the word of the Lord has come to me, and I have spoken to you time and time again,^[e](AB) but you have not obeyed. ⁴ The Lord sent all his servants the prophets to you time and time again,^[f] but you have not obeyed or even paid attention.^{[g](AC) 5} He announced, ‘Turn, each of you, from your evil way of life and from your evil deeds.^(AD) Live in the land the Lord gave to you and your ancestors long ago and forever.^{(AE) 6} Do not follow other gods to serve them and to bow in worship to them,^(AF) and do not anger me by the work of your hands.^(AG) Then I will do you no harm.

⁷ “‘But you have not obeyed me’—this is the Lord’s declaration—‘with the result that you have angered me by the work of your hands and brought disaster on yourselves.’

⁸ “Therefore, this is what the Lord of Armies says: ‘Because you have not obeyed my words, ⁹ I am going to send for all the families of the north’^(AH)—this is the Lord’s declaration—‘and send for my servant^(AI) Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and I will bring them against this land, against its residents, and against all these surrounding nations, and I will completely destroy them and make them an example of horror^(AJ) and scorn, and ruins forever.^{(AK) 10} I will eliminate the sound of joy and gladness from them—the voice of the groom and the bride,^(AL) the sound of the millstones and the light of the lamp. ¹¹ This whole land will become a desolate ruin, and these nations will serve the king of Babylon for seventy years.^{(AM) 12} When the seventy years are completed, I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation’—this is the Lord’s declaration—‘the land of the Chaldeans, for their iniquity, and I will make it a ruin forever.^{(AN) 13} I will bring on that land all my words I have spoken against it, all that is written in this book that Jeremiah prophesied against all the nations. ¹⁴ For many nations and great kings will enslave them, and I will repay them according to their deeds and the work of their hands.’”^(AO)

The Cup of God’s Wrath

¹⁵ This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, said to me: “Take this cup of the wine of wrath from my hand and make all the nations to whom I am sending you drink from it.^{(AP) 16} They will drink, stagger,^[h] and go out of their minds because of the sword I am sending among them.”^(AQ)

¹⁷ So I took the cup from the Lord’s hand and made all the nations to whom the Lord sent me drink from it.

²⁷ “Then you are to say to them, ‘This is what the Lord of Armies, the God of Israel, says: Drink,^(AT) get drunk, and vomit. Fall down and never get up again, as a result of the sword I am sending among you.’ ²⁸ If^[k] they refuse to accept the cup from your hand and drink, you are to say to them, ‘This is what the Lord of Armies says: You must drink! ²⁹ For I am already bringing disaster^(AU) on the city that bears my name,^(AV) so how could you possibly go unpunished? You will not go unpunished, for I am summoning a sword against all the inhabitants of the earth. This is the declaration of the Lord of Armies.’^(AW)

Judgment on the Whole World

³⁰ “As for you, you are to prophesy all these things to them, and say to them:

³² “This is what the Lord of Armies says:

³³ Those slain by the Lord^(BB) on that day will be scattered from one end of the earth to the other. They will not be mourned,^(BC) gathered, or buried. They will be like manure on the soil’s surface.

The Man of Lawlessness

2 Now concerning the coming^(A) of our Lord^(B) Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him: We ask you, brothers and sisters, ² not to be easily upset or troubled, either by a prophecy^[a](C) or by a message or by a letter supposedly from us, alleging that the day of the Lord^[b](D) has come.^{(E) 3} Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way. For that day will not come unless the apostasy^[c] comes first and the man of lawlessness^[d] is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. ⁴ He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god^(F) or object of worship,^(G) so that he sits^[e] in God’s temple, proclaiming that he himself is God.

⁵ Don’t you remember that when I was still with you I used to tell you about this? ⁶ And you know what currently restrains him, so that he will be revealed in his time.^{(H) 7} For the mystery of lawlessness^(I) is already at work, but the one now restraining will do so until he is out of the way, ⁸ and then the lawless one will be revealed. The Lord Jesus will destroy him with the breath of his mouth^(J) and will bring him to nothing at the appearance of his coming. ⁹ The coming of the lawless one is based on Satan’s working, with every kind of miracle, both signs and wonders serving the lie,^{(K) 10} and with every wicked deception among those who are perishing. They perish because they did not accept the love of the truth and so be saved.^{(L) 11} For this reason God sends them a strong delusion so that they will believe the lie, ¹² so that all will be condemned^(M)—those who did not believe^(N) the truth but delighted in unrighteousness.

Stand Firm

¹³ But we ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because from the beginning^[f] God has chosen^(O) you for salvation through sanctification^(P) by the Spirit and through belief in the truth. ¹⁴ He called you to this through our gospel, so that you might obtain the glory^(Q) of our Lord Jesus Christ. ¹⁵ So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm^(R) and hold to the traditions you were taught,^(S) whether by what we said or what we wrote.

¹⁶ May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who has loved^(T) us and given us eternal encouragement and good hope by grace, ¹⁷ encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good work and word.

Psalm 84

Longing for God’s House

For the choir director: on the Gittith.^(A) A psalm of the sons of Korah.

Judgment against Sinful Kings

22 This is what the Lord says: “Go down to the palace of the king of Judah and announce this word there. ² You are to say, ‘Hear the word of the Lord, king of Judah, you who sit on the throne of David^(A)—you, your officers, and your people who enter these gates. ³ This is what the Lord says: Administer justice and righteousness.^(B) Rescue the victim of robbery from his oppressor.^(C) Don’t exploit or brutalize the resident alien, the fatherless, or the widow.^(D) Don’t shed innocent blood in this place. ⁴ For if you conscientiously carry out this word, then kings sitting on David’s throne will enter through the gates of this palace^(E) riding on chariots and horses—they, their officers, and their people. ⁵ But if you do not obey these words, then I swear by myself^(F)—this is the Lord’s declaration—that this house will become a ruin.’”^(G)

⁶ For this is what the Lord says concerning the house of the king of Judah:

⁸ “Many nations will pass by this city and ask one another, ‘Why did the Lord do such a thing to this great city?’ ⁹ They will answer, ‘Because they abandoned the covenant^(J) of the Lord their God and bowed in worship to other gods and served them.’”^(K)

A Message concerning Shallum

¹¹ For this is what the Lord says concerning Shallum^(M) son of Josiah, king of Judah, who became king in place of his father Josiah, and who has left this place: “He will never return here again, ¹² but he will die in the place where they deported him, never seeing this land again.”

A Message concerning Jehoiakim

¹⁸ Therefore, this is what the Lord says concerning Jehoiakim^(T) son of Josiah, king of Judah:

A Message concerning Coniah

²⁴ “As I live”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“though you, Coniah^[e](AA) son of Jehoiakim, the king of Judah, were a signet ring^(AB) on my right hand, I would tear you from it. ²⁵ In fact, I will hand you over to those you dread,^(AC) who intend to take your life, to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and the Chaldeans. ²⁶ I will hurl you and the mother who gave birth^(AD) to you into another land,^(AE) where neither of you were born, and there you will both die. ²⁷ They will never return to the land they long to return to.”

³⁰ This is what the Lord says:

The Lord and His Sheep

23 “Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!” ^(AI) This is the Lord’s declaration. ² “Therefore, this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says about the shepherds who tend my people: You have scattered my flock,^(AJ) banished them, and have not attended to them.^(AK) I am about to attend to you because of your evil acts”—this is the Lord’s declaration. ³ “I will gather the remnant of my flock from all the lands where I have banished them,^(AL) and I will return them to their grazing land. They will become fruitful and numerous.^{(AM) 4} I will raise up shepherds over them who will tend them.^(AN) They will no longer be afraid or discouraged, nor will any be missing.”^(AO) This is the Lord’s declaration.

The Righteous Branch of David

⁷ “Look, the days are coming”^(AU)—the Lord’s declaration—“when it will no longer be said, ‘As the Lord lives^(AV) who brought the Israelites from the land of Egypt,’ ⁸ but, ‘As the Lord lives, who brought and led the descendants of the house of Israel from the land of the north and from all the other countries where I^[g] had banished them.’ They will dwell once more in their own land.”^(AW)

False Prophets Condemned

⁹ Concerning the prophets:

¹⁵ Therefore, this is what the Lord of Armies says concerning the prophets:

¹⁶ This is what the Lord of Armies says: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They are deluding you. They speak visions from their own minds,^(BK) not from the Lord’s mouth.^{(BL) 17} They keep on saying to those who despise me,^(BM) ‘The Lord has spoken: You will have peace.’^(BN) They have said to everyone who follows the stubbornness of his heart, ‘No harm will come to you.’”

Greeting

1 Paul, Silvanus,^[a](A) and Timothy:^(B)

To the church of the Thessalonians^(C) in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

² Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

God’s Judgment and Glory

³ We ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, since your faith is flourishing and the love^(D) each one of you has for one another^(E) is increasing.^{(F) 4} Therefore, we ourselves boast^(G) about you among God’s churches—about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and afflictions that you are enduring. ⁵ It is clear evidence of God’s righteous^(H) judgment^(I) that you will be counted worthy of God’s kingdom, for which you also are suffering,^{(J) 6} since it is just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you ⁷ and to give relief to you who are afflicted, along with us. This will take place at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with his powerful angels, ⁸ when he takes vengeance with flaming fire^(K) on those who don’t know God^(L) and on those who don’t obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.^{(M) 9} They will pay the penalty of eternal destruction^(N) from the Lord’s presence^(O) and from his glorious strength^{(P) 10} on that day when he comes^(Q) to be glorified^(R) by his saints^(S) and to be marveled at by all those who have believed, because our testimony among you was believed. ¹¹ In view of this, we always pray for you that our God will make you worthy of his calling,^(T) and by his power fulfill your every desire to do good^[b] and your work produced by faith,^{(U) 12} so that the name^(V) of our Lord Jesus will be glorified^(W) by you, and you by him,^(X) according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Psalm 83

Prayer against Enemies

A song. A psalm of Asaph.^(A)

19 This is what the Lord says: “Go and buy a clay jar from a potter.^(A) Take along some of the elders^(B) of the people and of the priests ² and go out to the Valley of Ben Hinnom,^(C) near the entrance of the Potsherd Gate. There proclaim the words I tell you, ³ and say, ‘Hear the word of the Lord, you kings^(D) of Judah and people of Jerusalem. This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Listen! I am going to bring a disaster^(E) on this place that will make the ears of everyone who hears of it tingle.^{(F) 4} For they have forsaken^(G) me and made this a place of foreign gods^(H); they have burned incense^(I) in it to gods that neither they nor their ancestors nor the kings of Judah ever knew, and they have filled this place with the blood of the innocent.^{(J) 5} They have built the high places of Baal to burn their children^(K) in the fire as offerings to Baal—something I did not command or mention, nor did it enter my mind.^{(L) 6} So beware, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when people will no longer call this place Topheth^(M) or the Valley of Ben Hinnom,^(N) but the Valley of Slaughter.^(O)

⁷ “‘In this place I will ruin^[a] the plans^(P) of Judah and Jerusalem. I will make them fall by the sword before their enemies,^(Q) at the hands of those who want to kill them, and I will give their carcasses^(R) as food^(S) to the birds and the wild animals. ⁸ I will devastate this city and make it an object of horror and scorn;^(T) all who pass by will be appalled^(U) and will scoff because of all its wounds.^{(V) 9} I will make them eat^(W) the flesh of their sons and daughters, and they will eat one another’s flesh because their enemies^(X) will press the siege so hard against them to destroy them.’

¹⁰ “Then break the jar^(Y) while those who go with you are watching, ¹¹ and say to them, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: I will smash^(Z) this nation and this city just as this potter’s jar is smashed and cannot be repaired. They will bury^(AA) the dead in Topheth until there is no more room. ¹² This is what I will do to this place and to those who live here, declares the Lord. I will make this city like Topheth. ¹³ The houses^(AB) in Jerusalem and those of the kings of Judah will be defiled^(AC) like this place, Topheth—all the houses where they burned incense on the roofs^(AD) to all the starry hosts^(AE) and poured out drink offerings^(AF) to other gods.’”

¹⁴ Jeremiah then returned from Topheth, where the Lord had sent him to prophesy, and stood in the court^(AG) of the Lord’s temple and said to all the people, ¹⁵ “This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘Listen! I am going to bring on this city and all the villages around it every disaster^(AH) I pronounced against them, because they were stiff-necked^(AI) and would not listen^(AJ) to my words.’”

Jeremiah and Pashhur

20 When the priest Pashhur son of Immer,^(AK) the official^(AL) in charge of the temple of the Lord, heard Jeremiah prophesying these things, ² he had Jeremiah the prophet beaten^(AM) and put in the stocks^(AN) at the Upper Gate of Benjamin^(AO) at the Lord’s temple. ³ The next day, when Pashhur released him from the stocks, Jeremiah said to him, “The Lord’s name^(AP) for you is not Pashhur, but Terror on Every Side.^{(AQ) 4} For this is what the Lord says: ‘I will make you a terror to yourself and to all your friends; with your own eyes^(AR) you will see them fall by the sword of their enemies. I will give^(AS) all Judah into the hands of the king of Babylon, who will carry^(AT) them away to Babylon or put them to the sword. ⁵ I will deliver all the wealth^(AU) of this city into the hands of their enemies—all its products, all its valuables and all the treasures of the kings of Judah. They will take it away^(AV) as plunder and carry it off to Babylon. ⁶ And you, Pashhur, and all who live in your house will go into exile to Babylon. There you will die and be buried, you and all your friends to whom you have prophesied^(AW) lies.’”

Jeremiah’s Complaint

God Rejects Zedekiah’s Request

21 The word came to Jeremiah from the Lord when King Zedekiah^(CD) sent to him Pashhur^(CE) son of Malkijah and the priest Zephaniah^(CF) son of Maaseiah. They said: ² “Inquire^(CG) now of the Lord for us because Nebuchadnezzar^[d](CH) king of Babylon^(CI) is attacking us. Perhaps the Lord will perform wonders^(CJ) for us as in times past so that he will withdraw from us.”

³ But Jeremiah answered them, “Tell Zedekiah, ⁴ ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I am about to turn^(CK) against you the weapons of war that are in your hands, which you are using to fight the king of Babylon and the Babylonians^[e] who are outside the wall besieging^(CL) you. And I will gather them inside this city. ⁵ I myself will fight^(CM) against you with an outstretched hand^(CN) and a mighty arm^(CO) in furious anger and in great wrath. ⁶ I will strike^(CP) down those who live in this city—both man and beast—and they will die of a terrible plague.^{(CQ) 7} After that, declares the Lord, I will give Zedekiah^(CR) king of Judah, his officials and the people in this city who survive the plague,^(CS) sword and famine, into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon^(CT) and to their enemies^(CU) who want to kill them.^(CV) He will put them to the sword;^(CW) he will show them no mercy or pity or compassion.’^(CX)

⁸ “Furthermore, tell the people, ‘This is what the Lord says: See, I am setting before you the way of life^(CY) and the way of death. ⁹ Whoever stays in this city will die by the sword, famine or plague.^(CZ) But whoever goes out and surrenders^(DA) to the Babylonians who are besieging you will live; they will escape with their lives.^{(DB) 10} I have determined to do this city harm^(DC) and not good, declares the Lord. It will be given into the hands^(DD) of the king of Babylon, and he will destroy it with fire.’^(DE)

¹¹ “Moreover, say to the royal house^(DF) of Judah, ‘Hear the word of the Lord. ¹² This is what the Lord says to you, house of David:

⁴ But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness^(A) so that this day should surprise you like a thief.^{(B) 5} You are all children of the light^(C) and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. ⁶ So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep,^(D) but let us be awake^(E) and sober.^{(F) 7} For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night.^{(G) 8} But since we belong to the day,^(H) let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate,^(I) and the hope of salvation^(J) as a helmet.^{(K) 9} For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath^(L) but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.^{(M) 10} He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.^{(N) 11} Therefore encourage one another^(O) and build each other up,^(P) just as in fact you are doing.

Final Instructions

¹² Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard^(Q) among you, who care for you in the Lord^(R) and who admonish you. ¹³ Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other.^{(S) 14} And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle^(T) and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak,^(U) be patient with everyone. ¹⁵ Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong,^(V) but always strive to do what is good for each other^(W) and for everyone else.

¹⁶ Rejoice always,^{(X) 17} pray continually,^{(Y) 18} give thanks in all circumstances;^(Z) for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

¹⁹ Do not quench the Spirit.^{(AA) 20} Do not treat prophecies^(AB) with contempt ²¹ but test them all;^(AC) hold on to what is good,^{(AD) 22} reject every kind of evil.

²³ May God himself, the God of peace,^(AE) sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul^(AF) and body be kept blameless^(AG) at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.^{(AH) 24} The one who calls^(AI) you is faithful,^(AJ) and he will do it.^(AK)

²⁵ Brothers and sisters, pray for us.^{(AL) 26} Greet all God’s people with a holy kiss.^{(AM) 27} I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers and sisters.^(AN)

²⁸ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.^(AO)

Psalm 82

A psalm of Asaph.

¹⁶ “But now I will send for many fishermen,” declares the Lord, “and they will catch them.^(A) After that I will send for many hunters, and they will hunt^(B) them down on every mountain and hill and from the crevices of the rocks.^{(C) 17} My eyes are on all their ways; they are not hidden^(D) from me, nor is their sin concealed from my eyes.^{(E) 18} I will repay^(F) them double^(G) for their wickedness and their sin, because they have defiled my land^(H) with the lifeless forms of their vile images^(I) and have filled my inheritance with their detestable idols.^(J)”^(K)

⁵ This is what the Lord says:

Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy

¹⁹ This is what the Lord said to me: “Go and stand at the Gate of the People,^[c] through which the kings of Judah go in and out; stand also at all the other gates of Jerusalem.^{(BH) 20} Say to them, ‘Hear the word of the Lord, you kings of Judah and all people of Judah and everyone living in Jerusalem^(BI) who come through these gates.^{(BJ) 21} This is what the Lord says: Be careful not to carry a load on the Sabbath^(BK) day or bring it through the gates of Jerusalem. ²² Do not bring a load out of your houses or do any work on the Sabbath, but keep the Sabbath day holy, as I commanded your ancestors.^{(BL) 23} Yet they did not listen or pay attention;^(BM) they were stiff-necked^(BN) and would not listen or respond to discipline.^{(BO) 24} But if you are careful to obey me, declares the Lord, and bring no load through the gates of this city on the Sabbath, but keep the Sabbath day holy^(BP) by not doing any work on it, ²⁵ then kings who sit on David’s throne^(BQ) will come through the gates of this city with their officials. They and their officials will come riding in chariots and on horses, accompanied by the men of Judah and those living in Jerusalem, and this city will be inhabited forever.^{(BR) 26} People will come from the towns of Judah and the villages around Jerusalem, from the territory of Benjamin and the western foothills, from the hill country and the Negev,^(BS) bringing burnt offerings and sacrifices, grain offerings and incense, and bringing thank offerings to the house of the Lord. ²⁷ But if you do not obey^(BT) me to keep the Sabbath^(BU) day holy by not carrying any load as you come through the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, then I will kindle an unquenchable fire^(BV) in the gates of Jerusalem that will consume her fortresses.’”^(BW)

At the Potter’s House

18 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: ² “Go down to the potter’s house, and there I will give you my message.” ³ So I went down to the potter’s house, and I saw him working at the wheel. ⁴ But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him.

⁵ Then the word of the Lord came to me. ⁶ He said, “Can I not do with you, Israel, as this potter does?” declares the Lord. “Like clay^(BX) in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand,^(BY) Israel. ⁷ If at any time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be uprooted,^(BZ) torn down and destroyed, ⁸ and if that nation I warned repents of its evil, then I will relent^(CA) and not inflict on it the disaster^(CB) I had planned. ⁹ And if at another time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be built^(CC) up and planted, ¹⁰ and if it does evil^(CD) in my sight and does not obey me, then I will reconsider^(CE) the good I had intended to do for it.^(CF)

¹¹ “Now therefore say to the people of Judah and those living in Jerusalem, ‘This is what the Lord says: Look! I am preparing a disaster^(CG) for you and devising a plan^(CH) against you. So turn^(CI) from your evil ways,^(CJ) each one of you, and reform your ways and your actions.’^{(CK) 12} But they will reply, ‘It’s no use.^(CL) We will continue with our own plans; we will all follow the stubbornness of our evil hearts.^(CM)’”

¹³ Therefore this is what the Lord says:

¹⁸ They said, “Come, let’s make plans^(DC) against Jeremiah; for the teaching of the law by the priest^(DD) will not cease, nor will counsel from the wise,^(DE) nor the word from the prophets.^(DF) So come, let’s attack him with our tongues^(DG) and pay no attention to anything he says.”

Living to Please God

4 As for other matters, brothers and sisters,^(A) we instructed you how to live^(B) in order to please God,^(C) as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. ² For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.

³ It is God’s will^(D) that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality;^{(E) 4} that each of you should learn to control your own body^[a](F) in a way that is holy and honorable, ⁵ not in passionate lust^(G) like the pagans,^(H) who do not know God;^{(I) 6} and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister.^[b](J) The Lord will punish^(K) all those who commit such sins,^(L) as we told you and warned you before. ⁷ For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.^{(M) 8} Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.^(N)

⁹ Now about your love for one another^(O) we do not need to write to you,^(P) for you yourselves have been taught by God^(Q) to love each other.^{(R) 10} And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia.^(S) Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more,^{(T) 11} and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands,^(U) just as we told you, ¹² so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders^(V) and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

Believers Who Have Died

¹³ Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed^(W) about those who sleep in death,^(X) so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.^{(Y) 14} For we believe that Jesus died and rose again,^(Z) and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.^{(AA) 15} According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord,^(AB) will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.^{(AC) 16} For the Lord himself will come down from heaven,^(AD) with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel^(AE) and with the trumpet call of God,^(AF) and the dead in Christ will rise first.^{(AG) 17} After that, we who are still alive and are left^(AH) will be caught up together with them in the clouds^(AI) to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord^(AJ) forever. ¹⁸ Therefore encourage one another^(AK) with these words.

The Day of the Lord

5 Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates^(AL) we do not need to write to you,^{(AM) 2} for you know very well that the day of the Lord^(AN) will come like a thief in the night.^{(AO) 3} While people are saying, “Peace and safety,”^(AP) destruction will come on them suddenly,^(AQ) as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.^(AR)

Psalm 81^[a]

For the director of music. According to gittith.^[b] Of Asaph.

¹¹ Then the Lord said to me, “Do not pray^(A) for the well-being of this people. ¹² Although they fast, I will not listen to their cry;^(B) though they offer burnt offerings^(C) and grain offerings,^(D) I will not accept^(E) them. Instead, I will destroy them with the sword,^(F) famine^(G) and plague.”^(H)

¹³ But I said, “Alas, Sovereign Lord! The prophets^(I) keep telling them, ‘You will not see the sword or suffer famine.^(J) Indeed, I will give you lasting peace^(K) in this place.’”

¹⁴ Then the Lord said to me, “The prophets are prophesying lies^(L) in my name. I have not sent^(M) them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false visions,^(N) divinations,^(O) idolatries^[a] and the delusions of their own minds. ¹⁵ Therefore this is what the Lord says about the prophets who are prophesying in my name: I did not send them, yet they are saying, ‘No sword or famine will touch this land.’ Those same prophets will perish^(P) by sword and famine.^{(Q) 16} And the people they are prophesying to will be thrown out into the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and sword. There will be no one to bury^(R) them, their wives, their sons and their daughters.^(S) I will pour out on them the calamity they deserve.^(T)

¹⁷ “Speak this word to them:

15 Then the Lord said to me: “Even if Moses^(AL) and Samuel^(AM) were to stand before me, my heart would not go out to this people.^(AN) Send them away from my presence!^(AO) Let them go! ² And if they ask you, ‘Where shall we go?’ tell them, ‘This is what the Lord says:

³ “I will send four kinds of destroyers^(AS) against them,” declares the Lord, “the sword^(AT) to kill and the dogs^(AU) to drag away and the birds^(AV) and the wild animals to devour and destroy.^{(AW) 4} I will make them abhorrent^(AX) to all the kingdoms of the earth^(AY) because of what Manasseh^(AZ) son of Hezekiah king of Judah did in Jerusalem.

¹¹ The Lord said,

¹⁹ Therefore this is what the Lord says:

Day of Disaster

16 Then the word of the Lord came to me: ² “You must not marry^(CW) and have sons or daughters in this place.” ³ For this is what the Lord says about the sons and daughters born in this land and about the women who are their mothers and the men who are their fathers:^{(CX) 4} “They will die of deadly diseases. They will not be mourned or buried^(CY) but will be like dung lying on the ground.^(CZ) They will perish by sword and famine,^(DA) and their dead bodies will become food for the birds and the wild animals.”^(DB)

⁵ For this is what the Lord says: “Do not enter a house where there is a funeral meal; do not go to mourn or show sympathy, because I have withdrawn my blessing, my love and my pity^(DC) from this people,” declares the Lord. ⁶ “Both high and low will die in this land.^(DD) They will not be buried or mourned,^(DE) and no one will cut^(DF) themselves or shave^(DG) their head for the dead. ⁷ No one will offer food^(DH) to comfort those who mourn^(DI) for the dead—not even for a father or a mother—nor will anyone give them a drink to console^(DJ) them.

⁸ “And do not enter a house where there is feasting and sit down to eat and drink.^{(DK) 9} For this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Before your eyes and in your days I will bring an end to the sounds^(DL) of joy and gladness and to the voices of bride^(DM) and bridegroom in this place.^(DN)

¹⁰ “When you tell these people all this and they ask you, ‘Why has the Lord decreed such a great disaster against us? What wrong have we done? What sin have we committed against the Lord our God?’^{(DO) 11} then say to them, ‘It is because your ancestors forsook me,’ declares the Lord, ‘and followed other gods and served and worshiped^(DP) them. They forsook me and did not keep my law.^{(DQ) 12} But you have behaved more wickedly than your ancestors.^(DR) See how all of you are following the stubbornness of your evil hearts^(DS) instead of obeying me. ¹³ So I will throw you out of this land^(DT) into a land neither you nor your ancestors have known,^(DU) and there you will serve other gods^(DV) day and night, for I will show you no favor.’^(DW)

¹⁴ “However, the days are coming,”^(DX) declares the Lord, “when it will no longer be said, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who brought the Israelites up out of Egypt,’^{(DY) 15} but it will be said, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who brought the Israelites up out of the land of the north^(DZ) and out of all the countries where he had banished them.’^(EA) For I will restore^(EB) them to the land I gave their ancestors.^(EC)

⁹ Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked^(A) night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone^(B) while we preached the gospel of God to you. ¹⁰ You are witnesses,^(C) and so is God,^(D) of how holy,^(E) righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. ¹¹ For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children,^{(F) 12} encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy^(G) of God, who calls^(H) you into his kingdom and glory.

¹³ And we also thank God continually^(I) because, when you received the word of God,^(J) which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe. ¹⁴ For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators^(K) of God’s churches in Judea,^(L) which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own people^(M) the same things those churches suffered from the Jews ¹⁵ who killed the Lord Jesus^(N) and the prophets^(O) and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to everyone ¹⁶ in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles^(P) so that they may be saved. In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit.^(Q) The wrath of God has come upon them at last.^[a]

Paul’s Longing to See the Thessalonians

¹⁷ But, brothers and sisters, when we were orphaned by being separated from you for a short time (in person, not in thought),^(R) out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you.^{(S) 18} For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan^(T) blocked our way.^{(U) 19} For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown^(V) in which we will glory^(W) in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes?^(X) Is it not you? ²⁰ Indeed, you are our glory^(Y) and joy.

3 So when we could stand it no longer,^(Z) we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens.^{(AA) 2} We sent Timothy,^(AB) who is our brother and co-worker^(AC) in God’s service in spreading the gospel of Christ,^(AD) to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, ³ so that no one would be unsettled by these trials.^(AE) For you know quite well that we are destined for them.^{(AF) 4} In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way, as you well know.^{(AG) 5} For this reason, when I could stand it no longer,^(AH) I sent to find out about your faith.^(AI) I was afraid that in some way the tempter^(AJ) had tempted you and that our labors might have been in vain.^(AK)

Timothy’s Encouraging Report

⁶ But Timothy^(AL) has just now come to us from you^(AM) and has brought good news about your faith and love.^(AN) He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you.^{(AO) 7} Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. ⁸ For now we really live, since you are standing firm^(AP) in the Lord. ⁹ How can we thank God enough for you^(AQ) in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you?^{(AR) 10} Night and day we pray^(AS) most earnestly that we may see you again^(AT) and supply what is lacking in your faith.

¹¹ Now may our God and Father^(AU) himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. ¹² May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other^(AV) and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. ¹³ May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless^(AW) and holy in the presence of our God and Father^(AX) when our Lord Jesus comes^(AY) with all his holy ones.^(AZ)