The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Wednesday October 12, 2022 (NIV)

The Clay Jar

19 This is what the Lord says: “Go, buy a potter’s clay^(A) jar. Take^[a] some of the elders of the people and some of the leading priests^{(B) 2} and go out to Ben Hinnom Valley^(C) near the entrance of the Potsherd Gate. Proclaim there the words I speak to you. ³ Say, ‘Hear the word of the Lord, kings of Judah and residents of Jerusalem.^(D) This is what the Lord of Armies, the God of Israel, says: I am going to bring such a disaster on this place that everyone who hears about it will shudder^{[b](E) 4} because they have abandoned me^(F) and made this a foreign place. They have burned incense in it to other gods that they, their ancestors, and the kings of Judah have never known. They have filled this place with the blood of the innocent.^{(G) 5} They have built high places to Baal on which to burn their children in the fire as burnt offerings to Baal, something I have never commanded or mentioned; I never entertained the thought.^[c](H)

⁶ “‘Therefore, look, the days are coming^(I)—this is the Lord’s declaration—when this place will no longer be called Topheth and Ben Hinnom Valley, but Slaughter Valley.^{(J) 7} I will spoil the plans of Judah and Jerusalem in this place. I will make them fall by the sword before their enemies, by the hand of those who intend to take their life. I will provide their corpses as food for the birds of the sky and for the wild animals of the land.^{(K) 8} I will make this city desolate, an object of scorn. Everyone who passes by it will be appalled and scoff because of all its wounds.^{(L) 9} I will make them eat the flesh of their sons and their daughters, and they will eat each other’s flesh in the distressing siege inflicted on them by their enemies who intend to take their life.’^(M)

¹⁰ “Then you are to shatter the jar in the presence of the people going with you, ¹¹ and you are to proclaim to them, ‘This is what the Lord of Armies says: I will shatter these people and this city, like one shatters a potter’s jar that can never again be mended. They will bury the dead in Topheth because there is no other place for burials.^{(N) 12} That is what I will do to this place—this is the declaration of the Lord—and to its residents, making this city like Topheth. ¹³ The houses of Jerusalem and the houses of the kings of Judah will become impure like that place Topheth—all the houses on whose rooftops they have burned incense to all the stars in the sky^(O) and poured out drink offerings to other gods.’”

¹⁴ Jeremiah returned from Topheth, where the Lord had sent him to prophesy, stood in the courtyard of the Lord’s temple,^(P) and proclaimed to all the people, ¹⁵ “This is what the Lord of Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘I am about to bring on this city—and on all its cities—every disaster that I spoke against it, for they have become obstinate, not obeying my words.’”^(Q)

Jeremiah Beaten by Pashhur

20 Pashhur the priest,^(R) the son of Immer^(S) and chief official in the temple of the Lord, heard Jeremiah prophesying these things. ² So Pashhur had the prophet Jeremiah beaten and put him in the stocks^(T) at the Upper Benjamin Gate^(U) in the Lord’s temple. ³ The next day, when Pashhur released Jeremiah from the stocks, Jeremiah said to him, “The Lord does not call you Pashhur, but Terror Is on Every Side,^{[d] 4} for this is what the Lord says, ‘I am about to make you a terror to both yourself and those you love.^(V) They will fall by the sword of their enemies before your very eyes.^(W) I will hand Judah over to the king of Babylon, and he will deport them to Babylon and put them to the sword. ⁵ I will give away all the wealth^(X) of this city, all its products^(Y) and valuables. Indeed, I will hand all the treasures of the kings of Judah over to their enemies. They will plunder them, seize them, and carry them off to Babylon.^{(Z) 6} As for you, Pashhur, and all who live in your house, you will go into captivity. You will go to Babylon.^(AA) There you will die, and there you will be buried, you and all your friends to whom you prophesied lies.’”^(AB)

Jeremiah Compelled to Preach

Jeremiah’s Lament

Zedekiah’s Request Denied

21 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord when King Zedekiah sent Pashhur^(AS) son of Malchijah and the priest Zephaniah^(AT) son of Maaseiah to Jeremiah, asking, ² “Inquire of the Lord on our behalf, since King Nebuchadnezzar^[g](AU) of Babylon is making war against us. Perhaps the Lord will perform for us something like all his past wondrous works so that Nebuchadnezzar will withdraw from us.”

³ But Jeremiah answered, “This is what you are to say to Zedekiah: ⁴ ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I am about to repel the weapons of war in your hands,^(AV) those you are using to fight the king of Babylon and the Chaldeans^[h] who are besieging you outside the wall, and I will bring them into the center of this city.^{(AW) 5} I myself will fight against you^(AX) with an outstretched hand and a strong arm,^(AY) with anger, fury, and intense wrath. ⁶ I will strike the residents of this city, both people and animals. They will die in a severe plague. ⁷ Afterward—this is the Lord’s declaration—King Zedekiah of Judah, his officers, and the people—those in this city who survive the plague, the sword, and the famine—I will hand over to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon,^(AZ) to their enemies, yes, to those who intend to take their lives. He will put them to the sword; he won’t spare them or show pity or compassion.’^(BA)

A Warning for the People

⁸ “But tell this people, ‘This is what the Lord says: Look, I am setting before you the way of life and the way of death.^{(BB) 9} Whoever stays in this city will die by the sword, famine, and plague, but whoever goes out and surrenders to the Chaldeans who are besieging you will live and will retain his life like the spoils of war.^{(BC) 10} For I have set my face against this city to bring disaster and not good^(BD)—this is the Lord’s declaration. It will be handed over to the king of Babylon, who will burn it.’^(BE)

¹¹ “And to the house of the king of Judah say this: ‘Hear the word of the Lord! ¹² House of David, this is what the Lord says:

⁴ But you, brothers and sisters, are not in the dark, for this day to surprise you like a thief.^{(A) 5} For you are all children of light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or the darkness.^{(B) 6} So then, let us not sleep, like the rest, but let us stay awake and be self-controlled. ⁷ For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. ⁸ But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled^(C) and put on the armor^(D) of faith and love, and a helmet^(E) of the hope of salvation. ⁹ For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord^(F) Jesus Christ,^{(G) 10} who died for us,^(H) so that whether we are awake or asleep,^(I) we may live together with him.^{(J) 11} Therefore encourage one another and build each other up as you are already doing.

Exhortations and Blessings

¹² Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to give recognition^(K) to those who labor among you and lead you^[a] in the Lord and admonish you, ¹³ and to regard them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace^(L) among yourselves. ¹⁴ And we exhort you, brothers and sisters:^(M) warn those who are idle,^[b] comfort the discouraged, help the weak, be patient^(N) with everyone. ¹⁵ See to it that no one repays evil for evil^(O) to anyone,^(P) but always pursue what is good for one another and for all.^{(Q) 16} Rejoice^(R) always, ¹⁷ pray constantly, ¹⁸ give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will^(S) for you in Christ Jesus. ¹⁹ Don’t stifle the Spirit. ²⁰ Don’t despise prophecies, ²¹ but test all things.^(T) Hold on to what is good. ²² Stay away^(U) from every kind of evil.

²³ Now may the God of peace^(V) himself sanctify you completely. And may your whole spirit,^(W) soul, and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming^(X) of our Lord^(Y) Jesus Christ.^{(Z) 24} He who calls^(AA) you^(AB) is faithful; he will do it. ²⁵ Brothers and sisters, pray for us also. ²⁶ Greet all the brothers and sisters with a holy kiss. ²⁷ I charge you by the Lord that this letter be read to all the brothers and sisters.^{(AC) 28} The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Psalm 82

A Plea for Righteous Judgment

A psalm of Asaph.^(A)