Idols Fall, God's Word Stands Forever

1. Yet listen now, Jacob my servant, and Israel, whom I have chosen. 2. This is what Yahweh who made you, and formed you from the womb, who will help you says: “Don’t be afraid, Jacob my servant; and you, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen. 3. For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, and streams on the dry ground. I will pour my Spirit on your descendants, and my blessing on your offspring: 4. and they will spring up among the grass, as willows by the watercourses. 5. One will say, ‘I am Yahweh’s;’ and another will be called by the name of Jacob; and another will write with his hand ‘to Yahweh,’ and honor the name of Israel.” 6. This is what Yahweh, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, Yahweh of Armies, says: “I am the first, and I am the last; and besides me there is no God. 7. Who is like me? Who will call, and will declare it, and set it in order for me, since I established the ancient people? Let them declare the things that are coming, and that will happen. 8. Don’t fear, neither be afraid. Haven’t I declared it to you long ago, and shown it? You are my witnesses. Is there a God besides me? Indeed, there is not. I don’t know any other Rock.” 9. Everyone who makes a carved image is vain. The things that they delight in will not profit. Their own witnesses don’t see, nor know, that they may be disappointed. 10. Who has fashioned a god, or molds an image that is profitable for nothing? 11. Behold, all his fellows will be disappointed; and the workmen are mere men. Let them all be gathered together. Let them stand up. They will fear. They will be put to shame together. 12. The blacksmith takes an ax, works in the coals, fashions it with hammers, and works it with his strong arm. He is hungry, and his strength fails; he drinks no water, and is faint. 13. The carpenter stretches out a line. He marks it out with a pencil. He shapes it with planes. He marks it out with compasses, and shapes it like the figure of a man, with the beauty of a man, to reside in a house. 14. He cuts down cedars for himself, and takes the cypress and the oak, and strengthens for himself one among the trees of the forest. He plants a cypress tree, and the rain nourishes it. 15. Then it will be for a man to burn; and he takes some of it, and warms himself. Yes, he burns it, and bakes bread. Yes, he makes a god, and worships it; he makes it a carved image, and falls down to it. 16. He burns part of it in the fire. With part of it, he eats meat. He roasts a roast, and is satisfied. Yes, he warms himself, and says, “Aha! I am warm. I have seen the fire.” 17. The rest of it he makes into a god, even his engraved image. He bows down to it and worships, and prays to it, and says, “Deliver me; for you are my god!” 18. They don’t know, neither do they consider: for he has shut their eyes, that they can’t see; and their hearts, that they can’t understand. 19. No one thinks, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, “I have burned part of it in the fire. Yes, I have also baked bread on its coals. I have roasted meat and eaten it. Shall I make the rest of it into an abomination? Shall I bow down to a tree trunk?” 20. He feeds on ashes. A deceived heart has turned him aside; and he can’t deliver his soul, nor say, “Isn’t there a lie in my right hand?” 21. Remember these things, Jacob and Israel; for you are my servant. I have formed you. You are my servant. Israel, you will not be forgotten by me. 22. I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, your transgressions, and, as a cloud, your sins. Return to me, for I have redeemed you. 23. Sing, you heavens, for Yahweh has done it! Shout, you lower parts of the earth! Break out into singing, you mountains, O forest, all of your trees, for Yahweh has redeemed Jacob, and will glorify himself in Israel. 24. Yahweh, your Redeemer, and he who formed you from the womb says: “I am Yahweh, who makes all things; who alone stretches out the heavens; who spreads out the earth by myself; 25. who frustrates the signs of the liars, and makes diviners mad; who turns wise men backward, and makes their knowledge foolish; 26. who confirms the word of his servant, and performs the counsel of his messengers; who says of Jerusalem, ‘She will be inhabited;’ and of the cities of Judah, ‘They will be built,’ and ‘I will raise up its waste places;’ 27. who says to the deep, ‘Be dry,’ and ‘I will dry up your rivers;’ 28. Who says of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure,’ even saying of Jerusalem, ‘She will be built;’ and of the temple, ‘Your foundation will be laid.’” 1. Yahweh says to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have held, to subdue nations before him, and strip kings of their armor; to open the doors before him, and the gates shall not be shut: 2. “I will go before you, and make the rough places smooth. I will break the doors of brass in pieces, and cut apart the bars of iron. 3. I will give you the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that you may know that it is I, Yahweh, who call you by your name, even the God of Israel. 4. For Jacob my servant’s sake, and Israel my chosen, I have called you by your name. I have given you a title, though you have not known me. 5. I am Yahweh, and there is no one else. Besides me, there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not known me; 6. that they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is no one besides me. I am Yahweh, and there is no one else. 7. I form the light, and create darkness. I make peace, and create calamity. I am Yahweh, who does all these things. 8. Rain, you heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness. Let the earth open, that it may produce salvation, and let it cause righteousness to spring up with it. I, Yahweh, have created it. 9. Woe to him who strives with his Maker— a clay pot among the clay pots of the earth! Shall the clay ask him who fashions it, ‘What are you making?’ or your work, ‘He has no hands?’ 10. Woe to him who says to a father, ‘What have you become the father of?’ or to a mother, ‘To what have you given birth?’” 11. Yahweh, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker says: “You ask me about the things that are to come, concerning my sons, and you command me concerning the work of my hands! 12. I have made the earth, and created man on it. I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens; and I have commanded all their army. 13. I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will make straight all his ways. He shall build my city, and he shall let my exiles go free, not for price nor reward,” says Yahweh of Armies. 14. Yahweh says: “The labor of Egypt, and the merchandise of Ethiopia, and the Sabeans, men of stature, shall come over to you, and they shall be yours. They will go after you. They shall come over in chains; and they will bow down to you. They will make supplication to you: ‘Surely God is in you; and there is no one else. There is no other god. 15. Most certainly you are a God who has hidden yourself, God of Israel, the Savior.’” 16. They will be disappointed, yes, confounded, all of them. Those who are makers of idols will go into confusion together. 17. Israel will be saved by Yahweh with an everlasting salvation. You will not be disappointed nor confounded to ages everlasting. 18. For Yahweh who created the heavens, the God who formed the earth and made it, who established it and didn’t create it a waste, who formed it to be inhabited says: “I am Yahweh; and there is no other. 19. I have not spoken in secret, in a place of the land of darkness. I didn’t say to the offspring of Jacob, ‘Seek me in vain.’ I, Yahweh, speak righteousness. I declare things that are right. 20. “Assemble yourselves and come. Draw near together, you who have escaped from the nations. Those have no knowledge who carry the wood of their engraved image, and pray to a god that can’t save. 21. Declare and present it. Yes, let them take counsel together. Who has shown this from ancient time? Who has declared it of old? Haven’t I, Yahweh? There is no other God besides me, a just God and a Savior; There is no one besides me. 22. “Look to me, and be saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other. 23. I have sworn by myself. The word has gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and will not be revoked, that to me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall take an oath. 24. They will say of me, ‘There is righteousness and strength only in Yahweh.’” Even to him shall men come; and all those who raged against him shall be disappointed. 25. All the offspring of Israel will be justified in Yahweh, and will rejoice! 1. Bel bows down. Nebo stoops. Their idols are carried by animals, and on the livestock. The things that you carried around are heavy loads, a burden for the weary. 2. They stoop and they bow down together. They could not deliver the burden, but they have gone into captivity. 3. “Listen to me, house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, that have been carried from their birth, that have been carried from the womb. 4. Even to old age I am he, and even to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear. Yes, I will carry, and will deliver. 5. “To whom will you compare me, and consider my equal, and compare me, as if we were the same? 6. Some pour out gold from the bag, and weigh silver in the balance. They hire a goldsmith, and he makes it a god. They fall down— yes, they worship. 7. They bear it on their shoulder. They carry it, and set it in its place, and it stands there. It cannot move from its place. Yes, one may cry to it, yet it can not answer. It cannot save him out of his trouble. 8. “Remember this, and show yourselves men. Bring it to mind again, you transgressors. 9. Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is no other. I am God, and there is none like me. 10. I declare the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done. I say: My counsel will stand, and I will do all that I please. 11. I call a ravenous bird from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country. Yes, I have spoken. I will also bring it to pass. I have planned. I will also do it. 12. Listen to me, you stubborn-hearted, who are far from righteousness! 13. I bring my righteousness near. It is not far off, and my salvation will not wait. I will grant salvation to Zion, my glory to Israel. 1. “Come down, and sit in the dust, virgin daughter of Babylon. Sit on the ground without a throne, daughter of the Chaldeans. For you will no longer be called tender and delicate. 2. Take the millstones, and grind flour. Remove your veil, lift up your skirt, uncover your legs, and wade through the rivers. 3. Your nakedness will be uncovered. Yes, your shame will be seen. I will take vengeance, and will spare no one.” 4. Our Redeemer, Yahweh of Armies is his name, is the Holy One of Israel. 5. “Sit in silence, and go into darkness, daughter of the Chaldeans. For you shall no longer be called the mistress of kingdoms. 6. I was angry with my people. I profaned my inheritance, and gave them into your hand. You showed them no mercy. You laid a very heavy yoke on the aged. 7. You said, ‘I will be a princess forever;’ so that you did not lay these things to your heart, nor did you remember the results. 8. “Now therefore hear this, you who are given to pleasures, who sit securely, who say in your heart, ‘I am, and there is no one else besides me. I shall not sit as a widow, neither shall I know the loss of children.’ 9. But these two things shall come to you in a moment in one day, the loss of children and widowhood. They will come on you in their full measure, in the multitude of your sorceries, and the great abundance of your enchantments. 10. For you have trusted in your wickedness. You have said, ‘No one sees me.’ Your wisdom and your knowledge has perverted you. You have said in your heart, ‘I am, and there is no one else besides me.’ 11. Therefore disaster will come on you. You won’t know when it dawns. Mischief will fall on you. You won’t be able to put it away. Desolation will come on you suddenly, which you don’t understand. 12. “Stand now with your enchantments, and with the multitude of your sorceries, in which you have labored from your youth; as if you might profit; as if you might prevail. 13. You are wearied in the multitude of your counsels. Now let the astrologers, the stargazers, and the monthly prognosticators, stand up and save you from the things that will come on you. 14. Behold, they are like stubble. The fire will burn them. They won’t deliver themselves from the power of the flame. It won’t be a coal to warm at or a fire to sit by. 15. The things that you labored in will be like this: those who have trafficked with you from your youth will each wander in his own way. There will be no one to save you.

1. When they came near to Jerusalem, to Bethsphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, 2. and said to them, “Go your way into the village that is opposite you. Immediately as you enter into it, you will find a young donkey tied, on which no one has sat. Untie him, and bring him. 3. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs him;’ and immediately he will send him back here.” 4. They went away, and found a young donkey tied at the door outside in the open street, and they untied him. 5. Some of those who stood there asked them, “What are you doing, untying the young donkey?” 6. They said to them just as Jesus had said, and they let them go. 7. They brought the young donkey to Jesus, and threw their garments on it, and Jesus sat on it. 8. Many spread their garments on the way, and others were cutting down branches from the trees, and spreading them on the road. 9. Those who went in front, and those who followed, cried out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! 10. Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is coming in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” 11. Jesus entered into the temple in Jerusalem. When he had looked around at everything, it being now evening, he went out to Bethany with the twelve. 12. The next day, when they had come out from Bethany, he was hungry. 13. Seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came to see if perhaps he might find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 14. Jesus told it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again!” and his disciples heard it. 15. They came to Jerusalem, and Jesus entered into the temple, and began to throw out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and overthrew the money changers’ tables, and the seats of those who sold the doves. 16. He would not allow anyone to carry a container through the temple. 17. He taught, saying to them, “Isn’t it written, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations?’ But you have made it a den of robbers!” 18. The chief priests and the scribes heard it, and sought how they might destroy him. For they feared him, because all the multitude was astonished at his teaching. 19. When evening came, he went out of the city. 20. As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away from the roots. 21. Peter, remembering, said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which you cursed has withered away.” 22. Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. 23. For most certainly I tell you, whoever may tell this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and doesn’t doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is happening; he shall have whatever he says. 24. Therefore I tell you, all things whatever you pray and ask for, believe that you have received them, and you shall have them. 25. Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father, who is in heaven, may also forgive you your transgressions. 26. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your transgressions.” 27. They came again to Jerusalem, and as he was walking in the temple, the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders came to him, 28. and they began saying to him, “By what authority do you do these things? Or who gave you this authority to do these things?” 29. Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. 30. The baptism of John—was it from heaven, or from men? Answer me.” 31. They reasoned with themselves, saying, “If we should say, ‘From heaven;’ he will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 32. If we should say, ‘From men’”—they feared the people, for all held John to really be a prophet. 33. They answered Jesus, “We don’t know.” Jesus said to them, “Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.” 1. He began to speak to them in parables. “A man planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a pit for the wine press, built a tower, rented it out to a farmer, and went into another country. 2. When it was time, he sent a servant to the farmer to get from the farmer his share of the fruit of the vineyard. 3. They took him, beat him, and sent him away empty. 4. Again, he sent another servant to them; and they threw stones at him, wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully treated. 5. Again he sent another; and they killed him; and many others, beating some, and killing some. 6. Therefore still having one, his beloved son, he sent him last to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 7. But those farmers said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ 8. They took him, killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard. 9. What therefore will the lord of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the farmers, and will give the vineyard to others. 10. Haven’t you even read this Scripture: ‘The stone which the builders rejected, the same was made the head of the corner. 11. This was from the Lord, it is marvelous in our eyes’?” 12. They tried to seize him, but they feared the multitude; for they perceived that he spoke the parable against them. They left him, and went away. 13. They sent some of the Pharisees and the Herodians to him, that they might trap him with words. 14. When they had come, they asked him, “Teacher, we know that you are honest, and don’t defer to anyone; for you aren’t partial to anyone, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? 15. Shall we give, or shall we not give?” But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, “Why do you test me? Bring me a denarius, that I may see it.” 16. They brought it. He said to them, “Whose is this image and inscription?” They said to him, “Caesar’s.” 17. Jesus answered them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” They marveled greatly at him. 18. There came to him Sadducees, who say that there is no resurrection. They asked him, saying, 19. “Teacher, Moses wrote to us, ‘If a man’s brother dies, and leaves a wife behind him, and leaves no children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up offspring for his brother.’ 20. There were seven brothers. The first took a wife, and dying left no offspring. 21. The second took her, and died, leaving no children behind him. The third likewise; 22. and the seven took her and left no children. Last of all the woman also died. 23. In the resurrection, when they rise, whose wife will she be of them? For the seven had her as a wife.” 24. Jesus answered them, “Isn’t this because you are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God? 25. For when they will rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 26. But about the dead, that they are raised; haven’t you read in the book of Moses, about the Bush, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? 27. He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are therefore badly mistaken.” 28. One of the scribes came, and heard them questioning together. Knowing that he had answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the greatest of all?” 29. Jesus answered, “The greatest is, ‘Hear, Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one: 30. you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. 31. The second is like this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 32. The scribe said to him, “Truly, teacher, you have said well that he is one, and there is none other but he, 33. and to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34. When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from God’s Kingdom.” No one dared ask him any question after that. 35. Jesus responded, as he taught in the temple, “How is it that the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David? 36. For David himself said in the Holy Spirit, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies the footstool of your feet.”’ 37. Therefore David himself calls him Lord, so how can he be his son?” The common people heard him gladly. 38. In his teaching he said to them, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk in long robes, and to get greetings in the marketplaces, 39. and the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts: 40. those who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.” 41. Jesus sat down opposite the treasury, and saw how the multitude cast money into the treasury. Many who were rich cast in much. 42. A poor widow came, and she cast in two small brass coins, which equal a quadrans coin. 43. He called his disciples to himself, and said to them, “Most certainly I tell you, this poor widow gave more than all those who are giving into the treasury, 44. for they all gave out of their abundance, but she, out of her poverty, gave all that she had to live on.” 1. As he went out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Teacher, see what kind of stones and what kind of buildings!” 2. Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone on another, which will not be thrown down.” 3. As he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, 4. “Tell us, when will these things be? What is the sign that these things are all about to be fulfilled?” 5. Jesus, answering, began to tell them, “Be careful that no one leads you astray. 6. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and will lead many astray. 7. “When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, don’t be troubled. For those must happen, but the end is not yet. 8. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places. There will be famines and troubles. These things are the beginning of birth pains. 9. But watch yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils. You will be beaten in synagogues. You will stand before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony to them. 10. The Good News must first be preached to all the nations. 11. When they lead you away and deliver you up, don’t be anxious beforehand, or premeditate what you will say, but say whatever will be given you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. 12. “Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child. Children will rise up against parents, and cause them to be put to death. 13. You will be hated by all men for my name’s sake, but he who endures to the end, the same will be saved. 14. But when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, 15. and let him who is on the housetop not go down, nor enter in, to take anything out of his house. 16. Let him who is in the field not return back to take his cloak. 17. But woe to those who are with child and to those who nurse babies in those days! 18. Pray that your flight won’t be in the winter. 19. For in those days there will be oppression, such as there has not been the like from the beginning of the creation which God created until now, and never will be. 20. Unless the Lord had shortened the days, no flesh would have been saved; but for the sake of the chosen ones, whom he picked out, he shortened the days. 21. Then if anyone tells you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘Look, there!’ don’t believe it. 22. For there will arise false christs and false prophets, and will show signs and wonders, that they may lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones. 23. But you watch. “Behold, I have told you all things beforehand. 24. But in those days, after that oppression, the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light, 25. the stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers that are in the heavens will be shaken. 26. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27. Then he will send out his angels, and will gather together his chosen ones from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the sky. 28. “Now from the fig tree, learn this parable. When the branch has now become tender, and produces its leaves, you know that the summer is near; 29. even so you also, when you see these things coming to pass, know that it is near, at the doors. 30. Most certainly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things happen. 31. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. 32. But of that day or that hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33. Watch, keep alert, and pray; for you don’t know when the time is. 34. “It is like a man, traveling to another country, having left his house, and given authority to his servants, and to each one his work, and also commanded the doorkeeper to keep watch. 35. Watch therefore, for you don’t know when the lord of the house is coming, whether at evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning; 36. lest coming suddenly he might find you sleeping. 37. What I tell you, I tell all: Watch.” 1. It was now two days before the feast of the Passover and the unleavened bread, and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might seize him by deception, and kill him. 2. For they said, “Not during the feast, because there might be a riot among the people.” 3. While he was at Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster jar of ointment of pure nard—very costly. She broke the jar, and poured it over his head. 4. But there were some who were indignant among themselves, saying, “Why has this ointment been wasted? 5. For this might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii, and given to the poor.” They grumbled against her. 6. But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for me. 7. For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want to, you can do them good; but you will not always have me. 8. She has done what she could. She has anointed my body beforehand for the burying. 9. Most certainly I tell you, wherever this Good News may be preached throughout the whole world, that which this woman has done will also be spoken of for a memorial of her.” 10. Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went away to the chief priests, that he might deliver him to them. 11. They, when they heard it, were glad, and promised to give him money. He sought how he might conveniently deliver him. 12. On the first day of unleavened bread, when they sacrificed the Passover, his disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and prepare that you may eat the Passover?” 13. He sent two of his disciples, and said to them, “Go into the city, and there you will meet a man carrying a pitcher of water. Follow him, 14. and wherever he enters in, tell the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?”’ 15. He will himself show you a large upper room furnished and ready. Get ready for us there.” 16. His disciples went out, and came into the city, and found things as he had said to them, and they prepared the Passover. 17. When it was evening he came with the twelve. 18. As they sat and were eating, Jesus said, “Most certainly I tell you, one of you will betray me—he who eats with me.” 19. They began to be sorrowful, and to ask him one by one, “Surely not I?” And another said, “Surely not I?” 20. He answered them, “It is one of the twelve, he who dips with me in the dish. 21. For the Son of Man goes, even as it is written about him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would be better for that man if he had not been born.” 22. As they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had blessed, he broke it, and gave to them, and said, “Take, eat. This is my body.” 23. He took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave to them. They all drank of it. 24. He said to them, “This is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many. 25. Most certainly I tell you, I will no more drink of the fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it anew in God’s Kingdom.” 26. When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 27. Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble because of me tonight, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ 28. However, after I am raised up, I will go before you into Galilee.” 29. But Peter said to him, “Although all will be offended, yet I will not.” 30. Jesus said to him, “Most certainly I tell you, that you today, even this night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” 31. But he spoke all the more, “If I must die with you, I will not deny you.” They all said the same thing. 32. They came to a place which was named Gethsemane. He said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I pray.” 33. He took with him Peter, James, and John, and began to be greatly troubled and distressed. 34. He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here, and watch.” 35. He went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass away from him. 36. He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible to you. Please remove this cup from me. However, not what I desire, but what you desire.” 37. He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Couldn’t you watch one hour? 38. Watch and pray, that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 39. Again he went away, and prayed, saying the same words. 40. Again he returned, and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy, and they didn’t know what to answer him. 41. He came the third time, and said to them, “Sleep on now, and take your rest. It is enough. The hour has come. Behold, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42. Arise, let us be going. Behold, he who betrays me is at hand.” 43. Immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, came—and with him a multitude with swords and clubs, from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders. 44. Now he who betrayed him had given them a sign, saying, “Whomever I will kiss, that is he. Seize him, and lead him away safely.” 45. When he had come, immediately he came to him, and said, “Rabbi! Rabbi!” and kissed him. 46. They laid their hands on him, and seized him. 47. But a certain one of those who stood by drew his sword, and struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. 48. Jesus answered them, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to seize me? 49. I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and you didn’t arrest me. But this is so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled.” 50. They all left him, and fled. 51. A certain young man followed him, having a linen cloth thrown around himself over his naked body. The young men grabbed him, 52. but he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked. 53. They led Jesus away to the high priest. All the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes came together with him. 54. Peter had followed him from a distance, until he came into the court of the high priest. He was sitting with the officers, and warming himself in the light of the fire. 55. Now the chief priests and the whole council sought witnesses against Jesus to put him to death, and found none. 56. For many gave false testimony against him, and their testimony didn’t agree with each other. 57. Some stood up, and gave false testimony against him, saying, 58. “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another made without hands.’” 59. Even so, their testimony did not agree. 60. The high priest stood up in the middle, and asked Jesus, “Have you no answer? What is it which these testify against you?” 61. But he stayed quiet, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” 62. Jesus said, “I am. You will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of the sky.” 63. The high priest tore his clothes, and said, “What further need have we of witnesses? 64. You have heard the blasphemy! What do you think?” They all condemned him to be worthy of death. 65. Some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to beat him with fists, and to tell him, “Prophesy!” The officers struck him with the palms of their hands. 66. As Peter was in the courtyard below, one of the maids of the high priest came, 67. and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him, and said, “You were also with the Nazarene, Jesus!” 68. But he denied it, saying, “I neither know, nor understand what you are saying.” He went out on the porch, and the rooster crowed. 69. The maid saw him, and began again to tell those who stood by, “This is one of them.” 70. But he again denied it. After a little while again those who stood by said to Peter, “You truly are one of them, for you are a Galilean, and your speech shows it.” 71. But he began to curse, and to swear, “I don’t know this man of whom you speak!” 72. The rooster crowed the second time. Peter remembered the word, how that Jesus said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” When he thought about that, he wept. 1. Immediately in the morning the chief priests, with the elders and scribes, and the whole council, held a consultation, and bound Jesus, and carried him away, and delivered him up to Pilate. 2. Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” He answered, “So you say.” 3. The chief priests accused him of many things. 4. Pilate again asked him, “Have you no answer? See how many things they testify against you!” 5. But Jesus made no further answer, so that Pilate marveled. 6. Now at the feast he used to release to them one prisoner, whom they asked of him. 7. There was one called Barabbas, bound with his fellow insurgents, men who in the insurrection had committed murder. 8. The multitude, crying aloud, began to ask him to do as he always did for them. 9. Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” 10. For he perceived that for envy the chief priests had delivered him up. 11. But the chief priests stirred up the multitude, that he should release Barabbas to them instead. 12. Pilate again asked them, “What then should I do to him whom you call the King of the Jews?” 13. They cried out again, “Crucify him!” 14. Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they cried out exceedingly, “Crucify him!” 15. Pilate, wishing to please the multitude, released Barabbas to them, and handed over Jesus, when he had flogged him, to be crucified. 16. The soldiers led him away within the court, which is the Praetorium; and they called together the whole cohort. 17. They clothed him with purple, and weaving a crown of thorns, they put it on him. 18. They began to salute him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 19. They struck his head with a reed, and spat on him, and bowing their knees, did homage to him. 20. When they had mocked him, they took the purple off him, and put his own garments on him. They led him out to crucify him. 21. They compelled one passing by, coming from the country, Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to go with them, that he might bear his cross. 22. They brought him to the place called Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, “The place of a skull.” 23. They offered him wine mixed with myrrh to drink, but he didn’t take it. 24. Crucifying him, they parted his garments among them, casting lots on them, what each should take. 25. It was the third hour, and they crucified him. 26. The superscription of his accusation was written over him, “THE KING OF THE JEWS.” 27. With him they crucified two robbers; one on his right hand, and one on his left. 28. The Scripture was fulfilled, which says, “He was counted with transgressors.” 29. Those who passed by blasphemed him, wagging their heads, and saying, “Ha! You who destroy the temple, and build it in three days, 30. save yourself, and come down from the cross!” 31. Likewise, also the chief priests mocking among themselves with the scribes said, “He saved others. He can’t save himself. 32. Let the Christ, the King of Israel, now come down from the cross, that we may see and believe him.” Those who were crucified with him also insulted him. 33. When the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. 34. At the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which is, being interpreted, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 35. Some of those who stood by, when they heard it, said, “Behold, he is calling Elijah.” 36. One ran, and filling a sponge full of vinegar, put it on a reed, and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Let him be. Let’s see whether Elijah comes to take him down.” 37. Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and gave up the spirit. 38. The veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom. 39. When the centurion, who stood by opposite him, saw that he cried out like this and breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!” 40. There were also women watching from afar, among whom were both Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome; 41. who, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and served him; and many other women who came up with him to Jerusalem. 42. When evening had now come, because it was the Preparation Day, that is, the day before the Sabbath, 43. Joseph of Arimathaea, a prominent council member who also himself was looking for God’s Kingdom, came. He boldly went in to Pilate, and asked for Jesus’ body. 44. Pilate marveled if he were already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he had been dead long. 45. When he found out from the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph. 46. He bought a linen cloth, and taking him down, wound him in the linen cloth, and laid him in a tomb which had been cut out of a rock. He rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. 47. Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of Joses, saw where he was laid. 1. When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, that they might come and anoint him. 2. Very early on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. 3. They were saying among themselves, “Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?” 4. for it was very big. Looking up, they saw that the stone was rolled back. 5. Entering into the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were amazed. 6. He said to them, “Don’t be amazed. You seek Jesus, the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen. He is not here. Behold, the place where they laid him! 7. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He goes before you into Galilee. There you will see him, as he said to you.’” 8. They went out, and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had come on them. They said nothing to anyone; for they were afraid. 9. Now when he had risen early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons. 10. She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept. 11. When they heard that he was alive, and had been seen by her, they disbelieved. 12. After these things he was revealed in another form to two of them, as they walked, on their way into the country. 13. They went away and told it to the rest. They didn’t believe them, either. 14. Afterward he was revealed to the eleven themselves as they sat at the table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they didn’t believe those who had seen him after he had risen. 15. He said to them, “Go into all the world, and preach the Good News to the whole creation. 16. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who disbelieves will be condemned. 17. These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new languages; 18. they will take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it will in no way hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” 19. So then the Lord, after he had spoken to them, was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. 20. They went out, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word by the signs that followed. Amen.

1. A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. 2. The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of fools gush out folly. 3. Yahweh’s eyes are everywhere, keeping watch on the evil and the good. 4. A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but deceit in it crushes the spirit. 5. A fool despises his father’s correction, but he who heeds reproof shows prudence. 6. In the house of the righteous is much treasure, but the income of the wicked brings trouble. 7. The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so with the heart of fools. 8. The sacrifice made by the wicked is an abomination to Yahweh, but the prayer of the upright is his delight. 9. The way of the wicked is an abomination to Yahweh, but he loves him who follows after righteousness. 10. There is stern discipline for one who forsakes the way: whoever hates reproof shall die. 11. Sheol and Abaddon are before Yahweh— how much more then the hearts of the children of men! 12. A scoffer doesn’t love to be reproved; he will not go to the wise. 13. A glad heart makes a cheerful face; but an aching heart breaks the spirit. 14. The heart of one who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly. 15. All the days of the afflicted are wretched, but one who has a cheerful heart enjoys a continual feast. 16. Better is little, with the fear of Yahweh, than great treasure with trouble. 17. Better is a dinner of herbs, where love is, than a fattened calf with hatred. 18. A wrathful man stirs up contention, but one who is slow to anger appeases strife. 19. The way of the sluggard is like a thorn patch, but the path of the upright is a highway. 20. A wise son makes a father glad, but a foolish man despises his mother. 21. Folly is joy to one who is void of wisdom, but a man of understanding keeps his way straight. 22. Where there is no counsel, plans fail; but in a multitude of counselors they are established. 23. Joy comes to a man with the reply of his mouth. How good is a word at the right time! 24. The path of life leads upward for the wise, to keep him from going downward to Sheol. 25. Yahweh will uproot the house of the proud, but he will keep the widow’s borders intact. 26. Yahweh detests the thoughts of the wicked, but the thoughts of the pure are pleasing. 27. He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house, but he who hates bribes will live. 28. The heart of the righteous weighs answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes out evil. 29. Yahweh is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous. 30. The light of the eyes rejoices the heart. Good news gives health to the bones. 31. The ear that listens to reproof lives, and will be at home among the wise. 32. He who refuses correction despises his own soul, but he who listens to reproof gets understanding. 33. The fear of Yahweh teaches wisdom. Before honor is humility.