God's Redemption Announced Through Humility

1. “Hear this, house of Jacob, you who are called by the name of Israel, and have come out of the waters of Judah. You swear by Yahweh’s name, and make mention of the God of Israel, but not in truth, nor in righteousness 2. (for they call themselves citizens of the holy city, and rely on the God of Israel; Yahweh of Armies is his name): 3. I have declared the former things from of old; yes, they went out of my mouth, and I revealed them. I did them suddenly, and they happened. 4. Because I knew that you are obstinate, and your neck is an iron sinew, and your brow brass; 5. therefore I have declared it to you from of old; before it came to pass I showed it to you; lest you should say, ‘My idol has done them, and my engraved image, and my molten image, has commanded them.’ 6. You have heard it; see all this. And you, won’t you declare it? “I have shown you new things from this time, even hidden things, which you have not known. 7. They are created now, and not from of old; and before today you didn’t hear them; lest you should say, ‘Behold, I knew them.’ 8. Yes, you didn’t hear; yes, you didn’t know; yes, from of old your ear was not opened: for I knew that you dealt very treacherously, and were called a transgressor from the womb. 9. For my name’s sake, I will defer my anger, and for my praise I hold it back for you, so that I don’t cut you off. 10. Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver. I have chosen you in the furnace of affliction. 11. For my own sake, for my own sake, I will do it; for how would my name be profaned? I will not give my glory to another. 12. “Listen to me, O Jacob, and Israel my called: I am he; I am the first, I am also the last. 13. Yes, my hand has laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand has spread out the heavens. when I call to them, they stand up together. 14. “Assemble yourselves, all of you, and hear; who among them has declared these things? He whom Yahweh loves will do what he likes to Babylon, and his arm will be against the Chaldeans. 15. I, even I, have spoken; yes, I have called him. I have brought him, and he shall make his way prosperous. 16. “Come near to me and hear this: “From the beginning I have not spoken in secret; from the time that it happened, I was there.” Now the Lord Yahweh has sent me, with his Spirit. 17. Yahweh, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel says: “I am Yahweh your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you by the way that you should go. 18. Oh that you had listened to my commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea. 19. Your offspring also would have been as the sand, and the descendants of your body like its grains. His name would not be cut off nor destroyed from before me.” 20. Leave Babylon! Flee from the Chaldeans! With a voice of singing announce this, tell it even to the end of the earth: say, “Yahweh has redeemed his servant Jacob!” 21. They didn’t thirst when he led them through the deserts. He caused the waters to flow out of the rock for them. He split the rock also, and the waters gushed out. 22. “There is no peace”, says Yahweh, “for the wicked.” 1. Listen, islands, to me. Listen, you peoples, from afar: Yahweh has called me from the womb; from the inside of my mother he has mentioned my name. 2. He has made my mouth like a sharp sword. He has hidden me in the shadow of his hand. He has made me a polished shaft. He has kept me close in his quiver. 3. He said to me, “You are my servant; Israel, in whom I will be glorified.” 4. But I said, “I have labored in vain. I have spent my strength in vain for nothing; yet surely the justice due to me is with Yahweh, and my reward with my God.” 5. Now Yahweh says, he who formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, and to gather Israel to him, for I am honorable in Yahweh’s eyes, and my God has become my strength. 6. Indeed, he says, “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel? I will also give you as a light to the nations, that you may be my salvation to the end of the earth.” 7. Yahweh, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, says to him whom man despises, to him whom the nation abhors, to a servant of rulers: “Kings shall see and rise up; princes, and they shall worship; because of Yahweh who is faithful, even the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.” 8. Yahweh says, “In an acceptable time I have answered you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you. I will preserve you, and give you for a covenant of the people, to raise up the land, to make them inherit the desolate heritage, 9. saying to those who are bound, ‘Come out!’; to those who are in darkness, ‘Show yourselves!’ “They shall feed along the paths, and their pasture shall be on all treeless heights. 10. They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun strike them: for he who has mercy on them will lead them. He will guide them by springs of water. 11. I will make all my mountains a road, and my highways shall be exalted. 12. Behold, these shall come from afar; and behold, these from the north and from the west; and these from the land of Sinim.” 13. Sing, heavens; and be joyful, earth; and break out into singing, mountains: for Yahweh has comforted his people, and will have compassion on his afflicted. 14. But Zion said, “Yahweh has forsaken me, and the Lord has forgotten me.” 15. “Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yes, these may forget, yet I will not forget you! 16. Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands. your walls are continually before me. 17. Your children hurry. Your destroyers and those who devastated you will leave you. 18. Lift up your eyes all around, and see: all these gather themselves together, and come to you. As I live,” says Yahweh, “you shall surely clothe yourself with them all as with an ornament, and dress yourself with them, like a bride. 19. “For, as for your waste and your desolate places, and your land that has been destroyed, surely now that land will be too small for the inhabitants, and those who swallowed you up will be far away. 20. The children of your bereavement will say in your ears, ‘This place is too small for me. Give me a place to live in.’ 21. Then you will say in your heart, ‘Who has conceived these for me, since I have been bereaved of my children, and am solitary, an exile, and wandering back and forth? Who has brought these up? Behold, I was left alone. Where were these?’” 22. Thus says the Lord Yahweh, “Behold, I will lift up my hand to the nations, and lift up my banner to the peoples; and they shall bring your sons in their bosom, and your daughters shall be carried on their shoulders. 23. Kings shall be your foster fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers. They will bow down to you with their faces to the earth, and lick the dust of your feet; Then you will know that I am Yahweh; and those who wait for me shall not be disappointed.” 24. Shall the plunder be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captives be delivered? 25. But Yahweh says, “Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the plunder retrieved from the fierce; for I will contend with him who contends with you, and I will save your children. 26. I will feed those who oppress you with their own flesh; and they will be drunk on their own blood, as with sweet wine. Then all flesh shall know that I, Yahweh, am your Savior, and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.” 1. Yahweh says, “Where is the bill of your mother’s divorce, with which I have put her away? or to which of my creditors have I sold you? Behold, you were sold for your iniquities, and your mother was put away for your transgressions. 2. Why, when I came, was there no one? when I called, why was there no one to answer? Is my hand shortened at all, that it can’t redeem? or have I no power to deliver? Behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea. I make the rivers a wilderness: their fish stink, because there is no water, and die for thirst. 3. I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering.” 4. The Lord Yahweh has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with words him who is weary. He wakens morning by morning, he wakens my ear to hear as those who are taught. 5. The Lord Yahweh has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious. I have not turned back. 6. I gave my back to those who beat me, and my cheeks to those who plucked off the hair. I didn’t hide my face from shame and spitting. 7. For the Lord Yahweh will help me. Therefore I have not been confounded. Therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be disappointed. 8. He who justifies me is near. Who will bring charges against me? Let us stand up together. Who is my adversary? Let him come near to me. 9. Behold, the Lord Yahweh will help me! Who is he who will condemn me? Behold, they will all grow old like a garment. The moths will eat them up. 10. Who among you fears Yahweh, and obeys the voice of his servant? He who walks in darkness, and has no light, let him trust in Yahweh’s name, and rely on his God. 11. Behold, all you who kindle a fire, who adorn yourselves with torches around yourselves; walk in the flame of your fire, and among the torches that you have kindled. You will have this from my hand: You will lie down in sorrow. 1. “Listen to me, you who follow after righteousness, you who seek Yahweh: look to the rock you were cut from, and to the quarry you were dug from. 2. Look to Abraham your father, and to Sarah who bore you; for when he was but one I called him, and I blessed him, and made him many. 3. For Yahweh has comforted Zion. He has comforted all her waste places, and has made her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of Yahweh. Joy and gladness will be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody. 4. “Listen to me, my people; and hear me, my nation: for a law will go out from me, and I will establish my justice for a light to the peoples. 5. My righteousness is near. My salvation has gone out, and my arms will judge the peoples. The islands will wait for me, and they will trust my arm. 6. Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look on the earth beneath; for the heavens will vanish away like smoke, and the earth will wear out like a garment; and its inhabitants will die in the same way: but my salvation will be forever, and my righteousness will not be abolished. 7. “Listen to me, you who know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law: Don’t fear the reproach of men, and don’t be dismayed at their insults. 8. For the moth will eat them up like a garment, and the worm will eat them like wool; but my righteousness will be forever, and my salvation to all generations.” 9. Awake, awake, put on strength, arm of Yahweh! Awake, as in the days of old, the generations of ancient times. Isn’t it you who cut Rahab in pieces, who pierced the monster? 10. Isn’t it you who dried up the sea, the waters of the great deep; who made the depths of the sea a way for the redeemed to pass over? 11. Those ransomed by Yahweh will return, and come with singing to Zion; and everlasting joy shall be on their heads. They will obtain gladness and joy. Sorrow and sighing shall flee away. 12. “I, even I, am he who comforts you. Who are you, that you are afraid of man who shall die, and of the son of man who will be made as grass? 13. Have you forgotten Yahweh your Maker, who stretched out the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth? Do you live in fear continually all day because of the fury of the oppressor, when he prepares to destroy? Where is the fury of the oppressor? 14. The captive exile will speedily be freed; and he will not die and go down into the pit, and his bread will not fail. 15. For I am Yahweh your God, who stirs up the sea, so that its waves roar: Yahweh of Armies is his name. 16. I have put my words in your mouth, and have covered you in the shadow of my hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and tell Zion, ‘You are my people.’” 17. Awake, awake! Stand up, Jerusalem, you who have drunk from Yahweh’s hand the cup of his wrath. You have drunken the bowl of the cup of staggering, and drained it. 18. There is no one to guide her among all the sons to whom she has given birth; and there is no one who takes her by the hand among all the sons who she has brought up. 19. These two things have happened to you— who will grieve with you?— desolation and destruction, and famine and the sword. How can I comfort you? 20. Your sons have fainted. They lie at the head of all the streets, like an antelope in a net. They are full of the Yahweh’s wrath, the rebuke of your God. 21. Therefore now hear this, you afflicted, and drunken, but not with wine: 22. Thus says your Lord Yahweh, your God who pleads the cause of his people, “Behold, I have taken out of your hand the cup of staggering, even the bowl of the cup of my wrath. You will not drink it any more: 23. and I will put it into the hand of those who afflict you, who have said to your soul, ‘Bow down, that we may walk over you;’ and you have laid your back as the ground, like a street to those who walk over.”

1. Since many have undertaken to set in order a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us, 2. even as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word delivered them to us, 3. it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write to you in order, most excellent Theophilus; 4. that you might know the certainty concerning the things in which you were instructed. 5. There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the priestly division of Abijah. He had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6. They were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord. 7. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they both were well advanced in years. 8. Now while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his division, 9. according to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to enter into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10. The whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. 11. An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12. Zacharias was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. 13. But the angel said to him, “Don’t be afraid, Zacharias, because your request has been heard, and your wife, Elizabeth, will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14. You will have joy and gladness; and many will rejoice at his birth. 15. For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and he will drink no wine nor strong drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. 16. He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord, their God. 17. He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to prepare a people prepared for the Lord.” 18. Zacharias said to the angel, “How can I be sure of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.” 19. The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God. I was sent to speak to you, and to bring you this good news. 20. Behold, you will be silent and not able to speak, until the day that these things will happen, because you didn’t believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.” 21. The people were waiting for Zacharias, and they marveled that he delayed in the temple. 22. When he came out, he could not speak to them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple. He continued making signs to them, and remained mute. 23. When the days of his service were fulfilled, he departed to his house. 24. After these days Elizabeth, his wife, conceived, and she hid herself five months, saying, 25. “Thus has the Lord done to me in the days in which he looked at me, to take away my reproach among men.” 26. Now in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, 27. to a virgin pledged to be married to a man whose name was Joseph, of David’s house. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28. Having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, you highly favored one! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women!” 29. But when she saw him, she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered what kind of salutation this might be. 30. The angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31. Behold, you will conceive in your womb, and give birth to a son, and will call his name ‘Jesus.’ 32. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father, David, 33. and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. There will be no end to his Kingdom.” 34. Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, seeing I am a virgin?” 35. The angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore also the holy one who is born from you will be called the Son of God. 36. Behold, Elizabeth, your relative, also has conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37. For nothing spoken by God is impossible.” 38. Mary said, “Behold, the servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word.” The angel departed from her. 39. Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah, 40. and entered into the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. 41. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42. She called out with a loud voice, and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43. Why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44. For behold, when the voice of your greeting came into my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy! 45. Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord!” 46. Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord. 47. My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior, 48. for he has looked at the humble state of his servant. For behold, from now on, all generations will call me blessed. 49. For he who is mighty has done great things for me. Holy is his name. 50. His mercy is for generations of generations on those who fear him. 51. He has shown strength with his arm. He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. 52. He has put down princes from their thrones. And has exalted the lowly. 53. He has filled the hungry with good things. He has sent the rich away empty. 54. He has given help to Israel, his servant, that he might remember mercy, 55. As he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his offspring forever.” 56. Mary stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her house. 57. Now the time that Elizabeth should give birth was fulfilled, and she gave birth to a son. 58. Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy towards her, and they rejoiced with her. 59. On the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him Zacharias, after the name of his father. 60. His mother answered, “Not so; but he will be called John.” 61. They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.” 62. They made signs to his father, what he would have him called. 63. He asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, “His name is John.” They all marveled. 64. His mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue freed, and he spoke, blessing God. 65. Fear came on all who lived around them, and all these sayings were talked about throughout all the hill country of Judea. 66. All who heard them laid them up in their heart, saying, “What then will this child be?” The hand of the Lord was with him. 67. His father, Zacharias, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying, 68. “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people; 69. and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David 70. (as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets who have been from of old), 71. salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us; 72. to show mercy towards our fathers, to remember his holy covenant, 73. the oath which he swore to Abraham, our father, 74. to grant to us that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, should serve him without fear, 75. In holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life. 76. And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways, 77. to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the remission of their sins, 78. because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the dawn from on high will visit us, 79. to shine on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death; to guide our feet into the way of peace.” 80. The child was growing, and becoming strong in spirit, and was in the desert until the day of his public appearance to Israel. 1. Now in those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled. 2. This was the first enrollment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3. All went to enroll themselves, everyone to his own city. 4. Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to David’s city, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David; 5. to enroll himself with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him as wife, being pregnant. 6. While they were there, the day had come for her to give birth. 7. She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no room for them in the inn. 8. There were shepherds in the same country staying in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock. 9. Behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10. The angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be to all the people. 11. For there is born to you today, in David’s city, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12. This is the sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth, lying in a feeding trough.” 13. Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army praising God, and saying, 14. “Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good will toward men.” 15. When the angels went away from them into the sky, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem, now, and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16. They came with haste, and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby was lying in the feeding trough. 17. When they saw it, they publicized widely the saying which was spoken to them about this child. 18. All who heard it wondered at the things which were spoken to them by the shepherds. 19. But Mary kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart. 20. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, just as it was told them. 21. When eight days were fulfilled for the circumcision of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. 22. When the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were fulfilled, they brought him up to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord 23. (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”), 24. and to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” 25. Behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27. He came in the Spirit into the temple. When the parents brought in the child, Jesus, that they might do concerning him according to the custom of the law, 28. then he received him into his arms, and blessed God, and said, 29. “Now you are releasing your servant, Master, according to your word, in peace; 30. for my eyes have seen your salvation, 31. which you have prepared before the face of all peoples; 32. a light for revelation to the nations, and the glory of your people Israel.” 33. Joseph and his mother were marveling at the things which were spoken concerning him, 34. and Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary, his mother, “Behold, this child is set for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which is spoken against. 35. Yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” 36. There was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher (she was of a great age, having lived with a husband seven years from her virginity, 37. and she had been a widow for about eighty-four years), who didn’t depart from the temple, worshiping with fastings and petitions night and day. 38. Coming up at that very hour, she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of him to all those who were looking for redemption in Jerusalem. 39. When they had accomplished all things that were according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. 40. The child was growing, and was becoming strong in spirit, being filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him. 41. His parents went every year to Jerusalem at the feast of the Passover. 42. When he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast, 43. and when they had fulfilled the days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. Joseph and his mother didn’t know it, 44. but supposing him to be in the company, they went a day’s journey, and they looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances. 45. When they didn’t find him, they returned to Jerusalem, looking for him. 46. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the middle of the teachers, both listening to them, and asking them questions. 47. All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48. When they saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us this way? Behold, your father and I were anxiously looking for you.” 49. He said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?” 50. They didn’t understand the saying which he spoke to them. 51. And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth. He was subject to them, and his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. 52. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. 1. Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, 2. in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness. 3. He came into all the region around the Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for remission of sins. 4. As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make ready the way of the Lord. Make his paths straight. 5. Every valley will be filled. Every mountain and hill will be brought low. The crooked will become straight, and the rough ways smooth. 6. All flesh will see God’s salvation.’” 7. He said therefore to the multitudes who went out to be baptized by him, “You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8. Therefore produce fruits worthy of repentance, and don’t begin to say among yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father;’ for I tell you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones! 9. Even now the ax also lies at the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down, and thrown into the fire.” 10. The multitudes asked him, “What then must we do?” 11. He answered them, “He who has two coats, let him give to him who has none. He who has food, let him do likewise.” 12. Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, “Teacher, what must we do?” 13. He said to them, “Collect no more than that which is appointed to you.” 14. Soldiers also asked him, saying, “What about us? What must we do?” He said to them, “Extort from no one by violence, neither accuse anyone wrongfully. Be content with your wages.” 15. As the people were in expectation, and all men reasoned in their hearts concerning John, whether perhaps he was the Christ, 16. John answered them all, “I indeed baptize you with water, but he comes who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to loosen. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fire, 17. whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor, and will gather the wheat into his barn; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” 18. Then with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people, 19. but Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias, his brother’s wife, and for all the evil things which Herod had done, 20. added this also to them all, that he shut up John in prison. 21. Now when all the people were baptized, Jesus also had been baptized, and was praying. The sky was opened, 22. and the Holy Spirit descended in a bodily form like a dove on him; and a voice came out of the sky, saying “You are my beloved Son. In you I am well pleased.” 23. Jesus himself, when he began to teach, was about thirty years old, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli, 24. the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph, 25. the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai, 26. the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Joseph, the son of Judah, 27. the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri, 28. the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmodam, the son of Er, 29. the son of Jose, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, 30. the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonan, the son of Eliakim, 31. the son of Melea, the son of Menan, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David, 32. the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon, 33. the son of Amminadab, the son of Aram, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, 34. the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, 35. the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah, 36. the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, 37. the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan, 38. the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God. 1. Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness 2. for forty days, being tempted by the devil. He ate nothing in those days. Afterward, when they were completed, he was hungry. 3. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” 4. Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’” 5. The devil, leading him up on a high mountain, showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6. The devil said to him, “I will give you all this authority, and their glory, for it has been delivered to me; and I give it to whomever I want. 7. If you therefore will worship before me, it will all be yours.” 8. Jesus answered him, “Get behind me Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and you shall serve him only.’” 9. He led him to Jerusalem, and set him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, cast yourself down from here, 10. for it is written, ‘He will put his angels in charge of you, to guard you;’ 11. and, ‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest perhaps you dash your foot against a stone.’” 12. Jesus answering, said to him, “It has been said, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’” 13. When the devil had completed every temptation, he departed from him until another time. 14. Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee, and news about him spread through all the surrounding area. 15. He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all. 16. He came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. He entered, as was his custom, into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. 17. The book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. He opened the book, and found the place where it was written, 18. “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the broken hearted, to proclaim release to the captives, recovering of sight to the blind, to deliver those who are crushed, 19. and to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” 20. He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21. He began to tell them, “Today, this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” 22. All testified about him, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth, and they said, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” 23. He said to them, “Doubtless you will tell me this parable, ‘Physician, heal yourself! Whatever we have heard done at Capernaum, do also here in your hometown.’” 24. He said, “Most certainly I tell you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown. 25. But truly I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the sky was shut up three years and six months, when a great famine came over all the land. 26. Elijah was sent to none of them, except to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. 27. There were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed, except Naaman, the Syrian.” 28. They were all filled with wrath in the synagogue, as they heard these things. 29. They rose up, threw him out of the city, and led him to the brow of the hill that their city was built on, that they might throw him off the cliff. 30. But he, passing through the middle of them, went his way. 31. He came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee. He was teaching them on the Sabbath day, 32. and they were astonished at his teaching, for his word was with authority. 33. In the synagogue there was a man who had a spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, 34. saying, “Ah! what have we to do with you, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know you who you are: the Holy One of God!” 35. Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” When the demon had thrown him down in the middle of them, he came out of him, having done him no harm. 36. Amazement came on all, and they spoke together, one with another, saying, “What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!” 37. News about him went out into every place of the surrounding region. 38. He rose up from the synagogue, and entered into Simon’s house. Simon’s mother-in-law was afflicted with a great fever, and they begged him for her. 39. He stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her. Immediately she rose up and served them. 40. When the sun was setting, all those who had any sick with various diseases brought them to him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them. 41. Demons also came out of many, crying out, and saying, “You are the Christ, the Son of God!” Rebuking them, he didn’t allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ. 42. When it was day, he departed and went into an uninhabited place, and the multitudes looked for him, and came to him, and held on to him, so that he wouldn’t go away from them. 43. But he said to them, “I must preach the good news of God’s Kingdom to the other cities also. For this reason I have been sent.” 44. He was preaching in the synagogues of Galilee. 1. Now while the multitude pressed on him and heard the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret. 2. He saw two boats standing by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them, and were washing their nets. 3. He entered into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat. 4. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep, and let down your nets for a catch.” 5. Simon answered him, “Master, we worked all night, and took nothing; but at your word I will let down the net.” 6. When they had done this, they caught a great multitude of fish, and their net was breaking. 7. They beckoned to their partners in the other boat, that they should come and help them. They came, and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. 8. But Simon Peter, when he saw it, fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, Lord.” 9. For he was amazed, and all who were with him, at the catch of fish which they had caught; 10. and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid. From now on you will be catching people alive.” 11. When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything, and followed him. 12. While he was in one of the cities, behold, there was a man full of leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell on his face, and begged him, saying, “Lord, if you want to, you can make me clean.” 13. He stretched out his hand, and touched him, saying, “I want to. Be made clean.” Immediately the leprosy left him. 14. He commanded him to tell no one, “But go your way, and show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing according to what Moses commanded, for a testimony to them.” 15. But the report concerning him spread much more, and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities. 16. But he withdrew himself into the desert, and prayed. 17. On one of those days, he was teaching; and there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every village of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. The power of the Lord was with him to heal them. 18. Behold, men brought a paralyzed man on a cot, and they sought to bring him in to lay before Jesus. 19. Not finding a way to bring him in because of the multitude, they went up to the housetop, and let him down through the tiles with his cot into the middle before Jesus. 20. Seeing their faith, he said to him, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” 21. The scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this that speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?” 22. But Jesus, perceiving their thoughts, answered them, “Why are you reasoning so in your hearts? 23. Which is easier to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you;’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk?’ 24. But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” (he said to the paralyzed man), “I tell you, arise, and take up your cot, and go to your house.” 25. Immediately he rose up before them, and took up that which he was laying on, and departed to his house, glorifying God. 26. Amazement took hold on all, and they glorified God. They were filled with fear, saying, “We have seen strange things today.” 27. After these things he went out, and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the tax office, and said to him, “Follow me!” 28. He left everything, and rose up and followed him. 29. Levi made a great feast for him in his house. There was a great crowd of tax collectors and others who were reclining with them. 30. Their scribes and the Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with the tax collectors and sinners?” 31. Jesus answered them, “Those who are healthy have no need for a physician, but those who are sick do. 32. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” 33. They said to him, “Why do John’s disciples often fast and pray, likewise also the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink?” 34. He said to them, “Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast, while the bridegroom is with them? 35. But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them. Then they will fast in those days.” 36. He also told a parable to them. “No one puts a piece from a new garment on an old garment, or else he will tear the new, and also the piece from the new will not match the old. 37. No one puts new wine into old wine skins, or else the new wine will burst the skins, and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed. 38. But new wine must be put into fresh wine skins, and both are preserved. 39. No man having drunk old wine immediately desires new, for he says, ‘The old is better.’” 1. Now on the second Sabbath after the first, he was going through the grain fields. His disciples plucked the heads of grain and ate, rubbing them in their hands. 2. But some of the Pharisees said to them, “Why do you do that which is not lawful to do on the Sabbath day?” 3. Jesus, answering them, said, “Haven’t you read what David did when he was hungry, he, and those who were with him; 4. how he entered into God’s house, and took and ate the show bread, and gave also to those who were with him, which is not lawful to eat except for the priests alone?” 5. He said to them, “The Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.” 6. It also happened on another Sabbath that he entered into the synagogue and taught. There was a man there, and his right hand was withered. 7. The scribes and the Pharisees watched him, to see whether he would heal on the Sabbath, that they might find an accusation against him. 8. But he knew their thoughts; and he said to the man who had the withered hand, “Rise up, and stand in the middle.” He arose and stood. 9. Then Jesus said to them, “I will ask you something: Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good, or to do harm? To save a life, or to kill?” 10. He looked around at them all, and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He did, and his hand was restored as sound as the other. 11. But they were filled with rage, and talked with one another about what they might do to Jesus. 12. In these days, he went out to the mountain to pray, and he continued all night in prayer to God. 13. When it was day, he called his disciples, and from them he chose twelve, whom he also named apostles: 14. Simon, whom he also named Peter; Andrew, his brother; James; John; Philip; Bartholomew; 15. Matthew; Thomas; James, the son of Alphaeus; Simon, who was called the Zealot; 16. Judas the son of James; and Judas Iscariot, who also became a traitor. 17. He came down with them, and stood on a level place, with a crowd of his disciples, and a great number of the people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; 18. as well as those who were troubled by unclean spirits, and they were being healed. 19. All the multitude sought to touch him, for power came out of him and healed them all. 20. He lifted up his eyes to his disciples, and said, “Blessed are you who are poor, God’s Kingdom is yours. 21. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. 22. Blessed are you when men shall hate you, and when they shall exclude and mock you, and throw out your name as evil, for the Son of Man’s sake. 23. Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven, for their fathers did the same thing to the prophets. 24. “But woe to you who are rich! For you have received your consolation. 25. Woe to you, you who are full now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep. 26. Woe, when men speak well of you, for their fathers did the same thing to the false prophets. 27. “But I tell you who hear: love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28. bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you. 29. To him who strikes you on the cheek, offer also the other; and from him who takes away your cloak, don’t withhold your coat also. 30. Give to everyone who asks you, and don’t ask him who takes away your goods to give them back again. 31. “As you would like people to do to you, do exactly so to them. 32. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34. If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive back as much. 35. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing back; and your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind toward the unthankful and evil. 36. “Therefore be merciful, even as your Father is also merciful. 37. Don’t judge, and you won’t be judged. Don’t condemn, and you won’t be condemned. Set free, and you will be set free. 38. “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be given to you. For with the same measure you measure it will be measured back to you.” 39. He spoke a parable to them. “Can the blind guide the blind? Won’t they both fall into a pit? 40. A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher. 41. Why do you see the speck of chaff that is in your brother’s eye, but don’t consider the beam that is in your own eye? 42. Or how can you tell your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove the speck of chaff that is in your eye,’ when you yourself don’t see the beam that is in your own eye? You hypocrite! First remove the beam from your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck of chaff that is in your brother’s eye. 43. For there is no good tree that produces rotten fruit; nor again a rotten tree that produces good fruit. 44. For each tree is known by its own fruit. For people don’t gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. 45. The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings out that which is good, and the evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings out that which is evil, for out of the abundance of the heart, his mouth speaks. 46. “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and don’t do the things which I say? 47. Everyone who comes to me, and hears my words, and does them, I will show you who he is like. 48. He is like a man building a house, who dug and went deep, and laid a foundation on the rock. When a flood arose, the stream broke against that house, and could not shake it, because it was founded on the rock. 49. But he who hears, and doesn’t do, is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream broke, and immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.”

1. The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from Yahweh. 2. All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but Yahweh weighs the motives. 3. Commit your deeds to Yahweh, and your plans shall succeed. 4. Yahweh has made everything for its own end— yes, even the wicked for the day of evil. 5. Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to Yahweh: they shall certainly not be unpunished. 6. By mercy and truth iniquity is atoned for. By the fear of Yahweh men depart from evil. 7. When a man’s ways please Yahweh, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. 8. Better is a little with righteousness, than great revenues with injustice. 9. A man’s heart plans his course, but Yahweh directs his steps. 10. Inspired judgments are on the lips of the king. He shall not betray his mouth. 11. Honest balances and scales are Yahweh’s; all the weights in the bag are his work. 12. It is an abomination for kings to do wrong, for the throne is established by righteousness. 13. Righteous lips are the delight of kings. They value one who speaks the truth. 14. The king’s wrath is a messenger of death, but a wise man will pacify it. 15. In the light of the king’s face is life. His favor is like a cloud of the spring rain. 16. How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! Yes, to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver. 17. The highway of the upright is to depart from evil. He who keeps his way preserves his soul. 18. Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. 19. It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor, than to divide the plunder with the proud. 20. He who heeds the Word finds prosperity. Whoever trusts in Yahweh is blessed. 21. The wise in heart shall be called prudent. Pleasantness of the lips promotes instruction. 22. Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has it, but the punishment of fools is their folly. 23. The heart of the wise instructs his mouth, and adds learning to his lips. 24. Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones. 25. There is a way which seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death. 26. The appetite of the laboring man labors for him; for his mouth urges him on. 27. A worthless man devises mischief. His speech is like a scorching fire. 28. A perverse man stirs up strife. A whisperer separates close friends. 29. A man of violence entices his neighbor, and leads him in a way that is not good. 30. One who winks his eyes to plot perversities, one who compresses his lips, is bent on evil. 31. Gray hair is a crown of glory. It is attained by a life of righteousness. 32. One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty; one who rules his spirit, than he who takes a city. 33. The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from Yahweh.