Hidden Knowledge Revealed: Parables and Judgment

1. “Listen to this, you priests! Listen, house of Israel, and give ear, house of the king! For the judgment is against you; for you have been a snare at Mizpah, and a net spread on Tabor. 2. The rebels are deep in slaughter; but I discipline all of them. 3. I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hidden from me; for now, Ephraim, you have played the prostitute. Israel is defiled. 4. Their deeds won’t allow them to turn to their God; for the spirit of prostitution is within them, and they don’t know Yahweh. 5. The pride of Israel testifies to his face. Therefore Israel and Ephraim will stumble in their iniquity. Judah also will stumble with them. 6. They will go with their flocks and with their herds to seek Yahweh; but they won’t find him. He has withdrawn himself from them. 7. They are unfaithful to Yahweh; for they have borne illegitimate children. Now the new moon will devour them with their fields. 8. “Blow the cornet in Gibeah, and the trumpet in Ramah! Sound a battle cry at Beth Aven, behind you, Benjamin! 9. Ephraim will become a desolation in the day of rebuke. Among the tribes of Israel, I have made known that which will surely be. 10. The princes of Judah are like those who remove a landmark. I will pour out my wrath on them like water. 11. Ephraim is oppressed, he is crushed in judgment; Because he is intent in his pursuit of idols. 12. Therefore I am to Ephraim like a moth, and to the house of Judah like rottenness. 13. “When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah his wound, Then Ephraim went to Assyria, and sent to king Jareb: but he is not able to heal you, neither will he cure you of your wound. 14. For I will be to Ephraim like a lion, and like a young lion to the house of Judah. I myself will tear in pieces and go away. I will carry off, and there will be no one to deliver. 15. I will go and return to my place, until they acknowledge their offense, and seek my face. In their affliction they will seek me earnestly.” 1. “Come, and let us return to Yahweh; for he has torn us to pieces, and he will heal us; he has injured us, and he will bind up our wounds. 2. After two days he will revive us. On the third day he will raise us up, and we will live before him. 3. Let us acknowledge Yahweh. Let us press on to know Yahweh. As surely as the sun rises, Yahweh will appear. He will come to us like the rain, like the spring rain that waters the earth.” 4. “Ephraim, what shall I do to you? Judah, what shall I do to you? For your love is like a morning cloud, and like the dew that disappears early. 5. Therefore I have cut them to pieces with the prophets; I killed them with the words of my mouth. Your judgments are like a flash of lightning. 6. For I desire mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. 7. But they, like Adam, have broken the covenant. They were unfaithful to me, there. 8. Gilead is a city of those who work iniquity; it is stained with blood. 9. As gangs of robbers wait to ambush a man, so the company of priests murder on the path toward Shechem, committing shameful crimes. 10. In the house of Israel I have seen a horrible thing. There is prostitution in Ephraim. Israel is defiled. 11. “Also, Judah, there is a harvest appointed for you, when I restore the fortunes of my people. 1. When I would heal Israel, then the iniquity of Ephraim is uncovered, also the wickedness of Samaria; for they commit falsehood, and the thief enters in, and the gang of robbers ravages outside. 2. They don’t consider in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness. Now their own deeds have engulfed them. They are before my face. 3. They make the king glad with their wickedness, and the princes with their lies. 4. They are all adulterers. They are burning like an oven that the baker stops stirring, from the kneading of the dough, until it is leavened. 5. On the day of our king, the princes made themselves sick with the heat of wine. He joined his hand with mockers. 6. For they have prepared their heart like an oven, while they lie in wait. Their baker sleeps all the night. In the morning it burns as a flaming fire. 7. They are all hot as an oven, and devour their judges. All their kings have fallen. There is no one among them who calls to me. 8. Ephraim, he mixes himself among the nations. Ephraim is a pancake not turned over. 9. Strangers have devoured his strength, and he doesn’t realize it. Indeed, gray hairs are here and there on him, and he doesn’t realize it. 10. The pride of Israel testifies to his face; yet they haven’t returned to Yahweh their God, nor sought him, for all this. 11. “Ephraim is like an easily deceived dove, without understanding. They call to Egypt. They go to Assyria. 12. When they go, I will spread my net on them. I will bring them down like the birds of the sky. I will chastise them, as their congregation has heard. 13. Woe to them! For they have wandered from me. Destruction to them! For they have trespassed against me. Though I would redeem them, yet they have spoken lies against me. 14. They haven’t cried to me with their heart, but they howl on their beds. They assemble themselves for grain and new wine. They turn away from me. 15. Though I have taught and strengthened their arms, yet they plot evil against me. 16. They return, but not to the Most High. They are like a faulty bow. Their princes will fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue. This will be their derision in the land of Egypt. 1. “Put the trumpet to your lips! Something like an eagle is over Yahweh’s house, because they have broken my covenant, and rebelled against my law. 2. They cry to me, ‘My God, we Israel acknowledge you!’ 3. Israel has cast off that which is good. The enemy will pursue him. 4. They have set up kings, but not by me. They have made princes, and I didn’t approve. Of their silver and their gold they have made themselves idols, that they may be cut off. 5. Let Samaria throw out his calf idol! My anger burns against them! How long will it be until they are capable of purity? 6. For this is even from Israel! The workman made it, and it is no God; indeed, the calf of Samaria shall be broken in pieces. 7. For they sow the wind, and they will reap the whirlwind. He has no standing grain. The stalk will yield no head. If it does yield, strangers will swallow it up. 8. Israel is swallowed up. Now they are among the nations like a worthless thing. 9. For they have gone up to Assyria, like a wild donkey wandering alone. Ephraim has hired lovers for himself. 10. But although they sold themselves among the nations, I will now gather them; and they begin to waste away because of the oppression of the king of mighty ones. 11. Because Ephraim has multiplied altars for sinning, they became for him altars for sinning. 12. I wrote for him the many things of my law; but they were regarded as a strange thing. 13. As for the sacrifices of my offerings, they sacrifice meat and eat it; But Yahweh doesn’t accept them. Now he will remember their iniquity, and punish their sins. They will return to Egypt. 14. For Israel has forgotten his Maker and built palaces; and Judah has multiplied fortified cities; but I will send a fire on his cities, and it will devour its fortresses.”

1. Again he began to teach by the seaside. A great multitude was gathered to him, so that he entered into a boat in the sea, and sat down. All the multitude were on the land by the sea. 2. He taught them many things in parables, and told them in his teaching, 3. “Listen! Behold, the farmer went out to sow, 4. and as he sowed, some seed fell by the road, and the birds came and devoured it. 5. Others fell on the rocky ground, where it had little soil, and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of soil. 6. When the sun had risen, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. 7. Others fell among the thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. 8. Others fell into the good ground, and yielded fruit, growing up and increasing. Some produced thirty times, some sixty times, and some one hundred times as much.” 9. He said, “Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear.” 10. When he was alone, those who were around him with the twelve asked him about the parables. 11. He said to them, “To you is given the mystery of God’s Kingdom, but to those who are outside, all things are done in parables, 12. that ‘seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest perhaps they should turn again, and their sins should be forgiven them.’” 13. He said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? How will you understand all of the parables? 14. The farmer sows the word. 15. The ones by the road are the ones where the word is sown; and when they have heard, immediately Satan comes, and takes away the word which has been sown in them. 16. These in the same way are those who are sown on the rocky places, who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with joy. 17. They have no root in themselves, but are short-lived. When oppression or persecution arises because of the word, immediately they stumble. 18. Others are those who are sown among the thorns. These are those who have heard the word, 19. and the cares of this age, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 20. Those which were sown on the good ground are those who hear the word, and accept it, and bear fruit, some thirty times, some sixty times, and some one hundred times.” 21. He said to them, “Is the lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Isn’t it put on a stand? 22. For there is nothing hidden, except that it should be made known; neither was anything made secret, but that it should come to light. 23. If any man has ears to hear, let him hear.” 24. He said to them, “Take heed what you hear. With whatever measure you measure, it will be measured to you, and more will be given to you who hear. 25. For whoever has, to him will more be given, and he who doesn’t have, even that which he has will be taken away from him.” 26. He said, “God’s Kingdom is as if a man should cast seed on the earth, 27. and should sleep and rise night and day, and the seed should spring up and grow, though he doesn’t know how. 28. For the earth bears fruit: first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. 29. But when the fruit is ripe, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.” 30. He said, “How will we liken God’s Kingdom? Or with what parable will we illustrate it? 31. It’s like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, though it is less than all the seeds that are on the earth, 32. yet when it is sown, grows up, and becomes greater than all the herbs, and puts out great branches, so that the birds of the sky can lodge under its shadow.” 33. With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it. 34. Without a parable he didn’t speak to them; but privately to his own disciples he explained everything. 35. On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let’s go over to the other side.” 36. Leaving the multitude, they took him with them, even as he was, in the boat. Other small boats were also with him. 37. A big wind storm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so much that the boat was already filled. 38. He himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion, and they woke him up, and told him, “Teacher, don’t you care that we are dying?” 39. He awoke, and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” The wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40. He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? How is it that you have no faith?” 41. They were greatly afraid, and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” 1. They came to the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. 2. When he had come out of the boat, immediately a man with an unclean spirit met him out of the tombs. 3. He lived in the tombs. Nobody could bind him any more, not even with chains, 4. because he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been torn apart by him, and the fetters broken in pieces. Nobody had the strength to tame him. 5. Always, night and day, in the tombs and in the mountains, he was crying out, and cutting himself with stones. 6. When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and bowed down to him, 7. and crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have I to do with you, Jesus, you Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, don’t torment me.” 8. For he said to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” 9. He asked him, “What is your name?” He said to him, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” 10. He begged him much that he would not send them away out of the country. 11. Now on the mountainside there was a great herd of pigs feeding. 12. All the demons begged him, saying, “Send us into the pigs, that we may enter into them.” 13. At once Jesus gave them permission. The unclean spirits came out and entered into the pigs. The herd of about two thousand rushed down the steep bank into the sea, and they were drowned in the sea. 14. Those who fed them fled, and told it in the city and in the country. The people came to see what it was that had happened. 15. They came to Jesus, and saw him who had been possessed by demons sitting, clothed, and in his right mind, even him who had the legion; and they were afraid. 16. Those who saw it declared to them what happened to him who was possessed by demons, and about the pigs. 17. They began to beg him to depart from their region. 18. As he was entering into the boat, he who had been possessed by demons begged him that he might be with him. 19. He didn’t allow him, but said to him, “Go to your house, to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how he had mercy on you.” 20. He went his way, and began to proclaim in Decapolis how Jesus had done great things for him, and everyone marveled. 21. When Jesus had crossed back over in the boat to the other side, a great multitude was gathered to him; and he was by the sea. 22. Behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, came; and seeing him, he fell at his feet, 23. and begged him much, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Please come and lay your hands on her, that she may be made healthy, and live.” 24. He went with him, and a great multitude followed him, and they pressed upon him on all sides. 25. A certain woman, who had an issue of blood for twelve years, 26. and had suffered many things by many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better, but rather grew worse, 27. having heard the things concerning Jesus, came up behind him in the crowd, and touched his clothes. 28. For she said, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be made well.” 29. Immediately the flow of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction. 30. Immediately Jesus, perceiving in himself that the power had gone out from him, turned around in the crowd, and asked, “Who touched my clothes?” 31. His disciples said to him, “You see the multitude pressing against you, and you say, ‘Who touched me?’” 32. He looked around to see her who had done this thing. 33. But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had been done to her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth. 34. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be cured of your disease.” 35. While he was still speaking, people came from the synagogue ruler’s house saying, “Your daughter is dead. Why bother the Teacher any more?” 36. But Jesus, when he heard the message spoken, immediately said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Don’t be afraid, only believe.” 37. He allowed no one to follow him, except Peter, James, and John the brother of James. 38. He came to the synagogue ruler’s house, and he saw an uproar, weeping, and great wailing. 39. When he had entered in, he said to them, “Why do you make an uproar and weep? The child is not dead, but is asleep.” 40. They ridiculed him. But he, having put them all out, took the father of the child, her mother, and those who were with him, and went in where the child was lying. 41. Taking the child by the hand, he said to her, “Talitha cumi!” which means, being interpreted, “Girl, I tell you, get up!” 42. Immediately the girl rose up and walked, for she was twelve years old. They were amazed with great amazement. 43. He strictly ordered them that no one should know this, and commanded that something should be given to her to eat. 1. He went out from there. He came into his own country, and his disciples followed him. 2. When the Sabbath had come, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many hearing him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things?” and, “What is the wisdom that is given to this man, that such mighty works come about by his hands? 3. Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judah, and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” They were offended at him. 4. Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country, and among his own relatives, and in his own house.” 5. He could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people, and healed them. 6. He marveled because of their unbelief. He went around the villages teaching. 7. He called to himself the twelve, and began to send them out two by two; and he gave them authority over the unclean spirits. 8. He commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, except a staff only: no bread, no wallet, no money in their purse, 9. but to wear sandals, and not put on two tunics. 10. He said to them, “Wherever you enter into a house, stay there until you depart from there. 11. Whoever will not receive you nor hear you, as you depart from there, shake off the dust that is under your feet for a testimony against them. Assuredly, I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!” 12. They went out and preached that people should repent. 13. They cast out many demons, and anointed many with oil who were sick, and healed them. 14. King Herod heard this, for his name had become known, and he said, “John the Baptizer has risen from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in him.” 15. But others said, “He is Elijah.” Others said, “He is a prophet, or like one of the prophets.” 16. But Herod, when he heard this, said, “This is John, whom I beheaded. He has risen from the dead.” 17. For Herod himself had sent out and arrested John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, for he had married her. 18. For John said to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” 19. Herodias set herself against him, and desired to kill him, but she couldn’t, 20. for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and kept him safe. When he heard him, he did many things, and he heard him gladly. 21. Then a convenient day came, that Herod on his birthday made a supper for his nobles, the high officers, and the chief men of Galilee. 22. When the daughter of Herodias herself came in and danced, she pleased Herod and those sitting with him. The king said to the young lady, “Ask me whatever you want, and I will give it to you.” 23. He swore to her, “Whatever you shall ask of me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.” 24. She went out, and said to her mother, “What shall I ask?” She said, “The head of John the Baptizer.” 25. She came in immediately with haste to the king, and asked, “I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptizer on a platter.” 26. The king was exceedingly sorry, but for the sake of his oaths, and of his dinner guests, he didn’t wish to refuse her. 27. Immediately the king sent out a soldier of his guard, and commanded to bring John’s head, and he went and beheaded him in the prison, 28. and brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the young lady; and the young lady gave it to her mother. 29. When his disciples heard this, they came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb. 30. The apostles gathered themselves together to Jesus, and they told him all things, whatever they had done, and whatever they had taught. 31. He said to them, “You come apart into a deserted place, and rest awhile.” For there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat. 32. They went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves. 33. They saw them going, and many recognized him and ran there on foot from all the cities. They arrived before them and came together to him. 34. Jesus came out, saw a great multitude, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he began to teach them many things. 35. When it was late in the day, his disciples came to him, and said, “This place is deserted, and it is late in the day. 36. Send them away, that they may go into the surrounding country and villages, and buy themselves bread, for they have nothing to eat.” 37. But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” They asked him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread, and give them something to eat?” 38. He said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go see.” When they knew, they said, “Five, and two fish.” 39. He commanded them that everyone should sit down in groups on the green grass. 40. They sat down in ranks, by hundreds and by fifties. 41. He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed and broke the loaves, and he gave to his disciples to set before them, and he divided the two fish among them all. 42. They all ate, and were filled. 43. They took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and also of the fish. 44. Those who ate the loaves were five thousand men. 45. Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat, and to go ahead to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he himself sent the multitude away. 46. After he had taken leave of them, he went up the mountain to pray. 47. When evening had come, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and he was alone on the land. 48. Seeing them distressed in rowing, for the wind was contrary to them, about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea, and he would have passed by them, 49. but they, when they saw him walking on the sea, supposed that it was a ghost, and cried out; 50. for they all saw him, and were troubled. But he immediately spoke with them, and said to them, “Cheer up! It is I! Don’t be afraid.” 51. He got into the boat with them; and the wind ceased, and they were very amazed among themselves, and marveled; 52. for they hadn’t understood about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened. 53. When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret, and moored to the shore. 54. When they had come out of the boat, immediately the people recognized him, 55. and ran around that whole region, and began to bring those who were sick, on their mats, to where they heard he was. 56. Wherever he entered, into villages, or into cities, or into the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged him that they might just touch the fringe of his garment; and as many as touched him were made well.

1. In you, Yahweh, I take refuge. Let me never be disappointed. Deliver me in your righteousness. 2. Bow down your ear to me. Deliver me speedily. Be to me a strong rock, a house of defense to save me. 3. For you are my rock and my fortress, therefore for your name’s sake lead me and guide me. 4. Pluck me out of the net that they have laid secretly for me, for you are my stronghold. 5. Into your hand I commend my spirit. You redeem me, Yahweh, God of truth. 6. I hate those who regard lying vanities, but I trust in Yahweh. 7. I will be glad and rejoice in your loving kindness, for you have seen my affliction. You have known my soul in adversities. 8. You have not shut me up into the hand of the enemy. You have set my feet in a large place. 9. Have mercy on me, Yahweh, for I am in distress. My eye, my soul, and my body waste away with grief. 10. For my life is spent with sorrow, my years with sighing. My strength fails because of my iniquity. My bones are wasted away. 11. Because of all my adversaries I have become utterly contemptible to my neighbors, A fear to my acquaintances. Those who saw me on the street fled from me. 12. I am forgotten from their hearts like a dead man. I am like broken pottery. 13. For I have heard the slander of many, terror on every side, while they conspire together against me, they plot to take away my life. 14. But I trust in you, Yahweh. I said, “You are my God.” 15. My times are in your hand. Deliver me from the hand of my enemies, and from those who persecute me. 16. Make your face to shine on your servant. Save me in your loving kindness. 17. Let me not be disappointed, Yahweh, for I have called on you. Let the wicked be disappointed. Let them be silent in Sheol. 18. Let the lying lips be mute, which speak against the righteous insolently, with pride and contempt. 19. Oh how great is your goodness, which you have laid up for those who fear you, which you have worked for those who take refuge in you, before the sons of men! 20. In the shelter of your presence you will hide them from the plotting of man. You will keep them secretly in a dwelling away from the strife of tongues. 21. Praise be to Yahweh, for he has shown me his marvelous loving kindness in a strong city. 22. As for me, I said in my haste, “I am cut off from before your eyes.” Nevertheless you heard the voice of my petitions when I cried to you. 23. Oh love Yahweh, all you his saints! Yahweh preserves the faithful, and fully recompenses him who behaves arrogantly. 24. Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who hope in Yahweh.