Returning to Love Despite Repeated Rejection

1. Don’t rejoice, Israel, to jubilation like the nations; for you were unfaithful to your God. You love the wages of a prostitute at every grain threshing floor. 2. The threshing floor and the wine press won’t feed them, and the new wine will fail her. 3. They won’t dwell in Yahweh’s land; but Ephraim will return to Egypt, and they will eat unclean food in Assyria. 4. They won’t pour out wine offerings to Yahweh, neither will they be pleasing to him. Their sacrifices will be to them like the bread of mourners; all who eat of it will be polluted; for their bread will be for their appetite. It will not come into Yahweh’s house. 5. What will you do in the day of solemn assembly, and in the day of the feast of Yahweh? 6. For, behold, they have gone away from destruction. Egypt will gather them up. Memphis will bury them. Nettles will possess their pleasant things of silver. Thorns will be in their tents. 7. The days of visitation have come. The days of reckoning have come. Israel will consider the prophet to be a fool, and the man who is inspired to be insane, because of the abundance of your sins, and because your hostility is great. 8. A prophet watches over Ephraim with my God. A fowler’s snare is on all of his paths, and hostility in the house of his God. 9. They have deeply corrupted themselves, as in the days of Gibeah. He will remember their iniquity. He will punish them for their sins. 10. I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness. I saw your fathers as the first ripe in the fig tree at its first season; but they came to Baal Peor, and consecrated themselves to the shameful thing, and became abominable like that which they loved. 11. As for Ephraim, their glory will fly away like a bird. There will be no birth, no one with child, and no conception. 12. Though they bring up their children, yet I will bereave them, so that not a man shall be left. Indeed, woe also to them when I depart from them! 13. I have seen Ephraim, like Tyre, planted in a pleasant place; but Ephraim will bring out his children to the murderer. 14. Give them—Yahweh what will you give? Give them a miscarrying womb and dry breasts. 15. “All their wickedness is in Gilgal; for there I hated them. Because of the wickedness of their deeds I will drive them out of my house! I will love them no more. All their princes are rebels. 16. Ephraim is struck. Their root has dried up. They will bear no fruit. Even though they give birth, yet I will kill the beloved ones of their womb.” 17. My God will cast them away, because they did not listen to him; and they will be wanderers among the nations. 1. Israel is a luxuriant vine that produces his fruit. According to the abundance of his fruit he has multiplied his altars. As their land has prospered, they have adorned their sacred stones. 2. Their heart is divided. Now they will be found guilty. He will demolish their altars. He will destroy their sacred stones. 3. Surely now they will say, “We have no king; for we don’t fear Yahweh; and the king, what can he do for us?” 4. They make promises, swearing falsely in making covenants. Therefore judgment springs up like poisonous weeds in the furrows of the field. 5. The inhabitants of Samaria will be in terror for the calves of Beth Aven; for its people will mourn over it, Along with its priests who rejoiced over it, for its glory, because it has departed from it. 6. It also will be carried to Assyria for a present to a great king. Ephraim will receive shame, and Israel will be ashamed of his own counsel. 7. Samaria and her king float away, like a twig on the water. 8. The high places also of Aven, the sin of Israel, will be destroyed. The thorn and the thistle will come up on their altars. They will tell the mountains, “Cover us!” and the hills, “Fall on us!” 9. “Israel, you have sinned from the days of Gibeah. There they remained. The battle against the children of iniquity doesn’t overtake them in Gibeah. 10. When it is my desire, I will chastise them; and the nations will be gathered against them, when they are bound to their two transgressions. 11. Ephraim is a trained heifer that loves to thresh; so I will put a yoke on her beautiful neck. I will set a rider on Ephraim. Judah will plow. Jacob will break his clods. 12. Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap according to kindness. Break up your fallow ground; for it is time to seek Yahweh, until he comes and rains righteousness on you. 13. You have plowed wickedness. You have reaped iniquity. You have eaten the fruit of lies, for you trusted in your way, in the multitude of your mighty men. 14. Therefore a battle roar will arise among your people, and all your fortresses will be destroyed, as Shalman destroyed Beth Arbel in the day of battle. The mother was dashed in pieces with her children. 15. So Bethel will do to you because of your great wickedness. At daybreak the king of Israel will be destroyed. 1. “When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt. 2. They called to them, so they went from them. They sacrificed to the Baals, and burned incense to engraved images. 3. Yet I taught Ephraim to walk. I took them by his arms; but they didn’t know that I healed them. 4. I drew them with cords of a man, with ties of love; and I was to them like those who lift up the yoke on their necks; and I bent down to him and I fed him. 5. “They won’t return into the land of Egypt; but the Assyrian will be their king, because they refused to repent. 6. The sword will fall on their cities, and will destroy the bars of their gates, and will put an end to their plans. 7. My people are determined to turn from me. Though they call to the Most High, he certainly won’t exalt them. 8. “How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I make you like Zeboiim? My heart is turned within me, my compassion is aroused. 9. I will not execute the fierceness of my anger. I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One among you; and I will not come in wrath. 10. They will walk after Yahweh, who will roar like a lion; for he will roar, and the children will come trembling from the west. 11. They will come trembling like a bird out of Egypt, and like a dove out of the land of Assyria; and I will settle them in their houses,” says Yahweh. 12. Ephraim surrounds me with falsehood, and the house of Israel with deceit. Judah still strays from God, and is unfaithful to the Holy One.

1. Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes gathered together to him, having come from Jerusalem. 2. Now when they saw some of his disciples eating bread with defiled, that is unwashed, hands, they found fault. 3. (For the Pharisees and all the Jews, don’t eat unless they wash their hands and forearms, holding to the tradition of the elders. 4. They don’t eat when they come from the marketplace unless they bathe themselves, and there are many other things, which they have received to hold to: washings of cups, pitchers, bronze vessels, and couches.) 5. The Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why don’t your disciples walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with unwashed hands?” 6. He answered them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. 7. But they worship me in vain, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ 8. “For you set aside the commandment of God, and hold tightly to the tradition of men—the washing of pitchers and cups, and you do many other such things.” 9. He said to them, “Full well do you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition. 10. For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother;’ and, ‘He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him be put to death.’ 11. But you say, ‘If a man tells his father or his mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban, that is to say, given to God”;’ 12. then you no longer allow him to do anything for his father or his mother, 13. making void the word of God by your tradition, which you have handed down. You do many things like this.” 14. He called all the multitude to himself, and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand. 15. There is nothing from outside of the man, that going into him can defile him; but the things which proceed out of the man are those that defile the man. 16. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!” 17. When he had entered into a house away from the multitude, his disciples asked him about the parable. 18. He said to them, “Are you also without understanding? Don’t you perceive that whatever goes into the man from outside can’t defile him, 19. because it doesn’t go into his heart, but into his stomach, then into the latrine, thus purifying all foods?” 20. He said, “That which proceeds out of the man, that defiles the man. 21. For from within, out of the hearts of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, sexual sins, murders, thefts, 22. covetings, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, and foolishness. 23. All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.” 24. From there he arose, and went away into the borders of Tyre and Sidon. He entered into a house, and didn’t want anyone to know it, but he couldn’t escape notice. 25. For a woman, whose little daughter had an unclean spirit, having heard of him, came and fell down at his feet. 26. Now the woman was a Greek, a Syrophoenician by race. She begged him that he would cast the demon out of her daughter. 27. But Jesus said to her, “Let the children be filled first, for it is not appropriate to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” 28. But she answered him, “Yes, Lord. Yet even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” 29. He said to her, “For this saying, go your way. The demon has gone out of your daughter.” 30. She went away to her house, and found the child having been laid on the bed, with the demon gone out. 31. Again he departed from the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and came to the sea of Galilee, through the middle of the region of Decapolis. 32. They brought to him one who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech. They begged him to lay his hand on him. 33. He took him aside from the multitude, privately, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat, and touched his tongue. 34. Looking up to heaven, he sighed, and said to him, “Ephphatha!” that is, “Be opened!” 35. Immediately his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was released, and he spoke clearly. 36. He commanded them that they should tell no one, but the more he commanded them, so much the more widely they proclaimed it. 37. They were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He makes even the deaf hear, and the mute speak!” 1. In those days, when there was a very great multitude, and they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to himself, and said to them, 2. “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have stayed with me now three days, and have nothing to eat. 3. If I send them away fasting to their home, they will faint on the way, for some of them have come a long way.” 4. His disciples answered him, “From where could one satisfy these people with bread here in a deserted place?” 5. He asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven.” 6. He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground, and he took the seven loaves. Having given thanks, he broke them, and gave them to his disciples to serve, and they served the multitude. 7. They had a few small fish. Having blessed them, he said to serve these also. 8. They ate, and were filled. They took up seven baskets of broken pieces that were left over. 9. Those who had eaten were about four thousand. Then he sent them away. 10. Immediately he entered into the boat with his disciples, and came into the region of Dalmanutha. 11. The Pharisees came out and began to question him, seeking from him a sign from heaven, and testing him. 12. He sighed deeply in his spirit, and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Most certainly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation.” 13. He left them, and again entering into the boat, departed to the other side. 14. They forgot to take bread; and they didn’t have more than one loaf in the boat with them. 15. He warned them, saying, “Take heed: beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.” 16. They reasoned with one another, saying, “It’s because we have no bread.” 17. Jesus, perceiving it, said to them, “Why do you reason that it’s because you have no bread? Don’t you perceive yet, neither understand? Is your heart still hardened? 18. Having eyes, don’t you see? Having ears, don’t you hear? Don’t you remember? 19. When I broke the five loaves among the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” They told him, “Twelve.” 20. “When the seven loaves fed the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” They told him, “Seven.” 21. He asked them, “Don’t you understand yet?” 22. He came to Bethsaida. They brought a blind man to him, and begged him to touch him. 23. He took hold of the blind man by the hand, and brought him out of the village. When he had spat on his eyes, and laid his hands on him, he asked him if he saw anything. 24. He looked up, and said, “I see men; for I see them like trees walking.” 25. Then again he laid his hands on his eyes. He looked intently, and was restored, and saw everyone clearly. 26. He sent him away to his house, saying, “Don’t enter into the village, nor tell anyone in the village.” 27. Jesus went out, with his disciples, into the villages of Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked his disciples, “Who do men say that I am?” 28. They told him, “John the Baptizer, and others say Elijah, but others: one of the prophets.” 29. He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Christ.” 30. He commanded them that they should tell no one about him. 31. He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32. He spoke to them openly. Peter took him, and began to rebuke him. 33. But he, turning around, and seeing his disciples, rebuked Peter, and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you have in mind not the things of God, but the things of men.” 34. He called the multitude to himself with his disciples, and said to them, “Whoever wants to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 35. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it; and whoever will lose his life for my sake and the sake of the Good News will save it. 36. For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world, and forfeit his life? 37. For what will a man give in exchange for his life? 38. For whoever will be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man also will be ashamed of him, when he comes in his Father’s glory, with the holy angels.” 1. He said to them, “Most certainly I tell you, there are some standing here who will in no way taste death until they see God’s Kingdom come with power.” 2. After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John, and brought them up onto a high mountain privately by themselves, and he was changed into another form in front of them. 3. His clothing became glistening, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them. 4. Elijah and Moses appeared to them, and they were talking with Jesus. 5. Peter answered Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let’s make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 6. For he didn’t know what to say, for they were very afraid. 7. A cloud came, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.” 8. Suddenly looking around, they saw no one with them any more, except Jesus only. 9. As they were coming down from the mountain, he commanded them that they should tell no one what things they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10. They kept this saying to themselves, questioning what the “rising from the dead” meant. 11. They asked him, saying, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” 12. He said to them, “Elijah indeed comes first, and restores all things. How is it written about the Son of Man, that he should suffer many things and be despised? 13. But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they have also done to him whatever they wanted to, even as it is written about him.” 14. Coming to the disciples, he saw a great multitude around them, and scribes questioning them. 15. Immediately all the multitude, when they saw him, were greatly amazed, and running to him, greeted him. 16. He asked the scribes, “What are you asking them?” 17. One of the multitude answered, “Teacher, I brought to you my son, who has a mute spirit; 18. and wherever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams at the mouth, and grinds his teeth, and wastes away. I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they weren’t able.” 19. He answered him, “Unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to me.” 20. They brought him to him, and when he saw him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground, wallowing and foaming at the mouth. 21. He asked his father, “How long has it been since this has come to him?” He said, “From childhood. 22. Often it has cast him both into the fire and into the water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us, and help us.” 23. Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” 24. Immediately the father of the child cried out with tears, “I believe. Help my unbelief!” 25. When Jesus saw that a multitude came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to him, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again!” 26. After crying out and convulsing him greatly, it came out of him. The boy became like one dead; so much that most of them said, “He is dead.” 27. But Jesus took him by the hand, and raised him up; and he arose. 28. When he had come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we cast it out?” 29. He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing, except by prayer and fasting.” 30. They went out from there, and passed through Galilee. He didn’t want anyone to know it. 31. For he was teaching his disciples, and said to them, “The Son of Man is being handed over to the hands of men, and they will kill him; and when he is killed, on the third day he will rise again.” 32. But they didn’t understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him. 33. He came to Capernaum, and when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you arguing among yourselves on the way?” 34. But they were silent, for they had disputed one with another on the way about who was the greatest. 35. He sat down, and called the twelve; and he said to them, “If any man wants to be first, he shall be last of all, and servant of all.” 36. He took a little child, and set him in the middle of them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them, 37. “Whoever receives one such little child in my name, receives me, and whoever receives me, doesn’t receive me, but him who sent me.” 38. John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone who doesn’t follow us casting out demons in your name; and we forbade him, because he doesn’t follow us.” 39. But Jesus said, “Don’t forbid him, for there is no one who will do a mighty work in my name, and be able quickly to speak evil of me. 40. For whoever is not against us is on our side. 41. For whoever will give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because you are Christ’s, most certainly I tell you, he will in no way lose his reward. 42. Whoever will cause one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him if he were thrown into the sea with a millstone hung around his neck. 43. If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having your two hands to go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire, 44. ‘where their worm doesn’t die, and the fire is not quenched.’ 45. If your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life lame, rather than having your two feet to be cast into Gehenna, into the fire that will never be quenched— 46. ‘where their worm doesn’t die, and the fire is not quenched.’ 47. If your eye causes you to stumble, cast it out. It is better for you to enter into God’s Kingdom with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the Gehenna of fire, 48. ‘where their worm doesn’t die, and the fire is not quenched.’ 49. For everyone will be salted with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt. 50. Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, with what will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”

1. Blessed is he whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 2. Blessed is the man to whom Yahweh doesn’t impute iniquity, in whose spirit there is no deceit. 3. When I kept silence, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. 4. For day and night your hand was heavy on me. My strength was sapped in the heat of summer. Selah. 5. I acknowledged my sin to you. I didn’t hide my iniquity. I said, I will confess my transgressions to Yahweh, and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah. 6. For this, let everyone who is godly pray to you in a time when you may be found. Surely when the great waters overflow, they shall not reach to him. 7. You are my hiding place. You will preserve me from trouble. You will surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah. 8. I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you shall go. I will counsel you with my eye on you. 9. Don’t be like the horse, or like the mule, which have no understanding, who are controlled by bit and bridle, or else they will not come near to you. 10. Many sorrows come to the wicked, but loving kindness shall surround him who trusts in Yahweh. 11. Be glad in Yahweh, and rejoice, you righteous! Shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart!