The Spirit's Comfort Before the Cross

1. A revelation, Yahweh’s word concerning Israel. Yahweh, who stretches out the heavens, and lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him says: 2. “Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of reeling to all the surrounding peoples, and it will also be on Judah in the siege against Jerusalem. 3. It will happen in that day, that I will make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all the peoples. All who burden themselves with it will be severely wounded, and all the nations of the earth will be gathered together against it. 4. In that day,” says Yahweh, “I will strike every horse with terror, and his rider with madness; and I will open my eyes on the house of Judah, and will strike every horse of the peoples with blindness. 5. The chieftains of Judah will say in their heart, ‘The inhabitants of Jerusalem are my strength in Yahweh of Armies their God.’ 6. In that day I will make the chieftains of Judah like a pan of fire among wood, and like a flaming torch among sheaves; and they will devour all the surrounding peoples, on the right hand and on the left; and Jerusalem will yet again dwell in their own place, even in Jerusalem. 7. Yahweh also will save the tents of Judah first, that the glory of David’s house and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem not be magnified above Judah. 8. In that day Yahweh will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem. He who is feeble among them at that day will be like David, and David’s house will be like God, like Yahweh’s angel before them. 9. It will happen in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. 10. I will pour on David’s house, and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplication; and they will look to me whom they have pierced; and they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for his only son, and will grieve bitterly for him, as one grieves for his firstborn. 11. In that day there will be a great mourning in Jerusalem, like the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon. 12. The land will mourn, every family apart; the family of David’s house apart, and their wives apart; the family of the house of Nathan apart, and their wives apart; 13. the family of the house of Levi apart, and their wives apart; the family of the Shimeites apart, and their wives apart; 14. all the families who remain, every family apart, and their wives apart. 1. “In that day there will be a spring opened to David’s house and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness. 2. It will come to pass in that day, says Yahweh of Armies, that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they will be remembered no more. I will also cause the prophets and the spirit of impurity to pass out of the land. 3. It will happen that, when anyone still prophesies, then his father and his mother who bore him will tell him, ‘You must die, because you speak lies in Yahweh’s name;’ and his father and his mother who bore him will stab him when he prophesies. 4. It will happen in that day, that the prophets will each be ashamed of his vision, when he prophesies; neither will they wear a hairy mantle to deceive: 5. but he will say, ‘I am no prophet, I am a tiller of the ground; for I have been made a bondservant from my youth.’ 6. One will say to him, ‘What are these wounds between your arms?’ Then he will answer, ‘Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.’ 7. “Awake, sword, against my shepherd, and against the man who is close to me,” says Yahweh of Armies. “Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered; and I will turn my hand against the little ones. 8. It shall happen that in all the land,” says Yahweh, “two parts in it will be cut off and die; but the third will be left in it. 9. I will bring the third part into the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will test them like gold is tested. They will call on my name, and I will hear them. I will say, ‘It is my people;’ and they will say, ‘Yahweh is my God.’” 1. Behold, a day of Yahweh comes, when your plunder will be divided within you. 2. For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city will be taken, the houses rifled, and the women ravished. Half of the city will go out into captivity, and the rest of the people will not be cut off from the city. 3. Then Yahweh will go out and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. 4. His feet will stand in that day on the Mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives will be split in two, from east to west, making a very great valley. Half of the mountain will move toward the north, and half of it toward the south. 5. You shall flee by the valley of my mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach to Azel; yes, you shall flee, just like you fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Yahweh my God will come, and all the holy ones with you. 6. It will happen in that day, that there will not be light, cold, or frost. 7. It will be a unique day which is known to Yahweh; not day, and not night; but it will come to pass, that at evening time there will be light. 8. It will happen in that day, that living waters will go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the eastern sea, and half of them toward the western sea; in summer and in winter will it be. 9. Yahweh will be King over all the earth. In that day Yahweh will be one, and his name one. 10. All the land will be made like the Arabah, from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem; and she will be lifted up, and will dwell in her place, from Benjamin’s gate to the place of the first gate, to the corner gate, and from the tower of Hananel to the king’s wine presses. 11. Men will dwell therein, and there will be no more curse; but Jerusalem will dwell safely. 12. This will be the plague with which Yahweh will strike all the peoples who have fought against Jerusalem: their flesh will consume away while they stand on their feet, and their eyes will consume away in their sockets, and their tongue will consume away in their mouth. 13. It will happen in that day, that a great panic from Yahweh will be among them; and they will lay hold everyone on the hand of his neighbor, and his hand will rise up against the hand of his neighbor. 14. Judah also will fight at Jerusalem; and the wealth of all the surrounding nations will be gathered together: gold, and silver, and clothing, in great abundance. 15. So will be the plague of the horse, of the mule, of the camel, and of the donkey, and of all the animals that will be in those camps, as that plague. 16. It will happen that everyone who is left of all the nations that came against Jerusalem will go up from year to year to worship the King, Yahweh of Armies, and to keep the feast of tents. 17. It will be, that whoever of all the families of the earth doesn’t go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, Yahweh of Armies, on them there will be no rain. 18. If the family of Egypt doesn’t go up, and doesn’t come, neither will it rain on them. This will be the plague with which Yahweh will strike the nations that don’t go up to keep the feast of tents. 19. This will be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all the nations that don’t go up to keep the feast of tents. 20. In that day there will be on the bells of the horses, “HOLY TO YAHWEH”; and the pots in Yahweh’s house will be like the bowls before the altar. 21. Yes, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah will be holy to Yahweh of Armies; and all those who sacrifice will come and take of them, and cook in them. In that day there will no longer be a Canaanite in the house of Yahweh of Armies.

1. “I have said these things to you so that you wouldn’t be caused to stumble. 2. They will put you out of the synagogues. Yes, the time comes that whoever kills you will think that he offers service to God. 3. They will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me. 4. But I have told you these things, so that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you about them. I didn’t tell you these things from the beginning, because I was with you. 5. But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6. But because I have told you these things, sorrow has filled your heart. 7. Nevertheless I tell you the truth: It is to your advantage that I go away, for if I don’t go away, the Counselor won’t come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. 8. When he has come, he will convict the world about sin, about righteousness, and about judgment; 9. about sin, because they don’t believe in me; 10. about righteousness, because I am going to my Father, and you won’t see me any more; 11. about judgment, because the prince of this world has been judged. 12. “I have yet many things to tell you, but you can’t bear them now. 13. However when he, the Spirit of truth, has come, he will guide you into all truth, for he will not speak from himself; but whatever he hears, he will speak. He will declare to you things that are coming. 14. He will glorify me, for he will take from what is mine, and will declare it to you. 15. All things whatever the Father has are mine; therefore I said that he takes of mine, and will declare it to you. 16. A little while, and you will not see me. Again a little while, and you will see me.” 17. Some of his disciples therefore said to one another, “What is this that he says to us, ‘A little while, and you won’t see me, and again a little while, and you will see me;’ and, ‘Because I go to the Father’?” 18. They said therefore, “What is this that he says, ‘A little while’? We don’t know what he is saying.” 19. Therefore Jesus perceived that they wanted to ask him, and he said to them, “Do you inquire among yourselves concerning this, that I said, ‘A little while, and you won’t see me, and again a little while, and you will see me?’ 20. Most certainly I tell you, that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy. 21. A woman, when she gives birth, has sorrow, because her time has come. But when she has delivered the child, she doesn’t remember the anguish any more, for the joy that a human being is born into the world. 22. Therefore you now have sorrow, but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you. 23. “In that day you will ask me no questions. Most certainly I tell you, whatever you may ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. 24. Until now, you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be made full. 25. I have spoken these things to you in figures of speech. But the time is coming when I will no more speak to you in figures of speech, but will tell you plainly about the Father. 26. In that day you will ask in my name; and I don’t say to you, that I will pray to the Father for you, 27. for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me, and have believed that I came from God. 28. I came from the Father, and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.” 29. His disciples said to him, “Behold, now you are speaking plainly, and using no figures of speech. 30. Now we know that you know all things, and don’t need for anyone to question you. By this we believe that you came from God.” 31. Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? 32. Behold, the time is coming, yes, and has now come, that you will be scattered, everyone to his own place, and you will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. 33. I have told you these things, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have oppression; but cheer up! I have overcome the world.” 1. Jesus said these things, and lifting up his eyes to heaven, he said, “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may also glorify you; 2. even as you gave him authority over all flesh, so he will give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3. This is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and him whom you sent, Jesus Christ. 4. I glorified you on the earth. I have accomplished the work which you have given me to do. 5. Now, Father, glorify me with your own self with the glory which I had with you before the world existed. 6. I revealed your name to the people whom you have given me out of the world. They were yours, and you have given them to me. They have kept your word. 7. Now they have known that all things whatever you have given me are from you, 8. for the words which you have given me I have given to them, and they received them, and knew for sure that I came from you, and they have believed that you sent me. 9. I pray for them. I don’t pray for the world, but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. 10. All things that are mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. 11. I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them through your name which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are. 12. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in your name. Those whom you have given me I have kept. None of them is lost, except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 13. But now I come to you, and I say these things in the world, that they may have my joy made full in themselves. 14. I have given them your word. The world hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15. I pray not that you would take them from the world, but that you would keep them from the evil one. 16. They are not of the world even as I am not of the world. 17. Sanctify them in your truth. Your word is truth. 18. As you sent me into the world, even so I have sent them into the world. 19. For their sakes I sanctify myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth. 20. Not for these only do I pray, but for those also who will believe in me through their word, 21. that they may all be one; even as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that you sent me. 22. The glory which you have given me, I have given to them; that they may be one, even as we are one; 23. I in them, and you in me, that they may be perfected into one; that the world may know that you sent me, and loved them, even as you loved me. 24. Father, I desire that they also whom you have given me be with me where I am, that they may see my glory, which you have given me, for you loved me before the foundation of the world. 25. Righteous Father, the world hasn’t known you, but I knew you; and these knew that you sent me. 26. I made known to them your name, and will make it known; that the love with which you loved me may be in them, and I in them.” 1. When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples over the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, into which he and his disciples entered. 2. Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples. 3. Judas then, having taken a detachment of soldiers and officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. 4. Jesus therefore, knowing all the things that were happening to him, went out, and said to them, “Who are you looking for?” 5. They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas also, who betrayed him, was standing with them. 6. When therefore he said to them, “I am he,” they went backward, and fell to the ground. 7. Again therefore he asked them, “Who are you looking for?” They said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” 8. Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. If therefore you seek me, let these go their way,” 9. that the word might be fulfilled which he spoke, “Of those whom you have given me, I have lost none.” 10. Simon Peter therefore, having a sword, drew it, and struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus. 11. Jesus therefore said to Peter, “Put the sword into its sheath. The cup which the Father has given me, shall I not surely drink it?” 12. So the detachment, the commanding officer, and the officers of the Jews, seized Jesus and bound him, 13. and led him to Annas first, for he was father-in-law to Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. 14. Now it was Caiaphas who advised the Jews that it was expedient that one man should perish for the people. 15. Simon Peter followed Jesus, as did another disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and entered in with Jesus into the court of the high priest; 16. but Peter was standing at the door outside. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to her who kept the door, and brought in Peter. 17. Then the maid who kept the door said to Peter, “Are you also one of this man’s disciples?” He said, “I am not.” 18. Now the servants and the officers were standing there, having made a fire of coals, for it was cold. They were warming themselves. Peter was with them, standing and warming himself. 19. The high priest therefore asked Jesus about his disciples, and about his teaching. 20. Jesus answered him, “I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues, and in the temple, where the Jews always meet. I said nothing in secret. 21. Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them. Behold, these know the things which I said.” 22. When he had said this, one of the officers standing by slapped Jesus with his hand, saying, “Do you answer the high priest like that?” 23. Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken evil, testify of the evil; but if well, why do you beat me?” 24. Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas, the high priest. 25. Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They said therefore to him, “You aren’t also one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it, and said, “I am not.” 26. One of the servants of the high priest, being a relative of him whose ear Peter had cut off, said, “Didn’t I see you in the garden with him?” 27. Peter therefore denied it again, and immediately the rooster crowed. 28. They led Jesus therefore from Caiaphas into the Praetorium. It was early, and they themselves didn’t enter into the Praetorium, that they might not be defiled, but might eat the Passover. 29. Pilate therefore went out to them, and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” 30. They answered him, “If this man weren’t an evildoer, we wouldn’t have delivered him up to you.” 31. Pilate therefore said to them, “Take him yourselves, and judge him according to your law.” Therefore the Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death,” 32. that the word of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spoke, signifying by what kind of death he should die. 33. Pilate therefore entered again into the Praetorium, called Jesus, and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” 34. Jesus answered him, “Do you say this by yourself, or did others tell you about me?” 35. Pilate answered, “I’m not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests delivered you to me. What have you done?” 36. Jesus answered, “My Kingdom is not of this world. If my Kingdom were of this world, then my servants would fight, that I wouldn’t be delivered to the Jews. But now my Kingdom is not from here.” 37. Pilate therefore said to him, “Are you a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this reason I have been born, and for this reason I have come into the world, that I should testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” 38. Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” When he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, “I find no basis for a charge against him. 39. But you have a custom, that I should release someone to you at the Passover. Therefore, do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” 40. Then they all shouted again, saying, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.

1. Hear this, all you peoples. Listen, all you inhabitants of the world, 2. both low and high, rich and poor together. 3. My mouth will speak words of wisdom. My heart shall utter understanding. 4. I will incline my ear to a proverb. I will open my riddle on the harp. 5. Why should I fear in the days of evil, when iniquity at my heels surrounds me? 6. Those who trust in their wealth, and boast in the multitude of their riches— 7. none of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give God a ransom for him. 8. For the redemption of their life is costly, no payment is ever enough, 9. that he should live on forever, that he should not see corruption. 10. For he sees that wise men die; likewise the fool and the senseless perish, and leave their wealth to others. 11. Their inward thought is that their houses will endure forever, and their dwelling places to all generations. They name their lands after themselves. 12. But man, despite his riches, doesn’t endure. He is like the animals that perish. 13. This is the destiny of those who are foolish, and of those who approve their sayings. Selah. 14. They are appointed as a flock for Sheol. Death shall be their shepherd. The upright shall have dominion over them in the morning. Their beauty shall decay in Sheol, far from their mansion. 15. But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me. Selah. 16. Don’t be afraid when a man is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased; 17. for when he dies he will carry nothing away. His glory won’t descend after him. 18. Though while he lived he blessed his soul— and men praise you when you do well for yourself— 19. he shall go to the generation of his fathers. They shall never see the light. 20. A man who has riches without understanding, is like the animals that perish.