Isaiah 32:14-20

New International Version

¹⁴The fortress^(A) will be abandoned,
    the noisy city deserted;^(B)
citadel and watchtower^(C) will become a wasteland forever,
    the delight of donkeys,^(D) a pasture for flocks,^(E)
¹⁵till the Spirit^(F) is poured on us from on high,
    and the desert becomes a fertile field,^(G)
    and the fertile field seems like a forest.^(H)
¹⁶The Lord’s justice^(I) will dwell in the desert,^(J)
    his righteousness^(K) live in the fertile field.
¹⁷The fruit of that righteousness^(L) will be peace;^(M)
    its effect will be quietness and confidence^(N) forever.
¹⁸My people will live in peaceful^(O) dwelling places,
    in secure homes,^(P)
    in undisturbed places of rest.^(Q)
¹⁹Though hail^(R) flattens the forest^(S)
    and the city is leveled^(T) completely,
²⁰how blessed you will be,
    sowing^(U) your seed by every stream,^(V)
    and letting your cattle and donkeys range free.^(W)

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Psalm 27

New International Version

Psalm 27

Of David.

¹The Lord is my light^(A) and my salvation^(B)—
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold^(C) of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid?^(D)

²When the wicked advance against me
    to devour^[a] me,
it is my enemies and my foes
    who will stumble and fall.^(E)
³Though an army besiege me,
    my heart will not fear;^(F)
though war break out against me,
    even then I will be confident.^(G)

⁴One thing^(H) I ask from the Lord,
    this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
    all the days of my life,^(I)
to gaze on the beauty of the Lord
    and to seek him in his temple.
⁵For in the day of trouble^(J)
    he will keep me safe^(K) in his dwelling;
he will hide me^(L) in the shelter of his sacred tent
    and set me high upon a rock.^(M)

⁶Then my head will be exalted^(N)
above the enemies who surround me;^(O)
at his sacred tent I will sacrifice^(P) with shouts of joy;^(Q)
I will sing^(R) and make music^(S) to the Lord.

⁷Hear my voice^(T) when I call, Lord;
    be merciful to me and answer me.^(U)
⁸My heart says of you, “Seek his face!^(V)”
    Your face, Lord, I will seek.
⁹Do not hide your face^(W) from me,
    do not turn your servant away in anger;^(X)
    you have been my helper.^(Y)
Do not reject me or forsake^(Z) me,
    God my Savior.^(AA)
¹⁰Though my father and mother forsake me,
    the Lord will receive me.
¹¹Teach me your way,^(AB) Lord;
    lead me in a straight path^(AC)
    because of my oppressors.^(AD)
¹²Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,
    for false witnesses^(AE) rise up against me,
    spouting malicious accusations.

¹³I remain confident of this:
    I will see the goodness of the Lord^(AF)
    in the land of the living.^(AG)
¹⁴Wait^(AH) for the Lord;
    be strong^(AI) and take heart
    and wait for the Lord.

Footnotes

Psalm 27:2 Or slander

Acts 8:14-17

New International Version

¹⁴When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria^(A) had accepted the word of God,^(B) they sent Peter and John^(C) to Samaria. ¹⁵When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit,^(D) ¹⁶because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them;^(E) they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.^(F) ¹⁷Then Peter and John placed their hands on them,^(G) and they received the Holy Spirit.^(H)

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John 10:1-10

New International Version

The Good Shepherd and His Sheep

10 “Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber.^(A) ²The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.^(B) ³The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice.^(C) He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.^(D) ⁴When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.^(E) ⁵But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” ⁶Jesus used this figure of speech,^(F) but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.^(G)

⁷Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am^(H) the gate^(I) for the sheep. ⁸All who have come before me^(J) are thieves and robbers,^(K) but the sheep have not listened to them. ⁹I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.^[a] They will come in and go out, and find pasture. ¹⁰The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life,^(L) and have it to the full.^(M)