The Sovereign Lord(A) has given me a well-instructed tongue,(B)
    to know the word that sustains the weary.(C)
He wakens me morning by morning,(D)
    wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed.(E)
The Sovereign Lord(F) has opened my ears;(G)
    I have not been rebellious,(H)
    I have not turned away.
I offered my back to those who beat(I) me,
    my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard;(J)
I did not hide my face
    from mocking and spitting.(K)
Because the Sovereign Lord(L) helps(M) me,
    I will not be disgraced.
Therefore have I set my face like flint,(N)
    and I know I will not be put to shame.(O)

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“He trusts in the Lord,” they say,
    “let the Lord rescue him.(A)
Let him deliver him,(B)
    since he delights(C) in him.”

Yet you brought me out of the womb;(D)
    you made me trust(E) in you, even at my mother’s breast.

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17 All my bones are on display;
    people stare(A) and gloat over me.(B)
18 They divide my clothes among them
    and cast lots(C) for my garment.(D)

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19 But you, Lord, do not be far from me.(A)
    You are my strength;(B) come quickly(C) to help me.(D)
20 Deliver me from the sword,(E)
    my precious life(F) from the power of the dogs.(G)

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23 You who fear the Lord, praise him!(A)
    All you descendants of Jacob, honor him!(B)
    Revere him,(C) all you descendants of Israel!
24 For he has not despised(D) or scorned
    the suffering of the afflicted one;(E)
he has not hidden his face(F) from him
    but has listened to his cry for help.(G)

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Who, being in very nature[a] God,(A)
    did not consider equality with God(B) something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing(C)
    by taking the very nature[b] of a servant,(D)
    being made in human likeness.(E)
And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death(F)
        even death on a cross!(G)

Therefore God exalted him(H) to the highest place
    and gave him the name that is above every name,(I)
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,(J)
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,(K)
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,(L)
    to the glory of God the Father.

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Footnotes

  1. Philippians 2:6 Or in the form of
  2. Philippians 2:7 Or the form

And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death(A)
        even death on a cross!(B)

Therefore God exalted him(C) to the highest place
    and gave him the name that is above every name,(D)

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14 When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles(A) reclined at the table.(B) 15 And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.(C) 16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”(D)

17 After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. 18 For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”

19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it,(E) and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant(F) in my blood, which is poured out for you.[a] 21 But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table.(G) 22 The Son of Man(H) will go as it has been decreed.(I) But woe to that man who betrays him!” 23 They began to question among themselves which of them it might be who would do this.

24 A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest.(J) 25 Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. 26 But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest,(K) and the one who rules like the one who serves.(L) 27 For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.(M) 28 You are those who have stood by me in my trials. 29 And I confer on you a kingdom,(N) just as my Father conferred one on me, 30 so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom(O) and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.(P)

31 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked(Q) to sift all of you as wheat.(R) 32 But I have prayed for you,(S) Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”(T)

33 But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.”(U)

34 Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”

35 Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals,(V) did you lack anything?”

“Nothing,” they answered.

36 He said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one. 37 It is written: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors’[b];(W) and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment.”

38 The disciples said, “See, Lord, here are two swords.”

“That’s enough!” he replied.

Jesus Prays on the Mount of Olives(X)

39 Jesus went out as usual(Y) to the Mount of Olives,(Z) and his disciples followed him. 40 On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.”(AA) 41 He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down(AB) and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup(AC) from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”(AD) 43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.(AE) 44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.[c]

45 When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. 46 “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”(AF)

Jesus Arrested(AG)

47 While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, 48 but Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”

49 When Jesus’ followers saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?”(AH) 50 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.

51 But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.

52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard,(AI) and the elders, who had come for him, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs? 53 Every day I was with you in the temple courts,(AJ) and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour(AK)—when darkness reigns.”(AL)

Peter Disowns Jesus(AM)

54 Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest.(AN) Peter followed at a distance.(AO) 55 And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. 56 A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.”

57 But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said.

58 A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.”

“Man, I am not!” Peter replied.

59 About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.”(AP)

60 Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 The Lord(AQ) turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.”(AR) 62 And he went outside and wept bitterly.

The Guards Mock Jesus(AS)

63 The men who were guarding Jesus began mocking and beating him. 64 They blindfolded him and demanded, “Prophesy! Who hit you?” 65 And they said many other insulting things to him.(AT)

Jesus Before Pilate and Herod(AU)(AV)(AW)

66 At daybreak the council(AX) of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and the teachers of the law, met together,(AY) and Jesus was led before them. 67 “If you are the Messiah,” they said, “tell us.”

Jesus answered, “If I tell you, you will not believe me, 68 and if I asked you, you would not answer.(AZ) 69 But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.”(BA)

70 They all asked, “Are you then the Son of God?”(BB)

He replied, “You say that I am.”(BC)

71 Then they said, “Why do we need any more testimony? We have heard it from his own lips.”

23 Then the whole assembly rose and led him off to Pilate.(BD) And they began to accuse him, saying, “We have found this man subverting our nation.(BE) He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar(BF) and claims to be Messiah, a king.”(BG)

So Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

“You have said so,” Jesus replied.

Then Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.”(BH)

But they insisted, “He stirs up the people all over Judea by his teaching. He started in Galilee(BI) and has come all the way here.”

On hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean.(BJ) When he learned that Jesus was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod,(BK) who was also in Jerusalem at that time.

When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him.(BL) From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform a sign of some sort. He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer.(BM) 10 The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing him. 11 Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe,(BN) they sent him back to Pilate. 12 That day Herod and Pilate became friends(BO)—before this they had been enemies.

13 Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, 14 and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him.(BP) 15 Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. 16 Therefore, I will punish him(BQ) and then release him.” [17] [d]

18 But the whole crowd shouted, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!”(BR) 19 (Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.)

20 Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. 21 But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”

22 For the third time he spoke to them: “Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him.”(BS)

23 But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. 24 So Pilate decided to grant their demand. 25 He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.

The Crucifixion of Jesus(BT)

26 As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene,(BU) who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.(BV) 27 A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed(BW) for him. 28 Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children.(BX) 29 For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’(BY) 30 Then

“‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!”
    and to the hills, “Cover us!”’[e](BZ)

31 For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”(CA)

32 Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed.(CB) 33 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, “Father,(CC) forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”[f](CD) And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.(CE)

35 The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him.(CF) They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”(CG)

36 The soldiers also came up and mocked him.(CH) They offered him wine vinegar(CI) 37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews,(CJ) save yourself.”

38 There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews.(CK)

39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”(CL)

40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”(CM)

42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.[g](CN)

43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”(CO)

The Death of Jesus(CP)

44 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon,(CQ) 45 for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple(CR) was torn in two.(CS) 46 Jesus called out with a loud voice,(CT) “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”[h](CU) When he had said this, he breathed his last.(CV)

47 The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God(CW) and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.” 48 When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts(CX) and went away. 49 But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee,(CY) stood at a distance,(CZ) watching these things.

The Burial of Jesus(DA)

50 Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, 51 who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea, and he himself was waiting for the kingdom of God.(DB) 52 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body. 53 Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. 54 It was Preparation Day,(DC) and the Sabbath was about to begin.

55 The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee(DD) followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. 56 Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes.(DE) But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.(DF)

Footnotes

  1. Luke 22:20 Some manuscripts do not have given for you … poured out for you.
  2. Luke 22:37 Isaiah 53:12
  3. Luke 22:44 Many early manuscripts do not have verses 43 and 44.
  4. Luke 23:17 Some manuscripts include here words similar to Matt. 27:15 and Mark 15:6.
  5. Luke 23:30 Hosea 10:8
  6. Luke 23:34 Some early manuscripts do not have this sentence.
  7. Luke 23:42 Some manuscripts come with your kingly power
  8. Luke 23:46 Psalm 31:5

A Warning Against Hypocrisy(A)(B)

23 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: “The teachers of the law(C) and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.(D)

“Everything they do is done for people to see:(E) They make their phylacteries[a](F) wide and the tassels on their garments(G) long; they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues;(H) they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by others.(I)

“But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father,(J) and he is in heaven. 10 Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah. 11 The greatest among you will be your servant.(K) 12 For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.(L)

Seven Woes on the Teachers of the Law and the Pharisees

13 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites!(M) You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.(N) [14] [b]

15 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert,(O) and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell(P) as you are.

16 “Woe to you, blind guides!(Q) You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gold of the temple is bound by that oath.’(R) 17 You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred?(S) 18 You also say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gift on the altar is bound by that oath.’ 19 You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred?(T) 20 Therefore, anyone who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. 21 And anyone who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells(U) in it. 22 And anyone who swears by heaven swears by God’s throne and by the one who sits on it.(V)

23 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth(W) of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness.(X) You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. 24 You blind guides!(Y) You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.

25 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish,(Z) but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.(AA) 26 Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.

27 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs,(AB) which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. 28 In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

29 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets(AC) and decorate the graves of the righteous. 30 And you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ 31 So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets.(AD) 32 Go ahead, then, and complete(AE) what your ancestors started!(AF)

33 “You snakes! You brood of vipers!(AG) How will you escape being condemned to hell?(AH) 34 Therefore I am sending you prophets and sages and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify;(AI) others you will flog in your synagogues(AJ) and pursue from town to town.(AK) 35 And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel(AL) to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah,(AM) whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.(AN) 36 Truly I tell you, all this will come on this generation.(AO)

37 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you,(AP) how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings,(AQ) and you were not willing. 38 Look, your house is left to you desolate.(AR) 39 For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’[c](AS)

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 23:5 That is, boxes containing Scripture verses, worn on forehead and arm
  2. Matthew 23:14 Some manuscripts include here words similar to Mark 12:40 and Luke 20:47.
  3. Matthew 23:39 Psalm 118:26

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