12 After this he went down to Capernaum(A) with his mother(B) and brothers(C) and his disciples. There they stayed for a few days.

Jesus Clears the Temple Courts(D)

13 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover,(E) Jesus went up to Jerusalem.(F) 14 In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves,(G) and others sitting at tables exchanging money.(H) 15 So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16 To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house(I) into a market!” 17 His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.”[a](J)

18 The Jews(K) then responded to him, “What sign(L) can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?”(M)

19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”(N)

20 They replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?” 21 But the temple he had spoken of was his body.(O) 22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said.(P) Then they believed the scripture(Q) and the words that Jesus had spoken.

23 Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival,(R) many people saw the signs(S) he was performing and believed(T) in his name.[b] 24 But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people. 25 He did not need any testimony about mankind,(U) for he knew what was in each person.(V)

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Footnotes

  1. John 2:17 Psalm 69:9
  2. John 2:23 Or in him

Two Kinds of Wisdom

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it(A) by their good life, by deeds(B) done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition(C) in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.(D) 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven(E) but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.(F) 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition,(G) there you find disorder and every evil practice.

17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven(H) is first of all pure; then peace-loving,(I) considerate, submissive, full of mercy(J) and good fruit, impartial and sincere.(K) 18 Peacemakers(L) who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.(M)

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Fulfill Your Vow to God

[a]Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong.

Do not be quick with your mouth,
    do not be hasty in your heart
    to utter anything before God.(A)
God is in heaven
    and you are on earth,
    so let your words be few.(B)
A dream(C) comes when there are many cares,
    and many words mark the speech of a fool.(D)

When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it.(E) He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow.(F) It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it.(G) Do not let your mouth lead you into sin. And do not protest to the temple messenger, “My vow was a mistake.” Why should God be angry at what you say and destroy the work of your hands? Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore fear God.(H)

Riches Are Meaningless

If you see the poor oppressed(I) in a district, and justice and rights denied, do not be surprised at such things; for one official is eyed by a higher one, and over them both are others higher still. The increase from the land is taken by all; the king himself profits from the fields.

10 Whoever loves money never has enough;
    whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income.
    This too is meaningless.

11 As goods increase,
    so do those who consume them.
And what benefit are they to the owners
    except to feast their eyes on them?

12 The sleep of a laborer is sweet,
    whether they eat little or much,
but as for the rich, their abundance
    permits them no sleep.(J)

13 I have seen a grievous evil under the sun:(K)

wealth hoarded to the harm of its owners,
14     or wealth lost through some misfortune,
so that when they have children
    there is nothing left for them to inherit.
15 Everyone comes naked from their mother’s womb,
    and as everyone comes, so they depart.(L)
They take nothing from their toil(M)
    that they can carry in their hands.(N)

16 This too is a grievous evil:

As everyone comes, so they depart,
    and what do they gain,
    since they toil for the wind?(O)
17 All their days they eat in darkness,
    with great frustration, affliction and anger.

18 This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink(P) and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor(Q) under the sun during the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot. 19 Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions,(R) and the ability to enjoy them,(S) to accept their lot(T) and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God.(U) 20 They seldom reflect on the days of their life, because God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart.(V)

Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 5:1 In Hebrew texts 5:1 is numbered 4:17, and 5:2-20 is numbered 5:1-19.

Drought, Famine, Sword

14 This is the word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah concerning the drought:(A)

“Judah mourns,(B)
    her cities languish;
they wail for the land,
    and a cry goes up from Jerusalem.
The nobles send their servants for water;
    they go to the cisterns
    but find no water.(C)
They return with their jars unfilled;
    dismayed and despairing,
    they cover their heads.(D)
The ground is cracked
    because there is no rain in the land;(E)
the farmers are dismayed
    and cover their heads.
Even the doe in the field
    deserts her newborn fawn
    because there is no grass.(F)
Wild donkeys stand on the barren heights(G)
    and pant like jackals;
their eyes fail
    for lack of food.”(H)

Although our sins testify(I) against us,
    do something, Lord, for the sake of your name.(J)
For we have often rebelled;(K)
    we have sinned(L) against you.
You who are the hope(M) of Israel,
    its Savior(N) in times of distress,(O)
why are you like a stranger in the land,
    like a traveler who stays only a night?
Why are you like a man taken by surprise,
    like a warrior powerless to save?(P)
You are among(Q) us, Lord,
    and we bear your name;(R)
    do not forsake(S) us!

10 This is what the Lord says about this people:

“They greatly love to wander;
    they do not restrain their feet.(T)
So the Lord does not accept(U) them;
    he will now remember(V) their wickedness
    and punish them for their sins.”(W)

11 Then the Lord said to me, “Do not pray(X) for the well-being of this people. 12 Although they fast, I will not listen to their cry;(Y) though they offer burnt offerings(Z) and grain offerings,(AA) I will not accept(AB) them. Instead, I will destroy them with the sword,(AC) famine(AD) and plague.”(AE)

13 But I said, “Alas, Sovereign Lord! The prophets(AF) keep telling them, ‘You will not see the sword or suffer famine.(AG) Indeed, I will give you lasting peace(AH) in this place.’”

14 Then the Lord said to me, “The prophets are prophesying lies(AI) in my name. I have not sent(AJ) them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false visions,(AK) divinations,(AL) idolatries[a] and the delusions of their own minds. 15 Therefore this is what the Lord says about the prophets who are prophesying in my name: I did not send them, yet they are saying, ‘No sword or famine will touch this land.’ Those same prophets will perish(AM) by sword and famine.(AN) 16 And the people they are prophesying to will be thrown out into the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and sword. There will be no one to bury(AO) them, their wives, their sons and their daughters.(AP) I will pour out on them the calamity they deserve.(AQ)

17 “Speak this word to them:

“‘Let my eyes overflow with tears(AR)
    night and day without ceasing;
for the Virgin(AS) Daughter, my people,
    has suffered a grievous wound,
    a crushing blow.(AT)
18 If I go into the country,
    I see those slain by the sword;
if I go into the city,
    I see the ravages of famine.(AU)
Both prophet and priest
    have gone to a land they know not.(AV)’”

19 Have you rejected Judah completely?(AW)
    Do you despise Zion?
Why have you afflicted us
    so that we cannot be healed?(AX)
We hoped for peace
    but no good has come,
for a time of healing
    but there is only terror.(AY)
20 We acknowledge(AZ) our wickedness, Lord,
    and the guilt of our ancestors;(BA)
    we have indeed sinned(BB) against you.
21 For the sake of your name(BC) do not despise us;
    do not dishonor your glorious throne.(BD)
Remember your covenant(BE) with us
    and do not break it.
22 Do any of the worthless idols(BF) of the nations bring rain?(BG)
    Do the skies themselves send down showers?
No, it is you, Lord our God.
    Therefore our hope is in you,
    for you are the one who does all this.(BH)

15 Then the Lord said to me: “Even if Moses(BI) and Samuel(BJ) were to stand before me, my heart would not go out to this people.(BK) Send them away from my presence!(BL) Let them go! And if they ask you, ‘Where shall we go?’ tell them, ‘This is what the Lord says:

“‘Those destined for death, to death;
those for the sword, to the sword;(BM)
those for starvation, to starvation;(BN)
those for captivity, to captivity.’(BO)

“I will send four kinds of destroyers(BP) against them,” declares the Lord, “the sword(BQ) to kill and the dogs(BR) to drag away and the birds(BS) and the wild animals to devour and destroy.(BT) I will make them abhorrent(BU) to all the kingdoms of the earth(BV) because of what Manasseh(BW) son of Hezekiah king of Judah did in Jerusalem.

“Who will have pity(BX) on you, Jerusalem?
    Who will mourn for you?
    Who will stop to ask how you are?
You have rejected(BY) me,” declares the Lord.
    “You keep on backsliding.
So I will reach out(BZ) and destroy you;
    I am tired of holding back.(CA)
I will winnow(CB) them with a winnowing fork
    at the city gates of the land.
I will bring bereavement(CC) and destruction on my people,(CD)
    for they have not changed their ways.(CE)
I will make their widows(CF) more numerous
    than the sand of the sea.
At midday I will bring a destroyer(CG)
    against the mothers of their young men;
suddenly I will bring down on them
    anguish and terror.(CH)
The mother of seven will grow faint(CI)
    and breathe her last.(CJ)
Her sun will set while it is still day;
    she will be disgraced(CK) and humiliated.
I will put the survivors to the sword(CL)
    before their enemies,”(CM)
declares the Lord.

10 Alas, my mother, that you gave me birth,(CN)
    a man with whom the whole land strives and contends!(CO)
I have neither lent(CP) nor borrowed,
    yet everyone curses(CQ) me.

11 The Lord said,

“Surely I will deliver you(CR) for a good purpose;
    surely I will make your enemies plead(CS) with you
    in times of disaster and times of distress.

12 “Can a man break iron—
    iron from the north(CT)—or bronze?

13 “Your wealth(CU) and your treasures
    I will give as plunder,(CV) without charge,(CW)
because of all your sins
    throughout your country.(CX)
14 I will enslave you to your enemies
    in[b] a land you do not know,(CY)
for my anger will kindle a fire(CZ)
    that will burn against you.”

15 Lord, you understand;
    remember me and care for me.
    Avenge me on my persecutors.(DA)
You are long-suffering(DB)—do not take me away;
    think of how I suffer reproach for your sake.(DC)
16 When your words came, I ate(DD) them;
    they were my joy and my heart’s delight,(DE)
for I bear your name,(DF)
    Lord God Almighty.
17 I never sat(DG) in the company of revelers,
    never made merry with them;
I sat alone because your hand(DH) was on me
    and you had filled me with indignation.
18 Why is my pain unending
    and my wound grievous and incurable?(DI)
You are to me like a deceptive brook,
    like a spring that fails.(DJ)

19 Therefore this is what the Lord says:

“If you repent, I will restore you
    that you may serve(DK) me;
if you utter worthy, not worthless, words,
    you will be my spokesman.(DL)
Let this people turn to you,
    but you must not turn to them.
20 I will make you a wall(DM) to this people,
    a fortified wall of bronze;
they will fight against you
    but will not overcome(DN) you,
for I am with you
    to rescue and save you,”(DO)
declares the Lord.
21 “I will save(DP) you from the hands of the wicked(DQ)
    and deliver(DR) you from the grasp of the cruel.”(DS)

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 14:14 Or visions, worthless divinations
  2. Jeremiah 15:14 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint and Syriac (see also 17:4); most Hebrew manuscripts I will cause your enemies to bring you / into

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