Psalm 88^[a]

A song. A psalm of the Sons of Korah. For the director of music. According to mahalath leannoth.^[b] A maskil^[c] of Heman the Ezrahite.

Abimelek

9 Abimelek^(A) son of Jerub-Baal^(B) went to his mother’s brothers in Shechem and said to them and to all his mother’s clan, ² “Ask all the citizens of Shechem, ‘Which is better for you: to have all seventy of Jerub-Baal’s sons rule over you, or just one man?’ Remember, I am your flesh and blood.^(C)”

³ When the brothers repeated all this to the citizens of Shechem, they were inclined to follow Abimelek, for they said, “He is related to us.” ⁴ They gave him seventy shekels^[a] of silver from the temple of Baal-Berith,^(D) and Abimelek used it to hire reckless scoundrels,^(E) who became his followers. ⁵ He went to his father’s home in Ophrah and on one stone murdered his seventy brothers,^(F) the sons of Jerub-Baal. But Jotham,^(G) the youngest son of Jerub-Baal, escaped by hiding.^{(H) 6} Then all the citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo^(I) gathered beside the great tree^(J) at the pillar in Shechem to crown Abimelek king.

⁷ When Jotham^(K) was told about this, he climbed up on the top of Mount Gerizim^(L) and shouted to them, “Listen to me, citizens of Shechem, so that God may listen to you. ⁸ One day the trees went out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Be our king.’

⁹ “But the olive tree answered, ‘Should I give up my oil, by which both gods and humans are honored, to hold sway over the trees?’

¹⁰ “Next, the trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come and be our king.’

¹¹ “But the fig tree replied, ‘Should I give up my fruit, so good and sweet, to hold sway over the trees?’

¹² “Then the trees said to the vine, ‘Come and be our king.’

¹³ “But the vine answered, ‘Should I give up my wine,^(M) which cheers both gods and humans, to hold sway over the trees?’

¹⁴ “Finally all the trees said to the thornbush, ‘Come and be our king.’

¹⁵ “The thornbush said to the trees, ‘If you really want to anoint me king over you, come and take refuge in my shade;^(N) but if not, then let fire come out^(O) of the thornbush and consume the cedars of Lebanon!’^(P)

¹⁶ “Have you acted honorably and in good faith by making Abimelek king? Have you been fair to Jerub-Baal and his family? Have you treated him as he deserves?

¹⁹ So have you acted honorably and in good faith toward Jerub-Baal and his family today?^(A) If you have, may Abimelek be your joy, and may you be his, too! ²⁰ But if you have not, let fire come out^(B) from Abimelek and consume you, the citizens of Shechem^(C) and Beth Millo,^(D) and let fire come out from you, the citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo, and consume Abimelek!”

²¹ Then Jotham^(E) fled, escaping to Beer,^(F) and he lived there because he was afraid of his brother Abimelek.

¹³ When they saw the courage of Peter and John^(A) and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men,^(B) they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.^{(C) 14} But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. ¹⁵ So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin^(D) and then conferred together. ¹⁶ “What are we going to do with these men?”^(E) they asked. “Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign,^(F) and we cannot deny it. ¹⁷ But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name.”

¹⁸ Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.^{(G) 19} But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him?^(H) You be the judges! ²⁰ As for us, we cannot help speaking^(I) about what we have seen and heard.”^(J)

²¹ After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people^(K) were praising God^(L) for what had happened. ²² For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.

The Believers Pray

²³ On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. ²⁴ When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God.^(M) “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them.^{(N) 25} You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:^(O)

²⁷ Indeed Herod^(Q) and Pontius Pilate^(R) met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus,^(S) whom you anointed. ²⁸ They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen.^{(T) 29} Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.^{(U) 30} Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders^(V) through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”^(W)

³¹ After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken.^(X) And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit^(Y) and spoke the word of God^(Z) boldly.^(AA)

² and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. ³ When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”

⁴ “Woman,^[a](A) why do you involve me?”^(B) Jesus replied. “My hour^(C) has not yet come.”

⁵ His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”^(D)

⁶ Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing,^(E) each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.^[b]

⁷ Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim.

⁸ Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.”

They did so, ⁹ and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine.^(F) He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside ¹⁰ and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”

¹¹ What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs^(G) through which he revealed his glory;^(H) and his disciples believed in him.^(I)

¹² After this he went down to Capernaum^(J) with his mother^(K) and brothers^(L) and his disciples. There they stayed for a few days.