Psalm 25^[a]

Of David.

¹⁷ The word of the Lord came to me: ¹⁸ “Son of man, tremble as you eat your food,^(A) and shudder in fear as you drink your water. ¹⁹ Say to the people of the land: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says about those living in Jerusalem and in the land of Israel: They will eat their food in anxiety and drink their water in despair, for their land will be stripped of everything^(B) in it because of the violence of all who live there.^{(C) 20} The inhabited towns will be laid waste and the land will be desolate. Then you will know that I am the Lord.^(D)’”

There Will Be No Delay

²¹ The word of the Lord came to me: ²² “Son of man, what is this proverb^(E) you have in the land of Israel: ‘The days go by and every vision comes to nothing’?^{(F) 23} Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am going to put an end to this proverb, and they will no longer quote it in Israel.’ Say to them, ‘The days are near^(G) when every vision will be fulfilled.^{(H) 24} For there will be no more false visions or flattering divinations^(I) among the people of Israel. ²⁵ But I the Lord will speak what I will, and it shall be fulfilled without delay.^(J) For in your days, you rebellious people, I will fulfill^(K) whatever I say, declares the Sovereign Lord.^(L)’”

²⁶ The word of the Lord came to me: ²⁷ “Son of man, the Israelites are saying, ‘The vision he sees is for many years from now, and he prophesies about the distant future.’^(M)

²⁸ “Therefore say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: None of my words will be delayed any longer; whatever I say will be fulfilled, declares the Sovereign Lord.’”

¹¹ Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another.^(A) Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister^[a] or judges them^(B) speaks against the law^(C) and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it,^(D) but sitting in judgment on it. ¹² There is only one Lawgiver and Judge,^(E) the one who is able to save and destroy.^(F) But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?^(G)

Boasting About Tomorrow

¹³ Now listen,^(H) you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.”^{(I) 14} Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.^{(J) 15} Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will,^(K) we will live and do this or that.” ¹⁶ As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil.^(L)