Psalm 82

A psalm of Asaph.

²⁵ “I have heard what the prophets say who prophesy lies^(D) in my name. They say, ‘I had a dream!^(E) I had a dream!’ ²⁶ How long will this continue in the hearts of these lying prophets, who prophesy the delusions^(F) of their own minds?^{(G) 27} They think the dreams they tell one another will make my people forget^(H) my name, just as their ancestors forgot^(I) my name through Baal worship.^{(J) 28} Let the prophet who has a dream^(K) recount the dream, but let the one who has my word^(L) speak it faithfully. For what has straw to do with grain?” declares the Lord. ²⁹ “Is not my word like fire,”^(M) declares the Lord, “and like a hammer^(N) that breaks a rock in pieces?

²⁹ By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.^(A)

³⁰ By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the army had marched around them for seven days.^(B)

³¹ By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.^[a](C)

³² And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon,^(D) Barak,^(E) Samson^(F) and Jephthah,^(G) about David^(H) and Samuel^(I) and the prophets, ³³ who through faith conquered kingdoms,^(J) administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions,^{(K) 34} quenched the fury of the flames,^(L) and escaped the edge of the sword;^(M) whose weakness was turned to strength;^(N) and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies.^{(O) 35} Women received back their dead, raised to life again.^(P) There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. ³⁶ Some faced jeers and flogging,^(Q) and even chains and imprisonment.^{(R) 37} They were put to death by stoning;^[b](S) they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword.^(T) They went about in sheepskins and goatskins,^(U) destitute, persecuted and mistreated— ³⁸ the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves^(V) and in holes in the ground.

³⁹ These were all commended^(W) for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised,^{(X) 40} since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us^(Y) would they be made perfect.^(Z)

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run^(AA) with perseverance^(AB) the race marked out for us, ² fixing our eyes on Jesus,^(AC) the pioneer^(AD) and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross,^(AE) scorning its shame,^(AF) and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.^(AG)

Not Peace but Division^(A)

⁴⁹ “I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! ⁵⁰ But I have a baptism^(B) to undergo, and what constraint I am under until it is completed!^{(C) 51} Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. ⁵² From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. ⁵³ They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”^(D)

Interpreting the Times

⁵⁴ He said to the crowd: “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘It’s going to rain,’ and it does.^{(E) 55} And when the south wind blows, you say, ‘It’s going to be hot,’ and it is. ⁵⁶ Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time?^(F)