Psalm 2

New International Version

Psalm 2

¹Why do the nations conspire^[a]
    and the peoples plot^(A) in vain?
²The kings^(B) of the earth rise up
    and the rulers band together
    against the Lord and against his anointed,^(C) saying,
³“Let us break their chains^(D)
    and throw off their shackles.”^(E)

⁴The One enthroned^(F) in heaven laughs;^(G)
    the Lord scoffs at them.
⁵He rebukes them in his anger^(H)
    and terrifies them in his wrath,^(I) saying,
⁶“I have installed my king^(J)
    on Zion,^(K) my holy mountain.^(L)”

⁷I will proclaim the Lord’s decree:

He said to me, “You are my son;^(M)
    today I have become your father.^(N)
⁸Ask me,
    and I will make the nations^(O) your inheritance,^(P)
    the ends of the earth^(Q) your possession.
⁹You will break them with a rod of iron^[b];^(R)
    you will dash them to pieces^(S) like pottery.^(T)”

¹⁰Therefore, you kings, be wise;^(U)
    be warned, you rulers^(V) of the earth.
¹¹Serve the Lord with fear^(W)
    and celebrate his rule^(X) with trembling.^(Y)
¹²Kiss his son,^(Z) or he will be angry
    and your way will lead to your destruction,
for his wrath^(AA) can flare up in a moment.
    Blessed^(AB) are all who take refuge^(AC) in him.

Footnotes

Psalm 2:1 Hebrew; Septuagint rage
Psalm 2:9 Or will rule them with an iron scepter (see Septuagint and Syriac)

Jeremiah 18:12-23

New International Version

¹²But they will reply, ‘It’s no use.^(A) We will continue with our own plans; we will all follow the stubbornness of our evil hearts.^(B)’”

¹³Therefore this is what the Lord says:

“Inquire among the nations:
    Who has ever heard anything like this?^(C)
A most horrible^(D) thing has been done
    by Virgin^(E) Israel.
¹⁴Does the snow of Lebanon
    ever vanish from its rocky slopes?
Do its cool waters from distant sources
    ever stop flowing?^[a]
¹⁵Yet my people have forgotten^(F) me;
    they burn incense^(G) to worthless idols,^(H)
which made them stumble^(I) in their ways,
    in the ancient paths.^(J)
They made them walk in byways,
    on roads not built up.^(K)
¹⁶Their land will be an object of horror^(L)
    and of lasting scorn;^(M)
all who pass by will be appalled^(N)
    and will shake their heads.^(O)
¹⁷Like a wind^(P) from the east,
    I will scatter them before their enemies;
I will show them my back and not my face^(Q)
    in the day of their disaster.”

¹⁸They said, “Come, let’s make plans^(R) against Jeremiah; for the teaching of the law by the priest^(S) will not cease, nor will counsel from the wise,^(T) nor the word from the prophets.^(U) So come, let’s attack him with our tongues^(V) and pay no attention to anything he says.”

¹⁹Listen to me, Lord;
    hear what my accusers^(W) are saying!
²⁰Should good be repaid with evil?^(X)
    Yet they have dug a pit^(Y) for me.
Remember that I stood^(Z) before you
    and spoke in their behalf^(AA)
    to turn your wrath away from them.
²¹So give their children over to famine;^(AB)
    hand them over to the power of the sword.^(AC)
Let their wives be made childless and widows;^(AD)
    let their men be put to death,
    their young men^(AE) slain by the sword in battle.
²²Let a cry^(AF) be heard from their houses
    when you suddenly bring invaders against them,
for they have dug a pit^(AG) to capture me
    and have hidden snares^(AH) for my feet.
²³But you, Lord, know
    all their plots to kill^(AI) me.
Do not forgive^(AJ) their crimes
    or blot out their sins from your sight.
Let them be overthrown before you;
    deal with them in the time of your anger.^(AK)

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Footnotes

Jeremiah 18:14 The meaning of the Hebrew for this sentence is uncertain.

1 Timothy 3:14-4:5

New International Version

Reasons for Paul’s Instructions

¹⁴Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, ¹⁵if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church^(A) of the living God,^(B) the pillar and foundation of the truth. ¹⁶Beyond all question, the mystery^(C) from which true godliness^(D) springs is great:

He appeared in the flesh,^(E)
    was vindicated by the Spirit,^[a]
was seen by angels,
    was preached among the nations,^(F)
was believed on in the world,
    was taken up in glory.^(G)

4 The Spirit^(H) clearly says that in later times^(I) some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits^(J) and things taught by demons. ²Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.^(K) ³They forbid people to marry^(L) and order them to abstain from certain foods,^(M) which God created^(N) to be received with thanksgiving^(O) by those who believe and who know the truth. ⁴For everything God created is good,^(P) and nothing is to be rejected^(Q) if it is received with thanksgiving, ⁵because it is consecrated by the word of God^(R) and prayer.