Psalm 133

New International Version

Psalm 133

A song of ascents. Of David.

¹How good and pleasant it is
when God’s people live together^(A) in unity!^(B)

²It is like precious oil poured on the head,^(C)
    running down on the beard,
running down on Aaron’s beard,
    down on the collar of his robe.
³It is as if the dew^(D) of Hermon^(E)
    were falling on Mount Zion.^(F)
For there the Lord bestows his blessing,^(G)
    even life forevermore.^(H)

Isaiah 1:10-20

New International Version

¹⁰Hear the word of the Lord,^(A)
    you rulers of Sodom;^(B)
listen to the instruction^(C) of our God,
    you people of Gomorrah!^(D)
¹¹“The multitude of your sacrifices—
    what are they to me?” says the Lord.
“I have more than enough of burnt offerings,
    of rams and the fat of fattened animals;^(E)
I have no pleasure^(F)
    in the blood of bulls^(G) and lambs and goats.^(H)
¹²When you come to appear before me,
    who has asked this of you,^(I)
    this trampling of my courts?
¹³Stop bringing meaningless offerings!^(J)
    Your incense^(K) is detestable^(L) to me.
New Moons,^(M) Sabbaths and convocations^(N)—
    I cannot bear your worthless assemblies.
¹⁴Your New Moon^(O) feasts and your appointed festivals^(P)
    I hate with all my being.^(Q)
They have become a burden to me;^(R)
    I am weary^(S) of bearing them.
¹⁵When you spread out your hands^(T) in prayer,
    I hide^(U) my eyes from you;
even when you offer many prayers,
    I am not listening.^(V)

Your hands^(W) are full of blood!^(X)

¹⁶Wash^(Y) and make yourselves clean.
    Take your evil deeds out of my sight;^(Z)
    stop doing wrong.^(AA)
¹⁷Learn to do right;^(AB) seek justice.^(AC)
    Defend the oppressed.^[a]^(AD)
Take up the cause of the fatherless;^(AE)
    plead the case of the widow.^(AF)

¹⁸“Come now, let us settle the matter,”^(AG)
    says the Lord.
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
    they shall be as white as snow;^(AH)
though they are red as crimson,
    they shall be like wool.^(AI)
¹⁹If you are willing and obedient,^(AJ)
    you will eat the good things of the land;^(AK)
²⁰but if you resist and rebel,^(AL)
    you will be devoured by the sword.”^(AM)
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.^(AN)

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Footnotes

Isaiah 1:17 Or justice. / Correct the oppressor

1 Thessalonians 1

New International Version

1 Paul, Silas^[a]^(A) and Timothy,^(B)

To the church of the Thessalonians^(C) in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

Grace and peace to you.^(D)

Thanksgiving for the Thessalonians’ Faith

²We always thank God for all of you^(E) and continually mention you in our prayers.^(F) ³We remember before our God and Father^(G) your work produced by faith,^(H) your labor prompted by love,^(I) and your endurance inspired by hope^(J) in our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁴For we know, brothers and sisters^[b] loved by God,^(K) that he has chosen you, ⁵because our gospel^(L) came to you not simply with words but also with power,^(M) with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know^(N) how we lived among you for your sake. ⁶You became imitators of us^(O) and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering^(P) with the joy^(Q) given by the Holy Spirit.^(R) ⁷And so you became a model^(S) to all the believers in Macedonia^(T) and Achaia.^(U) ⁸The Lord’s message^(V) rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere.^(W) Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, ⁹for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned^(X) to God from idols^(Y) to serve the living and true God,^(Z) ¹⁰and to wait for his Son from heaven,^(AA) whom he raised from the dead^(AB)—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.^(AC)

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Footnotes

1 Thessalonians 1:1 Greek Silvanus, a variant of Silas
1 Thessalonians 1:4 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in 2:1, 9, 14, 17; 3:7; 4:1, 10, 13; 5:1, 4, 12, 14, 25, 27.

Luke 20:1-8

New International Version

The Authority of Jesus Questioned^(A)

20 One day as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple courts^(B) and proclaiming the good news,^(C) the chief priests and the teachers of the law, together with the elders, came up to him. ²“Tell us by what authority you are doing these things,” they said. “Who gave you this authority?”^(D)

³He replied, “I will also ask you a question. Tell me: ⁴John’s baptism^(E)—was it from heaven, or of human origin?”

⁵They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Why didn’t you believe him?’ ⁶But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ all the people^(F) will stone us, because they are persuaded that John was a prophet.”^(G)

⁷So they answered, “We don’t know where it was from.”

⁸Jesus said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”

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