Psalm 147

¹⁸ Here am I, and the children the Lord has given me.^(F) We are signs^(G) and symbols^(H) in Israel from the Lord Almighty, who dwells on Mount Zion.^(I)

The Darkness Turns to Light

¹⁹ When someone tells you to consult^(J) mediums and spiritists,^(K) who whisper and mutter,^(L) should not a people inquire^(M) of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living? ²⁰ Consult God’s instruction^(N) and the testimony of warning.^(O) If anyone does not speak according to this word, they have no light^(P) of dawn. ²¹ Distressed and hungry,^(Q) they will roam through the land;^(R) when they are famished, they will become enraged and, looking upward, will curse^(S) their king and their God. ²² Then they will look toward the earth and see only distress and darkness and fearful gloom,^(T) and they will be thrust into utter darkness.^(U)

9 ^[a]Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom^(V) for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,^(W) but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan—

1 Simon Peter, a servant^(A) and apostle of Jesus Christ,^(B)

To those who through the righteousness^(C) of our God and Savior Jesus Christ^(D) have received a faith as precious as ours:

² Grace and peace be yours in abundance^(E) through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.^(F)

Confirming One’s Calling and Election

³ His divine power^(G) has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him^(H) who called us^(I) by his own glory and goodness. ⁴ Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises,^(J) so that through them you may participate in the divine nature,^(K) having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.^(L)

⁵ For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;^{(M) 6} and to knowledge, self-control;^(N) and to self-control, perseverance;^(O) and to perseverance, godliness;^{(P) 7} and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.^{(Q) 8} For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive^(R) in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.^{(S) 9} But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind,^(T) forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.^(U)

¹⁰ Therefore, my brothers and sisters,^[a] make every effort to confirm your calling^(V) and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble,^{(W) 11} and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom^(X) of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.^(Y)

Jesus Prays on the Mount of Olives^(A)

³⁹ Jesus went out as usual^(B) to the Mount of Olives,^(C) and his disciples followed him. ⁴⁰ On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.”^{(D) 41} He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down^(E) and prayed, ⁴² “Father, if you are willing, take this cup^(F) from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”^{(G) 43} An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.^{(H) 44} And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.^[a]

⁴⁵ When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. ⁴⁶ “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”^(I)

Jesus Arrested^(J)

⁴⁷ While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, ⁴⁸ but Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”

⁴⁹ When Jesus’ followers saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?”^{(K) 50} And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.

⁵¹ But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.

⁵² Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard,^(L) and the elders, who had come for him, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs? ⁵³ Every day I was with you in the temple courts,^(M) and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour^(N)—when darkness reigns.”^(O)