Psalm 75^[a]

For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A psalm of Asaph. A song.

¹⁷ Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite: ¹⁸ “Go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who rules in Samaria. He is now in Naboth’s vineyard, where he has gone to take possession of it. ¹⁹ Say to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: Have you not murdered a man and seized his property?’^(A) Then say to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: In the place where dogs licked up Naboth’s blood,^(B) dogs^(C) will lick up your blood—yes, yours!’”

²⁰ Ahab said to Elijah, “So you have found me, my enemy!”^(D)

“I have found you,” he answered, “because you have sold^(E) yourself to do evil in the eyes of the Lord. ²¹ He says, ‘I am going to bring disaster on you. I will wipe out your descendants and cut off from Ahab every last male^(F) in Israel—slave or free.^{[a](G) 22} I will make your house^(H) like that of Jeroboam son of Nebat and that of Baasha son of Ahijah, because you have aroused my anger and have caused Israel to sin.’^(I)

²³ “And also concerning Jezebel the Lord says: ‘Dogs^(J) will devour Jezebel by the wall of^[b] Jezreel.’

²⁴ “Dogs^(K) will eat those belonging to Ahab who die in the city, and the birds^(L) will feed on those who die in the country.”

²⁵ (There was never^(M) anyone like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the Lord, urged on by Jezebel his wife. ²⁶ He behaved in the vilest manner by going after idols, like the Amorites^(N) the Lord drove out before Israel.)

²⁷ When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth^(O) and fasted. He lay in sackcloth and went around meekly.^(P)

²⁸ Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite: ²⁹ “Have you noticed how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled^(Q) himself, I will not bring this disaster in his day,^(R) but I will bring it on his house in the days of his son.”^(S)

²⁰ Where is the wise person?^(A) Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age?^(B) Has not God made foolish^(C) the wisdom of the world? ²¹ For since in the wisdom of God the world^(D) through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save^(E) those who believe.^{(F) 22} Jews demand signs^(G) and Greeks look for wisdom, ²³ but we preach Christ crucified:^(H) a stumbling block^(I) to Jews and foolishness^(J) to Gentiles, ²⁴ but to those whom God has called,^(K) both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God^(L) and the wisdom of God.^{(M) 25} For the foolishness^(N) of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness^(O) of God is stronger than human strength.

²⁶ Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called.^(P) Not many of you were wise^(Q) by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. ²⁷ But God chose^(R) the foolish^(S) things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. ²⁸ God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not^(T)—to nullify the things that are, ²⁹ so that no one may boast before him.^{(U) 30} It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus,^(V) who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness,^(W) holiness^(X) and redemption.^{(Y) 31} Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”^[a](Z)

Jesus Begins to Preach

¹² When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison,^(A) he withdrew to Galilee.^{(B) 13} Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum,^(C) which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali— ¹⁴ to fulfill^(D) what was said through the prophet Isaiah:

¹⁷ From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven^(F) has come near.”