Psalm 124

A song of ascents. Of David.

A Prophecy Against Edom

35 The word of the Lord came to me: ² “Son of man, set your face against Mount Seir;^(A) prophesy against it ³ and say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against you, Mount Seir, and I will stretch out my hand^(B) against you and make you a desolate waste.^{(C) 4} I will turn your towns into ruins^(D) and you will be desolate. Then you will know that I am the Lord.^(E)

⁵ “‘Because you harbored an ancient hostility and delivered the Israelites over to the sword^(F) at the time of their calamity,^(G) the time their punishment reached its climax,^{(H) 6} therefore as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I will give you over to bloodshed^(I) and it will pursue you.^(J) Since you did not hate bloodshed, bloodshed will pursue you. ⁷ I will make Mount Seir a desolate waste^(K) and cut off from it all who come and go.^{(L) 8} I will fill your mountains with the slain; those killed by the sword will fall on your hills and in your valleys and in all your ravines.^{(M) 9} I will make you desolate forever;^(N) your towns will not be inhabited. Then you will know that I am the Lord.^(O)

¹⁰ “‘Because you have said, “These two nations and countries will be ours and we will take possession^(P) of them,” even though I the Lord was there, ¹¹ therefore as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I will treat you in accordance with the anger^(Q) and jealousy you showed in your hatred of them and I will make myself known among them when I judge you.^{(R) 12} Then you will know that I the Lord have heard all the contemptible things you have said against the mountains of Israel. You said, “They have been laid waste and have been given over to us to devour.^(S)” ¹³ You boasted^(T) against me and spoke against me without restraint, and I heard it.^{(U) 14} This is what the Sovereign Lord says: While the whole earth rejoices, I will make you desolate.^{(V) 15} Because you rejoiced^(W) when the inheritance of Israel became desolate, that is how I will treat you. You will be desolate, Mount Seir,^(X) you and all of Edom.^(Y) Then they will know that I am the Lord.’”

Hope for the Mountains of Israel

36 “Son of man, prophesy to the mountains of Israel^(Z) and say, ‘Mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord. ² This is what the Sovereign Lord says:^(AA) The enemy said of you, “Aha!^(AB) The ancient heights^(AC) have become our possession.^(AD)”’ ³ Therefore prophesy and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because they ravaged^(AE) and crushed you from every side so that you became the possession of the rest of the nations and the object of people’s malicious talk and slander,^{(AF) 4} therefore, mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Sovereign Lord: This is what the Sovereign Lord says to the mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys,^(AG) to the desolate ruins^(AH) and the deserted^(AI) towns that have been plundered and ridiculed^(AJ) by the rest of the nations around you^(AK)— ⁵ this is what the Sovereign Lord says: In my burning^(AL) zeal I have spoken against the rest of the nations, and against all Edom, for with glee and with malice in their hearts they made my land their own possession so that they might plunder its pastureland.’^{(AM) 6} Therefore prophesy concerning the land of Israel and say to the mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I speak in my jealous wrath because you have suffered the scorn of the nations.^{(AN) 7} Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I swear with uplifted hand^(AO) that the nations around you will also suffer scorn.^(AP)

⁸ “‘But you, mountains of Israel, will produce branches and fruit^(AQ) for my people Israel, for they will soon come home. ⁹ I am concerned for you and will look on you with favor; you will be plowed and sown,^{(AR) 10} and I will cause many people to live on you—yes, all of Israel. The towns will be inhabited and the ruins^(AS) rebuilt.^{(AT) 11} I will increase the number of people and animals living on you, and they will be fruitful^(AU) and become numerous. I will settle people^(AV) on you as in the past^(AW) and will make you prosper more than before.^(AX) Then you will know that I am the Lord. ¹² I will cause people, my people Israel, to live on you. They will possess you, and you will be their inheritance;^(AY) you will never again deprive them of their children.

¹³ “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because some say to you, “You devour people^(AZ) and deprive your nation of its children,” ¹⁴ therefore you will no longer devour people or make your nation childless, declares the Sovereign Lord. ¹⁵ No longer will I make you hear the taunts of the nations, and no longer will you suffer the scorn of the peoples or cause your nation to fall, declares the Sovereign Lord.^(BA)’”

Israel’s Restoration Assured

¹⁶ Again the word of the Lord came to me: ¹⁷ “Son of man, when the people of Israel were living in their own land, they defiled it by their conduct and their actions. Their conduct was like a woman’s monthly uncleanness^(BB) in my sight.^{(BC) 18} So I poured out^(BD) my wrath on them because they had shed blood in the land and because they had defiled it with their idols. ¹⁹ I dispersed them among the nations, and they were scattered^(BE) through the countries; I judged them according to their conduct and their actions.^{(BF) 20} And wherever they went among the nations they profaned^(BG) my holy name, for it was said of them, ‘These are the Lord’s people, and yet they had to leave his land.’^{(BH) 21} I had concern for my holy name, which the people of Israel profaned among the nations where they had gone.^(BI)

²² “Therefore say to the Israelites, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: It is not for your sake, people of Israel, that I am going to do these things, but for the sake of my holy name,^(BJ) which you have profaned^(BK) among the nations where you have gone.^{(BL) 23} I will show the holiness of my great name,^(BM) which has been profaned^(BN) among the nations, the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the Lord,^(BO) declares the Sovereign Lord, when I am proved holy^(BP) through you before their eyes.^(BQ)

²⁴ “‘For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land.^{(BR) 25} I will sprinkle^(BS) clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse^(BT) you from all your impurities^(BU) and from all your idols.^{(BV) 26} I will give you a new heart^(BW) and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone^(BX) and give you a heart of flesh.^{(BY) 27} And I will put my Spirit^(BZ) in you and move you to follow my decrees^(CA) and be careful to keep my laws.^{(CB) 28} Then you will live in the land I gave your ancestors; you will be my people,^(CC) and I will be your God.^{(CD) 29} I will save you from all your uncleanness. I will call for the grain and make it plentiful and will not bring famine^(CE) upon you. ³⁰ I will increase the fruit of the trees and the crops of the field, so that you will no longer suffer disgrace among the nations because of famine.^{(CF) 31} Then you will remember your evil ways and wicked deeds, and you will loathe yourselves for your sins and detestable practices.^{(CG) 32} I want you to know that I am not doing this for your sake, declares the Sovereign Lord. Be ashamed^(CH) and disgraced for your conduct, people of Israel!^(CI)

³³ “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: On the day I cleanse^(CJ) you from all your sins, I will resettle your towns, and the ruins^(CK) will be rebuilt.^{(CL) 34} The desolate land will be cultivated instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass through it. ³⁵ They will say, “This land that was laid waste has become like the garden of Eden;^(CM) the cities that were lying in ruins, desolate and destroyed, are now fortified and inhabited.^(CN)” ³⁶ Then the nations around you that remain will know that I the Lord have rebuilt what was destroyed and have replanted what was desolate. I the Lord have spoken, and I will do it.’^(CO)

³⁷ “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Once again I will yield to Israel’s plea^(CP) and do this for them: I will make their people as numerous as sheep,^{(CQ) 38} as numerous as the flocks for offerings^(CR) at Jerusalem during her appointed festivals. So will the ruined cities be filled with flocks of people. Then they will know that I am the Lord.^(CS)”

1 James,^(A) a servant of God^(B) and of the Lord Jesus Christ,

To the twelve tribes^(C) scattered^(D) among the nations:

Greetings.^(E)

Trials and Temptations

² Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,^[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds,^{(F) 3} because you know that the testing of your faith^(G) produces perseverance.^{(H) 4} Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature^(I) and complete, not lacking anything. ⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God,^(J) who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.^{(K) 6} But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt,^(L) because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. ⁷ That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. ⁸ Such a person is double-minded^(M) and unstable^(N) in all they do.

⁹ Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position.^{(O) 10} But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower.^{(P) 11} For the sun rises with scorching heat^(Q) and withers^(R) the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed.^(S) In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.

¹² Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial^(T) because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life^(U) that the Lord has promised to those who love him.^(V)

¹³ When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; ¹⁴ but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own^(W) evil desire and enticed. ¹⁵ Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin;^(X) and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.^(Y)

¹⁶ Don’t be deceived,^(Z) my dear brothers and sisters.^{(AA) 17} Every good and perfect gift is from above,^(AB) coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights,^(AC) who does not change^(AD) like shifting shadows. ¹⁸ He chose to give us birth^(AE) through the word of truth,^(AF) that we might be a kind of firstfruits^(AG) of all he created.