Matthew 12:15-32

English Standard Version

God's Chosen Servant

¹⁵Jesus, aware of this, ^(A)withdrew from there. And ^(B)many followed him, and he healed them all ¹⁶and ^(C)ordered them not to make him known. ¹⁷^(D)This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah:

¹⁸^(E)“Behold, my ^(F)servant whom I have chosen,
    my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased.
^(G)I will put my Spirit upon him,
    and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.
¹⁹He will not quarrel or cry aloud,
    nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets;
²⁰a bruised reed he will not break,
    and a smoldering wick he will not quench,
until he brings justice to victory;
²¹    ^(H)and in his name the Gentiles will hope.”

Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit

²²^(I)Then a demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the man spoke and saw. ²³^(J)And all the people were amazed, and said, ^(K)“Can this be the Son of David?” ²⁴But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, ^(L)“It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.” ²⁵^(M)Knowing their thoughts, ^(N)he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. ²⁶And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? ²⁷And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, ^(O)by whom do ^(P)your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. ²⁸But if it is ^(Q)by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then ^(R)the kingdom of God has come upon you. ²⁹Or ^(S)how can someone enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed ^(T)he may plunder his house. ³⁰^(U)Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. ³¹^(V)Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but ^(W)the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. ³²And whoever speaks a word ^(X)against the Son of Man ^(Y)will be forgiven, but ^(Z)whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in ^(AA)this age or in the age to come.

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Psalm 28

English Standard Version

The Lord Is My Strength and My Shield

Of David.

28 To you, O Lord, I call;
    ^(A)my rock, be not deaf to me,
lest, if you ^(B)be silent to me,
    I become like those who ^(C)go down to the pit.
²^(D)Hear the voice of my pleas for mercy,
    when I cry to you for help,
when I ^(E)lift up my hands
    ^(F)toward your most holy sanctuary.^[a]

³Do not ^(G)drag me off with the wicked,
    with the workers of evil,
^(H)who speak peace with their neighbors
    while evil is in their hearts.
⁴^(I)Give to them according to their work
    and according to the evil of their deeds;
give to them according to the work of their hands;
    ^(J)render them their due reward.
⁵Because they ^(K)do not regard the works of the Lord
    or the work of his hands,
he will tear them down and build them up no more.

⁶Blessed be the Lord!
    For he has ^(L)heard the voice of my pleas for mercy.
⁷The Lord is my strength and ^(M)my shield;
    in him my heart ^(N)trusts, and I am helped;
my heart exults,
    and with my ^(O)song I give thanks to him.

⁸The Lord is the strength of his people;^[b]
he is ^(P)the saving refuge of his anointed.
⁹Oh, save your people and bless ^(Q)your heritage!
^(R)Be their shepherd and ^(S)carry them forever.