¹² In his distress he sought the favor of the Lord his God and humbled^(A) himself greatly before the God of his ancestors.

²⁶ Then Hezekiah repented^(A) of the pride of his heart, as did the people of Jerusalem; therefore the Lord’s wrath did not come on them during the days of Hezekiah.^(B)

³ So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said to him, “This is what the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, says: ‘How long will you refuse to humble^(A) yourself before me? Let my people go, so that they may worship me.

⁵ In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves^(A) to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility^(B) toward one another, because,

⁶ Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.^(D)

¹⁰ Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.^(A)

¹⁴ “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”^(A)

The Little Children and Jesus^(B)

¹⁵ People were also bringing babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them.

¹⁶ He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

¹⁷ “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! ¹⁸ I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned^(A) against heaven and against you.

Israel’s Guilt and Punishment