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Amos 3:12-4:5
English Standard Version
Amos 3:12-4:5
English Standard Version
12 Thus says the Lord: (A)“As the shepherd rescues from the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear, (B)so shall the people of Israel (C)who dwell in Samaria be rescued, with the corner of a couch and part[a] of a bed.
13 “Hear, (D)and testify against the house of Jacob,”
declares the Lord God, (E)the God of hosts,
14 “that on the day I punish Israel for his transgressions,
(F)I will punish the altars of Bethel,
and (G)the horns of the altar shall be cut off
and fall to the ground.
15 (H)I will strike (I)the winter house along with (J)the summer house,
and (K)the houses of ivory shall perish,
and the great houses[b] shall come to an end,”
declares the Lord.
4 “Hear this word, (L)you cows of Bashan,
who are (M)on the mountain of Samaria,
(N)who oppress the poor, (O)who crush the needy,
who say to your husbands, ‘Bring, that we may drink!’
2 (P)The Lord God has sworn by his holiness
that, behold, the days are coming upon you,
(Q)when they shall take you away with hooks,
(R)even the last of you with fishhooks.
3 (S)And you shall go out through the breaches,
each one straight ahead;
and you shall be cast out into Harmon,”
declares the Lord.
4 (T)“Come to Bethel, and transgress;
to (U)Gilgal, and multiply transgression;
(V)bring your (W)sacrifices every morning,
your tithes every three days;
5 offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving of (X)that which is leavened,
and proclaim (Y)freewill offerings, publish them;
(Z)for so you love to do, O people of Israel!”
declares the Lord God.
Amos 3:12-4:5
The Message
Amos 3:12-4:5
The Message
12 God’s Message:
“In the same way that a shepherd
trying to save a lamb from a lion
Manages to recover
just a pair of legs or the scrap of an ear,
So will little be saved of the Israelites
who live in Samaria—
A couple of old chairs at most,
the broken leg of a table.
13-15 “Listen and bring witness against Jacob’s family”—
this is God’s Word, God-of-the-Angel-Armies!
“Note well! The day I make Israel pay for its sins,
pay for the sin-altars of worship at Bethel,
The horned altars will all be dehorned
and scattered around.
I’ll tear down the winter palace,
smash the summer palace—all your fancy buildings.
The luxury homes will be demolished,
all those pretentious houses.”
God’s Decree.
You Never Got Hungry for God
4 “Listen to this, you cows of Bashan
grazing on the slopes of Samaria.
You women! Mean to the poor,
cruel to the down-and-out!
Indolent and pampered, you demand of your husbands,
‘Bring us a tall, cool drink!’
2-3 “This is serious—I, God, have sworn by my holiness!
Be well warned: Judgment Day is coming!
They’re going to rope you up and haul you off,
keep the stragglers in line with cattle prods.
They’ll drag you through the ruined city walls,
forcing you out single file,
And kick you to kingdom come.”
God’s Decree.
4-5 “Come along to Bethel and sin!
And then to Gilgal and sin some more!
Bring your sacrifices for morning worship.
Every third day bring your tithe.
Burn pure sacrifices—thank offerings.
Speak up—announce freewill offerings!
That’s the sort of religious show
you Israelites just love.”
God’s Decree.
Amos 3:12-4:5
New International Version
Amos 3:12-4:5
New International Version
12 This is what the Lord says:
“As a shepherd rescues from the lion’s(A) mouth
only two leg bones or a piece of an ear,
so will the Israelites living in Samaria be rescued,
with only the head of a bed
and a piece of fabric[a] from a couch.[b](B)”
13 “Hear this and testify(C) against the descendants of Jacob,” declares the Lord, the Lord God Almighty.
14 “On the day I punish(D) Israel for her sins,
I will destroy the altars of Bethel;(E)
the horns(F) of the altar will be cut off
and fall to the ground.
15 I will tear down the winter house(G)
along with the summer house;(H)
the houses adorned with ivory(I) will be destroyed
and the mansions(J) will be demolished,(K)”
declares the Lord.(L)
Israel Has Not Returned to God
4 Hear this word, you cows of Bashan(M) on Mount Samaria,(N)
you women who oppress the poor(O) and crush the needy(P)
and say to your husbands,(Q) “Bring us some drinks!(R)”
2 The Sovereign Lord has sworn by his holiness:
“The time(S) will surely come
when you will be taken away(T) with hooks,(U)
the last of you with fishhooks.[c]
3 You will each go straight out
through breaches in the wall,(V)
and you will be cast out toward Harmon,[d]”
declares the Lord.
4 “Go to Bethel(W) and sin;
go to Gilgal(X) and sin yet more.
Bring your sacrifices every morning,(Y)
your tithes(Z) every three years.[e](AA)
5 Burn leavened bread(AB) as a thank offering
and brag about your freewill offerings(AC)—
boast about them, you Israelites,
for this is what you love to do,”
declares the Sovereign Lord.
Footnotes
- Amos 3:12 The meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain.
- Amos 3:12 Or Israelites be rescued, / those who sit in Samaria / on the edge of their beds / and in Damascus on their couches.
- Amos 4:2 Or away in baskets, / the last of you in fish baskets
- Amos 4:3 Masoretic Text; with a different word division of the Hebrew (see Septuagint) out, you mountain of oppression
- Amos 4:4 Or days
Psalm 80:1-7
English Standard Version
Psalm 80:1-7
English Standard Version
Restore Us, O God
To the choirmaster: according to (A)Lilies. A Testimony. Of (B)Asaph, a Psalm.
80 Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel,
you who lead (C)Joseph like (D)a flock.
You who are (E)enthroned upon the cherubim, (F)shine forth.
2 Before (G)Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh,
(H)stir up your might
and (I)come to save us!
4 O (L)Lord God of hosts,
(M)how long will you be angry with your people's prayers?
5 You have fed them with (N)the bread of tears
and given them tears to drink in full measure.
6 (O)You make us an object of contention for our (P)neighbors,
and our enemies laugh among themselves.
7 (Q)Restore us, O God of hosts;
let your face shine, that we may be saved!
Footnotes
- Psalm 80:3 Or Turn us again; also verses 7, 19
Psalm 80:1-7
The Message
Psalm 80:1-7
The Message
80 1-2 Listen, Shepherd, Israel’s Shepherd—
get all your Joseph sheep together.
Throw beams of light
from your dazzling throne
So Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh
can see where they’re going.
Get out of bed—you’ve slept long enough!
Come on the run before it’s too late.
3 God, come back!
Smile your blessing smile:
That will be our salvation.
4-6 God, God-of-the-Angel-Armies,
how long will you smolder like a sleeping volcano
while your people call for fire and brimstone?
You put us on a diet of tears,
bucket after bucket of salty tears to drink.
You make us look ridiculous to our friends;
our enemies poke fun day after day.
7 God-of-the-Angel-Armies, come back!
Smile your blessing smile:
That will be our salvation.
Psalm 80:1-7
New International Version
Psalm 80:1-7
New International Version
Psalm 80[a]
For the director of music. To the tune of “The Lilies of the Covenant.” Of Asaph. A psalm.
1 Hear us, Shepherd of Israel,
you who lead Joseph like a flock.(A)
You who sit enthroned between the cherubim,(B)
shine forth 2 before Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh.(C)
Awaken(D) your might;
come and save us.(E)
4 How long,(I) Lord God Almighty,
will your anger smolder(J)
against the prayers of your people?
5 You have fed them with the bread of tears;(K)
you have made them drink tears by the bowlful.(L)
6 You have made us an object of derision[b] to our neighbors,
and our enemies mock us.(M)
7 Restore us, God Almighty;
make your face shine on us,
that we may be saved.(N)
Footnotes
- Psalm 80:1 In Hebrew texts 80:1-19 is numbered 80:2-20.
- Psalm 80:6 Probable reading of the original Hebrew text; Masoretic Text contention
Psalm 80:16-18
English Standard Version
Psalm 80:16-18
English Standard Version
16 They have (A)burned it with fire; they have (B)cut it down;
may they perish at (C)the rebuke of your face!
17 But (D)let your hand be on the man of your right hand,
the son of man whom you have made strong for yourself!
18 Then we shall not turn back from you;
(E)give us life, and we will call upon your name!
Psalm 80:16-18
The Message
Psalm 80:16-18
The Message
8-18 Remember how you brought a young vine from Egypt,
cleared out the brambles and briers
and planted your very own vineyard?
You prepared the good earth,
you planted her roots deep;
the vineyard filled the land.
Your vine soared high and shaded the mountains,
even dwarfing the giant cedars.
Your vine ranged west to the Sea,
east to the River.
So why do you no longer protect your vine?
Trespassers pick its grapes at will;
Wild pigs crash through and crush it,
and the mice nibble away at what’s left.
God-of-the-Angel-Armies, turn our way!
Take a good look at what’s happened
and attend to this vine.
Care for what you once tenderly planted—
the vine you raised from a shoot.
And those who dared to set it on fire—
give them a look that will kill!
Then take the hand of your once-favorite child,
the child you raised to adulthood.
We will never turn our back on you;
breathe life into our lungs so we can shout your name!
Psalm 80:16-18
New International Version
Psalm 80:16-18
New International Version
2 Peter 3:1-10
English Standard Version
2 Peter 3:1-10
English Standard Version
The Day of the Lord Will Come
3 This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them (A)I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, 2 (B)that you should remember the predictions of (C)the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, 3 knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come (D)in the last days with scoffing, (E)following their own sinful desires. 4 (F)They will say, “Where is the promise of (G)his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” 5 For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth (H)was formed out of water and through water (I)by the word of God, 6 and that by means of these the world that then existed (J)was deluged with water and (K)perished. 7 But by the same word (L)the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and (M)destruction of the ungodly.
8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and (N)a thousand years as one day. 9 (O)The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise (P)as some count slowness, but (Q)is patient toward you,[a] (R)not wishing that any should perish, but (S)that all should reach repentance. 10 But (T)the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then (U)the heavens will pass away with a roar, and (V)the heavenly bodies[b] will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.[c]
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 2 Peter 3:9 Some manuscripts on your account
- 2 Peter 3:10 Or elements; also verse 12
- 2 Peter 3:10 Greek found; some manuscripts will be burned up
2 Peter 3:1-10
The Message
2 Peter 3:1-10
The Message
In the Last Days
3 1-2 My dear friends, this is now the second time I’ve written to you, both letters reminders to hold your minds in a state of undistracted attention. Keep in mind what the holy prophets said, and the command of our Master and Savior that was passed on by your apostles.
3-4 First off, you need to know that in the last days, mockers are going to have a heyday. Reducing everything to the level of their petty feelings, they’ll mock, “So what’s happened to the promise of his Coming? Our ancestors are dead and buried, and everything’s going on just as it has from the first day of creation. Nothing’s changed.”
5-7 They conveniently forget that long ago all the galaxies and this very planet were brought into existence out of watery chaos by God’s word. Then God’s word brought the chaos back in a flood that destroyed the world. The current galaxies and earth are fuel for the final fire. God is poised, ready to speak his word again, ready to give the signal for the judgment and destruction of the desecrating skeptics.
The Day the Sky Will Collapse
8-9 Don’t overlook the obvious here, friends. With God, one day is as good as a thousand years, a thousand years as a day. God isn’t late with his promise as some measure lateness. He is restraining himself on account of you, holding back the End because he doesn’t want anyone lost. He’s giving everyone space and time to change.
10 But when the Day of God’s Judgment does come, it will be unannounced, like a thief. The sky will collapse with a thunderous bang, everything disintegrating in a raging inferno, earth and all its works exposed to the scrutiny of Judgment.
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2 Peter 3:1-10
New International Version
2 Peter 3:1-10
New International Version
The Day of the Lord
3 Dear friends,(A) this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders(B) to stimulate you to wholesome thinking. 2 I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets(C) and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.(D)
3 Above all, you must understand that in the last days(E) scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.(F) 4 They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised?(G) Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.”(H) 5 But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word(I) the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water.(J) 6 By these waters also the world of that time(K) was deluged and destroyed.(L) 7 By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire,(M) being kept for the day of judgment(N) and destruction of the ungodly.
8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.(O) 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise,(P) as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient(Q) with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.(R)
10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief.(S) The heavens will disappear with a roar;(T) the elements will be destroyed by fire,(U) and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.[a](V)
Footnotes
- 2 Peter 3:10 Some manuscripts be burned up
Matthew 21:23-32
English Standard Version
Matthew 21:23-32
English Standard Version
The Authority of Jesus Challenged
23 (A)And when he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to him (B)as he was teaching, and said, (C)“By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” 24 Jesus answered them, “I also will ask you one question, and if you tell me the answer, then I also will tell you by what authority I do these things. 25 The baptism of John, (D)from where did it come? (E)From heaven or from man?” And they discussed it among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, (F)‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 26 But if we say, ‘From man,’ (G)we are afraid of the crowd, for they all hold that John was (H)a prophet.” 27 So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.
The Parable of the Two Sons
28 (I)“What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in (J)the vineyard today.’ 29 And he answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he (K)changed his mind and went. 30 And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but did not go. 31 Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, (L)the tax collectors and (M)the prostitutes go into (N)the kingdom of God before you. 32 For John came to you (O)in the way of righteousness, and (P)you did not believe him, but (Q)the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And even when you saw it, you did not afterward (R)change your minds and believe him.
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Matthew 21:23-32
The Message
Matthew 21:23-32
The Message
True Authority
23 Then he was back in the Temple, teaching. The high priests and leaders of the people came up and demanded, “Show us your credentials. Who authorized you to teach here?”
24-25 Jesus responded, “First let me ask you a question. You answer my question and I’ll answer yours. About the baptism of John—who authorized it: heaven or humans?”
25-27 They were on the spot and knew it. They pulled back into a huddle and whispered, “If we say ‘heaven,’ he’ll ask us why we didn’t believe him; if we say ‘humans,’ we’re up against it with the people because they all hold John up as a prophet.” They decided to concede that round to Jesus. “We don’t know,” they answered.
Jesus said, “Then neither will I answer your question.
The Story of Two Sons
28 “Tell me what you think of this story: A man had two sons. He went up to the first and said, ‘Son, go out for the day and work in the vineyard.’
29 “The son answered, ‘I don’t want to.’ Later on he thought better of it and went.
30 “The father gave the same command to the second son. He answered, ‘Sure, glad to.’ But he never went.
31-32 “Which of the two sons did what the father asked?”
They said, “The first.”
Jesus said, “Yes, and I tell you that crooks and whores are going to precede you into God’s kingdom. John came to you showing you the right road. You turned up your noses at him, but the crooks and whores believed him. Even when you saw their changed lives, you didn’t care enough to change and believe him.
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Matthew 21:23-32
New International Version
Matthew 21:23-32
New International Version
The Authority of Jesus Questioned(A)
23 Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. “By what authority(B) are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you this authority?”
24 Jesus replied, “I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 25 John’s baptism—where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or of human origin?”
They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ 26 But if we say, ‘Of human origin’—we are afraid of the people, for they all hold that John was a prophet.”(C)
27 So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.”
Then he said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
The Parable of the Two Sons
28 “What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’(D)
29 “‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.
30 “Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go.
31 “Which of the two did what his father wanted?”
“The first,” they answered.
Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors(E) and the prostitutes(F) are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32 For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness,(G) and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors(H) and the prostitutes(I) did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent(J) and believe him.
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.