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Amos 4:6-13
English Standard Version
Amos 4:6-13
English Standard Version
Israel Has Not Returned to the Lord
6 “I gave you cleanness of teeth in all your cities,
and (A)lack of bread in all your places,
(B)yet you did not return to me,”
declares the Lord.
7 “I also (C)withheld the rain from you
when there were yet three months to the harvest;
(D)I would send rain on one city,
and send no rain on another city;
one field would have rain,
and the field on which it did not rain would wither;
8 so two or three cities (E)would wander to another city
to drink water, and would not be satisfied;
(F)yet you did not return to me,”
declares the Lord.
9 (G)“I struck you with blight and mildew;
your many gardens and your vineyards,
your fig trees and your olive trees (H)the locust devoured;
(I)yet you did not return to me,”
declares the Lord.
10 “I sent among you a pestilence (J)after the manner of Egypt;
I killed your young men with the sword,
and (K)carried away your horses,[a]
and (L)I made the stench of your camp go up into your nostrils;
(M)yet you did not return to me,”
declares the Lord.
11 “I overthrew some of you,
(N)as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah,
and you were (O)as a brand[b] plucked out of the burning;
(P)yet you did not return to me,”
declares the Lord.
12 “Therefore thus I will do to you, O Israel;
because I will do this to you,
prepare to meet your God, O Israel!”
13 For behold, (Q)he who forms the mountains and creates the wind,
and (R)declares to man what is his thought,
(S)who makes the morning darkness,
and (T)treads on the heights of the earth—
(U)the Lord, the God of hosts, is his name!
Amos 4:6-13
The Message
Amos 4:6-13
The Message
6 “You know, don’t you, that I’m the One
who emptied your pantries and cleaned out your cupboards,
Who left you hungry and standing in bread lines?
But you never got hungry for me. You continued to ignore me.”
God’s Decree.
7-8 “Yes, and I’m the One who stopped the rains
three months short of harvest.
I’d make it rain on one village
but not on another.
I’d make it rain on one field
but not on another—and that one would dry up.
People would stagger from village to village
crazed for water and never quenching their thirst.
But you never got thirsty for me.
You ignored me.”
God’s Decree.
9 “I hit your crops with disease
and withered your orchards and gardens.
Locusts devoured your olive and fig trees,
but you continued to ignore me.”
God’s Decree.
10 “I revisited you with the old Egyptian plagues,
killed your choice young men and prize horses.
The stink of rot in your camps was so strong
that you held your noses—
But you didn’t notice me.
You continued to ignore me.”
God’s Decree.
11 “I hit you with earthquake and fire,
left you devastated like Sodom and Gomorrah.
You were like a burning stick
snatched from the flames.
But you never looked my way.
You continued to ignore me.”
God’s Decree.
12 “All this I have done to you, Israel,
and this is why I have done it.
Time’s up, O Israel!
Prepare to meet your God!”
13 Look who’s here: Mountain-Shaper! Wind-Maker!
He laid out the whole plot before Adam.
He brings everything out of nothing,
like dawn out of darkness.
He strides across the alpine ridges.
His name is God, God-of-the-Angel-Armies.
Amos 4:6-13
New International Version
Amos 4:6-13
New International Version
6 “I gave you empty stomachs in every city
and lack of bread in every town,
yet you have not returned to me,”
declares the Lord.(A)
7 “I also withheld(B) rain from you
when the harvest was still three months away.
I sent rain on one town,
but withheld it from another.(C)
One field had rain;
another had none and dried up.
8 People staggered from town to town for water(D)
but did not get enough(E) to drink,
yet you have not returned(F) to me,”
declares the Lord.(G)
9 “Many times I struck your gardens and vineyards,
destroying them with blight and mildew.(H)
Locusts(I) devoured your fig and olive trees,(J)
yet you have not returned(K) to me,”
declares the Lord.
10 “I sent plagues(L) among you
as I did to Egypt.(M)
I killed your young men(N) with the sword,
along with your captured horses.
I filled your nostrils with the stench(O) of your camps,
yet you have not returned to me,”(P)
declares the Lord.(Q)
11 “I overthrew some of you
as I overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.(R)
You were like a burning stick(S) snatched from the fire,
yet you have not returned to me,”
declares the Lord.(T)
12 “Therefore this is what I will do to you, Israel,
and because I will do this to you, Israel,
prepare to meet your God.”
Psalm 85:1-3
The Message
Psalm 85:1-3
The Message
85 1-3 God, you smiled on your good earth!
You brought good times back to Jacob!
You lifted the cloud of guilt from your people,
you put their sins far out of sight.
You took back your sin-provoked threats,
you cooled your hot, righteous anger.
Psalm 85:1-2
New International Version
Psalm 85:1-2
New International Version
Psalm 85[a]
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.
Footnotes
- Psalm 85:1 In Hebrew texts 85:1-13 is numbered 85:2-14.
- Psalm 85:2 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
Psalm 85:8-13
English Standard Version
Psalm 85:8-13
English Standard Version
8 (A)Let me hear what God the Lord will speak,
for he will (B)speak peace to his people, to his (C)saints;
but let them not (D)turn back to (E)folly.
9 Surely his (F)salvation is near to those who fear him,
that (G)glory may dwell in our land.
10 (H)Steadfast love and faithfulness meet;
(I)righteousness and peace kiss each other.
11 Faithfulness springs up from the ground,
and righteousness looks down from the sky.
12 Yes, (J)the Lord will give what is good,
and our land (K)will yield its increase.
13 (L)Righteousness will go before him
and make his footsteps a way.
Psalm 85:8-13
The Message
Psalm 85:8-13
The Message
8-9 I can’t wait to hear what he’ll say.
God’s about to pronounce his people well,
The holy people he loves so much,
so they’ll never again live like fools.
See how close his salvation is to those who fear him?
Our country is home base for Glory!
10-13 Love and Truth meet in the street,
Right Living and Whole Living embrace and kiss!
Truth sprouts green from the ground,
Right Living pours down from the skies!
Oh yes! God gives Goodness and Beauty;
our land responds with Bounty and Blessing.
Right Living strides out before him,
and clears a path for his passage.
Psalm 85:8-13
New International Version
Psalm 85:8-13
New International Version
8 I will listen to what God the Lord says;
he promises peace(A) to his people, his faithful servants—
but let them not turn to folly.(B)
9 Surely his salvation(C) is near those who fear him,
that his glory(D) may dwell in our land.
10 Love and faithfulness(E) meet together;
righteousness(F) and peace kiss each other.
11 Faithfulness springs forth from the earth,
and righteousness(G) looks down from heaven.
12 The Lord will indeed give what is good,(H)
and our land will yield(I) its harvest.
13 Righteousness goes before him
and prepares the way for his steps.
2 Peter 3:11-18
English Standard Version
2 Peter 3:11-18
English Standard Version
11 Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, (A)what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, 12 (B)waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and (C)the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! 13 But according to his promise we are waiting for (D)new heavens and a new earth (E)in which righteousness dwells.
Final Words
14 (F)Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him (G)without spot or (H)blemish, and (I)at peace. 15 And count (J)the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as (K)our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you (L)according to the wisdom given him, 16 as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. (M)There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, (N)as they do the other Scriptures. 17 You therefore, beloved, (O)knowing this beforehand, (P)take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. 18 But (Q)grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (R)To him be the glory both now and to the day of (S)eternity. Amen.
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2 Peter 3:11-18
The Message
2 Peter 3:11-18
The Message
11-13 Since everything here today might well be gone tomorrow, do you see how essential it is to live a holy life? Daily expect the Day of God, eager for its arrival. The galaxies will burn up and the elements melt down that day—but we’ll hardly notice. We’ll be looking the other way, ready for the promised new heavens and the promised new earth, all landscaped with righteousness.
* * *
14-16 So, my dear friends, since this is what you have to look forward to, do your very best to be found living at your best, in purity and peace. Interpret our Master’s patient restraint for what it is: salvation. Our good brother Paul, who was given much wisdom in these matters, refers to this in all his letters, and has written you essentially the same thing. Some things Paul writes are difficult to understand. Irresponsible people who don’t know what they are talking about twist them every which way. They do it to the rest of the Scriptures, too, destroying themselves as they do it.
17-18 But you, friends, are well-warned. Be on guard lest you lose your footing and get swept off your feet by these lawless and loose-talking teachers. Grow in grace and understanding of our Master and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Glory to the Master, now and forever! Yes!
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2 Peter 3:11-18
New International Version
2 Peter 3:11-18
New International Version
11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward(A) to the day of God and speed its coming.[a](B) That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.(C) 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth,(D) where righteousness dwells.
14 So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless(E) and at peace with him. 15 Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience(F) means salvation,(G) just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him.(H) 16 He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable(I) people distort,(J) as they do the other Scriptures,(K) to their own destruction.
17 Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard(L) so that you may not be carried away by the error(M) of the lawless(N) and fall from your secure position.(O) 18 But grow in the grace(P) and knowledge(Q) of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.(R) To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.(S)
Footnotes
- 2 Peter 3:12 Or as you wait eagerly for the day of God to come
Matthew 21:33-46
English Standard Version
Matthew 21:33-46
English Standard Version
The Parable of the Tenants
33 (A)“Hear another parable. There was a master of a house who planted (B)a vineyard (C)and put a fence around it and dug a winepress in it and built a tower and (D)leased it to tenants, and (E)went into another country. 34 When the season for fruit drew near, he sent his servants[a] to the tenants (F)to get his fruit. 35 (G)And the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another, and (H)stoned another. 36 (I)Again he sent other servants, more than the first. And they did the same to them. 37 Finally he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 38 But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, (J)‘This is the heir. Come, (K)let us kill him and have his inheritance.’ 39 And they took him and (L)threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. 40 (M)When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” 41 They said to him, (N)“He will put those wretches to a miserable death and (O)let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons.”
42 Jesus said to them, (P)“Have you never read in the Scriptures:
(Q)“‘The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;[b]
this was the Lord's doing,
and it is marvelous in our eyes’?
43 Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God (R)will be taken away from you and given to a people (S)producing its fruits. 44 And (T)the one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and (U)when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.”[c]
45 When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that he was speaking about them. 46 And (V)although they were seeking to arrest him, (W)they feared the crowds, because they held him to be (X)a prophet.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Matthew 21:34 Or bondservants; also verses 35, 36
- Matthew 21:42 Greek the head of the corner
- Matthew 21:44 Some manuscripts omit verse 44
Matthew 21:33-46
The Message
Matthew 21:33-46
The Message
The Story of the Greedy Farmhands
33-34 “Here’s another story. Listen closely. There was once a man, a wealthy farmer, who planted a vineyard. He fenced it, dug a winepress, put up a watchtower, then turned it over to the farmhands and went off on a trip. When it was time to harvest the grapes, he sent his servants back to collect his profits.
35-37 “The farmhands grabbed the first servant and beat him up. The next one they murdered. They threw stones at the third but he got away. The owner tried again, sending more servants. They got the same treatment. The owner was at the end of his rope. He decided to send his son. ‘Surely,’ he thought, ‘they will respect my son.’
38-39 “But when the farmhands saw the son arrive, they rubbed their hands in greed. ‘This is the heir! Let’s kill him and have it all for ourselves.’ They grabbed him, threw him out, and killed him.
40 “Now, when the owner of the vineyard arrives home from his trip, what do you think he will do to the farmhands?”
41 “He’ll kill them—a rotten bunch, and good riddance,” they answered. “Then he’ll assign the vineyard to farmhands who will hand over the profits when it’s time.”
42-44 Jesus said, “Right—and you can read it for yourselves in your Bibles:
The stone the masons threw out
is now the cornerstone.
This is God’s work;
we rub our eyes, we can hardly believe it!
“This is the way it is with you. God’s kingdom will be taken back from you and handed over to a people who will live out a kingdom life. Whoever stumbles on this Stone gets shattered; whoever the Stone falls on gets smashed.”
45-46 When the religious leaders heard this story, they knew it was aimed at them. They wanted to arrest Jesus and put him in jail, but, intimidated by public opinion, they held back. Most people held him to be a prophet of God.
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Matthew 21:33-46
New International Version
Matthew 21:33-46
New International Version
The Parable of the Tenants(A)
33 “Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted(B) a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it and built a watchtower.(C) Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and moved to another place.(D) 34 When the harvest time approached, he sent his servants(E) to the tenants to collect his fruit.
35 “The tenants seized his servants; they beat one, killed another, and stoned a third.(F) 36 Then he sent other servants(G) to them, more than the first time, and the tenants treated them the same way. 37 Last of all, he sent his son to them. ‘They will respect my son,’ he said.
38 “But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, ‘This is the heir.(H) Come, let’s kill him(I) and take his inheritance.’(J) 39 So they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.
40 “Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?”
41 “He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,”(K) they replied, “and he will rent the vineyard to other tenants,(L) who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time.”
42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures:
“‘The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
the Lord has done this,
and it is marvelous in our eyes’[a]?(M)
43 “Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you(N) and given to a people who will produce its fruit. 44 Anyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.”[b](O)
45 When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus’ parables, they knew he was talking about them. 46 They looked for a way to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowd because the people held that he was a prophet.(P)
Footnotes
- Matthew 21:42 Psalm 118:22,23
- Matthew 21:44 Some manuscripts do not have verse 44.
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.