Renewal of Ezekiel’s Call as Watchman

33 The word of the Lord came to me: ² “Son of man, speak to your people and say to them: ‘When I bring the sword^(A) against a land, and the people of the land choose one of their men and make him their watchman,^{(B) 3} and he sees the sword coming against the land and blows the trumpet^(C) to warn the people, ⁴ then if anyone hears the trumpet but does not heed the warning^(D) and the sword comes and takes their life, their blood will be on their own head.^{(E) 5} Since they heard the sound of the trumpet but did not heed the warning, their blood will be on their own head.^(F) If they had heeded the warning, they would have saved themselves.^{(G) 6} But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes someone’s life, that person’s life will be taken because of their sin, but I will hold the watchman accountable for their blood.’^(H)

⁷ “Son of man, I have made you a watchman^(I) for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me.^{(J) 8} When I say to the wicked, ‘You wicked person, you will surely die,^(K)’ and you do not speak out to dissuade them from their ways, that wicked person will die for^[a] their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood.^{(L) 9} But if you do warn the wicked person to turn from their ways and they do not do so,^(M) they will die for their sin, though you yourself will be saved.^(N)

¹⁰ “Son of man, say to the Israelites, ‘This is what you are saying: “Our offenses and sins weigh us down, and we are wasting away^(O) because of^[b] them. How then can we live?^(P)”’ ¹¹ Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live.^(Q) Turn!^(R) Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, people of Israel?’^(S)

¹² “Therefore, son of man, say to your people,^(T) ‘If someone who is righteous disobeys, that person’s former righteousness will count for nothing. And if someone who is wicked repents, that person’s former wickedness will not bring condemnation. The righteous person who sins will not be allowed to live even though they were formerly righteous.’^{(U) 13} If I tell a righteous person that they will surely live, but then they trust in their righteousness and do evil, none of the righteous things that person has done will be remembered; they will die for the evil they have done.^{(V) 14} And if I say to a wicked person, ‘You will surely die,’ but they then turn away from their sin and do what is just^(W) and right— ¹⁵ if they give back what they took in pledge^(X) for a loan, return what they have stolen,^(Y) follow the decrees that give life, and do no evil—that person will surely live; they will not die.^{(Z) 16} None of the sins^(AA) that person has committed will be remembered against them. They have done what is just and right; they will surely live.^(AB)

¹⁷ “Yet your people say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ But it is their way that is not just. ¹⁸ If a righteous person turns from their righteousness and does evil,^(AC) they will die for it.^{(AD) 19} And if a wicked person turns away from their wickedness and does what is just and right, they will live by doing so.^{(AE) 20} Yet you Israelites say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ But I will judge each of you according to your own ways.”^(AF)

Jerusalem’s Fall Explained

²¹ In the twelfth year of our exile, in the tenth month on the fifth day, a man who had escaped^(AG) from Jerusalem came to me and said, “The city has fallen!^(AH)” ²² Now the evening before the man arrived, the hand of the Lord was on me,^(AI) and he opened my mouth^(AJ) before the man came to me in the morning. So my mouth was opened and I was no longer silent.^(AK)

²³ Then the word of the Lord came to me: ²⁴ “Son of man, the people living in those ruins^(AL) in the land of Israel are saying, ‘Abraham was only one man, yet he possessed the land. But we are many;^(AM) surely the land has been given to us as our possession.’^{(AN) 25} Therefore say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Since you eat^(AO) meat with the blood^(AP) still in it and look to your idols and shed blood, should you then possess the land?^{(AQ) 26} You rely on your sword, you do detestable things,^(AR) and each of you defiles his neighbor’s wife.^(AS) Should you then possess the land?’

²⁷ “Say this to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: As surely as I live, those who are left in the ruins will fall by the sword, those out in the country I will give to the wild animals to be devoured, and those in strongholds and caves will die of a plague.^{(AT) 28} I will make the land a desolate waste, and her proud strength will come to an end, and the mountains^(AU) of Israel will become desolate so that no one will cross them.^{(AV) 29} Then they will know that I am the Lord, when I have made the land a desolate^(AW) waste because of all the detestable things they have done.’^(AX)

³⁰ “As for you, son of man, your people are talking together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses, saying to each other, ‘Come and hear the message that has come from the Lord.’ ³¹ My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before^(AY) you to hear your words, but they do not put them into practice. Their mouths speak of love, but their hearts are greedy^(AZ) for unjust gain.^{(BA) 32} Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs^(BB) with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice.^(BC)

³³ “When all this comes true—and it surely will—then they will know that a prophet has been among them.^(BD)”

The Lord Will Be Israel’s Shepherd

34 The word of the Lord came to me: ² “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock?^{(BE) 3} You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock.^{(BF) 4} You have not strengthened the weak or healed^(BG) the sick or bound up^(BH) the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally.^{(BI) 5} So they were scattered because there was no shepherd,^(BJ) and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild animals.^{(BK) 6} My sheep wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill.^(BL) They were scattered^(BM) over the whole earth, and no one searched or looked for them.^(BN)

⁷ “‘Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: ⁸ As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, because my flock lacks a shepherd and so has been plundered^(BO) and has become food for all the wild animals,^(BP) and because my shepherds did not search for my flock but cared for themselves rather than for my flock,^{(BQ) 9} therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: ¹⁰ This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against^(BR) the shepherds and will hold them accountable for my flock. I will remove them from tending the flock so that the shepherds can no longer feed themselves. I will rescue^(BS) my flock from their mouths, and it will no longer be food for them.^(BT)

¹¹ “‘For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search for my sheep^(BU) and look after them. ¹² As a shepherd^(BV) looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness.^{(BW) 13} I will bring them out from the nations and gather^(BX) them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land.^(BY) I will pasture them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and in all the settlements in the land.^{(BZ) 14} I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel^(CA) will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasture^(CB) on the mountains of Israel.^{(CC) 15} I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down,^(CD) declares the Sovereign Lord.^{(CE) 16} I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up^(CF) the injured and strengthen the weak,^(CG) but the sleek and the strong I will destroy.^(CH) I will shepherd the flock with justice.^(CI)

¹⁷ “‘As for you, my flock, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will judge between one sheep and another, and between rams and goats.^{(CJ) 18} Is it not enough^(CK) for you to feed on the good pasture? Must you also trample the rest of your pasture with your feet?^(CL) Is it not enough for you to drink clear water? Must you also muddy the rest with your feet? ¹⁹ Must my flock feed on what you have trampled and drink what you have muddied with your feet?

²⁰ “‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says to them: See, I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep.^{(CM) 21} Because you shove with flank and shoulder, butting all the weak sheep with your horns^(CN) until you have driven them away, ²² I will save my flock, and they will no longer be plundered. I will judge between one sheep and another.^{(CO) 23} I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend^(CP) them; he will tend them and be their shepherd.^{(CQ) 24} I the Lord will be their God,^(CR) and my servant David^(CS) will be prince among them.^(CT) I the Lord have spoken.^(CU)

²⁵ “‘I will make a covenant^(CV) of peace^(CW) with them and rid the land of savage beasts^(CX) so that they may live in the wilderness and sleep in the forests in safety.^{(CY) 26} I will make them and the places surrounding my hill a blessing.^[c](CZ) I will send down showers in season;^(DA) there will be showers of blessing.^{(DB) 27} The trees will yield their fruit^(DC) and the ground will yield its crops;^(DD) the people will be secure^(DE) in their land. They will know that I am the Lord, when I break the bars of their yoke^(DF) and rescue them from the hands of those who enslaved them.^{(DG) 28} They will no longer be plundered by the nations, nor will wild animals devour them. They will live in safety,^(DH) and no one will make them afraid.^{(DI) 29} I will provide for them a land renowned^(DJ) for its crops, and they will no longer be victims of famine^(DK) in the land or bear the scorn^(DL) of the nations.^{(DM) 30} Then they will know that I, the Lord their God, am with them and that they, the Israelites, are my people, declares the Sovereign Lord.^{(DN) 31} You are my sheep,^(DO) the sheep of my pasture,^(DP) and I am your God, declares the Sovereign Lord.’”

A Prophecy Against Edom

35 The word of the Lord came to me: ² “Son of man, set your face against Mount Seir;^(DQ) 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^(DR) against you and make you a desolate waste.^{(DS) 4} I will turn your towns into ruins^(DT) and you will be desolate. Then you will know that I am the Lord.^(DU)

⁵ “‘Because you harbored an ancient hostility and delivered the Israelites over to the sword^(DV) at the time of their calamity,^(DW) the time their punishment reached its climax,^{(DX) 6} therefore as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I will give you over to bloodshed^(DY) and it will pursue you.^(DZ) Since you did not hate bloodshed, bloodshed will pursue you. ⁷ I will make Mount Seir a desolate waste^(EA) and cut off from it all who come and go.^{(EB) 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.^{(EC) 9} I will make you desolate forever;^(ED) your towns will not be inhabited. Then you will know that I am the Lord.^(EE)

¹⁰ “‘Because you have said, “These two nations and countries will be ours and we will take possession^(EF) 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^(EG) and jealousy you showed in your hatred of them and I will make myself known among them when I judge you.^{(EH) 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.^(EI)” ¹³ You boasted^(EJ) against me and spoke against me without restraint, and I heard it.^{(EK) 14} This is what the Sovereign Lord says: While the whole earth rejoices, I will make you desolate.^{(EL) 15} Because you rejoiced^(EM) when the inheritance of Israel became desolate, that is how I will treat you. You will be desolate, Mount Seir,^(EN) you and all of Edom.^(EO) Then they will know that I am the Lord.’”

Psalm 130

A song of ascents.

Jesus Sends Out the Seventy-Two^(A)(B)(C)

10 After this the Lord^(D) appointed seventy-two^[a] others^(E) and sent them two by two^(F) ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go.^{(G) 2} He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.^{(H) 3} Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.^{(I) 4} Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.

⁵ “When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ ⁶ If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you. ⁷ Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages.^(J) Do not move around from house to house.

⁸ “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you.^{(K) 9} Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God^(L) has come near to you.’ ¹⁰ But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, ¹¹ ‘Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you.^(M) Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God has come near.’^{(N) 12} I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom^(O) than for that town.^(P)

¹³ “Woe to you,^(Q) Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth^(R) and ashes. ¹⁴ But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. ¹⁵ And you, Capernaum,^(S) will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades.^[b]

¹⁶ “Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.”^(T)

¹⁷ The seventy-two^(U) returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”^(V)

¹⁸ He replied, “I saw Satan^(W) fall like lightning from heaven.^{(X) 19} I have given you authority to trample on snakes^(Y) and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. ²⁰ However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”^(Z)

²¹ At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.^(AA) Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.

²² “All things have been committed to me by my Father.^(AB) No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”^(AC)

²³ Then he turned to his disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. ²⁴ For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”^(AD)

The Parable of the Good Samaritan^(AE)

²⁵ On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”^(AF)

²⁶ “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”

²⁷ He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’^[c];^(AG) and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’^[d]”^(AH)

²⁸ “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”^(AI)

²⁹ But he wanted to justify himself,^(AJ) so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

³⁰ In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. ³¹ A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side.^{(AK) 32} So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. ³³ But a Samaritan,^(AL) as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. ³⁴ He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. ³⁵ The next day he took out two denarii^[e] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

³⁶ “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

³⁷ The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

At the Home of Martha and Mary

³⁸ As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha^(AM) opened her home to him. ³⁹ She had a sister called Mary,^(AN) who sat at the Lord’s feet^(AO) listening to what he said. ⁴⁰ But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care^(AP) that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

⁴¹ “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried^(AQ) and upset about many things, ⁴² but few things are needed—or indeed only one.^[f](AR) Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”