The Siege of Jerusalem

29 Ah, Ariel, Ariel,
    the city (A)where David encamped!
Add year to year;
    let the feasts run their round.
Yet I will distress Ariel,
    and there shall be moaning and lamentation,
    and she shall be to me like an Ariel.[a]
(B)And I will encamp against you all around,
    and will besiege you (C)with towers
    and I will raise siegeworks against you.
(D)And you will be brought low; from the earth you shall speak,
    and from the dust your speech will be bowed down;
your voice shall come from the ground like (E)the voice of a ghost,
    and from the dust your speech shall whisper.

But the multitude of your foreign foes shall be like (F)small dust,
    and the multitude of the ruthless like passing chaff.
(G)And in an instant, suddenly,
    (H)you will be visited by the Lord of hosts
with thunder and with earthquake and great noise,
    with whirlwind and tempest, and the flame of a devouring fire.
And (I)the multitude of all the nations that fight against Ariel,
    all that fight against her and her stronghold and distress her,
    shall be (J)like a dream, a vision of the night.
(K)As when a hungry man dreams, and behold, he is eating,
    and awakes with his hunger not satisfied,
or as when a thirsty man dreams, and behold, he is drinking,
    and awakes faint, with his thirst not quenched,
so shall the multitude of all the nations be
    that fight against Mount Zion.

Astonish yourselves[b] and be astonished;
    blind yourselves and be blind!
Be drunk,[c] but not with wine;
    (L)stagger,[d] but not with strong drink!
10 (M)For the Lord has poured out upon you
    a spirit of deep sleep,
and has closed your eyes (the prophets),
    and covered your heads (the seers).

11 And the vision of all this has become to you like the words of a book that is (N)sealed. When men give it to one who can read, saying, “Read this,” he says, “I cannot, for it is sealed.” 12 And when they give the book to one who cannot read, saying, “Read this,” he says, “I cannot read.”

13 And the Lord said:
“Because (O)this people (P)draw near with their mouth
    and honor me with their lips,
    while their hearts are far from me,
and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men,
14 therefore, behold, (Q)I will again
    do wonderful things with this people,
    with wonder upon wonder;
and (R)the wisdom of their wise men shall perish,
    and the discernment of their discerning men shall be hidden.”

15 Ah, (S)you who hide deep from the Lord your counsel,
    whose deeds are (T)in the dark,
    and who say, “Who sees us? Who knows us?”
16 (U)You turn things upside down!
Shall the potter be regarded as the clay,
that the thing made should say of its maker,
    “He did not make me”;
or the thing formed say of him who formed it,
    “He has no understanding”?

17 Is it not yet a very little while
    (V)until Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field,
    and the fruitful field shall be regarded as a forest?
18 In that day (W)the deaf shall hear
    (X)the words of a book,
and out of their gloom and darkness
    (Y)the eyes of the blind shall see.
19 (Z)The meek shall obtain fresh joy in the Lord,
    and the poor among mankind shall exult in the Holy One of Israel.
20 For the ruthless shall come to nothing
    and (AA)the scoffer cease,
    and all who watch to do evil shall be cut off,
21 who by a word make a man out to be an offender,
    and (AB)lay a snare for him who reproves in the gate,
    and with an empty plea (AC)turn aside him who is in the right.

22 Therefore thus says the Lord, (AD)who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob:

“Jacob shall no more be ashamed,
    no more shall his face grow pale.
23 For when he sees his children,
    (AE)the work of my hands, in his midst,
    they will sanctify my name;
(AF)they will sanctify the Holy One of Jacob
    and will stand in awe of the God of Israel.
24 And those (AG)who go astray in spirit will come to understanding,
    and those who murmur will accept instruction.”

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 29:2 Ariel could mean lion of God, or hero (2 Samuel 23:20), or altar hearth (Ezekiel 43:15–16)
  2. Isaiah 29:9 Or Linger awhile
  3. Isaiah 29:9 Or They are drunk
  4. Isaiah 29:9 Or they stagger

In the Shadow of Your Wings

A (A)Prayer of David.

17 Hear a just cause, O Lord; (B)attend to my cry!
    Give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit!
From your presence (C)let my vindication come!
    Let your eyes behold the right!

You have (D)tried my heart, you have (E)visited me by (F)night,
    you have (G)tested me, and you will find nothing;
    I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress.
With regard to the works of man, by the word of your lips
    I have avoided the ways of the violent.
My steps have (H)held fast to your paths;
    my feet have not slipped.

I (I)call upon you, for you will answer me, O God;
    (J)incline your ear to me; hear my words.
(K)Wondrously show[a] your steadfast love,
    O Savior of those who seek refuge
    from (L)their adversaries at your right hand.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 17:7 Or Distinguish me by

Jesus and Zacchaeus

19 (A)He entered Jericho and was passing through. And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. And (B)he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into (C)a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for (D)I must stay at your house today.” So he hurried and came down and (E)received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all (F)grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods (G)I give to the poor. And if I have (H)defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it (I)fourfold.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since (J)he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For (K)the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

The Parable of the Ten Minas

11 As they heard these things, he proceeded to tell a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, and because (L)they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately. 12 He said therefore, (M)“A nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return. 13 Calling (N)ten of his servants,[a] he gave them ten minas,[b] and said to them, ‘Engage in business (O)until I come.’ 14 But (P)his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’ 15 When he returned, having received the kingdom, he ordered these servants to whom he had given the money to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by doing business. 16 The first came before him, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has made ten minas more.’ 17 And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant![c] Because you have been (Q)faithful in a very little, (R)you shall have authority over ten cities.’ 18 And the second came, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has made five minas.’ 19 And he said to him, ‘And you are to be over five cities.’ 20 Then another came, saying, ‘Lord, here is your mina, which I kept laid away in (S)a handkerchief; 21 for I was afraid of you, because you are (T)a severe man. You take (U)what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’ 22 He said to him, (V)‘I will condemn you with your own words, (W)you wicked servant! You knew that I was (X)a severe man, taking what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow? 23 Why then did you not put my money in the bank, and at my coming I might have collected it with interest?’ 24 And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to the one who has the ten minas.’ 25 And they said to him, ‘Lord, he has ten minas!’ 26 ‘I tell you that (Y)to everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 27 But (Z)as for these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and (AA)slaughter them before me.’”

The Triumphal Entry

28 And when he had said these things, (AB)he went on ahead, (AC)going up to Jerusalem. 29 (AD)When he drew near to Bethphage and (AE)Bethany, at (AF)the mount that is called Olivet, he sent (AG)two of the disciples, 30 saying, “Go into the village in front of you, where on entering you will find a colt tied, (AH)on which no one has ever yet sat. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you shall say this: ‘The Lord has need of it.’” 32 So those who were sent went away and found it (AI)just as he had told them. 33 And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?” 34 And they said, “The Lord has need of it.” 35 And they brought it to Jesus, and throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. 36 And as he rode along, they (AJ)spread their cloaks on the road. 37 As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—(AK)the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice (AL)for all the mighty works that they had seen, 38 saying, (AM)“Blessed is (AN)the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and (AO)glory in the highest!” 39 (AP)And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” 40 He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, (AQ)the very stones would cry out.”

Jesus Weeps over Jerusalem

41 (AR)And when he drew near and saw the city, (AS)he wept over it, 42 saying, (AT)“Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now (AU)they are hidden from your eyes. 43 For (AV)the days will come upon you, when your enemies (AW)will set up a barricade around you and (AX)surround you and hem you in on every side 44 (AY)and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And (AZ)they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know (BA)the time of your (BB)visitation.”

Jesus Cleanses the Temple

45 (BC)And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold, 46 saying to them, “It is written, (BD)‘My house shall be a house of prayer,’ but (BE)you have made it a den of robbers.”

47 (BF)And he was teaching daily in the temple. (BG)The chief priests and the scribes and the principal men of the people were seeking to destroy him, 48 but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people were hanging on his words.

The Authority of Jesus Challenged

20 (BH)One day, (BI)as Jesus[d] was teaching the people in the temple and preaching the gospel, (BJ)the chief priests and the scribes with the elders came up and said to him, “Tell us (BK)by what authority you do these things, or who it is that gave you this authority.” He answered them, “I also will ask you a question. Now tell me, was the baptism of John (BL)from heaven or from man?” And they discussed it with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, (BM)‘Why did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘From man,’ all the people will stone us to death, for they are convinced that John was (BN)a prophet.” So they answered that they did not know where it came from. And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

The Parable of the Wicked Tenants

(BO)And he began to tell the people this parable: “A man planted (BP)a vineyard and (BQ)let it out to tenants and (BR)went into another country for a long while. 10 When the time came, he sent a servant[e] to the tenants, so that (BS)they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. (BT)But the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 11 (BU)And (BV)he sent another servant. But they also beat and (BW)treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed. 12 (BX)And he sent yet a third. This one also they wounded and cast out. 13 Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my (BY)beloved son; perhaps they will respect him.’ 14 But when the tenants saw him, they said to themselves, (BZ)‘This is the heir. (CA)Let us kill him, so that the inheritance may be ours.’ 15 And they (CB)threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 16 (CC)He will (CD)come and destroy those tenants and (CE)give the vineyard to others.” When they heard this, they said, “Surely not!” 17 But he (CF)looked directly at them and said, “What then is this that is written:

(CG)“‘The stone that the builders rejected
    has become the cornerstone’?[f]

18 (CH)Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, and when it falls (CI)on anyone, it will crush him.”

Paying Taxes to Caesar

19 (CJ)The scribes and the chief priests sought to lay hands on him at that very hour, for they perceived that he had told this parable against them, but they feared the people. 20 (CK)So they (CL)watched him and sent spies, who (CM)pretended to be sincere, that they might (CN)catch him in something he said, so as to deliver him up to the authority and jurisdiction of (CO)the governor. 21 So they asked him, “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach rightly, and (CP)show no partiality,[g] but truly teach (CQ)the way of God. 22 Is it lawful for us to give (CR)tribute to (CS)Caesar, or not?” 23 But he perceived their (CT)craftiness, and said to them, 24 “Show me (CU)a denarius.[h] Whose likeness and inscription does it have?” They said, “Caesar's.” 25 He said to them, “Then (CV)render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” 26 And they were not able in the presence of the people (CW)to catch him in what he said, but marveling at his answer they became silent.

Sadducees Ask About the Resurrection

27 There came to him (CX)some Sadducees, (CY)those who deny that there is a resurrection, 28 and they asked him a question, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us (CZ)that if a man's brother dies, having a wife but no children, the man[i] must take the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. 29 Now there were seven brothers. The first took a wife, and died without children. 30 And the second 31 and the third took her, and likewise all seven left no children and died. 32 Afterward the woman also died. 33 In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For the seven had her as wife.”

34 And Jesus said to them, (DA)“The sons of this age (DB)marry and (DC)are given in marriage, 35 but those who are (DD)considered worthy to attain to (DE)that age and to the resurrection from the dead (DF)neither marry (DG)nor are given in marriage, 36 for (DH)they cannot die anymore, because they are (DI)equal to angels and (DJ)are (DK)sons of God, being (DL)sons[j] of the resurrection. 37 But that the dead are raised, (DM)even Moses showed, in (DN)the passage about the bush, where he calls (DO)the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. 38 Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for all (DP)live to him.” 39 Then some of the scribes (DQ)answered, “Teacher, you have spoken well.” 40 For (DR)they no longer dared to ask him any question.

Whose Son Is the Christ?

41 (DS)But he said to them, “How can they say that (DT)the Christ is (DU)David's son? 42 For David himself says in the Book of Psalms,

(DV)“‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand,
43     until I make your enemies (DW)your footstool.”’

44 David thus calls him Lord, so (DX)how is he his son?”

Beware of the Scribes

45 (DY)And in the hearing of all the people he said to his disciples, 46 “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces and the best seats in the synagogues and (DZ)the places of honor at feasts, 47 (EA)who devour widows' houses and (EB)for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”

The Widow's Offering

21 (EC)Jesus[k] looked up and saw the rich (ED)putting their gifts into (EE)the offering box, and he saw a poor widow put in two (EF)small copper coins.[l] And he said, “Truly, I tell you, (EG)this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her (EH)poverty put in all (EI)she had to live on.”

Jesus Foretells Destruction of the Temple

(EJ)And while some were speaking of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings, he said, “As for these things that you see, (EK)the days will come when there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” And they asked him, “Teacher, (EL)when will these things be, and what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?” And he said, (EM)“See that you are not led astray. For (EN)many will come in my name, saying, (EO)‘I am he!’ and, (EP)‘The time is at hand!’ Do not go after them. And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be (EQ)terrified, for these things (ER)must first take place, but the end will not be at once.”

Jesus Foretells Wars and Persecution

10 Then he said to them, (ES)“Nation will rise against nation, and (ET)kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be great (EU)earthquakes, and in various places (EV)famines and pestilences. And there will be (EW)terrors and great (EX)signs from heaven. 12 But before all this (EY)they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to (EZ)the synagogues and (FA)prisons, and you (FB)will be brought before (FC)kings and (FD)governors for my name's sake. 13 (FE)This will be your opportunity to bear witness. 14 Settle it therefore in your minds (FF)not to meditate beforehand how to answer, 15 for (FG)I will give you a mouth and (FH)wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or (FI)contradict. 16 You will be delivered up (FJ)even by parents and brothers[m] and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. 17 (FK)You will be hated by all for my name's sake. 18 But (FL)not a hair of your head will perish. 19 By your (FM)endurance you will gain your lives.

Jesus Foretells Destruction of Jerusalem

20 “But (FN)when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that (FO)its desolation has come near. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are inside the city depart, and let not those who are out in the country enter it, 22 for these are (FP)days of (FQ)vengeance, to fulfill (FR)all that is written. 23 (FS)Alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! For there will be great distress upon the earth and (FT)wrath against this people. 24 They will fall by the edge of the sword and (FU)be led captive among all nations, and (FV)Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, (FW)until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

The Coming of the Son of Man

25 “And (FX)there will be signs in sun and moon (FY)and stars, and on the earth (FZ)distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, 26 people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For (GA)the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 And then they will see (GB)the Son of Man coming in a cloud (GC)with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and (GD)raise your heads, because (GE)your redemption is drawing near.”

The Lesson of the Fig Tree

29 And he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. 30 As soon as they come out in leaf, you see (GF)for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. 31 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 (GG)Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place. 33 (GH)Heaven and earth will pass away, but (GI)my words will not pass away.

Watch Yourselves

34 “But watch yourselves (GJ)lest (GK)your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and (GL)cares of this life, and (GM)that day come upon you suddenly (GN)like a trap. 35 For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 But (GO)stay awake at all times, (GP)praying that you may (GQ)have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and (GR)to stand before the Son of Man.”

37 And (GS)every day he was teaching in the temple, but (GT)at night he went out and lodged on (GU)the mount called Olivet. 38 And early in the morning (GV)all the people came to him in the temple to hear him.

Footnotes

  1. Luke 19:13 Or bondservants; also verse 15
  2. Luke 19:13 A mina was about three months' wages for a laborer
  3. Luke 19:17 Or bondservant; also verse 22
  4. Luke 20:1 Greek he
  5. Luke 20:10 Or bondservant; also verse 11
  6. Luke 20:17 Greek the head of the corner
  7. Luke 20:21 Greek and do not receive a face
  8. Luke 20:24 A denarius was a day's wage for a laborer
  9. Luke 20:28 Greek his brother
  10. Luke 20:36 Greek huioi; see Preface
  11. Luke 21:1 Greek He
  12. Luke 21:2 Greek two lepta; a lepton was a Jewish bronze or copper coin worth about 1/128 of a denarius (which was a day's wage for a laborer)
  13. Luke 21:16 Or parents and brothers and sisters

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