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The smooth tricks of scoundrels are evil.
    They plot crooked schemes.
They lie to convict the poor,
    even when the cause of the poor is just.

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Scoundrels use wicked methods,(A)
    they make up evil schemes(B)
to destroy the poor with lies,
    even when the plea of the needy(C) is just.(D)

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26 “Among my people are wicked men
    who lie in wait for victims like a hunter hiding in a blind.
They continually set traps
    to catch people.
27 Like a cage filled with birds,
    their homes are filled with evil plots.
    And now they are great and rich.
28 They are fat and sleek,
    and there is no limit to their wicked deeds.
They refuse to provide justice to orphans
    and deny the rights of the poor.

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26 “Among my people are the wicked(A)
    who lie in wait(B) like men who snare birds
    and like those who set traps(C) to catch people.
27 Like cages full of birds,
    their houses are full of deceit;(D)
they have become rich(E) and powerful
28     and have grown fat(F) and sleek.
Their evil deeds have no limit;
    they do not seek justice.
They do not promote the case of the fatherless;(G)
    they do not defend the just cause of the poor.(H)

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23 They take bribes to let the wicked go free,
    and they punish the innocent.

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23 who acquit the guilty for a bribe,(A)
    but deny justice(B) to the innocent.(C)

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11 So they persuaded some men to lie about Stephen, saying, “We heard him blaspheme Moses, and even God.” 12 This roused the people, the elders, and the teachers of religious law. So they arrested Stephen and brought him before the high council.[a]

13 The lying witnesses said, “This man is always speaking against the holy Temple and against the law of Moses.

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Footnotes

  1. 6:12 Greek Sanhedrin; also in 6:15.

11 Then they secretly(A) persuaded some men to say, “We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.”(B)

12 So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin.(C) 13 They produced false witnesses,(D) who testified, “This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place(E) and against the law.

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59 Inside, the leading priests and the entire high council[a] were trying to find witnesses who would lie about Jesus, so they could put him to death. 60 But even though they found many who agreed to give false witness, they could not use anyone’s testimony. Finally, two men came forward

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Footnotes

  1. 26:59 Greek the Sanhedrin.

59 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin(A) were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death. 60 But they did not find any, though many false witnesses(B) came forward.

Finally two(C) came forward

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Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus

14 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, went to the leading priests 15 and asked, “How much will you pay me to betray Jesus to you?” And they gave him thirty pieces of silver. 16 From that time on, Judas began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus.

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Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus(A)

14 Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot(B)—went to the chief priests 15 and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver.(C) 16 From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.

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plotting how to capture Jesus secretly and kill him.

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and they schemed to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him.(A)

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The godly people have all disappeared;
    not one honest person is left on the earth.
They are all murderers,
    setting traps even for their own brothers.
Both their hands are equally skilled at doing evil!
    Officials and judges alike demand bribes.
The people with influence get what they want,
    and together they scheme to twist justice.

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The faithful have been swept from the land;(A)
    not one(B) upright person remains.
Everyone lies in wait(C) to shed blood;(D)
    they hunt each other(E) with nets.(F)
Both hands are skilled in doing evil;(G)
    the ruler demands gifts,
the judge accepts bribes,(H)
    the powerful dictate what they desire—
    they all conspire together.

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11 Suppose a prophet full of lies would say to you,
    “I’ll preach to you the joys of wine and alcohol!”
That’s just the kind of prophet you would like!

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11 If a liar and deceiver(A) comes and says,
    ‘I will prophesy for you plenty of wine and beer,’(B)
    that would be just the prophet for this people!(C)

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A Plot against Jeremiah

18 Then the people said, “Come on, let’s plot a way to stop Jeremiah. We have plenty of priests and wise men and prophets. We don’t need him to teach the word and give us advice and prophecies. Let’s spread rumors about him and ignore what he says.”

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18 They said, “Come, let’s make plans(A) against Jeremiah; for the teaching of the law by the priest(B) will not cease, nor will counsel from the wise,(C) nor the word from the prophets.(D) So come, let’s attack him with our tongues(E) and pay no attention to anything he says.”

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Good News for the Oppressed

61 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me,
    for the Lord has anointed me
    to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted
    and to proclaim that captives will be released
    and prisoners will be freed.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. 61:1 Greek version reads and the blind will see. Compare Luke 4:18.

The Year of the Lord’s Favor

61 The Spirit(A) of the Sovereign Lord(B) is on me,
    because the Lord has anointed(C) me
    to proclaim good news(D) to the poor.(E)
He has sent me to bind up(F) the brokenhearted,
    to proclaim freedom(G) for the captives(H)
    and release from darkness for the prisoners,[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 61:1 Hebrew; Septuagint the blind

Your hands are the hands of murderers,
    and your fingers are filthy with sin.
Your lips are full of lies,
    and your mouth spews corruption.

No one cares about being fair and honest.
    The people’s lawsuits are based on lies.
They conceive evil deeds
    and then give birth to sin.

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For your hands are stained with blood,(A)
    your fingers with guilt.(B)
Your lips have spoken falsely,(C)
    and your tongue mutters wicked things.
No one calls for justice;(D)
    no one pleads a case with integrity.
They rely(E) on empty arguments, they utter lies;(F)
    they conceive trouble and give birth to evil.(G)

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23 Your leaders are rebels,
    the companions of thieves.
All of them love bribes
    and demand payoffs,
but they refuse to defend the cause of orphans
    or fight for the rights of widows.

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23 Your rulers are rebels,(A)
    partners with thieves;(B)
they all love bribes(C)
    and chase after gifts.
They do not defend the cause of the fatherless;
    the widow’s case does not come before them.(D)

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