Add parallel Print Page Options

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.

Read full chapter

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.

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

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.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

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

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

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 26:59 Greek the Sanhedrin.

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.

Read full chapter

plotting how to capture Jesus secretly and kill him.

Read full chapter

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.

Read full chapter

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!

Read full chapter

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.”

Read full chapter

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]

Read full chapter

Footnotes

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

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.

Read full chapter

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.

Read full chapter

“How long will you hand down unjust decisions
    by favoring the wicked? Interlude

“Give justice to the poor and the orphan;
    uphold the rights of the oppressed and the destitute.
Rescue the poor and helpless;
    deliver them from the grasp of evil people.
But these oppressors know nothing;
    they are so ignorant!
They wander about in darkness,
    while the whole world is shaken to the core.

Read full chapter

They shoot from ambush at the innocent,
    attacking suddenly and fearlessly.
They encourage each other to do evil
    and plan how to set their traps in secret.
    “Who will ever notice?” they ask.
As they plot their crimes, they say,
    “We have devised the perfect plan!”
    Yes, the human heart and mind are cunning.

Read full chapter

Their mouths are full of cursing, lies, and threats.[a]
    Trouble and evil are on the tips of their tongues.
They lurk in ambush in the villages,
    waiting to murder innocent people.
    They are always searching for helpless victims.
Like lions crouched in hiding,
    they wait to pounce on the helpless.
Like hunters they capture the helpless
    and drag them away in nets.
10 Their helpless victims are crushed;
    they fall beneath the strength of the wicked.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 10:7 Greek version reads cursing and bitterness. Compare Rom 3:14.

10 And then seat two scoundrels across from him who will accuse him of cursing God and the king. Then take him out and stone him to death.”

11 So the elders and other town leaders followed the instructions Jezebel had written in the letters. 12 They called for a fast and put Naboth at a prominent place before the people. 13 Then the two scoundrels came and sat down across from him. And they accused Naboth before all the people, saying, “He cursed God and the king.” So he was dragged outside the town and stoned to death. 14 The town leaders then sent word to Jezebel, “Naboth has been stoned to death.”

Read full chapter

Bible Gateway Recommends

NLT Every Man's Bible Explorer Edition, Leatherlike
NLT Every Man's Bible Explorer Edition, Leatherlike
Retail: $59.99
Our Price: $39.49
Save: $20.50 (34%)
4.5 of 5.0 stars
NLT Premium Gift Bible Imitation Leather, purple petals
NLT Premium Gift Bible Imitation Leather, purple petals
Retail: $17.99
Our Price: $14.49
Save: $3.50 (19%)
4.0 of 5.0 stars
NLT Hosanna Revival Notetaking Bible--soft leather-look, Galilee
NLT Hosanna Revival Notetaking Bible--soft leather-look, Galilee
Retail: $59.90
Our Price: $47.99
Save: $11.91 (20%)
The NLT Spiritual Growth Bible Pink Faux Leather
The NLT Spiritual Growth Bible Pink Faux Leather
Retail: $49.99
Our Price: $27.99
Save: $22.00 (44%)
4.0 of 5.0 stars