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 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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They shoot from ambush at the innocent;(A)
    they shoot suddenly, without fear.(B)

They encourage each other in evil plans,
    they talk about hiding their snares;(C)
    they say, “Who will see it[a]?”(D)
They plot injustice and say,
    “We have devised a perfect plan!”
    Surely the human mind and heart are cunning.

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 64:5 Or us

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

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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 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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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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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

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 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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“How long will you[a] defend the unjust
    and show partiality(A) to the wicked?[b](B)
Defend the weak and the fatherless;(C)
    uphold the cause of the poor(D) and the oppressed.
Rescue the weak and the needy;
    deliver them from the hand of the wicked.

“The ‘gods’ know nothing, they understand nothing.(E)
    They walk about in darkness;(F)
    all the foundations(G) of the earth are shaken.

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 82:2 The Hebrew is plural.
  2. Psalm 82:2 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.

His mouth is full(A) of lies and threats;(B)
    trouble and evil are under his tongue.(C)
He lies in wait(D) near the villages;
    from ambush he murders the innocent.(E)
His eyes watch in secret for his victims;
    like a lion in cover he lies in wait.
He lies in wait to catch the helpless;(F)
    he catches the helpless and drags them off in his net.(G)
10 His victims are crushed,(H) they collapse;
    they fall under his strength.

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10 But seat two scoundrels(A) opposite him and have them bring charges that he has cursed(B) both God and the king. Then take him out and stone him to death.”

11 So the elders and nobles who lived in Naboth’s city did as Jezebel directed in the letters she had written to them. 12 They proclaimed a fast(C) and seated Naboth in a prominent place among the people. 13 Then two scoundrels came and sat opposite him and brought charges against Naboth before the people, saying, “Naboth has cursed both God and the king.” So they took him outside the city and stoned him to death.(D) 14 Then they sent word to Jezebel: “Naboth has been stoned to death.”

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