Babylon to Be Destroyed

14 This is what the Lord your (A)Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel says:

“For your sake I have sent to Babylon,
And will bring them all down as fugitives,
[a]Even the (B)Chaldeans, into the (C)ships [b]over which they rejoice.
15 I am the Lord, your Holy One,
(D)The Creator of Israel, your (E)King.”

16 This is what the Lord says,

He who (F)makes a way through the sea
And a path through the mighty waters,
17 Who brings out the (G)chariot and the horse,
The army and the mighty man
(They will lie down together and not rise again;
They have been (H)extinguished, and have gone out like a wick):
18 (I)Do not call to mind the former things,
Or consider things of the past.
19 Behold, I am going to do something (J)new,
Now it will spring up;
Will you not be aware of it?
I will even (K)make a roadway in the wilderness,
Rivers in the desert.
20 The animals of the field will glorify Me,
The (L)jackals and the ostriches,
Because I have (M)given waters in the wilderness
And rivers in the desert,
To give drink to My chosen people.
21 The people whom (N)I formed for Myself
(O)Will declare My praise.

The Shortcomings of Israel

22 “Yet you have not called on Me, Jacob;
But you have become (P)weary of Me, Israel.
23 You have (Q)not brought to Me the sheep of your burnt offerings,
Nor have you (R)honored Me with your sacrifices.
I have not (S)burdened you with [c]offerings,
Nor wearied you with (T)incense.
24 You have not bought Me [d](U)sweet cane with money,
Nor have you satisfied Me with the fat of your sacrifices;
Rather, you have burdened Me with your sins,
You have (V)wearied Me with your wrongdoings.

25 “I, I alone, am the one who (W)wipes out your wrongdoings (X)for My own sake,
And I will (Y)not remember your sins.
26 [e]Meet Me in court, (Z)let’s argue our case together;
State your cause, (AA)so that you may be proved right.
27 Your (AB)first [f]forefather sinned,
And your [g](AC)spokesmen have rebelled against Me.
28 So I will profane the [h]officials of the sanctuary,
And I will turn Jacob over to (AD)destruction and Israel to (AE)abuse.

The Blessings of Israel

44 “But now listen, Jacob, My (AF)servant,
And Israel, whom I have chosen:
This is what the Lord says, He who made you
And (AG)formed you from the womb, who (AH)will help you:
(AI)Do not fear, Jacob My servant,
And [i](AJ)Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.
For (AK)I will pour water on [j]the thirsty land
And streams on the dry ground;
I will (AL)pour out My Spirit on your (AM)offspring,
And My blessing on your descendants;
And they will spring up [k]among the grass
Like (AN)poplars by streams of water.’
This one will say, ‘I am the Lords’;
And that one [l]will call on the name of Jacob;
And another will (AO)write [m]on his hand, ‘Belonging to the Lord,’
And will give himself Israel’s name with honor.

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 43:14 Another reading is As for the Chaldeans, their rejoicing is turned into mourning
  2. Isaiah 43:14 Lit of their rejoicing
  3. Isaiah 43:23 Or a meal offering
  4. Isaiah 43:24 Or calamus
  5. Isaiah 43:26 Or Report to Me
  6. Isaiah 43:27 Lit father
  7. Isaiah 43:27 Or interpreters
  8. Isaiah 43:28 Or holy princes
  9. Isaiah 44:2 I.e., Israel
  10. Isaiah 44:3 Or him who is thirsty
  11. Isaiah 44:4 Another reading is like grass among the waters
  12. Isaiah 44:5 Another reading is will be called by the name of Jacob
  13. Isaiah 44:5 Or with

God’s Mercy and Israel’s Unfaithfulness

14 This is what the Lord says—
    your Redeemer,(A) the Holy One(B) of Israel:
“For your sake I will send to Babylon
    and bring down as fugitives(C) all the Babylonians,[a](D)
    in the ships in which they took pride.
15 I am the Lord,(E) your Holy One,
    Israel’s Creator,(F) your King.(G)

16 This is what the Lord says—
    he who made a way through the sea,
    a path through the mighty waters,(H)
17 who drew out(I) the chariots and horses,(J)
    the army and reinforcements together,(K)
and they lay(L) there, never to rise again,
    extinguished, snuffed out like a wick:(M)
18 “Forget the former things;(N)
    do not dwell on the past.
19 See, I am doing a new thing!(O)
    Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness(P)
    and streams in the wasteland.(Q)
20 The wild animals(R) honor me,
    the jackals(S) and the owls,
because I provide water(T) in the wilderness
    and streams in the wasteland,
to give drink to my people, my chosen,
21     the people I formed(U) for myself(V)
    that they may proclaim my praise.(W)

22 “Yet you have not called on me, Jacob,
    you have not wearied(X) yourselves for[b] me, Israel.(Y)
23 You have not brought me sheep for burnt offerings,(Z)
    nor honored(AA) me with your sacrifices.(AB)
I have not burdened(AC) you with grain offerings
    nor wearied you with demands(AD) for incense.(AE)
24 You have not bought any fragrant calamus(AF) for me,
    or lavished on me the fat(AG) of your sacrifices.
But you have burdened me with your sins
    and wearied(AH) me with your offenses.(AI)

25 “I, even I, am he who blots out
    your transgressions,(AJ) for my own sake,(AK)
    and remembers your sins(AL) no more.(AM)
26 Review the past for me,
    let us argue the matter together;(AN)
    state the case(AO) for your innocence.
27 Your first father(AP) sinned;
    those I sent to teach(AQ) you rebelled(AR) against me.
28 So I disgraced the dignitaries of your temple;
    I consigned Jacob to destruction[c](AS)
    and Israel to scorn.(AT)

Israel the Chosen

44 “But now listen, Jacob, my servant,(AU)
    Israel, whom I have chosen.(AV)
This is what the Lord says—
    he who made(AW) you, who formed you in the womb,(AX)
    and who will help(AY) you:
Do not be afraid,(AZ) Jacob, my servant,(BA)
    Jeshurun,[d](BB) whom I have chosen.
For I will pour water(BC) on the thirsty land,
    and streams on the dry ground;(BD)
I will pour out my Spirit(BE) on your offspring,
    and my blessing(BF) on your descendants.(BG)
They will spring up like grass(BH) in a meadow,
    like poplar trees(BI) by flowing streams.(BJ)
Some will say, ‘I belong(BK) to the Lord’;
    others will call themselves by the name of Jacob;
still others will write on their hand,(BL) ‘The Lord’s,’(BM)
    and will take the name Israel.

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 43:14 Or Chaldeans
  2. Isaiah 43:22 Or Jacob; / surely you have grown weary of
  3. Isaiah 43:28 The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord, often by totally destroying them.
  4. Isaiah 44:2 Jeshurun means the upright one, that is, Israel.

All the Tribes Are Guilty

Hear this word which the Lord has spoken against you, sons of Israel, against the entire [a](A)family which [b]He brought up from the land of Egypt:

(B)You only have I [c]known among all the families of the earth;
Therefore I will [d](C)punish you for all your wrongdoing.”
Do two people walk together unless they have agreed to meet?
Does a (D)lion roar in the forest when he has no prey?
Does a young lion [e]growl from his den unless he has captured something?
Does a bird fall into a trap on the ground when there is no [f]device in it?
Does a trap spring up from the earth when it captures nothing at all?
If a (E)trumpet is blown in a city, will the people not tremble?
If a (F)disaster occurs in a city, has the Lord not brought it about?
[g]Certainly the Lord [h]God does nothing
Unless He (G)reveals His secret plan
To His servants the prophets.
A (H)lion has roared! Who will not fear?
The (I)Lord God has spoken! (J)Who can do anything but prophesy?

Proclaim on the citadels in (K)Ashdod and on the citadels in the land of Egypt and say, “Assemble yourselves on the (L)mountains of Samaria and see the great panic within her and the (M)oppressions in her midst. 10 But they (N)do not know how to do what is right,” declares the Lord, “these who (O)store up [i]violence and devastation in their citadels.”

11 Therefore, this is what the Lord God says:

“An (P)enemy, one surrounding the land,
Will take down your fortifications from you,
And your (Q)citadels will be looted.”

12 This is what the Lord says:

“Just as the shepherd [j](R)snatches from the lion’s mouth a couple of legs or a piece of an ear,
So will the sons of Israel living in Samaria be [k]snatched away—
With the (S)corner of a bed and the [l](T)cover of a couch!
13 Hear and (U)testify against the house of Jacob,”
Declares the Lord God, the God of armies.
14 “For on the day that I punish Israel’s offenses,
I will also punish the altars of (V)Bethel;
The horns of the altar will be cut off,
And will fall to the ground.
15 I will also strike the (W)winter house together with the (X)summer house;
The houses of [m](Y)ivory will also perish,
And the (Z)great houses will come to an end,”
Declares the Lord.

Footnotes

  1. Amos 3:1 I.e., nation
  2. Amos 3:1 Lit I
  3. Amos 3:2 Or chosen
  4. Amos 3:2 Lit visit
  5. Amos 3:4 Lit give his voice
  6. Amos 3:5 Lit snare
  7. Amos 3:7 Or For
  8. Amos 3:7 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord, and so throughout the ch
  9. Amos 3:10 I.e., the plunder from violence
  10. Amos 3:12 Or rescues
  11. Amos 3:12 Or rescued
  12. Amos 3:12 Or headrest; lit damask
  13. Amos 3:15 I.e., ivory inlay

Witnesses Summoned Against Israel

Hear this word, people of Israel, the word the Lord has spoken against you(A)—against the whole family I brought up out of Egypt:(B)

“You only have I chosen(C)
    of all the families of the earth;
therefore I will punish(D) you
    for all your sins.(E)

Do two walk together
    unless they have agreed to do so?
Does a lion roar(F) in the thicket
    when it has no prey?(G)
Does it growl in its den
    when it has caught nothing?
Does a bird swoop down to a trap on the ground
    when no bait(H) is there?
Does a trap spring up from the ground
    if it has not caught anything?
When a trumpet(I) sounds in a city,
    do not the people tremble?
When disaster(J) comes to a city,
    has not the Lord caused it?(K)

Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing
    without revealing his plan(L)
    to his servants the prophets.(M)

The lion(N) has roared(O)
    who will not fear?
The Sovereign Lord has spoken—
    who can but prophesy?(P)

Proclaim to the fortresses of Ashdod(Q)
    and to the fortresses of Egypt:
“Assemble yourselves on the mountains of Samaria;(R)
    see the great unrest within her
    and the oppression among her people.”

10 “They do not know how to do right,(S)” declares the Lord,
    “who store up in their fortresses(T)
    what they have plundered(U) and looted.”

11 Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“An enemy will overrun your land,
    pull down your strongholds
    and plunder your fortresses.(V)

12 This is what the Lord says:

“As a shepherd rescues from the lion’s(W) mouth
    only two leg bones or a piece of an ear,
so will the Israelites living in Samaria be rescued,
    with only the head of a bed
    and a piece of fabric[a] from a couch.[b](X)

13 “Hear this and testify(Y) against the descendants of Jacob,” declares the Lord, the Lord God Almighty.

14 “On the day I punish(Z) Israel for her sins,
    I will destroy the altars of Bethel;(AA)
the horns(AB) of the altar will be cut off
    and fall to the ground.
15 I will tear down the winter house(AC)
    along with the summer house;(AD)
the houses adorned with ivory(AE) will be destroyed
    and the mansions(AF) will be demolished,(AG)
declares the Lord.(AH)

Footnotes

  1. Amos 3:12 The meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain.
  2. Amos 3:12 Or Israelites be rescued, / those who sit in Samaria / on the edge of their beds / and in Damascus on their couches.

The Blessings of Redemption

Paul, (A)an apostle of (B)Christ Jesus [a](C)by the will of God,

To the [b](D)saints who are [c]at (E)Ephesus and (F)are faithful in (G)Christ Jesus: (H)Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

(I)Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in (J)the heavenly places in Christ, just as (K)He chose us in Him before (L)the foundation of the world, that we would be (M)holy and blameless before [d]Him. (N)In love [e]He (O)predestined us to (P)adoption as sons and daughters through Jesus Christ to Himself, (Q)according to the good pleasure of His will, (R)to the praise of the glory of His grace, with which He favored us in (S)the Beloved. (T)In [f]Him we have (U)redemption (V)through His blood, the (W)forgiveness of our wrongdoings, according to (X)the riches of His grace which He [g]lavished on [h]us. In all wisdom and insight He [i](Y)made known to us the mystery of His will, (Z)according to His good pleasure which He (AA)set forth in Him, 10 regarding His plan of (AB)the fullness of the times, (AC)to bring all things together in Christ, things [j]in the heavens and things on the earth. 11 [k]In Him we also (AD)have obtained an inheritance, having been (AE)predestined (AF)according to the purpose of Him who works all things (AG)in accordance with the plan of His will, 12 to the end that [l]we who were the first to hope in the [m]Christ would be (AH)to the praise of His glory. 13 In [n]Him, [o]you also, after listening to (AI)the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also [p]believed, you were (AJ)sealed in [q]Him with (AK)the Holy Spirit of the promise, 14 who is a (AL)first installment of (AM)our inheritance, in regard to the (AN)redemption of (AO)God’s own possession, (AP)to the praise of His glory.

15 For this reason I too, (AQ)having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and [r]your love for (AR)all the [s]saints, 16 (AS)do not cease giving thanks for you, (AT)while making mention of you in my prayers; 17 that the (AU)God of our Lord Jesus Christ, (AV)the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of (AW)wisdom and of (AX)revelation in the [t]knowledge of Him. 18 I pray that (AY)the eyes of your heart [u]may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the (AZ)hope of His (BA)calling, what are (BB)the riches of the glory of (BC)His inheritance in (BD)the [v]saints, 19 and what is the [w]boundless greatness of His power toward us who believe. (BE)These are in accordance with the working of the (BF)strength of His might 20 which He brought about in Christ, when He (BG)raised Him from the dead and (BH)seated Him at His right hand in (BI)the heavenly places, 21 far above (BJ)all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every (BK)name that is named, not only in (BL)this age but also in the one to come. 22 And He (BM)put all things in subjection under His feet, and made Him (BN)head over all things to the church, 23 which is His (BO)body, the (BP)fullness of Him who (BQ)fills (BR)all in all.

Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 1:1 Lit through
  2. Ephesians 1:1 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
  3. Ephesians 1:1 Three early mss do not contain at Ephesus
  4. Ephesians 1:4 Or Him, in love. He
  5. Ephesians 1:5 Lit having predestined
  6. Ephesians 1:7 Lit whom
  7. Ephesians 1:8 Lit made abundant toward
  8. Ephesians 1:8 Or us in all wisdom and insight. He
  9. Ephesians 1:9 Lit making known
  10. Ephesians 1:10 Lit upon
  11. Ephesians 1:11 Lit In whom also
  12. Ephesians 1:12 I.e., Jewish believers
  13. Ephesians 1:12 I.e., Messiah
  14. Ephesians 1:13 Lit whom
  15. Ephesians 1:13 I.e., Gentile believers
  16. Ephesians 1:13 Or believed in Him, you were sealed
  17. Ephesians 1:13 Lit whom
  18. Ephesians 1:15 Three early mss do not contain your love
  19. Ephesians 1:15 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
  20. Ephesians 1:17 Or true knowledge
  21. Ephesians 1:18 Lit having been
  22. Ephesians 1:18 See note 2 v 15
  23. Ephesians 1:19 Lit surpassing

Paul, an apostle(A) of Christ Jesus by the will of God,(B)

To God’s holy people(C) in Ephesus,[a](D) the faithful(E) in Christ Jesus:

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.(F)

Praise for Spiritual Blessings in Christ

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,(G) who has blessed us in the heavenly realms(H) with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us(I) in him before the creation of the world(J) to be holy and blameless(K) in his sight. In love(L) he[b] predestined(M) us for adoption to sonship[c](N) through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure(O) and will— to the praise of his glorious grace,(P) which he has freely given us in the One he loves.(Q) In him we have redemption(R) through his blood,(S) the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches(T) of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, he[d] made known to us the mystery(U) of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed(V) in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment(W)—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.(X)

11 In him we were also chosen,[e] having been predestined(Y) according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose(Z) of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.(AA) 13 And you also were included in Christ(AB) when you heard the message of truth,(AC) the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal,(AD) the promised Holy Spirit,(AE) 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance(AF) until the redemption(AG) of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.(AH)

Thanksgiving and Prayer

15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus(AI) and your love for all God’s people,(AJ) 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you,(AK) remembering you in my prayers.(AL) 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father,(AM) may give you the Spirit[f] of wisdom(AN) and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened(AO) in order that you may know the hope to which he has called(AP) you, the riches(AQ) of his glorious inheritance(AR) in his holy people,(AS) 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power(AT) is the same as the mighty strength(AU) 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead(AV) and seated him at his right hand(AW) in the heavenly realms,(AX) 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion,(AY) and every name(AZ) that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.(BA) 22 And God placed all things under his feet(BB) and appointed him to be head(BC) over everything for the church, 23 which is his body,(BD) the fullness of him(BE) who fills everything in every way.(BF)

Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 1:1 Some early manuscripts do not have in Ephesus.
  2. Ephesians 1:5 Or sight in love. He
  3. Ephesians 1:5 The Greek word for adoption to sonship is a legal term referring to the full legal standing of an adopted male heir in Roman culture.
  4. Ephesians 1:9 Or us with all wisdom and understanding. And he
  5. Ephesians 1:11 Or were made heirs
  6. Ephesians 1:17 Or a spirit

22 The next day (A)the crowd that stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other small boat there except one, and that Jesus (B)had not gotten into the boat with His disciples, but that His disciples had departed alone. 23 Other small boats came from (C)Tiberias near to the place where they ate the bread after the (D)Lord (E)had given thanks. 24 So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they themselves got into the small boats and (F)came to Capernaum, looking for Jesus. 25 And when they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, “(G)Rabbi, when did You get here?”

Words to the People

26 Jesus answered them and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you (H)seek Me, not because you saw [a](I)signs, but because you ate some of the loaves and were filled. 27 Do not (J)work for the food that perishes, but for the food that lasts for (K)eternal life, which (L)the Son of Man will give you, for on Him the Father, God, (M)has set His [b]seal.” 28 Therefore they said to Him, “What are we to do, so that we may accomplish the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is (N)the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He (O)has sent.” 30 So they said to Him, “(P)What then are You doing as a (Q)sign, so that we may see, and believe You? What work are You performing? 31 (R)Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘(S)He gave them bread out of heaven to eat.’” 32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven. 33 For the bread of God is [c]that which (T)comes down out of heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 Then they said to Him, “Lord, always (U)give us this bread.”

35 Jesus said to them, (V)I am the bread of life; the one who comes to Me will not be hungry, and the one who believes in Me (W)will never be thirsty. 36 But (X)I said to you that you have indeed seen Me, and yet you do not believe. 37 (Y)Everything that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I certainly will not cast out. 38 For (Z)I have come down from heaven, (AA)not to do My own will, but (AB)the will of Him who (AC)sent Me. 39 And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that of (AD)everything that He has given Me I will (AE)lose nothing, but will (AF)raise it up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who (AG)sees the Son and (AH)believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will (AI)raise him up on the last day.”

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Footnotes

  1. John 6:26 I.e., confirming miracles
  2. John 6:27 I.e., of identification or authenticity
  3. John 6:33 Or He who comes

22 The next day the crowd that had stayed on the opposite shore of the lake(A) realized that only one boat had been there, and that Jesus had not entered it with his disciples, but that they had gone away alone.(B) 23 Then some boats from Tiberias(C) landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks.(D) 24 Once the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus.

Jesus the Bread of Life

25 When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, “Rabbi,(E) when did you get here?”

26 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me,(F) not because you saw the signs(G) I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. 27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures(H) to eternal life,(I) which the Son of Man(J) will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal(K) of approval.”

28 Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”

29 Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe(L) in the one he has sent.”(M)

30 So they asked him, “What sign(N) then will you give that we may see it and believe you?(O) What will you do? 31 Our ancestors ate the manna(P) in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’[a](Q)

32 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven(R) and gives life to the world.”

34 “Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.”(S)

35 Then Jesus declared, “I am(T) the bread of life.(U) Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes(V) in me will never be thirsty.(W) 36 But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. 37 All those the Father gives me(X) will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. 38 For I have come down from heaven(Y) not to do my will but to do the will(Z) of him who sent me.(AA) 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me,(AB) but raise them up at the last day.(AC) 40 For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son(AD) and believes in him shall have eternal life,(AE) and I will raise them up at the last day.”

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Footnotes

  1. John 6:31 Exodus 16:4; Neh. 9:15; Psalm 78:24,25