¹⁰ Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, ¹¹ “Ask the Lord your God for a sign,^(A) whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights.^(B)”

¹² But Ahaz said, “I will not ask; I will not put the Lord to the test.^(C)”

¹³ Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, you house of David!^(D) Is it not enough^(E) to try the patience of humans? Will you try the patience^(F) of my God^(G) also? ¹⁴ Therefore the Lord himself will give you^[a] a sign:^(H) The virgin^[b](I) will conceive and give birth to a son,^(J) and^[c] will call him Immanuel.^{[d](K) 15} He will be eating curds^(L) and honey^(M) when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, ¹⁶ for before the boy knows^(N) enough to reject the wrong and choose the right,^(O) the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste.^{(P) 17} The Lord will bring on you and on your people and on the house of your father a time unlike any since Ephraim broke away^(Q) from Judah—he will bring the king of Assyria.^(R)”

Assyria, the Lord’s Instrument

¹⁸ In that day^(S) the Lord will whistle^(T) for flies from the Nile delta in Egypt and for bees from the land of Assyria.^{(U) 19} They will all come and settle in the steep ravines and in the crevices^(V) in the rocks, on all the thornbushes^(W) and at all the water holes. ²⁰ In that day^(X) the Lord will use^(Y) a razor hired from beyond the Euphrates River^(Z)—the king of Assyria^(AA)—to shave your head and private parts, and to cut off your beard^(AB) also.^{(AC) 21} In that day,^(AD) a person will keep alive a young cow and two goats.^{(AE) 22} And because of the abundance of the milk they give, there will be curds to eat. All who remain in the land will eat curds^(AF) and honey.^{(AG) 23} In that day,^(AH) in every place where there were a thousand vines worth a thousand silver shekels,^[e](AI) there will be only briers and thorns.^{(AJ) 24} Hunters will go there with bow and arrow, for the land will be covered with briers^(AK) and thorns. ²⁵ As for all the hills^(AL) once cultivated by the hoe, you will no longer go there for fear of the briers and thorns;^(AM) they will become places where cattle are turned loose and where sheep run.^(AN)

Psalm 31^[a](A)

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

Stand Firm

¹³ But we ought always to thank God for you,^(A) brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits^[a](B) to be saved^(C) through the sanctifying work of the Spirit^(D) and through belief in the truth. ¹⁴ He called you^(E) to this through our gospel,^(F) that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

¹⁵ So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm^(G) and hold fast to the teachings^[b] we passed on to you,^(H) whether by word of mouth or by letter.

¹⁶ May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father,^(I) who loved us^(J) and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, ¹⁷ encourage^(K) your hearts and strengthen^(L) you in every good deed and word.

Request for Prayer

3 As for other matters, brothers and sisters,^(M) pray for us^(N) that the message of the Lord^(O) may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you.^{(P) 2} And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil people,^(Q) for not everyone has faith. ³ But the Lord is faithful,^(R) and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.^{(S) 4} We have confidence^(T) in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command. ⁵ May the Lord direct your hearts^(U) into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.

¹⁴ When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles^(A) reclined at the table.^{(B) 15} And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.^{(C) 16} For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”^(D)

¹⁷ After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. ¹⁸ For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”

¹⁹ And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it,^(E) and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

²⁰ In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant^(F) in my blood, which is poured out for you.^{[a] 21} But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table.^{(G) 22} The Son of Man^(H) will go as it has been decreed.^(I) But woe to that man who betrays him!” ²³ They began to question among themselves which of them it might be who would do this.

²⁴ A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest.^{(J) 25} Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. ²⁶ But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest,^(K) and the one who rules like the one who serves.^{(L) 27} For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.^{(M) 28} You are those who have stood by me in my trials. ²⁹ And I confer on you a kingdom,^(N) just as my Father conferred one on me, ³⁰ so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom^(O) and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.^(P)