Isaiah 32

New International Version

The Kingdom of Righteousness

32 See, a king^(A) will reign in righteousness
    and rulers will rule with justice.^(B)
²Each one will be like a shelter^(C) from the wind
    and a refuge from the storm,^(D)
like streams of water^(E) in the desert^(F)
    and the shadow of a great rock in a thirsty land.

³Then the eyes of those who see will no longer be closed,^(G)
    and the ears^(H) of those who hear will listen.
⁴The fearful heart will know and understand,^(I)
    and the stammering tongue^(J) will be fluent and clear.
⁵No longer will the fool^(K) be called noble
    nor the scoundrel be highly respected.
⁶For fools speak folly,^(L)
    their hearts are bent on evil:^(M)
They practice ungodliness^(N)
    and spread error^(O) concerning the Lord;
the hungry they leave empty^(P)
    and from the thirsty they withhold water.
⁷Scoundrels use wicked methods,^(Q)
    they make up evil schemes^(R)
to destroy the poor with lies,
    even when the plea of the needy^(S) is just.^(T)
⁸But the noble make noble plans,
    and by noble deeds^(U) they stand.^(V)

The Women of Jerusalem

⁹You women^(W) who are so complacent,
    rise up and listen^(X) to me;
you daughters who feel secure,^(Y)
    hear what I have to say!
¹⁰In little more than a year^(Z)
    you who feel secure will tremble;
the grape harvest will fail,^(AA)
    and the harvest of fruit will not come.
¹¹Tremble,^(AB) you complacent women;
    shudder, you daughters who feel secure!^(AC)
Strip off your fine clothes^(AD)
    and wrap yourselves in rags.^(AE)
¹²Beat your breasts^(AF) for the pleasant fields,
    for the fruitful vines^(AG)
¹³and for the land of my people,
    a land overgrown with thorns and briers^(AH)—
yes, mourn^(AI) for all houses of merriment
    and for this city of revelry.^(AJ)
¹⁴The fortress^(AK) will be abandoned,
    the noisy city deserted;^(AL)
citadel and watchtower^(AM) will become a wasteland forever,
    the delight of donkeys,^(AN) a pasture for flocks,^(AO)
¹⁵till the Spirit^(AP) is poured on us from on high,
    and the desert becomes a fertile field,^(AQ)
    and the fertile field seems like a forest.^(AR)
¹⁶The Lord’s justice^(AS) will dwell in the desert,^(AT)
    his righteousness^(AU) live in the fertile field.
¹⁷The fruit of that righteousness^(AV) will be peace;^(AW)
    its effect will be quietness and confidence^(AX) forever.
¹⁸My people will live in peaceful^(AY) dwelling places,
    in secure homes,^(AZ)
    in undisturbed places of rest.^(BA)
¹⁹Though hail^(BB) flattens the forest^(BC)
    and the city is leveled^(BD) completely,
²⁰how blessed you will be,
    sowing^(BE) your seed by every stream,^(BF)
    and letting your cattle and donkeys range free.^(BG)

John 3:1-15

New International Version

Jesus Teaches Nicodemus

3 Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus^(A) who was a member of the Jewish ruling council.^(B) ²He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi,^(C) we know^(D) that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs^(E) you are doing if God were not with him.”^(F)

³Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.^[a]”^(G)

⁴“How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”

⁵Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.^(H) ⁶Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit^[b] gives birth to spirit.^(I) ⁷You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You^[c] must be born again.’ ⁸The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”^[d]^(J)

⁹“How can this be?”^(K) Nicodemus asked.

¹⁰“You are Israel’s teacher,”^(L) said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? ¹¹Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know,^(M) and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony.^(N) ¹²I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? ¹³No one has ever gone into heaven^(O) except the one who came from heaven^(P)—the Son of Man.^[e]^(Q) ¹⁴Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness,^(R) so the Son of Man must be lifted up,^[f]^(S) ¹⁵that everyone who believes^(T) may have eternal life in him.”^[g]^(U)