Jeremiah 7:1-11

New International Version

False Religion Worthless

7 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: ²“Stand^(A) at the gate of the Lord’s house and there proclaim this message:

“‘Hear the word of the Lord, all you people of Judah who come through these gates to worship the Lord. ³This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Reform your ways^(B) and your actions, and I will let you live^(C) in this place. ⁴Do not trust^(D) in deceptive^(E) words and say, “This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord!” ⁵If you really change^(F) your ways and your actions and deal with each other justly,^(G) ⁶if you do not oppress^(H) the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow and do not shed innocent blood^(I) in this place, and if you do not follow other gods^(J) to your own harm, ⁷then I will let you live in this place, in the land^(K) I gave your ancestors^(L) for ever and ever. ⁸But look, you are trusting^(M) in deceptive^(N) words that are worthless.

⁹“‘Will you steal^(O) and murder,^(P) commit adultery^(Q) and perjury,^[a]^(R) burn incense to Baal^(S) and follow other gods^(T) you have not known, ¹⁰and then come and stand^(U) before me in this house,^(V) which bears my Name, and say, “We are safe”—safe to do all these detestable things?^(W) ¹¹Has this house,^(X) which bears my Name, become a den of robbers^(Y) to you? But I have been watching!^(Z) declares the Lord.

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Footnotes

Jeremiah 7:9 Or and swear by false gods

Psalm 84

New International Version

Psalm 84^[a]

For the director of music. According to gittith.^[b] Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.

¹How lovely is your dwelling place,^(A)
    Lord Almighty!
²My soul yearns,^(B) even faints,
    for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh cry out
    for the living God.^(C)
³Even the sparrow has found a home,
    and the swallow a nest for herself,
    where she may have her young—
a place near your altar,^(D)
    Lord Almighty,^(E) my King^(F) and my God.^(G)
⁴Blessed are those who dwell in your house;
    they are ever praising you.^[c]

⁵Blessed are those whose strength^(H) is in you,
    whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.^(I)
⁶As they pass through the Valley of Baka,
    they make it a place of springs;^(J)
    the autumn^(K) rains also cover it with pools.^[d]
⁷They go from strength to strength,^(L)
    till each appears^(M) before God in Zion.^(N)

⁸Hear my prayer,^(O) Lord God Almighty;
listen to me, God of Jacob.
⁹Look on our shield,^[e]^(P) O God;
look with favor on your anointed one.^(Q)

¹⁰Better is one day in your courts
    than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper^(R) in the house of my God
    than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
¹¹For the Lord God is a sun^(S) and shield;^(T)
    the Lord bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold^(U)
    from those whose walk is blameless.

¹²Lord Almighty,
blessed^(V) is the one who trusts in you.

Footnotes

Psalm 84:1 In Hebrew texts 84:1-12 is numbered 84:2-13.
Psalm 84:1 Title: Probably a musical term
Psalm 84:4 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 8.
Psalm 84:6 Or blessings
Psalm 84:9 Or sovereign

Matthew 13:24-30

New International Version

The Parable of the Weeds

²⁴Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like^(A) a man who sowed good seed in his field. ²⁵But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. ²⁶When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.

²⁷“The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’

²⁸“‘An enemy did this,’ he replied.

“The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’

²⁹“‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. ³⁰Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’”^(B)

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