Joel 2:12-17

New International Version

Rend Your Heart

¹²“Even now,” declares the Lord,
“return^(A) to me with all your heart,^(B)
with fasting and weeping and mourning.”

¹³Rend your heart^(C)
    and not your garments.^(D)
Return^(E) to the Lord your God,
    for he is gracious and compassionate,^(F)
slow to anger and abounding in love,^(G)
    and he relents from sending calamity.^(H)
¹⁴Who knows? He may turn^(I) and relent^(J)
    and leave behind a blessing^(K)—
grain offerings and drink offerings^(L)
    for the Lord your God.

¹⁵Blow the trumpet^(M) in Zion,^(N)
    declare a holy fast,^(O)
    call a sacred assembly.^(P)
¹⁶Gather the people,
    consecrate^(Q) the assembly;
bring together the elders,^(R)
    gather the children,
    those nursing at the breast.
Let the bridegroom^(S) leave his room
    and the bride her chamber.
¹⁷Let the priests, who minister^(T) before the Lord,
    weep^(U) between the portico and the altar.^(V)
Let them say, “Spare your people, Lord.
    Do not make your inheritance an object of scorn,^(W)
    a byword^(X) among the nations.
Why should they say among the peoples,
    ‘Where is their God?^(Y)’”

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Matthew 23:16-24

New International Version

¹⁶“Woe to you, blind guides!^(A) You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gold of the temple is bound by that oath.’^(B) ¹⁷You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred?^(C) ¹⁸You also say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gift on the altar is bound by that oath.’ ¹⁹You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred?^(D) ²⁰Therefore, anyone who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. ²¹And anyone who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells^(E) in it. ²²And anyone who swears by heaven swears by God’s throne and by the one who sits on it.^(F)

²³“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth^(G) of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness.^(H) You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. ²⁴You blind guides!^(I) You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.

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