¹⁹ Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself;^(A) he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. ²⁰ For the Father loves the Son^(B) and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these,^(C) so that you will be amazed. ²¹ For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life,^(D) even so the Son gives life^(E) to whom he is pleased to give it. ²² Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son,^{(F) 23} that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.^(G)

²⁴ “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me^(H) has eternal life^(I) and will not be judged^(J) but has crossed over from death to life.^{(K) 25} Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come^(L) when the dead will hear^(M) the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. ²⁶ For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life^(N) in himself. ²⁷ And he has given him authority to judge^(O) because he is the Son of Man.

²⁸ “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming^(P) when all who are in their graves will hear his voice ²⁹ and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned.^{(Q) 30} By myself I can do nothing;^(R) I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just,^(S) for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.^(T)

Testimonies About Jesus

³¹ “If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true.^{(U) 32} There is another who testifies in my favor,^(V) and I know that his testimony about me is true.

³³ “You have sent to John and he has testified^(W) to the truth. ³⁴ Not that I accept human testimony;^(X) but I mention it that you may be saved.^{(Y) 35} John was a lamp that burned and gave light,^(Z) and you chose for a time to enjoy his light.

³⁶ “I have testimony weightier than that of John.^(AA) For the works that the Father has given me to finish—the very works that I am doing^(AB)—testify that the Father has sent me.^{(AC) 37} And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me.^(AD) You have never heard his voice nor seen his form,^{(AE) 38} nor does his word dwell in you,^(AF) for you do not believe^(AG) the one he sent.^{(AH) 39} You study^[a] the Scriptures^(AI) diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life.^(AJ) These are the very Scriptures that testify about me,^{(AK) 40} yet you refuse to come to me^(AL) to have life.

⁴¹ “I do not accept glory from human beings,^{(AM) 42} but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts. ⁴³ I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. ⁴⁴ How can you believe since you accept glory from one another but do not seek the glory that comes from the only God^[b]?^(AN)

⁴⁵ “But do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses,^(AO) on whom your hopes are set.^{(AP) 46} If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me.^{(AQ) 47} But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?”^(AR)

The Capture of Rabbah^(A)

20 In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, Joab led out the armed forces. He laid waste the land of the Ammonites and went to Rabbah^(B) and besieged it, but David remained in Jerusalem. Joab attacked Rabbah and left it in ruins.^{(C) 2} David took the crown from the head of their king^[a]—its weight was found to be a talent^[b] of gold, and it was set with precious stones—and it was placed on David’s head. He took a great quantity of plunder from the city ³ and brought out the people who were there, consigning them to labor with saws and with iron picks and axes.^(D) David did this to all the Ammonite towns. Then David and his entire army returned to Jerusalem.

War With the Philistines^(E)

⁴ In the course of time, war broke out with the Philistines, at Gezer.^(F) At that time Sibbekai the Hushathite killed Sippai, one of the descendants of the Rephaites,^(G) and the Philistines were subjugated.

⁵ In another battle with the Philistines, Elhanan son of Jair killed Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, who had a spear with a shaft like a weaver’s rod.^(H)

⁶ In still another battle, which took place at Gath, there was a huge man with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot—twenty-four in all. He also was descended from Rapha. ⁷ When he taunted Israel, Jonathan son of Shimea, David’s brother, killed him.

⁸ These were descendants of Rapha in Gath, and they fell at the hands of David and his men.

The Lord Promises to Bless Jerusalem

8 The word of the Lord Almighty came to me.

² This is what the Lord Almighty says: “I am very jealous^(A) for Zion; I am burning with jealousy for her.”

³ This is what the Lord says: “I will return^(B) to Zion^(C) and dwell in Jerusalem.^(D) Then Jerusalem will be called the Faithful City,^(E) and the mountain^(F) of the Lord Almighty will be called the Holy Mountain.^(G)”

⁴ This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Once again men and women of ripe old age will sit in the streets of Jerusalem,^(H) each of them with cane in hand because of their age. ⁵ The city streets will be filled with boys and girls playing there.^(I)”

⁶ This is what the Lord Almighty says: “It may seem marvelous to the remnant of this people at that time,^(J) but will it seem marvelous to me?^(K)” declares the Lord Almighty.

⁷ This is what the Lord Almighty says: “I will save my people from the countries of the east and the west.^{(L) 8} I will bring them back^(M) to live^(N) in Jerusalem; they will be my people,^(O) and I will be faithful and righteous to them as their God.^(P)”

⁹ This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Now hear these words, ‘Let your hands be strong^(Q) so that the temple may be built.’ This is also what the prophets^(R) said who were present when the foundation^(S) was laid for the house of the Lord Almighty. ¹⁰ Before that time there were no wages^(T) for people or hire for animals. No one could go about their business safely^(U) because of their enemies, since I had turned everyone against their neighbor. ¹¹ But now I will not deal with the remnant of this people as I did in the past,”^(V) declares the Lord Almighty.

¹² “The seed will grow well, the vine will yield its fruit,^(W) the ground will produce its crops,^(X) and the heavens will drop their dew.^(Y) I will give all these things as an inheritance^(Z) to the remnant of this people.^{(AA) 13} Just as you, Judah and Israel, have been a curse^[a](AB) among the nations, so I will save^(AC) you, and you will be a blessing.^[b](AD) Do not be afraid,^(AE) but let your hands be strong.^(AF)”

¹⁴ This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Just as I had determined to bring disaster^(AG) on you and showed no pity when your ancestors angered me,” says the Lord Almighty, ¹⁵ “so now I have determined to do good^(AH) again to Jerusalem and Judah.^(AI) Do not be afraid. ¹⁶ These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth^(AJ) to each other, and render true and sound judgment^(AK) in your courts;^{(AL) 17} do not plot evil^(AM) against each other, and do not love to swear falsely.^(AN) I hate all this,” declares the Lord.

¹⁸ The word of the Lord Almighty came to me.

¹⁹ This is what the Lord Almighty says: “The fasts of the fourth,^(AO) fifth,^(AP) seventh^(AQ) and tenth^(AR) months will become joyful^(AS) and glad occasions and happy festivals for Judah. Therefore love truth^(AT) and peace.”

²⁰ This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Many peoples and the inhabitants of many cities will yet come, ²¹ and the inhabitants of one city will go to another and say, ‘Let us go at once to entreat^(AU) the Lord and seek^(AV) the Lord Almighty. I myself am going.’ ²² And many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to seek the Lord Almighty and to entreat him.”^(AW)

²³ This is what the Lord Almighty says: “In those days ten people from all languages and nations will take firm hold of one Jew by the hem of his robe and say, ‘Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you.’”^(AX)