Psalm 23

A psalm of David.

The Great Multitude in White Robes

⁹ After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language,^(A) standing before the throne^(B) and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes^(C) and were holding palm branches in their hands. ¹⁰ And they cried out in a loud voice:

¹¹ All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders^(F) and the four living creatures.^(G) They fell down on their faces^(H) before the throne and worshiped God, ¹² saying:

¹³ Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes^(J)—who are they, and where did they come from?”

¹⁴ I answered, “Sir, you know.”

And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes^(K) and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.^{(L) 15} Therefore,

Further Conflict Over Jesus’ Claims

²² Then came the Festival of Dedication^[a] at Jerusalem. It was winter, ²³ and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon’s Colonnade.^{(A) 24} The Jews^(B) who were there gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”^(C)

²⁵ Jesus answered, “I did tell you,^(D) but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me,^{(E) 26} but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.^{(F) 27} My sheep listen to my voice; I know them,^(G) and they follow me.^{(H) 28} I give them eternal life,^(I) and they shall never perish;^(J) no one will snatch them out of my hand.^{(K) 29} My Father, who has given them to me,^(L) is greater than all^[b];^(M) no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. ³⁰ I and the Father are one.”^(N)

³¹ Again his Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him,^{(O) 32} but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?”

³³ “We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”^(P)

³⁴ Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law,^(Q) ‘I have said you are “gods”’^[c]?^{(R) 35} If he called them ‘gods,’ to whom the word of God^(S) came—and Scripture cannot be set aside^(T)— ³⁶ what about the one whom the Father set apart^(U) as his very own^(V) and sent into the world?^(W) Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’?^{(X) 37} Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father.^{(Y) 38} But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.”^{(Z) 39} Again they tried to seize him,^(AA) but he escaped their grasp.^(AB)

⁴⁰ Then Jesus went back across the Jordan^(AC) to the place where John had been baptizing in the early days. There he stayed, ⁴¹ and many people came to him. They said, “Though John never performed a sign,^(AD) all that John said about this man was true.”^{(AE) 42} And in that place many believed in Jesus.^(AF)