To the Director: A song. A Psalm.

A Song of Praise

Jeremiah Challenges a False Prophet

28 In that same year, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah, king of Judah, in the fourth year and the fifth month, Azzur’s son Hananiah, the prophet from Gibeon, told me at the Lord’s Temple in front of the priests and all the people, ² “This is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘I’ve broken the yoke of the king of Babylon, ³ and within two years I’ll bring back to this place all the vessels of the Lord’s Temple that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took from this place and carried to Babylon. ⁴ I’ll bring back Jehoiakim’s son Jeconiah, king of Judah, and all the exiles of Judah who went to Babylon to this place,’ declares the Lord, ‘for I’ll break the yoke of the king of Babylon.’”

⁵ The prophet Jeremiah spoke to the prophet Hananiah in front of the priests and all^[a] the people who were standing in the Lord’s Temple. ⁶ The prophet Jeremiah said, “May the Lord truly do this thing! May the Lord fulfill the words^[b] that you prophesied to bring back the vessels of the Lord’s Temple and all the exiles from Babylon to this place. ⁷ But please listen to what I’m saying in your hearing and in the hearing of all the people. ⁸ The prophets who came before us^[c] from ancient times prophesied war, famine, and plague against many lands and great kingdoms. ⁹ When a prophet prophesies peace, and what the prophet speaks comes about, he will be known as the prophet whom the Lord has truly sent.”

¹⁰ Then the prophet Hananiah took the yoke^[d] from the neck of Jeremiah the prophet and broke it. ¹¹ Hananiah, in front of all the people, said, “This is what the Lord says: ‘In the same way, within two years, I’ll break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon from the neck of all the nations.’” Then Jeremiah the prophet went on his way.

¹² This message from the Lord came to Jeremiah after the prophet Hananiah had broken the yoke^[e] from the neck of Jeremiah the prophet: ¹³ “Go and say to Hananiah, ‘This is what the Lord says: “You have broken wooden yokes,^[f] but you have made iron yokes^[g] in their place.” ¹⁴ For this is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, the God of Israel, says: “I’ve put an iron yoke on the necks of all these nations to serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. They’ll serve him, and I’ve even given the wild animals to him.”’”

¹⁵ The prophet Jeremiah told the prophet Hananiah, “Listen, Hananiah! The Lord didn’t send you, and you are causing these people to trust in a lie. ¹⁶ Therefore, this is what the Lord says: ‘I’m about to remove^[h] you from the face of the earth. This year you will die because you have preached rebellion against the Lord.’”

¹⁷ So the prophet Hananiah died in the seventh month of that year.

Jesus Cleanses a Leper^(A)

¹² One day, while Jesus^[a] was in one of the cities, a man covered with leprosy saw Jesus and fell on his face, begging him, “Lord, if you want to, you can make me clean.”

¹³ So Jesus^[b] reached out his hand and touched him, saying, “I do want to. Be clean!” Instantly the leprosy left him. ¹⁴ Then Jesus^[c] ordered him, “Don’t tell anyone. Instead, go and show yourself to the priest and make an offering for your cleansing, just as Moses commanded, as proof to the authorities.”^{[d] 15} But the news about Jesus^[e] spread even more, and many crowds began gathering to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. ¹⁶ However, he continued his habit of retiring to deserted places and praying.

Praise for God’s Amazing Deeds^[a]

Aaron and Miriam Rebel

12 Miriam and Aaron rebelled against Moses on account of the Cushite woman that he had married. ² They asked, “Has the Lord spoken only through Moses? Hasn’t he also spoken through us?”

But the Lord heard it.

³ Now the man Moses was very humble—more than any person on earth. ⁴ All of a sudden, the Lord told Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, “The three of you are to come out to the Tent of Meeting.” So the three of them went out. ⁵ Then the Lord came down in a pillar of cloud, stood at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, and summoned Aaron and Miriam. So both of them went forward.

⁶ Then he told the two of them: “Pay attention to what I have to say! When there is a prophet among you, won’t I, the Lord, reveal myself to him in a vision? Won’t I speak with him in a dream? ⁷ But that’s not how it is with my servant Moses, since he has been entrusted with my entire household! ⁸ I speak to him audibly^[a] and in visions, not in mysteries.^[b] If he can gaze at the image of the Lord, why aren’t you afraid to speak against my servant Moses?” ⁹ Because the Lord was very angry with them, he left, ¹⁰ but when the cloud ascended from the tent, Miriam had become leprous, as white as snow! Aaron turned toward Miriam, and she had leprosy!

¹¹ Aaron begged Moses, “I pray my lord, please don’t hold this sin against us, since we’ve acted foolishly and sinned in doing so. ¹² Please don’t let her be like one of the living dead, who is born with a congenital skin disease.”^[c]

¹³ So Moses prayed to the Lord: “O Lord, please heal her.”

¹⁴ But the Lord told Moses, “If her father had merely spit in her face, wouldn’t she be humiliated? She is to be placed in isolation for seven days. After that, she may be brought in.” ¹⁵ So Miriam was isolated outside the camp for seven days and the people didn’t travel until Miriam was brought in.

Jesus Cleanses a Leper^(A)

¹² One day, while Jesus^[a] was in one of the cities, a man covered with leprosy saw Jesus and fell on his face, begging him, “Lord, if you want to, you can make me clean.”

¹³ So Jesus^[b] reached out his hand and touched him, saying, “I do want to. Be clean!” Instantly the leprosy left him. ¹⁴ Then Jesus^[c] ordered him, “Don’t tell anyone. Instead, go and show yourself to the priest and make an offering for your cleansing, just as Moses commanded, as proof to the authorities.”^{[d] 15} But the news about Jesus^[e] spread even more, and many crowds began gathering to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. ¹⁶ However, he continued his habit of retiring to deserted places and praying.