Psalm 122

A song of ascents. Of David.

Psalm 149

Riches Are Meaningless

⁸ If you see the poor oppressed^(A) in a district, and justice and rights denied, do not be surprised at such things; for one official is eyed by a higher one, and over them both are others higher still. ⁹ The increase from the land is taken by all; the king himself profits from the fields.

¹³ I have seen a grievous evil under the sun:^(C)

¹⁶ This too is a grievous evil:

¹⁸ This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink^(H) and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor^(I) under the sun during the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot. ¹⁹ Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions,^(J) and the ability to enjoy them,^(K) to accept their lot^(L) and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God.^{(M) 20} They seldom reflect on the days of their life, because God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart.^(N)

Children of God

²³ Before the coming of this faith,^[a] we were held in custody^(A) under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed.^{(B) 24} So the law was our guardian until Christ came^(C) that we might be justified by faith.^{(D) 25} Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.^(E)

²⁶ So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God^(F) through faith, ²⁷ for all of you who were baptized into Christ^(G) have clothed yourselves with Christ.^{(H) 28} There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free,^(I) nor is there male and female,^(J) for you are all one in Christ Jesus.^{(K) 29} If you belong to Christ,^(L) then you are Abraham’s seed,^(M) and heirs^(N) according to the promise.^(O)

4 What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. ² The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. ³ So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery^(P) under the elemental spiritual forces^[b] of the world.^{(Q) 4} But when the set time had fully come,^(R) God sent his Son,^(S) born of a woman,^(T) born under the law,^{(U) 5} to redeem^(V) those under the law, that we might receive adoption^(W) to sonship.^{[c](X) 6} Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son^(Y) into our hearts,^(Z) the Spirit who calls out, “Abba,^[d] Father.”^{(AA) 7} So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.^(AB)

Paul’s Concern for the Galatians

⁸ Formerly, when you did not know God,^(AC) you were slaves^(AD) to those who by nature are not gods.^{(AE) 9} But now that you know God—or rather are known by God^(AF)—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces^[e]? Do you wish to be enslaved^(AG) by them all over again?^{(AH) 10} You are observing special days and months and seasons and years!^{(AI) 11} I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.^(AJ)

That Which Defiles^(A)

15 Then some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, ² “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don’t wash their hands before they eat!”^(B)

³ Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? ⁴ For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’^[a](C) and ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’^{[b](D) 5} But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is ‘devoted to God,’ ⁶ they are not to ‘honor their father or mother’ with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition. ⁷ You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you:

¹⁰ Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen and understand. ¹¹ What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them,^(G) but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.”^(H)

¹² Then the disciples came to him and asked, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?”

¹³ He replied, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted^(I) will be pulled up by the roots. ¹⁴ Leave them; they are blind guides.^[d](J) If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.”^(K)

¹⁵ Peter said, “Explain the parable to us.”^(L)

¹⁶ “Are you still so dull?”^(M) Jesus asked them. ¹⁷ “Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? ¹⁸ But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart,^(N) and these defile them. ¹⁹ For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.^{(O) 20} These are what defile a person;^(P) but eating with unwashed hands does not defile them.”