Psalm 81[a]

For the director of music. According to gittith.[b] Of Asaph.

Sing for joy to God our strength;
    shout aloud to the God of Jacob!(A)
Begin the music, strike the timbrel,(B)
    play the melodious harp(C) and lyre.(D)

Sound the ram’s horn(E) at the New Moon,(F)
    and when the moon is full, on the day of our festival;
this is a decree for Israel,
    an ordinance of the God of Jacob.(G)
When God went out against Egypt,(H)
    he established it as a statute for Joseph.

I heard an unknown voice say:(I)

“I removed the burden(J) from their shoulders;(K)
    their hands were set free from the basket.
In your distress you called(L) and I rescued you,
    I answered(M) you out of a thundercloud;
    I tested you at the waters of Meribah.[c](N)
Hear me, my people,(O) and I will warn you—
    if you would only listen to me, Israel!
You shall have no foreign god(P) among you;
    you shall not worship any god other than me.
10 I am the Lord your God,
    who brought you up out of Egypt.(Q)
Open(R) wide your mouth and I will fill(S) it.

11 “But my people would not listen to me;
    Israel would not submit to me.(T)
12 So I gave them over(U) to their stubborn hearts
    to follow their own devices.

13 “If my people would only listen to me,(V)
    if Israel would only follow my ways,
14 how quickly I would subdue(W) their enemies
    and turn my hand against(X) their foes!
15 Those who hate the Lord would cringe(Y) before him,
    and their punishment would last forever.
16 But you would be fed with the finest of wheat;(Z)
    with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 81:1 In Hebrew texts 81:1-16 is numbered 81:2-17.
  2. Psalm 81:1 Title: Probably a musical term
  3. Psalm 81:7 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.

26 Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: 27 “I am the Lord, the God of all mankind.(A) Is anything too hard for me?(B) 28 Therefore this is what the Lord says: I am about to give this city into the hands of the Babylonians and to Nebuchadnezzar(C) king of Babylon, who will capture it.(D) 29 The Babylonians who are attacking this city will come in and set it on fire; they will burn it down,(E) along with the houses(F) where the people aroused my anger by burning incense on the roofs to Baal and by pouring out drink offerings(G) to other gods.(H)

30 “The people of Israel and Judah have done nothing but evil in my sight from their youth;(I) indeed, the people of Israel have done nothing but arouse my anger(J) with what their hands have made,(K) declares the Lord. 31 From the day it was built until now, this city(L) has so aroused my anger and wrath that I must remove(M) it from my sight. 32 The people of Israel and Judah have provoked(N) me by all the evil(O) they have done—they, their kings and officials,(P) their priests and prophets, the people of Judah and those living in Jerusalem. 33 They turned their backs(Q) to me and not their faces; though I taught(R) them again and again, they would not listen or respond to discipline.(S) 34 They set up their vile images(T) in the house that bears my Name(U) and defiled(V) it. 35 They built high places for Baal in the Valley of Ben Hinnom(W) to sacrifice their sons and daughters to Molek,(X) though I never commanded—nor did it enter my mind(Y)—that they should do such a detestable(Z) thing and so make Judah sin.(AA)

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16 Live in harmony with one another.(A) Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.[a] Do not be conceited.(B)

17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil.(C) Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.(D) 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.(E) 19 Do not take revenge,(F) my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”[b](G) says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
    if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”[c](H)

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 12:16 Or willing to do menial work
  2. Romans 12:19 Deut. 32:35
  3. Romans 12:20 Prov. 25:21,22

Jesus Predicts His Death

20 Now there were some Greeks(A) among those who went up to worship at the festival. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida(B) in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.

23 Jesus replied, “The hour(C) has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.(D) 24 Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies,(E) it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25 Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it(F) for eternal life.(G) 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be.(H) My Father will honor the one who serves me.

27 “Now my soul is troubled,(I) and what shall I say? ‘Father,(J) save me from this hour’?(K) No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name!”

Then a voice came from heaven,(L) “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.

30 Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit,(M) not mine. 31 Now is the time for judgment on this world;(N) now the prince of this world(O) will be driven out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up[a] from the earth,(P) will draw all people to myself.”(Q) 33 He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.(R)

34 The crowd spoke up, “We have heard from the Law(S) that the Messiah will remain forever,(T) so how can you say, ‘The Son of Man(U) must be lifted up’?(V) Who is this ‘Son of Man’?”

35 Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light(W) just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light,(X) before darkness overtakes you.(Y) Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. 36 Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.”(Z) When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.(AA)

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Footnotes

  1. John 12:32 The Greek for lifted up also means exalted.

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