Psalm 111^[a]

⁴ He then said to me: “Son of man, go now to the people of Israel and speak my words to them.^{(A) 5} You are not being sent to a people of obscure speech and strange language,^(B) but to the people of Israel— ⁶ not to many peoples of obscure speech and strange language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely if I had sent you to them, they would have listened to you.^{(C) 7} But the people of Israel are not willing to listen^(D) to you because they are not willing to listen to me, for all the Israelites are hardened and obstinate.^{(E) 8} But I will make you as unyielding and hardened as they are.^{(F) 9} I will make your forehead^(G) like the hardest stone, harder than flint.^(H) Do not be afraid of them or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious people.^(I)”

¹⁰ And he said to me, “Son of man, listen carefully and take to heart^(J) all the words I speak to you. ¹¹ Go^(K) now to your people in exile and speak to them. Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says,’^(L) whether they listen or fail to listen.^(M)”

¹² Then the Spirit lifted me up,^(N) and I heard behind me a loud rumbling sound as the glory of the Lord rose from the place where it was standing.^{[a] 13} It was the sound of the wings of the living creatures^(O) brushing against each other and the sound of the wheels beside them, a loud rumbling sound.^{(P) 14} The Spirit^(Q) then lifted me up^(R) and took me away, and I went in bitterness and in the anger of my spirit, with the strong hand of the Lord^(S) on me. ¹⁵ I came to the exiles who lived at Tel Aviv near the Kebar River.^(T) And there, where they were living, I sat among them for seven days^(U)—deeply distressed.

⁷ During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions^(A) with fervent cries and tears^(B) to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard^(C) because of his reverent submission.^{(D) 8} Son^(E) though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered^{(F) 9} and, once made perfect,^(G) he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him ¹⁰ and was designated by God to be high priest^(H) in the order of Melchizedek.^(I)

Warning Against Falling Away^(J)

¹¹ We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. ¹² In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths^(K) of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!^{(L) 13} Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant,^(M) is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. ¹⁴ But solid food is for the mature,^(N) who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.^(O)

Jesus Sends Out the Seventy-Two^(A)(B)(C)

10 After this the Lord^(D) appointed seventy-two^[a] others^(E) and sent them two by two^(F) ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go.^{(G) 2} He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.^{(H) 3} Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.^{(I) 4} Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.

⁵ “When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ ⁶ If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you. ⁷ Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages.^(J) Do not move around from house to house.

⁸ “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you.^{(K) 9} Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God^(L) has come near to you.’ ¹⁰ But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, ¹¹ ‘Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you.^(M) Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God has come near.’^{(N) 12} I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom^(O) than for that town.^(P)

¹³ “Woe to you,^(Q) Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth^(R) and ashes. ¹⁴ But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. ¹⁵ And you, Capernaum,^(S) will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades.^[b]

¹⁶ “Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.”^(T)

¹⁷ The seventy-two^(U) returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”^(V)