Psalm 138

Of David.

I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart;
    before the “gods”(A) I will sing(B) your praise.
I will bow down toward your holy temple(C)
    and will praise your name(D)
    for your unfailing love and your faithfulness,(E)
for you have so exalted your solemn decree
    that it surpasses your fame.(F)
When I called,(G) you answered me;(H)
    you greatly emboldened(I) me.

May all the kings of the earth(J) praise you, Lord,
    when they hear what you have decreed.
May they sing(K) of the ways of the Lord,
    for the glory of the Lord(L) is great.

Though the Lord is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly;(M)
    though lofty, he sees them(N) from afar.
Though I walk(O) in the midst of trouble,
    you preserve my life.(P)
You stretch out your hand(Q) against the anger of my foes;(R)
    with your right hand(S) you save me.(T)
The Lord will vindicate(U) me;
    your love, Lord, endures forever(V)
    do not abandon(W) the works of your hands.(X)

16 The Lord says,
    “The women of Zion(A) are haughty,
walking along with outstretched necks,(B)
    flirting with their eyes,
strutting along with swaying hips,
    with ornaments jingling on their ankles.
17 Therefore the Lord will bring sores on the heads of the women of Zion;
    the Lord will make their scalps bald.(C)

18 In that day(D) the Lord will snatch away their finery: the bangles and headbands and crescent necklaces,(E) 19 the earrings and bracelets(F) and veils,(G) 20 the headdresses(H) and anklets and sashes, the perfume bottles and charms, 21 the signet rings and nose rings,(I) 22 the fine robes and the capes and cloaks,(J) the purses 23 and mirrors, and the linen garments(K) and tiaras(L) and shawls.

24 Instead of fragrance(M) there will be a stench;(N)
    instead of a sash,(O) a rope;
instead of well-dressed hair, baldness;(P)
    instead of fine clothing, sackcloth;(Q)
    instead of beauty,(R) branding.(S)
25 Your men will fall by the sword,(T)
    your warriors in battle.(U)
26 The gates(V) of Zion will lament and mourn;(W)
    destitute,(X) she will sit on the ground.(Y)

In that day(Z) seven women
    will take hold of one man(AA)
and say, “We will eat our own food(AB)
    and provide our own clothes;
only let us be called by your name.
    Take away our disgrace!”(AC)

The Branch of the Lord

In that day(AD) the Branch of the Lord(AE) will be beautiful(AF) and glorious, and the fruit(AG) of the land will be the pride and glory(AH) of the survivors(AI) in Israel. Those who are left in Zion,(AJ) who remain(AK) in Jerusalem, will be called holy,(AL) all who are recorded(AM) among the living in Jerusalem. The Lord will wash away the filth(AN) of the women of Zion;(AO) he will cleanse(AP) the bloodstains(AQ) from Jerusalem by a spirit[a] of judgment(AR) and a spirit[b] of fire.(AS) Then the Lord will create(AT) over all of Mount Zion(AU) and over those who assemble there a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of flaming fire by night;(AV) over everything the glory[c](AW) will be a canopy.(AX) It will be a shelter(AY) and shade from the heat of the day, and a refuge(AZ) and hiding place from the storm(BA) and rain.

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 4:4 Or the Spirit
  2. Isaiah 4:4 Or the Spirit
  3. Isaiah 4:5 Or over all the glory there

Believers Who Have Died

13 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed(A) about those who sleep in death,(B) so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.(C) 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again,(D) and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.(E) 15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord,(F) will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.(G) 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven,(H) with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel(I) and with the trumpet call of God,(J) and the dead in Christ will rise first.(K) 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left(L) will be caught up together with them in the clouds(M) to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord(N) forever. 18 Therefore encourage one another(O) with these words.

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The Destruction of the Temple and Signs of the End Times(A)(B)

Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, “As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another;(C) every one of them will be thrown down.”

“Teacher,” they asked, “when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?”

He replied: “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them.(D) When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.”

10 Then he said to them: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.(E) 11 There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.(F)

12 “But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. 13 And so you will bear testimony to me.(G) 14 But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves.(H) 15 For I will give you(I) words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. 16 You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends,(J) and they will put some of you to death. 17 Everyone will hate you because of me.(K) 18 But not a hair of your head will perish.(L) 19 Stand firm, and you will win life.(M)

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