Thursday, February 27, 2025

^10:31The mouth of the righteous drops wisdom: but the tongue of the unjust shall perish. ³²The lips of just men drop grace: but the mouth of the ungodly is perverse. ^11:1False balances are an abomination before the Lord: but a just weight is acceptable unto him. ²Wherever pride enters, there will be also disgrace: but the mouth of the lowly meditates wisdom. ³When a just man dies he leaves regret: but the destruction of the ungodly is speedy, and causes joy. ⁵Righteousness traces out blameless paths: but ungodliness encounters unjust dealing. ⁶The righteousness of upright men delivers them: but transgressors are caught in their own destruction. ⁷At the death of a just man his hope does not perish: but the boast of the ungodly perishes. ⁸A righteous man escapes from a snare, and the ungodly man is delivered up in his place. ⁹In the mouth of ungodly men is a snare to citizens: but the understanding of righteous men is prosperous. ¹⁰In the prosperity of righteous men a city prospers: ¹¹but by the mouths of ungodly men it is overthrown. ¹²A man void of understanding sneers at his fellow citizens: but a sensible man is quiet.

Brenton LXX, public domain

^4:7But though the righteous be prevented with death, yet shall he be in rest. ⁸For honourable age is not that which standeth in length of time, nor that is measured by number of years. ⁹But wisdom is the grey hair unto men, and an unspotted life is old age. ¹⁰He pleased God, and was beloved of him: so that living among sinners he was translated. ¹¹Yea, speedily was he taken away, lest that wickedness should alter his understanding, or deceit beguile his soul. ¹²For the bewitching of naughtiness doth obscure things that are honest; and the wandering of concupiscence doth undermine the simple mind. ¹³He, being made perfect in a short time, fulfilled a long time: ¹⁴for his soul pleased the Lord: therefore hasted he to take him away from among the wicked. ¹⁵This the people saw, and understood not, neither laid they up this in their minds, That his grace and mercy is with his saints, and that he hath respect unto his chosen.

Brenton LXX, public domain

^10:1“Most certainly, I tell you, one who doesn’t enter by the door into the sheep fold, but climbs up some other way, is a thief and a robber. ²But one who enters in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. ³The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. ⁴Whenever he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. ⁵They will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him; for they don’t know the voice of strangers.” ⁶Jesus spoke this parable to them, but they didn’t understand what he was telling them. ⁷Jesus therefore said to them again, “Most certainly, I tell you, I am the sheep’s door. ⁸All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn’t listen to them. ⁹I am the door. If anyone enters in by me, he will be saved, and will go in and go out and will find pasture.

WEB, public domain

^1:11Woe to them! For they went in the way of Cain, and ran riotously in the error of Balaam for hire, and perished in Korah’s rebellion. ¹²These are hidden rocky reefs in your love feasts when they feast with you, shepherds who without fear feed themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; ¹³wild waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the blackness of darkness has been reserved forever. ¹⁴About these also Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord came with ten thousands of his holy ones, ¹⁵to execute judgment on all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their works of ungodliness which they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the hard things which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” ¹⁶These are murmurers and complainers, walking after their lusts—and their mouth speaks proud things—showing respect of persons to gain advantage. ¹⁷But you, beloved, remember the words which have been spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. ¹⁸They said to you, “In the last time there will be mockers, walking after their own ungodly lusts.” ¹⁹These are those who cause divisions and are sensual, not having the Spirit. ²⁰But you, beloved, keep building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit. ²¹Keep yourselves in God’s love, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. ²²On some have compassion, making a distinction, ²³and some save, snatching them out of the fire with fear, hating even the clothing stained by the flesh. ²⁴Now to him who is able to keep them from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory in great joy, ²⁵to God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.

WEB, public domain

^13:17Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they watch on behalf of your souls, as those who will give account, that they may do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be unprofitable for you. ¹⁸Pray for us, for we are persuaded that we have a good conscience, desiring to live honorably in all things. ¹⁹I strongly urge you to do this, that I may be restored to you sooner. ²⁰Now may the God of peace, who brought again from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep with the blood of an eternal covenant, our Lord Jesus, ²¹make you complete in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

WEB, public domain

^23:2They began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man perverting the nation, forbidding paying taxes to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king.” ³Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” He answered him, “So you say.” ⁴Pilate said to the chief priests and the multitudes, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.” ⁵But they insisted, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee even to this place.” ⁶But when Pilate heard Galilee mentioned, he asked if the man was a Galilean. ⁷When he found out that he was in Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem during those days. ⁸Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad, for he had wanted to see him for a long time, because he had heard many things about him. He hoped to see some miracle done by him. ⁹He questioned him with many words, but he gave no answers. ¹⁰The chief priests and the scribes stood, vehemently accusing him. ¹¹Herod with his soldiers humiliated him and mocked him. Dressing him in luxurious clothing, they sent him back to Pilate. ¹²Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before that they were enemies with each other. ¹³Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people, ¹⁴and said to them, “You brought this man to me as one that perverts the people, and behold, having examined him before you, I found no basis for a charge against this man concerning those things of which you accuse him. ¹⁵Neither has Herod, for I sent you to him, and see, nothing worthy of death has been done by him. ¹⁶I will therefore chastise him and release him.” ¹⁷Now he had to release one prisoner to them at the feast. ¹⁸But they all cried out together, saying, “Away with this man! Release to us Barabbas!”— ¹⁹one who was thrown into prison for a certain revolt in the city, and for murder. ²⁰Then Pilate spoke to them again, wanting to release Jesus, ²¹but they shouted, saying, “Crucify! Crucify him!” ²²He said to them the third time, “Why? What evil has this man done? I have found no capital crime in him. I will therefore chastise him and release him.” ²³But they were urgent with loud voices, asking that he might be crucified. Their voices and the voices of the chief priests prevailed. ²⁴Pilate decreed that what they asked for should be done. ²⁵He released him who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus up to their will. ²⁶When they led him away, they grabbed one Simon of Cyrene, coming from the country, and laid the cross on him to carry it after Jesus. ²⁷A great multitude of the people followed him, including women who also mourned and lamented him. ²⁸But Jesus, turning to them, said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, don’t weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. ²⁹For behold, the days are coming in which they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.’ ³⁰Then they will begin to tell the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ and tell the hills, ‘Cover us.’ ³¹For if they do these things in the green tree, what will be done in the dry?” ³²There were also others, two criminals, led with him to be put to death. ³³When they came to the place that is called “The Skull”, they crucified him there with the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left. ³⁴Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” Dividing his garments among them, they cast lots. ⁴⁴It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour. ⁴⁵The sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two. ⁴⁶Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” Having said this, he breathed his last. ⁴⁷When the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, “Certainly this was a righteous man.” ⁴⁸All the multitudes that came together to see this, when they saw the things that were done, returned home beating their chests. ⁴⁹All his acquaintances and the women who followed with him from Galilee stood at a distance, watching these things. ⁵⁰Behold, there was a man named Joseph, who was a member of the council, a good and righteous man ⁵¹(he had not consented to their counsel and deed), from Arimathaea, a city of the Jews, who was also waiting for God’s Kingdom. ⁵²This man went to Pilate, and asked for Jesus’ body. ⁵³He took it down and wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid him in a tomb that was cut in stone, where no one had ever been laid. ⁵⁴It was the day of the Preparation, and the Sabbath was drawing near. ⁵⁵The women who had come with him out of Galilee followed after, and saw the tomb and how his body was laid. ⁵⁶They returned and prepared spices and ointments. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.

WEB, public domain

^10:9I am the door. If anyone enters in by me, he will be saved, and will go in and go out and will find pasture. ¹⁰The thief only comes to steal, kill, and destroy. I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly. ¹¹“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. ¹²He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who doesn’t own the sheep, sees the wolf coming, leaves the sheep, and flees. The wolf snatches the sheep and scatters them. ¹³The hired hand flees because he is a hired hand and doesn’t care for the sheep. ¹⁴I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and I’m known by my own; ¹⁵even as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. I lay down my life for the sheep. ¹⁶I have other sheep which are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will hear my voice. They will become one flock with one shepherd.

WEB, public domain

^1:11Woe to them! For they went in the way of Cain, and ran riotously in the error of Balaam for hire, and perished in Korah’s rebellion. ¹²These are hidden rocky reefs in your love feasts when they feast with you, shepherds who without fear feed themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; ¹³wild waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the blackness of darkness has been reserved forever. ¹⁴About these also Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord came with ten thousands of his holy ones, ¹⁵to execute judgment on all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their works of ungodliness which they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the hard things which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” ¹⁶These are murmurers and complainers, walking after their lusts—and their mouth speaks proud things—showing respect of persons to gain advantage. ¹⁷But you, beloved, remember the words which have been spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. ¹⁸They said to you, “In the last time there will be mockers, walking after their own ungodly lusts.” ¹⁹These are those who cause divisions and are sensual, not having the Spirit. ²⁰But you, beloved, keep building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit. ²¹Keep yourselves in God’s love, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. ²²On some have compassion, making a distinction, ²³and some save, snatching them out of the fire with fear, hating even the clothing stained by the flesh. ²⁴Now to him who is able to keep them from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory in great joy, ²⁵to God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.

WEB, public domain

^23:2They began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man perverting the nation, forbidding paying taxes to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king.” ³Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” He answered him, “So you say.” ⁴Pilate said to the chief priests and the multitudes, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.” ⁵But they insisted, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee even to this place.” ⁶But when Pilate heard Galilee mentioned, he asked if the man was a Galilean. ⁷When he found out that he was in Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem during those days. ⁸Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad, for he had wanted to see him for a long time, because he had heard many things about him. He hoped to see some miracle done by him. ⁹He questioned him with many words, but he gave no answers. ¹⁰The chief priests and the scribes stood, vehemently accusing him. ¹¹Herod with his soldiers humiliated him and mocked him. Dressing him in luxurious clothing, they sent him back to Pilate. ¹²Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before that they were enemies with each other. ¹³Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people, ¹⁴and said to them, “You brought this man to me as one that perverts the people, and behold, having examined him before you, I found no basis for a charge against this man concerning those things of which you accuse him. ¹⁵Neither has Herod, for I sent you to him, and see, nothing worthy of death has been done by him. ¹⁶I will therefore chastise him and release him.” ¹⁷Now he had to release one prisoner to them at the feast. ¹⁸But they all cried out together, saying, “Away with this man! Release to us Barabbas!”— ¹⁹one who was thrown into prison for a certain revolt in the city, and for murder. ²⁰Then Pilate spoke to them again, wanting to release Jesus, ²¹but they shouted, saying, “Crucify! Crucify him!” ²²He said to them the third time, “Why? What evil has this man done? I have found no capital crime in him. I will therefore chastise him and release him.” ²³But they were urgent with loud voices, asking that he might be crucified. Their voices and the voices of the chief priests prevailed. ²⁴Pilate decreed that what they asked for should be done. ²⁵He released him who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus up to their will. ²⁶When they led him away, they grabbed one Simon of Cyrene, coming from the country, and laid the cross on him to carry it after Jesus. ²⁷A great multitude of the people followed him, including women who also mourned and lamented him. ²⁸But Jesus, turning to them, said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, don’t weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. ²⁹For behold, the days are coming in which they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.’ ³⁰Then they will begin to tell the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ and tell the hills, ‘Cover us.’ ³¹For if they do these things in the green tree, what will be done in the dry?” ³²There were also others, two criminals, led with him to be put to death. ³³When they came to the place that is called “The Skull”, they crucified him there with the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left. ³⁴Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” Dividing his garments among them, they cast lots. ⁴⁴It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour. ⁴⁵The sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two. ⁴⁶Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” Having said this, he breathed his last. ⁴⁷When the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, “Certainly this was a righteous man.” ⁴⁸All the multitudes that came together to see this, when they saw the things that were done, returned home beating their chests. ⁴⁹All his acquaintances and the women who followed with him from Galilee stood at a distance, watching these things. ⁵⁰Behold, there was a man named Joseph, who was a member of the council, a good and righteous man ⁵¹(he had not consented to their counsel and deed), from Arimathaea, a city of the Jews, who was also waiting for God’s Kingdom. ⁵²This man went to Pilate, and asked for Jesus’ body. ⁵³He took it down and wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid him in a tomb that was cut in stone, where no one had ever been laid. ⁵⁴It was the day of the Preparation, and the Sabbath was drawing near. ⁵⁵The women who had come with him out of Galilee followed after, and saw the tomb and how his body was laid. ⁵⁶They returned and prepared spices and ointments. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.

WEB, public domain