Isaiah 14 - 15 - Legacy Standard Bible

Isaiah 14 - 15

Israel’s Restoration and Dominion

When Yahweh will have compassion on Jacob and again choose Israel, and put them in their own land, then sojourners will join them and attach themselves to the house of Jacob. 2 And the peoples will take them along and bring them to their place, and the house of Israel will possess them as an inheritance in the land of Yahweh for their male and female slaves; and they will take their captors captive and will have dominion over their taskmasters. 3 And it will be in the day when Yahweh gives you rest from your pain and turmoil and harsh slavery in which you have been enslaved, 4 that you will take up this taunt against the king of Babylon, and say,

“How the taskmaster has ceased,

And how fury has ceased!

Yahweh has broken the staff of the wicked,

The scepter of rulers

Which used to strike the peoples in fury with unceasing strokes,

Which had dominion over the nations in anger with unrestrained persecution.

The whole earth is at rest and is quiet;

They break forth into shouts of joy.

Even the cypress trees are glad over you, and the cedars of Lebanon, saying,

‘Since you were laid low, no tree cutter comes up against us.’

Sheol from beneath trembles excitedly over you to meet you when you come;

It wakens for you the spirits of the dead, all the leaders of the earth;

It raises all the kings of the nations from their thrones.

They will all answer and say to you,

‘Even you have been made weak as we,

You have become like us.

Your pride and the music of your harps

Have been brought down to Sheol;

Maggots are spread out as your bed beneath you

And worms are your covering.’

How you have fallen from heaven,

O star of the morning, son of the dawn!

You have been cut down to the earth,

You who have weakened the nations!

But you said in your heart,

‘I will ascend to heaven;

I will raise my throne above the stars of God,

And I will sit on the mount of assembly

In the recesses of the north.

I will ascend above the heights of the clouds;

I will make myself like the Most High.’

Nevertheless you will be brought down to Sheol,

To the recesses of the pit.

Those who see you will gaze at you,

They will carefully consider you, saying,

‘Is this the man who made the earth tremble,

Who caused kingdoms to quake,

Who made the world like a wilderness

And pulled down its cities,

Who did not allow his prisoners to go home?’

All the kings of the nations lie in glory,

Each in his own place.

But you have been cast out of your grave

Like an abhorred branch,

Clothed with those killed who are pierced with a sword,

Who go down to the stones of the pit

Like a trampled corpse.

You will not be united with them in burial,

Because you have ruined your country,

You have killed your people.

May the seed of evildoers not be called upon forever.

Prepare for his sons a place of slaughter

Because of the iniquity of their fathers.

They must not arise and take possession of the earth

And fill the face of the world with cities.”

22 “I will rise up against them,” declares Yahweh of hosts, “and will cut off from Babylon name and remnant, offspring and posterity,” declares Yahweh. 23 “I will also make it a possession for the hedgehog and swamps of water, and I will sweep it with the broom of destruction,” declares Yahweh of hosts.

Yahweh’s Plan to Break Assyrian Rule

24 Yahweh of hosts has sworn saying, “Surely, just as I have intended so it has happened, and just as I have counseled so it will stand, 25 to break Assyria in My land, and I will trod him down on My mountains. Then his yoke will be removed from them and his burden removed from their shoulder. 26 This is the counsel that is counseled against the whole earth; and this is the hand that is stretched out against all the nations. 27 For Yahweh of hosts has counseled, and who can thwart it? And as for His stretched-out hand, who can turn it back?”

An Oracle Concerning Philistia

28 In the year that King Ahaz died this oracle came: 29

“Do not be glad, O Philistia, all of you,

Because the rod that struck you is broken;

For from the serpent’s root a viper will come out,

And its fruit will be a flying fiery serpent.

And the foremost of the poor will eat,

And the needy will lie down in security;

I will put to death your root with famine,

And it will kill off your remnant.

Wail, O gate; cry, O city;

Melt away, O Philistia, all of you;

For smoke comes from the north,

And there is no straggler in his ranks.

How then will one answer the messengers of the nation?

That Yahweh has founded Zion,

And the afflicted of His people will take refuge in it.”

An Oracle Concerning Moab

The oracle concerning Moab.

Surely in a night Ar of Moab is destroyed and ruined;

Surely in a night Kir of Moab is destroyed and ruined.

They have gone up to the temple and to Dibon, even to the high places to weep.

Moab wails over Nebo and Medeba;

Everyone’s head is bald and every beard is cut off.

In their streets they have girded themselves with sackcloth;

On their rooftops and in their squares

Everyone is wailing, dissolved in weeping.

Heshbon and Elealeh also cry out,

Their voice is heard all the way to Jahaz;

Therefore the armed men of Moab make a loud shout;

His soul trembles within him.

My heart cries out for Moab;

Those who flee from her are as far as Zoar and Eglath‑shelishiyah,

For they go up the ascent of Luhith weeping;

Surely on the road to Horonaim they keep awake with crying in distress over their destruction.

For the waters of Nimrim are desolate.

Surely the grass is dried up, the tender grass has completely ceased,

There is no green thing.

Therefore the abundance they have made and stored up

They carry off over the brook of Arabim.

For the cry has gone around the territory of Moab,

Its wailing goes as far as Eglaim and its wailing even to Beer‑elim.

For the waters of Dimon are full of blood;

Surely I will put added woes upon Dimon,

A lion upon those of Moab who have escaped and upon the remnant of the land.

Luke 9

The Twelve Disciples Sent Out

And calling the twelve together, He gave them power and authority over all the demons and to heal diseases. 2 And He sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. 3 And He said to them, “Take nothing for your journey, neither a staff, nor a bag, nor bread, nor money; nor have two tunics apiece. 4 And whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that city. 5 And as for those who do not receive you, as you go out from that city, shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” 6 And departing, they were going throughout the villages, proclaiming the gospel and healing everywhere. 7 Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was happening, and he was greatly perplexed, because it was said by some that John had risen from the dead, 8 and by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the prophets of old had risen again. 9 And Herod said, “I myself had John beheaded, but who is this man about whom I hear such things?” And he kept trying to see Him. 10 And when the apostles returned, they recounted to Him all that they had done. Taking them with Him, He slipped away by Himself to a city called Bethsaida. 11 But when the crowds became aware of this, they followed Him; and welcoming them, He began speaking to them about the kingdom of God and curing those who had need of healing.

Jesus Feeds Five Thousand

12 Now the day was ending, and the twelve came and said to Him, “Send the crowd away, that they may go into the surrounding villages and countryside and obtain lodging and find provisions, for here we are in a desolate place.” 13 But He said to them, “You give them something to eat!” And they said, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish, unless perhaps we go and buy food for all these people.” 14 (For there were about five thousand men.) And He said to His disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.” 15 And they did so, and had them all sit down. 16 Then He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed them. And He broke them and kept giving them to the disciples to set before the crowd. 17 And they all ate and were satisfied; and the broken pieces which they had left over were picked up, twelve baskets full.

Peter Confesses Jesus Is the Christ

18 And it happened that while He was praying alone, the disciples were with Him, and He questioned them, saying, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” 19 And they answered and said, “John the Baptist, and others say Elijah, but others, that one of the prophets of old has risen again.” 20 And He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered and said, “The Christ of God.” 21 But He warned them and directed them not to tell this to anyone, 22 saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed and be raised up on the third day.”

Take Up Your Cross

23 And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. 24 For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it. 25 For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself? 26 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory, and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. 27 But I say to you truthfully, there are some of those standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.”

The Transfiguration

28 Now it happened some eight days after these words, that taking along Peter and John and James, He went up on the mountain to pray. 29 And it happened that while He was praying, the appearance of His face became different, and His clothing became white and gleaming. 30 And behold, two men were talking with Him, and they were Moses and Elijah, 31 who, appearing in glory, were speaking of His departure which He was about to fulfill at Jerusalem. 32 Now Peter and his companions had been overcome with sleep, but when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men standing with Him. 33 And it happened that as they were leaving Him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three booths: one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—not realizing what he was saying. 34 While he was saying this, a cloud formed and began to overshadow them; and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 Then a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My Son, My Chosen One; listen to Him!” 36 And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent, and reported to no one in those days any of the things which they had seen.

Jesus Casts Out a Demon

37 Now it happened on the next day, that when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met Him. 38 And behold, a man from the crowd shouted, saying, “Teacher, I beg You to look at my son, for he is my only one, 39 and behold, a spirit seizes him, and he suddenly screams, and it throws him into a convulsion with foaming at the mouth, and only with difficulty does it leave him, mauling him as it leaves. 40 And I begged Your disciples to cast it out, and they could not.” 41 And Jesus answered and said, “You unbelieving and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you and put up with you? Bring your son here.” 42 Now while he was still approaching, the demon slammed him to the ground and threw him into a convulsion. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit and healed the boy and gave him back to his father. 43 And they were all astonished at the majesty of God.

Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection

But while everyone was marveling at all that He was doing, He said to His disciples, 44 “Put these words into your ears; for the Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men.” 45 But they did not understand this statement, and it was concealed from them so that they would not perceive it, and they were afraid to ask Him about this statement.

Who Is the Greatest?

46 Now an argument started among them as to which of them might be the greatest. 47 But Jesus, knowing what they were thinking in their heart, took a child and stood him by His side, 48 and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in My name receives Me, and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me; for the one who is least among all of you, this is the one who is great.” 49 And John answered and said, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to hinder him because he does not follow along with us.” 50 But Jesus said to him, “Do not hinder him, for he who is not against you is for you.” 51 Now it happened that when the days for Him to be taken up were soon to be fulfilled, He set His face to go to Jerusalem; 52 and He sent messengers on ahead of Him, and they went and entered a village of the Samaritans to make arrangements for Him. 53 But they did not receive Him, because He was journeying with His face toward Jerusalem. 54 And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” 55 But He turned and rebuked them, [and said, “You do not know what kind of spirit you are of, 56 for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.”] And they went on to another village.

The Cost of Following Jesus

57 And as they were going along the road, someone said to Him, “I will follow You wherever You go.” 58 And Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” 59 And He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.” 60 But He said to him, “Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God.” 61 Another also said, “I will follow You, Lord, but first permit me to say farewell to those at home.” 62 But Jesus said to him, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Psalm 42 - 43

My Soul Thirsts for God

For the choir director. A Maskil of the sons of Korah.

As the deer pants for the water brooks,

So my soul pants for You, O God.

My soul thirsts for God, for the living God;

When shall I come and appear before God?

My tears have been my food day and night,

While they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”

These things I remember and I pour out my soul within me.

For I used to go along with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God,

With the sound of a shout of joy and thanksgiving, a multitude keeping festival.

Why are you in despair, O my soul?

And why are you disturbed within me?

Wait for God, for I shall still praise Him,

For the salvation of His presence.

O my God, my soul is in despair within me;

Therefore I remember You from the land of the Jordan

And the peaks of Hermon, from Mount Mizar.

Deep calls to deep at the sound of Your waterfalls;

All Your breakers and Your waves have rolled over me.

By day, Yahweh will command His lovingkindness;

And by night, His song will be with me,

A prayer to the God of my life.

I say to God my rock, “Why have You forgotten me?

Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?”

As a shattering of my bones, my adversaries reproach me,

While they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”

Why are you in despair, O my soul?

And why are you disturbed within me?

Wait for God, for I shall still praise Him,

The salvation of my presence and my God.

Send Out Your Light and Your Truth

Give justice to me, O God, and plead my case against an unholy nation;

Oh protect me from the deceitful and unrighteous man!

For You are the God of my strength; why have You rejected me?

Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?

Oh send out Your light and Your truth, let them lead me;

Let them bring me to Your holy mountain

And to Your dwelling places.

Then I will go to the altar of God,

To God my exceeding joy;

And upon the lyre I shall praise You, O God, my God.

Why are you in despair, O my soul?

And why are you disturbed within me?

Wait for God, for I shall still praise Him,

The salvation of my presence and my God.