Isaiah 57 - 58 - Legacy Standard Bible

Isaiah 57 - 58

Evil Leaders Rebuked

The righteous man perishes, and no man puts it upon his heart;

And men of lovingkindness are gathered away, while no one understands.

For the righteous man is gathered away from evil,

He enters into peace;

They rest in their beds,

Each one who walked in his upright way.

“But draw near, you sons of a soothsayer,

Seed of an adulterer and a prostitute.

Against whom do you jest?

Against whom do you open wide your mouth

And stick out your tongue?

Are you not children of transgression,

Seed of lying,

Who inflame yourselves among the oaks,

Under every green tree,

Who slaughter the children in the ravines,

Under the clefts of the cliffs?

Among the smooth stones of the ravine

Is your portion, they are your lot;

Even to them you have poured out a drink offering;

You have made a grain offering.

Shall I relent concerning these things?

Upon a mountain lofty and lifted up

You have made your bed.

You also went up there to offer sacrifice.

Behind the door and the doorpost

You have set up your memorial;

Indeed, far removed from Me, you have uncovered yourself,

And have gone up and made your bed wide,

And you have cut a covenant for yourself with them;

You have loved their bed;

You have looked on their manhood.

You have journeyed to the king with oil

And increased your perfumes;

You have sent your envoys a great distance

And made them go down to Sheol.

You were tired out by the length of your road,

Yet you did not say, ‘It is hopeless.’

You found renewed strength;

Therefore you did not faint.

“Of whom were you anxious and fearful

When you lied and did not remember Me,

Nor even put Me upon your heart?

Was I not silent even for a long time

So you do not fear Me?

I will declare your righteousness and your deeds,

But they will not profit you.

When you cry out, let your collection of idols deliver you.

But the wind will lift all of them up,

And a breath will take them away.

But he who takes refuge in Me will inherit the land

And will possess My holy mountain.”

Yahweh Revives the Spirit of the Lowly

And it will be said,

“Build up, build up, prepare the way,

Remove every stumbling block out of the way of My people.”

For thus says the One high and lifted up

Who dwells forever, whose name is Holy,

“I dwell on a high and holy place,

And also with the crushed and lowly of spirit

In order to revive the spirit of the lowly

And to revive the heart of the crushed.

For I will not contend forever,

Nor will I always be angry;

For the spirit would grow faint before Me,

And the breath of those whom I have made.

Because of the iniquity of his greedy gain I was angry and struck him;

I hid My face and was angry,

And he went on turning away, in the way of his heart.

I have seen his ways, but I will heal him;

I will lead him and pay him and his mourners in full with comfort,

Creating the praise of the lips.

Peace, peace to him who is far and to him who is near,”

Says Yahweh, “and I will heal him.”

But the wicked are like the tossing sea,

For it cannot be quiet,

And its waters toss up refuse and mud.

“There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.”

Fasting as Yahweh Chooses

“Call out from your throat, do not hold back;

Raise your voice like a trumpet,

And declare to My people their transgression

And to the house of Jacob their sins.

Yet they seek Me day by day and find pleasure in knowing My ways,

As a nation that has done righteousness

And has not forsaken the judgment of their God.

They ask Me for righteous judgments;

They find pleasure in the nearness of God.

‘Why have we fasted and You do not see?

Why have we afflicted our souls and You do not know?’

Behold, on the day of your fast you find your desire,

And oppress all your workers.

Behold, you fast for contention and quarreling and to strike with a wicked fist.

You do not fast like you do today to make your voice heard on high.

Is it a fast like this which I choose, a day for a man to afflict himself?

Is it for bowing one’s head like a reed

And for spreading out sackcloth and ashes as a bed?

Will you call this a fast, even an acceptable day to Yahweh?

Is this not the fast which I choose,

To loosen the bonds of wickedness,

To release the bands of the yoke,

And to let the oppressed go free

And break every yoke?

Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry

And bring the afflicted homeless into the house;

When you see the naked, you cover him;

And not to hide yourself from your own flesh?

Then your light will break out like the dawn,

And your recovery will speedily spring forth;

And your righteousness will go before you;

The glory of Yahweh will be your rear guard.

Then you will call, and Yahweh will answer;

You will cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’

If you remove the yoke from your midst,

The pointing of the finger and speaking wickedness,

And if you offer your soul to the hungry

And satisfy the soul of the afflicted,

Then your light will rise in darkness

And your thick darkness will become like midday.

And Yahweh will continually guide you,

And satisfy your soul in scorched places,

And fortify your bones;

And you will be like a watered garden,

And like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.

Those from among you will rebuild the ancient waste places;

You will raise up the foundations of past generation upon generation;

And you will be called the repairer of the breach,

The restorer of the paths for one to inhabit.

Keeping the Sabbath

“If because of the sabbath, you turn your foot

From doing your own desire on My holy day,

And call the sabbath a delight, the holy day of Yahweh honorable,

And honor it, by not doing your own ways,

By not finding your own desire

And speaking your own word,

Then you will take delight in Yahweh,

And I will make you ride on the heights of the earth;

And I will feed you with the inheritance of Jacob your father,

For the mouth of Yahweh has spoken.”

John 18 - 19

Jesus Betrayed and Arrested

When Jesus had spoken these words, He went forth with His disciples to the other side of the Kidron Valley, where there was a garden, into which He entered with His disciples. 2 Now Judas also, who was betraying Him, knew the place, for Jesus had often gathered there with His disciples. 3 Judas then, having received the Roman cohort and officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, *came there with lanterns and torches and weapons. 4 So Jesus, knowing all the things that were coming upon Him, went forth and *said to them, “Whom do you seek?” 5 They answered Him, “Jesus the Nazarene.” He *said to them, “I am He.” And Judas also, who was betraying Him, was standing with them. 6 So when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground. 7 Therefore He again asked them, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus the Nazarene.” 8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am He; so if you seek Me, let these go their way,” 9 in order that the word which He spoke would be fulfilled, “Of those whom You have given Me, I lost not one.” 10 Simon Peter then, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear; and the slave’s name was Malchus. 11 So Jesus said to Peter, “Put the sword into the sheath; the cup which the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?”

Jesus Before the Priests; Peter Denies Jesus

12 So the Roman cohort and the commander and the officers of the Jews, arrested Jesus and bound Him, 13 and led Him to Annas first; for he was father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. 14 Now Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it was better for one man to die on behalf of the people. 15 And Simon Peter was following Jesus, and so was another disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and entered with Jesus into the court of the high priest, 16 but Peter was standing at the door outside. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the doorkeeper, and brought Peter in. 17 Then the servant-girl who kept the door *said to Peter, “Are you not also one of this man’s disciples?” He *said, “I am not.” 18 Now the slaves and the officers were standing there, having made a charcoal fire, for it was cold and they were warming themselves; and Peter was also with them, standing and warming himself. 19 The high priest then questioned Jesus about His disciples, and about His teaching. 20 Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world; I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together; and I spoke nothing in secret. 21 Why do you question Me? Question those who have heard what I spoke to them; behold, they know what I said.” 22 And when He had said this, one of the officers standing nearby gave Jesus a slap, saying, “Is that the way You answer the high priest?” 23 Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken wrongly, bear witness of the wrong; but if rightly, why do you strike Me?” 24 So Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest. 25 Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You are not also one of His disciples, are you?” He denied it, and said, “I am not.” 26 One of the slaves of the high priest, being a relative of the one whose ear Peter cut off, *said, “Did I not see you in the garden with Him?” 27 Peter then denied it again, and immediately a rooster crowed.

Jesus Before Pilate

28 Then they *led Jesus from Caiaphas into the Praetorium, and it was early; and they themselves did not enter into the Praetorium so that they would not be defiled, but might eat the Passover. 29 Therefore Pilate went out to them and *said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” 30 They answered and said to him, “If this man were not an evildoer, we would not have delivered Him to you.” 31 So Pilate said to them, “Take Him yourselves, and judge Him according to your law.” The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death,” 32 in order that the word of Jesus which He spoke would be fulfilled, signifying by what kind of death He was about to die. 33 Therefore Pilate entered again into the Praetorium, and summoned Jesus and said to Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” 34 Jesus answered, “Are you saying this from yourself, or did others tell you about Me?” 35 Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests delivered You to me; what did You do?” 36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be delivered over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not from here.” 37 Therefore Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered, “You yourself said I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” 38 Pilate *said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews and *said to them, “I find no guilt in Him. 39 But you have a custom that I release someone for you at the Passover; do you wish then that I release for you the King of the Jews?” 40 So they cried out again, saying, “Not this man, but Barabbas.” Now Barabbas was a robber.

Jesus Flogged and Rejected as King

Pilate then took Jesus and flogged Him. 2 And when the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and put a purple robe on Him; 3 and they were coming to Him and saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and were giving Him slaps in the face. 4 And Pilate came out again and *said to them, “Behold, I am bringing Him out to you so that you may know that I find no guilt in Him.” 5 Jesus then came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate *said to them, “Behold, the man!” 6 So when the chief priests and the officers saw Him, they cried out saying, “Crucify, crucify!” Pilate *said to them, “Take Him yourselves and crucify Him, for I find no guilt in Him.” 7 The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and by that law He ought to die because He made Himself out to be the Son of God.” 8 Therefore when Pilate heard this statement, he became more afraid; 9 and he entered into the Praetorium again and *said to Jesus, “Where are You from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. 10 So Pilate *said to Him, “You do not speak to me? Do You not know that I have authority to release You, and I have authority to crucify You?” 11 Jesus answered, “You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above; for this reason he who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.” 12 As a result of this Pilate kept seeking to release Him, but the Jews cried out saying, “If you release this man, you are no friend of Caesar; everyone who makes himself to be a king opposes Caesar.” 13 Therefore when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out, and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Stone Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. 14 Now it was the day of Preparation for the Passover; it was about the sixth hour. And he *said to the Jews, “Behold, your King!” 15 So they cried out, “Away with Him! Away with Him! Crucify Him!” Pilate *said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.”

The Crucifixion

16 So he then delivered Him over to them to be crucified. 17 They took Jesus, therefore, and He went out, bearing His own cross, to the place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha. 18 There they crucified Him, and with Him two other men, one on either side, and Jesus in between. 19 And Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It was written, “JESUS THE NAZARENE, THE KING OF THE JEWS.” 20 Therefore many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Latin, and in Greek. 21 So the chief priests of the Jews were saying to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews;’ but that He said, ‘I am King of the Jews.’” 22 Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.” 23 Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His garments and made four parts, a part to each soldier and also His tunic; now that tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top. 24 So they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, to decide whose it shall be;” this was in order that the Scripture would be fulfilled: “They divided My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots.” 25 Therefore the soldiers did these things. But standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus then saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He *said to His mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” 27 Then He *said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” From that hour the disciple took her into his home.

Scripture Fulfilled—It Is Finished

28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been finished, in order to finish the Scripture, *said, “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar full of sour wine was standing there; so they put a sponge full of the sour wine upon a branch of hyssop and brought it up to His mouth. 30 Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit. 31 Then the Jews, because it was the day of Preparation, so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. 32 So the soldiers came, and broke the legs of the first man and of the other who was crucified with Him; 33 but coming to Jesus, when they saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. 35 And he who has seen has borne witness, and his witness is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also may believe. 36 For these things came to pass in order that the Scripture would be fulfilled, “Not a bone of Him shall be broken.” 37 And again another Scripture says, “They shall look on Him whom they pierced.”

Jesus Is Buried

38 Now after these things Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because of his fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate granted permission. So he came and took away His body. 39 And Nicodemus, who had first come to Him by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, weighing about one hundred litras. 40 So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen wrappings with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. 41 Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. 42 Therefore because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.

Psalm 78:1 - 78:39

That the Generation to Come Might Know

A Maskil of Asaph.

Give ear, O my people, to my instruction;

Incline your ears to the words of my mouth.

I will open my mouth in a parable;

I will pour forth dark sayings of old,

Which we have heard and known,

And our fathers have recounted to us.

We will not conceal them from their children,

But recount to the generation to come the praises of Yahweh,

And His strength and His wondrous deeds that He has done.

For He established a testimony in Jacob

And set a law in Israel,

Which He commanded our fathers

That they should teach them to their children,

That the generation to come might know, even the children yet to be born,

That they may arise and recount them to their children,

That they should set their confidence in God

And not forget the deeds of God,

But observe His commandments,

And not be like their fathers,

A stubborn and rebellious generation,

A generation that did not prepare its heart

And whose spirit was not faithful to God.

The sons of Ephraim were archers equipped with bows,

Yet they turned back in the day of battle.

They did not keep the covenant of God

And refused to walk in His law;

So they forgot His acts

And His wondrous deeds that He had shown them.

He did wonders before their fathers

In the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.

He split the sea and caused them to pass through,

And He made the waters stand up like a heap.

Then He led them with the cloud by day

And all the night with a light of fire.

He was splitting the rocks in the wilderness

And so gave them abundant drink like the ocean depths.

He brought forth streams also from the cliff face

And caused waters to run down like rivers.

Yet they still continued to sin against Him,

To rebel against the Most High in the desert.

And in their heart they put God to the test

By asking for food according to their desire.

Then they spoke against God;

They said, “Can God prepare a table in the wilderness?

Behold, He struck the rock so that waters gushed out,

And streams were overflowing;

Can He give bread also?

Will He prepare meat for His people?”

Therefore Yahweh heard and was full of wrath;

And a fire was kindled against Jacob

And anger also mounted against Israel,

Because they did not believe in God

And did not trust in His salvation.

Yet He commanded the skies above

And opened the doors of heaven;

He rained down manna upon them to eat

And gave them grain from heaven.

Man ate the bread of angels;

He sent them provision to satisfy.

He led forth the east wind in the heavens

And by His strength He guided the south wind.

Then He rained meat upon them like the dust,

Even winged fowl like the sand of the seas,

He caused them to fall in the midst of His camp,

All around His dwelling places.

So they ate and were very satisfied,

And their desire He brought to them.

Before they had satisfied their desire,

While their food was in their mouths,

The anger of God rose against them

And killed some of their stoutest ones,

And subdued the choice men of Israel.

In spite of all this they still sinned

And did not believe in His wondrous deeds.

So He brought their days to an end in futility

And their years in sudden terror.

When He killed them, then they sought Him,

And returned and sought earnestly for God;

And they remembered that God was their rock,

And the Most High God their Redeemer.

But they deceived Him with their mouth

And lied to Him with their tongue.

For their heart was not prepared to remain with Him,

Nor were they faithful in His covenant.

But He, being compassionate, atoned for their iniquity and did not destroy them;

And He abounded in turning back His anger

And did not arouse all His wrath.

Thus He remembered that they were but flesh,

A wind that goes and does not return.