Jeremiah 1 - 2 - Legacy Standard Bible

Jeremiah 1 - 2

Yahweh Sends Jeremiah the Prophet

The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin, 2 to whom the word of Yahweh came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign. 3 And it came in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah the son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the exile of Jerusalem in the fifth month. 4 Now the word of Yahweh came to me saying, 5

“Before I formed you in the innermost parts I knew you,

And before you came out from the womb I set you apart;

I have given you as a prophet to the nations.”

Then I said, “Alas, Lord Yahweh!

Behold, I do not know how to speak

Because I am a youth.”

But Yahweh said to me,

“Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’

Because everywhere I send you, you shall go,

And all that I command you, you shall speak.

Do not be afraid of them,

For I am with you to deliver you,” declares Yahweh.

9 Then Yahweh sent forth His hand and touched my mouth, and Yahweh said to me,

“Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.

See, I have appointed you this day over the nations and over the kingdoms,

To uproot and to tear down,

To cause to perish and to pull down,

To build and to plant.”

The Almond Rod and Boiling Pot

11 Now the word of Yahweh came to me saying, “What do you see, Jeremiah?” And I said, “I see a rod of an almond tree.” 12 Then Yahweh said to me, “You have seen well, for I am watching over My word to do it.” 13 The word of Yahweh came to me a second time saying, “What do you see?” And I said, “I see a boiling pot, facing away from the north.” 14 Then Yahweh said to me, “From the north the evil will break open on all the inhabitants of the land. 15 For, behold, I am calling all the families of the kingdoms of the north,” declares Yahweh; “and they will come, and each one of them will put his throne at the opening of the gates of Jerusalem, and against all its walls round about and against all the cities of Judah. 16 I will speak My judgments on them concerning all their evil, whereby they have forsaken Me and have burned incense to other gods and worshiped the works of their own hands. 17 Now, gird up your loins and arise and speak to them all which I command you. Do not be dismayed before them, lest I dismay you before them. 18 Now behold, I have given you today as a fortified city and as a pillar of iron and as walls of bronze against the whole land, to the kings of Judah, to its princes, to its priests, and to the people of the land. 19 And they will fight against you, but they will not overcome you, for I am with you to deliver you,” declares Yahweh.

Judah Transgresses Against Yahweh

Now the word of Yahweh came to me saying, 2 “Go and call out in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Thus says Yahweh,

“I remember concerning you the lovingkindness of your youth,

The love of your betrothals,

Your walking after Me in the wilderness,

Through a land not sown.

Israel was holy to Yahweh,

The first of His produce.

All who ate of it became guilty;

Evil came upon them,” declares Yahweh.’”

4 Hear the word of Yahweh, O house of Jacob and all the families of the house of Israel. 5 Thus says Yahweh,

“What injustice did your fathers find in Me,

That they went far from Me

And walked after vanity and became vain?

They did not say, ‘Where is Yahweh

Who brought us up out of the land of Egypt,

Who led us through the wilderness,

Through a land of deserts and of pits,

Through a land of drought and of the shadow of death,

Through a land that no one crossed

And where no man inhabited?’

I brought you into the fruitful land

To eat its fruit and its good things.

But you came and defiled My land,

And My inheritance you made an abomination.

The priests did not say, ‘Where is Yahweh?’

And those who handle the law did not know Me;

The shepherds also transgressed against Me,

And the prophets prophesied by Baal

And walked after things that did not profit.

“Therefore I will yet contend with you,” declares Yahweh,

“And with your sons’ sons I will contend.

For cross to the coastlands of Kittim and see,

And send to Kedar and perceive closely

And see if there has been such a thing as this!

Has a nation changed gods

Though they were not gods?

But My people have changed their glory

For that which does not profit.

Be appalled, O heavens, at this,

And be horribly afraid, be very devastated,” declares Yahweh.

“For My people have done two evils:

They have forsaken Me,

The fountain of living waters,

To hew for themselves cisterns,

Broken cisterns

That can hold no water.

“Is Israel a slave? Or is he a homeborn slave?

Why has he become plunder?

The young lions have roared at him;

They have given forth their voice.

And they have made his land a desolation;

His cities have been turned into ruin, without inhabitant.

Also the men of Memphis and Tahpanhes

Have shaved the top of your head.

Have you not done this to yourself

By your forsaking Yahweh your God

When He led you in the way?

But now what are you doing on the road to Egypt,

To drink the waters of the Nile?

Or what are you doing on the road to Assyria,

To drink the waters of the River?

Your own evil will chastise you,

And your acts of faithlessness will reprove you;

Know therefore and see that it is evil and bitter

For you to forsake Yahweh your God,

And the dread of Me is not in you,” declares Lord Yahweh of hosts.

“For long ago I broke your yoke

And tore off your bonds;

But you said, ‘I will not serve!’

For on every high hill

And under every green tree

You have lain down as a harlot.

Yet I planted you a choice vine,

A completely true seed.

How then have you turned yourself before Me

Into the degenerate shoots of a foreign vine?

Although you wash yourself with lye

And use much soap,

The stain of your iniquity is before Me,” declares Lord Yahweh.

“How can you say, ‘I am not defiled;

I have not walked after the Baals’?

Look at your way in the valley!

Know what you have done!

You are a swift young camel entangling her ways,

A wild donkey accustomed to the wilderness,

That sniffs the wind in her passion.

In the time of her heat who can turn her away?

All who seek her will not become weary;

In her month they will find her.

Keep your feet from being barefoot

And your throat from thirst;

But you said, ‘It is hopeless!

No! For I have loved strangers,

And after them I will walk.’

“As the thief is shamed when he is found,

So the house of Israel is shamed;

They, their kings, their princes,

And their priests and their prophets,

Who say to a tree, ‘You are my father,’

And to a stone, ‘You gave me birth.’

For they have turned their back to Me

And not their face;

But in the time when their evil comes they will say,

‘Arise and save us.’

But where are your gods

Which you made for yourself?

Let them arise, if they can save you

In the time when your evil comes;

For according to the number of your cities

Are your gods, O Judah.

“Why do you contend with Me?

You have all transgressed against Me,” declares Yahweh.

“In vain I have struck your sons;

They received no discipline.

Your sword has devoured your prophets

Like a destroying lion.

O generation, behold the word of Yahweh.

Have I been a wilderness to Israel

Or a land of thick darkness?

Why do My people say, ‘We are free to roam;

We will no longer come to You’?

Can a virgin forget her ornaments,

Or a bride her attire?

Yet My people have forgotten Me

Days without number.

How well you prepare your way

To seek love!

Therefore even the wicked women

You have taught your ways.

Also on your skirts is found

The lifeblood of the innocent needy;

You did not find them breaking in.

But in spite of all these things,

Yet you said, ‘I am innocent;

Surely His anger is turned away from me.’

Behold, I will enter into judgment with you

Because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’

Why do you despise Him so much

In changing your way?

Also, you will be put to shame by Egypt

As you were put to shame by Assyria.

From this place also you will go out

With your hands on your head;

For Yahweh has rejected those in whom you trust,

And you will not succeed with them.”

Acts 28

On the Island of Malta

And when they had been brought safely through to shore, then we learned that the island was called Malta. 2 And the natives showed us extraordinary affection; for because of the rain that had set in and because of the cold, they kindled a fire and received us all. 3 But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened itself on his hand. 4 And when the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they began saying to one another, “Undoubtedly this man is a murderer, and though he has been saved from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.” 5 However he shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm. 6 But they were waiting for him to soon swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had waited a long time and had seen nothing unusual happen to him, changing their minds, they began to say that he was a god. 7 Now in the areas around that place were lands belonging to the leading man of the island, named Publius, who welcomed us and entertained us courteously three days. 8 And it happened that the father of Publius was lying afflicted with fever and dysentery; and Paul, going to see him and having prayed, laid his hands on him and healed him. 9 And after this had happened, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases were coming to him and being healed. 10 They also bestowed on us many honors of respect; and when we were setting sail, they supplied us with all we needed.

Paul Arrives in Rome

11 Now at the end of three months we set sail on an Alexandrian ship which had wintered at the island, and which had the Twin Brothers for its figurehead. 12 After we put into Syracuse, we stayed there for three days. 13 From there we sailed around and arrived at Rhegium, and after a day when a south wind sprang up, on the second day we came to Puteoli. 14 There we found some brothers, and were invited to stay with them for seven days; and thus we came to Rome. 15 And the brothers, when they heard about us, came from there as far as the Market of Appius and Three Inns to meet us. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage. 16 And when we entered Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him.

Paul’s Ministry in Rome

17 And it happened that after three days Paul called together those who were the leading men of the Jews, and when they came together, he began saying to them, “Brothers, though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. 18 And when they had examined me, they were willing to release me because there was no ground for putting me to death. 19 But when the Jews objected, I was forced to appeal to Caesar, not that I had any accusation against my nation. 20 For this reason, therefore, I requested to see you and to speak with you, for I am wearing this chain for the sake of the hope of Israel.” 21 And they said to him, “We have neither received letters from Judea concerning you, nor have any of the brothers come here and reported or spoken anything bad about you. 22 But we desire to hear from you what you think; for concerning this sect, it is known to us that it is spoken against everywhere.” 23 And when they had set a day for Paul, they came to him at his lodging in large numbers; and he was explaining to them by solemnly bearing witness about the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them concerning Jesus, from both the Law of Moses and from the Prophets, from morning until evening. 24 And some were being persuaded by the things spoken, but others were not believing. 25 And when they disagreed with one another, they began leaving after Paul had spoken one word, “The Holy Spirit rightly spoke through Isaiah the prophet to your fathers, 26 saying,

‘Go to this people and say,

“You will keep on hearing, but will not understand;

And you will keep on seeing, but will not perceive;

For the heart of this people has become dull,

And with their ears they scarcely hear,

And they have closed their eyes;

Lest they might see with their eyes,

And hear with their ears,

And understand with their heart and return,

And I heal them.”’

28 Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God was sent to the Gentiles—they will also hear.” 29 [When he had spoken these words, the Jews departed, having a great dispute among themselves.] 30 And he stayed two full years in his own rented quarters and was welcoming all who came to him, 31 preaching the kingdom of God and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, unhindered.

Psalm 96

Ascribe to Yahweh Glory and Strength

Sing to Yahweh a new song;

Sing to Yahweh, all the earth.

Sing to Yahweh, bless His name;

Proclaim good news of His salvation from day to day.

Recount His glory among the nations,

His wondrous deeds among all the peoples.

For great is Yahweh and greatly to be praised;

He is more fearsome than all gods.

For all the gods of the peoples are idols,

But Yahweh made the heavens.

Splendor and majesty are before Him,

Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary.

Ascribe to Yahweh, O families of the peoples,

Ascribe to Yahweh glory and strength.

Ascribe to Yahweh the glory of His name;

Lift up an offering and come into His courts.

Worship Yahweh in the splendor of holiness;

Tremble before Him, all the earth.

Say among the nations, “Yahweh reigns;

Indeed, the world is established, it will not be shaken;

He will render justice to the peoples with equity.”

Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;

Let the sea roar, as well as its fullness;

Let the field exult, and all that is in it.

Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy

Before Yahweh, for He is coming,

For He is coming to judge the earth.

He will judge the world in righteousness

And the peoples in His faithfulness.