The announcement of the vocation of the Gentiles - Micah 4

The announcement of the vocation of the Gentiles
1 - But it shall come to pass in the latter days, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills, and the people shall flow unto it.
2 - And many nations shall go and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob, to teach us his ways, and to walk in his paths; for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
3 - And he shall judge among many peoples, and shall punish nations that are mighty and far off, and shall turn their swords into shovels, and their spears into pruning hooks; one nation will not lift up the sword against another nation, nor learn war anymore.
4 - But every man shall sit under his vine, and under his fig tree, and there shall be no one to make them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken it.
5 - For all nations walk, every man in the name of his god; but we will walk in the name of the LORD our God, for ever and ever.
6 - In that day, saith the LORD, I will gather her that lamented, and gather her that was cast out, and that which I had mistreated.
7 And I will make a remnant of her that was lame, and out of that which was cast out afar off, a mighty nation; and the LORD shall reign over them in mount Zion, from henceforth and for ever.
8 - And unto thee, O tower of the flock, the stronghold of the daughter of Zion, shall come unto thee; yea, the first domain will come to you, the kingdom of the daughter of Jerusalem.
9 - And now, why doest thou such mourning? Is there no king in you? Has your counselor perished? Has the pain seized you, as of the woman in labor?
10 She suffereth pains, and laboreth to bear, O daughter of Zion, as she that travaileth; for now thou shalt go out of the city, and dwell in the field, and shalt come to Babylon; there you will be delivered; there the Lord will redeem you from the hand of your enemies.
11 - Now many nations are gathered together against thee, which say, Let it be profaned, and let our eyes see their desire upon Zion.
12 - But they know not the thoughts of the LORD, neither do they understand his counsel; because he gathered them together like knives in a threshing floor.
13 Rise up, O daughter of Zion; for I will make your horn iron, and your nails brass; and thou shalt beat many peoples, and their gain shall be holy unto the LORD, and their substance unto the Lord of all the earth. 

Lord of the earth, thy nails, thou shalt break it, Babylon the profaned, the strength of the daughter of Zion, the strength of Zion, thou shalt go out of the city, thou shalt dwell in the field, the tower of the flock, the tower of the flock, the daughter of Jerusalem, hail, remnant, Come, and let us go up, mount the LORD.

The complaint of the people of God - Micah 7

The complaint of the people of God

1 - Woe to me! for I am made like the harvests of summer fruit, as the grapes of the vintage; there is no cluster of grapes to eat, nor any figs that my soul longs for.

2 - A merciful man has perished from the earth, and there is none righteous among men; all lay wait for blood; each one hunt his brother with the net,

3 - Their hands do evil diligently; so the prince demands, and the judge judges for the reward, and the great speech of the corruption of his soul, and so they all weave the evil.

4 - The best of them is like a thorn; The righteous is worse than the hedge of thorns; the day of your watchmen has come, the day of your punishment has come; now it will be your confusion.

5 - Believe not in a friend, neither trust in your guide; of the one that rests in your bosom, keep the doors of your mouth.

6 - For the son despiseth to the father, the daughter riseth against his mother, the daughter-in-law against his mother-in-law, the enemies of the man are those of his own house.

7 But I will look upon the LORD; I will wait on the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.

8 O my enemy, rejoice not over me; though I have fallen, I will arise; if you live in darkness, the LORD will be my light.

9 - I will suffer the wrath of the LORD, because I have sinned against him, until he shall judge my case, and execute my right; he will take me to the light, and I will see his righteousness.

10 - And my enemy shall see it, and the shame shall cover it, which saith unto me, Where is the LORD thy God? My eyes shall behold it; now it shall be trodden down like the mire of the streets.

11 - In the day that thou buildest thy walls, that day shall be far off, and the stature shall be lengthened.

12 - In that day shall he come unto thee, from Assyria and fortified cities, and from fortified cities to the river, and from the sea to the sea, and from the mountain to the mountain.

13 - But this land shall be a desolation because of the inhabitants thereof, because of the fruit of their doings.

14 - Feed thy people with thy rod, the flock of thy inheritance, that dwelleth in the forest in the midst of Carmel; feed yourselves in Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old.

15 - I will show you wonders, as in the days of your coming out of the land of Egypt.

16 - The nations shall see it, and be ashamed, because of all their might; they shall put their hand upon their mouths, and their ears shall be deaf.

17 - They shall lick the dust like a serpent, like worms of the earth, trembling, out of their hiding places; they shall fear the LORD our God, and they shall be afraid of thee.

18 - Who is God like unto thee, who forgiveth iniquity, and passeth over the rebellion of the remnant of his inheritance? He does not hold back his anger forever, because he delights in his mercy.

19 - He will have compassion on us again; He will subdue our iniquities, and you will cast all your sins into the depths of the sea.

20 - Thou shalt give unto Jacob faithfulness, and to Abraham the mercy which thou swarest unto our fathers from the days of old.

Book of Haggai - Rebuke the people urge rebuilding the temple and making promises

Haggai Chapter 1

Haggai rebukes the people

1 In the second year of king Darius, in the sixth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the LORD came by the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, the governor of Judah, and Joshua the son of Jozadak, the high priest, saying,

2 - Thus saith the LORD of hosts, saying, These people say, The time hath not yet come, the time wherein the house of the LORD shall be built.

3 - And the word of the LORD came by the prophet Haggai, saying,

4 - Is it a time for you to dwell in your houses covered, while this house is deserted?

5 - And thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.

6 - You sow much, and gather little; you eat, but you are not satisfied; you drink, but you do not drink; you dress, but no one is warmed; and he who receives wages receives him in a bored bag.

Haggai exhorts the people to rebuild the temple

7 - Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.

8 Go to the mountain and bring wood and build the house. and I will be pleased with it, and I will be glorified, saith the LORD.

9 - Ye have looked for much, but behold, it is little; and this little, when you brought it home, I dissipated with a breath. Why? said the LORD of hosts. Because of my house, which is desolate, while each one of you runs to his own house.

10 - Therefore the heavens hold the dew upon you, and the earth holdeth its fruit.

11 - And I commanded the drought to come upon the land, and upon the mountains, and upon the corn, and upon the new wine, and upon the oil, and upon the earth; and over the cattle, and over all the work of the hands.

12 - And Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jozadak, the high priest, and all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the LORD their God, and the words of the prophet Haggai, as the LORD his God had sent. and the people feared before the LORD.

13 - And Haggai the messenger of the LORD spake unto the people according to the word of the LORD, saying, I am with you, saith the LORD.

14 - And the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel the governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jozadak the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people, and they came and did the work. in the house of the LORD of hosts, his God,

15 - On the four and twentieth day of the sixth month, in the second year of king Darius.

Haggai Chapter 2

The glory of the second temple

1 - In the seventh month, on the twenty-first day of the month, the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet, saying,

2 - Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, the governor of Judah, and Joshua the son of Jozadak the high priest, and the rest of the people, saying,

3 - Who is there among you who, having stayed, saw this house in its first glory? And how do you see her now? Is not this as nothing before your eyes compared to that?

4 - And now, be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the LORD; and be strong, O Joshua the son of Jehozadak the high priest, and be strong, all the people of the land, saith the LORD, and work; for I am with you, saith the LORD of hosts.

5 - According to the word of the covenant which I made with you, when ye came out of Egypt, my Spirit abideth among you; do not be afraid.

6 - For thus saith the LORD of hosts: Yet once more will I shake the heavens and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land;

7 - And I will make all nations to tremble, and precious things shall come of all nations, and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts.

8 - The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts.

9 - The glory of the latter house shall be greater than the former, saith the LORD of hosts, and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts.

The rebuke and promise of blessing

10 - On the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came by the prophet Haggai, saying,

11 - Thus saith the LORD of hosts: Ask now the priests concerning the law, saying,

12 - If any man bring holy flesh to the edge of his garments, and touch the bread, or the stew, or the wine, or the oil, or any other food, shall it be sanctified? And the priests answered, Nay.

13 - And Haggai said, If any one that is defiled by the touch of the dead body touch any of these things, shall he be defiled? And the priests answered, saying, It shall be unclean.

14 - And Haggai answered, saying, Thus is this people, and so is this nation before me, saith the LORD; and so is all the work of his hands; and all that they offer there is unclean.

15 - Now therefore, I beseech you, consider this from this day forward, before there were cast stones upon stones in the temple of the LORD,

16 - Before these things happened, a man came to a heap of grain, twenty measures, and there were only ten; when he came to the winepress to draw fifty, there were only twenty.

17 - I smote you with burnt and with rust, and with hail, in all the work of your hands, and there was none among you that cometh unto me, saith the LORD.

18 - Consider, therefore, I beseech you from this day forward; from the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, from the day that the temple of the LORD was founded, consider these things.

19 - Is there yet seed in the barn? Moreover the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have not borne fruit; but from this day will I bless you.

The destruction of enemies

20 - And the word of the LORD came to Haggai the second time, on the twenty-fourth day of the month, saying,

21 - Speak unto Zerubbabel the governor of Judah, saying, I will shake the heavens and the earth;

22 And I will overthrow the throne of the kingdoms, and will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the Gentiles; and I will overthrow the chariots and them that walk in them; and the horses and their horsemen shall fall, every man by the sword of his brother.

23 - In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, I will take thee, O Zerubbabel, my servant, the son of Shealtiel, saith the LORD, and I will make thee as a sealing ring; because I have chosen thee, saith the LORD of hosts.

The promises of God made to Israel - Zechariah 10

The promises made to Israel

1 - I asked the LORD for rain in the time of the latter rain, even unto the LORD that maketh lightnings; and he shall give them showers of rain, and every herb in the field.

2 - For the idols speak vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie, and tell false dreams; with vanity comfort, therefore they go their way like sheep; they are afflicted, because there is no shepherd.

3 - Against the shepherds my anger is kindled, and I will punish the goats; but the LORD of hosts will visit his flock, the house of Judah, and he will make them like his mighty horse in battle.

4 - Out of him shall come forth the corner stone, and his bow, from him the bow of war, from him shall all the oppressor go forth together.

5 And they shall be as mighty men who in battle shall crush the enemy in the mire of the streets; for the LORD will be with them; and they shall confound them that ride upon horses.

6 - And I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph, and I will bring them again, because I have compassion on them; and they shall be as though I had not rejected them, for I am the LORD their God, and I will hear them.

7 And the men of Ephraim shall be as a mighty man, and his heart shall be glad as with wine; and his sons shall summer, and shall rejoice; his heart shall rejoice in the LORD.

8 - I will whistle and gather them; for I have redeemed them; and they shall multiply as before they were multiplied.

9 - Though I have scattered them among the peoples, they shall remember me in remote places; and they shall live with their children, and they shall return.

10 - For I will bring them again from the land of Egypt, and will gather them from Assyria; and I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon, and there shall be no place enough for them.

11 And he shall pass over the sea with anguish, and shall smite the waves in the sea, and all the depths of the Nile shall wither; then the pride of Assyria shall be overthrown, and the scepter of Egypt shall withdraw.

12 - And I will strengthen them in the LORD, and they shall walk in his name, saith the LORD.

The Scribes and Pharisees Censored by Jesus - Matthew 23

First places at suppers and in chairs
1 - Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,

2 - Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat:

3 - All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.

4 - For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.

5 - But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,*phylacteries: pieces of parchment containing sentences of the law

6 - And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,

7 - And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.

8 - But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.

9 - And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.

10 - Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.

11. But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.

12 - And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

The Scribes and Pharisees Censored by Jesus
13 - But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.

14 - Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.

15 - Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.

16 - Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!

17 - Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?

18 - And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty.*guilty: or, debtor, or, bound

19 - Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?

20 - Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon.

21 - And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein.

22 - And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon.

23 - Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.*anise: Gr. dill

24 - Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.

25 - Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.

26 - Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.

27 - Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.

28 - Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

29 - Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,

30 - And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.

31 - Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.

32 - Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.

33 - Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?

34 - Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:

35 - That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.

36 - Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.

37 - O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!

38 - Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.

39 - For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

Jesus is arrested and questioned by the Sanhedrin - Matthew 26

End of Discourses on the Judgment of Nations
1 - And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said unto his disciples,
2 - Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.
3 - Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas,
4 - And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him.
5 - But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the people.

Jesus is anointed in Bethany
6 - Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper,
7 - There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat.
8 - But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste?
9 - For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.
10 - When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me.
11 - For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always.
12 - For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial.
13 - Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.
14 - Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests,
15 - And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.
16 - And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.
17 - Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover?
18 - And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Master saith, My time is at hand; I will keep the passover at thy house with my disciples.
19 - And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready the passover.

The Last Passover and the Lord's Supper. The betrayal
20 - Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve.
21 - And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.
22 - And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I?
23 - And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me.
24 - The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born.
25 - Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said.
26 - And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.*blessed it: many Greek copies have gave thanks
27 - And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;
28 - For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
29 - But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.
30 - And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.*hymn: or, psalm
31 - Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.
32 - But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee.
33 - Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.*offended: or, though the faith of other men should be shaken and fail, yet mine will be firm and constant
34 - Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.
35 - Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.
36 - Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.
37 - And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.
38 - Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.
39 - And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
40 - And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?
41-  Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
42 - He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.
43 - And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy.
44 - And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.
45 - Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
46 - Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.

Jesus is arrested and taken to be interrogated
47 - And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people.
48 - Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast.
49 - And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him.
50 - And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.
51 - And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest's, and smote off his ear.
52 - Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
53 - Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?
54 - But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?
55 - In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me.
56 - But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.

Jesus questioned before the Sanhedrin
57 - And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.
58 - But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest's palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end.
59 - Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;
60 - But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses,
61 - And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.
62 - And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?
63 - But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.
64 - Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
65 - Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He