The fast that does not please God - Zechariah 7

The fast that does not please God

1 - And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Darius, that the word of the LORD came to Zechariah on the fourth day of the ninth month, which is Kislev.

2 - And when the people sent Zarezer and Rennenmelech and his men into the house of God to entreat the favor of the LORD,

3 - And to say unto the priests that were in the house of the LORD of hosts, and to the prophets, I will weep in the fifth month, and do abstinence, as I have done for so many years?

4 - And the word of the LORD of hosts came unto me, saying,

5 Speak unto all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying, When ye fasted and mourned in the fifth and in the seventh month, during these seventy years, was it really for me that ye fasted?

6 - Or when thou didst eat, and when thou didst drink, was it not for thyself to eat and drink?

7 - Were not these the words which the LORD preached by the ministry of the first prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and in peace, with its cities round about it, and the south and the plain were inhabited?

8 - And the word of the LORD came unto Zechariah, saying,

9 - Thus saith the LORD of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, show mercy and mercy, every man to his brother.

10 And do not oppress the widow, or the fatherless, or the stranger, or the poor, neither let every man try evil in his heart against his brother.

11 - But they would not hearken, and gave me a rebellious shoulder, and their ears deafened, that they should not hear.

12 - Yea, they made their hearts as a diamond stone, that they would not hear the law, nor the words which the LORD of hosts had sent by his Spirit through the first prophets; from there came the great wrath of the LORD of hosts.

13 - And it came to pass, as he cried, and they hearkened not, they also cried, and I hearkened not, saith the Lord of hosts.

14 - And I have scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations which they knew not, and the land was desolate after them, so that no man passed by it, nor turned; because they have made the desired land desolate.

Jesus is transfigured before his disciples - Matthew 17

Jesus is transfigured before his disciples

1 - And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,

2 - And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.

3  And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.

4 - Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

5 - While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

6 - And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.

7 - And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.

8 - And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.

9 - And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead.

10 - And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come?

11 - And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.

12 - But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.

13 - Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.

14 - And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying,

15 - Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.

16 - And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.

17 - Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.

18 - And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.

19 - Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?

20 - And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

21 - Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

Jesus predicts his death and resurrection

22 - And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men:

23 - And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry.

24 - And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute?*tribute: called in the original, didrachma, being in value fifteen pence sterling; about thirty seven cents

25 - He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?

26 - Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.

27 - Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.*a piece...: or, a stater: it is half an ounce of silver, in value two shillings and six pence, sterling; about fifty five cents