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This content from OpenEnglishBible (public domain)
After this, Jesus crossed the Sea of Galilee – otherwise called the Lake of Tiberias. A great crowd of people, however, followed him, because they saw the signs of his mission in his work among those who were sick. Jesus went up the hill, and sat down there with his disciples. It was near the time of the Jewish Festival of the Passover. Looking up, and noticing that a great crowd was coming towards him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?” He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he meant to do. “Even if we spent a years’ wages on bread,” answered Philip, “it would not be enough for each of them to have a little.”
“There is a boy here,” said Andrew, another of his disciples, Simon Peter’s brother, “Who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what is that for so many?”
“Make the people sit down,” said Jesus. It was a grassy spot; so the people, who numbered about five thousand, sat down, and then Jesus took the loaves, and, after saying the thanksgiving, distributed them to those who were sitting down; and the same with the fish, giving the people as much as they wanted. When they were satisfied, Jesus said to his disciples, “Collect the broken pieces that are left, so that nothing may be wasted.” The disciples did so, and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves, which were left after all had eaten.
When the people saw the signs which Jesus gave, they said, “This is certainly the prophet who was to come into the world.” But Jesus, having discovered that they were intending to come and carry him off to make him king, went again up the hill, quite alone.
When evening fell, his disciples went down to the sea, and, getting into a boat, began to cross to Capernaum. By this time darkness had set in, and Jesus had not yet come back to them; the sea, too, was getting rough, for a strong wind was blowing. When they had rowed three or four miles, they caught sight of him walking on the water and approaching the boat, and they were frightened. But Jesus said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid!” And after this they were glad to take him into the boat; and the boat at once arrived off the shore, for which they had been making.
The people who remained on the other side of the sea had seen that only one boat had been there, and that Jesus had not gone into it with his disciples, but that they had left without him. Some boats, however, had come from Tiberias, from near the spot where they had eaten the bread after the Master had said the thanksgiving. So, on the next day, when the people saw that Jesus was not there, or his disciples either, they themselves got into the boats, and went to Capernaum to look for him. And, when they found him on the other side of the sea, they said, “When did you get here, Rabbi?”
“In truth I tell you,” answered Jesus, “it is not because of the signs which you saw that you are looking for me, but because you had the bread to eat and were satisfied. Work, not for the food that perishes, but for the food that lasts for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you; for on him the Father – God himself – has set the seal of his approval.”
“How,” they asked, “are we to do the work that God wants us to do?”
“The work that God wants you to do,” answered Jesus, “is to believe in him whom God sent as his messenger.”
“What sign, then,” they asked, “are you giving, which we may see, and so believe you? What is the work that you are doing? Our ancestors had the manna to eat in the desert; as scripture says – ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”
“In truth I tell you,” replied Jesus, “Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but my Father does give you the true bread from heaven; for the bread that God gives is that which comes down from heaven, and gives life to the world.”
“Master,” they exclaimed, “give us that bread always!”
“I am the life-giving bread,” Jesus said to them, “whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never thirst again. But, as I have said already, you have seen me, and yet you do not believe in me. All those whom the Father gives me will come to me; and no one who comes to me will I ever turn away. For I have come down from heaven, to do, not my own will, but the will of him who sent me; and his will is this – that I should not lose one of all those whom he has given me, but should raise them up at the Last day. For it is the will of my Father that everyone who sees the Son, and believes in him, should have immortal life; and I myself will raise him up at the Last day.”
The people began murmuring against Jesus for saying – ‘I am the bread which came down from heaven.’ “Is not this Jesus, Joseph’s son,” they asked, “whose father and mother we know? How is it that he now says that he has come down from heaven?”
“Do not murmur among yourselves,” said Jesus in reply. “No one can come to me, unless the Father who sent me draws him to me; and I will raise him up at the Last day. It is said in the prophets – ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who is taught by the Father and learns from him comes to me. Not that anyone has seen the Father, except him who is from God – he has seen the Father. In truth I tell you, the person who believes in me has eternal life. I am the life-giving bread. Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, and yet died. The bread that comes down from heaven is such that whoever eats of it will never die. I am the living bread that has come down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, they will live for ever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”
They began disputing with one another, “How is it possible for this man to give us his flesh to eat?”
“In truth I tell you,” answered Jesus, “unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man, and drink his blood, you have not life within you. Everyone who takes my flesh for their food, and drinks my blood, has eternal life; and I will raise them up at the Last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood true drink. Everyone who takes my flesh for their food, and drinks my blood, remains united to me, and I to them. As the living Father sent me as his messenger, and as I live because the Father lives, so the person who takes me for their food will live because I live. That is the bread which has come down from heaven – not such as your ancestors ate, and yet died; the person who takes this bread for their food will live for ever.”
All this Jesus said in a synagogue, when he was teaching in Capernaum. On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is harsh doctrine! Who can bear to listen to it?” But Jesus, aware that his disciples were murmuring about it, said to them, “Is this a hindrance to you? What, then, if you should see the Son of Man ascending where he was before? It is the Spirit that gives life; human strength achieves nothing. In the teaching that I have been giving you there is Spirit and there is life. Yet there are some of you who do not believe in me.” For Jesus knew from the first who they were that did not believe in him, and who it was that would betray him; and he added, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me, unless enabled by the Father.” After this many of his disciples drew back, and did not go about with him any longer. So Jesus said to the Twelve, “Do you also wish to leave me?” But Simon Peter answered, “Master, to whom would we go? Eternal life is in your teaching; and we have learned to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”
“Didn’t I myself choose you to be the Twelve?” replied Jesus, “and yet, even of you, one is playing the devil’s part.” He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who was about to betray him, though he was one of the Twelve. (OEB)
John 11:25-26; John 6:47: I Am The Resurrection
This content from World English Bible (public domain)
Yahweh spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the first month of the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying, “Let the children of Israel keep the Passover in its appointed season. On the fourteenth day of this month, at evening, you shall keep it in its appointed season. You shall keep it according to all its statutes and according to all its ordinances.”
Moses told the children of Israel that they should keep the Passover. They kept the Passover in the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at evening, in the wilderness of Sinai. According to all that Yahweh commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did. There were certain men who were unclean because of the dead body of a man, so that they could not keep the Passover on that day, and they came before Moses and Aaron on that day. Those men said to him, “We are unclean because of the dead body of a man. Why are we kept back, that we may not offer the offering of Yahweh in its appointed season among the children of Israel?”
Moses answered them, “Wait, that I may hear what Yahweh will command concerning you.”
Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, “Say to the children of Israel, ‘If any man of you or of your generations is unclean by reason of a dead body, or is on a journey far away, he shall still keep the Passover to Yahweh. In the second month, on the fourteenth day at evening they shall keep it; they shall eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. They shall leave none of it until the morning, nor break a bone of it. According to all the statute of the Passover they shall keep it. But the man who is clean, and is not on a journey, and fails to keep the Passover, that soul shall be cut off from his people. Because he didn’t offer the offering of Yahweh in its appointed season, that man shall bear his sin.
“‘ If a foreigner lives among you and desires to keep the Passover to Yahweh, then he shall do so according to the statute of the Passover, and according to its ordinance. You shall have one statute, both for the foreigner and for him who is born in the land.’”
On the day that the tabernacle was raised up, the cloud covered the tabernacle, even the Tent of the Testimony. At evening it was over the tabernacle, as it were the appearance of fire, until morning. So it was continually. The cloud covered it, and the appearance of fire by night. Whenever the cloud was taken up from over the Tent, then after that the children of Israel traveled; and in the place where the cloud remained, there the children of Israel encamped. At the commandment of Yahweh, the children of Israel traveled, and at the commandment of Yahweh they encamped. As long as the cloud remained on the tabernacle they remained encamped. When the cloud stayed on the tabernacle many days, then the children of Israel kept Yahweh’s command, and didn’t travel. Sometimes the cloud was a few days on the tabernacle; then according to the commandment of Yahweh they remained encamped, and according to the commandment of Yahweh they traveled. Sometimes the cloud was from evening until morning; and when the cloud was taken up in the morning, they traveled; or by day and by night, when the cloud was taken up, they traveled. Whether it was two days, or a month, or a year that the cloud stayed on the tabernacle, remaining on it, the children of Israel remained encamped, and didn’t travel; but when it was taken up, they traveled. At the commandment of Yahweh they encamped, and at the commandment of Yahweh they traveled. They kept Yahweh’s command, at the commandment of Yahweh by Moses. (WEB)
This content from World English Bible (public domain)
I wish that you would bear with me in a little foolishness, but indeed you do bear with me. For I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy. For I promised you in marriage to one husband, that I might present you as a pure virgin to Christ. But I am afraid that somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve in his craftiness, so your minds might be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we didn’t preach, or if you receive a different spirit which you didn’t receive, or a different “good news” which you didn’t accept, you put up with that well enough. For I reckon that I am not at all behind the very best apostles. But though I am unskilled in speech, yet I am not unskilled in knowledge. No, in every way we have been revealed to you in all things.
Or did I commit a sin in humbling myself that you might be exalted, because I preached to you God’s Good News free of charge? I robbed other assemblies, taking wages from them that I might serve you. When I was present with you and was in need, I wasn’t a burden on anyone, for the brothers, when they came from Macedonia, supplied the measure of my need. In everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and I will continue to do so. As the truth of Christ is in me, no one will stop me from this boasting in the regions of Achaia. Why? Because I don’t love you? God knows.
But what I do, that I will continue to do, that I may cut off opportunity from those who desire an opportunity, that in which they boast, they may be recognized just like us. For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as Christ’s apostles. And no wonder, for even Satan masquerades as an angel of light. It is no great thing therefore if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.
I say again, let no one think me foolish. But if so, yet receive me as foolish, that I also may boast a little. That which I speak, I don’t speak according to the Lord, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of boasting. Seeing that many boast after the flesh, I will also boast. For you bear with the foolish gladly, being wise. For you bear with a man if he brings you into bondage, if he devours you, if he takes you captive, if he exalts himself, or if he strikes you on the face. To my shame, I speak as though we had been weak. Yet in whatever way anyone is bold (I speak in foolishness), I am bold also. Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the offspring [or, seed ]of Abraham? So am I. Are they servants of Christ? (I speak as one beside himself.) I am more so: in labors more abundantly, in prisons more abundantly, in stripes above measure, and in deaths often. Five times I received forty stripes minus one from the Jews. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I suffered shipwreck. I have been a night and a day in the deep. I have been in travels often, perils of rivers, perils of robbers, perils from my countrymen, perils from the Gentiles, perils in the city, perils in the wilderness, perils in the sea, perils among false brothers; in labor and travail, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, and in cold and nakedness.
Besides those things that are outside, there is that which presses on me daily: anxiety for all the assemblies. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is caused to stumble, and I don’t burn with indignation?
If I must boast, I will boast of the things that concern my weakness. The God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, he who is blessed forever more, knows that I don’t lie. In Damascus the governor under King Aretas guarded the Damascenes’ city, desiring to arrest me. I was let down in a basket through a window by the wall, and escaped his hands. (WEB)
This content from World English Bible (public domain)
But know this: that in the last days, grievous times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, not lovers of good, traitors, headstrong, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding a form of godliness but having denied its power. Turn away from these, also. For some of these are people who creep into houses and take captive gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Even as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind, who concerning the faith are rejected. But they will proceed no further. For their folly will be evident to all men, as theirs also came to be.
But you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, steadfastness, persecutions, and sufferings — those things that happened to me at Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. I endured those persecutions. The Lord delivered me out of them all. Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But you remain in the things which you have learned and have been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them. From infancy, you have known the holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. Every Scripture is God-breathed and [or, Every writing inspired by God is ]profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, that each person who belongs to God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (WEB)
This content from World English Bible (public domain)
The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem:
“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.” What does man gain from all his labor in which he labors under the sun? One generation goes, and another generation comes; but the earth remains forever. The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, and hurries to its place where it rises. The wind goes toward the south, and turns around to the north. It turns around continually as it goes, and the wind returns again to its courses. All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full. To the place where the rivers flow, there they flow again. All things are full of weariness beyond uttering. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. That which has been is that which shall be, and that which has been done is that which shall be done; and there is no new thing under the sun. Is there a thing of which it may be said, “Behold, [“Behold”, from “הִנֵּה”, means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection. ]this is new?” It has been long ago, in the ages which were before us. There is no memory of the former; neither shall there be any memory of the latter that are to come, among those that shall come after.
I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under the sky. It is a heavy burden that God [The Hebrew word rendered “God” is “אֱלֹהִ֑ים” (Elohim). ]has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with. I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and behold, all is vanity and a chasing after wind. That which is crooked can’t be made straight; and that which is lacking can’t be counted. I said to myself, “Behold, I have obtained for myself great wisdom above all who were before me in Jerusalem. Yes, my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.” I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also was a chasing after wind. For in much wisdom is much grief; and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow. (WEB)
This content from OpenEnglishBible (public domain)
Be not kindled to wrath at the wicked,
nor envious of those who work wrong;
for, like grass, they will speedily wither,
and fade like the green of young grass.
Trust in the Lᴏʀᴅ, and do good;
remain in the land, and deal faithfully:
then the Lᴏʀᴅ will be your delight,
he will grant you your heart’s petitions.
Commit your way to the Lᴏʀᴅ;
trust in him, and he will act,
making clear as the light your right,
and your just cause clear as the noon-day.
In silence and patience wait on the Lᴏʀᴅ.
Be not kindled to anger at those who prosper.
At those who execute evil devices.
Desist from anger, abandon wrath:
be not kindled to anger it leads but to evil:
for evildoers will be cut off,
but the land will be theirs, who wait on the Lᴏʀᴅ.
Yet but a little, and the wicked vanish:
look at their place: they are there no more.
But the humble will have the land,
and the rapture of peace in abundance.
The wicked plots against the righteous,
snarls like a wild animal;
the Lᴏʀᴅ laughs,
for he sees that his day is coming.
The wicked have drawn the sword, and bent the bow,
to fell the poor, to slay those who walk uprightly;
but their sword will pierce their own heart,
and their bows will be broken in pieces.
Better is the righteous person’s little
than the wealth of many wicked.
For the arms of the wicked will be broken,
but the Lᴏʀᴅ upholds the righteous.
The Lᴏʀᴅ watches over the days of the blameless,
their heritage will continue forever.
They will not be shamed in the evil time,
in the days of famine they will be satisfied.
Because the wicked will perish:
but the foes of the Lᴏʀᴅ, like a brand in the oven,
will vanish, like smoke they will vanish.
The wicked must borrow and cannot pay back,
but the righteous is lavish and gives.
For those blest by the Lᴏʀᴅ inherit the land,
while those whom he curses will be cut off.
The Lᴏʀᴅ supports the steps
of those with whom he is pleased.
Though they fall, they will not be cast headlong,
for the Lᴏʀᴅ holds their hands.
Never, from youth to age,
have I seen the righteous forsaken,
or their children begging bread.
They are ever lavishly lending,
and their children are fountains of blessing.
Turn away from evil and do good
and you will live in the land forever.
For the Lᴏʀᴅ loves justice,
he does not forsake his friends.
The unrighteous will be destroyed forever,
and the seed of the wicked will be cut off.
But the land will belong to the righteous,
they will live upon it forever,
The mouth of the righteous murmurs wisdom,
and words of justice are on their tongues.
The law of their God is in their heart,
their steps are never unsteady.
The wicked watches the righteous,
and seeks to put them to death.
But the Lᴏʀᴅ leaves them not in their hand:
at their trial they will not be held guilty.
Wait on the Lᴏʀᴅ, and observe his way:
he will lift you to honor the land will be yours,
you will feast your eyes on the doom of the wicked.
I have seen the wicked exultant,
lifting themselves like a cedar of Lebanon.
But the moment I passed, they vanished!
I sought for them, but they could not be found.
Preserve your honor and practise uprightness,
for such a person fares well in the end.
But transgressors will perish together.
Cut off are the wicked forever.
The righteous are saved by the Lᴏʀᴅ,
who in time of distress is their refuge:
the Lᴏʀᴅ helps and rescue them,
from the wicked he rescues and saves them,
because they take refuge in him.
(OEB)
Psalm 37:4-5: Delight thyself also in the LORD
This content pulled from bible.org.
The one who loves discipline loves knowledge, but the one who hates reproof is stupid. A good person obtains favor from the Lord,but the Lord condemns a person with wicked schemes. No one can be established through wickedness,but a righteous root cannot be moved. A noble wife is the crown of her husband,but the wife who acts shamefully is like rottenness in his bones. The plans of the righteous are just;the counsels of the wicked are deceitful. The words of the wicked lie in wait to shed innocent blood, but the words of the upright will deliver them. The wicked are overthrown and perish, but the righteous household will stand. A person will be praised in accordance with his wisdom,but the one with a bewildered mind will be despised. Better is a person of humble standing who works for himself, than one who pretends to be somebody important yet has no food. A righteous person cares for the life of his animal,but even the most compassionate acts of the wicked are cruel. The one who works his field will have plenty of food,but whoever chases daydreams lacks sense. The wicked person has desired the stronghold of the wicked,but the root of the righteous will yield fruit. The evil person is ensnared by the transgression of his speech, but the righteous person escapes out of trouble. A person will be satisfied with good from the fruit of his words, and the work of his hands will be rendered to him. The way of a fool is right in his own opinion, but the one who listens to advice is wise. A fool’s annoyance is known at once, but the prudent conceals dishonor. The faithful witness tells what is right, but a false witness speaks deceit. Speaking recklessly is like the thrusts of a sword,but the words of the wise bring healing. The one who tells the truth will endure forever,but the one who lies will last only for a moment. Deceit is in the heart of those who plot evil, but those who promote peace have joy. No harm will be directed at the righteous,but the wicked are filled with calamity. The Lord abhors a person who lies, but those who deal truthfully are his delight. The shrewd person conceals knowledge,but foolish people proclaim folly. The diligent person will rule,but the slothful will be put to forced labor. Anxiety in a person’s heart weighs him down, but an encouraging word brings him joy. The righteous person is cautious in his friendship, but the way of the wicked leads them astray. The lazy person does not roast his prey,but personal possessions are precious to the diligent. In the path of righteousness there is life,but another path leads to death.
(NET)
This content from World English Bible (public domain)
Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. He did that which was right in Yahweh’s eyes, and walked in the ways of David his father, and didn’t turn away to the right hand or to the left. For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young, he began to seek after the God of David his father; and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, the Asherah poles, the engraved images, and the molten images. They broke down the altars of the Baals in his presence; and he cut down the incense altars that were on high above them. He broke the Asherah poles, the engraved images, and the molten images in pieces, made dust of them, and scattered it on the graves of those who had sacrificed to them. He burned the bones of the priests on their altars, and purged Judah and Jerusalem. He did this in the cities of Manasseh, Ephraim, and Simeon, even to Naphtali, around in their ruins. He broke down the altars, beat the Asherah poles and the engraved images into powder, and cut down all the incense altars throughout all the land of Israel, then returned to Jerusalem.
Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had purged the land and the house, he sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, Maaseiah the governor of the city, and Joah the son of Joahaz the recorder to repair the house of Yahweh his God. They came to Hilkiah the high priest and delivered the money that was brought into God’s house, which the Levites, the keepers of the threshold, had gathered from the hands of Manasseh, Ephraim, of all the remnant of Israel, of all Judah and Benjamin, and of the inhabitants of Jerusalem. They delivered it into the hands of the workmen who had the oversight of Yahweh’s house; and the workmen who labored in Yahweh’s house gave it to mend and repair the house. They gave it to the carpenters and to the builders to buy cut stone and timber for couplings, and to make beams for the houses which the kings of Judah had destroyed. The men did the work faithfully. Their overseers were Jahath and Obadiah the Levites, of the sons of Merari; and Zechariah and Meshullam, of the sons of the Kohathites, to give direction; and others of the Levites, who were all skillful with musical instruments. Also they were over the bearers of burdens, and directed all who did the work in every kind of service. Of the Levites, there were scribes, officials, and gatekeepers.
When they brought out the money that was brought into Yahweh’s house, Hilkiah the priest found the book of Yahweh’s law given by Moses. Hilkiah answered Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the book of the law in Yahweh’s house.” So Hilkiah delivered the book to Shaphan.
Shaphan carried the book to the king, and moreover brought back word to the king, saying, “All that was committed to your servants, they are doing. They have emptied out the money that was found in Yahweh’s house, and have delivered it into the hand of the overseers and into the hand of the workmen.” Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying, “Hilkiah the priest has delivered me a book.” Shaphan read from it to the king.
When the king had heard the words of the law, he tore his clothes. The king commanded Hilkiah, Ahikam the son of Shaphan, Abdon the son of Micah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the king’s servant, saying, “Go inquire of Yahweh for me, and for those who are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that is found; for great is Yahweh’s wrath that is poured out on us, because our fathers have not kept Yahweh’s word, to do according to all that is written in this book.”
So Hilkiah and those whom the king had commanded went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tokhath, the son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe (now she lived in Jerusalem in the second quarter), and they spoke to her to that effect.
She said to them, “Yahweh, the God of Israel says: ‘Tell the man who sent you to me, “Yahweh says, ‘Behold, I will bring evil on this place and on its inhabitants, even all the curses that are written in the book which they have read before the king of Judah. Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense to other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands, therefore my wrath is poured out on this place, and it will not be quenched .’”’ But to the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of Yahweh, you shall tell him this, ‘Yahweh, the God of Israel says: “About the words which you have heard, because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before God when you heard his words against this place and against its inhabitants, and have humbled yourself before me, and have torn your clothes and wept before me, I also have heard you,” says Yahweh. “Behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and you will be gathered to your grave in peace. Your eyes won’t see all the evil that I will bring on this place and on its inhabitants .”’”
They brought back this message to the king.
Then the king sent and gathered together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. The king went up to Yahweh’s house with all the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem — the priests, the Levites, and all the people, both great and small — and he read in their hearing all the words of the book of the covenant that was found in Yahweh’s house. The king stood in his place and made a covenant before Yahweh, to walk after Yahweh, and to keep his commandments, his testimonies, and his statutes with all his heart and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant that were written in this book. He caused all who were found in Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand. The inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers. Josiah took away all the abominations out of all the countries that belonged to the children of Israel, and made all who were found in Israel to serve, even to serve Yahweh their God. All his days they didn’t depart from following Yahweh, the God of their fathers. (WEB)
This content from World English Bible (public domain)
Then some of the elders of Israel came to me and sat before me. Yahweh’s word came to me, saying, “Son of man, these men have taken their idols into their heart, and put the stumbling block of their iniquity before their face. Should I be inquired of at all by them? Therefore speak to them and tell them, ‘The Lord Yahweh says: “Every man of the house of Israel who takes his idols into his heart and puts the stumbling block of his iniquity before his face then comes to the prophet, I Yahweh will answer him there according to the multitude of his idols, that I may take the house of Israel in their own heart, because they are all estranged from me through their idols .”’
“Therefore tell the house of Israel, ‘The Lord Yahweh says: “Return, and turn yourselves from your idols! Turn away your faces from all your abominations.
“‘“ For everyone of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who live in Israel, who separates himself from me and takes his idols into his heart, and puts the stumbling block of his iniquity before his face, and comes to the prophet to inquire for himself of me, I Yahweh will answer him by myself. I will set my face against that man and will make him an astonishment, for a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from among my people. Then you will know that I am Yahweh.
“‘“ If the prophet is deceived and speaks a word, I, Yahweh, have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand on him, and will destroy him from among my people Israel. They will bear their iniquity. The iniquity of the prophet will be even as the iniquity of him who seeks him, that the house of Israel may no more go astray from me, neither defile themselves any more with all their transgressions; but that they may be my people, and I may be their God,” says the Lord Yahweh.’”
Yahweh’s word came to me, saying, “Son of man, when a land sins against me by committing a trespass, and I stretch out my hand on it, and break the staff of its bread and send famine on it, and cut off from it man and animal — though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they would deliver only their own souls by their righteousness,” says the Lord Yahweh.
“If I cause evil animals to pass through the land, and they ravage it and it is made desolate, so that no man may pass through because of the animals — though these three men were in it, as I live,” says the Lord Yahweh, “they would deliver neither sons nor daughters. They only would be delivered, but the land would be desolate.
“Or if I bring a sword on that land, and say, ‘Sword, go through the land, so that I cut off from it man and animal’— though these three men were in it, as I live,” says the Lord Yahweh, “they would deliver neither sons nor daughters, but they only would be delivered themselves.
“Or if I send a pestilence into that land, and pour out my wrath on it in blood, to cut off from it man and animal — though Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, as I live,” says the Lord Yahweh, “they would deliver neither son nor daughter; they would deliver only their own souls by their righteousness.”
For the Lord Yahweh says: “How much more when I send my four severe judgments on Jerusalem — the sword, the famine, the evil animals, and the pestilence — to cut off from it man and animal! Yet, behold, there will be left a remnant in it that will be carried out, both sons and daughters. Behold, they will come out to you, and you will see their way and their doings. Then you will be comforted concerning the evil that I have brought on Jerusalem, even concerning all that I have brought on it. They will comfort you, when you see their way and their doings; then you will know that I have not done all that I have done in it without cause,” says the Lord Yahweh. (WEB)
This content from OpenEnglishBible (public domain)
The apostles and the followers throughout Judea heard that even the Gentiles had welcomed God’s message. But, when Peter went up to Jerusalem, those who were converts from Judaism began to attack him, on the ground that he had visited people who were not circumcised, and had taken meals with them. So Peter began to relate the facts to them as they had occurred. “I was in the town of Joppa,” he said, “and was praying; and, while in a trance, I saw a vision. There was something like a great sail descending, let down by its four corners out of the heavens; and it came right down to me. Looking intently at it, I began to distinguish quadrupeds, wild beasts, reptiles, and birds; and I also heard a voice saying to me – ‘Stand up, Peter, kill something and eat.’ ‘No, Lord, I cannot,’ I answered, ‘for nothing defiled or unclean has ever passed my lips.’ Then a second time there came a voice from the heavens. ‘What God has pronounced clean’, it said, ‘you must not call defiled.’ This happened three times, and then all was drawn up again into the heavens. At that moment three men, who had been sent from Caesarea to see me, came up to the house in which we were. The Spirit told me to go with them without hesitation. These six companions also went with me. And, when we came into the man’s house, he told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house, and how the angel had said to him – ‘Send to Joppa and fetch the Simon, who is also known as Peter; for he will tell you truths, which will prove the means of salvation to you and all your household.’ I had but just begun to speak,” continued Peter, “when the Holy Spirit fell on them, exactly as on us at the first; and I recalled the saying of the Master – ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ Since then, God had given them the very same gift as he gave us when we became believers in Jesus Christ the Master – who was I that I could thwart God?”
On hearing this statement, they said no more, but broke out into praise of God. “So even to the Gentiles,” they exclaimed, “God has granted the repentance which leads to life!”
Now those who had been scattered in different directions, in consequence of the persecution that followed the death of Stephen, went as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, telling the message – but only to Jews. Some of them, however, who were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, on coming to Antioch, addressed themselves also to the Jews of foreign birth, telling them the good news about that Lord Jesus. The power of the Lord was with them, so that a great number who had learned to believe came over to the Lord’s side. The news about them reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. On coming there he saw to his great joy these tokens of the loving kindness of God, and encouraged them all to make up their minds to be faithful to the Lord – For Barnabas was a good man and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith – and a large number of people took their stand on the Lord’s side. Afterward Barnabas left for Tarsus to look for Saul; and, when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And so it came about that, for a whole year, they attended the meetings of the church there, and taught a large number of people; and it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called ‘Christians.’
During this time, some prophets came to Antioch from Jerusalem. One of them, named Agabus, came forward and, under the influence of the Spirit, foretold a great famine that was to spread over all the world – a famine which occurred in the reign of Claudius. So the disciples, without exception, determined, in proportion to their means, to send something to help the followers living in Judea. And this they did, sending it to the church elders by Barnabas and Saul. (OEB)