Zech. 13

13:1 “In that day there will be a fountain opened up for the dynasty of David and the people of Jerusalem to cleanse them from sin and impurity. 2And also on that day,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will remove the names of the idols from the land and they will never again be remembered. Moreover, I will remove the prophets and the unclean spirit from the land. 3Then, if anyone prophesies in spite of this, his father and mother to whom he was born will say to him, ‘You cannot live, for you lie in the name of the Lord.’ Then his father and mother to whom he was born will run him through with a sword when he prophesies.

4“Therefore, on that day each prophet will be ashamed of his vision when he prophesies and will no longer wear the hairy garment of a prophet to deceive the people. 5Instead he will say, ‘I am no prophet; indeed, I am a farmer, for a man has made me his indentured servant since my youth.’ 6Then someone will ask him, ‘What are these wounds on your chest?’ and he will answer, ‘Some that I received in the house of my friends.’

7“Awake, sword, against my shepherd,

against the man who is my associate,”

says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

“Strike the shepherd that the flock may be scattered;

I will turn my hand against the insignificant ones.

8It will happen in all the land,” says the Lord,

“that two-thirds of the people in it will be cut off and die,

but one-third will be left in it.

9Then I will bring the remaining third into the fire;

I will refine them like silver is refined

and will test them like gold is tested.

They will call on my name and I will answer;

I will say, ‘These are my people,’

and they will say, ‘The Lord is our God.’”

Ps. 145

145:1 A psalm of praise; by David.

I will extol you, my God, O King.

I will praise your name continually.

2Every day I will praise you.

I will praise your name continually.

3The Lord is great and certainly worthy of praise.

No one can fathom his greatness.

4One generation will praise your deeds to another

and tell about your mighty acts.

5I will focus on your honor and majestic splendor

and your amazing deeds.

6They will proclaim the power of your awesome acts.

I will declare your great deeds.

7They will talk about the fame of your great kindness

and sing about your justice.

8The Lord is merciful and compassionate;

he is patient and demonstrates great loyal love.

9The Lord is good to all

and has compassion on all he has made.

10All your works will give thanks to you, Lord.

Your loyal followers will praise you.

11They will proclaim the splendor of your kingdom;

they will tell about your power,

12so that mankind might acknowledge your mighty acts

and the majestic splendor of your kingdom.

13Your kingdom is an eternal kingdom,

and your dominion endures through all generations.

14 The Lord supports all who fall

and lifts up all who are bent over.

15Everything looks to you in anticipation,

and you provide them with food on a regular basis.

16You open your hand

and fill every living thing with the food it desires.

17The Lord is just in all his actions

and exhibits love in all he does.

18The Lord is near all who cry out to him,

all who cry out to him sincerely.

19He satisfies the desire of his loyal followers;

he hears their cry for help and delivers them.

20The Lord protects all those who love him,

but he destroys all the wicked.

21My mouth will praise the Lord.

Let all who live praise his holy name forever.

Acts 6:8–10

6:8 Now Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and miraculous signs among the people. 9But some men from the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, as well as some from Cilicia and the province of Asia, stood up and argued with Stephen. 10Yet they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke. (NET Bible)