Is. 39:1–40:8

39:1 At that time Merodach Baladan son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a gift to Hezekiah, for he heard that Hezekiah had been ill and had recovered. 2Hezekiah welcomed them and showed them his storehouse with its silver, gold, spices, and high-quality olive oil, as well as his whole armory and everything in his treasuries. Hezekiah showed them everything in his palace and in his whole kingdom. 3Isaiah the prophet visited King Hezekiah and asked him, “What did these men say? Where do they come from?” Hezekiah replied, “They come from the distant land of Babylon.” 4Isaiah asked, “What have they seen in your palace?” Hezekiah replied, “They have seen everything in my palace. I showed them everything in my treasuries.” 5Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Listen to the message of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies: 6‘Look, a time is coming when everything in your palace and the things your ancestors have accumulated to this day will be carried away to Babylon; nothing will be left,’ says the Lord. 7‘Some of your very own descendants whom you father will be taken away and will be made eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.’” 8Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The Lord’s message that you have announced is appropriate.” Then he thought, “For there will be peace and stability during my lifetime.”

40:1 “Comfort, comfort my people,”

says your God.

2“Speak kindly to Jerusalem and tell her

that her time of warfare is over,

that her punishment is completed.

For the Lord has made her pay double for all her sins.”

3A voice cries out,

“In the wilderness clear a way for the Lord;

build a level road through the rift valley for our God.

4Every valley must be elevated

and every mountain and hill leveled.

The rough terrain will become a level plain,

the rugged landscape a wide valley.

5The splendor of the Lord will be revealed,

and all people will see it at the same time.

For the Lord has decreed it.”

6A voice says, “Cry out!”

Another asks, “What should I cry out?”

The first voice responds: “All people are like grass,

and all their promises are like the flowers in the field.

7The grass dries up,

the flowers wither,

when the wind sent by the Lord blows on them.

Surely humanity is like grass.

8The grass dries up,

the flowers wither,

but the decree of our God is forever reliable.”

Ps. 19

19:1 For the music director, a psalm of David.

The heavens declare the glory of God;

the sky displays his handiwork.

2Day after day it speaks out;

night after night it reveals his greatness.

3There is no actual speech or word,

nor is its voice literally heard.

4Yet its voice echoes throughout the earth;

its words carry to the distant horizon.

In the sky he has pitched a tent for the sun.

5Like a bridegroom it emerges from its chamber;

like a strong man it enjoys running its course.

6It emerges from the distant horizon,

and goes from one end of the sky to the other;

nothing can escape its heat.

7The law of the Lord is perfect

and preserves one’s life.

The rules set down by the Lord are reliable

and impart wisdom to the inexperienced.

8The Lord’s precepts are fair

and make one joyful.

The Lord’s commands are pure

and give insight for life.

9The commands to fear the Lord are right

and endure forever.

The judgments given by the Lord are trustworthy

and absolutely just.

10They are of greater value than gold,

than even a great amount of pure gold;

they bring greater delight than honey,

than even the sweetest honey from a honeycomb.

11Yes, your servant finds moral guidance there;

those who obey them receive a rich reward.

12Who can know all his errors?

Please do not punish me for sins I am unaware of.

13Moreover, keep me from committing flagrant sins;

do not allow such sins to control me.

Then I will be blameless

and innocent of blatant rebellion.

14May my words and my thoughts

be acceptable in your sight,

O Lord, my sheltering rock and my redeemer.

John 8:48–59

8:48 The Judeans replied, “Aren’t we correct in saying that you are a Samaritan and are possessed by a demon?” 49Jesus answered, “I am not possessed by a demon, but I honor my Father—and yet you dishonor me. 50I am not trying to get praise for myself. There is one who demands it, and he also judges. 51I tell you the solemn truth, if anyone obeys my teaching, he will never see death.”

52Then the Judeans responded, “Now we know you’re possessed by a demon! Both Abraham and the prophets died, and yet you say, ‘If anyone obeys my teaching, he will never experience death.’ 53You aren’t greater than our father Abraham who died, are you? And the prophets died too! Who do you claim to be?” 54Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself, my glory is worthless. The one who glorifies me is my Father, about whom you people say, ‘He is our God.’ 55Yet you do not know him, but I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you. But I do know him, and I obey his teaching. 56Your father Abraham was overjoyed to see my day, and he saw it and was glad.”

57Then the Judeans replied, “You are not yet fifty years old! Have you seen Abraham?” 58Jesus said to them, “I tell you the solemn truth, before Abraham came into existence, I am!” 59Then they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus was hidden from them and went out from the temple area.