Jer. 25:1–14

25:1 In the fourth year that Jehoiakim son of Josiah was king of Judah, the Lord spoke to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah. (That was the same as the first year that Nebuchadnezzar was king of Babylon.) 2So the prophet Jeremiah spoke to all the people of Judah and to all the people who were living in Jerusalem. 3“For the last 23 years, from the thirteenth year that Josiah son of Amon was ruling in Judah until now, the Lord’s messages have come to me, and I have told them to you over and over again. But you would not listen. 4Over and over again the Lord has sent his servants the prophets to you. But you have not listened or paid attention. 5He said through them, ‘Each of you must turn from your wicked ways and stop doing the evil things you are doing. If you do, I will allow you to continue to live here in the land that I gave to you and your ancestors as a lasting possession. 6Do not pay allegiance to other gods and worship and serve them. Do not make me angry by the things that you do. Then I will not cause you any harm.’ 7So, now the Lord says, ‘You have not listened to me. But you have made me angry by the things that you have done. Thus you have brought harm on yourselves.’

8“Therefore, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says, ‘You have not listened to what I said. 9So I, the Lord, affirm that I will send for all the peoples of the north and my servant, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. I will bring them against this land and its inhabitants and all the nations that surround it. I will utterly destroy the land, its inhabitants, and all the surrounding nations and make them everlasting ruins. I will make them objects of horror and hissing scorn. 10I will put an end to the sounds of joy and gladness and the glad celebration of brides and grooms in these lands. I will put an end to the sound of people grinding meal. I will put an end to lamps shining in their houses. 11This whole area will become a desolate wasteland. These nations will be subject to the king of Babylon for 70 years.’

12“‘But when the seventy years are over, I will punish the king of Babylon and his nation for their sins. I will make the land of Babylon an everlasting ruin. I, the Lord, affirm it! 13I will bring on that land everything that I said I would. I will bring on it everything that is written in this book. I will bring on it everything that Jeremiah has prophesied against all the nations. 14For many nations and great kings will make slaves of the king of Babylon and his nation too. I will repay them for all they have done.’”

Ps. 147

147:1 Praise the Lord,

for it is good to sing praises to our God.

Yes, praise is pleasant and appropriate.

2The Lord rebuilds Jerusalem

and gathers the exiles of Israel.

3He heals the brokenhearted

and bandages their wounds.

4He counts the number of the stars;

he names all of them.

5Our Lord is great and has awesome power;

there is no limit to his wisdom.

6The Lord lifts up the oppressed,

but knocks the wicked to the ground.

7Offer to the Lord a song of thanks.

Sing praises to our God to the accompaniment of a harp.

8He covers the sky with clouds,

provides the earth with rain,

and causes grass to grow on the hillsides.

9He gives food to the animals

and to the young ravens when they chirp.

10He is not enamored with the strength of a horse,

nor is he impressed by the warrior’s strong legs.

11The Lord takes delight in his faithful followers

and in those who wait for his loyal love.

12Extol the Lord, O Jerusalem.

Praise your God, O Zion.

13For he makes the bars of your gates strong.

He blesses your children within you.

14He brings peace to your territory.

He abundantly provides for you the best grain.

15He sends his command through the earth;

swiftly his order reaches its destination.

16He sends the snow that is white like wool;

he spreads the frost that is white like ashes.

17He throws his hailstones like crumbs.

Who can withstand the cold wind he sends?

18He then orders it all to melt;

he breathes on it, and the water flows.

19He proclaims his word to Jacob,

his statutes and regulations to Israel.

20He has not done so with any other nation;

they are not aware of his regulations.

Praise the Lord!

Acts 14:19–28

14:19 But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and after winning the crowds over, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, presuming him to be dead. 20But after the disciples had surrounded him, he got up and went back into the city. On the next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.

21After they had proclaimed the good news in that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, to Iconium, and to Antioch. 22They strengthened the souls of the disciples and encouraged them to continue in the faith, saying, “We must enter the kingdom of God through many persecutions.” 23When they had appointed elders for them in the various churches, with prayer and fasting they entrusted them to the protection of the Lord in whom they had believed. 24Then they passed through Pisidia and came into Pamphylia, 25and when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. 26From there they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work they had now completed. 27When they arrived and gathered the church together, they reported all the things God had done with them, and that he had opened a door of faith for the Gentiles. 28So they spent considerable time with the disciples.