Professor Horner’s Reading Plan

¹Having said these things, Jesus left with His disciples and went across the ravine of the Kidron. There was a garden there, which He and His disciples entered.

²Now Judas, who was betraying Him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with His disciples.

³So Judas, having obtained the Roman cohort and some officers from the high priests and the Pharisees, came there with lanterns and torches and weapons.

⁴Then Jesus, knowing all that was about to happen to Him, went to them and asked, "Whom do you want?"

⁵They answered Him, "Jesus the Nazarene." Jesus said, "I am He." And Judas, who was betraying Him, was also standing with them.

⁶When Jesus said, "I am He," they drew back and fell to the ground.

⁷Again He asked them, "Whom do you want?" And they said, "Jesus the Nazarene."

⁸Jesus answered, "I told you that I am He; so if you want Me, let these men go on their way."

⁹This was to fulfill and verify the words He had spoken, "Of those whom You have given Me, I have not lost even one."

¹⁰Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, cutting off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus.

¹¹So Jesus said to Peter, "Put the sword [back] in its sheath! Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?"

¹²So the cohort and their commander and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound Him,

¹³and led Him to Annas first; for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year.

¹⁴It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it was expedient for one man to die on behalf of the people.

¹⁵Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, so he went with Jesus into the courtyard of the [residence of the] high priest;

¹⁶but Peter was standing outside at the door. So the other disciple (John), who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the doorkeeper, and brought Peter inside.

¹⁷Then the servant girl who kept the door said to Peter, "You are not one of this Man's disciples, are you?" He said, "I am not."

¹⁸Now the servants and the officers had made a fire of coals, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves. And Peter was with them, standing and warming himself.

¹⁹Then the high priest questioned Jesus about His disciples and about His teaching.

²⁰Jesus answered him, "I have spoken openly to the world. I always taught in a synagogue and in the temple [area], where all the Jews habitually congregate; and I said nothing in secret.

²¹Why question Me? Question those who have heard what I said to them. They know what I said."

²²But when He said this, one of the officers who was standing nearby struck Jesus [in the face], saying, "Is that how You answer the high priest?"

²³Jesus replied, "If I have said anything wrong, make a formal statement about the wrong; but if [I spoke] properly, why did you strike Me?"

²⁴So Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

²⁵Now Simon Peter was [still] standing and warming himself. So they said to him, "You are not one of His disciples, are you?" He denied it and said, "I am not."

²⁶One of the high priest's servants, a relative of the one whose ear Peter cut off, said, "Did I not see you with Him in the garden?"

²⁷So Peter denied it again, and immediately a rooster crowed.

²⁸Then the Jews led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Praetorium (governor's palace). Now it was early and the Jews did not enter the Praetorium so that they would not be [ceremonially] unclean, but might [be able to] eat [and participate in the Feast of Unleavened Bread which began after] the Passover [supper].

²⁹So Pilate came out to them and asked, "What accusation do you bring against this Man?"

³⁰They answered, "If He were not a criminal, we would not have handed Him over to you [for judgment]."

³¹Then Pilate said to them, "Take Him yourselves and judge Him according to your own law." The Jews said, "We are not permitted to put anyone to death."

³²This was to fulfill the word which Jesus had spoken to indicate by what manner of death He was going to die.

³³So Pilate went into the Praetorium again, and called Jesus and asked Him, "Are You the King of the Jews?"

³⁴Jesus replied, "Are you saying this on your own initiative, or did others tell you about Me?"

³⁵Pilate answered, "I am not a Jew, am I? Your own people and their chief priests have handed You over to me. What have You done [that is worthy of death]?"

³⁶Jesus replied, "My kingdom is not of this world [nor does it have its origin in this world]. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would be fighting [hard] to keep Me from being handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this world."

³⁷So Pilate said to Him, "Then You are a King?" Jesus answered, "You say [correctly] that I am a King. This is why I was born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth [who is a friend of the truth and belongs to the truth] hears and listens carefully to My voice."

³⁸Pilate said to Him [scornfully], "What is truth?" And when he had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them, "I find no guilt in Him [no crime, no cause for an accusation].

³⁹But you have a custom that I release someone for you at the Passover. So shall I release for you the King of the Jews?"

⁴⁰Then they all shouted back again, "Not this Man, but Barabbas!" Now Barabbas was a robber.

¹"And you shall make the altar [for burnt offerings] of acacia wood, five cubits long and five cubits wide; the altar shall be square, and its height shall be three cubits.

²Make horns (horn-shaped projections) for it on its four corners; the horns shall be of one piece with it, and you shall overlay it with bronze.

³You shall make pots to remove its ashes, and shovels, basins [to catch the blood of the sacrificed animal], meat-forks, and firepans [to store live coals]. You shall make all its utensils of bronze.

⁴Also make a grate for it, a network of bronze; and on the grid you are to make four bronze rings at its four corners.

⁵And you shall put it under the ledge of the altar, so that the grid will extend halfway up the altar.

⁶You shall make [carrying] poles for the altar, poles of acacia wood, overlaid with bronze.

⁷The poles shall be inserted through the rings on the two sides of the altar so that it may be carried.

⁸You are to make the altar hollow with planks; as you were shown on the mountain [of Sinai], so shall it be made.

⁹"You shall make the court of the tabernacle. The south side of the court is to have curtains of fine twisted linen, a hundred cubits long for one side;

¹⁰it shall have twenty pillars and twenty bronze sockets; but the hooks of the pillars and their fasteners shall be silver;

¹¹likewise for the north side there shall be curtains, a hundred cubits long, and its twenty pillars and twenty bronze sockets; but the hooks of the pillars and their fasteners shall be silver.

¹²For the width of the court on the west side there shall be curtains of fifty cubits, with ten pillars (support poles) and ten sockets.

¹³The width of the court [to the front], on the east side shall be fifty cubits.

¹⁴The curtains for one side [of the gate] shall be fifteen cubits with three pillars and three sockets.

¹⁵On the other side [of the gate] the curtains shall be fifteen cubits with three pillars and three sockets.

¹⁶For the gate of the court there shall be a screen [to provide a covering] of twenty cubits, of blue, purple, and scarlet fabric and finely woven [embroidered] linen, the work of an embroiderer, with four pillars and four [base] sockets.

¹⁷All the pillars (support poles) around the court shall be joined together with silver rods; their hooks shall be of silver and their sockets of bronze.

¹⁸The length of the court shall be a hundred cubits, and the width fifty [cubits] throughout, and the height five cubits of fine twisted linen, and their sockets of bronze.

¹⁹All the tabernacle's utensils and instruments used in all its service, and all its stakes, and all the stakes for the court, shall be of bronze.

²⁰"You shall command the Israelites to provide you with clear oil of beaten olives for the light, to make a lamp burn continually [every night].

²¹In the Tent of Meeting [of God with His people], outside the veil which is in front of the [ark of the] Testimony [and sets it apart], Aaron [the high priest] and his sons shall keep the lamp burning from evening to morning before the LORD. It shall be a perpetual statute [to be observed] throughout their generations on behalf of the Israelites.

¹Pursue [this] love [with eagerness, make it your goal], yet earnestly desire and cultivate the spiritual gifts [to be used by believers for the benefit of the church], but especially that you may prophesy [to foretell the future, to speak a new message from God to the people].

²For one who speaks in an unknown tongue does not speak to people but to God; for no one understands him or catches his meaning, but by the Spirit he speaks mysteries [secret truths, hidden things].

³But [on the other hand] the one who prophesies speaks to people for edification [to promote their spiritual growth] and [speaks words of] encouragement [to uphold and advise them concerning the matters of God] and [speaks words of] consolation [to compassionately comfort them].

⁴One who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but one who prophesies edifies the church [promotes growth in spiritual wisdom, devotion, holiness, and joy].

⁵Now I wish that all of you spoke in unknown tongues, but even more [I wish] that you would prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater [and more useful] than the one who speaks in tongues, unless he translates or explains [what he says], so that the church may be edified [instructed, improved, strengthened].

⁶Now, believers, if I come to you speaking in unknown tongues, how will I benefit you unless I also speak to you [clearly] either by revelation [revealing God's mystery], or by knowledge [teaching about God], or by prophecy [foretelling the future, speaking a new message from God to the people], or by instruction [teaching precepts that develop spiritual maturity]?

⁷Yet even lifeless things, whether flute or harp, when producing a sound, if they do not produce distinct [musical] tones, how will anyone [listening] know what is piped or played?

⁸And if the [war] bugle produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle?

⁹So it is with you, if you speak words [in an unknown tongue] that are not intelligible and clear, how will anyone understand what you are saying? You will be talking into the air [wasting your breath]!

¹⁰There are, I suppose, a great many kinds of languages in the world [unknown to us], and none is lacking in meaning.

¹¹But if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will [appear to] be a foreigner to the one who is speaking [since he knows exactly what he is saying], and the one who is speaking will [appear to] be a foreigner to me.

¹²So it is with you, since you are so very eager to have spiritual gifts and manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in ways that will build up the church [spiritually].

¹³Therefore let one who speaks in a tongue pray that he may [be gifted to] translate or explain [what he says].

¹⁴For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unproductive [because it does not understand what my spirit is praying].

¹⁵Then what am I to do? I will pray with the spirit [by the Holy Spirit that is within me] and I will pray with the mind [using words I understand]; I will sing with the spirit [by the Holy Spirit that is within me] and I will sing with the mind [using words I understand].

¹⁶Otherwise if you bless [and give thanks to God] in the spirit only, how will any outsider or someone who is not gifted [in spiritual matters] say the "Amen" [of agreement] to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying?

¹⁷You are giving thanks well enough [in a way that God is glorified], but the other person [who does not understand you] is not edified [and spiritually strengthened since he cannot join in your thanksgiving].

¹⁸I thank God that I speak in [unknown] tongues more than all of you;

¹⁹nevertheless, in public worship I would rather say five understandable words in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue [which others cannot understand].

²⁰Brothers and sisters, do not be children [immature, childlike] in your thinking; be infants in [matters of] evil [completely innocent and inexperienced], but in your minds be mature [adults].

²¹It is written in the Law, "By men of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners I will speak to this people, and not even then will they listen to Me," says the Lord.

²²Therefore, [unknown] tongues are [meant] for a [supernatural] sign, not to believers but to unbelievers [who might be receptive]; while prophecy [foretelling the future, speaking a new message from God to the people] is not for unbelievers but for believers.

²³So then, if the whole church gathers together and all of you speak in [unknown] tongues, and outsiders or those who are not gifted [in spiritual matters] or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind?

²⁴But if all prophesy [foretelling the future, speaking a new message from God to the people], and an unbeliever or outsider comes in, he is convicted [of his sins] by all, and he is called to account by all [because he can understand what is being said];

²⁵the secrets of his heart are laid bare. And so, falling on his face, he will worship God, declaring that God is really among you.

²⁶What then is the right course, believers? When you meet together, each one has a psalm, a teaching, a revelation (disclosure of special knowledge), a tongue, or an interpretation. Let everything be constructive and edifying and done for the good of all the church.

²⁷If anyone speaks in a tongue, it should be limited to two or at the most three, and each one speaking in turn, and one must interpret [what is said].

²⁸But if there is no one to interpret, the one [who wishes to speak in a tongue] must keep silent in church; let him speak to himself and to God.

²⁹Let two or three prophets speak [as inspired by the Holy Spirit], while the rest pay attention and weigh carefully what is said.

³⁰But if an inspired revelation is made to another who is seated, then the first one must be silent.

³¹For [in this way] you can all prophesy one by one, so that everyone may be instructed and everyone may be encouraged;

³²for the spirits of prophets are subject to the prophets [the prophecy is under the speaker's control, and he can stop speaking];

³³for God [who is the source of their prophesying] is not a God of confusion and disorder but of peace and order. As [is the practice] in all the churches of the saints (God's people),

³⁴the women should be silent in the churches, for they are not authorized to speak, but are to take a subordinate place, as the Law says.

³⁵If there is anything they want to learn [that is, if they have questions about anything being said or taught], they are to ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to talk in church.

³⁶Did the word of the Lord originate from you [Corinthians], or has it come to you only [so that you know best what God requires]?

³⁷If anyone thinks and claims that he is a prophet [a true spokesman for God] or spiritually astute [filled with and energized by the Holy Spirit], let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord's commandment.

³⁸If anyone does not recognize this [that it is a command of the Lord], he is not recognized [by God].

³⁹Therefore, believers, desire earnestly to prophesy [to foretell the future, to speak a new message from God to the people], and do not forbid speaking in unknown tongues.

⁴⁰But all things must be done appropriately and in an orderly manner.

¹Then Job answered and said,

²"I have heard many such things; Wearisome and miserable comforters are you all.

³"Is there no end to [your futile] words of wind? Or what plagues you [so much] that you [so boldly] answer [me like this]?

⁴"I also could speak like you, If you were in my place; I could compose and join words together against you And shake my head at you.

⁵"[But instead] I could strengthen and encourage you with [the words of] my mouth, And the consolation and solace of my lips would soothe your suffering and lessen your anguish.

⁶"If I speak [to you miserable comforters], my pain is not relieved; And if I refrain [from speaking], what [pain or anguish] leaves me?

⁷"But now God has exhausted me. You [O Lord] have destroyed all my family and my household.

⁸"You have taken a firm hold on me and have shriveled me up, It has become a witness [against me]; And my leanness [and infirmity] rises up [as evidence] against me, It testifies to my face [about my guilt].

⁹"His wrath has torn me and hunted me down, He has gnashed at me with his teeth; My adversary sharpens His gaze and glares [with piercing eyes] at me.

¹⁰"They have gaped at me with their mouths, With contempt they have struck me on the cheek; They massed themselves together [and conspired] against me.

¹¹"God hands me over to criminals And tosses me [headlong] into the hands of the wicked.

¹²"I was [living] at ease, but He crushed me and broke me apart, And He has seized me by the neck and has shaken me to pieces; He has also set me up as His target.

¹³"His arrows surround me. He pierces my kidneys (vital organs) without mercy; He pours out my gall on the ground.

¹⁴"He attacks me, making wound after wound; He runs at me like a warrior.

¹⁵"I have sewed sackcloth over my skin [as a sign of mourning] And have defiled my horn (symbol of strength) in the dust.

¹⁶"My face is red and swollen with weeping, And on my eyelids is the shadow of death [my eyes are dimmed],

¹⁷Although there is no violence or wrongdoing in my hands, And my prayer is pure.

¹⁸"O earth, do not cover my blood, And let there be no [resting] place for my cry [where it will cease being heard].

¹⁹"Even now, behold, my Witness is in heaven, And my Advocate [who vouches and testifies for me] is on high.

²⁰"My friends are scoffers [who ridicule]; My eye pours out tears to God.

²¹"Oh, that a man would mediate and plead with God [for me] Just as a man [mediates and pleads] with his neighbor and friend.

²²"For when a few years are past, I shall go the way of no return.

¹When Israel came out of Egypt, The house of Jacob from a people of strange language,

²Judah became His sanctuary, And Israel His dominion.

³The [Red] Sea looked and fled; The Jordan turned back.

⁴The mountains leaped like rams, The [little] hills, like lambs.

⁵What ails you, O sea, that you flee? O Jordan, that you turn back?

⁶O mountains, that you leap like rams, O [little] hills, like lambs?

⁷Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, At the presence of the God of Jacob (Israel),

⁸Who turned the rock into a pool of water, The flint into a fountain of water.

¹The plans and reflections of the heart belong to man, But the [wise] answer of the tongue is from the LORD.

²All the ways of a man are clean and innocent in his own eyes [and he may see nothing wrong with his actions], But the LORD weighs and examines the motives and intents [of the heart and knows the truth].

³Commit your works to the LORD [submit and trust them to Him], And your plans will succeed [if you respond to His will and guidance].

⁴The LORD has made everything for its own purpose, Even the wicked [according to their role] for the day of evil.

⁵Everyone who is proud and arrogant in heart is disgusting and exceedingly offensive to the LORD; Be assured he will not go unpunished.

⁶By mercy and lovingkindness and truth [not superficial ritual] wickedness is cleansed from the heart, And by the fear of the LORD one avoids evil.

⁷When a man's ways please the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

⁸Better is a little with righteousness Than great income [gained] with injustice.

⁹A man's mind plans his way [as he journeys through life], But the LORD directs his steps and establishes them.

¹⁰A divine decision [given by God] is on the lips of the king [as His representative]; His mouth should not be unfaithful or unjust in judgment.

¹¹A just balance and [honest] scales are the Lord's; All the weights of the bag are His concern [established by His eternal principles].

¹²It is repulsive [to God and man] for kings to behave wickedly, For a throne is established on righteousness (right standing with God).

¹³Righteous lips are the delight of kings, And he who speaks right is loved.

¹⁴The wrath of a king is like a messenger of death, But a wise man will appease it.

¹⁵In the light of the king's face is life, And his favor is like a cloud bringing the spring rain.

¹⁶How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen above silver.

¹⁷The highway of the upright turns away and departs from evil; He who guards his way protects his life (soul).

¹⁸Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.

¹⁹It is better to be humble in spirit with the lowly Than to divide the spoil with the proud (haughty, arrogant).

²⁰He who pays attention to the word [of God] will find good, And blessed (happy, prosperous, to be admired) is he who trusts [confidently] in the LORD.

²¹The wise in heart will be called understanding, And sweet speech increases persuasiveness and learning [in both speaker and listener].

²²Understanding (spiritual insight) is a [refreshing and boundless] wellspring of life to those who have it, But to give instruction and correction to fools is foolishness.

²³The heart of the wise instructs his mouth [in wisdom] And adds persuasiveness to his lips.

²⁴Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, Sweet and delightful to the soul and healing to the body.

²⁵There is a way which seems right to a man and appears straight before him, But its end is the way of death.

²⁶The appetite of a worker works for him, For his hunger urges him on.

²⁷A worthless man devises and digs up evil, And the words on his lips are like a scorching fire.

²⁸A perverse man spreads strife, And one who gossips separates intimate friends.

²⁹A violent and exceedingly covetous man entices his neighbor [to sin], And leads him in a way that is not good.

³⁰He who [slyly] winks his eyes does so to plot perverse things; And he who compresses his lips [as if in a secret signal] brings evil to pass.

³¹The silver-haired head is a crown of splendor and glory; It is found in the way of righteousness.

³²He who is slow to anger is better and more honorable than the mighty [soldier], And he who rules and controls his own spirit, than he who captures a city.

³³The lot is cast into the lap, But its every decision is from the LORD.

¹Now the lot (allotment) for the tribe of the sons of Judah according to their families reached [southward to] the border of Edom, southward to the wilderness of Zin at its most southern part.

²Their southern border was from the lower end of the Salt (Dead) Sea, from the bay that turns southward.

³Then it proceeded southward to the ascent of Akrabbim and continued along to Zin, and then went by the south of Kadesh-barnea and continued along to Hezron, and went up to Addar and turned about to Karka.

⁴It continued along to Azmon and proceeded to the Brook of Egypt (Wadi el-Arish), and the border ended at the [Mediterranean] sea. This was their southern border.

⁵The eastern border was the Salt (Dead) Sea, as far as the mouth of the Jordan. The northern border was from the bay of the sea at the mouth of the Jordan.

⁶Then the border went up to Beth-hoglah, and continued along north of Beth-arabah, and the border went up to the [landmark of the] stone of Bohan the son of Reuben.

⁷The border went up to Debir from the Valley of Achor, and turned northward toward Gilgal which is opposite the ascent of Adummim, which is on the south side of the valley; and the border continued on to the waters of En-shemesh and ended at En-rogel.

⁸Then the border went up by the Valley of Ben-hinnom (son of Hinnom) at the southern slope of the Jebusite [city] (that is, Jerusalem); and the border went up to the top of the mountain that lies before the Valley of Hinnom to the west, which is at the northern end of the Valley of Rephaim.

⁹Then the border extended from the top of the mountain to the spring of the waters of Nephtoah and proceeded to the cities of Mount Ephron; then the border curved to Baalah (that is, Kiriath-jearim).

¹⁰The border went around west from Baalah to Mount Seir, and passed along to the northern slope of Mount Jearim (that is, Chesalon), and went down to Beth-shemesh and then continued on through Timnah.

¹¹The border proceeded to the slope [of the hill] of Ekron northward, then curved to Shikkeron and continued to Mount Baalah and proceeded to Jabneel. Then the border ended at the [Mediterranean] sea.

¹²The western border was at the Great Sea, with its coastline. This is the border around the tribe of the sons of Judah according to their families.

¹³Now to Caleb the son of Jephunneh Joshua gave a portion among the sons of Judah, as the LORD commanded him, namely, Kiriath-arba, Arba being the father of Anak (that is, Hebron).

¹⁴So Caleb drove out from there the three sons of Anak: Sheshai and Ahiman and Talmai, the children of Anak.

¹⁵Then he went up from there against the people of Debir; Debir was formerly named Kiriath-sepher.

¹⁶Caleb said, "I will give Achsah my daughter as wife to the man who attacks Kiriath-sepher and captures it."

¹⁷And Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's brother, captured it; so he gave him Achsah his daughter as a wife.

¹⁸Now it came about that when Achsah came to Othniel, she persuaded him [to allow her] to ask her father for a field. Then she [rode up to Caleb and] dismounted from her donkey, and Caleb said to her, "What do you want?"

¹⁹Achsah answered, "Give me a blessing; since you have given me the [dry] land of the Negev (South country), give me springs of water, too." So he gave her the upper springs and the lower springs.

²⁰This is the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Judah according to their families (clans).

²¹The cities of the tribe of the sons of Judah in the extreme south toward the border of Edom were Kabzeel and Eder and Jagur,

²²and Kinah and Dimonah and Adadah,

²³and Kedesh and Hazor and Ithnan,

²⁴Ziph and Telem and Bealoth,

²⁵and Hazor-hadattah and Kerioth-hezron (that is, Hazor),

²⁶Amam and Shema and Moladah,

²⁷and Hazar-gaddah and Heshmon and Beth-pelet,

²⁸and Hazar-shual and Beersheba and Biziothiah,

²⁹Baalah and Iim and Ezem,

³⁰and Eltolad and Chesil and Hormah,

³¹and Ziklag and Madmannah and Sansannah,

³²and Lebaoth and Shilhim and Ain and Rimmon; in all twenty-nine cities with their villages.

³³In the lowland: Eshtaol and Zorah and Ashnah,

³⁴and Zanoah and En-gannim, Tappuah and Enam,

³⁵Jarmuth and Adullam, Socoh and Azekah,

³⁶and Shaaraim and Adithaim and Gederah and Gederothaim; fourteen cities with their villages.

³⁷Zenan and Hadashah and Migdal-gad,

³⁸and Dilean and Mizpeh and Joktheel,

³⁹Lachish and Bozkath and Eglon,

⁴⁰and Cabbon and Lahmas and Chitlish,

⁴¹and Gederoth, Beth-dagon and Naamah and Makkedah; sixteen cities with their villages.

⁴²Libnah and Ether and Ashan,

⁴³and Iphtah and Ashnah and Nezib,

⁴⁴and Keilah and Achzib and Mareshah; nine cities with their villages.

⁴⁵Ekron, with its towns and villages;

⁴⁶from Ekron even to the sea, all that were beside Ashdod, with their villages;

⁴⁷Ashdod, with its towns and its villages; Gaza, with its towns and its villages; as far as the Brook of Egypt (Wadi el-Arish) and the Great [Mediterranean] Sea with its coastline.

⁴⁸In the hill country: Shamir and Jattir and Socoh,

⁴⁹and Dannah and Kiriath-sannah (that is, Debir),

⁵⁰and Anab and Eshtemoh and Anim,

⁵¹and Goshen and Holon and Giloh; eleven cities with their villages.

⁵²Arab and Dumah and Eshan,

⁵³and Janum and Beth-tappuah and Aphekah,

⁵⁴and Humtah and Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), and Zior; nine cities with their villages.

⁵⁵Maon, Carmel and Ziph and Juttah,

⁵⁶and Jezreel and Jokdeam and Zanoah,

⁵⁷Kain, Gibeah and Timnah; ten cities with their villages.

⁵⁸Halhul, Beth-zur and Gedor,

⁵⁹and Maarath and Beth-anoth and Eltekon; six cities with their villages.

⁶⁰Kiriath-baal (that is, Kiriath-jearim), and Rabbah; two cities with their villages.

⁶¹In the wilderness [that slopes downward toward the Dead Sea]: Beth-arabah, Middin and Secacah,

⁶²and Nibshan and the City of Salt and Engedi; six cities with their villages.

⁶³But as for the Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the [tribe of the] sons of Judah were not able to drive them out; so the Jebusites live with the sons of Judah in Jerusalem to this day.

¹For the LORD will have compassion on Jacob (the captives in Babylon) and will again choose Israel, and will settle them in their own land. Foreigners (Gentiles) will join them [as proselytes] and will attach themselves to the house of Jacob (Israel).

²The peoples will take them along and bring them to their own place (Judea), and the house of Israel will possess them as an inheritance in the land of the LORD as male and female servants; and they will take captive those whose captives they have been, and they will rule over their [former] oppressors.

³And it will be in the day when the LORD gives you rest from your pain and turmoil and from the harsh service in which you have been enslaved,

⁴that you will take up this taunt against the king of Babylon, and say, "How the oppressor has ceased [his insolence], And how the fury has ceased!

⁵"The LORD has broken the staff of the wicked, The scepter of the [tyrant] rulers

⁶Which used to strike the peoples in anger with incessant blows, Which subdued and ruled the nations in wrath with unrelenting persecution.

⁷"The whole earth is at rest and is quiet; They break into shouts of joy.

⁸"Even the cypress trees rejoice over you [kings of Babylon], even the cedars of Lebanon, saying, 'Since you were laid low, no woodcutter comes up against us.'

⁹" Sheol below is excited about you to meet you when you come [you tyrant of Babylon]; It stirs up the spirits of the dead [to greet you], all the leaders of the earth; It raises all the kings of the nations from their thrones [in astonishment at your fall].

¹⁰"All of them will respond [tauntingly] and say to you, 'You have become as weak as we are. You have become like us.

¹¹'Your pomp and magnificence have been brought down to Sheol, Along with the music of your harps; The maggots [which prey on the dead] are spread out under you [as a bed] And worms are your covering [Babylonian rulers].'

¹²"How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning [light-bringer], son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the ground, You who have weakened the nations [king of Babylon]!

¹³"But you said in your heart, 'I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit on the mount of assembly In the remote parts of the north.

¹⁴'I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.'

¹⁵"But [in fact] you will be brought down to Sheol, To the remote recesses of the pit (the region of the dead).

¹⁶"Those who see you will gaze at you, They will consider you, saying, 'Is this the man who made the earth tremble, Who shook kingdoms,

¹⁷Who made the world like a wilderness And overthrew its cities, Who did not permit his prisoners to return home?'

¹⁸"All the kings of the nations, all of them lie [dead] in glorious array, Each one in his own sepulcher.

¹⁹"But you [king of Babylon] have been cast out of your tomb (denied burial) Like a rejected branch, Clothed with the slain who are pierced by the sword, Who go down to the stones of the pit [into which carcasses are thrown], Like a dead body trampled [underfoot].

²⁰"You will not be united with them in burial, Because you have destroyed your land, You have slain your people. May the descendants of evildoers never be named!

²¹"Prepare a slaughtering place for his sons Because of the wickedness [the sin, the injustice, the wrongdoing] of their fathers. They must not rise and take possession of the earth, And fill the face of the world with cities."

²²"I will rise up against them," says the LORD of hosts, "and will cut off from Babylon name and survivors, and son and grandson," declares the LORD.

²³"I will also make Babylon a possession of the hedgehog and of swamps of water, and I will sweep it away with the broom of destruction," declares the LORD of hosts.

²⁴The LORD of hosts has sworn [an oath], saying, "Just as I have intended, so it has certainly happened, and just as I have planned, so it will stand—

²⁵to break the Assyrian in My land, and on My mountains I will trample him underfoot. Then the Assyrian's yoke will be removed from them (the people of Judah) and his burden removed from their shoulder.

²⁶This is the plan [of God] decided for the whole earth [regarded as conquered and put under tribute by Assyria]; and this is the hand [of God] that is stretched out over all the nations.

²⁷For the LORD of hosts has decided and planned, and who can annul it? His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back?"

²⁸In the year that King Ahaz [of Judah] died this [mournful, inspired] oracle ( a burden to be carried) came:

²⁹"Do not rejoice, O Philistia, any of you, Because the rod [of Judah] that struck you is broken; For out of the serpent's root will come a viper [King Hezekiah of Judah], And its offspring will be a flying serpent.

³⁰"The firstborn of the helpless [of Judah] will feed [on My meadows], And the needy will lie down in safety; But I will kill your root with famine, And your survivors will be put to death.

³¹"Howl, O gate; cry, O city! Melt away, O Philistia, all of you; For smoke comes out of the north, And there is no straggler in his ranks and no one stands detached [in Hezekiah's battalions].

³²"Then what answer will one give the messengers of the [Philistine] nation? That the LORD has founded Zion, And the afflicted of His people will seek and find refuge in it."

¹Now at that time Herod [Agrippa I] the king [of the Jews] arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to harm them.

²And he had James the brother of John put to death with a sword;

³and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to have Peter arrested as well. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread [the Passover week].

⁴When he had seized Peter, he put him in prison, turning him over to four squads of soldiers of four each to guard him [in rotation throughout the night], planning after the Passover to bring him out before the people [for execution].

⁵So Peter was kept in prison, but fervent and persistent prayer for him was being made to God by the church.

⁶The very night before Herod was to bring him forward, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries were in front of the door guarding the prison.

⁷Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared [beside him] and a light shone in the cell. The angel struck Peter's side and awakened him, saying, "Get up quickly!" And the chains fell off his hands.

⁸The angel said to him, "Prepare yourself and strap on your sandals [to get ready for whatever may happen]." And he did so. Then the angel told him, "Put on your robe and follow me."

⁹And Peter went out following the angel. He did not realize that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.

¹⁰When they had passed the first guard and the second, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city. Of its own accord it swung open for them; and they went out and went along one street, and at once the angel left him.

¹¹When Peter came to his senses, he said, "Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel and has rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting [to do to me]."

¹²When he realized what had happened, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, who was also called Mark, where many [believers] were gathered together and were praying continually [and had been praying all night].

¹³When he knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant-girl named Rhoda came to answer.

¹⁴Recognizing Peter's voice, in her joy she failed to open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter was standing in front of the gateway.

¹⁵They said to her, "You are out of your mind!" But she kept insisting that it was so. They kept saying, "It is his angel!"

¹⁶But [meanwhile] Peter continued knocking; and when they opened the door and saw him, they were completely amazed.

¹⁷But motioning to them with his hand to be quiet and listen, he described how the Lord had led him out of the prison. And he said, "Report these things to James and the brothers and sisters." Then he left and went to another place.

¹⁸Now when day came, there was no small disturbance among the soldiers over what had become of Peter.

¹⁹When Herod had searched for him and could not find him, he interrogated the guards and commanded that they be led away to execution. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea [Maritima] and spent some time there.

²⁰Now Herod [Agrippa I] was extremely angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon; and their delegates came to him in a united group, and after persuading Blastus, the king's chamberlain [to support their cause], they asked for peace, because their country was fed by [imports of grain and other goods from] the king's country.

²¹On an appointed day Herod dressed himself in his royal robes, sat on his throne (tribunal, rostrum) and began delivering a speech to the people.

²²The assembled people kept shouting, "It is the voice of a god and not of a man!"

²³And at once an angel of the Lord struck him down because he did not give God the glory [and instead permitted himself to be worshiped], and he was eaten by worms and died [five days later].

²⁴But the word of the Lord [the good news about salvation through Christ] continued to grow and spread [increasing in effectiveness].

²⁵Barnabas and Saul came back from Jerusalem when they had completed their mission, bringing with them John, who was also called Mark.