One night during the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had such disturbing dreams that he couldn’t sleep. He called in his magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and astrologers, and he demanded that they tell him what he had dreamed. As they stood before the king, he...
During the third year of King Jehoiakim’s reign in Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. The Lord gave him victory over King Jehoiakim of Judah and permitted him to take some of the sacred objects from the Temple of God....
So on January 15, during the ninth year of Zedekiah’s reign, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon led his entire army against Jerusalem. They surrounded the city and built siege ramps against its walls. Jerusalem was kept under siege until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah’s reign. By...
Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord his God. Then King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came to Jerusalem and captured it, and he bound Jehoiakim in bronze...
During Jehoiakim’s reign, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon invaded the land of Judah. Jehoiakim surrendered and paid him tribute for three years but then rebelled. Then the Lord sent bands of Babylonian, Aramean, Moabite, and Ammonite raiders against Judah to destroy it, just as the Lord...
Jeremiah wrote a letter from Jerusalem to the elders, priests, prophets, and all the people who had been exiled to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar. This was after King Jehoiachin, the queen mother, the court officials, the other officials of Judah, and all the craftsmen and...
This message came to Jeremiah from the Lord early in the reign of Zedekiah son of Josiah, king of Judah. This is what the Lord said to me: “Make a yoke, and fasten it on your neck with leather straps. Then send messages to the kings...
Sing praises to God, our strength.Sing to the God of Jacob.Sing! Beat the tambourine.Play the sweet lyre and the harp.Blow the ram’s horn at new moon,and again at full moon to call a festival!For this is required by the decrees of Israel;it is a regulation...
So look at Apollos and me as mere servants of Christ who have been put in charge of explaining God’s mysteries. Now, a person who is put in charge as a manager must be faithful. As for me, it matters very little how I might...
You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things. And we...
Meanwhile, the crowds grew until thousands were milling about and stepping on each other. Jesus turned first to his disciples and warned them, “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees—their hypocrisy. The time is coming when everything that is covered up will be revealed,...
“Be careful to obey all the commands I am giving you today. Then you will live and multiply, and you will enter and occupy the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors. Remember how the Lord your God led you through the wilderness for...
Light is sweet; how pleasant to see a new day dawning. When people live to be very old, let them rejoice in every day of life. But let them also remember there will be many dark days. Everything still to come is meaningless. Young people, it’s wonderful...
Praise the Lord! How joyful are those who fear the Lordand delight in obeying his commands.Their children will be successful everywhere;an entire generation of godly people will be blessed.They themselves will be wealthy,and their good deeds will last forever.Light shines in the darkness for the godly.They...
The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God. As the Scriptures say, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wiseand discard the intelligence of the intelligent.” So...
Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. Share each other’s burdens, and in...
Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure....
“At the end of every seventh year you must cancel the debts of everyone who owes you money. This is how it must be done. Everyone must cancel the loans they have made to their fellow Israelites. They must not demand payment from their neighbors...
Send your grain across the seas,and in time, profits will flow back to you.But divide your investments among many places,for you do not know what risks might lie ahead. When clouds are heavy, the rains come down.Whether a tree falls north or south, it stays where...
This is my second letter to you, dear friends, and in both of them I have tried to stimulate your wholesome thinking and refresh your memory. I want you to remember what the holy prophets said long ago and what our Lord and Savior commanded...
Now I will sing for the one I lovea song about his vineyard:My beloved had a vineyardon a rich and fertile hill.He plowed the land, cleared its stones,and planted it with the best vines.In the middle he built a watchtowerand carved a winepress in the...
The Lord, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies,will take away from Jerusalem and Judaheverything they depend on:every bit of breadand every drop of water,all their heroes and soldiers,judges and prophets,fortune-tellers and elders,army officers and high officials,advisers, skilled sorcerers, and astrologers. I will make boys their leaders,and toddlers...
The proverbs of Solomon: A wise child brings joy to a father;a foolish child brings grief to a mother. Tainted wealth has no lasting value,but right living can save your life. The Lord will not let the godly go hungry,but he refuses to satisfy the craving of the...
Justice—do you rulers know the meaning of the word?Do you judge the people fairly?No! You plot injustice in your hearts.You spread violence throughout the land.These wicked people are born sinners;even from birth they have lied and gone their own way.They spit venom like deadly snakes;they...
As dead flies cause even a bottle of perfume to stink,so a little foolishness spoils great wisdom and honor. A wise person chooses the right road;a fool takes the wrong one. You can identify foolsjust by the way they walk down the street! If your boss is angry...