Is. 28:14–29

28:14 Therefore, listen to the Lord’s message,

you who mock,

you rulers of these people

who reside in Jerusalem.

15For you say,

“We have made a treaty with death,

with Sheol we have made an agreement.

When the overwhelming judgment sweeps by

it will not reach us.

For we have made a lie our refuge,

we have hidden ourselves in a deceitful word.”

16Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord, says:

“Look, I am laying a stone in Zion,

an approved stone,

set in place as a precious cornerstone for the foundation.

The one who maintains his faith will not panic.

17I will make justice the measuring line,

fairness the plumb line;

hail will sweep away the unreliable refuge,

the floodwaters will overwhelm the hiding place.

18Your treaty with death will be dissolved;

your agreement with Sheol will not last.

When the overwhelming judgment sweeps by,

you will be overrun by it.

19Whenever it sweeps by, it will overtake you;

indeed, every morning it will sweep by,

it will come through during the day and the night.”

When this announcement is understood,

it will cause nothing but terror.

20For the bed is too short to stretch out on,

and the blanket is too narrow to wrap around oneself.

21For the Lord will rise up, as he did at Mount Perazim;

he will rouse himself, as he did in the Valley of Gibeon,

to accomplish his work,

his peculiar work,

to perform his task,

his strange task.

22So now, do not mock,

or your chains will become heavier!

For I have heard a message about decreed destruction,

from the Sovereign Lord of Heaven’s Armies against the entire land.

23Pay attention and listen to my message.

Be attentive and listen to what I have to say!

24Does a farmer just keep on plowing at planting time?

Does he keep breaking up and harrowing his ground?

25Once he has leveled its surface,

does he not scatter the seed of the caraway plant,

sow the seed of the cumin plant,

and plant the wheat, barley, and grain in their designated places?

26His God instructs him;

he teaches him the principles of agriculture.

27Certainly caraway seed is not threshed with a sledge,

nor is the wheel of a cart rolled over cumin seed.

Certainly caraway seed is beaten with a stick

and cumin seed with a flail.

28Grain is crushed,

though one certainly does not thresh it forever.

The wheel of one’s wagon rolls over it,

but his horses do not crush it.

29This also comes from the Lord of Heaven’s Armies,

who gives supernatural guidance and imparts great wisdom.

Ps. 4

4:1 For the music director, to be accompanied by stringed instruments; a psalm of David.

When I call out, answer me,

O God who vindicates me.

Though I am hemmed in, you will lead me into a wide, open place.

Have mercy on me and respond to my prayer.

2You men, how long will you try to turn my honor into shame?

How long will you love what is worthless

and search for what is deceptive? (Selah)

3Realize that the Lord shows the godly special favor;

the Lord responds when I cry out to him.

4Tremble with fear and do not sin.

Meditate as you lie in bed, and repent of your ways. (Selah)

5Offer the prescribed sacrifices

and trust in the Lord.

6Many say, “Who can show us anything good?”

Smile upon us, Lord!

7You make me happier

than those who have abundant grain and wine.

8I will lie down and sleep peacefully,

for you, Lord, make me safe and secure.

John 2:23–3:15

2:23 Now while Jesus was in Jerusalem at the Feast of the Passover, many people believed in his name because they saw the miraculous signs he was doing. 24But Jesus would not entrust himself to them because he knew all people. 25He did not need anyone to testify about man, for he knew what was in man.

3:1 Now a certain man, a Pharisee named Nicodemus, who was a member of the Jewish ruling council, 2came to Jesus at night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs that you do unless God is with him.” 3Jesus replied, “I tell you the solemn truth, unless a person is born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter his mother’s womb and be born a second time, can he?”

5Jesus answered, “I tell you the solemn truth, unless a person is born of water and spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must all be born from above.’ 8The wind blows wherever it will, and you hear the sound it makes, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

9Nicodemus replied, “How can these things be?” 10Jesus answered, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you don’t understand these things? 11I tell you the solemn truth, we speak about what we know and testify about what we have seen, but you people do not accept our testimony. 12If I have told you people about earthly things and you don’t believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? 13No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven—the Son of Man. 14Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”