Jer. 39:1–10

39:1 King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came against Jerusalem with his whole army and laid siege to it. The siege began in the tenth month of the ninth year that Zedekiah ruled over Judah. 2It lasted until the ninth day of the fourth month of Zedekiah’s eleventh year. On that day they broke through the city walls. 3Then Nergal Sharezer of Samgar, Nebo Sarsekim (who was a chief officer), Nergal Sharezer (who was a high official), and all the other officers of the king of Babylon came and set up quarters in the Middle Gate. 4When King Zedekiah of Judah and all his soldiers saw them, they tried to escape. They departed from the city during the night. They took a path through the king’s garden and passed out through the gate between the two walls. Then they headed for the rift valley. 5But the Babylonian army chased after them. They caught up with Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho and captured him. They took him to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon at Riblah in the territory of Hamath, and Nebuchadnezzar passed sentence on him there. 6There at Riblah the king of Babylon had Zedekiah’s sons put to death while Zedekiah was forced to watch. The king of Babylon also had all the nobles of Judah put to death. 7Then he had Zedekiah’s eyes put out and had him bound in chains to be led off to Babylon. 8The Babylonians burned down the royal palace, the temple of the Lord, and the people’s homes, and they tore down the wall of Jerusalem. 9Then Nebuzaradan, the captain of the royal guard, took captive the rest of the people who were left in the city. He carried them off to Babylon along with the people who had deserted to him. 10But he left behind in the land of Judah some of the poor people who owned nothing. He gave them fields and vineyards at that time.

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.

Acts 23:12–22

23:12 When morning came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink anything until they had killed Paul. 13There were more than forty of them who formed this conspiracy. 14They went to the chief priests and the elders and said, “We have bound ourselves with a solemn oath not to partake of anything until we have killed Paul. 15So now you and the council request the commanding officer to bring him down to you, as if you were going to determine his case by conducting a more thorough inquiry. We are ready to kill him before he comes near this place.”

16But when the son of Paul’s sister heard about the ambush, he came and entered the barracks and told Paul. 17Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the commanding officer, for he has something to report to him.” 18So the centurion took him and brought him to the commanding officer and said, “The prisoner Paul called me and asked me to bring this young man to you because he has something to tell you.” 19The commanding officer took him by the hand, withdrew privately, and asked, “What is it that you want to report to me?” 20He replied, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as if they were going to inquire more thoroughly about him. 21So do not let them persuade you to do this because more than forty of them are lying in ambush for him. They have bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink anything until they have killed him, and now they are ready, waiting for you to agree to their request.” 22Then the commanding officer sent the young man away, directing him, “Tell no one that you have reported these things to me.” (NET Bible)