Jer. 44:20–30

44:20 Then Jeremiah replied to all the people, both men and women, who responded to him in this way: 21“The Lord did indeed remember and call to mind what you did! He remembered the incense you and your ancestors, your kings, your leaders, and all the rest of the people of the land offered to other gods in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem. 22Finally the Lord could no longer endure your wicked deeds and the disgusting things you did. That is why your land has become the desolate, uninhabited ruin that it is today. That is why it has become a proverbial example used in curses. 23You have sacrificed to other gods. You have sinned against the Lord! You have not obeyed the Lord! You have not followed his laws, his statutes, and his decrees. That is why this disaster that is evident to this day has happened to you.”

24Then Jeremiah spoke to all the people, particularly to all the women, “Listen to the Lord’s message, all you people of Judah who are in Egypt. 25This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, has said, ‘You women have confirmed by your actions what you vowed with your lips! You said, “We will certainly carry out our vows to sacrifice and pour out drink offerings to the Queen of Heaven.” Well, then fulfill your vows! Carry them out!’ 26But listen to the Lord’s message, all you people of Judah who are living in the land of Egypt: The Lord says, ‘I hereby swear by my own great name that none of the people of Judah who are living anywhere in Egypt will ever again invoke my name in their oaths! Never again will any of them use it in an oath saying, “As surely as the Sovereign Lord lives.” 27I will indeed see to it that disaster, not prosperity, happens to them. All the people of Judah who are in the land of Egypt will die in war or from starvation until not one of them is left. 28Some who survive the battle will return to the land of Judah from the land of Egypt. But they will be very few indeed! Then the Judean remnant who have come to live in the land of Egypt will know whose word proves true, mine or theirs.’ 29Moreover the Lord says, ‘I will make something happen to prove that I will punish you in this place. I will do it so that you will know that my threats to bring disaster on you will prove true. 30I, the Lord, promise that I will hand Pharaoh Hophra king of Egypt over to his enemies who are seeking to kill him. I will do that just as surely as I handed King Zedekiah of Judah over to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, his enemy who was seeking to kill him.’”

Ps. 26

26:1 By David.

Vindicate me, O Lord,

for I have integrity,

and I trust in the Lord without wavering.

2Examine me, O Lord, and test me.

Evaluate my inner thoughts and motives.

3For I am ever aware of your faithfulness,

and your loyalty continually motivates me.

4I do not associate with deceitful men,

or consort with those who are dishonest.

5I hate the mob of evil men,

and do not associate with the wicked.

6I maintain a pure lifestyle,

so I can appear before your altar, O Lord,

7to give you thanks,

and to tell about all your amazing deeds.

8O Lord, I love the temple where you live,

the place where your splendor is revealed.

9Do not sweep me away with sinners,

or execute me along with violent people,

10who are always ready to do wrong

or offer a bribe.

11But I have integrity.

Rescue me and have mercy on me!

12I am safe,

and among the worshipers I will praise the Lord.

Acts 27:1–12

27:1 When it was decided we would sail to Italy, they handed over Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion of the Augustan Cohort named Julius. 2We went on board a ship from Adramyttium that was about to sail to various ports along the coast of the province of Asia and put out to sea, accompanied by Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica. 3The next day we put in at Sidon, and Julius, treating Paul kindly, allowed him to go to his friends so they could provide him with what he needed. 4From there we put out to sea and sailed under the lee of Cyprus because the winds were against us. 5After we had sailed across the open sea off Cilicia and Pamphylia, we put in at Myra in Lycia. 6There the centurion found a ship from Alexandria sailing for Italy, and he put us aboard it. 7We sailed slowly for many days and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus. Because the wind prevented us from going any farther, we sailed under the lee of Crete off Salmone. 8With difficulty we sailed along the coast of Crete and came to a place called Fair Havens that was near the town of Lasea.

9Since considerable time had passed and the voyage was now dangerous because the fast was already over, Paul advised them, 10“Men, I can see the voyage is going to end in disaster and great loss not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.” 11But the centurion was more convinced by the captain and the ship’s owner than by what Paul said. 12Because the harbor was not suitable to spend the winter in, the majority decided to put out to sea from there. They hoped that somehow they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete facing southwest and northwest, and spend the winter there. (NET Bible)