Jer. 6:16–30

6:16 The Lord said to his people:

“You are standing at the crossroads. So consider your path.

Ask where the old, reliable paths are.

Ask where the path is that leads to blessing and follow it.

If you do, you will find rest for your souls.”

But they said, “We will not follow it!”

17The Lord said,

“I appointed prophets as watchmen to warn you, saying,

‘Pay attention to the warning sound of the trumpet!’”

But they said, “We will not pay attention!”

18So the Lord said,

“Hear, you nations!

Be witnesses and take note of what will happen to these people.

19Hear this, you peoples of the earth:

‘Take note! I am about to bring disaster on these people.

It will come as punishment for their scheming.

For they have paid no attention to what I have said,

and they have rejected my law.

20I take no delight when they offer up to me

frankincense that comes from Sheba

or sweet-smelling cane imported from a faraway land.

I cannot accept the burnt offerings they bring me.

I get no pleasure from the sacrifices they offer to me.’”

21So, this is what the Lord says:

“I will assuredly make these people stumble to their doom.

Parents and children will stumble and fall to their destruction.

Friends and neighbors will die.”

22This is what the Lord says:

“Beware! An army is coming from a land in the north.

A mighty nation is stirring into action in faraway parts of the earth.

23Its soldiers are armed with bows and spears.

They are cruel and show no mercy.

They sound like the roaring sea

as they ride forth on their horses.

Lined up in formation like men going into battle

to attack you, Daughter Zion.”

24The people cry out, “We have heard reports about them.

We have become helpless with fear!

Anguish grips us,

agony like that of a woman giving birth to a baby!

25Do not go out into the countryside.

Do not travel on the roads.

For the enemy is there with sword in hand.

They are spreading terror everywhere.”

26So I said, “Oh, my dear people, put on sackcloth

and roll in ashes.

Mourn with painful sobs

as though you had lost your only child.

For any moment now that destructive army

will come against us.”

27The Lord said to me,

“I have made you like a metal assayer

to test my people like ore.

You are to observe them

and evaluate how they behave.”

28I reported,

“All of them are the most stubborn of rebels!

They are as hard as bronze or iron.

They go about telling lies.

They all deal corruptly.

29The fiery bellows of judgment burn fiercely.

But there is too much dross to be removed.

The process of refining them has proved useless.

The wicked have not been purged.

30They are regarded as ‘rejected silver’

because the Lord rejects them.”

Ps. 119:161–168

119:161 ש (Sin/Shin)

Rulers pursue me for no reason,

yet I am more afraid of disobeying your instructions.

162I rejoice in your instructions,

like one who finds much plunder.

163I hate and despise deceit;

I love your law.

164Seven times a day I praise you

because of your just regulations.

165Those who love your law are completely secure;

nothing causes them to stumble.

166I hope for your deliverance, O Lord,

and I obey your commands.

167I keep your rules;

I love them greatly.

168I keep your precepts and rules,

for you are aware of everything I do.

Acts 4:1–22

4:1 While Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests and the commander of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them, 2angry because they were teaching the people and announcing in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. 3So they seized them and put them in jail until the next day (for it was already evening). 4But many of those who had listened to the message believed, and the number of the men came to about 5,000.

5On the next day, their rulers, elders, and experts in the law came together in Jerusalem. 6Annas the high priest was there, and Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and others who were members of the high priest’s family. 7After making Peter and John stand in their midst, they began to inquire, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” 8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, replied, “Rulers of the people and elders, 9if we are being examined today for a good deed done to a sick man—by what means this man was healed— 10let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, this man stands before you healthy. 11This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, that has become the cornerstone. 12And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among people by which we must be saved.”

13When they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and discovered that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were amazed and recognized these men had been with Jesus. 14And because they saw the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say against this. 15But when they had ordered them to go outside the council, they began to confer with one another, 16saying, “What should we do with these men? For it is plain to all who live in Jerusalem that a notable miraculous sign has come about through them, and we cannot deny it. 17But to keep this matter from spreading any further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.” 18And they called them in and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19But Peter and John replied, “Whether it is right before God to obey you rather than God, you decide, 20for it is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard.” 21After threatening them further, they released them, for they could not find how to punish them on account of the people, because they were all praising God for what had happened. 22For the man, on whom this miraculous sign of healing had been performed, was over forty years old.