Is. 1:18–31

1:18 “Come, let’s consider your options,” says the Lord.

“Though your sins have stained you like the color red,

you can become white like snow;

though they are as easy to see as the color scarlet,

you can become white like wool.

19If you have a willing attitude and obey,

then you will again eat the good crops of the land.

20But if you refuse and rebel,

you will be devoured by the sword.”

Know for certain that the Lord has spoken.

21How tragic that the once-faithful city

has become a prostitute!

She was once a center of justice;

fairness resided in her—

but now only murderers!

22Your silver has become scum,

your beer is diluted with water.

23Your officials are rebels,

they associate with thieves.

All of them love bribery,

and look for payoffs.

They do not take up the cause of the orphan

or defend the rights of the widow.

24Therefore, the Sovereign Lord of Heaven’s Armies,

the Powerful One of Israel, says this:

“Ah, I will seek vengeance against my adversaries,

I will take revenge against my enemies.

25I will attack you;

I will purify your metal with flux.

I will remove all your slag.

26I will reestablish honest judges as in former times,

wise advisers as in earlier days.

Then you will be called, ‘The Just City,

Faithful Town.’”

27 Zion will be freed by justice

and her returnees by righteousness.

28All rebellious sinners will be shattered,

those who abandon the Lord will perish.

29Indeed, they will be ashamed of the sacred trees

you find so desirable;

you will be embarrassed because of the sacred orchards

where you choose to worship.

30For you will be like a tree whose leaves wither,

like an orchard that is unwatered.

31The powerful will be like a thread of yarn,

their deeds like a spark;

both will burn together,

and no one will put out the fire.

Ps. 122

122:1 A song of ascents; by David.

I was glad because they said to me,

“We will go to the Lord’s temple.”

2Our feet are standing

inside your gates, O Jerusalem.

3Jerusalem is a city designed

to accommodate an assembly.

4The tribes go up there,

the tribes of the Lord,

where it is required that Israel

give thanks to the name of the Lord.

5Indeed, the leaders sit there on thrones and make legal decisions,

on the thrones of the house of David.

6Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

May those who love her prosper.

7May there be peace inside your defenses

and prosperity inside your fortresses.

8For the sake of my brothers and my neighbors

I will say, “May there be peace in you.”

9For the sake of the temple of the Lord our God

I will pray for you to prosper.

1 Cor. 12:1–11

12:1 With regard to spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2You know that when you were pagans you were often led astray by speechless idols, however you were led. 3So I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

4Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit. 5And there are different ministries, but the same Lord. 6And there are different results, but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. 7To each person the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the benefit of all. 8For one person is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, and another the message of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10to another performance of miracles, to another prophecy, and to another discernment of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. 11It is one and the same Spirit, distributing as he decides to each person, who produces all these things.