Isaiah 50
1 Thus says the Lord: “Of what quality is your mother’s certificate of divorce, by which I put her away? Or to which debtor have I sold you? Behold, you are sold for your sins, and for your lawlessness I put away your mother.
2 Why, when I came, was there no man? Why, when I called, was there none to obey? Is My hand unable to deliver? Or have I no strength to deliver? Behold, with My rebuke I dry up the sea, and I turn rivers into deserts; and because there is no water, their fish dry up and die of thirst.
3 I clothe heaven with darkness and make its covering like sackcloth.”
4 “The Lord gives Me the tongue of the learned, so as to know when to speak a word at a fitting time; and He causes My ear to listen each morning.
5 The Lord’s instruction opens My ears, and I am not disobedient, nor do I contradict Him.
6 “I gave My back to whips, and My cheeks to blows; and I turned not away My face from the shame of spitting.†
7 The Lord became My helper; therefore, I was not disgraced. But I made My face like a solid rock and knew I would not be ashamed.
8 For He who pronounces Me righteous draws near. Who is he who judges Me? Let him oppose Me at the same time. Who is he who judges Me? Let him come near Me.
9 Behold, the Lord will help Me. Who will harm Me? Behold, all of you will grow old like a garment, and old age will devour you, as a moth does a garment.
10 “Who among you fears the Lord? Let him listen to the voice of His Servant. You who walk in darkness and have no light, trust in the name of the Lord and rely upon God.
11 Behold, all of you kindle a fire and feed a flame. Walk in the light of your fire and the flame you kindled. This happened to you for My sake, and you shall lie down in sorrow.
Psalms 93
1 A psalm by David; for the fourth day of the week. †The Lord is the God of vengeance; The God of vengeance declares Himself boldly.
2 Be exalted, O You who judge the earth; Render the arrogant their reward.
3 How long will sinners, O Lord, How long will sinners boast,
4 How long will they utter and speak wrongdoing, How long will all who work lawlessness speak?
5 They humbled Your people, O Lord, And they maltreated Your inheritance;
6 They killed the widow and the resident alien, And they murdered the orphans,
7 And said, “The Lord will not see; Nor will the God of Jacob understand.”
8 Now understand, all you without discernment among the people, And all you fools, at length be discerning.
9 He who planted the ear, shall He not hear? Or He who formed the eye, shall He not see?
10 He who chastises the nations, shall He not reprove them, He who teaches man knowledge?
11 The Lord knows the thoughts of men are vain.
12 Blessed is the man whom You instruct, O Lord, And whom You teach from Your law,
13 So You may give him rest from evil days, Until a pit is dug for the sinner.
14 For the Lord will not reject His people, And He will not forsake His inheritance
15 Until righteousness returns to judgment, And all the upright in heart possess it. (Pause)
Proverbs of Solomon 20
6 Man is important, and a man who shows mercy is noble, But it is difficult to find a faithful man.
7 He who lives blamelessly in righteousness, He will leave blessed children behind him.
8 When a righteous king sits upon the throne, No evil thing can oppose his presence.
9 Who will boast about having a pure heart? Or who will declare boldly being clean from sins?†
10 The lamp of him who reviles his father or mother shall be put out, And the pupils of his eyes shall see darkness.
2 Thessalonians 3
Pray for Us
1 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you,
2 and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith.
3 But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.
4 And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, both that you do and will do the things we command you.
5 Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ.
Be Industrious
6 But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us.†
7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you;
8 nor did we eat anyone’s bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you,
9 not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us.
10 For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.
11 For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies.
12 Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread.
Preserve Unity
13 But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good.†
14 And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed.
15 Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
Benediction
16 Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all.
17 The salutation of Paul with my own hand, which is a sign in every epistle; so I write.†
18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.