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19  They made a calf at Horeb ♦︎
   and worshipped the molten image;
20  Thus they exchanged their glory ♦︎
   for the image of an ox that feeds on hay.
21  They forgot God their saviour, ♦︎
   who had done such great things in Egypt,
22  Wonderful deeds in the land of Ham ♦︎
   and fearful things at the Red Sea.
23  So he would have destroyed them,
      had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, ♦︎
   to turn away his wrath from consuming them.
24  Then they scorned the Promised Land ♦︎
   and would not believe his word,
25  But murmured in their tents ♦︎
   and would not heed the voice of the Lord.
26  So he lifted his hand against them ♦︎
   and swore to overthrow them in the wilderness,
27  To disperse their descendants among the nations, ♦︎
   and to scatter them throughout the lands.
28  They joined themselves to the Baal of Peor ♦︎
   and ate sacrifices offered to the dead.
29  They provoked him to anger with their evil deeds ♦︎
   and a plague broke out among them.
30  Then Phinehas stood up and interceded ♦︎
   and so the plague was stayed.
31  This was counted to him for righteousness ♦︎
   throughout all generations for ever.
32  They angered him also at the waters of Meribah, ♦︎
   so that Moses suffered for their sake;
33  For they so embittered his spirit ♦︎
   that he spoke rash words with his lips.
34  They did not destroy the peoples ♦︎
   as the Lord had commanded them.
35  They mingled with the nations ♦︎
   and learned to follow their ways,
36  So that they worshipped their idols, ♦︎
   which became to them a snare.
37  Their own sons and daughters ♦︎
   they sacrificed to evil spirits.
38  They shed innocent blood, ♦︎
   the blood of their sons and daughters,
39  Which they offered to the idols of Canaan, ♦︎
   and the land was defiled with blood.
40  Thus were they polluted by their actions, ♦︎
   and in their wanton deeds went whoring after other gods.
41  Therefore was the wrath of the Lord
      kindled against his people, ♦︎
   and he abhorred his inheritance.
42  He gave them over to the hand of the nations, ♦︎
   and those who hated them ruled over them.
43  So their enemies oppressed them ♦︎
   and put them in subjection under their hand.
44  Many a time did he deliver them,
      but they rebelled through their own devices ♦︎
   and were brought down through their wickedness.
45  Nevertheless, he saw their adversity, ♦︎
   when he heard their lamentation.
46  He remembered his covenant with them ♦︎
   and relented according to the greatness of his faithful love.
47  He made them also to be pitied ♦︎
   by all who had taken them captive.
48  Save us, O Lord our God,
      and gather us from among the nations, ♦︎
   that we may give thanks to your holy name
      and glory in your praise.

The Worship God Demands

66Thus says the Lord:
Heaven is my throne
   and the earth is my footstool;
what is the house that you would build for me,
   and what is my resting-place?
² All these things my hand has made,
   and so all these things are mine, ^*

says the Lord.
But this is the one to whom I will look,
   to the humble and contrite in spirit,
   who trembles at my word.

³ Whoever slaughters an ox is like one who kills a human being;
   whoever sacrifices a lamb, like one who breaks a dog’s neck;
whoever presents a grain-offering, like one who offers swine’s blood;^*
   whoever makes a memorial offering of frankincense, like one who blesses an idol.
These have chosen their own ways,
   and in their abominations they take delight;
⁴ I also will choose to mock^* them,
   and bring upon them what they fear;
because, when I called, no one answered,
   when I spoke, they did not listen;
but they did what was evil in my sight,
   and chose what did not please me.

The Lord Vindicates Zion

⁵ Hear the word of the Lord,
   you who tremble at his word:
Your own people who hate you
   and reject you for my name’s sake
have said, ‘Let the Lord be glorified,
   so that we may see your joy’;
   but it is they who shall be put to shame.

⁶ Listen, an uproar from the city!
   A voice from the temple!
The voice of the Lord,
   dealing retribution to his enemies!

⁷ Before she was in labour
   she gave birth;
before her pain came upon her
   she delivered a son.
⁸ Who has heard of such a thing?
   Who has seen such things?
Shall a land be born in one day?
   Shall a nation be delivered in one moment?
Yet as soon as Zion was in labour
   she delivered her children.
⁹ Shall I open the womb and not deliver?
   says the Lord;
shall I, the one who delivers, shut the womb?
   says your God.

¹⁰ Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her,
   all you who love her;
rejoice with her in joy,
   all you who mourn over her—
¹¹ that you may nurse and be satisfied
   from her consoling breast;
that you may drink deeply with delight
   from her glorious bosom.

¹² For thus says the Lord:
I will extend prosperity to her like a river,
   and the wealth of the nations like an overflowing stream;
and you shall nurse and be carried on her arm,
   and dandled on her knees.
¹³ As a mother comforts her child,
   so I will comfort you;
   you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.

The Reign and Indignation of God

¹⁴ You shall see, and your heart shall rejoice;
   your bodies^* shall flourish like the grass;
and it shall be known that the hand of the Lord is with his servants,
   and his indignation is against his enemies.

The Question about David’s Son

35 While Jesus was teaching in the temple, he said, ‘How can the scribes say that the Messiah^* is the son of David? ³⁶David himself, by the Holy Spirit, declared,
“The Lord said to my Lord,
‘Sit at my right hand,
   until I put your enemies under your feet.’ ”
³⁷David himself calls him Lord; so how can he be his son?’ And the large crowd was listening to him with delight.

Jesus Denounces the Scribes

38 As he taught, he said, ‘Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the market-places, ³⁹and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honour at banquets! ⁴⁰They devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.’

The Widow’s Offering

41 He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. ⁴²A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. ⁴³Then he called his disciples and said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. ⁴⁴For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.’