Saturday 4 August 2012

11Then the priests and the prophets spoke to the princesand to all the people,saying, “This man is worthy of death,for he has prophesied against this city,as you have heard with your ears.”

12Then Jeremiah spoke to all the princesand to all the people,saying, “The Lord sent me to prophesy against this houseand against this city all the words that you have heard.13Now therefore amend your ways and your doings,and obey the Lord your God’s voice;then the Lord will relent from the evilthat he has pronounced against you.14But as for me, behold, I am in your hand.Do with me what is good and right in your eyes.15Only know for certain that if you put me to death,you will bring innocent blood on yourselves,on this city, and on its inhabitants;for in truth the Lord has sent me to you to speak all these words in your ears.”

16Then the princes and all the people said to the priestsand to the prophets:“This man is not worthy of death;for he has spoken to us in the name of the Lord our God.”

· · · verses 17–23 are not read24But the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah,so that they didn’t give him into the hand of the people to put him to death.

15Deliver me out of the mire, and don’t let me sink.Let me be delivered from those who hate me, and out of the deep waters.16Don’t let the flood waters overwhelm me,neither let the deep swallow me up.Don’t let the pit shut its mouth on me.

30But I am in pain and distress.Let your salvation, God, protect me.31I will praise the name of God with a song,and will magnify him with thanksgiving.

33The humble have seen it, and are glad.You who seek after God, let your heart live.34For the Lord hears the needy,and doesn’t despise his captive people.

1At that time, Herod the tetrarch heard the report concerning Jesus,2and said to his servants, “This is John the Baptizer.He is risen from the dead.That is why these powers work in him.”3For Herod had arrested John,bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias,his brother Philip’s wife.4For John said to him,“It is not lawful for you to have her.”5When he would have put him to death,he feared the multitude,because they counted him as a prophet.6But when Herod’s birthday came,the daughter of Herodias danced among them and pleased Herod.7Therefore he promised with an oath to give her whatever she should ask.8She, being prompted by her mother,said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptizer.”

9The king was grieved,but for the sake of his oaths and of thosewho sat at the table with him,he commanded it to be given,10and he sent and beheaded John in the prison.11His head was brought on a platterand given to the young lady;and she brought it to her mother.12His disciples came, took the body, and buried it.Then they went and told Jesus.