Acts 1
New International Version
Jesus Taken Up Into Heaven
1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”
7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”
Matthias Chosen to Replace Judas
12 Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city. 13 When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. 14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
15 In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) 16 and said, “Brothers and sisters, the Scripture had to be fulfilled in which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus. 17 He was one of our number and shared in our ministry.”
18 (With the payment he received for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out. 19 Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)
20 “For,” said Peter, “it is written in the Book of Psalms:
“‘May his place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in it,’
and,
“‘May another take his place of leadership.’
21 Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us, 22 beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.”
23 So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. 24 Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen 25 to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.” 26 Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.
Psalm 69
New International Version
Psalm 69
For the director of music. To the tune of “Lilies.” Of David.
1 Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck.2 I sink in the miry depths, where there is no foothold.I have come into the deep waters; the floods engulf me.3 I am worn out calling for help; my throat is parched.My eyes fail, looking for my God.4 Those who hate me without reason outnumber the hairs of my head;many are my enemies without cause, those who seek to destroy me.I am forced to restore what I did not steal.
5 You, God, know my folly; my guilt is not hidden from you.
6 Lord, the Lord Almighty, may those who hope in you not be disgraced because of me;God of Israel, may those who seek you not be put to shame because of me.7 For I endure scorn for your sake, and shame covers my face.8 I am a foreigner to my own family, a stranger to my own mother’s children;9 for zeal for your house consumes me, and the insults of those who insult you fall on me.10 When I weep and fast, I must endure scorn;11 when I put on sackcloth, people make sport of me.12 Those who sit at the gate mock me, and I am the song of the drunkards.
13 But I pray to you, Lord, in the time of your favor;in your great love, O God, answer me with your sure salvation.14 Rescue me from the mire, do not let me sink;deliver me from those who hate me, from the deep waters.15 Do not let the floodwaters engulf me or the depths swallow me up or the pit close its mouth over me.
16 Answer me, Lord, out of the goodness of your love; in your great mercy turn to me.17 Do not hide your face from your servant; answer me quickly, for I am in trouble.18 Come near and rescue me; deliver me because of my foes.
19 You know how I am scorned, disgraced and shamed; all my enemies are before you.20 Scorn has broken my heart and has left me helpless;I looked for sympathy, but there was none, for comforters, but I found none.21 They put gall in my food and gave me vinegar for my thirst.
22 May the table set before them become a snare; may it become retribution and a trap.23 May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent forever.24 Pour out your wrath on them; let your fierce anger overtake them.25 May their place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in their tents.26 For they persecute those you wound and talk about the pain of those you hurt.27 Charge them with crime upon crime; do not let them share in your salvation.28 May they be blotted out of the book of life and not be listed with the righteous.
29 But as for me, afflicted and in pain— may your salvation, God, protect me.
30 I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving.31 This will please the Lord more than an ox, more than a bull with its horns and hooves.32 The poor will see and be glad— you who seek God, may your hearts live!33 The Lord hears the needy and does not despise his captive people.
34 Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and all that move in them,35 for God will save Zion and rebuild the cities of Judah.Then people will settle there and possess it;36 the children of his servants will inherit it, and those who love his name will dwell there.
Psalm 109
New International Version
Psalm 109
For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.
1 My God, whom I praise, do not remain silent,2 for people who are wicked and deceitful have opened their mouths against me; they have spoken against me with lying tongues.3 With words of hatred they surround me; they attack me without cause.4 In return for my friendship they accuse me, but I am a man of prayer.5 They repay me evil for good, and hatred for my friendship.
6 Appoint someone evil to oppose my enemy; let an accuser stand at his right hand.7 When he is tried, let him be found guilty, and may his prayers condemn him.8 May his days be few; may another take his place of leadership.9 May his children be fatherless and his wife a widow.10 May his children be wandering beggars; may they be driven from their ruined homes.11 May a creditor seize all he has; may strangers plunder the fruits of his labor.12 May no one extend kindness to him or take pity on his fatherless children.13 May his descendants be cut off, their names blotted out from the next generation.14 May the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before the Lord; may the sin of his mother never be blotted out.15 May their sins always remain before the Lord, that he may blot out their name from the earth.
16 For he never thought of doing a kindness, but hounded to death the poor and the needy and the brokenhearted.17 He loved to pronounce a curse— may it come back on him.He found no pleasure in blessing— may it be far from him.18 He wore cursing as his garment; it entered into his body like water, into his bones like oil.19 May it be like a cloak wrapped about him, like a belt tied forever around him.20 May this be the Lord’s payment to my accusers, to those who speak evil of me.
21 But you, Sovereign Lord, help me for your name’s sake; out of the goodness of your love, deliver me.22 For I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me.23 I fade away like an evening shadow; I am shaken off like a locust.24 My knees give way from fasting; my body is thin and gaunt.25 I am an object of scorn to my accusers; when they see me, they shake their heads.
26 Help me, Lord my God; save me according to your unfailing love.27 Let them know that it is your hand, that you, Lord, have done it.28 While they curse, may you bless; may those who attack me be put to shame, but may your servant rejoice.29 May my accusers be clothed with disgrace and wrapped in shame as in a cloak.
30 With my mouth I will greatly extol the Lord; in the great throng of worshipers I will praise him.31 For he stands at the right hand of the needy, to save their lives from those who would condemn them.
Micah 1
New International Version
1 The word of the Lord that came to Micah of Moresheth during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah—the vision he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem.
2 Hear, you peoples, all of you, listen, earth and all who live in it,that the Sovereign Lord may bear witness against you, the Lord from his holy temple.
Judgment Against Samaria and Jerusalem
3 Look! The Lord is coming from his dwelling place; he comes down and treads on the heights of the earth.4 The mountains melt beneath him and the valleys split apart,like wax before the fire, like water rushing down a slope.5 All this is because of Jacob’s transgression, because of the sins of the people of Israel.What is Jacob’s transgression? Is it not Samaria?What is Judah’s high place? Is it not Jerusalem?
6 “Therefore I will make Samaria a heap of rubble, a place for planting vineyards.I will pour her stones into the valley and lay bare her foundations.7 All her idols will be broken to pieces; all her temple gifts will be burned with fire; I will destroy all her images.Since she gathered her gifts from the wages of prostitutes, as the wages of prostitutes they will again be used.”
Weeping and Mourning
8 Because of this I will weep and wail; I will go about barefoot and naked.I will howl like a jackal and moan like an owl.9 For Samaria’s plague is incurable; it has spread to Judah.It has reached the very gate of my people, even to Jerusalem itself.10 Tell it not in Gath; weep not at all.In Beth Ophrah roll in the dust.11 Pass by naked and in shame, you who live in Shaphir.Those who live in Zaanan will not come out.Beth Ezel is in mourning; it no longer protects you.12 Those who live in Maroth writhe in pain, waiting for relief,because disaster has come from the Lord, even to the gate of Jerusalem.13 You who live in Lachish, harness fast horses to the chariot.You are where the sin of Daughter Zion began, for the transgressions of Israel were found in you.14 Therefore you will give parting gifts to Moresheth Gath.The town of Akzib will prove deceptive to the kings of Israel.15 I will bring a conqueror against you who live in Mareshah.The nobles of Israel will flee to Adullam.16 Shave your head in mourning for the children in whom you delight;make yourself as bald as the vulture, for they will go from you into exile.