Day 447 of 730

¹It happened on one of those days, as he was teaching the people in the temple and proclaiming the Good News, that the chief priests and scribes came to him with the elders.

²They asked him, "Tell us: by what authority do you do these things? Or who is giving you this authority?"

³He answered them, "I also will ask you one question. Tell me:

⁴the baptism of John, was it from heaven, or from man?"

⁵They reasoned with themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say, 'Why did you not believe him?'

⁶But if we say, 'From man,' all the people will stone us, for they are persuaded that John was a prophet."

⁷They answered that they did not know where it was from.

⁸Jesus said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things."

⁹He began to tell the people this parable. "A man planted a vineyard, and rented it out to some farmers, and went on a journey for a long time.

¹⁰At the proper season, he sent a servant to the farmers to collect his share of the fruit of the vineyard. But the farmers beat him, and sent him away empty.

¹¹He sent yet another servant, and they also beat him, and treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty.

¹²He sent yet a third, and they also wounded him, and threw him out.

¹³The lord of the vineyard said, 'What shall I do? I will send my beloved son. It may be that they will respect him.'

¹⁴"But when the farmers saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, 'This is the heir. Let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.'

¹⁵They threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore will the lord of the vineyard do to them?

¹⁶He will come and destroy these farmers, and will give the vineyard to others." When they heard it, they said, "May it never be!"

¹⁷But he looked at them, and said, "Then what is this that is written, 'The stone which the builders rejected, the same was made the chief cornerstone?'

¹⁸Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, but it will crush whomever it falls on to dust."

¹⁹The chief priests and the scribes sought to lay hands on him that very hour, but they feared the people-for they knew he had spoken this parable against them.

²⁰They watched him, and sent out spies, who pretended to be righteous, that they might trap him in something he said, so as to deliver him up to the power and authority of the governor.

²¹They asked him, "Teacher, we know that you say and teach what is right, and are not partial to anyone, but truly teach the way of God.

²²Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?"

²³But he perceived their craftiness, and said to them,

²⁴"Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?" They answered, "Caesar's."

²⁵He said to them, "Then give to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."

²⁶They weren't able to trap him in his words before the people. They marveled at his answer, and were silent.

²⁷Some of the Sadducees came to him, those who deny that there is a resurrection.

²⁸They asked him, "Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man's brother dies having a wife, and he is childless, his brother should take the wife, and raise up children for his brother.

²⁹There were therefore seven brothers. The first took a wife, and died childless.

³⁰The second and

³¹the third took her, and likewise the seven all left no children, and died.

³²Afterward the woman also died.

³³Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them will she be? For the seven had her as a wife."

³⁴Jesus said to them, "The sons of this age marry, and are given in marriage.

³⁵But those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage.

³⁶For they cannot die any more, for they are like the angels, and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.

³⁷But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed at the bush, when he called the Lord 'The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.'

³⁸Now he is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for all are alive to him."

³⁹Some of the scribes answered, "Teacher, you speak well."

⁴⁰They did not dare to ask him any more questions.

⁴¹He said to them, "Why do they say that the Messiah is David's son?

⁴²David himself says in the scroll of Psalms, 'The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at my right hand,

⁴³until I make your enemies the footstool of your feet."'

⁴⁴"David therefore calls him Lord, so how is he his son?"

⁴⁵In the hearing of all the people, he said to his disciples,

⁴⁶"Beware of the scribes, who like to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts;

⁴⁷who devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers: these will receive greater condemnation."

¹Praise Yah, for it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant and fitting to praise him.

²The Lord builds up Jerusalem. He gathers together the outcasts of Israel.

³He heals the broken in heart, and binds up their wounds.

⁴He counts the number of the stars. He calls them all by their names.

⁵Great is our Lord, and mighty in power. His understanding is infinite.

⁶The Lord upholds the humble. He brings the wicked down to the ground.

⁷Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving. Sing praises on the harp to our God,

⁸who covers the sky with clouds, who prepares rain for the earth, who makes grass grow on the mountains.

⁹He provides food for the livestock, and for the young ravens when they call.

¹⁰He doesn't delight in the strength of the horse. He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man.

¹¹The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his loving kindness.

¹²Praise the Lord, Jerusalem! Praise your God, Zion!

¹³For he has strengthened the bars of your gates. He has blessed your children within you.

¹⁴He makes peace in your borders. He fills you with the finest of the wheat.

¹⁵He sends out his commandment to the earth. His word runs very swiftly.

¹⁶He gives snow like wool, and scatters frost like ashes.

¹⁷He hurls down his hail like pebbles. Who can stand before his cold?

¹⁸He sends out his word, and melts them. He causes his wind to blow, and the waters flow.

¹⁹He shows his word to Jacob; his statutes and his ordinances to Israel.

²⁰He has not done this for just any nation. They do not know his ordinances. Praise Yah!

¹A wise son listens to his father's instruction, but a scoffer doesn't listen to rebuke.

²By the fruit of his lips, a man enjoys good things; but the unfaithful crave violence.

³He who guards his mouth guards his soul. One who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.

⁴The soul of the sluggard desires, and has nothing, but the desire of the diligent shall be fully satisfied.

⁵A righteous man hates lies, but a wicked man brings shame and disgrace.

⁶Righteousness guards the way of integrity, but wickedness overthrows the sinner.

⁷There are some who pretend to be rich, yet have nothing. There are some who pretend to be poor, yet have great wealth.

⁸The ransom of a man's life is his riches, but the poor hear no threats.

⁹The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.

¹⁰Pride only breeds quarrels, but with ones who take advice is wisdom.

¹¹Wealth gained dishonestly dwindles away, but he who gathers by hand makes it grow.

¹²Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when longing is fulfilled, it is a tree of life.

¹³Whoever despises instruction will pay for it, but he who respects a command will be rewarded.

¹⁴The teaching of the wise is a spring of life, to turn from the snares of death.

¹⁵Good understanding wins favor; but the way of the unfaithful is hard.

¹⁶Every prudent man acts from knowledge, but a fool exposes folly.

¹⁷A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a trustworthy envoy gains healing.

¹⁸Poverty and shame come to him who refuses discipline, but he who heeds correction shall be honored.

¹⁹Longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but fools detest turning from evil.

²⁰One who walks with wise men grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.

²¹Misfortune pursues sinners, but prosperity rewards the righteous.

²²A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children, but the wealth of the sinner is stored for the righteous.

²³An abundance of food is in poor people's fields, but injustice sweeps it away.

²⁴One who spares the rod hates his son, but one who loves him is careful to discipline him.

²⁵The righteous one eats to the satisfying of his soul, but the belly of the wicked goes hungry.