Day 456 of 730

¹After these things, there was a Jewish festival, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

²Now in Jerusalem by the sheep gate, there is a pool, which is called in Hebrew, "Bethesda," having five porches.

³In these lay a multitude of those who were sick, blind, lame, or paralyzed [waiting for the moving of the water;

⁴for an angel of the LORD went down at certain times into the pool, and stirred up the water. Whoever stepped in first after the stirring of the water was made whole of whatever disease he had.]

⁵A certain man was there, who had been sick for thirty-eight years.

⁶When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had been sick for a long time, he asked him, "Do you want to be made well?"

⁷The sick man answered him, "Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I'm coming, another steps down before me."

⁸Jesus said to him, "Arise, take up your mat, and walk."

⁹Immediately, the man was made well, and took up his mat and walked. Now it was the Sabbath on that day.

¹⁰So the Jewish leaders said to him who was cured, "It is the Sabbath. It is not lawful for you to carry the mat."

¹¹He answered them, "He who made me well, the same said to me, 'Take up your mat, and walk.'"

¹²Then they asked him, "Who is the man who said to you to pick it up and walk?"

¹³But he who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a crowd being in the place.

¹⁴Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, "Behold, you are made well. Sin no more, so that nothing worse happens to you."

¹⁵The man went away, and told the Jewish leaders that it was Jesus who had made him well.

¹⁶For this cause the Jewish leaders persecuted Jesus, because he did these things on the Sabbath.

¹⁷But Jesus answered them, "My Father is still working, so I am working, too."

¹⁸For this cause therefore the Jewish leaders sought all the more to kill him, because he not only broke the Sabbath, but also called God his own Father, making himself equal with God.

¹⁹Jesus therefore answered them, "Truly, truly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father doing. For whatever things he does, these the Son also does likewise.

²⁰For the Father has affection for the Son, and shows him all things that he himself does. He will show him greater works than these, that you may marvel.

²¹For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom he desires.

²²For the Father judges no one, but he has given all judgment to the Son,

²³that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.

²⁴"Truly, truly, I tell you, he who hears my word, and believes him who sent me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.

²⁵Truly, truly, I tell you, the hour comes, and now is, when the dead will hear the Son of God's voice; and those who hear will live.

²⁶For as the Father has life in himself, even so he gave to the Son also to have life in himself.

²⁷He also gave him authority to execute judgment, because he is a son of man.

²⁸Do not marvel at this, for the hour comes, in which all that are in the tombs will hear his voice,

²⁹and will come out; those who have done good, to the resurrection of life; and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment.

³⁰I can of myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is righteous; because I do not seek my own will, but the will of the One who sent me.

³¹"If I testify about myself, my witness is not valid.

³²It is another who testifies about me. I know that the testimony which he testifies about me is true.

³³You have sent to John, and he has testified to the truth.

³⁴But the testimony which I receive is not from man. However, I say these things that you may be saved.

³⁵He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.

³⁶But the testimony which I have is greater than that of John, for the works which the Father gave me to accomplish, the very works that I do, testify about me, that the Father has sent me.

³⁷The Father himself, who sent me, has testified about me. You have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his form.

³⁸You do not have his word living in you; because you do not believe him whom he sent.

³⁹"You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and these are they which testify about me.

⁴⁰Yet you will not come to me, that you may have life.

⁴¹I do not receive glory from men.

⁴²But I know you, that you do not have God's love in yourselves.

⁴³I have come in my Father's name, and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him.

⁴⁴How can you believe, who receive glory from one another, and you do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?

⁴⁵"Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you, even Moses, on whom you have set your hope.

⁴⁶For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote about me.

⁴⁷But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?"

¹Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger, neither discipline me in your wrath.

²Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am faint. Lord, heal me, for my bones are troubled.

³My soul is also in great anguish. But you, Lord-how long?

⁴Return, Lord. Deliver my soul, and save me for your loving kindness' sake.

⁵For in death there is no memory of you. In Sheol, who shall give you thanks?

⁶I am weary with my groaning. Every night I flood my bed. I drench my couch with my tears.

⁷My eye wastes away because of grief. It grows old because of all my adversaries.

⁸Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity, for the Lord has heard the voice of my weeping.

⁹The Lord has heard my supplication. The Lord accepts my prayer.

¹⁰May all my enemies be ashamed and dismayed. They shall turn back, they shall be disgraced suddenly.

¹A good name is more desirable than great riches, and loving favor is better than silver and gold.

²The rich and the poor have this in common: The Lord is the maker of them all.

³A prudent man sees danger, and hides himself; but the simple pass on, and suffer for it.

⁴The result of humility and the fear of the Lord is wealth, honor, and life.

⁵Thorns and snares are in the path of the wicked: whoever guards his soul stays from them.

⁶Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.

⁷The rich rule over the poor. The borrower is servant to the lender.

⁸He who sows wickedness reaps trouble, and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.

⁹He who has a generous eye will be blessed; for he shares his food with the poor.

¹⁰Drive out the mocker, and strife will go out; yes, quarrels and insults will stop.

¹¹He who loves purity of heart and speaks gracefully is the king's friend.

¹²The eyes of the Lord watch over knowledge; but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.

¹³The sluggard says, "There is a lion outside! I will be killed in the streets!"

¹⁴The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit: he who is under the Lord's wrath will fall into it.

¹⁵Folly is bound up in the heart of a child: the rod of discipline drives it far from him.

¹⁶Whoever oppresses the poor for his own increase and whoever gives to the rich, both come to poverty.

¹⁷Turn your ear, and listen to the words of the wise. Apply your heart to my teaching.

¹⁸For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips.

¹⁹That your trust may be in the Lord, I teach you today, even you.

²⁰Haven't I written to you thirty excellent things of counsel and knowledge,

²¹To teach you truth, reliable words, to give sound answers to the ones who sent you?

²²Do not exploit the poor, because he is poor; and do not crush the needy in court;

²³for the Lord will plead their case, and plunder the life of those who plunder them.

²⁴Do not befriend a hot-tempered man, and do not associate with one who harbors anger:

²⁵lest you learn his ways, and ensnare your soul.

²⁶Do not be one of those who strike hands, of those who are collateral for debts.

²⁷If you do not have means to pay, why should he take away your bed from under you?

²⁸Do not move the ancient boundary stone, which your fathers have set up.

²⁹Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve kings. He won't serve obscure men.