Day 469 of 730

¹When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples over the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, into which he and his disciples entered.

²Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples.

³Judas then, having taken a detachment of soldiers and officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons.

⁴Jesus therefore, knowing all the things that were happening to him, went forth, and said to them, "Who are you looking for?"

⁵They answered him, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus said to them, "I AM." Judas also, who betrayed him, was standing with them.

⁶When therefore he said to them, "I AM," they went backward, and fell to the ground.

⁷Again therefore he asked them, "Who are you looking for?" They said, "Jesus of Nazareth."

⁸Jesus answered, "I told you that I AM. If therefore you seek me, let these go their way,"

⁹that the word might be fulfilled which he spoke, "Of those whom you have given me, I have lost none."

¹⁰Simon Peter therefore, having a sword, drew it, and struck the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus.

¹¹Jesus therefore said to Peter, "Put the sword into its sheath. The cup which the Father has given me, shall I not surely drink it?"

¹²So the detachment, the commanding officer, and the officers of the Jewish leaders, seized Jesus and bound him,

¹³and led him to Annas first, for he was father-in-law to Caiaphas, who was high priest that year.

¹⁴Now it was Caiaphas who advised the Jewish leaders that it was expedient that one man should perish for the people.

¹⁵Simon Peter followed Jesus, as did another disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and entered in with Jesus into the court of the high priest;

¹⁶but Peter was standing at the door outside. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to her who kept the door, and brought in Peter.

¹⁷Then the maid who kept the door said to Peter, "Are you also one of this man's disciples?" He said, "I am not."

¹⁸Now the servants and the officers were standing there, having made a fire of coals, for it was cold. They were warming themselves. Peter was with them, standing and warming himself.

¹⁹The high priest therefore asked Jesus about his disciples, and about his teaching.

²⁰Jesus answered him, "I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues, and in the temple, where all the Jewish people come together. I said nothing in secret.

²¹Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them. Behold, these know the things which I said."

²²When he had said this, one of the officers standing by slapped Jesus with his hand, saying, "Do you answer the high priest like that?"

²³Jesus answered him, "If I have spoken evil, testify of the evil; but if well, why do you beat me?"

²⁴Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas, the high priest.

²⁵Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They said therefore to him, "You are not also one of his disciples, are you?" He denied it, and said, "I am not."

²⁶One of the servants of the high priest, being a relative of him whose ear Peter had cut off, said, "Did not I see you in the garden with him?"

²⁷Peter therefore denied it again, and immediately the rooster crowed.

²⁸They led Jesus therefore from Caiaphas into the Praetorium. It was early, and they themselves did not enter into the Praetorium, that they might not be defiled, but might eat the Passover.

²⁹Pilate therefore went out to them, and said, "What accusation do you bring against this man?"

³⁰They answered him, "If this man weren't an evildoer, we would not have delivered him up to you."

³¹Pilate therefore said to them, "Take him yourselves, and judge him according to your law." Therefore the Jewish leaders said to him, "It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death,"

³²that the word of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spoke, signifying by what kind of death he should die.

³³Pilate therefore entered again into the Praetorium, called Jesus, and said to him, "Are you the King of the Jews?"

³⁴Jesus answered him, "Do you say this by yourself, or did others tell you about me?"

³⁵Pilate answered, "I'm not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests delivered you to me. What have you done?"

³⁶Jesus answered, "My Kingdom is not of this world. If my Kingdom were of this world, then my servants would fight, that I would not be delivered to the Jewish leaders. But now my Kingdom is not from here."

³⁷Pilate therefore said to him, "Are you a king then?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this reason I have been born, and for this reason I have come into the world, that I should testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice."

³⁸Pilate said to him, "What is truth?" When he had said this, he went out again to the Jewish leaders, and said to them, "I find no basis for a charge against him.

³⁹But you have a custom, that I should release someone to you at the Passover. Therefore do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?"

⁴⁰Then they shouted again, saying, "Not this man, but Barabbas!" Now Barabbas was a robber.

¹The heavens declare the glory of God. The expanse shows his handiwork.

²Day after day they pour forth speech, and night after night they display knowledge.

³There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.

⁴Their voice has gone out through all the earth, their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun,

⁵which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, like a strong man rejoicing to run his course.

⁶His going forth is from the end of the heavens, his circuit to its ends; There is nothing hidden from its heat.

⁷The Lord's Law is perfect, restoring the soul. The Lord's testimony is sure, making wise the simple.

⁸The Lord's precepts are right, rejoicing the heart. The Lord's commandment is pure, enlightening the eyes.

⁹The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever. The Lord's ordinances are true, and righteous altogether.

¹⁰More to be desired are they than gold, yes, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the extract of the honeycomb.

¹¹Moreover by them is your servant warned. In keeping them there is great reward.

¹²Who can discern his errors? Forgive me from hidden errors.

¹³Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins. Let them not have dominion over me. Then I will be upright. I will be blameless and innocent of great transgression.

¹⁴Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, Lord, my rock, and my redeemer.

¹Listen, sons, to a father's instruction. Pay attention and know understanding;

²for I give you sound learning. Do not forsake my law.

³For I was a son to my father, tender and an only child in the sight of my mother.

⁴He taught me, and said to me: "Let your heart retain my words. Keep my commandments, and live.

⁵Get wisdom. Get understanding. Do not forget, neither swerve from the words of my mouth.

⁶Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you. Love her, and she will keep you.

⁷Wisdom is supreme. Get wisdom. Yes, though it costs all your possessions, get understanding.

⁸Esteem her, and she will exalt you. She will bring you to honor, when you embrace her.

⁹She will give to your head a garland of grace. She will deliver a crown of splendor to you."

¹⁰Listen, my son, and receive my sayings. The years of your life will be many.

¹¹I have taught you in the way of wisdom. I have led you in straight paths.

¹²When you go, your steps will not be hampered. When you run, you will not stumble.

¹³Take firm hold of instruction. Do not let her go. Keep her, for she is your life.

¹⁴Do not enter into the path of the wicked. Do not walk in the way of evil men.

¹⁵Avoid it, and do not pass by it. Turn from it, and pass on.

¹⁶For they do not sleep, unless they do evil. Their sleep is taken away, unless they make someone fall.

¹⁷For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.

¹⁸But the path of the righteous is like the dawning light, that shines more and more until the perfect day.

¹⁹The way of the wicked is like darkness. They do not know what they stumble over.

²⁰My son, attend to my words. Turn your ear to my sayings.

²¹Let them not depart from your eyes. Keep them in the midst of your heart.

²²For they are life to those who find them, and health to their whole body.

²³Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it is the wellspring of life.

²⁴Put away from yourself a perverse mouth. Put corrupt lips far from you.

²⁵Let your eyes look straight ahead. Fix your gaze directly before you.

²⁶Make the path of your feet level. Let all of your ways be established.

²⁷Do not turn to the right hand nor to the left. Remove your foot from evil.