Exodus 18

• 1. Now Jethro, the priest of Midian and father-in-law of Moses, heard of everything God had done for Moses and for his people Israel, and how the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt.
• 2. After Moses had sent away his wife Zipporah, his father-in-law Jethro received her
• 3. and her two sons. One son was named Gershom, for Moses said, "I have become an alien in a foreign land";
• 4. and the other was named Eliezer, for he said, "My father's God was my helper; he saved me from the sword of Pharaoh."
• 5. Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, together with Moses' sons and wife, came to him in the desert, where he was camped near the mountain of God.
• 6. Jethro had sent word to him, "I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons."
• 7. So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down and kissed him. They greeted each other and then went into the tent.
• 8. Moses told his father-in-law about everything the LORD had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Israel's sake and about all the hardships they had met along the way and how the LORD had saved them.
• 9. Jethro was delighted to hear about all the good things the LORD had done for Israel in rescuing them from the hand of the Egyptians.
• 10. He said, "Praise be to the LORD, who rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians and of Pharaoh, and who rescued the people from the hand of the Egyptians.
• 11. Now I know that the LORD is greater than all other gods, for he did this to those who had treated Israel arrogantly."
• 12. Then Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and other sacrifices to God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses' father-in-law in the presence of God.
• 13. The next day Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people, and they stood around him from morning till evening.
• 14. When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, "What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?"
• 15. Moses answered him, "Because the people come to me to seek God's will.
• 16. Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me, and I decide between the parties and inform them of God's decrees and laws."
• 17. Moses' father-in-law replied, "What you are doing is not good.
• 18. You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone.
• 19. Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people's representative before God and bring their disputes to him.
• 20. Teach them the decrees and laws, and show them the way to live and the duties they are to perform.
• 21. But select capable men from all the people-men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain-and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.
• 22. Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you.
• 23. If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied."
• 24. Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said.
• 25. He chose capable men from all Israel and made them leaders of the people, officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.
• 26. They served as judges for the people at all times. The difficult cases they brought to Moses, but the simple ones they decided themselves.
• 27. Then Moses sent his father-in-law on his way, and Jethro returned to his own country.

Luke 22

• 1. Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching,
• 2. and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people.
• 3. Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve.
• 4. And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus.
• 5. They were delighted and agreed to give him money.
• 6. He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present.
• 7. Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed.
• 8. Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover."
• 9. "Where do you want us to prepare for it?" they asked.
• 10. He replied, "As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters,
• 11. and say to the owner of the house, 'The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?'
• 12. He will show you a large upper room, all furnished. Make preparations there."
• 13. They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.
• 14. When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table.
• 15. And he said to them, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.
• 16. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God."
• 17. After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, "Take this and divide it among you.
• 18. For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes."
• 19. And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me."
• 20. In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.
• 21. But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table.
• 22. The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed, but woe to that man who betrays him."
• 23. They began to question among themselves which of them it might be who would do this.
• 24. Also a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest.
• 25. Jesus said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors.
• 26. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves.
• 27. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.
• 28. You are those who have stood by me in my trials.
• 29. And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me,
• 30. so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
• 31. "Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat.
• 32. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."
• 33. But he replied, "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death."
• 34. Jesus answered, "I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me."
• 35. Then Jesus asked them, "When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?Nothing," they answered.
• 36. He said to them, "But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one.
• 37. It is written: 'And he was numbered with the transgressors'; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment."
• 38. The disciples said, "See, Lord, here are two swords.That is enough," he replied.
• 39. Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him.
• 40. On reaching the place, he said to them, "Pray that you will not fall into temptation."
• 41. He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed,
• 42. "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done."
• 43. An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.
• 44. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.
• 45. When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow.
• 46. "Why are you sleeping?" he asked them. "Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation."
• 47. While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him,
• 48. but Jesus asked him, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?"
• 49. When Jesus' followers saw what was going to happen, they said, "Lord, should we strike with our swords?"
• 50. And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.
• 51. But Jesus answered, "No more of this!" And he touched the man's ear and healed him.
• 52. Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come for him, "Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs?
• 53. Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour--when darkness reigns."
• 54. Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance.
• 55. But when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them.
• 56. A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, "This man was with him."
• 57. But he denied it. "Woman, I don't know him," he said.
• 58. A little later someone else saw him and said, "You also are one of them.Man, I am not!" Peter replied.
• 59. About an hour later another asserted, "Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean."
• 60. Peter replied, "Man, I don't know what you're talking about!" Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed.
• 61. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times."
• 62. And he went outside and wept bitterly.
• 63. The men who were guarding Jesus began mocking and beating him.
• 64. They blindfolded him and demanded, "Prophesy! Who hit you?"
• 65. And they said many other insulting things to him.
• 66. At daybreak the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and teachers of the law, met together, and Jesus was led before them.
• 67. "If you are the Christ, "they said, "tell us."
• 68. Jesus answered, "If I tell you, you will not believe me, and if I asked you, you would not answer.
• 69. But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God."
• 70. They all asked, "Are you then the Son of God?" He replied, "You are right in saying I am."
• 71. Then they said, "Why do we need any more testimony? We have heard it from his own lips."

Job 37

• 1. "At this my heart pounds and leaps from its place.
• 2. Listen! Listen to the roar of his voice, to the rumbling that comes from his mouth.
• 3. He unleashes his lightning beneath the whole heaven and sends it to the ends of the earth.
• 4. After that comes the sound of his roar; he thunders with his majestic voice. When his voice resounds, he holds nothing back.
• 5. God's voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding.
• 6. He says to the snow, 'Fall on the earth,' and to the rain shower, 'Be a mighty downpour.'
• 7. So that all men he has made may know his work, he stops every man from his labor.
• 8. The animals take cover; they remain in their dens.
• 9. The tempest comes out from its chamber, the cold from the driving winds.
• 10. The breath of God produces ice, and the broad waters become frozen.
• 11. He loads the clouds with moisture; he scatters his lightning through them.
• 12. At his direction they swirl around over the face of the whole earth to do whatever he commands them.
• 13. He brings the clouds to punish men, or to water his earth and show his love.
• 14. "Listen to this, Job; stop and consider God's wonders.
• 15. Do you know how God controls the clouds and makes his lightning flash?
• 16. Do you know how the clouds hang poised, those wonders of him who is perfect in knowledge?
• 17. You who swelter in your clothes when the land lies hushed under the south wind,
• 18. can you join him in spreading out the skies, hard as a mirror of cast bronze?
• 19. "Tell us what we should say to him; we cannot draw up our case because of our darkness.
• 20. Should he be told that I want to speak? Would any man ask to be swallowed up?
• 21. Now no one can look at the sun, bright as it is in the skies after the wind has swept them clean.
• 22. Out of the north he comes in golden splendor; God comes in awesome majesty.
• 23. The Almighty is beyond our reach and exalted in power; in his justice and great righteousness, he does not oppress.
• 24. Therefore, men revere him, for does he not have regard for all the wise in heart? "

New International Version

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