Jeremiah
4:11-12, 22-28
4:11
At that time it will be said to this people and to Jerusalem: A
hot wind comes from me out of the bare heights in the desert
toward my poor people, not to winnow or cleanse--
4:12
a wind too strong for that. Now it is I who speak in judgment
against them.
4:22
"For my people are foolish, they do not know me; they are
stupid children, they have no understanding. They are skilled in
doing evil, but do not know how to do good."
4:23
I looked on the earth, and lo, it was waste and void; and to the
heavens, and they had no light.
4:24
I looked on the mountains, and lo, they were quaking, and all
the hills moved to and fro.
4:25
I looked, and lo, there was no one at all, and all the birds of
the air had fled.
4:26
I looked, and lo, the fruitful land was a desert, and all its
cities were laid in ruins before the LORD, before his fierce
anger.
4:27
For thus says the LORD: The whole land shall be a desolation;
yet I will not make a full end.
4:28
Because of this the earth shall mourn, and the heavens above
grow black; for I have spoken, I have purposed; I have not
relented nor will I turn back.
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14:1
Fools say in their hearts, "There is no God." They are
corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is no one who does
good.
14:2
The LORD looks down from heaven on humankind to see if there are
any who are wise, who seek after God.
14:3
They have all gone astray, they are all alike perverse; there is
no one who does good, no, not one.
14:4
Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers who eat up my people
as they eat bread, and do not call upon the LORD?
14:5
There they shall be in great terror, for God is with the company
of the righteous.
14:6
You would confound the plans of the poor, but the LORD is their
refuge.
14:7
O that deliverance for Israel would come from Zion! When the
LORD restores the fortunes of his people, Jacob will rejoice;
Israel will be glad.
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1:12
I am grateful to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me,
because he judged me faithful and appointed me to his service,
1:13
even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a man
of violence. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly
in unbelief,
1:14
and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and
love that are in Christ Jesus.
1:15
The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ
Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the
foremost.
1:16
But for that very reason I received mercy, so that in me, as the
foremost, Jesus Christ might display the utmost patience, making
me an example to those who would come to believe in him for
eternal life.
1:17
To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be
honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
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15:1
Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to
listen to him.
15:2
And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying,
"This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them."
15:3
So he told them this parable:
15:4
"Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of
them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go
after the one that is lost until he finds it?
15:5
When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices.
15:6
And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and
neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my
sheep that was lost.'
15:7
Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one
sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who
need no repentance.
15:8
"Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of
them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search
carefully until she finds it?
15:9
When she has found it, she calls together her friends and
neighbors, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin
that I had lost.'
15:10
Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels
of God over one sinner who repents."
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