Joshua 3, Psalm 126, 127, 128, Isaiah 63, Matthew 11

Joshua 3,

1 Early in the morning Joshua and all the Israelites set out from Shittim and went to the Jordan, where they camped before crossing over.
 
2 After three days the officers went throughout the camp,
 
3 giving orders to the people: "When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests, who are Levites, carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it.
 
4 Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. But keep a distance of about a thousand yards between you and the ark; do not go near it."
 
5 Joshua told the people, "Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you."
 
6 Joshua said to the priests, "Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on ahead of the people." So they took it up and went ahead of them.
 
7 And the LORD said to Joshua, "Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses.
 
8 Tell the priests who carry the ark of the covenant: 'When you reach the edge of the Jordan's waters, go and stand in the river.' "
 
9 Joshua said to the Israelites, "Come here and listen to the words of the LORD your God.
 
10 This is how you will know that the living God is among you and that he will certainly drive out before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites and Jebusites.
 
11 See, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth will go into the Jordan ahead of you.
 
12 Now then, choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe.
 
13 And as soon as the priests who carry the ark of the LORD -the Lord of all the earth-set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap."
 
14 So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them.
 
15 Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water's edge,
 
16 the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea ) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho.
 
17 The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground.

Psalm 126, 127, 128,

1 When the LORD brought back the captives to Zion, we were like men who dreamed.
 
2 Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them."
 
3 The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.
 
4 Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like streams in the Negev.
 
5 Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.
 
6 He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.

1 Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.
 
2 In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat-for he grants sleep to those he loves.
 
3 Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him.
 
4 Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one's youth.
 
5 Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies in the gate.

1 Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in his ways.
 
2 You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours.
 
3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your sons will be like olive shoots around your table.
 
4 Thus is the man blessed who fears the LORD.
 
5 May the LORD bless you from Zion all the days of your life; may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem,
 
6 and may you live to see your children's children. Peace be upon Israel.

Isaiah 63,

1 Who is this coming from Edom, from Bozrah, with his garments stained crimson? Who is this, robed in splendor, striding forward in the greatness of his strength? "It is I, speaking in righteousness, mighty to save."
 
2 Why are your garments red, like those of one treading the winepress?
 
3 "I have trodden the winepress alone; from the nations no one was with me. I trampled them in my anger and trod them down in my wrath; their blood spattered my garments, and I stained all my clothing.
 
4 For the day of vengeance was in my heart, and the year of my redemption has come.
 
5 I looked, but there was no one to help, I was appalled that no one gave support; so my own arm worked salvation for me, and my own wrath sustained me.
 
6 I trampled the nations in my anger; in my wrath I made them drunk and poured their blood on the ground."
 
7 I will tell of the kindnesses of the LORD, the deeds for which he is to be praised, according to all the LORD has done for us-yes, the many good things he has done for the house of Israel, according to his compassion and many kindnesses.
 
8 He said, "Surely they are my people, sons who will not be false to me"; and so he became their Savior.
 
9 In all their distress he too was distressed, and the angel of his presence saved them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.
 
10 Yet they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit. So he turned and became their enemy and he himself fought against them.
 
11 Then his people recalled the days of old, the days of Moses and his people-where is he who brought them through the sea, with the shepherd of his flock? Where is he who set his Holy Spirit among them,
 
12 who sent his glorious arm of power to be at Moses' right hand, who divided the waters before them, to gain for himself everlasting renown,
 
13 who led them through the depths? Like a horse in open country, they did not stumble;
 
14 like cattle that go down to the plain, they were given rest by the Spirit of the LORD. This is how you guided your people to make for yourself a glorious name.
 
15 Look down from heaven and see from your lofty throne, holy and glorious. Where are your zeal and your might? Your tenderness and compassion are withheld from us.
 
16 But you are our Father, though Abraham does not know us or Israel acknowledge us; you, O LORD, are our Father, our Redeemer from of old is your name.
 
17 Why, O LORD, do you make us wander from your ways and harden our hearts so we do not revere you? Return for the sake of your servants, the tribes that are your inheritance.
 
18 For a little while your people possessed your holy place, but now our enemies have trampled down your sanctuary.
 
19 We are yours from of old; but you have not ruled over them, they have not been called by your name.

Matthew 11

1 After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee.
 
2 When John heard in prison what Christ was doing, he sent his disciples
 
3 to ask him, "Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?"
 
4 Jesus replied, "Go back and report to John what you hear and see:
 
5 The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.
 
6 Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me."
 
7 As John's disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: "What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind?
 
8 not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings' palaces.
 
9 Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
 
10 This is the one about whom it is written: " 'I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.'
 
11 I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
 
12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it.
 
13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John.
 
14 And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come.
 
15 He who has ears, let him hear.
 
16 "To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:
 
17 " 'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge and you did not mourn.'
 
18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon.'
 
19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and "sinners." ' But wisdom is proved right by her actions."
 
20 Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent.
 
21 "Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
 
22 But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.
 
23 And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths. If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day.
 
24 But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you."
 
25 At that time Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.
 
26 Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.
 
27 "All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
 
28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
 
29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
 
30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."