2 Kings 17, Titus 3, Hosea 10, Psalm 129, 130, 131

2 Kings 17,

1 In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah, Hoshea son of Elah became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned nine years.
 
2 He did evil in the eyes of the LORD, but not like the kings of Israel who preceded him.
 
3 Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up to attack Hoshea, who had been Shalmaneser's vassal and had paid him tribute.
 
4 But the king of Assyria discovered that Hoshea was a traitor, for he had sent envoys to So king of Egypt, and he no longer paid tribute to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year. Therefore Shalmaneser seized him and put him in prison.
 
5 The king of Assyria invaded the entire land, marched against Samaria and laid siege to it for three years.
 
6 In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria and deported the Israelites to Assyria. He settled them in Halah, in Gozan on the Habor River and in the towns of the Medes.
 
7 All this took place because the Israelites had sinned against the LORD their God, who had brought them up out of Egypt from under the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt. They worshiped other gods
 
8 and followed the practices of the nations the LORD had driven out before them, as well as the practices that the kings of Israel had introduced.
 
9 The Israelites secretly did things against the LORD their God that were not right. From watchtower to fortified city they built themselves high places in all their towns.
 
10 They set up sacred stones and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every spreading tree.
 
11 At every high place they burned incense, as the nations whom the LORD had driven out before them had done. They did wicked things that provoked the LORD to anger.
 
12 They worshiped idols, though the LORD had said, "You shall not do this."
 
13 The LORD warned Israel and Judah through all his prophets and seers: "Turn from your evil ways. Observe my commands and decrees, in accordance with the entire Law that I commanded your fathers to obey and that I delivered to you through my servants the prophets."
 
14 But they would not listen and were as stiff-necked as their fathers, who did not trust in the LORD their God.
 
15 They rejected his decrees and the covenant he had made with their fathers and the warnings he had given them. They followed worthless idols and themselves became worthless. They imitated the nations around them although the LORD had ordered them, "Do not do as they do," and they did the things the LORD had forbidden them to do.
 
16 They forsook all the commands of the LORD their God and made for themselves two idols cast in the shape of calves, and an Asherah pole. They bowed down to all the starry hosts, and they worshiped Baal.
 
17 They sacrificed their sons and daughters in the fire. They practiced divination and sorcery and sold themselves to do evil in the eyes of the LORD, provoking him to anger.
 
18 So the LORD was very angry with Israel and removed them from his presence. Only the tribe of Judah was left,
 
19 and even Judah did not keep the commands of the LORD their God. They followed the practices Israel had introduced.
 
20 Therefore the LORD rejected all the people of Israel; he afflicted them and gave them into the hands of plunderers, until he thrust them from his presence.
 
21 When he tore Israel away from the house of David, they made Jeroboam son of Nebat their king. Jeroboam enticed Israel away from following the LORD and caused them to commit a great sin.
 
22 The Israelites persisted in all the sins of Jeroboam and did not turn away from them
 
23 until the LORD removed them from his presence, as he had warned through all his servants the prophets. So the people of Israel were taken from their homeland into exile in Assyria, and they are still there.
 
24 The king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath and Sepharvaim and settled them in the towns of Samaria to replace the Israelites. They took over Samaria and lived in its towns.
 
25 When they first lived there, they did not worship the LORD; so he sent lions among them and they killed some of the people.
 
26 It was reported to the king of Assyria: "The people you deported and resettled in the towns of Samaria do not know what the god of that country requires. He has sent lions among them, which are killing them off, because the people do not know what he requires."
 
27 Then the king of Assyria gave this order: "Have one of the priests you took captive from Samaria go back to live there and teach the people what the god of the land requires."
 
28 So one of the priests who had been exiled from Samaria came to live in Bethel and taught them how to worship the LORD.
 
29 Nevertheless, each national group made its own gods in the several towns where they settled, and set them up in the shrines the people of Samaria had made at the high places.
 
30 The men from Babylon made Succoth Benoth, the men from Cuthah made Nergal, and the men from Hamath made Ashima;
 
31 the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burned their children in the fire as sacrifices to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim.
 
32 They worshiped the LORD, but they also appointed all sorts of their own people to officiate for them as priests in the shrines at the high places.
 
33 They worshiped the LORD, but they also served their own gods in accordance with the customs of the nations from which they had been brought.
 
34 To this day they persist in their former practices. They neither worship the LORD nor adhere to the decrees and ordinances, the laws and commands that the LORD gave the descendants of Jacob, whom he named Israel.
 
35 When the LORD made a covenant with the Israelites, he commanded them: "Do not worship any other gods or bow down to them, serve them or sacrifice to them.
 
36 But the LORD, who brought you up out of Egypt with mighty power and outstretched arm, is the one you must worship. To him you shall bow down and to him offer sacrifices.
 
37 You must always be careful to keep the decrees and ordinances, the laws and commands he wrote for you. Do not worship other gods.
 
38 Do not forget the covenant I have made with you, and do not worship other gods.
 
39 Rather, worship the LORD your God; it is he who will deliver you from the hand of all your enemies."
 
40 They would not listen, however, but persisted in their former practices.
 
41 Even while these people were worshiping the LORD, they were serving their idols. To this day their children and grandchildren continue to do as their fathers did.
 

Titus 3,

1 Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good,
 
2 to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.
 
3 At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.
 
4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared,
 
5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,
 
6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior,
 
7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
 
8 This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.
 
9 But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless.
 
10 Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him.
 
11 You may be sure that such a man is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.
 
12 As soon as I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, because I have decided to winter there.
 
13 Do everything you can to help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way and see that they have everything they need.
 
14 Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order that they may provide for daily necessities and not live unproductive lives.
 
15 Everyone with me sends you greetings. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all.
 

Hosea 10,

1 Israel was a spreading vine; he brought forth fruit for himself. As his fruit increased, he built more altars; as his land prospered, he adorned his sacred stones.
 
2 Their heart is deceitful, and now they must bear their guilt. The LORD will demolish their altars and destroy their sacred stones.
 
3 Then they will say, "We have no king because we did not revere the LORD. But even if we had a king, what could he do for us?"
 
4 They make many promises, take false oaths and make agreements; therefore lawsuits spring up like poisonous weeds in a plowed field.
 
5 The people who live in Samaria fear for the calf-idol of Beth Aven. Its people will mourn over it, and so will its idolatrous priests, those who had rejoiced over its splendor, because it is taken from them into exile.
 
6 It will be carried to Assyria as tribute for the great king. Ephraim will be disgraced; Israel will be ashamed of its wooden idols.
 
7 Samaria and its king will float away like a twig on the surface of the waters.
 
8 The high places of wickedness will be destroyed-it is the sin of Israel. Thorns and thistles will grow up and cover their altars. Then they will say to the mountains, "Cover us!" and to the hills, "Fall on us!"
 
9 "Since the days of Gibeah, you have sinned, O Israel, and there you have remained. Did not war overtake the evildoers in Gibeah?
 
10 When I please, I will punish them; nations will be gathered against them to put them in bonds for their double sin.
 
11 Ephraim is a trained heifer that loves to thresh; so I will put a yoke on her fair neck. I will drive Ephraim, Judah must plow, and Jacob must break up the ground.
 
12 Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and showers righteousness on you.
 
13 But you have planted wickedness, you have reaped evil, you have eaten the fruit of deception. Because you have depended on your own strength and on your many warriors,
 
14 the roar of battle will rise against your people, so that all your fortresses will be devastated-as Shalman devastated Beth Arbel on the day of battle, when mothers were dashed to the ground with their children.
 
15 Thus will it happen to you, O Bethel, because your wickedness is great. When that day dawns, the king of Israel will be completely destroyed.
 

Psalm 129, 130, 131

1 They have greatly oppressed me from my youth-let Israel say-
 
2 they have greatly oppressed me from my youth, but they have not gained the victory over me.
 
3 Plowmen have plowed my back and made their furrows long.
 
4 But the LORD is righteous; he has cut me free from the cords of the wicked.
 
5 May all who hate Zion be turned back in shame.
 
6 May they be like grass on the roof, which withers before it can grow;
 
7 with it the reaper cannot fill his hands, nor the one who gathers fill his arms.
 
8 May those who pass by not say, "The blessing of the LORD be upon you; we bless you in the name of the LORD."
 

    
1 Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD;
 
2 O Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.
 
3 If you, O LORD, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand?
 
4 But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared.
 
5 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope.
 
6 My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning.
 
7 O Israel, put your hope in the LORD, for with the LORD is unfailing love and with him is full redemption.
 
8 He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins.
 

    
1 My heart is not proud, O LORD, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me.
 
2 But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me.
 
3 O Israel, put your hope in the LORD both now and forevermore.