Jesus Predicts His Death and Resurrection

²¹ From that time, Jesus began to show his disciples that he had to go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders, chief priests, and experts in the law, and be killed, and on the third day be raised again.

²² Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “May you receive mercy, Lord! This will never happen to you.”

²³ But Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a snare ^[1] to me because you are not thinking the things of God, but the things of men.”

Take Up the Cross

²⁴ Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to follow me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. ²⁵ In fact whoever wants to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. ²⁶ After all, what will it benefit a person if he gains the whole world, but forfeits his soul? Or what can a person give in exchange for his soul? ²⁷ For the Son of Man will come in the glory of his Father together with his angels, and then he will repay everyone according to his actions. ²⁸ Amen I tell you: Some who are standing here will certainly not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

Matthew 17

The Transfiguration

¹ Six days later Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John the brother of James; and he led them up onto a high mountain by themselves. ² There he was transfigured in front of them. His face was shining like the sun. His clothing became as white as the light. ³ Just then, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Jesus.

⁴ Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you want, I will make three shelters here: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

⁵ While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them. Just then, a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him.”

⁶ When the disciples heard this, they fell face down and were terrified. ⁷ Jesus approached and as he touched them, he said, “Get up, and do not be afraid.” ⁸ When they opened their eyes, they saw no one except Jesus alone. ⁹ As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Do not tell anyone what you have seen until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

¹⁰ His disciples asked him, “Then why do the experts in the law say that Elijah must come first?”

¹¹ Jesus answered them, “Yes, Elijah is coming and will restore all things, ^[2] 12 but I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him. Instead they did to him whatever they desired. In the same way the Son of Man will also suffer at their hands.” ¹³ Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist.

The Faith of a Canaanite Woman

²¹ Jesus left that place and withdrew into the region of Tyre and Sidon. ²² There a Canaanite woman from that territory came and kept crying out, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David! A demon is severely tormenting my daughter!”

²³ But he did not answer her a word.

His disciples came and pleaded, “Send her away, because she keeps crying out after us.”

²⁴ He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

²⁵ But she came and knelt in front of him, saying, “Lord, help me.”

²⁶ He answered her, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to their little dogs.”

²⁷ “Yes, Lord,” she said, “yet their little dogs also eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.”

²⁸ Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, your faith is great! It will be done for you, just as you desire.” And her daughter was healed at that very hour.

²⁹ Jesus moved on from there and went along the Sea of Galilee. He went up onto the mountain and sat there. ³⁰ Large crowds came to him, bringing with them the lame, the blind, the crippled, those unable to speak, and many others. They put them down at his feet, and he healed them. ³¹ As a result, the crowd was amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled healed, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they glorified the God of Israel.

Jesus Feeds More Than Four Thousand

³² Jesus summoned his disciples and said, “I feel compassion for the people, because they have remained with me already three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they might faint on the way.”

³³ The disciples said to him, “Where can we get so many loaves in the wilderness to satisfy such a large crowd?”

³⁴ Jesus asked them, “How many loaves do you have?”

They said, “Seven, and a few small fish.”

³⁵ He instructed the crowd to sit down on the ground. ³⁶ He took the seven loaves and the fish, gave thanks, and broke them. He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. ³⁷ They all ate and were filled. They picked up seven basketfuls of the broken pieces that were left over. ³⁸ Those who ate numbered four thousand men, without counting the women and children. ³⁹ After Jesus sent the crowd away, he got into the boat and went to the region of Magadan.

Jesus Feeds More Than Five Thousand

¹³ When Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place to be alone. When the crowds heard this, they followed him on foot from the towns.

¹⁴ When Jesus got out of the boat, he saw a large crowd. He had compassion on them and healed their sick. ¹⁵ When evening came, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a deserted place and the hour is already late. Send the crowds away, so that they can go into the villages and buy food for themselves.”

¹⁶ But Jesus said to them, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”

¹⁷ They told him, “We have here only five loaves and two fish.”

¹⁸ “Bring them here to me,” he replied. ¹⁹ Then he instructed the people to sit down on the grass. He took the five loaves and the two fish. After looking up to heaven, he blessed them. He broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples. The disciples gave the food to the people. ²⁰ They all ate and were filled. They picked up twelve basketfuls of what was left over from the broken pieces. ²¹ Those who ate were about five thousand men, not even counting women and children.

Jesus Walks on Water

²² Immediately Jesus urged the disciples to get into the boat and to go ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. ²³ After he had dismissed the crowd, he went up onto the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone. ²⁴ By then the boat was quite a distance from shore, being pounded by the waves because the wind was against it. ²⁵ In the fourth watch of the night, ^[1] Jesus came toward them, walking on the sea. ²⁶ When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified and cried out in fear, “It’s a ghost!” ²⁷ But Jesus spoke to them at once, saying, “Take heart! It is I! Do not be afraid.”

²⁸ Peter answered him and said, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”

²⁹ Jesus said, “Come!”

Peter stepped down from the boat, walked on the water, and went toward Jesus. ³⁰ But when he saw the strong wind, he was afraid. As he began to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”

³¹ Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand, took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” ³² When they got into the boat, the wind stopped. ³³ Those who were in the boat worshipped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God!”

³⁴ When they had crossed over, they came to the shore at Gennesaret. ³⁵ When the men of that place recognized him, they sent word into all the surrounding region. They brought to him all who were sick ³⁶ and begged that they might just touch the fringe of his garment. All who touched it were completely cured.

The Parable of the Weeds

²⁴ He presented another parable to them: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. ²⁵ But while people were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. ²⁶ When the plants sprouted and produced heads of grain, the weeds also appeared. ²⁷ The servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where did the weeds come from?’ ²⁸ He said to them, ‘An enemy did this.’ The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and gather up the weeds?’ ²⁹ ‘No,’ he answered, ‘because when you gather up the weeds, you might pull up the wheat along with them. ³⁰ Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “First, gather up the weeds, bind them in bundles, and burn them. Then, gather the wheat into my barn.”’”

Mustard Seed and Yeast

³¹ He presented another parable to them: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. ³² It is one of the smallest of seeds. But when it grows, it is larger than the other plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.”

³³ He spoke another parable to them: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast, which a woman took and mixed into a bushel ^[1] of flour until the whole batch was leavened.”

³⁴ Jesus spoke all these things in parables to the crowds. He did not speak to them without telling a parable. ³⁵ This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:

Jesus Explains the Parable of the Weeds

³⁶ Then Jesus sent the people away and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”

³⁷ He answered them, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. ³⁸ The field is the world. The good seeds are the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the Evil One. ³⁹ The enemy who sowed them is the Devil. The harvest is the end of the world. The reapers are angels. ⁴⁰ Therefore, just as the weeds are gathered up and burned with fire, so it will be at the end of the world. ⁴¹ The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will pull out of his kingdom everything that causes sin ^[3] and those who continue to break the law. ⁴² The angels will throw them into the fiery furnace where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. ⁴³ Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear.

The Treasure, the Pearl, and the Net

⁴⁴ “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid again. In his joy, he goes away and sells all that he has and buys that field.

⁴⁵ “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls. ⁴⁶ When he found one very valuable pearl, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.

⁴⁷ “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered fish of every kind. ⁴⁸ When the net was filled, they pulled it onto the shore. They sat down and gathered the good fish into containers, but threw the bad ones away. ⁴⁹ That is how it will be at the end of the world. The angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous who are among them. ⁵⁰ And they will throw the wicked into the fiery furnace where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” ⁵¹ Jesus said to them, “Did you understand all these things?”

They answered him, “Yes.”

⁵² He said to them, “Therefore every expert in the law who has been trained as a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his treasure both new things and old things.”

Jesus Has Power to Drive Out Demons

²² Then a demon-possessed man who was blind and unable to speak was brought to him. Jesus healed him so that he was able to speak and to see. ²³ All the people were amazed and said, “Can this be the Son of David?” ^[1] 24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons, that this fellow drives out demons.”

²⁵ Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is destroyed, and every town or household divided against itself will not stand. ²⁶ If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand? ²⁷ Now if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons drive them out? Therefore they will be your judges. ²⁸ But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. ²⁹ Or how can someone enter a strong man’s house and take his goods, unless he first ties up the strong man? Only then can he plunder his house.

³⁰ “Whoever is not with me is against me. And whoever does not gather with me scatters. ³¹ Therefore I tell you, people will be forgiven every sin and blasphemy, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. ³² Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven—either in this age or in the one to come.

³³ “Either make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad. Indeed, a tree is known by its fruit. ³⁴ You offspring of vipers! How can you say anything good, since you are evil? For what the mouth speaks flows from the heart. ³⁵ The good man brings good out of his good treasure, and the evil man brings evil out of his evil treasure. ³⁶ I tell you that on the day of judgment people will give account of every careless word they have spoken. ³⁷ In fact by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

The Sign of Jonah

³⁸ Then some of the experts in the law and Pharisees replied, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.”

³⁹ But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation wishes for a sign, but no sign will be given it except the sign of Jonah the prophet. ⁴⁰ For just as Jonah was in the belly of the huge fish for three days and three nights, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. ⁴¹ The men of Nineveh will stand up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah. But one even greater than Jonah is here. ⁴² The Queen of the South will be raised up in the judgment with this generation and will condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon. But one even greater than Solomon is here.

⁴³ “When an unclean spirit has gone out of someone, it passes through dry places looking for rest, but it does not find it. ⁴⁴ Then it says, ‘I will return to the home I came from.’ And when it has returned, it finds the place empty, swept, and put in order. ⁴⁵ Then it takes along with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter in and live there. So the last condition of that person becomes worse than the first. That is how it will be for this evil generation too.”

Jesus’ Mother and Brothers

⁴⁶ While he was still speaking to the crowd, his mother and his brothers happened to be standing outside, wanting to talk to him. ⁴⁷ Someone said to him, “Look, your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to talk to you.”

⁴⁸ But he replied to the one who told him, “Who is my mother? And who are my brothers?” ⁴⁹ He reached out his hand toward his disciples and said, “See, my mother and my brothers! ⁵⁰ For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

¹ After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he moved on from there to teach and preach in their towns.

John the Baptist and Christ

² While John was in prison, he heard about the things Christ was doing. He sent two of his disciples ³ to ask him, “Are you the Coming One or should we wait for someone else?”

⁴ Jesus answered them, “Go, 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 gospel is preached to the poor. ⁶ Blessed is the one who does not take offense at me.”

⁷ As these two were leaving, Jesus began to talk to the crowds about John. “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? ⁸ What did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? No, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. ⁹ So what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you! And he is much more than a prophet. ¹⁰ This is the one about whom it is written, ‘Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’ ^[1] 11 Amen I tell you: Among those born of women there has not appeared anyone greater than John the Baptist. Yet whoever 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 advancing forcefully ^[2] and forceful people are seizing it. ¹³ In fact, all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. ¹⁴ If you are willing to receive it, he is the Elijah who was to come. ¹⁵ Whoever has ears to hear, ^[3] let him hear.

¹⁶ “To what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces who call to others, ¹⁷ ‘We played the flute for you, but you did not dance. We sang a dirge, but you did not mourn.’ ¹⁸ John did not come eating or drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ ¹⁹ But the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘See, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by her actions.”

Woe to Unrepentant Cities

²⁰ Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in which most of his miracles were performed, because they did not repent. ²¹ “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles which 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 You, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to heaven? No, you will go down to hell. ^[4] For if the miracles performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. ²⁴ But I tell you that it will be more bearable for the land of Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”

³⁵ Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness.

Pray for Workers

³⁶ When he saw the crowds, he was moved with compassion for them, because they were troubled and downcast, like sheep without a shepherd. ³⁷ Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. ³⁸ Therefore pray that the Lord of the harvest will send out workers into his harvest.”

Matthew 10

Jesus Sends Out the Twelve

¹ Jesus called his twelve disciples to himself and gave them authority to drive out unclean spirits and to heal every disease and every sickness. ² These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James the son of Zebedee and his brother John; ³ Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; ⁴ Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

⁵ Jesus sent these twelve out and commanded them, “Do not go among the Gentiles, and do not enter any town of the Samaritans. ⁶ Go instead to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. ⁷ As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near!’ ⁸ Heal the sick. Raise the dead. Cleanse lepers. Drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give. ⁹ Do not take gold, silver, or bronze in your money belts. ¹⁰ Do not take a bag for the journey, or two coats, sandals, or a staff, because the worker deserves his support. ¹¹ Whenever you enter a town or village, find out who is worthy and stay there until you leave. ¹² As you enter the household, give it your greeting. ¹³ If the household is worthy, let your peace rest on it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. ¹⁴ If anyone does not receive you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet as you leave that house or that town. ¹⁵ Amen I tell you: It will be more bearable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.

¹⁶ “Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. ¹⁷ Be on guard against people. They will hand you over to councils, and they will whip you in their synagogues. ¹⁸ You will be brought into the presence of governors and kings for my sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. ¹⁹ Whenever they hand you over, do not be worried about how you will respond or what you will say, because what you say will be given to you in that hour. ²⁰ In fact you will not be the ones speaking, but the Spirit of your Father will be speaking through you.

²¹ “Brother will hand over his brother to death, and a father will do the same with his child. Children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. ²² You will be hated by all people because of my name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved. ²³ And when they persecute you in one town, flee to the next. Amen I tell you: You will not finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

Jesus Calms the Storm

²³ When he got into a boat, his disciples followed him. ²⁴ Suddenly a terrible storm came up on the sea, so that their boat was covered by the waves. But Jesus was sleeping. ²⁵ They went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to die!”

²⁶ He said to them, “Why are you afraid, you of little faith?” Then he got up, rebuked the wind and the sea, and there was a complete calm.

²⁷ The men were amazed, saying, “What kind of a man is this? Even the wind and the sea obey him!”

Two Demon-Possessed Men and a Herd of Pigs

²⁸ When he arrived at the other side, in the region of the Gergesenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him there. They were very dangerous, so that nobody could pass that way. ²⁹ Suddenly they cried out, “What do we have to do with you, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?” ³⁰ There was a large herd of pigs feeding some distance away from them. ³¹ The demons begged him, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.”

³² He told them, “Go!”

So the demons came out of the men and went into the pigs. Immediately the whole herd of pigs rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the water. ³³ Those who were feeding the pigs fled and went into the town. They reported everything, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. ³⁴ Then the entire town came out to meet Jesus. When they saw him, they begged him to leave their region.

Matthew 9

Jesus Forgives Sins

¹ Jesus got into a boat, crossed over, and came to his own town. ² There people brought to him a man who was paralyzed, lying on a stretcher. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Take heart, son! Your sins are forgiven.”

³ Then some of the experts in the law said among themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!”

⁴ Since Jesus knew their thoughts, he said, “Why are you thinking evil in your hearts? ⁵ Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? ⁶ But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,” he then said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your stretcher, and go home.”

⁷ The man got up and went home. ⁸ When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe and glorified God, who had given such authority to men.

¹ The vision of Obadiah. This is what the Lord God says about ^[1] Edom.

A Message Spreads to the Nations

We have heard news from the Lord, and an envoy has been sent among the nations:

The Lord’s Message to Edom

² Listen, I will make you insignificant among the nations. You will be completely despised.

³ You who live in the clefts of the rocky cliff, ^[2] the pride of your heart has deceived you. Your dwelling is so high that you say in your heart, “Who can bring me down to the ground?” ⁴ Even if you would soar as high as an eagle, and even if your nest is set among the stars, I will bring you down from there, declares the Lord.

⁵ If thieves came to you, if robbers came by night—oh, what disaster awaits you!—wouldn’t they steal only until they had enough? If grape pickers came to you, wouldn’t they leave some grapes for gleaning? ⁶ Oh, how completely Esau will be ransacked! His hidden treasures will be searched out and looted!

⁷ All your allies will push you back to your border.

Those who were at peace with you will deceive you and overpower you.

Those who eat bread with you will lay a trap for you.

There is no understanding left in Edom. ^[3]

⁸ Will I not destroy the wise men of Edom on that day, declares the Lord? Will I not take away from the mountain of Esau those who have understanding? ⁹ Your strong warrior, Teman, ^[4] will be shattered by terror, so that everyone from the mountain of Esau will be cut down by the massacre.

¹⁰ Because of the violence done to your brother Jacob, shame will cover you, and you will be cut off forever. ¹¹ On the day when you stood by and watched, on the day when strangers carried away Jacob’s wealth, ^[5] and foreigners entered his gate and cast lots for Jerusalem, you were just like one of them.

¹² But do not look down on your brother on the day of his misfortune.

Do not rejoice over the people of Judah on the day when they are destroyed.

Do not speak proudly on the day of distress.

¹³ Do not enter the gate of my people on the day of their disaster.

Do not look down on their affliction on the day of their calamity.

Do not seize their wealth on the day of their disaster.

¹⁴ Do not stand in the crossroads to cut off those who have escaped.

Do not imprison his survivors on the day of distress.

A Message to All Nations

¹⁵ Yes, the Day of the Lord is near for all the nations! As you have done, it will be done to you. Your deeds will return upon your own head. ¹⁶ For just as you Edomites ^[6] have drunk on my holy mountain, so also all the nations will drink continually. Yes, they will drink and guzzle it down, and it will be as though the Edomites never existed.

¹⁷ But on Mount Zion, there will be some who escape, and it will be holy. The house of Jacob will recapture its territory. ¹⁸ The house of Jacob will be a fire, the house of Joseph a flame, but the house of Esau will be stubble. The Israelites ^[7] set them on fire and consume them. There will not be any survivors for the house of Esau.

Yes, the Lord has spoken.

¹⁹ People from the Negev ^[8] will take possession of the mountains of Esau, and those from the Shephelah ^[9] will take possession of the land of the Philistines. They will take possession of the territory ^[10] of Ephraim and the territory of Samaria. Benjamin will take possession of Gilead. ²⁰ Those from the army of the people of Israel who have been exiles ^[11] will take possession of the territory of the Canaanites as far as Zarephath, ^[12] and the exiles from Jerusalem who are in Sepharad ^[13] will take possession of the cities of the Negev. ²¹ Saviors ^[14] will go up on Mount Zion to judge the mountains of Esau, and the kingdom will belong to the Lord.

² O Lord, I have heard the report about you,
    and I stand in awe of your deeds, Lord.
    In the midst of our years revive those deeds.
    In the midst of our years reveal them again.
    In your rage, remember to have mercy.
³ God comes from Teman. Interlude ^[2]
    The Holy One comes from Mount Paran.
    His splendor covers the heavens,
    and his praises fill the earth.
⁴ His brightness is like lightning.
    Lightning bolts flash out from his hand, ^[3]
        where his strength is hidden.
⁵ Contagious disease goes ahead of him,
    and plague follows after him.
⁶ He stands up and shakes ^[4] the earth.
    He looks, and the nations jump in fright.
    The ancient mountains are shattered.
    The age-old hills are flattened.
    But he goes on forever.
⁷ I saw the tents of Cushan overwhelmed by trouble.
    The tent curtains in the land of Midian were trembling.
⁸ Were you angry with the rivers, Lord?
    Was your anger against the rivers?
    Or was your fury against the sea?
    Is that why you hitched up your horses
    and rode your chariots of salvation?
⁹ You unsheathed your bow Interlude
    and called for arrows.
    You split the earth with rivers.
¹⁰ When the mountains see you, they shake.
    A flood of water sweeps through.
    The great deep roars
    and lifts its hands high.
¹¹ The sun and the moon stand still in their palace
        when your flying arrows flash,
        when your spear is bright as lightning.
¹² In fury you march through the earth.
    In anger you trample the nations.
¹³ You march out to save your people,
    to deliver your anointed one.
    You strike the head of the wicked nation to lay him out Interlude
        naked from his buttocks to his neck. ^[5]
14 With their own shafts you pierce the heads of warriors
        when they storm out to scatter us.
    Their celebration is like that of those who devour the poor in secret,
¹⁵ but you trample on the sea with your horses,
    on the surging, powerful waters.