Isaiah 20; Isaiah 21; Isaiah 22; Ephesians 6

1 Sargon sent his highest commander to the city of Ashdod. He attacked it and captured it. Sargon was king of Assyria.

2 Three years earlier the LORD had spoken to me. He had said, "Take off the black clothes you are wearing. And take your sandals off." So I did. I went around barefoot. I didn't have anything on but my underwear.

3 After Ashdod was captured, the LORD said, "My servant Isaiah has gone around barefoot for three years. He has not worn anything but his underwear. He is a sign and reminder to Egypt and Cush about what will happen to them.

4 "The king of Assyria will lead prisoners away from Egypt and Cush. Young people and old people alike will be taken away. Like Isaiah, they will be barefoot. They will not be wearing anything but their underwear. And their backsides will be bare. So the Egyptians will be put to shame.

5 "People trusted in Cush to help them. They bragged about what Egypt could do for them. But they will be afraid and put to shame.

6 At that time the people who live on the coast of Philistia will speak up. They will say, 'See what has happened to those we depended on! We ran to them for help. We wanted them to save us from the king of Assyria. Now how can we escape?' "

1 Here is a message the LORD gave me about Babylonia. It is known as the Desert by the Two Rivers. An attack is coming through the desert. It is coming from a land of terror. It's sweeping along like a windstorm blowing across the Negev Desert.

2 I have seen a vision about something terrible that will happen. People are turning against Babylon. Robbers are taking its goods. Elamites, attack the city! Medes, surround it! The LORD will put an end to all of the suffering Babylon has caused.

3 The vision fills my body with pain. Pains take hold of me. They are like the pains of a woman having a baby. I am shaken by what I hear. I'm terrified by what I see.

4 My heart grows weak. Fear makes me tremble. I longed for evening to come. But it brought me horror instead of rest.

5 In my vision the Babylonians set the tables. They spread the rugs out. They eat. They drink. Get up, you officers! Rub your shields with oil!

6 The Lord said to me, "Go. Put a guard on duty on Jerusalem's walls. Have him report what he sees.

7 Tell him to watch for chariots that are pulled by teams of horses. Tell him to watch for men riding on donkeys or camels. Make sure he stays awake. Make sure he stays wide awake."

8 "My master!" the guard shouts back. "Day after day I stand here on the lookout tower. Every night I stay here on duty.

9 Look! Here comes a man in a chariot! It's being pulled by a team of horses. He's calling out the news, 'Babylon has fallen! It has fallen! All of the statues of its gods lie broken in pieces on the ground!' "

10 My people, you have been crushed like grain on a threshing floor. But now I'm telling you the good news I've heard. It comes from the LORD who rules over all. He is the God of Israel.

11 Here is a message the LORD gave me about Edom. Someone is calling out to me from the land of Seir. He says, "Guard, when will the night be over? Guard, how soon will it end?"

12 The guard answers, "Morning is coming. But the night will return. If you want to ask again, come back and ask."

13 Here is a message the LORD gave me about Arabia. He told me to give orders to traders from Dedan. They were camping in the bushes of Arabia.

14 I told them to bring water for those who are thirsty. I also gave orders to those who live in Tema. I told them to bring food for those who are running away.

15 They are running away from where the fighting is heaviest. That's where the swords are ready to strike. That's where the bows are ready to shoot.

16 The Lord says to me, "In exactly one year, Kedar's grand show of power will come to an end.

17 Only a few of Kedar's soldiers who shoot arrows will be left alive." The LORD has spoken. He is the God of Israel.

1 Here is a message the LORD gave me about the Valley of Vision. People of Jerusalem, what's the matter with you? Why have all of you gone up on the roofs of your houses?

2 Why is your town so full of noise? Why is your city so full of the sound of wild parties? Those among you who died weren't killed with swords. They didn't die in battle.

3 All of your leaders have run away. They've been captured without a single arrow being shot. All those who were caught were taken away as prisoners. They ran off while your enemies were still far away.

4 So I said, "Leave me alone. Let me sob bitter tears. Don't try to comfort me. My people have been destroyed."

5 The LORD who rules over all sent the noise of battle against you. The Lord brought disorder and terror to the Valley of Vision. The walls of the city were knocked down. Cries for help were heard in the mountains.

6 Soldiers from Elam came armed with bows and arrows. They came with their chariots and horses. Soldiers from Kir got their shields ready.

7 Your rich valleys filled up with chariots. Horsemen took up their battle positions at your city gates.

8 Judah wasn't a safe place to live in anymore. When all of that happened, you depended on the weapons in the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon.

9 You saw that the City of David had many holes in its walls. They needed to be repaired. You stored up water in the Lower Pool.

10 You picked out the weaker buildings in Jerusalem. You tore them down and used their stones to strengthen the city walls against attack.

11 You built a pool between the two walls. You used it to save the water that was running down from the Old Pool. But you didn't look to the One who made it all possible. You didn't pay any attention to the One who planned everything long ago.

12 The LORD who rules over all called out to you at that time. The Lord told you to sob and cry. He told you to tear your hair out. And he told you to put black clothes on.

13 Instead, you are enjoying yourselves at wild parties! You are killing cattle and sheep. You are eating their meat and drinking wine. You are saying, "Let's eat and drink, because tomorrow we'll die."

14 I heard the LORD who rules over all speaking. "Your sin can never be paid for as long as you people live," says the Lord.

15 The LORD who rules over all speaks. The Lord says, "Go. Speak to the head servant Shebna. He is in charge of the palace. Tell him,

16 'What are you doing here outside the city? Who allowed you to cut out a tomb for yourself here? Who said you could carve out your grave on the hillside? Who allowed you to cut out your resting place in the rock?

17 " 'Watch out, you mighty man! The LORD is about to grab hold of you. He is about to throw you away.

18 He will roll you up tightly like a ball. He will throw you into a very large country. There you will die. And there the chariots you are so proud of will remain. You bring shame on your master's family!

19 The LORD will remove you from your job. You will be brought down from your high position.

20 " 'At that time he will send for his servant Eliakim. He is the son of Hilkiah.

21 The LORD will put your robe on Eliakim. He will tie your belt around him. He will hand your authority over to him. Eliakim will be like a father to the people of Jerusalem and Judah.

22 " 'The LORD will give Eliakim the key of authority in David's royal house. No one can shut what he opens. And no one can open what he shuts.

23 The LORD will set him firmly in place like a peg that is driven into a wall. He will hold a position of honor in his family.

24 The good name of his whole family will depend on him. They will be like bowls and jars hanging on a peg.

25 " 'But a new day is coming,' " announces the LORD who rules over all. " 'At that time the peg that was driven into the wall will give way. It will break off and fall down. And the heavy load hanging on it will also fall.' " The LORD has spoken.

1 Children, obey your parents as believers in the Lord. Obey them because it's the right thing to do.

2 Scripture says, "Honor your father and mother." That is the first commandment that has a promise.

3 "Then things will go well with you. You will live a long time on the earth."(Deuteronomy 5:16)

4 Fathers, don't make your children angry. Instead, train them and teach them the ways of the Lord as you raise them.

5 Slaves, obey your masters here on earth. Respect them and honor them with a heart that is true. Obey them just as you would obey Christ.

6 Don't obey them only to please them when they are watching. Do it because you are slaves of Christ. Be sure your heart does what God wants.

7 Serve your masters with all your heart. Work as if you were not serving people but the Lord.

8 You know that the Lord will give you a reward. He will give to each of you in keeping with the good you do. It doesn't matter whether you are slaves or free.

9 Masters, treat your slaves in the same way. When you warn them, don't be too hard on them. You know that the One who is their Master and yours is in heaven. And he treats everyone the same.

10 Finally, let the Lord make you strong. Depend on his mighty power.

11 Put on all of God's armor. Then you can stand firm against the devil's evil plans.

12 Our fight is not against human beings. It is against the rulers, the authorities and the powers of this dark world. It is against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly world.

13 So put on all of God's armor. Evil days will come. But you will be able to stand up to anything. And after you have done everything you can, you will still be standing.

14 So stand firm. Put the belt of truth around your waist. Put the armor of godliness on your chest.

15 Wear on your feet what will prepare you to tell the good news of peace.

16 Also, pick up the shield of faith. With it you can put out all of the flaming arrows of the evil one.

17 Put on the helmet of salvation. And take the sword of the Holy Spirit. The sword is God's word.

18 At all times, pray by the power of the Spirit. Pray all kinds of prayers. Be watchful, so that you can pray. Always keep on praying for all of God's people.

19 Pray also for me. Pray that when I open my mouth, the right words will be given to me. Then I can be bold as I tell the mystery of the good news.

20 Because of the good news, I am being held by chains as the Lord's messenger. So pray that I will be bold as I preach the good news. That's what I should do.

21 Tychicus is a dear brother. He is faithful in serving the Lord. He will tell you everything about me. Then you will know how I am and what I am doing.

22 That's why I am sending him to you. I want you to know how we are. And I want him to cheer you up.

23 May God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give peace to the brothers and sisters. May they also give them love and faith.

24 May grace be given to everyone who loves our Lord Jesus Christ with a love that will never die.