Jeremiah 48; Jeremiah 49; Hebrews 7

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Jeremiah 48

1 This message is to the country of Moab. This is what the Lord All-Powerful, the God of Israel, says: "How terrible it will be for the city of Nebo, because it will be ruined. captured; the strong city will be disgraced and shattered.

2 Moab will not be praised again. Men in the town of Heshbon plan Moab's defeat. They say, 'Come, let us put an end to that nation!' Town of Madmen, you will also be silenced. The sword will chase you.

3 Listen to the cries from the town of Horonaim, cries of much confusion and destruction.

4 Moab will be broken up. Her little children will cry for help.

5 Moab's people go up the path to the town of Luhith, crying loudly as they go. On the road down to Horonaim, cries of pain and suffering can be heard.

6 Run! Run for your lives! Go like a bush being blown through the desert.

7 You trust in the things you do and in your wealth, so you also will be captured. and his priests and officers with him.

8 The destroyer will come against every town; not one town will escape. The valley will be ruined, and the high plain will be destroyed, as the Lord has said.

9 Give wings to Moab, because she will surely leave her land. Moab's towns will become empty, with no one to live in them.

10 A curse will be on anyone who doesn't do what the Lord says, and a curse will be on anyone who holds back his sword from killing.

11 "The people of Moab have never known trouble. They are like wine left to settle; they have never been poured from one jar to another. They have not been taken into captivity. So they taste as they did before, and their smell has not changed.

12 A time is coming," says the Lord, "When I will send people to pour you from your jars. and smash her jugs.

13 The people of Israel trusted that god in the town of Bethel, and they were ashamed when there was no help. In the same way Moab will be ashamed of their god Chemosh.

14 "You cannot say, 'We are warriors! We are brave men in battle!'

15 The destroyer of Moab and her towns has arrived. Her best young men will be killed!" says the King, whose name is the Lord All-Powerful.

16 "The end of Moab is near, and she will soon be destroyed.

17 All you who live around Moab, all you who know her, cry for her. Say, 'The ruler's power is broken; Moab's power and glory are gone.'

18 "You people living in the town of Dibon, come down from your place of honor and sit on the dry ground, because the destroyer of Moab has come against you. And he has destroyed your strong, walled cities.

19 You people living in the town of Aroer, stand next to the road and watch. See the man running away and the woman escaping. Ask them, 'What happened?'

20 Moab is filled with shame, because she is ruined. Cry, Moab, cry out! that Moab is destroyed.

21 People on the high plain have been punished. Judgment has come to these towns: Holon, Jahzah, and Mephaath;

22 Dibon, Nebo, and Beth Diblathaim;

23 Kiriathaim, Beth Gamul, and Beth Meon;

24 Kerioth and Bozrah. Judgment has come to all the towns of Moab, far and near.

25 Moab's strength has been cut off, and its arm broken!" says the Lord.

26 "The people of Moab thought they were greater than the Lord, so punish them until they act as if they are drunk. Moab will fall and roll around in its own vomit, and people will even make fun of it.

27 Moab, you made fun of Israel. Israel was caught in the middle of a gang of thieves. When you spoke about Israel, you shook your head and acted as if you were better than it.

28 People in Moab, leave your towns empty and go live among the rocks. Be like a dove that makes its nest at the entrance of a cave.

29 "We have heard that the people of Moab are proud, very proud. They are proud, very proud, and in their hearts they think they are important."

30 The Lord says, "I know Moab's great pride, but it is useless. Moab's bragging accomplishes nothing.

31 So I cry sadly for Moab, for everyone in Moab. I moan for the people from the town of Kir Hareseth.

32 I cry with the people of the town of Jazer for you, the grapevines of the town of Sibmah. In the past your vines spread all the way to the sea, as far as the sea of Jazer. But the destroyer has taken over your fruit and grapes.

33 Joy and happiness are gone from the large, rich fields of Moab. I have stopped the flow of wine from the winepresses. No one walks on the grapes with shouts of joy. There are shouts, but not shouts of joy.

34 "Their crying can be heard from Moabite towns, from Heshbon to Elealeh and Jahaz. It can be heard from Zoar as far away as Horonaim and Eglath Shelishiyah. Even the waters of Nimrim are dried up.

35 I will stop Moab from making burnt offerings at the places of worship and from burning incense to their gods," says the Lord.

36 "My heart cries sadly for Moab like a flute playing a funeral song. It cries like a flute for the people from Kir Hareseth. The money they made has all been taken away.

37 Every head has been shaved and every beard cut off. Everyone's hands are cut, and everyone wears rough cloth around his waist.

38 People are crying on every roofn in Moab and in every public square. There is nothing but sadness, because I have broken Moab like a jar no one wants," says the Lord.

39 "Moab is shattered! The people are crying! Moab turns away in shame! People all around her make fun of her. The things that happened fill them with great fear."

40 This is what the Lord says: "Look! Someone is coming, like an eagle diving down from the sky and spreading its wings over Moab.

41 The towns of Moab will be captured, and the strong, walled cities will be defeated. At that time Moab's warriors will be frightened, like a woman who is having a baby.

42 The nation of Moab will be destroyed, because they thought they were greater than the Lord.

43 Fear, deep pits, and traps wait for you, people of Moab," says the Lord.

44 "People will run from fear, but they will fall into the pits. Anyone who climbs out of the pits will be caught in the traps. I will bring the year of punishment to Moab," says the Lord.

45 "People have run from the powerful enemy and have gone to Heshbon for safety. But fire started in Heshbon; a blaze has spread from the hometown of Sihon king of Moab. and destroyed those proud people.

46 How terrible it is for you, Moab! been destroyed. Your sons have been taken captive, and your daughters have been taken away.

47 "But in days to come, I will make good things happen again to Moab," says the Lord. This ends the judgment on Moab.

Jeremiah 49

1 This message is to the Ammonite people. This is what the Lord says: "Do you think that Israel has no children? Do you think there is no one to take the land when the parents die? If that were true, why did Molech take Gad's land and why did Molech's people settle in Gad's towns?"

2 The Lord says, "The time will come when I will make Rabbah, the capital city of the Ammonites, hear the battle cry. It will become a hill covered with ruins, and the towns around it will be burned. Those people forced Israel out of that land, but now Israel will force them out!" says the Lord.

3 "People in the town of Heshbon, cry sadly because the town of Ai is destroyed! Those who live in Rabbah, cry out! Put on your rough cloth to show your sadness, and cry loudly. Run here and there for safety inside the walls, because Molech will be taken captive and his priests and officers with him.

4 You brag about your valleys and about the fruit in your valleys. You are like an unfaithful child who believes his treasures will save him. You think, 'Who would attack me?'

5 I will soon bring terror on you from everyone around you," says the Lord God All-Powerful. "You will all be forced to run away, and no one will be able to gather you.

6 "But the time will come when I will make good things happen to the Ammonites again," says the Lord.

7 This message is to Edom. This is what the Lord All-Powerful says: "Is there no more wisdom in the town of Teman? give good advice? Have they lost their wisdom?

8 You people living in the town of Dedan, run away and hide in deep caves, because I will bring disaster on the people of Esau. It is time for me to punish them.

9 If workers came and picked the grapes from your vines, they would leave a few grapes behind. If robbers came at night, they would steal only enough for themselves.

10 But I will strip Edom bare. I will find all their hiding places, so they will not be able to hide from me. The children, relatives, and neighbors will die, and Edom will be no more.

11 Leave the orphans, and I will take care of them. Your widows also can trust in me."

12 This is what the Lord says: "Some people did not deserve to be punished, but they had to drink from the cup of suffering anyway. People of Edom, you deserve to be punished, so you will not escape punishment. You must certainly drink from the cup of suffering."

13 The Lord says, "I swear by my own name that the city of Bozrah will become a pile of ruins! People will be shocked by what happened there. They will insult that city and speak evil of it. And all the towns around it will become ruins forever."

14 I have heard a message from the Lord. A messenger has been sent among the nations, saying, "Gather your armies to attack it! Get ready for battle!"

15 "Soon I will make you the smallest of nations, and you will be greatly hated by everyone.

16 Edom, you frightened other nations, but your pride has fooled you. You live in the hollow places of the cliff and control the high places of the hills. Even if you build your home as high as an eagle's nest, I will bring you down from there," says the Lord.

17 "Edom will be destroyed. People who pass by will be shocked to see the destroyed cities, and they will be amazed at all her injuries.

18 Edom will be destroyed like the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and the towns around them," says the Lord. "No one will live there! No one will stay in Edom."

19 "Like a lion coming up from the thick bushes near the Jordan River to attack a strong pen for sheep, I will suddenly chase Edom from its land. Who is the one I have chosen to do this? There is no one like me, no one who can take me to court. None of their leaders can stand up against me."

20 So listen to what the Lord has planned to do against Edom. Listen to what he has decided to do to the people in the town of Teman. He will surely drag away the young ones of Edom. Their hometowns will surely be shocked at what happens to them.

21 At the sound of Edom's fall, the earth will shake. Their cry will be heard all the way to the Red Sea.

22 The Lord is like an eagle swooping down and spreading its wings over the city of Bozrah. very frightened, like a woman having a baby.

23 This message is to the city of Damascus: "The towns of Hamath and Arpad are put to shame, because they have heard bad news. They are discouraged. They are troubled like the tossing sea.

24 The city of Damascus has become weak. The people want to run away; they are ready to panic. The people feel pain and suffering, like a woman giving birth to a baby.

25 Damascus was a city of my joy. Why have the people not left that famous city yet?

26 Surely the young men will die in the city squares, and all her soldiers will be killed at that time," says the Lord All-Powerful.

27 "I will set fire to the walls of Damascus, and it will completely burn the strong cities of King Ben-Hadad."

28 This message is to the tribe of Kedar and the kingdoms of Hazor, which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon defeated. This is what the Lord says: "Go and attack the people of Kedar, and destroy the people of the East.

29 Their tents and flocks will be taken away. Their belongings will be carried off -- their tents, all their goods, and their camels. Men will shout to them, 'Terror on every side!'

30 "Run away quickly! People in Hazor, find a good place to hide!" says the Lord. "Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has made plans against you and wants to defeat you.

31 "Get up! Attack the nation that is comfortable, that is sure no one will defeat it," says the Lord. "It does not have gates or fences to protect it. Its people live alone.

32 The enemy will steal their camels and their large herds of cattle as war prizes. I will scatter the people who cut their hair short to every part of the earth, and I will bring disaster on them from everywhere," says the Lord.

33 "The city of Hazor will become a home for wild dogs; it will be an empty desert forever. No one will live there, and no one will stay in it."

34 Soon after Zedekiah became king of Judah, the Lord spoke this word to Jeremiah the prophet. This message is to the nation of Elam.

35 This is what the Lord All-Powerful says: "I will soon break Elam's bow, its greatest strength.

36 I will bring the four winds against Elam from the four corners of the skies. I will scatter its people everywhere the four winds blow; its captives will go to every nation.

37 I will terrify Elam in front of their enemies, who want to destroy them. and show them how angry I am!" says the Lord. "I will send a sword to chase Elam until I have killed them all.

38 I will set up my throne in Elam to show that I am king, and I will destroy its king and its officers!" says the Lord.

39 "But I will make good things happen to Elam again in the future," says the Lord.

Hebrews 7

1 Melchizedekn was the king of Salem and a priest for God Most High. He met Abraham when Abraham was coming back after defeating the kings. When they met, Melchizedek blessed Abraham,

2 and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything he had brought back from the battle. First, Melchizedek's name means "king of goodness," and he is king of Salem, which means "king of peace."

3 No one knows who Melchizedek's father or mother was, where he came from, when he was born, or when he died. Melchizedek is like the Son of God; he continues being a priest forever.

4 You can see how great Melchizedek was. Abraham, the great father, gave him a tenth of everything that he won in battle.

5 Now the law says that those in the tribe of Levi who become priests must collect a tenth from the people -- their own people -- even though the priests and the people are from the family of Abraham.

6 Melchizedek was not from the tribe of Levi, but he collected a tenth from Abraham. And he blessed Abraham, the man who had God's promises.

7 Now everyone knows that the more important person blesses the less important person.

8 Priests receive a tenth, even though they are only men who live and then die. But Melchizedek, who received a tenth from Abraham, continues living, as the Scripture says.

9 We might even say that Levi, who receives a tenth, also paid it when Abraham paid Melchizedek a tenth.

10 Levi was not yet born, but he was in the body of his ancestor when Melchizedek met Abraham.

11 The people were given the lawn based on a system of priests from the tribe of Levi, but they could not be made perfect through that system. So there was a need for another priest to come, a priest like Melchizedek, not Aaron.

12 And when a different kind of priest comes, the law must be changed, too.

13 We are saying these things about Christ, who belonged to a different tribe. No one from that tribe ever served as a priest at the altar.

14 It is clear that our Lord came from the tribe of Judah, and Moses said nothing about priests belonging to that tribe.

15 And this becomes even more clear when we see that another priest comes who is like Melchizedek.

16 He was not made a priest by human rules and laws but through the power of his life, which continues forever.

17 It is said about him, "You are a priest forever, a priest like Melchizedek."

18 The old rule is now set aside, because it was weak and useless.

19 The law of Moses could not make anything perfect. But now a better hope has been given to us, and with this hope we can come near to God.

20 It is important that God did this with an oath. Others became priests without an oath,

21 but Christ became a priest with God's oath. God said: "The Lord has made a promise and will not change his mind. 'You are a priest forever.'"

22 This means that Jesus is the guarantee of a better agreementn from God to his people.

23 When one of the other priests died, he could not continue being a priest. So there were many priests.

24 But because Jesus lives forever, he will never stop serving as priest.

25 So he is able always to save those who come to God through him because he always lives, asking God to help them.

26 Jesus is the kind of high priest we need. He is holy, sinless, pure, not influenced by sinners, and he is raised above the heavens.

27 He is not like the other priests who had to offer sacrifices every day, first for their own sins, and then for the sins of the people. Christ offered his sacrifice only once and for all time when he offered himself.

28 The law chooses high priests who are people with weaknesses, but the word of God's oath came later than the law. It made God's Son to be the high priest, and that Son has been made perfect forever.

Jeremiah 48; Jeremiah 49; Hebrews 7

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Jeremiah 48

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Hebrews 7