Here Is My Servant (Matthew 12:15–21)
2 WBS He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. BSB BSB: He will not cry out or raise His voice, nor make His voice heard in the streets.
3 WBS A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment to truth. BSB BSB: A bruised reed He will not break and a smoldering wick He will not extinguish; He will faithfully bring forth justice.
4 WBS He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he hath set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law. BSB BSB: He will not grow weak or discouraged before He has established justice on the earth. In His law the islands will put their hope.”
5 WBS Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and expanded them; he that spread forth the earth, and that which it produceth; he that giveth breath to the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein. BSB BSB: This is what God the LORD says—He who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and its offspring, who gives breath to the people on it and life to those who walk in it:
7 WBS To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison-house. BSB BSB: to open the eyes of the blind, to bring prisoners out of the dungeon and those sitting in darkness out from the prison house.
9 WBS Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them. BSB BSB: Behold, the former things have happened, and now I declare new things. Before they spring forth I proclaim them to you.”
A New Song of Praise (Psalm 98:1–9; Psalm 149:1–9)
10 WBS Sing to the LORD a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is in it; the isles, and their inhabitants. BSB BSB: Sing to the LORD a new song—His praise from the ends of the earth—you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it, you islands, and all who dwell in them.
12 WBS Let them give glory to the LORD, and declare his praise in the isles. BSB BSB: Let them give glory to the LORD and declare His praise in the islands.
13 WBS The LORD will go forth as a mighty man, he will stir up jealousy like a man of war: he will cry, yes, roar; he will prevail against his enemies. BSB BSB: The LORD goes forth like a mighty one; He stirs up His zeal like a warrior. He shouts; yes, He roars in triumph over His enemies:
14 WBS I have long time held my peace; I have been still, and restrained myself: now will I cry like a travailing woman; I will destroy and devour at once. BSB BSB: “I have kept silent from ages past; I have remained quiet and restrained. But now I will groan like a woman in labor; I will at once gasp and pant.
15 WBS I will make waste mountains and hills, and dry up all their herbs; and I will make the rivers to be islands, and I will dry up the pools. BSB BSB: I will lay waste the mountains and hills and dry up all their vegetation. I will turn the rivers into dry land and drain the marshes.
16 WBS And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do for them, and not forsake them. BSB BSB: I will lead the blind by a way they did not know; I will guide them on unfamiliar paths. I will turn darkness into light before them and rough places into level ground. These things I will do for them, and I will not forsake them.
17 WBS They shall be turned back, they shall be greatly ashamed, that trust in graven images, that say to the molten images, Ye are our gods. BSB BSB: But those who trust in idols and say to molten images, ‘You are our gods!’ will be turned back in utter shame.
Israel Is Deaf and Blind 18 WBS Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see. BSB BSB: Listen, you deaf ones; look, you blind ones, that you may see!
19 WBS Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger that I sent? who is blind as he that is perfect, and blind as the LORD'S servant? BSB BSB: Who is blind but My servant, or deaf like the messenger I am sending? Who is blind like My covenant partner, or blind like the servant of the LORD?
20 WBS Seeing many things, but thou observest not; opening the ears, but he heareth not. BSB BSB: Though seeing many things, you do not keep watch. Though your ears are open, you do not hear.”
21 WBS The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness' sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honorable. BSB BSB: The LORD was pleased, for the sake of His righteousness, to magnify His law and make it glorious.
22 WBS But this is a people robbed and pillaged; they are all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison-houses; they are for a prey, and none delivereth; for a spoil, and none saith, Restore. BSB BSB: But this is a people plundered and looted, all trapped in caves or imprisoned in dungeons. They have become plunder with no one to rescue them, and loot with no one to say, “Send them back!”
23 WBS Who among you will give ear to this? who will hearken, and hear for the time to come? BSB BSB: Who among you will pay attention to this? Who will listen and obey hereafter?
24 WBS Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? did not the LORD, he against whom we have sinned? for they would not walk in his ways, neither were they obedient to his law. BSB BSB: Who gave Jacob up for spoil, and Israel to the plunderers? Was it not the LORD, against whom we have sinned? They were unwilling to walk in His ways, and they would not obey His law.
25 WBS Therefore he hath poured upon him the fury of his anger, and the strength of battle: and it hath set him on fire around, yet he knew not; and it burned him, yet he laid it not to heart. BSB BSB: So He poured out on them His furious anger and the fierceness of battle. It enveloped them in flames, but they did not understand; it consumed them, but they did not take it to heart.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.