ARKCODEX
Jeremiah
Ch. 1
1This book is the account of what was said by Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, one of the priests of the town of Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin.
2The Lord spoke to Jeremiah in the thirteenth year that Josiah son of Amon was king of Judah,
3and he spoke to him again when Josiah's son Jehoiakim was king. After that, the Lord spoke to him many times, until the eleventh year of the reign of Zedekiah son of Josiah. In the fifth month of that year the people of Jerusalem were taken into exile.
The Call of Jeremiah
4The Lord said to me,
5“I chose you before I gave you life, and before you were born I selected you to be a prophet to the nations.”
6I answered, “Sovereign Lord, I don't know how to speak; I am too young.”
7But the Lord said to me, “Do not say that you are too young, but go to the people I send you to, and tell them everything I command you to say.
8Do not be afraid of them, for I will be with you to protect you. I, the Lord, have spoken!”
9Then the Lord reached out, touched my lips, and said to me, “Listen, I am giving you the words you must speak.
10Today I give you authority over nations and kingdoms to uproot and to pull down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.”
Two Visions
11The Lord asked me, “Jeremiah, what do you see?” I answered, “A branch of an almond tree.”
12“You are right,” the Lord said, “and I am watching to see that my words come true.”
13Then the Lord spoke to me again. “What else do you see?” he asked. I answered, “I see a pot boiling in the north, and it is about to tip over this way.”
14He said to me, “Destruction will boil over from the north on all who live in this land,
15because I am calling all the nations in the north to come. Their kings will set up their thrones at the gates of Jerusalem and around its walls and also around the other cities of Judah.
16I will punish my people because they have sinned; they have abandoned me, have offered sacrifices to other gods, and have made idols and worshiped them.
17Get ready, Jeremiah; go and tell them everything I command you to say. Do not be afraid of them now, or I will make you even more afraid when you are with them.
18-19Listen, Jeremiah! Everyone in this land—the kings of Judah, the officials, the priests, and the people—will be against you. But today I am giving you the strength to resist them; you will be like a fortified city, an iron pillar, and a bronze wall. They will not defeat you, for I will be with you to protect you. I, the Lord, have spoken.”
Ezekiel
Ch. 27
A Funeral Song for Tyre
1The Lord said to me,
2“Mortal man, sing a funeral song for Tyre,
3that city which stands at the edge of the sea and does business with the people living on every seacoast. Tell her what the Sovereign Lord is saying: “Tyre, you boasted of your perfect beauty.
4Your home is the sea. Your builders made you like a beautiful ship;
5They used fir trees from Mount Hermon for timber And a cedar from Lebanon for your mast.
6They took oak trees from Bashan to make oars; They made your deck out of pine from Cyprus And inlaid it with ivory.
7Your sails were made of linen, Embroidered linen from Egypt, Easily recognized from afar. Your awnings were made of finest cloth, Of purple from the island of Cyprus.
8Your oarsmen were from the cities of Sidon and Arvad. Your own skillful men were the sailors.
9The ship's carpenters Were well-trained men from Byblos. Sailors from every seagoing ship Did business in your shops.
10“Soldiers from Persia, Lydia, and Libya served in your army. They hung their shields and their helmets in your barracks. They are the men who won glory for you.
11Soldiers from Arvad guarded your walls, and troops from Gamad guarded your towers. They hung their shields on your walls. They are the ones who made you beautiful.
12“You did business in Spain and took silver, iron, tin, and lead in payment for your abundant goods.
13You did business in Greece, Tubal, and Meshech and traded your goods for slaves and for articles of bronze.
14You sold your goods for workhorses, war-horses, and mules from Beth Togarmah.
15The people of Rhodes traded with you; people of many coastal lands gave you ivory and ebony in exchange for your goods.
16The people of Syria bought your merchandise and your many products. They gave emeralds, purple cloth, embroidery, fine linen, coral, and rubies in payment for your wares.
17Judah and Israel paid for your goods with wheat, honey, olive oil, and spices.
18-19The people of Damascus bought your merchandise and your products, paying for them with wine from Helbon and wool from Sahar. They traded wrought iron and spices for your goods.
20The people of Dedan traded saddle blankets for your goods.
21The Arabians and the rulers of the land of Kedar paid for your merchandise with lambs, sheep, and goats.
22For your goods the merchants of Sheba and Raamah traded jewels, gold, and the finest spices.
23The cities of Haran, Canneh, and Eden, the merchants of Sheba, the cities of Asshur and Chilmad—they all traded with you.
24They sold you luxurious clothing, purple cloth, and embroidery, brightly colored carpets, and well-made cords and ropes.
25Your merchandise was carried in fleets of the largest cargo ships. “You were like a ship at sea Loaded with heavy cargo.
26When your oarsmen brought you out to sea, An east wind wrecked you far from land.
27All your wealth of merchandise, All the sailors in your crew, Your ship's carpenters and your merchants, Every soldier on board the ship— All, all were lost at sea When your ship was wrecked.
28The shouts of the drowning sailors Echoed on the shore.
29“Every ship is now deserted, And every sailor has gone ashore.
30They all mourn bitterly for you, Throwing dust on their heads and rolling in ashes.
31They shave their heads for you And dress themselves in sackcloth. Their hearts are bitter as they weep.
32They chant a funeral song for you: ‘Who can be compared to Tyre, To Tyre now silent in the sea?
33When your merchandise went overseas, You filled the needs of every nation. Kings were made rich By the wealth of your goods.
34Now you are wrecked in the sea; You have sunk to the ocean depths. Your goods and all who worked for you Have vanished with you in the sea.’
35“Everyone who lives along the coast is shocked at your fate. Even their kings are terrified, and fear is written on their faces.
36You are gone, gone forever, and merchants all over the world are terrified, afraid that they will share your fate.”
Proverbs
Ch. 14
5A reliable witness always tells the truth, but an unreliable one tells nothing but lies.
6Conceited people can never become wise, but intelligent people learn easily.
7Stay away from foolish people; they have nothing to teach you.
8Why is a clever person wise? Because he knows what to do. Why is a stupid person foolish? Because he only thinks he knows.