August 7, 2026

1At this moment on the mountains the footsteps of one bearing good news, of one announcing peace! Celebrate your feasts, Judah, fulfill your vows! For never again will destroyers invade you; they are completely cut off. 3The LORD will restore the vine of Jacob, the honor of Israel, Because ravagers have ravaged them and ruined their branches. 1Ah! The bloody city, all lies, Full of plunder, whose looting never stops! 2The crack of the whip, the rumbling of wheels; Horses galloping, chariots bounding, 3Cavalry charging, the flash of the sword, the gleam of the spear; A multitude of slain, a mass of corpses, Endless bodies to stumble upon! 6I will cast filth upon you, disgrace you and make you a spectacle; 7Until everyone who sees you runs from you saying, “Nineveh is destroyed; who can pity her? Where can I find any to console you?”

35Vengeance is mine and recompense, for the time they lose their footing; Because the day of their disaster is at hand and their doom is rushing upon them! 36Surely, the LORD will do justice for his people; on his servants he will have pity. When he sees their strength is gone, and neither bond nor free is left, 39See now that I, I alone, am he, and there is no god besides me. It is I who bring both death and life, I who inflict wounds and heal them, and from my hand no one can deliver. 41When I sharpen my flashing sword, and my hand lays hold of judgment, With vengeance I will repay my foes and requite those who hate me.

10Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

24Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. 25For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange for his life? 27For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory, and then he will repay everyone according to his conduct. 28Amen, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”