December 16 2022
Psalm 131
Calm Trust in Yahweh
131 A song of ascents. Of David.
1 O Yahweh, my heart is not haughty nor my eyes ⌊arrogant⌋.
And I do not ⌊concern myself⌋
with things too great and difficult for me.
2 Rather I have soothed and quieted my soul,
like a weaned child with its mother,
like the weaned child is my soul with me.
3 O Israel, hope in Yahweh
from now until forever.
20 Listen to advice and accept instruction
so that you will gain wisdom for your ⌊future⌋.
21 Many plans are in the heart of a man,
but the purpose of Yahweh will be established.
22 The craving of a man is his steadfast loyalty,
and it is better to be poor than a ⌊liar⌋.
The Delegation from Babylon
39 At that time, Merodach-Baladan, son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah, for he heard that he had been sick and recovered. 2 And Hezekiah rejoiced over them and showed them his house of aromatic gum, the silver, gold, spices, good oil, all the house of his weapons, and all that was found in his storehouses. There was nothing that Hezekiah had not shown them in his house or in all his dominion. 3 And Isaiah the prophet came to King Hezekiah and said to him, “What did these men say, and from where did they come to you?” And Hezekiah ⌊answered⌋, “They came to me from a distant country, from Babylon.” 4 And he said, “What have they seen in your house?” And Hezekiah ⌊answered⌋, “They have seen all that is in my house. There is nothing that I have not shown them in my storehouses.”
5 And Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of Yahweh of hosts: 6 ‘Look! days are coming, and all that is in your house and that which your ancestors have stored up to this day shall be carried off to Babylon. Nothing shall be left,’ says Yahweh. 7 ‘And some of your sons who go out from you, whom you fathered, shall be taken, and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.’ ” 8 And Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of Yahweh that you have spoken is good,” for he ⌊thought⌋, “Surely there will be peace and security in my days.”