16 Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you, ^cfilling you with vain hopes. ^dThey speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord. 17 They say continually to those who despise the word of the Lord, ^e‘It shall be well with you’; and to everyone who ^fstubbornly follows his own heart, they say, ^g‘No disaster shall come upon you.’”

23 ^q“Am I a God at hand, declares the Lord, and not a God far away? 24 ^qCan a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the Lord. ^rDo I not fill heaven and earth? declares the Lord. 25 I have heard what the prophets have said ^swho prophesy lies in my name, saying, ^t‘I have dreamed, I have dreamed!’ 26 How long shall there be lies in the heart of ^uthe prophets who prophesy lies, and who prophesy the deceit of their own heart, 27 who think to make my people forget my name ^tby their dreams that they tell one another, even as their ^vfathers forgot my name for Baal? 28 ^wLet the prophet who has a dream ^xtell the dream, but let him who has my word speak my word faithfully. ^yWhat has straw in common with wheat? declares the Lord. 29 ^yIs not my word like fire, declares the Lord, and ^zlike a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?

17 By faith ^jAbraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, 18 of whom it was said, ^k“Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 19 ^lHe considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back. 20 By faith ^mIsaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau. 21 By faith ⁿJacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, ^obowing in worship over the head of his staff. 22 By faith ^pJoseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones.

23 By faith ^qMoses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of ^rthe king’s edict. 24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, ^srefused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 ^tchoosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy ^uthe fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 ^vHe considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to ^wthe reward. 27 By faith he ^xleft Egypt, ^ynot being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured ^zas seeing him who is invisible. 28 By faith ^ahe kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.

29 By faith ^bthe people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned. 30 By faith ^cthe walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. 31 By faith ^dRahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she ^ehad given a friendly welcome to the spies.

Not Peace, but Division

49 ^a“I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled! 50 ^bI have a baptism to be baptized with, and how ^cgreat is my distress until it is accomplished! 51 ^dDo you think that I have come to give peace on earth? ^eNo, I tell you, but rather division. 52 For from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three. 53 They will be divided, ^ffather against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”