The Lord’s Judgment against Israel

1How prosperous Israel is—

a luxuriant vine loaded with fruit.

But the richer the people get,

the more pagan altars they build.

The more bountiful their harvests,

the more beautiful their sacred pillars.

2The hearts of the people are fickle;

they are guilty and must be punished.

The Lord will break down their altars

and smash their sacred pillars.

3Then they will say, “We have no king

because we didn’t fear the Lord.

But even if we had a king,

what could he do for us anyway?”

7Samaria and its king will be cut off;

they will float away like driftwood on an ocean wave.

8And the pagan shrines of Aven,*10:8 Aven is a reference to Beth-aven; see 10:5a and the note there. the place of Israel’s sin, will crumble.

Thorns and thistles will grow up around their altars.

They will beg the mountains, “Bury us!”

and plead with the hills, “Fall on us!”

12I said, ‘Plant the good seeds of righteousness,

and you will harvest a crop of love.

Plow up the hard ground of your hearts,

for now is the time to seek the Lord,

that he may come

and shower righteousness upon you.’

2Sing to him; yes, sing his praises.

Tell everyone about his wonderful deeds.

3Exult in his holy name;

rejoice, you who worship the Lord.

4Search for the Lord and for his strength;

continually seek him.

5Remember the wonders he has performed,

his miracles, and the rulings he has given,

6you children of his servant Abraham,

you descendants of Jacob, his chosen ones.

7He is the Lord our God.

His justice is seen throughout the land.

Jesus Sends Out the Twelve Apostles

1Jesus called his twelve disciples together and gave them authority to cast out evil*10:1 Greek unclean. spirits and to heal every kind of disease and illness. 2Here are the names of the twelve apostles:

first, Simon (also called Peter),

then Andrew (Peter’s brother),

James (son of Zebedee),

John (James’s brother),

3Philip,

Bartholomew,

Thomas,

Matthew (the tax collector),

James (son of Alphaeus),

Thaddaeus,*10:3 Other manuscripts read Lebbaeus; still others read Lebbaeus who is called Thaddaeus.

4Simon (the zealot*10:4 Greek the Cananean, an Aramaic term for Jewish nationalists.),

Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed him).

5Jesus sent out the twelve apostles with these instructions: “Don’t go to the Gentiles or the Samaritans, 6but only to the people of Israel—God’s lost sheep. 7Go and announce to them that the Kingdom of Heaven is near.*10:7 Or has come, or is coming soon.