Psalm 85^[a]

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.

Psalm 86

A prayer of David.

²⁸ Like the appearance of a rainbow^(A) in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him.^(B)

This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory^(C) of the Lord. When I saw it, I fell facedown,^(D) and I heard the voice of one speaking.

Ezekiel’s Call to Be a Prophet

2 He said to me, “Son of man,^[a](E) stand^(F) up on your feet and I will speak to you.^(G)” ² As he spoke, the Spirit came into me and raised me^(H) to my feet, and I heard him speaking to me.

³ He said: “Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me; they and their ancestors have been in revolt against me to this very day.^{(I) 4} The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn.^(J) Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says.’^{(K) 5} And whether they listen or fail to listen^(L)—for they are a rebellious people^(M)—they will know that a prophet has been among them.^{(N) 6} And you, son of man, do not be afraid^(O) of them or their words. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns^(P) are all around you and you live among scorpions. Do not be afraid of what they say or be terrified by them, though they are a rebellious people.^{(Q) 7} You must speak^(R) my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are rebellious.^{(S) 8} But you, son of man, listen to what I say to you. Do not rebel^(T) like that rebellious people;^(U) open your mouth and eat^(V) what I give you.”

⁹ Then I looked, and I saw a hand^(W) stretched out to me. In it was a scroll,^{(X) 10} which he unrolled before me. On both sides of it were written words of lament and mourning and woe.^(Y)

3 And he said to me, “Son of man, eat what is before you, eat this scroll; then go and speak to the people of Israel.” ² So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat.

³ Then he said to me, “Son of man, eat this scroll I am giving you and fill your stomach with it.” So I ate^(Z) it, and it tasted as sweet as honey^(AA) in my mouth.

Jesus the Great High Priest

¹⁴ Therefore, since we have a great high priest^(A) who has ascended into heaven,^[a](B) Jesus the Son of God,^(C) let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.^{(D) 15} For we do not have a high priest^(E) who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are^(F)—yet he did not sin.^{(G) 16} Let us then approach^(H) God’s throne of grace with confidence,^(I) so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

5 Every high priest is selected from among the people and is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God,^(J) to offer gifts and sacrifices^(K) for sins.^{(L) 2} He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray,^(M) since he himself is subject to weakness.^{(N) 3} This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people.^{(O) 4} And no one takes this honor on himself, but he receives it when called by God, just as Aaron was.^(P)

⁵ In the same way, Christ did not take on himself the glory^(Q) of becoming a high priest.^(R) But God said^(S) to him,

⁶ And he says in another place,

The Transfiguration^(A)

²⁸ About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James^(B) with him and went up onto a mountain to pray.^{(C) 29} As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. ³⁰ Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. ³¹ They spoke about his departure,^[a](D) which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem. ³² Peter and his companions were very sleepy,^(E) but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. ³³ As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master,^(F) it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what he was saying.)

³⁴ While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. ³⁵ A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen;^(G) listen to him.”^{(H) 36} When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves and did not tell anyone at that time what they had seen.^(I)