From that land Nimrod went to Assyria, and built Nineveh, and Rehoboth-Ir, and Calah,

If he sweep on, or shut up, or call together, Who then shall hinder him?

I am even as it were clay, and am become like ashes and dust.

Before your clay pots are placed on a fire of burning thorns whether green or ablaze wrath will sweep them away like a storm.

chase them with your gale winds, and terrify them with your windstorm.

Instead the Lord will rule there as our mighty king. Rivers and wide streams will flow through it; no war galley will enter; no large ships will sail through.

I have stirred up one out of the north and he advances, one from the eastern horizon who prays in my name. He steps on rulers as if they were clay, like a potter treading the clay.

But as for you, O LORD, you are our Father; and we are clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hands.

"I will punish them in four different ways: I will have war kill them. I will have dogs drag off their dead bodies. I will have birds and wild beasts devour and destroy their corpses.

Proclaim this among the nations: "Prepare for a holy war! Call out the warriors! Let all these fighting men approach and attack!

So, they conferred together [and decided] to buy "The Potter's Field" with the money [Note: This was probably an abandoned field where clay had been obtained for making pottery], for use in burying people who were not from the local area.

And he said to them, "Is it allowable to do people good on the Sabbath, or to do them harm? To save life or kill?" But they made no answer.

Think about the circumstances of your call, brothers and sisters. Not many were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were born to a privileged position.

So whether we are at home or away from home, our goal is to be pleasing to him.

For He says,“At the acceptable time (the time of grace) I listened to you,
And I helped you on the day of salvation.” Behold, now is “the acceptable time,” behold, now is “the day of salvation”—

There is one body, and one spirit, as you also are called in one hope of your call;

let an air of modesty appear in all your discourse; and let it be seasoned with discretion, in making a proper reply, when you are call'd into question.

Also, make it your goal to live quietly, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we instructed you,

but in your whole life show yourselves to be holy, after the pattern of the Holy One from whom you received your Call.

And I will strike her children dead [or, "kill her children by some terrible calamity" See Ex. 5:3 LXX]. Then all the churches will know that I am the One who searches the inmost being of people [Note: The Greek says, "searches the kidneys and hearts." In that day these internal organs stood for the inner thoughts, emotions, etc.]. And I will repay each one of you people according to what you have done.