From the Firehose

Psalm 147:1-11

 1Praise the LORD!

 How good it is to sing praises to our God;

 for he is gracious, and a song of praise is fitting.

 2The LORD builds up Jerusalem;

 he gathers the outcasts of Israel.

 3He heals the brokenhearted,

 and binds up their wounds.

 4He determines the number of the stars;

 he gives to all of them their names.

 5Great is our LORD, and abundant in power;

 his understanding is beyond measure.

 6The LORD lifts up the downtrodden;

 he casts the wicked to the ground.

 7Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving;

 make melody to our God on the lyre.

 8He covers the heavens with clouds,

 prepares rain for the earth,

 makes grass grow on the hills.

 9He gives to the animals their food,

 and to the young ravens when they cry.

 10His delight is not in the strength of the horse,

 nor his pleasure in the speed of a runner;

 11but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him,

 in those who hope in his steadfast love.

John 7:37-52

37On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, 38and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, ‘Out of [His] heart shall flow rivers of living water.'” 39Now he said this about the Spirit, which believers in him were to receive; for as yet there was no Spirit, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

40When they heard these words, some in the crowd said, “This is really the prophet.” 41Others said, “This is the Messiah.” But some asked, “Surely the Messiah does not come from Galilee, does he? 42Has not the scripture said that the Messiah is descended from David and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?” 43So there was a division in the crowd because of him. 44Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him.

45Then the temple police went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, “Why did you not arrest him?” 46The police answered, “Never has anyone spoken like this!” 47Then the Pharisees replied, “Surely you have not been deceived too, have you? 48Has any one of the authorities or of the Pharisees believed in him? 49But this crowd, which does not know the law — they are accursed.” 50Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus before, and who was one of them, asked, 51Our law does not judge people without first giving them a hearing to find out what they are doing, does it? 52They replied, “Surely you are not also from Galilee, are you? Search and you will see that no prophet is to arise from Galilee.”