ESV: Digging Deep into the Bible

ESV: Digging Deep into the Bible

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ESV: Digging Deep into the Bible episodes

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    1 min
  • December 31: Psalm 90; Job 42:7–17; Isaiah 66; Revelation 22:6–21
    Psalms and Wisdom:
    Psalm 90
    Psalm 90 (Listen)
    Book Four
    From Everlasting to Everlasting
    A Prayer of Moses, the man of God.

    90   Lord, you have been our dwelling placeSome Hebrew manuscripts (compare Septuagint) our refuge">1
        in all generations.
    2   Before the mountains were brought forth,
        or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
        from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
    3   You return man to dust
        and say, “Return, O children of man!”Or of Adam">2
    4   For a thousand years in your sight
        are but as yesterday when it is past,
        or as a watch in the night.
    5   You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream,
        like grass that is renewed in the morning:
    6   in the morning it flourishes and is renewed;
        in the evening it fades and withers.
    7   For we are brought to an end by your anger;
        by your wrath we are dismayed.
    8   You have set our iniquities before you,
        our secret sins in the light of your presence.
    9   For all our days pass away under your wrath;
        we bring our years to an end like a sigh.
    10   The years of our life are seventy,
        or even by reason of strength eighty;
      yet their spanOr pride">3 is but toil and trouble;
        they are soon gone, and we fly away.
    11   Who considers the power of your anger,
        and your wrath according to the fear of you?
    12   So teach us to number our days
        that we may get a heart of wisdom.
    13   Return, O LORD! How long?
        Have pity on your servants!
    14   Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,
        that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
    15   Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
        and for as many years as we have seen evil.
    16   Let your work be shown to your servants,
        and your glorious power to their children.
    17   Let the favorOr beauty">4 of the Lord our God be upon us,
        and establish the work of our hands upon us;
        yes, establish the work of our hands!

    Footnotes

    [1] 90:1 Some Hebrew manuscripts (compare Septuagint) our refuge


    [2] 90:3 Or of Adam

    [3] 90:10 Or pride

    [4] 90:17 Or beauty

    (ESV)

    Pentateuch and History:
    Job 42:7–17
    Job 42:7–17 (Listen)
    The Lord Rebukes Job’s Friends

    7 After the LORD had spoken these words to Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite: “My anger burns against you and against your two friends, for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has. 8 Now therefore take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and offer up a burnt offering for yourselves. And my servant Job shall pray for you, for I will accept his prayer not to deal with you according to your folly. For you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.” 9 So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went and did what the LORD had told them, and the LORD accepted Job’s prayer.

    The Lord Restores Job’s Fortunes

    10 And the LORD restored the fortunes of Job, when he had prayed for his friends. And the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before. 11 Then came to him all his brothers and sisters and all who had known him before, and ate bread with him in his house. And they showed him sympathy and comforted him for all the evilOr disaster">1 that the LORD had brought upon him. And each of them gave him a piece of moneyHebrew a qesitah; a unit of money of unknown value">2 and a ring of gold.

    12 And the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning. And he had 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 yoke of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys. 13 He had also seven sons and three daughters. 14 And he called the name of the first daughter Jemimah, and the name of the second Keziah, and the name of the third Keren-happuch. 15 And in all the land there were no women so beautiful as Job’s daughters. And their father gave them an inheritance among their brothers. 16 And after this Job lived 140 years, and saw his sons, and his sons’ sons, four generations. 17 And Job died, an old man, and full of days.

    Footnotes

    [1] 42:11 Or disaster


    [2] 42:11 Hebrew a qesitah; a unit of money of unknown value

    (ESV)

    Chronicles and Prophets:
    Isaiah 66
    Isaiah 66 (Listen)
    The Humble and Contrite in Spirit

    66   Thus says the LORD:
      “Heaven is my throne,
        and the earth is my footstool;
      what is the house that you would build for me,
        and what is the place of my rest?
    2   All these things my hand has made,
        and so all these things came to be,
          declares the LORD.
      But this is the one to whom I will look:
        he who is humble and contrite in spirit
        and trembles at my word.
    3   “He who slaughters an ox is like one who kills a man;
        he who sacrifices a lamb, like one who breaks a dog’s neck;
      he who presents a grain offering, like one who offers pig’s blood;
        he who makes a memorial offering of frankincense, like one who blesses an idol.
      These have chosen their own ways,
        and their soul delights in their abominations;
    4   I also will choose harsh treatment for them
        and bring their fears upon them,
      because when I called, no one answered,
        when I spoke, they did not listen;
      but they did what was evil in my eyes
        and chose that in which I did not delight.”
    5   Hear the word of the LORD,
        you who tremble at his word:
      “Your brothers who hate you
        and cast you out for my name’s sake
      have said, ‘Let the LORD be glorified,
        that we may see your joy’;
        but it is they who shall be put to shame.
    6   “The sound of an uproar from the city!
        A sound from the temple!
      The sound of the LORD,
        rendering recompense to his enemies!

    Rejoice with Jerusalem

    7   “Before she was in labor
        she gave birth;
      before her pain came upon her
        she delivered a son.
    8   Who has heard such a thing?
        Who has seen such things?
      Shall a land be born in one day?
        Shall a nation be brought forth in one moment?
      For as soon as Zion was in labor
        she brought forth her children.
    9   Shall I bring to the point of birth and not cause to bring forth?”
        says the LORD;
      “shall I, who cause to bring forth, shut the womb?”
        says your God.
    10   “Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her,
        all you who love her;
      rejoice with her in joy,
        all you who mourn over her;
    11   that you may nurse and be satisfied
        from her consoling breast;
      that you may drink deeply with delight
        from her glorious abundance.”Or breast">1
    12   For thus says the LORD:
      “Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river,
        and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream;
      and you shall nurse, you shall be carried upon her hip,
        and bounced upon her knees.
    13   As one whom his mother comforts,
        so I will comfort you;
        you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.
    14   You shall see, and your heart shall rejoice;
        your bones shall flourish like the grass;
      and the hand of the LORD shall be known to his servants,
        and he shall show his indignation against his enemies.

    Final Judgment and Glory of the Lord

    15   “For behold, the LORD will come in fire,
        and his chariots like the whirlwind,
      to render his anger in fury,
        and his rebuke with flames of fire.
    16   For by fire will the LORD enter into judgment,
        and by his sword, with all flesh;
        and those slain by the LORD shall be many.

    17 “Those who sanctify and purify themselves to go into the gardens, following one in the midst, eating pig’s flesh and the abomination and mice, shall come to an end together, declares the LORD.

    18 “For I knowSeptuagint, Syriac; Hebrew lacks know">2 their works and their thoughts, and the time is comingHebrew and it is coming">3 to gather all nations and tongues. And they shall come and shall see my glory, 19 and I will set a sign among them. And from them I will send survivors to the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, who draw the bow, to Tubal and Javan, to the coastlands far away, that have not heard my fame or seen my glory. And they shall declare my glory among the nations. 20 And they shall bring all your brothers from all the nations as an offering to the LORD, on horses and in chariots and in litters and on mules and on dromedaries, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, says the LORD, just as the Israelites bring their grain offering in a clean vessel to the house of the LORD. 21 And some of them also I will take for priests and for Levites, says the LORD.

    22   “For as the new heavens and the new earth
        that I make
      shall remain before me, says the LORD,
        so shall your offspring and your name remain.
    23   From new moon to new moon,
        and from Sabbath to Sabbath,
      all flesh shall come to worship before me,
      declares the LORD.

    24 “And they shall go out and look on the dead bodies of the men who have rebelled against me. For their worm shall not die, their fire shall not be quenched, and they shall be an abhorrence to all flesh.”

    Footnotes

    [1] 66:11 Or breast


    [2] 66:18 Septuagint, Syriac; Hebrew lacks know

    [3] 66:18 Hebrew and it is coming

    (ESV)

    Gospels and Epistles:
    Revelation 22:6–21
    Revelation 22:6–21 (Listen)
    Jesus Is Coming

    6 And he said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place.”

    7 “And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”

    8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me, 9 but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”

    10 And he said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. 11 Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy.”

    12 “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”

    14 Blessed are those who wash their robes,Some manuscripts do his commandments">1 so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. 15 Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

    16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”

    17 The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.

    18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.

    20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

    21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all.Some manuscripts all the saints">2 Amen.

    Footnotes

    [1] 22:14 Some manuscripts do his commandments


    [2] 22:21 Some manuscripts all the saints

    (ESV)

    12 min
  • December 30: Psalm 150; Job 40:6–42:6; Isaiah 65; Revelation 21–22:5
    Psalms and Wisdom:
    Psalm 150
    Psalm 150 (Listen)
    Let Everything Praise the Lord

    150   Praise the LORD!
      Praise God in his sanctuary;
        praise him in his mighty heavens!Hebrew expanse (compare Genesis 1:6–8)">1
    2   Praise him for his mighty deeds;
        praise him according to his excellent greatness!
    3   Praise him with trumpet sound;
        praise him with lute and harp!
    4   Praise him with tambourine and dance;
        praise him with strings and pipe!
    5   Praise him with sounding cymbals;
        praise him with loud clashing cymbals!
    6   Let everything that has breath praise the LORD!
      Praise the LORD!

    Footnotes

    [1] 150:1 Hebrew expanse (compare Genesis 1:6–8)

    (ESV)

    Pentateuch and History:
    Job 40:6–42:6
    Job 40:6–42:6 (Listen)
    The Lord Challenges Job

    6 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:

    7   “Dress for actionHebrew Gird up your loins">1 like a man;
        I will question you, and you make it known to me.
    8   Will you even put me in the wrong?
        Will you condemn me that you may be in the right?
    9   Have you an arm like God,
        and can you thunder with a voice like his?
    10   “Adorn yourself with majesty and dignity;
        clothe yourself with glory and splendor.
    11   Pour out the overflowings of your anger,
        and look on everyone who is proud and abase him.
    12   Look on everyone who is proud and bring him low
        and tread down the wicked where they stand.
    13   Hide them all in the dust together;
        bind their faces in the world below.Hebrew in the hidden place">2
    14   Then will I also acknowledge to you
        that your own right hand can save you.
    15   “Behold, Behemoth,A large animal, exact identity unknown">3
        which I made as I made you;
        he eats grass like an ox.
    16   Behold, his strength in his loins,
        and his power in the muscles of his belly.
    17   He makes his tail stiff like a cedar;
        the sinews of his thighs are knit together.
    18   His bones are tubes of bronze,
        his limbs like bars of iron.
    19   “He is the first of the worksHebrew ways">4 of God;
        let him who made him bring near his sword!
    20   For the mountains yield food for him
        where all the wild beasts play.
    21   Under the lotus plants he lies,
        in the shelter of the reeds and in the marsh.
    22   For his shade the lotus trees cover him;
        the willows of the brook surround him.
    23   Behold, if the river is turbulent he is not frightened;
        he is confident though Jordan rushes against his mouth.
    24   Can one take him by his eyes,Or in his sight">5
        or pierce his nose with a snare?
    41   Ch 40:25 in Hebrew">6 “Can you draw out LeviathanA large sea animal, exact identity unknown">7 with a fishhook
        or press down his tongue with a cord?
    2   Can you put a rope in his nose
        or pierce his jaw with a hook?
    3   Will he make many pleas to you?
        Will he speak to you soft words?
    4   Will he make a covenant with you
        to take him for your servant forever?
    5   Will you play with him as with a bird,
        or will you put him on a leash for your girls?
    6   Will traders bargain over him?
        Will they divide him up among the merchants?
    7   Can you fill his skin with harpoons
        or his head with fishing spears?
    8   Lay your hands on him;
        remember the battle—you will not do it again!
    9   Ch 41:1 in Hebrew">8 Behold, the hope of a man is false;
        he is laid low even at the sight of him.
    10   No one is so fierce that he dares to stir him up.
        Who then is he who can stand before me?
    11   Who has first given to me, that I should repay him?
        Whatever is under the whole heaven is mine.
    12   “I will not keep silence concerning his limbs,
        or his mighty strength, or his goodly frame.
    13   Who can strip off his outer garment?
        Who would come near him with a bridle?
    14   Who can open the doors of his face?
        Around his teeth is terror.
    15   His back is made ofOr His pride is in his">9 rows of shields,
        shut up closely as with a seal.
    16   One is so near to another
        that no air can come between them.
    17   They are joined one to another;
        they clasp each other and cannot be separated.
    18   His sneezings flash forth light,
        and his eyes are like the eyelids of the dawn.
    19   Out of his mouth go flaming torches;
        sparks of fire leap forth.
    20   Out of his nostrils comes forth smoke,
        as from a boiling pot and burning rushes.
    21   His breath kindles coals,
        and a flame comes forth from his mouth.
    22   In his neck abides strength,
        and terror dances before him.
    23   The folds of his flesh stick together,
        firmly cast on him and immovable.
    24   His heart is hard as a stone,
        hard as the lower millstone.
    25   When he raises himself up, the mightyOr gods">10 are afraid;
        at the crashing they are beside themselves.
    26   Though the sword reaches him, it does not avail,
        nor the spear, the dart, or the javelin.
    27   He counts iron as straw,
        and bronze as rotten wood.
    28   The arrow cannot make him flee;
        for him, sling stones are turned to stubble.
    29   Clubs are counted as stubble;
        he laughs at the rattle of javelins.
    30   His underparts are like sharp potsherds;
        he spreads himself like a threshing sledge on the mire.
    31   He makes the deep boil like a pot;
        he makes the sea like a pot of ointment.
    32   Behind him he leaves a shining wake;
        one would think the deep to be white-haired.
    33   On earth there is not his like,
        a creature without fear.
    34   He sees everything that is high;
        he is king over all the sons of pride.”

    Job’s Confession and Repentance

    42 Then Job answered the LORD and said:

    2   “I know that you can do all things,
        and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
    3   ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’
      Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand,
        things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.
    4   ‘Hear, and I will speak;
        I will question you, and you make it known to me.’
    5   I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear,
        but now my eye sees you;
    6   therefore I despise myself,
        and repentOr and am comforted">11 in dust and ashes.”

    Footnotes

    [1] 40:7 Hebrew Gird up your loins


    [2] 40:13 Hebrew in the hidden place

    [3] 40:15 A large animal, exact identity unknown

    [4] 40:19 Hebrew ways

    [5] 40:24 Or in his sight

    [6] 41:1 Ch 40:25 in Hebrew

    [7] 41:1 A large sea animal, exact identity unknown

    [8] 41:9 Ch 41:1 in Hebrew

    [9] 41:15 Or His pride is in his

    [10] 41:25 Or gods

    [11] 42:6 Or and am comforted

    (ESV)

    Chronicles and Prophets:
    Isaiah 65
    Isaiah 65 (Listen)
    Judgment and Salvation

    65   I was ready to be sought by those who did not ask for me;
        I was ready to be found by those who did not seek me.
      I said, “Here I am, here I am,”
        to a nation that was not called byOr that did not call upon">1 my name.
    2   I spread out my hands all the day
        to a rebellious people,
      who walk in a way that is not good,
        following their own devices;
    3   a people who provoke me
        to my face continually,
      sacrificing in gardens
        and making offerings on bricks;
    4   who sit in tombs,
        and spend the night in secret places;
      who eat pig’s flesh,
        and broth of tainted meat is in their vessels;
    5   who say, “Keep to yourself,
        do not come near me, for I am too holy for you.”
      These are a smoke in my nostrils,
        a fire that burns all the day.
    6   Behold, it is written before me:
        “I will not keep silent, but I will repay;
      I will indeed repay into their lap
    7     both your iniquities and your fathers’ iniquities together,
          says the LORD;
      because they made offerings on the mountains
        and insulted me on the hills,
      I will measure into their lap
        payment for their former deeds.”Or I will first measure their payment into their lap">2
    8   Thus says the LORD:
      “As the new wine is found in the cluster,
        and they say, ‘Do not destroy it,
        for there is a blessing in it,’
      so I will do for my servants’ sake,
        and not destroy them all.
    9   I will bring forth offspring from Jacob,
        and from Judah possessors of my mountains;
      my chosen shall possess it,
        and my servants shall dwell there.
    10   Sharon shall become a pasture for flocks,
        and the Valley of Achor a place for herds to lie down,
        for my people who have sought me.
    11   But you who forsake the LORD,
        who forget my holy mountain,
      who set a table for Fortune
        and fill cups of mixed wine for Destiny,
    12   I will destine you to the sword,
        and all of you shall bow down to the slaughter,
      because, when I called, you did not answer;
        when I spoke, you did not listen,
      but you did what was evil in my eyes
        and chose what I did not delight in.”
    13   Therefore thus says the Lord GOD:
      “Behold, my servants shall eat,
        but you shall be hungry;
      behold, my servants shall drink,
        but you shall be thirsty;
      behold, my servants shall rejoice,
        but you shall be put to shame;
    14   behold, my servants shall sing for gladness of heart,
        but you shall cry out for pain of heart
        and shall wail for breaking of spirit.
    15   You shall leave your name to my chosen for a curse,
        and the Lord GOD will put you to death,
        but his servants he will call by another name,
    16   so that he who blesses himself in the land
        shall bless himself by the God of truth,
      and he who takes an oath in the land
        shall swear by the God of truth;
      because the former troubles are forgotten
        and are hidden from my eyes.

    New Heavens and a New Earth

    17   “For behold, I create new heavens
        and a new earth,
      and the former things shall not be remembered
        or come into mind.
    18   But be glad and rejoice forever
        in that which I create;
      for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy,
        and her people to be a gladness.
    19   I will rejoice in Jerusalem
        and be glad in my people;
      no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping
        and the cry of distress.
    20   No more shall there be in it
        an infant who lives but a few days,
        or an old man who does not fill out his days,
      for the young man shall die a hundred years old,
        and the sinner a hundred years old shall be accursed.
    21   They shall build houses and inhabit them;
        they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
    22   They shall not build and another inhabit;
        they shall not plant and another eat;
      for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be,
        and my chosen shall long enjoyHebrew shall wear out">3 the work of their hands.
    23   They shall not labor in vain
        or bear children for calamity,Or for sudden terror">4
      for they shall be the offspring of the blessed of the LORD,
        and their descendants with them.
    24   Before they call I will answer;
        while they are yet speaking I will hear.
    25   The wolf and the lamb shall graze together;
        the lion shall eat straw like the ox,
        and dust shall be the serpent’s food.
      They shall not hurt or destroy
        in all my holy mountain,”
          says the LORD.

    Footnotes

    [1] 65:1 Or that did not call upon


    [2] 65:7 Or I will first measure their payment into their lap

    [3] 65:22 Hebrew shall wear out

    [4] 65:23 Or for sudden terror

    (ESV)

    Gospels and Epistles:
    Revelation 21–22:5
    Revelation 21–22:5 (Listen)
    The New Heaven and the New Earth

    21 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling placeOr tabernacle">1 of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people,Some manuscripts peoples">2 and God himself will be with them as their God.Some manuscripts omit as their God">3 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

    5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. 7 The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. 8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

    The New Jerusalem

    9 Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, “Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.” 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, 11 having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. 12 It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed—13 on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. 14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

    15 And the one who spoke with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city and its gates and walls. 16 The city lies foursquare, its length the same as its width. And he measured the city with his rod, 12,000 stadia.About 1,380 miles; a stadion was about 607 feet or 185 meters">4 Its length and width and height are equal. 17 He also measured its wall, 144 cubitsA cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters">5 by human measurement, which is also an angel’s measurement. 18 The wall was built of jasper, while the city was pure gold, like clear glass. 19 The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every kind of jewel. The first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. 21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.

    22 And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. 23 And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. 24 By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, 25 and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. 26 They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. 27 But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

    The River of Life

    22 Then the angelGreek he">6 showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of lifeOr the Lamb. In the midst of the street of the city, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life">7 with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.

    Footnotes

    [1] 21:3 Or tabernacle


    [2] 21:3 Some manuscripts peoples

    [3] 21:3 Some manuscripts omit as their God

    [4] 21:16 About 1,380 miles; a stadion was about 607 feet or 185 meters

    [5] 21:17 A cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters

    [6] 22:1 Greek he

    [7] 22:2 Or the Lamb. In the midst of the street of the city, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life

    (ESV)

    16 min
  • December 29: Psalm 149; Job 39–40:5; Isaiah 63–64; Revelation 20
    Psalms and Wisdom:
    Psalm 149
    Psalm 149 (Listen)
    Sing to the Lord a New Song

    149   Praise the LORD!
      Sing to the LORD a new song,
        his praise in the assembly of the godly!
    2   Let Israel be glad in his Maker;
        let the children of Zion rejoice in their King!
    3   Let them praise his name with dancing,
        making melody to him with tambourine and lyre!
    4   For the LORD takes pleasure in his people;
        he adorns the humble with salvation.
    5   Let the godly exult in glory;
        let them sing for joy on their beds.
    6   Let the high praises of God be in their throats
        and two-edged swords in their hands,
    7   to execute vengeance on the nations
        and punishments on the peoples,
    8   to bind their kings with chains
        and their nobles with fetters of iron,
    9   to execute on them the judgment written!
        This is honor for all his godly ones.
      Praise the LORD!

    (ESV)

    Pentateuch and History:
    Job 39–40:5
    Job 39–40:5 (Listen)

    39   “Do you know when the mountain goats give birth?
        Do you observe the calving of the does?
    2   Can you number the months that they fulfill,
        and do you know the time when they give birth,
    3   when they crouch, bring forth their offspring,
        and are delivered of their young?
    4   Their young ones become strong; they grow up in the open;
        they go out and do not return to them.
    5   “Who has let the wild donkey go free?
        Who has loosed the bonds of the swift donkey,
    6   to whom I have given the arid plain for his home
        and the salt land for his dwelling place?
    7   He scorns the tumult of the city;
        he hears not the shouts of the driver.
    8   He ranges the mountains as his pasture,
        and he searches after every green thing.
    9   “Is the wild ox willing to serve you?
        Will he spend the night at your manger?
    10   Can you bind him in the furrow with ropes,
        or will he harrow the valleys after you?
    11   Will you depend on him because his strength is great,
        and will you leave to him your labor?
    12   Do you have faith in him that he will return your grain
        and gather it to your threshing floor?
    13   “The wings of the ostrich wave proudly,
        but are they the pinions and plumage of love?The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain">1
    14   For she leaves her eggs to the earth
        and lets them be warmed on the ground,
    15   forgetting that a foot may crush them
        and that the wild beast may trample them.
    16   She deals cruelly with her young, as if they were not hers;
        though her labor be in vain, yet she has no fear,
    17   because God has made her forget wisdom
        and given her no share in understanding.
    18   When she rouses herself to flee,The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain">2
        she laughs at the horse and his rider.
    19   “Do you give the horse his might?
        Do you clothe his neck with a mane?
    20   Do you make him leap like the locust?
        His majestic snorting is terrifying.
    21   He pawsHebrew They paw">3 in the valley and exults in his strength;
        he goes out to meet the weapons.
    22   He laughs at fear and is not dismayed;
        he does not turn back from the sword.
    23   Upon him rattle the quiver,
        the flashing spear, and the javelin.
    24   With fierceness and rage he swallows the ground;
        he cannot stand still at the sound of the trumpet.
    25   When the trumpet sounds, he says ‘Aha!’
        He smells the battle from afar,
        the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.
    26   “Is it by your understanding that the hawk soars
        and spreads his wings toward the south?
    27   Is it at your command that the eagle mounts up
        and makes his nest on high?
    28   On the rock he dwells and makes his home,
        on the rocky crag and stronghold.
    29   From there he spies out the prey;
        his eyes behold it from far away.
    30   His young ones suck up blood,
        and where the slain are, there is he.”

    40 And the LORD said to Job:

    2   “Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty?
        He who argues with God, let him answer it.”

    Job Promises Silence

    3 Then Job answered the LORD and said:

    4   “Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you?
        I lay my hand on my mouth.
    5   I have spoken once, and I will not answer;
        twice, but I will proceed no further.”

    Footnotes

    [1] 39:13 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain


    [2] 39:18 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain

    [3] 39:21 Hebrew They paw

    (ESV)

    Chronicles and Prophets:
    Isaiah 63–64
    Isaiah 63–64 (Listen)
    The Lord’s Day of Vengeance

    63   Who is this who comes from Edom,
        in crimsoned garments from Bozrah,
      he who is splendid in his apparel,
        marching in the greatness of his strength?
      “It is I, speaking in righteousness,
        mighty to save.”
    2   Why is your apparel red,
        and your garments like his who treads in the winepress?
    3   “I have trodden the winepress alone,
        and from the peoples no one was with me;
      I trod them in my anger
        and trampled them in my wrath;
      their lifebloodOr their juice; also verse 6">1 spattered on my garments,
        and stained all my apparel.
    4   For the day of vengeance was in my heart,
        and my year of redemptionOr the year of my redeemed">2 had come.
    5   I looked, but there was no one to help;
        I was appalled, but there was no one to uphold;
      so my own arm brought me salvation,
        and my wrath upheld me.
    6   I trampled down the peoples in my anger;
        I made them drunk in my wrath,
        and I poured out their lifeblood on the earth.”

    The Lord’s Mercy Remembered

    7   I will recount the steadfast love of the LORD,
        the praises of the LORD,
      according to all that the LORD has granted us,
        and the great goodness to the house of Israel
      that he has granted them according to his compassion,
        according to the abundance of his steadfast love.
    8   For he said, “Surely they are my people,
        children who will not deal falsely.”
        And he became their Savior.
    9   In all their affliction he was afflicted,Or he did not afflict">3
        and the angel of his presence saved them;
      in his love and in his pity he redeemed them;
        he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.
    10   But they rebelled
        and grieved his Holy Spirit;
      therefore he turned to be their enemy,
        and himself fought against them.
    11   Then he remembered the days of old,
        of Moses and his people.Or Then his people remembered the days of old, of Moses">4
      Where is he who brought them up out of the sea
        with the shepherds of his flock?
      Where is he who put in the midst of them
        his Holy Spirit,
    12   who caused his glorious arm
        to go at the right hand of Moses,
      who divided the waters before them
        to make for himself an everlasting name,
    13     who led them through the depths?
      Like a horse in the desert,
        they did not stumble.
    14   Like livestock that go down into the valley,
        the Spirit of the LORD gave them rest.
      So you led your people,
        to make for yourself a glorious name.

    Prayer for Mercy

    15   Look down from heaven and see,
        from your holy and beautifulOr holy and glorious">5 habitation.
      Where are your zeal and your might?
        The stirring of your inner parts and your compassion
        are held back from me.
    16   For you are our Father,
        though Abraham does not know us,
        and Israel does not acknowledge us;
      you, O LORD, are our Father,
        our Redeemer from of old is your name.
    17   O LORD, why do you make us wander from your ways
        and harden our heart, so that we fear you not?
      Return for the sake of your servants,
        the tribes of your heritage.
    18   Your holy people held possession for a little while;Or They have dispossessed your holy people for a little while">6
        our adversaries have trampled down your sanctuary.
    19   We have become like those over whom you have never ruled,
        like those who are not called by your name.
    64   Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down,
        that the mountains might quake at your presence—
    2   Ch 64:1 in Hebrew">7 as when fire kindles brushwood
        and the fire causes water to boil—
      to make your name known to your adversaries,
        and that the nations might tremble at your presence!
    3   When you did awesome things that we did not look for,
        you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence.
    4   From of old no one has heard
        or perceived by the ear,
      no eye has seen a God besides you,
        who acts for those who wait for him.
    5   You meet him who joyfully works righteousness,
        those who remember you in your ways.
      Behold, you were angry, and we sinned;
        in our sins we have been a long time, and shall we be saved?Or in your ways is continuance, that we might be saved">8
    6   We have all become like one who is unclean,
        and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment.
      We all fade like a leaf,
        and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.
    7   There is no one who calls upon your name,
        who rouses himself to take hold of you;
      for you have hidden your face from us,
        and have made us melt inMasoretic Text; Septuagint, Syriac, Targum have delivered us into">9 the hand of our iniquities.
    8   But now, O LORD, you are our Father;
        we are the clay, and you are our potter;
        we are all the work of your hand.
    9   Be not so terribly angry, O LORD,
        and remember not iniquity forever.
        Behold, please look, we are all your people.
    10   Your holy cities have become a wilderness;
        Zion has become a wilderness,
        Jerusalem a desolation.
    11   Our holy and beautifulOr holy and glorious">10 house,
        where our fathers praised you,
      has been burned by fire,
        and all our pleasant places have become ruins.
    12   Will you restrain yourself at these things, O LORD?
        Will you keep silent, and afflict us so terribly?

    Footnotes

    [1] 63:3 Or their juice; also verse 6


    [2] 63:4 Or the year of my redeemed

    [3] 63:9 Or he did not afflict

    [4] 63:11 Or Then his people remembered the days of old, of Moses

    [5] 63:15 Or holy and glorious

    [6] 63:18 Or They have dispossessed your holy people for a little while

    [7] 64:2 Ch 64:1 in Hebrew

    [8] 64:5 Or in your ways is continuance, that we might be saved

    [9] 64:7 Masoretic Text; Septuagint, Syriac, Targum have delivered us into

    [10] 64:11 Or holy and glorious

    (ESV)

    Gospels and Epistles:
    Revelation 20
    Revelation 20 (Listen)
    The Thousand Years

    20 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pitGreek the abyss; also verse 3">1 and a great chain. 2 And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, 3 and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while.

    4 Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.

    The Defeat of Satan

    7 And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea. 9 And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heavenSome manuscripts from God, out of heaven, or out of heaven from God">2 and consumed them, 10 and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

    Judgment Before the Great White Throne

    11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. 13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. 14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

    Footnotes

    [1] 20:1 Greek the abyss; also verse 3


    [2] 20:9 Some manuscripts from God, out of heaven, or out of heaven from God

    (ESV)

    12 min
  • December 28: Psalm 148; Job 38; Isaiah 61–62; Revelation 19
    Psalms and Wisdom:
    Psalm 148
    Psalm 148 (Listen)
    Praise the Name of the Lord

    148   Praise the LORD!
      Praise the LORD from the heavens;
        praise him in the heights!
    2   Praise him, all his angels;
        praise him, all his hosts!
    3   Praise him, sun and moon,
        praise him, all you shining stars!
    4   Praise him, you highest heavens,
        and you waters above the heavens!
    5   Let them praise the name of the LORD!
        For he commanded and they were created.
    6   And he established them forever and ever;
        he gave a decree, and it shall not pass away.Or it shall not be transgressed">1
    7   Praise the LORD from the earth,
        you great sea creatures and all deeps,
    8   fire and hail, snow and mist,
        stormy wind fulfilling his word!
    9   Mountains and all hills,
        fruit trees and all cedars!
    10   Beasts and all livestock,
        creeping things and flying birds!
    11   Kings of the earth and all peoples,
        princes and all rulers of the earth!
    12   Young men and maidens together,
        old men and children!
    13   Let them praise the name of the LORD,
        for his name alone is exalted;
        his majesty is above earth and heaven.
    14   He has raised up a horn for his people,
        praise for all his saints,
        for the people of Israel who are near to him.
      Praise the LORD!

    Footnotes

    [1] 148:6 Or it shall not be transgressed

    (ESV)

    Pentateuch and History:
    Job 38
    Job 38 (Listen)
    The Lord Answers Job

    38 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:

    2   “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?
    3   Dress for actionHebrew Gird up your loins">1 like a man;
        I will question you, and you make it known to me.
    4   “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?
        Tell me, if you have understanding.
    5   Who determined its measurements—surely you know!
        Or who stretched the line upon it?
    6   On what were its bases sunk,
        or who laid its cornerstone,
    7   when the morning stars sang together
        and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
    8   “Or who shut in the sea with doors
        when it burst out from the womb,
    9   when I made clouds its garment
        and thick darkness its swaddling band,
    10   and prescribed limits for it
        and set bars and doors,
    11   and said, ‘Thus far shall you come, and no farther,
        and here shall your proud waves be stayed’?
    12   “Have you commanded the morning since your days began,
        and caused the dawn to know its place,
    13   that it might take hold of the skirts of the earth,
        and the wicked be shaken out of it?
    14   It is changed like clay under the seal,
        and its features stand out like a garment.
    15   From the wicked their light is withheld,
        and their uplifted arm is broken.
    16   “Have you entered into the springs of the sea,
        or walked in the recesses of the deep?
    17   Have the gates of death been revealed to you,
        or have you seen the gates of deep darkness?
    18   Have you comprehended the expanse of the earth?
        Declare, if you know all this.
    19   “Where is the way to the dwelling of light,
        and where is the place of darkness,
    20   that you may take it to its territory
        and that you may discern the paths to its home?
    21   You know, for you were born then,
        and the number of your days is great!
    22   “Have you entered the storehouses of the snow,
        or have you seen the storehouses of the hail,
    23   which I have reserved for the time of trouble,
        for the day of battle and war?
    24   What is the way to the place where the light is distributed,
        or where the east wind is scattered upon the earth?
    25   “Who has cleft a channel for the torrents of rain
        and a way for the thunderbolt,
    26   to bring rain on a land where no man is,
        on the desert in which there is no man,
    27   to satisfy the waste and desolate land,
        and to make the ground sprout with grass?
    28   “Has the rain a father,
        or who has begotten the drops of dew?
    29   From whose womb did the ice come forth,
        and who has given birth to the frost of heaven?
    30   The waters become hard like stone,
        and the face of the deep is frozen.
    31   “Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades
        or loose the cords of Orion?
    32   Can you lead forth the MazzarothProbably the name of a constellation">2 in their season,
        or can you guide the Bear with its children?
    33   Do you know the ordinances of the heavens?
        Can you establish their rule on the earth?
    34   “Can you lift up your voice to the clouds,
        that a flood of waters may cover you?
    35   Can you send forth lightnings, that they may go
        and say to you, ‘Here we are’?
    36   Who has put wisdom in the inward partsOr in the ibis">3
        or given understanding to the mind?Or rooster">4
    37   Who can number the clouds by wisdom?
        Or who can tilt the waterskins of the heavens,
    38   when the dust runs into a mass
        and the clods stick fast together?
    39   “Can you hunt the prey for the lion,
        or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,
    40   when they crouch in their dens
        or lie in wait in their thicket?
    41   Who provides for the raven its prey,
        when its young ones cry to God for help,
        and wander about for lack of food?

    Footnotes

    [1] 38:3 Hebrew Gird up your loins


    [2] 38:32 Probably the name of a constellation

    [3] 38:36 Or in the ibis

    [4] 38:36 Or rooster

    (ESV)

    Chronicles and Prophets:
    Isaiah 61–62
    Isaiah 61–62 (Listen)
    The Year of the Lord’s Favor

    61   The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,
        because the LORD has anointed me
      to bring good news to the poor;Or afflicted">1
        he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
      to proclaim liberty to the captives,
        and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;Or the opening [of the eyes] to those who are blind; Septuagint and recovery of sight to the blind">2
    2   to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor,
        and the day of vengeance of our God;
        to comfort all who mourn;
    3   to grant to those who mourn in Zion—
        to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,
      the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
        the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;
      that they may be called oaks of righteousness,
        the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified.Or that he may display his beauty">3
    4   They shall build up the ancient ruins;
        they shall raise up the former devastations;
      they shall repair the ruined cities,
        the devastations of many generations.
    5   Strangers shall stand and tend your flocks;
        foreigners shall be your plowmen and vinedressers;
    6   but you shall be called the priests of the LORD;
        they shall speak of you as the ministers of our God;
      you shall eat the wealth of the nations,
        and in their glory you shall boast.
    7   Instead of your shame there shall be a double portion;
        instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their lot;
      therefore in their land they shall possess a double portion;
        they shall have everlasting joy.
    8   For I the LORD love justice;
        I hate robbery and wrong;Or robbery with a burnt offering">4
      I will faithfully give them their recompense,
        and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.
    9   Their offspring shall be known among the nations,
        and their descendants in the midst of the peoples;
      all who see them shall acknowledge them,
        that they are an offspring the LORD has blessed.
    10   I will greatly rejoice in the LORD;
        my soul shall exult in my God,
      for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation;
        he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
      as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress,
        and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
    11   For as the earth brings forth its sprouts,
        and as a garden causes what is sown in it to sprout up,
      so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise
        to sprout up before all the nations.

    Zion’s Coming Salvation

    62   For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent,
        and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not be quiet,
      until her righteousness goes forth as brightness,
        and her salvation as a burning torch.
    2   The nations shall see your righteousness,
        and all the kings your glory,
      and you shall be called by a new name
        that the mouth of the LORD will give.
    3   You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD,
        and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.
    4   You shall no more be termed Forsaken,Hebrew Azubah">5
        and your land shall no more be termed Desolate,Hebrew Shemamah">6
      but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her,Hebrew Hephzibah">7
        and your land Married;Hebrew Beulah">8
      for the LORD delights in you,
        and your land shall be married.
    5   For as a young man marries a young woman,
        so shall your sons marry you,
      and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride,
        so shall your God rejoice over you.
    6   On your walls, O Jerusalem,
        I have set watchmen;
      all the day and all the night
        they shall never be silent.
      You who put the LORD in remembrance,
        take no rest,
    7   and give him no rest
        until he establishes Jerusalem
        and makes it a praise in the earth.
    8   The LORD has sworn by his right hand
        and by his mighty arm:
      “I will not again give your grain
        to be food for your enemies,
      and foreigners shall not drink your wine
        for which you have labored;
    9   but those who garner it shall eat it
        and praise the LORD,
      and those who gather it shall drink it
        in the courts of my sanctuary.”Or in my holy courts">9
    10   Go through, go through the gates;
        prepare the way for the people;
      build up, build up the highway;
        clear it of stones;
        lift up a signal over the peoples.
    11   Behold, the LORD has proclaimed
        to the end of the earth:
      Say to the daughter of Zion,
        “Behold, your salvation comes;
      behold, his reward is with him,
        and his recompense before him.”
    12   And they shall be called The Holy People,
        The Redeemed of the LORD;
      and you shall be called Sought Out,
        A City Not Forsaken.

    Footnotes

    [1] 61:1 Or afflicted


    [2] 61:1 Or the opening [of the eyes] to those who are blind; Septuagint and recovery of sight to the blind

    [3] 61:3 Or that he may display his beauty

    [4] 61:8 Or robbery with a burnt offering

    [5] 62:4 Hebrew Azubah

    [6] 62:4 Hebrew Shemamah

    [7] 62:4 Hebrew Hephzibah

    [8] 62:4 Hebrew Beulah

    [9] 62:9 Or in my holy courts

    (ESV)

    Gospels and Epistles:
    Revelation 19
    Revelation 19 (Listen)
    Rejoicing in Heaven

    19 After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out,

      “Hallelujah!
      Salvation and glory and power belong to our God,
    2     for his judgments are true and just;
      for he has judged the great prostitute
        who corrupted the earth with her immorality,
      and has avenged on her the blood of his servants.”

    3 Once more they cried out,

      “Hallelujah!
      The smoke from her goes up forever and ever.”

    4 And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who was seated on the throne, saying, “Amen. Hallelujah!” 5 And from the throne came a voice saying,

      “Praise our God,
        all you his servants,
      you who fear him,
        small and great.”

    The Marriage Supper of the Lamb

    6 Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out,

      “Hallelujah!
      For the Lord our God
        the Almighty reigns.
    7   Let us rejoice and exult
        and give him the glory,
      for the marriage of the Lamb has come,
        and his Bride has made herself ready;
    8   it was granted her to clothe herself
        with fine linen, bright and pure”—

    for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.

    9 And the angel saidGreek he said">1 to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.” 10 Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God.” For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

    The Rider on a White Horse

    11 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. 13 He is clothed in a robe dipped inSome manuscripts sprinkled with">2 blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. 14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. 15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will ruleGreek shepherd">3 them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.

    17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to all the birds that fly directly overhead, “Come, gather for the great supper of God, 18 to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave,For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface">4 both small and great.” 19 And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and against his army. 20 And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presenceOr on its behalf">5 had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. 21 And the rest were slain by the sword that came from the mouth of him who was sitting on the horse, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh.

    Footnotes

    [1] 19:9 Greek he said


    [2] 19:13 Some manuscripts sprinkled with

    [3] 19:15 Greek shepherd

    [4] 19:18 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface

    [5] 19:20 Or on its behalf

    (ESV)

    14 min
  • December 27: Psalm 147; Job 36:22–37:24; Isaiah 60; Revelation 18
    Psalms and Wisdom:
    Psalm 147
    Psalm 147 (Listen)
    He Heals the Brokenhearted

    147   Praise the LORD!
      For it is good to sing praises to our God;
        for it is pleasant,Or for he is beautiful">1 and a song of praise is fitting.
    2   The LORD builds up Jerusalem;
        he gathers the outcasts of Israel.
    3   He heals the brokenhearted
        and binds up their wounds.
    4   He determines the number of the stars;
        he gives to all of them their names.
    5   Great is our Lord, and abundant in power;
        his understanding is beyond measure.
    6   The LORD lifts up the humble;Or afflicted">2
        he casts the wicked to the ground.
    7   Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving;
        make melody to our God on the lyre!
    8   He covers the heavens with clouds;
        he prepares rain for the earth;
        he makes grass grow on the hills.
    9   He gives to the beasts their food,
        and to the young ravens that cry.
    10   His delight is not in the strength of the horse,
        nor his pleasure in the legs of a man,
    11   but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him,
        in those who hope in his steadfast love.
    12   Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem!
        Praise your God, O Zion!
    13   For he strengthens the bars of your gates;
        he blesses your children within you.
    14   He makes peace in your borders;
        he fills you with the finest of the wheat.
    15   He sends out his command to the earth;
        his word runs swiftly.
    16   He gives snow like wool;
        he scatters frost like ashes.
    17   He hurls down his crystals of ice like crumbs;
        who can stand before his cold?
    18   He sends out his word, and melts them;
        he makes his wind blow and the waters flow.
    19   He declares his word to Jacob,
        his statutes and rulesOr and just decrees">3 to Israel.
    20   He has not dealt thus with any other nation;
        they do not know his rules.Or his just decrees">4
      Praise the LORD!

    Footnotes

    [1] 147:1 Or for he is beautiful


    [2] 147:6 Or afflicted

    [3] 147:19 Or and just decrees

    [4] 147:20 Or his just decrees

    (ESV)

    Pentateuch and History:
    Job 36:22–37:24
    Job 36:22–37:24 (Listen)

    22   Behold, God is exalted in his power;
        who is a teacher like him?
    23   Who has prescribed for him his way,
        or who can say, ‘You have done wrong’?
    24   “Remember to extol his work,
        of which men have sung.
    25   All mankind has looked on it;
        man beholds it from afar.
    26   Behold, God is great, and we know him not;
        the number of his years is unsearchable.
    27   For he draws up the drops of water;
        they distill his mist in rain,
    28   which the skies pour down
        and drop on mankind abundantly.
    29   Can anyone understand the spreading of the clouds,
        the thunderings of his pavilion?
    30   Behold, he scatters his lightning about him
        and covers the roots of the sea.
    31   For by these he judges peoples;
        he gives food in abundance.
    32   He covers his hands with the lightning
        and commands it to strike the mark.
    33   Its crashing declares his presence;Hebrew declares concerning him">1
        the cattle also declare that he rises.

    Elihu Proclaims God’s Majesty

    37   “At this also my heart trembles
        and leaps out of its place.
    2   Keep listening to the thunder of his voice
        and the rumbling that comes from his mouth.
    3   Under the whole heaven he lets it go,
        and his lightning to the corners of the earth.
    4   After it his voice roars;
        he thunders with his majestic voice,
        and he does not restrain the lightningsHebrew them">2 when his voice is heard.
    5   God thunders wondrously with his voice;
        he does great things that we cannot comprehend.
    6   For to the snow he says, ‘Fall on the earth,’
        likewise to the downpour, his mighty downpour.
    7   He seals up the hand of every man,
        that all men whom he made may know it.
    8   Then the beasts go into their lairs,
        and remain in their dens.
    9   From its chamber comes the whirlwind,
        and cold from the scattering winds.
    10   By the breath of God ice is given,
        and the broad waters are frozen fast.
    11   He loads the thick cloud with moisture;
        the clouds scatter his lightning.
    12   They turn around and around by his guidance,
        to accomplish all that he commands them
        on the face of the habitable world.
    13   Whether for correction or for his land
        or for love, he causes it to happen.
    14   “Hear this, O Job;
        stop and consider the wondrous works of God.
    15   Do you know how God lays his command upon them
        and causes the lightning of his cloud to shine?
    16   Do you know the balancingsOr hoverings">3 of the clouds,
        the wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge,
    17   you whose garments are hot
        when the earth is still because of the south wind?
    18   Can you, like him, spread out the skies,
        hard as a cast metal mirror?
    19   Teach us what we shall say to him;
        we cannot draw up our case because of darkness.
    20   Shall it be told him that I would speak?
        Did a man ever wish that he would be swallowed up?
    21   “And now no one looks on the light
        when it is bright in the skies,
        when the wind has passed and cleared them.
    22   Out of the north comes golden splendor;
        God is clothed with awesome majesty.
    23   The Almighty—we cannot find him;
        he is great in power;
        justice and abundant righteousness he will not violate.
    24   Therefore men fear him;
        he does not regard any who are wise in their own conceit.”Hebrew in heart">4

    Footnotes

    [1] 36:33 Hebrew declares concerning him


    [2] 37:4 Hebrew them

    [3] 37:16 Or hoverings

    [4] 37:24 Hebrew in heart

    (ESV)

    Chronicles and Prophets:
    Isaiah 60
    Isaiah 60 (Listen)
    The Future Glory of Israel

    60   Arise, shine, for your light has come,
        and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.
    2   For behold, darkness shall cover the earth,
        and thick darkness the peoples;
      but the LORD will arise upon you,
        and his glory will be seen upon you.
    3   And nations shall come to your light,
        and kings to the brightness of your rising.
    4   Lift up your eyes all around, and see;
        they all gather together, they come to you;
      your sons shall come from afar,
        and your daughters shall be carried on the hip.
    5   Then you shall see and be radiant;
        your heart shall thrill and exult,Hebrew your heart shall tremble and grow wide">1
      because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you,
        the wealth of the nations shall come to you.
    6   A multitude of camels shall cover you,
        the young camels of Midian and Ephah;
        all those from Sheba shall come.
      They shall bring gold and frankincense,
        and shall bring good news, the praises of the LORD.
    7   All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered to you;
        the rams of Nebaioth shall minister to you;
      they shall come up with acceptance on my altar,
        and I will beautify my beautiful house.
    8   Who are these that fly like a cloud,
        and like doves to their windows?
    9   For the coastlands shall hope for me,
        the ships of Tarshish first,
      to bring your children from afar,
        their silver and gold with them,
      for the name of the LORD your God,
        and for the Holy One of Israel,
        because he has made you beautiful.
    10   Foreigners shall build up your walls,
        and their kings shall minister to you;
      for in my wrath I struck you,
        but in my favor I have had mercy on you.
    11   Your gates shall be open continually;
        day and night they shall not be shut,
      that people may bring to you the wealth of the nations,
        with their kings led in procession.
    12   For the nation and kingdom
        that will not serve you shall perish;
        those nations shall be utterly laid waste.
    13   The glory of Lebanon shall come to you,
        the cypress, the plane, and the pine,
      to beautify the place of my sanctuary,
        and I will make the place of my feet glorious.
    14   The sons of those who afflicted you
        shall come bending low to you,
      and all who despised you
        shall bow down at your feet;
      they shall call you the City of the LORD,
        the Zion of the Holy One of Israel.
    15   Whereas you have been forsaken and hated,
        with no one passing through,
      I will make you majestic forever,
        a joy from age to age.
    16   You shall suck the milk of nations;
        you shall nurse at the breast of kings;
      and you shall know that I, the LORD, am your Savior
        and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.
    17   Instead of bronze I will bring gold,
        and instead of iron I will bring silver;
      instead of wood, bronze,
        instead of stones, iron.
      I will make your overseers peace
        and your taskmasters righteousness.
    18   Violence shall no more be heard in your land,
        devastation or destruction within your borders;
      you shall call your walls Salvation,
        and your gates Praise.
    19   The sun shall be no more
        your light by day,
      nor for brightness shall the moon
        give you light;Masoretic Text; Dead Sea Scroll, Septuagint, Targum add by night">2
      but the LORD will be your everlasting light,
        and your God will be your glory.Or your beauty">3
    20   Your sun shall no more go down,
        nor your moon withdraw itself;
      for the LORD will be your everlasting light,
        and your days of mourning shall be ended.
    21   Your people shall all be righteous;
        they shall possess the land forever,
      the branch of my planting, the work of my hands,
        that I might be glorified.Or that I might display my beauty">4
    22   The least one shall become a clan,
        and the smallest one a mighty nation;
      I am the LORD;
        in its time I will hasten it.

    Footnotes

    [1] 60:5 Hebrew your heart shall tremble and grow wide


    [2] 60:19 Masoretic Text; Dead Sea Scroll, Septuagint, Targum add by night

    [3] 60:19 Or your beauty

    [4] 60:21 Or that I might display my beauty

    (ESV)

    Gospels and Epistles:
    Revelation 18
    Revelation 18 (Listen)
    The Fall of Babylon

    18 After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was made bright with his glory. 2 And he called out with a mighty voice,

      “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great!
        She has become a dwelling place for demons,
      a haunt for every unclean spirit,
        a haunt for every unclean bird,
        a haunt for every unclean and detestable beast.
    3   For all nations have drunkSome manuscripts fallen by">1
        the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality,
      and the kings of the earth have committed immorality with her,
        and the merchants of the earth have grown rich from the power of her luxurious living.”

    4 Then I heard another voice from heaven saying,

      “Come out of her, my people,
        lest you take part in her sins,
      lest you share in her plagues;
    5   for her sins are heaped high as heaven,
        and God has remembered her iniquities.
    6   Pay her back as she herself has paid back others,
        and repay her double for her deeds;
        mix a double portion for her in the cup she mixed.
    7   As she glorified herself and lived in luxury,
        so give her a like measure of torment and mourning,
      since in her heart she says,
        ‘I sit as a queen,
      I am no widow,
        and mourning I shall never see.’
    8   For this reason her plagues will come in a single day,
        death and mourning and famine,
      and she will be burned up with fire;
        for mighty is the Lord God who has judged her.”

    9 And the kings of the earth, who committed sexual immorality and lived in luxury with her, will weep and wail over her when they see the smoke of her burning. 10 They will stand far off, in fear of her torment, and say,

      “Alas! Alas! You great city,
        you mighty city, Babylon!
      For in a single hour your judgment has come.”

    11 And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn for her, since no one buys their cargo anymore, 12 cargo of gold, silver, jewels, pearls, fine linen, purple cloth, silk, scarlet cloth, all kinds of scented wood, all kinds of articles of ivory, all kinds of articles of costly wood, bronze, iron and marble, 13 cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, frankincense, wine, oil, fine flour, wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and slaves, that is, human souls.Or and slaves, and human lives">2

    14   “The fruit for which your soul longed
        has gone from you,
      and all your delicacies and your splendors
        are lost to you,
        never to be found again!”

    15 The merchants of these wares, who gained wealth from her, will stand far off, in fear of her torment, weeping and mourning aloud,

    16   “Alas, alas, for the great city
        that was clothed in fine linen,
          in purple and scarlet,
        adorned with gold,
          with jewels, and with pearls!
    17   For in a single hour all this wealth has been laid waste.”

    And all shipmasters and seafaring men, sailors and all whose trade is on the sea, stood far off 18 and cried out as they saw the smoke of her burning,

      “What city was like the great city?”

    19 And they threw dust on their heads as they wept and mourned, crying out,

      “Alas, alas, for the great city
        where all who had ships at sea
        grew rich by her wealth!
      For in a single hour she has been laid waste.
    20   Rejoice over her, O heaven,
        and you saints and apostles and prophets,
      for God has given judgment for you against her!”

    21 Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying,

      “So will Babylon the great city be thrown down with violence,
        and will be found no more;
    22   and the sound of harpists and musicians, of flute players and trumpeters,
        will be heard in you no more,
      and a craftsman of any craft
        will be found in you no more,
      and the sound of the mill
        will be heard in you no more,
    23   and the light of a lamp
        will shine in you no more,
      and the voice of bridegroom and bride
        will be heard in you no more,
      for your merchants were the great ones of the earth,
        and all nations were deceived by your sorcery.
    24   And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints,
        and of all who have been slain on earth.”

    Footnotes

    [1] 18:3 Some manuscripts fallen by


    [2] 18:13 Or and slaves, and human lives

    (ESV)

    14 min
  • December 26: Psalm 146; Job 36:1–21; Isaiah 59; Revelation 17
    Psalms and Wisdom:
    Psalm 146
    Psalm 146 (Listen)
    Put Not Your Trust in Princes

    146   Praise the LORD!
      Praise the LORD, O my soul!
    2   I will praise the LORD as long as I live;
        I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.
    3   Put not your trust in princes,
        in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation.
    4   When his breath departs, he returns to the earth;
        on that very day his plans perish.
    5   Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
        whose hope is in the LORD his God,
    6   who made heaven and earth,
        the sea, and all that is in them,
      who keeps faith forever;
    7     who executes justice for the oppressed,
        who gives food to the hungry.
      The LORD sets the prisoners free;
    8     the LORD opens the eyes of the blind.
      The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down;
        the LORD loves the righteous.
    9   The LORD watches over the sojourners;
        he upholds the widow and the fatherless,
        but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.
    10   The LORD will reign forever,
        your God, O Zion, to all generations.
      Praise the LORD!

    (ESV)

    Pentateuch and History:
    Job 36:1–21
    Job 36:1–21 (Listen)
    Elihu Extols God’s Greatness

    36 And Elihu continued, and said:

    2   “Bear with me a little, and I will show you,
        for I have yet something to say on God’s behalf.
    3   I will get my knowledge from afar
        and ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
    4   For truly my words are not false;
        one who is perfect in knowledge is with you.
    5   “Behold, God is mighty, and does not despise any;
        he is mighty in strength of understanding.
    6   He does not keep the wicked alive,
        but gives the afflicted their right.
    7   He does not withdraw his eyes from the righteous,
        but with kings on the throne
        he sets them forever, and they are exalted.
    8   And if they are bound in chains
        and caught in the cords of affliction,
    9   then he declares to them their work
        and their transgressions, that they are behaving arrogantly.
    10   He opens their ears to instruction
        and commands that they return from iniquity.
    11   If they listen and serve him,
        they complete their days in prosperity,
        and their years in pleasantness.
    12   But if they do not listen, they perish by the sword
        and die without knowledge.
    13   “The godless in heart cherish anger;
        they do not cry for help when he binds them.
    14   They die in youth,
        and their life ends among the cult prostitutes.
    15   He delivers the afflicted by their affliction
        and opens their ear by adversity.
    16   He also allured you out of distress
        into a broad place where there was no cramping,
        and what was set on your table was full of fatness.
    17   “But you are full of the judgment on the wicked;
        judgment and justice seize you.
    18   Beware lest wrath entice you into scoffing,
        and let not the greatness of the ransom turn you aside.
    19   Will your cry for help avail to keep you from distress,
        or all the force of your strength?
    20   Do not long for the night,
        when peoples vanish in their place.
    21   Take care; do not turn to iniquity,
        for this you have chosen rather than affliction.

    (ESV)

    Chronicles and Prophets:
    Isaiah 59
    Isaiah 59 (Listen)
    Evil and Oppression

    59   Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save,
        or his ear dull, that it cannot hear;
    2   but your iniquities have made a separation
        between you and your God,
      and your sins have hidden his face from you
        so that he does not hear.
    3   For your hands are defiled with blood
        and your fingers with iniquity;
      your lips have spoken lies;
        your tongue mutters wickedness.
    4   No one enters suit justly;
        no one goes to law honestly;
      they rely on empty pleas, they speak lies,
        they conceive mischief and give birth to iniquity.
    5   They hatch adders’ eggs;
        they weave the spider’s web;
      he who eats their eggs dies,
        and from one that is crushed a viper is hatched.
    6   Their webs will not serve as clothing;
        men will not cover themselves with what they make.
      Their works are works of iniquity,
        and deeds of violence are in their hands.
    7   Their feet run to evil,
        and they are swift to shed innocent blood;
      their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity;
        desolation and destruction are in their highways.
    8   The way of peace they do not know,
        and there is no justice in their paths;
      they have made their roads crooked;
        no one who treads on them knows peace.
    9   Therefore justice is far from us,
        and righteousness does not overtake us;
      we hope for light, and behold, darkness,
        and for brightness, but we walk in gloom.
    10   We grope for the wall like the blind;
        we grope like those who have no eyes;
      we stumble at noon as in the twilight,
        among those in full vigor we are like dead men.
    11   We all growl like bears;
        we moan and moan like doves;
      we hope for justice, but there is none;
        for salvation, but it is far from us.
    12   For our transgressions are multiplied before you,
        and our sins testify against us;
      for our transgressions are with us,
        and we know our iniquities:
    13   transgressing, and denying the LORD,
        and turning back from following our God,
      speaking oppression and revolt,
        conceiving and uttering from the heart lying words.

    Judgment and Redemption

    14   Justice is turned back,
        and righteousness stands far away;
      for truth has stumbled in the public squares,
        and uprightness cannot enter.
    15   Truth is lacking,
        and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey.

      The LORD saw it, and it displeased himHebrew and it was evil in his eyes">1
        that there was no justice.
    16   He saw that there was no man,
        and wondered that there was no one to intercede;
      then his own arm brought him salvation,
        and his righteousness upheld him.
    17   He put on righteousness as a breastplate,
        and a helmet of salvation on his head;
      he put on garments of vengeance for clothing,
        and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak.
    18   According to their deeds, so will he repay,
        wrath to his adversaries, repayment to his enemies;
        to the coastlands he will render repayment.
    19   So they shall fear the name of the LORD from the west,
        and his glory from the rising of the sun;
      for he will come like a rushing stream,Hebrew a narrow river">2
        which the wind of the LORD drives.
    20   “And a Redeemer will come to Zion,
        to those in Jacob who turn from transgression,” declares the LORD.

    21 “And as for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the LORD: “My Spirit that is upon you, and my words that I have put in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth, or out of the mouth of your offspring, or out of the mouth of your children’s offspring,” says the LORD, “from this time forth and forevermore.”

    Footnotes

    [1] 59:15 Hebrew and it was evil in his eyes


    [2] 59:19 Hebrew a narrow river

    (ESV)

    Gospels and Epistles:
    Revelation 17
    Revelation 17 (Listen)
    The Great Prostitute and the Beast

    17 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who is seated on many waters, 2 with whom the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality, and with the wine of whose sexual immorality the dwellers on earth have become drunk.” 3 And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous names, and it had seven heads and ten horns. 4 The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and jewels and pearls, holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality. 5 And on her forehead was written a name of mystery: “Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth’s abominations.” 6 And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.Greek the witnesses to Jesus">1

    When I saw her, I marveled greatly. 7 But the angel said to me, “Why do you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast with seven heads and ten horns that carries her. 8 The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to rise from the bottomless pitGreek the abyss">2 and go to destruction. And the dwellers on earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel to see the beast, because it was and is not and is to come. 9 This calls for a mind with wisdom: the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated; 10 they are also seven kings, five of whom have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come, and when he does come he must remain only a little while. 11 As for the beast that was and is not, it is an eighth but it belongs to the seven, and it goes to destruction. 12 And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power, but they are to receive authority as kings for one hour, together with the beast. 13 These are of one mind, and they hand over their power and authority to the beast. 14 They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.”

    15 And the angelGreek he">3 said to me, “The waters that you saw, where the prostitute is seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and languages. 16 And the ten horns that you saw, they and the beast will hate the prostitute. They will make her desolate and naked, and devour her flesh and burn her up with fire, 17 for God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose by being of one mind and handing over their royal power to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled. 18 And the woman that you saw is the great city that has dominion over the kings of the earth.”

    Footnotes

    [1] 17:6 Greek the witnesses to Jesus


    [2] 17:8 Greek the abyss

    [3] 17:15 Greek he

    (ESV)

    10 min
  • December 25: Psalm 145; Job 34–35; Isaiah 58; Revelation 16
    Psalms and Wisdom:
    Psalm 145
    Psalm 145 (Listen)
    Great Is the Lord
    This psalm is an acrostic poem, each verse beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet">1 A Song of Praise. Of David.

    145   I will extol you, my God and King,
        and bless your name forever and ever.
    2   Every day I will bless you
        and praise your name forever and ever.
    3   Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised,
        and his greatness is unsearchable.
    4   One generation shall commend your works to another,
        and shall declare your mighty acts.
    5   On the glorious splendor of your majesty,
        and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.
    6   They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds,
        and I will declare your greatness.
    7   They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness
        and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.
    8   The LORD is gracious and merciful,
        slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
    9   The LORD is good to all,
        and his mercy is over all that he has made.
    10   All your works shall give thanks to you, O LORD,
        and all your saints shall bless you!
    11   They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom
        and tell of your power,
    12   to make known to the children of man yourHebrew his; also next line">2 mighty deeds,
        and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
    13   Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
        and your dominion endures throughout all generations.
      [The LORD is faithful in all his words
        and kind in all his works.]These two lines are supplied by one Hebrew manuscript, Septuagint, Syriac (compare Dead Sea Scroll)">3
    14   The LORD upholds all who are falling
        and raises up all who are bowed down.
    15   The eyes of all look to you,
        and you give them their food in due season.
    16   You open your hand;
        you satisfy the desire of every living thing.
    17   The LORD is righteous in all his ways
        and kind in all his works.
    18   The LORD is near to all who call on him,
        to all who call on him in truth.
    19   He fulfills the desire of those who fear him;
        he also hears their cry and saves them.
    20   The LORD preserves all who love him,
        but all the wicked he will destroy.
    21   My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD,
        and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.

    Footnotes

    [1] 145:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, each verse beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet


    [2] 145:12 Hebrew his; also next line

    [3] 145:13 These two lines are supplied by one Hebrew manuscript, Septuagint, Syriac (compare Dead Sea Scroll)

    (ESV)

    Pentateuch and History:
    Job 34–35
    Job 34–35 (Listen)
    Elihu Asserts God’s Justice

    34 Then Elihu answered and said:

    2   “Hear my words, you wise men,
        and give ear to me, you who know;
    3   for the ear tests words
        as the palate tastes food.
    4   Let us choose what is right;
        let us know among ourselves what is good.
    5   For Job has said, ‘I am in the right,
        and God has taken away my right;
    6   in spite of my right I am counted a liar;
        my wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’
    7   What man is like Job,
        who drinks up scoffing like water,
    8   who travels in company with evildoers
        and walks with wicked men?
    9   For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing
        that he should take delight in God.’
    10   “Therefore, hear me, you men of understanding:
        far be it from God that he should do wickedness,
        and from the Almighty that he should do wrong.
    11   For according to the work of a man he will repay him,
        and according to his ways he will make it befall him.
    12   Of a truth, God will not do wickedly,
        and the Almighty will not pervert justice.
    13   Who gave him charge over the earth,
        and who laid on himHebrew lacks on him">1 the whole world?
    14   If he should set his heart to it
        and gather to himself his spirit and his breath,
    15   all flesh would perish together,
        and man would return to dust.
    16   “If you have understanding, hear this;
        listen to what I say.
    17   Shall one who hates justice govern?
        Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty,
    18   who says to a king, ‘Worthless one,’
        and to nobles, ‘Wicked man,’
    19   who shows no partiality to princes,
        nor regards the rich more than the poor,
        for they are all the work of his hands?
    20   In a moment they die;
        at midnight the people are shaken and pass away,
        and the mighty are taken away by no human hand.
    21   “For his eyes are on the ways of a man,
        and he sees all his steps.
    22   There is no gloom or deep darkness
        where evildoers may hide themselves.
    23   For GodHebrew he">2 has no need to consider a man further,
        that he should go before God in judgment.
    24   He shatters the mighty without investigation
        and sets others in their place.
    25   Thus, knowing their works,
        he overturns them in the night, and they are crushed.
    26   He strikes them for their wickedness
        in a place for all to see,
    27   because they turned aside from following him
        and had no regard for any of his ways,
    28   so that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him,
        and he heard the cry of the afflicted—
    29   When he is quiet, who can condemn?
        When he hides his face, who can behold him,
        whether it be a nation or a man?—
    30   that a godless man should not reign,
        that he should not ensnare the people.
    31   “For has anyone said to God,
        ‘I have borne punishment; I will not offend any more;
    32   teach me what I do not see;
        if I have done iniquity, I will do it no more’?
    33   Will he then make repayment to suit you,
        because you reject it?
      For you must choose, and not I;
        therefore declare what you know.The meaning of the Hebrew in verses 29–33 is uncertain">3
    34   Men of understanding will say to me,
        and the wise man who hears me will say:
    35   ‘Job speaks without knowledge;
        his words are without insight.’
    36   Would that Job were tried to the end,
        because he answers like wicked men.
    37   For he adds rebellion to his sin;
        he claps his hands among us
        and multiplies his words against God.”

    Elihu Condemns Job

    35 And Elihu answered and said:

    2   “Do you think this to be just?
        Do you say, ‘It is my right before God,’
    3   that you ask, ‘What advantage have I?
        How am I better off than if I had sinned?’
    4   I will answer you
        and your friends with you.
    5   Look at the heavens, and see;
        and behold the clouds, which are higher than you.
    6   If you have sinned, what do you accomplish against him?
        And if your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to him?
    7   If you are righteous, what do you give to him?
        Or what does he receive from your hand?
    8   Your wickedness concerns a man like yourself,
        and your righteousness a son of man.
    9   “Because of the multitude of oppressions people cry out;
        they call for help because of the arm of the mighty.Or the many">4
    10   But none says, ‘Where is God my Maker,
        who gives songs in the night,
    11   who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth
        and makes us wiser than the birds of the heavens?’
    12   There they cry out, but he does not answer,
        because of the pride of evil men.
    13   Surely God does not hear an empty cry,
        nor does the Almighty regard it.
    14   How much less when you say that you do not see him,
        that the case is before him, and you are waiting for him!
    15   And now, because his anger does not punish,
        and he does not take much note of transgression,Theodotion, Symmachus (compare Vulgate); the meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain">5
    16   Job opens his mouth in empty talk;
        he multiplies words without knowledge.”

    Footnotes

    [1] 34:13 Hebrew lacks on him


    [2] 34:23 Hebrew he

    [3] 34:33 The meaning of the Hebrew in verses 29–33 is uncertain

    [4] 35:9 Or the many

    [5] 35:15 Theodotion, Symmachus (compare Vulgate); the meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain

    (ESV)

    Chronicles and Prophets:
    Isaiah 58
    Isaiah 58 (Listen)
    True and False Fasting

    58   “Cry aloud; do not hold back;
        lift up your voice like a trumpet;
      declare to my people their transgression,
        to the house of Jacob their sins.
    2   Yet they seek me daily
        and delight to know my ways,
      as if they were a nation that did righteousness
        and did not forsake the judgment of their God;
      they ask of me righteous judgments;
        they delight to draw near to God.
    3   ‘Why have we fasted, and you see it not?
        Why have we humbled ourselves, and you take no knowledge of it?’
      Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure,Or pursue your own business">1
        and oppress all your workers.
    4   Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight
        and to hit with a wicked fist.
      Fasting like yours this day
        will not make your voice to be heard on high.
    5   Is such the fast that I choose,
        a day for a person to humble himself?
      Is it to bow down his head like a reed,
        and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him?
      Will you call this a fast,
        and a day acceptable to the LORD?
    6   “Is not this the fast that I choose:
        to loose the bonds of wickedness,
        to undo the straps of the yoke,
      to let the oppressedOr bruised">2 go free,
        and to break every yoke?
    7   Is it not to share your bread with the hungry
        and bring the homeless poor into your house;
      when you see the naked, to cover him,
        and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?
    8   Then shall your light break forth like the dawn,
        and your healing shall spring up speedily;
      your righteousness shall go before you;
        the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.
    9   Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer;
        you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’
      If you take away the yoke from your midst,
        the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,
    10   if you pour yourself out for the hungry
        and satisfy the desire of the afflicted,
      then shall your light rise in the darkness
        and your gloom be as the noonday.
    11   And the LORD will guide you continually
        and satisfy your desire in scorched places
        and make your bones strong;
      and you shall be like a watered garden,
        like a spring of water,
        whose waters do not fail.
    12   And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt;
        you shall raise up the foundations of many generations;
      you shall be called the repairer of the breach,
        the restorer of streets to dwell in.
    13   “If you turn back your foot from the Sabbath,
        from doing your pleasureOr business">3 on my holy day,
      and call the Sabbath a delight
        and the holy day of the LORD honorable;
      if you honor it, not going your own ways,
        or seeking your own pleasure,Or pursuing your own business">4 or talking idly;Hebrew or speaking a word">5
    14   then you shall take delight in the LORD,
        and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth;Or of the land">6
      I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father,
        for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”

    Footnotes

    [1] 58:3 Or pursue your own business


    [2] 58:6 Or bruised

    [3] 58:13 Or business

    [4] 58:13 Or pursuing your own business

    [5] 58:13 Hebrew or speaking a word

    [6] 58:14 Or of the land

    (ESV)

    Gospels and Epistles:
    Revelation 16
    Revelation 16 (Listen)
    The Seven Bowls of God’s Wrath

    16 Then I heard a loud voice from the temple telling the seven angels, “Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God.”

    2 So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and harmful and painful sores came upon the people who bore the mark of the beast and worshiped its image.

    3 The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became like the blood of a corpse, and every living thing died that was in the sea.

    4 The third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of water, and they became blood. 5 And I heard the angel in charge of the watersGreek angel of the waters">1 say,

      “Just are you, O Holy One, who is and who was,
        for you brought these judgments.
    6   For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets,
        and you have given them blood to drink.
      It is what they deserve!”

    7 And I heard the altar saying,

      “Yes, Lord God the Almighty,
        true and just are your judgments!”

    8 The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was allowed to scorch people with fire. 9 They were scorched by the fierce heat, and they cursedGreek blasphemed; also verses 11, 21">2 the name of God who had power over these plagues. They did not repent and give him glory.

    10 The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their tongues in anguish 11 and cursed the God of heaven for their pain and sores. They did not repent of their deeds.

    12 The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, to prepare the way for the kings from the east. 13 And I saw, coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs. 14 For they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty. 15 (“Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!”) 16 And they assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.

    The Seventh Bowl

    17 The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” 18 And there were flashes of lightning, rumblings,Or voices, or sounds">3 peals of thunder, and a great earthquake such as there had never been since man was on the earth, so great was that earthquake. 19 The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell, and God remembered Babylon the great, to make her drain the cup of the wine of the fury of his wrath. 20 And every island fled away, and no mountains were to be found. 21 And great hailstones, about one hundred poundsGreek a talent in weight">4 each, fell from heaven on people; and they cursed God for the plague of the hail, because the plague was so severe.

    Footnotes

    [1] 16:5 Greek angel of the waters


    [2] 16:9 Greek blasphemed; also verses 11, 21

    [3] 16:18 Or voices, or sounds

    [4] 16:21 Greek a talent in weight

    (ESV)

    14 min
  • December 24: Psalm 144; Job 33; Isaiah 56–57; Revelation 15
    Psalms and Wisdom:
    Psalm 144
    Psalm 144 (Listen)
    My Rock and My Fortress
    Of David.

    144   Blessed be the LORD, my rock,
        who trains my hands for war,
        and my fingers for battle;
    2   he is my steadfast love and my fortress,
        my stronghold and my deliverer,
      my shield and he in whom I take refuge,
        who subdues peoplesMany Hebrew manuscripts, Dead Sea Scroll, Jerome, Syriac, Aquila; most Hebrew manuscripts subdues my people">1 under me.
    3   O LORD, what is man that you regard him,
        or the son of man that you think of him?
    4   Man is like a breath;
        his days are like a passing shadow.
    5   Bow your heavens, O LORD, and come down!
        Touch the mountains so that they smoke!
    6   Flash forth the lightning and scatter them;
        send out your arrows and rout them!
    7   Stretch out your hand from on high;
        rescue me and deliver me from the many waters,
        from the hand of foreigners,
    8   whose mouths speak lies
        and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.
    9   I will sing a new song to you, O God;
        upon a ten-stringed harp I will play to you,
    10   who gives victory to kings,
        who rescues David his servant from the cruel sword.
    11   Rescue me and deliver me
        from the hand of foreigners,
      whose mouths speak lies
        and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.
    12   May our sons in their youth
        be like plants full grown,
      our daughters like corner pillars
        cut for the structure of a palace;
    13   may our granaries be full,
        providing all kinds of produce;
      may our sheep bring forth thousands
        and ten thousands in our fields;
    14   may our cattle be heavy with young,
        suffering no mishap or failure in bearing;Hebrew with no breaking in or going out">2
      may there be no cry of distress in our streets!
    15   Blessed are the people to whom such blessings fall!
        Blessed are the people whose God is the LORD!

    Footnotes

    [1] 144:2 Many Hebrew manuscripts, Dead Sea Scroll, Jerome, Syriac, Aquila; most Hebrew manuscripts subdues my people


    [2] 144:14 Hebrew with no breaking in or going out

    (ESV)

    Pentateuch and History:
    Job 33
    Job 33 (Listen)
    Elihu Rebukes Job

    33   “But now, hear my speech, O Job,
        and listen to all my words.
    2   Behold, I open my mouth;
        the tongue in my mouth speaks.
    3   My words declare the uprightness of my heart,
        and what my lips know they speak sincerely.
    4   The Spirit of God has made me,
        and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
    5   Answer me, if you can;
        set your words in order before me; take your stand.
    6   Behold, I am toward God as you are;
        I too was pinched off from a piece of clay.
    7   Behold, no fear of me need terrify you;
        my pressure will not be heavy upon you.
    8   “Surely you have spoken in my ears,
        and I have heard the sound of your words.
    9   You say, ‘I am pure, without transgression;
        I am clean, and there is no iniquity in me.
    10   Behold, he finds occasions against me,
        he counts me as his enemy,
    11   he puts my feet in the stocks
        and watches all my paths.’
    12   “Behold, in this you are not right. I will answer you,
        for God is greater than man.
    13   Why do you contend against him,
        saying, ‘He will answer none of man’sHebrew his">1 words’?Or He will not answer for any of his own words">2
    14   For God speaks in one way,
        and in two, though man does not perceive it.
    15   In a dream, in a vision of the night,
        when deep sleep falls on men,
        while they slumber on their beds,
    16   then he opens the ears of men
        and terrifiesOr seals">3 them with warnings,
    17   that he may turn man aside from his deed
        and conceal pride from a man;
    18   he keeps back his soul from the pit,
        his life from perishing by the sword.
    19   “Man is also rebuked with pain on his bed
        and with continual strife in his bones,
    20   so that his life loathes bread,
        and his appetite the choicest food.
    21   His flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen,
        and his bones that were not seen stick out.
    22   His soul draws near the pit,
        and his life to those who bring death.
    23   If there be for him an angel,
        a mediator, one of the thousand,
        to declare to man what is right for him,
    24   and he is merciful to him, and says,
        ‘Deliver him from going down into the pit;
        I have found a ransom;
    25   let his flesh become fresh with youth;
        let him return to the days of his youthful vigor’;
    26   then manHebrew he">4 prays to God, and he accepts him;
        he sees his face with a shout of joy,
      and he restores to man his righteousness.
    27     He sings before men and says:
      ‘I sinned and perverted what was right,
        and it was not repaid to me.
    28   He has redeemed my soul from going down into the pit,
        and my life shall look upon the light.’
    29   “Behold, God does all these things,
        twice, three times, with a man,
    30   to bring back his soul from the pit,
        that he may be lighted with the light of life.
    31   Pay attention, O Job, listen to me;
        be silent, and I will speak.
    32   If you have any words, answer me;
        speak, for I desire to justify you.
    33   If not, listen to me;
        be silent, and I will teach you wisdom.”

    Footnotes

    [1] 33:13 Hebrew his


    [2] 33:13 Or He will not answer for any of his own words

    [3] 33:16 Or seals

    [4] 33:26 Hebrew he

    (ESV)

    Chronicles and Prophets:
    Isaiah 56–57
    Isaiah 56–57 (Listen)
    Salvation for Foreigners

    56   Thus says the LORD:
      “Keep justice, and do righteousness,
      for soon my salvation will come,
        and my righteousness be revealed.
    2   Blessed is the man who does this,
        and the son of man who holds it fast,
      who keeps the Sabbath, not profaning it,
        and keeps his hand from doing any evil.”
    3   Let not the foreigner who has joined himself to the LORD say,
        “The LORD will surely separate me from his people”;
      and let not the eunuch say,
        “Behold, I am a dry tree.”
    4   For thus says the LORD:
      “To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths,
        who choose the things that please me
        and hold fast my covenant,
    5   I will give in my house and within my walls
        a monument and a name
        better than sons and daughters;
      I will give them an everlasting name
        that shall not be cut off.
    6   “And the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD,
        to minister to him, to love the name of the LORD,
        and to be his servants,
      everyone who keeps the Sabbath and does not profane it,
        and holds fast my covenant—
    7   these I will bring to my holy mountain,
        and make them joyful in my house of prayer;
      their burnt offerings and their sacrifices
        will be accepted on my altar;
      for my house shall be called a house of prayer
        for all peoples.”
    8   The Lord GOD,
        who gathers the outcasts of Israel, declares,
      “I will gather yet others to him
        besides those already gathered.”

    Israel’s Irresponsible Leaders

    9   All you beasts of the field, come to devour—
        all you beasts in the forest.
    10   His watchmen are blind;
        they are all without knowledge;
      they are all silent dogs;
        they cannot bark,
      dreaming, lying down,
        loving to slumber.
    11   The dogs have a mighty appetite;
        they never have enough.
      But they are shepherds who have no understanding;
        they have all turned to their own way,
        each to his own gain, one and all.
    12   “Come,” they say, “let me get wine;
        let us fill ourselves with strong drink;
      and tomorrow will be like this day,
        great beyond measure.”

    Israel’s Futile Idolatry

    57   The righteous man perishes,
        and no one lays it to heart;
      devout men are taken away,
        while no one understands.
      For the righteous man is taken away from calamity;
    2     he enters into peace;
      they rest in their beds
        who walk in their uprightness.
    3   But you, draw near,
        sons of the sorceress,
        offspring of the adulterer and the loose woman.
    4   Whom are you mocking?
        Against whom do you open your mouth wide
        and stick out your tongue?
      Are you not children of transgression,
        the offspring of deceit,
    5   you who burn with lust among the oaks,Or among the terebinths">1
        under every green tree,
      who slaughter your children in the valleys,
        under the clefts of the rocks?
    6   Among the smooth stones of the valley is your portion;
        they, they, are your lot;
      to them you have poured out a drink offering,
        you have brought a grain offering.
        Shall I relent for these things?
    7   On a high and lofty mountain
        you have set your bed,
        and there you went up to offer sacrifice.
    8   Behind the door and the doorpost
        you have set up your memorial;
      for, deserting me, you have uncovered your bed,
        you have gone up to it,
        you have made it wide;
      and you have made a covenant for yourself with them,
        you have loved their bed,
        you have looked on nakedness.Or on a monument (see 56:5); Hebrew on a hand">2
    9   You journeyed to the king with oil
        and multiplied your perfumes;
      you sent your envoys far off,
        and sent down even to Sheol.
    10   You were wearied with the length of your way,
        but you did not say, “It is hopeless”;
      you found new life for your strength,
        and so you were not faint.Hebrew and so you were not sick">3
    11   Whom did you dread and fear,
        so that you lied,
      and did not remember me,
        did not lay it to heart?
      Have I not held my peace, even for a long time,
        and you do not fear me?
    12   I will declare your righteousness and your deeds,
        but they will not profit you.
    13   When you cry out, let your collection of idols deliver you!
        The wind will carry them all off,
        a breath will take them away.
      But he who takes refuge in me shall possess the land
        and shall inherit my holy mountain.

    Comfort for the Contrite

    14   And it shall be said,
      “Build up, build up, prepare the way,
        remove every obstruction from my people’s way.”
    15   For thus says the One who is high and lifted up,
        who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:
      “I dwell in the high and holy place,
        and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit,
      to revive the spirit of the lowly,
        and to revive the heart of the contrite.
    16   For I will not contend forever,
        nor will I always be angry;
      for the spirit would grow faint before me,
        and the breath of life that I made.
    17   Because of the iniquity of his unjust gain I was angry,
        I struck him; I hid my face and was angry,
        but he went on backsliding in the way of his own heart.
    18   I have seen his ways, but I will heal him;
        I will lead him and restore comfort to him and his mourners,
    19     creating the fruit of the lips.
      Peace, peace, to the far and to the near,” says the LORD,
        “and I will heal him.
    20   But the wicked are like the tossing sea;
        for it cannot be quiet,
        and its waters toss up mire and dirt.
    21   There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.”

    Footnotes

    [1] 57:5 Or among the terebinths


    [2] 57:8 Or on a monument (see 56:5); Hebrew on a hand

    [3] 57:10 Hebrew and so you were not sick

    (ESV)

    Gospels and Epistles:
    Revelation 15
    Revelation 15 (Listen)
    The Seven Angels with Seven Plagues

    15 Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and amazing, seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished.

    2 And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire—and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands. 3 And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying,

      “Great and amazing are your deeds,
        O Lord God the Almighty!
      Just and true are your ways,
        O King of the nations!Some manuscripts the ages">1
    4   Who will not fear, O Lord,
        and glorify your name?
      For you alone are holy.
        All nations will come
        and worship you,
      for your righteous acts have been revealed.”

    5 After this I looked, and the sanctuary of the tentOr tabernacle">2 of witness in heaven was opened, 6 and out of the sanctuary came the seven angels with the seven plagues, clothed in pure, bright linen, with golden sashes around their chests. 7 And one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever, 8 and the sanctuary was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the sanctuary until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished.

    Footnotes

    [1] 15:3 Some manuscripts the ages


    [2] 15:5 Or tabernacle

    (ESV)

    12 min
  • December 23: Psalm 143; Job 32; Isaiah 55; Revelation 14
    Psalms and Wisdom:
    Psalm 143
    Psalm 143 (Listen)
    My Soul Thirsts for You
    A Psalm of David.

    143   Hear my prayer, O LORD;
        give ear to my pleas for mercy!
        In your faithfulness answer me, in your righteousness!
    2   Enter not into judgment with your servant,
        for no one living is righteous before you.
    3   For the enemy has pursued my soul;
        he has crushed my life to the ground;
        he has made me sit in darkness like those long dead.
    4   Therefore my spirit faints within me;
        my heart within me is appalled.
    5   I remember the days of old;
        I meditate on all that you have done;
        I ponder the work of your hands.
    6   I stretch out my hands to you;
        my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Selah
    7   Answer me quickly, O LORD!
        My spirit fails!
      Hide not your face from me,
        lest I be like those who go down to the pit.
    8   Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love,
        for in you I trust.
      Make me know the way I should go,
        for to you I lift up my soul.
    9   Deliver me from my enemies, O LORD!
        I have fled to you for refuge.One Hebrew manuscript, Septuagint; most Hebrew manuscripts To you I have covered">1
    10   Teach me to do your will,
        for you are my God!
      Let your good Spirit lead me
        on level ground!
    11   For your name’s sake, O LORD, preserve my life!
        In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble!
    12   And in your steadfast love you will cut off my enemies,
        and you will destroy all the adversaries of my soul,
        for I am your servant.

    Footnotes

    [1] 143:9 One Hebrew manuscript, Septuagint; most Hebrew manuscripts To you I have covered

    (ESV)

    Pentateuch and History:
    Job 32
    Job 32 (Listen)
    Elihu Rebukes Job’s Three Friends

    32 So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. 2 Then Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, burned with anger. He burned with anger at Job because he justified himself rather than God. 3 He burned with anger also at Job’s three friends because they had found no answer, although they had declared Job to be in the wrong. 4 Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were older than he. 5 And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, he burned with anger.

    6 And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said:

      “I am young in years,
        and you are aged;
      therefore I was timid and afraid
        to declare my opinion to you.
    7   I said, ‘Let days speak,
        and many years teach wisdom.’
    8   But it is the spirit in man,
        the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand.
    9   It is not the oldHebrew many [in years]">1 who are wise,
        nor the aged who understand what is right.
    10   Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me;
        let me also declare my opinion.’
    11   “Behold, I waited for your words,
        I listened for your wise sayings,
        while you searched out what to say.
    12   I gave you my attention,
        and, behold, there was none among you who refuted Job
        or who answered his words.
    13   Beware lest you say, ‘We have found wisdom;
        God may vanquish him, not a man.’
    14   He has not directed his words against me,
        and I will not answer him with your speeches.
    15   “They are dismayed; they answer no more;
        they have not a word to say.
    16   And shall I wait, because they do not speak,
        because they stand there, and answer no more?
    17   I also will answer with my share;
        I also will declare my opinion.
    18   For I am full of words;
        the spirit within me constrains me.
    19   Behold, my belly is like wine that has no vent;
        like new wineskins ready to burst.
    20   I must speak, that I may find relief;
        I must open my lips and answer.
    21   I will not show partiality to any man
        or use flattery toward any person.
    22   For I do not know how to flatter,
        else my Maker would soon take me away.

    Footnotes

    [1] 32:9 Hebrew many [in years]

    (ESV)

    Chronicles and Prophets:
    Isaiah 55
    Isaiah 55 (Listen)
    The Compassion of the Lord

    55   “Come, everyone who thirsts,
        come to the waters;
      and he who has no money,
        come, buy and eat!
      Come, buy wine and milk
        without money and without price.
    2   Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,
        and your labor for that which does not satisfy?
      Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good,
        and delight yourselves in rich food.
    3   Incline your ear, and come to me;
        hear, that your soul may live;
      and I will make with you an everlasting covenant,
        my steadfast, sure love for David.
    4   Behold, I made him a witness to the peoples,
        a leader and commander for the peoples.
    5   Behold, you shall call a nation that you do not know,
        and a nation that did not know you shall run to you,
      because of the LORD your God, and of the Holy One of Israel,
        for he has glorified you.
    6   “Seek the LORD while he may be found;
        call upon him while he is near;
    7   let the wicked forsake his way,
        and the unrighteous man his thoughts;
      let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him,
        and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
    8   For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
        neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.
    9   For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
        so are my ways higher than your ways
        and my thoughts than your thoughts.
    10   “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven
        and do not return there but water the earth,
      making it bring forth and sprout,
        giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
    11   so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
        it shall not return to me empty,
      but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
        and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
    12   “For you shall go out in joy
        and be led forth in peace;
      the mountains and the hills before you
        shall break forth into singing,
        and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
    13   Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress;
        instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle;
      and it shall make a name for the LORD,
        an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.”

    (ESV)

    Gospels and Epistles:
    Revelation 14
    Revelation 14 (Listen)
    The Lamb and the 144,000

    14 Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. 2 And I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. The voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps, 3 and they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. 4 It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These have been redeemed from mankind as firstfruits for God and the Lamb, 5 and in their mouth no lie was found, for they are blameless.

    The Messages of the Three Angels

    6 Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people. 7 And he said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.”

    8 Another angel, a second, followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who made all nations drink the wine of the passionOr wrath">1 of her sexual immorality.”

    9 And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.”

    12 Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.Greek and the faith of Jesus">2

    13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!”

    The Harvest of the Earth

    14 Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and seated on the cloud one like a son of man, with a golden crown on his head, and a sharp sickle in his hand. 15 And another angel came out of the temple, calling with a loud voice to him who sat on the cloud, “Put in your sickle, and reap, for the hour to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is fully ripe.” 16 So he who sat on the cloud swung his sickle across the earth, and the earth was reaped.

    17 Then another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. 18 And another angel came out from the altar, the angel who has authority over the fire, and he called with a loud voice to the one who had the sharp sickle, “Put in your sickle and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, for its grapes are ripe.” 19 So the angel swung his sickle across the earth and gathered the grape harvest of the earth and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 20 And the winepress was trodden outside the city, and blood flowed from the winepress, as high as a horse’s bridle, for 1,600 stadia.About 184 miles; a stadion was about 607 feet or 185 meters">3

    Footnotes

    [1] 14:8 Or wrath


    [2] 14:12 Greek and the faith of Jesus

    [3] 14:20 About 184 miles; a stadion was about 607 feet or 185 meters

    (ESV)

    10 min

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