ESV: Digging Deep into the Bible

ESV: Digging Deep into the Bible

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ESV: Digging Deep into the Bible episodes

  • January 6: Psalm 5; Genesis 6; 1 Chronicles 6; Luke 3:1–22
    Psalms and Wisdom:
    Psalm 5
    Psalm 5 (Listen)
    Lead Me in Your Righteousness
    To the choirmaster: for the flutes. A Psalm of David.

    5   Give ear to my words, O LORD;
        consider my groaning.
    2   Give attention to the sound of my cry,
        my King and my God,
        for to you do I pray.
    3   O LORD, in the morning you hear my voice;
        in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for youOr I direct my prayer to you">1 and watch.
    4   For you are not a God who delights in wickedness;
        evil may not dwell with you.
    5   The boastful shall not stand before your eyes;
        you hate all evildoers.
    6   You destroy those who speak lies;
        the LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.
    7   But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love,
        will enter your house.
      I will bow down toward your holy temple
        in the fear of you.
    8   Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness
        because of my enemies;
        make your way straight before me.
    9   For there is no truth in their mouth;
        their inmost self is destruction;
      their throat is an open grave;
        they flatter with their tongue.
    10   Make them bear their guilt, O God;
        let them fall by their own counsels;
      because of the abundance of their transgressions cast them out,
        for they have rebelled against you.
    11   But let all who take refuge in you rejoice;
        let them ever sing for joy,
      and spread your protection over them,
        that those who love your name may exult in you.
    12   For you bless the righteous, O LORD;
        you cover him with favor as with a shield.

    Footnotes

    [1] 5:3 Or I direct my prayer to you

    (ESV)

    Pentateuch and History:
    Genesis 6
    Genesis 6 (Listen)
    Increasing Corruption on Earth

    6 When man began to multiply on the face of the land and daughters were born to them, 2 the sons of God saw that the daughters of man were attractive. And they took as their wives any they chose. 3 Then the LORD said, “My Spirit shall not abide inOr My Spirit shall not contend with">1 man forever, for he is flesh: his days shall be 120 years.” 4 The NephilimOr giants">2 were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of man and they bore children to them. These were the mighty men who were of old, the men of renown.

    5 The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And the LORD regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. 7 So the LORD said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.” 8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.

    Noah and the Flood

    9 These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God. 10 And Noah had three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

    11 Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight, and the earth was filled with violence. 12 And God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. 13 And God said to Noah, “I have determined to make an end of all flesh,Hebrew The end of all flesh has come before me">3 for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will destroy them with the earth. 14 Make yourself an ark of gopher wood.An unknown kind of tree; transliterated from Hebrew">4 Make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and out with pitch. 15 This is how you are to make it: the length of the ark 300 cubits,A cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters">5 its breadth 50 cubits, and its height 30 cubits. 16 Make a roofOr skylight">6 for the ark, and finish it to a cubit above, and set the door of the ark in its side. Make it with lower, second, and third decks. 17 For behold, I will bring a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life under heaven. Everything that is on the earth shall die. 18 But I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you. 19 And of every living thing of all flesh, you shall bring two of every sort into the ark to keep them alive with you. They shall be male and female. 20 Of the birds according to their kinds, and of the animals according to their kinds, of every creeping thing of the ground, according to its kind, two of every sort shall come in to you to keep them alive. 21 Also take with you every sort of food that is eaten, and store it up. It shall serve as food for you and for them.” 22 Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him.

    Footnotes

    [1] 6:3 Or My Spirit shall not contend with


    [2] 6:4 Or giants

    [3] 6:13 Hebrew The end of all flesh has come before me

    [4] 6:14 An unknown kind of tree; transliterated from Hebrew

    [5] 6:15 A cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters

    [6] 6:16 Or skylight

    (ESV)

    Chronicles and Prophets:
    1 Chronicles 6
    1 Chronicles 6 (Listen)
    Descendants of Levi

    6 The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. 2 The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. 3 The children of Amram: Aaron, Moses, and Miriam. The sons of Aaron: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 4 Eleazar fathered Phinehas, Phinehas fathered Abishua, 5 Abishua fathered Bukki, Bukki fathered Uzzi, 6 Uzzi fathered Zerahiah, Zerahiah fathered Meraioth, 7 Meraioth fathered Amariah, Amariah fathered Ahitub, 8 Ahitub fathered Zadok, Zadok fathered Ahimaaz, 9 Ahimaaz fathered Azariah, Azariah fathered Johanan, 10 and Johanan fathered Azariah (it was he who served as priest in the house that Solomon built in Jerusalem). 11 Azariah fathered Amariah, Amariah fathered Ahitub, 12 Ahitub fathered Zadok, Zadok fathered Shallum, 13 Shallum fathered Hilkiah, Hilkiah fathered Azariah, 14 Azariah fathered Seraiah, Seraiah fathered Jehozadak; 15 and Jehozadak went into exile when the LORD sent Judah and Jerusalem into exile by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar.

    16 Ch 6:1 in Hebrew">1 The sons of Levi: Gershom, Kohath, and Merari. 17 And these are the names of the sons of Gershom: Libni and Shimei. 18 The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel. 19 The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. These are the clans of the Levites according to their fathers. 20 Of Gershom: Libni his son, Jahath his son, Zimmah his son, 21 Joah his son, Iddo his son, Zerah his son, Jeatherai his son. 22 The sons of Kohath: Amminadab his son, Korah his son, Assir his son, 23 Elkanah his son, Ebiasaph his son, Assir his son, 24 Tahath his son, Uriel his son, Uzziah his son, and Shaul his son. 25 The sons of Elkanah: Amasai and Ahimoth, 26 Elkanah his son, Zophai his son, Nahath his son, 27 Eliab his son, Jeroham his son, Elkanah his son. 28 The sons of Samuel: JoelSeptuagint, Syriac (compare verse 33 and 1 Samuel 8:2); Hebrew lacks Joel">2 his firstborn, the second Abijah.Hebrew and Abijah">3 29 The sons of Merari: Mahli, Libni his son, Shimei his son, Uzzah his son, 30 Shimea his son, Haggiah his son, and Asaiah his son.

    31 These are the men whom David put in charge of the service of song in the house of the LORD after the ark rested there. 32 They ministered with song before the tabernacle of the tent of meeting until Solomon built the house of the LORD in Jerusalem, and they performed their service according to their order. 33 These are the men who served and their sons. Of the sons of the Kohathites: Heman the singer the son of Joel, son of Samuel, 34 son of Elkanah, son of Jeroham, son of Eliel, son of Toah, 35 son of Zuph, son of Elkanah, son of Mahath, son of Amasai, 36 son of Elkanah, son of Joel, son of Azariah, son of Zephaniah, 37 son of Tahath, son of Assir, son of Ebiasaph, son of Korah, 38 son of Izhar, son of Kohath, son of Levi, son of Israel; 39 and his brother Asaph, who stood on his right hand, namely, Asaph the son of Berechiah, son of Shimea, 40 son of Michael, son of Baaseiah, son of Malchijah, 41 son of Ethni, son of Zerah, son of Adaiah, 42 son of Ethan, son of Zimmah, son of Shimei, 43 son of Jahath, son of Gershom, son of Levi. 44 On the left hand were their brothers, the sons of Merari: Ethan the son of Kishi, son of Abdi, son of Malluch, 45 son of Hashabiah, son of Amaziah, son of Hilkiah, 46 son of Amzi, son of Bani, son of Shemer, 47 son of Mahli, son of Mushi, son of Merari, son of Levi. 48 And their brothers the Levites were appointed for all the service of the tabernacle of the house of God.

    49 But Aaron and his sons made offerings on the altar of burnt offering and on the altar of incense for all the work of the Most Holy Place, and to make atonement for Israel, according to all that Moses the servant of God had commanded. 50 These are the sons of Aaron: Eleazar his son, Phinehas his son, Abishua his son, 51 Bukki his son, Uzzi his son, Zerahiah his son, 52 Meraioth his son, Amariah his son, Ahitub his son, 53 Zadok his son, Ahimaaz his son.

    54 These are their dwelling places according to their settlements within their borders: to the sons of Aaron of the clans of Kohathites, for theirs was the first lot, 55 to them they gave Hebron in the land of Judah and its surrounding pasturelands, 56 but the fields of the city and its villages they gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh. 57 To the sons of Aaron they gave the cities of refuge: Hebron, Libnah with its pasturelands, Jattir, Eshtemoa with its pasturelands, 58 Hilen with its pasturelands, Debir with its pasturelands, 59 Ashan with its pasturelands, and Beth-shemesh with its pasturelands; 60 and from the tribe of Benjamin, Gibeon,Septuagint, Syriac (compare Joshua 21:17); Hebrew lacks Gibeon">4 Geba with its pasturelands, Alemeth with its pasturelands, and Anathoth with its pasturelands. All their cities throughout their clans were thirteen.

    61 To the rest of the Kohathites were given by lot out of the clan of the tribe, out of the half-tribe, the half of Manasseh, ten cities. 62 To the Gershomites according to their clans were allotted thirteen cities out of the tribes of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali and Manasseh in Bashan. 63 To the Merarites according to their clans were allotted twelve cities out of the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun. 64 So the people of Israel gave the Levites the cities with their pasturelands. 65 They gave by lot out of the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin these cities that are mentioned by name.

    66 And some of the clans of the sons of Kohath had cities of their territory out of the tribe of Ephraim. 67 They were given the cities of refuge: Shechem with its pasturelands in the hill country of Ephraim, Gezer with its pasturelands, 68 Jokmeam with its pasturelands, Beth-horon with its pasturelands, 69 Aijalon with its pasturelands, Gath-rimmon with its pasturelands, 70 and out of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Aner with its pasturelands, and Bileam with its pasturelands, for the rest of the clans of the Kohathites.

    71 To the Gershomites were given out of the clan of the half-tribe of Manasseh: Golan in Bashan with its pasturelands and Ashtaroth with its pasturelands; 72 and out of the tribe of Issachar: Kedesh with its pasturelands, Daberath with its pasturelands, 73 Ramoth with its pasturelands, and Anem with its pasturelands; 74 out of the tribe of Asher: Mashal with its pasturelands, Abdon with its pasturelands, 75 Hukok with its pasturelands, and Rehob with its pasturelands; 76 and out of the tribe of Naphtali: Kedesh in Galilee with its pasturelands, Hammon with its pasturelands, and Kiriathaim with its pasturelands. 77 To the rest of the Merarites were allotted out of the tribe of Zebulun: Rimmono with its pasturelands, Tabor with its pasturelands, 78 and beyond the Jordan at Jericho, on the east side of the Jordan, out of the tribe of Reuben: Bezer in the wilderness with its pasturelands, Jahzah with its pasturelands, 79 Kedemoth with its pasturelands, and Mephaath with its pasturelands; 80 and out of the tribe of Gad: Ramoth in Gilead with its pasturelands, Mahanaim with its pasturelands, 81 Heshbon with its pasturelands, and Jazer with its pasturelands.

    Footnotes

    [1] 6:16 Ch 6:1 in Hebrew


    [2] 6:28 Septuagint, Syriac (compare verse 33 and 1 Samuel 8:2); Hebrew lacks Joel

    [3] 6:28 Hebrew and Abijah

    [4] 6:60 Septuagint, Syriac (compare Joshua 21:17); Hebrew lacks Gibeon

    (ESV)

    Gospels and Epistles:
    Luke 3:1–22
    Luke 3:1–22 (Listen)
    John the Baptist Prepares the Way

    3 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, 2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3 And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 4 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet,

      “The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
      ‘Prepare the way of the Lord,Or crying, Prepare in the wilderness the way of the Lord">1
        make his paths straight.
    5   Every valley shall be filled,
        and every mountain and hill shall be made low,
      and the crooked shall become straight,
        and the rough places shall become level ways,
    6   and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’”

    7 He said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 9 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”

    10 And the crowds asked him, “What then shall we do?” 11 And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunicsGreek chiton, a long garment worn under the cloak next to the skin">2 is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.” 12 Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” 13 And he said to them, “Collect no more than you are authorized to do.” 14 Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages.”

    15 As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ, 16 John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

    18 So with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people. 19 But Herod the tetrarch, who had been reproved by him for Herodias, his brother’s wife, and for all the evil things that Herod had done, 20 added this to them all, that he locked up John in prison.

    21 Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son;Or my Son, my (or the) Beloved">3 with you I am well pleased.”Some manuscripts beloved Son; today I have begotten you">4

    Footnotes

    [1] 3:4 Or crying, Prepare in the wilderness the way of the Lord


    [2] 3:11 Greek chiton, a long garment worn under the cloak next to the skin

    [3] 3:22 Or my Son, my (or the) Beloved

    [4] 3:22 Some manuscripts beloved Son; today I have begotten you

    (ESV)

    17 min
  • January 5: Psalm 4; Genesis 5; 1 Chronicles 5; Luke 2:22–52
    Psalms and Wisdom:
    Psalm 4
    Psalm 4 (Listen)
    Answer Me When I Call
    To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Psalm of David.

    4   Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness!
        You have given me relief when I was in distress.
        Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!
    2   O men,Or O men of rank">1 how long shall my honor be turned into shame?
        How long will you love vain words and seek after lies? Selah
    3   But know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself;
        the LORD hears when I call to him.
    4   Be angry,Or Be agitated">2 and do not sin;
        ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. Selah
    5   Offer right sacrifices,
        and put your trust in the LORD.
    6   There are many who say, “Who will show us some good?
        Lift up the light of your face upon us, O LORD!”
    7   You have put more joy in my heart
        than they have when their grain and wine abound.
    8   In peace I will both lie down and sleep;
        for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.

    Footnotes

    [1] 4:2 Or O men of rank


    [2] 4:4 Or Be agitated

    (ESV)

    Pentateuch and History:
    Genesis 5
    Genesis 5 (Listen)
    Adam’s Descendants to Noah

    5 This is the book of the generations of Adam. When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God. 2 Male and female he created them, and he blessed them and named them ManHebrew adam">1 when they were created. 3 When Adam had lived 130 years, he fathered a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth. 4 The days of Adam after he fathered Seth were 800 years; and he had other sons and daughters. 5 Thus all the days that Adam lived were 930 years, and he died.

    6 When Seth had lived 105 years, he fathered Enosh. 7 Seth lived after he fathered Enosh 807 years and had other sons and daughters. 8 Thus all the days of Seth were 912 years, and he died.

    9 When Enosh had lived 90 years, he fathered Kenan. 10 Enosh lived after he fathered Kenan 815 years and had other sons and daughters. 11 Thus all the days of Enosh were 905 years, and he died.

    12 When Kenan had lived 70 years, he fathered Mahalalel. 13 Kenan lived after he fathered Mahalalel 840 years and had other sons and daughters. 14 Thus all the days of Kenan were 910 years, and he died.

    15 When Mahalalel had lived 65 years, he fathered Jared. 16 Mahalalel lived after he fathered Jared 830 years and had other sons and daughters. 17 Thus all the days of Mahalalel were 895 years, and he died.

    18 When Jared had lived 162 years, he fathered Enoch. 19 Jared lived after he fathered Enoch 800 years and had other sons and daughters. 20 Thus all the days of Jared were 962 years, and he died.

    21 When Enoch had lived 65 years, he fathered Methuselah. 22 Enoch walked with GodSeptuagint pleased God; also verse 24">2 after he fathered Methuselah 300 years and had other sons and daughters. 23 Thus all the days of Enoch were 365 years. 24 Enoch walked with God, and he was not,Septuagint was not found">3 for God took him.

    25 When Methuselah had lived 187 years, he fathered Lamech. 26 Methuselah lived after he fathered Lamech 782 years and had other sons and daughters. 27 Thus all the days of Methuselah were 969 years, and he died.

    28 When Lamech had lived 182 years, he fathered a son 29 and called his name Noah, saying, “Out of the ground that the LORD has cursed, this one shall bring us reliefNoah sounds like the Hebrew for rest">4 from our work and from the painful toil of our hands.” 30 Lamech lived after he fathered Noah 595 years and had other sons and daughters. 31 Thus all the days of Lamech were 777 years, and he died.

    32 After Noah was 500 years old, Noah fathered Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

    Footnotes

    [1] 5:2 Hebrew adam


    [2] 5:22 Septuagint pleased God; also verse 24

    [3] 5:24 Septuagint was not found

    [4] 5:29 Noah sounds like the Hebrew for rest

    (ESV)

    Chronicles and Prophets:
    1 Chronicles 5
    1 Chronicles 5 (Listen)
    Descendants of Reuben

    5 The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel (for he was the firstborn, but because he defiled his father’s couch, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph the son of Israel, so that he could not be enrolled as the oldest son; 2 though Judah became strong among his brothers and a chief came from him, yet the birthright belonged to Joseph), 3 the sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi. 4 The sons of Joel: Shemaiah his son, Gog his son, Shimei his son, 5 Micah his son, Reaiah his son, Baal his son, 6 Beerah his son, whom Tiglath-pileserHebrew Tilgath-pilneser; also verse 26">1 king of Assyria carried away into exile; he was a chief of the Reubenites. 7 And his kinsmen by their clans, when the genealogy of their generations was recorded: the chief, Jeiel, and Zechariah, 8 and Bela the son of Azaz, son of Shema, son of Joel, who lived in Aroer, as far as Nebo and Baal-meon. 9 He also lived to the east as far as the entrance of the desert this side of the Euphrates, because their livestock had multiplied in the land of Gilead. 10 And in the days of Saul they waged war against the Hagrites, who fell into their hand. And they lived in their tents throughout all the region east of Gilead.

    Descendants of Gad

    11 The sons of Gad lived over against them in the land of Bashan as far as Salecah: 12 Joel the chief, Shapham the second, Janai, and Shaphat in Bashan. 13 And their kinsmen according to their fathers’ houses: Michael, Meshullam, Sheba, Jorai, Jacan, Zia and Eber, seven. 14 These were the sons of Abihail the son of Huri, son of Jaroah, son of Gilead, son of Michael, son of Jeshishai, son of Jahdo, son of Buz. 15 Ahi the son of Abdiel, son of Guni, was chief in their fathers’ houses, 16 and they lived in Gilead, in Bashan and in its towns, and in all the pasturelands of Sharon to their limits. 17 All of these were recorded in genealogies in the days of Jotham king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam king of Israel.

    18 The Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh had valiant men who carried shield and sword, and drew the bow, expert in war, 44,760, able to go to war. 19 They waged war against the Hagrites, Jetur, Naphish, and Nodab. 20 And when they prevailedOr they were helped to prevail">2 over them, the Hagrites and all who were with them were given into their hands, for they cried out to God in the battle, and he granted their urgent plea because they trusted in him. 21 They carried off their livestock: 50,000 of their camels, 250,000 sheep, 2,000 donkeys, and 100,000 men alive. 22 For many fell, because the war was of God. And they lived in their place until the exile.

    The Half-Tribe of Manasseh

    23 The members of the half-tribe of Manasseh lived in the land. They were very numerous from Bashan to Baal-hermon, Senir, and Mount Hermon. 24 These were the heads of their fathers’ houses: Epher,Septuagint, Vulgate; Hebrew and Epher">3 Ishi, Eliel, Azriel, Jeremiah, Hodaviah, and Jahdiel, mighty warriors, famous men, heads of their fathers’ houses. 25 But they broke faith with the God of their fathers, and whored after the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God had destroyed before them. 26 So the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria, the spirit of Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, and he took them into exile, namely, the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, and brought them to Halah, Habor, Hara, and the river Gozan, to this day.

    Footnotes

    [1] 5:6 Hebrew Tilgath-pilneser; also verse 26


    [2] 5:20 Or they were helped to prevail

    [3] 5:24 Septuagint, Vulgate; Hebrew and Epher

    (ESV)

    Gospels and Epistles:
    Luke 2:22–52
    Luke 2:22–52 (Listen)
    Jesus Presented at the Temple

    22 And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,

    29   “Lord, now you are letting your servantOr bondservant">1 depart in peace,
        according to your word;
    30   for my eyes have seen your salvation
    31     that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
    32   a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
        and for glory to your people Israel.”

    33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

    36 And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, 37 and then as a widow until she was eighty-four.Or as a widow for eighty-four years">2 She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.

    The Return to Nazareth

    39 And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.

    The Boy Jesus in the Temple

    41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. 43 And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, 44 but supposing him to be in the group they went a day’s journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, 45 and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 And when his parentsGreek they">3 saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” 49 And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”Or about my Father’s business">4 50 And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. 51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.

    52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in statureOr years">5 and in favor with God and man.

    Footnotes

    [1] 2:29 Or bondservant


    [2] 2:37 Or as a widow for eighty-four years

    [3] 2:48 Greek they

    [4] 2:49 Or about my Father’s business

    [5] 2:52 Or years

    (ESV)

    12 min
  • January 4: Psalm 3; Genesis 4; 1 Chronicles 4; Luke 2:1–21
    Psalms and Wisdom:
    Psalm 3
    Psalm 3 (Listen)
    Save Me, O My God
    A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son.

    3   O LORD, how many are my foes!
        Many are rising against me;
    2   many are saying of my soul,
        “There is no salvation for him in God.” SelahThe meaning of the Hebrew word Selah, used frequently in the Psalms, is uncertain. It may be a musical or liturgical direction">1
    3   But you, O LORD, are a shield about me,
        my glory, and the lifter of my head.
    4   I cried aloud to the LORD,
        and he answered me from his holy hill. Selah
    5   I lay down and slept;
        I woke again, for the LORD sustained me.
    6   I will not be afraid of many thousands of people
        who have set themselves against me all around.
    7   Arise, O LORD!
        Save me, O my God!
      For you strike all my enemies on the cheek;
        you break the teeth of the wicked.
    8   Salvation belongs to the LORD;
        your blessing be on your people! Selah

    Footnotes

    [1] 3:2 The meaning of the Hebrew word Selah, used frequently in the Psalms, is uncertain. It may be a musical or liturgical direction

    (ESV)

    Pentateuch and History:
    Genesis 4
    Genesis 4 (Listen)
    Cain and Abel

    4 Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have gottenCain sounds like the Hebrew for gotten">1 a man with the help of the LORD.” 2 And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground. 3 In the course of time Cain brought to the LORD an offering of the fruit of the ground, 4 and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and his offering, 5 but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. 6 The LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted?Hebrew will there not be a lifting up [of your face]?">2 And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary toOr is toward">3 you, but you must rule over it.”

    8 Cain spoke to Abel his brother.Hebrew; Samaritan, Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate add Let us go out to the field">4 And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. 9 Then the LORD said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?” 10 And the LORD said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from the ground. 11 And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12 When you work the ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.” 13 Cain said to the LORD, “My punishment is greater than I can bear.Or My guilt is too great to bear">5 14 Behold, you have driven me today away from the ground, and from your face I shall be hidden. I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.” 15 Then the LORD said to him, “Not so! If anyone kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.” And the LORD put a mark on Cain, lest any who found him should attack him. 16 Then Cain went away from the presence of the LORD and settled in the land of Nod,Nod means wandering">6 east of Eden.

    17 Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. When he built a city, he called the name of the city after the name of his son, Enoch. 18 To Enoch was born Irad, and Irad fathered Mehujael, and Mehujael fathered Methushael, and Methushael fathered Lamech. 19 And Lamech took two wives. The name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah. 20 Adah bore Jabal; he was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock. 21 His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all those who play the lyre and pipe. 22 Zillah also bore Tubal-cain; he was the forger of all instruments of bronze and iron. The sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.

    23 Lamech said to his wives:

      “Adah and Zillah, hear my voice;
        you wives of Lamech, listen to what I say:
      I have killed a man for wounding me,
        a young man for striking me.
    24   If Cain’s revenge is sevenfold,
        then Lamech’s is seventy-sevenfold.”

    25 And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and called his name Seth, for she said, “God has appointedSeth sounds like the Hebrew for he appointed">7 for me another offspring instead of Abel, for Cain killed him.” 26 To Seth also a son was born, and he called his name Enosh. At that time people began to call upon the name of the LORD.

    Footnotes

    [1] 4:1 Cain sounds like the Hebrew for gotten


    [2] 4:7 Hebrew will there not be a lifting up [of your face]?

    [3] 4:7 Or is toward

    [4] 4:8 Hebrew; Samaritan, Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate add Let us go out to the field

    [5] 4:13 Or My guilt is too great to bear

    [6] 4:16 Nod means wandering

    [7] 4:25 Seth sounds like the Hebrew for he appointed

    (ESV)

    Chronicles and Prophets:
    1 Chronicles 4
    1 Chronicles 4 (Listen)
    Descendants of Judah

    4 The sons of Judah: Perez, Hezron, Carmi, Hur, and Shobal. 2 Reaiah the son of Shobal fathered Jahath, and Jahath fathered Ahumai and Lahad. These were the clans of the Zorathites. 3 These were the sonsSeptuagint (compare Vulgate); Hebrew father">1 of Etam: Jezreel, Ishma, and Idbash; and the name of their sister was Hazzelelponi, 4 and Penuel fathered Gedor, and Ezer fathered Hushah. These were the sons of Hur, the firstborn of Ephrathah, the father of Bethlehem. 5 Ashhur, the father of Tekoa, had two wives, Helah and Naarah; 6 Naarah bore him Ahuzzam, Hepher, Temeni, and Haahashtari. These were the sons of Naarah. 7 The sons of Helah: Zereth, Izhar, and Ethnan. 8 Koz fathered Anub, Zobebah, and the clans of Aharhel, the son of Harum. 9 Jabez was more honorable than his brothers; and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain.”Jabez sounds like the Hebrew for pain">2 10 Jabez called upon the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harmOr evil">3 so that it might not bring me pain!” And God granted what he asked. 11 Chelub, the brother of Shuhah, fathered Mehir, who fathered Eshton. 12 Eshton fathered Beth-rapha, Paseah, and Tehinnah, the father of Ir-nahash. These are the men of Recah. 13 The sons of Kenaz: Othniel and Seraiah; and the sons of Othniel: Hathath and Meonothai.Septuagint, Vulgate; Hebrew lacks Meonothai">4 14 Meonothai fathered Ophrah; and Seraiah fathered Joab, the father of Ge-harashim,Ge-harashim means valley of craftsmen">5 so-called because they were craftsmen. 15 The sons of Caleb the son of Jephunneh: Iru, Elah, and Naam; and the sonHebrew sons">6 of Elah: Kenaz. 16 The sons of Jehallelel: Ziph, Ziphah, Tiria, and Asarel. 17 The sons of Ezrah: Jether, Mered, Epher, and Jalon. These are the sons of Bithiah, the daughter of Pharaoh, whom Mered married;The clause These are . . . married is transposed from verse 18">7 and she conceived and boreHebrew lacks and bore">8 Miriam, Shammai, and Ishbah, the father of Eshtemoa. 18 And his Judahite wife bore Jered the father of Gedor, Heber the father of Soco, and Jekuthiel the father of Zanoah. 19 The sons of the wife of Hodiah, the sister of Naham, were the fathers of Keilah the Garmite and Eshtemoa the Maacathite. 20 The sons of Shimon: Amnon, Rinnah, Ben-hanan, and Tilon. The sons of Ishi: Zoheth and Ben-zoheth. 21 The sons of Shelah the son of Judah: Er the father of Lecah, Laadah the father of Mareshah, and the clans of the house of linen workers at Beth-ashbea; 22 and Jokim, and the men of Cozeba, and Joash, and Saraph, who ruled in Moab and returned to LehemVulgate (compare Septuagint); Hebrew and Jashubi-lahem">9 (now the recordsOr matters">10 are ancient). 23 These were the potters who were inhabitants of Netaim and Gederah. They lived there in the king’s service.

    Descendants of Simeon

    24 The sons of Simeon: Nemuel, Jamin, Jarib, Zerah, Shaul; 25 Shallum was his son, Mibsam his son, Mishma his son. 26 The sons of Mishma: Hammuel his son, Zaccur his son, Shimei his son. 27 Shimei had sixteen sons and six daughters; but his brothers did not have many children, nor did all their clan multiply like the men of Judah. 28 They lived in Beersheba, Moladah, Hazar-shual, 29 Bilhah, Ezem, Tolad, 30 Bethuel, Hormah, Ziklag, 31 Beth-marcaboth, Hazar-susim, Beth-biri, and Shaaraim. These were their cities until David reigned. 32 And their villages were Etam, Ain, Rimmon, Tochen, and Ashan, five cities, 33 along with all their villages that were around these cities as far as Baal. These were their settlements, and they kept a genealogical record.

    34 Meshobab, Jamlech, Joshah the son of Amaziah, 35 Joel, Jehu the son of Joshibiah, son of Seraiah, son of Asiel, 36 Elioenai, Jaakobah, Jeshohaiah, Asaiah, Adiel, Jesimiel, Benaiah, 37 Ziza the son of Shiphi, son of Allon, son of Jedaiah, son of Shimri, son of Shemaiah—38 these mentioned by name were princes in their clans, and their fathers’ houses increased greatly. 39 They journeyed to the entrance of Gedor, to the east side of the valley, to seek pasture for their flocks, 40 where they found rich, good pasture, and the land was very broad, quiet, and peaceful, for the former inhabitants there belonged to Ham. 41 These, registered by name, came in the days of Hezekiah, king of Judah, and destroyed their tents and the Meunites who were found there, and marked them for destruction to this day, and settled in their place, because there was pasture there for their flocks. 42 And some of them, five hundred men of the Simeonites, went to Mount Seir, having as their leaders Pelatiah, Neariah, Rephaiah, and Uzziel, the sons of Ishi. 43 And they defeated the remnant of the Amalekites who had escaped, and they have lived there to this day.

    Footnotes

    [1] 4:3 Septuagint (compare Vulgate); Hebrew father


    [2] 4:9 Jabez sounds like the Hebrew for pain

    [3] 4:10 Or evil

    [4] 4:13 Septuagint, Vulgate; Hebrew lacks Meonothai

    [5] 4:14 Ge-harashim means valley of craftsmen

    [6] 4:15 Hebrew sons

    [7] 4:17 The clause These are . . . married is transposed from verse 18

    [8] 4:17 Hebrew lacks and bore

    [9] 4:22 Vulgate (compare Septuagint); Hebrew and Jashubi-lahem

    [10] 4:22 Or matters

    (ESV)

    Gospels and Epistles:
    Luke 2:1–21
    Luke 2:1–21 (Listen)
    The Birth of Jesus Christ

    2 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration whenOr This was the registration before">1 Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed,That is, one legally pledged to be married">2 who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.Or guest room">3

    The Shepherds and the Angels

    8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

    14   “Glory to God in the highest,
        and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”Some manuscripts peace, good will among men">4

    15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

    21 And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

    Footnotes

    [1] 2:2 Or This was the registration before


    [2] 2:5 That is, one legally pledged to be married

    [3] 2:7 Or guest room

    [4] 2:14 Some manuscripts peace, good will among men

    (ESV)

    13 min
  • January 3: Psalm 2; Genesis 3; 1 Chronicles 3; Luke 1:57–80
    Psalms and Wisdom:
    Psalm 2
    Psalm 2 (Listen)
    The Reign of the Lord’s Anointed

    2   Why do the nations rageOr nations noisily assemble">1
        and the peoples plot in vain?
    2   The kings of the earth set themselves,
        and the rulers take counsel together,
        against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying,
    3   “Let us burst their bonds apart
        and cast away their cords from us.”
    4   He who sits in the heavens laughs;
        the Lord holds them in derision.
    5   Then he will speak to them in his wrath,
        and terrify them in his fury, saying,
    6   “As for me, I have set my King
        on Zion, my holy hill.”
    7   I will tell of the decree:
      The LORD said to me, “You are my Son;
        today I have begotten you.
    8   Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,
        and the ends of the earth your possession.
    9   You shall breakRevocalization yields (compare Septuagint) You shall rule">2 them with a rod of iron
        and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”
    10   Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
        be warned, O rulers of the earth.
    11   Serve the LORD with fear,
        and rejoice with trembling.
    12   Kiss the Son,
        lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,
        for his wrath is quickly kindled.
      Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

    Footnotes

    [1] 2:1 Or nations noisily assemble


    [2] 2:9 Revocalization yields (compare Septuagint) You shall rule

    (ESV)

    Pentateuch and History:
    Genesis 3
    Genesis 3 (Listen)
    The Fall

    3 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made.

    He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘YouIn Hebrew you is plural in verses 1–5">1 shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” 4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise,Or to give insight">2 she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.

    8 And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the coolHebrew wind">3 of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the LORD God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?”In Hebrew you is singular in verses 9 and 11">4 10 And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” 11 He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” 12 The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.” 13 Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

    14 The LORD God said to the serpent,

      “Because you have done this,
        cursed are you above all livestock
        and above all beasts of the field;
      on your belly you shall go,
        and dust you shall eat
        all the days of your life.
    15   I will put enmity between you and the woman,
        and between your offspringHebrew seed; so throughout Genesis">5 and her offspring;
      he shall bruise your head,
        and you shall bruise his heel.”

    16 To the woman he said,

      “I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing;
        in pain you shall bring forth children.
      Your desire shall be contrary toOr shall be toward (see 4:7)">6 your husband,
        but he shall rule over you.”

    17 And to Adam he said,

      “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife
        and have eaten of the tree
      of which I commanded you,
        ‘You shall not eat of it,’
      cursed is the ground because of you;
        in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life;
    18   thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you;
        and you shall eat the plants of the field.
    19   By the sweat of your face
        you shall eat bread,
      till you return to the ground,
        for out of it you were taken;
      for you are dust,
        and to dust you shall return.”

    20 The man called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living.Eve sounds like the Hebrew for life-giver and resembles the word for living">7 21 And the LORD God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them.

    22 Then the LORD God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever—” 23 therefore the LORD God sent him out from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken. 24 He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life.

    Footnotes

    [1] 3:1 In Hebrew you is plural in verses 1–5


    [2] 3:6 Or to give insight

    [3] 3:8 Hebrew wind

    [4] 3:9 In Hebrew you is singular in verses 9 and 11

    [5] 3:15 Hebrew seed; so throughout Genesis

    [6] 3:16 Or shall be toward (see 4:7)

    [7] 3:20 Eve sounds like the Hebrew for life-giver and resembles the word for living

    (ESV)

    Chronicles and Prophets:
    1 Chronicles 3
    1 Chronicles 3 (Listen)
    Descendants of David

    3 These are the sons of David who were born to him in Hebron: the firstborn, Amnon, by Ahinoam the Jezreelite; the second, Daniel, by Abigail the Carmelite, 2 the third, Absalom, whose mother was Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur; the fourth, Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith; 3 the fifth, Shephatiah, by Abital; the sixth, Ithream, by his wife Eglah; 4 six were born to him in Hebron, where he reigned for seven years and six months. And he reigned thirty-three years in Jerusalem. 5 These were born to him in Jerusalem: Shimea, Shobab, Nathan and Solomon, four by Bath-shua, the daughter of Ammiel; 6 then Ibhar, Elishama, Eliphelet, 7 Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, 8 Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet, nine. 9 All these were David’s sons, besides the sons of the concubines, and Tamar was their sister.

    10 The son of Solomon was Rehoboam, Abijah his son, Asa his son, Jehoshaphat his son, 11 Joram his son, Ahaziah his son, Joash his son, 12 Amaziah his son, Azariah his son, Jotham his son, 13 Ahaz his son, Hezekiah his son, Manasseh his son, 14 Amon his son, Josiah his son. 15 The sons of Josiah: Johanan the firstborn, the second Jehoiakim, the third Zedekiah, the fourth Shallum. 16 The descendants of Jehoiakim: Jeconiah his son, Zedekiah his son; 17 and the sons of Jeconiah, the captive: Shealtiel his son, 18 Malchiram, Pedaiah, Shenazzar, Jekamiah, Hoshama and Nedabiah; 19 and the sons of Pedaiah: Zerubbabel and Shimei; and the sons of Zerubbabel: Meshullam and Hananiah, and Shelomith was their sister; 20 and Hashubah, Ohel, Berechiah, Hasadiah, and Jushab-hesed, five. 21 The sons of Hananiah: Pelatiah and Jeshaiah, his sonSeptuagint (compare Syriac, Vulgate); Hebrew sons of; four times in this verse">1 Rephaiah, his son Arnan, his son Obadiah, his son Shecaniah. 22 The sonHebrew sons">2 of Shecaniah: Shemaiah. And the sons of Shemaiah: Hattush, Igal, Bariah, Neariah, and Shaphat, six. 23 The sons of Neariah: Elioenai, Hizkiah, and Azrikam, three. 24 The sons of Elioenai: Hodaviah, Eliashib, Pelaiah, Akkub, Johanan, Delaiah, and Anani, seven.

    Footnotes

    [1] 3:21 Septuagint (compare Syriac, Vulgate); Hebrew sons of; four times in this verse


    [2] 3:22 Hebrew sons

    (ESV)

    Gospels and Epistles:
    Luke 1:57–80
    Luke 1:57–80 (Listen)
    The Birth of John the Baptist

    57 Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. 58 And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. 59 And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, 60 but his mother answered, “No; he shall be called John.” 61 And they said to her, “None of your relatives is called by this name.” 62 And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. 63 And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all wondered. 64 And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. 65 And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, 66 and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be?” For the hand of the Lord was with him.

    Zechariah’s Prophecy

    67 And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,

    68   “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
        for he has visited and redeemed his people
    69   and has raised up a horn of salvation for us
        in the house of his servant David,
    70   as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
    71   that we should be saved from our enemies
        and from the hand of all who hate us;
    72   to show the mercy promised to our fathers
        and to remember his holy covenant,
    73   the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us
    74     that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies,
      might serve him without fear,
    75     in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
    76   And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
        for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
    77   to give knowledge of salvation to his people
        in the forgiveness of their sins,
    78   because of the tender mercy of our God,
        whereby the sunrise shall visit usOr when the sunrise shall dawn upon us; some manuscripts since the sunrise has visited us">1 from on high
    79   to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
        to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

    80 And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

    Footnotes

    [1] 1:78 Or when the sunrise shall dawn upon us; some manuscripts since the sunrise has visited us

    (ESV)

    11 min
  • January 2: Psalm 1; Genesis 2; 1 Chronicles 2; Luke 1:26–56
    Psalms and Wisdom:
    Psalm 1
    Psalm 1 (Listen)
    Book One
    The Way of the Righteous and the Wicked

    1   Blessed is the manThe singular Hebrew word for man (ish) is used here to portray a representative example of a godly person; see Preface">1
        who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
      nor stands in the way of sinners,
        nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
    2   but his delight is in the lawOr instruction">2 of the LORD,
        and on his law he meditates day and night.
    3   He is like a tree
        planted by streams of water
      that yields its fruit in its season,
        and its leaf does not wither.
      In all that he does, he prospers.
    4   The wicked are not so,
        but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
    5   Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
        nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
    6   for the LORD knows the way of the righteous,
        but the way of the wicked will perish.

    Footnotes

    [1] 1:1 The singular Hebrew word for man (ish) is used here to portray a representative example of a godly person; see Preface


    [2] 1:2 Or instruction

    (ESV)

    Pentateuch and History:
    Genesis 2
    Genesis 2 (Listen)
    The Seventh Day, God Rests

    2 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. 2 And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. 3 So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.

    The Creation of Man and Woman

    4   These are the generations
      of the heavens and the earth when they were created,
      in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens.

    5 When no bush of the fieldOr open country">1 was yet in the landOr earth; also verse 6">2 and no small plant of the field had yet sprung up—for the LORD God had not caused it to rain on the land, and there was no man to work the ground, 6 and a mistOr spring">3 was going up from the land and was watering the whole face of the ground—7 then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. 8 And the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed. 9 And out of the ground the LORD God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

    10 A river flowed out of Eden to water the garden, and there it divided and became four rivers. 11 The name of the first is the Pishon. It is the one that flowed around the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold. 12 And the gold of that land is good; bdellium and onyx stone are there. 13 The name of the second river is the Gihon. It is the one that flowed around the whole land of Cush. 14 And the name of the third river is the Tigris, which flows east of Assyria. And the fourth river is the Euphrates.

    15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. 16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eatOr when you eat">4 of it you shall surely die.”

    18 Then the LORD God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit forOr corresponding to; also verse 20">5 him.” 19 Now out of the ground the LORD God had formedOr And out of the ground the Lord God formed">6 every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. 20 The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for AdamOr the man">7 there was not found a helper fit for him. 21 So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. 22 And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he madeHebrew built">8 into a woman and brought her to the man. 23 Then the man said,

      “This at last is bone of my bones
        and flesh of my flesh;
      she shall be called Woman,
        because she was taken out of Man.”The Hebrew words for woman (ishshah) and man (ish) sound alike">9

    24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. 25 And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.

    Footnotes

    [1] 2:5 Or open country


    [2] 2:5 Or earth; also verse 6

    [3] 2:6 Or spring

    [4] 2:17 Or when you eat

    [5] 2:18 Or corresponding to; also verse 20

    [6] 2:19 Or And out of the ground the Lord God formed

    [7] 2:20 Or the man

    [8] 2:22 Hebrew built

    [9] 2:23 The Hebrew words for woman (ishshah) and man (ish) sound alike

    (ESV)

    Chronicles and Prophets:
    1 Chronicles 2
    1 Chronicles 2 (Listen)
    A Genealogy of David

    2 These are the sons of Israel: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, 2 Dan, Joseph, Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher. 3 The sons of Judah: Er, Onan and Shelah; these three Bath-shua the Canaanite bore to him. Now Er, Judah’s firstborn, was evil in the sight of the LORD, and he put him to death. 4 His daughter-in-law Tamar also bore him Perez and Zerah. Judah had five sons in all.

    5 The sons of Perez: Hezron and Hamul. 6 The sons of Zerah: Zimri, Ethan, Heman, Calcol, and Dara, five in all. 7 The sonHebrew sons">1 of Carmi: Achan, the troubler of Israel, who broke faith in the matter of the devoted thing; 8 and Ethan’s son was Azariah.

    9 The sons of Hezron that were born to him: Jerahmeel, Ram, and Chelubai. 10 Ram fathered Amminadab, and Amminadab fathered Nahshon, prince of the sons of Judah. 11 Nahshon fathered Salmon,Septuagint (compare Ruth 4:21); Hebrew Salma">2 Salmon fathered Boaz, 12 Boaz fathered Obed, Obed fathered Jesse. 13 Jesse fathered Eliab his firstborn, Abinadab the second, Shimea the third, 14 Nethanel the fourth, Raddai the fifth, 15 Ozem the sixth, David the seventh. 16 And their sisters were Zeruiah and Abigail. The sons of Zeruiah: Abishai, Joab, and Asahel, three. 17 Abigail bore Amasa, and the father of Amasa was Jether the Ishmaelite.

    18 Caleb the son of Hezron fathered children by his wife Azubah, and by Jerioth; and these were her sons: Jesher, Shobab, and Ardon. 19 When Azubah died, Caleb married Ephrath, who bore him Hur. 20 Hur fathered Uri, and Uri fathered Bezalel.

    21 Afterward Hezron went in to the daughter of Machir the father of Gilead, whom he married when he was sixty years old, and she bore him Segub. 22 And Segub fathered Jair, who had twenty-three cities in the land of Gilead. 23 But Geshur and Aram took from them Havvoth-jair, Kenath, and its villages, sixty towns. All these were descendants of Machir, the father of Gilead. 24 After the death of Hezron, Caleb went in to Ephrathah,Septuagint, Vulgate; Hebrew in Caleb Ephrathah">3 the wife of Hezron his father, and she bore him Ashhur, the father of Tekoa.

    25 The sons of Jerahmeel, the firstborn of Hezron: Ram, his firstborn, Bunah, Oren, Ozem, and Ahijah. 26 Jerahmeel also had another wife, whose name was Atarah; she was the mother of Onam. 27 The sons of Ram, the firstborn of Jerahmeel: Maaz, Jamin, and Eker. 28 The sons of Onam: Shammai and Jada. The sons of Shammai: Nadab and Abishur. 29 The name of Abishur’s wife was Abihail, and she bore him Ahban and Molid. 30 The sons of Nadab: Seled and Appaim; and Seled died childless. 31 The sonHebrew sons; three times in this verse">4 of Appaim: Ishi. The son of Ishi: Sheshan. The son of Sheshan: Ahlai. 32 The sons of Jada, Shammai’s brother: Jether and Jonathan; and Jether died childless. 33 The sons of Jonathan: Peleth and Zaza. These were the descendants of Jerahmeel. 34 Now Sheshan had no sons, only daughters, but Sheshan had an Egyptian slave whose name was Jarha. 35 So Sheshan gave his daughter in marriage to Jarha his slave, and she bore him Attai. 36 Attai fathered Nathan, and Nathan fathered Zabad. 37 Zabad fathered Ephlal, and Ephlal fathered Obed. 38 Obed fathered Jehu, and Jehu fathered Azariah. 39 Azariah fathered Helez, and Helez fathered Eleasah. 40 Eleasah fathered Sismai, and Sismai fathered Shallum. 41 Shallum fathered Jekamiah, and Jekamiah fathered Elishama.

    42 The sons of Caleb the brother of Jerahmeel: MareshahSeptuagint; Hebrew Mesha">5 his firstborn, who fathered Ziph. The sonHebrew sons">6 of Mareshah: Hebron.Hebrew the father of Hebron">7 43 The sons of Hebron: Korah, Tappuah, Rekem and Shema. 44 Shema fathered Raham, the father of Jorkeam; and Rekem fathered Shammai. 45 The son of Shammai: Maon; and Maon fathered Beth-zur. 46 Ephah also, Caleb’s concubine, bore Haran, Moza, and Gazez; and Haran fathered Gazez. 47 The sons of Jahdai: Regem, Jotham, Geshan, Pelet, Ephah, and Shaaph. 48 Maacah, Caleb’s concubine, bore Sheber and Tirhanah. 49 She also bore Shaaph the father of Madmannah, Sheva the father of Machbenah and the father of Gibea; and the daughter of Caleb was Achsah. 50 These were the descendants of Caleb.

    The sonsSeptuagint, Vulgate; Hebrew son">8 of Hur the firstborn of Ephrathah: Shobal the father of Kiriath-jearim, 51 Salma, the father of Bethlehem, and Hareph the father of Beth-gader. 52 Shobal the father of Kiriath-jearim had other sons: Haroeh, half of the Menuhoth. 53 And the clans of Kiriath-jearim: the Ithrites, the Puthites, the Shumathites, and the Mishraites; from these came the Zorathites and the Eshtaolites. 54 The sons of Salma: Bethlehem, the Netophathites, Atroth-beth-joab and half of the Manahathites, the Zorites. 55 The clans also of the scribes who lived at Jabez: the Tirathites, the Shimeathites and the Sucathites. These are the Kenites who came from Hammath, the father of the house of Rechab.

    Footnotes

    [1] 2:7 Hebrew sons


    [2] 2:11 Septuagint (compare Ruth 4:21); Hebrew Salma

    [3] 2:24 Septuagint, Vulgate; Hebrew in Caleb Ephrathah

    [4] 2:31 Hebrew sons; three times in this verse

    [5] 2:42 Septuagint; Hebrew Mesha

    [6] 2:42 Hebrew sons

    [7] 2:42 Hebrew the father of Hebron

    [8] 2:50 Septuagint, Vulgate; Hebrew son

    (ESV)

    Gospels and Epistles:
    Luke 1:26–56
    Luke 1:26–56 (Listen)
    Birth of Jesus Foretold

    26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothedThat is, legally pledged to be married">1 to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!”Some manuscripts add Blessed are you among women!">2 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

    34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”Greek since I do not know a man">3

    35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be bornSome manuscripts add of you">4 will be called holy—the Son of God. 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servantGreek bondservant; also verse 48">5 of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

    Mary Visits Elizabeth

    39 In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, 40 and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, 42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would beOr believed, for there will be">6 a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”

    Mary’s Song of Praise: The Magnificat

    46 And Mary said,

      “My soul magnifies the Lord,
    47     and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
    48   for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
        For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
    49   for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
        and holy is his name.
    50   And his mercy is for those who fear him
        from generation to generation.
    51   He has shown strength with his arm;
        he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
    52   he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
        and exalted those of humble estate;
    53   he has filled the hungry with good things,
        and the rich he has sent away empty.
    54   He has helped his servant Israel,
        in remembrance of his mercy,
    55   as he spoke to our fathers,
        to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”

    56 And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.

    Footnotes

    [1] 1:27 That is, legally pledged to be married


    [2] 1:28 Some manuscripts add Blessed are you among women!

    [3] 1:34 Greek since I do not know a man

    [4] 1:35 Some manuscripts add of you

    [5] 1:38 Greek bondservant; also verse 48

    [6] 1:45 Or believed, for there will be

    (ESV)

    14 min
  • January 1: Ecclesiastes 3:1–8; Genesis 1; 1 Chronicles 1; Luke 1:1–25
    Psalms and Wisdom:
    Ecclesiastes 3:1–8
    Ecclesiastes 3:1–8 (Listen)
    A Time for Everything

    3 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

    2   a time to be born, and a time to die;
      a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
    3   a time to kill, and a time to heal;
      a time to break down, and a time to build up;
    4   a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
      a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
    5   a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
      a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
    6   a time to seek, and a time to lose;
      a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
    7   a time to tear, and a time to sew;
      a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
    8   a time to love, and a time to hate;
      a time for war, and a time for peace.

    (ESV)

    Pentateuch and History:
    Genesis 1
    Genesis 1 (Listen)
    The Creation of the World

    1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

    3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

    6 And God said, “Let there be an expanseOr a canopy; also verses 7, 8, 14, 15, 17, 20">1 in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” 7 And God madeOr fashioned; also verse 16">2 the expanse and separated the waters that were under the expanse from the waters that were above the expanse. And it was so. 8 And God called the expanse Heaven.Or Sky; also verses 9, 14, 15, 17, 20, 26, 28, 30; 2:1">3 And there was evening and there was morning, the second day.

    9 And God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so. 10 God called the dry land Earth,Or Land; also verses 11, 12, 22, 24, 25, 26, 28, 30; 2:1">4 and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good.

    11 And God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plantsOr small plants; also verses 12, 29">5 yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth.” And it was so. 12 The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed according to their own kinds, and trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 13 And there was evening and there was morning, the third day.

    14 And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons,Or appointed times">6 and for days and years, 15 and let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth.” And it was so. 16 And God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars. 17 And God set them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth, 18 to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day.

    20 And God said, “Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birdsOr flying things; see Leviticus 11:19–20">7 fly above the earth across the expanse of the heavens.” 21 So God created the great sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 22 And God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” 23 And there was evening and there was morning, the fifth day.

    24 And God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds—livestock and creeping things and beasts of the earth according to their kinds.” And it was so. 25 And God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds and the livestock according to their kinds, and everything that creeps on the ground according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

    26 Then God said, “Let us make manThe Hebrew word for man (adam) is the generic term for mankind and becomes the proper name Adam">8 in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

    27   So God created man in his own image,
        in the image of God he created him;
        male and female he created them.

    28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” 29 And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. 30 And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. 31 And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

    Footnotes

    [1] 1:6 Or a canopy; also verses 7, 8, 14, 15, 17, 20


    [2] 1:7 Or fashioned; also verse 16

    [3] 1:8 Or Sky; also verses 9, 14, 15, 17, 20, 26, 28, 30; 2:1

    [4] 1:10 Or Land; also verses 11, 12, 22, 24, 25, 26, 28, 30; 2:1

    [5] 1:11 Or small plants; also verses 12, 29

    [6] 1:14 Or appointed times

    [7] 1:20 Or flying things; see Leviticus 11:19–20

    [8] 1:26 The Hebrew word for man (adam) is the generic term for mankind and becomes the proper name Adam

    (ESV)

    Chronicles and Prophets:
    1 Chronicles 1
    1 Chronicles 1 (Listen)
    From Adam to Abraham

    1 Adam, Seth, Enosh; 2 Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared; 3 Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech; 4 Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

    5 The sons of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras. 6 The sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, Riphath,Septuagint; Hebrew Diphath">1 and Togarmah. 7 The sons of Javan: Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Rodanim.

    8 The sons of Ham: Cush, Egypt, Put, and Canaan. 9 The sons of Cush: Seba, Havilah, Sabta, Raamah, and Sabteca. The sons of Raamah: Sheba and Dedan. 10 Cush fathered Nimrod. He was the first on earth to be a mighty man.Or He began to be a mighty man on the earth">2

    11 Egypt fathered Ludim, Anamim, Lehabim, Naphtuhim, 12 Pathrusim, Casluhim (from whom the Philistines came), and Caphtorim.

    13 Canaan fathered Sidon his firstborn and Heth, 14 and the Jebusites, the Amorites, the Girgashites, 15 the Hivites, the Arkites, the Sinites, 16 the Arvadites, the Zemarites, and the Hamathites.

    17 The sons of Shem: Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad, Lud, and Aram. And the sons of Aram:Septuagint; Hebrew lacks And the sons of Aram">3 Uz, Hul, Gether, and Meshech. 18 Arpachshad fathered Shelah, and Shelah fathered Eber. 19 To Eber were born two sons: the name of the one was PelegPeleg means division">4 (for in his days the earth was divided), and his brother’s name was Joktan. 20 Joktan fathered Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, 21 Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, 22 Obal,Septuagint, Syriac (compare Genesis 10:28); Hebrew Ebal">5 Abimael, Sheba, 23 Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab; all these were the sons of Joktan.

    24 Shem, Arpachshad, Shelah; 25 Eber, Peleg, Reu; 26 Serug, Nahor, Terah; 27 Abram, that is, Abraham.

    From Abraham to Jacob

    28 The sons of Abraham: Isaac and Ishmael. 29 These are their genealogies: the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebaioth, and Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, 30 Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, Tema, 31 Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. These are the sons of Ishmael. 32 The sons of Keturah, Abraham’s concubine: she bore Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. The sons of Jokshan: Sheba and Dedan. 33 The sons of Midian: Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the descendants of Keturah.

    34 Abraham fathered Isaac. The sons of Isaac: Esau and Israel. 35 The sons of Esau: Eliphaz, Reuel, Jeush, Jalam, and Korah. 36 The sons of Eliphaz: Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam, Kenaz, and of Timna,Septuagint (compare Genesis 36:12); Hebrew lacks and of">6 Amalek. 37 The sons of Reuel: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah.

    38 The sons of Seir: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan. 39 The sons of Lotan: Hori and Hemam;Septuagint (compare Genesis 36:22); Hebrew Homam">7 and Lotan’s sister was Timna. 40 The sons of Shobal: Alvan,Septuagint (compare Genesis 36:23); Hebrew Alian">8 Manahath, Ebal, Shepho,Septuagint (compare Genesis 36:23); Hebrew Shephi">9 and Onam. The sons of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah. 41 The sonHebrew sons">10 of Anah: Dishon. The sons of Dishon: Hemdan,Septuagint (compare Genesis 36:26); Hebrew Hamran">11 Eshban, Ithran, and Cheran. 42 The sons of Ezer: Bilhan, Zaavan, and Akan.Septuagint (compare Genesis 36:27); Hebrew Jaakan">12 The sons of Dishan: Uz and Aran.

    43 These are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king reigned over the people of Israel: Bela the son of Beor, the name of his city being Dinhabah. 44 Bela died, and Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah reigned in his place. 45 Jobab died, and Husham of the land of the Temanites reigned in his place. 46 Husham died, and Hadad the son of Bedad, who defeated Midian in the country of Moab, reigned in his place, the name of his city being Avith. 47 Hadad died, and Samlah of Masrekah reigned in his place. 48 Samlah died, and Shaul of Rehoboth on the EuphratesHebrew the River">13 reigned in his place. 49 Shaul died, and Baal-hanan, the son of Achbor, reigned in his place. 50 Baal-hanan died, and Hadad reigned in his place, the name of his city being Pai; and his wife’s name was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Mezahab. 51 And Hadad died.

    The chiefs of Edom were: chiefs Timna, Alvah, Jetheth, 52 Oholibamah, Elah, Pinon, 53 Kenaz, Teman, Mibzar, 54 Magdiel, and Iram; these are the chiefs of Edom.

    Footnotes

    [1] 1:6 Septuagint; Hebrew Diphath


    [2] 1:10 Or He began to be a mighty man on the earth

    [3] 1:17 Septuagint; Hebrew lacks And the sons of Aram

    [4] 1:19 Peleg means division

    [5] 1:22 Septuagint, Syriac (compare Genesis 10:28); Hebrew Ebal

    [6] 1:36 Septuagint (compare Genesis 36:12); Hebrew lacks and of

    [7] 1:39 Septuagint (compare Genesis 36:22); Hebrew Homam

    [8] 1:40 Septuagint (compare Genesis 36:23); Hebrew Alian

    [9] 1:40 Septuagint (compare Genesis 36:23); Hebrew Shephi

    [10] 1:41 Hebrew sons

    [11] 1:41 Septuagint (compare Genesis 36:26); Hebrew Hamran

    [12] 1:42 Septuagint (compare Genesis 36:27); Hebrew Jaakan

    [13] 1:48 Hebrew the River

    (ESV)

    Gospels and Epistles:
    Luke 1:1–25
    Luke 1:1–25 (Listen)
    Dedication to Theophilus

    1 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, 2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, 3 it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.

    Birth of John the Baptist Foretold

    5 In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah,Greek Zacharias">1 of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.

    8 Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, 9 according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. 11 And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. 13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. 16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, 17 and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”

    18 And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” 19 And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20 And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.” 21 And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple. 22 And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he kept making signs to them and remained mute. 23 And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home.

    24 After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying, 25 “Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”

    Footnotes

    [1] 1:5 Greek Zacharias

    (ESV)

    15 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)

    17 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)

    13 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

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