ESV: Digging Deep into the Bible

ESV: Digging Deep into the Bible

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ESV: Digging Deep into the Bible episodes

  • April 16: Psalm 106; Leviticus 13; Isaiah 13–14; 2 Corinthians 10:1–12
    Psalms and Wisdom:
    Psalm 106
    Psalm 106 (Listen)
    Give Thanks to the Lord, for He Is Good

    106   Praise the LORD!
      Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
        for his steadfast love endures forever!
    2   Who can utter the mighty deeds of the LORD,
        or declare all his praise?
    3   Blessed are they who observe justice,
        who do righteousness at all times!
    4   Remember me, O LORD, when you show favor to your people;
        help me when you save them,Or Remember me, O Lord, with the favor you show to your people; help me with your salvation">1
    5   that I may look upon the prosperity of your chosen ones,
        that I may rejoice in the gladness of your nation,
        that I may glory with your inheritance.
    6   Both we and our fathers have sinned;
        we have committed iniquity; we have done wickedness.
    7   Our fathers, when they were in Egypt,
        did not consider your wondrous works;
      they did not remember the abundance of your steadfast love,
        but rebelled by the sea, at the Red Sea.
    8   Yet he saved them for his name’s sake,
        that he might make known his mighty power.
    9   He rebuked the Red Sea, and it became dry,
        and he led them through the deep as through a desert.
    10   So he saved them from the hand of the foe
        and redeemed them from the power of the enemy.
    11   And the waters covered their adversaries;
        not one of them was left.
    12   Then they believed his words;
        they sang his praise.
    13   But they soon forgot his works;
        they did not wait for his counsel.
    14   But they had a wanton craving in the wilderness,
        and put God to the test in the desert;
    15   he gave them what they asked,
        but sent a wasting disease among them.
    16   When men in the camp were jealous of Moses
        and Aaron, the holy one of the LORD,
    17   the earth opened and swallowed up Dathan,
        and covered the company of Abiram.
    18   Fire also broke out in their company;
        the flame burned up the wicked.
    19   They made a calf in Horeb
        and worshiped a metal image.
    20   They exchanged the glory of GodHebrew exchanged their glory">2
        for the image of an ox that eats grass.
    21   They forgot God, their Savior,
        who had done great things in Egypt,
    22   wondrous works in the land of Ham,
        and awesome deeds by the Red Sea.
    23   Therefore he said he would destroy them—
        had not Moses, his chosen one,
      stood in the breach before him,
        to turn away his wrath from destroying them.
    24   Then they despised the pleasant land,
        having no faith in his promise.
    25   They murmured in their tents,
        and did not obey the voice of the LORD.
    26   Therefore he raised his hand and swore to them
        that he would make them fall in the wilderness,
    27   and would make their offspring fall among the nations,
        scattering them among the lands.
    28   Then they yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor,
        and ate sacrifices offered to the dead;
    29   they provoked the LORD to anger with their deeds,
        and a plague broke out among them.
    30   Then Phinehas stood up and intervened,
        and the plague was stayed.
    31   And that was counted to him as righteousness
        from generation to generation forever.
    32   They angered him at the waters of Meribah,
        and it went ill with Moses on their account,
    33   for they made his spirit bitter,Or they rebelled against God’s Spirit">3
        and he spoke rashly with his lips.
    34   They did not destroy the peoples,
        as the LORD commanded them,
    35   but they mixed with the nations
        and learned to do as they did.
    36   They served their idols,
        which became a snare to them.
    37   They sacrificed their sons
        and their daughters to the demons;
    38   they poured out innocent blood,
        the blood of their sons and daughters,
      whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan,
        and the land was polluted with blood.
    39   Thus they became unclean by their acts,
        and played the whore in their deeds.
    40   Then the anger of the LORD was kindled against his people,
        and he abhorred his heritage;
    41   he gave them into the hand of the nations,
        so that those who hated them ruled over them.
    42   Their enemies oppressed them,
        and they were brought into subjection under their power.
    43   Many times he delivered them,
        but they were rebellious in their purposes
        and were brought low through their iniquity.
    44   Nevertheless, he looked upon their distress,
        when he heard their cry.
    45   For their sake he remembered his covenant,
        and relented according to the abundance of his steadfast love.
    46   He caused them to be pitied
        by all those who held them captive.
    47   Save us, O LORD our God,
        and gather us from among the nations,
      that we may give thanks to your holy name
        and glory in your praise.
    48   Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,
        from everlasting to everlasting!
      And let all the people say, “Amen!”
        Praise the LORD!

    Footnotes

    [1] 106:4 Or Remember me, O Lord, with the favor you show to your people; help me with your salvation


    [2] 106:20 Hebrew exchanged their glory

    [3] 106:33 Or they rebelled against God’s Spirit

    (ESV)

    Pentateuch and History:
    Leviticus 13
    Leviticus 13 (Listen)
    Laws About Leprosy

    13 The LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, 2 “When a person has on the skin of his body a swelling or an eruption or a spot, and it turns into a case of leprousLeprosy was a term for several skin diseases">1 disease on the skin of his body, then he shall be brought to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons the priests, 3 and the priest shall examine the diseased area on the skin of his body. And if the hair in the diseased area has turned white and the disease appears to be deeper than the skin of his body, it is a case of leprous disease. When the priest has examined him, he shall pronounce him unclean. 4 But if the spot is white in the skin of his body and appears no deeper than the skin, and the hair in it has not turned white, the priest shall shut up the diseased person for seven days. 5 And the priest shall examine him on the seventh day, and if in his eyes the disease is checked and the disease has not spread in the skin, then the priest shall shut him up for another seven days. 6 And the priest shall examine him again on the seventh day, and if the diseased area has faded and the disease has not spread in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him clean; it is only an eruption. And he shall wash his clothes and be clean. 7 But if the eruption spreads in the skin, after he has shown himself to the priest for his cleansing, he shall appear again before the priest. 8 And the priest shall look, and if the eruption has spread in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean; it is a leprous disease.

    9 “When a man is afflicted with a leprous disease, he shall be brought to the priest, 10 and the priest shall look. And if there is a white swelling in the skin that has turned the hair white, and there is raw flesh in the swelling, 11 it is a chronic leprous disease in the skin of his body, and the priest shall pronounce him unclean. He shall not shut him up, for he is unclean. 12 And if the leprous disease breaks out in the skin, so that the leprous disease covers all the skin of the diseased person from head to foot, so far as the priest can see, 13 then the priest shall look, and if the leprous disease has covered all his body, he shall pronounce him clean of the disease; it has all turned white, and he is clean. 14 But when raw flesh appears on him, he shall be unclean. 15 And the priest shall examine the raw flesh and pronounce him unclean. Raw flesh is unclean, for it is a leprous disease. 16 But if the raw flesh recovers and turns white again, then he shall come to the priest, 17 and the priest shall examine him, and if the disease has turned white, then the priest shall pronounce the diseased person clean; he is clean.

    18 “If there is in the skin of one’s body a boil and it heals, 19 and in the place of the boil there comes a white swelling or a reddish-white spot, then it shall be shown to the priest. 20 And the priest shall look, and if it appears deeper than the skin and its hair has turned white, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is a case of leprous disease that has broken out in the boil. 21 But if the priest examines it and there is no white hair in it and it is not deeper than the skin, but has faded, then the priest shall shut him up seven days. 22 And if it spreads in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean; it is a disease. 23 But if the spot remains in one place and does not spread, it is the scar of the boil, and the priest shall pronounce him clean.

    24 “Or, when the body has a burn on its skin and the raw flesh of the burn becomes a spot, reddish-white or white, 25 the priest shall examine it, and if the hair in the spot has turned white and it appears deeper than the skin, then it is a leprous disease. It has broken out in the burn, and the priest shall pronounce him unclean; it is a case of leprous disease. 26 But if the priest examines it and there is no white hair in the spot and it is no deeper than the skin, but has faded, the priest shall shut him up seven days, 27 and the priest shall examine him the seventh day. If it is spreading in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean; it is a case of leprous disease. 28 But if the spot remains in one place and does not spread in the skin, but has faded, it is a swelling from the burn, and the priest shall pronounce him clean, for it is the scar of the burn.

    29 “When a man or woman has a disease on the head or the beard, 30 the priest shall examine the disease. And if it appears deeper than the skin, and the hair in it is yellow and thin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is an itch, a leprous disease of the head or the beard. 31 And if the priest examines the itching disease and it appears no deeper than the skin and there is no black hair in it, then the priest shall shut up the person with the itching disease for seven days, 32 and on the seventh day the priest shall examine the disease. If the itch has not spread, and there is in it no yellow hair, and the itch appears to be no deeper than the skin, 33 then he shall shave himself, but the itch he shall not shave; and the priest shall shut up the person with the itching disease for another seven days. 34 And on the seventh day the priest shall examine the itch, and if the itch has not spread in the skin and it appears to be no deeper than the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him clean. And he shall wash his clothes and be clean. 35 But if the itch spreads in the skin after his cleansing, 36 then the priest shall examine him, and if the itch has spread in the skin, the priest need not seek for the yellow hair; he is unclean. 37 But if in his eyes the itch is unchanged and black hair has grown in it, the itch is healed and he is clean, and the priest shall pronounce him clean.

    38 “When a man or a woman has spots on the skin of the body, white spots, 39 the priest shall look, and if the spots on the skin of the body are of a dull white, it is leukoderma that has broken out in the skin; he is clean.

    40 “If a man’s hair falls out from his head, he is bald; he is clean. 41 And if a man’s hair falls out from his forehead, he has baldness of the forehead; he is clean. 42 But if there is on the bald head or the bald forehead a reddish-white diseased area, it is a leprous disease breaking out on his bald head or his bald forehead. 43 Then the priest shall examine him, and if the diseased swelling is reddish-white on his bald head or on his bald forehead, like the appearance of leprous disease in the skin of the body, 44 he is a leprous man, he is unclean. The priest must pronounce him unclean; his disease is on his head.

    45 “The leprous person who has the disease shall wear torn clothes and let the hair of his head hang loose, and he shall cover his upper lipOr mustache">2 and cry out, ‘Unclean, unclean.’ 46 He shall remain unclean as long as he has the disease. He is unclean. He shall live alone. His dwelling shall be outside the camp.

    47 “When there is a case of leprous disease in a garment, whether a woolen or a linen garment, 48 in warp or woof of linen or wool, or in a skin or in anything made of skin, 49 if the disease is greenish or reddish in the garment, or in the skin or in the warp or the woof or in any article made of skin, it is a case of leprous disease, and it shall be shown to the priest. 50 And the priest shall examine the disease and shut up that which has the disease for seven days. 51 Then he shall examine the disease on the seventh day. If the disease has spread in the garment, in the warp or the woof, or in the skin, whatever be the use of the skin, the disease is a persistent leprous disease; it is unclean. 52 And he shall burn the garment, or the warp or the woof, the wool or the linen, or any article made of skin that is diseased, for it is a persistent leprous disease. It shall be burned in the fire.

    53 “And if the priest examines, and if the disease has not spread in the garment, in the warp or the woof or in any article made of skin, 54 then the priest shall command that they wash the thing in which is the disease, and he shall shut it up for another seven days. 55 And the priest shall examine the diseased thing after it has been washed. And if the appearance of the diseased area has not changed, though the disease has not spread, it is unclean. You shall burn it in the fire, whether the rot is on the back or on the front.

    56 “But if the priest examines, and if the diseased area has faded after it has been washed, he shall tear it out of the garment or the skin or the warp or the woof. 57 Then if it appears again in the garment, in the warp or the woof, or in any article made of skin, it is spreading. You shall burn with fire whatever has the disease. 58 But the garment, or the warp or the woof, or any article made of skin from which the disease departs when you have washed it, shall then be washed a second time, and be clean.”

    59 This is the law for a case of leprous disease in a garment of wool or linen, either in the warp or the woof, or in any article made of skin, to determine whether it is clean or unclean.

    Footnotes

    [1] 13:2 Leprosy was a term for several skin diseases


    [2] 13:45 Or mustache

    (ESV)

    Chronicles and Prophets:
    Isaiah 13–14
    Isaiah 13–14 (Listen)
    The Judgment of Babylon

    13 The oracle concerning Babylon which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw.

    2   On a bare hill raise a signal;
        cry aloud to them;
      wave the hand for them to enter
        the gates of the nobles.
    3   I myself have commanded my consecrated ones,
        and have summoned my mighty men to execute my anger,
        my proudly exulting ones.Or those who exult in my majesty">1
    4   The sound of a tumult is on the mountains
        as of a great multitude!
      The sound of an uproar of kingdoms,
        of nations gathering together!
      The LORD of hosts is mustering
        a host for battle.
    5   They come from a distant land,
        from the end of the heavens,
      the LORD and the weapons of his indignation,
        to destroy the whole land.Or earth; also verse 9">2
    6   Wail, for the day of the LORD is near;
        as destruction from the AlmightyThe Hebrew words for destruction and almighty sound alike">3 it will come!
    7   Therefore all hands will be feeble,
        and every human heart will melt.
    8   They will be dismayed:
        pangs and agony will seize them;
        they will be in anguish like a woman in labor.
      They will look aghast at one another;
        their faces will be aflame.
    9   Behold, the day of the LORD comes,
        cruel, with wrath and fierce anger,
      to make the land a desolation
        and to destroy its sinners from it.
    10   For the stars of the heavens and their constellations
        will not give their light;
      the sun will be dark at its rising,
        and the moon will not shed its light.
    11   I will punish the world for its evil,
        and the wicked for their iniquity;
      I will put an end to the pomp of the arrogant,
        and lay low the pompous pride of the ruthless.
    12   I will make people more rare than fine gold,
        and mankind than the gold of Ophir.
    13   Therefore I will make the heavens tremble,
        and the earth will be shaken out of its place,
      at the wrath of the LORD of hosts
        in the day of his fierce anger.
    14   And like a hunted gazelle,
        or like sheep with none to gather them,
      each will turn to his own people,
        and each will flee to his own land.
    15   Whoever is found will be thrust through,
        and whoever is caught will fall by the sword.
    16   Their infants will be dashed in pieces
        before their eyes;
      their houses will be plundered
        and their wives ravished.
    17   Behold, I am stirring up the Medes against them,
        who have no regard for silver
        and do not delight in gold.
    18   Their bows will slaughterHebrew dash in pieces">4 the young men;
        they will have no mercy on the fruit of the womb;
        their eyes will not pity children.
    19   And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms,
        the splendor and pomp of the Chaldeans,
      will be like Sodom and Gomorrah
        when God overthrew them.
    20   It will never be inhabited
        or lived in for all generations;
      no Arab will pitch his tent there;
        no shepherds will make their flocks lie down there.
    21   But wild animals will lie down there,
        and their houses will be full of howling creatures;
      there ostrichesOr owls">5 will dwell,
        and there wild goats will dance.
    22   HyenasOr foxes">6 will cry in its towers,
        and jackals in the pleasant palaces;
      its time is close at hand
        and its days will not be prolonged.

    The Restoration of Jacob

    14 For the LORD will have compassion on Jacob and will again choose Israel, and will set them in their own land, and sojourners will join them and will attach themselves to the house of Jacob. 2 And the peoples will take them and bring them to their place, and the house of Israel will possess them in the LORD’s land as male and female slaves.Or servants">7 They will take captive those who were their captors, and rule over those who oppressed them.

    Israel’s Remnant Taunts Babylon

    3 When the LORD has given you rest from your pain and turmoil and the hard service with which you were made to serve, 4 you will take up this taunt against the king of Babylon:

      “How the oppressor has ceased,
        the insolent furyDead Sea Scroll (compare Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate); the meaning of the word in the Masoretic Text is uncertain">8 ceased!
    5   The LORD has broken the staff of the wicked,
        the scepter of rulers,
    6   that struck the peoples in wrath
        with unceasing blows,
      that ruled the nations in anger
        with unrelenting persecution.
    7   The whole earth is at rest and quiet;
        they break forth into singing.
    8   The cypresses rejoice at you,
        the cedars of Lebanon, saying,
      ‘Since you were laid low,
        no woodcutter comes up against us.’
    9   Sheol beneath is stirred up
        to meet you when you come;
      it rouses the shades to greet you,
        all who were leaders of the earth;
      it raises from their thrones
        all who were kings of the nations.
    10   All of them will answer
        and say to you:
      ‘You too have become as weak as we!
        You have become like us!’
    11   Your pomp is brought down to Sheol,
        the sound of your harps;
      maggots are laid as a bed beneath you,
        and worms are your covers.
    12   “How you are fallen from heaven,
        O Day Star, son of Dawn!
      How you are cut down to the ground,
        you who laid the nations low!
    13   You said in your heart,
        ‘I will ascend to heaven;
      above the stars of God
        I will set my throne on high;
      I will sit on the mount of assembly
        in the far reaches of the north;Or in the remote parts of Zaphon">9
    14   I will ascend above the heights of the clouds;
        I will make myself like the Most High.’
    15   But you are brought down to Sheol,
        to the far reaches of the pit.
    16   Those who see you will stare at you
        and ponder over you:
      ‘Is this the man who made the earth tremble,
        who shook kingdoms,
    17   who made the world like a desert
        and overthrew its cities,
        who did not let his prisoners go home?’
    18   All the kings of the nations lie in glory,
        each in his own tomb;Hebrew house">10
    19   but you are cast out, away from your grave,
        like a loathed branch,
      clothed with the slain, those pierced by the sword,
        who go down to the stones of the pit,
        like a dead body trampled underfoot.
    20   You will not be joined with them in burial,
        because you have destroyed your land,
        you have slain your people.
      “May the offspring of evildoers
        nevermore be named!
    21   Prepare slaughter for his sons
        because of the guilt of their fathers,
      lest they rise and possess the earth,
        and fill the face of the world with cities.”

    22 “I will rise up against them,” declares the LORD of hosts, “and will cut off from Babylon name and remnant, descendants and posterity,” declares the LORD. 23 “And I will make it a possession of the hedgehog,Possibly porcupine, or owl">11 and pools of water, and I will sweep it with the broom of destruction,” declares the LORD of hosts.

    An Oracle Concerning Assyria

    24   The LORD of hosts has sworn:
      “As I have planned,
        so shall it be,
      and as I have purposed,
        so shall it stand,
    25   that I will break the Assyrian in my land,
        and on my mountains trample him underfoot;
      and his yoke shall depart from them,
        and his burden from their shoulder.”
    26   This is the purpose that is purposed
        concerning the whole earth,
      and this is the hand that is stretched out
        over all the nations.
    27   For the LORD of hosts has purposed,
        and who will annul it?
      His hand is stretched out,
        and who will turn it back?

    An Oracle Concerning Philistia

    28 In the year that King Ahaz died came this oracle:

    29   Rejoice not, O Philistia, all of you,
        that the rod that struck you is broken,
      for from the serpent’s root will come forth an adder,
        and its fruit will be a flying fiery serpent.
    30   And the firstborn of the poor will graze,
        and the needy lie down in safety;
      but I will kill your root with famine,
        and your remnant it will slay.
    31   Wail, O gate; cry out, O city;
        melt in fear, O Philistia, all of you!
      For smoke comes out of the north,
        and there is no straggler in his ranks.
    32   What will one answer the messengers of the nation?
      “The LORD has founded Zion,
        and in her the afflicted of his people find refuge.”

    Footnotes

    [1] 13:3 Or those who exult in my majesty


    [2] 13:5 Or earth; also verse 9

    [3] 13:6 The Hebrew words for destruction and almighty sound alike

    [4] 13:18 Hebrew dash in pieces

    [5] 13:21 Or owls

    [6] 13:22 Or foxes

    [7] 14:2 Or servants

    [8] 14:4 Dead Sea Scroll (compare Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate); the meaning of the word in the Masoretic Text is uncertain

    [9] 14:13 Or in the remote parts of Zaphon

    [10] 14:18 Hebrew house

    [11] 14:23 Possibly porcupine, or owl

    (ESV)

    Gospels and Epistles:
    2 Corinthians 10:1–12
    2 Corinthians 10:1–12 (Listen)
    Paul Defends His Ministry

    10 I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away!—2 I beg of you that when I am present I may not have to show boldness with such confidence as I count on showing against some who suspect us of walking according to the flesh. 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, 6 being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.

    7 Look at what is before your eyes. If anyone is confident that he is Christ’s, let him remind himself that just as he is Christ’s, so also are we. 8 For even if I boast a little too much of our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying you, I will not be ashamed. 9 I do not want to appear to be frightening you with my letters. 10 For they say, “His letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account.” 11 Let such a person understand that what we say by letter when absent, we do when present. 12 Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.

    (ESV)

    24 min
  • April 15: Psalm 105; Leviticus 12; Isaiah 11–12; 2 Corinthians 8–9
    Psalms and Wisdom:
    Psalm 105
    Psalm 105 (Listen)
    Tell of All His Wondrous Works

    105   Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name;
        make known his deeds among the peoples!
    2   Sing to him, sing praises to him;
        tell of all his wondrous works!
    3   Glory in his holy name;
        let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice!
    4   Seek the LORD and his strength;
        seek his presence continually!
    5   Remember the wondrous works that he has done,
        his miracles, and the judgments he uttered,
    6   O offspring of Abraham, his servant,
        children of Jacob, his chosen ones!
    7   He is the LORD our God;
        his judgments are in all the earth.
    8   He remembers his covenant forever,
        the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations,
    9   the covenant that he made with Abraham,
        his sworn promise to Isaac,
    10   which he confirmed to Jacob as a statute,
        to Israel as an everlasting covenant,
    11   saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan
        as your portion for an inheritance.”
    12   When they were few in number,
        of little account, and sojourners in it,
    13   wandering from nation to nation,
        from one kingdom to another people,
    14   he allowed no one to oppress them;
        he rebuked kings on their account,
    15   saying, “Touch not my anointed ones,
        do my prophets no harm!”
    16   When he summoned a famine on the land
        and broke all supplyHebrew staff">1 of bread,
    17   he had sent a man ahead of them,
        Joseph, who was sold as a slave.
    18   His feet were hurt with fetters;
        his neck was put in a collar of iron;
    19   until what he had said came to pass,
        the word of the LORD tested him.
    20   The king sent and released him;
        the ruler of the peoples set him free;
    21   he made him lord of his house
        and ruler of all his possessions,
    22   to bindSeptuagint, Syriac, Jerome instruct">2 his princes at his pleasure
        and to teach his elders wisdom.
    23   Then Israel came to Egypt;
        Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham.
    24   And the LORD made his people very fruitful
        and made them stronger than their foes.
    25   He turned their hearts to hate his people,
        to deal craftily with his servants.
    26   He sent Moses, his servant,
        and Aaron, whom he had chosen.
    27   They performed his signs among them
        and miracles in the land of Ham.
    28   He sent darkness, and made the land dark;
        they did not rebelSeptuagint, Syriac omit not">3 against his words.
    29   He turned their waters into blood
        and caused their fish to die.
    30   Their land swarmed with frogs,
        even in the chambers of their kings.
    31   He spoke, and there came swarms of flies,
        and gnats throughout their country.
    32   He gave them hail for rain,
        and fiery lightning bolts through their land.
    33   He struck down their vines and fig trees,
        and shattered the trees of their country.
    34   He spoke, and the locusts came,
        young locusts without number,
    35   which devoured all the vegetation in their land
        and ate up the fruit of their ground.
    36   He struck down all the firstborn in their land,
        the firstfruits of all their strength.
    37   Then he brought out Israel with silver and gold,
        and there was none among his tribes who stumbled.
    38   Egypt was glad when they departed,
        for dread of them had fallen upon it.
    39   He spread a cloud for a covering,
        and fire to give light by night.
    40   They asked, and he brought quail,
        and gave them bread from heaven in abundance.
    41   He opened the rock, and water gushed out;
        it flowed through the desert like a river.
    42   For he remembered his holy promise,
        and Abraham, his servant.
    43   So he brought his people out with joy,
        his chosen ones with singing.
    44   And he gave them the lands of the nations,
        and they took possession of the fruit of the peoples’ toil,
    45   that they might keep his statutes
        and observe his laws.
      Praise the LORD!

    Footnotes

    [1] 105:16 Hebrew staff


    [2] 105:22 Septuagint, Syriac, Jerome instruct

    [3] 105:28 Septuagint, Syriac omit not

    (ESV)

    Pentateuch and History:
    Leviticus 12
    Leviticus 12 (Listen)
    Purification After Childbirth

    12 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, If a woman conceives and bears a male child, then she shall be unclean seven days. As at the time of her menstruation, she shall be unclean. 3 And on the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. 4 Then she shall continue for thirty-three days in the blood of her purifying. She shall not touch anything holy, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying are completed. 5 But if she bears a female child, then she shall be unclean two weeks, as in her menstruation. And she shall continue in the blood of her purifying for sixty-six days.

    6 “And when the days of her purifying are completed, whether for a son or for a daughter, she shall bring to the priest at the entrance of the tent of meeting a lamb a year old for a burnt offering, and a pigeon or a turtledove for a sin offering, 7 and he shall offer it before the LORD and make atonement for her. Then she shall be clean from the flow of her blood. This is the law for her who bears a child, either male or female. 8 And if she cannot afford a lamb, then she shall take two turtledoves or two pigeons,Septuagint two young pigeons">1 one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. And the priest shall make atonement for her, and she shall be clean.”

    Footnotes

    [1] 12:8 Septuagint two young pigeons

    (ESV)

    Chronicles and Prophets:
    Isaiah 11–12
    Isaiah 11–12 (Listen)
    The Righteous Reign of the Branch

    11   There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse,
        and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.
    2   And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him,
        the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
        the Spirit of counsel and might,
        the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.
    3   And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD.
      He shall not judge by what his eyes see,
        or decide disputes by what his ears hear,
    4   but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,
        and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;
      and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,
        and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.
    5   Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist,
        and faithfulness the belt of his loins.
    6   The wolf shall dwell with the lamb,
        and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat,
      and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together;
        and a little child shall lead them.
    7   The cow and the bear shall graze;
        their young shall lie down together;
        and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
    8   The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra,
        and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder’s den.
    9   They shall not hurt or destroy
        in all my holy mountain;
      for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD
        as the waters cover the sea.

    10 In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples—of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall be glorious.

    11 In that day the Lord will extend his hand yet a second time to recover the remnant that remains of his people, from Assyria, from Egypt, from Pathros, from Cush,Probably Nubia">1 from Elam, from Shinar, from Hamath, and from the coastlands of the sea.

    12   He will raise a signal for the nations
        and will assemble the banished of Israel,
      and gather the dispersed of Judah
        from the four corners of the earth.
    13   The jealousy of Ephraim shall depart,
        and those who harass Judah shall be cut off;
      Ephraim shall not be jealous of Judah,
        and Judah shall not harass Ephraim.
    14   But they shall swoop down on the shoulder of the Philistines in the west,
        and together they shall plunder the people of the east.
      They shall put out their hand against Edom and Moab,
        and the Ammonites shall obey them.
    15   And the LORD will utterly destroyHebrew devote to destruction">2
        the tongue of the Sea of Egypt,
      and will wave his hand over the RiverThat is, the Euphrates">3
        with his scorching breath,Or wind">4
      and strike it into seven channels,
        and he will lead people across in sandals.
    16   And there will be a highway from Assyria
        for the remnant that remains of his people,
      as there was for Israel
        when they came up from the land of Egypt.

    The Lord Is My Strength and My Song

    12   YouThe Hebrew for you is singular in verse 1">5 will say in that day:
      “I will give thanks to you, O LORD,
        for though you were angry with me,
      your anger turned away,
        that you might comfort me.
    2   “Behold, God is my salvation;
        I will trust, and will not be afraid;
      for the LORD GODHEBREW FOR YAH, THE LORD">6 is my strength and my song,
        and he has become my salvation.”

    3 With joy youThe Hebrew for you is plural in verses 3, 4">7 will draw water from the wells of salvation. 4 And you will say in that day:

      “Give thanks to the LORD,
        call upon his name,
      make known his deeds among the peoples,
        proclaim that his name is exalted.
    5   “Sing praises to the LORD, for he has done gloriously;
        let this be made knownOr this is made known">8 in all the earth.
    6   Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion,
        for great in yourThe Hebrew for your in verse 6 is singular, referring to the inhabitant of Zion">9 midst is the Holy One of Israel.”

    Footnotes

    [1] 11:11 Probably Nubia


    [2] 11:15 Hebrew devote to destruction

    [3] 11:15 That is, the Euphrates

    [4] 11:15 Or wind

    [5] 12:1 The Hebrew for you is singular in verse 1

    [6] 12:2 Hebrew for Yah, the Lord

    [7] 12:3 The Hebrew for you is plural in verses 3, 4

    [8] 12:5 Or this is made known

    [9] 12:6 The Hebrew for your in verse 6 is singular, referring to the inhabitant of Zion

    (ESV)

    Gospels and Epistles:
    2 Corinthians 8–9
    2 Corinthians 8–9 (Listen)
    Encouragement to Give Generously

    8 We want you to know, brothers,Or brothers and sisters">1 about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, 4 begging us earnestly for the favorThe Greek word charis can mean favor or grace or thanks, depending on the context">2 of taking part in the relief of the saints—5 and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. 6 Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace. 7 But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for youSome manuscripts in your love for us">3—see that you excel in this act of grace also.

    8 I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. 10 And in this matter I give my judgment: this benefits you, who a year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it. 11 So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have. 12 For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. 13 For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness 14 your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. 15 As it is written, “Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.”

    Commendation of Titus

    16 But thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same earnest care I have for you. 17 For he not only accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest he is goingOr he went">4 to you of his own accord. 18 With him we are sendingOr we sent; also verse 22">5 the brother who is famous among all the churches for his preaching of the gospel. 19 And not only that, but he has been appointed by the churches to travel with us as we carry out this act of grace that is being ministered by us, for the glory of the Lord himself and to show our good will. 20 We take this course so that no one should blame us about this generous gift that is being administered by us, 21 for we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of man. 22 And with them we are sending our brother whom we have often tested and found earnest in many matters, but who is now more earnest than ever because of his great confidence in you. 23 As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker for your benefit. And as for our brothers, they are messengersGreek apostles">6 of the churches, the glory of Christ. 24 So give proof before the churches of your love and of our boasting about you to these men.

    The Collection for Christians in Jerusalem

    9 Now it is superfluous for me to write to you about the ministry for the saints, 2 for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready since last year. And your zeal has stirred up most of them. 3 But I am sendingOr I have sent">7 the brothers so that our boasting about you may not prove empty in this matter, so that you may be ready, as I said you would be. 4 Otherwise, if some Macedonians come with me and find that you are not ready, we would be humiliated—to say nothing of you—for being so confident. 5 So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the giftGreek blessing; twice in this verse">8 you have promised, so that it may be ready as a willing gift, not as an exaction.Or a gift expecting something in return; Greek greed">9

    The Cheerful Giver

    6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifullyGreek with blessings; twice in this verse">10 will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiencyOr all contentment">11 in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 9 As it is written,

      “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor;
        his righteousness endures forever.”

    10 He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. 12 For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. 13 By their approval of this service, theyOr you">12 will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, 14 while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. 15 Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

    Footnotes

    [1] 8:1 Or brothers and sisters


    [2] 8:4 The Greek word charis can mean favor or grace or thanks, depending on the context

    [3] 8:7 Some manuscripts in your love for us

    [4] 8:17 Or he went

    [5] 8:18 Or we sent; also verse 22

    [6] 8:23 Greek apostles

    [7] 9:3 Or I have sent

    [8] 9:5 Greek blessing; twice in this verse

    [9] 9:5 Or a gift expecting something in return; Greek greed

    [10] 9:6 Greek with blessings; twice in this verse

    [11] 9:8 Or all contentment

    [12] 9:13 Or you

    (ESV)

    14 min
  • April 14: Psalm 104; Leviticus 11; Isaiah 9:8–10:34; 2 Corinthians 6:11–7:16
    Psalms and Wisdom:
    Psalm 104
    Psalm 104 (Listen)
    O Lord My God, You Are Very Great

    104   Bless the LORD, O my soul!
        O LORD my God, you are very great!
      You are clothed with splendor and majesty,
    2     covering yourself with light as with a garment,
        stretching out the heavens like a tent.
    3   He lays the beams of his chambers on the waters;
      he makes the clouds his chariot;
        he rides on the wings of the wind;
    4   he makes his messengers winds,
        his ministers a flaming fire.
    5   He set the earth on its foundations,
        so that it should never be moved.
    6   You covered it with the deep as with a garment;
        the waters stood above the mountains.
    7   At your rebuke they fled;
        at the sound of your thunder they took to flight.
    8   The mountains rose, the valleys sank down
        to the place that you appointed for them.
    9   You set a boundary that they may not pass,
        so that they might not again cover the earth.
    10   You make springs gush forth in the valleys;
        they flow between the hills;
    11   they give drink to every beast of the field;
        the wild donkeys quench their thirst.
    12   Beside them the birds of the heavens dwell;
        they sing among the branches.
    13   From your lofty abode you water the mountains;
        the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work.
    14   You cause the grass to grow for the livestock
        and plants for man to cultivate,
      that he may bring forth food from the earth
    15     and wine to gladden the heart of man,
      oil to make his face shine
        and bread to strengthen man’s heart.
    16   The trees of the LORD are watered abundantly,
        the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.
    17   In them the birds build their nests;
        the stork has her home in the fir trees.
    18   The high mountains are for the wild goats;
        the rocks are a refuge for the rock badgers.
    19   He made the moon to mark the seasons;Or the appointed times (compare Genesis 1:14)">1
        the sun knows its time for setting.
    20   You make darkness, and it is night,
        when all the beasts of the forest creep about.
    21   The young lions roar for their prey,
        seeking their food from God.
    22   When the sun rises, they steal away
        and lie down in their dens.
    23   Man goes out to his work
        and to his labor until the evening.
    24   O LORD, how manifold are your works!
        In wisdom have you made them all;
        the earth is full of your creatures.
    25   Here is the sea, great and wide,
        which teems with creatures innumerable,
        living things both small and great.
    26   There go the ships,
        and Leviathan, which you formed to play in it.Or you formed to play with">2
    27   These all look to you,
        to give them their food in due season.
    28   When you give it to them, they gather it up;
        when you open your hand, they are filled with good things.
    29   When you hide your face, they are dismayed;
        when you take away their breath, they die
        and return to their dust.
    30   When you send forth your Spirit,Or breath">3 they are created,
        and you renew the face of the ground.
    31   May the glory of the LORD endure forever;
        may the LORD rejoice in his works,
    32   who looks on the earth and it trembles,
        who touches the mountains and they smoke!
    33   I will sing to the LORD as long as I live;
        I will sing praise to my God while I have being.
    34   May my meditation be pleasing to him,
        for I rejoice in the LORD.
    35   Let sinners be consumed from the earth,
        and let the wicked be no more!
      Bless the LORD, O my soul!
      Praise the LORD!

    Footnotes

    [1] 104:19 Or the appointed times (compare Genesis 1:14)


    [2] 104:26 Or you formed to play with

    [3] 104:30 Or breath

    (ESV)

    Pentateuch and History:
    Leviticus 11
    Leviticus 11 (Listen)
    Clean and Unclean Animals

    11 And the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying to them, 2 “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, These are the living things that you may eat among all the animals that are on the earth. 3 Whatever parts the hoof and is cloven-footed and chews the cud, among the animals, you may eat. 4 Nevertheless, among those that chew the cud or part the hoof, you shall not eat these: The camel, because it chews the cud but does not part the hoof, is unclean to you. 5 And the rock badger, because it chews the cud but does not part the hoof, is unclean to you. 6 And the hare, because it chews the cud but does not part the hoof, is unclean to you. 7 And the pig, because it parts the hoof and is cloven-footed but does not chew the cud, is unclean to you. 8 You shall not eat any of their flesh, and you shall not touch their carcasses; they are unclean to you.

    9 “These you may eat, of all that are in the waters. Everything in the waters that has fins and scales, whether in the seas or in the rivers, you may eat. 10 But anything in the seas or the rivers that does not have fins and scales, of the swarming creatures in the waters and of the living creatures that are in the waters, is detestable to you. 11 You shall regard them as detestable; you shall not eat any of their flesh, and you shall detest their carcasses. 12 Everything in the waters that does not have fins and scales is detestable to you.

    13 “And these you shall detest among the birds;Or things that fly; compare Genesis 1:20">1 they shall not be eaten; they are detestable: the eagle,The identity of many of these birds is uncertain">2 the bearded vulture, the black vulture, 14 the kite, the falcon of any kind, 15 every raven of any kind, 16 the ostrich, the nighthawk, the sea gull, the hawk of any kind, 17 the little owl, the cormorant, the short-eared owl, 18 the barn owl, the tawny owl, the carrion vulture, 19 the stork, the heron of any kind, the hoopoe, and the bat.

    20 “All winged insects that go on all fours are detestable to you. 21 Yet among the winged insects that go on all fours you may eat those that have jointed legs above their feet, with which to hop on the ground. 22 Of them you may eat: the locust of any kind, the bald locust of any kind, the cricket of any kind, and the grasshopper of any kind. 23 But all other winged insects that have four feet are detestable to you.

    24 “And by these you shall become unclean. Whoever touches their carcass shall be unclean until the evening, 25 and whoever carries any part of their carcass shall wash his clothes and be unclean until the evening. 26 Every animal that parts the hoof but is not cloven-footed or does not chew the cud is unclean to you. Everyone who touches them shall be unclean. 27 And all that walk on their paws, among the animals that go on all fours, are unclean to you. Whoever touches their carcass shall be unclean until the evening, 28 and he who carries their carcass shall wash his clothes and be unclean until the evening; they are unclean to you.

    29 “And these are unclean to you among the swarming things that swarm on the ground: the mole rat, the mouse, the great lizard of any kind, 30 the gecko, the monitor lizard, the lizard, the sand lizard, and the chameleon. 31 These are unclean to you among all that swarm. Whoever touches them when they are dead shall be unclean until the evening. 32 And anything on which any of them falls when they are dead shall be unclean, whether it is an article of wood or a garment or a skin or a sack, any article that is used for any purpose. It must be put into water, and it shall be unclean until the evening; then it shall be clean. 33 And if any of them falls into any earthenware vessel, all that is in it shall be unclean, and you shall break it. 34 Any food in it that could be eaten, on which water comes, shall be unclean. And all drink that could be drunk from every such vessel shall be unclean. 35 And everything on which any part of their carcass falls shall be unclean. Whether oven or stove, it shall be broken in pieces. They are unclean and shall remain unclean for you. 36 Nevertheless, a spring or a cistern holding water shall be clean, but whoever touches a carcass in them shall be unclean. 37 And if any part of their carcass falls upon any seed grain that is to be sown, it is clean, 38 but if water is put on the seed and any part of their carcass falls on it, it is unclean to you.

    39 “And if any animal which you may eat dies, whoever touches its carcass shall be unclean until the evening, 40 and whoever eats of its carcass shall wash his clothes and be unclean until the evening. And whoever carries the carcass shall wash his clothes and be unclean until the evening.

    41 “Every swarming thing that swarms on the ground is detestable; it shall not be eaten. 42 Whatever goes on its belly, and whatever goes on all fours, or whatever has many feet, any swarming thing that swarms on the ground, you shall not eat, for they are detestable. 43 You shall not make yourselves detestable with any swarming thing that swarms, and you shall not defile yourselves with them, and become unclean through them. 44 For I am the LORD your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. You shall not defile yourselves with any swarming thing that crawls on the ground. 45 For I am the LORD who brought you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.”

    46 This is the law about beast and bird and every living creature that moves through the waters and every creature that swarms on the ground, 47 to make a distinction between the unclean and the clean and between the living creature that may be eaten and the living creature that may not be eaten.

    Footnotes

    [1] 11:13 Or things that fly; compare Genesis 1:20


    [2] 11:13 The identity of many of these birds is uncertain

    (ESV)

    Chronicles and Prophets:
    Isaiah 9:8–10:34
    Isaiah 9:8–10:34 (Listen)
    Judgment on Arrogance and Oppression

    8   The Lord has sent a word against Jacob,
        and it will fall on Israel;
    9   and all the people will know,
        Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria,
        who say in pride and in arrogance of heart:
    10   “The bricks have fallen,
        but we will build with dressed stones;
      the sycamores have been cut down,
        but we will put cedars in their place.”
    11   But the LORD raises the adversaries of Rezin against him,
        and stirs up his enemies.
    12   The Syrians on the east and the Philistines on the west
        devour Israel with open mouth.
      For all this his anger has not turned away,
        and his hand is stretched out still.
    13   The people did not turn to him who struck them,
        nor inquire of the LORD of hosts.
    14   So the LORD cut off from Israel head and tail,
        palm branch and reed in one day—
    15   the elder and honored man is the head,
        and the prophet who teaches lies is the tail;
    16   for those who guide this people have been leading them astray,
        and those who are guided by them are swallowed up.
    17   Therefore the Lord does not rejoice over their young men,
        and has no compassion on their fatherless and widows;
      for everyone is godless and an evildoer,
        and every mouth speaks folly.Or speaks disgraceful things">1
      For all this his anger has not turned away,
        and his hand is stretched out still.
    18   For wickedness burns like a fire;
        it consumes briers and thorns;
      it kindles the thickets of the forest,
        and they roll upward in a column of smoke.
    19   Through the wrath of the LORD of hosts
        the land is scorched,
      and the people are like fuel for the fire;
        no one spares another.
    20   They slice meat on the right, but are still hungry,
        and they devour on the left, but are not satisfied;
      each devours the flesh of his own arm,
    21   Manasseh devours Ephraim, and Ephraim devours Manasseh;
        together they are against Judah.
      For all this his anger has not turned away,
        and his hand is stretched out still.
    10   Woe to those who decree iniquitous decrees,
        and the writers who keep writing oppression,
    2   to turn aside the needy from justice
        and to rob the poor of my people of their right,
      that widows may be their spoil,
        and that they may make the fatherless their prey!
    3   What will you do on the day of punishment,
        in the ruin that will come from afar?
      To whom will you flee for help,
        and where will you leave your wealth?
    4   Nothing remains but to crouch among the prisoners
        or fall among the slain.
      For all this his anger has not turned away,
        and his hand is stretched out still.

    Judgment on Arrogant Assyria

    5   Woe to Assyria, the rod of my anger;
        the staff in their hands is my fury!
    6   Against a godless nation I send him,
        and against the people of my wrath I command him,
      to take spoil and seize plunder,
        and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.
    7   But he does not so intend,
        and his heart does not so think;
      but it is in his heart to destroy,
        and to cut off nations not a few;
    8   for he says:
      “Are not my commanders all kings?
    9   Is not Calno like Carchemish?
        Is not Hamath like Arpad?
        Is not Samaria like Damascus?
    10   As my hand has reached to the kingdoms of the idols,
        whose carved images were greater than those of Jerusalem and Samaria,
    11   shall I not do to Jerusalem and her idols
        as I have done to Samaria and her images?”

    12 When the Lord has finished all his work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, heHebrew I">2 will punish the speechHebrew fruit">3 of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria and the boastful look in his eyes. 13 For he says:

      “By the strength of my hand I have done it,
        and by my wisdom, for I have understanding;
      I remove the boundaries of peoples,
        and plunder their treasures;
        like a bull I bring down those who sit on thrones.
    14   My hand has found like a nest
        the wealth of the peoples;
      and as one gathers eggs that have been forsaken,
        so I have gathered all the earth;
      and there was none that moved a wing
        or opened the mouth or chirped.”
    15   Shall the axe boast over him who hews with it,
        or the saw magnify itself against him who wields it?
      As if a rod should wield him who lifts it,
        or as if a staff should lift him who is not wood!
    16   Therefore the Lord GOD of hosts
        will send wasting sickness among his stout warriors,
      and under his glory a burning will be kindled,
        like the burning of fire.
    17   The light of Israel will become a fire,
        and his Holy One a flame,
      and it will burn and devour
        his thorns and briers in one day.
    18   The glory of his forest and of his fruitful land
        the LORD will destroy, both soul and body,
        and it will be as when a sick man wastes away.
    19   The remnant of the trees of his forest will be so few
        that a child can write them down.

    The Remnant of Israel Will Return

    20 In that day the remnant of Israel and the survivors of the house of Jacob will no more lean on him who struck them, but will lean on the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth. 21 A remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the mighty God. 22 For though your people Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will return. Destruction is decreed, overflowing with righteousness. 23 For the Lord GOD of hosts will make a full end, as decreed, in the midst of all the earth.

    24 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD of hosts: “O my people, who dwell in Zion, be not afraid of the Assyrians when they strike with the rod and lift up their staff against you as the Egyptians did. 25 For in a very little while my fury will come to an end, and my anger will be directed to their destruction. 26 And the LORD of hosts will wield against them a whip, as when he struck Midian at the rock of Oreb. And his staff will be over the sea, and he will lift it as he did in Egypt. 27 And in that day his burden will depart from your shoulder, and his yoke from your neck; and the yoke will be broken because of the fat.”The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain">4

    28   He has come to Aiath;
      he has passed through Migron;
        at Michmash he stores his baggage;
    29   they have crossed over the pass;
        at Geba they lodge for the night;
      Ramah trembles;
        Gibeah of Saul has fled.
    30   Cry aloud, O daughter of Gallim!
        Give attention, O Laishah!
        O poor Anathoth!
    31   Madmenah is in flight;
        the inhabitants of Gebim flee for safety.
    32   This very day he will halt at Nob;
        he will shake his fist
        at the mount of the daughter of Zion,
        the hill of Jerusalem.
    33   Behold, the Lord GOD of hosts
        will lop the boughs with terrifying power;
      the great in height will be hewn down,
        and the lofty will be brought low.
    34   He will cut down the thickets of the forest with an axe,
        and Lebanon will fall by the Majestic One.

    Footnotes

    [1] 9:17 Or speaks disgraceful things


    [2] 10:12 Hebrew I

    [3] 10:12 Hebrew fruit

    [4] 10:27 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain

    (ESV)

    Gospels and Epistles:
    2 Corinthians 6:11–7:16
    2 Corinthians 6:11–7:16 (Listen)

    11 We have spoken freely to you,Greek Our mouth is open to you">1 Corinthians; our heart is wide open. 12 You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections. 13 In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also.

    The Temple of the Living God

    14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 What accord has Christ with Belial?Greek Beliar">2 Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said,

      “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them,
        and I will be their God,
        and they shall be my people.
    17   Therefore go out from their midst,
        and be separate from them, says the Lord,
      and touch no unclean thing;
        then I will welcome you,
    18   and I will be a father to you,
        and you shall be sons and daughters to me,
      says the Lord Almighty.”

    7 Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of bodyGreek flesh">3 and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.

    Paul’s Joy

    2 Make room in your heartsGreek lacks in your hearts">4 for us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have taken advantage of no one. 3 I do not say this to condemn you, for I said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together. 4 I am acting with great boldness toward you; I have great pride in you; I am filled with comfort. In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy.

    5 For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn—fighting without and fear within. 6 But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 7 and not only by his coming but also by the comfort with which he was comforted by you, as he told us of your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced still more. 8 For even if I made you grieve with my letter, I do not regret it—though I did regret it, for I see that that letter grieved you, though only for a while. 9 As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us.

    10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. 11 For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter. 12 So although I wrote to you, it was not for the sake of the one who did the wrong, nor for the sake of the one who suffered the wrong, but in order that your earnestness for us might be revealed to you in the sight of God. 13 Therefore we are comforted.

    And besides our own comfort, we rejoiced still more at the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all. 14 For whatever boasts I made to him about you, I was not put to shame. But just as everything we said to you was true, so also our boasting before Titus has proved true. 15 And his affection for you is even greater, as he remembers the obedience of you all, how you received him with fear and trembling. 16 I rejoice, because I have complete confidence in you.

    Footnotes

    [1] 6:11 Greek Our mouth is open to you


    [2] 6:15 Greek Beliar

    [3] 7:1 Greek flesh

    [4] 7:2 Greek lacks in your hearts

    (ESV)

    21 min
  • April 13: Psalm 103; Leviticus 10; Isaiah 9:1–7; 2 Corinthians 5:11–6:10
    Psalms and Wisdom:
    Psalm 103
    Psalm 103 (Listen)
    Bless the Lord, O My Soul
    Of David.

    103   Bless the LORD, O my soul,
        and all that is within me,
        bless his holy name!
    2   Bless the LORD, O my soul,
        and forget not all his benefits,
    3   who forgives all your iniquity,
        who heals all your diseases,
    4   who redeems your life from the pit,
        who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
    5   who satisfies you with good
        so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
    6   The LORD works righteousness
        and justice for all who are oppressed.
    7   He made known his ways to Moses,
        his acts to the people of Israel.
    8   The LORD is merciful and gracious,
        slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
    9   He will not always chide,
        nor will he keep his anger forever.
    10   He does not deal with us according to our sins,
        nor repay us according to our iniquities.
    11   For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
        so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
    12   as far as the east is from the west,
        so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
    13   As a father shows compassion to his children,
        so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him.
    14   For he knows our frame;Or knows how we are formed">1
        he remembers that we are dust.
    15   As for man, his days are like grass;
        he flourishes like a flower of the field;
    16   for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
        and its place knows it no more.
    17   But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him,
        and his righteousness to children’s children,
    18   to those who keep his covenant
        and remember to do his commandments.
    19   The LORD has established his throne in the heavens,
        and his kingdom rules over all.
    20   Bless the LORD, O you his angels,
        you mighty ones who do his word,
        obeying the voice of his word!
    21   Bless the LORD, all his hosts,
        his ministers, who do his will!
    22   Bless the LORD, all his works,
        in all places of his dominion.
      Bless the LORD, O my soul!

    Footnotes

    [1] 103:14 Or knows how we are formed

    (ESV)

    Pentateuch and History:
    Leviticus 10
    Leviticus 10 (Listen)
    The Death of Nadab and Abihu

    10 Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it and laid incense on it and offered unauthorizedOr strange">1 fire before the LORD, which he had not commanded them. 2 And fire came out from before the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD. 3 Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the LORD has said: ‘Among those who are near me I will be sanctified, and before all the people I will be glorified.’” And Aaron held his peace.

    4 And Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Uzziel the uncle of Aaron, and said to them, “Come near; carry your brothers away from the front of the sanctuary and out of the camp.” 5 So they came near and carried them in their coats out of the camp, as Moses had said. 6 And Moses said to Aaron and to Eleazar and Ithamar his sons, “Do not let the hair of your heads hang loose, and do not tear your clothes, lest you die, and wrath come upon all the congregation; but let your brothers, the whole house of Israel, bewail the burning that the LORD has kindled. 7 And do not go outside the entrance of the tent of meeting, lest you die, for the anointing oil of the LORD is upon you.” And they did according to the word of Moses.

    8 And the LORD spoke to Aaron, saying, 9 “Drink no wine or strong drink, you or your sons with you, when you go into the tent of meeting, lest you die. It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations. 10 You are to distinguish between the holy and the common, and between the unclean and the clean, 11 and you are to teach the people of Israel all the statutes that the LORD has spoken to them by Moses.”

    12 Moses spoke to Aaron and to Eleazar and Ithamar, his surviving sons: “Take the grain offering that is left of the LORD’s food offerings, and eat it unleavened beside the altar, for it is most holy. 13 You shall eat it in a holy place, because it is your due and your sons’ due, from the LORD’s food offerings, for so I am commanded. 14 But the breast that is waved and the thigh that is contributed you shall eat in a clean place, you and your sons and your daughters with you, for they are given as your due and your sons’ due from the sacrifices of the peace offerings of the people of Israel. 15 The thigh that is contributed and the breast that is waved they shall bring with the food offerings of the fat pieces to wave for a wave offering before the LORD, and it shall be yours and your sons’ with you as a due forever, as the LORD has commanded.”

    16 Now Moses diligently inquired about the goat of the sin offering, and behold, it was burned up! And he was angry with Eleazar and Ithamar, the surviving sons of Aaron, saying, 17 “Why have you not eaten the sin offering in the place of the sanctuary, since it is a thing most holy and has been given to you that you may bear the iniquity of the congregation, to make atonement for them before the LORD? 18 Behold, its blood was not brought into the inner part of the sanctuary. You certainly ought to have eaten it in the sanctuary, as I commanded.” 19 And Aaron said to Moses, “Behold, today they have offered their sin offering and their burnt offering before the LORD, and yet such things as these have happened to me! If I had eaten the sin offering today, would the LORD have approved?” 20 And when Moses heard that, he approved.

    Footnotes

    [1] 10:1 Or strange

    (ESV)

    Chronicles and Prophets:
    Isaiah 9:1–7
    Isaiah 9:1–7 (Listen)
    For to Us a Child Is Born

    9 Ch 8:23 in Hebrew">1 But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.Or of the Gentiles">2

    2   Ch 9:1 in Hebrew">3 The people who walked in darkness
        have seen a great light;
      those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
        on them has light shone.
    3   You have multiplied the nation;
        you have increased its joy;
      they rejoice before you
        as with joy at the harvest,
        as they are glad when they divide the spoil.
    4   For the yoke of his burden,
        and the staff for his shoulder,
        the rod of his oppressor,
        you have broken as on the day of Midian.
    5   For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult
        and every garment rolled in blood
        will be burned as fuel for the fire.
    6   For to us a child is born,
        to us a son is given;
      and the government shall be uponOr is upon">4 his shoulder,
        and his name shall be calledOr is called">5
      Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
        Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
    7   Of the increase of his government and of peace
        there will be no end,
      on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
        to establish it and to uphold it
      with justice and with righteousness
        from this time forth and forevermore.
      The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

    Footnotes

    [1] 9:1 Ch 8:23 in Hebrew


    [2] 9:1 Or of the Gentiles

    [3] 9:2 Ch 9:1 in Hebrew

    [4] 9:6 Or is upon

    [5] 9:6 Or is called

    (ESV)

    Gospels and Epistles:
    2 Corinthians 5:11–6:10
    2 Corinthians 5:11–6:10 (Listen)
    The Ministry of Reconciliation

    11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. 12 We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. 13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

    16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.Or creature">1 The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconcilingOr God was in Christ, reconciling">2 the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

    6 Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For he says,

      “In a favorable time I listened to you,
        and in a day of salvation I have helped you.”

    Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 3 We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, 4 but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, 5 beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; 6 by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; 7 by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; 8 through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; 9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.

    Footnotes

    [1] 5:17 Or creature


    [2] 5:19 Or God was in Christ, reconciling

    (ESV)

    11 min
  • April 12: Psalm 102; Leviticus 9; Isaiah 7–8; 2 Corinthians 4–5:10
    Psalms and Wisdom:
    Psalm 102
    Psalm 102 (Listen)
    Do Not Hide Your Face from Me
    A Prayer of one afflicted, when he is faint and pours out his complaint before the LORD.

    102   Hear my prayer, O LORD;
      let my cry come to you!
    2   Do not hide your face from me
        in the day of my distress!
      Incline your ear to me;
        answer me speedily in the day when I call!
    3   For my days pass away like smoke,
        and my bones burn like a furnace.
    4   My heart is struck down like grass and has withered;
        I forget to eat my bread.
    5   Because of my loud groaning
        my bones cling to my flesh.
    6   I am like a desert owl of the wilderness,
        like an owlThe precise identity of these birds is uncertain">1 of the waste places;
    7   I lie awake;
        I am like a lonely sparrow on the housetop.
    8   All the day my enemies taunt me;
        those who deride me use my name for a curse.
    9   For I eat ashes like bread
        and mingle tears with my drink,
    10   because of your indignation and anger;
        for you have taken me up and thrown me down.
    11   My days are like an evening shadow;
        I wither away like grass.
    12   But you, O LORD, are enthroned forever;
        you are remembered throughout all generations.
    13   You will arise and have pity on Zion;
        it is the time to favor her;
        the appointed time has come.
    14   For your servants hold her stones dear
        and have pity on her dust.
    15   Nations will fear the name of the LORD,
        and all the kings of the earth will fear your glory.
    16   For the LORD builds up Zion;
        he appears in his glory;
    17   he regards the prayer of the destitute
        and does not despise their prayer.
    18   Let this be recorded for a generation to come,
        so that a people yet to be created may praise the LORD:
    19   that he looked down from his holy height;
        from heaven the LORD looked at the earth,
    20   to hear the groans of the prisoners,
        to set free those who were doomed to die,
    21   that they may declare in Zion the name of the LORD,
        and in Jerusalem his praise,
    22   when peoples gather together,
        and kingdoms, to worship the LORD.
    23   He has broken my strength in midcourse;
        he has shortened my days.
    24   “O my God,” I say, “take me not away
        in the midst of my days—
      you whose years endure
        throughout all generations!”
    25   Of old you laid the foundation of the earth,
        and the heavens are the work of your hands.
    26   They will perish, but you will remain;
        they will all wear out like a garment.
      You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away,
    27     but you are the same, and your years have no end.
    28   The children of your servants shall dwell secure;
        their offspring shall be established before you.

    Footnotes

    [1] 102:6 The precise identity of these birds is uncertain

    (ESV)

    Pentateuch and History:
    Leviticus 9
    Leviticus 9 (Listen)
    The Lord Accepts Aaron’s Offering

    9 On the eighth day Moses called Aaron and his sons and the elders of Israel, 2 and he said to Aaron, “Take for yourself a bull calf for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering, both without blemish, and offer them before the LORD. 3 And say to the people of Israel, ‘Take a male goat for a sin offering, and a calf and a lamb, both a year old without blemish, for a burnt offering, 4 and an ox and a ram for peace offerings, to sacrifice before the LORD, and a grain offering mixed with oil, for today the LORD will appear to you.’” 5 And they brought what Moses commanded in front of the tent of meeting, and all the congregation drew near and stood before the LORD. 6 And Moses said, “This is the thing that the LORD commanded you to do, that the glory of the LORD may appear to you.” 7 Then Moses said to Aaron, “Draw near to the altar and offer your sin offering and your burnt offering and make atonement for yourself and for the people, and bring the offering of the people and make atonement for them, as the LORD has commanded.”

    8 So Aaron drew near to the altar and killed the calf of the sin offering, which was for himself. 9 And the sons of Aaron presented the blood to him, and he dipped his finger in the blood and put it on the horns of the altar and poured out the blood at the base of the altar. 10 But the fat and the kidneys and the long lobe of the liver from the sin offering he burned on the altar, as the LORD commanded Moses. 11 The flesh and the skin he burned up with fire outside the camp.

    12 Then he killed the burnt offering, and Aaron’s sons handed him the blood, and he threw it against the sides of the altar. 13 And they handed the burnt offering to him, piece by piece, and the head, and he burned them on the altar. 14 And he washed the entrails and the legs and burned them with the burnt offering on the altar.

    15 Then he presented the people’s offering and took the goat of the sin offering that was for the people and killed it and offered it as a sin offering, like the first one. 16 And he presented the burnt offering and offered it according to the rule. 17 And he presented the grain offering, took a handful of it, and burned it on the altar, besides the burnt offering of the morning.

    18 Then he killed the ox and the ram, the sacrifice of peace offerings for the people. And Aaron’s sons handed him the blood, and he threw it against the sides of the altar. 19 But the fat pieces of the ox and of the ram, the fat tail and that which covers the entrails and the kidneys and the long lobe of the liver—20 they put the fat pieces on the breasts, and he burned the fat pieces on the altar, 21 but the breasts and the right thigh Aaron waved for a wave offering before the LORD, as Moses commanded.

    22 Then Aaron lifted up his hands toward the people and blessed them, and he came down from offering the sin offering and the burnt offering and the peace offerings. 23 And Moses and Aaron went into the tent of meeting, and when they came out they blessed the people, and the glory of the LORD appeared to all the people. 24 And fire came out from before the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the pieces of fat on the altar, and when all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces.

    (ESV)

    Chronicles and Prophets:
    Isaiah 7–8
    Isaiah 7–8 (Listen)
    Isaiah Sent to King Ahaz

    7 In the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, son of Uzziah, king of Judah, Rezin the king of Syria and Pekah the son of Remaliah the king of Israel came up to Jerusalem to wage war against it, but could not yet mount an attack against it. 2 When the house of David was told, “Syria is in league withHebrew Syria has rested upon">1 Ephraim,” the heart of AhazHebrew his heart">2 and the heart of his people shook as the trees of the forest shake before the wind.

    3 And the LORD said to Isaiah, “Go out to meet Ahaz, you and Shear-jashubShear-jashub means A remnant shall return">3 your son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool on the highway to the Washer’s Field. 4 And say to him, ‘Be careful, be quiet, do not fear, and do not let your heart be faint because of these two smoldering stumps of firebrands, at the fierce anger of Rezin and Syria and the son of Remaliah. 5 Because Syria, with Ephraim and the son of Remaliah, has devised evil against you, saying, 6 “Let us go up against Judah and terrify it, and let us conquer itHebrew let us split it open">4 for ourselves, and set up the son of Tabeel as king in the midst of it,” 7 thus says the Lord GOD:

      “‘It shall not stand,
        and it shall not come to pass.
    8   For the head of Syria is Damascus,
        and the head of Damascus is Rezin.
      And within sixty-five years
        Ephraim will be shattered from being a people.
    9   And the head of Ephraim is Samaria,
        and the head of Samaria is the son of Remaliah.
      If youThe Hebrew for you is plural in verses 9, 13, 14">5 are not firm in faith,
        you will not be firm at all.’”

    The Sign of Immanuel

    10 Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz: 11 “Ask a sign of the LORD yourThe Hebrew for you and your is singular in verses 11, 16, 17">6 God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.” 12 But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, and I will not put the LORD to the test.” 13 And heThat is, Isaiah">7 said, “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.Immanuel means God is with us">8 15 He shall eat curds and honey when he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. 16 For before the boy knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land whose two kings you dread will be deserted. 17 The LORD will bring upon you and upon your people and upon your father’s house such days as have not come since the day that Ephraim departed from Judah—the king of Assyria!”

    18 In that day the LORD will whistle for the fly that is at the end of the streams of Egypt, and for the bee that is in the land of Assyria. 19 And they will all come and settle in the steep ravines, and in the clefts of the rocks, and on all the thornbushes, and on all the pastures.Or watering holes, or brambles">9

    20 In that day the Lord will shave with a razor that is hired beyond the RiverThat is, the Euphrates">10—with the king of Assyria—the head and the hair of the feet, and it will sweep away the beard also.

    21 In that day a man will keep alive a young cow and two sheep, 22 and because of the abundance of milk that they give, he will eat curds, for everyone who is left in the land will eat curds and honey.

    23 In that day every place where there used to be a thousand vines, worth a thousand shekelsA shekel was about 2/5 ounce or 11 grams">11 of silver, will become briers and thorns. 24 With bow and arrows a man will come there, for all the land will be briers and thorns. 25 And as for all the hills that used to be hoed with a hoe, you will not come there for fear of briers and thorns, but they will become a place where cattle are let loose and where sheep tread.

    The Coming Assyrian Invasion

    8 Then the LORD said to me, “Take a large tablet and write on it in common characters,Hebrew with a man’s stylus">12 ‘Belonging to Maher-shalal-hash-baz.’Maher-shalal-hash-baz means The spoil speeds, the prey hastens">13 2 And I will get reliable witnesses, Uriah the priest and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah, to attest for me.”

    3 And I went to the prophetess, and she conceived and bore a son. Then the LORD said to me, “Call his name Maher-shalal-hash-baz; 4 for before the boy knows how to cry ‘My father’ or ‘My mother,’ the wealth of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria will be carried away before the king of Assyria.”

    5 The LORD spoke to me again: 6 “Because this people has refused the waters of Shiloah that flow gently, and rejoice over Rezin and the son of Remaliah, 7 therefore, behold, the Lord is bringing up against them the waters of the River,That is, the Euphrates">14 mighty and many, the king of Assyria and all his glory. And it will rise over all its channels and go over all its banks, 8 and it will sweep on into Judah, it will overflow and pass on, reaching even to the neck, and its outspread wings will fill the breadth of your land, O Immanuel.”

    9   Be broken,Or Be evil">15 you peoples, and be shattered;Or dismayed">16
        give ear, all you far countries;
      strap on your armor and be shattered;
        strap on your armor and be shattered.
    10   Take counsel together, but it will come to nothing;
        speak a word, but it will not stand,
        for God is with us.The Hebrew for God is with us is Immanuel">17

    Fear God, Wait for the Lord

    11 For the LORD spoke thus to me with his strong hand upon me, and warned me not to walk in the way of this people, saying: 12 “Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. 13 But the LORD of hosts, him you shall honor as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. 14 And he will become a sanctuary and a stone of offense and a rock of stumbling to both houses of Israel, a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 15 And many shall stumble on it. They shall fall and be broken; they shall be snared and taken.”

    16 Bind up the testimony; seal the teachingOr law; also verse 20">18 among my disciples. 17 I will wait for the LORD, who is hiding his face from the house of Jacob, and I will hope in him. 18 Behold, I and the children whom the LORD has given me are signs and portents in Israel from the LORD of hosts, who dwells on Mount Zion. 19 And when they say to you, “Inquire of the mediums and the necromancers who chirp and mutter,” should not a people inquire of their God? Should they inquire of the dead on behalf of the living? 20 To the teaching and to the testimony! If they will not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn. 21 They will pass through the land,Hebrew it">19 greatly distressed and hungry. And when they are hungry, they will be enraged and will speak contemptuously againstOr speak contemptuously by">20 their king and their God, and turn their faces upward. 22 And they will look to the earth, but behold, distress and darkness, the gloom of anguish. And they will be thrust into thick darkness.

    Footnotes

    [1] 7:2 Hebrew Syria has rested upon


    [2] 7:2 Hebrew his heart

    [3] 7:3 Shear-jashub means A remnant shall return

    [4] 7:6 Hebrew let us split it open

    [5] 7:9 The Hebrew for you is plural in verses 9, 13, 14

    [6] 7:11 The Hebrew for you and your is singular in verses 11, 16, 17

    [7] 7:13 That is, Isaiah

    [8] 7:14 Immanuel means God is with us

    [9] 7:19 Or watering holes, or brambles

    [10] 7:20 That is, the Euphrates

    [11] 7:23 A shekel was about 2/5 ounce or 11 grams

    [12] 8:1 Hebrew with a man’s stylus

    [13] 8:1 Maher-shalal-hash-baz means The spoil speeds, the prey hastens

    [14] 8:7 That is, the Euphrates

    [15] 8:9 Or Be evil

    [16] 8:9 Or dismayed

    [17] 8:10 The Hebrew for God is with us is Immanuel

    [18] 8:16 Or law; also verse 20

    [19] 8:21 Hebrew it

    [20] 8:21 Or speak contemptuously by

    (ESV)

    Gospels and Epistles:
    2 Corinthians 4–5:10
    2 Corinthians 4–5:10 (Listen)
    The Light of the Gospel

    4 Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God,Greek having this ministry as we have received mercy">1 we do not lose heart. 2 But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practiceGreek to walk in">2 cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servantsOr slaves (for the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface)">3 for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

    Treasure in Jars of Clay

    7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 11 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death is at work in us, but life in you.

    13 Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, 14 knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. 15 For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.

    16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer selfGreek man">4 is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

    Our Heavenly Dwelling

    5 For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, 3 if indeed by putting it onSome manuscripts putting it off">5 we may not be found naked. 4 For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

    6 So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

    Footnotes

    [1] 4:1 Greek having this ministry as we have received mercy


    [2] 4:2 Greek to walk in

    [3] 4:5 Or slaves (for the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface)

    [4] 4:16 Greek man

    [5] 5:3 Some manuscripts putting it off

    (ESV)

    17 min
  • April 11: Psalm 101; Leviticus 8; Isaiah 6; 2 Corinthians 2:12–3:18
    Psalms and Wisdom:
    Psalm 101
    Psalm 101 (Listen)
    I Will Walk with Integrity
    A Psalm of David.

    101   I will sing of steadfast love and justice;
        to you, O LORD, I will make music.
    2   I will ponder the way that is blameless.
        Oh when will you come to me?
      I will walk with integrity of heart
        within my house;
    3   I will not set before my eyes
        anything that is worthless.
      I hate the work of those who fall away;
        it shall not cling to me.
    4   A perverse heart shall be far from me;
        I will know nothing of evil.
    5   Whoever slanders his neighbor secretly
        I will destroy.
      Whoever has a haughty look and an arrogant heart
        I will not endure.
    6   I will look with favor on the faithful in the land,
        that they may dwell with me;
      he who walks in the way that is blameless
        shall minister to me.
    7   No one who practices deceit
        shall dwell in my house;
      no one who utters lies
        shall continue before my eyes.
    8   Morning by morning I will destroy
        all the wicked in the land,
      cutting off all the evildoers
        from the city of the LORD.

    (ESV)

    Pentateuch and History:
    Leviticus 8
    Leviticus 8 (Listen)
    Consecration of Aaron and His Sons

    8 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments and the anointing oil and the bull of the sin offering and the two rams and the basket of unleavened bread. 3 And assemble all the congregation at the entrance of the tent of meeting.” 4 And Moses did as the LORD commanded him, and the congregation was assembled at the entrance of the tent of meeting.

    5 And Moses said to the congregation, “This is the thing that the LORD has commanded to be done.” 6 And Moses brought Aaron and his sons and washed them with water. 7 And he put the coat on him and tied the sash around his waist and clothed him with the robe and put the ephod on him and tied the skillfully woven band of the ephod around him, binding it to him with the band.Hebrew with it">1 8 And he placed the breastpiece on him, and in the breastpiece he put the Urim and the Thummim. 9 And he set the turban on his head, and on the turban, in front, he set the golden plate, the holy crown, as the LORD commanded Moses.

    10 Then Moses took the anointing oil and anointed the tabernacle and all that was in it, and consecrated them. 11 And he sprinkled some of it on the altar seven times, and anointed the altar and all its utensils and the basin and its stand, to consecrate them. 12 And he poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron’s head and anointed him to consecrate him. 13 And Moses brought Aaron’s sons and clothed them with coats and tied sashes around their waists and bound caps on them, as the LORD commanded Moses.

    14 Then he brought the bull of the sin offering, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the bull of the sin offering. 15 And heProbably Aaron or his representative; possibly Moses; also verses 16–23">2 killed it, and Moses took the blood, and with his finger put it on the horns of the altar around it and purified the altar and poured out the blood at the base of the altar and consecrated it to make atonement for it. 16 And he took all the fat that was on the entrails and the long lobe of the liver and the two kidneys with their fat, and Moses burned them on the altar. 17 But the bull and its skin and its flesh and its dung he burned up with fire outside the camp, as the LORD commanded Moses.

    18 Then he presented the ram of the burnt offering, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the ram. 19 And he killed it, and Moses threw the blood against the sides of the altar. 20 He cut the ram into pieces, and Moses burned the head and the pieces and the fat. 21 He washed the entrails and the legs with water, and Moses burned the whole ram on the altar. It was a burnt offering with a pleasing aroma, a food offering for the LORD, as the LORD commanded Moses.

    22 Then he presented the other ram, the ram of ordination, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the ram. 23 And he killed it, and Moses took some of its blood and put it on the lobe of Aaron’s right ear and on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot. 24 Then he presented Aaron’s sons, and Moses put some of the blood on the lobes of their right ears and on the thumbs of their right hands and on the big toes of their right feet. And Moses threw the blood against the sides of the altar. 25 Then he took the fat and the fat tail and all the fat that was on the entrails and the long lobe of the liver and the two kidneys with their fat and the right thigh, 26 and out of the basket of unleavened bread that was before the LORD he took one unleavened loaf and one loaf of bread with oil and one wafer and placed them on the pieces of fat and on the right thigh. 27 And he put all these in the hands of Aaron and in the hands of his sons and waved them as a wave offering before the LORD. 28 Then Moses took them from their hands and burned them on the altar with the burnt offering. This was an ordination offering with a pleasing aroma, a food offering to the LORD. 29 And Moses took the breast and waved it for a wave offering before the LORD. It was Moses’ portion of the ram of ordination, as the LORD commanded Moses.

    30 Then Moses took some of the anointing oil and of the blood that was on the altar and sprinkled it on Aaron and his garments, and also on his sons and his sons’ garments. So he consecrated Aaron and his garments, and his sons and his sons’ garments with him.

    31 And Moses said to Aaron and his sons, “Boil the flesh at the entrance of the tent of meeting, and there eat it and the bread that is in the basket of ordination offerings, as I commanded, saying, ‘Aaron and his sons shall eat it.’ 32 And what remains of the flesh and the bread you shall burn up with fire. 33 And you shall not go outside the entrance of the tent of meeting for seven days, until the days of your ordination are completed, for it will take seven days to ordain you. 34 As has been done today, the LORD has commanded to be done to make atonement for you. 35 At the entrance of the tent of meeting you shall remain day and night for seven days, performing what the LORD has charged, so that you do not die, for so I have been commanded.” 36 And Aaron and his sons did all the things that the LORD commanded by Moses.

    Footnotes

    [1] 8:7 Hebrew with it


    [2] 8:15 Probably Aaron or his representative; possibly Moses; also verses 16–23

    (ESV)

    Chronicles and Prophets:
    Isaiah 6
    Isaiah 6 (Listen)
    Isaiah’s Vision of the Lord

    6 In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the trainOr hem">1 of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one called to another and said:

      “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts;
      the whole earth is full of his glory!”Or may his glory fill the whole earth">2

    4 And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!”

    6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 And he touched my mouth and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.”

    Isaiah’s Commission from the Lord

    8 And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.” 9 And he said, “Go, and say to this people:

      “‘Keep on hearing,Or Hear indeed">3 but do not understand;
      keep on seeing,Or see indeed">4 but do not perceive.’
    10   Make the heart of this people dull,Hebrew fat">5
        and their ears heavy,
        and blind their eyes;
      lest they see with their eyes,
        and hear with their ears,
      and understand with their hearts,
        and turn and be healed.”
    11   Then I said, “How long, O Lord?”
      And he said:
      “Until cities lie waste
        without inhabitant,
      and houses without people,
        and the land is a desolate waste,
    12   and the LORD removes people far away,
        and the forsaken places are many in the midst of the land.
    13   And though a tenth remain in it,
        it will be burnedOr purged">6 again,
      like a terebinth or an oak,
        whose stump remains
        when it is felled.”
      The holy seedOr offspring">7 is its stump.

    Footnotes

    [1] 6:1 Or hem


    [2] 6:3 Or may his glory fill the whole earth

    [3] 6:9 Or Hear indeed

    [4] 6:9 Or see indeed

    [5] 6:10 Hebrew fat

    [6] 6:13 Or purged

    [7] 6:13 Or offspring

    (ESV)

    Gospels and Epistles:
    2 Corinthians 2:12–3:18
    2 Corinthians 2:12–3:18 (Listen)
    Triumph in Christ

    12 When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, even though a door was opened for me in the Lord, 13 my spirit was not at rest because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I took leave of them and went on to Macedonia.

    14 But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15 For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, 16 to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? 17 For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God’s word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.

    Ministers of the New Covenant

    3 Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you, or from you? 2 You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on ourSome manuscripts your">1 hearts, to be known and read by all. 3 And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.Greek fleshly hearts">2

    4 Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

    7 Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses’ face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? 9 For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory. 10 Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it. 11 For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory.

    12 Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, 13 not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. 14 But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. 15 Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. 16 But when oneGreek he">3 turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. 17 Now the LordOr this Lord">4 is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord,Or reflecting the glory of the Lord">5 are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.Greek from glory to glory">6 For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

    Footnotes

    [1] 3:2 Some manuscripts your


    [2] 3:3 Greek fleshly hearts

    [3] 3:16 Greek he

    [4] 3:17 Or this Lord

    [5] 3:18 Or reflecting the glory of the Lord

    [6] 3:18 Greek from glory to glory

    (ESV)

    12 min
  • April 10: Psalm 100; Leviticus 6:8–7:38; Isaiah 5; 2 Corinthians 1:12–2:11
    Psalms and Wisdom:
    Psalm 100
    Psalm 100 (Listen)
    His Steadfast Love Endures Forever
    A Psalm for giving thanks.

    100   Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth!
    2     Serve the LORD with gladness!
        Come into his presence with singing!
    3   Know that the LORD, he is God!
        It is he who made us, and we are his;Or and not we ourselves">1
        we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
    4   Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
        and his courts with praise!
        Give thanks to him; bless his name!
    5   For the LORD is good;
        his steadfast love endures forever,
        and his faithfulness to all generations.

    Footnotes

    [1] 100:3 Or and not we ourselves

    (ESV)

    Pentateuch and History:
    Leviticus 6:8–7:38
    Leviticus 6:8–7:38 (Listen)
    The Priests and the Offerings

    8 Ch 6:1 in Hebrew">1 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 9 “Command Aaron and his sons, saying, This is the law of the burnt offering. The burnt offering shall be on the hearth on the altar all night until the morning, and the fire of the altar shall be kept burning on it. 10 And the priest shall put on his linen garment and put his linen undergarment on his body, and he shall take up the ashes to which the fire has reduced the burnt offering on the altar and put them beside the altar. 11 Then he shall take off his garments and put on other garments and carry the ashes outside the camp to a clean place. 12 The fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it; it shall not go out. The priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and he shall arrange the burnt offering on it and shall burn on it the fat of the peace offerings. 13 Fire shall be kept burning on the altar continually; it shall not go out.

    14 “And this is the law of the grain offering. The sons of Aaron shall offer it before the LORD in front of the altar. 15 And one shall take from it a handful of the fine flour of the grain offering and its oil and all the frankincense that is on the grain offering and burn this as its memorial portion on the altar, a pleasing aroma to the LORD. 16 And the rest of it Aaron and his sons shall eat. It shall be eaten unleavened in a holy place. In the court of the tent of meeting they shall eat it. 17 It shall not be baked with leaven. I have given it as their portion of my food offerings. It is a thing most holy, like the sin offering and the guilt offering. 18 Every male among the children of Aaron may eat of it, as decreed forever throughout your generations, from the LORD’s food offerings. Whatever touches them shall become holy.”

    19 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 20 “This is the offering that Aaron and his sons shall offer to the LORD on the day when he is anointed: a tenth of an ephahAn ephah was about 3/5 bushel or 22 liters">2 of fine flour as a regular grain offering, half of it in the morning and half in the evening. 21 It shall be made with oil on a griddle. You shall bring it well mixed, in bakedThe meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain">3 pieces like a grain offering, and offer it for a pleasing aroma to the LORD. 22 The priest from among Aaron’s sons, who is anointed to succeed him, shall offer it to the LORD as decreed forever. The whole of it shall be burned. 23 Every grain offering of a priest shall be wholly burned. It shall not be eaten.”

    24 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 25 “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, This is the law of the sin offering. In the place where the burnt offering is killed shall the sin offering be killed before the LORD; it is most holy. 26 The priest who offers it for sin shall eat it. In a holy place it shall be eaten, in the court of the tent of meeting. 27 Whatever touches its flesh shall be holy, and when any of its blood is splashed on a garment, you shall wash that on which it was splashed in a holy place. 28 And the earthenware vessel in which it is boiled shall be broken. But if it is boiled in a bronze vessel, that shall be scoured and rinsed in water. 29 Every male among the priests may eat of it; it is most holy. 30 But no sin offering shall be eaten from which any blood is brought into the tent of meeting to make atonement in the Holy Place; it shall be burned up with fire.

    7 “This is the law of the guilt offering. It is most holy. 2 In the place where they kill the burnt offering they shall kill the guilt offering, and its blood shall be thrown against the sides of the altar. 3 And all its fat shall be offered, the fat tail, the fat that covers the entrails, 4 the two kidneys with the fat that is on them at the loins, and the long lobe of the liver that he shall remove with the kidneys. 5 The priest shall burn them on the altar as a food offering to the LORD; it is a guilt offering. 6 Every male among the priests may eat of it. It shall be eaten in a holy place. It is most holy. 7 The guilt offering is just like the sin offering; there is one law for them. The priest who makes atonement with it shall have it. 8 And the priest who offers any man’s burnt offering shall have for himself the skin of the burnt offering that he has offered. 9 And every grain offering baked in the oven and all that is prepared on a pan or a griddle shall belong to the priest who offers it. 10 And every grain offering, mixed with oil or dry, shall be shared equally among all the sons of Aaron.

    11 “And this is the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings that one may offer to the LORD. 12 If he offers it for a thanksgiving, then he shall offer with the thanksgiving sacrifice unleavened loaves mixed with oil, unleavened wafers smeared with oil, and loaves of fine flour well mixed with oil. 13 With the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving he shall bring his offering with loaves of leavened bread. 14 And from it he shall offer one loaf from each offering, as a gift to the LORD. It shall belong to the priest who throws the blood of the peace offerings. 15 And the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving shall be eaten on the day of his offering. He shall not leave any of it until the morning. 16 But if the sacrifice of his offering is a vow offering or a freewill offering, it shall be eaten on the day that he offers his sacrifice, and on the next day what remains of it shall be eaten. 17 But what remains of the flesh of the sacrifice on the third day shall be burned up with fire. 18 If any of the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offering is eaten on the third day, he who offers it shall not be accepted, neither shall it be credited to him. It is tainted, and he who eats of it shall bear his iniquity.

    19 “Flesh that touches any unclean thing shall not be eaten. It shall be burned up with fire. All who are clean may eat flesh, 20 but the person who eats of the flesh of the sacrifice of the LORD’s peace offerings while an uncleanness is on him, that person shall be cut off from his people. 21 And if anyone touches an unclean thing, whether human uncleanness or an unclean beast or any unclean detestable creature, and then eats some flesh from the sacrifice of the LORD’s peace offerings, that person shall be cut off from his people.”

    22 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 23 “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, You shall eat no fat, of ox or sheep or goat. 24 The fat of an animal that dies of itself and the fat of one that is torn by beasts may be put to any other use, but on no account shall you eat it. 25 For every person who eats of the fat of an animal of which a food offering may be made to the LORD shall be cut off from his people. 26 Moreover, you shall eat no blood whatever, whether of fowl or of animal, in any of your dwelling places. 27 Whoever eats any blood, that person shall be cut off from his people.”

    28 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 29 “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, Whoever offers the sacrifice of his peace offerings to the LORD shall bring his offering to the LORD from the sacrifice of his peace offerings. 30 His own hands shall bring the LORD’s food offerings. He shall bring the fat with the breast, that the breast may be waved as a wave offering before the LORD. 31 The priest shall burn the fat on the altar, but the breast shall be for Aaron and his sons. 32 And the right thigh you shall give to the priest as a contribution from the sacrifice of your peace offerings. 33 Whoever among the sons of Aaron offers the blood of the peace offerings and the fat shall have the right thigh for a portion. 34 For the breast that is waved and the thigh that is contributed I have taken from the people of Israel, out of the sacrifices of their peace offerings, and have given them to Aaron the priest and to his sons, as a perpetual due from the people of Israel. 35 This is the portion of Aaron and of his sons from the LORD’s food offerings, from the day they were presented to serve as priests of the LORD. 36 The LORD commanded this to be given them by the people of Israel, from the day that he anointed them. It is a perpetual due throughout their generations.”

    37 This is the law of the burnt offering, of the grain offering, of the sin offering, of the guilt offering, of the ordination offering, and of the peace offering, 38 which the LORD commanded Moses on Mount Sinai, on the day that he commanded the people of Israel to bring their offerings to the LORD, in the wilderness of Sinai.

    Footnotes

    [1] 6:8 Ch 6:1 in Hebrew


    [2] 6:20 An ephah was about 3/5 bushel or 22 liters

    [3] 6:21 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain

    (ESV)

    Chronicles and Prophets:
    Isaiah 5
    Isaiah 5 (Listen)
    The Vineyard of the Lord Destroyed

    5   Let me sing for my beloved
        my love song concerning his vineyard:
      My beloved had a vineyard
        on a very fertile hill.
    2   He dug it and cleared it of stones,
        and planted it with choice vines;
      he built a watchtower in the midst of it,
        and hewed out a wine vat in it;
      and he looked for it to yield grapes,
        but it yielded wild grapes.
    3   And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem
        and men of Judah,
      judge between me and my vineyard.
    4   What more was there to do for my vineyard,
        that I have not done in it?
      When I looked for it to yield grapes,
        why did it yield wild grapes?
    5   And now I will tell you
        what I will do to my vineyard.
      I will remove its hedge,
        and it shall be devoured;Or grazed over; compare Exodus 22:5">1
      I will break down its wall,
        and it shall be trampled down.
    6   I will make it a waste;
        it shall not be pruned or hoed,
        and briers and thorns shall grow up;
      I will also command the clouds
        that they rain no rain upon it.
    7   For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts
        is the house of Israel,
      and the men of Judah
        are his pleasant planting;
      and he looked for justice,
        but behold, bloodshed;The Hebrew words for justice and bloodshed sound alike">2
      for righteousness,
        but behold, an outcry!The Hebrew words for righteous and outcry sound alike">3

    Woe to the Wicked

    8   Woe to those who join house to house,
        who add field to field,
      until there is no more room,
        and you are made to dwell alone
        in the midst of the land.
    9   The LORD of hosts has sworn in my hearing:
      “Surely many houses shall be desolate,
        large and beautiful houses, without inhabitant.
    10   For ten acresHebrew ten yoke, the area ten yoke of oxen can plow in a day">4 of vineyard shall yield but one bath,
        and a homer of seed shall yield but an ephah.”A bath was about 6 gallons or 22 liters; a homer was about 6 bushels or 220 liters; an ephah was about 3/5 bushel or 22 liters">5
    11   Woe to those who rise early in the morning,
        that they may run after strong drink,
      who tarry late into the evening
        as wine inflames them!
    12   They have lyre and harp,
        tambourine and flute and wine at their feasts,
      but they do not regard the deeds of the LORD,
        or see the work of his hands.
    13   Therefore my people go into exile
        for lack of knowledge;Or without their knowledge">6
      their honored men go hungry,Or die of hunger">7
        and their multitude is parched with thirst.
    14   Therefore Sheol has enlarged its appetite
        and opened its mouth beyond measure,
      and the nobility of JerusalemHebrew her nobility">8 and her multitude will go down,
        her revelers and he who exults in her.
    15   Man is humbled, and each one is brought low,
        and the eyes of the haughtyHebrew high">9 are brought low.
    16   But the LORD of hosts is exaltedHebrew high">10 in justice,
        and the Holy God shows himself holy in righteousness.
    17   Then shall the lambs graze as in their pasture,
        and nomads shall eat among the ruins of the rich.
    18   Woe to those who draw iniquity with cords of falsehood,
        who draw sin as with cart ropes,
    19   who say: “Let him be quick,
        let him speed his work
        that we may see it;
      let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw near,
        and let it come, that we may know it!”
    20   Woe to those who call evil good
        and good evil,
      who put darkness for light
        and light for darkness,
      who put bitter for sweet
        and sweet for bitter!
    21   Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes,
        and shrewd in their own sight!
    22   Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine,
        and valiant men in mixing strong drink,
    23   who acquit the guilty for a bribe,
        and deprive the innocent of his right!
    24   Therefore, as the tongue of fire devours the stubble,
        and as dry grass sinks down in the flame,
      so their root will be as rottenness,
        and their blossom go up like dust;
      for they have rejected the law of the LORD of hosts,
        and have despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.
    25   Therefore the anger of the LORD was kindled against his people,
        and he stretched out his hand against them and struck them,
        and the mountains quaked;
      and their corpses were as refuse
        in the midst of the streets.
      For all this his anger has not turned away,
        and his hand is stretched out still.
    26   He will raise a signal for nations far away,
        and whistle for them from the ends of the earth;
      and behold, quickly, speedily they come!
    27   None is weary, none stumbles,
        none slumbers or sleeps,
      not a waistband is loose,
        not a sandal strap broken;
    28   their arrows are sharp,
        all their bows bent,
      their horses’ hoofs seem like flint,
        and their wheels like the whirlwind.
    29   Their roaring is like a lion,
        like young lions they roar;
      they growl and seize their prey;
        they carry it off, and none can rescue.
    30   They will growl over it on that day,
        like the growling of the sea.
      And if one looks to the land,
        behold, darkness and distress;
      and the light is darkened by its clouds.

    Footnotes

    [1] 5:5 Or grazed over; compare Exodus 22:5


    [2] 5:7 The Hebrew words for justice and bloodshed sound alike

    [3] 5:7 The Hebrew words for righteous and outcry sound alike

    [4] 5:10 Hebrew ten yoke, the area ten yoke of oxen can plow in a day

    [5] 5:10 A bath was about 6 gallons or 22 liters; a homer was about 6 bushels or 220 liters; an ephah was about 3/5 bushel or 22 liters

    [6] 5:13 Or without their knowledge

    [7] 5:13 Or die of hunger

    [8] 5:14 Hebrew her nobility

    [9] 5:15 Hebrew high

    [10] 5:16 Hebrew high

    (ESV)

    Gospels and Epistles:
    2 Corinthians 1:12–2:11
    2 Corinthians 1:12–2:11 (Listen)
    Paul’s Change of Plans

    12 For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicitySome manuscripts holiness">1 and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you. 13 For we are not writing to you anything other than what you read and understand and I hope you will fully understand—14 just as you did partially understand us—that on the day of our Lord Jesus you will boast of us as we will boast of you.

    15 Because I was sure of this, I wanted to come to you first, so that you might have a second experience of grace. 16 I wanted to visit you on my way to Macedonia, and to come back to you from Macedonia and have you send me on my way to Judea. 17 Was I vacillating when I wanted to do this? Do I make my plans according to the flesh, ready to say “Yes, yes” and “No, no” at the same time? 18 As surely as God is faithful, our word to you has not been Yes and No. 19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you, Silvanus and Timothy and I, was not Yes and No, but in him it is always Yes. 20 For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. 21 And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, 22 and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.Or down payment">2

    23 But I call God to witness against me—it was to spare you that I refrained from coming again to Corinth. 24 Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, for you stand firm in your faith.

    2 For I made up my mind not to make another painful visit to you. 2 For if I cause you pain, who is there to make me glad but the one whom I have pained? 3 And I wrote as I did, so that when I came I might not suffer pain from those who should have made me rejoice, for I felt sure of all of you, that my joy would be the joy of you all. 4 For I wrote to you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you.

    Forgive the Sinner

    5 Now if anyone has caused pain, he has caused it not to me, but in some measure—not to put it too severely—to all of you. 6 For such a one, this punishment by the majority is enough, 7 so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. 8 So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him. 9 For this is why I wrote, that I might test you and know whether you are obedient in everything. 10 Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. Indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ, 11 so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.

    Footnotes

    [1] 1:12 Some manuscripts holiness


    [2] 1:22 Or down payment

    (ESV)

    18 min
  • April 9: Psalm 99; Leviticus 5:14–6:7; Isaiah 3–4; 2 Corinthians 1:1–11
    Psalms and Wisdom:
    Psalm 99
    Psalm 99 (Listen)
    The Lord Our God Is Holy

    99   The LORD reigns; let the peoples tremble!
        He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake!
    2   The LORD is great in Zion;
        he is exalted over all the peoples.
    3   Let them praise your great and awesome name!
        Holy is he!
    4   The King in his might loves justice.Or The might of the King loves justice">1
        You have established equity;
      you have executed justice
        and righteousness in Jacob.
    5   Exalt the LORD our God;
        worship at his footstool!
        Holy is he!
    6   Moses and Aaron were among his priests,
        Samuel also was among those who called upon his name.
        They called to the LORD, and he answered them.
    7   In the pillar of the cloud he spoke to them;
        they kept his testimonies
        and the statute that he gave them.
    8   O LORD our God, you answered them;
        you were a forgiving God to them,
        but an avenger of their wrongdoings.
    9   Exalt the LORD our God,
        and worship at his holy mountain;
        for the LORD our God is holy!

    Footnotes

    [1] 99:4 Or The might of the King loves justice

    (ESV)

    Pentateuch and History:
    Leviticus 5:14–6:7
    Leviticus 5:14–6:7 (Listen)
    Laws for Guilt Offerings

    14 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 15 “If anyone commits a breach of faith and sins unintentionally in any of the holy things of the LORD, he shall bring to the LORD as his compensation, a ram without blemish out of the flock, valuedOr flock, or its equivalent">1 in silver shekels,A shekel was about 2/5 ounce or 11 grams">2 according to the shekel of the sanctuary, for a guilt offering. 16 He shall also make restitution for what he has done amiss in the holy thing and shall add a fifth to it and give it to the priest. And the priest shall make atonement for him with the ram of the guilt offering, and he shall be forgiven.

    17 “If anyone sins, doing any of the things that by the LORD’s commandments ought not to be done, though he did not know it, then realizes his guilt, he shall bear his iniquity. 18 He shall bring to the priest a ram without blemish out of the flock, or its equivalent, for a guilt offering, and the priest shall make atonement for him for the mistake that he made unintentionally, and he shall be forgiven. 19 It is a guilt offering; he has indeed incurred guilt beforeOr he has paid full compensation to">3 the LORD.”

    6 Ch 5:20 in Hebrew">4 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “If anyone sins and commits a breach of faith against the LORD by deceiving his neighbor in a matter of deposit or security, or through robbery, or if he has oppressed his neighbor 3 or has found something lost and lied about it, swearing falsely—in any of all the things that people do and sin thereby—4 if he has sinned and has realized his guilt and will restore what he took by robbery or what he got by oppression or the deposit that was committed to him or the lost thing that he found 5 or anything about which he has sworn falsely, he shall restore it in full and shall add a fifth to it, and give it to him to whom it belongs on the day he realizes his guilt. 6 And he shall bring to the priest as his compensation to the LORD a ram without blemish out of the flock, or its equivalent, for a guilt offering. 7 And the priest shall make atonement for him before the LORD, and he shall be forgiven for any of the things that one may do and thereby become guilty.”

    Footnotes

    [1] 5:15 Or flock, or its equivalent


    [2] 5:15 A shekel was about 2/5 ounce or 11 grams

    [3] 5:19 Or he has paid full compensation to

    [4] 6:1 Ch 5:20 in Hebrew

    (ESV)

    Chronicles and Prophets:
    Isaiah 3–4
    Isaiah 3–4 (Listen)
    Judgment on Judah and Jerusalem

    3   For behold, the Lord GOD of hosts
        is taking away from Jerusalem and from Judah
      support and supply,Hebrew staff">1
        all support of bread,
        and all support of water;
    2   the mighty man and the soldier,
        the judge and the prophet,
        the diviner and the elder,
    3   the captain of fifty
        and the man of rank,
      the counselor and the skillful magician
        and the expert in charms.
    4   And I will make boys their princes,
        and infantsOr caprice">2 shall rule over them.
    5   And the people will oppress one another,
        every one his fellow
        and every one his neighbor;
      the youth will be insolent to the elder,
        and the despised to the honorable.
    6   For a man will take hold of his brother
        in the house of his father, saying:
      “You have a cloak;
        you shall be our leader,
      and this heap of ruins
        shall be under your rule”;
    7   in that day he will speak out, saying:
      “I will not be a healer;Hebrew binder of wounds">3
        in my house there is neither bread nor cloak;
      you shall not make me
        leader of the people.”
    8   For Jerusalem has stumbled,
        and Judah has fallen,
      because their speech and their deeds are against the LORD,
        defying his glorious presence.Hebrew the eyes of his glory">4
    9   For the look on their faces bears witness against them;
        they proclaim their sin like Sodom;
        they do not hide it.
      Woe to them!
        For they have brought evil on themselves.
    10   Tell the righteous that it shall be well with them,
        for they shall eat the fruit of their deeds.
    11   Woe to the wicked! It shall be ill with him,
        for what his hands have dealt out shall be done to him.
    12   My people—infants are their oppressors,
        and women rule over them.
      O my people, your guides mislead you
        and they have swallowed upOr they have confused">5 the course of your paths.
    13   The LORD has taken his place to contend;
        he stands to judge peoples.
    14   The LORD will enter into judgment
        with the elders and princes of his people:
      “It is you who have devouredOr grazed over; compare Exodus 22:5">6 the vineyard,
        the spoil of the poor is in your houses.
    15   What do you mean by crushing my people,
        by grinding the face of the poor?”
          declares the Lord GOD of hosts.
    16   The LORD said:
      Because the daughters of Zion are haughty
        and walk with outstretched necks,
        glancing wantonly with their eyes,
      mincing along as they go,
        tinkling with their feet,
    17   therefore the Lord will strike with a scab
        the heads of the daughters of Zion,
        and the LORD will lay bare their secret parts.

    18 In that day the Lord will take away the finery of the anklets, the headbands, and the crescents; 19 the pendants, the bracelets, and the scarves; 20 the headdresses, the armlets, the sashes, the perfume boxes, and the amulets; 21 the signet rings and nose rings; 22 the festal robes, the mantles, the cloaks, and the handbags; 23 the mirrors, the linen garments, the turbans, and the veils.

    24   Instead of perfume there will be rottenness;
        and instead of a belt, a rope;
      and instead of well-set hair, baldness;
        and instead of a rich robe, a skirt of sackcloth;
        and branding instead of beauty.
    25   Your men shall fall by the sword
        and your mighty men in battle.
    26   And her gates shall lament and mourn;
        empty, she shall sit on the ground.

    4 And seven women shall take hold of one man in that day, saying, “We will eat our own bread and wear our own clothes, only let us be called by your name; take away our reproach.”

    The Branch of the Lord Glorified

    2 In that day the branch of the LORD shall be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land shall be the pride and honor of the survivors of Israel. 3 And he who is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem will be called holy, everyone who has been recorded for life in Jerusalem, 4 when the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion and cleansed the bloodstains of Jerusalem from its midst by a spirit of judgment and by a spirit of burning.Or purging">7 5 Then the LORD will create over the whole site of Mount Zion and over her assemblies a cloud by day, and smoke and the shining of a flaming fire by night; for over all the glory there will be a canopy. 6 There will be a booth for shade by day from the heat, and for a refuge and a shelter from the storm and rain.

    Footnotes

    [1] 3:1 Hebrew staff


    [2] 3:4 Or caprice

    [3] 3:7 Hebrew binder of wounds

    [4] 3:8 Hebrew the eyes of his glory

    [5] 3:12 Or they have confused

    [6] 3:14 Or grazed over; compare Exodus 22:5

    [7] 4:4 Or purging

    (ESV)

    Gospels and Epistles:
    2 Corinthians 1:1–11
    2 Corinthians 1:1–11 (Listen)
    Greeting

    1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

    To the church of God that is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in the whole of Achaia:

    2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

    God of All Comfort

    3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.Or For as the sufferings of Christ abound for us, so also our comfort abounds through Christ">1 6 If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. 7 Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.

    8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers,Or brothers and sisters. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, the plural Greek word adelphoi (translated “brothers”) may refer either to brothers or to brothers and sisters">2 of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. 9 Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. 10 He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. 11 You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.

    Footnotes

    [1] 1:5 Or For as the sufferings of Christ abound for us, so also our comfort abounds through Christ


    [2] 1:8 Or brothers and sisters. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, the plural Greek word adelphoi (translated “brothers”) may refer either to brothers or to brothers and sisters

    (ESV)

    10 min
  • April 8: Psalm 98; Leviticus 4–5:13; Isaiah 2; 1 Corinthians 16
    Psalms and Wisdom:
    Psalm 98
    Psalm 98 (Listen)
    Make a Joyful Noise to the Lord
    A Psalm.

    98   Oh sing to the LORD a new song,
        for he has done marvelous things!
      His right hand and his holy arm
        have worked salvation for him.
    2   The LORD has made known his salvation;
        he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.
    3   He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness
        to the house of Israel.
      All the ends of the earth have seen
        the salvation of our God.
    4   Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth;
        break forth into joyous song and sing praises!
    5   Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre,
        with the lyre and the sound of melody!
    6   With trumpets and the sound of the horn
        make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD!
    7   Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
        the world and those who dwell in it!
    8   Let the rivers clap their hands;
        let the hills sing for joy together
    9   before the LORD, for he comes
        to judge the earth.
      He will judge the world with righteousness,
        and the peoples with equity.

    (ESV)

    Pentateuch and History:
    Leviticus 4–5:13
    Leviticus 4–5:13 (Listen)
    Laws for Sin Offerings

    4 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, If anyone sins unintentionallyOr by mistake; so throughout Leviticus">1 in any of the LORD’s commandments about things not to be done, and does any one of them, 3 if it is the anointed priest who sins, thus bringing guilt on the people, then he shall offer for the sin that he has committed a bull from the herd without blemish to the LORD for a sin offering. 4 He shall bring the bull to the entrance of the tent of meeting before the LORD and lay his hand on the head of the bull and kill the bull before the LORD. 5 And the anointed priest shall take some of the blood of the bull and bring it into the tent of meeting, 6 and the priest shall dip his finger in the blood and sprinkle part of the blood seven times before the LORD in front of the veil of the sanctuary. 7 And the priest shall put some of the blood on the horns of the altar of fragrant incense before the LORD that is in the tent of meeting, and all the rest of the blood of the bull he shall pour out at the base of the altar of burnt offering that is at the entrance of the tent of meeting. 8 And all the fat of the bull of the sin offering he shall remove from it, the fat that covers the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails 9 and the two kidneys with the fat that is on them at the loins and the long lobe of the liver that he shall remove with the kidneys 10 (just as these are taken from the ox of the sacrifice of the peace offerings); and the priest shall burn them on the altar of burnt offering. 11 But the skin of the bull and all its flesh, with its head, its legs, its entrails, and its dung—12 all the rest of the bull—he shall carry outside the camp to a clean place, to the ash heap, and shall burn it up on a fire of wood. On the ash heap it shall be burned up.

    13 “If the whole congregation of Israel sins unintentionallyOr makes a mistake">2 and the thing is hidden from the eyes of the assembly, and they do any one of the things that by the LORD’s commandments ought not to be done, and they realize their guilt,Or suffer for their guilt, or are guilty; also verses 22, 27, and chapter 5">3 14 when the sin which they have committed becomes known, the assembly shall offer a bull from the herd for a sin offering and bring it in front of the tent of meeting. 15 And the elders of the congregation shall lay their hands on the head of the bull before the LORD, and the bull shall be killed before the LORD. 16 Then the anointed priest shall bring some of the blood of the bull into the tent of meeting, 17 and the priest shall dip his finger in the blood and sprinkle it seven times before the LORD in front of the veil. 18 And he shall put some of the blood on the horns of the altar that is in the tent of meeting before the LORD, and the rest of the blood he shall pour out at the base of the altar of burnt offering that is at the entrance of the tent of meeting. 19 And all its fat he shall take from it and burn on the altar. 20 Thus shall he do with the bull. As he did with the bull of the sin offering, so shall he do with this. And the priest shall make atonement for them, and they shall be forgiven. 21 And he shall carry the bull outside the camp and burn it up as he burned the first bull; it is the sin offering for the assembly.

    22 “When a leader sins, doing unintentionally any one of all the things that by the commandments of the LORD his God ought not to be done, and realizes his guilt, 23 or the sin which he has committed is made known to him, he shall bring as his offering a goat, a male without blemish, 24 and shall lay his hand on the head of the goat and kill it in the place where they kill the burnt offering before the LORD; it is a sin offering. 25 Then the priest shall take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering and pour out the rest of its blood at the base of the altar of burnt offering. 26 And all its fat he shall burn on the altar, like the fat of the sacrifice of peace offerings. So the priest shall make atonement for him for his sin, and he shall be forgiven.

    27 “If anyone of the common people sins unintentionally in doing any one of the things that by the LORD’s commandments ought not to be done, and realizes his guilt, 28 or the sin which he has committed is made known to him, he shall bring for his offering a goat, a female without blemish, for his sin which he has committed. 29 And he shall lay his hand on the head of the sin offering and kill the sin offering in the place of burnt offering. 30 And the priest shall take some of its blood with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering and pour out all the rest of its blood at the base of the altar. 31 And all its fat he shall remove, as the fat is removed from the peace offerings, and the priest shall burn it on the altar for a pleasing aroma to the LORD. And the priest shall make atonement for him, and he shall be forgiven.

    32 “If he brings a lamb as his offering for a sin offering, he shall bring a female without blemish 33 and lay his hand on the head of the sin offering and kill it for a sin offering in the place where they kill the burnt offering. 34 Then the priest shall take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering and pour out all the rest of its blood at the base of the altar. 35 And all its fat he shall remove as the fat of the lamb is removed from the sacrifice of peace offerings, and the priest shall burn it on the altar, on top of the LORD’s food offerings. And the priest shall make atonement for him for the sin which he has committed, and he shall be forgiven.

    5 “If anyone sins in that he hears a public adjuration to testify, and though he is a witness, whether he has seen or come to know the matter, yet does not speak, he shall bear his iniquity; 2 or if anyone touches an unclean thing, whether a carcass of an unclean wild animal or a carcass of unclean livestock or a carcass of unclean swarming things, and it is hidden from him and he has become unclean, and he realizes his guilt; 3 or if he touches human uncleanness, of whatever sort the uncleanness may be with which one becomes unclean, and it is hidden from him, when he comes to know it, and realizes his guilt; 4 or if anyone utters with his lips a rash oath to do evil or to do good, any sort of rash oath that people swear, and it is hidden from him, when he comes to know it, and he realizes his guilt in any of these; 5 when he realizes his guilt in any of these and confesses the sin he has committed, 6 he shall bring to the LORD as his compensationHebrew his guilt penalty; so throughout Leviticus">4 for the sin that he has committed, a female from the flock, a lamb or a goat, for a sin offering. And the priest shall make atonement for him for his sin.

    7 “But if he cannot afford a lamb, then he shall bring to the LORD as his compensation for the sin that he has committed two turtledoves or two pigeons,Septuagint two young pigeons; also verse 11">5 one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering. 8 He shall bring them to the priest, who shall offer first the one for the sin offering. He shall wring its head from its neck but shall not sever it completely, 9 and he shall sprinkle some of the blood of the sin offering on the side of the altar, while the rest of the blood shall be drained out at the base of the altar; it is a sin offering. 10 Then he shall offer the second for a burnt offering according to the rule. And the priest shall make atonement for him for the sin that he has committed, and he shall be forgiven.

    11 “But if he cannot afford two turtledoves or two pigeons, then he shall bring as his offering for the sin that he has committed a tenth of an ephahAn ephah was about 3/5 bushel or 22 liters">6 of fine flour for a sin offering. He shall put no oil on it and shall put no frankincense on it, for it is a sin offering. 12 And he shall bring it to the priest, and the priest shall take a handful of it as its memorial portion and burn this on the altar, on the LORD’s food offerings; it is a sin offering. 13 Thus the priest shall make atonement for him for the sin which he has committed in any one of these things, and he shall be forgiven. And the remainderSeptuagint; Hebrew it">7 shall be for the priest, as in the grain offering.”

    Footnotes

    [1] 4:2 Or by mistake; so throughout Leviticus


    [2] 4:13 Or makes a mistake

    [3] 4:13 Or suffer for their guilt, or are guilty; also verses 22, 27, and chapter 5

    [4] 5:6 Hebrew his guilt penalty; so throughout Leviticus

    [5] 5:7 Septuagint two young pigeons; also verse 11

    [6] 5:11 An ephah was about 3/5 bushel or 22 liters

    [7] 5:13 Septuagint; Hebrew it

    (ESV)

    Chronicles and Prophets:
    Isaiah 2
    Isaiah 2 (Listen)
    The Mountain of the Lord

    2 The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.

    2   It shall come to pass in the latter days
        that the mountain of the house of the LORD
      shall be established as the highest of the mountains,
        and shall be lifted up above the hills;
      and all the nations shall flow to it,
    3     and many peoples shall come, and say:
      “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,
        to the house of the God of Jacob,
      that he may teach us his ways
        and that we may walk in his paths.”
      For out of Zion shall go forth the law,Or teaching">1
        and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
    4   He shall judge between the nations,
        and shall decide disputes for many peoples;
      and they shall beat their swords into plowshares,
        and their spears into pruning hooks;
      nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
        neither shall they learn war anymore.
    5   O house of Jacob,
        come, let us walk
        in the light of the LORD.

    The Day of the Lord

    6   For you have rejected your people,
        the house of Jacob,
      because they are full of things from the east
        and of fortune-tellers like the Philistines,
        and they strike hands with the children of foreigners.
    7   Their land is filled with silver and gold,
        and there is no end to their treasures;
      their land is filled with horses,
        and there is no end to their chariots.
    8   Their land is filled with idols;
        they bow down to the work of their hands,
        to what their own fingers have made.
    9   So man is humbled,
        and each one is brought low—
        do not forgive them!
    10   Enter into the rock
        and hide in the dust
      from before the terror of the LORD,
        and from the splendor of his majesty.
    11   The haughty looks of man shall be brought low,
        and the lofty pride of men shall be humbled,
      and the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.
    12   For the LORD of hosts has a day
        against all that is proud and lofty,
        against all that is lifted up—and it shall be brought low;
    13   against all the cedars of Lebanon,
        lofty and lifted up;
        and against all the oaks of Bashan;
    14   against all the lofty mountains,
        and against all the uplifted hills;
    15   against every high tower,
        and against every fortified wall;
    16   against all the ships of Tarshish,
        and against all the beautiful craft.
    17   And the haughtiness of man shall be humbled,
        and the lofty pride of men shall be brought low,
        and the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.
    18   And the idols shall utterly pass away.
    19   And people shall enter the caves of the rocks
        and the holes of the ground,Hebrew dust">2
      from before the terror of the LORD,
        and from the splendor of his majesty,
        when he rises to terrify the earth.
    20   In that day mankind will cast away
        their idols of silver and their idols of gold,
      which they made for themselves to worship,
        to the moles and to the bats,
    21   to enter the caverns of the rocks
        and the clefts of the cliffs,
      from before the terror of the LORD,
        and from the splendor of his majesty,
        when he rises to terrify the earth.
    22   Stop regarding man
        in whose nostrils is breath,
        for of what account is he?

    Footnotes

    [1] 2:3 Or teaching


    [2] 2:19 Hebrew dust

    (ESV)

    Gospels and Epistles:
    1 Corinthians 16
    1 Corinthians 16 (Listen)
    The Collection for the Saints

    16 Now concerningThe expression Now concerning introduces a reply to a question in the Corinthians’ letter; see 7:1; also verse 12">1 the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. 2 On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come. 3 And when I arrive, I will send those whom you accredit by letter to carry your gift to Jerusalem. 4 If it seems advisable that I should go also, they will accompany me.

    Plans for Travel

    5 I will visit you after passing through Macedonia, for I intend to pass through Macedonia, 6 and perhaps I will stay with you or even spend the winter, so that you may help me on my journey, wherever I go. 7 For I do not want to see you now just in passing. I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits. 8 But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, 9 for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.

    10 When Timothy comes, see that you put him at ease among you, for he is doing the work of the Lord, as I am. 11 So let no one despise him. Help him on his way in peace, that he may return to me, for I am expecting him with the brothers.

    Final Instructions

    12 Now concerning our brother Apollos, I strongly urged him to visit you with the other brothers, but it was not at all his willOr God’s will for him">2 to come now. He will come when he has opportunity.

    13 Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. 14 Let all that you do be done in love.

    15 Now I urge you, brothersOr brothers and sisters; also verse 20">3—you know that the householdGreek house">4 of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints—16 be subject to such as these, and to every fellow worker and laborer. 17 I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because they have made up for your absence, 18 for they refreshed my spirit as well as yours. Give recognition to such people.

    Greetings

    19 The churches of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Prisca, together with the church in their house, send you hearty greetings in the Lord. 20 All the brothers send you greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss.

    21 I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. 22 If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come!Greek Maranatha (a transliteration of Aramaic)">5 23 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. 24 My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.

    Footnotes

    [1] 16:1 The expression Now concerning introduces a reply to a question in the Corinthians’ letter; see 7:1; also verse 12


    [2] 16:12 Or God’s will for him

    [3] 16:15 Or brothers and sisters; also verse 20

    [4] 16:15 Greek house

    [5] 16:22 Greek Maranatha (a transliteration of Aramaic)

    (ESV)

    15 min
  • April 7: Psalm 97; Leviticus 3; Isaiah 1; 1 Corinthians 15
    Psalms and Wisdom:
    Psalm 97
    Psalm 97 (Listen)
    The Lord Reigns

    97   The LORD reigns, let the earth rejoice;
        let the many coastlands be glad!
    2   Clouds and thick darkness are all around him;
        righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
    3   Fire goes before him
        and burns up his adversaries all around.
    4   His lightnings light up the world;
        the earth sees and trembles.
    5   The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,
        before the Lord of all the earth.
    6   The heavens proclaim his righteousness,
        and all the peoples see his glory.
    7   All worshipers of images are put to shame,
        who make their boast in worthless idols;
        worship him, all you gods!
    8   Zion hears and is glad,
        and the daughters of Judah rejoice,
        because of your judgments, O LORD.
    9   For you, O LORD, are most high over all the earth;
        you are exalted far above all gods.
    10   O you who love the LORD, hate evil!
        He preserves the lives of his saints;
        he delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
    11   Light is sownMost Hebrew manuscripts; one Hebrew manuscript, Septuagint, Syriac, Jerome Light dawns">1 for the righteous,
        and joy for the upright in heart.
    12   Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous,
        and give thanks to his holy name!

    Footnotes

    [1] 97:11 Most Hebrew manuscripts; one Hebrew manuscript, Septuagint, Syriac, Jerome Light dawns

    (ESV)

    Pentateuch and History:
    Leviticus 3
    Leviticus 3 (Listen)
    Laws for Peace Offerings

    3 “If his offering is a sacrifice of peace offering, if he offers an animal from the herd, male or female, he shall offer it without blemish before the LORD. 2 And he shall lay his hand on the head of his offering and kill it at the entrance of the tent of meeting, and Aaron’s sons the priests shall throw the blood against the sides of the altar. 3 And from the sacrifice of the peace offering, as a food offering to the LORD, he shall offer the fat covering the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails, 4 and the two kidneys with the fat that is on them at the loins, and the long lobe of the liver that he shall remove with the kidneys. 5 Then Aaron’s sons shall burn it on the altar on top of the burnt offering, which is on the wood on the fire; it is a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the LORD.

    6 “If his offering for a sacrifice of peace offering to the LORD is an animal from the flock, male or female, he shall offer it without blemish. 7 If he offers a lamb for his offering, then he shall offer it before the LORD, 8 lay his hand on the head of his offering, and kill it in front of the tent of meeting; and Aaron’s sons shall throw its blood against the sides of the altar. 9 Then from the sacrifice of the peace offering he shall offer as a food offering to the LORD its fat; he shall remove the whole fat tail, cut off close to the backbone, and the fat that covers the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails 10 and the two kidneys with the fat that is on them at the loins and the long lobe of the liver that he shall remove with the kidneys. 11 And the priest shall burn it on the altar as a food offering to the LORD.

    12 “If his offering is a goat, then he shall offer it before the LORD 13 and lay his hand on its head and kill it in front of the tent of meeting, and the sons of Aaron shall throw its blood against the sides of the altar. 14 Then he shall offer from it, as his offering for a food offering to the LORD, the fat covering the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails 15 and the two kidneys with the fat that is on them at the loins and the long lobe of the liver that he shall remove with the kidneys. 16 And the priest shall burn them on the altar as a food offering with a pleasing aroma. All fat is the LORD’s. 17 It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations, in all your dwelling places, that you eat neither fat nor blood.”

    (ESV)

    Chronicles and Prophets:
    Isaiah 1
    Isaiah 1 (Listen)

    1 The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

    The Wickedness of Judah

    2   Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth;
        for the LORD has spoken:
      “ChildrenOr Sons; also verse 4">1 have I reared and brought up,
        but they have rebelled against me.
    3   The ox knows its owner,
        and the donkey its master’s crib,
      but Israel does not know,
        my people do not understand.”
    4   Ah, sinful nation,
        a people laden with iniquity,
      offspring of evildoers,
        children who deal corruptly!
      They have forsaken the LORD,
        they have despised the Holy One of Israel,
        they are utterly estranged.
    5   Why will you still be struck down?
        Why will you continue to rebel?
      The whole head is sick,
        and the whole heart faint.
    6   From the sole of the foot even to the head,
        there is no soundness in it,
      but bruises and sores
        and raw wounds;
      they are not pressed out or bound up
        or softened with oil.
    7   Your country lies desolate;
        your cities are burned with fire;
      in your very presence
        foreigners devour your land;
        it is desolate, as overthrown by foreigners.
    8   And the daughter of Zion is left
        like a booth in a vineyard,
      like a lodge in a cucumber field,
        like a besieged city.
    9   If the LORD of hosts
        had not left us a few survivors,
      we should have been like Sodom,
        and become like Gomorrah.
    10   Hear the word of the LORD,
        you rulers of Sodom!
      Give ear to the teachingOr law">2 of our God,
        you people of Gomorrah!
    11   “What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices?
        says the LORD;
      I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams
        and the fat of well-fed beasts;
      I do not delight in the blood of bulls,
        or of lambs, or of goats.
    12   “When you come to appear before me,
        who has required of you
        this trampling of my courts?
    13   Bring no more vain offerings;
        incense is an abomination to me.
      New moon and Sabbath and the calling of convocations—
        I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly.
    14   Your new moons and your appointed feasts
        my soul hates;
      they have become a burden to me;
        I am weary of bearing them.
    15   When you spread out your hands,
        I will hide my eyes from you;
      even though you make many prayers,
        I will not listen;
        your hands are full of blood.
    16   Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean;
        remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes;
      cease to do evil,
    17     learn to do good;
      seek justice,
        correct oppression;
      bring justice to the fatherless,
        plead the widow’s cause.
    18   “Come now, let us reasonOr dispute">3 together, says the LORD:
      though your sins are like scarlet,
        they shall be as white as snow;
      though they are red like crimson,
        they shall become like wool.
    19   If you are willing and obedient,
        you shall eat the good of the land;
    20   but if you refuse and rebel,
        you shall be eaten by the sword;
        for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”

    The Unfaithful City

    21   How the faithful city
        has become a whore,Or become unchaste">4
        she who was full of justice!
      Righteousness lodged in her,
        but now murderers.
    22   Your silver has become dross,
        your best wine mixed with water.
    23   Your princes are rebels
        and companions of thieves.
      Everyone loves a bribe
        and runs after gifts.
      They do not bring justice to the fatherless,
        and the widow’s cause does not come to them.
    24   Therefore the Lord declares,
        the LORD of hosts,
        the Mighty One of Israel:
      “Ah, I will get relief from my enemies
        and avenge myself on my foes.
    25   I will turn my hand against you
        and will smelt away your dross as with lye
        and remove all your alloy.
    26   And I will restore your judges as at the first,
        and your counselors as at the beginning.
      Afterward you shall be called the city of righteousness,
        the faithful city.”
    27   Zion shall be redeemed by justice,
        and those in her who repent, by righteousness.
    28   But rebels and sinners shall be broken together,
        and those who forsake the LORD shall be consumed.
    29   For theySome Hebrew manuscripts you">5 shall be ashamed of the oaks
        that you desired;
      and you shall blush for the gardens
        that you have chosen.
    30   For you shall be like an oak
        whose leaf withers,
        and like a garden without water.
    31   And the strong shall become tinder,
        and his work a spark,
      and both of them shall burn together,
        with none to quench them.

    Footnotes

    [1] 1:2 Or Sons; also verse 4


    [2] 1:10 Or law

    [3] 1:18 Or dispute

    [4] 1:21 Or become unchaste

    [5] 1:29 Some Hebrew manuscripts you

    (ESV)

    Gospels and Epistles:
    1 Corinthians 15
    1 Corinthians 15 (Listen)
    The Resurrection of Christ

    15 Now I would remind you, brothers,Or brothers and sisters; also verses 6, 31, 50, 58">1 of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

    3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. 11 Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

    The Resurrection of the Dead

    12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. 15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in Christ we have hopeOr we have hoped">2 in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.

    20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. 24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27 For “GodGreek he">3 has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. 28 When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.

    29 Otherwise, what do people mean by being baptized on behalf of the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized on their behalf? 30 Why are we in danger every hour? 31 I protest, brothers, by my pride in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die every day! 32 What do I gain if, humanly speaking, I fought with beasts at Ephesus? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” 33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”Probably from Menander’s comedy Thais">4 34 Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame.

    The Resurrection Body

    35 But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?” 36 You foolish person! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. 37 And what you sow is not the body that is to be, but a bare kernel, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain. 38 But God gives it a body as he has chosen, and to each kind of seed its own body. 39 For not all flesh is the same, but there is one kind for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish. 40 There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is of one kind, and the glory of the earthly is of another. 41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory.

    42 So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. 43 It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 45 Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”;Greek a living soul">5 the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46 But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual. 47 The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. 48 As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. 49 Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shallSome manuscripts let us">6 also bear the image of the man of heaven.

    Mystery and Victory

    50 I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:

      “Death is swallowed up in victory.”
    55   “O death, where is your victory?
        O death, where is your sting?”

    56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

    58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

    Footnotes

    [1] 15:1 Or brothers and sisters; also verses 6, 31, 50, 58


    [2] 15:19 Or we have hoped

    [3] 15:27 Greek he

    [4] 15:33 Probably from Menander’s comedy Thais

    [5] 15:45 Greek a living soul

    [6] 15:49 Some manuscripts let us

    (ESV)

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