ESV: Digging Deep into the Bible

ESV: Digging Deep into the Bible

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ESV: Digging Deep into the Bible episodes

  • September 18: Psalm 48; 2 Samuel 8; Ezekiel 8; Luke 12:13–48
    Psalms and Wisdom:
    Psalm 48
    Psalm 48 (Listen)
    Zion, the City of Our God
    A Song. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah.

    48   Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised
        in the city of our God!
      His holy mountain, 2 beautiful in elevation,
        is the joy of all the earth,
      Mount Zion, in the far north,
        the city of the great King.
    3   Within her citadels God
        has made himself known as a fortress.
    4   For behold, the kings assembled;
        they came on together.
    5   As soon as they saw it, they were astounded;
        they were in panic; they took to flight.
    6   Trembling took hold of them there,
        anguish as of a woman in labor.
    7   By the east wind you shattered
        the ships of Tarshish.
    8   As we have heard, so have we seen
        in the city of the LORD of hosts,
      in the city of our God,
        which God will establish forever. Selah
    9   We have thought on your steadfast love, O God,
        in the midst of your temple.
    10   As your name, O God,
        so your praise reaches to the ends of the earth.
      Your right hand is filled with righteousness.
    11     Let Mount Zion be glad!
      Let the daughters of Judah rejoice
        because of your judgments!
    12   Walk about Zion, go around her,
        number her towers,
    13   consider well her ramparts,
        go through her citadels,
      that you may tell the next generation
    14     that this is God,
      our God forever and ever.
        He will guide us forever.Septuagint; another reading is (compare Jerome, Syriac) He will guide us beyond death">1

    Footnotes

    [1] 48:14 Septuagint; another reading is (compare Jerome, Syriac) He will guide us beyond death

    (ESV)

    Pentateuch and History:
    2 Samuel 8
    2 Samuel 8 (Listen)
    David’s Victories

    8 After this David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and David took Metheg-ammah out of the hand of the Philistines.

    2 And he defeated Moab and he measured them with a line, making them lie down on the ground. Two lines he measured to be put to death, and one full line to be spared. And the Moabites became servants to David and brought tribute.

    3 David also defeated Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to restore his power at the river Euphrates. 4 And David took from him 1,700 horsemen, and 20,000 foot soldiers. And David hamstrung all the chariot horses but left enough for 100 chariots. 5 And when the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David struck down 22,000 men of the Syrians. 6 Then David put garrisons in Aram of Damascus, and the Syrians became servants to David and brought tribute. And the LORD gave victory to David wherever he went. 7 And David took the shields of gold that were carried by the servants of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem. 8 And from Betah and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, King David took very much bronze.

    9 When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had defeated the whole army of Hadadezer, 10 Toi sent his son Joram to King David, to ask about his health and to bless him because he had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him, for Hadadezer had often been at war with Toi. And Joram brought with him articles of silver, of gold, and of bronze. 11 These also King David dedicated to the LORD, together with the silver and gold that he dedicated from all the nations he subdued, 12 from Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, Amalek, and from the spoil of Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

    13 And David made a name for himself when he returned from striking down 18,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt. 14 Then he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom he put garrisons, and all the Edomites became David’s servants. And the LORD gave victory to David wherever he went.

    David’s Officials

    15 So David reigned over all Israel. And David administered justice and equity to all his people. 16 Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army, and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder, 17 and Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were priests, and Seraiah was secretary, 18 and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was overCompare 20:23, 1 Chronicles 18:17, Syriac, Targum, Vulgate; Hebrew lacks was over">1 the Cherethites and the Pelethites, and David’s sons were priests.

    Footnotes

    [1] 8:18 Compare 20:23, 1 Chronicles 18:17, Syriac, Targum, Vulgate; Hebrew lacks was over

    (ESV)

    Chronicles and Prophets:
    Ezekiel 8
    Ezekiel 8 (Listen)
    Abominations in the Temple

    8 In the sixth year, in the sixth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I sat in my house, with the elders of Judah sitting before me, the hand of the Lord GOD fell upon me there. 2 Then I looked, and behold, a form that had the appearance of a man.By revocalization (compare Septuagint); Hebrew of fire">1 Below what appeared to be his waist was fire, and above his waist was something like the appearance of brightness, like gleaming metal.Or amber">2 3 He put out the form of a hand and took me by a lock of my head, and the Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven and brought me in visions of God to Jerusalem, to the entrance of the gateway of the inner court that faces north, where was the seat of the image of jealousy, which provokes to jealousy. 4 And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, like the vision that I saw in the valley.

    5 Then he said to me, “Son of man, lift up your eyes now toward the north.” So I lifted up my eyes toward the north, and behold, north of the altar gate, in the entrance, was this image of jealousy. 6 And he said to me, “Son of man, do you see what they are doing, the great abominations that the house of Israel are committing here, to drive me far from my sanctuary? But you will see still greater abominations.”

    7 And he brought me to the entrance of the court, and when I looked, behold, there was a hole in the wall. 8 Then he said to me, “Son of man, dig in the wall.” So I dug in the wall, and behold, there was an entrance. 9 And he said to me, “Go in, and see the vile abominations that they are committing here.” 10 So I went in and saw. And there, engraved on the wall all around, was every form of creeping things and loathsome beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel. 11 And before them stood seventy men of the elders of the house of Israel, with Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan standing among them. Each had his censer in his hand, and the smoke of the cloud of incense went up. 12 Then he said to me, “Son of man, have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the dark, each in his room of pictures? For they say, ‘The LORD does not see us, the LORD has forsaken the land.’” 13 He said also to me, “You will see still greater abominations that they commit.”

    14 Then he brought me to the entrance of the north gate of the house of the LORD, and behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz. 15 Then he said to me, “Have you seen this, O son of man? You will see still greater abominations than these.”

    16 And he brought me into the inner court of the house of the LORD. And behold, at the entrance of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, were about twenty-five men, with their backs to the temple of the LORD, and their faces toward the east, worshiping the sun toward the east. 17 Then he said to me, “Have you seen this, O son of man? Is it too light a thing for the house of Judah to commit the abominations that they commit here, that they should fill the land with violence and provoke me still further to anger? Behold, they put the branch to theirOr my">3 nose. 18 Therefore I will act in wrath. My eye will not spare, nor will I have pity. And though they cry in my ears with a loud voice, I will not hear them.”

    Footnotes

    [1] 8:2 By revocalization (compare Septuagint); Hebrew of fire


    [2] 8:2 Or amber

    [3] 8:17 Or my

    (ESV)

    Gospels and Epistles:
    Luke 12:13–48
    Luke 12:13–48 (Listen)
    The Parable of the Rich Fool

    13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 14 But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” 15 And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” 16 And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, 17 and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ 18 And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ 21 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

    Do Not Be Anxious

    22 And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. 24 Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! 25 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?Or a single cubit to his stature; a cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters">1 26 If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? 27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin,Some manuscripts Consider the lilies; they neither spin nor weave">2 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 28 But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! 29 And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. 30 For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 Instead, seek hisSome manuscripts God’s">3 kingdom, and these things will be added to you.

    32 “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

    You Must Be Ready

    35 “Stay dressed for actionGreek Let your loins stay girded; compare Exodus 12:11">4 and keep your lamps burning, 36 and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. 37 Blessed are those servantsOr bondservants">5 whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. 38 If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants! 39 But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, heSome manuscripts add would have stayed awake and">6 would not have left his house to be broken into. 40 You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

    41 Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?” 42 And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? 43 Blessed is that servantOr bondservant; also verses 45, 46, 47">7 whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 44 Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. 45 But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, 46 the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful. 47 And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. 48 But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.

    Footnotes

    [1] 12:25 Or a single cubit to his stature; a cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters


    [2] 12:27 Some manuscripts Consider the lilies; they neither spin nor weave

    [3] 12:31 Some manuscripts God’s

    [4] 12:35 Greek Let your loins stay girded; compare Exodus 12:11

    [5] 12:37 Or bondservants

    [6] 12:39 Some manuscripts add would have stayed awake and

    [7] 12:43 Or bondservant; also verses 45, 46, 47

    (ESV)

    13 min
  • September 17: Psalm 47; 2 Samuel 7; Ezekiel 7; Luke 11:37–12:12
    Psalms and Wisdom:
    Psalm 47
    Psalm 47 (Listen)
    God Is King over All the Earth
    To the choirmaster. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah.

    47   Clap your hands, all peoples!
        Shout to God with loud songs of joy!
    2   For the LORD, the Most High, is to be feared,
        a great king over all the earth.
    3   He subdued peoples under us,
        and nations under our feet.
    4   He chose our heritage for us,
        the pride of Jacob whom he loves. Selah
    5   God has gone up with a shout,
        the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.
    6   Sing praises to God, sing praises!
        Sing praises to our King, sing praises!
    7   For God is the King of all the earth;
        sing praises with a psalm!Hebrew maskil">1
    8   God reigns over the nations;
        God sits on his holy throne.
    9   The princes of the peoples gather
        as the people of the God of Abraham.
      For the shields of the earth belong to God;
        he is highly exalted!

    Footnotes

    [1] 47:7 Hebrew maskil

    (ESV)

    Pentateuch and History:
    2 Samuel 7
    2 Samuel 7 (Listen)
    The Lord’s Covenant with David

    7 Now when the king lived in his house and the LORD had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies, 2 the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells in a tent.” 3 And Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your heart, for the LORD is with you.”

    4 But that same night the word of the LORD came to Nathan, 5 “Go and tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD: Would you build me a house to dwell in? 6 I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent for my dwelling. 7 In all places where I have moved with all the people of Israel, did I speak a word with any of the judgesCompare 1 Chronicles 17:6; Hebrew tribes">1 of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”’ 8 Now, therefore, thus you shall say to my servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be princeOr leader">2 over my people Israel. 9 And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. 10 And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly, 11 from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the LORD declares to you that the LORD will make you a house. 12 When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, 15 but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. 16 And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me.Septuagint; Hebrew you">3 Your throne shall be established forever.’” 17 In accordance with all these words, and in accordance with all this vision, Nathan spoke to David.

    David’s Prayer of Gratitude

    18 Then King David went in and sat before the LORD and said, “Who am I, O Lord GOD, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far? 19 And yet this was a small thing in your eyes, O Lord GOD. You have spoken also of your servant’s house for a great while to come, and this is instruction for mankind, O Lord GOD! 20 And what more can David say to you? For you know your servant, O Lord GOD! 21 Because of your promise, and according to your own heart, you have brought about all this greatness, to make your servant know it. 22 Therefore you are great, O LORD God. For there is none like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears. 23 And who is like your people Israel, the one nation on earth whom God went to redeem to be his people, making himself a name and doing for themWith a few Targums, Vulgate, Syriac; Hebrew you">4 great and awesome things by driving out before your people,Septuagint (compare 1 Chronicles 17:21); Hebrew awesome things for your land, before your people">5 whom you redeemed for yourself from Egypt, a nation and its gods? 24 And you established for yourself your people Israel to be your people forever. And you, O LORD, became their God. 25 And now, O LORD God, confirm forever the word that you have spoken concerning your servant and concerning his house, and do as you have spoken. 26 And your name will be magnified forever, saying, ‘The LORD of hosts is God over Israel,’ and the house of your servant David will be established before you. 27 For you, O LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, have made this revelation to your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house.’ Therefore your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you. 28 And now, O Lord GOD, you are God, and your words are true, and you have promised this good thing to your servant. 29 Now therefore may it please you to bless the house of your servant, so that it may continue forever before you. For you, O Lord GOD, have spoken, and with your blessing shall the house of your servant be blessed forever.”

    Footnotes

    [1] 7:7 Compare 1 Chronicles 17:6; Hebrew tribes


    [2] 7:8 Or leader

    [3] 7:16 Septuagint; Hebrew you

    [4] 7:23 With a few Targums, Vulgate, Syriac; Hebrew you

    [5] 7:23 Septuagint (compare 1 Chronicles 17:21); Hebrew awesome things for your land, before your people

    (ESV)

    Chronicles and Prophets:
    Ezekiel 7
    Ezekiel 7 (Listen)
    The Day of the Wrath of the Lord

    7 The word of the LORD came to me: 2 “And you, O son of man, thus says the Lord GOD to the land of Israel: An end! The end has come upon the four corners of the land.Or earth">1 3 Now the end is upon you, and I will send my anger upon you; I will judge you according to your ways, and I will punish you for all your abominations. 4 And my eye will not spare you, nor will I have pity, but I will punish you for your ways, while your abominations are in your midst. Then you will know that I am the LORD.

    5 “Thus says the Lord GOD: Disaster after disaster!Some Hebrew manuscripts (compare Syriac, Targum); most Hebrew manuscripts Disaster! A unique disaster!">2 Behold, it comes. 6 An end has come; the end has come; it has awakened against you. Behold, it comes. 7 Your doomThe meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain; also verse 10">3 has come to you, O inhabitant of the land. The time has come; the day is near, a day of tumult, and not of joyful shouting on the mountains. 8 Now I will soon pour out my wrath upon you, and spend my anger against you, and judge you according to your ways, and I will punish you for all your abominations. 9 And my eye will not spare, nor will I have pity. I will punish you according to your ways, while your abominations are in your midst. Then you will know that I am the LORD, who strikes.

    10 “Behold, the day! Behold, it comes! Your doom has come; the rod has blossomed; pride has budded. 11 Violence has grown up into a rod of wickedness. None of them shall remain, nor their abundance, nor their wealth; neither shall there be preeminence among them.The meaning of this last Hebrew sentence is uncertain">4 12 The time has come; the day has arrived. Let not the buyer rejoice, nor the seller mourn, for wrath is upon all their multitude.Or abundance; also verses 13, 14">5 13 For the seller shall not return to what he has sold, while they live. For the vision concerns all their multitude; it shall not turn back; and because of his iniquity, none can maintain his life.The meaning of this last Hebrew sentence is uncertain">6

    14 “They have blown the trumpet and made everything ready, but none goes to battle, for my wrath is upon all their multitude. 15 The sword is without; pestilence and famine are within. He who is in the field dies by the sword, and him who is in the city famine and pestilence devour. 16 And if any survivors escape, they will be on the mountains, like doves of the valleys, all of them moaning, each one over his iniquity. 17 All hands are feeble, and all knees turn to water. 18 They put on sackcloth, and horror covers them. Shame is on all faces, and baldness on all their heads. 19 They cast their silver into the streets, and their gold is like an unclean thing. Their silver and gold are not able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the LORD. They cannot satisfy their hunger or fill their stomachs with it. For it was the stumbling block of their iniquity. 20 His beautiful ornament they used for pride, and they made their abominable images and their detestable things of it. Therefore I make it an unclean thing to them. 21 And I will give it into the hands of foreigners for prey, and to the wicked of the earth for spoil, and they shall profane it. 22 I will turn my face from them, and they shall profane my treasuredOr secret">7 place. Robbers shall enter and profane it.

    23 “Forge a chain!Probably refers to an instrument of captivity">8 For the land is full of bloody crimes and the city is full of violence. 24 I will bring the worst of the nations to take possession of their houses. I will put an end to the pride of the strong, and their holy placesBy revocalization (compare Septuagint); Hebrew and those who sanctify them">9 shall be profaned. 25 When anguish comes, they will seek peace, but there shall be none. 26 Disaster comes upon disaster; rumor follows rumor. They seek a vision from the prophet, while the lawOr instruction">10 perishes from the priest and counsel from the elders. 27 The king mourns, the prince is wrapped in despair, and the hands of the people of the land are paralyzed by terror. According to their way I will do to them, and according to their judgments I will judge them, and they shall know that I am the LORD.”

    Footnotes

    [1] 7:2 Or earth


    [2] 7:5 Some Hebrew manuscripts (compare Syriac, Targum); most Hebrew manuscripts Disaster! A unique disaster!

    [3] 7:7 The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain; also verse 10

    [4] 7:11 The meaning of this last Hebrew sentence is uncertain

    [5] 7:12 Or abundance; also verses 13, 14

    [6] 7:13 The meaning of this last Hebrew sentence is uncertain

    [7] 7:22 Or secret

    [8] 7:23 Probably refers to an instrument of captivity

    [9] 7:24 By revocalization (compare Septuagint); Hebrew and those who sanctify them

    [10] 7:26 Or instruction

    (ESV)

    Gospels and Epistles:
    Luke 11:37–12:12
    Luke 11:37–12:12 (Listen)
    Woes to the Pharisees and Lawyers

    37 While JesusGreek he">1 was speaking, a Pharisee asked him to dine with him, so he went in and reclined at table. 38 The Pharisee was astonished to see that he did not first wash before dinner. 39 And the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. 40 You fools! Did not he who made the outside make the inside also? 41 But give as alms those things that are within, and behold, everything is clean for you.

    42 “But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. 43 Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the best seat in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces. 44 Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves, and people walk over them without knowing it.”

    45 One of the lawyers answered him, “Teacher, in saying these things you insult us also.” 46 And he said, “Woe to you lawyers also! For you load people with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers. 47 Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets whom your fathers killed. 48 So you are witnesses and you consent to the deeds of your fathers, for they killed them, and you build their tombs. 49 Therefore also the Wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and persecute,’ 50 so that the blood of all the prophets, shed from the foundation of the world, may be charged against this generation, 51 from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, it will be required of this generation. 52 Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering.”

    53 As he went away from there, the scribes and the Pharisees began to press him hard and to provoke him to speak about many things, 54 lying in wait for him, to catch him in something he might say.

    Beware of the Leaven of the Pharisees

    12 In the meantime, when so many thousands of the people had gathered together that they were trampling one another, he began to say to his disciples first, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. 3 Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops.

    Have No Fear

    4 “I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. 5 But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell.Greek Gehenna">2 Yes, I tell you, fear him! 6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies?Greek two assaria; an assarion was a Roman copper coin worth about 1/16 of a denarius (which was a day’s wage for a laborer)">3 And not one of them is forgotten before God. 7 Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.

    Acknowledge Christ Before Men

    8 “And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God, 9 but the one who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God. 10 And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. 11 And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”

    Footnotes

    [1] 11:37 Greek he


    [2] 12:5 Greek Gehenna

    [3] 12:6 Greek two assaria; an assarion was a Roman copper coin worth about 1/16 of a denarius (which was a day’s wage for a laborer)

    (ESV)

    14 min
  • September 16: Psalm 46; 2 Samuel 6; Ezekiel 6; Luke 11:1–36
    Psalms and Wisdom:
    Psalm 46
    Psalm 46 (Listen)
    God Is Our Fortress
    To the choirmaster. Of the Sons of Korah. According to Alamoth.Probably a musical or liturgical term">1 A Song.

    46   God is our refuge and strength,
        a very presentOr well proved">2 help in trouble.
    2   Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
        though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
    3   though its waters roar and foam,
        though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah
    4   There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
        the holy habitation of the Most High.
    5   God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
        God will help her when morning dawns.
    6   The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
        he utters his voice, the earth melts.
    7   The LORD of hosts is with us;
        the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
    8   Come, behold the works of the LORD,
        how he has brought desolations on the earth.
    9   He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
        he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
        he burns the chariots with fire.
    10   “Be still, and know that I am God.
        I will be exalted among the nations,
        I will be exalted in the earth!”
    11   The LORD of hosts is with us;
        the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

    Footnotes

    [1] 46:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term


    [2] 46:1 Or well proved

    (ESV)

    Pentateuch and History:
    2 Samuel 6
    2 Samuel 6 (Listen)
    The Ark Brought to Jerusalem

    6 David again gathered all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. 2 And David arose and went with all the people who were with him from Baale-judah to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the name of the LORD of hosts who sits enthroned on the cherubim. 3 And they carried the ark of God on a new cart and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. And Uzzah and Ahio,Or and his brother; also verse 4">1 the sons of Abinadab, were driving the new cart, 4 with the ark of God,Compare Septuagint; Hebrew the new cart, 4and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill, with the ark of God">2 and Ahio went before the ark.

    Uzzah and the Ark

    5 And David and all the house of Israel were celebrating before the LORD, with songsSeptuagint, 1 Chronicles 13:8; Hebrew fir trees">3 and lyres and harps and tambourines and castanets and cymbals. 6 And when they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. 7 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah, and God struck him down there because of his error, and he died there beside the ark of God. 8 And David was angry because the LORD had broken out against Uzzah. And that place is called Perez-uzzahPerez-uzzah means the breaking out against Uzzah">4 to this day. 9 And David was afraid of the LORD that day, and he said, “How can the ark of the LORD come to me?” 10 So David was not willing to take the ark of the LORD into the city of David. But David took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. 11 And the ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months, and the LORD blessed Obed-edom and all his household.

    12 And it was told King David, “The LORD has blessed the household of Obed-edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God.” So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom to the city of David with rejoicing. 13 And when those who bore the ark of the LORD had gone six steps, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened animal. 14 And David danced before the LORD with all his might. And David was wearing a linen ephod. 15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting and with the sound of the horn.

    David and Michal

    16 As the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, and she despised him in her heart. 17 And they brought in the ark of the LORD and set it in its place, inside the tent that David had pitched for it. And David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD. 18 And when David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts 19 and distributed among all the people, the whole multitude of Israel, both men and women, a cake of bread, a portion of meat,Vulgate; the meaning of the Hebrew term is uncertain">5 and a cake of raisins to each one. Then all the people departed, each to his house.

    20 And David returned to bless his household. But Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David and said, “How the king of Israel honored himself today, uncovering himself today before the eyes of his servants’ female servants, as one of the vulgar fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!” 21 And David said to Michal, “It was before the LORD, who chose me above your father and above all his house, to appoint me as princeOr leader">6 over Israel, the people of the LORD—and I will celebrate before the LORD. 22 I will make myself yet more contemptible than this, and I will be abased in yourSeptuagint; Hebrew my">7 eyes. But by the female servants of whom you have spoken, by them I shall be held in honor.” 23 And Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death.

    Footnotes

    [1] 6:3 Or and his brother; also verse 4


    [2] 6:4 Compare Septuagint; Hebrew the new cart, 4and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill, with the ark of God

    [3] 6:5 Septuagint, 1 Chronicles 13:8; Hebrew fir trees

    [4] 6:8 Perez-uzzah means the breaking out against Uzzah

    [5] 6:19 Vulgate; the meaning of the Hebrew term is uncertain

    [6] 6:21 Or leader

    [7] 6:22 Septuagint; Hebrew my

    (ESV)

    Chronicles and Prophets:
    Ezekiel 6
    Ezekiel 6 (Listen)
    Judgment Against Idolatry

    6 The word of the LORD came to me: 2 “Son of man, set your face toward the mountains of Israel, and prophesy against them, 3 and say, You mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord GOD! Thus says the Lord GOD to the mountains and the hills, to the ravines and the valleys: Behold, I, even I, will bring a sword upon you, and I will destroy your high places. 4 Your altars shall become desolate, and your incense altars shall be broken, and I will cast down your slain before your idols. 5 And I will lay the dead bodies of the people of Israel before their idols, and I will scatter your bones around your altars. 6 Wherever you dwell, the cities shall be waste and the high places ruined, so that your altars will be waste and ruined,Or and punished">1 your idols broken and destroyed, your incense altars cut down, and your works wiped out. 7 And the slain shall fall in your midst, and you shall know that I am the LORD.

    8 “Yet I will leave some of you alive. When you have among the nations some who escape the sword, and when you are scattered through the countries, 9 then those of you who escape will remember me among the nations where they are carried captive, how I have been broken over their whoring heart that has departed from me and over their eyes that go whoring after their idols. And they will be loathsome in their own sight for the evils that they have committed, for all their abominations. 10 And they shall know that I am the LORD. I have not said in vain that I would do this evil to them.”

    11 Thus says the Lord GOD: “Clap your hands and stamp your foot and say, Alas, because of all the evil abominations of the house of Israel, for they shall fall by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence. 12 He who is far off shall die of pestilence, and he who is near shall fall by the sword, and he who is left and is preserved shall die of famine. Thus I will spend my fury upon them. 13 And you shall know that I am the LORD, when their slain lie among their idols around their altars, on every high hill, on all the mountaintops, under every green tree, and under every leafy oak, wherever they offered pleasing aroma to all their idols. 14 And I will stretch out my hand against them and make the land desolate and waste, in all their dwelling places, from the wilderness to Riblah.Some Hebrew manuscripts; most Hebrew manuscripts Diblah">2 Then they will know that I am the LORD.”

    Footnotes

    [1] 6:6 Or and punished


    [2] 6:14 Some Hebrew manuscripts; most Hebrew manuscripts Diblah

    (ESV)

    Gospels and Epistles:
    Luke 11:1–36
    Luke 11:1–36 (Listen)
    The Lord’s Prayer

    11 Now JesusGreek he">1 was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” 2 And he said to them, “When you pray, say:

      “Father, hallowed be your name.
      Your kingdom come.
    3   Give us each day our daily bread,Or our bread for tomorrow">2
    4   and forgive us our sins,
        for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us.
      And lead us not into temptation.”

    5 And he said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, 6 for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; 7 and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’? 8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudenceOr persistence">3 he will rise and give him whatever he needs. 9 And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 11 What father among you, if his son asks forSome manuscripts insert bread, will give him a stone; or if he asks for">4 a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

    Jesus and Beelzebul

    14 Now he was casting out a demon that was mute. When the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke, and the people marveled. 15 But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons,” 16 while others, to test him, kept seeking from him a sign from heaven. 17 But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls. 18 And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul. 19 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 20 But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 21 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe; 22 but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoil. 23 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

    Return of an Unclean Spirit

    24 “When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and finding none it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ 25 And when it comes, it finds the house swept and put in order. 26 Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there. And the last state of that person is worse than the first.”

    True Blessedness

    27 As he said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!” 28 But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”

    The Sign of Jonah

    29 When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, “This generation is an evil generation. It seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. 30 For as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. 31 The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here. 32 The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.

    The Light in You

    33 “No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. 34 Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness. 35 Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness. 36 If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, as when a lamp with its rays gives you light.”

    Footnotes

    [1] 11:1 Greek he


    [2] 11:3 Or our bread for tomorrow

    [3] 11:8 Or persistence

    [4] 11:11 Some manuscripts insert bread, will give him a stone; or if he asks for

    (ESV)

    13 min
  • September 15: Psalm 45; 2 Samuel 5; Ezekiel 5:5–17; Luke 10:25–42
    Psalms and Wisdom:
    Psalm 45
    Psalm 45 (Listen)
    Your Throne, O God, Is Forever
    To the choirmaster: according to Lilies. A MaskilProbably a musical or liturgical term">1 of the Sons of Korah; a love song.

    45   My heart overflows with a pleasing theme;
        I address my verses to the king;
        my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe.
    2   You are the most handsome of the sons of men;
        grace is poured upon your lips;
        therefore God has blessed you forever.
    3   Gird your sword on your thigh, O mighty one,
        in your splendor and majesty!
    4   In your majesty ride out victoriously
        for the cause of truth and meekness and righteousness;
        let your right hand teach you awesome deeds!
    5   Your arrows are sharp
        in the heart of the king’s enemies;
        the peoples fall under you.
    6   Your throne, O God, is forever and ever.
        The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness;
    7     you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness.
      Therefore God, your God, has anointed you
        with the oil of gladness beyond your companions;
    8     your robes are all fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia.
      From ivory palaces stringed instruments make you glad;
    9     daughters of kings are among your ladies of honor;
        at your right hand stands the queen in gold of Ophir.
    10   Hear, O daughter, and consider, and incline your ear:
        forget your people and your father’s house,
    11     and the king will desire your beauty.
      Since he is your lord, bow to him.
    12     The peopleHebrew daughter">2 of Tyre will seek your favor with gifts,
        the richest of the people.Or The daughter of Tyre is here with gifts, the richest of people seek your favor">3
    13   All glorious is the princess in her chamber, with robes interwoven with gold.
    14     In many-colored robes she is led to the king,
        with her virgin companions following behind her.
    15   With joy and gladness they are led along
        as they enter the palace of the king.
    16   In place of your fathers shall be your sons;
        you will make them princes in all the earth.
    17   I will cause your name to be remembered in all generations;
        therefore nations will praise you forever and ever.

    Footnotes

    [1] 45:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term


    [2] 45:12 Hebrew daughter

    [3] 45:12 Or The daughter of Tyre is here with gifts, the richest of people seek your favor

    (ESV)

    Pentateuch and History:
    2 Samuel 5
    2 Samuel 5 (Listen)
    David Anointed King of Israel

    5 Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “Behold, we are your bone and flesh. 2 In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led out and brought in Israel. And the LORD said to you, ‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be princeOr leader">1 over Israel.’” 3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the LORD, and they anointed David king over Israel. 4 David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. 5 At Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and at Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years.Dead Sea Scroll lacks verses 4–5">2

    6 And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who said to David, “You will not come in here, but the blind and the lame will ward you off”—thinking, “David cannot come in here.” 7 Nevertheless, David took the stronghold of Zion, that is, the city of David. 8 And David said on that day, “Whoever would strike the Jebusites, let him get up the water shaft to attack ‘the lame and the blind,’ who are hated by David’s soul.” Therefore it is said, “The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.” 9 And David lived in the stronghold and called it the city of David. And David built the city all around from the Millo inward. 10 And David became greater and greater, for the LORD, the God of hosts, was with him.

    11 And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, also carpenters and masons who built David a house. 12 And David knew that the LORD had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.

    13 And David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, after he came from Hebron, and more sons and daughters were born to David. 14 And these are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 15 Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, 16 Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.

    David Defeats the Philistines

    17 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. But David heard of it and went down to the stronghold. 18 Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. 19 And David inquired of the LORD, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?” And the LORD said to David, “Go up, for I will certainly give the Philistines into your hand.” 20 And David came to Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there. And he said, “The LORD has broken through my enemies before me like a breaking flood.” Therefore the name of that place is called Baal-perazim.Baal-perazim means Lord of breaking through">3 21 And the Philistines left their idols there, and David and his men carried them away.

    22 And the Philistines came up yet again and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. 23 And when David inquired of the LORD, he said, “You shall not go up; go around to their rear, and come against them opposite the balsam trees. 24 And when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then rouse yourself, for then the LORD has gone out before you to strike down the army of the Philistines.” 25 And David did as the LORD commanded him, and struck down the Philistines from Geba to Gezer.

    Footnotes

    [1] 5:2 Or leader


    [2] 5:5 Dead Sea Scroll lacks verses 4–5

    [3] 5:20 Baal-perazim means Lord of breaking through

    (ESV)

    Chronicles and Prophets:
    Ezekiel 5:5–17
    Ezekiel 5:5–17 (Listen)

    5 “Thus says the Lord GOD: This is Jerusalem. I have set her in the center of the nations, with countries all around her. 6 And she has rebelled against my rules by doing wickedness more than the nations, and against my statutes more than the countries all around her; for they have rejected my rules and have not walked in my statutes. 7 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Because you are more turbulent than the nations that are all around you, and have not walked in my statutes or obeyed my rules, and have notSome Hebrew manuscripts and Syriac lack not">1 even acted according to the rules of the nations that are all around you, 8 therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I, even I, am against you. And I will execute judgmentsThe same Hebrew expression can mean obey rules, or execute judgments, depending on the context">2 in your midst in the sight of the nations. 9 And because of all your abominations I will do with you what I have never yet done, and the like of which I will never do again. 10 Therefore fathers shall eat their sons in your midst, and sons shall eat their fathers. And I will execute judgments on you, and any of you who survive I will scatter to all the winds. 11 Therefore, as I live, declares the Lord GOD, surely, because you have defiled my sanctuary with all your detestable things and with all your abominations, therefore I will withdraw.Some Hebrew manuscripts I will cut you down">3 My eye will not spare, and I will have no pity. 12 A third part of you shall die of pestilence and be consumed with famine in your midst; a third part shall fall by the sword all around you; and a third part I will scatter to all the winds and will unsheathe the sword after them.

    13 “Thus shall my anger spend itself, and I will vent my fury upon them and satisfy myself. And they shall know that I am the LORD—that I have spoken in my jealousy—when I spend my fury upon them. 14 Moreover, I will make you a desolation and an object of reproach among the nations all around you and in the sight of all who pass by. 15 You shall beDead Sea Scroll, Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate, Targum; Masoretic Text And it shall be">4 a reproach and a taunt, a warning and a horror, to the nations all around you, when I execute judgments on you in anger and fury, and with furious rebukes—I am the LORD; I have spoken—16 when I send against youHebrew them">5 the deadly arrows of famine, arrows for destruction, which I will send to destroy you, and when I bring more and more famine upon you and break your supplyHebrew staff">6 of bread. 17 I will send famine and wild beasts against you, and they will rob you of your children. Pestilence and blood shall pass through you, and I will bring the sword upon you. I am the LORD; I have spoken.”

    Footnotes

    [1] 5:7 Some Hebrew manuscripts and Syriac lack not


    [2] 5:8 The same Hebrew expression can mean obey rules, or execute judgments, depending on the context

    [3] 5:11 Some Hebrew manuscripts I will cut you down

    [4] 5:15 Dead Sea Scroll, Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate, Targum; Masoretic Text And it shall be

    [5] 5:16 Hebrew them

    [6] 5:16 Hebrew staff

    (ESV)

    Gospels and Epistles:
    Luke 10:25–42
    Luke 10:25–42 (Listen)
    The Parable of the Good Samaritan

    25 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” 27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” 28 And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”

    29 But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 And the next day he took out two denariiA denarius was a day’s wage for a laborer">1 and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ 36 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”

    Martha and Mary

    38 Now as they went on their way, JesusGreek he">2 entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary.Some manuscripts few things are necessary, or only one">3 Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

    Footnotes

    [1] 10:35 A denarius was a day’s wage for a laborer


    [2] 10:38 Greek he

    [3] 10:42 Some manuscripts few things are necessary, or only one

    (ESV)

    11 min
  • September 14: Psalm 44; 2 Samuel 4; Ezekiel 4–5:4; Luke 9:51–10:24
    Psalms and Wisdom:
    Psalm 44
    Psalm 44 (Listen)
    Come to Our Help
    To the choirmaster. A MaskilProbably a musical or liturgical term">1 of the Sons of Korah.

    44   O God, we have heard with our ears,
        our fathers have told us,
      what deeds you performed in their days,
        in the days of old:
    2   you with your own hand drove out the nations,
        but them you planted;
      you afflicted the peoples,
        but them you set free;
    3   for not by their own sword did they win the land,
        nor did their own arm save them,
      but your right hand and your arm,
        and the light of your face,
        for you delighted in them.
    4   You are my King, O God;
        ordain salvation for Jacob!
    5   Through you we push down our foes;
        through your name we tread down those who rise up against us.
    6   For not in my bow do I trust,
        nor can my sword save me.
    7   But you have saved us from our foes
        and have put to shame those who hate us.
    8   In God we have boasted continually,
        and we will give thanks to your name forever. Selah
    9   But you have rejected us and disgraced us
        and have not gone out with our armies.
    10   You have made us turn back from the foe,
        and those who hate us have gotten spoil.
    11   You have made us like sheep for slaughter
        and have scattered us among the nations.
    12   You have sold your people for a trifle,
        demanding no high price for them.
    13   You have made us the taunt of our neighbors,
        the derision and scorn of those around us.
    14   You have made us a byword among the nations,
        a laughingstockHebrew a shaking of the head">2 among the peoples.
    15   All day long my disgrace is before me,
        and shame has covered my face
    16   at the sound of the taunter and reviler,
        at the sight of the enemy and the avenger.
    17   All this has come upon us,
        though we have not forgotten you,
        and we have not been false to your covenant.
    18   Our heart has not turned back,
        nor have our steps departed from your way;
    19   yet you have broken us in the place of jackals
        and covered us with the shadow of death.
    20   If we had forgotten the name of our God
        or spread out our hands to a foreign god,
    21   would not God discover this?
        For he knows the secrets of the heart.
    22   Yet for your sake we are killed all the day long;
        we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.
    23   Awake! Why are you sleeping, O Lord?
        Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever!
    24   Why do you hide your face?
        Why do you forget our affliction and oppression?
    25   For our soul is bowed down to the dust;
        our belly clings to the ground.
    26   Rise up; come to our help!
        Redeem us for the sake of your steadfast love!

    Footnotes

    [1] 44:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term


    [2] 44:14 Hebrew a shaking of the head

    (ESV)

    Pentateuch and History:
    2 Samuel 4
    2 Samuel 4 (Listen)
    Ish-bosheth Murdered

    4 When Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, heard that Abner had died at Hebron, his courage failed, and all Israel was dismayed. 2 Now Saul’s son had two men who were captains of raiding bands; the name of the one was Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab, sons of Rimmon a man of Benjamin from Beeroth (for Beeroth also is counted part of Benjamin; 3 the Beerothites fled to Gittaim and have been sojourners there to this day).

    4 Jonathan, the son of Saul, had a son who was crippled in his feet. He was five years old when the news about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel, and his nurse took him up and fled, and as she fled in her haste, he fell and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth.

    5 Now the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, set out, and about the heat of the day they came to the house of Ish-bosheth as he was taking his noonday rest. 6 And they came into the midst of the house as if to get wheat, and they stabbed him in the stomach. Then Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped.Septuagint And behold, the doorkeeper of the house had been cleaning wheat, but she grew drowsy and slept. So Rechab and Baanah his brother slipped in">1 7 When they came into the house, as he lay on his bed in his bedroom, they struck him and put him to death and beheaded him. They took his head and went by the way of the Arabah all night, 8 and brought the head of Ish-bosheth to David at Hebron. And they said to the king, “Here is the head of Ish-bosheth, the son of Saul, your enemy, who sought your life. The LORD has avenged my lord the king this day on Saul and on his offspring.” 9 But David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, “As the LORD lives, who has redeemed my life out of every adversity, 10 when one told me, ‘Behold, Saul is dead,’ and thought he was bringing good news, I seized him and killed him at Ziklag, which was the reward I gave him for his news. 11 How much more, when wicked men have killed a righteous man in his own house on his bed, shall I not now require his blood at your hand and destroy you from the earth?” 12 And David commanded his young men, and they killed them and cut off their hands and feet and hanged them beside the pool at Hebron. But they took the head of Ish-bosheth and buried it in the tomb of Abner at Hebron.

    Footnotes

    [1] 4:6 Septuagint And behold, the doorkeeper of the house had been cleaning wheat, but she grew drowsy and slept. So Rechab and Baanah his brother slipped in

    (ESV)

    Chronicles and Prophets:
    Ezekiel 4–5:4
    Ezekiel 4–5:4 (Listen)
    The Siege of Jerusalem Symbolized

    4 “And you, son of man, take a brick and lay it before you, and engrave on it a city, even Jerusalem. 2 And put siegeworks against it, and build a siege wall against it, and cast up a mound against it. Set camps also against it, and plant battering rams against it all around. 3 And you, take an iron griddle, and place it as an iron wall between you and the city; and set your face toward it, and let it be in a state of siege, and press the siege against it. This is a sign for the house of Israel.

    4 “Then lie on your left side, and place the punishmentOr iniquity; also verses 5, 6, 17">1 of the house of Israel upon it. For the number of the days that you lie on it, you shall bear their punishment. 5 For I assign to you a number of days, 390 days, equal to the number of the years of their punishment. So long shall you bear the punishment of the house of Israel. 6 And when you have completed these, you shall lie down a second time, but on your right side, and bear the punishment of the house of Judah. Forty days I assign you, a day for each year. 7 And you shall set your face toward the siege of Jerusalem, with your arm bared, and you shall prophesy against the city. 8 And behold, I will place cords upon you, so that you cannot turn from one side to the other, till you have completed the days of your siege.

    9 “And you, take wheat and barley, beans and lentils, millet and emmer,A type of wheat">2 and put them into a single vessel and make your bread from them. During the number of days that you lie on your side, 390 days, you shall eat it. 10 And your food that you eat shall be by weight, twenty shekelsA shekel was about 2/5 ounce or 11 grams">3 a day; from day to dayOr at a set time daily; also verse 11">4 you shall eat it. 11 And water you shall drink by measure, the sixth part of a hin;A hin was about 4 quarts or 3.5 liters">5 from day to day you shall drink. 12 And you shall eat it as a barley cake, baking it in their sight on human dung.” 13 And the LORD said, “Thus shall the people of Israel eat their bread unclean, among the nations where I will drive them.” 14 Then I said, “Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I have never defiled myself.Hebrew my soul (or throat) has never been made unclean">6 From my youth up till now I have never eaten what died of itself or was torn by beasts, nor has tainted meat come into my mouth.” 15 Then he said to me, “See, I assign to you cow’s dung instead of human dung, on which you may prepare your bread.” 16 Moreover, he said to me, “Son of man, behold, I will break the supplyHebrew staff">7 of bread in Jerusalem. They shall eat bread by weight and with anxiety, and they shall drink water by measure and in dismay. 17 I will do this that they may lack bread and water, and look at one another in dismay, and rot away because of their punishment.

    Jerusalem Will Be Destroyed

    5 “And you, O son of man, take a sharp sword. Use it as a barber’s razor and pass it over your head and your beard. Then take balances for weighing and divide the hair. 2 A third part you shall burn in the fire in the midst of the city, when the days of the siege are completed. And a third part you shall take and strike with the sword all around the city. And a third part you shall scatter to the wind, and I will unsheathe the sword after them. 3 And you shall take from these a small number and bind them in the skirts of your robe. 4 And of these again you shall take some and cast them into the midst of the fire and burn them in the fire. From there a fire will come out into all the house of Israel.

    Footnotes

    [1] 4:4 Or iniquity; also verses 5, 6, 17


    [2] 4:9 A type of wheat

    [3] 4:10 A shekel was about 2/5 ounce or 11 grams

    [4] 4:10 Or at a set time daily; also verse 11

    [5] 4:11 A hin was about 4 quarts or 3.5 liters

    [6] 4:14 Hebrew my soul (or throat) has never been made unclean

    [7] 4:16 Hebrew staff

    (ESV)

    Gospels and Epistles:
    Luke 9:51–10:24
    Luke 9:51–10:24 (Listen)
    A Samaritan Village Rejects Jesus

    51 When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. 52 And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make preparations for him. 53 But the people did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. 54 And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?”Some manuscripts add as Elijah did">1 55 But he turned and rebuked them.Some manuscripts add And he said, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of; 56for the Son of Man came not to destroy people’s lives but to save them”">2 56 And they went on to another village.

    The Cost of Following Jesus

    57 As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” 59 To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” 60 And JesusGreek he">3 said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” 61 Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” 62 Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

    Jesus Sends Out the Seventy-Two

    10 After this the Lord appointed seventy-twoSome manuscripts seventy; also verse 17">4 others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. 2 And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. 3 Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. 4 Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road. 5 Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’ 6 And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you. 7 And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house. 8 Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you. 9 Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ 10 But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say, 11 ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near.’ 12 I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.

    Woe to Unrepentant Cities

    13 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14 But it will be more bearable in the judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. 15 And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You shall be brought down to Hades.

    16 “The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me.”

    The Return of the Seventy-Two

    17 The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” 18 And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. 20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

    Jesus Rejoices in the Father’s Will

    21 In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.Or for so it pleased you well">5 22 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”

    23 Then turning to the disciples he said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! 24 For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.”

    Footnotes

    [1] 9:54 Some manuscripts add as Elijah did


    [2] 9:55 Some manuscripts add And he said, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of; 56for the Son of Man came not to destroy people’s lives but to save them”

    [3] 9:60 Greek he

    [4] 10:1 Some manuscripts seventy; also verse 17

    [5] 10:21 Or for so it pleased you well

    (ESV)

    13 min
  • September 13: Psalms 42–43; 2 Samuel 3; Ezekiel 2–3; Luke 9:1–50
    Psalms and Wisdom:
    Psalms 42–43
    Psalms 42–43 (Listen)
    Book Two
    Why Are You Cast Down, O My Soul?
    To the choirmaster. A MaskilProbably a musical or liturgical term">1 of the Sons of Korah.

    42   As a deer pants for flowing streams,
        so pants my soul for you, O God.
    2   My soul thirsts for God,
        for the living God.
      When shall I come and appear before God?Revocalization yields and see the face of God">2
    3   My tears have been my food
        day and night,
      while they say to me all the day long,
        “Where is your God?”
    4   These things I remember,
        as I pour out my soul:
      how I would go with the throng
        and lead them in procession to the house of God
      with glad shouts and songs of praise,
        a multitude keeping festival.
    5   Why are you cast down, O my soul,
        and why are you in turmoil within me?
      Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
        my salvationHebrew the salvation of my face; also verse 11 and 43:5">3 6 and my God.
      My soul is cast down within me;
        therefore I remember you
      from the land of Jordan and of Hermon,
        from Mount Mizar.
    7   Deep calls to deep
        at the roar of your waterfalls;
      all your breakers and your waves
        have gone over me.
    8   By day the LORD commands his steadfast love,
        and at night his song is with me,
        a prayer to the God of my life.
    9   I say to God, my rock:
        “Why have you forgotten me?
      Why do I go mourning
        because of the oppression of the enemy?”
    10   As with a deadly wound in my bones,
        my adversaries taunt me,
      while they say to me all the day long,
        “Where is your God?”
    11   Why are you cast down, O my soul,
        and why are you in turmoil within me?
      Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
        my salvation and my God.

    Send Out Your Light and Your Truth

    43   Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause
        against an ungodly people,
      from the deceitful and unjust man
        deliver me!
    2   For you are the God in whom I take refuge;
        why have you rejected me?
      Why do I go about mourning
        because of the oppression of the enemy?
    3   Send out your light and your truth;
        let them lead me;
      let them bring me to your holy hill
        and to your dwelling!
    4   Then I will go to the altar of God,
        to God my exceeding joy,
      and I will praise you with the lyre,
        O God, my God.
    5   Why are you cast down, O my soul,
        and why are you in turmoil within me?
      Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
        my salvation and my God.

    Footnotes

    [1] 42:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term


    [2] 42:2 Revocalization yields and see the face of God

    [3] 42:5 Hebrew the salvation of my face; also verse 11 and 43:5

    (ESV)

    Pentateuch and History:
    2 Samuel 3
    2 Samuel 3 (Listen)
    Abner Joins David

    3 There was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David. And David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul became weaker and weaker.

    2 And sons were born to David at Hebron: his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam of Jezreel; 3 and his second, Chileab, of Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur; 4 and the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital; 5 and the sixth, Ithream, of Eglah, David’s wife. These were born to David in Hebron.

    6 While there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner was making himself strong in the house of Saul. 7 Now Saul had a concubine whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. And Ish-bosheth said to Abner, “Why have you gone in to my father’s concubine?” 8 Then Abner was very angry over the words of Ish-bosheth and said, “Am I a dog’s head of Judah? To this day I keep showing steadfast love to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers, and to his friends, and have not given you into the hand of David. And yet you charge me today with a fault concerning a woman. 9 God do so to Abner and more also, if I do not accomplish for David what the LORD has sworn to him, 10 to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan to Beersheba.” 11 And Ish-bosheth could not answer Abner another word, because he feared him.

    12 And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf,Or where he was; Septuagint at Hebron">1 saying, “To whom does the land belong? Make your covenant with me, and behold, my hand shall be with you to bring over all Israel to you.” 13 And he said, “Good; I will make a covenant with you. But one thing I require of you; that is, you shall not see my face unless you first bring Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come to see my face.” 14 Then David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, saying, “Give me my wife Michal, for whom I paid the bridal price of a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.” 15 And Ish-bosheth sent and took her from her husband Paltiel the son of Laish. 16 But her husband went with her, weeping after her all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go, return.” And he returned.

    17 And Abner conferred with the elders of Israel, saying, “For some time past you have been seeking David as king over you. 18 Now then bring it about, for the LORD has promised David, saying, ‘By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel from the hand of the Philistines, and from the hand of all their enemies.’” 19 Abner also spoke to Benjamin. And then Abner went to tell David at Hebron all that Israel and the whole house of Benjamin thought good to do.

    20 When Abner came with twenty men to David at Hebron, David made a feast for Abner and the men who were with him. 21 And Abner said to David, “I will arise and go and will gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may reign over all that your heart desires.” So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.

    22 Just then the servants of David arrived with Joab from a raid, bringing much spoil with them. But Abner was not with David at Hebron, for he had sent him away, and he had gone in peace. 23 When Joab and all the army that was with him came, it was told Joab, “Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he has let him go, and he has gone in peace.” 24 Then Joab went to the king and said, “What have you done? Behold, Abner came to you. Why is it that you have sent him away, so that he is gone? 25 You know that Abner the son of Ner came to deceive you and to know your going out and your coming in, and to know all that you are doing.”

    Joab Murders Abner

    26 When Joab came out from David’s presence, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the cistern of Sirah. But David did not know about it. 27 And when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the midst of the gate to speak with him privately, and there he struck him in the stomach, so that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother. 28 Afterward, when David heard of it, he said, “I and my kingdom are forever guiltless before the LORD for the blood of Abner the son of Ner. 29 May it fall upon the head of Joab and upon all his father’s house, and may the house of Joab never be without one who has a discharge or who is leprous or who holds a spindle or who falls by the sword or who lacks bread!” 30 So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner, because he had put their brother Asahel to death in the battle at Gibeon.

    David Mourns Abner

    31 Then David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, “Tear your clothes and put on sackcloth and mourn before Abner.” And King David followed the bier. 32 They buried Abner at Hebron. And the king lifted up his voice and wept at the grave of Abner, and all the people wept. 33 And the king lamented for Abner, saying,

      “Should Abner die as a fool dies?
    34   Your hands were not bound;
        your feet were not fettered;
      as one falls before the wicked
        you have fallen.”

    And all the people wept again over him. 35 Then all the people came to persuade David to eat bread while it was yet day. But David swore, saying, “God do so to me and more also, if I taste bread or anything else till the sun goes down!” 36 And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them, as everything that the king did pleased all the people. 37 So all the people and all Israel understood that day that it had not been the king’s will to put to death Abner the son of Ner. 38 And the king said to his servants, “Do you not know that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel? 39 And I was gentle today, though anointed king. These men, the sons of Zeruiah, are more severe than I. The LORD repay the evildoer according to his wickedness!”

    Footnotes

    [1] 3:12 Or where he was; Septuagint at Hebron

    (ESV)

    Chronicles and Prophets:
    Ezekiel 2–3
    Ezekiel 2–3 (Listen)
    Ezekiel’s Call

    2 And he said to me, “Son of man,Or Son of Adam; so throughout Ezekiel">1 stand on your feet, and I will speak with you.” 2 And as he spoke to me, the Spirit entered into me and set me on my feet, and I heard him speaking to me. 3 And he said to me, “Son of man, I send you to the people of Israel, to nations of rebels, who have rebelled against me. They and their fathers have transgressed against me to this very day. 4 The descendants also are impudent and stubborn: I send you to them, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD.’ 5 And whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious house) they will know that a prophet has been among them. 6 And you, son of man, be not afraid of them, nor be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you and you sit on scorpions.Or on scorpion plants">2 Be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house. 7 And you shall speak my words to them, whether they hear or refuse to hear, for they are a rebellious house.

    8 “But you, son of man, hear what I say to you. Be not rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you.” 9 And when I looked, behold, a hand was stretched out to me, and behold, a scroll of a book was in it. 10 And he spread it before me. And it had writing on the front and on the back, and there were written on it words of lamentation and mourning and woe.

    3 And he said to me, “Son of man, eat whatever you find here. Eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.” 2 So I opened my mouth, and he gave me this scroll to eat. 3 And he said to me, “Son of man, feed your belly with this scroll that I give you and fill your stomach with it.” Then I ate it, and it was in my mouth as sweet as honey.

    4 And he said to me, “Son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak with my words to them. 5 For you are not sent to a people of foreign speech and a hard language, but to the house of Israel—6 not to many peoples of foreign speech and a hard language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely, if I sent you to such, they would listen to you. 7 But the house of Israel will not be willing to listen to you, for they are not willing to listen to me: because all the house of Israel have a hard forehead and a stubborn heart. 8 Behold, I have made your face as hard as their faces, and your forehead as hard as their foreheads. 9 Like emery harder than flint have I made your forehead. Fear them not, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house.” 10 Moreover, he said to me, “Son of man, all my words that I shall speak to you receive in your heart, and hear with your ears. 11 And go to the exiles, to your people, and speak to them and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD,’ whether they hear or refuse to hear.”

    12 Then the SpiritOr the wind; also verse 14">3 lifted me up, and I heard behind me the voiceOr sound">4 of a great earthquake: “Blessed be the glory of the LORD from its place!” 13 It was the sound of the wings of the living creatures as they touched one another, and the sound of the wheels beside them, and the sound of a great earthquake. 14 The Spirit lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness in the heat of my spirit, the hand of the LORD being strong upon me. 15 And I came to the exiles at Tel-abib, who were dwelling by the Chebar canal, and I sat where they were dwelling.Or Chebar, and to where they dwelt">5 And I sat there overwhelmed among them seven days.

    A Watchman for Israel

    16 And at the end of seven days, the word of the LORD came to me: 17 “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. 18 If I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, in order to save his life, that wicked person shall die forOr in; also verses 19, 20">6 his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. 19 But if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, or from his wicked way, he shall die for his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul. 20 Again, if a righteous person turns from his righteousness and commits injustice, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die. Because you have not warned him, he shall die for his sin, and his righteous deeds that he has done shall not be remembered, but his blood I will require at your hand. 21 But if you warn the righteous person not to sin, and he does not sin, he shall surely live, because he took warning, and you will have delivered your soul.”

    22 And the hand of the LORD was upon me there. And he said to me, “Arise, go out into the valley,Or plain; also verse 23">7 and there I will speak with you.” 23 So I arose and went out into the valley, and behold, the glory of the LORD stood there, like the glory that I had seen by the Chebar canal, and I fell on my face. 24 But the Spirit entered into me and set me on my feet, and he spoke with me and said to me, “Go, shut yourself within your house. 25 And you, O son of man, behold, cords will be placed upon you, and you shall be bound with them, so that you cannot go out among the people. 26 And I will make your tongue cling to the roof of your mouth, so that you shall be mute and unable to reprove them, for they are a rebellious house. 27 But when I speak with you, I will open your mouth, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD.’ He who will hear, let him hear; and he who will refuse to hear, let him refuse, for they are a rebellious house.

    Footnotes

    [1] 2:1 Or Son of Adam; so throughout Ezekiel


    [2] 2:6 Or on scorpion plants

    [3] 3:12 Or the wind; also verse 14

    [4] 3:12 Or sound

    [5] 3:15 Or Chebar, and to where they dwelt

    [6] 3:18 Or in; also verses 19, 20

    [7] 3:22 Or plain; also verse 23

    (ESV)

    Gospels and Epistles:
    Luke 9:1–50
    Luke 9:1–50 (Listen)
    Jesus Sends Out the Twelve Apostles

    9 And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. 3 And he said to them, “Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics.Greek chiton, a long garment worn under the cloak next to the skin">1 4 And whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart. 5 And wherever they do not receive you, when you leave that town shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them.” 6 And they departed and went through the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.

    Herod Is Perplexed by Jesus

    7 Now Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that John had been raised from the dead, 8 by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the prophets of old had risen. 9 Herod said, “John I beheaded, but who is this about whom I hear such things?” And he sought to see him.

    Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand

    10 On their return the apostles told him all that they had done. And he took them and withdrew apart to a town called Bethsaida. 11 When the crowds learned it, they followed him, and he welcomed them and spoke to them of the kingdom of God and cured those who had need of healing. 12 Now the day began to wear away, and the twelve came and said to him, “Send the crowd away to go into the surrounding villages and countryside to find lodging and get provisions, for we are here in a desolate place.” 13 But he said to them, “You give them something to eat.” They said, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish—unless we are to go and buy food for all these people.” 14 For there were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.” 15 And they did so, and had them all sit down. 16 And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing over them. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. 17 And they all ate and were satisfied. And what was left over was picked up, twelve baskets of broken pieces.

    Peter Confesses Jesus as the Christ

    18 Now it happened that as he was praying alone, the disciples were with him. And he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” 19 And they answered, “John the Baptist. But others say, Elijah, and others, that one of the prophets of old has risen.” 20 Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered, “The Christ of God.”

    Jesus Foretells His Death

    21 And he strictly charged and commanded them to tell this to no one, 22 saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.”

    Take Up Your Cross and Follow Jesus

    23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 25 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? 26 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. 27 But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.”

    The Transfiguration

    28 Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. 29 And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white. 30 And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah, 31 who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure,Greek exodus">2 which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. 32 Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they became fully awake they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. 33 And as the men were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said. 34 As he was saying these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One;Some manuscripts my Beloved">3 listen to him!” 36 And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and told no one in those days anything of what they had seen.

    Jesus Heals a Boy with an Unclean Spirit

    37 On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him. 38 And behold, a man from the crowd cried out, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child. 39 And behold, a spirit seizes him, and he suddenly cries out. It convulses him so that he foams at the mouth, and shatters him, and will hardly leave him. 40 And I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.” 41 Jesus answered, “O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.” 42 While he was coming, the demon threw him to the ground and convulsed him. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit and healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. 43 And all were astonished at the majesty of God.

    Jesus Again Foretells His Death

    But while they were all marveling at everything he was doing, JesusGreek he">4 said to his disciples, 44 “Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men.” 45 But they did not understand this saying, and it was concealed from them, so that they might not perceive it. And they were afraid to ask him about this saying.

    Who Is the Greatest?

    46 An argument arose among them as to which of them was the greatest. 47 But Jesus, knowing the reasoning of their hearts, took a child and put him by his side 48 and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For he who is least among you all is the one who is great.”

    Anyone Not Against Us Is For Us

    49 John answered, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us.” 50 But Jesus said to him, “Do not stop him, for the one who is not against you is for you.”

    Footnotes

    [1] 9:3 Greek chiton, a long garment worn under the cloak next to the skin


    [2] 9:31 Greek exodus

    [3] 9:35 Some manuscripts my Beloved

    [4] 9:43 Greek he

    (ESV)

    21 min
  • September 12: Psalm 41; 2 Samuel 2; Ezekiel 1; Luke 8:22–56
    Psalms and Wisdom:
    Psalm 41
    Psalm 41 (Listen)
    O Lord, Be Gracious to Me
    To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

    41   Blessed is the one who considers the poor!Or weak">1
        In the day of trouble the LORD delivers him;
    2   the LORD protects him and keeps him alive;
        he is called blessed in the land;
        you do not give him up to the will of his enemies.
    3   The LORD sustains him on his sickbed;
        in his illness you restore him to full health.Hebrew you turn all his bed">2
    4   As for me, I said, “O LORD, be gracious to me;
        heal me,Hebrew my soul">3 for I have sinned against you!”
    5   My enemies say of me in malice,
        “When will he die, and his name perish?”
    6   And when one comes to see me, he utters empty words,
        while his heart gathers iniquity;
        when he goes out, he tells it abroad.
    7   All who hate me whisper together about me;
        they imagine the worst for me.Or they devise evil against me">4
    8   They say, “A deadly thing is poured outOr has fastened">5 on him;
        he will not rise again from where he lies.”
    9   Even my close friend in whom I trusted,
        who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.
    10   But you, O LORD, be gracious to me,
        and raise me up, that I may repay them!
    11   By this I know that you delight in me:
        my enemy will not shout in triumph over me.
    12   But you have upheld me because of my integrity,
        and set me in your presence forever.
    13   Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,
        from everlasting to everlasting!
          Amen and Amen.

    Footnotes

    [1] 41:1 Or weak


    [2] 41:3 Hebrew you turn all his bed

    [3] 41:4 Hebrew my soul

    [4] 41:7 Or they devise evil against me

    [5] 41:8 Or has fastened

    (ESV)

    Pentateuch and History:
    2 Samuel 2
    2 Samuel 2 (Listen)
    David Anointed King of Judah

    2 After this David inquired of the LORD, “Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah?” And the LORD said to him, “Go up.” David said, “To which shall I go up?” And he said, “To Hebron.” 2 So David went up there, and his two wives also, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel. 3 And David brought up his men who were with him, everyone with his household, and they lived in the towns of Hebron. 4 And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah.

    When they told David, “It was the men of Jabesh-gilead who buried Saul,” 5 David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-gilead and said to them, “May you be blessed by the LORD, because you showed this loyalty to Saul your lord and buried him. 6 Now may the LORD show steadfast love and faithfulness to you. And I will do good to you because you have done this thing. 7 Now therefore let your hands be strong, and be valiant, for Saul your lord is dead, and the house of Judah has anointed me king over them.”

    Ish-bosheth Made King of Israel

    8 But Abner the son of Ner, commander of Saul’s army, took Ish-bosheth the son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim, 9 and he made him king over Gilead and the Ashurites and Jezreel and Ephraim and Benjamin and all Israel. 10 Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David. 11 And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.

    The Battle of Gibeon

    12 Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon. 13 And Joab the son of Zeruiah and the servants of David went out and met them at the pool of Gibeon. And they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on the other side of the pool. 14 And Abner said to Joab, “Let the young men arise and compete before us.” And Joab said, “Let them arise.” 15 Then they arose and passed over by number, twelve for Benjamin and Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David. 16 And each caught his opponent by the head and thrust his sword in his opponent’s side, so they fell down together. Therefore that place was called Helkath-hazzurim,Helkath-hazzurim means the field of sword-edges">1 which is at Gibeon. 17 And the battle was very fierce that day. And Abner and the men of Israel were beaten before the servants of David.

    18 And the three sons of Zeruiah were there, Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Now Asahel was as swift of foot as a wild gazelle. 19 And Asahel pursued Abner, and as he went, he turned neither to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner. 20 Then Abner looked behind him and said, “Is it you, Asahel?” And he answered, “It is I.” 21 Abner said to him, “Turn aside to your right hand or to your left, and seize one of the young men and take his spoil.” But Asahel would not turn aside from following him. 22 And Abner said again to Asahel, “Turn aside from following me. Why should I strike you to the ground? How then could I lift up my face to your brother Joab?” 23 But he refused to turn aside. Therefore Abner struck him in the stomach with the butt of his spear, so that the spear came out at his back. And he fell there and died where he was. And all who came to the place where Asahel had fallen and died, stood still.

    24 But Joab and Abishai pursued Abner. And as the sun was going down they came to the hill of Ammah, which lies before Giah on the way to the wilderness of Gibeon. 25 And the people of Benjamin gathered themselves together behind Abner and became one group and took their stand on the top of a hill. 26 Then Abner called to Joab, “Shall the sword devour forever? Do you not know that the end will be bitter? How long will it be before you tell your people to turn from the pursuit of their brothers?” 27 And Joab said, “As God lives, if you had not spoken, surely the men would not have given up the pursuit of their brothers until the morning.” 28 So Joab blew the trumpet, and all the men stopped and pursued Israel no more, nor did they fight anymore.

    29 And Abner and his men went all that night through the Arabah. They crossed the Jordan, and marching the whole morning, they came to Mahanaim. 30 Joab returned from the pursuit of Abner. And when he had gathered all the people together, there were missing from David’s servants nineteen men besides Asahel. 31 But the servants of David had struck down of Benjamin 360 of Abner’s men. 32 And they took up Asahel and buried him in the tomb of his father, which was at Bethlehem. And Joab and his men marched all night, and the day broke upon them at Hebron.

    Footnotes

    [1] 2:16 Helkath-hazzurim means the field of sword-edges

    (ESV)

    Chronicles and Prophets:
    Ezekiel 1
    Ezekiel 1 (Listen)
    Ezekiel in Babylon

    1 In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I was among the exiles by the Chebar canal, the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.Or from God">1 2 On the fifth day of the month (it was the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin), 3 the word of the LORD came to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the Chebar canal, and the hand of the LORD was upon him there.

    The Glory of the Lord

    4 As I looked, behold, a stormy wind came out of the north, and a great cloud, with brightness around it, and fire flashing forth continually, and in the midst of the fire, as it were gleaming metal.Or amber; also verse 27">2 5 And from the midst of it came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: they had a human likeness, 6 but each had four faces, and each of them had four wings. 7 Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the sole of a calf’s foot. And they sparkled like burnished bronze. 8 Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands. And the four had their faces and their wings thus: 9 their wings touched one another. Each one of them went straight forward, without turning as they went. 10 As for the likeness of their faces, each had a human face. The four had the face of a lion on the right side, the four had the face of an ox on the left side, and the four had the face of an eagle. 11 Such were their faces. And their wings were spread out above. Each creature had two wings, each of which touched the wing of another, while two covered their bodies. 12 And each went straight forward. Wherever the spiritOr Spirit; also twice in verse 20 and once in verse 21">3 would go, they went, without turning as they went. 13 As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches moving to and fro among the living creatures. And the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning. 14 And the living creatures darted to and fro, like the appearance of a flash of lightning.

    15 Now as I looked at the living creatures, I saw a wheel on the earth beside the living creatures, one for each of the four of them.Hebrew of their faces">4 16 As for the appearance of the wheels and their construction: their appearance was like the gleaming of beryl. And the four had the same likeness, their appearance and construction being as it were a wheel within a wheel. 17 When they went, they went in any of their four directionsHebrew on their four sides">5 without turning as they went. 18 And their rims were tall and awesome, and the rims of all four were full of eyes all around. 19 And when the living creatures went, the wheels went beside them; and when the living creatures rose from the earth, the wheels rose. 20 Wherever the spirit wanted to go, they went, and the wheels rose along with them, for the spirit of the living creaturesOr the spirit of life; also verse 21">6 was in the wheels. 21 When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; and when those rose from the earth, the wheels rose along with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.

    22 Over the heads of the living creatures there was the likeness of an expanse, shining like awe-inspiring crystal, spread out above their heads. 23 And under the expanse their wings were stretched out straight, one toward another. And each creature had two wings covering its body. 24 And when they went, I heard the sound of their wings like the sound of many waters, like the sound of the Almighty, a sound of tumult like the sound of an army. When they stood still, they let down their wings. 25 And there came a voice from above the expanse over their heads. When they stood still, they let down their wings.

    26 And above the expanse over their heads there was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like sapphire;Or lapis lazuli">7 and seated above the likeness of a throne was a likeness with a human appearance. 27 And upward from what had the appearance of his waist I saw as it were gleaming metal, like the appearance of fire enclosed all around. And downward from what had the appearance of his waist I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and there was brightness around him.Or it">8 28 Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around.

    Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of one speaking.

    Footnotes

    [1] 1:1 Or from God


    [2] 1:4 Or amber; also verse 27

    [3] 1:12 Or Spirit; also twice in verse 20 and once in verse 21

    [4] 1:15 Hebrew of their faces

    [5] 1:17 Hebrew on their four sides

    [6] 1:20 Or the spirit of life; also verse 21

    [7] 1:26 Or lapis lazuli

    [8] 1:27 Or it

    (ESV)

    Gospels and Epistles:
    Luke 8:22–56
    Luke 8:22–56 (Listen)
    Jesus Calms a Storm

    22 One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” So they set out, 23 and as they sailed he fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger. 24 And they went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm. 25 He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?”

    Jesus Heals a Man with a Demon

    26 Then they sailed to the country of the Gerasenes,Some manuscripts Gadarenes; others Gergesenes; also verse 37">1 which is opposite Galilee. 27 When JesusGreek he; also verses 38, 42">2 had stepped out on land, there met him a man from the city who had demons. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he had not lived in a house but among the tombs. 28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him and said with a loud voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me.” 29 For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many a time it had seized him. He was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the desert.) 30 Jesus then asked him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Legion,” for many demons had entered him. 31 And they begged him not to command them to depart into the abyss. 32 Now a large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, and they begged him to let them enter these. So he gave them permission. 33 Then the demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned.

    34 When the herdsmen saw what had happened, they fled and told it in the city and in the country. 35 Then people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had gone, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. 36 And those who had seen it told them how the demon-possessedGreek daimonizomai (demonized); elsewhere rendered oppressed by demons">3 man had been healed. 37 Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned. 38 The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 “Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him.

    Jesus Heals a Woman and Jairus’s Daughter

    40 Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him. 41 And there came a man named Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue. And falling at Jesus’ feet, he implored him to come to his house, 42 for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying.

    As Jesus went, the people pressed around him. 43 And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though she had spent all her living on physicians,Some manuscripts omit and though she had spent all her living on physicians">4 she could not be healed by anyone. 44 She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased. 45 And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?” When all denied it, PeterSome manuscripts add and those who were with him">5 said, “Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!” 46 But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me.” 47 And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. 48 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.”

    49 While he was still speaking, someone from the ruler’s house came and said, “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more.” 50 But Jesus on hearing this answered him, “Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well.” 51 And when he came to the house, he allowed no one to enter with him, except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child. 52 And all were weeping and mourning for her, but he said, “Do not weep, for she is not dead but sleeping.” 53 And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. 54 But taking her by the hand he called, saying, “Child, arise.” 55 And her spirit returned, and she got up at once. And he directed that something should be given her to eat. 56 And her parents were amazed, but he charged them to tell no one what had happened.

    Footnotes

    [1] 8:26 Some manuscripts Gadarenes; others Gergesenes; also verse 37


    [2] 8:27 Greek he; also verses 38, 42

    [3] 8:36 Greek daimonizomai (demonized); elsewhere rendered oppressed by demons

    [4] 8:43 Some manuscripts omit and though she had spent all her living on physicians

    [5] 8:45 Some manuscripts add and those who were with him

    (ESV)

    16 min
  • September 11: Psalm 40; 2 Samuel 1; Daniel 12; Luke 8:4–21
    Psalms and Wisdom:
    Psalm 40
    Psalm 40 (Listen)
    My Help and My Deliverer
    To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

    40   I waited patiently for the LORD;
        he inclined to me and heard my cry.
    2   He drew me up from the pit of destruction,
        out of the miry bog,
      and set my feet upon a rock,
        making my steps secure.
    3   He put a new song in my mouth,
        a song of praise to our God.
      Many will see and fear,
        and put their trust in the LORD.
    4   Blessed is the man who makes
        the LORD his trust,
      who does not turn to the proud,
        to those who go astray after a lie!
    5   You have multiplied, O LORD my God,
        your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us;
        none can compare with you!
      I will proclaim and tell of them,
        yet they are more than can be told.
    6   In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted,
        but you have given me an open ear.Hebrew ears you have dug for me">1
      Burnt offering and sin offering
        you have not required.
    7   Then I said, “Behold, I have come;
        in the scroll of the book it is written of me:
    8   I delight to do your will, O my God;
        your law is within my heart.”
    9   I have told the glad news of deliveranceHebrew righteousness; also verse 10">2
        in the great congregation;
      behold, I have not restrained my lips,
        as you know, O LORD.
    10   I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart;
        I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation;
      I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness
        from the great congregation.
    11   As for you, O LORD, you will not restrain
        your mercy from me;
      your steadfast love and your faithfulness will
        ever preserve me!
    12   For evils have encompassed me
        beyond number;
      my iniquities have overtaken me,
        and I cannot see;
      they are more than the hairs of my head;
        my heart fails me.
    13   Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me!
        O LORD, make haste to help me!
    14   Let those be put to shame and disappointed altogether
        who seek to snatch away my life;
      let those be turned back and brought to dishonor
        who delight in my hurt!
    15   Let those be appalled because of their shame
        who say to me, “Aha, Aha!”
    16   But may all who seek you
        rejoice and be glad in you;
      may those who love your salvation
        say continually, “Great is the LORD!”
    17   As for me, I am poor and needy,
        but the Lord takes thought for me.
      You are my help and my deliverer;
        do not delay, O my God!

    Footnotes

    [1] 40:6 Hebrew ears you have dug for me


    [2] 40:9 Hebrew righteousness; also verse 10

    (ESV)

    Pentateuch and History:
    2 Samuel 1
    2 Samuel 1 (Listen)
    David Hears of Saul’s Death

    1 After the death of Saul, when David had returned from striking down the Amalekites, David remained two days in Ziklag. 2 And on the third day, behold, a man came from Saul’s camp, with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. And when he came to David, he fell to the ground and paid homage. 3 David said to him, “Where do you come from?” And he said to him, “I have escaped from the camp of Israel.” 4 And David said to him, “How did it go? Tell me.” And he answered, “The people fled from the battle, and also many of the people have fallen and are dead, and Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead.” 5 Then David said to the young man who told him, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?” 6 And the young man who told him said, “By chance I happened to be on Mount Gilboa, and there was Saul leaning on his spear, and behold, the chariots and the horsemen were close upon him. 7 And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called to me. And I answered, ‘Here I am.’ 8 And he said to me, ‘Who are you?’ I answered him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’ 9 And he said to me, ‘Stand beside me and kill me, for anguish has seized me, and yet my life still lingers.’ 10 So I stood beside him and killed him, because I was sure that he could not live after he had fallen. And I took the crown that was on his head and the armlet that was on his arm, and I have brought them here to my lord.”

    11 Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them, and so did all the men who were with him. 12 And they mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son and for the people of the LORD and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword. 13 And David said to the young man who told him, “Where do you come from?” And he answered, “I am the son of a sojourner, an Amalekite.” 14 David said to him, “How is it you were not afraid to put out your hand to destroy the LORD’s anointed?” 15 Then David called one of the young men and said, “Go, execute him.” And he struck him down so that he died. 16 And David said to him, “Your blood be on your head, for your own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have killed the LORD’s anointed.’”

    David’s Lament for Saul and Jonathan

    17 And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and Jonathan his son, 18 and he said itSeptuagint; Hebrew the Bow, which may be the name of the lament’s tune">1 should be taught to the people of Judah; behold, it is written in the Book of Jashar.Or of the upright">2 He said:

    19   “Your glory, O Israel, is slain on your high places!
        How the mighty have fallen!
    20   Tell it not in Gath,
        publish it not in the streets of Ashkelon,
      lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice,
        lest the daughters of the uncircumcised exult.
    21   “You mountains of Gilboa,
        let there be no dew or rain upon you,
        nor fields of offerings!Septuagint firstfruits">3
      For there the shield of the mighty was defiled,
        the shield of Saul, not anointed with oil.
    22   “From the blood of the slain,
        from the fat of the mighty,
      the bow of Jonathan turned not back,
        and the sword of Saul returned not empty.
    23   “Saul and Jonathan, beloved and lovely!
        In life and in death they were not divided;
      they were swifter than eagles;
        they were stronger than lions.
    24   “You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul,
        who clothed you luxuriously in scarlet,
        who put ornaments of gold on your apparel.
    25   “How the mighty have fallen
        in the midst of the battle!
      “Jonathan lies slain on your high places.
    26     I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan;
      very pleasant have you been to me;
        your love to me was extraordinary,
        surpassing the love of women.
    27   “How the mighty have fallen,
        and the weapons of war perished!”

    Footnotes

    [1] 1:18 Septuagint; Hebrew the Bow, which may be the name of the lament’s tune


    [2] 1:18 Or of the upright

    [3] 1:21 Septuagint firstfruits

    (ESV)

    Chronicles and Prophets:
    Daniel 12
    Daniel 12 (Listen)
    The Time of the End

    12 “At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book. 2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above;Hebrew the expanse; compare Genesis 1:6–8">1 and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. 4 But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”

    5 Then I, Daniel, looked, and behold, two others stood, one on this bank of the stream and one on that bank of the stream. 6 And someone said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream,Or who was upstream; also verse 7">2 “How long shall it be till the end of these wonders?” 7 And I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream; he raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven and swore by him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time, and that when the shattering of the power of the holy people comes to an end all these things would be finished. 8 I heard, but I did not understand. Then I said, “O my lord, what shall be the outcome of these things?” 9 He said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end. 10 Many shall purify themselves and make themselves white and be refined, but the wicked shall act wickedly. And none of the wicked shall understand, but those who are wise shall understand. 11 And from the time that the regular burnt offering is taken away and the abomination that makes desolate is set up, there shall be 1,290 days. 12 Blessed is he who waits and arrives at the 1,335 days. 13 But go your way till the end. And you shall rest and shall stand in your allotted place at the end of the days.”

    Footnotes

    [1] 12:3 Hebrew the expanse; compare Genesis 1:6–8


    [2] 12:6 Or who was upstream; also verse 7

    (ESV)

    Gospels and Epistles:
    Luke 8:4–21
    Luke 8:4–21 (Listen)
    The Parable of the Sower

    4 And when a great crowd was gathering and people from town after town came to him, he said in a parable, 5 “A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it. 6 And some fell on the rock, and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. 7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it. 8 And some fell into good soil and grew and yielded a hundredfold.” As he said these things, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

    The Purpose of the Parables

    9 And when his disciples asked him what this parable meant, 10 he said, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that ‘seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.’ 11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 12 The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13 And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away. 14 And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. 15 As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.

    A Lamp Under a Jar

    16 “No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. 17 For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light. 18 Take care then how you hear, for to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away.”

    Jesus’ Mother and Brothers

    19 Then his mother and his brothersOr 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; also verses 20, 21">1 came to him, but they could not reach him because of the crowd. 20 And he was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see you.” 21 But he answered them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.”

    Footnotes

    [1] 8:19 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; also verses 20, 21

    (ESV)

    11 min
  • September 10: Psalm 39; 1 Samuel 31; Daniel 11:2–45; Luke 7:36–8:3
    Psalms and Wisdom:
    Psalm 39
    Psalm 39 (Listen)
    What Is the Measure of My Days?
    To the choirmaster: to Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.

    39   I said, “I will guard my ways,
        that I may not sin with my tongue;
      I will guard my mouth with a muzzle,
        so long as the wicked are in my presence.”
    2   I was mute and silent;
        I held my peace to no avail,
      and my distress grew worse.
    3     My heart became hot within me.
      As I mused, the fire burned;
        then I spoke with my tongue:
    4   “O LORD, make me know my end
        and what is the measure of my days;
        let me know how fleeting I am!
    5   Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths,
        and my lifetime is as nothing before you.
      Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! Selah
    6     Surely a man goes about as a shadow!
      Surely for nothingHebrew Surely as a breath">1 they are in turmoil;
        man heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather!
    7   “And now, O Lord, for what do I wait?
        My hope is in you.
    8   Deliver me from all my transgressions.
        Do not make me the scorn of the fool!
    9   I am mute; I do not open my mouth,
        for it is you who have done it.
    10   Remove your stroke from me;
        I am spent by the hostility of your hand.
    11   When you discipline a man
        with rebukes for sin,
      you consume like a moth what is dear to him;
        surely all mankind is a mere breath! Selah
    12   “Hear my prayer, O LORD,
        and give ear to my cry;
        hold not your peace at my tears!
      For I am a sojourner with you,
        a guest, like all my fathers.
    13   Look away from me, that I may smile again,
        before I depart and am no more!”

    Footnotes

    [1] 39:6 Hebrew Surely as a breath

    (ESV)

    Pentateuch and History:
    1 Samuel 31
    1 Samuel 31 (Listen)
    The Death of Saul

    31 Now the Philistines were fighting against Israel, and the men of Israel fled before the Philistines and fell slain on Mount Gilboa. 2 And the Philistines overtook Saul and his sons, and the Philistines struck down Jonathan and Abinadab and Malchi-shua, the sons of Saul. 3 The battle pressed hard against Saul, and the archers found him, and he was badly wounded by the archers. 4 Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and mistreat me.” But his armor-bearer would not, for he feared greatly. Therefore Saul took his own sword and fell upon it. 5 And when his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell upon his sword and died with him. 6 Thus Saul died, and his three sons, and his armor-bearer, and all his men, on the same day together. 7 And when the men of Israel who were on the other side of the valley and those beyond the Jordan saw that the men of Israel had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their cities and fled. And the Philistines came and lived in them.

    8 The next day, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. 9 So they cut off his head and stripped off his armor and sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines, to carry the good news to the house of their idols and to the people. 10 They put his armor in the temple of Ashtaroth, and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth-shan. 11 But when the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, 12 all the valiant men arose and went all night and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth-shan, and they came to Jabesh and burned them there. 13 And they took their bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree in Jabesh and fasted seven days.

    (ESV)

    Chronicles and Prophets:
    Daniel 11:2–45
    Daniel 11:2–45 (Listen)

    2 “And now I will show you the truth. Behold, three more kings shall arise in Persia, and a fourth shall be far richer than all of them. And when he has become strong through his riches, he shall stir up all against the kingdom of Greece. 3 Then a mighty king shall arise, who shall rule with great dominion and do as he wills. 4 And as soon as he has arisen, his kingdom shall be broken and divided toward the four winds of heaven, but not to his posterity, nor according to the authority with which he ruled, for his kingdom shall be plucked up and go to others besides these.

    5 “Then the king of the south shall be strong, but one of his princes shall be stronger than he and shall rule, and his authority shall be a great authority. 6 After some years they shall make an alliance, and the daughter of the king of the south shall come to the king of the north to make an agreement. But she shall not retain the strength of her arm, and he and his arm shall not endure, but she shall be given up, and her attendants, he who fathered her, and he who supportedOr obtained">1 her in those times.

    7 “And from a branch from her roots one shall arise in his place. He shall come against the army and enter the fortress of the king of the north, and he shall deal with them and shall prevail. 8 He shall also carry off to Egypt their gods with their metal images and their precious vessels of silver and gold, and for some years he shall refrain from attacking the king of the north. 9 Then the latter shall come into the realm of the king of the south but shall return to his own land.

    10 “His sons shall wage war and assemble a multitude of great forces, which shall keep coming and overflow and pass through, and again shall carry the war as far as his fortress. 11 Then the king of the south, moved with rage, shall come out and fight against the king of the north. And he shall raise a great multitude, but it shall be given into his hand. 12 And when the multitude is taken away, his heart shall be exalted, and he shall cast down tens of thousands, but he shall not prevail. 13 For the king of the north shall again raise a multitude, greater than the first. And after some yearsHebrew at the end of the times">2 he shall come on with a great army and abundant supplies.

    14 “In those times many shall rise against the king of the south, and the violent among your own people shall lift themselves up in order to fulfill the vision, but they shall fail. 15 Then the king of the north shall come and throw up siegeworks and take a well-fortified city. And the forces of the south shall not stand, or even his best troops, for there shall be no strength to stand. 16 But he who comes against him shall do as he wills, and none shall stand before him. And he shall stand in the glorious land, with destruction in his hand. 17 He shall set his face to come with the strength of his whole kingdom, and he shall bring terms of an agreement and perform them. He shall give him the daughter of women to destroy the kingdom,Hebrew her, or it">3 but it shall not stand or be to his advantage. 18 Afterward he shall turn his face to the coastlands and shall capture many of them, but a commander shall put an end to his insolence. Indeed,The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain">4 he shall turn his insolence back upon him. 19 Then he shall turn his face back toward the fortresses of his own land, but he shall stumble and fall, and shall not be found.

    20 “Then shall arise in his place one who shall send an exactor of tribute for the glory of the kingdom. But within a few days he shall be broken, neither in anger nor in battle. 21 In his place shall arise a contemptible person to whom royal majesty has not been given. He shall come in without warning and obtain the kingdom by flatteries. 22 Armies shall be utterly swept away before him and broken, even the prince of the covenant. 23 And from the time that an alliance is made with him he shall act deceitfully, and he shall become strong with a small people. 24 Without warning he shall come into the richest partsOr among the richest men">5 of the province, and he shall do what neither his fathers nor his fathers’ fathers have done, scattering among them plunder, spoil, and goods. He shall devise plans against strongholds, but only for a time. 25 And he shall stir up his power and his heart against the king of the south with a great army. And the king of the south shall wage war with an exceedingly great and mighty army, but he shall not stand, for plots shall be devised against him. 26 Even those who eat his food shall break him. His army shall be swept away, and many shall fall down slain. 27 And as for the two kings, their hearts shall be bent on doing evil. They shall speak lies at the same table, but to no avail, for the end is yet to be at the time appointed. 28 And he shall return to his land with great wealth, but his heart shall be set against the holy covenant. And he shall work his will and return to his own land.

    29 “At the time appointed he shall return and come into the south, but it shall not be this time as it was before. 30 For ships of Kittim shall come against him, and he shall be afraid and withdraw, and shall turn back and be enraged and take action against the holy covenant. He shall turn back and pay attention to those who forsake the holy covenant. 31 Forces from him shall appear and profane the temple and fortress, and shall take away the regular burnt offering. And they shall set up the abomination that makes desolate. 32 He shall seduce with flattery those who violate the covenant, but the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action. 33 And the wise among the people shall make many understand, though for some days they shall stumble by sword and flame, by captivity and plunder. 34 When they stumble, they shall receive a little help. And many shall join themselves to them with flattery, 35 and some of the wise shall stumble, so that they may be refined, purified, and made white, until the time of the end, for it still awaits the appointed time.

    36 “And the king shall do as he wills. He shall exalt himself and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak astonishing things against the God of gods. He shall prosper till the indignation is accomplished; for what is decreed shall be done. 37 He shall pay no attention to the gods of his fathers, or to the one beloved by women. He shall not pay attention to any other god, for he shall magnify himself above all. 38 He shall honor the god of fortresses instead of these. A god whom his fathers did not know he shall honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and costly gifts. 39 He shall deal with the strongest fortresses with the help of a foreign god. Those who acknowledge him he shall load with honor. He shall make them rulers over many and shall divide the land for a price.Or land as payment">6

    40 “At the time of the end, the king of the south shall attackHebrew thrust at">7 him, but the king of the north shall rush upon him like a whirlwind, with chariots and horsemen, and with many ships. And he shall come into countries and shall overflow and pass through. 41 He shall come into the glorious land. And tens of thousands shall fall, but these shall be delivered out of his hand: Edom and Moab and the main part of the Ammonites. 42 He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape. 43 He shall become ruler of the treasures of gold and of silver, and all the precious things of Egypt, and the Libyans and the Cushites shall follow in his train. 44 But news from the east and the north shall alarm him, and he shall go out with great fury to destroy and devote many to destruction. 45 And he shall pitch his palatial tents between the sea and the glorious holy mountain. Yet he shall come to his end, with none to help him.

    Footnotes

    [1] 11:6 Or obtained


    [2] 11:13 Hebrew at the end of the times

    [3] 11:17 Hebrew her, or it

    [4] 11:18 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain

    [5] 11:24 Or among the richest men

    [6] 11:39 Or land as payment

    [7] 11:40 Hebrew thrust at

    (ESV)

    Gospels and Epistles:
    Luke 7:36–8:3
    Luke 7:36–8:3 (Listen)
    A Sinful Woman Forgiven

    36 One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table. 37 And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, 38 and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” 40 And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.”

    41 “A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” 44 Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” 48 And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 Then those who were at table with him began to say amongOr to">1 themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” 50 And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

    Women Accompanying Jesus

    8 Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, 2 and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, 3 and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for themSome manuscripts him">2 out of their means.

    Footnotes

    [1] 7:49 Or to


    [2] 8:3 Some manuscripts him

    (ESV)

    15 min
  • September 9: Psalm 38; 1 Samuel 29–30; Daniel 10–11:1; Luke 7:1–35
    Psalms and Wisdom:
    Psalm 38
    Psalm 38 (Listen)
    Do Not Forsake Me, O Lord
    A Psalm of David, for the memorial offering.

    38   O LORD, rebuke me not in your anger,
        nor discipline me in your wrath!
    2   For your arrows have sunk into me,
        and your hand has come down on me.
    3   There is no soundness in my flesh
        because of your indignation;
      there is no health in my bones
        because of my sin.
    4   For my iniquities have gone over my head;
        like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me.
    5   My wounds stink and fester
        because of my foolishness,
    6   I am utterly bowed down and prostrate;
        all the day I go about mourning.
    7   For my sides are filled with burning,
        and there is no soundness in my flesh.
    8   I am feeble and crushed;
        I groan because of the tumult of my heart.
    9   O Lord, all my longing is before you;
        my sighing is not hidden from you.
    10   My heart throbs; my strength fails me,
        and the light of my eyes—it also has gone from me.
    11   My friends and companions stand aloof from my plague,
        and my nearest kin stand far off.
    12   Those who seek my life lay their snares;
        those who seek my hurt speak of ruin
        and meditate treachery all day long.
    13   But I am like a deaf man; I do not hear,
        like a mute man who does not open his mouth.
    14   I have become like a man who does not hear,
        and in whose mouth are no rebukes.
    15   But for you, O LORD, do I wait;
        it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer.
    16   For I said, “Only let them not rejoice over me,
        who boast against me when my foot slips!”
    17   For I am ready to fall,
        and my pain is ever before me.
    18   I confess my iniquity;
        I am sorry for my sin.
    19   But my foes are vigorous, they are mighty,
        and many are those who hate me wrongfully.
    20   Those who render me evil for good
        accuse me because I follow after good.
    21   Do not forsake me, O LORD!
        O my God, be not far from me!
    22   Make haste to help me,
        O Lord, my salvation!

    (ESV)

    Pentateuch and History:
    1 Samuel 29–30
    1 Samuel 29–30 (Listen)
    The Philistines Reject David

    29 Now the Philistines had gathered all their forces at Aphek. And the Israelites were encamped by the spring that is in Jezreel. 2 As the lords of the Philistines were passing on by hundreds and by thousands, and David and his men were passing on in the rear with Achish, 3 the commanders of the Philistines said, “What are these Hebrews doing here?” And Achish said to the commanders of the Philistines, “Is this not David, the servant of Saul, king of Israel, who has been with me now for days and years, and since he deserted to me I have found no fault in him to this day.” 4 But the commanders of the Philistines were angry with him. And the commanders of the Philistines said to him, “Send the man back, that he may return to the place to which you have assigned him. He shall not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he become an adversary to us. For how could this fellow reconcile himself to his lord? Would it not be with the heads of the men here? 5 Is not this David, of whom they sing to one another in dances,

      ‘Saul has struck down his thousands,
        and David his ten thousands’?”

    6 Then Achish called David and said to him, “As the LORD lives, you have been honest, and to me it seems right that you should march out and in with me in the campaign. For I have found nothing wrong in you from the day of your coming to me to this day. Nevertheless, the lords do not approve of you. 7 So go back now; and go peaceably, that you may not displease the lords of the Philistines.” 8 And David said to Achish, “But what have I done? What have you found in your servant from the day I entered your service until now, that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?” 9 And Achish answered David and said, “I know that you are as blameless in my sight as an angel of God. Nevertheless, the commanders of the Philistines have said, ‘He shall not go up with us to the battle.’ 10 Now then rise early in the morning with the servants of your lord who came with you, and start early in the morning, and depart as soon as you have light.” 11 So David set out with his men early in the morning to return to the land of the Philistines. But the Philistines went up to Jezreel.

    David’s Wives Are Captured

    30 Now when David and his men came to Ziklag on the third day, the Amalekites had made a raid against the Negeb and against Ziklag. They had overcome Ziklag and burned it with fire 2 and taken captive the women and allSeptuagint; Hebrew lacks and all">1 who were in it, both small and great. They killed no one, but carried them off and went their way. 3 And when David and his men came to the city, they found it burned with fire, and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. 4 Then David and the people who were with him raised their voices and wept until they had no more strength to weep. 5 David’s two wives also had been taken captive, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel. 6 And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul,Compare 22:2">2 each for his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.

    7 And David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, “Bring me the ephod.” So Abiathar brought the ephod to David. 8 And David inquired of the LORD, “Shall I pursue after this band? Shall I overtake them?” He answered him, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake and shall surely rescue.” 9 So David set out, and the six hundred men who were with him, and they came to the brook Besor, where those who were left behind stayed. 10 But David pursued, he and four hundred men. Two hundred stayed behind, who were too exhausted to cross the brook Besor.

    11 They found an Egyptian in the open country and brought him to David. And they gave him bread and he ate. They gave him water to drink, 12 and they gave him a piece of a cake of figs and two clusters of raisins. And when he had eaten, his spirit revived, for he had not eaten bread or drunk water for three days and three nights. 13 And David said to him, “To whom do you belong? And where are you from?” He said, “I am a young man of Egypt, servant to an Amalekite, and my master left me behind because I fell sick three days ago. 14 We had made a raid against the Negeb of the Cherethites and against that which belongs to Judah and against the Negeb of Caleb, and we burned Ziklag with fire.” 15 And David said to him, “Will you take me down to this band?” And he said, “Swear to me by God that you will not kill me or deliver me into the hands of my master, and I will take you down to this band.”

    David Defeats the Amalekites

    16 And when he had taken him down, behold, they were spread abroad over all the land, eating and drinking and dancing, because of all the great spoil they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from the land of Judah. 17 And David struck them down from twilight until the evening of the next day, and not a man of them escaped, except four hundred young men, who mounted camels and fled. 18 David recovered all that the Amalekites had taken, and David rescued his two wives. 19 Nothing was missing, whether small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything that had been taken. David brought back all. 20 David also captured all the flocks and herds, and the people drove the livestock before him,The meaning of the Hebrew clause is uncertain">3 and said, “This is David’s spoil.”

    21 Then David came to the two hundred men who had been too exhausted to follow David, and who had been left at the brook Besor. And they went out to meet David and to meet the people who were with him. And when David came near to the people he greeted them. 22 Then all the wicked and worthless fellows among the men who had gone with David said, “Because they did not go with us, we will not give them any of the spoil that we have recovered, except that each man may lead away his wife and children, and depart.” 23 But David said, “You shall not do so, my brothers, with what the LORD has given us. He has preserved us and given into our hand the band that came against us. 24 Who would listen to you in this matter? For as his share is who goes down into the battle, so shall his share be who stays by the baggage. They shall share alike.” 25 And he made it a statute and a rule for Israel from that day forward to this day.

    26 When David came to Ziklag, he sent part of the spoil to his friends, the elders of Judah, saying, “Here is a present for you from the spoil of the enemies of the LORD.” 27 It was for those in Bethel, in Ramoth of the Negeb, in Jattir, 28 in Aroer, in Siphmoth, in Eshtemoa, 29 in Racal, in the cities of the Jerahmeelites, in the cities of the Kenites, 30 in Hormah, in Bor-ashan, in Athach, 31 in Hebron, for all the places where David and his men had roamed.

    Footnotes

    [1] 30:2 Septuagint; Hebrew lacks and all


    [2] 30:6 Compare 22:2

    [3] 30:20 The meaning of the Hebrew clause is uncertain

    (ESV)

    Chronicles and Prophets:
    Daniel 10–11:1
    Daniel 10–11:1 (Listen)
    Daniel’s Terrifying Vision of a Man

    10 In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a word was revealed to Daniel, who was named Belteshazzar. And the word was true, and it was a great conflict.Or and it was about a great conflict">1 And he understood the word and had understanding of the vision.

    2 In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three weeks. 3 I ate no delicacies, no meat or wine entered my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, for the full three weeks. 4 On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river (that is, the Tigris) 5 I lifted up my eyes and looked, and behold, a man clothed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist. 6 His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude. 7 And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, for the men who were with me did not see the vision, but a great trembling fell upon them, and they fled to hide themselves. 8 So I was left alone and saw this great vision, and no strength was left in me. My radiant appearance was fearfully changed,Hebrew My splendor was changed to ruin">2 and I retained no strength. 9 Then I heard the sound of his words, and as I heard the sound of his words, I fell on my face in deep sleep with my face to the ground.

    10 And behold, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. 11 And he said to me, “O Daniel, man greatly loved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for now I have been sent to you.” And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up trembling. 12 Then he said to me, “Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words. 13 The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia, 14 and came to make you understand what is to happen to your people in the latter days. For the vision is for days yet to come.”

    15 When he had spoken to me according to these words, I turned my face toward the ground and was mute. 16 And behold, one in the likeness of the children of man touched my lips. Then I opened my mouth and spoke. I said to him who stood before me, “O my lord, by reason of the vision pains have come upon me, and I retain no strength. 17 How can my lord’s servant talk with my lord? For now no strength remains in me, and no breath is left in me.”

    18 Again one having the appearance of a man touched me and strengthened me. 19 And he said, “O man greatly loved, fear not, peace be with you; be strong and of good courage.” And as he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.” 20 Then he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? But now I will return to fight against the prince of Persia; and when I go out, behold, the prince of Greece will come. 21 But I will tell you what is inscribed in the book of truth: there is none who contends by my side against these except Michael, your prince.

    The Kings of the South and the North

    11 “And as for me, in the first year of Darius the Mede, I stood up to confirm and strengthen him.

    Footnotes

    [1] 10:1 Or and it was about a great conflict


    [2] 10:8 Hebrew My splendor was changed to ruin

    (ESV)

    Gospels and Epistles:
    Luke 7:1–35
    Luke 7:1–35 (Listen)
    Jesus Heals a Centurion’s Servant

    7 After he had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. 2 Now a centurion had a servantOr bondservant; also verses 3, 8, 10">1 who was sick and at the point of death, who was highly valued by him. 3 When the centurionGreek he">2 heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and heal his servant. 4 And when they came to Jesus, they pleaded with him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy to have you do this for him, 5 for he loves our nation, and he is the one who built us our synagogue.” 6 And Jesus went with them. When he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. 7 Therefore I did not presume to come to you. But say the word, and let my servant be healed. 8 For I too am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me: and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 9 When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” 10 And when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant well.

    Jesus Raises a Widow’s Son

    11 Soon afterwardSome manuscripts The next day">3 he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him. 12 As he drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her. 13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” 14 Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” 15 And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and JesusGreek he">4 gave him to his mother. 16 Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited his people!” 17 And this report about him spread through the whole of Judea and all the surrounding country.

    Messengers from John the Baptist

    18 The disciples of John reported all these things to him. And John, 19 calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to the Lord, saying, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” 20 And when the men had come to him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you, saying, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?’” 21 In that hour he healed many people of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many who were blind he bestowed sight. 22 And he answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepersLeprosy was a term for several skin diseases; see Leviticus 13">5 are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. 23 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”

    24 When John’s messengers had gone, JesusGreek he">6 began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 25 What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who are dressed in splendid clothing and live in luxury are in kings’ courts. 26 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 27 This is he of whom it is written,

      “‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
        who will prepare your way before you.’

    28 I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” 29 (When all the people heard this, and the tax collectors too, they declared God just,Greek they justified God">7 having been baptized with the baptism of John, 30 but the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the purpose of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.)

    31 “To what then shall I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like? 32 They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another,

      “‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;
        we sang a dirge, and you did not weep.’

    33 For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ 34 The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ 35 Yet wisdom is justified by all her children.”

    Footnotes

    [1] 7:2 Or bondservant; also verses 3, 8, 10


    [2] 7:3 Greek he

    [3] 7:11 Some manuscripts The next day

    [4] 7:15 Greek he

    [5] 7:22 Leprosy was a term for several skin diseases; see Leviticus 13

    [6] 7:24 Greek he

    [7] 7:29 Greek they justified God

    (ESV)

    18 min

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