The Daily Practice

16 On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled. 17 Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. 18 Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the Lord descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, and the whole mountain[a] trembled violently. 19 As the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him.[b]

20 The Lord descended to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses went up 21 and the Lord said to him, “Go down and warn the people so they do not force their way through to see the Lord and many of them perish. 22 Even the priests, who approach the Lord, must consecrate themselves, or the Lord will break out against them.”

23 Moses said to the Lord, “The people cannot come up Mount Sinai, because you yourself warned us, ‘Put limits around the mountain and set it apart as holy.’”

24 The Lord replied, “Go down and bring Aaron up with you. But the priests and the people must not force their way through to come up to the Lord, or he will break out against them.”

25 So Moses went down to the people and told them.

1 Hasten, O God, to save me;     come quickly, Lord, to help me.

2 May those who want to take my life     be put to shame and confusion; may all who desire my ruin     be turned back in disgrace. 3 May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!”     turn back because of their shame. 4 But may all who seek you     rejoice and be glad in you; may those who long for your saving help always say,     “The Lord is great!”

5 But as for me, I am poor and needy;     come quickly to me, O God. You are my help and my deliverer;     Lord, do not delay.

5 To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: 2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

5 In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,

“God opposes the proud     but shows favor to the humble.”[a]

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

12 With the help of Silas,[b] whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it.

13 She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark. 14 Greet one another with a kiss of love.

Peace to all of you who are in Christ.

19 On the first day of the third month after the Israelites left Egypt—on that very day—they came to the Desert of Sinai. 2 After they set out from Rephidim, they entered the Desert of Sinai, and Israel camped there in the desert in front of the mountain.

3 Then Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain and said, “This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: 4 ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you[a] will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”

7 So Moses went back and summoned the elders of the people and set before them all the words the Lord had commanded him to speak. 8 The people all responded together, “We will do everything the Lord has said.” So Moses brought their answer back to the Lord.

9 The Lord said to Moses, “I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear me speaking with you and will always put their trust in you.” Then Moses told the Lord what the people had said.

10 And the Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes 11 and be ready by the third day, because on that day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. 12 Put limits for the people around the mountain and tell them, ‘Be careful that you do not approach the mountain or touch the foot of it. Whoever touches the mountain is to be put to death. 13 They are to be stoned or shot with arrows; not a hand is to be laid on them. No person or animal shall be permitted to live.’ Only when the ram’s horn sounds a long blast may they approach the mountain.”

14 After Moses had gone down the mountain to the people, he consecrated them, and they washed their clothes. 15 Then he said to the people, “Prepare yourselves for the third day. Abstain from sexual relations.”

16 On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled.

19 You know how I am scorned, disgraced and shamed;     all my enemies are before you. 20 Scorn has broken my heart     and has left me helpless; I looked for sympathy, but there was none,     for comforters, but I found none. 21 They put gall in my food     and gave me vinegar for my thirst.

22 May the table set before them become a snare;     may it become retribution and[a] a trap. 23 May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see,     and their backs be bent forever. 24 Pour out your wrath on them;     let your fierce anger overtake them. 25 May their place be deserted;     let there be no one to dwell in their tents. 26 For they persecute those you wound     and talk about the pain of those you hurt. 27 Charge them with crime upon crime;     do not let them share in your salvation. 28 May they be blotted out of the book of life     and not be listed with the righteous.

29 But as for me, afflicted and in pain—     may your salvation, God, protect me.

30 I will praise God’s name in song     and glorify him with thanksgiving. 31 This will please the Lord more than an ox,     more than a bull with its horns and hooves. 32 The poor will see and be glad—     you who seek God, may your hearts live! 33 The Lord hears the needy     and does not despise his captive people.

34 Let heaven and earth praise him,     the seas and all that move in them, 35 for God will save Zion     and rebuild the cities of Judah. Then people will settle there and possess it; 36     the children of his servants will inherit it,     and those who love his name will dwell there.

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”

15 Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.

16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

7 Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard. 8 Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and in you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining.

9 Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister[a] is still in the darkness. 10 Anyone who loves their brother and sister[b] lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. 11 But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them.

12 I am writing to you, dear children,     because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name. 13 I am writing to you, fathers,     because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men,     because you have overcome the evil one.

14 I write to you, dear children,     because you know the Father. I write to you, fathers,     because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men,     because you are strong,     and the word of God lives in you,     and you have overcome the evil one.

15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father[c] is not in them. 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

13 The next day Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people, and they stood around him from morning till evening. 14 When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, “What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?”

15 Moses answered him, “Because the people come to me to seek God’s will. 16 Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me, and I decide between the parties and inform them of God’s decrees and instructions.”

17 Moses’ father-in-law replied, “What you are doing is not good. 18 You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. 19 Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes to him. 20 Teach them his decrees and instructions, and show them the way they are to live and how they are to behave. 21 But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. 22 Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you. 23 If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.”

24 Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. 25 He chose capable men from all Israel and made them leaders of the people, officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. 26 They served as judges for the people at all times. The difficult cases they brought to Moses, but the simple ones they decided themselves.

27 Then Moses sent his father-in-law on his way, and Jethro returned to his own country.

8 I am a foreigner to my own family,     a stranger to my own mother’s children; 9 for zeal for your house consumes me,     and the insults of those who insult you fall on me. 10 When I weep and fast,     I must endure scorn; 11 when I put on sackcloth,     people make sport of me. 12 Those who sit at the gate mock me,     and I am the song of the drunkards.

13 But I pray to you, Lord,     in the time of your favor; in your great love, O God,     answer me with your sure salvation. 14 Rescue me from the mire,     do not let me sink; deliver me from those who hate me,     from the deep waters. 15 Do not let the floodwaters engulf me     or the depths swallow me up     or the pit close its mouth over me.

16 Answer me, Lord, out of the goodness of your love;     in your great mercy turn to me. 17 Do not hide your face from your servant;     answer me quickly, for I am in trouble. 18 Come near and rescue me;     deliver me because of my foes.

1 Save me, O God,     for the waters have come up to my neck. 2 I sink in the miry depths,     where there is no foothold. I have come into the deep waters;     the floods engulf me. 3 I am worn out calling for help;     my throat is parched. My eyes fail,     looking for my God. 4 Those who hate me without reason     outnumber the hairs of my head; many are my enemies without cause,     those who seek to destroy me. I am forced to restore     what I did not steal.

5 You, God, know my folly;     my guilt is not hidden from you.

6 Lord, the Lord Almighty,     may those who hope in you     not be disgraced because of me; God of Israel,     may those who seek you     not be put to shame because of me. 7 For I endure scorn for your sake,     and shame covers my face.