Three Year Bible Reading Plan

Three Year Bible Reading Plan

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Three Year Bible Reading Plan episodes

  • 2025-11-19:Revelation 7:1-8 & Amos 1-2

    BibleGateway: Revelation 7:1-8
    ESV Text: Revelation 7:1-8
    Revelation 7:1–8 (Listen)
    The 144,000 of Israel Sealed

    7:1 After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, that no wind might blow on earth or sea or against any tree. 2 Then I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, with the seal of the living God, and he called with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm earth and sea, 3 saying, “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.” 4 And I heard the number of the sealed, 144,000, sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel:


    5   12,000 from the tribe of Judah were sealed,
      12,000 from the tribe of Reuben,
      12,000 from the tribe of Gad,
    6   12,000 from the tribe of Asher,
      12,000 from the tribe of Naphtali,
      12,000 from the tribe of Manasseh,
    7   12,000 from the tribe of Simeon,
      12,000 from the tribe of Levi,
      12,000 from the tribe of Issachar,
    8   12,000 from the tribe of Zebulun,
      12,000 from the tribe of Joseph,
      12,000 from the tribe of Benjamin were sealed.

    (ESV)

    KJV Text: Revelation 7:1-8

    The section starts at about 0:0 and ends at about 1:31

    https://ilc.edu/wordpressilc/kjvmp3/1174.mp3

         1 And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. 2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, 3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. 4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. 5 Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand. 6 Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nephthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand. 7 Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand. 8 Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand.(KJV)

    BibleGateway: Amos 1-2
    ESV Text: Amos 1-2
    Amos 1–2 (Listen)

    1:1 The words of Amos, who was among the shepherdsOr sheep breeders">1 of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel, two yearsOr during two years">2 before the earthquake.

    Judgment on Israel’s Neighbors

    2 And he said:


      “The LORD roars from Zion
        and utters his voice from Jerusalem;
      the pastures of the shepherds mourn,
        and the top of Carmel withers.”

    3 Thus says the LORD:


      “For three transgressions of Damascus,
        and for four, I will not revoke the punishment,Hebrew I will not turn it back; also verses 6, 9, 11, 13">3
      because they have threshed Gilead
        with threshing sledges of iron.
    4   So I will send a fire upon the house of Hazael,
        and it shall devour the strongholds of Ben-hadad.
    5   I will break the gate-bar of Damascus,
        and cut off the inhabitants from the Valley of Aven,Or On">4
      and him who holds the scepter from Beth-eden;
        and the people of Syria shall go into exile to Kir,”
          says the LORD.

    6 Thus says the LORD:


      “For three transgressions of Gaza,
        and for four, I will not revoke the punishment,
      because they carried into exile a whole people
        to deliver them up to Edom.
    7   So I will send a fire upon the wall of Gaza,
        and it shall devour her strongholds.
    8   I will cut off the inhabitants from Ashdod,
        and him who holds the scepter from Ashkelon;
      I will turn my hand against Ekron,
        and the remnant of the Philistines shall perish,”
          says the Lord GOD.

    9 Thus says the LORD:


      “For three transgressions of Tyre,
        and for four, I will not revoke the punishment,
      because they delivered up a whole people to Edom,
        and did not remember the covenant of brotherhood.
    10   So I will send a fire upon the wall of Tyre,
        and it shall devour her strongholds.”

    11 Thus says the LORD:


      “For three transgressions of Edom,
        and for four, I will not revoke the punishment,
      because he pursued his brother with the sword
        and cast off all pity,
      and his anger tore perpetually,
        and he kept his wrath forever.
    12   So I will send a fire upon Teman,
        and it shall devour the strongholds of Bozrah.”

    13 Thus says the LORD:


      “For three transgressions of the Ammonites,
        and for four, I will not revoke the punishment,
      because they have ripped open pregnant women in Gilead,
        that they might enlarge their border.
    14   So I will kindle a fire in the wall of Rabbah,
        and it shall devour her strongholds,
      with shouting on the day of battle,
        with a tempest in the day of the whirlwind;
    15   and their king shall go into exile,
        he and his princesOr officials">5 together,”
          says the LORD.

    2:1 Thus says the LORD:


      “For three transgressions of Moab,
        and for four, I will not revoke the punishment,Hebrew I will not turn it back; also verses 4, 6">6
      because he burned to lime
        the bones of the king of Edom.
    2   So I will send a fire upon Moab,
        and it shall devour the strongholds of Kerioth,
      and Moab shall die amid uproar,
        amid shouting and the sound of the trumpet;
    3   I will cut off the ruler from its midst,
        and will kill all its princesOr officials">7 with him,”
          says the LORD.

    Judgment on Judah

    4 Thus says the LORD:


      “For three transgressions of Judah,
        and for four, I will not revoke the punishment,
      because they have rejected the law of the LORD,
        and have not kept his statutes,
      but their lies have led them astray,
        those after which their fathers walked.
    5   So I will send a fire upon Judah,
        and it shall devour the strongholds of Jerusalem.”

    Judgment on Israel

    6 Thus says the LORD:


      “For three transgressions of Israel,
        and for four, I will not revoke the punishment,
      because they sell the righteous for silver,
        and the needy for a pair of sandals—
    7   those who trample the head of the poor into the dust of the earth
        and turn aside the way of the afflicted;
      a man and his father go in to the same girl,
        so that my holy name is profaned;
    8   they lay themselves down beside every altar
        on garments taken in pledge,
      and in the house of their God they drink
        the wine of those who have been fined.


    9   “Yet it was I who destroyed the Amorite before them,
        whose height was like the height of the cedars
        and who was as strong as the oaks;
      I destroyed his fruit above
        and his roots beneath.
    10   Also it was I who brought you up out of the land of Egypt
        and led you forty years in the wilderness,
        to possess the land of the Amorite.
    11   And I raised up some of your sons for prophets,
        and some of your young men for Nazirites.
        Is it not indeed so, O people of Israel?”
          declares the LORD.


    12   “But you made the Nazirites drink wine,
        and commanded the prophets,
        saying, ‘You shall not prophesy.’


    13   “Behold, I will press you down in your place,
        as a cart full of sheaves presses down.
    14   Flight shall perish from the swift,
        and the strong shall not retain his strength,
        nor shall the mighty save his life;
    15   he who handles the bow shall not stand,
        and he who is swift of foot shall not save himself,
        nor shall he who rides the horse save his life;
    16   and he who is stout of heart among the mighty
        shall flee away naked in that day,”
          declares the LORD.

    Footnotes

    [1] 1:1 Or sheep breeders


    [2] 1:1 Or during two years

    [3] 1:3 Hebrew I will not turn it back; also verses 6, 9, 11, 13

    [4] 1:5 Or On

    [5] 1:15 Or officials

    [6] 2:1 Hebrew I will not turn it back; also verses 4, 6

    [7] 2:3 Or officials

    (ESV)

    KJV Text: Amos 1:1-15
    https://ilc.edu/wordpressilc/kjvmp3/0880.mp3

    KJV Text (alt. audio): Chapter 1:

         1 The words of Amos, who was among the herdmen of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel, two years before the earthquake. 2 And he said, The LORD will roar from Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the habitations of the shepherds shall mourn, and the top of Carmel shall wither.

         3 Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have threshed Gilead with threshing instruments of iron: 4 But I will send a fire into the house of Hazael, which shall devour the palaces of Benhadad. 5 I will break also the bar of Damascus, and cut off the inhabitant from the plain of Aven, and him that holdeth the sceptre from the house of Eden: and the people of Syria shall go into captivity unto Kir, saith the LORD. 6 Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they carried away captive the whole captivity, to deliver them up to Edom: 7 But I will send a fire on the wall of Gaza, which shall devour the palaces thereof: 8 And I will cut off the inhabitant from Ashdod, and him that holdeth the sceptre from Ashkelon, and I will turn mine hand against Ekron: and the remnant of the Philistines shall perish, saith the Lord GOD. 9 Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Tyrus, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they delivered up the whole captivity to Edom, and remembered not the brotherly covenant: 10 But I will send a fire on the wall of Tyrus, which shall devour the palaces thereof. 11 Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Edom, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because he did pursue his brother with the sword, and did cast off all pity, and his anger did tear perpetually, and he kept his wrath for ever: 12 But I will send a fire upon Teman, which shall devour the palaces of Bozrah. 13 Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of the children of Ammon, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have ripped up the women with child of Gilead, that they might enlarge their border: 14 But I will kindle a fire in the wall of Rabbah, and it shall devour the palaces thereof, with shouting in the day of battle, with a tempest in the day of the whirlwind: 15 And their king shall go into captivity, he and his princes together, saith the LORD.(KJV)

    2 min
  • 2025-11-18:Revelation 6:9-17 & Joel 3

    BibleGateway: Revelation 6:9-17
    ESV Text: Revelation 6:9-17
    Revelation 6:9–17 (Listen)

    9 When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. 10 They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” 11 Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their 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">1 should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.

    12 When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, 13 and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale. 14 The sky vanished like a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. 15 Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slaveFor the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface">2 and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, 16 calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, 17 for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”

    Footnotes

    [1] 6:11 Or brothers and sisters. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, the plural Greek word adelphoi (translated “brothers”) may refer either to brothers or to brothers and sisters


    [2] 6:15 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface

    (ESV)

    KJV Text: Revelation 6:9-17

    The section starts at about 1:26 and ends at about 3:0

    https://ilc.edu/wordpressilc/kjvmp3/1173.mp3

         9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: 10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? 11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled. 12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; 13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. 14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. 15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; 16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: 17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?(KJV)

    BibleGateway: Joel 3
    ESV Text: Joel 3
    Joel 3 (Listen)
    The Lord Judges the Nations

    3:1 “For behold, in those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, 2 I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. And I will enter into judgment with them there, on behalf of my people and my heritage Israel, because they have scattered them among the nations and have divided up my land, 3 and have cast lots for my people, and have traded a boy for a prostitute, and have sold a girl for wine and have drunk it.

    4 “What are you to me, O Tyre and Sidon, and all the regions of Philistia? Are you paying me back for something? If you are paying me back, I will return your payment on your own head swiftly and speedily. 5 For you have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried my rich treasures into your temples.Or palaces">1 6 You have sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks in order to remove them far from their own border. 7 Behold, I will stir them up from the place to which you have sold them, and I will return your payment on your own head. 8 I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the people of Judah, and they will sell them to the Sabeans, to a nation far away, for the LORD has spoken.”


    9   Proclaim this among the nations:
      Consecrate for war;Or Consecrate a war">2
        stir up the mighty men.
      Let all the men of war draw near;
        let them come up.
    10   Beat your plowshares into swords,
        and your pruning hooks into spears;
        let the weak say, “I am a warrior.”


    11   Hasten and come,
        all you surrounding nations,
        and gather yourselves there.
      Bring down your warriors, O LORD.
    12   Let the nations stir themselves up
        and come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat;
      for there I will sit to judge
        all the surrounding nations.


    13   Put in the sickle,
        for the harvest is ripe.
      Go in, tread,
        for the winepress is full.
      The vats overflow,
        for their evil is great.


    14   Multitudes, multitudes,
        in the valley of decision!
      For the day of the LORD is near
        in the valley of decision.
    15   The sun and the moon are darkened,
        and the stars withdraw their shining.


    16   The LORD roars from Zion,
        and utters his voice from Jerusalem,
        and the heavens and the earth quake.
      But the LORD is a refuge to his people,
        a stronghold to the people of Israel.

    The Glorious Future of Judah


    17   “So you shall know that I am the LORD your God,
        who dwells in Zion, my holy mountain.
      And Jerusalem shall be holy,
        and strangers shall never again pass through it.


    18   “And in that day
      the mountains shall drip sweet wine,
        and the hills shall flow with milk,
      and all the streambeds of Judah
        shall flow with water;
      and a fountain shall come forth from the house of the LORD
        and water the Valley of Shittim.


    19   “Egypt shall become a desolation
        and Edom a desolate wilderness,
      for the violence done to the people of Judah,
        because they have shed innocent blood in their land.
    20   But Judah shall be inhabited forever,
        and Jerusalem to all generations.
    21   I will avenge their blood,
        blood I have not avenged,Or I will acquit their bloodguilt that I have not acquitted">3
        for the LORD dwells in Zion.”

    Footnotes

    [1] 3:5 Or palaces


    [2] 3:9 Or Consecrate a war

    [3] 3:21 Or I will acquit their bloodguilt that I have not acquitted

    (ESV)

    KJV Text: Joel 3:1-21
    https://ilc.edu/wordpressilc/kjvmp3/0879.mp3

    KJV Text (alt. audio): Chapter 3:

         1 For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, 2 I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land. 3 And they have cast lots for my people; and have given a boy for an harlot, and sold a girl for wine, that they might drink. 4 Yea, and what have ye to do with me, O Tyre, and Zidon, and all the coasts of Palestine? will ye render me a recompense? and if ye recompense me, swiftly and speedily will I return your recompense upon your own head; 5 Because ye have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried into your temples my goodly pleasant things: 6 The children also of Judah and the children of Jerusalem have ye sold unto the Grecians, that ye might remove them far from their border. 7 Behold, I will raise them out of the place whither ye have sold them, and will return your recompense upon your own head: 8 And I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the children of Judah, and they shall sell them to the Sabeans, to a people far off: for the LORD hath spoken it.

         9 Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up: 10 Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong. 11 Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O LORD. 12 Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about. 13 Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the vats overflow; for their wickedness is great. 14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision. 15 The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining. 16 The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel. 17 So shall ye know that I am the LORD your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more.

         18 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth of the house of the LORD, and shall water the valley of Shittim. 19 Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom shall be a desolate wilderness, for the violence against the children of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land. 20 But Judah shall dwell for ever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation. 21 For I will cleanse their blood that I have not cleansed: for the LORD dwelleth in Zion.(KJV)

    2 min
  • 2025-11-17:Revelation 6:1-8 & Joel 2

    BibleGateway: Revelation 6:1-8
    ESV Text: Revelation 6:1-8
    Revelation 6:1–8 (Listen)
    The Seven Seals

    6:1 Now I watched when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, “Come!” 2 And I looked, and behold, a white horse! And its rider had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering, and to conquer.

    3 When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!” 4 And out came another horse, bright red. Its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that people should slay one another, and he was given a great sword.

    5 When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, a black horse! And its rider had a pair of scales in his hand. 6 And I heard what seemed to be a voice in the midst of the four living creatures, saying, “A quartGreek choinix, a dry measure equal to about a quart">1 of wheat for a denarius,A denarius was a day’s wage for a laborer">2 and three quarts of barley for a denarius, and do not harm the oil and wine!”

    7 When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!” 8 And I looked, and behold, a pale horse! And its rider’s name was Death, and Hades followed him. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by wild beasts of the earth.

    Footnotes

    [1] 6:6 Greek choinix, a dry measure equal to about a quart


    [2] 6:6 A denarius was a day’s wage for a laborer

    (ESV)

    KJV Text: Revelation 6:1-8

    The section starts at about 0:0 and ends at about 1:35

    https://ilc.edu/wordpressilc/kjvmp3/1173.mp3

         1 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. 2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.

         3 And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. 4 And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword. 5 And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. 6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine. 7 And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. 8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.(KJV)

    BibleGateway: Joel 2
    ESV Text: Joel 2
    Joel 2 (Listen)
    The Day of the Lord


    2:1   Blow a trumpet in Zion;
        sound an alarm on my holy mountain!
      Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble,
        for the day of the LORD is coming; it is near,
    2   a day of darkness and gloom,
        a day of clouds and thick darkness!
      Like blackness there is spread upon the mountains
        a great and powerful people;
      their like has never been before,
        nor will be again after them
        through the years of all generations.


    3   Fire devours before them,
        and behind them a flame burns.
      The land is like the garden of Eden before them,
        but behind them a desolate wilderness,
        and nothing escapes them.


    4   Their appearance is like the appearance of horses,
        and like war horses they run.
    5   As with the rumbling of chariots,
        they leap on the tops of the mountains,
      like the crackling of a flame of fire
        devouring the stubble,
      like a powerful army
        drawn up for battle.


    6   Before them peoples are in anguish;
        all faces grow pale.
    7   Like warriors they charge;
        like soldiers they scale the wall.
      They march each on his way;
        they do not swerve from their paths.
    8   They do not jostle one another;
        each marches in his path;
      they burst through the weapons
        and are not halted.
    9   They leap upon the city,
        they run upon the walls,
      they climb up into the houses,
        they enter through the windows like a thief.


    10   The earth quakes before them;
        the heavens tremble.
      The sun and the moon are darkened,
        and the stars withdraw their shining.
    11   The LORD utters his voice
        before his army,
      for his camp is exceedingly great;
        he who executes his word is powerful.
      For the day of the LORD is great and very awesome;
        who can endure it?

    Return to the Lord


    12   “Yet even now,” declares the LORD,
        “return to me with all your heart,
      with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
    13     and rend your hearts and not your garments.”
      Return to the LORD your God,
        for he is gracious and merciful,
      slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love;
        and he relents over disaster.
    14   Who knows whether he will not turn and relent,
        and leave a blessing behind him,
      a grain offering and a drink offering
        for the LORD your God?


    15   Blow the trumpet in Zion;
        consecrate a fast;
      call a solemn assembly;
    16     gather the people.
      Consecrate the congregation;
        assemble the elders;
      gather the children,
        even nursing infants.
      Let the bridegroom leave his room,
        and the bride her chamber.


    17   Between the vestibule and the altar
        let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep
      and say, “Spare your people, O LORD,
        and make not your heritage a reproach,
        a byword among the nations.Or reproach, that the nations should rule over them">1
      Why should they say among the peoples,
        ‘Where is their God?’”

    The Lord Had Pity


    18   Then the LORD became jealous for his land
        and had pity on his people.
    19   The LORD answered and said to his people,
      “Behold, I am sending to you
        grain, wine, and oil,
        and you will be satisfied;
      and I will no more make you
        a reproach among the nations.


    20   “I will remove the northerner far from you,
        and drive him into a parched and desolate land,
      his vanguardHebrew face">2 into the eastern sea,
        and his rear guardHebrew his end">3 into the western sea;
      the stench and foul smell of him will rise,
        for he has done great things.


    21   “Fear not, O land;
        be glad and rejoice,
        for the LORD has done great things!
    22   Fear not, you beasts of the field,
        for the pastures of the wilderness are green;
      the tree bears its fruit;
        the fig tree and vine give their full yield.


    23   “Be glad, O children of Zion,
        and rejoice in the LORD your God,
      for he has given the early rain for your vindication;
        he has poured down for you abundant rain,
        the early and the latter rain, as before.


    24   “The threshing floors shall be full of grain;
        the vats shall overflow with wine and oil.
    25   I will restoreOr pay back">4 to you the years
        that the swarming locust has eaten,
      the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter,
        my great army, which I sent among you.


    26   “You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied,
        and praise the name of the LORD your God,
        who has dealt wondrously with you.
      And my people shall never again be put to shame.
    27   You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel,
        and that I am the LORD your God and there is none else.
      And my people shall never again be put to shame.

    The Lord Will Pour Out His Spirit


    28   Ch 3:1 in Hebrew">5 “And it shall come to pass afterward,
        that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh;
      your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
        your old men shall dream dreams,
        and your young men shall see visions.
    29   Even on the male and female servants
        in those days I will pour out my Spirit.

    30 “And I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. 31 The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. 32 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the LORD has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the LORD calls.

    Footnotes

    [1] 2:17 Or reproach, that the nations should rule over them


    [2] 2:20 Hebrew face

    [3] 2:20 Hebrew his end

    [4] 2:25 Or pay back

    [5] 2:28 Ch 3:1 in Hebrew

    (ESV)

    KJV Text: Joel 2:1-32
    https://ilc.edu/wordpressilc/kjvmp3/0878.mp3

    KJV Text (alt. audio): Chapter 2:

         1 Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand; 2 A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations. 3 A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them. 4 The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run. 5 Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array. 6 Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness. 7 They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks: 8 Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded. 9 They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief. 10 The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining: 11 And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?

         12 Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: 13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. 14 Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God? 15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: 16 Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet. 17 Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?

         18 Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people. 19 Yea, the LORD will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen: 20 But I will remove far off from you the northern army, and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the east sea, and his hinder part toward the utmost sea, and his stink shall come up, and his ill savour shall come up, because he hath done great things. 21 Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things. 22 Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength. 23 Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month. 24 And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats shall overflow with wine and oil. 25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you. 26 And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed. 27 And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.

         28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: 29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. 30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. 31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come. 32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.(KJV)

    2 min
  • 2025-11-14:Revelation 5:1-14 & Joel 1

    BibleGateway: Revelation 5:1-14
    ESV Text: Revelation 5:1-14
    Revelation 5 (Listen)
    The Scroll and the Lamb

    5:1 Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” 3 And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, 4 and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. 5 And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”

    6 And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. 8 And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying,


      “Worthy are you to take the scroll
        and to open its seals,
      for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God
        from every tribe and language and people and nation,
    10   and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
        and they shall reign on the earth.”

    11 Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice,


      “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,
      to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might
      and honor and glory and blessing!”

    13 And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying,


      “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
      be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”

    14 And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

    (ESV)

    KJV Text: Revelation 5:1-14

    The section starts at about 0:0 and ends at about 2:40

    https://ilc.edu/wordpressilc/kjvmp3/1172.mp3

         1 And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? 3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. 4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. 5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

         6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. 7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. 8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. 9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. 11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; 12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. 13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. 14 And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.(KJV)

    BibleGateway: Joel 1
    ESV Text: Joel 1
    Joel 1 (Listen)

    1:1 The word of the LORD that came to Joel, the son of Pethuel:

    An Invasion of Locusts


    2   Hear this, you elders;
        give ear, all inhabitants of the land!
      Has such a thing happened in your days,
        or in the days of your fathers?
    3   Tell your children of it,
        and let your children tell their children,
        and their children to another generation.


    4   What the cutting locust left,
        the swarming locust has eaten.
      What the swarming locust left,
        the hopping locust has eaten,
      and what the hopping locust left,
        the destroying locust has eaten.


    5   Awake, you drunkards, and weep,
        and wail, all you drinkers of wine,
      because of the sweet wine,
        for it is cut off from your mouth.
    6   For a nation has come up against my land,
        powerful and beyond number;
      its teeth are lions’ teeth,
        and it has the fangs of a lioness.
    7   It has laid waste my vine
        and splintered my fig tree;
      it has stripped off their bark and thrown it down;
        their branches are made white.


    8   Lament like a virginOr young woman">1 wearing sackcloth
        for the bridegroom of her youth.
    9   The grain offering and the drink offering are cut off
        from the house of the LORD.
      The priests mourn,
        the ministers of the LORD.
    10   The fields are destroyed,
        the ground mourns,
      because the grain is destroyed,
        the wine dries up,
        the oil languishes.


    11   Be ashamed,The Hebrew words for dry up and be ashamed in verses 10–12, 17 sound alike">2 O tillers of the soil;
        wail, O vinedressers,
      for the wheat and the barley,
        because the harvest of the field has perished.
    12   The vine dries up;
        the fig tree languishes.
      Pomegranate, palm, and apple,
        all the trees of the field are dried up,
      and gladness dries up
        from the children of man.

    A Call to Repentance


    13   Put on sackcloth and lament, O priests;
        wail, O ministers of the altar.
      Go in, pass the night in sackcloth,
        O ministers of my God!
      Because grain offering and drink offering
        are withheld from the house of your God.


    14   Consecrate a fast;
        call a solemn assembly.
      Gather the elders
        and all the inhabitants of the land
      to the house of the LORD your God,
        and cry out to the LORD.


    15   Alas for the day!
      For the day of the LORD is near,
        and as destruction from the AlmightyDestruction sounds like the Hebrew for Almighty">3 it comes.
    16   Is not the food cut off
        before our eyes,
      joy and gladness
        from the house of our God?


    17   The seed shrivels under the clods;The meaning of the Hebrew line is uncertain">4
        the storehouses are desolate;
      the granaries are torn down
        because the grain has dried up.
    18   How the beasts groan!
        The herds of cattle are perplexed
      because there is no pasture for them;
        even the flocks of sheep suffer.Or are made desolate">5


    19   To you, O LORD, I call.
      For fire has devoured
        the pastures of the wilderness,
      and flame has burned
        all the trees of the field.
    20   Even the beasts of the field pant for you
        because the water brooks are dried up,
      and fire has devoured
        the pastures of the wilderness.

    Footnotes

    [1] 1:8 Or young woman


    [2] 1:11 The Hebrew words for dry up and be ashamed in verses 10–12, 17 sound alike

    [3] 1:15 Destruction sounds like the Hebrew for Almighty

    [4] 1:17 The meaning of the Hebrew line is uncertain

    [5] 1:18 Or are made desolate

    (ESV)

    KJV Text: Joel 1:1-20
    https://ilc.edu/wordpressilc/kjvmp3/0877.mp3

    KJV Text (alt. audio): Chapter 1:

         1 The word of the LORD that came to Joel the son of Pethuel. 2 Hear this, ye old men, and give ear, all ye inhabitants of the land. Hath this been in your days, or even in the days of your fathers? 3 Tell ye your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation. 4 That which the palmerworm hath left hath the locust eaten; and that which the locust hath left hath the cankerworm eaten; and that which the cankerworm hath left hath the caterpillar eaten. 5 Awake, ye drunkards, and weep; and howl, all ye drinkers of wine, because of the new wine, for it is cut off from your mouth. 6 For a nation is come up upon my land, strong, and without number, whose teeth are the teeth of a lion, and he hath the cheek teeth of a great lion. 7 He hath laid my vine waste, and barked my fig tree: he hath made it clean bare, and cast it away; the branches thereof are made white.

         8 Lament like a virgin girded with sackcloth for the husband of her youth. 9 The meat offering and the drink offering is cut off from the house of the LORD; the priests, the LORD’S ministers, mourn. 10 The field is wasted, the land mourneth; for the corn is wasted: the new wine is dried up, the oil languisheth. 11 Be ye ashamed, O ye husbandmen; howl, O ye vinedressers, for the wheat and for the barley; because the harvest of the field is perished. 12 The vine is dried up, and the fig tree languisheth; the pomegranate tree, the palm tree also, and the apple tree, even all the trees of the field, are withered: because joy is withered away from the sons of men. 13 Gird yourselves, and lament, ye priests: howl, ye ministers of the altar: come, lie all night in sackcloth, ye ministers of my God: for the meat offering and the drink offering is withholden from the house of your God.

         14 Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the LORD your God, and cry unto the LORD. 15 Alas for the day! for the day of the LORD is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come. 16 Is not the meat cut off before our eyes, yea, joy and gladness from the house of our God? 17 The seed is rotten under their clods, the garners are laid desolate, the barns are broken down; for the corn is withered. 18 How do the beasts groan! the herds of cattle are perplexed, because they have no pasture; yea, the flocks of sheep are made desolate. 19 O LORD, to thee will I cry: for the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness, and the flame hath burned all the trees of the field. 20 The beasts of the field cry also unto thee: for the rivers of waters are dried up, and the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness.(KJV)

    0 min
  • 2025-11-13:Revelation 4:1-11 & Hosea 13-14

    BibleGateway: Revelation 4:1-11
    ESV Text: Revelation 4:1-11
    Revelation 4 (Listen)
    The Throne in Heaven

    4:1 After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” 2 At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. 3 And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald. 4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads. 5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblingsOr voices, or sounds">1 and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God, 6 and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal.

    And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: 7 the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight. 8 And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say,


      “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty,
        who was and is and is to come!”

    9 And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying,


    11   “Worthy are you, our Lord and God,
        to receive glory and honor and power,
      for you created all things,
        and by your will they existed and were created.”

    Footnotes

    [1] 4:5 Or voices, or sounds

    (ESV)

    KJV Text: Revelation 4:1-11

    The section starts at about 0:0 and ends at about 2:9

    https://ilc.edu/wordpressilc/kjvmp3/1171.mp3

         1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. 2 And immediately I was in the spirit; and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. 3 And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. 4 And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold. 5 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. 6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. 7 And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.

         8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. 9 And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, 10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.(KJV)

    BibleGateway: Hosea 13-14
    ESV Text: Hosea 13-14
    Hosea 13–14 (Listen)
    The Lord’s Relentless Judgment on Israel


    13:1   When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling;
        he was exalted in Israel,
        but he incurred guilt through Baal and died.
    2   And now they sin more and more,
        and make for themselves metal images,
      idols skillfully made of their silver,
        all of them the work of craftsmen.
      It is said of them,
        “Those who offer human sacrifice kiss calves!”
    3   Therefore they shall be like the morning mist
        or like the dew that goes early away,
      like the chaff that swirls from the threshing floor
        or like smoke from a window.


    4   But I am the LORD your God
        from the land of Egypt;
      you know no God but me,
        and besides me there is no savior.
    5   It was I who knew you in the wilderness,
        in the land of drought;
    6   but when they had grazed,Hebrew according to their pasture">1 they became full,
        they were filled, and their heart was lifted up;
        therefore they forgot me.
    7   So I am to them like a lion;
        like a leopard I will lurk beside the way.
    8   I will fall upon them like a bear robbed of her cubs;
        I will tear open their breast,
      and there I will devour them like a lion,
        as a wild beast would rip them open.


    9   He destroysOr I will destroy">2 you, O Israel,
        for you are against me, against your helper.
    10   Where now is your king, to save you in all your cities?
        Where are all your rulers—
      those of whom you said,
        “Give me a king and princes”?
    11   I gave you a king in my anger,
        and I took him away in my wrath.


    12   The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up;
        his sin is kept in store.
    13   The pangs of childbirth come for him,
        but he is an unwise son,
      for at the right time he does not present himself
        at the opening of the womb.


    14   I shall ransom them from the power of Sheol;
        I shall redeem them from Death.Or Shall I ransom them from the power of Sheol? Shall I redeem them from Death?">3
      O Death, where are your plagues?
        O Sheol, where is your sting?
        Compassion is hidden from my eyes.


    15   Though he may flourish among his brothers,
        the east wind, the wind of the LORD, shall come,
        rising from the wilderness,
      and his fountain shall dry up;
        his spring shall be parched;
      it shall strip his treasury
        of every precious thing.
    16   Ch 14:1 in Hebrew">4 Samaria shall bear her guilt,
        because she has rebelled against her God;
      they shall fall by the sword;
        their little ones shall be dashed in pieces,
        and their pregnant women ripped open.

    A Plea to Return to the Lord


    14:1   Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God,
        for you have stumbled because of your iniquity.
    2   Take with you words
        and return to the LORD;
      say to him,
        “Take away all iniquity;
      accept what is good,
        and we will pay with bulls
        the vowsSeptuagint, Syriac pay the fruit">5 of our lips.
    3   Assyria shall not save us;
        we will not ride on horses;
      and we will say no more, ‘Our God,’
        to the work of our hands.
      In you the orphan finds mercy.”


    4   I will heal their apostasy;
        I will love them freely,
        for my anger has turned from them.
    5   I will be like the dew to Israel;
        he shall blossom like the lily;
        he shall take root like the trees of Lebanon;
    6   his shoots shall spread out;
        his beauty shall be like the olive,
        and his fragrance like Lebanon.
    7   They shall return and dwell beneath myHebrew his">6 shadow;
        they shall flourish like the grain;
      they shall blossom like the vine;
        their fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon.


    8   O Ephraim, what have I to do with idols?
        It is I who answer and look after you.Hebrew him">7
      I am like an evergreen cypress;
        from me comes your fruit.


    9   Whoever is wise, let him understand these things;
        whoever is discerning, let him know them;
      for the ways of the LORD are right,
        and the upright walk in them,
        but transgressors stumble in them.

    Footnotes

    [1] 13:6 Hebrew according to their pasture


    [2] 13:9 Or I will destroy

    [3] 13:14 Or Shall I ransom them from the power of Sheol? Shall I redeem them from Death?

    [4] 13:16 Ch 14:1 in Hebrew

    [5] 14:2 Septuagint, Syriac pay the fruit

    [6] 14:7 Hebrew his

    [7] 14:8 Hebrew him

    (ESV)

    KJV Text: Hosea 13:1-16
    https://ilc.edu/wordpressilc/kjvmp3/0875.mp3

    KJV Text (alt. audio): Chapter 13:

         1 When Ephraim spake trembling, he exalted himself in Israel; but when he offended in Baal, he died. 2 And now they sin more and more, and have made them molten images of their silver, and idols according to their own understanding, all of it the work of the craftsmen: they say of them, Let the men that sacrifice kiss the calves. 3 Therefore they shall be as the morning cloud, and as the early dew that passeth away, as the chaff that is driven with the whirlwind out of the floor, and as the smoke out of the chimney. 4 Yet I am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but me: for there is no saviour beside me.

         5 I did know thee in the wilderness, in the land of great drought. 6 According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted; therefore have they forgotten me. 7 Therefore I will be unto them as a lion: as a leopard by the way will I observe them: 8 I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps, and will rend the caul of their heart, and there will I devour them like a lion: the wild beast shall tear them.

         9 O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thine help. 10 I will be thy king: where is any other that may save thee in all thy cities? and thy judges of whom thou saidst, Give me a king and princes? 11 I gave thee a king in mine anger, and took him away in my wrath. 12 The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; his sin is hid. 13 The sorrows of a travailing woman shall come upon him: he is an unwise son; for he should not stay long in the place of the breaking forth of children. 14 I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes. 15 Though he be fruitful among his brethren, an east wind shall come, the wind of the LORD shall come up from the wilderness, and his spring shall become dry, and his fountain shall be dried up: he shall spoil the treasure of all pleasant vessels. 16 Samaria shall become desolate; for she hath rebelled against her God: they shall fall by the sword: their infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their women with child shall be ripped up.(KJV)

    0 min
  • 2025-11-12:Revelation 3:14-22 & Hosea 11-12

    BibleGateway: Revelation 3:14-22
    ESV Text: Revelation 3:14-22
    Revelation 3:14–22 (Listen)
    To the Church in Laodicea

    14 “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation.

    15 “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 17 For you say, “I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing,” not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. 19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. 21 The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”

    (ESV)

    KJV Text: Revelation 3:14-22

    The section starts at about 2:25 and ends at about 3:52

    https://ilc.edu/wordpressilc/kjvmp3/1170.mp3

         14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; 15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. 21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. 22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.(KJV)

    BibleGateway: Hosea 11-12
    ESV Text: Hosea 11-12
    Hosea 11–12 (Listen)
    The Lord’s Love for Israel


    11:1   When Israel was a child, I loved him,
        and out of Egypt I called my son.
    2   The more they were called,
        the more they went away;
      they kept sacrificing to the Baals
        and burning offerings to idols.


    3   Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk;
        I took them up by their arms,
        but they did not know that I healed them.
    4   I led them with cords of kindness,Or humaneness; Hebrew man">1
        with the bands of love,
      and I became to them as one who eases the yoke on their jaws,
        and I bent down to them and fed them.


    5   They shall notOr surely">2 return to the land of Egypt,
        but Assyria shall be their king,
        because they have refused to return to me.
    6   The sword shall rage against their cities,
        consume the bars of their gates,
        and devour them because of their own counsels.
    7   My people are bent on turning away from me,
        and though they call out to the Most High,
        he shall not raise them up at all.


    8   How can I give you up, O Ephraim?
        How can I hand you over, O Israel?
      How can I make you like Admah?
        How can I treat you like Zeboiim?
      My heart recoils within me;
        my compassion grows warm and tender.
    9   I will not execute my burning anger;
        I will not again destroy Ephraim;
      for I am God and not a man,
        the Holy One in your midst,
        and I will not come in wrath.Or into the city">3


    10   They shall go after the LORD;
        he will roar like a lion;
      when he roars,
        his children shall come trembling from the west;
    11   they shall come trembling like birds from Egypt,
        and like doves from the land of Assyria,
        and I will return them to their homes, declares the LORD.
    12   Ch 12:1 in Hebrew">4 Ephraim has surrounded me with lies,
        and the house of Israel with deceit,
      but Judah still walks with God
        and is faithful to the Holy One.
    12:1   Ephraim feeds on the wind
        and pursues the east wind all day long;
      they multiply falsehood and violence;
        they make a covenant with Assyria,
        and oil is carried to Egypt.

    The Lord’s Indictment of Israel and Judah


    2   The LORD has an indictment against Judah
        and will punish Jacob according to his ways;
        he will repay him according to his deeds.
    3   In the womb he took his brother by the heel,
        and in his manhood he strove with God.
    4   He strove with the angel and prevailed;
        he wept and sought his favor.
      He met GodHebrew him">5 at Bethel,
        and there God spoke with us—
    5   the LORD, the God of hosts,
        the LORD is his memorial name:
    6   “So you, by the help of your God, return,
        hold fast to love and justice,
        and wait continually for your God.”


    7   A merchant, in whose hands are false balances,
        he loves to oppress.
    8   Ephraim has said, “Ah, but I am rich;
        I have found wealth for myself;
      in all my labors they cannot find in me iniquity or sin.”
    9   I am the LORD your God
        from the land of Egypt;
      I will again make you dwell in tents,
        as in the days of the appointed feast.


    10   I spoke to the prophets;
        it was I who multiplied visions,
        and through the prophets gave parables.
    11   If there is iniquity in Gilead,
        they shall surely come to nothing:
      in Gilgal they sacrifice bulls;
        their altars also are like stone heaps
        on the furrows of the field.
    12   Jacob fled to the land of Aram;
        there Israel served for a wife,
        and for a wife he guarded sheep.
    13   By a prophet the LORD brought Israel up from Egypt,
        and by a prophet he was guarded.
    14   Ephraim has given bitter provocation;
        so his Lord will leave his bloodguilt on him
        and will repay him for his disgraceful deeds.

    Footnotes

    [1] 11:4 Or humaneness; Hebrew man


    [2] 11:5 Or surely

    [3] 11:9 Or into the city

    [4] 11:12 Ch 12:1 in Hebrew

    [5] 12:4 Hebrew him

    (ESV)

    KJV Text: Hosea 11:1-12
    https://ilc.edu/wordpressilc/kjvmp3/0873.mp3

    KJV Text (alt. audio): Chapter 11:

         1 When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt. 2 As they called them, so they went from them: they sacrificed unto Baalim, and burned incense to graven images. 3 I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by their arms; but they knew not that I healed them. 4 I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love: and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat unto them. 5 He shall not return into the land of Egypt, but the Assyrian shall be his king, because they refused to return. 6 And the sword shall abide on his cities, and shall consume his branches, and devour them, because of their own counsels. 7 And my people are bent to backsliding from me: though they called them to the most High, none at all would exalt him.

         8 How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? how shall I deliver thee, Israel? how shall I make thee as Admah? how shall I set thee as Zeboim? mine heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled together. 9 I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee: and I will not enter into the city. 10 They shall walk after the LORD: he shall roar like a lion: when he shall roar, then the children shall tremble from the west. 11 They shall tremble as a bird out of Egypt, and as a dove out of the land of Assyria: and I will place them in their houses, saith the LORD. 12 Ephraim compasseth me about with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit: but Judah yet ruleth with God, and is faithful with the saints.(KJV)

    2 min
  • 2025-11-11:Revelation 3:1-13 & Hosea 9-10

    BibleGateway: Revelation 3:1-13
    ESV Text: Revelation 3:1-13
    Revelation 3:1–13 (Listen)
    To the Church in Sardis

    3:1 “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars.

    “‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. 3 Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you. 4 Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. 5 The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. 6 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

    To the Church in Philadelphia

    7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens.

    8 “‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9 Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you. 10 Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. 11 I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. 12 The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. 13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

    (ESV)

    KJV Text: Revelation 3:1-13

    The section starts at about 0:0 and ends at about 2:34

    https://ilc.edu/wordpressilc/kjvmp3/1170.mp3

         1 And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. 2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. 3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. 4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. 5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. 6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

         7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; 8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. 9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. 10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. 11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. 12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. 13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.(KJV)

    BibleGateway: Hosea 9-10
    ESV Text: Hosea 9-10
    Hosea 9–10 (Listen)
    The Lord Will Punish Israel


    9:1   Rejoice not, O Israel!
        Exult not like the peoples;
      for you have played the whore, forsaking your God.
        You have loved a prostitute’s wages
        on all threshing floors.
    2   Threshing floor and wine vat shall not feed them,
        and the new wine shall fail them.
    3   They shall not remain in the land of the LORD,
        but Ephraim shall return to Egypt,
        and they shall eat unclean food in Assyria.


    4   They shall not pour drink offerings of wine to the LORD,
        and their sacrifices shall not please him.
      It shall be like mourners’ bread to them;
        all who eat of it shall be defiled;
      for their bread shall be for their hunger only;
        it shall not come to the house of the LORD.


    5   What will you do on the day of the appointed festival,
        and on the day of the feast of the LORD?
    6   For behold, they are going away from destruction;
        but Egypt shall gather them;
        Memphis shall bury them.
      Nettles shall possess their precious things of silver;
        thorns shall be in their tents.


    7   The days of punishment have come;
        the days of recompense have come;
        Israel shall know it.
      The prophet is a fool;
        the man of the spirit is mad,
      because of your great iniquity
        and great hatred.
    8   The prophet is the watchman of Ephraim with my God;
      yet a fowler’s snare is on all his ways,
        and hatred in the house of his God.
    9   They have deeply corrupted themselves
        as in the days of Gibeah:
      he will remember their iniquity;
        he will punish their sins.


    10   Like grapes in the wilderness,
        I found Israel.
      Like the first fruit on the fig tree
        in its first season,
        I saw your fathers.
      But they came to Baal-peor
        and consecrated themselves to the thing of shame,
        and became detestable like the thing they loved.
    11   Ephraim’s glory shall fly away like a bird—
        no birth, no pregnancy, no conception!
    12   Even if they bring up children,
        I will bereave them till none is left.
      Woe to them
        when I depart from them!
    13   Ephraim, as I have seen, was like a young palmOr like Tyre">1 planted in a meadow;
        but Ephraim must lead his children out to slaughter.Hebrew to him who slaughters">2
    14   Give them, O LORD—
        what will you give?
      Give them a miscarrying womb
        and dry breasts.


    15   Every evil of theirs is in Gilgal;
        there I began to hate them.
      Because of the wickedness of their deeds
        I will drive them out of my house.
      I will love them no more;
        all their princes are rebels.


    16   Ephraim is stricken;
        their root is dried up;
        they shall bear no fruit.
      Even though they give birth,
        I will put their beloved children to death.
    17   My God will reject them
        because they have not listened to him;
        they shall be wanderers among the nations.


    10:1   Israel is a luxuriant vine
        that yields its fruit.
      The more his fruit increased,
        the more altars he built;
      as his country improved,
        he improved his pillars.
    2   Their heart is false;
        now they must bear their guilt.
      The LORD3 will break down their altars
        and destroy their pillars.


    3   For now they will say:
        “We have no king,
      for we do not fear the LORD;
        and a king—what could he do for us?”
    4   They utter mere words;
        with emptyOr vain (see Exodus 20:7)">4 oaths they make covenants;
      so judgment springs up like poisonous weeds
        in the furrows of the field.
    5   The inhabitants of Samaria tremble
        for the calfOr calves">5 of Beth-aven.
      Its people mourn for it, and so do its idolatrous priests—
        those who rejoiced over it and over its glory—
        for it has departedOr has gone into exile">6 from them.
    6   The thing itself shall be carried to Assyria
        as tribute to the great king.Or to King Jareb">7
      Ephraim shall be put to shame,
        and Israel shall be ashamed of his idol.Or counsel">8


    7   Samaria’s king shall perish
        like a twig on the face of the waters.
    8   The high places of Aven, the sin of Israel,
        shall be destroyed.
      Thorn and thistle shall grow up
        on their altars,
      and they shall say to the mountains, “Cover us,”
        and to the hills, “Fall on us.”


    9   From the days of Gibeah, you have sinned, O Israel;
        there they have continued.
        Shall not the war against the unjustHebrew the children of injustice">9 overtake them in Gibeah?
    10   When I please, I will discipline them,
        and nations shall be gathered against them
        when they are bound up for their double iniquity.


    11   Ephraim was a trained calf
        that loved to thresh,
        and I spared her fair neck;
      but I will put Ephraim to the yoke;
        Judah must plow;
        Jacob must harrow for himself.
    12   Sow for yourselves righteousness;
        reap steadfast love;
        break up your fallow ground,
      for it is the time to seek the LORD,
        that he may come and rain righteousness upon you.


    13   You have plowed iniquity;
        you have reaped injustice;
        you have eaten the fruit of lies.
      Because you have trusted in your own way
        and in the multitude of your warriors,
    14   therefore the tumult of war shall arise among your people,
        and all your fortresses shall be destroyed,
      as Shalman destroyed Beth-arbel on the day of battle;
        mothers were dashed in pieces with their children.
    15   Thus it shall be done to you, O Bethel,
        because of your great evil.
      At dawn the king of Israel
        shall be utterly cut off.

    Footnotes

    [1] 9:13 Or like Tyre


    [2] 9:13 Hebrew to him who slaughters

    [3] 10:2 Hebrew He

    [4] 10:4 Or vain (see Exodus 20:7)

    [5] 10:5 Or calves

    [6] 10:5 Or has gone into exile

    [7] 10:6 Or to King Jareb

    [8] 10:6 Or counsel

    [9] 10:9 Hebrew the children of injustice

    (ESV)

    KJV Text: Hosea 9:1-17
    https://ilc.edu/wordpressilc/kjvmp3/0871.mp3

    KJV Text (alt. audio): Chapter 9:

         1 Rejoice not, O Israel, for joy, as other people: for thou hast gone a whoring from thy God, thou hast loved a reward upon every cornfloor. 2 The floor and the winepress shall not feed them, and the new wine shall fail in her. 3 They shall not dwell in the LORD’S land; but Ephraim shall return to Egypt, and they shall eat unclean things in Assyria. 4 They shall not offer wine offerings to the LORD, neither shall they be pleasing unto him: their sacrifices shall be unto them as the bread of mourners; all that eat thereof shall be polluted: for their bread for their soul shall not come into the house of the LORD. 5 What will ye do in the solemn day, and in the day of the feast of the LORD? 6 For, lo, they are gone because of destruction: Egypt shall gather them up, Memphis shall bury them: the pleasant places for their silver, nettles shall possess them: thorns shall be in their tabernacles.

         7 The days of visitation are come, the days of recompense are come; Israel shall know it: the prophet is a fool, the spiritual man is mad, for the multitude of thine iniquity, and the great hatred. 8 The watchman of Ephraim was with my God: but the prophet is a snare of a fowler in all his ways, and hatred in the house of his God. 9 They have deeply corrupted themselves, as in the days of Gibeah: therefore he will remember their iniquity, he will visit their sins. 10 I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers as the firstripe in the fig tree at her first time: but they went to Baalpeor, and separated themselves unto that shame; and their abominations were according as they loved.

         11 As for Ephraim, their glory shall fly away like a bird, from the birth, and from the womb, and from the conception. 12 Though they bring up their children, yet will I bereave them, that there shall not be a man left: yea, woe also to them when I depart from them! 13 Ephraim, as I saw Tyrus, is planted in a pleasant place: but Ephraim shall bring forth his children to the murderer. 14 Give them, O LORD: what wilt thou give? give them a miscarrying womb and dry breasts. 15 All their wickedness is in Gilgal: for there I hated them: for the wickedness of their doings I will drive them out of mine house, I will love them no more: all their princes are revolters. 16 Ephraim is smitten, their root is dried up, they shall bear no fruit: yea, though they bring forth, yet will I slay even the beloved fruit of their womb. 17 My God will cast them away, because they did not hearken unto him: and they shall be wanderers among the nations.(KJV)

    3 min
  • 2025-11-10:Revelation 2:18-29 & Hosea 7-8

    BibleGateway: Revelation 2:18-29
    ESV Text: Revelation 2:18-29
    Revelation 2:18–29 (Listen)
    To the Church in Thyatira

    18 “And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: ‘The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze.

    19 “‘I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first. 20 But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. 21 I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. 22 Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works, 23 and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works. 24 But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan, to you I say, I do not lay on you any other burden. 25 Only hold fast what you have until I come. 26 The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, 27 and he will ruleGreek shepherd">1 them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father. 28 And I will give him the morning star. 29 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

    Footnotes

    [1] 2:27 Greek shepherd

    (ESV)

    KJV Text: Revelation 2:18-29

    The section starts at about 2:56 and ends at about 4:44

    https://ilc.edu/wordpressilc/kjvmp3/1169.mp3

         18 And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass; 19 I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first. 20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. 21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. 22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. 23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. 24 But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden. 25 But that which ye have already hold fast till I come. 26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: 27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. 28 And I will give him the morning star. 29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.(KJV)

    BibleGateway: Hosea 7-8
    ESV Text: Hosea 7-8
    Hosea 7–8 (Listen)


    7:1   when I would heal Israel,
        the iniquity of Ephraim is revealed,
        and the evil deeds of Samaria,
      for they deal falsely;
        the thief breaks in,
        and the bandits raid outside.
    2   But they do not consider
        that I remember all their evil.
      Now their deeds surround them;
        they are before my face.
    3   By their evil they make the king glad,
        and the princes by their treachery.
    4   They are all adulterers;
        they are like a heated oven
      whose baker ceases to stir the fire,
        from the kneading of the dough
        until it is leavened.
    5   On the day of our king, the princes
        became sick with the heat of wine;
        he stretched out his hand with mockers.
    6   For with hearts like an oven they approach their intrigue;
        all night their anger smolders;
        in the morning it blazes like a flaming fire.
    7   All of them are hot as an oven,
        and they devour their rulers.
      All their kings have fallen,
        and none of them calls upon me.


    8   Ephraim mixes himself with the peoples;
        Ephraim is a cake not turned.
    9   Strangers devour his strength,
        and he knows it not;
      gray hairs are sprinkled upon him,
        and he knows it not.
    10   The pride of Israel testifies to his face;Or in his presence">1
        yet they do not return to the LORD their God,
        nor seek him, for all this.


    11   Ephraim is like a dove,
        silly and without sense,
        calling to Egypt, going to Assyria.
    12   As they go, I will spread over them my net;
        I will bring them down like birds of the heavens;
        I will discipline them according to the report made to their congregation.
    13   Woe to them, for they have strayed from me!
        Destruction to them, for they have rebelled against me!
      I would redeem them,
        but they speak lies against me.


    14   They do not cry to me from the heart,
        but they wail upon their beds;
      for grain and wine they gash themselves;
        they rebel against me.
    15   Although I trained and strengthened their arms,
        yet they devise evil against me.
    16   They return, but not upward;Or to the Most High">2
        they are like a treacherous bow;
      their princes shall fall by the sword
        because of the insolence of their tongue.
      This shall be their derision in the land of Egypt.

    Israel Will Reap the Whirlwind


    8:1   Set the trumpet to your lips!
        One like a vulture is over the house of the LORD,
      because they have transgressed my covenant
        and rebelled against my law.
    2   To me they cry,
        “My God, we—Israel—know you.”
    3   Israel has spurned the good;
        the enemy shall pursue him.


    4   They made kings, but not through me.
        They set up princes, but I knew it not.
      With their silver and gold they made idols
        for their own destruction.
    5   I haveHebrew He has">3 spurned your calf, O Samaria.
        My anger burns against them.
      How long will they be incapable of innocence?
    6   For it is from Israel;
      a craftsman made it;
        it is not God.
      The calf of Samaria
        shall be broken to pieces.Or shall go up in flames">4


    7   For they sow the wind,
        and they shall reap the whirlwind.
      The standing grain has no heads;
        it shall yield no flour;
      if it were to yield,
        strangers would devour it.
    8   Israel is swallowed up;
        already they are among the nations
        as a useless vessel.
    9   For they have gone up to Assyria,
        a wild donkey wandering alone;
        Ephraim has hired lovers.
    10   Though they hire allies among the nations,
        I will soon gather them up.
      And the king and princes shall soon writhe
        because of the tribute.


    11   Because Ephraim has multiplied altars for sinning,
        they have become to him altars for sinning.
    12   Were I to write for him my laws by the ten thousands,
        they would be regarded as a strange thing.
    13   As for my sacrificial offerings,
        they sacrifice meat and eat it,
        but the LORD does not accept them.
      Now he will remember their iniquity
        and punish their sins;
        they shall return to Egypt.
    14   For Israel has forgotten his Maker
        and built palaces,
      and Judah has multiplied fortified cities;
        so I will send a fire upon his cities,
        and it shall devour her strongholds.

    Footnotes

    [1] 7:10 Or in his presence


    [2] 7:16 Or to the Most High

    [3] 8:5 Hebrew He has

    [4] 8:6 Or shall go up in flames

    (ESV)

    KJV Text: Hosea 7:1-16
    https://ilc.edu/wordpressilc/kjvmp3/0869.mp3

    KJV Text (alt. audio): Chapter 7:

         1 When I would have healed Israel, then the iniquity of Ephraim was discovered, and the wickedness of Samaria: for they commit falsehood; and the thief cometh in, and the troop of robbers spoileth without. 2 And they consider not in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness: now their own doings have beset them about; they are before my face. 3 They make the king glad with their wickedness, and the princes with their lies. 4 They are all adulterers, as an oven heated by the baker, who ceaseth from raising after he hath kneaded the dough, until it be leavened. 5 In the day of our king the princes have made him sick with bottles of wine; he stretched out his hand with scorners. 6 For they have made ready their heart like an oven, whiles they lie in wait: their baker sleepeth all the night; in the morning it burneth as a flaming fire. 7 They are all hot as an oven, and have devoured their judges; all their kings are fallen: there is none among them that calleth unto me.

         8 Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people; Ephraim is a cake not turned. 9 Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knoweth it not: yea, gray hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knoweth not. 10 And the pride of Israel testifieth to his face: and they do not return to the LORD their God, nor seek him for all this. 11 Ephraim also is like a silly dove without heart: they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria. 12 When they shall go, I will spread my net upon them; I will bring them down as the fowls of the heaven; I will chastise them, as their congregation hath heard. 13 Woe unto them! for they have fled from me: destruction unto them! because they have transgressed against me: though I have redeemed them, yet they have spoken lies against me. 14 And they have not cried unto me with their heart, when they howled upon their beds: they assemble themselves for corn and wine, and they rebel against me. 15 Though I have bound and strengthened their arms, yet do they imagine mischief against me. 16 They return, but not to the most High: they are like a deceitful bow: their princes shall fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue: this shall be their derision in the land of Egypt.(KJV)

    2 min
  • 2025-11-07:Revelation 2:12-17 & Hosea 5-6

    BibleGateway: Revelation 2:12-17
    ESV Text: Revelation 2:12-17
    Revelation 2:12–17 (Listen)
    To the Church in Pergamum

    12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword.

    13 “‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faithOr your faith in me">1 even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 14 But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality. 15 So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth. 17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.’

    Footnotes

    [1] 2:13 Or your faith in me

    (ESV)

    KJV Text: Revelation 2:12-17

    The section starts at about 1:49 and ends at about 3:3

    https://ilc.edu/wordpressilc/kjvmp3/1169.mp3

         12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges; 13 I know thy works and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. 14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. 15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate. 16 Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. 17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.(KJV)

    BibleGateway: Hosea 5-6
    ESV Text: Hosea 5-6
    Hosea 5–6 (Listen)
    Punishment Coming for Israel and Judah


    5:1   Hear this, O priests!
        Pay attention, O house of Israel!
      Give ear, O house of the king!
        For the judgment is for you;
      for you have been a snare at Mizpah
        and a net spread upon Tabor.
    2   And the revolters have gone deep into slaughter,
        but I will discipline all of them.


    3   I know Ephraim,
        and Israel is not hidden from me;
      for now, O Ephraim, you have played the whore;
        Israel is defiled.
    4   Their deeds do not permit them
        to return to their God.
      For the spirit of whoredom is within them,
        and they know not the LORD.


    5   The pride of Israel testifies to his face;Or in his presence">1
        Israel and Ephraim shall stumble in his guilt;
        Judah also shall stumble with them.
    6   With their flocks and herds they shall go
        to seek the LORD,
      but they will not find him;
        he has withdrawn from them.
    7   They have dealt faithlessly with the LORD;
        for they have borne alien children.
        Now the new moon shall devour them with their fields.


    8   Blow the horn in Gibeah,
        the trumpet in Ramah.
      Sound the alarm at Beth-aven;
        we follow you,Or after you">2 O Benjamin!
    9   Ephraim shall become a desolation
        in the day of punishment;
      among the tribes of Israel
        I make known what is sure.
    10   The princes of Judah have become
        like those who move the landmark;
      upon them I will pour out
        my wrath like water.
    11   Ephraim is oppressed, crushed in judgment,
        because he was determined to go after filth.Or to follow human precepts">3
    12   But I am like a moth to Ephraim,
        and like dry rot to the house of Judah.


    13   When Ephraim saw his sickness,
        and Judah his wound,
      then Ephraim went to Assyria,
        and sent to the great king.Or to King Jareb">4
      But he is not able to cure you
        or heal your wound.
    14   For I will be like a lion to Ephraim,
        and like a young lion to the house of Judah.
      I, even I, will tear and go away;
        I will carry off, and no one shall rescue.


    15   I will return again to my place,
        until they acknowledge their guilt and seek my face,
        and in their distress earnestly seek me.

    Israel and Judah Are Unrepentant


    6:1   “Come, let us return to the LORD;
        for he has torn us, that he may heal us;
        he has struck us down, and he will bind us up.
    2   After two days he will revive us;
        on the third day he will raise us up,
        that we may live before him.
    3   Let us know; let us press on to know the LORD;
        his going out is sure as the dawn;
      he will come to us as the showers,
        as the spring rains that water the earth.”


    4   What shall I do with you, O Ephraim?
        What shall I do with you, O Judah?
      Your love is like a morning cloud,
        like the dew that goes early away.
    5   Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets;
        I have slain them by the words of my mouth,
        and my judgment goes forth as the light.
    6   For I desire steadfast loveSeptuagint mercy">5 and not sacrifice,
        the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.


    7   But like Adam they transgressed the covenant;
        there they dealt faithlessly with me.
    8   Gilead is a city of evildoers,
        tracked with blood.
    9   As robbers lie in wait for a man,
        so the priests band together;
      they murder on the way to Shechem;
        they commit villainy.
    10   In the house of Israel I have seen a horrible thing;
        Ephraim’s whoredom is there; Israel is defiled.


    11   For you also, O Judah, a harvest is appointed.


      When I restore the fortunes of my people,

    Footnotes

    [1] 5:5 Or in his presence


    [2] 5:8 Or after you

    [3] 5:11 Or to follow human precepts

    [4] 5:13 Or to King Jareb

    [5] 6:6 Septuagint mercy

    (ESV)

    KJV Text: Hosea 5:1-15
    https://ilc.edu/wordpressilc/kjvmp3/0867.mp3

    KJV Text (alt. audio): Chapter 5:

         1 Hear ye this, O priests; and hearken, ye house of Israel; and give ye ear, O house of the king; for judgment is toward you, because ye have been a snare on Mizpah, and a net spread upon Tabor. 2 And the revolters are profound to make slaughter, though I have been a rebuker of them all. 3 I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hid from me: for now, O Ephraim, thou committest whoredom, and Israel is defiled. 4 They will not frame their doings to turn unto their God: for the spirit of whoredoms is in the midst of them, and they have not known the LORD. 5 And the pride of Israel doth testify to his face: therefore shall Israel and Ephraim fall in their iniquity; Judah also shall fall with them. 6 They shall go with their flocks and with their herds to seek the LORD; but they shall not find him; he hath withdrawn himself from them. 7 They have dealt treacherously against the LORD: for they have begotten strange children: now shall a month devour them with their portions.

         8 Blow ye the cornet in Gibeah, and the trumpet in Ramah: cry aloud at Bethaven, after thee, O Benjamin. 9 Ephraim shall be desolate in the day of rebuke: among the tribes of Israel have I made known that which shall surely be. 10 The princes of Judah were like them that remove the bound: therefore I will pour out my wrath upon them like water. 11 Ephraim is oppressed and broken in judgment, because he willingly walked after the commandment. 12 Therefore will I be unto Ephraim as a moth, and to the house of Judah as rottenness. 13 When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah saw his wound, then went Ephraim to the Assyrian, and sent to king Jareb: yet could he not heal you, nor cure you of your wound. 14 For I will be unto Ephraim as a lion, and as a young lion to the house of Judah: I, even I, will tear and go away; I will take away, and none shall rescue him. 15 I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early.(KJV)

    2 min
  • 2025-11-06:Revelation 2:1-11 & Hosea 3-4

    BibleGateway: Revelation 2:1-11
    ESV Text: Revelation 2:1-11
    Revelation 2:1–11 (Listen)
    To the Church in Ephesus

    2:1 “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.

    2 “‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. 3 I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. 4 But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. 6 Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’

    To the Church in Smyrna

    8 “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life.

    9 “‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slanderGreek blasphemy">1 of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.’

    Footnotes

    [1] 2:9 Greek blasphemy

    (ESV)

    KJV Text: Revelation 2:1-11

    The section starts at about 0:0 and ends at about 1:58

    https://ilc.edu/wordpressilc/kjvmp3/1169.mp3

         1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; 2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: 3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. 4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. 6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate. 7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

         8 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; 9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. 10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. 11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.(KJV)

    BibleGateway: Hosea 3-4
    ESV Text: Hosea 3-4
    Hosea 3–4 (Listen)
    Hosea Redeems His Wife

    3:1 And the LORD said to me, “Go again, love a woman who is loved by another man and is an adulteress, even as the LORD loves the children of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love cakes of raisins.” 2 So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver and a homer and a lethechA shekel was about 2/5 ounce or 11 grams; a homer was about 6 bushels or 220 liters; a lethech was about 3 bushels or 110 liters">1 of barley. 3 And I said to her, “You must dwell as mine for many days. You shall not play the whore, or belong to another man; so will I also be to you.” 4 For the children of Israel shall dwell many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or pillar, without ephod or household gods. 5 Afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek the LORD their God, and David their king, and they shall come in fear to the LORD and to his goodness in the latter days.

    The Lord Accuses Israel


    4:1   Hear the word of the LORD, O children of Israel,
        for the LORD has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land.
      There is no faithfulness or steadfast love,
        and no knowledge of God in the land;
    2   there is swearing, lying, murder, stealing, and committing adultery;
        they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed.
    3   Therefore the land mourns,
        and all who dwell in it languish,
      and also the beasts of the field
        and the birds of the heavens,
        and even the fish of the sea are taken away.


    4   Yet let no one contend,
        and let none accuse,
        for with you is my contention, O priest.Or for your people are like those who contend with the priest">2
    5   You shall stumble by day;
        the prophet also shall stumble with you by night;
        and I will destroy your mother.
    6   My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge;
        because you have rejected knowledge,
        I reject you from being a priest to me.
      And since you have forgotten the law of your God,
        I also will forget your children.


    7   The more they increased,
        the more they sinned against me;
        I will change their glory into shame.
    8   They feed on the sinOr sin offering">3 of my people;
        they are greedy for their iniquity.
    9   And it shall be like people, like priest;
        I will punish them for their ways
        and repay them for their deeds.
    10   They shall eat, but not be satisfied;
        they shall play the whore, but not multiply,
      because they have forsaken the LORD
        to cherish 11 whoredom, wine, and new wine,
        which take away the understanding.
    12   My people inquire of a piece of wood,
        and their walking staff gives them oracles.
      For a spirit of whoredom has led them astray,
        and they have left their God to play the whore.
    13   They sacrifice on the tops of the mountains
        and burn offerings on the hills,
      under oak, poplar, and terebinth,
        because their shade is good.
      Therefore your daughters play the whore,
        and your brides commit adultery.
    14   I will not punish your daughters when they play the whore,
        nor your brides when they commit adultery;
      for the men themselves go aside with prostitutes
        and sacrifice with cult prostitutes,
      and a people without understanding shall come to ruin.


    15   Though you play the whore, O Israel,
        let not Judah become guilty.
      Enter not into Gilgal,
        nor go up to Beth-aven,
        and swear not, “As the LORD lives.”
    16   Like a stubborn heifer,
        Israel is stubborn;
      can the LORD now feed them
        like a lamb in a broad pasture?


    17   Ephraim is joined to idols;
        leave him alone.
    18   When their drink is gone, they give themselves to whoring;
        their rulersHebrew shields">4 dearly love shame.
    19   A wind has wrapped themHebrew her">5 in its wings,
        and they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices.

    Footnotes

    [1] 3:2 A shekel was about 2/5 ounce or 11 grams; a homer was about 6 bushels or 220 liters; a lethech was about 3 bushels or 110 liters


    [2] 4:4 Or for your people are like those who contend with the priest

    [3] 4:8 Or sin offering

    [4] 4:18 Hebrew shields

    [5] 4:19 Hebrew her

    (ESV)

    KJV Text: Hosea 3:1-5
    https://ilc.edu/wordpressilc/kjvmp3/0865.mp3

    KJV Text (alt. audio): Chapter 3:

         1 Then said the LORD unto me, Go yet, love a woman beloved of her friend, yet an adulteress, according to the love of the LORD toward the children of Israel, who look to other gods, and love flagons of wine. 2 So I bought her to me for fifteen pieces of silver, and for an homer of barley, and an half homer of barley: 3 And I said unto her, Thou shalt abide for me many days; thou shalt not play the harlot, and thou shalt not be for another man: so will I also be for thee. 4 For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim: 5 Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king; and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days.(KJV)

    2 min

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