Let's read the Bible together in the next year. Today our passages are Ezekiel 21:1–22:31; Hebrews 10:1-17; Psalm 108:1-13; and Proverbs 27:12. The readings are the Contemporary English Version.
Ezekiel 21-22:31 (Contemporary English Version)
Ezekiel 21
The LORD Will Punish Jerusalem
1The LORD said: 2Ezekiel, son of man, condemn the places in Jerusalem where people worship. Warn everyone in Israel 3that I am about to punish them. I will pull out my sword and have it ready to kill everyone, whether good or evil. 4From south to north, people will die, 5knowing that my sword will never be put away.
6Ezekiel, groan in sorrow and despair so that everyone can hear you. 7When they ask why you are groaning, tell them you have terrifying news that will make them faint and tremble in fear and lose all courage. These things will happen soon. I, the LORD God, make this promise!
6Ezekiel, groan in sorrow and despair so that everyone can hear you. 7When they ask why you are groaning, tell them you have terrifying news that will make them faint and tremble in fear and lose all courage. These things will happen soon. I, the LORD God, make this promise!
A Sword Is Ready To Attack Israel
8The LORD said: 9-10Ezekiel, son of man, tell the people of Jerusalem:
I have sharpened my sword
to slaughter you;
it is shiny and will flash
like lightning!
Don't celebrate--
punishment is coming,
because everyone has ignored
my warnings. a] 11My sword has been polished;
it's sharp and ready to kill.
12Groan in sorrow, Ezekiel;
the sword is drawn against
my people
and their leaders.
They will die!
So give up all hope.
13I am testing my people,
and they can do nothing
to stop me. b] I, the LORD, have spoken.
14Ezekiel, warn my people,
then celebrate my victory
by clapping your hands.
My vicious sword will attack
again and again,
killing my people
with every stroke.
15They will lose all courage
and stumble with fear.
My slaughtering sword
is waiting at every gate,
flashing and ready to kill. c] 16It will slash right and left,
wherever the blade is pointed.
17Then I will stop being angry,
and I will clap my hands
in victory.
I, the LORD, have spoken.
I have sharpened my sword
to slaughter you;
it is shiny and will flash
like lightning!
Don't celebrate--
punishment is coming,
because everyone has ignored
my warnings. a] 11My sword has been polished;
it's sharp and ready to kill.
12Groan in sorrow, Ezekiel;
the sword is drawn against
my people
and their leaders.
They will die!
So give up all hope.
13I am testing my people,
and they can do nothing
to stop me. b] I, the LORD, have spoken.
14Ezekiel, warn my people,
then celebrate my victory
by clapping your hands.
My vicious sword will attack
again and again,
killing my people
with every stroke.
15They will lose all courage
and stumble with fear.
My slaughtering sword
is waiting at every gate,
flashing and ready to kill. c] 16It will slash right and left,
wherever the blade is pointed.
17Then I will stop being angry,
and I will clap my hands
in victory.
I, the LORD, have spoken.
The King of Babylonia and His Sword
18The LORD said: 19Ezekiel, son of man, mark two roads for the king of Babylonia to follow when he comes with his sword. The roads will begin at the same place, but be sure to put up a signpost where the two roads separate and go in different directions. 20Clearly mark where the two roads lead. One goes to Rabbah, the capital of Ammon, and the other goes to Jerusalem, the fortified capital of Judah. 21When the Babylonian king stands at that signpost, he will decide which way to go by shaking his arrows, by asking his idols, and by carefully looking at the liver of a sacrificed animal. d]22His right hand will pull out the arrow marked "Jerusalem." Then he will immediately give the signal to shout the battle cry, to build dirt ramps to the top of the city walls, to break down its walls and gates with large wooden poles, and to kill the people. 23Everyone in Jerusalem had promised to be loyal to Babylonia, and so none of them will believe that this could happen to them. But Babylonia's king will remind them of their sinful ways and warn them of their coming captivity. 24Ezekiel, tell the people of Jerusalem and their ruler that I, the LORD God, am saying:
Everything you do is wicked and shows how sinful you are. You are guilty and will be taken away as prisoners.
25And now, you evil and wicked ruler of Israel, your day of final punishment is almost here. 26I, the LORD God, command you to take off your royal turban and your crown, because everything will be different. Those who had no power will be put in charge, and those who now rule will become nobodies. 27I will leave Jerusalem in ruins when my chosen one comes to punish this city.
Everything you do is wicked and shows how sinful you are. You are guilty and will be taken away as prisoners.
25And now, you evil and wicked ruler of Israel, your day of final punishment is almost here. 26I, the LORD God, command you to take off your royal turban and your crown, because everything will be different. Those who had no power will be put in charge, and those who now rule will become nobodies. 27I will leave Jerusalem in ruins when my chosen one comes to punish this city.
Judgment against Ammon
28The LORD God said: Ezekiel, son of man, the Ammonites have insulted Israel, so condemn them and tell them I am saying:
A sword is drawn,
ready to slaughter;
it is polished and prepared
to kill as fast as lightning.
29You wicked Ammonites see false visions and believe untrue messages. But your day of punishment is coming soon, and my sword will slaughter you!
30Your days to punish others are over, so put your swords away. e] You will be punished in the land of your birth. 31My furious anger will scorch you like fire, and I will hand you over to cruel men who are experts in killing. 32You will be burned and will die in your own land. Then you will be forgotten forever. I, the LORD, have spoken.
A sword is drawn,
ready to slaughter;
it is polished and prepared
to kill as fast as lightning.
29You wicked Ammonites see false visions and believe untrue messages. But your day of punishment is coming soon, and my sword will slaughter you!
30Your days to punish others are over, so put your swords away. e] You will be punished in the land of your birth. 31My furious anger will scorch you like fire, and I will hand you over to cruel men who are experts in killing. 32You will be burned and will die in your own land. Then you will be forgotten forever. I, the LORD, have spoken.
Ezekiel 22
Jerusalem Is Condemned
1Some time later, the LORD said: 2Ezekiel, son of man, are you ready to condemn Jerusalem? That city is filled with murderers, so remind the people of their sins 3and tell them I am saying:
Jerusalem, you have murdered many of your own people and have worshiped idols. You will soon be punished! 4Those crimes have made you guilty, and the idols have made you unacceptable to me. So your final punishment is near. Other nations will laugh at you and make insulting remarks, 5and people far and near will make fun of your misery.
6Your own leaders use their power to murder. 7None of you honor your parents, and you cheat foreigners, orphans, and widows. 8You show no respect for my sacred places and treat the Sabbath just like any other day. 9Some of your own people tell lies, so that others will be put to death. Some of you eat meat sacrificed to idols at local shrines, and others never stop doing vulgar things. 10Men have sex with their father's wife or with women who are having their monthly period 11or with someone else's wife. Some men even sleep with their own daughter-in-law or half sister. 12Others of you accept money to murder someone. Your own people charge high interest when making a loan to other Israelites, and they get rich by cheating. Worst of all, you have forgotten me, the LORD God.
13I will shake my fist in anger at your violent crimes. 14When I'm finished with you, your courage will disappear, and you will be so weak that you won't be able to lift your hands. I, the LORD, have spoken and will not change my mind. 15I will scatter you throughout every nation on earth and put a stop to your sinful ways. 16You f]will be humiliated in the eyes of other nations. Then you will know that I, the LORD God, have done these things.
Jerusalem, you have murdered many of your own people and have worshiped idols. You will soon be punished! 4Those crimes have made you guilty, and the idols have made you unacceptable to me. So your final punishment is near. Other nations will laugh at you and make insulting remarks, 5and people far and near will make fun of your misery.
6Your own leaders use their power to murder. 7None of you honor your parents, and you cheat foreigners, orphans, and widows. 8You show no respect for my sacred places and treat the Sabbath just like any other day. 9Some of your own people tell lies, so that others will be put to death. Some of you eat meat sacrificed to idols at local shrines, and others never stop doing vulgar things. 10Men have sex with their father's wife or with women who are having their monthly period 11or with someone else's wife. Some men even sleep with their own daughter-in-law or half sister. 12Others of you accept money to murder someone. Your own people charge high interest when making a loan to other Israelites, and they get rich by cheating. Worst of all, you have forgotten me, the LORD God.
13I will shake my fist in anger at your violent crimes. 14When I'm finished with you, your courage will disappear, and you will be so weak that you won't be able to lift your hands. I, the LORD, have spoken and will not change my mind. 15I will scatter you throughout every nation on earth and put a stop to your sinful ways. 16You f]will be humiliated in the eyes of other nations. Then you will know that I, the LORD God, have done these things.
Jerusalem Must Be Purified
17The LORD said: 18Ezekiel, son of man, I consider the people of Israel as worthless as the leftover metal in a furnace after silver has been purified. 19So I am going to bring them together in Jerusalem. 20-21I will be like a metalworker who collects that metal from the furnace and melts it down. I will collect the Israelites and blow on them with my fiery anger. They will melt inside the city of Jerusalem 22like silver in a furnace. Then they will know that I, the LORD, have punished them in my anger.
Everyone in Jerusalem Is Guilty
23The LORD said: 24Ezekiel, son of man, tell the people of Israel that their country is full of sin, and that I, the LORD, am furious! 25Their leaders are like g] roaring lions, tearing apart their victims. They put people to death, then steal everything of value. Husbands are killed, and many women are left as widows. 26The priests of Israel ignore my Law! Not only do they refuse to respect any of my sacred things, but they don't even teach the difference between what is sacred and what is ordinary, or between what is clean and what is unclean. They treat my Sabbath like any other day, and so my own people no longer honor me.
27Israel's officials are like ferocious wolves, ripping their victims apart. They make a dishonest living by injuring and killing people.
28And then the prophets in Israel cover up these sins by giving false visions. I have never spoken to them, but they lie and say they have a message from me. 29The people themselves cheat and rob; they abuse the poor and take advantage of foreigners.
30I looked for someone to defend the city and to protect it from my anger, as well as to stop me from destroying it. But I found no one. 31So in my fierce anger, I will punish the Israelites for what they have done, and they will know that I am furious. I, the LORD, have spoken.
Footnotes:- Ezekiel 21:9 Don't celebrate. . . my warnings: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- Ezekiel 21:13 I am testing. . . me: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- Ezekiel 21:15 My slaughtering sword. . . ready to kill: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- Ezekiel 21:21 shaking. . . animal: These were ways the Babylonians found out what their gods wanted them to do.
- Ezekiel 21:30 Your days. . . put your swords away: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- Ezekiel 22:16 You: Hebrew; two ancient translations "Because of you, I."
- Ezekiel 22:25 Their leaders are like: One ancient translation; Hebrew "Their prophets are like herds of."
27Israel's officials are like ferocious wolves, ripping their victims apart. They make a dishonest living by injuring and killing people.
28And then the prophets in Israel cover up these sins by giving false visions. I have never spoken to them, but they lie and say they have a message from me. 29The people themselves cheat and rob; they abuse the poor and take advantage of foreigners.
30I looked for someone to defend the city and to protect it from my anger, as well as to stop me from destroying it. But I found no one. 31So in my fierce anger, I will punish the Israelites for what they have done, and they will know that I am furious. I, the LORD, have spoken.
Footnotes:
- Ezekiel 21:9 Don't celebrate. . . my warnings: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- Ezekiel 21:13 I am testing. . . me: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- Ezekiel 21:15 My slaughtering sword. . . ready to kill: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- Ezekiel 21:21 shaking. . . animal: These were ways the Babylonians found out what their gods wanted them to do.
- Ezekiel 21:30 Your days. . . put your swords away: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- Ezekiel 22:16 You: Hebrew; two ancient translations "Because of you, I."
- Ezekiel 22:25 Their leaders are like: One ancient translation; Hebrew "Their prophets are like herds of."
Hebrews 10:1-17 (Contemporary English Version)
Hebrews 10
1The Law of Moses is like a shadow of the good things to come. This shadow isn't the good things themselves, because it cannot free people from sin by the sacrifices that are offered year after year. 2If there were worshipers who already have their sins washed away and their consciences made clear, there would not be any need to go on offering sacrifices. 3-4But the blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sins. It only reminds people of their sins from one year to the next. 5When Christ came into the world, he said to God,
"Sacrifices and offerings
are not what you want,
but you have given me
my body.
6No, you are not pleased
with animal sacrifices
and offerings for sin."
7Then Christ said,
"And so, my God,
I have come to do
what you want,
as the Scriptures say."
8The Law teaches that offerings and sacrifices must be made because of sin. But why did Christ mention these things and say that God did not want them? 9Well, it was to do away with offerings and sacrifices and to replace them. That is what he meant by saying to God, "I have come to do what you want." 10So we are made holy because Christ obeyed God and offered himself once for all.
11The priests do their work each day, and they keep on offering sacrifices that can never take away sins. 12But Christ offered himself as a sacrifice that is good forever. Now he is sitting at God's right side, a] 13and he will stay there until his enemies are put under his power. 14By his one sacrifice he has forever set free from sin the people he brings to God. 15The Holy Spirit also speaks of this by telling us that the Lord said,
16"When the time comes,
I will make an agreement
with them.
I will write my laws
on their minds and hearts.
17Then I will forget
about their sins
and no longer remember
their evil deeds."
Footnotes:- Hebrews 10:12 right side: See the note at 1.3.
"Sacrifices and offerings
are not what you want,
but you have given me
my body.
6No, you are not pleased
with animal sacrifices
and offerings for sin."
7Then Christ said,
"And so, my God,
I have come to do
what you want,
as the Scriptures say."
8The Law teaches that offerings and sacrifices must be made because of sin. But why did Christ mention these things and say that God did not want them? 9Well, it was to do away with offerings and sacrifices and to replace them. That is what he meant by saying to God, "I have come to do what you want." 10So we are made holy because Christ obeyed God and offered himself once for all.
11The priests do their work each day, and they keep on offering sacrifices that can never take away sins. 12But Christ offered himself as a sacrifice that is good forever. Now he is sitting at God's right side, a] 13and he will stay there until his enemies are put under his power. 14By his one sacrifice he has forever set free from sin the people he brings to God. 15The Holy Spirit also speaks of this by telling us that the Lord said,
16"When the time comes,
I will make an agreement
with them.
I will write my laws
on their minds and hearts.
17Then I will forget
about their sins
and no longer remember
their evil deeds."
Footnotes:
- Hebrews 10:12 right side: See the note at 1.3.
Psalm 108:1-13 (Contemporary English Version)
Psalm 108
(A song and a psalm by David.)
With God on Our Side
1Our God, I am faithful to you with all my heart,
and you can trust me.
I will sing
and play music for you
with all that I am.
2I will start playing my harps
before the sun rises.
3I will praise you, LORD,
for everyone to hear;
I will sing hymns to you
in every nation.
4Your love reaches higher
than the heavens,
and your loyalty extends
beyond the clouds.
5Our God, may you be honored
above the heavens;
may your glory be seen
everywhere on earth.
6Answer my prayers
and use your powerful arm
to give us victory.
Then the people you love
will be safe.
7Our God, from your holy place
you made this promise:
"I will gladly divide up
the city of Shechem
and give away Succoth Valley
piece by piece.
8The lands of Gilead
and Manasseh are mine.
Ephraim is my war helmet,
and Judah is my symbol
of royal power.
9Moab is merely my washbasin,
and Edom belongs to me.
I shout with victory
over the Philistines."
10Our God, who will bring me
to the fortress
or lead me to Edom?
11Have you rejected us?
You don't lead our armies.
12Help us defeat our enemies!
No one else can rescue us.
13You are the one
who gives us victory
and crushes our enemies.
and you can trust me.
I will sing
and play music for you
with all that I am.
2I will start playing my harps
before the sun rises.
3I will praise you, LORD,
for everyone to hear;
I will sing hymns to you
in every nation.
4Your love reaches higher
than the heavens,
and your loyalty extends
beyond the clouds.
5Our God, may you be honored
above the heavens;
may your glory be seen
everywhere on earth.
6Answer my prayers
and use your powerful arm
to give us victory.
Then the people you love
will be safe.
7Our God, from your holy place
you made this promise:
"I will gladly divide up
the city of Shechem
and give away Succoth Valley
piece by piece.
8The lands of Gilead
and Manasseh are mine.
Ephraim is my war helmet,
and Judah is my symbol
of royal power.
9Moab is merely my washbasin,
and Edom belongs to me.
I shout with victory
over the Philistines."
10Our God, who will bring me
to the fortress
or lead me to Edom?
11Have you rejected us?
You don't lead our armies.
12Help us defeat our enemies!
No one else can rescue us.
13You are the one
who gives us victory
and crushes our enemies.
Proverbs 27:12 (Contemporary English Version)
12Be cautious and hide
when you see danger--
don't be stupid and walk
right into trouble.
when you see danger--
don't be stupid and walk
right into trouble.
Thought for the Day
“...creating miracles too marvelous for us to understand. Snow and heavy rainstorms” (Job 37:5-6 - Contemporary English Version) God's creation is a wonder to behold. It reminds us of his creative power and authority. It also shows the eternal love he has for us.
Quote for the Day
“...creating miracles too marvelous for us to understand. Snow and heavy rainstorms” (Job 37:5-6 - Contemporary English Version) God's creation is a wonder to behold. It reminds us of his creative power and authority. It also shows the eternal love he has for us.
New York Times bestselling author of more than 25 books, Cynthia L. Copeland wrote, “A dog reminds us that happiness is about disposition, not circumstance.”
Joke for Today
A woman goes to the local psychic in hopes of contacting her dearly departed grandmother. The psychic's eyelids begin fluttering, her voice begins warbling, her hands float up above the table, and she begins moaning. Eventually, a coherent voice emanates, saying, "Granddaughter? Are you there?"
The customer, wide-eyed and on the edge of her seat, responds, "Grandmother? Is that you?"
"Yes granddaughter, it's me."
"It's really, really you, grandmother?", the woman repeats.
"Yes, it's really me, granddaughter."
The woman looks puzzled, "You're sure it's you, grandmother?"
"Yes, granddaughter, I'm sure it's me."
The woman pauses a moment, "Grandmother, I have just one question for you."
"Anything, my child."
"Grandmother, when did you learn to speak English?"
A Prayer Request
As Christians, we can offer specific daily prayers for our community, nation and world. Below is the need that we're laying before God today.
That families would read their Bible and attend worship services together.
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