Let's read the Bible together in the next year. Today our passages are Ezekiel 24:1–26:21; Hebrews 11:1-16; Psalm 110:1-7; and Proverbs 27:14. The readings are the Contemporary English Version.
Ezekiel 24-26:21 (Contemporary English Version)
Ezekiel 24
A Cooking Pot
1Nine years after King Jehoiachin and the rest of us had been led away as prisoners to Babylonia, the LORD spoke to me on the tenth day of the tenth month. a] He said: 2Ezekiel, son of man, write down today's date, because the king of Babylonia has just begun attacking the city of Jerusalem. 3Then tell my rebellious people: "Pour water in a cooking pot
and set it over a fire.
4Throw in the legs and shoulders
of your finest sheep
and put in the juicy bones.
5"Pile wood b] underneath the pot, and let the meat and bones
boil until they are done."
6These words mean that Jerusalem is doomed! The city is filled with murderers and is like an old, rusty pot. The meat is taken out piece by piece, and no one cares what happens to it. c] 7The people of Jerusalem murdered innocent people in the city and didn't even try to cover up the blood that flowed out on the hard ground. 8But I have seen that blood, and it cries out for me to take revenge. 9I, the LORD God, will punish that city of violence! I will make a huge pile of firewood, 10so bring more wood and light it. Cook the meat and boil away the broth d] to let the bones scorch. 11Then set the empty pot over the hot coals until it is red-hot. That will clean the pot and burn off the rust. 12I've tried everything else. Now the rust must be burned away. e] 13Jerusalem is so full of sin and evil that I can't get it clean, even though I have tried. It will stay filthy until I let loose my fierce anger against it. 14That time will certainly come! And when it does, I won't show the people of Jerusalem any pity or change my mind. They must be punished for the evil they have done. I, the LORD God, have spoken.
and set it over a fire.
4Throw in the legs and shoulders
of your finest sheep
and put in the juicy bones.
5"Pile wood b] underneath the pot, and let the meat and bones
boil until they are done."
6These words mean that Jerusalem is doomed! The city is filled with murderers and is like an old, rusty pot. The meat is taken out piece by piece, and no one cares what happens to it. c] 7The people of Jerusalem murdered innocent people in the city and didn't even try to cover up the blood that flowed out on the hard ground. 8But I have seen that blood, and it cries out for me to take revenge. 9I, the LORD God, will punish that city of violence! I will make a huge pile of firewood, 10so bring more wood and light it. Cook the meat and boil away the broth d] to let the bones scorch. 11Then set the empty pot over the hot coals until it is red-hot. That will clean the pot and burn off the rust. 12I've tried everything else. Now the rust must be burned away. e] 13Jerusalem is so full of sin and evil that I can't get it clean, even though I have tried. It will stay filthy until I let loose my fierce anger against it. 14That time will certainly come! And when it does, I won't show the people of Jerusalem any pity or change my mind. They must be punished for the evil they have done. I, the LORD God, have spoken.
Ezekiel's Wife Dies
15The LORD said, 16"Ezekiel, son of man, I will suddenly take the life of the person you love most. But I don't want you to complain or cry. 17Mourn in silence and don't show that you are grieving. Don't remove your turban or take off your sandals; don't cover your face to show your sorrow, or eat the food that mourners eat." f] 18One morning, I was talking with the people as usual, and by sunset my wife was dead. The next day I did what the LORD told me, 19and when people saw me, they asked, "Why aren't you mourning for your wife?" 20I answered:
The LORD God says 21he is ready to destroy the temple in which you take such pride and which makes you feel so safe. Your children who now live in Jerusalem will be killed. 22Then you will do the same things I have done. You will leave your face uncovered and refuse to eat the food that mourners usually eat. 23You won't take off your turbans and your sandals. g] You won't cry or mourn, but all day long you will go around groaning because of your sins. 24I am a warning sign--everything I have done, you will also do. And then you will know the LORD God has made these things happen.
25The LORD said, "Ezekiel, I will soon destroy the temple that makes everyone feel proud and safe, and I will take away their children as well. 26On that same day, someone will escape from the city and come to tell you what has happened. 27Then you will be able to speak again, h] and the two of you will talk. You will be a warning sign to the people, and they will know that I am the LORD."
The LORD God says 21he is ready to destroy the temple in which you take such pride and which makes you feel so safe. Your children who now live in Jerusalem will be killed. 22Then you will do the same things I have done. You will leave your face uncovered and refuse to eat the food that mourners usually eat. 23You won't take off your turbans and your sandals. g] You won't cry or mourn, but all day long you will go around groaning because of your sins. 24I am a warning sign--everything I have done, you will also do. And then you will know the LORD God has made these things happen.
25The LORD said, "Ezekiel, I will soon destroy the temple that makes everyone feel proud and safe, and I will take away their children as well. 26On that same day, someone will escape from the city and come to tell you what has happened. 27Then you will be able to speak again, h] and the two of you will talk. You will be a warning sign to the people, and they will know that I am the LORD."
Ezekiel 25
Judgment on Ammon
1The LORD God said: 2Ezekiel, son of man, condemn the people of Ammon 3and tell them:
You celebrated when my temple was destroyed, when Israel was defeated, and when my people were taken away as prisoners. 4Now I am going to let you be conquered by tribes from the eastern desert. They will set up their camps in your land and eat your fruit and drink your milk. 5Your capital city of Rabbah will be nothing but pastureland for camels, and the rest of the country will be pastures for sheep. Then you will know that I am the LORD God.
6You hated Israel so much that you clapped and shouted and celebrated. 7And so I will hand you over to enemies who will rob you. I will completely destroy you. There won't be enough of your people left to be a nation ever again, and you will know that I, the LORD, have done these things.
You celebrated when my temple was destroyed, when Israel was defeated, and when my people were taken away as prisoners. 4Now I am going to let you be conquered by tribes from the eastern desert. They will set up their camps in your land and eat your fruit and drink your milk. 5Your capital city of Rabbah will be nothing but pastureland for camels, and the rest of the country will be pastures for sheep. Then you will know that I am the LORD God.
6You hated Israel so much that you clapped and shouted and celebrated. 7And so I will hand you over to enemies who will rob you. I will completely destroy you. There won't be enough of your people left to be a nation ever again, and you will know that I, the LORD, have done these things.
Judgment on Moab
8The LORD God said, "The people of Moab i] thought Judah was no different from any other nation. 9So I will let Moab's fortress towns along its border be attacked, including Beth-Jeshimoth, Baal-Meon, and Kiriathaim. 10The same eastern desert tribes that invade Ammon will invade Moab, and just as Ammon will be forgotten forever, 11Moab will be punished. Then the people there will know that I am the LORD."
Judgment on Edom
12The LORD God then said, "The people of Edom are guilty of taking revenge on Judah. 13So I will punish Edom by killing all its people and livestock. It will be an empty wasteland all the way from Teman to Dedan. 14I will send my own people to take revenge on the Edomites by making them feel my fierce anger. And when I punish them, they will know that I am the LORD God."
Judgment on Philistia
15The LORD God said, "The cruel Philistines have taken revenge on their enemies over and over and have tried to destroy them. 16Now it's my turn to treat the Philistines as my enemies and to kill everyone j] living in their towns along the seacoast. 17In my fierce anger, I will take revenge on them. And when I punish them, they will know that I am the LORD."
Ezekiel 26
Judgment on the City of Tyre
1Eleven years k] after King Jehoiachin and the rest of us had been led away as prisoners to Babylonia, the LORD spoke to me on the first day of the month. He said: 2Ezekiel, son of man, the people of the city of Tyre l] have celebrated Jerusalem's defeat by singing, "Jerusalem has fallen! It used to be powerful,
a center of trade.
Now the city is shattered,
and we will take its place."
3Because the people of Tyre have sung that song, I have the following warning for them: I am the LORD God, and I am now your enemy! I will send nations to attack you, like waves crashing against the shore. 4They will tear down your city walls and defense towers. I will sweep away the ruins until all that's left of you is a bare rock, 5where fishermen can dry their nets along the coast. I promise that you will be robbed 6and that the people who live in your towns along the coast will be killed. Then you will know that I am the LORD.
7King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylonia is the world's most powerful king, and I will send him to attack you. He will march from the north with a powerful army, including horses and chariots and cavalry troops. 8First, he will attack your towns along the coast and kill the people who live there. Then he will build dirt ramps up to the top of your city walls and set up rows of shields around you. 9He will command some of his troops to use large wooden poles to beat down your walls, while others use iron rods to knock down your watchtowers. 10He will have so many horses that the dust they stir up will seem like a thick fog. And as his chariots and cavalry approach, even the walls will shake, especially when he proudly enters your ruined city. 11His troops will ride through your streets, killing people left and right, and your strong columns will crumble to the ground. 12The troops will steal your valuable possessions; they will break down your walls, and crush your expensive houses. Then the stones and wood and all the remains will be dumped into the sea. 13You will have no reason to sing or play music on harps, 14because I will turn you into a bare rock where fishermen can dry their nets. And you will never rebuild your city. I, the LORD God, make this promise.
15The people of the nations up and down the coast will shudder when they hear your screams and moans of death. 16The kings will step down from their thrones, then take off their royal robes and fancy clothes, and sit on the ground, trembling. They will be so shocked at the news of your defeat that they will shake in fear 17and sing this funeral song:
"The great city beside the sea
is destroyed! m] Its people once ruled the coast
and terrified everyone there.
18But now Tyre is in ruins,
and the people on the coast
stare at it in horror
and tremble in fear."
19I, the LORD God, will turn you into a ghost-town. The ocean depths will rise over you 20and carry you down to the world of the dead, where you will join people of ancient times and towns ruined long ago. You will stay there and never again be a city filled with people. n] 21You will die a horrible death! People will come looking for your city, but it will never be found. I, the LORD, have spoken.
Footnotes:- Ezekiel 24:1 Nine years. . . tenth month: Probably January of 588 B.C.
- Ezekiel 24:5 Pile wood: Or "Stack the bones."
- Ezekiel 24:6 and no one cares what happens to it: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- Ezekiel 24:10 boil away the broth: One ancient translation; Hebrew "mix the spices."
- Ezekiel 24:12 away: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 12.
- Ezekiel 24:17 Don't remove your turban. . . take off your sandals. . . cover your face. . . eat the food that mourners eat: The usual way people mourned was to remove anything worn on the head, to go barefoot, to cover their faces, and to eat special food to show they were grieving.
- Ezekiel 24:23 You will leave your face uncovered. . . refuse to eat the food. . . won't take off your turbans and your sandals: See the note at 24.17.
- Ezekiel 24:27 you will be able to speak again: See 3.25-27; 33.21,22.
- Ezekiel 25:8 Moab: One ancient translation; Hebrew "Moab and Edom."
- Ezekiel 25:16 kill everyone: The Hebrew text also has the name "Cherethites," which was a group of people that lived just southeast of Philistia, and was often identified with the Philistines.
- Ezekiel 26:1 Eleven years: Probably late in 587 B.C.
- Ezekiel 26:2 Tyre: One of the two major cities of Phoenicia; Sidon was the other.
- Ezekiel 26:17 The great city. . . is destroyed: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- Ezekiel 26:20 You will stay there. . . with people: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
a center of trade.
Now the city is shattered,
and we will take its place."
3Because the people of Tyre have sung that song, I have the following warning for them: I am the LORD God, and I am now your enemy! I will send nations to attack you, like waves crashing against the shore. 4They will tear down your city walls and defense towers. I will sweep away the ruins until all that's left of you is a bare rock, 5where fishermen can dry their nets along the coast. I promise that you will be robbed 6and that the people who live in your towns along the coast will be killed. Then you will know that I am the LORD.
7King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylonia is the world's most powerful king, and I will send him to attack you. He will march from the north with a powerful army, including horses and chariots and cavalry troops. 8First, he will attack your towns along the coast and kill the people who live there. Then he will build dirt ramps up to the top of your city walls and set up rows of shields around you. 9He will command some of his troops to use large wooden poles to beat down your walls, while others use iron rods to knock down your watchtowers. 10He will have so many horses that the dust they stir up will seem like a thick fog. And as his chariots and cavalry approach, even the walls will shake, especially when he proudly enters your ruined city. 11His troops will ride through your streets, killing people left and right, and your strong columns will crumble to the ground. 12The troops will steal your valuable possessions; they will break down your walls, and crush your expensive houses. Then the stones and wood and all the remains will be dumped into the sea. 13You will have no reason to sing or play music on harps, 14because I will turn you into a bare rock where fishermen can dry their nets. And you will never rebuild your city. I, the LORD God, make this promise.
15The people of the nations up and down the coast will shudder when they hear your screams and moans of death. 16The kings will step down from their thrones, then take off their royal robes and fancy clothes, and sit on the ground, trembling. They will be so shocked at the news of your defeat that they will shake in fear 17and sing this funeral song:
"The great city beside the sea
is destroyed! m] Its people once ruled the coast
and terrified everyone there.
18But now Tyre is in ruins,
and the people on the coast
stare at it in horror
and tremble in fear."
19I, the LORD God, will turn you into a ghost-town. The ocean depths will rise over you 20and carry you down to the world of the dead, where you will join people of ancient times and towns ruined long ago. You will stay there and never again be a city filled with people. n] 21You will die a horrible death! People will come looking for your city, but it will never be found. I, the LORD, have spoken.
Footnotes:
- Ezekiel 24:1 Nine years. . . tenth month: Probably January of 588 B.C.
- Ezekiel 24:5 Pile wood: Or "Stack the bones."
- Ezekiel 24:6 and no one cares what happens to it: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- Ezekiel 24:10 boil away the broth: One ancient translation; Hebrew "mix the spices."
- Ezekiel 24:12 away: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 12.
- Ezekiel 24:17 Don't remove your turban. . . take off your sandals. . . cover your face. . . eat the food that mourners eat: The usual way people mourned was to remove anything worn on the head, to go barefoot, to cover their faces, and to eat special food to show they were grieving.
- Ezekiel 24:23 You will leave your face uncovered. . . refuse to eat the food. . . won't take off your turbans and your sandals: See the note at 24.17.
- Ezekiel 24:27 you will be able to speak again: See 3.25-27; 33.21,22.
- Ezekiel 25:8 Moab: One ancient translation; Hebrew "Moab and Edom."
- Ezekiel 25:16 kill everyone: The Hebrew text also has the name "Cherethites," which was a group of people that lived just southeast of Philistia, and was often identified with the Philistines.
- Ezekiel 26:1 Eleven years: Probably late in 587 B.C.
- Ezekiel 26:2 Tyre: One of the two major cities of Phoenicia; Sidon was the other.
- Ezekiel 26:17 The great city. . . is destroyed: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- Ezekiel 26:20 You will stay there. . . with people: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
Hebrews 11:1-16 (Contemporary English Version)
Hebrews 11:1-16 (Contemporary English Version)
Hebrews 11
The Great Faith of God's People
1Faith makes us sure of what we hope for and gives us proof of what we cannot see. 2It was their faith that made our ancestors pleasing to God. 3Because of our faith, we know that the world was made at God's command. We also know that what can be seen was made out of what cannot be seen.
4Because Abel had faith, he offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. God was pleased with him and his gift, and even though Abel is now dead, his faith still speaks for him.
5Enoch had faith and did not die. He pleased God, and God took him up to heaven. That's why his body was never found. 6But without faith no one can please God. We must believe that God is real and that he rewards everyone who searches for him.
7Because Noah had faith, he was warned about something that had not yet happened. He obeyed and built a boat that saved him and his family. In this way the people of the world were judged, and Noah was given the blessings that come to everyone who pleases God.
8Abraham had faith and obeyed God. He was told to go to the land that God had said would be his, and he left for a country he had never seen. 9Because Abraham had faith, he lived as a stranger in the promised land. He lived there in a tent, and so did Isaac and Jacob, who were later given the same promise. 10Abraham did this, because he was waiting for the eternal city that God had planned and built.
11Even when Sarah was too old to have children, she had faith that God would do what he had promised, and she had a son. 12Her husband Abraham was almost dead, but he became the ancestor of many people. In fact, there are as many of them as there are stars in the sky or grains of sand along the beach.
13Every one of those people died. But they still had faith, even though they had not received what they had been promised. They were glad just to see these things from far away, and they agreed that they were only strangers and foreigners on this earth. 14When people talk this way, it is clear that they are looking for a place to call their own. 15If they had been talking about the land where they had once lived, they could have gone back at any time. 16But they were looking forward to a better home in heaven. That's why God wasn't ashamed for them to call him their God. He even built a city for them.
1Faith makes us sure of what we hope for and gives us proof of what we cannot see. 2It was their faith that made our ancestors pleasing to God. 3Because of our faith, we know that the world was made at God's command. We also know that what can be seen was made out of what cannot be seen.
4Because Abel had faith, he offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. God was pleased with him and his gift, and even though Abel is now dead, his faith still speaks for him.
5Enoch had faith and did not die. He pleased God, and God took him up to heaven. That's why his body was never found. 6But without faith no one can please God. We must believe that God is real and that he rewards everyone who searches for him.
7Because Noah had faith, he was warned about something that had not yet happened. He obeyed and built a boat that saved him and his family. In this way the people of the world were judged, and Noah was given the blessings that come to everyone who pleases God.
8Abraham had faith and obeyed God. He was told to go to the land that God had said would be his, and he left for a country he had never seen. 9Because Abraham had faith, he lived as a stranger in the promised land. He lived there in a tent, and so did Isaac and Jacob, who were later given the same promise. 10Abraham did this, because he was waiting for the eternal city that God had planned and built.
11Even when Sarah was too old to have children, she had faith that God would do what he had promised, and she had a son. 12Her husband Abraham was almost dead, but he became the ancestor of many people. In fact, there are as many of them as there are stars in the sky or grains of sand along the beach.
13Every one of those people died. But they still had faith, even though they had not received what they had been promised. They were glad just to see these things from far away, and they agreed that they were only strangers and foreigners on this earth. 14When people talk this way, it is clear that they are looking for a place to call their own. 15If they had been talking about the land where they had once lived, they could have gone back at any time. 16But they were looking forward to a better home in heaven. That's why God wasn't ashamed for them to call him their God. He even built a city for them.
4Because Abel had faith, he offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. God was pleased with him and his gift, and even though Abel is now dead, his faith still speaks for him.
5Enoch had faith and did not die. He pleased God, and God took him up to heaven. That's why his body was never found. 6But without faith no one can please God. We must believe that God is real and that he rewards everyone who searches for him.
7Because Noah had faith, he was warned about something that had not yet happened. He obeyed and built a boat that saved him and his family. In this way the people of the world were judged, and Noah was given the blessings that come to everyone who pleases God.
8Abraham had faith and obeyed God. He was told to go to the land that God had said would be his, and he left for a country he had never seen. 9Because Abraham had faith, he lived as a stranger in the promised land. He lived there in a tent, and so did Isaac and Jacob, who were later given the same promise. 10Abraham did this, because he was waiting for the eternal city that God had planned and built.
11Even when Sarah was too old to have children, she had faith that God would do what he had promised, and she had a son. 12Her husband Abraham was almost dead, but he became the ancestor of many people. In fact, there are as many of them as there are stars in the sky or grains of sand along the beach.
13Every one of those people died. But they still had faith, even though they had not received what they had been promised. They were glad just to see these things from far away, and they agreed that they were only strangers and foreigners on this earth. 14When people talk this way, it is clear that they are looking for a place to call their own. 15If they had been talking about the land where they had once lived, they could have gone back at any time. 16But they were looking forward to a better home in heaven. That's why God wasn't ashamed for them to call him their God. He even built a city for them.
Psalm 110:1-7 (Contemporary English Version)
Psalm 110
(A psalm by David.)
The LORD Gives Victory
1The LORD said to my Lord, "Sit at my right side, a] until I make your enemies
into a footstool for you."
2The LORD will let your power
reach out from Zion,
and you will rule
over your enemies.
3Your glorious power
will be seen
on the day
you begin to rule.
You will wear the sacred robes
and shine like the morning sun
in all of your strength. b] 4The LORD has made a promise
that will never be broken:
"You will be a priest forever,
just like Melchizedek."
5My Lord is at your right side,
and when he gets angry
he will crush
the other kings.
6He will judge the nations
and crack their skulls,
leaving piles of dead bodies
all over the earth.
7He will drink from any stream
that he chooses,
while winning
victory after victory. c]
Footnotes:- Psalm 110:1 right side: See the note at 16.11.
- Psalm 110:3 You will. . . strength: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- Psalm 110:7 while. . . victory: Or " God will give him victory after victory."
into a footstool for you."
2The LORD will let your power
reach out from Zion,
and you will rule
over your enemies.
3Your glorious power
will be seen
on the day
you begin to rule.
You will wear the sacred robes
and shine like the morning sun
in all of your strength. b] 4The LORD has made a promise
that will never be broken:
"You will be a priest forever,
just like Melchizedek."
5My Lord is at your right side,
and when he gets angry
he will crush
the other kings.
6He will judge the nations
and crack their skulls,
leaving piles of dead bodies
all over the earth.
7He will drink from any stream
that he chooses,
while winning
victory after victory. c]
Footnotes:
- Psalm 110:1 right side: See the note at 16.11.
- Psalm 110:3 You will. . . strength: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- Psalm 110:7 while. . . victory: Or " God will give him victory after victory."
Proverbs 27:14 (Contemporary English Version)
14A loud greeting
early in the morning
is the same as a curse.
early in the morning
is the same as a curse.
Thought for the Day
“We have not stopped praying for you since the first day we heard about you. In fact, we always pray that God will show you everything he wants you to do and that you may have all the wisdom and understanding that his Spirit gives.” (Colossians 1:9 - Contemporary English Version) Although we can pray in many different ways, we might want to consider asking God for wisdom and understanding. You see, when we seek God's guidance and direction, we'll be able to find our way.
Quote for the Day
“We have not stopped praying for you since the first day we heard about you. In fact, we always pray that God will show you everything he wants you to do and that you may have all the wisdom and understanding that his Spirit gives.” (Colossians 1:9 - Contemporary English Version) Although we can pray in many different ways, we might want to consider asking God for wisdom and understanding. You see, when we seek God's guidance and direction, we'll be able to find our way.
Bahamian-born American entertainer, Bert Williams wrote, “The man with the real sense of humor is the man who can put himself in the spectator's place and laugh at his own misfortune.”
Joke for Today
A young man asked an old rich man how he made his money.
The old guy fingered his worsted wool vest and said, "Well, son, it was 1932. The depth of the Great Depression. I was down to my last nickel."
"I invested that nickel in an apple. I spent the entire day polishing the apple and, at the end of the day, I sold the apple for ten cents."
"The next morning, I invested those ten cents in two apples. I spent the entire day polishing them and sold them at 5:00 pm for 20 cents. I continued this system for a month, by the end of which I'd accumulated a fortune of $1.37."
"Then my wife's father died and left us two million dollars."
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 our judges would value the principles reflected in the Old and New Testaments.
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