Let's read the Bible together in the next year. Today our passages are Jonah 1:1–4:11; Revelation 5:1-14; Psalm 133:1-3; and Proverbs 29:26-27. The readings are the Contemporary English Version.
Jonah 1-4:11 (Contemporary English Version)
Jonah 1
Jonah Runs from the LORD
1One day the LORD told Jonah, the son of Amittai, 2to go to the great city of Nineveh a] and say to the people, "The LORD has seen your terrible sins. You are doomed!" 3Instead, Jonah ran from the LORD. He went to the seaport of Joppa and bought a ticket on a ship that was going to Spain. Then he got on the ship and sailed away to escape. 4But the LORD made a strong wind blow, and such a bad storm came up that the ship was about to be broken to pieces. 5The sailors were frightened, and they all started praying to their gods. They even threw the ship's cargo overboard to make the ship lighter.
All this time, Jonah was down below deck, sound asleep. 6The ship's captain went to him and said, "How can you sleep at a time like this? Get up and pray to your God! Maybe he will have pity on us and keep us from drowning."
7Finally, the sailors got together and said, "Let's ask our gods to show us b] who caused all this trouble." It turned out to be Jonah. 8They started asking him, "Are you the one who brought all this trouble on us? What business are you in? Where do you come from? What is your country? Who are your people?"
9Jonah answered, "I'm a Hebrew, and I worship the LORD God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land."
10When the sailors heard this, they were frightened, because Jonah had already told them he was running from the LORD. Then they said, "Do you know what you have done?"
11The storm kept getting worse, until finally the sailors asked him, "What should we do with you to make the sea calm down?"
12Jonah told them, "Throw me into the sea, and it will calm down. I'm the cause of this terrible storm."
13The sailors tried their best to row to the shore. But they could not do it, and the storm kept getting worse every minute. 14So they prayed to the LORD, "Please don't let us drown for taking this man's life. Don't hold us guilty for killing an innocent man. All of this happened because you wanted it to." 15Then they threw Jonah overboard, and the sea calmed down. 16The sailors were so terrified that they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made all kinds of promises.
17The LORD sent a big fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was inside the fish for three days and three nights.
All this time, Jonah was down below deck, sound asleep. 6The ship's captain went to him and said, "How can you sleep at a time like this? Get up and pray to your God! Maybe he will have pity on us and keep us from drowning."
7Finally, the sailors got together and said, "Let's ask our gods to show us b] who caused all this trouble." It turned out to be Jonah. 8They started asking him, "Are you the one who brought all this trouble on us? What business are you in? Where do you come from? What is your country? Who are your people?"
9Jonah answered, "I'm a Hebrew, and I worship the LORD God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land."
10When the sailors heard this, they were frightened, because Jonah had already told them he was running from the LORD. Then they said, "Do you know what you have done?"
11The storm kept getting worse, until finally the sailors asked him, "What should we do with you to make the sea calm down?"
12Jonah told them, "Throw me into the sea, and it will calm down. I'm the cause of this terrible storm."
13The sailors tried their best to row to the shore. But they could not do it, and the storm kept getting worse every minute. 14So they prayed to the LORD, "Please don't let us drown for taking this man's life. Don't hold us guilty for killing an innocent man. All of this happened because you wanted it to." 15Then they threw Jonah overboard, and the sea calmed down. 16The sailors were so terrified that they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made all kinds of promises.
17The LORD sent a big fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was inside the fish for three days and three nights.
Jonah 2
Jonah's Prayer
1From inside the fish, Jonah prayed to the LORD his God: 2When I was in trouble, LORD,
I prayed to you,
and you listened to me.
From deep in the world
of the dead,
I begged for your help,
and you answered my prayer.
3You threw me down
to the bottom of the sea.
The water was churning
all around;
I was completely covered
by your mighty waves.
4I thought I was swept away
from your sight,
never again to see
your holy temple.
5I was almost drowned
by the swirling waters
that surrounded me.
Seaweed had wrapped
around my head.
6I had sunk down below
the underwater mountains;
I knew that forever,
I would be a prisoner there.
But, you, LORD God,
rescued me from that pit.
7When my life was slipping away,
I remembered you--
and in your holy temple
you heard my prayer.
8All who worship worthless idols
turn from the God
who offers them mercy.
9But with shouts of praise,
I will offer a sacrifice
to you, my LORD.
I will keep my promise,
because you are the one
with power to save.
10The LORD commanded the fish to vomit up Jonah on the shore. And it did.
I prayed to you,
and you listened to me.
From deep in the world
of the dead,
I begged for your help,
and you answered my prayer.
3You threw me down
to the bottom of the sea.
The water was churning
all around;
I was completely covered
by your mighty waves.
4I thought I was swept away
from your sight,
never again to see
your holy temple.
5I was almost drowned
by the swirling waters
that surrounded me.
Seaweed had wrapped
around my head.
6I had sunk down below
the underwater mountains;
I knew that forever,
I would be a prisoner there.
But, you, LORD God,
rescued me from that pit.
7When my life was slipping away,
I remembered you--
and in your holy temple
you heard my prayer.
8All who worship worthless idols
turn from the God
who offers them mercy.
9But with shouts of praise,
I will offer a sacrifice
to you, my LORD.
I will keep my promise,
because you are the one
with power to save.
10The LORD commanded the fish to vomit up Jonah on the shore. And it did.
Jonah 3
Jonah Goes to Nineveh
1Once again the LORD told Jonah 2to go to that great city of Nineveh and preach his message of doom. 3Jonah obeyed the LORD and went to Nineveh. The city was so big that it took three days just to walk through it. 4After walking for a day, Jonah warned the people, "Forty days from now, Nineveh will be destroyed!"
5They believed God's message and set a time when they would go without eating to show their sorrow. Then everyone in the city, no matter who they were, dressed in sackcloth.
6When the king of Nineveh heard what was happening, he also dressed in sackcloth; he left the royal palace and sat in dust. c] 7-9Then he and his officials sent out an order for everyone in the city to obey. It said: None of you or your animals may eat or drink a thing. Each of you must wear sackcloth, and you must even put sackcloth on your animals.
You must also pray to the LORD God with all your heart and stop being sinful and cruel. Maybe God will change his mind and have mercy on us, so we won't be destroyed.
10When God saw that the people had stopped doing evil things, he had pity and did not destroy them as he had planned.
5They believed God's message and set a time when they would go without eating to show their sorrow. Then everyone in the city, no matter who they were, dressed in sackcloth.
6When the king of Nineveh heard what was happening, he also dressed in sackcloth; he left the royal palace and sat in dust. c] 7-9Then he and his officials sent out an order for everyone in the city to obey. It said: None of you or your animals may eat or drink a thing. Each of you must wear sackcloth, and you must even put sackcloth on your animals.
You must also pray to the LORD God with all your heart and stop being sinful and cruel. Maybe God will change his mind and have mercy on us, so we won't be destroyed.
10When God saw that the people had stopped doing evil things, he had pity and did not destroy them as he had planned.
Jonah 4
Jonah Gets Angry at the LORD
1Jonah was really upset and angry. 2So he prayed: Our LORD, I knew from the very beginning that you wouldn't destroy Nineveh. That's why I left my own country and headed for Spain. You are a kind and merciful God, and you are very patient. You always show love, and you don't like to punish anyone, not even foreigners.
3Now let me die! I'd be better off dead.
4The LORD replied, "What right do you have to be angry?"
5Jonah then left through the east gate of the city and made a shelter to protect himself from the sun. He sat under the shelter, waiting to see what would happen to Nineveh.
6The LORD made a vine grow up to shade Jonah's head and protect him from the sun. Jonah was very happy to have the vine, 7but early the next morning the LORD sent a worm to chew on the vine, and the vine dried up. 8During the day the LORD sent a scorching wind, and the sun beat down on Jonah's head, making him feel faint. Jonah was ready to die, and he shouted, "I wish I were dead!"
9But the LORD asked, "Jonah, do you have the right to be angry about the vine?"
"Yes, I do," he answered, "and I'm angry enough to die."
10But the LORD said:
You are concerned about a vine that you did not plant or take care of, a vine that grew up in one night and died the next. 11In that city of Nineveh there are more than a hundred twenty thousand people who cannot tell right from wrong, and many cattle are also there. Don't you think I should be concerned about that big city?
Footnotes:- Jonah 1:2 Nineveh: Capital city of Assyria, a hated enemy of Israel.
- Jonah 1:7 ask. . . show us: The Hebrew text has "cast lots," which were pieces of wood or stone used to find out how and when to do something. In this case, the lots would show who was the guilty person.
- Jonah 3:6 dressed in sackcloth. . . sat in dust: Sackcloth was a rough, dark-colored cloth made from goat or camel hair and used to make grain sacks. Sometimes people wore sackcloth and sat in dust to show how sorry they were for their sins.
3Now let me die! I'd be better off dead.
4The LORD replied, "What right do you have to be angry?"
5Jonah then left through the east gate of the city and made a shelter to protect himself from the sun. He sat under the shelter, waiting to see what would happen to Nineveh.
6The LORD made a vine grow up to shade Jonah's head and protect him from the sun. Jonah was very happy to have the vine, 7but early the next morning the LORD sent a worm to chew on the vine, and the vine dried up. 8During the day the LORD sent a scorching wind, and the sun beat down on Jonah's head, making him feel faint. Jonah was ready to die, and he shouted, "I wish I were dead!"
9But the LORD asked, "Jonah, do you have the right to be angry about the vine?"
"Yes, I do," he answered, "and I'm angry enough to die."
10But the LORD said:
You are concerned about a vine that you did not plant or take care of, a vine that grew up in one night and died the next. 11In that city of Nineveh there are more than a hundred twenty thousand people who cannot tell right from wrong, and many cattle are also there. Don't you think I should be concerned about that big city?
Footnotes:
- Jonah 1:2 Nineveh: Capital city of Assyria, a hated enemy of Israel.
- Jonah 1:7 ask. . . show us: The Hebrew text has "cast lots," which were pieces of wood or stone used to find out how and when to do something. In this case, the lots would show who was the guilty person.
- Jonah 3:6 dressed in sackcloth. . . sat in dust: Sackcloth was a rough, dark-colored cloth made from goat or camel hair and used to make grain sacks. Sometimes people wore sackcloth and sat in dust to show how sorry they were for their sins.
Revelation 5:1-14 (Contemporary English Version)
Revelation 5
The Scroll and the Lamb
1In the right hand of the one sitting on the throne I saw a scroll a]that had writing on the inside and on the outside. And it was sealed in seven places. 2I saw a mighty angel ask with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?" 3No one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or see inside it. 4I cried hard because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or see inside it. 5Then one of the elders said to me, "Stop crying and look! The one who is called both the `Lion from the Tribe of Judah' b] and `King David's Great Descendant' c] has won the victory. He will open the book and its seven seals." 6Then I looked and saw a Lamb standing in the center of the throne that was surrounded by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb looked as if it had once been killed. It had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits d] of God, sent out to all the earth. 7The Lamb went over and took the scroll from the right hand of the one who sat on the throne. 8After he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders knelt down before him. Each of them had a harp and a gold bowl full of incense, e] which are the prayers of God's people. 9Then they sang a new song, "You are worthy
to receive the scroll
and open its seals,
because you were killed.
And with your own blood
you bought for God
people from every tribe,
language, nation, and race.
10You let them become kings
and serve God as priests,
and they will rule on earth."
11As I looked, I heard the voices of a lot of angels around the throne and the voices of the living creatures and of the elders. There were millions and millions of them, 12and they were saying in a loud voice,
"The Lamb who was killed
is worthy to receive power,
riches, wisdom, strength,
honor, glory, and praise."
13Then I heard all beings in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and in the sea offer praise. Together, all of them were saying,
"Praise, honor, glory,
and strength
forever and ever
to the one who sits
on the throne
and to the Lamb!"
14The four living creatures said "Amen," while the elders knelt down and worshiped.
Footnotes:- Revelation 5:1 scroll: A roll of paper or special leather used for writing on. Sometimes a scroll would be sealed on the outside with one or more pieces of wax.
- Revelation 5:5 Lion from the Tribe of Judah': In Genesis 49.9 the tribe of Judah is called a young lion, and King David was from Judah.
- Revelation 5:5 King David's Great Descendant': The Greek text has "the root of David" which is a title for the Messiah based on Isaiah 11.1,10.
- Revelation 5:6 the seven spirits: Some manuscripts have "the spirits."
- Revelation 5:8 incense: A material that produces a sweet smell when burned. Sometimes it is a symbol for the prayers of God's people.
to receive the scroll
and open its seals,
because you were killed.
And with your own blood
you bought for God
people from every tribe,
language, nation, and race.
10You let them become kings
and serve God as priests,
and they will rule on earth."
11As I looked, I heard the voices of a lot of angels around the throne and the voices of the living creatures and of the elders. There were millions and millions of them, 12and they were saying in a loud voice,
"The Lamb who was killed
is worthy to receive power,
riches, wisdom, strength,
honor, glory, and praise."
13Then I heard all beings in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and in the sea offer praise. Together, all of them were saying,
"Praise, honor, glory,
and strength
forever and ever
to the one who sits
on the throne
and to the Lamb!"
14The four living creatures said "Amen," while the elders knelt down and worshiped.
Footnotes:
- Revelation 5:1 scroll: A roll of paper or special leather used for writing on. Sometimes a scroll would be sealed on the outside with one or more pieces of wax.
- Revelation 5:5 Lion from the Tribe of Judah': In Genesis 49.9 the tribe of Judah is called a young lion, and King David was from Judah.
- Revelation 5:5 King David's Great Descendant': The Greek text has "the root of David" which is a title for the Messiah based on Isaiah 11.1,10.
- Revelation 5:6 the seven spirits: Some manuscripts have "the spirits."
- Revelation 5:8 incense: A material that produces a sweet smell when burned. Sometimes it is a symbol for the prayers of God's people.
Psalm 133:1-3 (Contemporary English Version)
Psalm 133
(A song for worship.)
Living Together in Peace
1It is truly wonderful when relatives live together
in peace.
2It is as beautiful as olive oil
poured on Aaron's head a] and running down his beard
and the collar of his robe.
3It is like the dew
from Mount Hermon,
falling on Zion's mountains,
where the LORD has promised
to bless his people
with life forevermore.
Footnotes:- Psalm 133:2 head: Olive oil was poured on Aaron's head to show that God had chosen him to be the high priest.
in peace.
2It is as beautiful as olive oil
poured on Aaron's head a] and running down his beard
and the collar of his robe.
3It is like the dew
from Mount Hermon,
falling on Zion's mountains,
where the LORD has promised
to bless his people
with life forevermore.
Footnotes:
- Psalm 133:2 head: Olive oil was poured on Aaron's head to show that God had chosen him to be the high priest.
Proverbs 29:26-27 (Contemporary English Version)
26Many try to make friends
with a ruler,
but justice comes
from the LORD.
27Good people and criminals
can't stand each other.
with a ruler,
but justice comes
from the LORD.
27Good people and criminals
can't stand each other.
Thought for the Day
“One month later God sent the angel Gabriel to the town of Nazareth in Galilee with a message for a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to Joseph from the family of King David. The angel greeted Mary and said, "You are truly blessed! The Lord is with you.” (Luke 1:26-28 - Contemporary English Version) When the angel greeted Mary, he said that she was blessed and that the Lord was with her. And it's through her child that w'eve also been blessed and the Lord is still with us.
Quote for the Day
“One month later God sent the angel Gabriel to the town of Nazareth in Galilee with a message for a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to Joseph from the family of King David. The angel greeted Mary and said, "You are truly blessed! The Lord is with you.” (Luke 1:26-28 - Contemporary English Version) When the angel greeted Mary, he said that she was blessed and that the Lord was with her. And it's through her child that w'eve also been blessed and the Lord is still with us.
American socialist newspaper editor, politician, Marxist theoretician, and trade union organizer, Daniel De Leon wrote, “He who stands with his face to the East in the morning will have the sun before him. If he does not change his posture, the Earth in the meantime having changed its, he will have the sun no longer before him, but behind.”
Joke for Today
Once a man questioned his wife, "Would you have married me if my father hadn't left me any fortune?"
"Dear hubby, I'd have married you... no matter who left you a fortune!" she replied softly.
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 Americans would lead the world in protecting the natural environment that's been entrusted to our care.
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