Let's read the Bible together in the next year. Today our passages are Nahum 1:1–3:19; Revelation 8:1-13; Psalm 136:1-26; and Proverbs 30:7-9. The readings are the Contemporary English Version.
Nahum 1-3:19 (Contemporary English Version)
Nahum 1
1I am Nahum from Elkosh. a] And this is the message b] that I wrote down about Nineveh. c]
The Fierce Anger of the LORD
2The LORD God demands loyalty. In his anger, he takes revenge
on his enemies.
3The LORD is powerful,
yet patient;
he makes sure that the guilty
are always punished.
He can be seen in storms
and in whirlwinds;
clouds are the dust from his feet.
4At the LORD's command,
oceans and rivers dry up.
Bashan, Mount Carmel,
and Lebanon d] wither, and their flowers fade.
5At the sight of the LORD,
mountains and hills
tremble and melt;
the earth and its people
shudder and shake.
6Who can stand the heat
of his furious anger?
It flashes out like fire
and shatters stones.
on his enemies.
3The LORD is powerful,
yet patient;
he makes sure that the guilty
are always punished.
He can be seen in storms
and in whirlwinds;
clouds are the dust from his feet.
4At the LORD's command,
oceans and rivers dry up.
Bashan, Mount Carmel,
and Lebanon d] wither, and their flowers fade.
5At the sight of the LORD,
mountains and hills
tremble and melt;
the earth and its people
shudder and shake.
6Who can stand the heat
of his furious anger?
It flashes out like fire
and shatters stones.
The Power of Assyria Will Be Broken
7The LORD is good. He protects those who trust him
in times of trouble.
8But like a roaring flood,
the LORD chases his enemies
into dark places
and destroys them.
9So don't plot against the LORD!
He wipes out his enemies,
and they never revive.
10They are like drunkards
overcome by wine,
or like dry thornbushes
burning in a fire. e] 11Assyria, one of your rulers
has made evil plans
against the LORD.
12But the LORD says, "Assyria,
no matter how strong you are,
you are doomed!
My people Judah,
I have troubled you before,
but I won't do it again.
13I'll snap your chains
and set you free
from the Assyrians."
14Assyria, this is what else
the LORD says to you:
"Your name will be forgotten.
I will destroy every idol
in your temple,
and I will send you to the grave,
because you are worthless."
15Look toward the mountains,
people of Judah!
Here comes a messenger
with good news of peace.
Celebrate your festivals.
Keep your promises to God.
Your evil enemies are destroyed
and will never again
invade your country.
in times of trouble.
8But like a roaring flood,
the LORD chases his enemies
into dark places
and destroys them.
9So don't plot against the LORD!
He wipes out his enemies,
and they never revive.
10They are like drunkards
overcome by wine,
or like dry thornbushes
burning in a fire. e] 11Assyria, one of your rulers
has made evil plans
against the LORD.
12But the LORD says, "Assyria,
no matter how strong you are,
you are doomed!
My people Judah,
I have troubled you before,
but I won't do it again.
13I'll snap your chains
and set you free
from the Assyrians."
14Assyria, this is what else
the LORD says to you:
"Your name will be forgotten.
I will destroy every idol
in your temple,
and I will send you to the grave,
because you are worthless."
15Look toward the mountains,
people of Judah!
Here comes a messenger
with good news of peace.
Celebrate your festivals.
Keep your promises to God.
Your evil enemies are destroyed
and will never again
invade your country.
Nahum 2
Nineveh Will Fall
1Nineveh, someone is coming to attack and scatter you.
Guard your fortresses!
Watch the road!
Be brave!
Prepare for battle!
2Judah and Israel are like trees
with branches broken
by their enemies.
But the LORD is going to restore
their power and glory.
3Nineveh, on this day of attack,
your enemies' shields are red;
their uniforms are crimson.
4Their horses f] prance, and their armored g] chariots dart around
like lightning
or flaming torches.
5An officer gives a command.
But his soldiers stumble,
as they hasten to build
a shelter
to protect themselves
against rocks
thrown down
from the city wall.
6The river gates h] fly open, and panic floods the palace.
7Nineveh is disgraced.
The queen is dragged off.
Her servant women mourn;
they sound like doves,
and they beat their breasts
in sorrow. i] 8Nineveh is like a pond
with leaking water.
Shouts of "Stop! Don't go!"
can be heard everywhere.
But everyone is leaving.
9Enemy soldiers shout,
"The city is full of treasure
and all kinds of wealth.
Steal her silver! Grab her gold!"
10Nineveh is doomed! Destroyed!
Her people tremble with fear;
their faces turn pale. j] 11What happened to this city?
They were safer there
than powerful lions in a den,
with no one to disturb them.
12These are the same lions
that ferociously attacked
their victims,
then dragged away the flesh
to feed their young.
13The LORD All-Powerful
is against you, Nineveh.
God will burn your chariots
and send an army
to kill
those young lions of yours.
You will never again
make victims of others
or send messengers to threaten
everyone on this earth.
Guard your fortresses!
Watch the road!
Be brave!
Prepare for battle!
2Judah and Israel are like trees
with branches broken
by their enemies.
But the LORD is going to restore
their power and glory.
3Nineveh, on this day of attack,
your enemies' shields are red;
their uniforms are crimson.
4Their horses f] prance, and their armored g] chariots dart around
like lightning
or flaming torches.
5An officer gives a command.
But his soldiers stumble,
as they hasten to build
a shelter
to protect themselves
against rocks
thrown down
from the city wall.
6The river gates h] fly open, and panic floods the palace.
7Nineveh is disgraced.
The queen is dragged off.
Her servant women mourn;
they sound like doves,
and they beat their breasts
in sorrow. i] 8Nineveh is like a pond
with leaking water.
Shouts of "Stop! Don't go!"
can be heard everywhere.
But everyone is leaving.
9Enemy soldiers shout,
"The city is full of treasure
and all kinds of wealth.
Steal her silver! Grab her gold!"
10Nineveh is doomed! Destroyed!
Her people tremble with fear;
their faces turn pale. j] 11What happened to this city?
They were safer there
than powerful lions in a den,
with no one to disturb them.
12These are the same lions
that ferociously attacked
their victims,
then dragged away the flesh
to feed their young.
13The LORD All-Powerful
is against you, Nineveh.
God will burn your chariots
and send an army
to kill
those young lions of yours.
You will never again
make victims of others
or send messengers to threaten
everyone on this earth.
Nahum 3
Punishment for Nineveh
The LORD said:
1Doom to the crime capital! Nineveh, city of murder
and treachery,
2here is your fate--
cracking whips,
churning wheels;
galloping horses,
roaring chariots;
3cavalry attacking,
swords and spears flashing;
soldiers stumbling
over piles of dead bodies.
4You were nothing more
than a prostitute
using your magical charms
and witchcraft
to attract and trap nations.
5But I, the LORD All-Powerful,
am now your enemy.
I will pull up your skirt
and let nations and kingdoms
stare at your nakedness.
6I will cover you with garbage,
treat you like trash,
and rub you in the dirt.
7Everyone who sees you
will turn away and shout,
"Nineveh is done for!
Is anyone willing to mourn
or to give her comfort?"
and treachery,
2here is your fate--
cracking whips,
churning wheels;
galloping horses,
roaring chariots;
3cavalry attacking,
swords and spears flashing;
soldiers stumbling
over piles of dead bodies.
4You were nothing more
than a prostitute
using your magical charms
and witchcraft
to attract and trap nations.
5But I, the LORD All-Powerful,
am now your enemy.
I will pull up your skirt
and let nations and kingdoms
stare at your nakedness.
6I will cover you with garbage,
treat you like trash,
and rub you in the dirt.
7Everyone who sees you
will turn away and shout,
"Nineveh is done for!
Is anyone willing to mourn
or to give her comfort?"
Nineveh's Fate Is Sealed
8Nineveh, do you feel safer than the city of Thebes? k] The Nile River
was its wall of defense. l] 9Thebes trusted the mighty power
of Ethiopia m] and Egypt; the nations of Put n] and Libya were her allies.
10But she was captured and taken
to a foreign country.
Her children were murdered
at every street corner.
The members of her royal family
were auctioned off,
and her high officials
were bound in chains.
11Nineveh, now it's your turn!
You will get drunk and try to hide
from your enemy.
12Your fortresses are fig trees
with ripe figs.
Merely shake the trees,
and fruit will fall
into every open mouth.
13Your army is weak.
Fire has destroyed the crossbars
on your city gates;
now they stand wide open
to your enemy.
14Your city is under attack.
Haul in extra water!
Strengthen your defenses!
Start making bricks!
Stir the mortar!
15You will still go up in flames
and be cut down by swords
that will wipe you out
like wheat
attacked by grasshoppers.
So, go ahead and increase
like a swarm of locusts! o] 16More merchants are in your city
than there are stars
in the sky--
but they are like locusts
that eat everything,
then fly away.
17Your guards and your officials
are swarms of locusts.
On a chilly day
they settle on a fence,
but when the sun comes out,
they take off
to who-knows-where.
18King of Assyria,
your officials and leaders
sleep the eternal sleep,
while your people are scattered
in the mountains.
Yes, your people are sheep
without a shepherd.
19You're fatally wounded.
There's no hope for you.
But everyone claps
when they hear this news,
because your constant cruelty
has caused them pain.
Footnotes:- Nahum 1:1 Elkosh: The location of Elkosh is not known.
- Nahum 1:1 message: Or "vision."
- Nahum 1:1 Nineveh: The capital of Assyria, the hated enemy of Israel.
- Nahum 1:4 Bashan, Mount Carmel, and Lebanon: Three regions noted for their trees and flowers.
- Nahum 1:10 fire: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 10.
- Nahum 2:4 horses: Two ancient translations; Hebrew "spears."
- Nahum 2:4 armored: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- Nahum 2:6 river gates: Nineveh was protected by a moat filled with water from the nearby Tigris River.
- Nahum 2:7 sorrow: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 7.
- Nahum 2:10 faces turn pale: Or "ashes cover their faces."
- Nahum 3:8 Thebes: In 663 B.C., the Assyrian King Ashurbanipal captured this Egyptian city, which seems to have been built with protection similar to that of Nineveh.
- Nahum 3:8 was its. . . defense: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- Nahum 3:9 Ethiopia: The Hebrew text has "Cush," which was a region south of Egypt that included parts of the present countries of Ethiopia and Sudan.
- Nahum 3:9 Put: A region in Africa, possibly part of the present country of Libya.
- Nahum 3:15 locusts: A type of grasshopper that comes in swarms and causes great damage to plant life.
was its wall of defense. l] 9Thebes trusted the mighty power
of Ethiopia m] and Egypt; the nations of Put n] and Libya were her allies.
10But she was captured and taken
to a foreign country.
Her children were murdered
at every street corner.
The members of her royal family
were auctioned off,
and her high officials
were bound in chains.
11Nineveh, now it's your turn!
You will get drunk and try to hide
from your enemy.
12Your fortresses are fig trees
with ripe figs.
Merely shake the trees,
and fruit will fall
into every open mouth.
13Your army is weak.
Fire has destroyed the crossbars
on your city gates;
now they stand wide open
to your enemy.
14Your city is under attack.
Haul in extra water!
Strengthen your defenses!
Start making bricks!
Stir the mortar!
15You will still go up in flames
and be cut down by swords
that will wipe you out
like wheat
attacked by grasshoppers.
So, go ahead and increase
like a swarm of locusts! o] 16More merchants are in your city
than there are stars
in the sky--
but they are like locusts
that eat everything,
then fly away.
17Your guards and your officials
are swarms of locusts.
On a chilly day
they settle on a fence,
but when the sun comes out,
they take off
to who-knows-where.
18King of Assyria,
your officials and leaders
sleep the eternal sleep,
while your people are scattered
in the mountains.
Yes, your people are sheep
without a shepherd.
19You're fatally wounded.
There's no hope for you.
But everyone claps
when they hear this news,
because your constant cruelty
has caused them pain.
Footnotes:
- Nahum 1:1 Elkosh: The location of Elkosh is not known.
- Nahum 1:1 message: Or "vision."
- Nahum 1:1 Nineveh: The capital of Assyria, the hated enemy of Israel.
- Nahum 1:4 Bashan, Mount Carmel, and Lebanon: Three regions noted for their trees and flowers.
- Nahum 1:10 fire: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 10.
- Nahum 2:4 horses: Two ancient translations; Hebrew "spears."
- Nahum 2:4 armored: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- Nahum 2:6 river gates: Nineveh was protected by a moat filled with water from the nearby Tigris River.
- Nahum 2:7 sorrow: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 7.
- Nahum 2:10 faces turn pale: Or "ashes cover their faces."
- Nahum 3:8 Thebes: In 663 B.C., the Assyrian King Ashurbanipal captured this Egyptian city, which seems to have been built with protection similar to that of Nineveh.
- Nahum 3:8 was its. . . defense: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- Nahum 3:9 Ethiopia: The Hebrew text has "Cush," which was a region south of Egypt that included parts of the present countries of Ethiopia and Sudan.
- Nahum 3:9 Put: A region in Africa, possibly part of the present country of Libya.
- Nahum 3:15 locusts: A type of grasshopper that comes in swarms and causes great damage to plant life.
Revelation 8:1-13 (Contemporary English Version)
Revelation 8
The Seventh Seal Is Opened
1When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. 2I noticed that the seven angels who stood before God were each given a trumpet. 3Another angel, who had a gold container for incense, a] came and stood at the altar. This one was given a lot of incense to offer with the prayers of God's people on the gold altar in front of the throne. 4Then the smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God's people, went up to God from the hand of the angel. 5After this, the angel filled the incense container with fire from the altar and threw it on the earth. Thunder roared, lightning flashed, and the earth shook.
1When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. 2I noticed that the seven angels who stood before God were each given a trumpet. 3Another angel, who had a gold container for incense, a] came and stood at the altar. This one was given a lot of incense to offer with the prayers of God's people on the gold altar in front of the throne. 4Then the smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God's people, went up to God from the hand of the angel. 5After this, the angel filled the incense container with fire from the altar and threw it on the earth. Thunder roared, lightning flashed, and the earth shook.
The Trumpets
6The seven angels now got ready to blow their trumpets. 7When the first angel blew his trumpet, hail and fire mixed with blood were thrown down on the earth. A third of the earth, a third of the trees, and a third of all green plants were burned.
8When the second angel blew his trumpet, something like a great fiery mountain was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned to blood, 9a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.
10When the third angel blew his trumpet, a great star fell from heaven. It was burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on a third of the springs of water. 11The name of the star was Bitter, and a third of the water turned bitter. Many people died because the water was so bitter.
12When the fourth angel blew his trumpet, a third of the sun, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars were struck. They each lost a third of their light. So during a third of the day there was no light, and a third of the night was also without light.
13Then I looked and saw a lone eagle flying across the sky. It was shouting, "Trouble, trouble, trouble to everyone who lives on earth! The other three angels are now going to blow their trumpets."
Footnotes:- Revelation 8:3 incense: See the note at 5.8.
6The seven angels now got ready to blow their trumpets. 7When the first angel blew his trumpet, hail and fire mixed with blood were thrown down on the earth. A third of the earth, a third of the trees, and a third of all green plants were burned.
8When the second angel blew his trumpet, something like a great fiery mountain was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned to blood, 9a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.
10When the third angel blew his trumpet, a great star fell from heaven. It was burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on a third of the springs of water. 11The name of the star was Bitter, and a third of the water turned bitter. Many people died because the water was so bitter.
12When the fourth angel blew his trumpet, a third of the sun, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars were struck. They each lost a third of their light. So during a third of the day there was no light, and a third of the night was also without light.
13Then I looked and saw a lone eagle flying across the sky. It was shouting, "Trouble, trouble, trouble to everyone who lives on earth! The other three angels are now going to blow their trumpets."
8When the second angel blew his trumpet, something like a great fiery mountain was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned to blood, 9a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.
10When the third angel blew his trumpet, a great star fell from heaven. It was burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on a third of the springs of water. 11The name of the star was Bitter, and a third of the water turned bitter. Many people died because the water was so bitter.
12When the fourth angel blew his trumpet, a third of the sun, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars were struck. They each lost a third of their light. So during a third of the day there was no light, and a third of the night was also without light.
13Then I looked and saw a lone eagle flying across the sky. It was shouting, "Trouble, trouble, trouble to everyone who lives on earth! The other three angels are now going to blow their trumpets."
Footnotes:
- Revelation 8:3 incense: See the note at 5.8.
Psalm 136:1-26 (Contemporary English Version)
Psalm 136
God's Love Never Fails
1Praise the LORD! He is good. God's love never fails.
2Praise the God of all gods.
God's love never fails.
3Praise the Lord of lords.
God's love never fails.
4Only God works great miracles. a] God's love never fails.
5With wisdom he made the sky.
God's love never fails.
6The Lord stretched the earth
over the ocean.
God's love never fails.
7He made the bright lights
in the sky.
God's love never fails.
8He lets the sun rule each day.
God's love never fails.
9He lets the moon and the stars
rule each night.
God's love never fails.
10God struck down the first-born
in every Egyptian family.
God's love never fails.
11He rescued Israel from Egypt.
God's love never fails.
12God used his great strength
and his powerful arm.
God's love never fails.
13He split the Red Sea b] apart. God's love never fails.
14The Lord brought Israel safely
through the sea.
God's love never fails.
15He destroyed the Egyptian king
and his army there.
God's love never fails.
16The Lord led his people
through the desert.
God's love never fails.
17Our God defeated mighty kings.
God's love never fails.
18And he killed famous kings.
God's love never fails.
19One of them was Sihon,
king of the Amorites.
God's love never fails.
20Another was King Og of Bashan.
God's love never fails.
21God took away their land.
God's love never fails.
22He gave their land to Israel,
the people who serve him.
God's love never fails.
23God saw the trouble we were in.
God's love never fails.
24He rescued us from our enemies.
God's love never fails.
25He gives food to all who live.
God's love never fails.
26Praise God in heaven!
God's love never fails.
Footnotes:- Psalm 136:4 great miracles: One Hebrew manuscript and one ancient translation have " miracles."
- Psalm 136:13 Red Sea: See the note at 106.7.
2Praise the God of all gods.
God's love never fails.
3Praise the Lord of lords.
God's love never fails.
4Only God works great miracles. a] God's love never fails.
5With wisdom he made the sky.
God's love never fails.
6The Lord stretched the earth
over the ocean.
God's love never fails.
7He made the bright lights
in the sky.
God's love never fails.
8He lets the sun rule each day.
God's love never fails.
9He lets the moon and the stars
rule each night.
God's love never fails.
10God struck down the first-born
in every Egyptian family.
God's love never fails.
11He rescued Israel from Egypt.
God's love never fails.
12God used his great strength
and his powerful arm.
God's love never fails.
13He split the Red Sea b] apart. God's love never fails.
14The Lord brought Israel safely
through the sea.
God's love never fails.
15He destroyed the Egyptian king
and his army there.
God's love never fails.
16The Lord led his people
through the desert.
God's love never fails.
17Our God defeated mighty kings.
God's love never fails.
18And he killed famous kings.
God's love never fails.
19One of them was Sihon,
king of the Amorites.
God's love never fails.
20Another was King Og of Bashan.
God's love never fails.
21God took away their land.
God's love never fails.
22He gave their land to Israel,
the people who serve him.
God's love never fails.
23God saw the trouble we were in.
God's love never fails.
24He rescued us from our enemies.
God's love never fails.
25He gives food to all who live.
God's love never fails.
26Praise God in heaven!
God's love never fails.
Footnotes:
- Psalm 136:4 great miracles: One Hebrew manuscript and one ancient translation have " miracles."
- Psalm 136:13 Red Sea: See the note at 106.7.
Proverbs 30:7-9 (Contemporary English Version)
7There are two things, Lord,
I want you to do for me
before I die:
8Make me absolutely honest
and don't let me be too poor
or too rich.
Give me just what I need.
9If I have too much to eat,
I might forget about you;
if I don't have enough,
I might steal
and disgrace your name.
I want you to do for me
before I die:
8Make me absolutely honest
and don't let me be too poor
or too rich.
Give me just what I need.
9If I have too much to eat,
I might forget about you;
if I don't have enough,
I might steal
and disgrace your name.
Thought for the Day
“While Joseph was thinking about this, an angel from the Lord came to him in a dream. The angel said, "Joseph, the baby that Mary will have is from the Holy Spirit. Go ahead and marry her. Then after her baby is born, name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:20-21 - Contemporary English Version) Now that’s exactly what Jesus came to be. You see, he was born to be the world’s savior. And for that reason, we can be confident as we face the future.
Quote for the Day
“While Joseph was thinking about this, an angel from the Lord came to him in a dream. The angel said, "Joseph, the baby that Mary will have is from the Holy Spirit. Go ahead and marry her. Then after her baby is born, name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:20-21 - Contemporary English Version) Now that’s exactly what Jesus came to be. You see, he was born to be the world’s savior. And for that reason, we can be confident as we face the future.
American Quaker poet and advocate of the abolition of slavery in the United States, John Greenleaf Whittier wrote, “Give fools their gold, and knaves their power; let fortune's bubbles rise and fall; who sows a field, or trains a flower, or plants a tree, is more than all.”
Joke for Today
Me: "I just burned 2000 calories in 20 minutes."
Friend: "How?"
Me: "I forgot to take my brownies out of the oven."
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 those in business, government and media would cherish honesty, integrity and humility.
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