Let's read the Bible together in the next year. Today our passages are Isaiah 12:1–14:32; 2 Corinthians 13:1-14; Psalm 57:1-11; and Proverbs 23:9-11. The readings are the Contemporary English Version.
Isaiah 12-14:32 (Contemporary English Version)
Isaiah 12
A Song of Praise
1At that time you will say, "I thank you, LORD!
You were angry with me,
but you stopped being angry
and gave me comfort.
2I trust you to save me,
LORD God,
and I won't be afraid.
My power and my strength [a] come from you,
and you have saved me."
3With great joy, you people
will get water
from the well of victory.
4At that time you will say,
"Our LORD, we are thankful,
and we worship only you.
We will tell the nations
how glorious you are
and what you have done.
5Because of your wonderful deeds
we will sing your praises
everywhere on earth."
6Sing, people of Zion!
Celebrate the greatness
of the holy LORD of Israel.
God is here to help you.
You were angry with me,
but you stopped being angry
and gave me comfort.
2I trust you to save me,
LORD God,
and I won't be afraid.
My power and my strength [a] come from you,
and you have saved me."
3With great joy, you people
will get water
from the well of victory.
4At that time you will say,
"Our LORD, we are thankful,
and we worship only you.
We will tell the nations
how glorious you are
and what you have done.
5Because of your wonderful deeds
we will sing your praises
everywhere on earth."
6Sing, people of Zion!
Celebrate the greatness
of the holy LORD of Israel.
God is here to help you.
Isaiah 13
Babylon Will Be Punished
1This is the message [b] that I was given about Babylon: 2From high on a barren hill give a signal, shout the orders,
and point the way
to enter the gates
of Babylon's proud rulers.
3The LORD has commanded
his very best warriors
and his proud heroes
to show how angry he is.
4Listen to the noisy crowds
on the mountains!
Kingdoms and nations
are joining forces.
The LORD All-Powerful
is bringing together
an army for battle.
5From a distant land
the LORD is coming
fierce and furious--
he brings his weapons
to destroy the earth.
6Cry and weep!
The day is coming
when the mighty LORD
will bring destruction.
7All people will be terrified.
Hands will grow limp;
courage will melt away.
8Everyone will tremble with pain
like a woman giving birth;
they will stare at each other
with horror on their faces.
and point the way
to enter the gates
of Babylon's proud rulers.
3The LORD has commanded
his very best warriors
and his proud heroes
to show how angry he is.
4Listen to the noisy crowds
on the mountains!
Kingdoms and nations
are joining forces.
The LORD All-Powerful
is bringing together
an army for battle.
5From a distant land
the LORD is coming
fierce and furious--
he brings his weapons
to destroy the earth.
6Cry and weep!
The day is coming
when the mighty LORD
will bring destruction.
7All people will be terrified.
Hands will grow limp;
courage will melt away.
8Everyone will tremble with pain
like a woman giving birth;
they will stare at each other
with horror on their faces.
There Will Be No Mercy
9I, the LORD, will show no mercy or pity
when that time comes.
In my anger I will destroy
the earth
and every sinner
who lives on it.
10Light will disappear
from the stars in the sky;
the dawning sun will turn dark,
and the moon
will lose its glow.
11I will punish this evil world
and its people
because of their sins.
I will crush the horrible pride
of those who are cruel.
12Survivors will be harder to find
than the purest gold.
13I, the LORD All-Powerful,
am terribly angry--
I will make the sky tremble
and the earth shake loose.
14Everyone will run
to their homelands,
just as hunted deer run,
and sheep scatter
when they have no shepherd.
15Those who are captured
will be killed by a sword.
16They will see their children
beaten against rocks,
their homes robbed,
and their wives abused.
17The Medes [c] can't be bought off with silver or gold,
and I'm sending them
to attack Babylonia.
18Their arrows will slaughter
the young men;
no pity will be shown
to babies and children.
when that time comes.
In my anger I will destroy
the earth
and every sinner
who lives on it.
10Light will disappear
from the stars in the sky;
the dawning sun will turn dark,
and the moon
will lose its glow.
11I will punish this evil world
and its people
because of their sins.
I will crush the horrible pride
of those who are cruel.
12Survivors will be harder to find
than the purest gold.
13I, the LORD All-Powerful,
am terribly angry--
I will make the sky tremble
and the earth shake loose.
14Everyone will run
to their homelands,
just as hunted deer run,
and sheep scatter
when they have no shepherd.
15Those who are captured
will be killed by a sword.
16They will see their children
beaten against rocks,
their homes robbed,
and their wives abused.
17The Medes [c] can't be bought off with silver or gold,
and I'm sending them
to attack Babylonia.
18Their arrows will slaughter
the young men;
no pity will be shown
to babies and children.
The LORD Will Destroy Babylon
19The city of Babylon is glorious and powerful,
the pride of the nation.
But it will be like the cities
of Sodom and Gomorrah
after I, the Lord,
destroyed them.
20No one will live in Babylon.
Even nomads won't camp nearby,
and shepherds won't let
their sheep rest there.
21Only desert creatures,
hoot owls, and ostriches
will live in its ruins,
and goats [d] will leap about. 22Hyenas and wolves will howl
from Babylon's fortresses
and beautiful palaces.
Its time is almost up!
the pride of the nation.
But it will be like the cities
of Sodom and Gomorrah
after I, the Lord,
destroyed them.
20No one will live in Babylon.
Even nomads won't camp nearby,
and shepherds won't let
their sheep rest there.
21Only desert creatures,
hoot owls, and ostriches
will live in its ruins,
and goats [d] will leap about. 22Hyenas and wolves will howl
from Babylon's fortresses
and beautiful palaces.
Its time is almost up!
Isaiah 14
The LORD's People Will Come Home
1The LORD will have mercy on Israel and will let them be his chosen people once again. He will bring them back to their own land, and foreigners will join them as part of Israel. 2Other nations will lead them home, and Israel will make slaves of them in the land that belongs to the Lord. Israel will rule over those who once governed and mistreated them.
Death to the King of Babylonia!
3The LORD will set you free from your sorrow, suffering, and slavery. 4Then you will make fun of the King of Babylonia by singing this song: That cruel monster is done for!
He won't attack us again. [e] 5The LORD has crushed the power
of those evil kings,
6who were furious
and never stopped abusing
the people of other nations.
7Now all the world is at peace;
its people are celebrating
with joyful songs.
8King of Babylonia,
even the cypress trees
and the cedars of Lebanon
celebrate and say,
"Since you were put down,
no one comes along
to chop us down."
9The world of the dead
eagerly waits for you.
With great excitement,
the spirits of ancient rulers
hear about your coming.
10Each one of them will say,
"Now you are just as weak
as any of us!
11Your pride and your music
have ended here
in the world of the dead.
Worms are your blanket,
maggots are your bed."
12You, the bright morning star,
have fallen from the sky!
You brought down other nations;
now you are brought down.
13You said to yourself,
"I'll climb to heaven
and place my throne
above the highest stars.
I'll sit there with the gods
far away in the north.
14I'll be above the clouds,
just like God Most High."
15But now you are deep
in the world of the dead.
16Those who see you will stare
and wonder,
"Is this the man
who made the world tremble
and shook up kingdoms?
17Did he capture every city
and make earth a desert?
Is he the one who refused
to let prisoners go home?"
18When kings die, they are buried
in glorious tombs.
19But you will be left unburied,
just another dead body
lying underfoot
like a broken branch.
You will be one of many
killed in battle
and gone down
to the deep rocky pit. [f] 20You won't be buried with kings;
you ruined your country
and murdered your people.
You evil monster!
We hope that your family
will be forgotten forever.
21We will slaughter your sons
to make them pay
for the crimes
of their ancestors.
They won't take over the world
or build cities
anywhere on this earth.
22The LORD All-Powerful has promised to attack Babylonia and destroy everyone there, so that none of them will ever be remembered again. 23The LORD will sweep out the people, and the land will become a swamp for wild animals.
He won't attack us again. [e] 5The LORD has crushed the power
of those evil kings,
6who were furious
and never stopped abusing
the people of other nations.
7Now all the world is at peace;
its people are celebrating
with joyful songs.
8King of Babylonia,
even the cypress trees
and the cedars of Lebanon
celebrate and say,
"Since you were put down,
no one comes along
to chop us down."
9The world of the dead
eagerly waits for you.
With great excitement,
the spirits of ancient rulers
hear about your coming.
10Each one of them will say,
"Now you are just as weak
as any of us!
11Your pride and your music
have ended here
in the world of the dead.
Worms are your blanket,
maggots are your bed."
12You, the bright morning star,
have fallen from the sky!
You brought down other nations;
now you are brought down.
13You said to yourself,
"I'll climb to heaven
and place my throne
above the highest stars.
I'll sit there with the gods
far away in the north.
14I'll be above the clouds,
just like God Most High."
15But now you are deep
in the world of the dead.
16Those who see you will stare
and wonder,
"Is this the man
who made the world tremble
and shook up kingdoms?
17Did he capture every city
and make earth a desert?
Is he the one who refused
to let prisoners go home?"
18When kings die, they are buried
in glorious tombs.
19But you will be left unburied,
just another dead body
lying underfoot
like a broken branch.
You will be one of many
killed in battle
and gone down
to the deep rocky pit. [f] 20You won't be buried with kings;
you ruined your country
and murdered your people.
You evil monster!
We hope that your family
will be forgotten forever.
21We will slaughter your sons
to make them pay
for the crimes
of their ancestors.
They won't take over the world
or build cities
anywhere on this earth.
22The LORD All-Powerful has promised to attack Babylonia and destroy everyone there, so that none of them will ever be remembered again. 23The LORD will sweep out the people, and the land will become a swamp for wild animals.
Assyria Will Be Punished
24The LORD All-Powerful has made this promise:
Everything I have planned
will happen just as I said.
25I will wipe out every Assyrian
in my country,
and I will crush those
on my mountains.
I will free my people
from slavery
to the Assyrians.
26I have planned this
for the whole world,
and my mighty arm
controls every nation.
27I, the LORD All-Powerful,
have made these plans.
No one can stop me now!
Everything I have planned
will happen just as I said.
25I will wipe out every Assyrian
in my country,
and I will crush those
on my mountains.
I will free my people
from slavery
to the Assyrians.
26I have planned this
for the whole world,
and my mighty arm
controls every nation.
27I, the LORD All-Powerful,
have made these plans.
No one can stop me now!
The Philistines Will Be Punished
28This message came from the LORD in the year King Ahaz died: [g] 29Philistines, don't be happy
just because the rod
that punished you
is broken.
That rod will become
a poisonous snake,
and then
a flying fiery dragon.
30The poor and needy will find
pastures for their sheep
and will live in safety.
But I will starve some of you,
and others will be killed.
31Cry and weep in the gates
of your towns,
you Philistines!
Smoke blows in from the north, [h] and every soldier is ready.
32If a messenger comes
from a distant nation,
you must say:
"The LORD built Zion.
Even the poorest of his people
will find safety there."
Footnotes:- Isaiah 12:2 strength: Or "song."
- Isaiah 13:1 message: See the note at 1.1.
- Isaiah 13:17 Medes: People of a nation northeast of Babylonia, which became part of the Persian Empire.
- Isaiah 13:21 goats: Or "demons."
- Isaiah 14:4 He. . . again: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- Isaiah 14:19 deep rocky pit: The world of the dead.
- Isaiah 14:28 King Ahaz died: 715 B.C.
- Isaiah 14:31 north: The Assyrian and Babylonian attacks came from the north.
just because the rod
that punished you
is broken.
That rod will become
a poisonous snake,
and then
a flying fiery dragon.
30The poor and needy will find
pastures for their sheep
and will live in safety.
But I will starve some of you,
and others will be killed.
31Cry and weep in the gates
of your towns,
you Philistines!
Smoke blows in from the north, [h] and every soldier is ready.
32If a messenger comes
from a distant nation,
you must say:
"The LORD built Zion.
Even the poorest of his people
will find safety there."
Footnotes:
- Isaiah 12:2 strength: Or "song."
- Isaiah 13:1 message: See the note at 1.1.
- Isaiah 13:17 Medes: People of a nation northeast of Babylonia, which became part of the Persian Empire.
- Isaiah 13:21 goats: Or "demons."
- Isaiah 14:4 He. . . again: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- Isaiah 14:19 deep rocky pit: The world of the dead.
- Isaiah 14:28 King Ahaz died: 715 B.C.
- Isaiah 14:31 north: The Assyrian and Babylonian attacks came from the north.
2 Corinthians 13:1-14 (Contemporary English Version)
2 Corinthians 13
Final Warnings and Greetings
1I am on my way to visit you for the third time. And as the Scriptures say, "Any charges must be proved true by at least two or three witnesses." 2During my second visit I warned you that I would punish you and anyone else who doesn't stop sinning. I am far away from you now, but I give you the same warning. 3This should prove to you that I am speaking for Christ. When he corrects you, he won't be weak. He will be powerful! 4Although he was weak when he was nailed to the cross, he now lives by the power of God. We are weak, just as Christ was. But you will see that we will live by the power of God, just as Christ does. 5Test yourselves and find out if you really are true to your faith. If you pass the test, you will discover that Christ is living in you. But if Christ isn't living in you, you have failed. 6I hope you will discover that we have not failed. 7We pray that you will stop doing evil things. We don't pray like this to make ourselves look good, but to get you to do right, even if we are failures.
8All we can do is to follow the truth and not fight against it. 9Even though we are weak, we are glad that you are strong, and we pray that you will do even better. 10I am writing these things to you before I arrive. This way I won't have to be hard on you when I use the authority that the Lord has given me. I was given this authority, so that I could help you and not destroy you.
11Good-by, my friends. Do better and pay attention to what I have said. Try to get along and live peacefully with each other.
Now I pray that God, who gives love and peace, will be with you. 12Give each other a warm greeting. All of God's people send their greetings.
13I pray that the Lord Jesus Christ will bless you and be kind to you! May God bless you with his love, and may the Holy Spirit join all your hearts together.
8All we can do is to follow the truth and not fight against it. 9Even though we are weak, we are glad that you are strong, and we pray that you will do even better. 10I am writing these things to you before I arrive. This way I won't have to be hard on you when I use the authority that the Lord has given me. I was given this authority, so that I could help you and not destroy you.
11Good-by, my friends. Do better and pay attention to what I have said. Try to get along and live peacefully with each other.
Now I pray that God, who gives love and peace, will be with you. 12Give each other a warm greeting. All of God's people send their greetings.
13I pray that the Lord Jesus Christ will bless you and be kind to you! May God bless you with his love, and may the Holy Spirit join all your hearts together.
Psalm 57:1-11 (Contemporary English Version)
Psalm 57
(For the music leader. To the tune "Don't Destroy." (Psalm 57; 58 Don't Destroy: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.) A special psalm by David when he was in the cave while running from Saul.)
Praise and Trust in Times of Trouble
1God Most High, have pity on me! Have mercy.
I run to you
for safety.
In the shadow of your wings,
I seek protection
till danger dies down.
2I pray to you, my protector.
3You will send help from heaven
and save me,
but you will bring trouble
on my attackers.
You are faithful,
and you can be trusted.
4I live among lions,
who gobble down people!
They have spears and arrows
instead of teeth,
and they have sharp swords
instead of tongues.
5May you, my God, be honored
above the heavens;
may your glory be seen
everywhere on earth.
6Enemies set traps for my feet
and struck me down.
They dug a pit in my path,
but fell in it themselves.
7I am faithful to you,
and you can trust me.
I will sing and play music
for you, my God.
8I feel wide awake!
I will wake up my harp
and wake up the sun.
9I will praise you, Lord,
for everyone to hear,
and I will sing hymns to you
in every nation.
10Your love reaches higher
than the heavens;
your loyalty extends
beyond the clouds.
11May you, my God, be honored
above the heavens;
may your glory be seen
everywhere on earth.
I run to you
for safety.
In the shadow of your wings,
I seek protection
till danger dies down.
2I pray to you, my protector.
3You will send help from heaven
and save me,
but you will bring trouble
on my attackers.
You are faithful,
and you can be trusted.
4I live among lions,
who gobble down people!
They have spears and arrows
instead of teeth,
and they have sharp swords
instead of tongues.
5May you, my God, be honored
above the heavens;
may your glory be seen
everywhere on earth.
6Enemies set traps for my feet
and struck me down.
They dug a pit in my path,
but fell in it themselves.
7I am faithful to you,
and you can trust me.
I will sing and play music
for you, my God.
8I feel wide awake!
I will wake up my harp
and wake up the sun.
9I will praise you, Lord,
for everyone to hear,
and I will sing hymns to you
in every nation.
10Your love reaches higher
than the heavens;
your loyalty extends
beyond the clouds.
11May you, my God, be honored
above the heavens;
may your glory be seen
everywhere on earth.
Proverbs 23:9-11 (Contemporary English Version)
-9-
9 Don't talk to fools-- they will just make fun.
-10-
10 Don't move a boundary marker [a] or take the land that belongs to orphans.
11God All-Powerful is there
to defend them against you.
Footnotes:- Proverbs 23:10 marker: See the note at 22.28.
11God All-Powerful is there
to defend them against you.
Footnotes:
- Proverbs 23:10 marker: See the note at 22.28.
Thought for the Day
“Finally, all of you should agree and have concern and love for each other. You should also be kind and humble.” (1 Peter 3:8 - Contemporary English Version) Kindness and humility would seem to be two virtues that have become lost in our society now-a-days. And yet, they're absolutely essential, if we're serious about following Jesus Christ and determined to show concern and love to one another.
Thought for the Day
Quote for the Day
American film director, animator, production designer, and animation instructor, Don Bluth wrote, "We're waiting for the pendulum to swing back again, which I am absolutely confident it will."
A Joke for Today
Husband: "Now that we are married, perhaps I might venture to point out a few of your little defects."
Wife: "Don't bother, dear. I'm quite aware of them. It was those little defects that prevented me from getting a much better man than you."
Quote for the Day
American film director, animator, production designer, and animation instructor, Don Bluth wrote, "We're waiting for the pendulum to swing back again, which I am absolutely confident it will."
A Joke for Today
Husband: "Now that we are married, perhaps I might venture to point out a few of your little defects."
Wife: "Don't bother, dear. I'm quite aware of them. It was those little defects that prevented me from getting a much better man than you."