Let's read the Bible together in the next year. Today our passages are Isaiah 15:1–18:7; Galatians 1:1-24; Psalm 58:1-11; and Proverbs 23:12. The readings are the Contemporary English Version.
Isaiah 15-18:7 (Contemporary English Version)
Isaiah 15
Moab Will Be Punished
1This is a message about Moab: The towns of Ar and Kir
were destroyed in a night.
Moab is left in ruins!
2Everyone in Dibon has gone up
to the temple [a] and the shrines to cry and weep.
All of Moab is crying.
Heads and beards are shaved [b] because of what happened
at Nebo and Medeba.
3In the towns and at home,
everyone wears sackcloth
and cries loud and long.
4From Heshbon and Elealeh,
weeping is heard in Jahaz;
Moab's warriors scream
while trembling with fear.
were destroyed in a night.
Moab is left in ruins!
2Everyone in Dibon has gone up
to the temple [a] and the shrines to cry and weep.
All of Moab is crying.
Heads and beards are shaved [b] because of what happened
at Nebo and Medeba.
3In the towns and at home,
everyone wears sackcloth
and cries loud and long.
4From Heshbon and Elealeh,
weeping is heard in Jahaz;
Moab's warriors scream
while trembling with fear.
Pity Moab
5I pity Moab! Its people are running to Zoar
and to Eglath-Shelishiyah.
They cry on their way up
to the town of Luhith;
on the road to Horonaim
they tell of disasters.
6The streams of Nimrim
and the grasslands
have dried up.
Every plant is parched.
7The people of Moab are leaving,
crossing over Willow Creek,
taking everything they own
and have worked for.
8In the towns of Eglaim
and of Beerelim
and everywhere else in Moab
mournful cries are heard.
9The streams near Dimon
are flowing with blood.
But the Lord will bring
even worse trouble to Dimon, [c] because all in Moab who escape
will be attacked by lions.
and to Eglath-Shelishiyah.
They cry on their way up
to the town of Luhith;
on the road to Horonaim
they tell of disasters.
6The streams of Nimrim
and the grasslands
have dried up.
Every plant is parched.
7The people of Moab are leaving,
crossing over Willow Creek,
taking everything they own
and have worked for.
8In the towns of Eglaim
and of Beerelim
and everywhere else in Moab
mournful cries are heard.
9The streams near Dimon
are flowing with blood.
But the Lord will bring
even worse trouble to Dimon, [c] because all in Moab who escape
will be attacked by lions.
Isaiah 16
More Troubles for Moab
1Send lambs [d] as gifts to the ruler of the land. Send them across the desert
from Sela [e] to Mount Zion. 2The women of Moab
crossing the Arnon River
are like a flock of birds
scattered from their nests.
3Moab's messengers say
to the people of Judah,
"Be kind and help us!
Shade us from the heat
of the noonday sun.
Hide our refugees!
Don't turn them away.
4Let our people live
in your country
and find safety here."
Moab, your cruel enemies
will disappear;
they will no longer attack
and destroy your land.
5Then a kingdom of love
will be set up,
and someone from David's family
will rule with fairness.
He will do what is right
and quickly bring justice.
from Sela [e] to Mount Zion. 2The women of Moab
crossing the Arnon River
are like a flock of birds
scattered from their nests.
3Moab's messengers say
to the people of Judah,
"Be kind and help us!
Shade us from the heat
of the noonday sun.
Hide our refugees!
Don't turn them away.
4Let our people live
in your country
and find safety here."
Moab, your cruel enemies
will disappear;
they will no longer attack
and destroy your land.
5Then a kingdom of love
will be set up,
and someone from David's family
will rule with fairness.
He will do what is right
and quickly bring justice.
Moab's Pride Is Destroyed
6We have heard of Moab's pride. Its people strut and boast,
but without reason.
7Tell everyone in Moab
to mourn for their nation.
Tell them to cry and weep
for those fancy raisins [f] of Kir-Hareseth.
8Vineyards near Heshbon
and Sibmah
have turned brown.
The rulers of nations
used to get drunk
on wine
from those vineyards [g] that spread to Jazer,
then across the desert
and beyond the sea.
9Now I mourn like Jazer
for the vineyards
of Sibmah.
I shed tears for Heshbon
and for Elealeh.
There will be no more
harvest celebrations
10or joyful and happy times,
while bringing in the crops.
Singing and shouting are gone
from the vineyards.
There are no joyful shouts
where grapes were pressed.
God has silenced them all.
11Deep in my heart I hurt
for Moab and Kir-Heres.
12It's useless for Moab's people
to wear themselves out
by going to their altars
to worship and pray.
13The LORD has already said all of this about Moab. 14Now he says, "The contract of a hired worker is good for three years, but Moab's glory and greatness won't last any longer than that. Only a few of its people will survive, and they will be left helpless."
but without reason.
7Tell everyone in Moab
to mourn for their nation.
Tell them to cry and weep
for those fancy raisins [f] of Kir-Hareseth.
8Vineyards near Heshbon
and Sibmah
have turned brown.
The rulers of nations
used to get drunk
on wine
from those vineyards [g] that spread to Jazer,
then across the desert
and beyond the sea.
9Now I mourn like Jazer
for the vineyards
of Sibmah.
I shed tears for Heshbon
and for Elealeh.
There will be no more
harvest celebrations
10or joyful and happy times,
while bringing in the crops.
Singing and shouting are gone
from the vineyards.
There are no joyful shouts
where grapes were pressed.
God has silenced them all.
11Deep in my heart I hurt
for Moab and Kir-Heres.
12It's useless for Moab's people
to wear themselves out
by going to their altars
to worship and pray.
13The LORD has already said all of this about Moab. 14Now he says, "The contract of a hired worker is good for three years, but Moab's glory and greatness won't last any longer than that. Only a few of its people will survive, and they will be left helpless."
Isaiah 17
Damascus Will Be Punished
1This is a message about Damascus: Damascus is doomed!
It will end up in ruins.
2The villages around Aroer [h] will be deserted,
with only sheep living there
and no one to bother them.
3Israel [i] will lose its fortresses. The kingdom of Damascus
will be destroyed;
its survivors will suffer
the same fate as Israel.
The LORD All-Powerful
has promised this.
It will end up in ruins.
2The villages around Aroer [h] will be deserted,
with only sheep living there
and no one to bother them.
3Israel [i] will lose its fortresses. The kingdom of Damascus
will be destroyed;
its survivors will suffer
the same fate as Israel.
The LORD All-Powerful
has promised this.
Sin and Suffering
4When that time comes, the glorious nation of Israel
will be brought down;
its prosperous people
will be skin and bones.
5Israel will be like wheat fields
in Rephaim Valley
picked clean of grain.
6It will be like an olive tree
beaten with a stick,
leaving two or three olives
or maybe four or five
on the highest
or most fruitful branches.
The LORD God of Israel
has promised this.
7At that time the people will turn and trust their Creator, the holy God of Israel. 8They have built altars and places for burning incense to their goddess Asherah, and they have set up sacred poles [j] for her. But they will stop worshiping at these places. 9Israel captured powerful cities and chased out the people who lived there. But these cities will lie in ruins, covered over with weeds and underbrush. [k] 10Israel, you have forgotten
the God who saves you,
the one who is the mighty rock [l] where you find protection.
You plant the finest flowers
to honor a foreign god.
11The plants may sprout
and blossom
that very same morning,
but it will do you no good,
because you will suffer
endless agony.
will be brought down;
its prosperous people
will be skin and bones.
5Israel will be like wheat fields
in Rephaim Valley
picked clean of grain.
6It will be like an olive tree
beaten with a stick,
leaving two or three olives
or maybe four or five
on the highest
or most fruitful branches.
The LORD God of Israel
has promised this.
7At that time the people will turn and trust their Creator, the holy God of Israel. 8They have built altars and places for burning incense to their goddess Asherah, and they have set up sacred poles [j] for her. But they will stop worshiping at these places. 9Israel captured powerful cities and chased out the people who lived there. But these cities will lie in ruins, covered over with weeds and underbrush. [k] 10Israel, you have forgotten
the God who saves you,
the one who is the mighty rock [l] where you find protection.
You plant the finest flowers
to honor a foreign god.
11The plants may sprout
and blossom
that very same morning,
but it will do you no good,
because you will suffer
endless agony.
God Defends His People
12The nations are a noisy, thunderous sea.
13But even if they roar
like a fearsome flood,
God will give the command
to turn them back.
They will be like dust,
or like a tumbleweed
blowing across the hills
in a windstorm.
14In the evening
their attack is fierce,
but by morning
they are destroyed.
This is what happens to those
who raid and rob us.
13But even if they roar
like a fearsome flood,
God will give the command
to turn them back.
They will be like dust,
or like a tumbleweed
blowing across the hills
in a windstorm.
14In the evening
their attack is fierce,
but by morning
they are destroyed.
This is what happens to those
who raid and rob us.
Isaiah 18
Ethiopia Will Be Punished
1Downstream from Ethiopia [m] lies the country of Egypt, swarming with insects. [n] 2Egypt sends messengers
up the Nile River
on ships made of reeds. [o] Send them fast to Ethiopia,
whose people are tall
and have smooth skin.
Their land is divided by rivers;
they are strong and brutal,
feared all over the world. [p] 3Everyone on this earth,
listen with care!
A signal will be given
on the mountains,
and you will hear a trumpet.
4The LORD said to me,
"I will calmly look down
from my home above--
as calmly as the sun at noon
or clouds in the heat
of harvest season."
5Before the blossoms
can turn into grapes,
God will cut off the sprouts
and hack off the branches.
6Ethiopians will be food
for mountain buzzards
during the summer
and for wild animals
during the winter.
7Those Ethiopians are tall and their skin is smooth. They are feared all over the world, because they are strong and brutal. But at that time they will come from their land divided by rivers, and they will bring gifts to the LORD All-Powerful, who is worshiped on Mount Zion.
Footnotes:- Isaiah 15:2 Everyone. . . temple: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- Isaiah 15:2 Heads. . . shaved: As a sign of sorrow and mourning.
- Isaiah 15:9 Dimon. . . Dimon: The Standard Hebrew Text; the Dead Sea Scrolls and one ancient translation have Dibon. . . Dibon.
- Isaiah 16:1 lambs: The main product of Moab.
- Isaiah 16:1 Sela: A town in Edom.
- Isaiah 16:7 fancy raisins: The Hebrew text has "raisin-cakes," which could mean either the rich produce or the prosperous farmers.
- Isaiah 16:8 The rulers. . . vineyards: Or "The rulers of nations have destroyed those vineyards."
- Isaiah 17:2 Aroer: Either a city near Damascus with the same name as the Moabite city or the Moabite city itself, here used as an example of what will happen to Damascus.
- Isaiah 17:3 Israel: The Hebrew text has "Ephraim," another name for the northern kingdom.
- Isaiah 17:8 sacred poles: Or "trees," used as symbols of Asherah, the goddess of fertility.
- Isaiah 17:9 covered. . . underbrush: Hebrew; one ancient translation "like the cities of the Hivites and the Amorites."
- Isaiah 17:10 mighty rock: The Hebrew text has "rock," which is sometimes used in poetry to compare the Lord to a mountain where his people can run for protection from their enemies.
- Isaiah 18:1 Ethiopia: See the note at 11.11.
- Isaiah 18:1 insects: Or "sailing ships."
- Isaiah 18:2 reeds: Ancient Egypt was famous for the papyrus reeds that grew in the Nile Delta.
- Isaiah 18:2 world: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 2.
up the Nile River
on ships made of reeds. [o] Send them fast to Ethiopia,
whose people are tall
and have smooth skin.
Their land is divided by rivers;
they are strong and brutal,
feared all over the world. [p] 3Everyone on this earth,
listen with care!
A signal will be given
on the mountains,
and you will hear a trumpet.
4The LORD said to me,
"I will calmly look down
from my home above--
as calmly as the sun at noon
or clouds in the heat
of harvest season."
5Before the blossoms
can turn into grapes,
God will cut off the sprouts
and hack off the branches.
6Ethiopians will be food
for mountain buzzards
during the summer
and for wild animals
during the winter.
7Those Ethiopians are tall and their skin is smooth. They are feared all over the world, because they are strong and brutal. But at that time they will come from their land divided by rivers, and they will bring gifts to the LORD All-Powerful, who is worshiped on Mount Zion.
Footnotes:
- Isaiah 15:2 Everyone. . . temple: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- Isaiah 15:2 Heads. . . shaved: As a sign of sorrow and mourning.
- Isaiah 15:9 Dimon. . . Dimon: The Standard Hebrew Text; the Dead Sea Scrolls and one ancient translation have Dibon. . . Dibon.
- Isaiah 16:1 lambs: The main product of Moab.
- Isaiah 16:1 Sela: A town in Edom.
- Isaiah 16:7 fancy raisins: The Hebrew text has "raisin-cakes," which could mean either the rich produce or the prosperous farmers.
- Isaiah 16:8 The rulers. . . vineyards: Or "The rulers of nations have destroyed those vineyards."
- Isaiah 17:2 Aroer: Either a city near Damascus with the same name as the Moabite city or the Moabite city itself, here used as an example of what will happen to Damascus.
- Isaiah 17:3 Israel: The Hebrew text has "Ephraim," another name for the northern kingdom.
- Isaiah 17:8 sacred poles: Or "trees," used as symbols of Asherah, the goddess of fertility.
- Isaiah 17:9 covered. . . underbrush: Hebrew; one ancient translation "like the cities of the Hivites and the Amorites."
- Isaiah 17:10 mighty rock: The Hebrew text has "rock," which is sometimes used in poetry to compare the Lord to a mountain where his people can run for protection from their enemies.
- Isaiah 18:1 Ethiopia: See the note at 11.11.
- Isaiah 18:1 insects: Or "sailing ships."
- Isaiah 18:2 reeds: Ancient Egypt was famous for the papyrus reeds that grew in the Nile Delta.
- Isaiah 18:2 world: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 2.
Galatians 1:1-24 (Contemporary English Version)
Galatians 1
1-2From the apostle Paul and from all the Lord's followers with me. I was chosen to be an apostle by Jesus Christ and by God the Father, who raised him from death. No mere human chose or appointed me to this work.
To the churches in Galatia.
3I pray that God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ will be kind to you and will bless you with peace! 4Christ obeyed God our Father and gave himself as a sacrifice for our sins to rescue us from this evil world. 5God will be given glory forever and ever. Amen.
To the churches in Galatia.
3I pray that God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ will be kind to you and will bless you with peace! 4Christ obeyed God our Father and gave himself as a sacrifice for our sins to rescue us from this evil world. 5God will be given glory forever and ever. Amen.
The Only True Message
6I am shocked that you have so quickly turned from God, who chose you because of his wonderful kindness. [a] You have believed another message, 7when there is really only one true message. But some people are causing you trouble and want to make you turn away from the good news about Christ. 8I pray that God will punish anyone who preaches anything different from our message to you! It doesn't matter if that person is one of us or an angel from heaven. 9I have said it before, and I will say it again. I hope God will punish anyone who preaches anything different from what you have already believed. 10I am not trying to please people. I want to please God. Do you think I am trying to please people? If I were doing that, I would not be a servant of Christ.
How Paul Became an Apostle
11My friends, I want you to know that no one made up the message I preach. 12It wasn't given or taught to me by some mere human. My message came directly from Jesus Christ when he appeared to me. 13You know how I used to live as a Jew. I was cruel to God's church and even tried to destroy it. 14I was a much better Jew than anyone else my own age, and I obeyed every law that our ancestors had given us. 15But even before I was born, God had chosen me. He was kind and had decided 16to show me his Son, so that I would announce his message to the Gentiles. I didn't talk this over with anyone. 17I didn't say a word, not even to the men in Jerusalem who were apostles before I was. Instead, I went at once to Arabia, and afterwards I returned to Damascus.
18Three years later I went to visit Peter [b] in Jerusalem and stayed with him for fifteen days. 19The only other apostle I saw was James, the Lord's brother. 20And in the presence of God I swear I am telling the truth. 21Later, I went to the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22But no one who belonged to Christ's churches in Judea had ever seen me in person. 23They had only heard that the one who had been cruel to them was now preaching the message that he had once tried to destroy. 24And because of me, they praised God.
Footnotes:- Galatians 1:6 his wonderful kindness: Some manuscripts have " the wonderful kindness of Christ."
- Galatians 1:18 Peter: The Greek text has " Cephas," which is an Aramaic name meaning " rock." Peter is the Greek name with the same meaning.
18Three years later I went to visit Peter [b] in Jerusalem and stayed with him for fifteen days. 19The only other apostle I saw was James, the Lord's brother. 20And in the presence of God I swear I am telling the truth. 21Later, I went to the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22But no one who belonged to Christ's churches in Judea had ever seen me in person. 23They had only heard that the one who had been cruel to them was now preaching the message that he had once tried to destroy. 24And because of me, they praised God.
Footnotes:
- Galatians 1:6 his wonderful kindness: Some manuscripts have " the wonderful kindness of Christ."
- Galatians 1:18 Peter: The Greek text has " Cephas," which is an Aramaic name meaning " rock." Peter is the Greek name with the same meaning.
Psalm 58:1-11 (Contemporary English Version)
Psalm 58
(A special psalm by David 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 Prayer When All Goes Wrong
1Do you mighty people [a] talk only to oppose justice? [b] Don't you ever judge fairly? 2You are always planning evil,
and you are brutal.
3You have done wrong and lied
from the day you were born.
4Your words spread poison
like the bite of a cobra
5that refuses to listen
to the snake charmer.
6My enemies are fierce
as lions, LORD God!
Shatter their teeth.
Snatch out their fangs.
7Make them disappear
like leaking water,
and make their arrows miss.
8Let them dry up like snails
or be like a child that dies
before seeing the sun.
9Wipe them out quicker
than a pot can be heated
by setting thorns on fire. [c] 10Good people will be glad
when they see the wicked
getting what they deserve,
and they will wash their feet
in their enemies' blood.
11Everyone will say, "It's true!
Good people are rewarded.
God does rule the earth
with justice."
Footnotes:- Psalm 58:1 mighty people: Or " mighty rulers" or " mighty gods."
- Psalm 58:1 Do. . . justice: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- Psalm 58:9 Wipe. . . fire: See the note at Psalm 57.
and you are brutal.
3You have done wrong and lied
from the day you were born.
4Your words spread poison
like the bite of a cobra
5that refuses to listen
to the snake charmer.
6My enemies are fierce
as lions, LORD God!
Shatter their teeth.
Snatch out their fangs.
7Make them disappear
like leaking water,
and make their arrows miss.
8Let them dry up like snails
or be like a child that dies
before seeing the sun.
9Wipe them out quicker
than a pot can be heated
by setting thorns on fire. [c] 10Good people will be glad
when they see the wicked
getting what they deserve,
and they will wash their feet
in their enemies' blood.
11Everyone will say, "It's true!
Good people are rewarded.
God does rule the earth
with justice."
Footnotes:
- Psalm 58:1 mighty people: Or " mighty rulers" or " mighty gods."
- Psalm 58:1 Do. . . justice: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- Psalm 58:9 Wipe. . . fire: See the note at Psalm 57.
Proverbs 23:12 (Contemporary English Version)
-11-
12 Listen to instruction and do your best to learn.
Thought for the Day
Thought for the Day
“Christ encourages you, and his love comforts you. God's Spirit unites you, and you are concerned for others. Now make me completely happy! Live in harmony by showing love for each other. Be united in what you think, as if you were only one person.” (Philippians 2:1-2 - Contemporary English Version) God has already done the heavy lifting. He's shown his love for us through Jesus Christ. And by the Holy Spirit, he's united us as a single community that transcends race, gender and economic status. Now it's up to us to live as though we believe it's been given.
Quote for the Day
American jazz musician, composer, poet, and Shinshu Buddhist priest, Joseph Jarman wrote, "To be here drinking a Coke can influence the process of musical creation as much as anything."
A Joke for Today
My grandfather worked in a blacksmith shop when he was a boy, and he used to tell me, when I was a little boy myself, how he had toughened himself up so he could stand the rigors of blacksmithing.
One story was how he had developed his arm and shoulders muscles. He said he would stand outside behind the house and, with a 5-pound potato sack in each hand, he would extend his arms straight out to his sides and hold them there as long as he could.
After awhile, he tried 10-pound potato sacks, then 50-pound potato sacks. Finally, he got to where he could lift a 100-pound potato sack in each hand and hold his arms straight out for more than a full minute!
Next, he started putting potatoes in the sacks.
Quote for the Day
American jazz musician, composer, poet, and Shinshu Buddhist priest, Joseph Jarman wrote, "To be here drinking a Coke can influence the process of musical creation as much as anything."
A Joke for Today
My grandfather worked in a blacksmith shop when he was a boy, and he used to tell me, when I was a little boy myself, how he had toughened himself up so he could stand the rigors of blacksmithing.
One story was how he had developed his arm and shoulders muscles. He said he would stand outside behind the house and, with a 5-pound potato sack in each hand, he would extend his arms straight out to his sides and hold them there as long as he could.
After awhile, he tried 10-pound potato sacks, then 50-pound potato sacks. Finally, he got to where he could lift a 100-pound potato sack in each hand and hold his arms straight out for more than a full minute!
Next, he started putting potatoes in the sacks.