Let's read the Bible together in the next year. Today our passages are Isaiah 37:1–38:22; Galatians 6:1-18; Psalm 65:1-13; and Proverbs 23:24-25. The readings are the Contemporary English Version.
Isaiah 37-38:22 (Contemporary English Version)
Isaiah 37
Hezekiah Asks Isaiah for Advice
(2 Kings 19.1-13)
1As soon as Hezekiah heard the news, he tore off his clothes in sorrow and put on sackcloth. Then he went into the temple of the LORD. 2He told Prime Minister Eliakim, Assistant Prime Minister Shebna, and the senior priests to dress in sackcloth and tell me: 3Isaiah, these are difficult and disgraceful times. Our nation is like a woman too weak to give birth, when it's time for her baby to be born. 4Please pray for those of us who are left alive. The king of Assyria sent his army commander to insult the living God. Perhaps the LORD heard what he said and will do something, if you will pray. 5When these leaders came to me, 6I told them that the LORD had this message for Hezekiah: I am the LORD. Don't worry about the insulting things that have been said about me by these messengers from the king of Assyria. 7I will upset him with rumors about what's happening in his own country. He will go back, and there I will make him die a violent death. 8Meanwhile the commander of the Assyrian forces heard that his king had left the town of Lachish and was now attacking Libnah. So he went there. 9About this same time, the king of Assyria learned that King Tirhakah of Ethiopia [a] was on his way to attack him. Then the king of Assyria sent some messengers with this note for Hezekiah: 10Don't trust your God or be fooled by his promise to defend Jerusalem against me. 11You have heard how we Assyrian kings have completely wiped out other nations. What makes you feel so safe? 12The Assyrian kings before me destroyed the towns of Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, and everyone from Eden who lived in Telassar. What good did their gods do them? 13The kings of Hamath, Arpad, Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah have all disappeared.
3Isaiah, these are difficult and disgraceful times. Our nation is like a woman too weak to give birth, when it's time for her baby to be born. 4Please pray for those of us who are left alive. The king of Assyria sent his army commander to insult the living God. Perhaps the LORD heard what he said and will do something, if you will pray.
5When these leaders came to me, 6I told them that the LORD had this message for Hezekiah:
I am the LORD. Don't worry about the insulting things that have been said about me by these messengers from the king of Assyria. 7I will upset him with rumors about what's happening in his own country. He will go back, and there I will make him die a violent death.
8Meanwhile the commander of the Assyrian forces heard that his king had left the town of Lachish and was now attacking Libnah. So he went there.
9About this same time, the king of Assyria learned that King Tirhakah of Ethiopia [a] was on his way to attack him. Then the king of Assyria sent some messengers with this note for Hezekiah: 10Don't trust your God or be fooled by his promise to defend Jerusalem against me. 11You have heard how we Assyrian kings have completely wiped out other nations. What makes you feel so safe? 12The Assyrian kings before me destroyed the towns of Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, and everyone from Eden who lived in Telassar. What good did their gods do them? 13The kings of Hamath, Arpad, Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah have all disappeared.
Hezekiah Prays
(2 Kings 19.14-19)
14After Hezekiah had read the note from the king of Assyria, he took it to the temple and spread it out for the LORD to see. 15Then he prayed: 16LORD God All-Powerful of Israel, your throne is above the winged creatures. [b] You created the heavens and the earth, and you alone rule the kingdoms of this world. 17Just look and see how Sennacherib has insulted you, the living God. 18It is true, our LORD, that Assyrian kings have turned nations into deserts. 19They destroyed the idols of wood and stone that the people of those nations had made and worshiped. 20But you are our LORD and our God! We ask you to keep us safe from the Assyrian king. Then everyone in every kingdom on earth will know that you are the only LORD.
16LORD God All-Powerful of Israel, your throne is above the winged creatures. [b] You created the heavens and the earth, and you alone rule the kingdoms of this world. 17Just look and see how Sennacherib has insulted you, the living God. 18It is true, our LORD, that Assyrian kings have turned nations into deserts. 19They destroyed the idols of wood and stone that the people of those nations had made and worshiped. 20But you are our LORD and our God! We ask you to keep us safe from the Assyrian king. Then everyone in every kingdom on earth will know that you are the only LORD.
Isaiah Gives the LORD's Answer to Hezekiah
(2 Kings 19.20-34)
21-22I went to Hezekiah and told him that the LORD God of Israel had said: Hezekiah, you prayed to me about King Sennacherib of Assyria. [c] Now this is what I say to that king: The people of Jerusalem hate and make fun of you; they laugh behind your back. 23Sennacherib, you cursed, shouted, and sneered at me, the holy God of Israel. 24You let your officials insult me, the Lord. And here is what you have said about yourself, "I led my chariots to the highest heights of Lebanon's mountains. I went deep into its forest, cutting down the best cedar and cypress trees. 25I dried up every stream in the land of Egypt, and I drank water from wells I had dug." 26Sennacherib, now listen to me, the LORD. I planned all of this long ago. And you don't even know that I alone am the one who decided that you would do these things. I let you make ruins of fortified cities. 27Their people became weak, terribly confused. They were like wild flowers or like tender young grass growing on a flat roof or like a field of grain before it matures. [d] 28I know all about you, even how fiercely angry you are with me. 29I have seen your pride and the tremendous hatred you have for me. Now I will put a hook in your nose, a bit in your mouth, [e] then I will send you back to where you came from. 30Hezekiah, I will tell you what's going to happen. This year you will eat crops that grow on their own, and the next year you will eat whatever springs up where those crops grew. But the third year, you will plant grain and vineyards, and you will eat what you harvest. 31Those who survive in Judah will be like a vine that puts down deep roots and bears fruit. 32I, the LORD All-Powerful, will see to it that some who live in Jerusalem will survive. 33I promise that the king of Assyria won't get into Jerusalem, or shoot an arrow into the city, or even surround it and prepare to attack. 34As surely as I am the LORD, he will return by the way he came and will never enter Jerusalem. 35I will protect it for the sake of my own honor and because of the promise I made to my servant David.
Hezekiah, you prayed to me about King Sennacherib of Assyria. [c] Now this is what I say to that king: The people of Jerusalem
hate and make fun of you;
they laugh behind your back.
23Sennacherib, you cursed,
shouted, and sneered at me,
the holy God of Israel.
24You let your officials
insult me, the Lord.
And here is what you
have said about yourself,
"I led my chariots
to the highest heights
of Lebanon's mountains.
I went deep into its forest,
cutting down the best cedar
and cypress trees.
25I dried up every stream
in the land of Egypt,
and I drank water
from wells I had dug."
26Sennacherib, now listen
to me, the LORD.
I planned all of this long ago.
And you don't even know
that I alone am the one
who decided that you
would do these things.
I let you make ruins
of fortified cities.
27Their people became weak,
terribly confused.
They were like wild flowers
or like tender young grass
growing on a flat roof
or like a field of grain
before it matures. [d] 28I know all about you,
even how fiercely angry
you are with me.
29I have seen your pride
and the tremendous hatred
you have for me.
Now I will put a hook
in your nose,
a bit in your mouth, [e] then I will send you back
to where you came from.
30Hezekiah, I will tell you what's going to happen. This year you will eat crops that grow on their own, and the next year you will eat whatever springs up where those crops grew. But the third year, you will plant grain and vineyards, and you will eat what you harvest. 31Those who survive in Judah will be like a vine that puts down deep roots and bears fruit. 32I, the LORD All-Powerful, will see to it that some who live in Jerusalem will survive.
33I promise that the king of Assyria won't get into Jerusalem, or shoot an arrow into the city, or even surround it and prepare to attack. 34As surely as I am the LORD, he will return by the way he came and will never enter Jerusalem. 35I will protect it for the sake of my own honor and because of the promise I made to my servant David.
The Death of King Sennacherib
(2 Kings 19.35-37)
36The LORD sent an angel to the camp of the Assyrians, and he killed one hundred eighty-five thousand of them all in one night. The next morning, the camp was full of dead bodies. 37After this, King Sennacherib went back to Assyria and lived in the city of Nineveh. 38One day he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch, when his sons, Adrammelech and Sharezer, killed him with their swords. They escaped to the land of Ararat, and his son Esarhaddon became king. [f]
Isaiah 38
Hezekiah Gets Sick and Almost Dies
(2 Kings 20.1-11; 2 Chronicles 32.24-26)
1About this time, Hezekiah got sick and was almost dead. So I went in and told him, "The LORD says you won't ever get well. You are going to die, and so you had better start doing what needs to be done." 2Hezekiah turned toward the wall and prayed, 3"Don't forget that I have been faithful to you, LORD. I have obeyed you with all my heart, and I do whatever you say is right." After this, he cried hard. 4Then the LORD sent me 5with this message for Hezekiah: I am the LORD God, who was worshiped by your ancestor David. I heard you pray, and I saw you cry. I will let you live fifteen years more, 6while I protect you and your city from the king of Assyria. 7Now I will prove to you that I will keep my promise. 8Do you see the shadow made by the setting sun on the stairway built for King Ahaz? I will make the shadow go back ten steps. Then the shadow went back ten steps. [g]
2Hezekiah turned toward the wall and prayed, 3"Don't forget that I have been faithful to you, LORD. I have obeyed you with all my heart, and I do whatever you say is right." After this, he cried hard.
4Then the LORD sent me 5with this message for Hezekiah:
I am the LORD God, who was worshiped by your ancestor David. I heard you pray, and I saw you cry. I will let you live fifteen years more, 6while I protect you and your city from the king of Assyria.
7Now I will prove to you that I will keep my promise. 8Do you see the shadow made by the setting sun on the stairway built for King Ahaz? I will make the shadow go back ten steps.
Then the shadow went back ten steps. [g]
King Hezekiah's Song of Praise
9This is what Hezekiah wrote after he got well: 10I thought I would die during my best years and stay as a prisoner forever in the world of the dead. 11I thought I would never again see you, my LORD, or any of the people who live on this earth. 12My life was taken from me like the tent that a shepherd pulls up and moves. You cut me off like thread from a weaver's loom; you make a wreck of me day and night. 13Until morning came, I thought you would crush my bones just like a hungry lion; both night and day you make a wreck of me. [h] 14I cry like a swallow; I mourn like a dove. My eyes are red from looking to you, LORD. I am terribly abused. Please come and help me. [i] 15There's nothing I can say in answer to you, since you are the one who has done this to me. [j] My life has turned sour; I will limp until I die. 16Your words and your deeds bring life to everyone, including me. [k] Please make me healthy and strong again. 17It was for my own good that I had such hard times. But your love protected me from doom in the deep pit, [l] and you turned your eyes away from my sins. 18No one in the world of the dead can thank you or praise you; none of those in the deep pit can hope for you to show them how faithful you are. 19Only the living can thank you, as I am doing today. Each generation tells the next about your faithfulness. [m] 20You, LORD, will save me, and every day that we live we will sing in your temple to the music of stringed instruments.
10I thought I would die
during my best years
and stay as a prisoner forever
in the world of the dead.
11I thought I would never again
see you, my LORD,
or any of the people
who live on this earth.
12My life was taken from me
like the tent that a shepherd
pulls up and moves.
You cut me off like thread
from a weaver's loom;
you make a wreck of me
day and night.
13Until morning came, I thought
you would crush my bones
just like a hungry lion;
both night and day
you make a wreck of me. [h] 14I cry like a swallow;
I mourn like a dove.
My eyes are red
from looking to you, LORD.
I am terribly abused.
Please come and help me. [i] 15There's nothing I can say
in answer to you,
since you are the one
who has done this to me. [j] My life has turned sour;
I will limp until I die.
16Your words and your deeds
bring life to everyone,
including me. [k] Please make me healthy
and strong again.
17It was for my own good
that I had such hard times.
But your love protected me
from doom in the deep pit, [l] and you turned your eyes
away from my sins.
18No one in the world of the dead
can thank you
or praise you;
none of those in the deep pit
can hope for you
to show them
how faithful you are.
19Only the living can thank you,
as I am doing today.
Each generation tells the next
about your faithfulness. [m] 20You, LORD, will save me,
and every day that we live
we will sing in your temple
to the music
of stringed instruments.
Isaiah's Advice to Hezekiah
21I had told King Hezekiah's servants to put some mashed figs on the king's open sore, and he would get well. 22Then Hezekiah asked for proof that he would again worship in the LORD's temple. Footnotes:- Isaiah 37:9 Ethiopia: See the note at 11.11.
- Isaiah 37:16 winged creatures: Two winged creatures made of gold were on the top of the sacred chest and were symbols of the LORD's throne on earth (see Exodus 25.18; 2 Samuel 6.2).
- Isaiah 37:21 Hezekiah, you prayed. . . Assyria: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- Isaiah 37:27 tender young grass. . . matures: The Standard Hebrew Text; the Dead Sea Scrolls and some Hebrew manuscripts "tender young grass, growing on a flat roof and scorched by the heat." Many of the houses had roofs made of packed earth. Grass would sometimes grow on the roof, but would die quickly because of the sun and hot winds.
- Isaiah 37:29 I will put. . . your mouth: This is how the Assyrians treated their prisoners, and now the LORD will treat Sennacherib the same way.
- Isaiah 37:38 Esarhaddon became king: He ruled Assyria 681-669 B.C.
- Isaiah 38:8 steps: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 8.
- Isaiah 38:13 of me: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 13.
- Isaiah 38:14 help me: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 14.
- Isaiah 38:15 There's. . . me: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- Isaiah 38:16 Your. . . me: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- Isaiah 38:17 deep pit: The world of the dead, as in verse 18.
- Isaiah 38:19 about your faithfulness: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text
Footnotes:
- Isaiah 37:9 Ethiopia: See the note at 11.11.
- Isaiah 37:16 winged creatures: Two winged creatures made of gold were on the top of the sacred chest and were symbols of the LORD's throne on earth (see Exodus 25.18; 2 Samuel 6.2).
- Isaiah 37:21 Hezekiah, you prayed. . . Assyria: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- Isaiah 37:27 tender young grass. . . matures: The Standard Hebrew Text; the Dead Sea Scrolls and some Hebrew manuscripts "tender young grass, growing on a flat roof and scorched by the heat." Many of the houses had roofs made of packed earth. Grass would sometimes grow on the roof, but would die quickly because of the sun and hot winds.
- Isaiah 37:29 I will put. . . your mouth: This is how the Assyrians treated their prisoners, and now the LORD will treat Sennacherib the same way.
- Isaiah 37:38 Esarhaddon became king: He ruled Assyria 681-669 B.C.
- Isaiah 38:8 steps: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 8.
- Isaiah 38:13 of me: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 13.
- Isaiah 38:14 help me: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 14.
- Isaiah 38:15 There's. . . me: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- Isaiah 38:16 Your. . . me: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- Isaiah 38:17 deep pit: The world of the dead, as in verse 18.
- Isaiah 38:19 about your faithfulness: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text
Galatians 6:1-18 (Contemporary English Version)
Galatians 6
Help Each Other
1My friends, you are spiritual. So if someone is trapped in sin, you should gently lead that person back to the right path. But watch out, and don't be tempted yourself. 2You obey the law of Christ when you offer each other a helping hand. 3If you think you are better than others, when you really aren't, you are wrong. 4Do your own work well, and then you will have something to be proud of. But don't compare yourself with others. 5We each must carry our own load. 6Share every good thing you have with anyone who teaches you what God has said. 7You cannot fool God, so don't make a fool of yourself! You will harvest what you plant. 8If you follow your selfish desires, you will harvest destruction, but if you follow the Spirit, you will harvest eternal life. 9Don't get tired of helping others. You will be rewarded when the time is right, if you don't give up. 10We should help people whenever we can, especially if they are followers of the Lord.
3If you think you are better than others, when you really aren't, you are wrong. 4Do your own work well, and then you will have something to be proud of. But don't compare yourself with others. 5We each must carry our own load.
6Share every good thing you have with anyone who teaches you what God has said.
7You cannot fool God, so don't make a fool of yourself! You will harvest what you plant. 8If you follow your selfish desires, you will harvest destruction, but if you follow the Spirit, you will harvest eternal life. 9Don't get tired of helping others. You will be rewarded when the time is right, if you don't give up. 10We should help people whenever we can, especially if they are followers of the Lord.
Final Warnings
11You can see what big letters I make when I write with my own hand. 12Those people who are telling you to get circumcised are only trying to show how important they are. And they don't want to get into trouble for preaching about the cross of Christ. 13They are circumcised, but they don't obey the Law of Moses. All they want is to brag about having you circumcised. 14But I will never brag about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of his cross, the world is dead as far as I am concerned, and I am dead as far as the world is concerned. 15It doesn't matter if you are circumcised or not. All that matters is that you are a new person. 16If you follow this rule, you will belong to God's true people. God will treat you with undeserved kindness and will bless you with peace. 17On my own body are scars that prove I belong to Christ Jesus. So I don't want anyone to bother me anymore. 18My friends, I pray that the Lord Jesus Christ will be kind to you! Amen.
12Those people who are telling you to get circumcised are only trying to show how important they are. And they don't want to get into trouble for preaching about the cross of Christ. 13They are circumcised, but they don't obey the Law of Moses. All they want is to brag about having you circumcised. 14But I will never brag about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of his cross, the world is dead as far as I am concerned, and I am dead as far as the world is concerned.
15It doesn't matter if you are circumcised or not. All that matters is that you are a new person.
16If you follow this rule, you will belong to God's true people. God will treat you with undeserved kindness and will bless you with peace.
17On my own body are scars that prove I belong to Christ Jesus. So I don't want anyone to bother me anymore.
18My friends, I pray that the Lord Jesus Christ will be kind to you! Amen.
Psalm 65:1-13 (Contemporary English Version)
Psalm 65
(A psalm by David and a song for the music leader.)
God Answers Prayer
1Our God, you deserve [a] praise in Zion, where we keep our promises to you. 2Everyone will come to you because you answer prayer. 3Our terrible sins get us down, but you forgive us. 4You bless your chosen ones, and you invite them to live near you in your temple. We will enjoy your house, the sacred temple. 5Our God, you save us, and your fearsome deeds answer our prayers for justice! You give hope to people everywhere on earth, even those across the sea. 6You are strong, and your mighty power put the mountains in place. 7You silence the roaring waves and the noisy shouts of the nations. 8People far away marvel at your fearsome deeds, and all who live under the sun celebrate and sing because of you. 9You take care of the earth and send rain to help the soil grow all kinds of crops. Your rivers never run dry, and you prepare the earth to produce much grain. 10You water all of its fields and level the lumpy ground. You send showers of rain to soften the soil and help the plants sprout. 11Wherever your footsteps touch the earth, a rich harvest is gathered. 12Desert pastures blossom, and mountains celebrate. 13Meadows are filled with sheep and goats; valleys overflow with grain and echo with joyful songs. Footnotes:- Psalm 65:1 deserve: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
where we keep
our promises to you.
2Everyone will come to you
because you answer prayer.
3Our terrible sins get us down,
but you forgive us.
4You bless your chosen ones,
and you invite them
to live near you
in your temple.
We will enjoy your house,
the sacred temple.
5Our God, you save us,
and your fearsome deeds
answer our prayers for justice!
You give hope to people
everywhere on earth,
even those across the sea.
6You are strong,
and your mighty power
put the mountains in place.
7You silence the roaring waves
and the noisy shouts
of the nations.
8People far away marvel
at your fearsome deeds,
and all who live under the sun
celebrate and sing
because of you.
9You take care of the earth
and send rain
to help the soil
grow all kinds of crops.
Your rivers never run dry,
and you prepare the earth
to produce much grain.
10You water all of its fields
and level the lumpy ground.
You send showers of rain
to soften the soil
and help the plants sprout.
11Wherever your footsteps
touch the earth,
a rich harvest is gathered.
12Desert pastures blossom,
and mountains celebrate.
13Meadows are filled
with sheep and goats;
valleys overflow with grain
and echo with joyful songs.
Footnotes:
- Psalm 65:1 deserve: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
Proverbs 23:24-25 (Contemporary English Version)
24Make your father truly happy by living right and showing sound judgment. 25Make your parents proud, especially your mother.
24Make your father truly happy
by living right
and showing
sound judgment.
25Make your parents proud,
especially your mother.
Thought for the Day
“May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” (2 Corinthians 13:14 - New International Version) I'm not sure there's anything better than wishing that we all accept Christ's grace and that we all feel God's love and that we all experience the fellowship offered by the Holy Spirit. If we have all this, we really have it all.
Thought for the Day
Quote for the Day
American television journalist, television producer, narrator, and news anchor, Bill Kurtis wrote, "Choose something you like to do. I know it's a cliché, and you've heard it over and over. But the reason is, you're going to have to work long and hard to achieve any success. You better like it or life is going to be terrible."
A Joke for Today
Quote for the Day
American television journalist, television producer, narrator, and news anchor, Bill Kurtis wrote, "Choose something you like to do. I know it's a cliché, and you've heard it over and over. But the reason is, you're going to have to work long and hard to achieve any success. You better like it or life is going to be terrible."
A Joke for Today