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The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Saturday March 16, 2019 (NIV)

Numbers 24-25

Balaam's Third Oracle

24 When Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he did not go, as at (A)other times, to look for omens, but set his face toward the wilderness. 2 And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel (B)camping tribe by tribe. And (C)the Spirit of God came upon him, 3 and he (D)took up his discourse and said,

“The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor,
the oracle of the man whose eye is opened,[a]
4 the oracle of him who hears the words of God,
who sees the vision of the Almighty,
(E)falling down with his eyes uncovered:
5 How lovely are your tents, O Jacob,
your encampments, O Israel!
6 Like palm groves[b] that stretch afar,
like gardens beside a river,
(F)like aloes (G)that the Lord has planted,
like cedar trees beside the waters.
7 Water shall flow from his buckets,
and his seed shall be (H)in many waters;
his king shall be higher than (I)Agag,
and (J)his kingdom shall be exalted.
8 God brings him out of Egypt
and is for him like the (K)horns of the wild ox;
he shall (L)eat up the nations, his adversaries,
and shall (M)break their bones in pieces
and (N)pierce them through with his arrows.
9 He crouched, he lay down like a lion
and (O)like a lioness; who will rouse him up?
(P)Blessed are those who bless you,
and cursed are those who curse you.”

10 And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he (Q)struck his hands together. And Balak said to Balaam, (R)“I called you to curse my enemies, and behold, you have blessed them these three times. 11 Therefore now flee to your own place. I said, (S)‘I will certainly honor you,’ but the Lord has held you back from honor.” 12 And Balaam said to Balak, “Did I not tell your messengers whom you sent to me, 13 (T)‘If Balak should give me his house full of silver and gold, I would not be able to go beyond the word of the Lord, to do either good or bad (U)of my own will. What the Lord speaks, that will I speak’? 14 And now, behold, I am going to my people. Come, (V)I will let you know what this people will do to your people (W)in the latter days.”

Balaam's Final Oracle

15 (X)And he took up his discourse and said,

“The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor,
the oracle of the man whose eye is opened,
16 the oracle of him who hears the words of God,
and knows the knowledge of (Y)the Most High,
who sees the vision of the Almighty,
(Z)falling down with his eyes uncovered:
17 (AA)I see him, but not now;
I behold him, but not near:
(AB)a star shall come out of Jacob,
and (AC)a scepter shall rise out of Israel;
it shall (AD)crush the forehead[c] of Moab
and break down all the sons of Sheth.
18 (AE)Edom shall be dispossessed;
(AF)Seir also, his enemies, shall be dispossessed.
Israel is doing valiantly.
19 And one from Jacob shall exercise dominion
and destroy the survivors of cities!”

20 Then he looked on Amalek and (AG)took up his discourse and said,

“Amalek was the first among the nations,
(AH)but its end is utter destruction.”

21 And he looked on the Kenite, and took up his discourse and said,

“Enduring is your dwelling place,
and your nest is set in the rock.
22 Nevertheless, Kain shall be burned
when Asshur takes you away captive.”

23 And he took up his discourse and said,

“Alas, who shall live when God does this?
24 But ships shall come from (AI)Kittim
and shall afflict Asshur and (AJ)Eber;
and he too (AK)shall come to utter destruction.”

25 Then Balaam rose and (AL)went back to his place. And Balak also went his way.

Baal Worship at Peor

25 While Israel lived in (AM)Shittim, (AN)the people began to whore with the daughters of Moab. 2 (AO)These invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. 3 So Israel yoked himself to Baal of Peor. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel. 4 And the Lord said to Moses, (AP)“Take all the chiefs of the people and (AQ)hang[d] them in the sun before the Lord, (AR)that the fierce anger of the Lord may turn away from Israel.” 5 And Moses said to (AS)the judges of Israel, (AT)“Each of you kill those of his men who have yoked themselves to Baal of Peor.”

6 And behold, one of the people of Israel came and brought a Midianite woman to his family, in the sight of Moses and in the sight of the whole congregation of the people of Israel, while they were (AU)weeping in the entrance of the tent of meeting. 7 (AV)When Phinehas (AW)the son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose and left the congregation and took a spear in his hand 8 and went after the man of Israel into the chamber and pierced both of them, the man of Israel and the woman through her belly. Thus the plague on the people of Israel was stopped. 9 Nevertheless, (AX)those who died by the plague were twenty-four thousand.

The Zeal of Phinehas

10 And the Lord said to Moses, 11 “Phinehas the son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, has turned back my wrath from the people of Israel, in that he (AY)was jealous with my jealousy among them, so that I did not consume the people of Israel in (AZ)my jealousy. 12 Therefore say, (BA)‘Behold, I give to him my covenant of peace, 13 and it shall be to him and to (BB)his descendants after him the covenant of (BC)a perpetual priesthood, because he was jealous for his God and made atonement for the people of Israel.’”

14 The name of the slain man of Israel, who was killed with the Midianite woman, was Zimri the son of Salu, chief of a father's house belonging to the Simeonites. 15 And the name of the Midianite woman who was killed was Cozbi the daughter of (BD)Zur, who was the tribal head of a father's house in Midian.

16 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 17 (BE)“Harass the Midianites and strike them down, 18 for they have harassed you with their (BF)wiles, with which they beguiled you in the matter of (BG)Peor, and in the matter of Cozbi, the daughter of the chief of Midian, their sister, who was killed on the day of the plague on account of Peor.”

Footnotes:

  1. Numbers 24:3 Or closed, or perfect; also verse 15
  2. Numbers 24:6 Or valleys
  3. Numbers 24:17 Hebrew corners [of the head]
  4. Numbers 25:4 Or impale

Cross references:

  1. Numbers 24:1 : ch. 23:3, 15
  2. Numbers 24:2 : See ch. 2:22-31
  3. Numbers 24:2 : Judg. 3:10; 1 Sam. 19:20, 23; 2 Chr. 15:1; 20:14
  4. Numbers 24:3 : See ch. 23:7
  5. Numbers 24:4 : [Ezek. 1:28; 3:23; Rev. 1:10, 17]
  6. Numbers 24:6 : [Ps. 1:3; Jer. 17:8]
  7. Numbers 24:6 : Ps. 104:16; Isa. 61:3
  8. Numbers 24:7 : [Jer. 51:13; Rev. 17:1]
  9. Numbers 24:7 : 1 Sam. 15:8
  10. Numbers 24:7 : 2 Sam. 5:12; 1 Chr. 14:2
  11. Numbers 24:8 : See ch. 23:22
  12. Numbers 24:8 : [ch. 14:9; 23:24]
  13. Numbers 24:8 : Isa. 38:13; Jer. 50:17
  14. Numbers 24:8 : Ps. 45:5; Jer. 50:9
  15. Numbers 24:9 : ch. 23:24; Gen. 49:9
  16. Numbers 24:9 : Gen. 12:3; 27:29
  17. Numbers 24:10 : [Job 27:23; Lam. 2:15; Ezek. 21:14, 17; 22:13]
  18. Numbers 24:10 : See ch. 23:11
  19. Numbers 24:11 : ch. 22:17, 37
  20. Numbers 24:13 : ch. 22:18
  21. Numbers 24:13 : See ch. 16:28
  22. Numbers 24:14 : [Mic. 6:5; Rev. 2:14]
  23. Numbers 24:14 : See Gen. 49:1
  24. Numbers 24:15 : [ch. 21:27]; See ch. 23:7
  25. Numbers 24:16 : Acts 7:48
  26. Numbers 24:16 : See ver. 4
  27. Numbers 24:17 : [ch. 23:9]
  28. Numbers 24:17 : Matt. 2:2; Rev. 22:16
  29. Numbers 24:17 : Gen. 49:10
  30. Numbers 24:17 : Jer. 48:45; [2 Sam. 8:2]
  31. Numbers 24:18 : [2 Sam. 8:14; Ps. 60:8, 9; Amos 9:12]
  32. Numbers 24:18 : Gen. 32:3; 36:8
  33. Numbers 24:20 : See ch. 23:7
  34. Numbers 24:20 : [Ex. 17:14; 1 Sam. 15:3, 8]
  35. Numbers 24:24 : Gen. 10:4; Dan. 11:30
  36. Numbers 24:24 : Gen. 10:21, 25
  37. Numbers 24:24 : ver. 20
  38. Numbers 24:25 : [ch. 31:8]
  39. Numbers 25:1 : ch. 33:49; Josh. 2:1; 3:1; Mic. 6:5
  40. Numbers 25:1 : [ch. 31:16]
  41. Numbers 25:2 : Ex. 34:15, 16; Josh. 22:17; Ps. 106:28; Hos. 9:10; [1 Cor. 10:20]
  42. Numbers 25:4 : See Deut. 4:3
  43. Numbers 25:4 : [Deut. 21:23; 2 Sam. 21:6; Gal. 3:13]
  44. Numbers 25:4 : ver. 11; Deut. 13:17
  45. Numbers 25:5 : [ch. 11:16; Ex. 18:21, 25]
  46. Numbers 25:5 : [Ex. 32:27]
  47. Numbers 25:6 : Joel 2:17
  48. Numbers 25:7 : Ps. 106:30
  49. Numbers 25:7 : Ex. 6:25
  50. Numbers 25:9 : Deut. 4:3; [1 Cor. 10:8]
  51. Numbers 25:11 : [2 Cor. 11:2]
  52. Numbers 25:11 : Deut. 32:16, 21; 1 Kgs. 14:22; Ps. 78:58; Zeph. 1:18; 3:8; 1 Cor. 10:22; [Ex. 20:5]
  53. Numbers 25:12 : Mal. 2:4, 5
  54. Numbers 25:13 : See 1 Chr. 6:4-15
  55. Numbers 25:13 : Ex. 40:15
  56. Numbers 25:15 : ch. 31:8; Josh. 13:21
  57. Numbers 25:17 : ch. 31:2, 7
  58. Numbers 25:18 : ch. 31:16; Rev. 2:14
  59. Numbers 25:18 : See ch. 23:28
English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Luke 2:1-35

The Birth of Jesus Christ

2 In those days (A)a decree went out from (B)Caesar Augustus that all the world should be (C)registered. 2 This was the first (D)registration when[a] Quirinius (E)was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up (F)from Galilee, from the town of (G)Nazareth, to Judea, to (H)the city of David, which is called (I)Bethlehem, (J)because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed,[b] who was with child. 6 And (K)while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and (L)wrapped him in swaddling cloths and (M)laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in (N)the inn.[c]

The Shepherds and the Angels

8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord (O)appeared to them, and (P)the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all (Q)the people. 11 For (R)unto you is born this day in (S)the city of David (T)a Savior, who is (U)Christ (V)the Lord. 12 And (W)this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby (X)wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel (Y)a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

14 (Z)“Glory to God (AA)in the highest,
(AB)and on earth (AC)peace (AD)among those with whom he is pleased!”[d]

15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby (AE)lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But (AF)Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, (AG)glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

21 And (AH)at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, (AI)he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

Jesus Presented at the Temple

22 And (AJ)when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem (AK)to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in (AL)the Law of the Lord, (AM)“Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in (AN)the Law of the Lord, (AO)“a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was (AP)righteous and (AQ)devout, (AR)waiting for (AS)the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not (AT)see death before he had seen (AU)the Lord's Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when (AV)the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28 he took him up in his arms and (AW)blessed God and said,

29 “Lord, now you are letting your servant[e] depart (AX)in peace,
(AY)according to your word;
30 for (AZ)my eyes have seen your (BA)salvation
31 (BB)that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 (BC)a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and (BD)for glory to (BE)your people Israel.”

33 And (BF)his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed (BG)for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign (BH)that is opposed 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

Footnotes:

  1. Luke 2:2 Or This was the registration before
  2. Luke 2:5 That is, one legally pledged to be married
  3. Luke 2:7 Or guest room
  4. Luke 2:14 Some manuscripts peace, good will among men
  5. Luke 2:29 Or bondservant

Cross references:

  1. Luke 2:1 : Acts 17:7
  2. Luke 2:1 : [ch. 3:1]
  3. Luke 2:1 : [Acts 5:37]
  4. Luke 2:2 : [See ver. 1 above]; [Acts 5:37]
  5. Luke 2:2 : ch. 3:1
  6. Luke 2:4 : ch. 1:26
  7. Luke 2:4 : See Matt. 2:23
  8. Luke 2:4 : ver. 11; John 7:42; [1 Sam. 16:1]
  9. Luke 2:4 : Matt. 2:1
  10. Luke 2:4 : ch. 1:27
  11. Luke 2:6 : [See ver. 4 above]; ch. 1:27
  12. Luke 2:7 : ver. 12
  13. Luke 2:7 : ver. 16
  14. Luke 2:7 : ch. 22:11 (Gk.)
  15. Luke 2:9 : ch. 24:4; Acts 12:7
  16. Luke 2:9 : ch. 9:31; Acts 7:55; 2 Cor. 3:18
  17. Luke 2:10 : ver. 32; John 11:50; [Zech. 9:9]
  18. Luke 2:11 : Isa. 9:6
  19. Luke 2:11 : ver. 4
  20. Luke 2:11 : Matt. 1:21; John 4:42
  21. Luke 2:11 : Acts 2:36; 10:36; [ch. 23:2]; See Matt. 1:17
  22. Luke 2:11 : [ch. 1:43]
  23. Luke 2:12 : 1 Sam. 2:34; 2 Kgs. 19:29; 20:8, 9; Isa. 7:11, 14
  24. Luke 2:12 : ver. 7
  25. Luke 2:13 : Gen. 28:12; 32:1, 2; 1 Kgs. 22:19; 2 Chr. 18:18; Ps. 103:21; 148:2; Dan. 7:10; Rev. 5:11
  26. Luke 2:14 : ch. 19:38; [Ps. 148:1; Matt. 21:9]
  27. Luke 2:14 : [ch. 10:21; Matt. 6:10; 28:18; John 17:4; Acts 7:49; Eph. 3:15; Col. 1:16, 20; Rev. 5:13]
  28. Luke 2:14 : [ch. 10:21; Matt. 6:10; 28:18; John 17:4; Acts 7:49; Eph. 3:15; Col. 1:16, 20; Rev. 5:13]
  29. Luke 2:14 : ch. 1:79; Ps. 85:10; Isa. 9:6, 7; Hag. 2:9; Acts 10:36; Rom. 5:1; Eph. 2:14, 17; Col. 1:20
  30. Luke 2:14 : [ch. 3:22; 12:32; Eph. 1:5, 9; Phil. 2:13]
  31. Luke 2:16 : ver. 7, 12
  32. Luke 2:19 : ver. 51; [ch. 1:66; Gen. 37:11]
  33. Luke 2:20 : See ch. 7:16
  34. Luke 2:21 : See ch. 1:59
  35. Luke 2:21 : ch. 1:31; Matt. 1:21, 25
  36. Luke 2:22 : Lev. 12; [ver. 21, 27; Gal. 4:4]
  37. Luke 2:22 : [1 Sam. 1:22, 24]
  38. Luke 2:23 : ver. 39; Ex. 13:9; 2 Chr. 31:3
  39. Luke 2:23 : [Ex. 13:2, 12]
  40. Luke 2:24 : [See ver. 23 above]; ver. 39; Ex. 13:9; 2 Chr. 31:3
  41. Luke 2:24 : Cited from Lev. 12:8
  42. Luke 2:25 : ch. 1:6
  43. Luke 2:25 : Acts 2:5; 8:2; 22:12
  44. Luke 2:25 : ver. 38; ch. 23:51; Isa. 25:9; Mark 15:43; [Gen. 49:18]
  45. Luke 2:25 : Isa. 40:1; 57:18
  46. Luke 2:26 : Ps. 89:48; John 8:51; Heb. 11:5; [Acts 2:27]
  47. Luke 2:26 : [ch. 9:20; 23:35; 1 Sam. 24:6]
  48. Luke 2:27 : ver. 33, 41, 43, 48-51
  49. Luke 2:28 : ch. 1:64
  50. Luke 2:29 : Gen. 15:15
  51. Luke 2:29 : ver. 26
  52. Luke 2:30 : Isa. 52:10
  53. Luke 2:30 : See ch. 3:6
  54. Luke 2:31 : Ps. 98:2; See ch. 24:47
  55. Luke 2:32 : Isa. 42:6; 49:6; 52:10; 60:3; John 8:12; Acts 13:47; 26:23
  56. Luke 2:32 : [Isa. 45:25; 46:13]
  57. Luke 2:32 : ver. 10
  58. Luke 2:33 : ver. 27
  59. Luke 2:34 : [Isa. 8:14; Matt. 21:44; John 9:39; 1 Cor. 1:23, 24; 2 Cor. 2:16; 1 Pet. 2:8, 9]
  60. Luke 2:34 : Acts 28:22
English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Psalm 59

Deliver Me from My Enemies

To the choirmaster: according to (A)Do Not Destroy. A (B)Miktam[a] of David, (C)when Saul sent men to watch his house in order to kill him.

59 (D)Deliver me from my enemies, O my God;
(E)protect me from those who (F)rise up against me;
2 deliver me from (G)those who work evil,
and save me from (H)bloodthirsty men.

3 For behold, they (I)lie in wait for my life;
fierce men (J)stir up strife against me.
(K)For no transgression or sin of mine, O Lord,
4 for no fault of mine, they run and make ready.
(L)Awake, come to meet me, and see!
5 You, (M)Lord God of hosts, are God of Israel.
Rouse yourself to punish all the nations;
spare none of those who treacherously plot evil. Selah

6 Each evening they (N)come back,
howling like dogs
and prowling about the city.
7 There they are, (O)bellowing with their mouths
with (P)swords in their lips—
for (Q)“Who,” they think,[b] “will hear us?”

8 But you, O Lord, (R)laugh at them;
you hold all the nations in derision.
9 O my Strength, I will watch for you,
for you, O God, are (S)my fortress.
10 (T)My God in his steadfast love[c] (U)will meet me;
God will let me (V)look in triumph on my enemies.

11 Kill them not, lest my people forget;
make them totter[d] by your power and (W)bring them down,
O Lord, our (X)shield!
12 For (Y)the sin of their mouths, the words of their lips,
let them be trapped in their pride.
For the cursing and lies that they utter,
13 (Z)consume them in wrath;
consume them till they are no more,
that they may (AA)know that God rules over Jacob
to (AB)the ends of the earth. Selah

14 (AC)Each evening they come back,
howling like dogs
and prowling about the city.
15 They (AD)wander about for food
and growl if they do not get their fill.

16 But I will sing of your strength;
I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning.
For you have been to me (AE)a fortress
and (AF)a refuge in (AG)the day of my distress.
17 O my Strength, I will sing praises to you,
for you, O God, (AH)are my fortress,
(AI)the God who shows me steadfast love.

Footnotes:

  1. Psalm 59:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term
  2. Psalm 59:7 Hebrew lacks they think
  3. Psalm 59:10 Or The God who shows me steadfast love
  4. Psalm 59:11 Or wander

Cross references:

  1. Psalm 59:1 : Ps. 57, title
  2. Psalm 59:1 : Ps. 16, title
  3. Psalm 59:1 : [1 Sam. 19:11]
  4. Psalm 59:1 : Ps. 143:9; [Ps. 18:48]
  5. Psalm 59:1 : See Ps. 20:1
  6. Psalm 59:1 : See Ps. 17:7
  7. Psalm 59:2 : Ps. 94:4
  8. Psalm 59:2 : Ps. 5:6
  9. Psalm 59:3 : Ps. 10:9
  10. Psalm 59:3 : See Ps. 56:6
  11. Psalm 59:3 : 1 Sam. 24:11; [Ps. 7:3; 69:4]
  12. Psalm 59:4 : See Ps. 35:23
  13. Psalm 59:5 : Ps. 80:4; 84:8
  14. Psalm 59:6 : [Ps. 22:16]
  15. Psalm 59:7 : Prov. 15:2, 28; [Ps. 94:4]
  16. Psalm 59:7 : See Ps. 57:4
  17. Psalm 59:7 : See Job 22:13
  18. Psalm 59:8 : See Ps. 2:4
  19. Psalm 59:9 : ver. 16, 17; See Ps. 9:9
  20. Psalm 59:10 : ver. 17
  21. Psalm 59:10 : Ps. 21:3
  22. Psalm 59:10 : See Ps. 54:7
  23. Psalm 59:11 : See Ps. 55:23
  24. Psalm 59:11 : See Ps. 3:3
  25. Psalm 59:12 : See Prov. 12:13
  26. Psalm 59:13 : [Ps. 7:9]
  27. Psalm 59:13 : Ps. 83:18
  28. Psalm 59:13 : Ps. 22:27
  29. Psalm 59:14 : [Ps. 22:16]
  30. Psalm 59:15 : Ps. 109:10; Job 15:23
  31. Psalm 59:16 : ver. 9
  32. Psalm 59:16 : 2 Sam. 22:3
  33. Psalm 59:16 : Ps. 18:6
  34. Psalm 59:17 : [See ver. 16 above]; ver. 9
  35. Psalm 59:17 : ver. 10
English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Proverbs 11:14

14 Where there is (A)no guidance, a people falls,
(B)but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.

Cross references:

  1. Proverbs 11:14 : ch. 15:22; 20:18; 24:6
  2. Proverbs 11:14 : ch. 15:22; 20:18; 24:6
English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.