The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Sunday March 7, 2021 (NIV)

Numbers 8-9

Setting Up the Lamps

The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to Aaron and say to him, ‘When you set up the lamps, see that all seven light up the area in front of the lampstand.(A)’”

Aaron did so; he set up the lamps so that they faced forward on the lampstand, just as the Lord commanded Moses. This is how the lampstand was made: It was made of hammered gold(B)—from its base to its blossoms. The lampstand was made exactly like the pattern(C) the Lord had shown Moses.

The Setting Apart of the Levites

The Lord said to Moses: “Take the Levites from among all the Israelites and make them ceremonially clean.(D) To purify them, do this: Sprinkle the water of cleansing(E) on them; then have them shave their whole bodies(F) and wash their clothes.(G) And so they will purify themselves.(H) Have them take a young bull with its grain offering of the finest flour mixed with olive oil;(I) then you are to take a second young bull for a sin offering.[a](J) Bring the Levites to the front of the tent of meeting(K) and assemble the whole Israelite community.(L) 10 You are to bring the Levites before the Lord, and the Israelites are to lay their hands on them.(M) 11 Aaron is to present the Levites before the Lord as a wave offering(N) from the Israelites, so that they may be ready to do the work of the Lord.

12 “Then the Levites are to lay their hands on the heads of the bulls,(O) using one for a sin offering(P) to the Lord and the other for a burnt offering,(Q) to make atonement(R) for the Levites. 13 Have the Levites stand in front of Aaron and his sons and then present them as a wave offering(S) to the Lord. 14 In this way you are to set the Levites apart from the other Israelites, and the Levites will be mine.(T)

15 “After you have purified the Levites and presented them as a wave offering,(U) they are to come to do their work at the tent of meeting.(V) 16 They are the Israelites who are to be given wholly to me. I have taken them as my own in place of the firstborn,(W) the first male offspring(X) from every Israelite woman. 17 Every firstborn male in Israel, whether human or animal,(Y) is mine. When I struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, I set them apart for myself.(Z) 18 And I have taken the Levites in place of all the firstborn sons in Israel.(AA) 19 From among all the Israelites, I have given the Levites as gifts to Aaron and his sons(AB) to do the work at the tent of meeting on behalf of the Israelites(AC) and to make atonement for them(AD) so that no plague will strike the Israelites when they go near the sanctuary.”

20 Moses, Aaron and the whole Israelite community did with the Levites just as the Lord commanded Moses. 21 The Levites purified themselves and washed their clothes.(AE) Then Aaron presented them as a wave offering before the Lord and made atonement(AF) for them to purify them.(AG) 22 After that, the Levites came to do their work(AH) at the tent of meeting under the supervision of Aaron and his sons. They did with the Levites just as the Lord commanded Moses.

23 The Lord said to Moses, 24 “This applies to the Levites: Men twenty-five years old or more(AI) shall come to take part in the work at the tent of meeting,(AJ) 25 but at the age of fifty,(AK) they must retire from their regular service and work no longer. 26 They may assist their brothers in performing their duties at the tent of meeting, but they themselves must not do the work.(AL) This, then, is how you are to assign the responsibilities of the Levites.”

The Passover

The Lord spoke to Moses in the Desert of Sinai in the first month(AM) of the second year after they came out of Egypt.(AN) He said, “Have the Israelites celebrate the Passover(AO) at the appointed time.(AP) Celebrate it at the appointed time, at twilight on the fourteenth day of this month,(AQ) in accordance with all its rules and regulations.(AR)

So Moses told the Israelites to celebrate the Passover,(AS) and they did so in the Desert of Sinai(AT) at twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month.(AU) The Israelites did everything just as the Lord commanded Moses.(AV)

But some of them could not celebrate the Passover on that day because they were ceremonially unclean(AW) on account of a dead body.(AX) So they came to Moses and Aaron(AY) that same day and said to Moses, “We have become unclean because of a dead body, but why should we be kept from presenting the Lord’s offering with the other Israelites at the appointed time?(AZ)

Moses answered them, “Wait until I find out what the Lord commands concerning you.”(BA)

Then the Lord said to Moses, 10 “Tell the Israelites: ‘When any of you or your descendants are unclean because of a dead body(BB) or are away on a journey, they are still to celebrate(BC) the Lord’s Passover, 11 but they are to do it on the fourteenth day of the second month(BD) at twilight. They are to eat the lamb, together with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.(BE) 12 They must not leave any of it till morning(BF) or break any of its bones.(BG) When they celebrate the Passover, they must follow all the regulations.(BH) 13 But if anyone who is ceremonially clean and not on a journey fails to celebrate the Passover, they must be cut off from their people(BI) for not presenting the Lord’s offering at the appointed time. They will bear the consequences of their sin.

14 “‘A foreigner(BJ) residing among you is also to celebrate the Lord’s Passover in accordance with its rules and regulations. You must have the same regulations for both the foreigner and the native-born.’”

The Cloud Above the Tabernacle

15 On the day the tabernacle, the tent of the covenant law,(BK) was set up,(BL) the cloud(BM) covered it. From evening till morning the cloud above the tabernacle looked like fire.(BN) 16 That is how it continued to be; the cloud covered it, and at night it looked like fire.(BO) 17 Whenever the cloud lifted from above the tent, the Israelites set out;(BP) wherever the cloud settled, the Israelites encamped.(BQ) 18 At the Lord’s command the Israelites set out, and at his command they encamped. As long as the cloud stayed over the tabernacle, they remained(BR) in camp. 19 When the cloud remained over the tabernacle a long time, the Israelites obeyed the Lord’s order(BS) and did not set out.(BT) 20 Sometimes the cloud was over the tabernacle only a few days; at the Lord’s command they would encamp, and then at his command they would set out. 21 Sometimes the cloud stayed only from evening till morning, and when it lifted in the morning, they set out. Whether by day or by night, whenever the cloud lifted, they set out. 22 Whether the cloud stayed over the tabernacle for two days or a month or a year, the Israelites would remain in camp and not set out; but when it lifted, they would set out. 23 At the Lord’s command they encamped, and at the Lord’s command they set out. They obeyed the Lord’s order, in accordance with his command through Moses.

Footnotes:

  1. Numbers 8:8 Or purification offering; also in verse 12

Cross references:

  1. Numbers 8:2 : Ex 25:37
  2. Numbers 8:4 : S Ex 25:18, 36
  3. Numbers 8:4 : S Ex 25:9
  4. Numbers 8:6 : Lev 22:2; Isa 1:16; 52:11
  5. Numbers 8:7 : Nu 19:9, 17; 31:23
  6. Numbers 8:7 : S Lev 14:9; Nu 6:9; Dt 21:12
  7. Numbers 8:7 : S Ge 35:2; Lev 14:8
  8. Numbers 8:7 : S Ge 35:2
  9. Numbers 8:8 : Lev 2:1; Nu 15:8-10
  10. Numbers 8:8 : Lev 4:3
  11. Numbers 8:9 : Ex 40:12
  12. Numbers 8:9 : Lev 8:3
  13. Numbers 8:10 : S Lev 3:2; Ac 6:6
  14. Numbers 8:11 : S Ex 29:24
  15. Numbers 8:12 : S Ex 29:10
  16. Numbers 8:12 : Lev 4:3; Nu 6:11
  17. Numbers 8:12 : Lev 1:3
  18. Numbers 8:12 : S Ex 29:36
  19. Numbers 8:13 : S Ex 29:24
  20. Numbers 8:14 : S Nu 3:12
  21. Numbers 8:15 : S Ex 29:24
  22. Numbers 8:15 : Ex 40:2
  23. Numbers 8:16 : Nu 1:20
  24. Numbers 8:16 : S Nu 3:12
  25. Numbers 8:17 : S Ex 4:23
  26. Numbers 8:17 : S Ex 13:2; S Ex 22:29
  27. Numbers 8:18 : S Nu 3:12
  28. Numbers 8:19 : S Nu 3:9
  29. Numbers 8:19 : S Nu 3:7
  30. Numbers 8:19 : Nu 16:46
  31. Numbers 8:21 : ver 7; S Ge 35:2
  32. Numbers 8:21 : Nu 16:47
  33. Numbers 8:21 : ver 12
  34. Numbers 8:22 : ver 11
  35. Numbers 8:24 : 1Ch 23:3
  36. Numbers 8:24 : S Ex 38:21
  37. Numbers 8:25 : S Nu 4:3
  38. Numbers 8:26 : ver 11
  39. Numbers 9:1 : S Ex 40:2
  40. Numbers 9:1 : Nu 1:1
  41. Numbers 9:2 : S Ex 12:11
  42. Numbers 9:2 : ver 7
  43. Numbers 9:3 : S Ex 12:6, 42
  44. Numbers 9:3 : Ex 12:2-11, 43-49; Lev 23:5-8; Dt 16:1-8
  45. Numbers 9:4 : ver 2; S Ex 12:11
  46. Numbers 9:5 : ver 1
  47. Numbers 9:5 : S Ex 12:6
  48. Numbers 9:5 : ver 3
  49. Numbers 9:6 : S Lev 5:3; S 13:3
  50. Numbers 9:6 : S Lev 21:11
  51. Numbers 9:6 : Ex 18:15; Nu 27:2
  52. Numbers 9:7 : ver 2
  53. Numbers 9:8 : Ex 18:15; Lev 24:12; Nu 15:34; 27:5, 21; Ps 85:8
  54. Numbers 9:10 : ver 6
  55. Numbers 9:10 : 2Ch 30:2
  56. Numbers 9:11 : S Ex 12:6
  57. Numbers 9:11 : Ex 12:8
  58. Numbers 9:12 : S Ex 12:8
  59. Numbers 9:12 : S Ex 12:46; Jn 19:36*
  60. Numbers 9:12 : ver 3
  61. Numbers 9:13 : S Ge 17:14
  62. Numbers 9:14 : S Ex 12:19, 43
  63. Numbers 9:15 : S Ex 38:21
  64. Numbers 9:15 : S Ex 26:30
  65. Numbers 9:15 : S Ex 33:16
  66. Numbers 9:15 : Ex 13:21
  67. Numbers 9:16 : S Ex 40:38
  68. Numbers 9:17 : ver 21
  69. Numbers 9:17 : 1Co 10:1
  70. Numbers 9:18 : Ex 40:37
  71. Numbers 9:19 : S Lev 8:35
  72. Numbers 9:19 : Ex 40:37
New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Mark 13:14-37

14 “When you see ‘the abomination that causes desolation’[a](A) standing where it[b] does not belong—let the reader understand—then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 15 Let no one on the housetop go down or enter the house to take anything out. 16 Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak. 17 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers!(B) 18 Pray that this will not take place in winter, 19 because those will be days of distress unequaled from the beginning, when God created the world,(C) until now—and never to be equaled again.(D)

20 “If the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would survive. But for the sake of the elect, whom he has chosen, he has shortened them. 21 At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it.(E) 22 For false messiahs and false prophets(F) will appear and perform signs and wonders(G) to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 23 So be on your guard;(H) I have told you everything ahead of time.

24 “But in those days, following that distress,

“‘the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light;
25 the stars will fall from the sky,
and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’[c](I)

26 “At that time people will see the Son of Man coming in clouds(J) with great power and glory. 27 And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens.(K)

28 “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 29 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it[d] is near, right at the door. 30 Truly I tell you, this generation(L) will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.(M) 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.(N)

The Day and Hour Unknown

32 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.(O) 33 Be on guard! Be alert[e]!(P) You do not know when that time will come. 34 It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants(Q) in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.

35 “Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. 36 If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. 37 What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’”(R)

Footnotes:

  1. Mark 13:14 Daniel 9:27; 11:31; 12:11
  2. Mark 13:14 Or he
  3. Mark 13:25 Isaiah 13:10; 34:4
  4. Mark 13:29 Or he
  5. Mark 13:33 Some manuscripts alert and pray
New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Psalm 50

Psalm 50

A psalm of Asaph.

The Mighty One, God, the Lord,(A)
speaks and summons the earth
from the rising of the sun to where it sets.(B)
From Zion,(C) perfect in beauty,(D)
God shines forth.(E)
Our God comes(F)
and will not be silent;(G)
a fire devours(H) before him,(I)
and around him a tempest(J) rages.
He summons the heavens above,
and the earth,(K) that he may judge his people:(L)
“Gather to me this consecrated people,(M)
who made a covenant(N) with me by sacrifice.”
And the heavens proclaim(O) his righteousness,
for he is a God of justice.[a][b](P)

“Listen, my people, and I will speak;
I will testify(Q) against you, Israel:
I am God, your God.(R)
I bring no charges(S) against you concerning your sacrifices
or concerning your burnt offerings,(T) which are ever before me.
I have no need of a bull(U) from your stall
or of goats(V) from your pens,(W)
10 for every animal of the forest(X) is mine,
and the cattle on a thousand hills.(Y)
11 I know every bird(Z) in the mountains,
and the insects in the fields(AA) are mine.
12 If I were hungry I would not tell you,
for the world(AB) is mine, and all that is in it.(AC)
13 Do I eat the flesh of bulls
or drink the blood of goats?

14 “Sacrifice thank offerings(AD) to God,
fulfill your vows(AE) to the Most High,(AF)
15 and call(AG) on me in the day of trouble;(AH)
I will deliver(AI) you, and you will honor(AJ) me.”

16 But to the wicked person, God says:

“What right have you to recite my laws
or take my covenant(AK) on your lips?(AL)
17 You hate(AM) my instruction
and cast my words behind(AN) you.
18 When you see a thief, you join(AO) with him;
you throw in your lot with adulterers.(AP)
19 You use your mouth for evil
and harness your tongue to deceit.(AQ)
20 You sit and testify against your brother(AR)
and slander your own mother’s son.
21 When you did these things and I kept silent,(AS)
you thought I was exactly[c] like you.
But I now arraign(AT) you
and set my accusations(AU) before you.

22 “Consider this, you who forget God,(AV)
or I will tear you to pieces, with no one to rescue you:(AW)
23 Those who sacrifice thank offerings honor me,
and to the blameless[d] I will show my salvation.(AX)

Footnotes:

  1. Psalm 50:6 With a different word division of the Hebrew; Masoretic Text for God himself is judge
  2. Psalm 50:6 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
  3. Psalm 50:21 Or thought the ‘I am’ was
  4. Psalm 50:23 Probable reading of the original Hebrew text; the meaning of the Masoretic Text for this phrase is uncertain.

Cross references:

  1. Psalm 50:1 : Jos 22:22
  2. Psalm 50:1 : Ps 113:3
  3. Psalm 50:2 : Ps 2:6
  4. Psalm 50:2 : S Ps 48:2; S La 2:15
  5. Psalm 50:2 : S Dt 33:2
  6. Psalm 50:3 : Ps 96:13
  7. Psalm 50:3 : ver 21; Isa 42:14; 64:12; 65:6
  8. Psalm 50:3 : S Lev 10:2
  9. Psalm 50:3 : S Ps 18:8
  10. Psalm 50:3 : Job 37:9; Ps 83:15; 107:25; 147:18; Isa 29:6; 30:28; Jnh 1:4; Na 1:3
  11. Psalm 50:4 : Dt 4:26; 31:28; Isa 1:2
  12. Psalm 50:4 : Heb 10:30
  13. Psalm 50:5 : S Dt 7:6; S Ps 18:25
  14. Psalm 50:5 : Ex 24:7; S 2Ch 6:11
  15. Psalm 50:6 : S Ps 19:1
  16. Psalm 50:6 : S Ge 16:5; S Job 9:15
  17. Psalm 50:7 : Heb 2:4
  18. Psalm 50:7 : Ex 20:2; Ps 48:14
  19. Psalm 50:8 : S 2Sa 22:16
  20. Psalm 50:8 : S Ps 40:6
  21. Psalm 50:9 : S Lev 1:5
  22. Psalm 50:9 : S Lev 16:5
  23. Psalm 50:9 : S Nu 32:16
  24. Psalm 50:10 : Ps 104:20; Isa 56:9; Mic 5:8
  25. Psalm 50:10 : Ps 104:24
  26. Psalm 50:11 : Mt 6:26
  27. Psalm 50:11 : Ps 8:7; 80:13
  28. Psalm 50:12 : Ex 19:5
  29. Psalm 50:12 : Dt 10:14; S Jos 3:11; Ps 24:1; 1Co 10:26
  30. Psalm 50:14 : S Ezr 1:4; S Ps 27:6
  31. Psalm 50:14 : S Nu 30:2; S Ps 66:13; 76:11
  32. Psalm 50:14 : Ps 7:8
  33. Psalm 50:15 : Ps 4:1; 81:7; Isa 55:6; 58:9; Zec 13:9
  34. Psalm 50:15 : Ps 69:17; 86:7; 107:6; 142:2; Jas 5:13
  35. Psalm 50:15 : Ps 3:7
  36. Psalm 50:15 : S Ps 22:23
  37. Psalm 50:16 : Ps 25:10
  38. Psalm 50:16 : Isa 29:13
  39. Psalm 50:17 : Pr 1:22
  40. Psalm 50:17 : S 1Ki 14:9
  41. Psalm 50:18 : Ro 1:32; 1Ti 5:22
  42. Psalm 50:18 : S Job 22:15
  43. Psalm 50:19 : Ps 10:7; 36:3; 52:2; 101:7
  44. Psalm 50:20 : Mt 10:21
  45. Psalm 50:21 : Isa 42:14; 57:11; 62:1; 64:12
  46. Psalm 50:21 : Ps 6:1; S 18:15; 76:6; 104:7; Isa 50:2
  47. Psalm 50:21 : Ps 85:5; Isa 57:16
  48. Psalm 50:22 : S Job 8:13; S Isa 17:10
  49. Psalm 50:22 : S Dt 32:39; Mic 5:8
  50. Psalm 50:23 : S Ps 9:14; 91:16; 98:3; Isa 52:10
New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Proverbs 10:29-30

29 The way of the Lord is a refuge for the blameless,
but it is the ruin of those who do evil.(A)

30 The righteous will never be uprooted,
but the wicked will not remain in the land.(B)

New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.