The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Saturday May 8, 2021 (NIV)

1 Samuel 2:22-4

22 Now Eli, who was very old, heard about everything(A) his sons were doing to all Israel and how they slept with the women(B) who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 23 So he said to them, “Why do you do such things? I hear from all the people about these wicked deeds of yours. 24 No, my sons; the report I hear spreading among the Lord’s people is not good. 25 If one person sins against another, God[a] may mediate for the offender; but if anyone sins against the Lord, who will(C) intercede(D) for them?” His sons, however, did not listen to their father’s rebuke, for it was the Lord’s will to put them to death.

26 And the boy Samuel continued to grow(E) in stature and in favor with the Lord and with people.(F)

Prophecy Against the House of Eli

27 Now a man of God(G) came to Eli and said to him, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Did I not clearly reveal myself to your ancestor’s family when they were in Egypt under Pharaoh? 28 I chose(H) your ancestor out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to go up to my altar, to burn incense,(I) and to wear an ephod(J) in my presence. I also gave your ancestor’s family all the food offerings(K) presented by the Israelites. 29 Why do you[b] scorn my sacrifice and offering(L) that I prescribed for my dwelling?(M) Why do you honor your sons more than me by fattening yourselves on the choice parts of every offering made by my people Israel?’

30 “Therefore the Lord, the God of Israel, declares: ‘I promised that members of your family would minister before me forever.(N)’ But now the Lord declares: ‘Far be it from me! Those who honor me I will honor,(O) but those who despise(P) me will be disdained.(Q) 31 The time is coming when I will cut short your strength and the strength of your priestly house, so that no one in it will reach old age,(R) 32 and you will see distress(S) in my dwelling. Although good will be done to Israel, no one in your family line will ever reach old age.(T) 33 Every one of you that I do not cut off from serving at my altar I will spare only to destroy your sight and sap your strength, and all your descendants(U) will die in the prime of life.

34 “‘And what happens to your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, will be a sign(V) to you—they will both die(W) on the same day.(X) 35 I will raise up for myself a faithful priest,(Y) who will do according to what is in my heart and mind. I will firmly establish his priestly house, and they will minister before my anointed(Z) one always. 36 Then everyone left in your family line will come and bow down before him for a piece of silver and a loaf of bread and plead,(AA) “Appoint me to some priestly office so I can have food to eat.(AB)”’”

The Lord Calls Samuel

The boy Samuel ministered(AC) before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rare;(AD) there were not many visions.(AE)

One night Eli, whose eyes(AF) were becoming so weak that he could barely see,(AG) was lying down in his usual place. The lamp(AH) of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house(AI) of the Lord, where the ark(AJ) of God was. Then the Lord called Samuel.

Samuel answered, “Here I am.(AK) And he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”

But Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down.

Again the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”

“My son,” Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.”

Now Samuel did not yet know(AL) the Lord: The word(AM) of the Lord had not yet been revealed(AN) to him.

A third time the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”

Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

10 The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!(AO)

Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

11 And the Lord said to Samuel: “See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears about it tingle.(AP) 12 At that time I will carry out against Eli everything(AQ) I spoke against his family—from beginning to end. 13 For I told him that I would judge his family forever because of the sin he knew about; his sons blasphemed God,[c] and he failed to restrain(AR) them. 14 Therefore I swore to the house of Eli, ‘The guilt of Eli’s house will never be atoned(AS) for by sacrifice or offering.’”

15 Samuel lay down until morning and then opened the doors of the house of the Lord. He was afraid to tell Eli the vision, 16 but Eli called him and said, “Samuel, my son.”

Samuel answered, “Here I am.”

17 “What was it he said to you?” Eli asked. “Do not hide(AT) it from me. May God deal with you, be it ever so severely,(AU) if you hide from me anything he told you.” 18 So Samuel told him everything, hiding nothing from him. Then Eli said, “He is the Lord; let him do what is good in his eyes.”(AV)

19 The Lord was with(AW) Samuel as he grew(AX) up, and he let none(AY) of Samuel’s words fall to the ground. 20 And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba(AZ) recognized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the Lord.(BA) 21 The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed(BB) himself to Samuel through his word.

And Samuel’s word came to all Israel.

The Philistines Capture the Ark

Now the Israelites went out to fight against the Philistines. The Israelites camped at Ebenezer,(BC) and the Philistines at Aphek.(BD) The Philistines deployed their forces to meet Israel, and as the battle spread, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand of them on the battlefield. When the soldiers returned to camp, the elders of Israel asked, “Why(BE) did the Lord bring defeat on us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark(BF) of the Lord’s covenant from Shiloh,(BG) so that he may go with us(BH) and save us from the hand of our enemies.”

So the people sent men to Shiloh, and they brought back the ark of the covenant of the Lord Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim.(BI) And Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.

When the ark of the Lord’s covenant came into the camp, all Israel raised such a great shout(BJ) that the ground shook. Hearing the uproar, the Philistines asked, “What’s all this shouting in the Hebrew(BK) camp?”

When they learned that the ark of the Lord had come into the camp, the Philistines were afraid.(BL) “A god has[d] come into the camp,” they said. “Oh no! Nothing like this has happened before. We’re doomed! Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? They are the gods who struck(BM) the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues(BN) in the wilderness. Be strong, Philistines! Be men, or you will be subject to the Hebrews, as they(BO) have been to you. Be men, and fight!”

10 So the Philistines fought, and the Israelites were defeated(BP) and every man fled to his tent. The slaughter was very great; Israel lost thirty thousand foot soldiers. 11 The ark of God was captured, and Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died.(BQ)

Death of Eli

12 That same day a Benjamite(BR) ran from the battle line and went to Shiloh with his clothes torn and dust(BS) on his head. 13 When he arrived, there was Eli(BT) sitting on his chair by the side of the road, watching, because his heart feared for the ark of God. When the man entered the town and told what had happened, the whole town sent up a cry.

14 Eli heard the outcry and asked, “What is the meaning of this uproar?”

The man hurried over to Eli, 15 who was ninety-eight years old and whose eyes(BU) had failed so that he could not see. 16 He told Eli, “I have just come from the battle line; I fled from it this very day.”

Eli asked, “What happened, my son?”

17 The man who brought the news replied, “Israel fled before the Philistines, and the army has suffered heavy losses. Also your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead,(BV) and the ark of God has been captured.”(BW)

18 When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell backward off his chair by the side of the gate. His neck was broken and he died, for he was an old man, and he was heavy. He had led[e](BX) Israel forty years.(BY)

19 His daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant and near the time of delivery. When she heard the news that the ark of God had been captured and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she went into labor and gave birth, but was overcome by her labor pains. 20 As she was dying, the women attending her said, “Don’t despair; you have given birth to a son.” But she did not respond or pay any attention.

21 She named the boy Ichabod,[f](BZ) saying, “The Glory(CA) has departed from Israel”—because of the capture of the ark of God and the deaths of her father-in-law and her husband. 22 She said, “The Glory(CB) has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured.”(CC)

Footnotes:

  1. 1 Samuel 2:25 Or the judges
  2. 1 Samuel 2:29 The Hebrew is plural.
  3. 1 Samuel 3:13 An ancient Hebrew scribal tradition (see also Septuagint); Masoretic Text sons made themselves contemptible
  4. 1 Samuel 4:7 Or “Gods have (see Septuagint)
  5. 1 Samuel 4:18 Traditionally judged
  6. 1 Samuel 4:21 Ichabod means no glory.

Cross references:

  1. 1 Samuel 2:22 : S ver 17
  2. 1 Samuel 2:22 : S Ex 38:8
  3. 1 Samuel 2:25 : Ex 4:21; Jos 11:20
  4. 1 Samuel 2:25 : S Ex 32:10; S Nu 11:2; 1Sa 3:14; 1Ki 13:6; Job 9:33; Ps 106:30; Isa 1:18; 22:14; Jer 15:1; Heb 10:26
  5. 1 Samuel 2:26 : S Jdg 13:24; Lk 2:52
  6. 1 Samuel 2:26 : Pr 3:4
  7. 1 Samuel 2:27 : S Dt 33:1; S Jdg 13:6
  8. 1 Samuel 2:28 : S Ex 28:1
  9. 1 Samuel 2:28 : S Ex 30:7
  10. 1 Samuel 2:28 : 1Sa 22:18; 23:6, 9; 30:7
  11. 1 Samuel 2:28 : Lev 7:35-36
  12. 1 Samuel 2:29 : ver 12-17
  13. 1 Samuel 2:29 : S Dt 12:5
  14. 1 Samuel 2:30 : S Ex 29:9
  15. 1 Samuel 2:30 : Ps 50:23; 91:15; Pr 8:17
  16. 1 Samuel 2:30 : Isa 53:3; Na 3:6; Mal 2:9
  17. 1 Samuel 2:30 : Jer 18:10
  18. 1 Samuel 2:31 : 1Sa 4:11-18; 22:16
  19. 1 Samuel 2:32 : 1Sa 4:3; 22:17-20; Jer 7:12, 14
  20. 1 Samuel 2:32 : 1Ki 2:26-27
  21. 1 Samuel 2:33 : Jer 29:32; Mal 2:12
  22. 1 Samuel 2:34 : S Dt 13:2
  23. 1 Samuel 2:34 : 1Sa 4:11
  24. 1 Samuel 2:34 : 1Ki 13:3
  25. 1 Samuel 2:35 : 2Sa 8:17; 20:25; 1Ki 1:8, 32; 2:35; 4:4; 1Ch 16:39; 29:22; Eze 44:15-16
  26. 1 Samuel 2:35 : 1Sa 9:16; 10:1; 16:13; 2Sa 2:4; 12:7; 23:1; 1Ki 1:34; Ps 89:20
  27. 1 Samuel 2:36 : Eze 44:10-14
  28. 1 Samuel 2:36 : 1Sa 3:12; 1Ki 2:27
  29. 1 Samuel 3:1 : S 1Sa 2:11
  30. 1 Samuel 3:1 : Ps 74:9; La 2:9; Eze 7:26
  31. 1 Samuel 3:1 : Am 8:11
  32. 1 Samuel 3:2 : 1Sa 4:15
  33. 1 Samuel 3:2 : S Ge 27:1
  34. 1 Samuel 3:3 : Ex 25:31-38; Lev 24:1-4
  35. 1 Samuel 3:3 : 1Sa 1:9
  36. 1 Samuel 3:3 : Dt 10:1-5; 1Ki 6:19; 8:1
  37. 1 Samuel 3:4 : S Ge 22:1; S Ex 3:4
  38. 1 Samuel 3:7 : 1Sa 2:12
  39. 1 Samuel 3:7 : Jer 1:2
  40. 1 Samuel 3:7 : S Nu 12:6; Am 3:7
  41. 1 Samuel 3:10 : Ex 3:4
  42. 1 Samuel 3:11 : 2Ki 21:12; Job 15:21; Jer 19:3
  43. 1 Samuel 3:12 : S 1Sa 2:27-36
  44. 1 Samuel 3:13 : 1Ki 1:6
  45. 1 Samuel 3:14 : S 1Sa 2:25
  46. 1 Samuel 3:17 : 1Ki 22:14; Jer 23:28; 38:14; 42:4
  47. 1 Samuel 3:17 : S Ru 1:17
  48. 1 Samuel 3:18 : S Jdg 10:15
  49. 1 Samuel 3:19 : S Ge 21:22; S Nu 14:43
  50. 1 Samuel 3:19 : S Jdg 13:24
  51. 1 Samuel 3:19 : 1Sa 9:6
  52. 1 Samuel 3:20 : S Jdg 20:1
  53. 1 Samuel 3:20 : S Dt 18:22; Eze 33:33
  54. 1 Samuel 3:21 : S Nu 12:6
  55. 1 Samuel 4:1 : 1Sa 5:1; 7:12
  56. 1 Samuel 4:1 : Jos 12:18; 1Sa 29:1; 1Ki 20:26
  57. 1 Samuel 4:3 : Jos 7:7
  58. 1 Samuel 4:3 : S Jos 6:7
  59. 1 Samuel 4:3 : S Jos 18:1; S 1Sa 2:32
  60. 1 Samuel 4:3 : 2Ch 13:8
  61. 1 Samuel 4:4 : S Ge 3:24; S Ex 25:22
  62. 1 Samuel 4:5 : S Jos 6:5, 10
  63. 1 Samuel 4:6 : S Ge 14:13
  64. 1 Samuel 4:7 : S Ex 15:14
  65. 1 Samuel 4:8 : Ex 12:30; 1Sa 5:12
  66. 1 Samuel 4:8 : Rev 11:6
  67. 1 Samuel 4:9 : S Jdg 13:1
  68. 1 Samuel 4:10 : S Dt 28:25
  69. 1 Samuel 4:11 : Ps 78:64; Jer 7:12
  70. 1 Samuel 4:12 : Eze 24:26; 33:21
  71. 1 Samuel 4:12 : S Jos 7:6; S 2Sa 1:2
  72. 1 Samuel 4:13 : ver 18
  73. 1 Samuel 4:15 : S 1Sa 3:2
  74. 1 Samuel 4:17 : 1Sa 22:18; Ps 78:64
  75. 1 Samuel 4:17 : Ps 78:61
  76. 1 Samuel 4:18 : S Jdg 2:16; S 16:31
  77. 1 Samuel 4:18 : 1Sa 2:31
  78. 1 Samuel 4:21 : S Ge 35:18
  79. 1 Samuel 4:21 : S Ex 24:16; Ps 106:20; Jer 2:11; Eze 1:28; 9:3; 10:18
  80. 1 Samuel 4:22 : S Ex 24:16; Ps 78:61
  81. 1 Samuel 4:22 : Jer 7:12
New International Version (NIV)

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John 5:24-47

24 “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me(A) has eternal life(B) and will not be judged(C) but has crossed over from death to life.(D) 25 Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come(E) when the dead will hear(F) the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life(G) in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to judge(H) because he is the Son of Man.

28 “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming(I) when all who are in their graves will hear his voice 29 and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned.(J) 30 By myself I can do nothing;(K) I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just,(L) for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.(M)

Testimonies About Jesus

31 “If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true.(N) 32 There is another who testifies in my favor,(O) and I know that his testimony about me is true.

33 “You have sent to John and he has testified(P) to the truth. 34 Not that I accept human testimony;(Q) but I mention it that you may be saved.(R) 35 John was a lamp that burned and gave light,(S) and you chose for a time to enjoy his light.

36 “I have testimony weightier than that of John.(T) For the works that the Father has given me to finish—the very works that I am doing(U)—testify that the Father has sent me.(V) 37 And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me.(W) You have never heard his voice nor seen his form,(X) 38 nor does his word dwell in you,(Y) for you do not believe(Z) the one he sent.(AA) 39 You study[a] the Scriptures(AB) diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life.(AC) These are the very Scriptures that testify about me,(AD) 40 yet you refuse to come to me(AE) to have life.

41 “I do not accept glory from human beings,(AF) 42 but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts. 43 I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. 44 How can you believe since you accept glory from one another but do not seek the glory that comes from the only God[b]?(AG)

45 “But do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses,(AH) on whom your hopes are set.(AI) 46 If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me.(AJ) 47 But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?”(AK)

Footnotes:

  1. John 5:39 Or 39 Study
  2. John 5:44 Some early manuscripts the Only One
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 106:1-12

Psalm 106(A)

Praise the Lord.[a](B)

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;(C)
his love endures forever.(D)

Who can proclaim the mighty acts(E) of the Lord
or fully declare his praise?
Blessed are those who act justly,(F)
who always do what is right.(G)

Remember me,(H) Lord, when you show favor(I) to your people,
come to my aid(J) when you save them,
that I may enjoy the prosperity(K) of your chosen ones,(L)
that I may share in the joy(M) of your nation
and join your inheritance(N) in giving praise.

We have sinned,(O) even as our ancestors(P) did;
we have done wrong and acted wickedly.(Q)
When our ancestors were in Egypt,
they gave no thought(R) to your miracles;
they did not remember(S) your many kindnesses,
and they rebelled by the sea,(T) the Red Sea.[b]
Yet he saved them(U) for his name’s sake,(V)
to make his mighty power(W) known.
He rebuked(X) the Red Sea, and it dried up;(Y)
he led them through(Z) the depths as through a desert.
10 He saved them(AA) from the hand of the foe;(AB)
from the hand of the enemy he redeemed them.(AC)
11 The waters covered(AD) their adversaries;
not one of them survived.
12 Then they believed his promises
and sang his praise.(AE)

Footnotes:

  1. Psalm 106:1 Hebrew Hallelu Yah; also in verse 48
  2. Psalm 106:7 Or the Sea of Reeds; also in verses 9 and 22
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 14:30-31

30 A heart at peace gives life to the body,
but envy rots the bones.(A)

31 Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker,(B)
but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.(C)

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.