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The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Tuesday September 28, 2021 (NIV)

Isaiah 54:1-57:14

Future Glory for Israel

54 “Rejoice, childless one, who did not give birth;
burst into song and shout,
you who have not been in labor!(A)
For the children of the desolate one will be more
than the children of the married woman,”(B)
says the Lord.
2 “Enlarge the site of your tent,
and let your tent curtains be stretched out;(C)
do not hold back;
lengthen your ropes,
and drive your pegs deep.
3 For you will spread out to the right and to the left,(D)
and your descendants will dispossess nations
and inhabit the desolate cities.

4 “Do not be afraid, for you will not be put to shame;(E)
don’t be humiliated, for you will not be disgraced.
For you will forget the shame of your youth,
and you will no longer remember
the disgrace of your widowhood.(F)
5 Indeed, your husband is your Maker(G)—
his name is the Lord of Armies—
and the Holy One of Israel(H) is your Redeemer;(I)
he is called the God of the whole earth.
6 For the Lord has called you,
like a wife deserted and wounded in spirit,(J)
a wife of one’s youth(K) when she is rejected,”
says your God.
7 “I deserted you for a brief moment,(L)
but I will take you back with abundant compassion.
8 In a surge of anger
I hid my face(M) from you for a moment,
but I will have compassion on you
with everlasting love,”(N)
says the Lord your Redeemer.
9 “For this is like the days[a] of Noah to me:
when I swore that the water of Noah
would never flood the earth again,(O)
so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you
or rebuke you.(P)
10 Though the mountains move
and the hills shake,
my love will not be removed from you
and my covenant of peace(Q) will not be shaken,”
says your compassionate Lord.

11 “Poor Jerusalem, storm-tossed, and not comforted,
I will set your stones in black mortar,[b]
and lay your foundations in lapis lazuli.(R)
12 I will make your fortifications[c] out of rubies,
your gates out of sparkling stones,
and all your walls out of precious stones.
13 Then all your children will be taught by the Lord,(S)
their prosperity will be great,
14 and you will be established
on a foundation of righteousness.
You will be far from oppression,
you will certainly not be afraid;
you will be far from terror,
it will certainly not come near you.
15 If anyone attacks you,
it is not from me;
whoever attacks you
will fall before you.
16 Look, I have created the craftsman
who blows on the charcoal fire
and produces a weapon suitable for its task;
and I have created the destroyer to cause havoc.
17 No weapon formed against you will succeed,
and you will refute any accusation[d]
raised against you in court.
This is the heritage of the Lord’s servants,(T)
and their vindication is from me.”(U)

This is the Lord’s declaration.

Come to the Lord

55 “Come, everyone who is thirsty,(V)
come to the water;
and you without silver,
come, buy, and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without silver and without cost!
2 Why do you spend silver on what is not food,
and your wages on what does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good,
and you will enjoy the choicest of foods.[e]
3 Pay attention and come to me;
listen, so that you will live.
I will make a permanent covenant with you(W)
on the basis of the faithful kindnesses of David.[f](X)
4 Since I have made him a witness to the peoples,(Y)
a leader and commander for the peoples,(Z)
5 so you will summon a nation you do not know,(AA)
and nations who do not know you will run to you.(AB)
For the Lord your God,
even the Holy One of Israel,(AC)
has glorified you.”(AD)

6 Seek the Lord while he may be found;
call to him while he is near.(AE)
7 Let the wicked one abandon his way
and the sinful one his thoughts;(AF)
let him return to the Lord,
so he may have compassion on him,
and to our God, for he will freely forgive.(AG)

8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
and your ways are not my ways.”
This is the Lord’s declaration.
9 “For as heaven is higher than earth,(AH)
so my ways are higher than your ways,
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
10 For just as rain and snow fall from heaven
and do not return there
without saturating the earth
and making it germinate and sprout,
and providing seed to sow
and food to eat,(AI)
11 so my word that comes from my mouth
will not return to me empty,
but it will accomplish what I please
and will prosper in what I send it to do.”(AJ)

12 You will indeed go out with joy
and be peacefully guided;
the mountains and the hills will break into singing before you,
and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.(AK)
13 Instead of the thornbush, a cypress will come up,
and instead of the brier, a myrtle will come up;(AL)
this will stand as a monument for the Lord,(AM)
an everlasting sign that will not be destroyed.

A House of Prayer for All

56 This is what the Lord says:

Preserve justice and do what is right,(AN)
for my salvation is coming soon,
and my righteousness will be revealed.(AO)
2 Happy is the person who does this,
the son of man who holds it fast,
who keeps the Sabbath without desecrating it,
and keeps his hand from doing any evil.(AP)

3 No foreigner who has joined himself to the Lord
should say,
“The Lord will exclude me from his people,”(AQ)
and the eunuch should not say,
“Look, I am a dried-up tree.”(AR)
4 For the Lord says this:
“For the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths,
and choose what pleases me,
and hold firmly to my covenant,
5 I will give them, in my house and within my walls,
a memorial and a name
better than sons and daughters.
I will give each of them an everlasting name
that will never be cut off.(AS)
6 As for the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord
to minister to him, to love the name of the Lord,
and to become his servants—
all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it
and who hold firmly to my covenant—
7 I will bring them to my holy mountain(AT)
and let them rejoice in my house of prayer.
Their burnt offerings and sacrifices
will be acceptable on my altar,(AU)
for my house will be called a house of prayer
for all nations.”(AV)
8 This is the declaration of the Lord God,
who gathers the dispersed of Israel:
“I will gather to them still others
besides those already gathered.”(AW)

Unrighteous Leaders Condemned

9 All you animals of the field and forest,
come and eat!
10 Israel’s[g] watchmen(AX) are blind, all of them,
they know nothing;
all of them are mute dogs,
they cannot bark;
they dream, lie down,
and love to sleep.
11 These dogs have fierce appetites;
they never have enough.
And they are shepherds
who have no discernment;
all of them turn to their own way,
every last one for his own profit.(AY)
12 “Come, let me get some wine,
let’s guzzle some beer;
and tomorrow will be like today,
only far better!” (AZ)

57 The righteous person perishes,
and no one takes it to heart;
the faithful are taken away,
with no one realizing
that the righteous person is taken away
because of[h] evil.
2 He will enter into peace—
they will rest on their beds[i]—
everyone who lives uprightly.

Pagan Religion Denounced

3 But come here,
you witch’s sons,
offspring of an adulterer and a prostitute![j]
4 Who are you mocking?
Who are you opening your mouth
and sticking out your tongue at?
Isn’t it you, you rebellious children,(BA)
you offspring of liars,
5 who burn with lust among the oaks,
under every green tree,(BB)
who slaughter children in the wadis
below the clefts of the rocks?(BC)
6 Your portion is among the smooth stones of the wadi;
indeed, they are your lot.
You have even poured out a drink offering to them;
you have offered a grain offering;
should I be satisfied with these?
7 You have placed your bed
on a high and lofty mountain;(BD)
you also went up there to offer sacrifice.
8 You have set up your memorial
behind the door and doorpost.
For away from me, you stripped,
went up, and made your bed wide,(BE)
and you have made a bargain[k] for yourself with them.
You have loved their bed;
you have gazed on their genitals.[l][m]
9 You went to the king with oil
and multiplied your perfumes;
you sent your envoys far away(BF)
and sent them down even to Sheol.
10 You became weary on your many journeys,
but you did not say, “It’s hopeless!” (BG)
You found a renewal of your strength;[n]
therefore you did not grow weak.
11 Who was it you dreaded and feared,
so that you lied and didn’t remember me
or take it to heart?
I have kept silent for a long time, haven’t I?[o](BH)
So you do not fear me.
12 I will announce your righteousness,
and your works—they will not profit you.

13 When you cry out,
let your collection of idols rescue you!
The wind will carry all of them off,
a breath will take them away.
But whoever takes refuge in me
will inherit the land(BI)
and possess my holy mountain.(BJ)

Healing and Peace

14 He said,
“Build it up, build it up, prepare the way,
remove every obstacle from my people’s way.”(BK)

Footnotes:

  1. 54:9 DSS, Cairo Geniza; MT, LXX read waters
  2. 54:11 Lit in antimony
  3. 54:12 Lit suns; perhaps shields; Ps 84:11
  4. 54:17 Lit refute every tongue
  5. 55:2 Lit enjoy fatness
  6. 55:3 Or with you, the faithful acts of kindness shown to David
  7. 56:10 Or His, or Its
  8. 57:1 Or taken away from the presence of
  9. 57:2 Either their deathbeds or their graves
  10. 57:3 Lit and she acted as a prostitute
  11. 57:8 Lit you cut
  12. 57:8 Lit hand
  13. 57:8 In Hb, the word “hand” is probably a euphemism for genitals.
  14. 57:10 Lit found life of your hand
  15. 57:11 LXX reads And I, when I see you, I pass by

Cross references:

  1. 54:1 : Gl 4:27
  2. 54:1 : 1Sm 2:5; Is 62:4
  3. 54:2 : Is 49:19–20
  4. 54:3 : Gn 28:14; Is 43:5–6; 60:3
  5. 54:4 : Is 45:17
  6. 54:4 : Is 4:1; 25:8; 51:7
  7. 54:5 : Jr 3:14; Hs 2:19
  8. 54:5 : Is 1:4
  9. 54:5 : Is 41:14; 43:14
  10. 54:6 : Is 49:14–21; 50:1–2; 62:4
  11. 54:6 : Mal 2:14
  12. 54:7 : Is 26:20
  13. 54:8 : Dt 31:17–18; Is 8:17
  14. 54:8 : Ps 100:5; Jr 31:3; 33:11
  15. 54:9 : Gn 9:11
  16. 54:9 : Ezk 39:29
  17. 54:10 : Nm 25:12; Ezk 34:25; Mal 2:5
  18. 54:11 : Rv 21:19
  19. 54:13 : Jn 6:45
  20. 54:17 : Is 41:8–9; Lk 1:54
  21. 54:17 : Is 45:24; 46:13
  22. 55:1 : Ps 42:1–2; 63:1; 143:6; Is 41:17; 44:3; Jn 4:14; 7:37; Rv 21:6
  23. 55:3 : Gn 9:16; 17:7; 2Sm 23:5; Is 24:5; 59:21; 61:8
  24. 55:3 : Ac 13:34
  25. 55:4 : Ps 18:43
  26. 55:4 : Ezk 34:24; 37:24–25; Dn 9:25; Mc 5:2
  27. 55:5 : Is 45:14,22–24; 49:6
  28. 55:5 : Zch 8:22
  29. 55:5 : Is 1:4
  30. 55:5 : Is 60:9
  31. 55:6 : Ps 32:6; Am 5:4
  32. 55:7 : Ps 33:10; Is 32:7; 59:7; 65:2
  33. 55:7 : Is 1:18; 43:25; 44:22
  34. 55:9 : Ps 103:11
  35. 55:10 : 2Co 9:10
  36. 55:11 : Is 45:23; 46:10; 53:10
  37. 55:12 : Ps 98:8; Is 44:23
  38. 55:13 : Is 35:1–2; 41:19; 60:13
  39. 55:13 : Is 63:12–14; Jr 33:9
  40. 56:1 : Gn 18:19; Ps 106:3; Pr 21:3
  41. 56:1 : Ps 98:2; Is 46:13; 51:5; Rm 1:17; 3:21
  42. 56:2 : Is 58:13
  43. 56:3 : Is 14:1; 56:6
  44. 56:3 : Dt 23:1
  45. 56:5 : Is 55:13; Rv 2:17
  46. 56:7 : Is 2:2–3
  47. 56:7 : Mal 1:11
  48. 56:7 : Jr 7:11; Mt 21:13; Mk 11:17; Lk 19:46
  49. 56:8 : Is 11:12; 60:3–11; 66:18–21; Jn 10:16
  50. 56:10 : Ezk 3:17–18; 33:1–6
  51. 56:11 : Jr 10:21; 23:1; 50:6; Ezk 34:2
  52. 56:12 : Lk 12:19; 1Co 15:32
  53. 57:4 : Is 30:1,9
  54. 57:5 : 2Kg 16:4; Jr 2:20; 3:13
  55. 57:5 : 2Kg 23:10; Ps 106:37–38; Jr 7:31; Ezk 16:20–21
  56. 57:7 : Jr 3:6; Ezk 16:16
  57. 57:8 : Ezk 23:17–18
  58. 57:9 : Ezk 16:26–29
  59. 57:10 : Jr 2:25; 18:12
  60. 57:11 : Ps 50:21; Is 42:14
  61. 57:13 : Ps 37:3,9; Is 25:4
  62. 57:13 : Is 65:9
  63. 57:14 : Is 62:10; Jr 18:15
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.

Ephesians 6

Children and Parents

6 Children, obey(A) your parents in the Lord, because this is right. 2 Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with a promise, 3 so that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life in the land.[a][b](B) 4 Fathers, don’t stir up anger(C) in your children, but bring them up in the training(D) and instruction of the Lord.

Slaves and Masters

5 Slaves, obey your human[c] masters(E) with fear and trembling,(F) in the sincerity(G) of your heart, as you would Christ. 6 Don’t work only while being watched, as people-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, do God’s will(H) from your heart. 7 Serve with a good attitude, as to the Lord and not to people,(I) 8 knowing that whatever good each one does, slave or free, he will receive this back from the Lord. 9 And masters, treat your slaves the same way, without threatening(J) them, because you know that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism(K) with him.(L)

Christian Warfare

10 Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength.(M) 11 Put on(N) the full armor(O) of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh(P) and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities,(Q) against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil,(R) spiritual forces in the heavens.(S) 13 For this reason take up the full armor(T) of God, so that you may be able to resist(U) in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. 14 Stand,(V) therefore, with truth(W) like a belt around your waist, righteousness(X) like armor on your chest,(Y) 15 and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace. 16 In every situation take up the shield(Z) of faith(AA) with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.(AB) 17 Take the helmet(AC) of salvation and the sword(AD) of the Spirit(AE)—which is the word of God. 18 Pray(AF) at all times in the Spirit(AG) with every prayer and request, and stay alert(AH) with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints. 19 Pray also for me, that the message may be given to me when I open my mouth to make known with boldness(AI) the mystery of the gospel. 20 For this I am an ambassador(AJ) in chains. Pray that I might be bold enough to speak about it as I should.

Paul’s Farewell

21 Tychicus,(AK) our dearly loved brother and faithful servant[d] in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me so that you may be informed. 22 I am sending him to you for this very reason, to let you know how we are and to encourage(AL) your hearts.(AM)

23 Peace to the brothers and sisters, and love with faith, from God the Father(AN) and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be with all who have undying love for our Lord Jesus Christ.[e][f]

Footnotes:

  1. 6:3 Or life on the earth
  2. 6:2–3 Ex 20:12
  3. 6:5 Lit according to the flesh
  4. 6:21 Or deacon
  5. 6:24 Other mss add Amen.
  6. 6:24 Lit all who love our Lord Jesus Christ in incorruption

Cross references:

  1. 6:1 : Pr 1:8; 6:20; 23:22; Col 3:20
  2. 6:2–3 : Ex 20:12
  3. 6:4 : Rm 10:19
  4. 6:4 : Heb 12:5
  5. 6:5 : Col 3:22; 1Pt 2:18
  6. 6:5 : Php 2:12
  7. 6:5 : 2Co 9:11
  8. 6:6 : Ps 143:10; Pr 16:9; Gl 1:4; Eph 1:9
  9. 6:7 : Col 3:23
  10. 6:9 : Ac 4:29; 9:1
  11. 6:9 : Col 3:25
  12. 6:9 : Col 4:1
  13. 6:10 : Ac 4:33
  14. 6:11 : Pr 31:25
  15. 6:11 : Eph 6:11–17
  16. 6:12 : Php 3:3
  17. 6:12 : 1Pt 3:22
  18. 6:12 : Mt 6:13; Jn 17:15
  19. 6:12 : Eph 1:3,20; 2:6; 3:10; Php 2:10
  20. 6:13 : 1Th 5:8
  21. 6:13 : 2Tm 4:15; 1Pt 5:9
  22. 6:14 : Pr 24:16; Php 1:27
  23. 6:14 : Jn 14:6; 1Jn 5:20
  24. 6:14 : Mt 6:33; Rm 1:17; 2Pt 1:1
  25. 6:14 : 1Th 5:8
  26. 6:16 : Gn 15:1
  27. 6:16 : Mt 8:10; Ac 3:16; Rm 1:8; 1Co 2:5; Gl 2:16; 1Tm 1:2; Heb 4:2
  28. 6:16 : 2Th 3:3
  29. 6:17 : 1Th 5:8
  30. 6:17 : Mk 14:47
  31. 6:17 : Ps 51:11; Jn 1:33; Ac 2:4; Rm 8:9; Gl 5:25; Ti 3:5; Rv 3:22
  32. 6:18 : Mt 5:44; Ac 12:12
  33. 6:18 : Jd 20
  34. 6:18 : Pr 6:4
  35. 6:19 : 2Co 3:12
  36. 6:20 : 2Co 5:20
  37. 6:21 : Ti 3:12
  38. 6:22 : Lk 16:25
  39. 6:22 : Col 4:8
  40. 6:23 : Mt 5:16; 11:27; Lk 11:13; Jn 8:42
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.

Psalm 70

Psalm 70

A Call for Deliverance

For the choir director. Of David. To bring remembrance.(A)

1 God, hurry to rescue me.
Lord, hurry to help me!(B)

2 Let those who seek to kill me
be disgraced and confounded;
let those who wish me harm
be turned back and humiliated.
3 Let those who say, “Aha, aha!”
retreat because of their shame.(C)

4 Let all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you;
let those who love your salvation
continually say, “God is great!” (D)
5 I am oppressed and needy;
hurry to me, God.
You are my help and my deliverer;
Lord, do not delay.(E)

Cross references:

  1. 70:0 : Ps 38
  2. 70:1 : Ps 38:22
  3. 70:2–3 : Ps 35:25; 40:14–15
  4. 70:4 : Ps 35:27; 77:13
  5. 70:5 : Ps 40:17; 141:1
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.

Proverbs 24:8

8 The one who plots evil(A)
will be called a schemer.

Cross references:

  1. 24:8 : Rm 1:30
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.