The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Wednesday August 3, 2022 (NIV)

2 Chronicles 33:14-34:33

14 Afterward he rebuilt the outer wall of the City of David, west of the Gihon(A) spring in the valley, as far as the entrance of the Fish Gate(B) and encircling the hill of Ophel;(C) he also made it much higher. He stationed military commanders in all the fortified cities in Judah.

15 He got rid of the foreign gods and removed(D) the image from the temple of the Lord, as well as all the altars he had built on the temple hill and in Jerusalem; and he threw them out of the city. 16 Then he restored the altar of the Lord and sacrificed fellowship offerings and thank offerings(E) on it, and told Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. 17 The people, however, continued to sacrifice at the high places, but only to the Lord their God.

18 The other events of Manasseh’s reign, including his prayer to his God and the words the seers spoke to him in the name of the Lord, the God of Israel, are written in the annals of the kings of Israel.[a] 19 His prayer and how God was moved by his entreaty, as well as all his sins and unfaithfulness, and the sites where he built high places and set up Asherah poles and idols before he humbled(F) himself—all these are written in the records of the seers.[b](G) 20 Manasseh rested with his ancestors and was buried(H) in his palace. And Amon his son succeeded him as king.

Amon King of Judah(I)

21 Amon(J) was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem two years. 22 He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, as his father Manasseh had done. Amon worshiped and offered sacrifices to all the idols Manasseh had made. 23 But unlike his father Manasseh, he did not humble(K) himself before the Lord; Amon increased his guilt.

24 Amon’s officials conspired against him and assassinated him in his palace. 25 Then the people(L) of the land killed all who had plotted against King Amon, and they made Josiah his son king in his place.

Josiah’s Reforms(M)(N)(O)

34 Josiah(P) was eight years old when he became king,(Q) and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and followed the ways of his father David,(R) not turning aside to the right or to the left.

In the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, he began to seek the God(S) of his father David. In his twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of high places, Asherah poles and idols. Under his direction the altars of the Baals were torn down; he cut to pieces the incense altars that were above them, and smashed the Asherah poles(T) and the idols. These he broke to pieces and scattered over the graves of those who had sacrificed to them.(U) He burned(V) the bones of the priests on their altars, and so he purged Judah and Jerusalem. In the towns of Manasseh, Ephraim and Simeon, as far as Naphtali, and in the ruins around them, he tore down the altars and the Asherah poles and crushed the idols to powder(W) and cut to pieces all the incense altars throughout Israel. Then he went back to Jerusalem.

In the eighteenth year of Josiah’s reign, to purify the land and the temple, he sent Shaphan son of Azaliah and Maaseiah the ruler of the city, with Joah son of Joahaz, the recorder, to repair the temple of the Lord his God.

They went to Hilkiah(X) the high priest and gave him the money that had been brought into the temple of God, which the Levites who were the gatekeepers had collected from the people of Manasseh, Ephraim and the entire remnant of Israel and from all the people of Judah and Benjamin and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 10 Then they entrusted it to the men appointed to supervise the work on the Lord’s temple. These men paid the workers who repaired and restored the temple. 11 They also gave money(Y) to the carpenters and builders to purchase dressed stone, and timber for joists and beams for the buildings that the kings of Judah had allowed to fall into ruin.(Z)

12 The workers labored faithfully.(AA) Over them to direct them were Jahath and Obadiah, Levites descended from Merari, and Zechariah and Meshullam, descended from Kohath. The Levites—all who were skilled in playing musical instruments—(AB) 13 had charge of the laborers(AC) and supervised all the workers from job to job. Some of the Levites were secretaries, scribes and gatekeepers.

The Book of the Law Found(AD)(AE)

14 While they were bringing out the money that had been taken into the temple of the Lord, Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of the Lord that had been given through Moses. 15 Hilkiah said to Shaphan the secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law(AF) in the temple of the Lord.” He gave it to Shaphan.

16 Then Shaphan took the book to the king and reported to him: “Your officials are doing everything that has been committed to them. 17 They have paid out the money that was in the temple of the Lord and have entrusted it to the supervisors and workers.” 18 Then Shaphan the secretary informed the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read from it in the presence of the king.

19 When the king heard the words of the Law,(AG) he tore(AH) his robes. 20 He gave these orders to Hilkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphan(AI), Abdon son of Micah,[c] Shaphan the secretary and Asaiah the king’s attendant: 21 “Go and inquire of the Lord for me and for the remnant in Israel and Judah about what is written in this book that has been found. Great is the Lord’s anger that is poured out(AJ) on us because those who have gone before us have not kept the word of the Lord; they have not acted in accordance with all that is written in this book.”

22 Hilkiah and those the king had sent with him[d] went to speak to the prophet(AK) Huldah, who was the wife of Shallum son of Tokhath,[e] the son of Hasrah,[f] keeper of the wardrobe. She lived in Jerusalem, in the New Quarter.

23 She said to them, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Tell the man who sent you to me, 24 ‘This is what the Lord says: I am going to bring disaster(AL) on this place and its people(AM)—all the curses(AN) written in the book that has been read in the presence of the king of Judah. 25 Because they have forsaken me(AO) and burned incense to other gods and aroused my anger by all that their hands have made,[g] my anger will be poured out on this place and will not be quenched.’ 26 Tell the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says concerning the words you heard: 27 Because your heart was responsive(AP) and you humbled(AQ) yourself before God when you heard what he spoke against this place and its people, and because you humbled yourself before me and tore your robes and wept in my presence, I have heard you, declares the Lord. 28 Now I will gather you to your ancestors,(AR) and you will be buried in peace. Your eyes will not see all the disaster I am going to bring on this place and on those who live here.’”(AS)

So they took her answer back to the king.

29 Then the king called together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. 30 He went up to the temple of the Lord(AT) with the people of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the priests and the Levites—all the people from the least to the greatest. He read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant, which had been found in the temple of the Lord. 31 The king stood by his pillar(AU) and renewed the covenant(AV) in the presence of the Lord—to follow(AW) the Lord and keep his commands, statutes and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, and to obey the words of the covenant written in this book.

32 Then he had everyone in Jerusalem and Benjamin pledge themselves to it; the people of Jerusalem did this in accordance with the covenant of God, the God of their ancestors.

33 Josiah removed all the detestable(AX) idols from all the territory belonging to the Israelites, and he had all who were present in Israel serve the Lord their God. As long as he lived, they did not fail to follow the Lord, the God of their ancestors.

Footnotes:

  1. 2 Chronicles 33:18 That is, Judah, as frequently in 2 Chronicles
  2. 2 Chronicles 33:19 One Hebrew manuscript and Septuagint; most Hebrew manuscripts of Hozai
  3. 2 Chronicles 34:20 Also called Akbor son of Micaiah
  4. 2 Chronicles 34:22 One Hebrew manuscript, Vulgate and Syriac; most Hebrew manuscripts do not have had sent with him.
  5. 2 Chronicles 34:22 Also called Tikvah
  6. 2 Chronicles 34:22 Also called Harhas
  7. 2 Chronicles 34:25 Or by everything they have done

Cross references:

  1. 2 Chronicles 33:14 : S 1Ki 1:33
  2. 2 Chronicles 33:14 : Ne 3:3; 12:39; Zep 1:10
  3. 2 Chronicles 33:14 : 2Ch 27:3; Ne 3:26
  4. 2 Chronicles 33:15 : 2Ki 23:12
  5. 2 Chronicles 33:16 : Lev 7:11-18
  6. 2 Chronicles 33:19 : S 2Ch 6:37
  7. 2 Chronicles 33:19 : 2Ki 21:17
  8. 2 Chronicles 33:20 : 2Ki 21:18; S 2Ch 21:20
  9. 2 Chronicles 33:21 : 33:21-25pp — 2Ki 21:19-24
  10. 2 Chronicles 33:21 : S 1Ch 3:14
  11. 2 Chronicles 33:23 : S Ex 10:3; 2Ch 7:14; Ps 18:27; 147:6; Pr 3:34
  12. 2 Chronicles 33:25 : S 2Ch 22:1
  13. 2 Chronicles 34:1 : 34:1-2pp — 2Ki 22:1-2
  14. 2 Chronicles 34:1 : 34:3-7Ref — 2Ki 23:4-20
  15. 2 Chronicles 34:1 : 34:8-13pp — 2Ki 22:3-7
  16. 2 Chronicles 34:1 : S 1Ch 3:14
  17. 2 Chronicles 34:1 : Zep 1:1
  18. 2 Chronicles 34:2 : 2Ch 29:2
  19. 2 Chronicles 34:3 : S 1Ch 16:11
  20. 2 Chronicles 34:4 : S Ex 34:13
  21. 2 Chronicles 34:4 : Ex 32:20; S Lev 26:30; 2Ki 23:11; Mic 1:5
  22. 2 Chronicles 34:5 : S 1Ki 13:2
  23. 2 Chronicles 34:7 : S Ex 32:20
  24. 2 Chronicles 34:9 : S 1Ch 6:13
  25. 2 Chronicles 34:11 : 2Ch 24:12
  26. 2 Chronicles 34:11 : 2Ch 33:4-7
  27. 2 Chronicles 34:12 : 2Ki 12:15
  28. 2 Chronicles 34:12 : S 1Ch 25:1
  29. 2 Chronicles 34:13 : S 1Ch 23:4
  30. 2 Chronicles 34:14 : 34:14-28pp — 2Ki 22:8-20
  31. 2 Chronicles 34:14 : 34:29-32pp — 2Ki 23:1-3
  32. 2 Chronicles 34:15 : S 2Ki 22:8; Ezr 7:6; Ne 8:1
  33. 2 Chronicles 34:19 : Dt 28:3-68
  34. 2 Chronicles 34:19 : Isa 36:22; 37:1
  35. 2 Chronicles 34:20 : S 2Ki 22:3
  36. 2 Chronicles 34:21 : La 2:4; 4:11; Eze 36:18
  37. 2 Chronicles 34:22 : S Ex 15:20; Ne 6:14
  38. 2 Chronicles 34:24 : Pr 16:4; Isa 3:9; Jer 40:2; 42:10; 44:2, 11
  39. 2 Chronicles 34:24 : 2Ch 36:14-20
  40. 2 Chronicles 34:24 : Dt 28:15-68
  41. 2 Chronicles 34:25 : 2Ch 33:3-6; Jer 22:9
  42. 2 Chronicles 34:27 : S 2Ch 32:26
  43. 2 Chronicles 34:27 : S Ex 10:3; S 2Ch 6:37
  44. 2 Chronicles 34:28 : 2Ch 35:20-25
  45. 2 Chronicles 34:28 : S 2Ch 32:26
  46. 2 Chronicles 34:30 : S 2Ki 23:2
  47. 2 Chronicles 34:31 : S 1Ki 7:15
  48. 2 Chronicles 34:31 : S 2Ki 11:17; S 2Ch 23:16
  49. 2 Chronicles 34:31 : S Dt 13:4
  50. 2 Chronicles 34:33 : S Dt 18:9
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.

Romans 16:10-27

10 Greet Apelles, whose fidelity to Christ has stood the test.(A)

Greet those who belong to the household(B) of Aristobulus.

11 Greet Herodion, my fellow Jew.(C)

Greet those in the household(D) of Narcissus who are in the Lord.

12 Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, those women who work hard in the Lord.

Greet my dear friend Persis, another woman who has worked very hard in the Lord.

13 Greet Rufus,(E) chosen(F) in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me, too.

14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the other brothers and sisters with them.

15 Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas and all the Lord’s people(G) who are with them.(H)

16 Greet one another with a holy kiss.(I)

All the churches of Christ send greetings.

17 I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned.(J) Keep away from them.(K) 18 For such people are not serving our Lord Christ,(L) but their own appetites.(M) By smooth talk and flattery they deceive(N) the minds of naive people. 19 Everyone has heard(O) about your obedience, so I rejoice because of you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.(P)

20 The God of peace(Q) will soon crush(R) Satan(S) under your feet.

The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.(T)

21 Timothy,(U) my co-worker, sends his greetings to you, as do Lucius,(V) Jason(W) and Sosipater, my fellow Jews.(X)

22 I, Tertius, who wrote down this letter, greet you in the Lord.

23 Gaius,(Y) whose hospitality I and the whole church here enjoy, sends you his greetings.

Erastus,(Z) who is the city’s director of public works, and our brother Quartus send you their greetings. [24] [a]

25 Now to him who is able(AA) to establish you in accordance with my gospel,(AB) the message I proclaim about Jesus Christ, in keeping with the revelation of the mystery(AC) hidden for long ages past, 26 but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings(AD) by the command of the eternal God, so that all the Gentiles might come to the obedience that comes from[b] faith(AE) 27 to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.(AF)

Footnotes:

  1. Romans 16:24 Some manuscripts include here May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you. Amen.
  2. Romans 16:26 Or that is
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 26

Psalm 26

Of David.

Vindicate me,(A) Lord,
for I have led a blameless life;(B)
I have trusted(C) in the Lord
and have not faltered.(D)
Test me,(E) Lord, and try me,
examine my heart and my mind;(F)
for I have always been mindful of your unfailing love(G)
and have lived(H) in reliance on your faithfulness.(I)

I do not sit(J) with the deceitful,
nor do I associate with hypocrites.(K)
I abhor(L) the assembly of evildoers
and refuse to sit with the wicked.
I wash my hands in innocence,(M)
and go about your altar, Lord,
proclaiming aloud your praise(N)
and telling of all your wonderful deeds.(O)

Lord, I love(P) the house where you live,
the place where your glory dwells.(Q)
Do not take away my soul along with sinners,
my life with those who are bloodthirsty,(R)
10 in whose hands are wicked schemes,(S)
whose right hands are full of bribes.(T)
11 I lead a blameless life;
deliver me(U) and be merciful to me.

12 My feet stand on level ground;(V)
in the great congregation(W) I will praise the Lord.

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 20:19

19 A gossip betrays a confidence;(A)
so avoid anyone who talks too much.

Cross references:

  1. Proverbs 20:19 : Pr 11:13
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.