The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Sunday December 25, 2022 (NIV)

Zechariah 8

The Lord Promises to Bless Jerusalem

The word of the Lord Almighty came to me.

This is what the Lord Almighty says: “I am very jealous(A) for Zion; I am burning with jealousy for her.”

This is what the Lord says: “I will return(B) to Zion(C) and dwell in Jerusalem.(D) Then Jerusalem will be called the Faithful City,(E) and the mountain(F) of the Lord Almighty will be called the Holy Mountain.(G)

This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Once again men and women of ripe old age will sit in the streets of Jerusalem,(H) each of them with cane in hand because of their age. The city streets will be filled with boys and girls playing there.(I)

This is what the Lord Almighty says: “It may seem marvelous to the remnant of this people at that time,(J) but will it seem marvelous to me?(K)” declares the Lord Almighty.

This is what the Lord Almighty says: “I will save my people from the countries of the east and the west.(L) I will bring them back(M) to live(N) in Jerusalem; they will be my people,(O) and I will be faithful and righteous to them as their God.(P)

This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Now hear these words, ‘Let your hands be strong(Q) so that the temple may be built.’ This is also what the prophets(R) said who were present when the foundation(S) was laid for the house of the Lord Almighty. 10 Before that time there were no wages(T) for people or hire for animals. No one could go about their business safely(U) because of their enemies, since I had turned everyone against their neighbor. 11 But now I will not deal with the remnant of this people as I did in the past,”(V) declares the Lord Almighty.

12 “The seed will grow well, the vine will yield its fruit,(W) the ground will produce its crops,(X) and the heavens will drop their dew.(Y) I will give all these things as an inheritance(Z) to the remnant of this people.(AA) 13 Just as you, Judah and Israel, have been a curse[a](AB) among the nations, so I will save(AC) you, and you will be a blessing.[b](AD) Do not be afraid,(AE) but let your hands be strong.(AF)

14 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Just as I had determined to bring disaster(AG) on you and showed no pity when your ancestors angered me,” says the Lord Almighty, 15 “so now I have determined to do good(AH) again to Jerusalem and Judah.(AI) Do not be afraid. 16 These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth(AJ) to each other, and render true and sound judgment(AK) in your courts;(AL) 17 do not plot evil(AM) against each other, and do not love to swear falsely.(AN) I hate all this,” declares the Lord.

18 The word of the Lord Almighty came to me.

19 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “The fasts of the fourth,(AO) fifth,(AP) seventh(AQ) and tenth(AR) months will become joyful(AS) and glad occasions and happy festivals for Judah. Therefore love truth(AT) and peace.”

20 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Many peoples and the inhabitants of many cities will yet come, 21 and the inhabitants of one city will go to another and say, ‘Let us go at once to entreat(AU) the Lord and seek(AV) the Lord Almighty. I myself am going.’ 22 And many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to seek the Lord Almighty and to entreat him.”(AW)

23 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “In those days ten people from all languages and nations will take firm hold of one Jew by the hem of his robe and say, ‘Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you.’”(AX)

Footnotes:

  1. Zechariah 8:13 That is, your name has been used in cursing (see Jer. 29:22); or, you have been regarded as under a curse.
  2. Zechariah 8:13 Or and your name will be used in blessings (see Gen. 48:20); or and you will be seen as blessed

Cross references:

  1. Zechariah 8:2 : S Joel 2:18
  2. Zechariah 8:3 : Zec 1:16
  3. Zechariah 8:3 : S Isa 52:8; S Joel 3:21
  4. Zechariah 8:3 : S Zec 2:10
  5. Zechariah 8:3 : S Ps 15:2; S Isa 1:26; S 48:1; S Jer 33:16
  6. Zechariah 8:3 : S Jer 26:18
  7. Zechariah 8:3 : S Isa 1:26; S Mic 4:1
  8. Zechariah 8:4 : S Isa 65:20
  9. Zechariah 8:5 : S Jer 30:20; 31:13
  10. Zechariah 8:6 : Ps 118:23; 126:1-3
  11. Zechariah 8:6 : Jer 32:17, 27
  12. Zechariah 8:7 : Ps 107:3; S Isa 11:11; S 43:5
  13. Zechariah 8:8 : S Eze 37:12; Zec 10:10
  14. Zechariah 8:8 : S Jer 31:24
  15. Zechariah 8:8 : S Isa 51:16; S Eze 11:19-20; S 36:28; S Zec 2:11; Heb 8:10
  16. Zechariah 8:8 : Jer 11:4; Zec 10:6
  17. Zechariah 8:9 : S Hag 2:4
  18. Zechariah 8:9 : S Ezr 5:1
  19. Zechariah 8:9 : S Ezr 3:11
  20. Zechariah 8:10 : S Isa 5:10; S Hag 1:6
  21. Zechariah 8:10 : S 2Ch 15:5
  22. Zechariah 8:11 : Isa 12:1
  23. Zechariah 8:12 : S Ps 85:12; S Joel 2:22
  24. Zechariah 8:12 : S Ps 67:6
  25. Zechariah 8:12 : S Ge 27:28
  26. Zechariah 8:12 : S Ps 65:13; S Isa 60:21; Ob 1:17
  27. Zechariah 8:12 : S Hos 2:21
  28. Zechariah 8:13 : S Nu 5:27; S Dt 13:15; S Ps 102:8; Jer 42:18
  29. Zechariah 8:13 : S Ps 48:8
  30. Zechariah 8:13 : S Ge 12:2; S Joel 2:14
  31. Zechariah 8:13 : S Hag 2:5
  32. Zechariah 8:13 : ver 9
  33. Zechariah 8:14 : S Eze 24:14
  34. Zechariah 8:15 : ver 13; S Jer 29:11; Mic 7:18-20
  35. Zechariah 8:15 : Jer 31:28; 32:42
  36. Zechariah 8:16 : S Ps 15:2; S Jer 33:16; S Eph 4:25
  37. Zechariah 8:16 : S Eze 18:8
  38. Zechariah 8:16 : S Eze 45:9; S Am 5:15; S Zec 7:9
  39. Zechariah 8:17 : Pr 3:29
  40. Zechariah 8:17 : S Pr 6:16-19; S Jer 7:9; Zec 5:4
  41. Zechariah 8:19 : S 2Ki 25:7; Jer 39:2
  42. Zechariah 8:19 : S Jer 52:12
  43. Zechariah 8:19 : 2Ki 25:25
  44. Zechariah 8:19 : Jer 52:4
  45. Zechariah 8:19 : Ps 30:11
  46. Zechariah 8:19 : ver 16
  47. Zechariah 8:21 : S Zec 7:2
  48. Zechariah 8:21 : Jer 26:19
  49. Zechariah 8:22 : S Ps 86:9; 117:1; Isa 2:2-3; S 44:5; S 45:14; 49:6; S Zec 2:11
  50. Zechariah 8:23 : S Ps 102:22; S Isa 14:1; S 45:14; S 56:3; 1Co 14:25
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.

Revelation 16

The Seven Bowls of God’s Wrath

16 Then I heard a loud voice from the temple(A) saying to the seven angels,(B) “Go, pour out the seven bowls of God’s wrath on the earth.”(C)

The first angel went and poured out his bowl on the land,(D) and ugly, festering sores(E) broke out on the people who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image.(F)

The second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it turned into blood like that of a dead person, and every living thing in the sea died.(G)

The third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water,(H) and they became blood.(I) Then I heard the angel in charge of the waters say:

“You are just in these judgments,(J) O Holy One,(K)
you who are and who were;(L)
for they have shed the blood of your holy people and your prophets,(M)
and you have given them blood to drink(N) as they deserve.”

And I heard the altar(O) respond:

“Yes, Lord God Almighty,(P)
true and just are your judgments.”(Q)

The fourth angel(R) poured out his bowl on the sun,(S) and the sun was allowed to scorch people with fire.(T) They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God,(U) who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent(V) and glorify him.(W)

10 The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast,(X) and its kingdom was plunged into darkness.(Y) People gnawed their tongues in agony 11 and cursed(Z) the God of heaven(AA) because of their pains and their sores,(AB) but they refused to repent of what they had done.(AC)

12 The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates,(AD) and its water was dried up to prepare the way(AE) for the kings from the East.(AF) 13 Then I saw three impure spirits(AG) that looked like frogs;(AH) they came out of the mouth of the dragon,(AI) out of the mouth of the beast(AJ) and out of the mouth of the false prophet.(AK) 14 They are demonic spirits(AL) that perform signs,(AM) and they go out to the kings of the whole world,(AN) to gather them for the battle(AO) on the great day(AP) of God Almighty.

15 “Look, I come like a thief!(AQ) Blessed is the one who stays awake(AR) and remains clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed.”(AS)

16 Then they gathered the kings together(AT) to the place that in Hebrew(AU) is called Armageddon.(AV)

17 The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air,(AW) and out of the temple(AX) came a loud voice(AY) from the throne, saying, “It is done!”(AZ) 18 Then there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder(BA) and a severe earthquake.(BB) No earthquake like it has ever occurred since mankind has been on earth,(BC) so tremendous was the quake. 19 The great city(BD) split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. God remembered(BE) Babylon the Great(BF) and gave her the cup filled with the wine of the fury of his wrath.(BG) 20 Every island fled away and the mountains could not be found.(BH) 21 From the sky huge hailstones,(BI) each weighing about a hundred pounds,[a] fell on people. And they cursed God(BJ) on account of the plague of hail,(BK) because the plague was so terrible.

Footnotes:

  1. Revelation 16:21 Or about 45 kilograms

Cross references:

  1. Revelation 16:1 : Rev 11:19
  2. Revelation 16:1 : S Rev 15:1
  3. Revelation 16:1 : ver 2-21; Ps 79:6; Zep 3:8
  4. Revelation 16:2 : Rev 8:7
  5. Revelation 16:2 : ver 11; Ex 9:9-11; Dt 28:35
  6. Revelation 16:2 : Rev 13:15-17; 14:9
  7. Revelation 16:3 : Ex 7:17-21; Rev 8:8, 9; Rev 11:6
  8. Revelation 16:4 : Rev 8:10
  9. Revelation 16:4 : Ex 7:17-21
  10. Revelation 16:5 : Rev 15:3
  11. Revelation 16:5 : Rev 15:4
  12. Revelation 16:5 : S Rev 1:4; Rev 6:10
  13. Revelation 16:6 : Lk 11:49-51
  14. Revelation 16:6 : Isa 49:26; Rev 17:6; 18:24
  15. Revelation 16:7 : Rev 6:9; 14:18
  16. Revelation 16:7 : S Rev 1:8
  17. Revelation 16:7 : Rev 15:3; 19:2
  18. Revelation 16:8 : Rev 8:12
  19. Revelation 16:8 : Rev 6:12
  20. Revelation 16:8 : Rev 14:18
  21. Revelation 16:9 : ver 11, 21
  22. Revelation 16:9 : S Rev 2:21
  23. Revelation 16:9 : S Rev 11:13
  24. Revelation 16:10 : Rev 13:2
  25. Revelation 16:10 : Ex 10:21-23; Isa 8:22; Rev 8:12; 9:2
  26. Revelation 16:11 : ver 9, 21
  27. Revelation 16:11 : Rev 11:13
  28. Revelation 16:11 : ver 2
  29. Revelation 16:11 : S Rev 2:21
  30. Revelation 16:12 : S Rev 9:14
  31. Revelation 16:12 : Isa 11:15, 16
  32. Revelation 16:12 : Isa 41:2; 46:11
  33. Revelation 16:13 : Rev 18:2
  34. Revelation 16:13 : Ex 8:6
  35. Revelation 16:13 : S Rev 12:3
  36. Revelation 16:13 : S Rev 13:1
  37. Revelation 16:13 : Rev 19:20; 20:10
  38. Revelation 16:14 : 1Ti 4:1
  39. Revelation 16:14 : S Mt 24:24
  40. Revelation 16:14 : S Mt 24:14
  41. Revelation 16:14 : Rev 17:14; 19:19; 20:8
  42. Revelation 16:14 : S Rev 6:17
  43. Revelation 16:15 : S Lk 12:39
  44. Revelation 16:15 : Lk 12:37
  45. Revelation 16:15 : Rev 3:18
  46. Revelation 16:16 : ver 14
  47. Revelation 16:16 : Rev 9:11
  48. Revelation 16:16 : Jdg 5:19; 2Ki 23:29, 30; Zec 12:11
  49. Revelation 16:17 : Eph 2:2
  50. Revelation 16:17 : Rev 14:15
  51. Revelation 16:17 : Rev 11:15
  52. Revelation 16:17 : Rev 21:6
  53. Revelation 16:18 : S Rev 4:5
  54. Revelation 16:18 : S Rev 6:12
  55. Revelation 16:18 : Da 12:1; Mt 24:21
  56. Revelation 16:19 : S Rev 17:18
  57. Revelation 16:19 : Rev 18:5
  58. Revelation 16:19 : S Rev 14:8
  59. Revelation 16:19 : Rev 14:10
  60. Revelation 16:20 : S Rev 6:14
  61. Revelation 16:21 : Eze 13:13; 38:22; Rev 8:7; 11:19
  62. Revelation 16:21 : ver 9, 11
  63. Revelation 16:21 : Ex 9:23-25
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 144

Psalm 144

Of David.

Praise be to the Lord my Rock,(A)
who trains my hands for war,
my fingers for battle.
He is my loving God and my fortress,(B)
my stronghold(C) and my deliverer,
my shield,(D) in whom I take refuge,
who subdues peoples[a](E) under me.

Lord, what are human beings(F) that you care for them,
mere mortals that you think of them?
They are like a breath;(G)
their days are like a fleeting shadow.(H)

Part your heavens,(I) Lord, and come down;(J)
touch the mountains, so that they smoke.(K)
Send forth lightning(L) and scatter(M) the enemy;
shoot your arrows(N) and rout them.
Reach down your hand from on high;(O)
deliver me and rescue me(P)
from the mighty waters,(Q)
from the hands of foreigners(R)
whose mouths are full of lies,(S)
whose right hands(T) are deceitful.(U)

I will sing a new song(V) to you, my God;
on the ten-stringed lyre(W) I will make music to you,
10 to the One who gives victory to kings,(X)
who delivers his servant David.(Y)

From the deadly sword(Z) 11 deliver me;
rescue me(AA) from the hands of foreigners(AB)
whose mouths are full of lies,(AC)
whose right hands are deceitful.(AD)

12 Then our sons in their youth
will be like well-nurtured plants,(AE)
and our daughters will be like pillars(AF)
carved to adorn a palace.
13 Our barns will be filled(AG)
with every kind of provision.
Our sheep will increase by thousands,
by tens of thousands in our fields;
14 our oxen(AH) will draw heavy loads.[b]
There will be no breaching of walls,(AI)
no going into captivity,
no cry of distress in our streets.(AJ)
15 Blessed is the people(AK) of whom this is true;
blessed is the people whose God is the Lord.

Footnotes:

  1. Psalm 144:2 Many manuscripts of the Masoretic Text, Dead Sea Scrolls, Aquila, Jerome and Syriac; most manuscripts of the Masoretic Text subdues my people
  2. Psalm 144:14 Or our chieftains will be firmly established
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 30:29-31

29 “There are three things that are stately in their stride,
four that move with stately bearing:
30 a lion, mighty among beasts,
who retreats before nothing;
31 a strutting rooster, a he-goat,
and a king secure against revolt.[a]

Footnotes:

  1. Proverbs 30:31 The meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain.
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.