The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Wednesday July 31, 2024 (NIV)

2 Chronicles 29

Judah’s King Hezekiah

29 Hezekiah was twenty-five years old(A) when he became king, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Abijah[a] daughter of Zechariah. He did what was right in the Lord’s sight(B) just as his ancestor David had done.

In the first year of his reign, in the first month, he opened the doors of the Lord’s temple and repaired them.(C) Then he brought in the priests and Levites and gathered them in the eastern public square.(D) He said to them, “Hear me, Levites. Consecrate yourselves(E) now and consecrate the temple of the Lord, the God of your ancestors. Remove everything impure from the holy place. For our ancestors were unfaithful and did what is evil in the sight of the Lord our God. They abandoned him, turned their faces away from the Lord’s dwelling place, and turned their backs on him.[b](F) They also closed the doors of the portico, extinguished the lamps, did not burn incense, and did not offer burnt offerings in the holy place of the God of Israel. Therefore, the wrath of the Lord was on Judah and Jerusalem, and he made them an object of terror, horror, and mockery,[c](G) as you see with your own eyes. Our fathers fell by the sword, and our sons, our daughters, and our wives are in captivity because of this.(H) 10 It is in my heart now to make a covenant with the Lord, the God of Israel(I) so that his burning anger may turn away from us. 11 My sons, don’t be negligent now, for the Lord has chosen you to stand in his presence, to serve him, and to be his ministers and burners of incense.”(J)

Cleansing the Temple

12 Then the Levites stood up:

Mahath(K) son of Amasai and Joel son of Azariah from the Kohathites;

Kish son of Abdi and Azariah son of Jehallelel from the Merarites;(L)

Joah son of Zimmah and Eden son of Joah from the Gershonites;

13 Shimri and Jeuel from the Elizaphanites;

Zechariah and Mattaniah from the Asaphites;

14 Jehiel[d] and Shimei from the Hemanites;

Shemaiah and Uzziel from the Jeduthunites.

15 They gathered their brothers together, consecrated themselves,(M) and went according to the king’s command by the words of the Lord(N) to cleanse the Lord’s temple.(O)

16 The priests went to the entrance of the Lord’s temple to cleanse it. They took all the unclean things they found in the Lord’s sanctuary to the courtyard of the Lord’s temple. Then the Levites received them and took them outside to the Kidron Valley.(P) 17 They began the consecration on the first day of the first month, and on the eighth day of the month they came to the portico of the Lord’s temple. They consecrated the Lord’s temple for eight days, and on the sixteenth day of the first month they finished.

18 Then they went inside to King Hezekiah and said, “We have cleansed the whole temple of the Lord, the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and the table for the rows of the Bread of the Presence and all its utensils. 19 We have set up and consecrated all the utensils that King Ahaz rejected during his reign(Q) when he became unfaithful. They are in front of the altar of the Lord.”

Renewal of Temple Worship

20 King Hezekiah got up early, gathered the city officials, and went to the Lord’s temple. 21 They brought seven bulls, seven rams, seven lambs, and seven male goats as a sin offering for the kingdom, for the sanctuary, and for Judah. Then he told the descendants of Aaron, the priests, to offer them on the altar of the Lord. 22 So they slaughtered the bulls, and the priests received the blood and splattered it on the altar.(R) They slaughtered the rams and splattered the blood on the altar. They slaughtered the lambs and splattered the blood on the altar. 23 Then they brought the goats for the sin offering right into the presence of the king and the congregation, who laid their hands on them.(S) 24 The priests slaughtered the goats and put their blood on the altar for a sin offering, to make atonement for all Israel,(T) for the king said that the burnt offering and sin offering were for all Israel.

25 Hezekiah stationed the Levites in the Lord’s temple with cymbals, harps, and lyres(U) according to the command of David,(V) Gad the king’s seer,(W) and the prophet Nathan.(X) For the command was from the Lord through his prophets. 26 The Levites stood with the instruments of David,(Y) and the priests with the trumpets.(Z)

27 Then Hezekiah ordered that the burnt offering be offered on the altar. When the burnt offerings began, the song of the Lord and the trumpets began, accompanied by the instruments of King David of Israel. 28 The whole assembly was worshiping, singing the song, and blowing the trumpets—all this continued until the burnt offering was completed. 29 When the burnt offerings were completed, the king and all those present with him bowed down and worshiped.(AA) 30 Then King Hezekiah and the officials told the Levites to sing praise to the Lord in the words of David and of the seer Asaph. So they sang praises with rejoicing and knelt low and worshiped.

31 Hezekiah concluded, “Now you are consecrated[e] to the Lord. Come near and bring sacrifices and thanksgiving offerings to the Lord’s temple.” So the congregation brought sacrifices and thanksgiving offerings, and all those with willing hearts(AB) brought burnt offerings. 32 The number of burnt offerings the congregation brought was seventy bulls, one hundred rams, and two hundred lambs; all these were for a burnt offering to the Lord. 33 Six hundred bulls and three thousand sheep and goats were consecrated.

34 However, since there were not enough priests, they weren’t able to skin all the burnt offerings, so their Levite brothers helped them(AC) until the work was finished and until the priests consecrated themselves. For the Levites were more conscientious[f](AD) to consecrate themselves than the priests were.(AE) 35 Furthermore, the burnt offerings were abundant, along with the fat of the fellowship offerings(AF) and with the drink offerings(AG) for the burnt offering.

So the service of the Lord’s temple was established. 36 Then Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced over how God had prepared the people, for it had come about suddenly.

Footnotes:

  1. 29:1 = Abi in 2Kg 18:2
  2. 29:6 Lit and they gave the back of the neck
  3. 29:8 Lit hissing
  4. 29:14 Alt Hb tradition reads Jehuel
  5. 29:31 Lit Now you have filled your hands
  6. 29:34 Lit upright of heart; Ps 32:11; 64:10
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

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Romans 14

The Law of Liberty

14 Welcome(A) anyone who is weak in faith,(B) but don’t argue about disputed matters. One person believes he may eat anything,(C) while one who is weak eats only vegetables. One who eats must not look down on one who does not eat,(D) and one who does not eat must not judge one who does,(E) because God has accepted him.(F) Who are you to judge(G) another’s household servant? Before his own Lord he stands or falls. And he will stand, because the Lord is able[a] to make him stand.

One person judges one day to be more important than another day.(H) Someone else judges every day to be the same. Let each one be fully convinced in his own mind.(I) Whoever observes the day, observes it for the honor of the Lord.[b] Whoever eats, eats for the Lord, since he gives thanks to God;(J) and whoever does not eat, it is for the Lord that he does not eat it, and he gives thanks to God. For none of us lives for himself, and no one dies for himself.(K) If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.(L) Christ died and returned to life(M) for this: that he might be Lord over both the dead and the living.(N) 10 But you, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.[c](O) 11 For it is written,

As I live, says the Lord,
every knee will bow to me,(P)
and every tongue will give praise to God.[d](Q)

12 So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.(R)

The Law of Love

13 Therefore, let us no longer judge one another.(S) Instead decide never to put a stumbling block or pitfall in the way of your brother or sister.(T) 14 I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself.(U) Still, to someone who considers a thing to be unclean, to that one it is unclean.(V) 15 For if your brother or sister is hurt by what you eat, you are no longer walking according to love.(W) Do not destroy, by what you eat, someone for whom Christ died.(X) 16 Therefore, do not let your good be slandered,(Y) 17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking,(Z) but righteousness, peace, and joy(AA) in the Holy Spirit. 18 Whoever serves Christ(AB) in this way is acceptable to God and receives human approval.(AC)

19 So then, let us pursue what promotes peace(AD) and what builds up one another.(AE) 20 Do not tear down God’s work because of food. Everything is clean, but it is wrong to make someone fall by what he eats.(AF) 21 It is a good thing not to eat meat, or drink wine, or do anything that makes your brother or sister stumble.[e] 22 Whatever you believe about these things, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves.(AG) 23 But whoever doubts stands condemned if he eats,(AH) because his eating is not from faith,[f] and everything that is not from faith is sin.

Footnotes:

  1. 14:4 Other mss read For God has the power
  2. 14:6 Other mss add but whoever does not observe the day, it is to the Lord that he does not observe it
  3. 14:10 Other mss read of Christ
  4. 14:11 Is 45:23; 49:18
  5. 14:21 Other mss add or offended or weakened
  6. 14:23 Or conviction
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

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Psalm 24

Psalm 24

The King of Glory

A psalm of David.

The earth and everything in it,
the world and its inhabitants,
belong to the Lord;(A)
for he laid its foundation on the seas
and established it on the rivers.(B)

Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord?
Who may stand in his holy place?(C)
The one who has clean hands and a pure heart,(D)
who has not appealed to[a] what is false,(E)
and who has not sworn deceitfully.
He will receive blessing from the Lord,(F)
and righteousness[b] from the God of his salvation.(G)
Such is the generation of those who inquire of him,
who seek the face of the God of Jacob.[c](H)Selah

Lift up your heads, you gates!
Rise up, ancient doors!
Then the King of glory will come in.(I)
Who is this King of glory?
The Lord, strong and mighty,
the Lord, mighty in battle.(J)
Lift up your heads, you gates!
Rise up, ancient doors!
Then the King of glory will come in.
10 Who is he, this King of glory?
The Lord of Armies,
he is the King of glory.(K)Selah

Footnotes:

  1. 24:4 Lit not lifted up his soul to
  2. 24:5 Or vindication
  3. 24:6 LXX; some Hb mss, Syr read seek your face, God of Jacob; some Hb mss read seek your face, Jacob
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Proverbs 20:12

12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye—
the Lord made them both.(A)

Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

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The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Tuesday July 30, 2024 (NIV)

2 Chronicles 26-28

Judah’s King Uzziah

26 All the people(A) of Judah took Uzziah,[a] who was sixteen years old, and made him king in place of his father Amaziah. After Amaziah the king rested with his ancestors, Uzziah rebuilt Eloth[b](B) and restored it to Judah.

Uzziah was sixteen years old(C) when he became king, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jecoliah; she was from Jerusalem. He did what was right in the Lord’s sight just as his father Amaziah had done. He sought God(D) throughout the lifetime of Zechariah, the teacher of the fear[c](E) of God. During the time that he sought the Lord, God gave him success.(F)

Uzziah’s Exploits

Uzziah went out to wage war against the Philistines,(G) and he tore down the wall of Gath, the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod. Then he built cities in the vicinity of Ashdod and among the Philistines. God helped him against the Philistines, the Arabs that live in Gur-baal, and the Meunites. The Ammonites[d] paid tribute to Uzziah,(H) and his fame spread as far as the entrance of Egypt, for God made him very powerful. Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate,(I) the Valley Gate,(J) and the corner buttress, and he fortified them. 10 Since he had many cattle both in the Judean foothills[e] and the plain, he built towers in the desert and dug many wells.(K) And since he was a lover of the soil, he had farmers and vinedressers in the hills and in the fertile lands.[f]

11 Uzziah had an army equipped for combat that went out to war by division according to their assignments, as recorded by Jeiel the court secretary and Maaseiah the officer under the authority of Hananiah, one of the king’s commanders. 12 The total number of family heads was 2,600 valiant warriors. 13 Under their authority was an army of 307,500 equipped for combat, a powerful force to help the king against the enemy.(L) 14 Uzziah provided the entire army with shields, spears, helmets, armor, bows, and slingstones. 15 He made skillfully designed devices in Jerusalem to shoot arrows and catapult large stones for use on the towers and on the corners. So his fame spread even to distant places, for he was wondrously helped until he became strong.

Uzziah’s Disease

16 But when he became strong, he grew arrogant,(M) and it led to his own destruction. He acted unfaithfully against the Lord his God by going into the Lord’s sanctuary to burn incense on the incense altar.(N) 17 The priest Azariah,(O) along with eighty brave priests of the Lord, went in after him. 18 They took their stand(P) against King Uzziah and said, “Uzziah, you have no right to offer incense to the Lord(Q)—only the consecrated priests, the descendants of Aaron, have the right to offer incense.(R) Leave the sanctuary, for you have acted unfaithfully! You will not receive honor from the Lord God.”

19 Uzziah, with a firepan in his hand to offer incense, was enraged. But when he became enraged with the priests, in the presence of the priests in the Lord’s temple beside the altar of incense, a skin disease(S) broke out on his forehead. 20 Then Azariah the chief priest and all the priests turned to him and saw that he was diseased on his forehead. They rushed him out of there. He himself also hurried to get out because the Lord had afflicted him. 21 So King Uzziah was diseased to the time of his death.(T) He lived in quarantine[g](U) with a serious skin disease and was excluded from access to the Lord’s temple, while his son Jotham was over the king’s household governing the people of the land.

22 Now the prophet Isaiah(V) son of Amoz wrote about the rest of the events of Uzziah’s reign, from beginning to end. 23 Uzziah rested with his ancestors, and he was buried with his ancestors in the burial ground of the kings’ cemetery,(W) for they said, “He has a skin disease.” His son Jotham became king in his place.

Judah’s King Jotham

27 Jotham was twenty-five years old(X) when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem.(Y) His mother’s name was Jerushah daughter of Zadok. He did what was right in the Lord’s sight just as his father Uzziah had done. In addition, he didn’t enter the Lord’s sanctuary,(Z) but the people still behaved corruptly.

Jotham built the Upper Gate of the Lord’s temple, and he built extensively on the wall of Ophel.(AA) He also built cities in the hill country of Judah and fortresses and towers in the forests.(AB) He waged war against the king of the Ammonites. He overpowered the Ammonites, and that year they gave him 7,500 pounds[h] of silver, 60,000 bushels[i] of wheat, and 60,000 bushels of barley. They paid him the same in the second and third years. So Jotham strengthened his position because he did not waver in obeying[j] the Lord his God.(AC)

As for the rest of the events(AD) of Jotham’s reign, along with all his wars and his ways, note that they are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah. He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. Jotham rested with his ancestors and was buried in the city of David. His son Ahaz became king in his place.

Judah’s King Ahaz

28 Ahaz was twenty years old(AE) when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. He did not do what was right in the Lord’s sight(AF) like his ancestor David, for he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel(AG) and made cast images of the Baals.(AH) He burned incense in Ben Hinnom Valley(AI) and burned his children in[k](AJ) the fire, imitating the detestable practices of the nations the Lord had dispossessed before the Israelites.(AK) He sacrificed and burned incense on the high places,(AL) on the hills, and under every green tree.

So the Lord his God handed Ahaz over(AM) to the king of Aram. He attacked him and took many captives to Damascus.

Ahaz was also handed over to the king of Israel, who struck him with great force: Pekah son of Remaliah killed one hundred twenty thousand in Judah in one day—all brave men—because they had abandoned the Lord God of their ancestors. An Ephraimite warrior named Zichri killed the king’s son Maaseiah, Azrikam governor of the palace, and Elkanah who was second to the king. Then the Israelites took two hundred thousand captives from their brothers—women, sons, and daughters.(AN) They also took a great deal of plunder from them and brought it to Samaria.

A prophet of the Lord named Oded was there. He went out to meet the army that came to Samaria and said to them, “Look, the Lord God of your ancestors handed them over to you because of his wrath against Judah,(AO) but you slaughtered them in a rage that has reached heaven.(AP) 10 Now you plan to reduce the people of Judah and Jerusalem, male and female, to slavery. Are you not also guilty before the Lord your God? 11 Listen to me and return the captives you took from your brothers,(AQ) for the Lord’s burning anger is on you.”

12 So some men who were leaders of the Ephraimites—Azariah son of Jehohanan, Berechiah son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah son of Shallum, and Amasa son of Hadlai—stood in opposition to those coming from the war. 13 They said to them, “You must not bring the captives here, for you plan to bring guilt on us from the Lord to add to our sins and our guilt. For we have much guilt, and burning anger is on Israel.”

14 The army left the captives and the plunder in the presence of the officers and the congregation. 15 Then the men who were designated by name(AR) took charge of the captives and provided clothes for their naked ones from the plunder. They clothed them, gave them sandals, food and drink,(AS) dressed their wounds, and provided donkeys for all the feeble. The Israelites brought them to Jericho, the City of Palms,(AT) among their brothers. Then they returned to Samaria.

16 At that time King Ahaz asked the king of Assyria for help.(AU) 17 The Edomites came again, attacked Judah, and took captives.(AV) 18 The Philistines also raided the cities of the Judean foothills[l] and the Negev of Judah.(AW) They captured and occupied Beth-shemesh, Aijalon, and Gederoth, as well as Soco, Timnah, and Gimzo with their surrounding villages. 19 For the Lord humbled Judah because of King Ahaz of Judah,[m] who threw off restraint in Judah and was unfaithful to the Lord. 20 Then King Tiglath-pileser[n](AX) of Assyria came against Ahaz; he oppressed him and did not give him support.(AY) 21 Although Ahaz plundered the Lord’s temple and the palace of the king and of the rulers and gave the plunder to the king of Assyria, it did not help him.

22 At the time of his distress, King Ahaz himself became more unfaithful to the Lord. 23 He sacrificed to the gods of Damascus which had defeated him; he said, “Since the gods of the kings of Aram are helping them, I will sacrifice to them so that they will help me.”(AZ) But they were the downfall of him and of all Israel.

24 Then Ahaz gathered up the utensils of God’s temple, cut them into pieces,(BA) shut the doors of the Lord’s temple,(BB) and made himself altars on every street corner in Jerusalem.(BC) 25 He made high places in every city of Judah to offer incense to other gods, and he angered the Lord, the God of his ancestors.

Ahaz’s Death

26 As for the rest of his deeds(BD) and all his ways, from beginning to end, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel. 27 Ahaz rested with his ancestors and was buried in the city, in Jerusalem, but they did not bring him into the tombs of the kings of Israel. His son Hezekiah became king in his place.

Footnotes:

  1. 26:1 = Azariah in 2Kg 14:21
  2. 26:2 LXX, Syr, Vg read Elath
  3. 26:5 Some Hb mss, LXX, Syr, Tg, Arabic; other Hb mss, Vg read visions
  4. 26:8 LXX reads Meunites
  5. 26:10 Or the Shephelah
  6. 26:10 Or in Carmel
  7. 26:21 Lit in a house of exemption from duty
  8. 27:5 Lit 100 talents
  9. 27:5 Lit 10,000 cors
  10. 27:6 Lit he established his ways before
  11. 28:3 LXX, Syr, Tg read and passed his children through
  12. 28:18 Or the Shephelah
  13. 28:19 Some Hb mss; other Hb mss read Israel
  14. 28:20 Text emended; MT reads Tilgath-pilneser; 1Ch 5:6,26
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

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Romans 13

A Christian’s Duties to the State

13 Let everyone submit to the governing authorities,(A) since there is no authority except from God,(B) and the authorities that exist are instituted by God. So then, the one who resists the authority is opposing God’s command, and those who oppose it will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror(C) to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the one in authority? Do what is good, and you will have its approval. For it is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, because it does not carry the sword for no reason. For it is God’s servant, an avenger(D) that brings wrath on the one who does wrong. Therefore, you must submit, not only because of wrath but also because of your conscience.(E) And for this reason you pay taxes, since the authorities are God’s servants, continually attending to these tasks.[a] Pay your obligations(F) to everyone: taxes to those you owe taxes,(G) tolls to those you owe tolls, respect to those you owe respect,(H) and honor to those you owe honor.

Love, Our Primary Duty

Do not owe anyone anything, except to love one another, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.(I) The commandments, Do not commit adultery; do not murder; do not steal;[b] do not covet;[c](J) and any other commandment, are summed up by this commandment: Love your neighbor as yourself.[d](K) 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor. Love, therefore, is the fulfillment of the law.

Put On Christ

11 Besides this, since you know the time, it is already the hour(L) for you[e] to wake up from sleep,(M) because now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.(N) 12 The night is nearly over, and the day is near;(O) so let us discard the deeds of darkness(P) and put on the armor of light.(Q) 13 Let us walk with decency,(R) as in the daytime: not in carousing and drunkenness;(S) not in sexual impurity and promiscuity; not in quarreling and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ,(T) and make no provision for the flesh to gratify its desires.(U)

Footnotes:

  1. 13:6 Lit to this very thing
  2. 13:9 Other mss add do not bear false witness
  3. 13:9 Ex 20:13–17; Dt 5:17–21
  4. 13:9 Lv 19:18
  5. 13:11 Other mss read for us
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

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Psalm 23

Psalm 23

The Good Shepherd

A psalm of David.

The Lord is my shepherd;(A)
I have what I need.(B)
He lets me lie down in green pastures;(C)
he leads me beside quiet waters.(D)
He renews my life;
he leads me along the right paths[a]
for his name’s sake.(E)
Even when I go through the darkest valley,[b]
I fear no danger,
for you are with me;(F)
your rod and your staff—they comfort me.(G)

You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;(H)
my cup overflows.(I)
Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me
all the days of my life,(J)
and I will dwell in[c] the house of the Lord
as long as I live.[d](K)

Footnotes:

  1. 23:3 Or me in paths of righteousness
  2. 23:4 Or the valley of the shadow of death
  3. 23:6 LXX, Sym, Syr, Tg, Vg, Jer; MT reads will return to
  4. 23:6 Lit Lord for length of days; traditionally Lord forever
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

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Proverbs 20:11

11 Even a young man is known by his actions—
by whether his behavior is pure and upright.(A)

Cross references:

  1. 20:11 : Pr 21:8; Mt 7:16
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

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The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Monday July 29, 2024 (NIV)

2 Chronicles 24-25

King Joash of Judah

(2 Kings 12.1-16)

24 Joash was only 7 years old when he became king of Judah, and he ruled 40 years from Jerusalem. His mother Zibiah was from the town of Beersheba.

While Jehoiada the priest was alive, Joash obeyed the Lord by doing right. Jehoiada even chose two women for Joash to marry so he could have a family.

Some time later, Joash decided it was time to repair the temple. He called together the priests and Levites and said, “Go everywhere in Judah and collect the annual tax from the people. I want this done at once—we need that money to repair the temple.”

But the Levites were in no hurry to follow the king's orders. (A) So he sent for Jehoiada the high priest and asked, “Why didn't you send the Levites to collect the taxes? The Lord's servant Moses and the people agreed long ago that this tax would be collected and used to pay for the upkeep of the sacred tent. And now we need it to repair the temple because the sons of that evil woman Athaliah came in and wrecked it. They even used some of the sacred objects to worship the god Baal.”

Joash gave orders for a wooden box to be made and had it placed outside, near the gate of the temple. He then sent letters everywhere in Judah and Jerusalem, asking everyone to bring their taxes to the temple, just as Moses had required their ancestors to do.

10 The people and their leaders agreed, and they brought their money to Jerusalem and placed it in the box. 11 Each day, after the Levites took the box into the temple, the king's secretary and the high priest's assistant would dump out the money and count it. Then the empty box would be taken back outside.

This happened day after day, and soon a large amount of money was collected. 12 Joash and Jehoiada turned the money over to the men who were supervising the repairs to the temple. They used the money to hire stonecutters, carpenters, and experts in working with iron and bronze.

13 These workers went right to work repairing the temple, and when they were finished, it looked as good as new. 14 They did not use all the tax money for the repairs, so the rest of it was handed over to Joash and Jehoiada, who then used it to make dishes and other gold and silver objects for the temple.

Sacrifices to please the Lord[a] were offered regularly in the temple for as long as Jehoiada lived. 15 He died at the ripe old age of 130 years, 16 and he was buried in the royal tombs in Jerusalem, because he had done so much good for the people of Israel, for God, and for the temple.

Joash Turns Away from the Lord

17 After the death of Jehoiada the priest, the leaders of Judah went to Joash and talked him into doing what they wanted. 18 The people of Judah soon stopped worshiping in the temple of the Lord God and started worshiping idols and the symbols of the goddess Asherah. These sinful things made the Lord God angry with the people of Judah and Jerusalem, 19 but he still sent prophets who warned them to turn back to him. The people refused to listen.

20 (B) God's Spirit spoke to Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest, and Zechariah told everyone that God was saying: “Why are you disobeying me and my laws? This will only bring punishment! You have deserted me, so now I will desert you.”

21-22 King Joash forgot that Zechariah's father had always been a loyal friend. So when the people of Judah plotted to kill Zechariah, Joash joined them and gave orders for them to stone him to death in the courtyard of the temple. As Zechariah was dying, he said, “I pray that the Lord will see this and punish all of you.”

Joash Is Killed

23 In the spring of the following year, the Syrian army invaded Judah and Jerusalem, killing all of the nation's leaders. They collected everything of value that belonged to the people and took it back to their king in Damascus. 24 The Syrian army was very small, but the Lord let them defeat Judah's large army, because he was punishing Joash and the people of Judah for turning away from him.

25-26 Joash was severely wounded during the battle, and as soon as the Syrians left Judah, two of his officials, Zabad and Jehozabad,[b] decided to revenge the death of Zechariah. They plotted and killed Joash while he was in bed, recovering from his wounds. Joash was buried in Jerusalem, but not in the royal tombs. 27 The History of the Kings also tells more about the sons of Joash, what the prophets said about him, and how he repaired the temple. Amaziah son of Joash became king after his father's death.

King Amaziah of Judah

(2 Kings 14.1-6)

25 Amaziah was 25 years old when he became king, and he ruled 29 years from Jerusalem, the hometown of his mother Jehoaddin.[c]

Even though Amaziah obeyed the Lord by doing right, he refused to be completely faithful. For example, as soon as he had control of Judah, he arrested and killed the officers who had murdered his father. (C) But the children of those officers were not killed; the Lord had commanded in the Law of Moses that only the people who sinned were to be punished.[d]

Edom Is Defeated

(2 Kings 14.7)

Amaziah sent a message to the tribes of Judah and Benjamin and called together all the men who were 20 years old and older. Three hundred thousand men went to Jerusalem, all of them ready for battle and able to fight with spears and shields. Amaziah grouped these soldiers according to their clans and put them under the command of his army officers. Amaziah also paid about 3.4 tons of silver to hire 100,000 soldiers from Israel.

One of God's prophets said, “Your Majesty, don't let these Israelite soldiers march into battle with you. The Lord has refused to help anyone from the northern kingdom of Israel, and so he will let your enemies defeat you, even if you fight hard. He is the one who brings both victory and defeat.”

Amaziah replied, “What am I supposed to do about all the silver I paid those troops?”

“The Lord will give you back even more than you paid,” the prophet answered.

10 Amaziah ordered the troops from Israel to go home, but when they left, they were furious with the people of Judah.

11 After Amaziah got his courage back, he led his troops to Salt Valley, where he killed 10,000 Edomite soldiers in battle. 12 He captured 10,000 more soldiers and dragged them to the top of a high cliff. Then he pushed them over the side, and they all were killed on the rocks below.

13 Meanwhile, the Israelite troops that Amaziah had sent home, raided the towns in Judah between Samaria and Beth-Horon. They killed 3,000 people and carried off their possessions.

14 After Amaziah had defeated the Edomite army, he returned to Jerusalem. He took with him the idols of the Edomite gods and set them up. Then he bowed down and offered them sacrifices. 15 This made the Lord very angry, and he sent a prophet to ask Amaziah, “Why would you worship these foreign gods that couldn't even save their own people from your attack?”

16 But before the prophet finished speaking, Amaziah interrupted and said, “You're not one of my advisors! Don't say another word, or I'll have you killed.”

The prophet stopped. But then he added, “First you sinned and now you've ignored my warning. It's clear that God has decided to punish you!”

Israel Defeats Judah

(2 Kings 14.8-14)

17 King Amaziah of Judah talked with his officials, then sent a message to King Jehoash[e] of Israel: “Come out and face me in battle!”

18 Jehoash sent back a reply that said:

Once upon a time, a small thornbush in Lebanon arranged the marriage between his son and the daughter of a large cedar tree. But a wild animal came along and trampled the small bush.

19 Amaziah, you think you're so powerful because you defeated Edom. But stay at home and do your celebrating. If you cause any trouble, both you and your kingdom of Judah will be destroyed.

20 God made Amaziah stubborn because he was planning to punish him for worshiping the Edomite gods. Amaziah refused to listen to Jehoash's warning, 21 so Jehoash led his army to the town of Beth-Shemesh in Judah to attack Amaziah and his troops. 22 During the battle, Judah's army was crushed. Every soldier from Judah ran back home, 23 and Jehoash captured Amaziah.

Jehoash took Amaziah with him when he went to attack Jerusalem. Jehoash broke down the city wall from Ephraim Gate to Corner Gate, a section nearly 200 meters long. 24 He carried away the gold, the silver, and all the valuable furnishings from God's temple where the descendants of Obed-Edom stood guard. He robbed the king's treasury, took hostages, then returned to Samaria.

Amaziah Is Killed

(2 Kings 14.15-20)

25 Amaziah lived 15 years after Jehoash died. 26 Everything else Amaziah did while he was king is written in The History of the Kings of Judah and Israel.

27 As soon as Amaziah started disobeying the Lord, some people in Jerusalem plotted against Amaziah. He was able to escape to the town of Lachish, but another group of people caught him and killed him there. 28 His body was taken to Jerusalem on horseback and buried beside his ancestors.

Footnotes:

  1. 24.14 Sacrifices to please the Lord: See the note at 1.6.
  2. 24.25,26 Zabad and Jehozabad: Hebrew “Zabad son of Shimeath from Ammon and Jehozabad son of Shimrith from Moab.”
  3. 25.1 Jehoaddin: The Hebrew text has “Jehoaddan,” another spelling of the name.
  4. 25.4 the Lord had commanded … punished: See Deuteronomy 24.16.
  5. 25.17 King Jehoash: The Hebrew text has “King Joash son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu”; Jehoash is another spelling for the name Joash.
Contemporary English Version (CEV)

Copyright © 1995 by American Bible Society For more information about CEV, visit www.bibles.com and www.cev.bible.

Romans 12

Christ Brings New Life

12 Dear friends, God is good. So I beg you to offer your bodies to him as a living sacrifice, pure and pleasing. That's the most sensible way to serve God. Don't be like the people of this world, but let God change the way you think. Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to him.

I realize God has treated me with undeserved grace, and so I tell each of you not to think you are better than you really are. Use good sense and measure yourself by the amount of faith that God has given you. (A) A body is made up of many parts, and each of them has its own use. That's how it is with us. There are many of us, but we each are part of the body of Christ, as well as part of one another.

(B) God has also given each of us different gifts to use. If we can prophesy, we should do it according to the amount of faith we have. If we can serve others, we should serve. If we can teach, we should teach. If we can encourage others, we should encourage them. If we can give, we should be generous. If we are leaders, we should do our best. If we are good to others, we should do it cheerfully.

Rules for Christian Living

Be sincere in your love for others. Hate everything that is evil and hold tight to everything that is good. 10 Love each other as brothers and sisters and honor others more than you do yourself. 11 Never give up. Eagerly follow the Holy Spirit and serve the Lord. 12 Let your hope make you glad. Be patient in time of trouble and never stop praying. 13 Take care of God's needy people and welcome strangers into your home.

14 (C) Ask God to bless everyone who mistreats you. Ask him to bless them and not to curse them. 15 (D) When others are happy, be happy with them, and when they are sad, be sad. 16 (E) Be friendly with everyone. Don't be proud and feel that you know more than others. Make friends with ordinary people.[a] 17 Don't mistreat someone who has mistreated you. But try to earn the respect of others, 18 and do your best to live at peace with everyone.

19 (F) Dear friends, don't try to get even. Let God take revenge. In the Scriptures the Lord says,

“I am the one to take revenge
and pay them back.”

20 (G) The Scriptures also say,

“If your enemies are hungry,
give them something to eat.
And if they are thirsty,
give them something
to drink.
This will be the same
as piling burning coals
on their heads.”

21 Don't let evil defeat you, but defeat evil with good.

Footnotes:

  1. 12.16 Make friends with ordinary people: Or “Do ordinary jobs.”
Contemporary English Version (CEV)

Copyright © 1995 by American Bible Society For more information about CEV, visit www.bibles.com and www.cev.bible.

Psalm 22:19-31

19 Don't stay far away, Lord!
My strength comes from you,
so hurry and help.
20 Rescue me from enemy swords
and save me from those dogs.
21 Don't let lions eat me.

You rescued me from the horns
of wild bulls,
22 (A) and when your people meet,
I will praise you, Lord.

23 All who worship the Lord,
now praise him!
You belong to Jacob's family
and to the people of Israel,
so fear and honor the Lord!
24 The Lord doesn't hate
or despise the helpless
in all of their troubles.
When I cried out, he listened
and did not turn away.

25 When your people meet,
you will fill my heart
with your praises, Lord,
and everyone will see me
keep my promises to you.
26 The poor will eat and be full,
and all who worship you
will be thankful
and live in hope.

27 Everyone on this earth
will remember you, Lord.
People all over the world
will turn and worship you,
28 because you are in control,
the ruler of all nations.

29 All who are rich
and have more than enough
will bow down to you, Lord.
Even those who are dying
and almost in the grave
will come and bow down.
30 In the future, everyone
will worship and learn
about you, our Lord.
31 People not yet born
will be told,
“The Lord has saved us!”

Cross references:

  1. 22.22 : He 2.12.
Contemporary English Version (CEV)

Copyright © 1995 by American Bible Society For more information about CEV, visit www.bibles.com and www.cev.bible.

Proverbs 20:8-10

When rulers decide cases,
they weigh the evidence.
Can any of us really say,
“My thoughts are pure,
and my sins are gone”?

10 Two things the Lord hates
are dishonest scales
and dishonest measures.

Contemporary English Version (CEV)

Copyright © 1995 by American Bible Society For more information about CEV, visit www.bibles.com and www.cev.bible.

The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Sunday July 28, 2024 (NIV)

2 Chronicles 21-23

Jehoram Becomes King over Judah

21 Jehoshaphat rested with his ancestors and was buried with his ancestors in the city of David. His son Jehoram[a] became king in his place.(A) He had brothers, sons of Jehoshaphat: Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azariah, Michael, and Shephatiah; all these were the sons of King Jehoshaphat of Judah.[b] Their father had given them many gifts of silver, gold, and valuable things, along with fortified cities(B) in Judah, but he gave the kingdom to Jehoram because he was the firstborn. When Jehoram had established himself over his father’s kingdom, he strengthened his position by killing with the sword all his brothers as well as some of the princes of Israel.

Judah’s King Jehoram

Jehoram(C) was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. He walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab had done,(D) for Ahab’s daughter was his wife.(E) He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, but for the sake of the covenant the Lord had made with David, he was unwilling to destroy the house of David since the Lord had promised(F) to give a lamp[c](G) to David and to his sons forever.

During Jehoram’s reign, Edom rebelled against Judah’s control and appointed their own king. So Jehoram crossed into Edom with his commanders and all his chariots. Then at night he set out to attack the Edomites who had surrounded him and the chariot commanders. 10 And now Edom is still in rebellion against Judah’s control today. Libnah also rebelled at that time against his control because he had abandoned the Lord, the God of his ancestors. 11 Jehoram also built high places(H) in the hills[d] of Judah, and he caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to prostitute themselves,(I) and he led Judah astray.

Elijah’s Letter to Jehoram

12 Then a letter came to Jehoram from the prophet Elijah, saying:

This is what the Lord, the God of your ancestor David says: “Because you have not walked in the ways of your father Jehoshaphat(J) or in the ways of King Asa of Judah(K) 13 but have walked in the ways of the kings of Israel,(L) have caused Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to prostitute themselves like the house of Ahab(M) prostituted itself, and also have killed your brothers,(N) your father’s family, who were better than you, 14 the Lord is now about to strike your people, your sons, your wives, and all your possessions with a horrible affliction. 15 You yourself will be struck with many illnesses, including a disease of the intestines, until your intestines come out day after day because of the disease.”(O)

Jehoram’s Last Days

16 The Lord roused the spirit of the Philistines and the Arabs(P) who lived near the Cushites to attack Jehoram.(Q) 17 So they went to war against Judah and invaded it. They carried off all the possessions found in the king’s palace and also his sons and wives; not a son was left to him except Jehoahaz,[e](R) his youngest son.

18 After all these things, the Lord afflicted him in his intestines with an incurable disease. 19 This continued day after day until two full years passed. Then his intestines came out because of his disease, and he died from severe[f] illnesses. But his people did not hold a fire in his honor like the fire in honor of his predecessors.(S)

20 Jehoram(T) was thirty-two years old when he became king; he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. He died to no one’s regret[g](U) and was buried in the city of David but not in the tombs of the kings.(V)

Judah’s King Ahaziah

22 Then the inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahaziah, his youngest son, king in his place, because the troops that had come with the Arabs(W) to the camp had killed all the older sons.[h] So Ahaziah son of Jehoram became king of Judah. Ahaziah(X) was twenty-two[i] years old when he became king, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Athaliah, granddaughter[j] of Omri.

He walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother gave him evil advice. So he did what was evil in the Lord’s sight like the house of Ahab, for they were his advisers after the death of his father, to his destruction. He also followed their advice and went with Joram[k] son of Israel’s King Ahab to fight against King Hazael of Aram, in Ramoth-gilead. The Arameans[l] wounded Joram, so he returned to Jezreel to recover from the wounds they inflicted on him in Ramoth-gilead[m] when he fought against King Hazael of Aram. Then Judah’s King Ahaziah[n] son of Jehoram went down to Jezreel to visit Joram son of Ahab since Joram was ill.

Ahaziah’s downfall came from God when he went to Joram.(Y) When Ahaziah arrived, he went out with Joram to meet Jehu son of Nimshi,(Z) whom the Lord had anointed to destroy the house of Ahab.(AA) So when Jehu executed judgment on the house of Ahab,(AB) he found the rulers of Judah and the sons of Ahaziah’s brothers who were serving Ahaziah, and he killed them. Then Jehu looked for Ahaziah,(AC) and Jehu’s soldiers captured him (he was hiding in Samaria). So they brought Ahaziah to Jehu, and they killed him. The soldiers buried him, for they said, “He is the grandson of Jehoshaphat who sought the Lord with all his heart.”(AD) So no one from the house of Ahaziah had the strength to rule the kingdom.

Athaliah Usurps the Throne

10 When(AE) Athaliah, Ahaziah’s mother, saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to annihilate all the royal heirs[o] of the house of Judah. 11 Jehoshabeath,[p] the king’s daughter, rescued Joash son of Ahaziah from the king’s sons who were being killed and put him and the one who nursed him in a bedroom. Now Jehoshabeath was the daughter of King Jehoram and the wife of the priest Jehoiada. Since she was Ahaziah’s sister, she hid Joash from Athaliah so that she did not kill him. 12 He was hiding with them in God’s temple for six years while Athaliah reigned over the land.

Athaliah Overthrown

23 Then, in the seventh year,(AF) Jehoiada summoned his courage and took the commanders of hundreds into a covenant with him: Azariah son of Jeroham, Ishmael son of Jehohanan, Azariah son of Obed, Maaseiah son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat son of Zichri. They made a circuit throughout Judah. They gathered the Levites from all the cities of Judah and the family heads of Israel, and they came to Jerusalem.

Then the whole assembly made a covenant with the king in God’s temple. Jehoiada said to them, “Here is the king’s son! He will reign, just as the Lord promised(AG) concerning David’s sons. This is what you are to do: a third of you, priests and Levites who are coming on duty on the Sabbath,(AH) are to be gatekeepers. A third are to be at the king’s palace, and a third are to be at the Foundation Gate, and all the troops will be in the courtyards of the Lord’s temple. No one is to enter the Lord’s temple but the priests and those Levites who serve;(AI) they may enter because they are holy, but all the people are to obey the requirement of the Lord. The Levites are to completely surround the king with weapons in hand. Anyone who enters the temple is to be put to death. Accompany the king in all his daily tasks.”[q]

So the commanders of hundreds did everything the priest Jehoiada commanded. They each brought their men—those coming on duty on the Sabbath and those going off duty on the Sabbath—for the priest Jehoiada did not release the divisions.(AJ) The priest Jehoiada gave to the commanders of hundreds King David’s spears, shields, and quivers[r] that were in God’s temple. 10 Then he stationed all the troops with their weapons in hand surrounding the king—from the right side of the temple to the left side, by the altar and by the temple.

11 They brought out the king’s son, put the crown on him, gave him the testimony,(AK) and made him king. Jehoiada and his sons anointed him and cried, “Long live the king!” (AL)

12 When Athaliah heard the noise from the troops, the guards, and those praising the king, she went to the troops in the Lord’s temple. 13 As she looked, there was the king standing by his pillar[s] at the entrance. The commanders and the trumpeters were by the king, and all the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets(AM) while the singers with musical instruments were leading the praise. Athaliah tore her clothes and screamed, “Treason! Treason!”

14 Then the priest Jehoiada sent out the commanders of hundreds, those in charge of the army, saying, “Take her out between the ranks, and put anyone who follows her to death by the sword,” for the priest had said, “Don’t put her to death in the Lord’s temple.” 15 So they arrested her, and she went by the entrance of the Horse Gate(AN) to the king’s palace, where they put her to death.

Jehoiada’s Reforms

16 Then Jehoiada made a covenant between himself, the king, and the people that they would be the Lord’s people. 17 So all the people went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They smashed its altars and images and killed Mattan, the priest of Baal, at the altars.(AO)

18 Then Jehoiada put the oversight of the Lord’s temple into the hands of the Levitical priests,(AP) whom David had appointed(AQ) over the Lord’s temple, to offer burnt offerings to the Lord as it is written in the law of Moses,(AR) with rejoicing and song ordained by[t] David. 19 He stationed gatekeepers(AS) at the gates of the Lord’s temple so that nothing unclean could enter for any reason. 20 Then he took with him the commanders of hundreds, the nobles, the governors of the people, and all the people of the land and brought the king down from the Lord’s temple. They entered the king’s palace through the Upper Gate and seated the king on the throne of the kingdom. 21 All the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet, for they had put Athaliah to death by the sword.

Footnotes:

  1. 21:1 = Joram
  2. 21:2 Some Hb mss, LXX, Syr, Vg, Arabic; other Hb mss read Israel
  3. 21:7 Or dominion
  4. 21:11 Some Hb mss, LXX, Vg read cities
  5. 21:17 LXX, Syr, Tg read Ahaziah
  6. 21:19 Lit evil
  7. 21:20 Lit He walked in no desirability
  8. 22:1 Lit the former ones
  9. 22:2 Some LXX mss, Syr; MT reads 42; 2Kg 8:26
  10. 22:2 Lit daughter
  11. 22:5 = Jehoram
  12. 22:5 Lit Rammites
  13. 22:6 Lit in Ramah
  14. 22:6 Some Hb mss, LXX, Syr, Vg; other Hb mss read Azariah
  15. 22:10 Lit seed
  16. 22:11 = Jehosheba; 2Kg 11:2
  17. 23:7 Lit king when he comes in and when he goes out
  18. 23:9 Or spears and large and small shields
  19. 23:13 LXX reads post
  20. 23:18 Lit song on the hands of
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.

Romans 11:13-36

13 Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Insofar as I am an apostle to the Gentiles,(A) I magnify my ministry, 14 if I might somehow make my own people[a](B) jealous and save some of them.(C) 15 For if their rejection brings reconciliation(D) to the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead?(E) 16 Now if the firstfruits are holy,(F) so is the whole batch. And if the root is holy, so are the branches.

17 Now if some of the branches were broken off,(G) and you, though a wild olive branch, were grafted in among them(H) and have come to share in the rich root[b] of the cultivated olive tree, 18 do not boast that you are better than those branches. But if you do boast—you do not sustain the root, but the root sustains you.(I) 19 Then you will say,(J) “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” 20 True enough; they were broken off because of unbelief, but you stand by faith.(K) Do not be arrogant, but beware,[c](L) 21 because if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either. 22 Therefore, consider God’s kindness and severity: severity toward those who have fallen but God’s kindness(M) toward you—if you remain in his kindness.(N) Otherwise you too will be cut off.(O) 23 And even they, if they do not remain in unbelief,(P) will be grafted in, because God has the power to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut off from your native wild olive tree and against nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these—the natural branches—be grafted into their own olive tree?

25 I don’t want you to be ignorant(Q) of this mystery,(R) brothers and sisters, so that you will not be conceited:(S) A partial hardening has come upon Israel(T) until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.(U) 26 And in this way all[d] Israel will be saved, as it is written,

The Deliverer will come from Zion;
he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.
27 And this will be my covenant with them[e](V)
when I take away their sins.[f](W)

28 Regarding the gospel, they are enemies for your advantage,(X) but regarding election, they are loved because of the patriarchs,(Y) 29 since God’s gracious gifts and calling(Z) are irrevocable.[g](AA) 30 As you once disobeyed God but now have received mercy through their disobedience, 31 so they too have now disobeyed, resulting in mercy to you, so that they also may now[h] receive mercy. 32 For God has imprisoned all in disobedience(AB) so that he may have mercy on all.

A Hymn of Praise

33 Oh, the depth of the riches(AC)
and the wisdom and the knowledge of God!(AD)
How unsearchable his judgments(AE)
and untraceable his ways!
34 For who has known the mind of the Lord?(AF)
Or who has been his counselor?
35 And who has ever given to God,
that he should be repaid?[i](AG)
36 For from him and through him
and to him are all things.(AH)
To him be the glory forever. Amen.

Footnotes:

  1. 11:14 Lit flesh
  2. 11:17 Other mss read the root and the richness
  3. 11:20 Lit fear
  4. 11:26 Or And then all
  5. 11:26–27 Is 59:20–21
  6. 11:27 Jr 31:31–34
  7. 11:29 Or are not taken back
  8. 11:31 Other mss omit now
  9. 11:34–35 Jb 41:11; Is 40:13; Jr 23:18
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

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Psalm 22:1-18

Psalm 22

From Suffering to Praise

For the choir director: according to “The Deer of the Dawn.” A psalm of David.

My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?(A)
Why are you so far from my deliverance(B)
and from my words of groaning?(C)
My God, I cry by day, but you do not answer,
by night, yet I have no rest.(D)
But you are holy,
enthroned on the praises of Israel.(E)
Our ancestors trusted in you;
they trusted, and you rescued them.(F)
They cried to you and were set free;
they trusted in you and were not disgraced.(G)

But I am a worm and not a man,(H)
scorned by mankind and despised by people.(I)
Everyone who sees me mocks me;
they sneer[a] and shake their heads:(J)
“He relies on[b] the Lord;
let him save him;
let the Lord[c] rescue him,
since he takes pleasure in him.”(K)

It was you who brought me out of the womb,
making me secure at my mother’s breast.(L)
10 I was given over to you at birth;[d]
you have been my God from my mother’s womb.(M)

11 Don’t be far from me, because distress is near
and there’s no one to help.(N)

12 Many bulls surround me;
strong ones of Bashan encircle me.(O)
13 They open their mouths against me—
lions, mauling and roaring.(P)
14 I am poured out like water,(Q)
and all my bones are disjointed;(R)
my heart is like wax,
melting within me.(S)
15 My strength is dried up like baked clay;(T)
my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth.(U)
You put me into the dust of death.(V)
16 For dogs have surrounded me;(W)
a gang of evildoers has closed in on me;
they pierced[e] my hands and my feet.(X)
17 I can count all my bones;
people[f] look and stare at me.(Y)
18 They divided my garments among themselves,
and they cast lots for my clothing.(Z)

Footnotes:

  1. 22:7 Lit separate with the lip
  2. 22:8 Or Rely on
  3. 22:8 Lit let him
  4. 22:10 Lit was cast on you from the womb
  5. 22:16 Some Hb mss, LXX, Syr; other Hb mss read me; like a lion
  6. 22:17 Lit they
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 20:7

A righteous person acts with integrity;(A)
his children who come after him will be happy.(B)

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.

The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Saturday July 27, 2024 (NIV)

2 Chronicles 19-20

19 Jehoshaphat returned safely to his palace in Jerusalem. But the prophet Jehu son of Hanani met him and said:

By helping that wicked Ahab, you have made friends with someone who hates the Lord. Now the Lord God is angry with you! But not everything about you is bad. You destroyed the sacred poles[a] used in worshiping the goddess Asherah—that shows you have tried to obey the Lord.

Jehoshaphat Appoints Judges To Settle Cases

Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem, but he often traveled through his kingdom, from Beersheba in the south to the edge of the hill country of Ephraim in the north. He talked with the people and convinced them to turn back to the Lord God and worship him, just as their ancestors had done.

He assigned judges to each of the fortified cities in Judah and told them:

Be careful when you make your decisions in court, because you are judging by the Lord's standards and not by human standards, and he will know what you decide. So do your work in honor of him and know that he won't allow you to be unfair to anyone or to take bribes.

Jehoshaphat also chose some Levites, some priests, and some of the family leaders, and he appointed them to serve as judges in Jerusalem. He told them:

Faithfully serve the Lord! 10 The people of Judah will bring you legal cases that involve every type of crime, including murder. You must settle these cases and warn the people to stop sinning against the Lord, so that he won't get angry and punish Judah. Remember, if you follow these instructions, you won't be held responsible for anything that happens.

11 Amariah the high priest will have the final say in any religious case. And Zebadiah, the leader[b] of the Judah tribe, will have the final say in all other cases. The rest of the Levites will serve as your assistants. Be brave, and I pray that the Lord will help you do right.

Moab and Ammon Are Defeated

20 Some time later, the armies of Moab and Ammon, together with the Meunites,[c] went to war against Jehoshaphat. Messengers told Jehoshaphat, “A large army from Edom[d] east of the Dead Sea has invaded our country. They have already reached En-Gedi.”[e]

Jehoshaphat was afraid, so he asked the Lord what to do. He then told the people of Judah to go without eating to show their sorrow. They immediately left for Jerusalem to ask for the Lord's help.

After everyone from Judah and Jerusalem had come together at the Lord's temple, Jehoshaphat stood in front of the new courtyard and prayed:

You, Lord, are the God our ancestors worshiped, and from heaven you rule every nation in the world. You are so powerful that no one can defeat you. (A) Our God, you forced out the nations who lived in this land before your people Israel came here, and you gave it to the descendants of your friend Abraham forever. Our ancestors lived in this land and built a temple to honor you. They believed that whenever this land is struck by war or disease or famine, your people can pray to you at the temple, and you will hear their prayer and save them.

10 (B) You can see that the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Edom are attacking us! Those are the nations you would not let our ancestors invade on their way from Egypt, so these nations were not destroyed. 11 Now they are coming to take back the land you gave us. 12 Aren't you going to punish them? We won't stand a chance when this army attacks. We don't know what to do—we are begging for your help.

13 While every man, woman, and child of Judah was standing there at the temple, 14 the Lord's Spirit suddenly spoke to Jahaziel, a Levite from the Asaph clan.[f] 15 (C) Then Jahaziel said:

Your Majesty and everyone from Judah and Jerusalem, the Lord says that you don't need to be afraid or let this powerful army discourage you. God will fight on your side! 16 So here's what you must do. Tomorrow the enemy armies will march through the desert around the town of Jeruel. March down and meet them at the town of Ziz as they come up the valley. 17 (D) You won't even have to fight. Just take your positions and watch the Lord rescue you from your enemy. Don't be afraid. Just do as you're told. And as you march out tomorrow, the Lord will be there with you.

18 Jehoshaphat bowed low to the ground and everyone worshiped the Lord. 19 Then some Levites from the Kohath and Korah clans stood up and shouted praises to the Lord God of Israel.

20 Early the next morning, as everyone got ready to leave for the desert near Tekoa, Jehoshaphat stood up and said, “Listen my friends, if we trust the Lord God and believe what these prophets have told us, the Lord will help us, and we will be successful.” 21 Then he explained his plan and appointed men to march in front of the army and praise the Lord for his holy power by singing:[g]

“Praise the Lord!
His love never ends.”

22 As soon as they began singing, the Lord confused the enemy camp, 23 so that the Ammonite and Moabite troops attacked and completely destroyed those from Edom. Then they turned against each other and fought until the entire camp was wiped out!

24 When Judah's army reached the tower that overlooked the desert, they saw that every soldier in the enemy's army was lying dead on the ground. 25 So Jehoshaphat and his troops went into the camp to carry away everything of value. They found a large herd of livestock,[h] a lot of equipment, clothes,[i] and other valuable things. It took them three days to carry it all away, and there was still some left over.

26 Then on the fourth day, everyone came together in Beracah Valley and sang praises to the Lord. That's why that place was called Praise Valley.[j]

27-28 Jehoshaphat led the crowd back to Jerusalem. And as they marched, they played harps and blew trumpets. They were very happy because the Lord had given them victory over their enemies, so when they reached the city, they went straight to the temple.

29 When the other nations heard how the Lord had fought against Judah's enemies, they were too afraid 30 to invade Judah. The Lord let Jehoshaphat's kingdom be at peace.

Jehoshaphat Dies

(1 Kings 22.41-50)

31 Jehoshaphat was 35 years old when he became king of Judah, and he ruled from Jerusalem for 25 years. His mother was Azubah daughter of Shilhi. 32 Jehoshaphat obeyed the Lord, just as his father Asa had done, 33 but he did not destroy the local shrines.[k] So the people still worshiped foreign gods, instead of faithfully serving the God their ancestors had worshiped.

34 Everything else Jehoshaphat did while he was king is written in the records of Jehu son of Hanani that are included in The History of the Kings of Israel.

35 While Jehoshaphat was king, he signed a peace treaty with Ahaziah the wicked king of Israel. 36 They agreed to build several seagoing ships[l] at Ezion-Geber. 37 But the prophet Eliezer[m] warned Jehoshaphat, “The Lord will destroy these ships because you have supported Ahaziah.” The ships were wrecked and never sailed.

Footnotes:

  1. 19.3 sacred poles: See the note at 14.3.
  2. 19.11 Zebadiah, the leader: Hebrew “Zebadiah son of Ishmael, who is the leader.”
  3. 20.1 Meunites: One ancient translation (see also 26.7); Hebrew “Ammonites.”
  4. 20.2 Edom: The Hebrew text has “Syria”; in Hebrew there is only one letter difference between “Edom” and “Aram,” which is the usual Hebrew name for Syria in the Bible.
  5. 20.2 En-Gedi: The Hebrew text has “Hazazon-Tamar, also known as En-Gedi,” a city on the west shore of the Dead Sea, about 40 kilometers southeast of Jerusalem.
  6. 20.14 Jahaziel, a Levite from the Asaph clan: Hebrew “Jahaziel son of Zechariah son of Benaiah son of Jeiel son of Mattaniah, who was a Levite from the Asaph clan.”
  7. 20.21 to march in front … singing: Or “to put on their sacred robes, lead the army into battle, and praise the Lord by singing.”
  8. 20.25 a large herd of livestock: One ancient translation; Hebrew “among the bodies a large herd of.”
  9. 20.25 clothes: One ancient translation; Hebrew “dead bodies.”
  10. 20.26 Beracah Valley … sang praises … Praise Valley: In Hebrew the name “Beracah” means “praise.”
  11. 20.33 local shrines: See the note at 11.15.
  12. 20.36 seagoing ships: See the note at 9.21.
  13. 20.37 Eliezer: Hebrew “Eliezer son of Dodavahu from Mareshah.”
Contemporary English Version (CEV)

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Romans 10:14-11:12

14 How can people have faith in the Lord and ask him to save them, if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear, unless someone tells them? 15 (A) And how can anyone tell them without being sent by the Lord? The Scriptures say it is a beautiful sight to see even the feet of someone coming to preach the good news. 16 (B) Yet not everyone has believed the message. For example, the prophet Isaiah asked, “Lord, has anyone believed what we said?”

17 No one can have faith without hearing the message about Christ. 18 (C) But am I saying that the people of Israel did not hear? No, I am not! The Scriptures say,

“The message was told
everywhere on earth.
It was announced
all over the world.”

19 (D) Did the people of Israel understand or not? Moses answered this question when he told that the Lord had said,

“I will make Israel jealous
of people
who are a nation
of nobodies.
I will make them angry
with people
who don't understand
a thing.”

20 (E) Isaiah was fearless enough to tell that the Lord had said,

“I was found by people
who were not looking
for me.
I appeared to the ones
who were not asking
about me.”

21 (F) And Isaiah said about the people of Israel,

“All day long the Lord
has reached out
to people who are stubborn
and refuse to obey.”

God Has Not Rejected His People

11 (G) Am I saying that God has turned his back on his people? Certainly not! I am one of the people of Israel, and I myself am a descendant of Abraham from the tribe of Benjamin. God did not turn his back on his chosen people. Don't you remember reading in the Scriptures how Elijah complained to God about the people of Israel? (H) He said, “Lord, they killed your prophets and destroyed your altars. I am the only one left, and now they want to kill me.”

(I) But the Lord told Elijah, “I still have 7,000 followers who have not worshiped Baal.” It is the same way now. God treated the people of Israel with undeserved grace, and so a few of them are still his followers. This happened because of God's undeserved kindness and not because of anything they have done. It could not have happened except for God's gift of undeserved grace.

This means that only a chosen few of the people of Israel found what all of them were searching for. And the rest of them were stubborn, (J) just as the Scriptures say,

“God made them so stupid
that their eyes are blind,
and their ears
are still deaf.”

(K) Then David said,

“Turn their meals
into bait for a trap,
so that they will stumble
and be given
what they deserve.
10 Blindfold their eyes!
Don't let them see.
Bend their backs
beneath a burden
that will never be lifted.”

Gentiles Will Be Saved

11 Do I mean that the people of Israel fell, never to get up again? Certainly not! Their failure made it possible for the Gentiles to be saved, and this will make the people of Israel jealous. 12 But if the rest of the world's people were helped so much by their sin and loss, they will be helped even more by their full return.

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Psalm 21

(A psalm by David for the music leader.)

Thanking the Lord for Victory

Our Lord, your mighty power
makes the king glad,
and he celebrates victories
that you have given him.
You did what he wanted most
and never told him “No.”
You truly blessed the king,
and you placed on him
a crown of finest gold.
He asked to live a long time,
and you promised him life
that never ends.

The king is highly honored.
You have let him win victories
that have made him famous.
You have given him blessings
that will last forever,
and you have made him glad
by being so near to him.
Lord Most High,
the king trusts you,
and your kindness
keeps him from defeat.

With your mighty arm, Lord,
you will strike down all
of your hateful enemies.
They will be destroyed by fire
once you are here,
and because of your anger,
flames will swallow them.
10 You will wipe their families
from the earth,
and they will disappear.
11 All their plans to harm you
will come to nothing.
12 You will make them run away
by shooting your arrows
at their faces.

13 Show your strength, Lord,
so that we may sing
and praise your power.

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Proverbs 20:4-6

If you are too lazy to plow,
don't expect a harvest.
Someone's thoughts may be
as deep as the ocean,
but if you are smart,
you will discover them.

There are many who say,
“You can trust me!”
But can they be trusted?

Contemporary English Version (CEV)

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The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Friday July 26, 2024 (NIV)

2 Chronicles 17-18

Jehoshaphat King of Judah

17 Jehoshaphat his son succeeded him as king and strengthened(A) himself against Israel. He stationed troops in all the fortified cities(B) of Judah and put garrisons in Judah and in the towns of Ephraim that his father Asa had captured.(C)

The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the ways of his father David(D) before him. He did not consult the Baals but sought(E) the God of his father and followed his commands rather than the practices of Israel. The Lord established the kingdom under his control; and all Judah brought gifts(F) to Jehoshaphat, so that he had great wealth and honor.(G) His heart was devoted(H) to the ways of the Lord; furthermore, he removed the high places(I) and the Asherah poles(J) from Judah.(K)

In the third year of his reign he sent his officials Ben-Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel and Micaiah to teach(L) in the towns of Judah. With them were certain Levites(M)—Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah and Tob-Adonijah—and the priests Elishama and Jehoram. They taught throughout Judah, taking with them the Book of the Law(N) of the Lord; they went around to all the towns of Judah and taught the people.

10 The fear(O) of the Lord fell on all the kingdoms of the lands surrounding Judah, so that they did not go to war against Jehoshaphat. 11 Some Philistines brought Jehoshaphat gifts and silver as tribute, and the Arabs(P) brought him flocks:(Q) seven thousand seven hundred rams and seven thousand seven hundred goats.

12 Jehoshaphat became more and more powerful; he built forts and store cities in Judah 13 and had large supplies in the towns of Judah. He also kept experienced fighting men in Jerusalem. 14 Their enrollment(R) by families was as follows:

From Judah, commanders of units of 1,000:

Adnah the commander, with 300,000 fighting men;

15 next, Jehohanan the commander, with 280,000;

16 next, Amasiah son of Zikri, who volunteered(S) himself for the service of the Lord, with 200,000.

17 From Benjamin:(T)

Eliada, a valiant soldier, with 200,000 men armed with bows and shields;

18 next, Jehozabad, with 180,000 men armed for battle.

19 These were the men who served the king, besides those he stationed in the fortified cities(U) throughout Judah.(V)

Micaiah Prophesies Against Ahab(W)

18 Now Jehoshaphat had great wealth and honor,(X) and he allied(Y) himself with Ahab(Z) by marriage. Some years later he went down to see Ahab in Samaria. Ahab slaughtered many sheep and cattle for him and the people with him and urged him to attack Ramoth Gilead. Ahab king of Israel asked Jehoshaphat king of Judah, “Will you go with me against Ramoth Gilead?”

Jehoshaphat replied, “I am as you are, and my people as your people; we will join you in the war.” But Jehoshaphat also said to the king of Israel, “First seek the counsel of the Lord.”

So the king of Israel brought together the prophets—four hundred men—and asked them, “Shall we go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or shall I not?”

“Go,” they answered, “for God will give it into the king’s hand.”

But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there no longer a prophet of the Lord here whom we can inquire of?”

The king of Israel answered Jehoshaphat, “There is still one prophet through whom we can inquire of the Lord, but I hate him because he never prophesies anything good about me, but always bad. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.”

“The king should not say such a thing,” Jehoshaphat replied.

So the king of Israel called one of his officials and said, “Bring Micaiah son of Imlah at once.”

Dressed in their royal robes, the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah were sitting on their thrones at the threshing floor by the entrance of the gate of Samaria, with all the prophets prophesying before them. 10 Now Zedekiah son of Kenaanah had made iron horns, and he declared, “This is what the Lord says: ‘With these you will gore the Arameans until they are destroyed.’”

11 All the other prophets were prophesying the same thing. “Attack Ramoth Gilead(AA) and be victorious,” they said, “for the Lord will give it into the king’s hand.”

12 The messenger who had gone to summon Micaiah said to him, “Look, the other prophets without exception are predicting success for the king. Let your word agree with theirs, and speak favorably.”

13 But Micaiah said, “As surely as the Lord lives, I can tell him only what my God says.”(AB)

14 When he arrived, the king asked him, “Micaiah, shall we go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or shall I not?”

“Attack and be victorious,” he answered, “for they will be given into your hand.”

15 The king said to him, “How many times must I make you swear to tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord?”

16 Then Micaiah answered, “I saw all Israel(AC) scattered on the hills like sheep without a shepherd,(AD) and the Lord said, ‘These people have no master. Let each one go home in peace.’”

17 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Didn’t I tell you that he never prophesies anything good about me, but only bad?”

18 Micaiah continued, “Therefore hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne(AE) with all the multitudes of heaven standing on his right and on his left. 19 And the Lord said, ‘Who will entice Ahab king of Israel into attacking Ramoth Gilead and going to his death there?’

“One suggested this, and another that. 20 Finally, a spirit came forward, stood before the Lord and said, ‘I will entice him.’

“‘By what means?’ the Lord asked.

21 “‘I will go and be a deceiving spirit(AF) in the mouths of all his prophets,’ he said.

“‘You will succeed in enticing him,’ said the Lord. ‘Go and do it.’

22 “So now the Lord has put a deceiving spirit in the mouths of these prophets of yours.(AG) The Lord has decreed disaster for you.”

23 Then Zedekiah son of Kenaanah went up and slapped(AH) Micaiah in the face. “Which way did the spirit from[a] the Lord go when he went from me to speak to you?” he asked.

24 Micaiah replied, “You will find out on the day you go to hide in an inner room.”

25 The king of Israel then ordered, “Take Micaiah and send him back to Amon the ruler of the city and to Joash the king’s son, 26 and say, ‘This is what the king says: Put this fellow in prison(AI) and give him nothing but bread and water until I return safely.’”

27 Micaiah declared, “If you ever return safely, the Lord has not spoken through me.” Then he added, “Mark my words, all you people!”

Ahab Killed at Ramoth Gilead(AJ)

28 So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah went up to Ramoth Gilead. 29 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will enter the battle in disguise, but you wear your royal robes.” So the king of Israel disguised(AK) himself and went into battle.

30 Now the king of Aram had ordered his chariot commanders, “Do not fight with anyone, small or great, except the king of Israel.” 31 When the chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat, they thought, “This is the king of Israel.” So they turned to attack him, but Jehoshaphat cried out,(AL) and the Lord helped him. God drew them away from him, 32 for when the chariot commanders saw that he was not the king of Israel, they stopped pursuing him.

33 But someone drew his bow at random and hit the king of Israel between the breastplate and the scale armor. The king told the chariot driver, “Wheel around and get me out of the fighting. I’ve been wounded.” 34 All day long the battle raged, and the king of Israel propped himself up in his chariot facing the Arameans until evening. Then at sunset he died.(AM)

Footnotes:

  1. 2 Chronicles 18:23 Or Spirit of
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Romans 9:25-10:13

25 As he says in Hosea:

“I will call them ‘my people’ who are not my people;
and I will call her ‘my loved one’ who is not my loved one,”[a](A)

26 and,

“In the very place where it was said to them,
‘You are not my people,’
there they will be called ‘children of the living God.’”[b](B)

27 Isaiah cries out concerning Israel:

“Though the number of the Israelites be like the sand by the sea,(C)
only the remnant will be saved.(D)
28 For the Lord will carry out
his sentence on earth with speed and finality.”[c](E)

29 It is just as Isaiah said previously:

“Unless the Lord Almighty(F)
had left us descendants,
we would have become like Sodom,
we would have been like Gomorrah.”[d](G)

Israel’s Unbelief

30 What then shall we say?(H) That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith;(I) 31 but the people of Israel, who pursued the law as the way of righteousness,(J) have not attained their goal.(K) 32 Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone.(L) 33 As it is written:

“See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes people to stumble
and a rock that makes them fall,
and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame.”[e](M)

10 Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire(N) and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. For I can testify about them that they are zealous(O) for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. Since they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.(P) Christ is the culmination of the law(Q) so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.(R)

Moses writes this about the righteousness that is by the law: “The person who does these things will live by them.”[f](S) But the righteousness that is by faith(T) says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’”[g](U) (that is, to bring Christ down) “or ‘Who will descend into the deep?’”[h](V) (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).(W) But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,”[i](X) that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: If you declare(Y) with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,”(Z) and believe(AA) in your heart that God raised him from the dead,(AB) you will be saved.(AC) 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11 As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.”[j](AD) 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile(AE)—the same Lord is Lord of all(AF) and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord(AG) will be saved.”[k](AH)

Footnotes:

  1. Romans 9:25 Hosea 2:23
  2. Romans 9:26 Hosea 1:10
  3. Romans 9:28 Isaiah 10:22,23 (see Septuagint)
  4. Romans 9:29 Isaiah 1:9
  5. Romans 9:33 Isaiah 8:14; 28:16
  6. Romans 10:5 Lev. 18:5
  7. Romans 10:6 Deut. 30:12
  8. Romans 10:7 Deut. 30:13
  9. Romans 10:8 Deut. 30:14
  10. Romans 10:11 Isaiah 28:16 (see Septuagint)
  11. Romans 10:13 Joel 2:32
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Psalm 20

Psalm 20[a]

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

May the Lord answer you when you are in distress;(A)
may the name of the God of Jacob(B) protect you.(C)
May he send you help(D) from the sanctuary(E)
and grant you support(F) from Zion.(G)
May he remember(H) all your sacrifices
and accept your burnt offerings.[b](I)
May he give you the desire of your heart(J)
and make all your plans succeed.(K)
May we shout for joy(L) over your victory
and lift up our banners(M) in the name of our God.

May the Lord grant all your requests.(N)

Now this I know:
The Lord gives victory to his anointed.(O)
He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary
with the victorious power of his right hand.(P)
Some trust in chariots(Q) and some in horses,(R)
but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.(S)
They are brought to their knees and fall,(T)
but we rise up(U) and stand firm.(V)
Lord, give victory to the king!
Answer us(W) when we call!

Footnotes:

  1. Psalm 20:1 In Hebrew texts 20:1-9 is numbered 20:2-10.
  2. Psalm 20:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
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Proverbs 20:2-3

A king’s wrath strikes terror like the roar of a lion;(A)
those who anger him forfeit their lives.(B)

It is to one’s honor to avoid strife,
but every fool(C) is quick to quarrel.(D)

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The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Thursday July 25, 2024 (NIV)

2 Chronicles 14-16

14 [a]And Abijah rested with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David. Asa his son succeeded him as king, and in his days the country was at peace for ten years.

Asa King of Judah(A)

Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God.(B) He removed the foreign altars(C) and the high places, smashed the sacred stones(D) and cut down the Asherah poles.[b](E) He commanded Judah to seek the Lord,(F) the God of their ancestors, and to obey his laws and commands. He removed the high places(G) and incense altars(H) in every town in Judah, and the kingdom was at peace under him. He built up the fortified cities of Judah, since the land was at peace. No one was at war with him during those years, for the Lord gave him rest.(I)

“Let us build up these towns,” he said to Judah, “and put walls around them, with towers, gates and bars. The land is still ours, because we have sought the Lord our God; we sought him and he has given us rest(J) on every side.” So they built and prospered.

Asa had an army of three hundred thousand(K) men from Judah, equipped with large shields and with spears, and two hundred and eighty thousand from Benjamin, armed with small shields and with bows. All these were brave fighting men.

Zerah the Cushite(L) marched out against them with an army of thousands upon thousands and three hundred chariots, and came as far as Mareshah.(M) 10 Asa went out to meet him, and they took up battle positions in the Valley of Zephathah near Mareshah.

11 Then Asa called(N) to the Lord his God and said, “Lord, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us,(O) Lord our God, for we rely(P) on you, and in your name(Q) we have come against this vast army. Lord, you are our God; do not let mere mortals prevail(R) against you.”

12 The Lord struck down(S) the Cushites before Asa and Judah. The Cushites fled, 13 and Asa and his army pursued them as far as Gerar.(T) Such a great number of Cushites fell that they could not recover; they were crushed(U) before the Lord and his forces. The men of Judah carried off a large amount of plunder.(V) 14 They destroyed all the villages around Gerar, for the terror(W) of the Lord had fallen on them. They looted all these villages, since there was much plunder there. 15 They also attacked the camps of the herders and carried off droves of sheep and goats and camels. Then they returned to Jerusalem.

Asa’s Reform(X)

15 The Spirit of God came on(Y) Azariah son of Oded. He went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. The Lord is with you(Z) when you are with him.(AA) If you seek(AB) him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you.(AC) For a long time Israel was without the true God, without a priest to teach(AD) and without the law.(AE) But in their distress they turned to the Lord, the God of Israel, and sought him,(AF) and he was found by them. In those days it was not safe to travel about,(AG) for all the inhabitants of the lands were in great turmoil. One nation was being crushed by another and one city by another,(AH) because God was troubling them with every kind of distress. But as for you, be strong(AI) and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.”(AJ)

When Asa heard these words and the prophecy of Azariah son of[c] Oded the prophet, he took courage. He removed the detestable idols(AK) from the whole land of Judah and Benjamin and from the towns he had captured(AL) in the hills of Ephraim. He repaired the altar(AM) of the Lord that was in front of the portico of the Lord’s temple.

Then he assembled all Judah and Benjamin and the people from Ephraim, Manasseh and Simeon who had settled among them, for large numbers(AN) had come over to him from Israel when they saw that the Lord his God was with him.

10 They assembled at Jerusalem in the third month(AO) of the fifteenth year of Asa’s reign. 11 At that time they sacrificed to the Lord seven hundred head of cattle and seven thousand sheep and goats from the plunder(AP) they had brought back. 12 They entered into a covenant(AQ) to seek the Lord,(AR) the God of their ancestors, with all their heart and soul. 13 All who would not seek the Lord, the God of Israel, were to be put to death,(AS) whether small or great, man or woman. 14 They took an oath to the Lord with loud acclamation, with shouting and with trumpets and horns. 15 All Judah rejoiced about the oath because they had sworn it wholeheartedly. They sought God(AT) eagerly, and he was found by them. So the Lord gave them rest(AU) on every side.

16 King Asa also deposed his grandmother Maakah(AV) from her position as queen mother,(AW) because she had made a repulsive image for the worship of Asherah.(AX) Asa cut it down, broke it up and burned it in the Kidron Valley.(AY) 17 Although he did not remove the high places from Israel, Asa’s heart was fully committed to the Lord all his life. 18 He brought into the temple of God the silver and gold and the articles that he and his father had dedicated.(AZ)

19 There was no more war until the thirty-fifth year of Asa’s reign.

Asa’s Last Years(BA)(BB)

16 In the thirty-sixth year of Asa’s reign Baasha(BC) king of Israel went up against Judah and fortified Ramah to prevent anyone from leaving or entering the territory of Asa king of Judah.

Asa then took the silver and gold out of the treasuries of the Lord’s temple and of his own palace and sent it to Ben-Hadad king of Aram, who was ruling in Damascus.(BD) “Let there be a treaty(BE) between me and you,” he said, “as there was between my father and your father. See, I am sending you silver and gold. Now break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel so he will withdraw from me.”

Ben-Hadad agreed with King Asa and sent the commanders of his forces against the towns of Israel. They conquered Ijon, Dan, Abel Maim[d] and all the store cities of Naphtali.(BF) When Baasha heard this, he stopped building Ramah and abandoned his work. Then King Asa brought all the men of Judah, and they carried away from Ramah the stones and timber Baasha had been using. With them he built up Geba and Mizpah.(BG)

At that time Hanani(BH) the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him: “Because you relied(BI) on the king of Aram and not on the Lord your God, the army of the king of Aram has escaped from your hand. Were not the Cushites[e](BJ) and Libyans a mighty army with great numbers(BK) of chariots and horsemen[f]? Yet when you relied on the Lord, he delivered(BL) them into your hand. For the eyes(BM) of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. You have done a foolish(BN) thing, and from now on you will be at war.(BO)

10 Asa was angry with the seer because of this; he was so enraged that he put him in prison.(BP) At the same time Asa brutally oppressed some of the people.

11 The events of Asa’s reign, from beginning to end, are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. 12 In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was afflicted(BQ) with a disease in his feet. Though his disease was severe, even in his illness he did not seek(BR) help from the Lord,(BS) but only from the physicians. 13 Then in the forty-first year of his reign Asa died and rested with his ancestors. 14 They buried him in the tomb that he had cut out for himself(BT) in the City of David. They laid him on a bier covered with spices and various blended perfumes,(BU) and they made a huge fire(BV) in his honor.

Footnotes:

  1. 2 Chronicles 14:1 In Hebrew texts 14:1 is numbered 13:23, and 14:2-15 is numbered 14:1-14.
  2. 2 Chronicles 14:3 That is, wooden symbols of the goddess Asherah; here and elsewhere in 2 Chronicles
  3. 2 Chronicles 15:8 Vulgate and Syriac (see also Septuagint and verse 1); Hebrew does not have Azariah son of.
  4. 2 Chronicles 16:4 Also known as Abel Beth Maakah
  5. 2 Chronicles 16:8 That is, people from the upper Nile region
  6. 2 Chronicles 16:8 Or charioteers

Cross references:

  1. 2 Chronicles 14:2 : 14:2-3pp — 1Ki 15:11-12
  2. 2 Chronicles 14:2 : 2Ch 21:12
  3. 2 Chronicles 14:3 : S Jdg 2:2
  4. 2 Chronicles 14:3 : S Ex 23:24
  5. 2 Chronicles 14:3 : S Ex 34:13
  6. 2 Chronicles 14:4 : S 1Ch 16:11
  7. 2 Chronicles 14:5 : S 1Ki 15:14
  8. 2 Chronicles 14:5 : Isa 27:9; Eze 6:4
  9. 2 Chronicles 14:6 : S 1Ch 22:9
  10. 2 Chronicles 14:7 : S 1Ch 22:9
  11. 2 Chronicles 14:8 : S 1Ch 21:1
  12. 2 Chronicles 14:9 : S 2Ch 12:3
  13. 2 Chronicles 14:9 : S Ge 10:8-9; 2Ch 11:8; 24:24
  14. 2 Chronicles 14:11 : S 1Ki 8:44; S 2Ch 13:14; 25:8
  15. 2 Chronicles 14:11 : Ps 60:11-12; 79:9
  16. 2 Chronicles 14:11 : S 2Ch 13:18
  17. 2 Chronicles 14:11 : S 1Sa 17:45
  18. 2 Chronicles 14:11 : Ps 9:19
  19. 2 Chronicles 14:12 : 1Ki 8:45
  20. 2 Chronicles 14:13 : Ge 10:19
  21. 2 Chronicles 14:13 : 2Sa 22:38; Ne 9:24; Ps 44:2, 19; 135:10
  22. 2 Chronicles 14:13 : 2Ch 15:11, 18
  23. 2 Chronicles 14:14 : S Ge 35:5; S Dt 2:25; 11:25
  24. 2 Chronicles 15:1 : 15:16-19pp — 1Ki 15:13-16
  25. 2 Chronicles 15:1 : S Nu 11:25, 26
  26. 2 Chronicles 15:2 : 2Ch 20:17
  27. 2 Chronicles 15:2 : Jas 4:8
  28. 2 Chronicles 15:2 : 2Ch 7:14; Ps 78:34; Isa 45:19; 55:6; Jer 29:13; Hos 3:5
  29. 2 Chronicles 15:2 : S Dt 31:17; S 1Ch 28:9
  30. 2 Chronicles 15:3 : S Lev 10:11
  31. 2 Chronicles 15:3 : La 2:9; Am 8:11
  32. 2 Chronicles 15:4 : S Dt 4:29
  33. 2 Chronicles 15:5 : S Jdg 5:6; 19:20; Zec 8:10
  34. 2 Chronicles 15:6 : Isa 19:2; Mt 24:7; Mk 13:8; Lk 21:10
  35. 2 Chronicles 15:7 : Jos 1:7, 9
  36. 2 Chronicles 15:7 : 1Sa 24:19; Ps 18:20; 58:11; Pr 14:14; Jer 31:16
  37. 2 Chronicles 15:8 : 1Ki 15:12
  38. 2 Chronicles 15:8 : 2Ch 17:2
  39. 2 Chronicles 15:8 : S 1Ki 8:64; S 2Ch 8:12
  40. 2 Chronicles 15:9 : 2Ch 11:16-17
  41. 2 Chronicles 15:10 : S Lev 23:15-21
  42. 2 Chronicles 15:11 : S 2Ch 14:13
  43. 2 Chronicles 15:12 : S 2Ki 11:17
  44. 2 Chronicles 15:12 : S 1Ch 16:11
  45. 2 Chronicles 15:13 : S Ex 22:20; Dt 13:9-16
  46. 2 Chronicles 15:15 : Dt 4:29
  47. 2 Chronicles 15:15 : S 1Ch 22:9
  48. 2 Chronicles 15:16 : 2Ch 13:2
  49. 2 Chronicles 15:16 : S 1Ki 2:19
  50. 2 Chronicles 15:16 : S Ex 34:13
  51. 2 Chronicles 15:16 : S 2Sa 15:23
  52. 2 Chronicles 15:18 : S 2Ch 14:13
  53. 2 Chronicles 16:1 : 16:1-6pp — 1Ki 15:17-22
  54. 2 Chronicles 16:1 : 16:11–17:1pp — 1Ki 15:23-24
  55. 2 Chronicles 16:1 : 2Ki 9:9; Jer 41:9
  56. 2 Chronicles 16:2 : 2Ch 19:1-20:37; 22:1-9
  57. 2 Chronicles 16:3 : 2Ch 20:35; 25:7
  58. 2 Chronicles 16:4 : S 2Ki 15:29
  59. 2 Chronicles 16:6 : Jer 41:9
  60. 2 Chronicles 16:7 : 1Ki 16:1
  61. 2 Chronicles 16:7 : S 2Ch 13:18
  62. 2 Chronicles 16:8 : S Ge 10:6, 8-9; S 2Ch 12:3
  63. 2 Chronicles 16:8 : 2Ch 24:24
  64. 2 Chronicles 16:8 : 2Ch 13:16
  65. 2 Chronicles 16:9 : Job 24:23; Ps 33:13-15; Pr 15:3; Jer 16:17; Zec 3:9; 4:10
  66. 2 Chronicles 16:9 : 1Sa 13:13
  67. 2 Chronicles 16:9 : S 1Ki 15:6; 2Ch 19:2; 25:7; 28:16-21
  68. 2 Chronicles 16:10 : S 1Ki 22:27
  69. 2 Chronicles 16:12 : 2Ch 21:18; 26:19; Ps 103:3
  70. 2 Chronicles 16:12 : 2Ch 7:14
  71. 2 Chronicles 16:12 : Jer 17:5-6
  72. 2 Chronicles 16:14 : S Ge 50:5
  73. 2 Chronicles 16:14 : S Ge 50:2
  74. 2 Chronicles 16:14 : 2Ch 21:19; Jer 34:5
New International Version (NIV)

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Romans 9:1-24

Paul’s Anguish Over Israel

I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying,(A) my conscience confirms(B) it through the Holy Spirit— I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself(C) were cursed(D) and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people,(E) those of my own race,(F) the people of Israel.(G) Theirs is the adoption to sonship;(H) theirs the divine glory,(I) the covenants,(J) the receiving of the law,(K) the temple worship(L) and the promises.(M) Theirs are the patriarchs,(N) and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah,(O) who is God over all,(P) forever praised![a](Q) Amen.

God’s Sovereign Choice

It is not as though God’s word(R) had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel.(S) Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham’s children. On the contrary, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.”[b](T) In other words, it is not the children by physical descent who are God’s children,(U) but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring.(V) For this was how the promise was stated: “At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son.”[c](W)

10 Not only that, but Rebekah’s children were conceived at the same time by our father Isaac.(X) 11 Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad(Y)—in order that God’s purpose(Z) in election might stand: 12 not by works but by him who calls—she was told, “The older will serve the younger.”[d](AA) 13 Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”[e](AB)

14 What then shall we say?(AC) Is God unjust? Not at all!(AD) 15 For he says to Moses,

“I will have mercy on whom I have mercy,
and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”[f](AE)

16 It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.(AF) 17 For Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”[g](AG) 18 Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.(AH)

19 One of you will say to me:(AI) “Then why does God still blame us?(AJ) For who is able to resist his will?”(AK) 20 But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God?(AL) “Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it,(AM) ‘Why did you make me like this?’”[h](AN) 21 Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for special purposes and some for common use?(AO)

22 What if God, although choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience(AP) the objects of his wrath—prepared for destruction?(AQ) 23 What if he did this to make the riches of his glory(AR) known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory(AS) 24 even us, whom he also called,(AT) not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?(AU)

Footnotes:

  1. Romans 9:5 Or Messiah, who is over all. God be forever praised! Or Messiah. God who is over all be forever praised!
  2. Romans 9:7 Gen. 21:12
  3. Romans 9:9 Gen. 18:10,14
  4. Romans 9:12 Gen. 25:23
  5. Romans 9:13 Mal. 1:2,3
  6. Romans 9:15 Exodus 33:19
  7. Romans 9:17 Exodus 9:16
  8. Romans 9:20 Isaiah 29:16; 45:9
New International Version (NIV)

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Psalm 19

Psalm 19[a]

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

The heavens(A) declare(B) the glory of God;(C)
the skies(D) proclaim the work of his hands.(E)
Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they reveal knowledge.(F)
They have no speech, they use no words;
no sound is heard from them.
Yet their voice[b] goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.(G)
In the heavens God has pitched a tent(H) for the sun.(I)
It is like a bridegroom(J) coming out of his chamber,(K)
like a champion(L) rejoicing to run his course.
It rises at one end of the heavens(M)
and makes its circuit to the other;(N)
nothing is deprived of its warmth.

The law of the Lord(O) is perfect,(P)
refreshing the soul.(Q)
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,(R)
making wise the simple.(S)
The precepts of the Lord are right,(T)
giving joy(U) to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.(V)
The fear of the Lord(W) is pure,
enduring forever.
The decrees of the Lord are firm,
and all of them are righteous.(X)

10 They are more precious than gold,(Y)
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,(Z)
than honey from the honeycomb.(AA)
11 By them your servant is warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
12 But who can discern their own errors?
Forgive my hidden faults.(AB)
13 Keep your servant also from willful sins;(AC)
may they not rule over me.(AD)
Then I will be blameless,(AE)
innocent of great transgression.

14 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
be pleasing(AF) in your sight,
Lord, my Rock(AG) and my Redeemer.(AH)

Footnotes:

  1. Psalm 19:1 In Hebrew texts 19:1-14 is numbered 19:2-15.
  2. Psalm 19:4 Septuagint, Jerome and Syriac; Hebrew measuring line
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 20:1

20 Wine(A) is a mocker(B) and beer a brawler;
whoever is led astray(C) by them is not wise.(D)

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.

The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Wednesday July 24, 2024 (NIV)

2 Chronicles 11-13

11 When Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem,(A) he mustered Judah and Benjamin—a hundred and eighty thousand able young men—to go to war against Israel and to regain the kingdom for Rehoboam.

But this word of the Lord came to Shemaiah(B) the man of God: “Say to Rehoboam son of Solomon king of Judah and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, ‘This is what the Lord says: Do not go up to fight against your fellow Israelites.(C) Go home, every one of you, for this is my doing.’” So they obeyed the words of the Lord and turned back from marching against Jeroboam.

Rehoboam Fortifies Judah

Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem and built up towns for defense in Judah: Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa, Beth Zur, Soko, Adullam, Gath, Mareshah, Ziph, Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah, 10 Zorah, Aijalon and Hebron. These were fortified cities(D) in Judah and Benjamin. 11 He strengthened their defenses and put commanders in them, with supplies of food, olive oil and wine. 12 He put shields and spears in all the cities, and made them very strong. So Judah and Benjamin were his.

13 The priests and Levites from all their districts throughout Israel sided with him. 14 The Levites(E) even abandoned their pasturelands and property(F) and came to Judah and Jerusalem, because Jeroboam and his sons had rejected them as priests of the Lord 15 when he appointed(G) his own priests(H) for the high places and for the goat(I) and calf(J) idols he had made. 16 Those from every tribe of Israel(K) who set their hearts on seeking the Lord, the God of Israel, followed the Levites to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices to the Lord, the God of their ancestors. 17 They strengthened(L) the kingdom of Judah and supported Rehoboam son of Solomon three years, following the ways of David and Solomon during this time.

Rehoboam’s Family

18 Rehoboam married Mahalath, who was the daughter of David’s son Jerimoth and of Abihail, the daughter of Jesse’s son Eliab. 19 She bore him sons: Jeush, Shemariah and Zaham. 20 Then he married Maakah(M) daughter of Absalom, who bore him Abijah,(N) Attai, Ziza and Shelomith. 21 Rehoboam loved Maakah daughter of Absalom more than any of his other wives and concubines. In all, he had eighteen wives(O) and sixty concubines, twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters.

22 Rehoboam appointed Abijah(P) son of Maakah as crown prince among his brothers, in order to make him king. 23 He acted wisely, dispersing some of his sons throughout the districts of Judah and Benjamin, and to all the fortified cities. He gave them abundant provisions(Q) and took many wives for them.

Shishak Attacks Jerusalem(R)

12 After Rehoboam’s position as king was established(S) and he had become strong,(T) he and all Israel[a](U) with him abandoned(V) the law of the Lord. Because they had been unfaithful(W) to the Lord, Shishak(X) king of Egypt attacked Jerusalem in the fifth year of King Rehoboam. With twelve hundred chariots and sixty thousand horsemen and the innumerable troops of Libyans,(Y) Sukkites and Cushites[b](Z) that came with him from Egypt, he captured the fortified cities(AA) of Judah and came as far as Jerusalem.

Then the prophet Shemaiah(AB) came to Rehoboam and to the leaders of Judah who had assembled in Jerusalem for fear of Shishak, and he said to them, “This is what the Lord says, ‘You have abandoned me; therefore, I now abandon(AC) you to Shishak.’”

The leaders of Israel and the king humbled(AD) themselves and said, “The Lord is just.”(AE)

When the Lord saw that they humbled themselves, this word of the Lord came to Shemaiah: “Since they have humbled themselves, I will not destroy them but will soon give them deliverance.(AF) My wrath(AG) will not be poured out on Jerusalem through Shishak. They will, however, become subject(AH) to him, so that they may learn the difference between serving me and serving the kings of other lands.”

When Shishak king of Egypt attacked Jerusalem, he carried off the treasures of the temple of the Lord and the treasures of the royal palace. He took everything, including the gold shields(AI) Solomon had made. 10 So King Rehoboam made bronze shields to replace them and assigned these to the commanders of the guard on duty at the entrance to the royal palace. 11 Whenever the king went to the Lord’s temple, the guards went with him, bearing the shields, and afterward they returned them to the guardroom.

12 Because Rehoboam humbled(AJ) himself, the Lord’s anger turned from him, and he was not totally destroyed. Indeed, there was some good(AK) in Judah.

13 King Rehoboam established(AL) himself firmly in Jerusalem and continued as king. He was forty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city the Lord had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel in which to put his Name.(AM) His mother’s name was Naamah; she was an Ammonite. 14 He did evil because he had not set his heart on seeking the Lord.

15 As for the events of Rehoboam’s reign, from beginning to end, are they not written in the records of Shemaiah(AN) the prophet and of Iddo the seer that deal with genealogies? There was continual warfare between Rehoboam and Jeroboam. 16 Rehoboam(AO) rested with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David. And Abijah(AP) his son succeeded him as king.

Abijah King of Judah(AQ)

13 In the eighteenth year of the reign of Jeroboam, Abijah became king of Judah, and he reigned in Jerusalem three years. His mother’s name was Maakah,[c](AR) a daughter[d] of Uriel of Gibeah.

There was war between Abijah(AS) and Jeroboam.(AT) Abijah went into battle with an army of four hundred thousand able fighting men, and Jeroboam drew up a battle line against him with eight hundred thousand able troops.

Abijah stood on Mount Zemaraim,(AU) in the hill country of Ephraim, and said, “Jeroboam and all Israel,(AV) listen to me! Don’t you know that the Lord, the God of Israel, has given the kingship of Israel to David and his descendants forever(AW) by a covenant of salt?(AX) Yet Jeroboam son of Nebat, an official of Solomon son of David, rebelled(AY) against his master. Some worthless scoundrels(AZ) gathered around him and opposed Rehoboam son of Solomon when he was young and indecisive(BA) and not strong enough to resist them.

“And now you plan to resist the kingdom of the Lord, which is in the hands of David’s descendants.(BB) You are indeed a vast army and have with you(BC) the golden calves(BD) that Jeroboam made to be your gods. But didn’t you drive out the priests(BE) of the Lord,(BF) the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and make priests of your own as the peoples of other lands do? Whoever comes to consecrate himself with a young bull(BG) and seven rams(BH) may become a priest of what are not gods.(BI)

10 “As for us, the Lord is our God, and we have not forsaken him. The priests who serve the Lord are sons of Aaron, and the Levites assist them. 11 Every morning and evening(BJ) they present burnt offerings and fragrant incense(BK) to the Lord. They set out the bread on the ceremonially clean table(BL) and light the lamps(BM) on the gold lampstand every evening. We are observing the requirements of the Lord our God. But you have forsaken him. 12 God is with us; he is our leader. His priests with their trumpets will sound the battle cry against you.(BN) People of Israel, do not fight against the Lord,(BO) the God of your ancestors, for you will not succeed.”(BP)

13 Now Jeroboam had sent troops around to the rear, so that while he was in front of Judah the ambush(BQ) was behind them. 14 Judah turned and saw that they were being attacked at both front and rear. Then they cried out(BR) to the Lord. The priests blew their trumpets 15 and the men of Judah raised the battle cry. At the sound of their battle cry, God routed Jeroboam and all Israel(BS) before Abijah and Judah. 16 The Israelites fled before Judah, and God delivered(BT) them into their hands. 17 Abijah and his troops inflicted heavy losses on them, so that there were five hundred thousand casualties among Israel’s able men. 18 The Israelites were subdued on that occasion, and the people of Judah were victorious because they relied(BU) on the Lord, the God of their ancestors.

19 Abijah pursued Jeroboam and took from him the towns of Bethel, Jeshanah and Ephron, with their surrounding villages. 20 Jeroboam did not regain power during the time of Abijah. And the Lord struck him down and he died.

21 But Abijah grew in strength. He married fourteen wives and had twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters.

22 The other events of Abijah’s reign, what he did and what he said, are written in the annotations of the prophet Iddo.

Footnotes:

  1. 2 Chronicles 12:1 That is, Judah, as frequently in 2 Chronicles
  2. 2 Chronicles 12:3 That is, people from the upper Nile region
  3. 2 Chronicles 13:2 Most Septuagint manuscripts and Syriac (see also 11:20 and 1 Kings 15:2); Hebrew Micaiah
  4. 2 Chronicles 13:2 Or granddaughter

Cross references:

  1. 2 Chronicles 11:1 : S 1Ki 12:21
  2. 2 Chronicles 11:2 : S 1Ki 12:22; 2Ch 12:5-7, 15
  3. 2 Chronicles 11:4 : 2Ch 28:8-11
  4. 2 Chronicles 11:10 : S Jos 10:20; 2Ch 12:4; 17:2, 19; 21:3
  5. 2 Chronicles 11:14 : S Nu 35:2-5
  6. 2 Chronicles 11:14 : 1Ch 6:81
  7. 2 Chronicles 11:15 : S 1Ki 13:33
  8. 2 Chronicles 11:15 : S 1Ki 12:31
  9. 2 Chronicles 11:15 : Lev 17:7
  10. 2 Chronicles 11:15 : 1Ki 12:28; 2Ch 13:8
  11. 2 Chronicles 11:16 : 2Ch 15:9
  12. 2 Chronicles 11:17 : 2Ch 12:1
  13. 2 Chronicles 11:20 : S 1Ki 15:2
  14. 2 Chronicles 11:20 : 2Ch 12:16; 13:2
  15. 2 Chronicles 11:21 : S Dt 17:17
  16. 2 Chronicles 11:22 : Dt 21:15-17
  17. 2 Chronicles 11:23 : 2Ch 21:3
  18. 2 Chronicles 12:1 : 12:9-16pp — 1Ki 14:21, 25-31
  19. 2 Chronicles 12:1 : ver 13; 2Ch 1:1
  20. 2 Chronicles 12:1 : 2Ch 11:17
  21. 2 Chronicles 12:1 : S 1Ch 9:1
  22. 2 Chronicles 12:1 : S 2Ch 7:19
  23. 2 Chronicles 12:2 : 1Ki 14:22-24; S 1Ch 5:25
  24. 2 Chronicles 12:2 : 1Ki 11:40
  25. 2 Chronicles 12:3 : Da 11:43
  26. 2 Chronicles 12:3 : S Ge 10:6; 2Ch 14:9; 16:8; Isa 18:2; Am 9:7; Na 3:9
  27. 2 Chronicles 12:4 : S 2Ch 11:10
  28. 2 Chronicles 12:5 : 2Ch 11:2
  29. 2 Chronicles 12:5 : S Dt 28:15
  30. 2 Chronicles 12:6 : S Lev 26:41; S 2Ch 6:37
  31. 2 Chronicles 12:6 : Ex 9:27; Ezr 9:15; Ps 11:7; 116:5; Da 9:14
  32. 2 Chronicles 12:7 : Ps 78:38
  33. 2 Chronicles 12:7 : Dt 9:19; Ps 69:24; Jer 7:20; 42:18; Eze 5:13
  34. 2 Chronicles 12:8 : Dt 28:48
  35. 2 Chronicles 12:9 : 2Ch 9:16
  36. 2 Chronicles 12:12 : S 2Ch 6:37
  37. 2 Chronicles 12:12 : S 1Ki 14:13; 2Ch 19:3
  38. 2 Chronicles 12:13 : S ver 1; S 1Ki 2:12
  39. 2 Chronicles 12:13 : S Ex 20:24; Dt 12:5
  40. 2 Chronicles 12:15 : S 2Ch 11:2
  41. 2 Chronicles 12:16 : S 1Ch 3:10
  42. 2 Chronicles 12:16 : S 2Ch 11:20
  43. 2 Chronicles 13:1 : 13:1-2, 22–14:1pp — 1Ki 15:1-2, 6-8
  44. 2 Chronicles 13:2 : 2Ch 15:16
  45. 2 Chronicles 13:2 : S 2Ch 11:20
  46. 2 Chronicles 13:2 : 1Ki 15:6
  47. 2 Chronicles 13:4 : Jos 18:22
  48. 2 Chronicles 13:4 : 1Ch 11:1
  49. 2 Chronicles 13:5 : S 2Sa 7:13; S 1Ch 17:12
  50. 2 Chronicles 13:5 : S Lev 2:13
  51. 2 Chronicles 13:6 : 1Ki 11:26
  52. 2 Chronicles 13:7 : S Jdg 9:4
  53. 2 Chronicles 13:7 : S 1Ch 29:1
  54. 2 Chronicles 13:8 : S 2Ch 9:8
  55. 2 Chronicles 13:8 : 1Sa 4:3
  56. 2 Chronicles 13:8 : S Ex 32:4; S 2Ch 11:15
  57. 2 Chronicles 13:9 : S 1Ki 12:31
  58. 2 Chronicles 13:9 : 2Ch 11:14-15
  59. 2 Chronicles 13:9 : Ex 29:35-36
  60. 2 Chronicles 13:9 : S Ex 29:31
  61. 2 Chronicles 13:9 : Jer 2:11; Gal 4:8
  62. 2 Chronicles 13:11 : S Ex 29:39; S 2Ch 2:4
  63. 2 Chronicles 13:11 : S Ex 25:6
  64. 2 Chronicles 13:11 : S 1Ch 9:32
  65. 2 Chronicles 13:11 : S Ex 25:37
  66. 2 Chronicles 13:12 : S Nu 10:8-9
  67. 2 Chronicles 13:12 : S Jdg 2:15; Ac 5:39
  68. 2 Chronicles 13:12 : Job 9:4; Pr 21:30; 29:1
  69. 2 Chronicles 13:13 : Jos 8:9; 2Ch 20:22
  70. 2 Chronicles 13:14 : S 1Ch 5:20; 2Ch 14:11; 18:31
  71. 2 Chronicles 13:15 : S 1Ch 9:1
  72. 2 Chronicles 13:16 : 2Ch 16:8
  73. 2 Chronicles 13:18 : 2Ch 14:11; 16:7; Ps 22:5
New International Version (NIV)

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Romans 8:26-39

26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit(A) himself intercedes for us(B) through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts(C) knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes(D) for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

28 And we know that in all things God works for the good(E) of those who love him, who[a] have been called(F) according to his purpose.(G) 29 For those God foreknew(H) he also predestined(I) to be conformed to the image of his Son,(J) that he might be the firstborn(K) among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined,(L) he also called;(M) those he called, he also justified;(N) those he justified, he also glorified.(O)

More Than Conquerors

31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things?(P) If God is for us,(Q) who can be against us?(R) 32 He who did not spare his own Son,(S) but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge(T) against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns?(U) No one. Christ Jesus who died(V)—more than that, who was raised to life(W)—is at the right hand of God(X) and is also interceding for us.(Y) 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?(Z) Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?(AA) 36 As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”[b](AB)

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors(AC) through him who loved us.(AD) 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[c] neither the present nor the future,(AE) nor any powers,(AF) 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God(AG) that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.(AH)

Footnotes:

  1. Romans 8:28 Or that all things work together for good to those who love God, who; or that in all things God works together with those who love him to bring about what is good—with those who
  2. Romans 8:36 Psalm 44:22
  3. Romans 8:38 Or nor heavenly rulers
New International Version (NIV)

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Psalm 18:37-50

37 I pursued my enemies(A) and overtook them;
I did not turn back till they were destroyed.
38 I crushed them(B) so that they could not rise;(C)
they fell beneath my feet.(D)
39 You armed me with strength(E) for battle;
you humbled my adversaries(F) before me.
40 You made my enemies turn their backs(G) in flight,
and I destroyed(H) my foes.
41 They cried for help, but there was no one to save them(I)
to the Lord, but he did not answer.(J)
42 I beat them as fine as windblown dust;(K)
I trampled them[a] like mud in the streets.
43 You have delivered me from the attacks of the people;
you have made me the head of nations.(L)
People I did not know(M) now serve me,
44 foreigners(N) cower before me;
as soon as they hear of me, they obey me.
45 They all lose heart;(O)
they come trembling(P) from their strongholds.(Q)

46 The Lord lives!(R) Praise be to my Rock!(S)
Exalted be God(T) my Savior!(U)
47 He is the God who avenges(V) me,
who subdues nations(W) under me,
48 who saves(X) me from my enemies.(Y)
You exalted me above my foes;
from a violent man(Z) you rescued me.
49 Therefore I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;(AA)
I will sing(AB) the praises of your name.(AC)

50 He gives his king great victories;
he shows unfailing love to his anointed,(AD)
to David(AE) and to his descendants forever.(AF)

Footnotes:

  1. Psalm 18:42 Many Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Syriac and Targum (see also 2 Samuel 22:43); Masoretic Text I poured them out
New International Version (NIV)

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Proverbs 19:27-29

27 Stop listening to instruction, my son,(A)
and you will stray from the words of knowledge.

28 A corrupt witness mocks at justice,
and the mouth of the wicked gulps down evil.(B)

29 Penalties are prepared for mockers,
and beatings for the backs of fools.(C)

New International Version (NIV)

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The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Tuesday July 23, 2024 (NIV)

2 Chronicles 8:11-10:19

11 Solomon brought Pharaoh’s daughter(A) up from the City of David to the palace he had built for her, for he said, “My wife must not live in the palace of David king of Israel, because the places the ark of the Lord has entered are holy.”

12 On the altar(B) of the Lord that he had built in front of the portico, Solomon sacrificed burnt offerings to the Lord, 13 according to the daily requirement(C) for offerings commanded by Moses for the Sabbaths,(D) the New Moons(E) and the three(F) annual festivals—the Festival of Unleavened Bread,(G) the Festival of Weeks(H) and the Festival of Tabernacles.(I) 14 In keeping with the ordinance of his father David, he appointed the divisions(J) of the priests for their duties, and the Levites(K) to lead the praise and to assist the priests according to each day’s requirement. He also appointed the gatekeepers(L) by divisions for the various gates, because this was what David the man of God(M) had ordered.(N) 15 They did not deviate from the king’s commands to the priests or to the Levites in any matter, including that of the treasuries.

16 All Solomon’s work was carried out, from the day the foundation of the temple of the Lord was laid until its completion. So the temple of the Lord was finished.

17 Then Solomon went to Ezion Geber and Elath on the coast of Edom. 18 And Hiram sent him ships commanded by his own men, sailors who knew the sea. These, with Solomon’s men, sailed to Ophir and brought back four hundred and fifty talents[a] of gold,(O) which they delivered to King Solomon.

The Queen of Sheba Visits Solomon(P)

When the queen of Sheba(Q) heard of Solomon’s fame, she came to Jerusalem to test him with hard questions. Arriving with a very great caravan—with camels carrying spices, large quantities of gold, and precious stones—she came to Solomon and talked with him about all she had on her mind. Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too hard for him to explain to her. When the queen of Sheba saw the wisdom of Solomon,(R) as well as the palace he had built, the food on his table, the seating of his officials, the attending servants in their robes, the cupbearers in their robes and the burnt offerings he made at[b] the temple of the Lord, she was overwhelmed.

She said to the king, “The report I heard in my own country about your achievements and your wisdom is true. But I did not believe what they said until I came(S) and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not even half the greatness of your wisdom was told me; you have far exceeded the report I heard. How happy your people must be! How happy your officials, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom! Praise be to the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and placed you on his throne(T) as king to rule for the Lord your God. Because of the love of your God for Israel and his desire to uphold them forever, he has made you king(U) over them, to maintain justice and righteousness.”

Then she gave the king 120 talents[c] of gold,(V) large quantities of spices, and precious stones. There had never been such spices as those the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.

10 (The servants of Hiram and the servants of Solomon brought gold from Ophir;(W) they also brought algumwood[d] and precious stones. 11 The king used the algumwood to make steps for the temple of the Lord and for the royal palace, and to make harps and lyres for the musicians. Nothing like them had ever been seen in Judah.)

12 King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba all she desired and asked for; he gave her more than she had brought to him. Then she left and returned with her retinue to her own country.

Solomon’s Splendor(X)

13 The weight of the gold that Solomon received yearly was 666 talents,[e] 14 not including the revenues brought in by merchants and traders. Also all the kings of Arabia(Y) and the governors of the territories brought gold and silver to Solomon.

15 King Solomon made two hundred large shields of hammered gold; six hundred shekels[f] of hammered gold went into each shield. 16 He also made three hundred small shields(Z) of hammered gold, with three hundred shekels[g] of gold in each shield. The king put them in the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon.(AA)

17 Then the king made a great throne covered with ivory(AB) and overlaid with pure gold. 18 The throne had six steps, and a footstool of gold was attached to it. On both sides of the seat were armrests, with a lion standing beside each of them. 19 Twelve lions stood on the six steps, one at either end of each step. Nothing like it had ever been made for any other kingdom. 20 All King Solomon’s goblets were gold, and all the household articles in the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon were pure gold. Nothing was made of silver, because silver was considered of little value in Solomon’s day. 21 The king had a fleet of trading ships[h] manned by Hiram’s[i] servants. Once every three years it returned, carrying gold, silver and ivory, and apes and baboons.

22 King Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth.(AC) 23 All the kings(AD) of the earth sought audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom God had put in his heart. 24 Year after year, everyone who came brought a gift(AE)—articles of silver and gold, and robes, weapons and spices, and horses and mules.

25 Solomon had four thousand stalls for horses and chariots,(AF) and twelve thousand horses,[j] which he kept in the chariot cities and also with him in Jerusalem. 26 He ruled(AG) over all the kings from the Euphrates River(AH) to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt.(AI) 27 The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar as plentiful as sycamore-fig trees in the foothills. 28 Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt and from all other countries.

Solomon’s Death(AJ)

29 As for the other events of Solomon’s reign, from beginning to end, are they not written in the records of Nathan(AK) the prophet, in the prophecy of Ahijah(AL) the Shilonite and in the visions of Iddo the seer concerning Jeroboam(AM) son of Nebat? 30 Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years. 31 Then he rested with his ancestors and was buried in the city of David(AN) his father. And Rehoboam his son succeeded him as king.

Israel Rebels Against Rehoboam(AO)

10 Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had gone there to make him king. When Jeroboam(AP) son of Nebat heard this (he was in Egypt, where he had fled(AQ) from King Solomon), he returned from Egypt. So they sent for Jeroboam, and he and all Israel(AR) went to Rehoboam and said to him: “Your father put a heavy yoke on us,(AS) but now lighten the harsh labor and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you.”

Rehoboam answered, “Come back to me in three days.” So the people went away.

Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders(AT) who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime. “How would you advise me to answer these people?” he asked.

They replied, “If you will be kind to these people and please them and give them a favorable answer,(AU) they will always be your servants.”

But Rehoboam rejected(AV) the advice the elders(AW) gave him and consulted the young men who had grown up with him and were serving him. He asked them, “What is your advice? How should we answer these people who say to me, ‘Lighten the yoke your father put on us’?”

10 The young men who had grown up with him replied, “The people have said to you, ‘Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but make our yoke lighter.’ Now tell them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist. 11 My father laid on you a heavy yoke; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.’”

12 Three days later Jeroboam and all the people returned to Rehoboam, as the king had said, “Come back to me in three days.” 13 The king answered them harshly. Rejecting the advice of the elders, 14 he followed the advice of the young men and said, “My father made your yoke heavy; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.” 15 So the king did not listen to the people, for this turn of events was from God,(AX) to fulfill the word the Lord had spoken to Jeroboam son of Nebat through Ahijah the Shilonite.(AY)

16 When all Israel(AZ) saw that the king refused to listen to them, they answered the king:

“What share do we have in David,(BA)
what part in Jesse’s son?
To your tents, Israel!
Look after your own house, David!”

So all the Israelites went home. 17 But as for the Israelites who were living in the towns of Judah, Rehoboam still ruled over them.

18 King Rehoboam sent out Adoniram,[k](BB) who was in charge of forced labor, but the Israelites stoned him to death. King Rehoboam, however, managed to get into his chariot and escape to Jerusalem. 19 So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day.

Footnotes:

  1. 2 Chronicles 8:18 That is, about 17 tons or about 15 metric tons
  2. 2 Chronicles 9:4 Or and the ascent by which he went up to
  3. 2 Chronicles 9:9 That is, about 4 1/2 tons or about 4 metric tons
  4. 2 Chronicles 9:10 Probably a variant of almugwood
  5. 2 Chronicles 9:13 That is, about 25 tons or about 23 metric tons
  6. 2 Chronicles 9:15 That is, about 15 pounds or about 6.9 kilograms
  7. 2 Chronicles 9:16 That is, about 7 1/2 pounds or about 3.5 kilograms
  8. 2 Chronicles 9:21 Hebrew of ships that could go to Tarshish
  9. 2 Chronicles 9:21 Hebrew Huram, a variant of Hiram
  10. 2 Chronicles 9:25 Or charioteers
  11. 2 Chronicles 10:18 Hebrew Hadoram, a variant of Adoniram

Cross references:

  1. 2 Chronicles 8:11 : S 1Ki 3:1
  2. 2 Chronicles 8:12 : S 1Ki 8:64; 2Ch 15:8
  3. 2 Chronicles 8:13 : S Ex 29:38
  4. 2 Chronicles 8:13 : Nu 28:9
  5. 2 Chronicles 8:13 : S Nu 10:10
  6. 2 Chronicles 8:13 : S Ex 23:14
  7. 2 Chronicles 8:13 : S Ex 12:17; Nu 28:16-25
  8. 2 Chronicles 8:13 : S Ex 23:16
  9. 2 Chronicles 8:13 : Nu 29:12-38; Ne 8:17
  10. 2 Chronicles 8:14 : S 1Ch 24:1
  11. 2 Chronicles 8:14 : S 1Ch 25:1
  12. 2 Chronicles 8:14 : S 1Ch 9:17
  13. 2 Chronicles 8:14 : Ne 12:24, 36
  14. 2 Chronicles 8:14 : S 1Ch 23:6; Ne 12:45
  15. 2 Chronicles 8:18 : 2Ch 9:9
  16. 2 Chronicles 9:1 : 9:1-12pp — 1Ki 10:1-13
  17. 2 Chronicles 9:1 : S Ge 10:7; Eze 23:42; Mt 12:42; Lk 11:31
  18. 2 Chronicles 9:3 : 1Ki 5:12
  19. 2 Chronicles 9:6 : 2Ch 6:32
  20. 2 Chronicles 9:8 : S 1Ki 2:12; S 1Ch 17:14; 2Ch 13:8
  21. 2 Chronicles 9:8 : 2Ch 2:11
  22. 2 Chronicles 9:9 : 2Ch 8:18
  23. 2 Chronicles 9:10 : 2Ch 8:18
  24. 2 Chronicles 9:13 : 9:13-28pp — 1Ki 10:14-29; 2Ch 1:14-17
  25. 2 Chronicles 9:14 : 2Ch 17:11; Isa 21:13; Jer 25:24; Eze 27:21; 30:5
  26. 2 Chronicles 9:16 : 2Ch 12:9
  27. 2 Chronicles 9:16 : S 1Ki 7:2
  28. 2 Chronicles 9:17 : S 1Ki 22:39
  29. 2 Chronicles 9:22 : S 1Ki 3:13; S 2Ch 1:12
  30. 2 Chronicles 9:23 : 1Ki 4:34
  31. 2 Chronicles 9:24 : 2Ch 32:23; Ps 45:12; 68:29; 72:10; Isa 18:7
  32. 2 Chronicles 9:25 : S 1Sa 8:11
  33. 2 Chronicles 9:26 : S 1Ki 4:21
  34. 2 Chronicles 9:26 : Ps 72:8-9
  35. 2 Chronicles 9:26 : Ge 15:18-21
  36. 2 Chronicles 9:29 : 9:29-31pp — 1Ki 11:41-43
  37. 2 Chronicles 9:29 : S 2Sa 7:2
  38. 2 Chronicles 9:29 : S 1Ki 11:29
  39. 2 Chronicles 9:29 : 2Ch 10:2
  40. 2 Chronicles 9:31 : 1Ki 2:10
  41. 2 Chronicles 10:1 : 10:1–11:4pp — 1Ki 12:1-24
  42. 2 Chronicles 10:2 : S 2Ch 9:29
  43. 2 Chronicles 10:2 : S 1Ki 11:40
  44. 2 Chronicles 10:3 : S 1Ch 9:1
  45. 2 Chronicles 10:4 : 2Ch 2:2
  46. 2 Chronicles 10:6 : Job 8:8-9; 12:12; 15:10; 32:7
  47. 2 Chronicles 10:7 : Pr 15:1
  48. 2 Chronicles 10:8 : S 2Sa 17:14
  49. 2 Chronicles 10:8 : Pr 13:20
  50. 2 Chronicles 10:15 : 2Ch 11:4; 25:16-20
  51. 2 Chronicles 10:15 : S 1Ki 11:29
  52. 2 Chronicles 10:16 : S 1Ch 9:1
  53. 2 Chronicles 10:16 : S 2Sa 20:1
  54. 2 Chronicles 10:18 : S 2Sa 20:24; S 1Ki 5:14
New International Version (NIV)

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Romans 8:9-25

You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh(A) but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you.(B) And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ,(C) they do not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you,(D) then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life[a] because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead(E) is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies(F) because of[b] his Spirit who lives in you.

12 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it.(G) 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die;(H) but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body,(I) you will live.(J)

14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God(K) are the children of God.(L) 15 The Spirit(M) you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again;(N) rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.[c] And by him we cry, “Abba,[d] Father.”(O) 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit(P) that we are God’s children.(Q) 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs(R)—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings(S) in order that we may also share in his glory.(T)

Present Suffering and Future Glory

18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.(U) 19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God(V) to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it,(W) in hope 21 that[e] the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay(X) and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.(Y)

22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning(Z) as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit,(AA) groan(AB) inwardly as we wait eagerly(AC) for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.(AD) 24 For in this hope we were saved.(AE) But hope that is seen is no hope at all.(AF) Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.(AG)

Footnotes:

  1. Romans 8:10 Or you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive
  2. Romans 8:11 Some manuscripts bodies through
  3. Romans 8:15 The Greek word for adoption to sonship is a term referring to the full legal standing of an adopted male heir in Roman culture; also in verse 23.
  4. Romans 8:15 Aramaic for father
  5. Romans 8:21 Or subjected it in hope. 21 For
New International Version (NIV)

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Psalm 18:16-36

16 He reached down from on high and took hold of me;
he drew me out of deep waters.(A)
17 He rescued me from my powerful enemy,(B)
from my foes, who were too strong for me.(C)
18 They confronted me in the day of my disaster,(D)
but the Lord was my support.(E)
19 He brought me out into a spacious place;(F)
he rescued me because he delighted in me.(G)

20 The Lord has dealt with me according to my righteousness;(H)
according to the cleanness of my hands(I) he has rewarded me.(J)
21 For I have kept the ways of the Lord;(K)
I am not guilty of turning(L) from my God.
22 All his laws are before me;(M)
I have not turned away from his decrees.
23 I have been blameless(N) before him
and have kept myself from sin.
24 The Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness,(O)
according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight.

25 To the faithful(P) you show yourself faithful,(Q)
to the blameless you show yourself blameless,
26 to the pure(R) you show yourself pure,
but to the devious you show yourself shrewd.(S)
27 You save the humble(T)
but bring low those whose eyes are haughty.(U)
28 You, Lord, keep my lamp(V) burning;
my God turns my darkness into light.(W)
29 With your help(X) I can advance against a troop[a];
with my God I can scale a wall.

30 As for God, his way is perfect:(Y)
The Lord’s word is flawless;(Z)
he shields(AA) all who take refuge(AB) in him.
31 For who is God besides the Lord?(AC)
And who is the Rock(AD) except our God?
32 It is God who arms me with strength(AE)
and keeps my way secure.(AF)
33 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;(AG)
he causes me to stand on the heights.(AH)
34 He trains my hands for battle;(AI)
my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
35 You make your saving help my shield,
and your right hand sustains(AJ) me;
your help has made me great.
36 You provide a broad path(AK) for my feet,
so that my ankles do not give way.(AL)

Footnotes:

  1. Psalm 18:29 Or can run through a barricade

Cross references:

  1. Psalm 18:16 : Ex 15:5; Ps 69:2; Pr 18:4; 20:5
  2. Psalm 18:17 : ver 48; Ps 38:19; 59:1; 143:9
  3. Psalm 18:17 : S Jdg 18:26
  4. Psalm 18:18 : Pr 1:27; 16:4; Jer 17:17; 40:2; Ob 1:13
  5. Psalm 18:18 : Ps 20:2; Isa 3:1
  6. Psalm 18:19 : Ps 31:8
  7. Psalm 18:19 : S Nu 14:8
  8. Psalm 18:20 : S 1Sa 26:23
  9. Psalm 18:20 : Job 22:30; Ps 24:4
  10. Psalm 18:20 : S Ru 2:12; S 2Ch 15:7; 1Co 3:8
  11. Psalm 18:21 : 2Ch 34:33; Ps 37:34; 119:2; Pr 8:32; 23:26
  12. Psalm 18:21 : Ps 119:102
  13. Psalm 18:22 : Ps 119:30
  14. Psalm 18:23 : S Ge 6:9
  15. Psalm 18:24 : S 1Sa 26:23
  16. Psalm 18:25 : Ps 31:23; 37:28; 50:5; Pr 2:8
  17. Psalm 18:25 : Ps 25:10; 40:11; 89:24; 146:6
  18. Psalm 18:26 : Pr 15:26; Mt 5:8; Php 1:10; 1Ti 5:22; Tit 1:15; 1Jn 3:3
  19. Psalm 18:26 : Pr 3:34; Mt 10:16; Lk 16:8
  20. Psalm 18:27 : S 2Ch 33:23; S Mt 23:12
  21. Psalm 18:27 : S Job 41:34; S Ps 10:5; Pr 3:33-34
  22. Psalm 18:28 : 1Ki 11:36; Ps 132:17
  23. Psalm 18:28 : Job 29:3; Ps 97:11; 112:4; Jn 1:5; S Ac 26:18; 2Co 4:6; 2Pe 1:19
  24. Psalm 18:29 : ver 32, 39; Isa 45:5; Heb 11:34
  25. Psalm 18:30 : S Dt 32:4
  26. Psalm 18:30 : S Ps 12:6; Pr 30:5
  27. Psalm 18:30 : Ps 3:3
  28. Psalm 18:30 : Ps 2:12
  29. Psalm 18:31 : S Dt 4:35; 32:39; Ps 35:10; 86:8; 89:6; Isa 44:6, 8; 45:5, 6, 14, 18, 21; 46:9
  30. Psalm 18:31 : S Ge 49:24
  31. Psalm 18:32 : S ver 29; 1Pe 5:10
  32. Psalm 18:32 : S Ps 15:2; 19:13; Heb 10:14; Jas 3:2
  33. Psalm 18:33 : Ps 42:1; Pr 5:19; Isa 35:6; Hab 3:19
  34. Psalm 18:33 : S Dt 32:13
  35. Psalm 18:34 : Ps 144:1
  36. Psalm 18:35 : Ps 3:5; 37:5, 17; 41:3; 51:12; 54:4; 55:22; 119:116; Isa 41:4, 10, 13; 43:2; 46:4
  37. Psalm 18:36 : Ps 31:8
  38. Psalm 18:36 : S Job 18:7; Ps 66:9
New International Version (NIV)

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Proverbs 19:26

26 Whoever robs their father and drives out their mother(A)
is a child who brings shame and disgrace.

Cross references:

  1. Proverbs 19:26 : Pr 28:24
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.

The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Monday July 22, 2024 (NIV)

2 Chronicles 6:12-8:10

Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication(A)(B)

12 Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in front of the whole assembly of Israel and spread out his hands. 13 Now he had made a bronze platform,(C) five cubits long, five cubits wide and three cubits high,[a] and had placed it in the center of the outer court. He stood on the platform and then knelt down(D) before the whole assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven. 14 He said:

Lord, the God of Israel, there is no God like you(E) in heaven or on earth—you who keep your covenant of love(F) with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way. 15 You have kept your promise to your servant David my father; with your mouth you have promised(G) and with your hand you have fulfilled it—as it is today.

16 “Now, Lord, the God of Israel, keep for your servant David my father the promises you made to him when you said, ‘You shall never fail(H) to have a successor to sit before me on the throne of Israel, if only your descendants are careful in all they do to walk before me according to my law,(I) as you have done.’ 17 And now, Lord, the God of Israel, let your word that you promised your servant David come true.

18 “But will God really dwell(J) on earth with humans? The heavens,(K) even the highest heavens, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built! 19 Yet, Lord my God, give attention to your servant’s prayer and his plea for mercy. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence. 20 May your eyes(L) be open toward this temple day and night, this place of which you said you would put your Name(M) there. May you hear(N) the prayer your servant prays toward this place. 21 Hear the supplications of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place. Hear from heaven, your dwelling place; and when you hear, forgive.(O)

22 “When anyone wrongs their neighbor and is required to take an oath(P) and they come and swear the oath before your altar in this temple, 23 then hear from heaven and act. Judge between your servants, condemning(Q) the guilty and bringing down on their heads what they have done, and vindicating the innocent by treating them in accordance with their innocence.

24 “When your people Israel have been defeated(R) by an enemy because they have sinned against you and when they turn back and give praise to your name, praying and making supplication before you in this temple, 25 then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your people Israel and bring them back to the land you gave to them and their ancestors.

26 “When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain(S) because your people have sinned against you, and when they pray toward this place and give praise to your name and turn from their sin because you have afflicted them, 27 then hear from heaven and forgive(T) the sin of your servants, your people Israel. Teach them the right way to live, and send rain on the land you gave your people for an inheritance.

28 “When famine(U) or plague comes to the land, or blight or mildew, locusts or grasshoppers, or when enemies besiege them in any of their cities, whatever disaster or disease may come, 29 and when a prayer or plea is made by anyone among your people Israel—being aware of their afflictions and pains, and spreading out their hands toward this temple— 30 then hear from heaven, your dwelling place. Forgive,(V) and deal with everyone according to all they do, since you know their hearts (for you alone know the human heart),(W) 31 so that they will fear you(X) and walk in obedience to you all the time they live in the land you gave our ancestors.

32 “As for the foreigner who does not belong to your people Israel but has come(Y) from a distant land because of your great name and your mighty hand(Z) and your outstretched arm—when they come and pray toward this temple, 33 then hear from heaven, your dwelling place. Do whatever the foreigner(AA) asks of you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your own people Israel, and may know that this house I have built bears your Name.

34 “When your people go to war against their enemies,(AB) wherever you send them, and when they pray(AC) to you toward this city you have chosen and the temple I have built for your Name, 35 then hear from heaven their prayer and their plea, and uphold their cause.

36 “When they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin(AD)—and you become angry with them and give them over to the enemy, who takes them captive(AE) to a land far away or near; 37 and if they have a change of heart(AF) in the land where they are held captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their captivity and say, ‘We have sinned, we have done wrong and acted wickedly’; 38 and if they turn back to you with all their heart and soul in the land of their captivity where they were taken, and pray toward the land you gave their ancestors, toward the city you have chosen and toward the temple I have built for your Name; 39 then from heaven, your dwelling place, hear their prayer and their pleas, and uphold their cause. And forgive(AG) your people, who have sinned against you.

40 “Now, my God, may your eyes be open and your ears attentive(AH) to the prayers offered in this place.

41 “Now arise,(AI) Lord God, and come to your resting place,(AJ)
you and the ark of your might.
May your priests,(AK) Lord God, be clothed with salvation,
may your faithful people rejoice in your goodness.(AL)
42 Lord God, do not reject your anointed one.(AM)
Remember the great love(AN) promised to David your servant.”

The Dedication of the Temple(AO)

When Solomon finished praying, fire(AP) came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled(AQ) the temple.(AR) The priests could not enter(AS) the temple of the Lord because the glory(AT) of the Lord filled it. When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the Lord above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying,

“He is good;
his love endures forever.”(AU)

Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the Lord. And King Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty-two thousand head of cattle and a hundred and twenty thousand sheep and goats. So the king and all the people dedicated the temple of God. The priests took their positions, as did the Levites(AV) with the Lord’s musical instruments,(AW) which King David had made for praising the Lord and which were used when he gave thanks, saying, “His love endures forever.” Opposite the Levites, the priests blew their trumpets, and all the Israelites were standing.

Solomon consecrated the middle part of the courtyard in front of the temple of the Lord, and there he offered burnt offerings and the fat(AX) of the fellowship offerings, because the bronze altar he had made could not hold the burnt offerings, the grain offerings and the fat portions.

So Solomon observed the festival(AY) at that time for seven days, and all Israel(AZ) with him—a vast assembly, people from Lebo Hamath(BA) to the Wadi of Egypt.(BB) On the eighth day they held an assembly, for they had celebrated(BC) the dedication of the altar for seven days and the festival(BD) for seven days more. 10 On the twenty-third day of the seventh month he sent the people to their homes, joyful and glad in heart for the good things the Lord had done for David and Solomon and for his people Israel.

The Lord Appears to Solomon(BE)

11 When Solomon had finished(BF) the temple of the Lord and the royal palace, and had succeeded in carrying out all he had in mind to do in the temple of the Lord and in his own palace, 12 the Lord appeared(BG) to him at night and said:

“I have heard your prayer and have chosen(BH) this place for myself(BI) as a temple for sacrifices.

13 “When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain,(BJ) or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, 14 if my people, who are called by my name,(BK) will humble(BL) themselves and pray and seek my face(BM) and turn(BN) from their wicked ways, then I will hear(BO) from heaven, and I will forgive(BP) their sin and will heal(BQ) their land. 15 Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.(BR) 16 I have chosen(BS) and consecrated this temple so that my Name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there.

17 “As for you, if you walk before me faithfully(BT) as David your father did, and do all I command, and observe my decrees(BU) and laws, 18 I will establish your royal throne, as I covenanted(BV) with David your father when I said, ‘You shall never fail to have a successor(BW) to rule over Israel.’(BX)

19 “But if you[b] turn away(BY) and forsake(BZ) the decrees and commands I have given you[c] and go off to serve other gods and worship them, 20 then I will uproot(CA) Israel from my land,(CB) which I have given them, and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name. I will make it a byword and an object of ridicule(CC) among all peoples. 21 This temple will become a heap of rubble. All[d] who pass by will be appalled(CD) and say,(CE) ‘Why has the Lord done such a thing to this land and to this temple?’ 22 People will answer, ‘Because they have forsaken the Lord, the God of their ancestors, who brought them out of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshiping and serving them(CF)—that is why he brought all this disaster on them.’”

Solomon’s Other Activities(CG)

At the end of twenty years, during which Solomon built the temple of the Lord and his own palace,(CH) Solomon rebuilt the villages that Hiram[e] had given him, and settled Israelites in them. Solomon then went to Hamath Zobah and captured it. He also built up Tadmor in the desert and all the store cities he had built in Hamath.(CI) He rebuilt Upper Beth Horon(CJ) and Lower Beth Horon as fortified cities, with walls and with gates and bars, as well as Baalath(CK) and all his store cities, and all the cities for his chariots and for his horses[f]—whatever he desired to build in Jerusalem, in Lebanon and throughout all the territory he ruled.

There were still people left from the Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites(CL) (these people were not Israelites). Solomon conscripted(CM) the descendants of all these people remaining in the land—whom the Israelites had not destroyed—to serve as slave labor, as it is to this day. But Solomon did not make slaves of the Israelites for his work; they were his fighting men, commanders of his captains, and commanders of his chariots and charioteers. 10 They were also King Solomon’s chief officials—two hundred and fifty officials supervising the men.

Footnotes:

  1. 2 Chronicles 6:13 That is, about 7 1/2 feet long and wide and 4 1/2 feet high or about 2.3 meters long and wide and 1.4 meters high
  2. 2 Chronicles 7:19 The Hebrew is plural.
  3. 2 Chronicles 7:19 The Hebrew is plural.
  4. 2 Chronicles 7:21 See some Septuagint manuscripts, Old Latin, Syriac, Arabic and Targum; Hebrew And though this temple is now so imposing, all
  5. 2 Chronicles 8:2 Hebrew Huram, a variant of Hiram; also in verse 18
  6. 2 Chronicles 8:6 Or charioteers

Cross references:

  1. 2 Chronicles 6:12 : 6:12-40pp — 1Ki 8:22-53
  2. 2 Chronicles 6:12 : 6:41-42pp — Ps 132:8-10
  3. 2 Chronicles 6:13 : Ne 8:4
  4. 2 Chronicles 6:13 : Ps 95:6
  5. 2 Chronicles 6:14 : S Ex 8:10; 15:11
  6. 2 Chronicles 6:14 : S Dt 7:9
  7. 2 Chronicles 6:15 : S 1Ch 22:10
  8. 2 Chronicles 6:16 : S 2Sa 7:13, 15; 2Ch 23:3
  9. 2 Chronicles 6:16 : Ps 132:12
  10. 2 Chronicles 6:18 : S Rev 21:3
  11. 2 Chronicles 6:18 : Ps 11:4; Isa 40:22; 66:1
  12. 2 Chronicles 6:20 : S Ex 3:16; Ps 34:15
  13. 2 Chronicles 6:20 : Dt 12:11
  14. 2 Chronicles 6:20 : 2Ch 7:14; 30:20
  15. 2 Chronicles 6:21 : Ps 51:1; Isa 33:24; 40:2; 43:25; 44:22; 55:7; Mic 7:18
  16. 2 Chronicles 6:22 : S Ex 22:11
  17. 2 Chronicles 6:23 : Isa 3:11; 65:6; S Mt 16:27
  18. 2 Chronicles 6:24 : S Lev 26:17
  19. 2 Chronicles 6:26 : Lev 26:19; S Dt 11:17; 28:24; S 2Sa 1:21
  20. 2 Chronicles 6:27 : ver 30, 39; 2Ch 7:14
  21. 2 Chronicles 6:28 : 2Ch 20:9
  22. 2 Chronicles 6:30 : S ver 27
  23. 2 Chronicles 6:30 : S 1Sa 2:3; Ps 7:9; 44:21; Pr 16:2; 17:3
  24. 2 Chronicles 6:31 : S Dt 6:13; Ps 34:7, 9; 103:11, 13; Pr 8:13
  25. 2 Chronicles 6:32 : 2Ch 9:6
  26. 2 Chronicles 6:32 : S Ex 3:19, 20
  27. 2 Chronicles 6:33 : S Ex 12:43
  28. 2 Chronicles 6:34 : Dt 28:7
  29. 2 Chronicles 6:34 : S 1Ch 5:20
  30. 2 Chronicles 6:36 : S 1Ki 8:46; Job 11:12; 15:14; Ps 143:2; Ecc 7:20; Jer 9:5; 13:23; 17:9; S Ro 3:9; Eph 2:3
  31. 2 Chronicles 6:36 : S Lev 26:44
  32. 2 Chronicles 6:37 : 1Ki 8:48; 2Ch 7:14; 12:6, 12; 30:11; 33:12, 19, 23; 34:27; 36:12; Isa 58:3; Jer 24:7; 29:13
  33. 2 Chronicles 6:39 : S ver 27; 2Ch 30:9
  34. 2 Chronicles 6:40 : S 1Ki 8:29, 52; 2Ch 7:15; Ne 1:6, 11; Ps 17:1, 6; 116:1; 130:2; Isa 37:17
  35. 2 Chronicles 6:41 : Ps 3:7; 7:6; 59:4; Isa 33:10
  36. 2 Chronicles 6:41 : 1Ch 28:2
  37. 2 Chronicles 6:41 : Ps 132:16
  38. 2 Chronicles 6:41 : Ps 13:6; 27:13; 116:12; 142:7
  39. 2 Chronicles 6:42 : Ps 2:2
  40. 2 Chronicles 6:42 : Ps 89:24, 28
  41. 2 Chronicles 7:1 : 7:1-10pp — 1Ki 8:62-66
  42. 2 Chronicles 7:1 : S Ex 19:18; S Lev 9:24; S 1Ki 18:38
  43. 2 Chronicles 7:1 : S Ex 16:10
  44. 2 Chronicles 7:1 : Ps 26:8
  45. 2 Chronicles 7:2 : S 1Ki 8:11
  46. 2 Chronicles 7:2 : S Ex 29:43; S 40:35
  47. 2 Chronicles 7:3 : S 1Ch 16:34; 2Ch 5:13; Ezr 3:11
  48. 2 Chronicles 7:6 : 1Ch 15:16
  49. 2 Chronicles 7:6 : S 1Ch 15:24
  50. 2 Chronicles 7:7 : S Ex 29:13
  51. 2 Chronicles 7:8 : 2Ch 30:26; Ne 8:17
  52. 2 Chronicles 7:8 : S 1Ch 9:1
  53. 2 Chronicles 7:8 : S Nu 13:21
  54. 2 Chronicles 7:8 : S Ge 15:18
  55. 2 Chronicles 7:9 : 2Ch 30:23
  56. 2 Chronicles 7:9 : S Lev 23:36
  57. 2 Chronicles 7:11 : 7:11-22pp — 1Ki 9:1-9
  58. 2 Chronicles 7:11 : S 1Ch 28:20
  59. 2 Chronicles 7:12 : 2Ch 1:7
  60. 2 Chronicles 7:12 : Dt 12:11
  61. 2 Chronicles 7:12 : S Dt 12:5
  62. 2 Chronicles 7:13 : S Dt 11:17; Am 4:7
  63. 2 Chronicles 7:14 : S Nu 6:27
  64. 2 Chronicles 7:14 : S Ex 10:3; S Lev 26:41; S 2Ch 6:37
  65. 2 Chronicles 7:14 : S 1Ch 16:11
  66. 2 Chronicles 7:14 : S 2Ki 17:13; Isa 55:7; Eze 18:32; Zec 1:4
  67. 2 Chronicles 7:14 : S 2Ch 6:20
  68. 2 Chronicles 7:14 : S 2Ch 6:27
  69. 2 Chronicles 7:14 : S Ex 15:26; 2Ch 30:20; Ps 60:2; Isa 30:26; 53:5; 57:18; Jer 33:6; Mal 4:2
  70. 2 Chronicles 7:15 : S 1Ki 8:29; S 2Ch 6:40; Ne 1:6
  71. 2 Chronicles 7:16 : S Dt 12:5; 2Ch 33:7
  72. 2 Chronicles 7:17 : S 1Ki 9:4
  73. 2 Chronicles 7:17 : S Lev 19:37
  74. 2 Chronicles 7:18 : Isa 9:7; Jer 33:17, 21
  75. 2 Chronicles 7:18 : S 1Ch 5:2; Isa 55:4; Mic 5:2
  76. 2 Chronicles 7:18 : S 2Sa 7:13; S 1Ch 17:12; 2Ch 13:5; 23:3
  77. 2 Chronicles 7:19 : S Dt 28:15
  78. 2 Chronicles 7:19 : S 1Ch 28:9; 2Ch 12:1; 24:18; Jer 9:13; 11:8
  79. 2 Chronicles 7:20 : S Dt 29:28
  80. 2 Chronicles 7:20 : 1Ki 14:15; Jer 12:14; 16:13; 50:11
  81. 2 Chronicles 7:20 : S Dt 28:37
  82. 2 Chronicles 7:21 : Jer 19:8
  83. 2 Chronicles 7:21 : Dt 29:24
  84. 2 Chronicles 7:22 : Jer 16:11
  85. 2 Chronicles 8:1 : 8:1-18pp — 1Ki 9:10-28
  86. 2 Chronicles 8:1 : S 2Sa 7:2
  87. 2 Chronicles 8:4 : S 2Sa 8:9
  88. 2 Chronicles 8:5 : S Jos 10:10
  89. 2 Chronicles 8:6 : S Jos 19:44
  90. 2 Chronicles 8:7 : S Ge 10:16; S 15:18-21; Ezr 9:1
  91. 2 Chronicles 8:8 : S 2Ch 2:18
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 7:14-8:8

14 We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual,(A) sold(B) as a slave to sin.(C) 15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.(D) 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good.(E) 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me.(F) 18 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[a](G) For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.(H) 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.(I)

21 So I find this law at work:(J) Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being(K) I delight in God’s law;(L) 23 but I see another law at work in me, waging war(M) against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin(N) at work within me. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?(O) 25 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!(P)

So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law,(Q) but in my sinful nature[b] a slave to the law of sin.