The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Thursday July 28, 2022 (NIV)

2 Chronicles 21-23

21 Jehoshaphat died and was buried beside his ancestors in Jerusalem, and his son Jehoram became king.

King Jehoram of Judah

(2 Kings 8.16-24)

King Jehoshaphat had seven sons: Jehoram, Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azariah, Michael, and Shephatiah. Jehoshaphat gave each of them silver and gold, as well as other valuable gifts. He also put them in charge of the fortified cities in Judah, but he had chosen his oldest son Jehoram to succeed him as king.

After Jehoram had taken control of Judah, he had his brothers killed, as well as some of the nation's leaders. He was 32 years old when he became king, and he ruled eight years from Jerusalem.

Jehoram married Ahab's daughter and followed the sinful example of Ahab's family and the other kings of Israel. He disobeyed the Lord by doing wrong, (A) but because the Lord had made a solemn promise to King David that someone from his family would always rule in Judah, he refused to wipe out David's descendants.

(B) While Jehoram was king, the people of Edom rebelled and chose their own king. Jehoram, his officers, and his cavalry marched to Edom, where the Edomite army surrounded them. He escaped during the night, 10 but Judah was never able to regain control of Edom. Even the town of Libnah[a] rebelled at that time.

Those things happened because Jehoram had turned away from the Lord, the God his ancestors had worshiped. 11 Jehoram even built local shrines[b] in the hills of Judah and let the people sin against the Lord by worshiping foreign gods.

12 One day, Jehoram received a letter from Elijah the prophet that said:

I have a message for you from the Lord God your ancestor David worshiped. He knows that you have not followed the example of Jehoshaphat your father or Asa your grandfather. 13 Instead you have acted like those sinful kings of Israel and have encouraged the people of Judah to stop worshiping the Lord, just as Ahab and his descendants did. You even murdered your own brothers, who were better men than you.

14 Because you have done these terrible things, the Lord will severely punish the people in your kingdom, including your own family, and he will destroy everything you own. 15 You will be struck with a painful stomach disease and suffer until you die.

16 The Lord later caused the Philistines and the Arabs who lived near the Ethiopians[c] to become angry with Jehoram. 17 They invaded Judah and stole the royal property from the palace, and they led Jehoram's wives and sons away as prisoners. The only one left behind was Ahaziah,[d] his youngest son.

18 After this happened, the Lord struck Jehoram with an incurable stomach disease. 19 About two years later, Jehoram died in terrible pain. No bonfire was built to honor him, even though the people had done this for his ancestors.

20 Jehoram was 32 years old when he became king, and he ruled 8 years from Jerusalem. He died, and no one even felt sad. He was buried in Jerusalem, but not in the royal tombs.

King Ahaziah of Judah

(2 Kings 8.25-29; 9.21,27,28)

22 Earlier, when the Arabs led a raid against Judah, they killed all of Jehoram's sons, except Ahaziah, the youngest one. So the people of Jerusalem crowned him their king. He was 22[e] years old at the time, and he ruled only one year from Jerusalem.

Ahaziah's mother was Athaliah, a granddaughter of King Omri of Israel, and she encouraged her son to sin against the Lord. He followed the evil example of King Ahab and his descendants. In fact, after his father's death, Ahaziah sinned against the Lord by appointing some of Ahab's relatives to be his advisors.

Their advice led to his downfall. He listened to them and went with King Joram of Israel to attack King Hazael and the Syrian troops at Ramoth in Gilead. Joram was wounded in that battle, and he went to the town of Jezreel to recover. And Ahaziah later went there to visit him. It was during that visit that God had Ahaziah put to death.

When Ahaziah arrived at Jezreel, he and Joram went to meet with Jehu grandson of Nimshi. The Lord had already told Jehu to kill every male in Ahab's family, and while Jehu was doing that, he saw some of Judah's leaders and Ahaziah's nephews who had come with Ahaziah. Jehu killed them on the spot, then gave orders to find Ahaziah. Jehu's officers found him hiding in Samaria. They brought Ahaziah to Jehu, who immediately put him to death. They buried Ahaziah only because they respected Jehoshaphat his grandfather, who had done his best to obey the Lord.

There was no one from Ahaziah's family left to become king of Judah.

Queen Athaliah of Judah

(2 Kings 11.1-3)

10 As soon as Athaliah heard that her son King Ahaziah was dead, she decided to kill any relative who could possibly become king. She would have done just that, 11 but Jehosheba[f] rescued Joash son of Ahaziah just as the others were about to be murdered. Jehosheba, who was Jehoram's daughter and Ahaziah's half sister, was married to Jehoiada the priest. So she was able to hide her nephew Joash and his personal servant in a bedroom in the Lord's temple where he was safe from Athaliah. 12 Joash hid in the temple with them for six years while Athaliah ruled as queen of Judah.

Jehoiada Makes Joash King of Judah

(2 Kings 11.4-21)

23 After Ahaziah's son Joash had hidden in the temple for six years, Jehoiada the priest knew that something had to be done. So he made sure he had the support of several army officers. They were Azariah son of Jeroham, Ishmael son of Jehohanan, Azariah son of Obed, Maaseiah son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat son of Zichri. These five men went to the towns in Judah and called together the Levites and the clan leaders. They all came to Jerusalem (C) and gathered at the temple, where they agreed to help Joash.

Jehoiada said to them:

Joash will be our next king, because long ago the Lord promised that one of David's descendants would always be king. Here is what we will do. Three groups of priests and Levites will be on guard duty on the Sabbath—one group will guard the gates of the temple, one will guard the palace, and the other will guard Foundation Gate. The rest of you will stand guard in the temple courtyards. Only the priests and Levites who are on duty will be able to enter the temple, because they will be the only ones who have gone through the ceremony to make themselves clean and acceptable. The others must stay outside in the courtyards, just as the Lord has commanded. You Levites must protect King Joash. Don't let him out of your sight! And keep your swords ready to kill anyone who comes into the temple.

The Levites and the people of Judah followed Jehoiada's orders. The guards going off duty were not allowed to go home, and so each commander had all his guards available—those going off duty as well as those coming on duty. Jehoiada went into the temple and brought out the swords and shields that had belonged to King David, and he gave them to the commanders. 10 They gave the weapons to the guards, and Jehoiada then made sure that the guards took their positions around the temple and the altar to protect the king on every side.

11 Jehoiada and his sons brought Joash outside, where they placed the crown on his head and gave him a copy of the instructions for ruling the nation. Olive oil was poured on his head to show that he was now king, and the crowd cheered and shouted, “Long live the king!”

12 As soon as Queen Athaliah heard the crowd cheering for Joash, she went to the temple. 13 There she saw Joash standing by one of the columns near the entrance, which was the usual place for the king. The commanders and the trumpet players were standing next to him, and the musicians were playing instruments and leading the people as they celebrated and blew trumpets. Athaliah tore her clothes in anger and shouted, “You betrayed me, you traitors!”

14 At once, Jehoiada said to the army commanders, “Don't kill her near the Lord's temple. Take her out in front of the troops, and be sure to kill all of her followers!” 15 She tried to escape, but the commanders caught and killed her near the gate where horses are led into the palace.

16 Jehoiada asked King Joash and the people to join with him in being faithful to the Lord. They agreed, 17 then rushed to the temple of the god Baal and tore it down. They smashed the altars and the idols and killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altars.

18 Jehoiada assigned the priests and Levites their duties at the temple, just as David had done. They were in charge of offering sacrifices to the Lord according to the Law of Moses, and they were responsible for leading the celebrations with singing. 19 Jehoiada ordered the guards at the temple gates to keep out anyone who was unclean.

20 Finally, Jehoiada called together the army commanders, the most important citizens of Judah, and the government officials. The crowd of people followed them as they led Joash from the temple, through the Upper Gate, and into the palace, where he took his place as king of Judah. 21 Everyone celebrated because Athaliah had been killed and Jerusalem was peaceful again.

Footnotes:

  1. 21.10 Even the town of Libnah: This was a town on the border between Philistia and Judah, which means that Jehoram was facing rebellion on both sides of his kingdom.
  2. 21.11 local shrines: See the note at 11.15.
  3. 21.16 Ethiopians: See the note at 12.3.
  4. 21.17 Ahaziah: The Hebrew text has “Jehoahaz,” another spelling of the name.
  5. 22.2 22: One ancient translation (see also 2 Kings 8.26); Hebrew “42.”
  6. 22.11 Jehosheba: The Hebrew text has “Jehoshabeath,” another spelling of the name.

Cross references:

  1. 21.7 : 1 K 11.36.
  2. 21.8 : Gn 27.40.
  3. 23.3 : 2 S 7.12.
Contemporary English Version (CEV)

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Romans 11:13-36

13 I am now speaking to you Gentiles, and as long as I am an apostle to you, I will take pride in my work. 14 I hope in this way to make some of my own people jealous enough to be saved. 15 When Israel rejected God,[a] the rest of the people in the world were able to turn to him. So when God makes friends with Israel, it will be like bringing the dead back to life. 16 If part of a batch of dough is made holy by being offered to God, then all of the dough is holy. If the roots of a tree are holy, the rest of the tree is holy too.

17 You Gentiles are like branches of a wild olive tree made to be part of a cultivated olive tree. You have taken the place of some branches that were cut away from it. And because of this, you enjoy the blessings that come from being part of that cultivated tree. 18 But don't think you are better than the branches that were cut away. Just remember you are not supporting the roots of this tree. Its roots are supporting you.

19 Maybe you think those branches were cut away, so you could be put in their place. 20 That's true enough. But they were cut away because they did not have faith, and you are where you are because you do have faith. So don't be proud, but be afraid. 21 If God cut away those natural branches, couldn't he do the same to you?

22 Now you see both how kind and how hard God can be. He was hard on those who fell, but he was kind to you. And he will keep on being kind to you, if you keep on trusting in his kindness. Otherwise, you will be cut away too.

23 If those other branches will start having faith, they will be made a part of that tree again. God has the power to put them back. 24 After all, it wasn't natural for branches to be cut from a wild olive tree and to be made part of a cultivated olive tree. So it is much more likely that God will join the natural branches back to the cultivated olive tree.

The People of Israel Will Be Brought Back

25 My friends, I don't want you Gentiles to be too proud of yourselves. So I will explain the mystery of what has happened to the people of Israel. Some of them have become stubborn, and they will stay like that until the complete number of you Gentiles has come in. 26 (A) In this way all of Israel will be saved, as the Scriptures say,

“From Zion someone will come
to rescue us.
Then Jacob's descendants
will stop being evil.
27 (B) This is what the Lord
has promised to do
when he forgives their sins.”

28 The people of Israel are treated as God's enemies, so the good news can come to you Gentiles. But they are still the chosen ones, and God loves them because of their famous ancestors. 29 God doesn't take back the gifts he has given or disown the people he has chosen.

30 At one time you Gentiles rejected God. But now Israel has rejected God, and you have been shown mercy. 31 And because of the mercy shown to you, they will also be shown mercy. 32 All people have disobeyed God, and that's why he treats them as prisoners. But he does this, so that he can have mercy on all of them.

33 (C) Who can measure the wealth and wisdom and knowledge of God? Who can understand his decisions or explain what he does?

34 (D) “Has anyone known
the thoughts of the Lord
or given him advice?
35 (E) Has anyone loaned
something to the Lord
that must be repaid?”

36 (F) Everything comes from the Lord. All things were made because of him and will return to him. Praise the Lord forever! Amen.

Footnotes:

  1. 11.15 When Israel rejected God: Or “When Israel was rejected.”
Contemporary English Version (CEV)

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

Psalm 22:1-18

(A psalm by David for the music leader. To the tune “A Deer at Dawn.”)

Suffering and Praise

(A) My God, my God, why have you
deserted me?
Why are you so far away?
Won't you listen to my groans
and come to my rescue?
I cry out day and night,
but you don't answer,
and I can never rest.

Yet you are the holy God,
ruling from your throne
and praised by Israel.
(B) Our ancestors trusted you,
and you rescued them.
When they cried out for help,
you saved them,
and you did not let them down
when they depended on you.

But I am merely a worm,
far less than human,
and I am hated and rejected
by people everywhere.
(C) Everyone who sees me
makes fun and sneers.
They shake their heads,
(D) and say, “Trust the Lord!
If you are his favorite,
let him protect you
and keep you safe.”

You, Lord, brought me
safely through birth,
and you protected me
when I was a baby
at my mother's breast.
10 From the day I was born,
I have been in your care,
and from the time of my birth,
you have been my God.

11 Don't stay far off
when I am in trouble
with no one to help me.
12 Enemies are all around
like a herd of wild bulls.
Powerful bulls from Bashan[a]
are everywhere.
13 My enemies are like lions
roaring and attacking
with jaws open wide.

14 I have no more strength
than a few drops of water.
All my bones are out of joint;
my heart is like melted wax.
15 My strength has dried up
like a broken clay pot,
and my tongue sticks
to the roof of my mouth.
You, God, have left me
to die in the dirt.

16 Brutal enemies attack me
like a pack of dogs,
tearing at[b] my hands
and my feet.
17 I can count all my bones,
and my enemies just stare
and sneer at me.
18 (E) They took my clothes
and gambled for them.

Footnotes:

  1. 22.12 Bashan: A land east of the Jordan River, where there were pastures suitable for raising fine cattle.
  2. 22.16 tearing at: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
Contemporary English Version (CEV)

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Proverbs 20:7

Good people live right,
and God blesses the children
who follow their example.

Contemporary English Version (CEV)

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The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Wednesday July 27, 2022 (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.

Contemporary English Version (CEV)

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

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.

Contemporary English Version (CEV)

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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 Tuesday July 26, 2022 (NIV)

2 Chronicles 17-18

King Jehoshaphat of Judah

17 Jehoshaphat son of Asa became king and strengthened his defenses against Israel. He assigned troops to the fortified cities in Judah, as well as to other towns in Judah and to those towns in Ephraim that his father Asa had captured.

3-4 When Jehoshaphat's father had first become king of Judah, he was faithful to the Lord and refused to worship the god Baal as the kings of Israel did. Jehoshaphat followed his father's example and obeyed and worshiped the Lord. And so the Lord blessed Jehoshaphat and helped him keep firm control of his kingdom. The people of Judah brought gifts to Jehoshaphat, but even after he became very rich and respected, he remained completely faithful to the Lord. He destroyed all the local shrines[a] in Judah, including the places where the goddess Asherah was worshiped.

In the third year of Jehoshaphat's rule, he chose five officials and gave them orders to teach the Lord's Law in every city and town in Judah. They were Benhail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah. Their assistants were the following nine Levites: Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tob-Adonijah. Two priests, Elishama and Jehoram, also went along. They carried with them a copy of the Lord's Law wherever they went and taught the people from it.

10 The nations around Judah were afraid of the Lord's power, so none of them attacked Jehoshaphat. 11 Philistines brought him silver and other gifts to keep peace. Some of the Arab people brought him 7,700 rams and the same number of goats.

12 As Jehoshaphat became more powerful, he built fortresses and cities 13 where he stored supplies. He also kept in Jerusalem some experienced soldiers 14 from the Judah and Benjamin tribes. These soldiers were grouped according to their clans.

Adnah was the commander of the troops from Judah, and he had 300,000 soldiers under his command. 15 Jehohanan was second in command, with 280,000 soldiers under him. 16 Amasiah son of Zichri, who had volunteered to serve the Lord, was third in command, with 200,000 soldiers under him.

17 Eliada was a brave warrior who commanded the troops from Benjamin. He had 200,000 soldiers under his command, all of them armed with bows and shields. 18 Jehozabad was second in command, with 180,000 soldiers under him. 19 These were the troops who protected the king in Jerusalem, not counting those he had assigned to the fortified cities throughout the country.

Micaiah Warns King Ahab of Israel

(1 Kings 22.1-28)

18 Jehoshaphat was now very rich and famous. He signed a treaty with King Ahab of Israel by arranging the marriage of his son and Ahab's daughter.

One day, Jehoshaphat went to visit Ahab in his capital city of Samaria. Ahab slaughtered sheep and cattle and prepared a big feast to honor Jehoshaphat and the officials with him. Ahab talked about attacking the city of Ramoth in Gilead,[b] and finally asked, “Jehoshaphat, would you go with me to attack Ramoth?”

“Yes,” Jehoshaphat answered. “My army is at your command. But first let's ask the Lord what to do.”

Ahab sent for 400 prophets and asked, “Should I attack the city of Ramoth?”

“Yes!” the prophets answered. “God will help you capture the city.”

But Jehoshaphat said, “Just to make sure, is there another of the Lord's prophets we can ask?”

“We could ask Micaiah son of Imlah,” Ahab said. “But I hate Micaiah. He always has bad news for me.”

“Don't say that!” Jehoshaphat replied. Then Ahab sent someone to bring Micaiah as soon as possible.

All this time, Ahab and Jehoshaphat were dressed in their royal robes and were seated on their thrones at the threshing place near the gate of Samaria, listening to the prophets tell them what the Lord had said.

10 Zedekiah son of Chenaanah was one of the prophets. He had made some horns out of iron and shouted, “Ahab, the Lord says you will attack the Syrians like a bull with iron horns and wipe them out!”

11 All the prophets agreed that Ahab should attack the Syrians at Ramoth and promised that the Lord would help him defeat them.

12 Meanwhile, the messenger who went to get Micaiah whispered, “Micaiah, all the prophets have good news for Ahab. Now go and say the same thing.”

13 “I'll say whatever the living Lord my God tells me to say,” Micaiah replied.

14 Then Micaiah went up to Ahab, who asked, “Micaiah, should we attack Ramoth?”

“Yes!” Micaiah answered. “The Lord will help you capture the city.”

15 Ahab shouted, “Micaiah, I've told you over and over to tell me the truth! What does the Lord really say?”

16 (A) Micaiah answered, “In a vision[c] I saw Israelite soldiers wandering around, lost in the hills like sheep without a shepherd. The Lord said, ‘These troops have no leader. They should go home and not fight.’ ”

17 Ahab turned to Jehoshaphat and said, “I told you he would bring me bad news!”

18 Micaiah replied:

I then saw the Lord seated on his throne with every creature in heaven gathered around him. 19 The Lord asked, “Who can trick Ahab and make him go to Ramoth where he will be killed?”

They talked about it for a while, 20 then finally a spirit came forward and said to the Lord, “I can trick Ahab.”

“How?” the Lord asked.

21 “I'll make Ahab's prophets lie to him.”

“Good!” the Lord replied. “Now go and do it. You will be successful.”

22 Ahab, this is exactly what has happened. The Lord made all your prophets lie to you, and he knows you will soon be destroyed.

23 Zedekiah walked over and slapped Micaiah on the face. Then he asked, “Do you really think the Lord would speak to you and not to me?”

24 Micaiah answered, “You'll find out on the day you have to hide in the back room of some house.”

25 Ahab shouted, “Arrest Micaiah! Take him to Prince Joash and Governor Amon of Samaria. 26 Tell them to put him in prison and to give him nothing but bread and water until I come back safely.”

27 Micaiah said, “If you do come back, I was wrong about what the Lord wanted me to say.” Then he told the crowd, “Don't forget what I said!”

Ahab Dies at Ramoth

(1 Kings 22.29-35)

28 Ahab and Jehoshaphat led their armies to Ramoth in Gilead. 29 Before they went into battle, Ahab said, “Jehoshaphat, I'll disguise myself, but you wear your royal robe.” Ahab disguised himself and went into battle.

30 The king of Syria had ordered his chariot commanders to attack only Ahab. 31 So when they saw Jehoshaphat in his robe, they thought he was Ahab and started to attack him. But Jehoshaphat prayed, and the Lord made the Syrian soldiers stop. 32 And when they realized he wasn't Ahab, they left him alone.

33 However, during the fighting a soldier shot an arrow without even aiming, and it hit Ahab between two pieces of his armor. He shouted to his chariot driver, “I've been hit! Get me out of here!”

34 The fighting lasted all day, with Ahab propped up in his chariot so he could see the Syrian troops. He stayed there until evening, and by sundown he was dead.

Footnotes:

  1. 17.6 local shrines: See the note at 11.15.
  2. 18.2 attacking the city of Ramoth in Gilead: The Syrians had taken control of Ramoth (see 1 Kings 22.3,4).
  3. 18.16 vision: In ancient times, prophets often told about future events from what they had seen in visions or dreams.
Contemporary English Version (CEV)

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Romans 9:25-10:13

25 (A) just as the Lord says in the book of Hosea,

“Although they are not
my people,
I will make them my people.
I will treat with love
those nations
that have never been loved.

26 (B) “Once they were told,
‘You are not my people.’
But in that very place
they will be called
children of the living God.”

27 (C) And this is what the prophet Isaiah said about the people of Israel,

“The people of Israel
are as many
as the grains of sand
along the beach.
But only a few who are left
will be saved.
28 The Lord will be quick
and sure to do on earth
what he has warned
he will do.”

29 (D) Isaiah also said,

“If the Lord All-Powerful
had not spared some
of our descendants,
we would have been destroyed
like the cities of Sodom
and Gomorrah.”[a]

Israel and the Good News

30 What does all of this mean? It means that the Gentiles were not trying to be acceptable to God, but they found that he would accept them if they had faith. 31-32 It also means that the people of Israel were not acceptable to God. And why not? It was because they were trying[b] to be acceptable by obeying the Law instead of by having faith in God. The people of Israel fell over the stone that makes people stumble, 33 (E) just as God says in the Scriptures,

“Look! I am placing in Zion
a stone to make people
stumble and fall.
But those who have faith
in that one will never
be disappointed.”

10 Dear friends, my greatest wish and my prayer to God is for the people of Israel to be saved. I know they love God, but they don't understand what makes people acceptable to him. So they refuse to trust God, and they try to be acceptable by obeying the Law. But Christ makes the Law no longer necessary[c] for those who become acceptable to God by faith.

Anyone Can Be Saved

(F) Moses said a person could become acceptable to God by obeying the Law. He did this when he wrote, “If you want to live, you must do all the Law commands.”

(G) But people whose faith makes them acceptable to God will never ask, “Who will go up to heaven to bring Christ down?” Neither will they ask, “Who will go down into the world of the dead to raise him to life?”

All who are acceptable because of their faith simply say, “The message is as near as your mouth or your heart.” And this is the same message we preach about faith. So you will be saved, if you honestly say, “Jesus is Lord,” and if you believe with all your heart that God raised him from death. 10 God will accept you and save you, if you truly believe this and tell it to others.

11 (H) The Scriptures say no one who has faith will be disappointed, 12 no matter if that person is a Jew or a Gentile. There is only one Lord, and he is generous to everyone who asks for his help. 13 (I) All who call out to the Lord will be saved.

Footnotes:

  1. 9.29 Sodom and Gomorrah: During the time of Abraham the Lord destroyed these two cities because their people were so sinful.
  2. 9.31,32 because they were trying: Or “while they were trying” or “even though they were trying.”
  3. 10.4 But Christ makes the Law no longer necessary: Or “But Christ gives the full meaning to the Law.”
Contemporary English Version (CEV)

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Psalm 20

(A psalm by David for the music leader.)

A Prayer for Victory

I pray that the Lord
will listen when you
are in trouble,
and that the God of Jacob
will keep you safe.
May the Lord send help
from his temple
and come to your rescue
from Mount Zion.
May he remember your gifts
and be pleased
with what you bring.

May God do what you want most
and let all go well for you.
Then you will win victories,
and we will celebrate,
while raising our banners
in the name of our God.
May the Lord answer
all your prayers!

I am certain, Lord,
that you will help
your chosen king.
You will answer my prayers
from your holy place
in heaven,
and you will save me
with your mighty arm.

Some people trust the power
of chariots or horses,
but we trust you, Lord God.
Others will stumble and fall,
but we will be strong
and stand firm.

Give the king victory, Lord,
and answer our prayers.[a]

Footnotes:

  1. 20.9 victory … prayers: Or “victory. He (God or the king) answers us.”
Contemporary English Version (CEV)

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Proverbs 20:2-3

An angry ruler
is like a roaring lion—
make either one angry,
and you are dead.
It makes you look good
when you avoid a fight—
only fools love to quarrel.

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 Monday July 25, 2022 (NIV)

2 Chronicles 14-16

King Asa of Judah

14 Abijah died and was buried in Jerusalem. Then his son Asa became king, and Judah had ten years of peace.

Asa obeyed the Lord his God and did right. He destroyed the local shrines[a] and the altars to foreign gods. He smashed the stone images of gods and cut down the sacred poles[b] used in worshiping the goddess Asherah. Then he told everyone in Judah to worship the Lord God, just as their ancestors had done, and to obey his laws and teachings. He destroyed every local shrine and incense altar in Judah.

The Lord blessed Judah with peace while Asa was king, and so during that time, Asa fortified many of the towns. He said to the people, “Let's build walls and defense towers for these towns, and put in gates that can be locked with bars. This land still belongs to us, because we have obeyed the Lord our God. He has given us peace from all our enemies.” The people did everything Asa had suggested.

Asa had a large army of brave soldiers: 300,000 of them were from the tribe of Judah and were armed with shields and spears; 280,000 were from Benjamin and were armed with shields and bows.

Judah Defeats Ethiopia's Army

Zerah from Ethiopia[c] led an army of 1,000,000 soldiers and 300 chariots to the town of Mareshah[d] in Judah. 10 Asa met him there, and the two armies prepared for battle in Zephathah Valley.

11 Asa prayed:

Lord God, only you can help a powerless army defeat a stronger one. So we depend on you to help us. We will fight against this powerful army to honor your name, and we know that you won't be defeated. You are the Lord our God.

12 The Lord helped Asa and his army defeat the Ethiopians. The enemy soldiers ran away, 13 but Asa and his troops chased them as far as Gerar. It was a total defeat—the Ethiopians could not even fight back![e]

The soldiers from Judah took everything that had belonged to the Ethiopians. 14 The people who lived in the villages around Gerar learned what had happened and were afraid of the Lord. So Judah's army easily defeated them and carried off everything of value that they wanted from these towns. 15 They also attacked the camps where the shepherds lived and took a lot of sheep, goats, and camels. Then they went back to Jerusalem.

Asa Destroys the Idols in Judah

15 Some time later, God spoke to Azariah son of Oded. At once, Azariah went to Asa and said:

Listen to me, King Asa and you people of Judah and Benjamin. The Lord will be with you and help you, as long as you obey and worship him. But if you disobey him, he will desert you.

For a long time, the people of Israel did not worship the true God or listen to priests who could teach them about God. They refused to obey God's Law. But whenever trouble came, Israel turned back to the Lord their God and worshiped him.

There was so much confusion in those days that it wasn't safe to go anywhere in Israel. Nations were destroying each other, and cities were wiping out other cities, because God was causing trouble and unrest everywhere.

So you must be brave. Don't give up! God will honor you for obeying him.

As soon as Asa heard what Azariah the prophet said, he gave orders for all the idols in Judah and Benjamin to be destroyed, including those in the towns he had captured in the territory of Ephraim. He also repaired the Lord's altar that was in front of the temple porch.

Asa called together the people from Judah and Benjamin, as well as the people from the territories of Ephraim, West Manasseh, and Simeon who were living in Judah. Many of these people were now loyal to Asa, because they had seen that the Lord was with him.

10 In the third month of the fifteenth year of Asa's rule, they all met in Jerusalem. 11 That same day, they took 700 bulls and 7,000 sheep and goats from what they had brought back from Gerar and sacrificed them as offerings to the Lord. 12 They made a solemn promise to faithfully worship the Lord God their ancestors had worshiped, 13 and to put to death anyone who refused to obey him. 14 The crowd solemnly agreed to keep their promise to the Lord, then they celebrated by shouting and blowing trumpets and horns. 15 Everyone was happy because they had made this solemn promise, and in return, the Lord blessed them with peace from all their enemies.

16 Asa's grandmother Maacah had made a disgusting idol of the goddess Asherah, so he cut it down, crushed it, and burned it in Kidron Valley. Then he removed Maacah from her position as queen mother.[f] 17 As long as Asa lived, he was faithful to the Lord, even though he did not destroy the local shrines[g] in Israel. 18 He placed in the temple all the silver and gold objects that he and his father had dedicated to God.

19 There was peace in Judah until the thirty-fifth year of Asa's rule.

King Baasha of Israel Invades Judah

(1 Kings 15.16-22)

16 In the thirty-sixth year of Asa's rule, King Baasha of Israel invaded Judah and captured the town of Ramah. He started making the town stronger, and he put troops there to stop people from going in and out of Judah.

When Asa heard about this, he took the silver and gold from his palace and from the Lord's temple. Then he sent it to Damascus with this message for King Benhadad of Syria: “I think we should sign a peace treaty, just as our fathers did. This silver and gold is a present for you. Would you please break your treaty with King Baasha of Israel and force him to leave my country?”

Benhadad did what Asa asked and sent the Syrian army into Israel. They captured the towns of Ijon, Dan, Abel-Maim,[h] and all the towns in Naphtali where supplies were kept. When Baasha heard about it, he stopped his work on the town of Ramah.

Asa ordered everyone in Judah to carry away the stones and wood Baasha had used to fortify Ramah. Then he fortified the towns of Geba and Mizpah with these same stones and wood.

Hanani the Prophet Condemns Asa

Soon after that happened, Hanani the prophet went to Asa and said:

You depended on the king of Syria instead of depending on the Lord your God. And so, you will never defeat the Syrian army. Remember how powerful the Ethiopian[i] and Libyan army was, with all their chariots and cavalry troops! You trusted the Lord to help you then, and you defeated them. The Lord is constantly watching everyone, and he gives strength to those who faithfully obey him. But you have done a foolish thing, and your kingdom will never be at peace again.

10 When Asa heard this, he was so angry that he put Hanani in prison. Asa was also cruel to some of his people.[j]

Asa Dies

(1 Kings 15.23,24)

11 Everything Asa did while he was king is written in The History of the Kings of Judah and Israel. 12 In the thirty-ninth year of his rule, he got a very bad foot disease, but he relied on doctors and refused to ask the Lord for help. 13 He died two years later.

14 Earlier, Asa had his own tomb cut out of a rock hill in Jerusalem. So he was buried there, and the tomb was filled with spices and sweet-smelling oils. Then the people built a bonfire in his honor.

Footnotes:

  1. 14.3 local shrines: See the note at 11.15.
  2. 14.3 sacred poles: Or “trees,” used as symbols of Asherah, the goddess of fertility.
  3. 14.9 Ethiopia: See the note at 12.3.
  4. 14.9 Mareshah: About 40 kilometers southwest of Jerusalem.
  5. 14.13 the Ethiopians could not even fight back: Or “not one of the Ethiopians survived!”
  6. 15.16 queen mother: Or “the mother of the king,” which was an important position in biblical times (see 1 Kings 2.19).
  7. 15.17 local shrines: See the note at 11.15.
  8. 16.4 Abel-Maim: Also called “Abel-Bethmaacah” (see 1 Kings 15.20).
  9. 16.8 Ethiopian: See the note at 12.3.
  10. 16.10 Asa was also cruel … people: Or “Asa also started being cruel to some of his people.”
Contemporary English Version (CEV)

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Romans 9:1-24

God's Choice of Israel

I am a follower of Christ, and the Holy Spirit is a witness to my conscience. So I tell the truth and I am not lying when I say my heart is broken and I am in great sorrow. I would gladly be placed under God's curse and be separated from Christ for the good of my own people. (A) They are the descendants of Israel, and they are also God's chosen people. God showed them his glory. He made agreements with them and gave them his Law. The temple is theirs and so are the promises that God made to them. They have those famous ancestors, who were also the ancestors of the Christ.[a] I pray that God, who rules over all, will be praised forever![b] Amen.

It cannot be said that God broke his promise. After all, not all of the people of Israel are the true people of God. 7-8 (B) In fact, when God made the promise to Abraham, he meant only Abraham's descendants by his son Isaac. God was talking only about Isaac when he promised (C) Sarah, “At this time next year I will return, and you will already have a son.”

10 Don't forget what happened to the twin sons of Isaac and Rebekah. 11-12 (D) Even before they were born or had done anything good or bad, the Lord told Rebekah that her older son would serve the younger one. The Lord said this to show he makes his own choices and it wasn't because of anything either of them had done. 13 (E) That's why the Scriptures say that the Lord liked Jacob more than Esau.

14 Are we saying God is unfair? Certainly not! 15 (F) The Lord told Moses that he has pity and mercy on anyone he wants to. 16 Everything then depends on God's mercy and not on what people want or do. 17 (G) In the Scriptures the Lord says to the king of Egypt, “I let you become king, so that I could show you my power and be praised by all people on earth.” 18 Everything depends on what God decides to do, and he can either have pity on people or make them stubborn.

God's Anger and Mercy

19 Someone may ask, “How can God blame us, if he makes us behave in the way he wants us to?” 20 (H) But, my friend, I ask, “Who do you think you are to question God? Does the clay have the right to ask the potter why he shaped it the way he did? 21 (I) Doesn't a potter have the right to make a fancy bowl and a plain bowl out of the same lump of clay?”

22 (J) God wanted to show his anger and reveal his power against everyone who deserved to be destroyed. But instead, he patiently put up with them. 23 He did this by showing how glorious he is when he has pity on the people he has chosen to share in his glory. 24 Whether Jews or Gentiles, we are those chosen ones,

Footnotes:

  1. 9.5 Christ: Or “Messiah.”
  2. 9.5 Christ. I pray that God, who rules over all, will be praised forever: Or “Christ, who rules over all. I pray that God will be praised forever” or “Christ. And I pray that Christ, who is God and rules over all, will be praised forever.”
Contemporary English Version (CEV)

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Psalm 19

(A psalm by David for the music leader.)

The Wonders of God and the Goodness of His Law

The heavens keep telling
the wonders of God,
and the skies declare
what he has done.
Each day informs
the following day;
each night announces
to the next.
They don't speak a word,
and there is never
the sound of a voice.
(A) Yet their message reaches
all the earth,
and it travels
around the world.

In the heavens a tent
is set up for the sun.
It rises like a bridegroom
and gets ready like a hero
eager to run a race.
It travels all the way
across the sky.
Nothing hides from its heat.

(B) The Law of the Lord is perfect;
it gives us new life.
His teachings last forever,
and they give wisdom
to ordinary people.
The Lord's instruction is right;
it makes our hearts glad.
His commands shine brightly,
and they give us light.

Worshiping the Lord is sacred;
he will always be worshiped.
All his decisions
are correct and fair.
10 They are worth more
than the finest gold
and are sweeter than honey
from a honeycomb.

11 By your teachings, Lord,
I am warned;
by obeying them,
I am greatly rewarded.
12 None of us know our faults.
Forgive me when I sin
without knowing it.
13 Don't let me do wrong
on purpose, Lord,
or let sin have control
over my life.
Then I will be innocent,
and not guilty
of some terrible fault.

14 Let my words and my thoughts
be pleasing to you, Lord,
because you are my mighty rock[a]
and my protector.

Footnotes:

  1. 19.14 mighty rock: See the note at 18.2.

Cross references:

  1. 19.4 : Ro 10.18.
  2. 19.7 : Pr 9.10; 4 Macc 1.17.
Contemporary English Version (CEV)

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Proverbs 20:1

Words of Wisdom Are Better than Gold

20 It isn't smart to get drunk!
Drinking makes a fool of you
and leads to fights.

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 Monday July 25, 2022 (NIV)

2 Chronicles 14-16

King Asa of Judah

14 Abijah died and was buried in Jerusalem. Then his son Asa became king, and Judah had ten years of peace.

Asa obeyed the Lord his God and did right. He destroyed the local shrines[a] and the altars to foreign gods. He smashed the stone images of gods and cut down the sacred poles[b] used in worshiping the goddess Asherah. Then he told everyone in Judah to worship the Lord God, just as their ancestors had done, and to obey his laws and teachings. He destroyed every local shrine and incense altar in Judah.

The Lord blessed Judah with peace while Asa was king, and so during that time, Asa fortified many of the towns. He said to the people, “Let's build walls and defense towers for these towns, and put in gates that can be locked with bars. This land still belongs to us, because we have obeyed the Lord our God. He has given us peace from all our enemies.” The people did everything Asa had suggested.

Asa had a large army of brave soldiers: 300,000 of them were from the tribe of Judah and were armed with shields and spears; 280,000 were from Benjamin and were armed with shields and bows.

Judah Defeats Ethiopia's Army

Zerah from Ethiopia[c] led an army of 1,000,000 soldiers and 300 chariots to the town of Mareshah[d] in Judah. 10 Asa met him there, and the two armies prepared for battle in Zephathah Valley.

11 Asa prayed:

Lord God, only you can help a powerless army defeat a stronger one. So we depend on you to help us. We will fight against this powerful army to honor your name, and we know that you won't be defeated. You are the Lord our God.

12 The Lord helped Asa and his army defeat the Ethiopians. The enemy soldiers ran away, 13 but Asa and his troops chased them as far as Gerar. It was a total defeat—the Ethiopians could not even fight back![e]

The soldiers from Judah took everything that had belonged to the Ethiopians. 14 The people who lived in the villages around Gerar learned what had happened and were afraid of the Lord. So Judah's army easily defeated them and carried off everything of value that they wanted from these towns. 15 They also attacked the camps where the shepherds lived and took a lot of sheep, goats, and camels. Then they went back to Jerusalem.

Asa Destroys the Idols in Judah

15 Some time later, God spoke to Azariah son of Oded. At once, Azariah went to Asa and said:

Listen to me, King Asa and you people of Judah and Benjamin. The Lord will be with you and help you, as long as you obey and worship him. But if you disobey him, he will desert you.

For a long time, the people of Israel did not worship the true God or listen to priests who could teach them about God. They refused to obey God's Law. But whenever trouble came, Israel turned back to the Lord their God and worshiped him.

There was so much confusion in those days that it wasn't safe to go anywhere in Israel. Nations were destroying each other, and cities were wiping out other cities, because God was causing trouble and unrest everywhere.

So you must be brave. Don't give up! God will honor you for obeying him.

As soon as Asa heard what Azariah the prophet said, he gave orders for all the idols in Judah and Benjamin to be destroyed, including those in the towns he had captured in the territory of Ephraim. He also repaired the Lord's altar that was in front of the temple porch.

Asa called together the people from Judah and Benjamin, as well as the people from the territories of Ephraim, West Manasseh, and Simeon who were living in Judah. Many of these people were now loyal to Asa, because they had seen that the Lord was with him.

10 In the third month of the fifteenth year of Asa's rule, they all met in Jerusalem. 11 That same day, they took 700 bulls and 7,000 sheep and goats from what they had brought back from Gerar and sacrificed them as offerings to the Lord. 12 They made a solemn promise to faithfully worship the Lord God their ancestors had worshiped, 13 and to put to death anyone who refused to obey him. 14 The crowd solemnly agreed to keep their promise to the Lord, then they celebrated by shouting and blowing trumpets and horns. 15 Everyone was happy because they had made this solemn promise, and in return, the Lord blessed them with peace from all their enemies.

16 Asa's grandmother Maacah had made a disgusting idol of the goddess Asherah, so he cut it down, crushed it, and burned it in Kidron Valley. Then he removed Maacah from her position as queen mother.[f] 17 As long as Asa lived, he was faithful to the Lord, even though he did not destroy the local shrines[g] in Israel. 18 He placed in the temple all the silver and gold objects that he and his father had dedicated to God.

19 There was peace in Judah until the thirty-fifth year of Asa's rule.

King Baasha of Israel Invades Judah

(1 Kings 15.16-22)

16 In the thirty-sixth year of Asa's rule, King Baasha of Israel invaded Judah and captured the town of Ramah. He started making the town stronger, and he put troops there to stop people from going in and out of Judah.

When Asa heard about this, he took the silver and gold from his palace and from the Lord's temple. Then he sent it to Damascus with this message for King Benhadad of Syria: “I think we should sign a peace treaty, just as our fathers did. This silver and gold is a present for you. Would you please break your treaty with King Baasha of Israel and force him to leave my country?”

Benhadad did what Asa asked and sent the Syrian army into Israel. They captured the towns of Ijon, Dan, Abel-Maim,[h] and all the towns in Naphtali where supplies were kept. When Baasha heard about it, he stopped his work on the town of Ramah.

Asa ordered everyone in Judah to carry away the stones and wood Baasha had used to fortify Ramah. Then he fortified the towns of Geba and Mizpah with these same stones and wood.

Hanani the Prophet Condemns Asa

Soon after that happened, Hanani the prophet went to Asa and said:

You depended on the king of Syria instead of depending on the Lord your God. And so, you will never defeat the Syrian army. Remember how powerful the Ethiopian[i] and Libyan army was, with all their chariots and cavalry troops! You trusted the Lord to help you then, and you defeated them. The Lord is constantly watching everyone, and he gives strength to those who faithfully obey him. But you have done a foolish thing, and your kingdom will never be at peace again.

10 When Asa heard this, he was so angry that he put Hanani in prison. Asa was also cruel to some of his people.[j]

Asa Dies

(1 Kings 15.23,24)

11 Everything Asa did while he was king is written in The History of the Kings of Judah and Israel. 12 In the thirty-ninth year of his rule, he got a very bad foot disease, but he relied on doctors and refused to ask the Lord for help. 13 He died two years later.

14 Earlier, Asa had his own tomb cut out of a rock hill in Jerusalem. So he was buried there, and the tomb was filled with spices and sweet-smelling oils. Then the people built a bonfire in his honor.

Footnotes:

  1. 14.3 local shrines: See the note at 11.15.
  2. 14.3 sacred poles: Or “trees,” used as symbols of Asherah, the goddess of fertility.
  3. 14.9 Ethiopia: See the note at 12.3.
  4. 14.9 Mareshah: About 40 kilometers southwest of Jerusalem.
  5. 14.13 the Ethiopians could not even fight back: Or “not one of the Ethiopians survived!”
  6. 15.16 queen mother: Or “the mother of the king,” which was an important position in biblical times (see 1 Kings 2.19).
  7. 15.17 local shrines: See the note at 11.15.
  8. 16.4 Abel-Maim: Also called “Abel-Bethmaacah” (see 1 Kings 15.20).
  9. 16.8 Ethiopian: See the note at 12.3.
  10. 16.10 Asa was also cruel … people: Or “Asa also started being cruel to some of his people.”
Contemporary English Version (CEV)

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Romans 9:1-24

God's Choice of Israel

I am a follower of Christ, and the Holy Spirit is a witness to my conscience. So I tell the truth and I am not lying when I say my heart is broken and I am in great sorrow. I would gladly be placed under God's curse and be separated from Christ for the good of my own people. (A) They are the descendants of Israel, and they are also God's chosen people. God showed them his glory. He made agreements with them and gave them his Law. The temple is theirs and so are the promises that God made to them. They have those famous ancestors, who were also the ancestors of the Christ.[a] I pray that God, who rules over all, will be praised forever![b] Amen.

It cannot be said that God broke his promise. After all, not all of the people of Israel are the true people of God. 7-8 (B) In fact, when God made the promise to Abraham, he meant only Abraham's descendants by his son Isaac. God was talking only about Isaac when he promised (C) Sarah, “At this time next year I will return, and you will already have a son.”

10 Don't forget what happened to the twin sons of Isaac and Rebekah. 11-12 (D) Even before they were born or had done anything good or bad, the Lord told Rebekah that her older son would serve the younger one. The Lord said this to show he makes his own choices and it wasn't because of anything either of them had done. 13 (E) That's why the Scriptures say that the Lord liked Jacob more than Esau.

14 Are we saying God is unfair? Certainly not! 15 (F) The Lord told Moses that he has pity and mercy on anyone he wants to. 16 Everything then depends on God's mercy and not on what people want or do. 17 (G) In the Scriptures the Lord says to the king of Egypt, “I let you become king, so that I could show you my power and be praised by all people on earth.” 18 Everything depends on what God decides to do, and he can either have pity on people or make them stubborn.

God's Anger and Mercy

19 Someone may ask, “How can God blame us, if he makes us behave in the way he wants us to?” 20 (H) But, my friend, I ask, “Who do you think you are to question God? Does the clay have the right to ask the potter why he shaped it the way he did? 21 (I) Doesn't a potter have the right to make a fancy bowl and a plain bowl out of the same lump of clay?”

22 (J) God wanted to show his anger and reveal his power against everyone who deserved to be destroyed. But instead, he patiently put up with them. 23 He did this by showing how glorious he is when he has pity on the people he has chosen to share in his glory. 24 Whether Jews or Gentiles, we are those chosen ones,

Footnotes:

  1. 9.5 Christ: Or “Messiah.”
  2. 9.5 Christ. I pray that God, who rules over all, will be praised forever: Or “Christ, who rules over all. I pray that God will be praised forever” or “Christ. And I pray that Christ, who is God and rules over all, will be praised forever.”
Contemporary English Version (CEV)

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Psalm 19

(A psalm by David for the music leader.)

The Wonders of God and the Goodness of His Law

The heavens keep telling
the wonders of God,
and the skies declare
what he has done.
Each day informs
the following day;
each night announces
to the next.
They don't speak a word,
and there is never
the sound of a voice.
(A) Yet their message reaches
all the earth,
and it travels
around the world.

In the heavens a tent
is set up for the sun.
It rises like a bridegroom
and gets ready like a hero
eager to run a race.
It travels all the way
across the sky.
Nothing hides from its heat.

(B) The Law of the Lord is perfect;
it gives us new life.
His teachings last forever,
and they give wisdom
to ordinary people.
The Lord's instruction is right;
it makes our hearts glad.
His commands shine brightly,
and they give us light.

Worshiping the Lord is sacred;
he will always be worshiped.
All his decisions
are correct and fair.
10 They are worth more
than the finest gold
and are sweeter than honey
from a honeycomb.

11 By your teachings, Lord,
I am warned;
by obeying them,
I am greatly rewarded.
12 None of us know our faults.
Forgive me when I sin
without knowing it.
13 Don't let me do wrong
on purpose, Lord,
or let sin have control
over my life.
Then I will be innocent,
and not guilty
of some terrible fault.

14 Let my words and my thoughts
be pleasing to you, Lord,
because you are my mighty rock[a]
and my protector.

Footnotes:

  1. 19.14 mighty rock: See the note at 18.2.

Cross references:

  1. 19.4 : Ro 10.18.
  2. 19.7 : Pr 9.10; 4 Macc 1.17.
Contemporary English Version (CEV)

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Proverbs 20:1

Words of Wisdom Are Better than Gold

20 It isn't smart to get drunk!
Drinking makes a fool of you
and leads to fights.

Contemporary English Version (CEV)

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The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Sunday July 24, 2022 (NIV)

2 Chronicles 11-13

Shemaiah the Prophet Warns Rehoboam

(1 Kings 12.21-24)

11 After Rehoboam returned to Jerusalem, he decided to attack Israel and regain control of the whole country. So he called together 180,000 soldiers from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin.

Meanwhile, the Lord had told Shemaiah the prophet to tell Rehoboam and everyone from Judah and Benjamin, “The Lord warns you not to go to war against the people from the northern tribes—they are your relatives. Go home! The Lord is the one who made these things happen.”

Rehoboam and his army obeyed the Lord's message and did not attack Jeroboam and his troops.

Rehoboam Fortifies Cities in Judah

Rehoboam ruled from Jerusalem, and he had several cities in Judah turned into fortresses so he could use them to defend his country. These cities included Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa, Beth-Zur, Soco, Adullam, Gath, Mareshah, Ziph, Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah, 10 Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron. After he had fortified these cities in the territories of Judah and Benjamin, 11 he assigned an army commander to each of them and stocked them with supplies of food, olive oil, and wine, 12 as well as with shields and spears. He used these fortified cities to keep control of Judah and Benjamin.

The Priests and the Levites Support Rehoboam

13 The priests and Levites from the northern tribes of Israel gave their support to King Rehoboam. 14 And since Jeroboam and the kings of Israel that followed him would not allow any Levites to serve as priests, most Levites left their towns and pasturelands in Israel and moved to Jerusalem and other towns in Judah. 15 (A) Jeroboam chose his own priests to serve at the local shrines[a] in Israel and at the places of worship where he had set up statues of goat-demons and of calves.

16 But some of the people from Israel wanted to worship the Lord God, just as their ancestors had done. So they followed the priests and Levites to Jerusalem, where they could offer sacrifices to the Lord. 17 For the next three years, they lived in Judah and were loyal to Rehoboam and his kingdom, just as they had been loyal to David and Solomon.

Rehoboam's Family

18 Rehoboam married Mahalath, whose father was Jerimoth son of David, and whose mother was Abihail the daughter of Eliab and granddaughter of Jesse. 19 Rehoboam and Mahalath had three sons: Jeush, Shemariah, and Zaham. 20 Then Rehoboam married Maacah the daughter of Absalom. Their sons were Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith.

21 Rehoboam had 18 wives, but he also married 60 other women,[b] and he was the father of 28 sons and 60 daughters. Rehoboam loved his wife Maacah the most, 22 so he chose their oldest son Abijah to be the next king. 23 Rehoboam was wise enough to put one of his sons in charge of each fortified city in his kingdom. He gave them all the supplies they needed and found wives for every one of them.

King Shishak of Egypt Invades Judah

(1 Kings 14.25-28)

12 Soon after Rehoboam had control of his kingdom, he and everyone in Judah stopped obeying the Lord. So in the fifth year of Rehoboam's rule, the Lord punished them for their unfaithfulness and allowed King Shishak of Egypt to invade Judah. Shishak attacked with his army of 1,200 chariots and 60,000 cavalry troops, as well as countless Egyptian soldiers from Libya, Sukkoth, and Ethiopia.[c] He captured every one of the fortified cities in Judah and then marched to Jerusalem.

Rehoboam and the leaders of Judah had gone to Jerusalem to escape Shishak's invasion. And while they were there, Shemaiah the prophet told them, “The Lord says that because you have disobeyed him, he has now abandoned you. The Lord will not help you against Shishak!”

Rehoboam and the leaders were sorry for what they had done and admitted, “The Lord is right. We have deserted him.”

When the Lord heard this, he told Shemaiah:

The people of Judah are truly sorry for their sins, and so I won't let Shishak completely destroy them. But because I am still angry, he will conquer and rule them.

Then my people will know what it's like to serve a foreign king instead of serving me.

(B) Shishak attacked Jerusalem and took all the valuable things from the temple and from the palace, including Solomon's gold shields.

10 Rehoboam had bronze shields made to replace the gold ones, and he ordered the guards at the city gates to keep them safe. 11 Whenever Rehoboam went to the Lord's temple, the guards carried the shields. But they always took them back to the guardroom as soon as he had finished worshiping.

12 Rehoboam turned back to the Lord, and so the Lord did not let Judah be completely destroyed, and Judah was prosperous again.

Rehoboam's Rule in Judah

(1 Kings 14.21,29-31)

13 Rehoboam was 41 years old when he became king, and he ruled 17 years from Jerusalem, the city where the Lord had chosen to be worshiped. His mother Naamah was from Ammon. Rehoboam was a powerful king, 14 but he still did wrong and refused to obey the Lord.

15 Everything else Rehoboam did while he was king, including a history of his family, is written in the records of the two prophets, Shemaiah and Iddo. During Rehoboam's rule, he and King Jeroboam of Israel were constantly at war. 16 When Rehoboam died, he was buried beside his ancestors in Jerusalem, and his son Abijah became king.

King Abijah of Judah

(1 Kings 15.1-8)

13 Abijah[d] became king of Judah in Jeroboam's eighteenth year as king of Israel, and he ruled from Jerusalem for three years. His mother was Micaiah the daughter of Uriel from Gibeah.

Some time later, Abijah and King Jeroboam of Israel went to war against each other. Abijah's army had 400,000 troops, and Jeroboam met him in battle with 800,000 troops.

Abijah went to the top of Mount Zemaraim[e] in the hills of Ephraim and shouted:

Listen, Jeroboam and all you Israelites! The Lord God of Israel has made a solemn promise that every king of Israel will be from David's family. But Jeroboam, you were King Solomon's official, and you rebelled. Then right after Rehoboam became king, you and your bunch of worthless followers challenged Rehoboam, who was too young to know how to stop you.

Now you and your powerful army think you can stand up to the kingdom that the Lord has given to David's descendants. The only gods you have are those gold statues of calves that Jeroboam made for you. You don't even have descendants of Aaron on your side, because you forced out the Lord's priests and Levites. In their place, you appoint ordinary people to be priests, just as the foreign nations do. In fact, anyone who brings a bull and seven rams to the altar can become a priest of your so-called gods.

10 But we have not turned our backs on the Lord God! Aaron's own descendants serve as our priests, and the Levites are their assistants. 11 Two times every day they offer sacrifices and burn incense to the Lord. They set out the sacred loaves of bread on a table that has been purified, and they light the lamps in the gold lampstand every day at sunset. We follow the commands of the Lord our God—you have rejected him! 12 That's why God is on our side and will lead us into battle when the priests sound the signal on the trumpets. It's no use, Israelites. You might as well give up. There's no way you can defeat the Lord, the God your ancestors worshiped.

13 But while Abijah was talking, Jeroboam had sent some of his troops to attack Judah's army from behind, while the rest attacked from the front. 14 Judah's army realized they were trapped, and so they prayed to the Lord. The priests blew the signal on the trumpet, 15 and the troops let out a battle cry. Then with Abijah leading them into battle, God defeated Jeroboam and Israel's army. 16 The Israelites ran away, and God helped Judah's soldiers slaughter 17 500,000 enemy troops. 18 Judah's army won because they had trusted the Lord God of their ancestors.

19 Abijah kept up his attack on Jeroboam's army and captured the Israelite towns of Bethel, Jeshanah, and Ephron, as well as the villages around them.

20 Jeroboam never regained his power during the rest of Abijah's rule. The Lord punished Jeroboam, and he died, but Abijah became more powerful.

21 Abijah had a total of 14 wives, 22 sons, and 16 daughters. 22 Everything Abijah said and did while he was king is written in the records of Iddo the prophet.

Footnotes:

  1. 11.15 local shrines: The Hebrew text has “high places,” which were local places to worship foreign gods.
  2. 11.21 other women: This translates a Hebrew word for women who were legally bound to a man, but without the full privileges of a wife.
  3. 12.3 Ethiopia: The Hebrew text has “Cush,” which was a region south of Egypt that included parts of the present countries of Ethiopia and Sudan.
  4. 13.1 Abijah: In 1 Kings 15.1-8 his name is spelled “Abijam.”
  5. 13.4 Mount Zemaraim: Probably located on the northern border of the territory of Benjamin.
Contemporary English Version (CEV)

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Romans 8:26-39

26 In certain ways we are weak, but the Spirit is here to help us. For example, when we don't know what to pray for, the Spirit prays for us in ways that cannot be put into words. 27 (A) All of our thoughts are known to God. He can understand what is in the mind of the Spirit, as the Spirit prays for God's people. 28 We know that God is always at work for the good of everyone who loves him.[a] They are the ones God has chosen for his purpose, 29 and he has always known who his chosen ones would be. He had decided to let them become like his own Son, so his Son would be the first of many children. 30 God then accepted the people he had already decided to choose, and he has shared his glory with them.

God's Love

31 What can we say about all this? If God is on our side, can anyone be against us? 32 God did not keep back his own Son, but he gave him for us. If God did this, won't he freely give us everything else? 33 If God says his chosen ones are acceptable to him, can anyone bring charges against them? 34 Or can anyone condemn them? No indeed! Christ died and was raised to life, and now he is at God's right side,[b] speaking to him for us. 35 Can anything separate us from the love of Christ? Can trouble, suffering, and hard times, or hunger and nakedness, or danger and death? 36 (B) It is exactly as the Scriptures say,

“For you we face death
all day long.
We are like sheep
on their way
to be butchered.”

37 In everything we have won more than a victory because of Christ who loves us. 38 I am sure that nothing can separate us from God's love—not life or death, not angels or spirits, not the present or the future, 39 and not powers above or powers below. Nothing in all creation can separate us from God's love for us in Christ Jesus our Lord!

Footnotes:

  1. 8.28 God is always at work for the good of everyone who loves him: Or “All things work for the good of everyone who loves God” or “God's Spirit always works for the good of everyone who loves God.”
  2. 8.34 right side: The place of power and honor.

Cross references:

  1. 8.27 : 4 Macc 10.18.
  2. 8.36 : Ps 44.22.
Contemporary English Version (CEV)

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Psalm 18:37-50

37 I kept chasing my enemies,
until I caught them
and destroyed them.
38 I stuck my sword
through my enemies,
and they were crushed
under my feet.
39 You helped me win victories,
and you forced my attackers
to fall victim to me.

40 You made my enemies run,
and I killed them.
41 They cried out for help,
but no one saved them;
they called out to you,
but there was no answer.
42 I ground them to dust
blown by the wind,
and I poured them out
like mud in the streets.

43 You rescued me
from stubborn people,
and you made me the leader
of foreign nations,
who are now my slaves.
44 They obey and come crawling.
45 They have lost all courage,
and from their fortresses,
they come trembling.

46 You are the living Lord!
I will praise you.
You are a mighty rock.[a]
I will honor you
for keeping me safe.
47 You took revenge for me,
and you put nations
in my power.
48 You protected me
from violent enemies
and made me much greater
than all of them.

49 (A) I will praise you, Lord,
and I will honor you
among the nations.
50 You give glorious victories
to your chosen king.
Your faithful love for David
and for his descendants
will never end.

Footnotes:

  1. 18.46 mighty rock: See the note at 18.2.

Cross references:

  1. 18.49 : Ro 15.9.
Contemporary English Version (CEV)

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Proverbs 19:27-29

27 If you stop learning,
you will forget
what you already know.
28 A lying witness makes fun
of the court system,
and criminals think crime
is really delicious.
29 A stupid fool should expect
to be punished.

Contemporary English Version (CEV)

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The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Saturday July 23, 2022 (NIV)

2 Chronicles 8:11-10:19

11 (A)Solomon brought Pharaoh's daughter up from the city of David to the house that he had built for her, for he said, “My wife shall not live in the house of David king of Israel, for the places to which the ark of the Lord has come are holy.”

12 Then Solomon offered up burnt offerings to the Lord on the altar of the Lord (B)that he had built before the vestibule, 13 (C)as the duty of each day required, offering (D)according to the commandment of Moses for the Sabbaths, the new moons, and the (E)three annual feasts—the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Booths. 14 According to the ruling of David his father, he appointed (F)the divisions of the priests for their service, (G)and the Levites for their offices of praise and (H)ministry before the priests (I)as the duty of each day required, and (J)the gatekeepers in their divisions at each gate, for so David (K)the man of God had commanded. 15 And they did not turn aside from what the king had commanded the priests and Levites concerning any matter and concerning the treasuries.

16 Thus was accomplished all the work of Solomon from[a] the day the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid until it was finished. So the house of the Lord was completed.

17 Then Solomon went to (L)Ezion-geber and (M)Eloth on the shore of the sea, in the land of Edom. 18 And Hiram sent to him by the hand of his servants ships and servants familiar with the sea, and they went to Ophir together with the servants of Solomon and brought from there (N)450 talents[b] of gold and brought it to King Solomon.

The Queen of Sheba

(O)Now when (P)the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to Jerusalem to test him with hard questions, having a very great retinue and camels bearing spices and very much gold and precious stones. And when she came to Solomon, she told him all that was on her mind. And Solomon answered all her questions. There was nothing hidden from Solomon that he could not explain to her. And when (Q)the queen of Sheba had seen the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built, the food of his table, the seating of his officials, and the attendance of his servants, and their clothing, his cupbearers, and their clothing, and his burnt offerings that he offered at the house of the Lord, there was no more breath in her.

And she said to the king, “The report was true that I heard in my own land of your words and of your wisdom, but I did not believe the[c] reports until I came and my own eyes had seen it. And behold, half the greatness of your wisdom was not told me; you surpass the report that I heard. Happy are your wives![d] Happy are these your servants, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom! Blessed be the Lord your God, who has delighted in you (R)and set you on his throne as king for the Lord your God! (S)Because your God loved Israel and would establish them forever, he has made you king over them, that you may execute justice and righteousness.” Then she gave the king 120 talents[e] of gold, and a very great quantity of spices, and precious stones. There were no spices such as those that the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.

10 Moreover, the servants of Hiram and the servants of Solomon, (T)who brought gold from Ophir, brought algum wood and precious stones. 11 And the king made from the algum wood (U)supports for the house of the Lord and for the king's house, lyres also and harps for the singers. There never was seen the like of them before in the land of Judah.

12 And King Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all that she desired, whatever she asked (V)besides what she had brought to the king. So she turned and went back to her own land with her servants.

Solomon's Wealth

13 (W)Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was 666 talents of gold, 14 besides that which the explorers and merchants brought. (X)And all the kings of Arabia and the governors of the land brought gold and silver to Solomon. 15 King Solomon made 200 large shields of beaten gold; 600 shekels[f] of beaten gold went into each shield. 16 And he made 300 shields of beaten gold; (Y)300 shekels of gold went into each shield; and the king put them in the House of the Forest of Lebanon. 17 The king also made a great ivory throne and overlaid it with pure gold. 18 The throne had six steps and a footstool of gold, which were attached to the throne, and on each side of the seat were armrests and two lions standing beside the armrests, 19 while twelve lions stood there, one on each end of a step on the six steps. Nothing like it was ever made for any kingdom. 20 All King Solomon's drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the House of the Forest of Lebanon were of pure gold. Silver was not considered as anything in the days of Solomon. 21 For the king's ships went to (Z)Tarshish with the servants of Hiram. Once every three years the ships of Tarshish used to come bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.[g]

22 Thus King Solomon (AA)excelled all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom. 23 And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom, which God had put into his mind. 24 Every one of them brought his present, articles of silver and of gold, garments, myrrh,[h] spices, horses, and mules, so much year by year. 25 And Solomon had (AB)4,000 stalls for horses and chariots, and 12,000 horsemen, whom he stationed in the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem. 26 (AC)And he ruled over all the kings (AD)from the Euphrates[i] to the land of the Philistines and to the border of Egypt. 27 (AE)And the king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stone, and he made cedar as plentiful as the sycamore of the Shephelah. 28 (AF)And horses were imported for Solomon from Egypt and from all lands.

Solomon's Death

29 (AG)Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, from (AH)first to last, are they not written in the history of (AI)Nathan the prophet, and in the prophecy of (AJ)Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the visions of (AK)Iddo (AL)the seer concerning Jeroboam the son of Nebat? 30 Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years. 31 And Solomon slept with his fathers and was buried in (AM)the city of David his father, and Rehoboam his son reigned in his place.

The Revolt Against Rehoboam

10 (AN)Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king. And as soon as Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard of it (for he was in Egypt, (AO)where he had fled from King Solomon), then Jeroboam returned from Egypt. And they sent and called him. And Jeroboam and all Israel came and said to Rehoboam, (AP)“Your father made our yoke heavy. Now therefore lighten the hard service of your father and his heavy yoke on us, and we will serve you.” He said to them, “Come to me again in three days.” So the people went away.

Then King Rehoboam took counsel with the old men,[j] who had stood before Solomon his father while he was yet alive, saying, “How do you advise me to answer this people?” And they said to him, (AQ)“If you will be good to this people and please them and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever.” But he abandoned the counsel that the old men gave him, and took counsel with the young men who had grown up with him and stood before him. And he said to them, “What do you advise that we answer this people who have said to me, ‘Lighten the yoke that your father put on us’?” 10 And the young men who had grown up with him said to him, “Thus shall you speak to the people who said to you, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you lighten it for us’; thus shall you say to them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father's thighs. 11 And now, whereas my father laid on you a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.’”

12 So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king said, “Come to me again the third day.” 13 And the king answered them harshly; and forsaking the counsel of the old men, 14 King Rehoboam spoke to them according to the counsel of the young men, saying, “My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to it. My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.” 15 So the king did not listen to the people, for it was a turn of affairs brought about by God that the Lord might fulfill his word, (AR)which he spoke by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

16 And when all Israel saw that the king did not listen to them, the people answered the king, “What portion have we in David? We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse. (AS)Each of you to your tents, O Israel! Look now to your own house, David.” So all Israel went to their tents. 17 But Rehoboam reigned over the people of Israel who lived in the cities of Judah. 18 Then King Rehoboam sent (AT)Hadoram,[k] who was taskmaster over the forced labor, and the people of Israel stoned him to death with stones. And King Rehoboam quickly mounted his chariot to flee to Jerusalem. 19 So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day.

Footnotes:

  1. 2 Chronicles 8:16 Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate; Hebrew to
  2. 2 Chronicles 8:18 A talent was about 75 pounds or 34 kilograms
  3. 2 Chronicles 9:6 Hebrew their
  4. 2 Chronicles 9:7 Septuagint (compare 1 Kings 10:8); Hebrew men
  5. 2 Chronicles 9:9 A talent was about 75 pounds or 34 kilograms
  6. 2 Chronicles 9:15 A shekel was about 2/5 ounce or 11 grams
  7. 2 Chronicles 9:21 Or baboons
  8. 2 Chronicles 9:24 Or armor
  9. 2 Chronicles 9:26 Hebrew the River
  10. 2 Chronicles 10:6 Or the elders; also verses 8, 13
  11. 2 Chronicles 10:18 Spelled Adoram in 1 Kings 12:18

Cross references:

  1. 2 Chronicles 8:11 : 1 Kgs. 3:1; 7:8; 9:24
  2. 2 Chronicles 8:12 : ch. 4:1; 15:8
  3. 2 Chronicles 8:13 : [Ex. 29:38]
  4. 2 Chronicles 8:13 : Num. 28:3, 9, 11, 26; 29:2
  5. 2 Chronicles 8:13 : Ex. 23:14; Deut. 16:16
  6. 2 Chronicles 8:14 : See 1 Chr. 24
  7. 2 Chronicles 8:14 : See 1 Chr. 25
  8. 2 Chronicles 8:14 : ch. 7:6
  9. 2 Chronicles 8:14 : [See ver. 13 above]; [Ex. 29:38]
  10. 2 Chronicles 8:14 : See 1 Chr. 9:17-23, 26
  11. 2 Chronicles 8:14 : Neh. 12:24, 36
  12. 2 Chronicles 8:17 : 1 Kgs. 9:26
  13. 2 Chronicles 8:17 : [Deut. 2:8; 2 Kgs. 14:22]
  14. 2 Chronicles 8:18 : ch. 9:10; [1 Kgs. 9:28]
  15. 2 Chronicles 9:1 : For ver. 1-12, see 1 Kgs. 10:1-13
  16. 2 Chronicles 9:1 : [Matt. 12:42; Luke 11:31]
  17. 2 Chronicles 9:3 : [See ver. 1 above]; [Matt. 12:42; Luke 11:31]
  18. 2 Chronicles 9:8 : 1 Chr. 29:23
  19. 2 Chronicles 9:8 : ch. 2:11
  20. 2 Chronicles 9:10 : ch. 8:18
  21. 2 Chronicles 9:11 : [1 Kgs. 10:12]
  22. 2 Chronicles 9:12 : [1 Kgs. 10:13]
  23. 2 Chronicles 9:13 : For ver. 13-28, see 1 Kgs. 10:14-28
  24. 2 Chronicles 9:14 : Ps. 68:29; 72:10
  25. 2 Chronicles 9:16 : [1 Kgs. 10:17]
  26. 2 Chronicles 9:21 : ch. 20:36, 37
  27. 2 Chronicles 9:22 : 1 Kgs. 3:13
  28. 2 Chronicles 9:25 : [ch. 1:14; 1 Kgs. 4:26; 10:26]
  29. 2 Chronicles 9:26 : 1 Kgs. 4:21
  30. 2 Chronicles 9:26 : Gen. 15:18; Ex. 23:31; Ps. 72:8
  31. 2 Chronicles 9:27 : ch. 1:15
  32. 2 Chronicles 9:28 : ch. 1:16
  33. 2 Chronicles 9:29 : For ver. 29-31, see 1 Kgs. 11:41-43
  34. 2 Chronicles 9:29 : 1 Chr. 29:29
  35. 2 Chronicles 9:29 : 2 Sam. 12:1
  36. 2 Chronicles 9:29 : 1 Kgs. 11:29
  37. 2 Chronicles 9:29 : ch. 12:15; 13:22
  38. 2 Chronicles 9:29 : 2 Sam. 24:11; See 1 Sam. 9:9
  39. 2 Chronicles 9:31 : [1 Kgs. 2:10]
  40. 2 Chronicles 10:1 : For ver. 1-19, see 1 Kgs. 12:1-20
  41. 2 Chronicles 10:2 : 1 Kgs. 11:40
  42. 2 Chronicles 10:4 : [1 Kgs. 5:15]
  43. 2 Chronicles 10:7 : [1 Kgs. 12:7]
  44. 2 Chronicles 10:15 : See 1 Kgs. 11:29-39
  45. 2 Chronicles 10:16 : See 2 Sam. 20:1
  46. 2 Chronicles 10:18 : [1 Kgs. 4:6; 5:14]
English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Romans 8:9-25

You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact (A)the Spirit of God dwells in you. (B)Anyone who does not have (C)the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 If the Spirit of (D)him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus[a] from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies (E)through his Spirit who dwells in you.

Heirs with Christ

12 So then, brothers,[b] we are debtors, (F)not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you (G)put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are (H)led by the Spirit of God are (I)sons[c] of God. 15 For (J)you did not receive (K)the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of (L)adoption as sons, by whom we cry, (M)“Abba! Father!” 16 (N)The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then (O)heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, (P)provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

Future Glory

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time (Q)are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for (R)the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation (S)was subjected to futility, not willingly, but (T)because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that (U)the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that (V)the whole creation (W)has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have (X)the firstfruits of the Spirit, (Y)groan inwardly as (Z)we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, (AA)the redemption of our bodies. 24 For (AB)in this hope we were saved. Now (AC)hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we (AD)wait for it with patience.

Footnotes:

  1. Romans 8:11 Some manuscripts lack Jesus
  2. Romans 8:12 Or brothers and sisters; also verse 29
  3. Romans 8:14 See discussion on “sons” in the Preface
English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Psalm 18:16-36

16 He (A)sent from on high, he took me;
he (B)drew me out of (C)many waters.
17 He rescued me from my strong enemy
and from those who hated me,
for they were (D)too mighty for me.
18 They confronted me in the day of my calamity,
but the Lord was my support.
19 He brought me out into (E)a broad place;
he rescued me, because he (F)delighted in me.

20 The Lord dealt with me (G)according to my righteousness;
according to (H)the cleanness of my hands he rewarded me.
21 For I have (I)kept the ways of the Lord,
and have not wickedly departed from my God.
22 For (J)all his rules[a] were before me,
and his statutes I did not put away from me.
23 I was (K)blameless before him,
and I kept myself from my guilt.
24 So the Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness,
according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight.

25 With (L)the merciful you show yourself merciful;
with the blameless man you show yourself blameless;
26 with the purified you show yourself pure;
and with (M)the crooked you make yourself seem tortuous.
27 For you save (N)a humble people,
but (O)the haughty eyes you bring down.
28 For it is you who light my (P)lamp;
the Lord my God lightens my darkness.
29 For by you I can run against a troop,
and by my God I can (Q)leap over (R)a wall.
30 This God—his way is (S)perfect;[b]
the word of the Lord (T)proves true;
he is (U)a shield for all those who (V)take refuge in him.

31 For (W)who is God, but the Lord?
And who is (X)a rock, except our God?—
32 the God who (Y)equipped me with strength
and made my way (Z)blameless.
33 He made my feet like the feet of a (AA)deer
and set me secure on (AB)the heights.
34 He (AC)trains my hands for war,
so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
35 You have given me the shield of your salvation,
and your right hand (AD)supported me,
and your (AE)gentleness made me great.
36 You (AF)gave a wide place for my steps under me,
and my feet did not slip.

Footnotes:

  1. Psalm 18:22 Or just decrees
  2. Psalm 18:30 Or blameless
English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Proverbs 19:26

26 He who does violence to his father and chases away his mother
is (A)a son who brings shame and reproach.

Cross references:

  1. Proverbs 19:26 : ch. 10:5; 17:2
English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Friday July 22, 2022 (NIV)

2 Chronicles 6:12-8:10

Solomon's Prayer of Dedication

12 Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands. 13 (A)Solomon had made a bronze platform five cubits[a] long, five cubits wide, and three cubits high, and had set it in the court, and he stood on it. (B)Then he knelt on his knees in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands toward heaven, 14 and said, “O Lord, God of Israel, (C)there is no God like you, in heaven or on earth, (D)keeping covenant and showing steadfast love to your servants who walk before you with all their heart, 15 (E)who have kept with your servant David my father what you declared to him. You spoke with your mouth, and with your hand have fulfilled it this day. 16 Now therefore, O Lord, God of Israel, keep for your servant David my father what you have promised him, saying, (F)‘You shall not lack a man to sit before me on the throne of Israel, (G)if only your sons pay close attention to their way, to walk in my law as you have walked before me.’ 17 Now therefore, O Lord, God of Israel, let your word be confirmed, which you have spoken to your servant David.

18 “But will God indeed dwell with man on the earth? Behold, (H)heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you, how much less this house that I have built! 19 Yet have regard to the prayer of your servant and to his plea, O Lord my God, listening to the cry and to the prayer that your servant prays before you, 20 (I)that your eyes may be open day and night toward this house, the place where you have promised to set your name, that you may listen to the prayer that your servant offers toward this place. 21 And listen to the pleas of your servant and of your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. And listen from heaven your dwelling place, (J)and when you hear, forgive.

22 “If a man sins against his neighbor and is made to take an oath and comes and swears his oath before your altar in this house, 23 then hear from heaven and act and judge your servants, repaying the guilty by bringing his conduct on his own head, and vindicating the righteous by rewarding him according to his righteousness.

24 “If your people Israel are defeated before the enemy because they have sinned against you, and they turn again and acknowledge your name and pray and plead with you in this house, 25 (K)then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your people Israel and bring them again to the land that you gave to them and to their fathers.

26 (L)“When heaven is shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against you, if they pray toward this place and acknowledge your name and turn from their sin, when you afflict[b] them, 27 (M)then hear in heaven and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel, when you teach them the good way[c] in which they should walk, and grant rain upon your land, which you have given to your people as an inheritance.

28 (N)“If there is famine in the land, if there is pestilence or blight or mildew or locust or caterpillar, if their enemies besiege them in the land at their gates, whatever plague, whatever sickness there is, 29 whatever prayer, whatever plea is made by any man or by all your people Israel, each knowing his own affliction and his own sorrow and stretching out his hands toward this house, 30 (O)then hear from heaven your dwelling place and forgive and render to each whose heart you know, according to all his ways, (P)for you, you only, know the hearts of the children of mankind, 31 that they may fear you and walk in your ways all the days that they live in the land that you gave to our fathers.

32 “Likewise, when a foreigner, who is not of your people Israel, comes from a far country for the sake of your great name and your mighty hand and your outstretched arm, when he comes and prays toward this house, 33 hear from heaven your dwelling place and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to you, in order that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your people Israel, and that they may know that this house (Q)that I have built is called by your name.

34 “If your people go out to battle against their enemies, by whatever way you shall send them, and they pray to you toward this city that you have chosen and the house that I have built for your name, 35 then hear from heaven their prayer and their plea, and maintain their cause.

36 “If they sin against you—(R)for there is no one who does not sin—and you are angry with them and give them to an enemy, so that they are carried away captive to a land far or near, 37 yet if they turn their heart in the land to which they have been carried captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their captivity, saying, ‘We have sinned and have acted perversely and wickedly,’ 38 if they repent with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity to which they were carried captive, and pray toward their land, which you gave to their fathers, the city that you have chosen and the house that I have built for your name, 39 then hear from heaven your dwelling place their prayer and their pleas, and maintain their cause and forgive your people who have sinned against you. 40 Now, O my God, (S)let your eyes be open (T)and your ears attentive to the prayer of this place.

41 “And now arise, O Lord God, and go to your (U)resting place,
you and the ark of your might.
Let your priests, O Lord God, be (V)clothed with salvation,
and let your saints (W)rejoice in your goodness.
42 O Lord God, (X)do not turn away the face of your anointed one!
(Y)Remember your steadfast love for David your servant.”

Fire from Heaven

(Z)As soon as Solomon finished his prayer, (AA)fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, (AB)and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. And the priests could not enter the house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord filled the Lord's house. When all the people of Israel saw the fire come down and the glory of the Lord on the temple, they bowed down with their faces to the ground on the pavement and worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying, “For he is good, (AC)for his steadfast love endures forever.”

The Dedication of the Temple

(AD)Then the king and all the people offered sacrifice before the Lord. King Solomon offered as a sacrifice 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep. So the king and all the people dedicated the house of God. The priests stood at their posts; (AE)the Levites also, with the instruments for music to the Lord that King David had made for giving thanks to the Lord(AF)for his steadfast love endures forever—whenever David offered praises by their ministry;[d] (AG)opposite them the priests sounded trumpets, and all Israel stood.

(AH)And Solomon consecrated the middle of the court that was before the house of the Lord, for there he offered the burnt offering and the fat of the peace offerings, because the bronze altar Solomon had made could not hold the burnt offering and the grain offering and the fat.

At that time Solomon held the feast for seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great assembly, from (AI)Lebo-hamath to the (AJ)Brook of Egypt. And on the eighth day they held a solemn assembly, for they had kept the dedication of the altar seven days and the feast seven days. 10 On the twenty-third day of the seventh month he sent the people away to their homes, joyful and glad of heart for the prosperity[e] that the Lord had granted to David and to Solomon and to Israel his people.

If My People Pray

11 (AK)Thus Solomon finished the house of the Lord and the king's house. All that Solomon had planned to do in the house of the Lord and in his own house he successfully accomplished. 12 Then the Lord appeared to Solomon in the night and said to him: “I have heard your prayer (AL)and have chosen this place for myself as a house of sacrifice. 13 (AM)When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people, 14 if my people who are called by my name (AN)humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 15 (AO)Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place. 16 (AP)For now I have chosen and consecrated this house that my name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will be there for all time. 17 And as for you, if you will walk before me as David your father walked, doing according to all that I have commanded you and keeping my statutes and my rules, 18 then I will establish your royal throne, as I covenanted with David your father, saying, (AQ)‘You shall not lack a man to rule Israel.’

19 (AR)“But if you[f] turn aside and forsake my statutes and my commandments that I have set before you, and go and serve other gods and worship them, 20 (AS)then I will pluck you[g] up from my land that I have given you, and this house that I have consecrated for my name, I will cast out of my sight, and I will make it (AT)a proverb and a byword among all peoples. 21 And at this house, which was exalted, everyone passing by will be astonished and say, (AU)‘Why has the Lord done thus to this land and to this house?’ 22 Then they will say, ‘Because they abandoned the Lord, the God of their fathers who brought them out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold on other gods and worshiped them and served them. Therefore he has brought all this disaster on them.’”

Solomon's Accomplishments

(AV)At the end of twenty years, in which Solomon had built the house of the Lord and his own house, Solomon rebuilt the cities that Hiram had given to him, and settled the people of Israel in them.

And Solomon went to Hamath-zobah and took it. He built Tadmor in the wilderness and all the store cities that he built in Hamath. He also built (AW)Upper Beth-horon and Lower Beth-horon, (AX)fortified cities (AY)with walls, gates, and bars, and Baalath, and all the store cities that Solomon had and all the cities for his chariots and the cities for his horsemen, and whatever Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, in Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominion. (AZ)All the people who were left of the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, who were not of Israel, from their descendants who were left after them in the land, whom the people of Israel had not destroyed—these Solomon drafted (BA)as forced labor, and so they are to this day. But of the people of Israel Solomon made no slaves for his work; they were soldiers, and his officers, the commanders of his chariots, and his horsemen. 10 And these were the chief officers of King Solomon, 250, who exercised authority over the people.

Footnotes:

  1. 2 Chronicles 6:13 A cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters
  2. 2 Chronicles 6:26 Septuagint, Vulgate; Hebrew answer
  3. 2 Chronicles 6:27 Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate (compare 1 Kings 8:36); Hebrew toward the good way
  4. 2 Chronicles 7:6 Hebrew by their hand
  5. 2 Chronicles 7:10 Or good
  6. 2 Chronicles 7:19 The Hebrew for you is plural here
  7. 2 Chronicles 7:20 Hebrew them; twice in this verse

Cross references:

  1. 2 Chronicles 6:13 : [2 Kgs. 11:14; 23:3]
  2. 2 Chronicles 6:13 : [1 Kgs. 8:54]
  3. 2 Chronicles 6:14 : See Ex. 15:11
  4. 2 Chronicles 6:14 : See Deut. 7:9
  5. 2 Chronicles 6:15 : 1 Chr. 22:9, 10
  6. 2 Chronicles 6:16 : ch. 7:18; See 1 Kgs. 2:4
  7. 2 Chronicles 6:16 : Ps. 132:12
  8. 2 Chronicles 6:18 : See ch. 2:6
  9. 2 Chronicles 6:20 : [ver. 40]
  10. 2 Chronicles 6:21 : [Dan. 9:19]
  11. 2 Chronicles 6:25 : [See ver. 21 above]; [Dan. 9:19]
  12. 2 Chronicles 6:26 : ch. 7:13; [1 Kgs. 17:1]
  13. 2 Chronicles 6:27 : [See ver. 21 above]; [Dan. 9:19]
  14. 2 Chronicles 6:28 : [ch. 20:9]
  15. 2 Chronicles 6:30 : [See ver. 21 above]; [Dan. 9:19]
  16. 2 Chronicles 6:30 : See 1 Sam. 16:7
  17. 2 Chronicles 6:33 : ch. 7:14; [James 2:7]
  18. 2 Chronicles 6:36 : Eccles. 7:20; James 3:2; 1 John 1:8
  19. 2 Chronicles 6:40 : Neh. 1:6, 11; [ver. 20; ch. 7:15]
  20. 2 Chronicles 6:40 : Ps. 130:2
  21. 2 Chronicles 6:41 : Ps. 132:8, 9; [1 Chr. 28:2]
  22. 2 Chronicles 6:41 : [Isa. 61:10]
  23. 2 Chronicles 6:41 : [ch. 7:10; Neh. 9:25]
  24. 2 Chronicles 6:42 : Ps. 132:10
  25. 2 Chronicles 6:42 : [Ps. 132:1]
  26. 2 Chronicles 7:1 : 1 Kgs. 8:54
  27. 2 Chronicles 7:1 : Lev. 9:24; 1 Kgs. 18:38; 1 Chr. 21:26
  28. 2 Chronicles 7:1 : See ch. 5:13
  29. 2 Chronicles 7:3 : See ch. 5:13
  30. 2 Chronicles 7:4 : 1 Kgs. 8:62; 63
  31. 2 Chronicles 7:6 : [1 Chr. 15:16]
  32. 2 Chronicles 7:6 : [See ver. 3 above]; See ch. 5:13
  33. 2 Chronicles 7:6 : ch. 5:12
  34. 2 Chronicles 7:7 : For ver. 7-10, see 1 Kgs. 8:64-66
  35. 2 Chronicles 7:8 : See Num. 34:8
  36. 2 Chronicles 7:8 : See Num. 34:5
  37. 2 Chronicles 7:11 : For ver. 11-22, see 1 Kgs. 9:1-9
  38. 2 Chronicles 7:12 : See Deut. 12:5
  39. 2 Chronicles 7:13 : [ch. 6:26, 28]
  40. 2 Chronicles 7:14 : [ch. 12:7]
  41. 2 Chronicles 7:15 : See ch. 6:40
  42. 2 Chronicles 7:16 : [See ver. 12 above]; See Deut. 12:5
  43. 2 Chronicles 7:18 : 1 Kgs. 8:25; See ch. 6:16
  44. 2 Chronicles 7:19 : [Lev. 26:14; Deut. 28:15]
  45. 2 Chronicles 7:20 : [Deut. 29:28]
  46. 2 Chronicles 7:20 : See Deut. 28:37
  47. 2 Chronicles 7:21 : Deut. 29:24; Jer. 22:8, 9
  48. 2 Chronicles 8:1 : For ver. 1-18, see 1 Kgs. 9:10-28
  49. 2 Chronicles 8:5 : See Josh. 16:3, 5
  50. 2 Chronicles 8:5 : ch. 14:7; Deut. 3:5
  51. 2 Chronicles 8:5 : ch. 14:7; Deut. 3:5
  52. 2 Chronicles 8:7 : See Gen. 15:18-21
  53. 2 Chronicles 8:8 : ch. 10:18; 1 Kgs. 4:6; 9:21; 12:18; [Josh. 16:10]
English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Romans 7:14-8:8

14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, (A)sold under sin. 15 For I do not understand my own actions. For (B)I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 16 Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with (C)the law, that it is good. 17 So now (D)it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells (E)in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 19 (F)For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want, (G)it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.

21 So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. 22 For (H)I delight in the law of God, (I)in my inner being, 23 but I see in my members (J)another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from (K)this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.

Life in the Spirit

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.[a] For the law of (L)the Spirit of life (M)has set you[b] free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For (N)God has done what the law, (O)weakened by the flesh, (P)could not do. (Q)By sending his own Son (R)in the likeness of sinful flesh and (S)for sin,[c] he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that (T)the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, (U)who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For (V)those who live according to the flesh set their minds on (W)the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on (X)the things of the Spirit. For to set (Y)the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is (Z)hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; (AA)indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

Footnotes:

  1. Romans 8:1 Some manuscripts add who walk not according to the flesh (but according to the Spirit)
  2. Romans 8:2 Some manuscripts me
  3. Romans 8:3 Or and as a sin offering
English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Psalm 18:1-15

The Lord Is My Rock and My Fortress

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, (A)the servant of the Lord, (B)who addressed the words of this (C)song to the Lord on the day when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. He said:

18 I love you, O Lord, my strength.
The Lord is my (D)rock and my (E)fortress and my deliverer,
my God, my (F)rock, in (G)whom I take refuge,
my (H)shield, and (I)the horn of my salvation, my (J)stronghold.
I call upon the Lord, who is (K)worthy to be praised,
and I am saved from my enemies.

(L)The cords of death encompassed me;
(M)the torrents of destruction assailed me;[a]
(N)the cords of Sheol entangled me;
the snares of death confronted me.

(O)In my distress I called upon the Lord;
to my God I cried for help.
From his (P)temple he heard my voice,
and my cry to him reached his ears.

Then the earth (Q)reeled and rocked;
the foundations also of the mountains trembled
and quaked, because he was angry.
Smoke went up from his nostrils,[b]
and devouring (R)fire from his mouth;
glowing coals flamed forth from him.
He (S)bowed the heavens and (T)came down;
(U)thick darkness was under his feet.
10 He rode on a cherub and flew;
he came swiftly on (V)the wings of the wind.
11 He made darkness his covering, his (W)canopy around him,
thick clouds (X)dark with water.
12 Out of the brightness before him
(Y)hailstones and coals of fire broke through his clouds.

13 The Lord also (Z)thundered in the heavens,
and the Most High uttered his (AA)voice,
hailstones and coals of fire.
14 And he sent out his (AB)arrows and scattered them;
he flashed forth lightnings and (AC)routed them.
15 Then (AD)the channels of the sea were seen,
and the foundations of the world were laid bare
at your (AE)rebuke, O Lord,
at the blast of (AF)the breath of your nostrils.

Footnotes:

  1. Psalm 18:4 Or terrified me
  2. Psalm 18:8 Or in his wrath
English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Proverbs 19:24-25

24 (A)The sluggard buries his hand in (B)the dish
and will not even bring it back to his mouth.
25 (C)Strike (D)a scoffer, and the simple will (E)learn prudence;
(F)reprove a man of understanding, and he will gain knowledge.

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Thursday July 21, 2022 (NIV)

2 Chronicles 4:1-6:11

The Temple's Furnishings

He made (A)an altar of bronze, twenty cubits[a] long and twenty cubits wide and ten cubits high. (B)Then he made the sea of cast metal. It was round, ten cubits from brim to brim, and five cubits high, and a line of thirty cubits measured its circumference. Under it were figures of gourds,[b] for ten cubits, compassing the sea all around. The gourds were in two rows, cast with it when it was cast. It stood on twelve oxen, three facing north, three facing west, three facing south, and three facing east. The sea was set on them, and all their rear parts were inward. Its thickness was a handbreadth.[c] And its brim was made like the brim of a cup, like the flower of a lily. (C)It held 3,000 baths.[d] (D)He also made ten basins in which to wash, and set five on the south side, and five on the north side. In these they were to rinse off what was used for the burnt offering, and the sea was for the priests to wash in.

And he made ten golden lampstands (E)as prescribed, and set them in the temple, five on the south side and five on the north. (F)He also made ten tables and placed them in the temple, five on the south side and five on the north. And he made a hundred basins of gold. He made (G)the court of the priests (H)and the great court and doors for the court and overlaid their doors with bronze. 10 (I)And he set the sea at the southeast corner of the house.

11 (J)(K)Hiram also made the pots, the shovels, and the basins. (L)So Hiram finished the work that he did for King Solomon on the house of God: 12 the two pillars, (M)the bowls, and the two capitals on the top of the pillars; and the two latticeworks to cover the two bowls of the capitals that were on the top of the pillars; 13 (N)and the 400 pomegranates for the two latticeworks, two rows of pomegranates for each latticework, to cover the two bowls of the capitals that were on the pillars. 14 (O)He made the stands also, and the basins on the stands, 15 and the one sea, and the twelve oxen underneath it. 16 The pots, the shovels, (P)the forks, and all the equipment for these (Q)(R)Huram-abi made of burnished bronze for King Solomon for the house of the Lord. 17 In the plain of the Jordan the king cast them, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zeredah.[e] 18 (S)Solomon made all these things in great quantities, for the weight of the bronze was not sought.

19 So Solomon made all the vessels that were in the house of God: the golden altar, (T)the tables for the bread of the Presence, 20 the lampstands and their lamps of pure gold (U)to burn before the inner sanctuary, as prescribed; 21 the flowers, the lamps, and the tongs, of purest gold; 22 the snuffers, basins, dishes for incense, and fire pans, of pure gold, and the sockets[f] of the temple, for the inner doors to the Most Holy Place and for the doors of the nave of the temple were of gold.

(V)Thus all the work that Solomon did for the house of the Lord was finished. And Solomon brought in the things that David his father had dedicated, and stored the silver, the gold, and all the vessels in the treasuries of the house of God.

The Ark Brought to the Temple

Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes, the leaders of the fathers' houses of the people of Israel, in Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of (W)the city of David, which is Zion. And all the men of Israel assembled before the king at the feast that is in the seventh month. And all the elders of Israel came, (X)and the Levites took up the ark. And they brought up the ark, the tent of meeting, and all the holy vessels that were in the tent; (Y)the Levitical priests brought them up. And King Solomon and all the congregation of Israel, who had assembled before him, were before the ark, sacrificing so many sheep and oxen that they could not be counted or numbered. Then the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the Lord to its place, in the inner sanctuary of the house, in the Most Holy Place, underneath the wings of the cherubim. The cherubim spread out their wings over the place of the ark, so that the cherubim made a covering above the ark and its poles. And the poles were so long that the ends of the poles were seen (Z)from the Holy Place before the inner sanctuary, but they could not be seen from outside. And they are[g] there to this day. 10 There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets (AA)that Moses put there at Horeb, where the Lord made a covenant with the people of Israel, when they came out of Egypt. 11 And when the priests came out of the Holy Place (for all the priests who were present had consecrated themselves, without regard to (AB)their divisions, 12 and all the Levitical (AC)singers, (AD)Asaph, (AE)Heman, and Jeduthun, their sons and kinsmen, arrayed in fine linen, with (AF)cymbals, harps, and lyres, stood east of the altar with 120 (AG)priests who were trumpeters; 13 and it was the duty of the trumpeters and singers to make themselves heard in unison in praise and thanksgiving to the Lord), and when the song was raised, (AH)with trumpets and cymbals and other musical instruments, in praise to the Lord,

(AI)“For he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever,”

the house, the house of the Lord, was filled with a cloud, 14 so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, (AJ)for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God.

Solomon Blesses the People

(AK)Then Solomon said, “The Lord has said that he would dwell in thick darkness. But I have built you (AL)an exalted house, a place for you to dwell in forever.” Then the king turned around and blessed all the assembly of Israel, while all the assembly of Israel stood. And he said, “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who with his hand has fulfilled what he promised with his mouth to David my father, saying, ‘Since the day that I brought my people out of the land of Egypt, I chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel in which to build a house, that my name might be there, and I chose no man as prince over my people Israel; (AM)but I have chosen Jerusalem that my name may be there, (AN)and I have chosen David to be over my people Israel.’ (AO)Now it was in the heart of David my father to build a house for the name of the Lord, the God of Israel. But the Lord said to David my father, ‘Whereas (AP)it was in your heart to build a house for my name, you did well that it was in your heart. Nevertheless, it is not you who shall build the house, but your son who shall be born to you shall build the house for my name.’ 10 Now the Lord has fulfilled his promise that he made. For I have risen in the place of David my father and sit on the throne of Israel, as the Lord promised, and I have built the house for the name of the Lord, the God of Israel. 11 And there I have set the ark, (AQ)in which is the covenant of the Lord that he made with the people of Israel.”

Footnotes:

  1. 2 Chronicles 4:1 A cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters
  2. 2 Chronicles 4:3 Compare 1 Kings 7:24; Hebrew oxen; twice in this verse
  3. 2 Chronicles 4:5 A handbreadth was about 3 inches or 7.5 centimeters
  4. 2 Chronicles 4:5 A bath was about 6 gallons or 22 liters
  5. 2 Chronicles 4:17 Spelled Zarethan in 1 Kings 7:46
  6. 2 Chronicles 4:22 Compare 1 Kings 7:50; Hebrew the entrance of the house
  7. 2 Chronicles 5:9 Hebrew it is

Cross references:

  1. 2 Chronicles 4:1 : ch. 7:7; 8:12; [ch. 15:8; 1 Kgs. 8:64; 2 Kgs. 16:14]; See Ezek. 43:13-17
  2. 2 Chronicles 4:2 : For ver. 2-5, see 1 Kgs. 7:23-26
  3. 2 Chronicles 4:5 : [1 Kgs. 7:26]
  4. 2 Chronicles 4:6 : 1 Kgs. 7:38, 39
  5. 2 Chronicles 4:7 : ver. 20; 1 Kgs. 7:49; See Ex. 25:31-39; 27:20, 21
  6. 2 Chronicles 4:8 : ver. 19; [1 Kgs. 7:48]
  7. 2 Chronicles 4:9 : 1 Kgs. 6:36
  8. 2 Chronicles 4:9 : [ch. 6:13; 2 Kgs. 21:5]
  9. 2 Chronicles 4:10 : 1 Kgs. 7:39
  10. 2 Chronicles 4:11 : For ch. 4:11–5:1, see 1 Kgs. 7:40-51
  11. 2 Chronicles 4:11 : [1 Kgs. 7:13, 14]
  12. 2 Chronicles 4:11 : [1 Kgs. 7:13, 14]
  13. 2 Chronicles 4:12 : 1 Kgs. 7:41
  14. 2 Chronicles 4:13 : [1 Kgs. 7:20]
  15. 2 Chronicles 4:14 : [See ver. 6 above]; 1 Kgs. 7:38, 39
  16. 2 Chronicles 4:16 : 1 Chr. 28:17
  17. 2 Chronicles 4:16 : [See ver. 11 above]; For ch. 4:11–5:1, see 1 Kgs. 7:40-51
  18. 2 Chronicles 4:16 : ch. 2:13; [1 Kgs. 7:14]
  19. 2 Chronicles 4:18 : 1 Kgs. 7:47
  20. 2 Chronicles 4:19 : ver. 8
  21. 2 Chronicles 4:20 : ver. 7
  22. 2 Chronicles 5:1 : For ver. 1-10, see 1 Kgs. 7:51–8:9
  23. 2 Chronicles 5:2 : 2 Sam. 6:12
  24. 2 Chronicles 5:4 : [ver. 7; 1 Kgs. 8:3]
  25. 2 Chronicles 5:5 : ch. 23:18; 30:27
  26. 2 Chronicles 5:9 : [1 Kgs. 8:8]
  27. 2 Chronicles 5:10 : Deut. 10:2, 5; [ch. 6:11]
  28. 2 Chronicles 5:11 : 1 Chr. 24:1, 5; [Luke 1:5]
  29. 2 Chronicles 5:12 : See 1 Chr. 25:1-4
  30. 2 Chronicles 5:12 : See 1 Chr. 6:39
  31. 2 Chronicles 5:12 : See 1 Chr. 6:33
  32. 2 Chronicles 5:12 : 1 Chr. 15:16; Ps. 150:3-5
  33. 2 Chronicles 5:12 : ch. 7:6; 1 Chr. 15:24
  34. 2 Chronicles 5:13 : 1 Chr. 16:42
  35. 2 Chronicles 5:13 : See 1 Chr. 16:34
  36. 2 Chronicles 5:14 : ch. 7:2; 1 Kgs. 8:11; [Ex. 40:35; Ezek. 10:3, 4]
  37. 2 Chronicles 6:1 : For ver. 1-39, see 1 Kgs. 8:12-50; [Ex. 20:21; Heb. 12:18]
  38. 2 Chronicles 6:2 : [Ps. 135:21]
  39. 2 Chronicles 6:6 : ch. 12:13; Ps. 78:68
  40. 2 Chronicles 6:6 : 1 Chr. 28:4; See 1 Sam. 16:11-13
  41. 2 Chronicles 6:7 : 2 Sam. 7:2; 1 Chr. 17:1; 28:2
  42. 2 Chronicles 6:8 : [See ver. 7 above]; 2 Sam. 7:2; 1 Chr. 17:1; 28:2
  43. 2 Chronicles 6:11 : [ch. 5:10]
English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Romans 7:1-13

Released from the Law

Or do you not know, brothers[a]—for I am speaking to those who know the law—that the law is binding on a person only as long as he lives? For (A)a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives, but if her husband dies she is released from the law of marriage.[b] Accordingly, (B)she will be called an adulteress if she lives with another man while her husband is alive. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law, and if she marries another man she is not an adulteress.

Likewise, my brothers, (C)you also have died (D)to the law (E)through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, (F)in order that we may bear fruit for God. For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work (G)in our members (H)to bear fruit for death. But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the (I)new way of (J)the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.[c]

The Law and Sin

What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, (K)I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if (L)the law had not said, “You shall not covet.” But sin, (M)seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. (N)For apart from the law, sin lies dead. I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died. 10 The very commandment (O)that promised life proved to be death to me. 11 For sin, (P)seizing an opportunity through the commandment, (Q)deceived me and through it killed me. 12 So (R)the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.

13 Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure.

Footnotes:

  1. Romans 7:1 Or brothers and sisters; also verse 4
  2. Romans 7:2 Greek law concerning the husband
  3. Romans 7:6 Greek of the letter
English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Psalm 17

In the Shadow of Your Wings

A (A)Prayer of David.

17 Hear a just cause, O Lord; (B)attend to my cry!
Give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit!
From your presence (C)let my vindication come!
Let your eyes behold the right!

You have (D)tried my heart, you have (E)visited me by (F)night,
you have (G)tested me, and you will find nothing;
I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress.
With regard to the works of man, by the word of your lips
I have avoided the ways of the violent.
My steps have (H)held fast to your paths;
my feet have not slipped.

I (I)call upon you, for you will answer me, O God;
(J)incline your ear to me; hear my words.
(K)Wondrously show[a] your steadfast love,
O Savior of those who seek refuge
from (L)their adversaries at your right hand.

Keep me as (M)the apple of your eye;
hide me in (N)the shadow of your wings,
from the wicked who do me violence,
my deadly enemies who (O)surround me.

10 (P)They close their hearts to pity;
with their mouths they (Q)speak arrogantly.
11 They have now surrounded our (R)steps;
they set their eyes to (S)cast us to the ground.
12 He is like a lion eager to tear,
as a young lion (T)lurking in ambush.

13 Arise, O Lord! Confront him, subdue him!
Deliver my soul from the wicked by your sword,
14 from men by your hand, O Lord,
from (U)men of the world whose (V)portion is in this life.[b]
You fill their womb with treasure;[c]
they are satisfied with (W)children,
and they leave their abundance to their infants.

15 As for me, I shall (X)behold your face in righteousness;
when I (Y)awake, I shall be (Z)satisfied with your likeness.

Footnotes:

  1. Psalm 17:7 Or Distinguish me by
  2. Psalm 17:14 Or from men whose portion in life is of the world
  3. Psalm 17:14 Or As for your treasured ones, you fill their womb
English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Proverbs 19:22-23

22 What is desired in a man is steadfast love,
and a poor man is better than a liar.
23 The fear of the Lord (A)leads to life,
and whoever has it rests (B)satisfied;
he will (C)not be visited by harm.

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Wednesday July 20, 2022 (NIV)

2 Chronicles 1-3

Solomon Worships at Gibeon

(A)Solomon the son of David established himself in his kingdom, (B)and the Lord his God was with him and made him exceedingly great.

Solomon spoke to all Israel, to the (C)commanders of thousands and of hundreds, to the judges, and to all the leaders in all Israel, the heads of fathers' houses. And Solomon, and all the assembly with him, went to (D)the high place that was at Gibeon, (E)for (F)the tent of meeting of God, which Moses the servant of the Lord had made in the wilderness, was there. (G)(But David had brought up the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim to the place that David had prepared for it, for he had pitched a tent for it in Jerusalem.) Moreover, (H)the bronze altar that (I)Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, had made, was there before the tabernacle of the Lord. And Solomon and the assembly (J)sought it[a] out. And Solomon went up there to the bronze altar before the Lord, which was at the tent of meeting, (K)and offered a thousand burnt offerings on it.

Solomon Prays for Wisdom

(L)In that night God appeared to Solomon, and said to him, “Ask what I shall give you.” And Solomon said to God, “You have shown great and steadfast love to David my father, (M)and have made me king in his place. O Lord God, (N)let your word to David my father be now fulfilled, for you have made me king over a people as numerous (O)as the dust of the earth. 10 Give me now wisdom and knowledge to (P)go out and come in before this people, for who can govern this people of yours, which is so great?” 11 God answered Solomon, “Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked for (Q)possessions, wealth, honor, or the life of those who hate you, and have not even asked for long life, but have asked for wisdom and knowledge for yourself that you may govern my people over whom I have made you king, 12 wisdom and knowledge are granted to you. I will also give you (R)riches, possessions, and honor, (S)such as none of the kings had who were before you, and none after you shall have the like.” 13 So Solomon came from[b] the (T)high place at Gibeon, from before (U)the tent of meeting, to Jerusalem. And he reigned over Israel.

Solomon Given Wealth

14 (V)Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen. (W)He had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horsemen, whom he stationed (X)in the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem. 15 And the king made silver and gold as common in Jerusalem as stone, and he made cedar as plentiful as the sycamore of the Shephelah. 16 And Solomon's import of horses was from Egypt and Kue, and the king's traders would buy them from Kue for a price. 17 They imported a chariot from Egypt for 600 shekels[c] of silver, and a horse for 150. Likewise through them these were exported to all the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Syria.

Preparing to Build the Temple

[d] (Y)Now Solomon purposed to build a temple for the name of the Lord, and a royal palace for himself. [e] (Z)And Solomon assigned 70,000 men to bear burdens and 80,000 to quarry in the hill country, and (AA)3,600 to oversee them. (AB)And Solomon sent word to Hiram the king of Tyre: (AC)“As you dealt with David my father and sent him cedar to build himself a house to dwell in, so deal with me. Behold, I am about to build a house for the name of the Lord my God and dedicate it to him for the burning of (AD)incense of sweet spices before him, and for (AE)the regular arrangement of the showbread, and for (AF)burnt offerings morning and evening, (AG)on the Sabbaths and the new moons and the appointed feasts of the Lord our God, as ordained forever for Israel. The house that I am to build will be great, (AH)for our God is greater than all gods. (AI)But who is able to build him a house, since (AJ)heaven, even highest heaven, cannot contain him? Who am I to build a house for him, except as a place to make offerings before him? So now (AK)send me a man skilled to work in gold, silver, bronze, and iron, and in purple, crimson, and blue fabrics, trained also in engraving, to be with the skilled workers who are with me in Judah and Jerusalem, (AL)whom David my father provided. Send me also cedar, cypress, and algum timber from Lebanon, for I know that (AM)your servants know how to cut timber in Lebanon. And my servants will be with your servants, to prepare timber for me in abundance, for the house I am to build will be great and wonderful. 10 (AN)I will give for your servants, the woodsmen who cut timber, 20,000 cors[f] of crushed wheat, 20,000 cors of barley, 20,000 baths[g] of wine, and 20,000 baths of oil.”

11 Then Hiram the king of Tyre answered in a letter that he sent to Solomon, (AO)“Because the Lord loves his people, he has made you king over them.” 12 Hiram also said, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, (AP)who made heaven and earth, who has given King David a wise son, who has discretion and understanding, (AQ)who will build a temple for the Lord and a royal palace for himself.

13 “Now I have sent a skilled man, who has understanding, Huram-abi, 14 (AR)the son of a woman of the daughters of Dan, and his father was a man of Tyre. He is (AS)trained to work in gold, silver, bronze, iron, stone, and wood, and in purple, blue, and crimson fabrics and fine linen, and to do all sorts of engraving and execute any design that may be assigned him, with your craftsmen, the craftsmen of my lord, David your father. 15 Now therefore the wheat and barley, oil and wine, (AT)of which my lord has spoken, let him send to his servants. 16 (AU)And we will cut whatever timber you need from Lebanon and bring it to you in rafts by sea to (AV)Joppa, so that you may take it up to Jerusalem.”

17 Then Solomon counted all the resident aliens who were in the land of Israel, (AW)after the census of them that David his father had taken, and there were found 153,600. 18 (AX)Seventy thousand of them he assigned to bear burdens, 80,000 to quarry in the hill country, and 3,600 as overseers to make the people work.

Solomon Builds the Temple

(AY)Then Solomon began to build the house of the Lord in Jerusalem (AZ)on Mount Moriah, where the Lord[h] had appeared to David his father, at the place that David had appointed, (BA)on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. He began to build in the second month of the fourth year of his reign. These are Solomon's (BB)measurements[i] for building the house of God: (BC)the length, in cubits[j] of the old standard, was sixty cubits, and the breadth twenty cubits. The vestibule in front of the nave of the house was twenty cubits long, equal to the width of the house,[k] and its height was 120 cubits. He overlaid it on the inside with pure gold. (BD)The nave he lined with cypress and covered it with fine gold (BE)and made palms and chains on it. He adorned the house with settings of precious stones. The gold was gold of Parvaim. So he lined the house with gold—its beams, its thresholds, its walls, and its doors—(BF)and he carved cherubim on the walls.

(BG)And he made the Most Holy Place. Its length, corresponding to the breadth of the house, was twenty cubits, and its breadth was twenty cubits. He overlaid it with 600 talents[l] of fine gold. The weight of gold for the nails was fifty shekels.[m] And he overlaid (BH)the upper chambers with gold.

10 (BI)In the Most Holy Place he made two cherubim of wood[n] and overlaid[o] them with gold. 11 The wings of the cherubim together extended twenty cubits: one wing of the one, of five cubits, touched the wall of the house, and its other wing, of five cubits, touched the wing of the other cherub; 12 and of this cherub, one wing, of five cubits, touched the wall of the house, and the other wing, also of five cubits, was joined to the wing of the first cherub. 13 The wings of these cherubim extended twenty cubits. The cherubim[p] stood on their feet, (BJ)facing the nave. 14 (BK)And he made the veil of blue and purple and crimson fabrics and fine linen, and he worked cherubim on it.

15 (BL)In front of the house he made two pillars thirty-five cubits high, with a capital of five cubits on the top of each. 16 He made chains like a necklace[q] and put them on the tops of the pillars, and he made a hundred pomegranates and put them on the chains. 17 (BM)He set up the pillars in front of the temple, one on the south, the other on the north; that on the south he called Jachin, and that on the north Boaz.

Footnotes:

  1. 2 Chronicles 1:5 Or him
  2. 2 Chronicles 1:13 Septuagint, Vulgate; Hebrew to
  3. 2 Chronicles 1:17 A shekel was about 2/5 ounce or 11 grams
  4. 2 Chronicles 2:1 Ch 1:18 in Hebrew
  5. 2 Chronicles 2:2 Ch 2:1 in Hebrew
  6. 2 Chronicles 2:10 A cor was about 6 bushels or 220 liters
  7. 2 Chronicles 2:10 A bath was about 6 gallons or 22 liters
  8. 2 Chronicles 3:1 Septuagint; Hebrew lacks the Lord
  9. 2 Chronicles 3:3 Syriac; Hebrew foundations
  10. 2 Chronicles 3:3 A cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters
  11. 2 Chronicles 3:4 Compare 1 Kings 6:3; the meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain
  12. 2 Chronicles 3:8 A talent was about 75 pounds or 34 kilograms
  13. 2 Chronicles 3:9 A shekel was about 2/5 ounce or 11 grams
  14. 2 Chronicles 3:10 Septuagint; the meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain
  15. 2 Chronicles 3:10 Hebrew they overlaid
  16. 2 Chronicles 3:13 Hebrew they
  17. 2 Chronicles 3:16 Hebrew chains in the inner sanctuary

Cross references:

  1. 2 Chronicles 1:1 : 1 Kgs. 2:46
  2. 2 Chronicles 1:1 : 1 Chr. 29:25
  3. 2 Chronicles 1:2 : 1 Chr. 27:1
  4. 2 Chronicles 1:3 : See 1 Kgs. 3:4
  5. 2 Chronicles 1:3 : 1 Chr. 16:39; 21:29
  6. 2 Chronicles 1:3 : Ex. 29:10; Lev. 10:7; Num. 14:10
  7. 2 Chronicles 1:4 : See 2 Sam. 6:2-17; 1 Chr. 15:25–16:1
  8. 2 Chronicles 1:5 : Ex. 27:1, 2; 38:1, 2
  9. 2 Chronicles 1:5 : Ex. 31:2
  10. 2 Chronicles 1:5 : [1 Chr. 13:3]
  11. 2 Chronicles 1:6 : 1 Kgs. 3:4
  12. 2 Chronicles 1:7 : For ver. 7-12, see 1 Kgs. 3:5-14
  13. 2 Chronicles 1:8 : 1 Chr. 28:5
  14. 2 Chronicles 1:9 : ch. 6:17; 1 Kgs. 8:26
  15. 2 Chronicles 1:9 : Gen. 13:16
  16. 2 Chronicles 1:10 : [Num. 27:17; Deut. 31:2]
  17. 2 Chronicles 1:11 : Eccles. 5:19; 6:2
  18. 2 Chronicles 1:12 : [See ver. 11 above]; Eccles. 5:19; 6:2
  19. 2 Chronicles 1:12 : ch. 9:22; [1 Chr. 29:25]
  20. 2 Chronicles 1:13 : See 1 Kgs. 3:4
  21. 2 Chronicles 1:13 : ver. 3
  22. 2 Chronicles 1:14 : For ver. 14-17, see ch. 9:25-28; 1 Kgs. 10:26-29
  23. 2 Chronicles 1:14 : [1 Kgs. 4:26]
  24. 2 Chronicles 1:14 : [1 Kgs. 9:19]
  25. 2 Chronicles 2:1 : 1 Kgs. 5:5
  26. 2 Chronicles 2:2 : ver. 18; 1 Kgs. 5:15, 16; [ch. 8:7, 8; 1 Kgs. 9:20, 21]
  27. 2 Chronicles 2:2 : [1 Kgs. 5:16]
  28. 2 Chronicles 2:3 : For ver. 3-16, see 1 Kgs. 5:2-11
  29. 2 Chronicles 2:3 : 1 Chr. 14:1
  30. 2 Chronicles 2:4 : See Ex. 30:7
  31. 2 Chronicles 2:4 : See Lev. 24:5-8
  32. 2 Chronicles 2:4 : See Num. 28:3-8
  33. 2 Chronicles 2:4 : ch. 8:13; Num. 28:9, 11, 19, 26
  34. 2 Chronicles 2:5 : Ps. 135:5; [Ex. 15:11; 1 Chr. 16:25; Ps. 86:8]
  35. 2 Chronicles 2:6 : ch. 6:18; 1 Kgs. 8:27; Isa. 66:1; Acts 7:49
  36. 2 Chronicles 2:6 : ch. 6:18; 1 Kgs. 8:27; Isa. 66:1; Acts 7:49
  37. 2 Chronicles 2:7 : ver. 13, 14
  38. 2 Chronicles 2:7 : 1 Chr. 22:15
  39. 2 Chronicles 2:8 : ch. 9:10, 11
  40. 2 Chronicles 2:10 : [1 Kgs. 5:11]
  41. 2 Chronicles 2:11 : ch. 9:8; 1 Kgs. 10:9
  42. 2 Chronicles 2:12 : See Gen. 1:1
  43. 2 Chronicles 2:12 : [ver. 1]
  44. 2 Chronicles 2:14 : 1 Kgs. 7:14
  45. 2 Chronicles 2:14 : [ver. 7]
  46. 2 Chronicles 2:15 : ver. 10
  47. 2 Chronicles 2:16 : [1 Kgs. 5:9]
  48. 2 Chronicles 2:16 : See Josh. 19:46
  49. 2 Chronicles 2:17 : [1 Chr. 22:2]
  50. 2 Chronicles 2:18 : See ver. 2
  51. 2 Chronicles 3:1 : For ver. 1, 2, see 1 Kgs. 6:1
  52. 2 Chronicles 3:1 : Gen. 22:2, 14
  53. 2 Chronicles 3:1 : [1 Chr. 21:15, 18, 28]
  54. 2 Chronicles 3:3 : [Ezra 3:11]
  55. 2 Chronicles 3:3 : For ver. 3, 4, see 1 Kgs. 6:2, 3
  56. 2 Chronicles 3:5 : 1 Kgs. 6:17
  57. 2 Chronicles 3:5 : 1 Kgs. 6:29, 32
  58. 2 Chronicles 3:7 : [See ver. 5 above]; 1 Kgs. 6:29, 32
  59. 2 Chronicles 3:8 : [1 Kgs. 6:16]
  60. 2 Chronicles 3:9 : 1 Chr. 28:11
  61. 2 Chronicles 3:10 : For ver. 10-13, see 1 Kgs. 6:23-28
  62. 2 Chronicles 3:13 : [Ezek. 40:9]
  63. 2 Chronicles 3:14 : See Ex. 26:31
  64. 2 Chronicles 3:15 : For ver. 15, 16, see 1 Kgs. 7:15-20; [1 Kgs. 7:15; 2 Kgs. 25:17; Jer. 52:21]
  65. 2 Chronicles 3:17 : 1 Kgs. 7:21
English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Romans 6

Dead to Sin, Alive to God

What shall we say then? (A)Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can (B)we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us (C)who have been baptized (D)into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were (E)buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as (F)Christ was raised from the dead by (G)the glory of the Father, we too might walk in (H)newness of life.

For (I)if we have been united with him in (J)a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that (K)our old self[a] (L)was crucified with him in order that (M)the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For (N)one who has died (O)has been set free[b] from sin. Now (P)if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that (Q)Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; (R)death no longer has dominion over him. 10 For the death he died he died to sin, (S)once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves (T)dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

12 Let not (U)sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. 13 (V)Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but (W)present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. 14 For (X)sin (Y)will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.

Slaves to Righteousness

15 What then? (Z)Are we to sin (AA)because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! 16 Do you not know that if you present yourselves (AB)to anyone as obedient slaves,[c] you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But (AC)thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the (AD)standard of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and, (AE)having been set free from sin, (AF)have become slaves of righteousness. 19 (AG)I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For (AH)just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members (AI)as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.

20 (AJ)For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 (AK)But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things (AL)of which you are now ashamed? (AM)For the end of those things is death. 22 But now that you (AN)have been set free from sin and (AO)have become slaves of God, (AP)the fruit you get leads to sanctification and (AQ)its end, eternal life. 23 (AR)For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Footnotes:

  1. Romans 6:6 Greek man
  2. Romans 6:7 Greek has been justified
  3. Romans 6:16 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface; twice in this verse; also verses 17, 19 (twice), 20

Cross references:

  1. Romans 6:1 : ver. 15; [ch. 3:8]
  2. Romans 6:2 : ver. 11; ch. 7:4, 6; Gal. 2:19; Col. 2:20; 3:3; 1 Pet. 2:24
  3. Romans 6:3 : Gal. 3:27
  4. Romans 6:3 : See Matt. 28:19
  5. Romans 6:4 : Col. 2:12
  6. Romans 6:4 : ver. 9; ch. 8:11; See Acts 2:24
  7. Romans 6:4 : [John 11:40; 2 Cor. 13:4]
  8. Romans 6:4 : 2 Cor. 5:17; Gal. 6:15; Eph. 4:23, 24; Col. 3:10; [ch. 7:6]
  9. Romans 6:5 : [2 Cor. 4:10]
  10. Romans 6:5 : Phil. 3:10, 11; [Col. 2:12; 3:1]
  11. Romans 6:6 : Eph. 4:22; Col. 3:9
  12. Romans 6:6 : Gal. 2:20; 5:24; 6:14
  13. Romans 6:6 : [ch. 7:24]
  14. Romans 6:7 : 1 Pet. 4:1
  15. Romans 6:7 : [ver. 18]
  16. Romans 6:8 : 2 Tim. 2:11; [2 Cor. 4:10; 13:4]
  17. Romans 6:9 : Acts 13:34; Rev. 1:18
  18. Romans 6:9 : [ch. 5:14, 17]
  19. Romans 6:10 : See Heb. 7:27
  20. Romans 6:11 : See ver. 2
  21. Romans 6:12 : ver. 14; Ps. 19:13; 119:133; Mic. 7:19; [2 Cor. 5:17]
  22. Romans 6:13 : ch. 7:5; Col. 3:5
  23. Romans 6:13 : ch. 12:1; 1 Pet. 2:24; 4:2
  24. Romans 6:14 : [ch. 8:2, 12]
  25. Romans 6:14 : See ver. 12
  26. Romans 6:15 : ver. 1
  27. Romans 6:15 : [1 Cor. 9:21]
  28. Romans 6:16 : [ver. 20; Matt. 6:24]; See John 8:34
  29. Romans 6:17 : See ch. 1:8
  30. Romans 6:17 : [2 Tim. 1:13]
  31. Romans 6:18 : ver. 22; ch. 8:2; [ver. 7]; See John 8:32
  32. Romans 6:18 : [ver. 22]
  33. Romans 6:19 : See ch. 3:5
  34. Romans 6:19 : See ver. 13
  35. Romans 6:19 : [1 Cor. 9:27]
  36. Romans 6:20 : See ver. 16
  37. Romans 6:21 : ch. 7:5; [Jer. 12:13]
  38. Romans 6:21 : [2 Cor. 4:2]
  39. Romans 6:21 : ch. 1:32; 8:6, 13; Prov. 14:12; Gal. 6:8
  40. Romans 6:22 : See ver. 18
  41. Romans 6:22 : 1 Cor. 7:22; 1 Pet. 2:16
  42. Romans 6:22 : ch. 7:4
  43. Romans 6:22 : 1 Pet. 1:9
  44. Romans 6:23 : [ch. 2:7]; See ch. 5:12
English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Psalm 16

You Will Not Abandon My Soul

A (A)Miktam[a] of David.

16 Preserve me, O God, for in you I (B)take refuge.
I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;
(C)I have no good apart from you.”

As for (D)the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones,
in whom is all my delight.[b]

The sorrows of those who run after[c] another god shall multiply;
their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out
or (E)take their names on my lips.

The Lord is (F)my chosen portion and my (G)cup;
you hold my (H)lot.
(I)The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

I bless the Lord who (J)gives me counsel;
in (K)the night also my (L)heart instructs me.[d]
(M)I have (N)set the Lord always before me;
because he is at my (O)right hand, I shall not be (P)shaken.

Therefore my heart is glad, and my (Q)whole being[e] rejoices;
my flesh also dwells secure.
10 For you will not abandon my soul to (R)Sheol,
(S)or let your (T)holy one see (U)corruption.[f]

11 You make known to me (V)the path of life;
in your presence there is (W)fullness of joy;
at your right hand are (X)pleasures forevermore.

Footnotes:

  1. Psalm 16:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term
  2. Psalm 16:3 Or To the saints in the land, the excellent in whom is all my delight, I say:
  3. Psalm 16:4 Or who acquire
  4. Psalm 16:7 Hebrew my kidneys instruct me
  5. Psalm 16:9 Hebrew my glory
  6. Psalm 16:10 Or see the pit
English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Proverbs 19:20-21

20 Listen to advice and accept instruction,
that you may gain wisdom in (A)the future.
21 (B)Many are the plans in the mind of a man,
but (C)it is the purpose of the Lord (D)that will stand.

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.