Category: DAB Readings

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The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Thursday December 30, 2021 (NIV)

Malachi 1-2

1 The oracle of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi.[a]

The Lord's Love for Israel

2 (A)“I have loved you,” says the Lord. (B)But you say, “How have you loved us?” “Is not Esau (C)Jacob's brother?” declares the Lord. “Yet (D)I have loved Jacob 3 but Esau I have hated. (E)I have laid waste his hill country and left his heritage to jackals of the desert.” 4 If Edom says, “We are shattered but we will rebuild the ruins,” the Lord of hosts says, “They may build, but I will tear down, and they will be called ‘the wicked country,’ and ‘the people with whom the Lord is angry forever.’” 5 (F)Your own eyes shall see this, and you shall say, “Great is the Lord beyond the border of Israel!”

The Priests' Polluted Offerings

6 (G)“A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am (H)a father, where is my honor? And if I am (I)a master, where is my fear? says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name. (J)But you say, ‘How have we despised your name?’ 7 (K)By offering polluted food upon my altar. (L)But you say, ‘How have we polluted you?’ By saying that (M)the Lord's table may be despised. 8 (N)When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil? Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favor? says the Lord of hosts. 9 And now (O)entreat the favor of God, that he may be gracious to us. With such a gift from your hand, (P)will he show favor to any of you? says the Lord of hosts. 10 (Q)Oh that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, says the Lord of hosts, (R)and I will not accept an offering from your hand. 11 For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name (S)will be[b] great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name (T)will be great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts. 12 But you profane it when you say that (U)the Lord's table is polluted, and its fruit, that is, its food may be despised. 13 But you say, (V)‘What a weariness this is,’ and you snort at it, says the Lord of hosts. (W)You bring what has been taken by violence or is lame or sick, and this you bring as your offering! Shall I accept that from your hand? says the Lord. 14 Cursed be the cheat who has (X)a male in his flock, and (Y)vows it, and yet sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished. For (Z)I am a great King, says the Lord of hosts, and my name (AA)will be feared among the nations.

The Lord Rebukes the Priests

2 “And now, (AB)O priests, (AC)this command is for you. 2 (AD)If you will not listen, if you will not take it to heart to give honor to my name, says the Lord of hosts, then I will send (AE)the curse upon you and I will curse (AF)your blessings. Indeed, I have already cursed them, because you do not lay it to heart. 3 Behold, (AG)I will rebuke your offspring,[c] and (AH)spread dung on your faces, the (AI)dung of your offerings, and you shall be taken away with it.[d] 4 So shall you know that I have sent (AJ)this command to you, that (AK)my covenant with Levi may stand, says the Lord of hosts. 5 My covenant with him was one of life and (AL)peace, and I gave them to him. (AM)It was a covenant of fear, and he feared me. He stood in awe of my name. 6 (AN)True instruction[e] was in his mouth, and no wrong was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and he (AO)turned many from iniquity. 7 For (AP)the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people[f] should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts. 8 But you have turned aside from the way. (AQ)You have caused many to stumble by your instruction. You have corrupted (AR)the covenant of Levi, says the Lord of hosts, 9 and so (AS)I make you despised and abased before all the people, inasmuch as you do not keep my ways but (AT)show partiality in your instruction.”

Judah Profaned the Covenant

10 Have we not all (AU)one Father? Has not (AV)one God created us? Why then are we (AW)faithless to one another, profaning the covenant of our fathers? 11 Judah has been (AX)faithless, and abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem. For (AY)Judah has profaned the sanctuary of the Lord, which he loves, and has married the daughter of a foreign god. 12 May the Lord cut off from the tents of Jacob any descendant[g] of the man who does this, who (AZ)brings an offering to the Lord of hosts!

13 And this second thing you do. (BA)You cover the Lord's altar with tears, with weeping and groaning because he no longer regards the offering or accepts it with favor from your hand. 14 (BB)But you say, “Why does he not?” Because the Lord (BC)was witness between you and the wife of your youth, (BD)to whom (BE)you have been faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant. 15 (BF)Did he not make them one, with a portion of the Spirit in their union?[h] And what was the one God[i] seeking?[j] (BG)Godly offspring. So guard yourselves[k] in your spirit, and let none of you be (BH)faithless to the wife of your youth. 16 “For (BI)the man who does not love his wife but divorces her,[l] says the Lord, the God of Israel, covers[m] his garment with violence, says the Lord of hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and (BJ)do not be faithless.”

The Messenger of the Lord

17 (BK)You have wearied the Lord with your words. (BL)But you say, “How have we wearied him?” (BM)By saying, “Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and he delights in them.” Or by asking, (BN)“Where is the God of justice?”

Footnotes:

  1. Malachi 1:1 Malachi means my messenger
  2. Malachi 1:11 Or is (three times in verse 11; also verse 14)
  3. Malachi 2:3 Hebrew seed
  4. Malachi 2:3 Or to it
  5. Malachi 2:6 Or law; also verses 7, 8, 9
  6. Malachi 2:7 Hebrew they
  7. Malachi 2:12 Hebrew any who wakes and answers
  8. Malachi 2:15 Hebrew in it
  9. Malachi 2:15 Hebrew the one
  10. Malachi 2:15 Or And not one has done this who has a portion of the Spirit. And what was that one seeking?
  11. Malachi 2:15 Or So take care; also verse 16
  12. Malachi 2:16 Hebrew who hates and divorces
  13. Malachi 2:16 Probable meaning (compare Septuagint and Deuteronomy 24:1–4); or “The Lord, the God of Israel, says that he hates divorce, and him who covers

Cross references:

  1. Malachi 1:2 : Deut. 7:8; Jer. 31:3
  2. Malachi 1:2 : [ch. 2:14, 17; 3:7, 8, 13]
  3. Malachi 1:2 : [Amos 1:11; Obad. 10]
  4. Malachi 1:2 : Cited Rom. 9:13
  5. Malachi 1:3 : Isa. 34:13; Jer. 49:10, 18; Ezek. 35:3, 4; Joel 3:19
  6. Malachi 1:5 : Ps. 91:8
  7. Malachi 1:6 : See Ex. 20:12
  8. Malachi 1:6 : Ex. 4:22; Hos. 11:1
  9. Malachi 1:6 : [Luke 6:46]
  10. Malachi 1:6 : [See ver. 2 above]; [ch. 2:14, 17; 3:7, 8, 13]
  11. Malachi 1:7 : [ver. 8; ch. 2:12; 3:3]
  12. Malachi 1:7 : [See ver. 2 above]; [ch. 2:14, 17; 3:7, 8, 13]
  13. Malachi 1:7 : [ver. 12]
  14. Malachi 1:8 : [ver. 13]; See Lev. 22:22
  15. Malachi 1:9 : See Zech. 7:2
  16. Malachi 1:9 : See Deut. 10:17
  17. Malachi 1:10 : [Isa. 1:13]
  18. Malachi 1:10 : [Isa. 1:11; Jer. 6:20; Amos 5:21]
  19. Malachi 1:11 : [Isa. 2:2; 56:7; 60:3; 66:19]
  20. Malachi 1:11 : [Isa. 2:2; 56:7; 60:3; 66:19]
  21. Malachi 1:12 : [ver. 7]
  22. Malachi 1:13 : Isa. 43:23; [ch. 3:14; Mic. 6:3]
  23. Malachi 1:13 : [ver. 8; Lev. 22:20]
  24. Malachi 1:14 : See Ex. 12:5
  25. Malachi 1:14 : [Lev. 22:21]
  26. Malachi 1:14 : See Zech. 14:9
  27. Malachi 1:14 : Ps. 47:2; 76:12
  28. Malachi 2:1 : ch. 1:6
  29. Malachi 2:1 : ver. 4
  30. Malachi 2:2 : Lev. 26:14; See Deut. 28:15
  31. Malachi 2:2 : [ch. 3:9]
  32. Malachi 2:2 : [Ps. 69:22]
  33. Malachi 2:3 : [Joel 1:17; Hag. 2:17]
  34. Malachi 2:3 : Nah. 3:6
  35. Malachi 2:3 : [Ex. 29:14]
  36. Malachi 2:4 : ver. 1
  37. Malachi 2:4 : ver. 8; Num. 25:12, 13; Neh. 13:29; [Num. 3:45]
  38. Malachi 2:5 : See Isa. 54:10
  39. Malachi 2:5 : [Lev. 16:2]
  40. Malachi 2:6 : [Deut. 33:10]
  41. Malachi 2:6 : [Dan. 12:3; James 5:20]
  42. Malachi 2:7 : Deut. 17:9; See Lev. 10:11
  43. Malachi 2:8 : [1 Sam. 2:17; Jer. 18:15; Ezek. 22:26]
  44. Malachi 2:8 : See ver. 4
  45. Malachi 2:9 : [1 Sam. 2:30]
  46. Malachi 2:9 : Deut. 1:17; 16:19
  47. Malachi 2:10 : 1 Cor. 8:6; Eph. 4:6
  48. Malachi 2:10 : Acts 17:26
  49. Malachi 2:10 : [Isa. 21:2; 24:16; 33:1]
  50. Malachi 2:11 : [See ver. 10 above]; [Isa. 21:2; 24:16; 33:1]
  51. Malachi 2:11 : See Ezra 9:2
  52. Malachi 2:12 : [ch. 1:7]
  53. Malachi 2:13 : [Zech. 7:3]
  54. Malachi 2:14 : [ch. 1:2]
  55. Malachi 2:14 : ch. 3:5
  56. Malachi 2:14 : [ver. 11; Isa. 54:6]
  57. Malachi 2:14 : [See ver. 10 above]; [Isa. 21:2; 24:16; 33:1]
  58. Malachi 2:15 : Matt. 19:4, 5; See Gen. 2:24
  59. Malachi 2:15 : [Ezra 9:2]
  60. Malachi 2:15 : [See ver. 10 above]; [Isa. 21:2; 24:16; 33:1]
  61. Malachi 2:16 : Matt. 5:32; Mark 10:9, 11; Luke 16:18; 1 Cor. 7:10
  62. Malachi 2:16 : [See ver. 10 above]; [Isa. 21:2; 24:16; 33:1]
  63. Malachi 2:17 : Isa. 43:24
  64. Malachi 2:17 : [See ver. 14 above]; [ch. 1:2]
  65. Malachi 2:17 : [ch. 3:15; Isa. 5:20]
  66. Malachi 2:17 : [ch. 3:1; 2 Pet. 3:4]
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.

Revelation 21

The New Heaven and the New Earth

21 Then I saw (A)a new heaven and a new earth, for (B)the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw (C)the holy city, (D)new Jerusalem, (E)coming down out of heaven from God, (F)prepared (G)as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, (H)the dwelling place[a] of God is with man. He will (I)dwell with them, and they will be his people,[b] and God himself will be with them as their God.[c] 4 (J)He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and (K)death shall be no more, (L)neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

5 And (M)he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I (N)am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for (O)these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 And he said to me, (P)“It is done! (Q)I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. (R)To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. 7 (S)The one who conquers will have this heritage, and (T)I will be his God and (U)he will be my son. 8 (V)But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, (W)their portion will be in (X)the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is (Y)the second death.”

The New Jerusalem

9 Then came (Z)one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of (AA)the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, “Come, I will show you (AB)the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.” 10 And (AC)he carried me away in the Spirit to (AD)a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, 11 (AE)having the glory of God, (AF)its radiance (AG)like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. 12 It had a great, high wall, (AH)with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed— 13 on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. 14 And the wall of the city had twelve (AI)foundations, and (AJ)on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

15 And the one who spoke with me (AK)had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city and its gates and walls. 16 The city lies foursquare, its length the same as its width. And he measured the city with his rod, 12,000 stadia.[d] Its length and width and height are equal. 17 He also measured its wall, 144 cubits[e] by (AL)human measurement, which is also (AM)an angel's measurement. 18 The wall was built of (AN)jasper, while the city was pure gold, like (AO)clear glass. 19 (AP)The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every kind of jewel. The first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. 21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and (AQ)the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.

22 And (AR)I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. 23 And the city (AS)has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for (AT)the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. 24 By its light (AU)will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth (AV)will bring their glory into it, 25 and (AW)its gates will never be shut by day—and (AX)there will be no night there. 26 They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. 27 But (AY)nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb's (AZ)book of life.

Footnotes:

  1. Revelation 21:3 Or tabernacle
  2. Revelation 21:3 Some manuscripts peoples
  3. Revelation 21:3 Some manuscripts omit as their God
  4. Revelation 21:16 About 1,380 miles; a stadion was about 607 feet or 185 meters
  5. Revelation 21:17 A cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters

Cross references:

  1. Revelation 21:1 : Isa. 65:17; 66:22; 2 Pet. 3:13
  2. Revelation 21:1 : ch. 20:11
  3. Revelation 21:2 : ch. 11:2; 22:19; Isa. 52:1
  4. Revelation 21:2 : See ch. 3:12
  5. Revelation 21:2 : [Heb. 11:10]
  6. Revelation 21:2 : ch. 19:7; [John 14:3]
  7. Revelation 21:2 : Isa. 61:10
  8. Revelation 21:3 : See Lev. 26:11, 12
  9. Revelation 21:3 : [ch. 7:15]
  10. Revelation 21:4 : See ch. 7:17
  11. Revelation 21:4 : [ch. 20:14; 1 Cor. 15:26]
  12. Revelation 21:4 : Isa. 35:10; 51:11; 65:19
  13. Revelation 21:5 : ch. 4:2, 9; 5:1; 20:11
  14. Revelation 21:5 : See 2 Cor. 5:17
  15. Revelation 21:5 : ch. 22:6; [ch. 3:14; 19:11; 1 Tim. 1:15]
  16. Revelation 21:6 : See ch. 10:6
  17. Revelation 21:6 : ch. 1:8; 22:13
  18. Revelation 21:6 : ch. 22:17; See John 4:10; 7:37
  19. Revelation 21:7 : ch. 2:7
  20. Revelation 21:7 : ver. 3
  21. Revelation 21:7 : See 2 Cor. 6:18
  22. Revelation 21:8 : ch. 22:15; 1 Cor. 6:9, 10; Gal. 5:19-21; Eph. 5:5; 1 Tim. 1:9; Heb. 12:14
  23. Revelation 21:8 : Luke 12:46
  24. Revelation 21:8 : ch. 19:20
  25. Revelation 21:8 : ch. 2:11; 20:6, 14
  26. Revelation 21:9 : ch. 17:1
  27. Revelation 21:9 : ch. 15:1
  28. Revelation 21:9 : ver. 2
  29. Revelation 21:10 : ch. 17:3; [Ezek. 43:5]
  30. Revelation 21:10 : Ps. 87:1; Ezek. 40:2
  31. Revelation 21:11 : ver. 23; [ch. 22:5; Ps. 84:11; Ezek. 43:2, 4]
  32. Revelation 21:11 : [Matt. 5:14; Phil. 2:15]
  33. Revelation 21:11 : ch. 4:3, 6
  34. Revelation 21:12 : Ezek. 48:31-34
  35. Revelation 21:14 : Heb. 11:10; [1 Cor. 3:11]
  36. Revelation 21:14 : Matt. 16:18; Eph. 2:20
  37. Revelation 21:15 : See ch. 11:1
  38. Revelation 21:17 : Deut. 3:11; [ch. 13:18]
  39. Revelation 21:17 : ver. 9
  40. Revelation 21:18 : ver. 11
  41. Revelation 21:18 : ver. 11
  42. Revelation 21:19 : [Isa. 54:11, 12]
  43. Revelation 21:21 : ch. 22:2
  44. Revelation 21:22 : [John 4:23]
  45. Revelation 21:23 : ch. 22:5; Isa. 60:19, 20; [ver. 25]
  46. Revelation 21:23 : ver. 11
  47. Revelation 21:24 : Isa. 60:3; [ch. 22:2]
  48. Revelation 21:24 : ver. 26; [Isa. 60:5, 16]
  49. Revelation 21:25 : Isa. 60:11
  50. Revelation 21:25 : See ver. 23
  51. Revelation 21:27 : [ch. 22:14, 15; Isa. 35:8; 52:1; Ezek. 44:9; Joel 3:17; Zech. 14:21]
  52. Revelation 21:27 : See ch. 3:5
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 149

Sing to the Lord a New Song

149 (A)Praise the Lord!
Sing to the Lord (B)a new song,
his praise in (C)the assembly of the godly!
2 Let Israel (D)be glad in (E)his Maker;
let the children of Zion rejoice in their (F)King!
3 Let them praise his name with (G)dancing,
making melody to him with (H)tambourine and (I)lyre!
4 For the Lord (J)takes pleasure in his people;
he (K)adorns the humble with salvation.
5 Let the godly exult in glory;
let them (L)sing for joy on their (M)beds.
6 Let (N)the high praises of God be in their throats
and (O)two-edged swords in their hands,
7 to execute vengeance on the nations
and punishments on the peoples,
8 to bind their kings with (P)chains
and their nobles with fetters of iron,
9 to execute on them the judgment (Q)written!
(R)This is honor for all his godly ones.
(S)Praise the Lord!

Cross references:

  1. Psalm 149:1 : [See Ps. 148:14 above]; See Ps. 135:1
  2. Psalm 149:1 : See Ps. 33:3
  3. Psalm 149:1 : Ps. 89:5, 7
  4. Psalm 149:2 : Ps. 85:6
  5. Psalm 149:2 : See Ps. 95:6; Job 35:10
  6. Psalm 149:2 : 1 Sam. 12:12; Zech. 9:9
  7. Psalm 149:3 : Ps. 150:4; [Ps. 30:11]
  8. Psalm 149:3 : Ps. 150:4; Ex. 15:20
  9. Psalm 149:3 : Ps. 150:3
  10. Psalm 149:4 : Ps. 35:27; 147:11
  11. Psalm 149:4 : [Isa. 61:3]
  12. Psalm 149:5 : See Job 35:10
  13. Psalm 149:5 : Ps. 4:4; 63:6; [Hos. 7:14]
  14. Psalm 149:6 : [Ps. 66:17]
  15. Psalm 149:6 : Heb. 4:12; Rev. 1:16; 2:12; [Prov. 5:4]
  16. Psalm 149:8 : [Job 36:8]
  17. Psalm 149:9 : Isa. 65:6; [Job 13:26]
  18. Psalm 149:9 : [Ps. 148:14]
  19. Psalm 149:9 : [See Ps. 148:14 above]; See Ps. 135:1
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 31:10-24

The Woman Who Fears the Lord

10 [a] (A)An excellent wife who can find?
She is far more precious than (B)jewels.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her,
and he will have no lack of gain.
12 She does him good, and not harm,
all the days of her life.
13 She (C)seeks wool and flax,
and works with willing hands.
14 She is like the ships of the merchant;
she brings her food from afar.
15 She (D)rises while it is yet night
and (E)provides food for her household
and portions for her maidens.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
17 She (F)dresses herself[b] with strength
and makes her arms strong.
18 She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.
Her lamp does not go out at night.
19 She puts her hands to the distaff,
and her hands hold the spindle.
20 She (G)opens her hand to (H)the poor
and reaches out her hands to (I)the needy.
21 She is not afraid of snow for her household,
for all her household are clothed in (J)scarlet.[c]
22 She makes (K)bed coverings for herself;
her clothing is (L)fine linen and (M)purple.
23 Her husband is known in (N)the gates
when he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She makes (O)linen garments and sells them;
she delivers sashes to the merchant.

Footnotes:

  1. Proverbs 31:10 Verses 10–31 are an acrostic poem, each verse beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet
  2. Proverbs 31:17 Hebrew She girds her loins
  3. Proverbs 31:21 Or in double thickness

Cross references:

  1. Proverbs 31:10 : ch. 12:4; Ruth 3:11; [ch. 18:22; 19:14]
  2. Proverbs 31:10 : Job 28:18
  3. Proverbs 31:13 : [ver. 21, 22, 24]
  4. Proverbs 31:15 : [ch. 20:13]
  5. Proverbs 31:15 : Luke 12:42; [Ps. 111:5]
  6. Proverbs 31:17 : [ver. 25]
  7. Proverbs 31:20 : [Rom. 12:13; Eph. 4:28]
  8. Proverbs 31:20 : [ver. 9]
  9. Proverbs 31:20 : [ver. 9]
  10. Proverbs 31:21 : 2 Sam. 1:24
  11. Proverbs 31:22 : ch. 7:16
  12. Proverbs 31:22 : Gen. 41:42; Rev. 19:8, 14
  13. Proverbs 31:22 : Judg. 8:26
  14. Proverbs 31:23 : See Ruth 4:1, 2
  15. Proverbs 31:24 : Judg. 14:12; Isa. 3:23
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.

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The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Wednesday December 29, 2021 (NIV)

Zechariah 14

The Coming Day of the Lord

14 Behold, (A)a day is coming for the Lord, when the spoil taken from you will be divided in your midst. 2 For (B)I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and (C)the city shall be taken (D)and the houses plundered (E)and the women raped. (F)Half of the city shall go out into exile, but the rest of the people shall not be cut off from the city. 3 (G)Then the Lord will go out and fight against those nations as when he fights on a day of battle. 4 (H)On that day his feet shall stand (I)on (J)the Mount of Olives that lies before Jerusalem on the east, and (K)the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west by (L)a very wide valley, so that one half of the Mount shall move northward, and the other half southward. 5 And you shall flee to the valley of my mountains, for the valley of the mountains shall reach to Azal. And you shall flee as you fled from (M)the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the Lord my God will come, and all the holy ones with him.[a]

6 (N)On that day (O)there shall be (P)no light, cold, or frost.[b] 7 (Q)And there shall be a unique[c] day, (R)which is known to the Lord, neither day nor night, but (S)at evening time there shall be light.

8 (T)On that day (U)living waters shall flow out from Jerusalem, half of them to (V)the eastern sea[d] and half of them to (W)the western sea.[e] (X)It shall continue in summer as in winter.

9 And (Y)the Lord will be king over all the earth. (Z)On that day the Lord will be (AA)one and (AB)his name one.

10 (AC)The whole land shall be turned into a plain from (AD)Geba to (AE)Rimmon south of Jerusalem. But (AF)Jerusalem shall remain aloft (AG)on its site from (AH)the Gate of Benjamin to the place of the former gate, to (AI)the Corner Gate, and from (AJ)the Tower of Hananel to the king's winepresses. 11 And it shall be inhabited, for (AK)there shall never again be a decree of utter destruction.[f] (AL)Jerusalem shall dwell in security.

12 And this shall be (AM)the plague with which the Lord will strike all the peoples that wage war against Jerusalem: their flesh will rot while they are still standing on their feet, their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongues will rot in their mouths.

13 And (AN)on that day a great panic from the Lord shall fall on them, so that (AO)each will seize the hand of another, and the hand of the one will be raised against the hand of the other. 14 Even (AP)Judah will fight at Jerusalem.[g] And (AQ)the wealth of all the surrounding nations shall be collected, gold, silver, and garments in great abundance. 15 And (AR)a plague like this plague shall fall on the horses, the mules, the camels, the donkeys, and whatever beasts may be in those camps.

16 Then everyone who survives of all the nations that have come against Jerusalem (AS)shall go up year after year to worship (AT)the King, the Lord of hosts, and (AU)to keep (AV)the Feast of Booths. 17 And if (AW)any of the families of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship (AX)the King, the Lord of hosts, (AY)there will be no rain on them. 18 And if the family of Egypt does not go up and present themselves, then on them there shall be no rain;[h] there shall be (AZ)the plague with which the Lord afflicts the nations that do not go up (BA)to keep the Feast of Booths. 19 This shall be the punishment to Egypt and the punishment to all the nations that do not go up (BB)to keep the Feast of Booths.

20 And (BC)on that day there shall be inscribed on the bells of the horses, (BD)“Holy to the Lord.” And the pots in the house of the Lord shall be as the bowls before the altar. 21 And every pot in Jerusalem and Judah shall be (BE)holy to the Lord of hosts, so that all who sacrifice may come and take of them and boil the meat of the sacrifice in them. And (BF)there shall no longer be (BG)a trader[i] in the house of the Lord of hosts (BH)on that day.

Footnotes:

  1. Zechariah 14:5 Other Hebrew manuscripts you
  2. Zechariah 14:6 Compare Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate, Targum; the meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain
  3. Zechariah 14:7 Hebrew one
  4. Zechariah 14:8 That is, the Dead Sea
  5. Zechariah 14:8 That is, the Mediterranean Sea
  6. Zechariah 14:11 The Hebrew term rendered decree of utter destruction refers to things devoted (or set apart) to the Lord (or by the Lord) for destruction
  7. Zechariah 14:14 Or against Jerusalem
  8. Zechariah 14:18 Hebrew lacks rain
  9. Zechariah 14:21 Or Canaanite

Cross references:

  1. Zechariah 14:1 : See Joel 1:15
  2. Zechariah 14:2 : Joel 3:2
  3. Zechariah 14:2 : [Luke 21:24]
  4. Zechariah 14:2 : Isa. 13:16
  5. Zechariah 14:2 : Lam. 5:11
  6. Zechariah 14:2 : ch. 13:8; [Matt. 24:40, 41]
  7. Zechariah 14:3 : [ch. 12:9]
  8. Zechariah 14:4 : [ver. 1]; See ch. 12:3
  9. Zechariah 14:4 : [Ezek. 11:23]
  10. Zechariah 14:4 : 2 Sam. 15:30
  11. Zechariah 14:4 : 2 Sam. 15:30
  12. Zechariah 14:4 : [ver. 10]
  13. Zechariah 14:5 : Amos 1:1
  14. Zechariah 14:6 : [See ver. 4 above]; [ver. 1]; See ch. 12:3
  15. Zechariah 14:6 : [Isa. 60:19; Rev. 21:23]
  16. Zechariah 14:6 : [Isa. 60:19; Rev. 21:23]
  17. Zechariah 14:7 : Rev. 21:25
  18. Zechariah 14:7 : Matt. 24:36
  19. Zechariah 14:7 : [Isa. 30:26]
  20. Zechariah 14:8 : [See ver. 4 above]; [ver. 1]; See ch. 12:3
  21. Zechariah 14:8 : John 4:10; Rev. 22:1; [Isa. 33:21; Ezek. 47:1; Joel 3:18]
  22. Zechariah 14:8 : Joel 2:20
  23. Zechariah 14:8 : Joel 2:20
  24. Zechariah 14:8 : [Isa. 33:16]
  25. Zechariah 14:9 : Ps. 47:7; [ver. 16, 17; Mal. 1:14]
  26. Zechariah 14:9 : [ver. 1]; See ch. 12:3
  27. Zechariah 14:9 : Eph. 4:5, 6
  28. Zechariah 14:9 : [ch. 13:2]
  29. Zechariah 14:10 : [ver. 4; Isa. 40:4]
  30. Zechariah 14:10 : Josh. 18:24
  31. Zechariah 14:10 : Josh. 15:32
  32. Zechariah 14:10 : Isa. 2:2
  33. Zechariah 14:10 : ch. 12:6; [ch. 2:4]
  34. Zechariah 14:10 : See Jer. 37:13
  35. Zechariah 14:10 : Jer. 31:38
  36. Zechariah 14:10 : Neh. 3:1; Jer. 31:38
  37. Zechariah 14:11 : Rev. 22:3
  38. Zechariah 14:11 : [Jer. 23:6]
  39. Zechariah 14:12 : [ver. 15, 18]
  40. Zechariah 14:13 : See ch. 12:3
  41. Zechariah 14:13 : Hag. 2:22; [1 Sam. 14:20]
  42. Zechariah 14:14 : [ch. 12:2]
  43. Zechariah 14:14 : [Ezek. 39:10]
  44. Zechariah 14:15 : [ver. 12]
  45. Zechariah 14:16 : See ch. 8:21
  46. Zechariah 14:16 : [ver. 9]
  47. Zechariah 14:16 : [Nah. 1:15]; See Lev. 23:34
  48. Zechariah 14:16 : See Lev. 23:39-43
  49. Zechariah 14:17 : Isa. 60:12
  50. Zechariah 14:17 : [See ver. 16 above]; [ver. 9]
  51. Zechariah 14:17 : See 1 Kgs. 17:1
  52. Zechariah 14:18 : [See ver. 15 above]; [ver. 12]
  53. Zechariah 14:18 : [See ver. 16 above]; [Nah. 1:15]; See Lev. 23:34
  54. Zechariah 14:19 : [See ver. 16 above]; [Nah. 1:15]; See Lev. 23:34
  55. Zechariah 14:20 : See ch. 12:3
  56. Zechariah 14:20 : Ex. 28:36; Isa. 23:18; Mic. 4:13
  57. Zechariah 14:21 : [See ver. 20 above]; Ex. 28:36; Isa. 23:18; Mic. 4:13
  58. Zechariah 14:21 : Ezek. 44:9; See Joel 3:17
  59. Zechariah 14:21 : [Deut. 7:1, 2]
  60. Zechariah 14:21 : [See ver. 20 above]; See ch. 12:3
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.

Revelation 20

The Thousand Years

20 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, (A)holding in his hand the key to (B)the bottomless pit[a] and a great chain. 2 And he seized (C)the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and (D)bound him for a thousand years, 3 and threw him into (E)the pit, and shut it and (F)sealed it over him, so that (G)he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while.

4 Then I saw (H)thrones, and (I)seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw (J)the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those (K)who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. (L)They came to life and (M)reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. 6 (N)Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such (O)the second death has no power, but they will be (P)priests of God and of Christ, and they (Q)will reign with him for a thousand years.

The Defeat of Satan

7 And when the thousand years are ended, (R)Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will come out (S)to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, (T)Gog and Magog, (U)to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea. 9 And (V)they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded (W)the camp of the saints and (X)the beloved city, but (Y)fire came down from heaven[b] and consumed them, 10 and the devil (Z)who had deceived them was (AA)thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where (AB)the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

Judgment Before the Great White Throne

11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence (AC)earth and sky fled away, and (AD)no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and (AE)books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is (AF)the book of life. And (AG)the dead were judged by what was written in the books, (AH)according to what they had done. 13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, (AI)Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, (AJ)according to what they had done. 14 Then (AK)Death and Hades (AL)were thrown into the lake of fire. This is (AM)the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, (AN)he was thrown into the lake of fire.

Footnotes:

  1. Revelation 20:1 Greek the abyss; also verse 3
  2. Revelation 20:9 Some manuscripts from God, out of heaven, or out of heaven from God

Cross references:

  1. Revelation 20:1 : See ch. 1:18
  2. Revelation 20:1 : See ch. 9:1
  3. Revelation 20:2 : See ch. 12:9
  4. Revelation 20:2 : [2 Pet. 2:4; Jude 6]
  5. Revelation 20:3 : [See ver. 1 above]; See ch. 9:1
  6. Revelation 20:3 : Dan. 6:17; [Matt. 27:66]
  7. Revelation 20:3 : ver. 8, 10
  8. Revelation 20:4 : Dan. 7:9; Matt. 19:28
  9. Revelation 20:4 : ch. 3:21; Dan. 7:22
  10. Revelation 20:4 : ch. 6:9
  11. Revelation 20:4 : ch. 13:12, 14-16
  12. Revelation 20:4 : [John 14:19; 2 Tim. 2:11]
  13. Revelation 20:4 : ver. 6; ch. 5:10; 22:5; Dan. 7:18; Matt. 20:21, 27; 2 Tim. 2:12; [Ps. 45:16]
  14. Revelation 20:6 : ch. 14:13
  15. Revelation 20:6 : ver. 14; ch. 2:11; 21:8
  16. Revelation 20:6 : See ch. 1:6
  17. Revelation 20:6 : ver. 4
  18. Revelation 20:7 : ver. 2
  19. Revelation 20:8 : ver. 3, 10
  20. Revelation 20:8 : Ezek. 38:2; 39:1
  21. Revelation 20:8 : See ch. 16:14
  22. Revelation 20:9 : [Isa. 8:8; Ezek. 38:9, 16; Hab. 1:6]
  23. Revelation 20:9 : Heb. 13:11, 13
  24. Revelation 20:9 : [Ps. 132:13]
  25. Revelation 20:9 : See ch. 13:13
  26. Revelation 20:10 : ver. 3, 8
  27. Revelation 20:10 : See ch. 19:20
  28. Revelation 20:10 : See ch. 16:13
  29. Revelation 20:11 : See Ps. 102:26
  30. Revelation 20:11 : ch. 12:8; Dan. 2:35
  31. Revelation 20:12 : Dan. 7:10
  32. Revelation 20:12 : See ch. 3:5
  33. Revelation 20:12 : Rom. 14:10; 2 Cor. 5:10; See ch. 11:18
  34. Revelation 20:12 : See Matt. 16:27
  35. Revelation 20:13 : ch. 6:8
  36. Revelation 20:13 : [See ver. 12 above]; See Matt. 16:27
  37. Revelation 20:14 : [See ver. 13 above]; ch. 6:8
  38. Revelation 20:14 : [ch. 21:4; Luke 20:36; 1 Cor. 15:26]
  39. Revelation 20:14 : ver. 6
  40. Revelation 20:15 : Matt. 13:42, 50
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 148

Praise the Name of the Lord

148 (A)Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord (B)from the heavens;
praise him (C)in the heights!
2 Praise him, all his angels;
praise him, all his (D)hosts!

3 Praise him, sun and moon,
praise him, all you shining stars!
4 Praise him, you (E)highest heavens,
and you (F)waters above the heavens!

5 (G)Let them praise the name of the Lord!
For (H)he commanded and they were created.
6 And he (I)established them forever and ever;
he gave (J)a decree, and it shall not (K)pass away.[a]

7 Praise the Lord (L)from the earth,
you (M)great sea creatures and all deeps,
8 (N)fire and hail, (O)snow and mist,
(P)stormy wind (Q)fulfilling his word!

9 (R)Mountains and all hills,
(S)fruit trees and all (T)cedars!
10 (U)Beasts and all livestock,
creeping things and (V)flying birds!

11 Kings of the earth and (W)all peoples,
princes and all rulers of the earth!
12 Young men and maidens together,
old men and children!

13 (X)Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for (Y)his name alone is exalted;
(Z)his majesty is above earth and heaven.
14 He has (AA)raised up a horn for his people,
(AB)praise for all his saints,
for the people of Israel who are (AC)near to him.
(AD)Praise the Lord!

Footnotes:

  1. Psalm 148:6 Or it shall not be transgressed

Cross references:

  1. Psalm 148:1 : [See Ps. 147:20 above]; See Ps. 135:1
  2. Psalm 148:1 : [ver. 7]; See Ps. 69:34
  3. Psalm 148:1 : Matt. 21:9
  4. Psalm 148:2 : See Ps. 103:20, 21
  5. Psalm 148:4 : Ps. 68:33; Deut. 10:14; Neh. 9:6; See 1 Kgs. 8:27
  6. Psalm 148:4 : Gen. 1:7
  7. Psalm 148:5 : ver. 13
  8. Psalm 148:5 : See Ps. 33:6, 9
  9. Psalm 148:6 : Ps. 119:90, 91
  10. Psalm 148:6 : [Job 28:26; Jer. 31:35, 36; 33:25]
  11. Psalm 148:6 : [Ps. 104:9; Esth. 1:19; Job 14:5]
  12. Psalm 148:7 : [ver. 1]
  13. Psalm 148:7 : [Gen. 1:21]; See Ps. 74:13
  14. Psalm 148:8 : Ps. 18:12; 105:32
  15. Psalm 148:8 : Ps. 147:16
  16. Psalm 148:8 : Ps. 107:25
  17. Psalm 148:8 : Ps. 103:20; See Ps. 147:15-18
  18. Psalm 148:9 : Isa. 44:23; 49:13; 55:12
  19. Psalm 148:9 : Gen. 1:11
  20. Psalm 148:9 : Ps. 104:16
  21. Psalm 148:10 : Gen. 1:24
  22. Psalm 148:10 : Gen. 1:20, 21
  23. Psalm 148:11 : [Rev. 7:9]
  24. Psalm 148:13 : ver. 5
  25. Psalm 148:13 : Ps. 8:1
  26. Psalm 148:13 : See Ps. 113:4
  27. Psalm 148:14 : See 1 Sam. 2:1
  28. Psalm 148:14 : [Deut. 10:21; Jer. 17:14]
  29. Psalm 148:14 : Deut. 4:7; Eph. 2:17
  30. Psalm 148:14 : See Ps. 135:1
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 31:8-9

8 (A)Open your mouth for the mute,
for the rights of all who are destitute.[a]
9 Open your mouth, (B)judge righteously,
(C)defend the rights of (D)the poor and needy.

Footnotes:

  1. Proverbs 31:8 Hebrew are sons of passing away

Cross references:

  1. Proverbs 31:8 : Job 29:12, 15, 16; [Isa. 1:17]
  2. Proverbs 31:9 : Lev. 19:15; Deut. 1:16
  3. Proverbs 31:9 : Jer. 22:16; [Isa. 1:17]
  4. Proverbs 31:9 : ver. 20; Ps. 40:17; 86:1
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.

Posted on

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

Zechariah 12-13

The Lord Will Give Salvation

12 (A)The oracle of the word of the Lord concerning Israel: Thus declares the Lord, (B)who stretched out the heavens and (C)founded the earth and (D)formed the spirit of man within him: 2 “Behold, I am about to make Jerusalem (E)a cup of staggering to (F)all the surrounding peoples. The siege of Jerusalem (G)will also be against Judah. 3 (H)On that day I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples. (I)All who lift it will surely hurt themselves. And (J)all the nations of the earth will gather against it. 4 (K)On that day, declares the Lord, (L)I will strike every horse (M)with panic, and its rider (N)with madness. But for the sake of the house of Judah I will keep my eyes open, when I strike every horse of the peoples (O)with blindness. 5 Then the clans of Judah shall say to themselves, ‘The inhabitants of Jerusalem have strength through the Lord of hosts, their God.’

6 (P)“On that day I will make the clans of Judah (Q)like a blazing pot in the midst of wood, like a flaming torch among sheaves. And (R)they shall devour to the right and to the left all the surrounding peoples, while (S)Jerusalem shall again be inhabited in its place, in Jerusalem.

7 “And the Lord will give salvation to the tents of Judah first, that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem may not surpass that of Judah. 8 (T)On that day (U)the Lord will protect the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that (V)the feeblest among them on that day shall be like David, and the house of David shall be like God, (W)like the angel of the Lord, going before them. 9 (X)And on that day (Y)I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.

Him Whom They Have Pierced

10 “And (Z)I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and (AA)pleas for mercy, so that, (AB)when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, (AC)they shall mourn for him, (AD)as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn. 11 (AE)On that day (AF)the mourning in Jerusalem will be as great (AG)as the mourning for Hadad-rimmon in the plain of Megiddo. 12 The land shall mourn, (AH)each family[a] by itself: the family of the house of David by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of the house of (AI)Nathan by itself, and their wives by themselves; 13 the family of the house of Levi by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of (AJ)the Shimeites by itself, and their wives by themselves; 14 and all the families that are left, each by itself, and their wives by themselves.

13 (AK)“On that day there shall be (AL)a fountain opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness.

Idolatry Cut Off

2 “And (AM)on that day, declares the Lord of hosts, (AN)I will cut off the names of the idols from the land, so that (AO)they shall be remembered no more. And also (AP)I will remove from the land the prophets and the spirit of uncleanness. 3 And if anyone again prophesies, his father and mother who bore him will say to him, (AQ)‘You shall not live, for you speak lies in the name of the Lord.’ And his father and mother who bore him shall pierce him through when he prophesies.

4 “On that day (AR)every prophet will be ashamed of his vision when he prophesies. He will not put on a hairy cloak in order to deceive, 5 but he will say, (AS)‘I am no prophet, I am a worker of the soil, for a man sold me in my youth.’[b] 6 And if one asks him, ‘What are these wounds on your back?’[c] he will say, ‘The wounds I received in the house of my friends.’

The Shepherd Struck

7 “Awake, O sword, against (AT)my shepherd,
against the man who stands next to me,”
declares the Lord of hosts.

(AU)“Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered;
I will turn my hand against the little ones.
8 In the whole land, declares the Lord,
two thirds shall be cut off and perish,
(AV)and one third shall be left alive.
9 And (AW)I will put this third into the fire,
and refine them as one refines silver,
and test them as gold is tested.
(AX)They will call upon my name,
and (AY)I will answer them.
(AZ)I will say, ‘They are my people’;
and they will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’”

Footnotes:

  1. Zechariah 12:12 Or clan; throughout verses 12–14
  2. Zechariah 13:5 Or for the land has been my possession since my youth
  3. Zechariah 13:6 Or on your chest; Hebrew wounds between your hands

Cross references:

  1. Zechariah 12:1 : See Nah. 1:1
  2. Zechariah 12:1 : See Isa. 42:5
  3. Zechariah 12:1 : Isa. 48:13
  4. Zechariah 12:1 : See Isa. 42:5
  5. Zechariah 12:2 : Isa. 51:17, 22, 23
  6. Zechariah 12:2 : [ch. 14:2]
  7. Zechariah 12:2 : [ch. 14:14]
  8. Zechariah 12:3 : ch. 13:1, 2, 4; 14:4, 6, 8; Isa. 2:11
  9. Zechariah 12:3 : [Matt. 21:44; Luke 20:18]
  10. Zechariah 12:3 : [See ver. 2 above]; [ch. 14:2]
  11. Zechariah 12:4 : [See ver. 3 above]; ch. 13:1, 2, 4; 14:4, 6, 8; Isa. 2:11
  12. Zechariah 12:4 : [Ps. 76:6]
  13. Zechariah 12:4 : [Deut. 28:28]
  14. Zechariah 12:4 : [Deut. 28:28]
  15. Zechariah 12:4 : [Deut. 28:28]
  16. Zechariah 12:6 : [See ver. 3 above]; ch. 13:1, 2, 4; 14:4, 6, 8; Isa. 2:11
  17. Zechariah 12:6 : [Jer. 5:14; Obad. 18]
  18. Zechariah 12:6 : ch. 9:15
  19. Zechariah 12:6 : ch. 2:4; 14:10, 11
  20. Zechariah 12:8 : [See ver. 3 above]; ch. 13:1, 2, 4; 14:4, 6, 8; Isa. 2:11
  21. Zechariah 12:8 : ch. 9:15
  22. Zechariah 12:8 : [Isa. 60:22]
  23. Zechariah 12:8 : [1 Sam. 29:9; 2 Sam. 14:17, 20; 19:27]
  24. Zechariah 12:9 : [See ver. 3 above]; ch. 13:1, 2, 4; 14:4, 6, 8; Isa. 2:11
  25. Zechariah 12:9 : [ch. 14:3]
  26. Zechariah 12:10 : [Jer. 31:9]
  27. Zechariah 12:10 : [Jer. 31:9]
  28. Zechariah 12:10 : Cited John 19:37; [Rev. 1:7]
  29. Zechariah 12:10 : Jer. 50:4
  30. Zechariah 12:10 : Jer. 6:26; Amos 8:10
  31. Zechariah 12:11 : [See ver. 3 above]; ch. 13:1, 2, 4; 14:4, 6, 8; Isa. 2:11
  32. Zechariah 12:11 : [Acts 2:37]
  33. Zechariah 12:11 : [2 Chr. 35:24]
  34. Zechariah 12:12 : [ch. 7:3]
  35. Zechariah 12:12 : 2 Sam. 5:14; Luke 3:31
  36. Zechariah 12:13 : Num. 3:18
  37. Zechariah 13:1 : See ch. 12:3
  38. Zechariah 13:1 : [Ezek. 36:25]
  39. Zechariah 13:2 : [See ver. 1 above]; See ch. 12:3
  40. Zechariah 13:2 : Mic. 5:13; [Jer. 10:11; Ezek. 30:13]
  41. Zechariah 13:2 : Ex. 23:13
  42. Zechariah 13:2 : [ch. 10:2]
  43. Zechariah 13:3 : See Deut. 13:1-11
  44. Zechariah 13:4 : [Mic. 3:7]
  45. Zechariah 13:5 : Amos 7:14
  46. Zechariah 13:7 : [Isa. 40:11; Heb. 13:20]
  47. Zechariah 13:7 : [Matt. 26:31; Mark 14:27]
  48. Zechariah 13:8 : [ch. 14:2]
  49. Zechariah 13:9 : Ps. 66:10, 12; Isa. 48:10; Mal. 3:2, 3; 1 Pet. 1:7
  50. Zechariah 13:9 : [Ps. 50:15]
  51. Zechariah 13:9 : ch. 10:6
  52. Zechariah 13:9 : ch. 8:8; See Ezek. 11:20
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.

Revelation 19

Rejoicing in Heaven

19 After this I heard (A)what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out,

“Hallelujah!
(B)Salvation and glory and power belong to our God,
2 for (C)his judgments are true and just;
for he has judged (D)the great prostitute
who corrupted the earth with her immorality,
and (E)has avenged on her the blood of his servants.”

3 Once more they cried out,

“Hallelujah!
(F)The smoke from her goes up forever and ever.”

4 And (G)the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who was seated on the throne, saying, “Amen. Hallelujah!” 5 And from the throne came a voice saying,

(H)“Praise our God,
all you his servants,
(I)you who fear him,
small and great.”

The Marriage Supper of the Lamb

6 Then I heard what seemed to be (J)the voice of a great multitude, like (K)the roar of many waters and (L)like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out,

“Hallelujah!
For the Lord our God
the Almighty (M)reigns.
7 Let us rejoice and exult
and give him the glory,
for (N)the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and (O)his Bride has made herself ready;
8 (P)it was granted her to clothe herself
with fine linen, bright and pure”—

for the fine linen is (Q)the righteous deeds of the saints.

9 And the angel said[a] to me, “Write this: (R)Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, (S)“These are the true words of God.” 10 Then (T)I fell down at his feet to worship him, (U)but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to (V)the testimony of Jesus. Worship God.” For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

The Rider on a White Horse

11 Then I saw (W)heaven opened, and behold, (X)a white horse! The one sitting on it is called (Y)Faithful and True, and (Z)in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 (AA)His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are (AB)many diadems, and he has (AC)a name written that no one knows but himself. 13 He is clothed in (AD)a robe dipped in[b] blood, and the name by which he is called is (AE)The Word of God. 14 And the armies of heaven, (AF)arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, (AG)were following him on white horses. 15 (AH)From his mouth comes a sharp sword (AI)with which to strike down the nations, and (AJ)he will rule[c] them with a rod of iron. (AK)He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh (AL)he has a name written, (AM)King of kings and Lord of lords.

17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to (AN)all the birds that fly directly overhead, (AO)“Come, gather for (AP)the great supper of God, 18 (AQ)to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave,[d] both small and great.” 19 And I saw (AR)the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies (AS)gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and against his army. 20 And the beast was captured, and with it (AT)the false prophet (AU)who in its presence[e] had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who (AV)worshiped its image. These two were (AW)thrown alive into the lake of (AX)fire that burns with sulfur. 21 And the rest were slain by the sword (AY)that came from the mouth of him who was sitting on the horse, and (AZ)all the birds were gorged with their flesh.

Footnotes:

  1. Revelation 19:9 Greek he said
  2. Revelation 19:13 Some manuscripts sprinkled with
  3. Revelation 19:15 Greek shepherd
  4. Revelation 19:18 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface
  5. Revelation 19:20 Or on its behalf

Cross references:

  1. Revelation 19:1 : See ch. 11:15
  2. Revelation 19:1 : ch. 4:11; 7:10; 12:10
  3. Revelation 19:2 : ch. 15:3; 16:7
  4. Revelation 19:2 : See ch. 17:1
  5. Revelation 19:2 : Deut. 32:43; 2 Kgs. 9:7; [ch. 16:6]; See ch. 6:10
  6. Revelation 19:3 : ch. 18:9, 18; Isa. 34:10; [ch. 14:11]
  7. Revelation 19:4 : ch. 4:4, 6, 10; 5:14
  8. Revelation 19:5 : Ps. 22:23; 113:1; 134:1; 135:1
  9. Revelation 19:5 : ch. 11:18
  10. Revelation 19:6 : Dan. 10:6; [ver. 1]
  11. Revelation 19:6 : See ch. 1:15
  12. Revelation 19:6 : ch. 6:1; 14:2
  13. Revelation 19:6 : ch. 11:15, 17; Ps. 97:1
  14. Revelation 19:7 : Matt. 22:2; 25:10; Luke 12:36; 14:8; John 2:1; [Eph. 5:22-32]
  15. Revelation 19:7 : ch. 21:2, 9; [Isa. 54:5; Hos. 2:19, 20]
  16. Revelation 19:8 : [Ps. 45:13-15; Ezek. 16:10]
  17. Revelation 19:8 : [Ps. 132:9; Isa. 61:10]
  18. Revelation 19:9 : Luke 14:15; See ver. 7
  19. Revelation 19:9 : [ch. 21:5; 22:6]
  20. Revelation 19:10 : ch. 22:8
  21. Revelation 19:10 : ch. 22:9; See Acts 10:26
  22. Revelation 19:10 : ch. 1:2; 6:9; 12:17
  23. Revelation 19:11 : See Ezek. 1:1
  24. Revelation 19:11 : See ch. 6:2
  25. Revelation 19:11 : See ch. 3:7, 14
  26. Revelation 19:11 : [Ps. 96:13; Isa. 11:4]
  27. Revelation 19:12 : ch. 1:14; 2:18
  28. Revelation 19:12 : [ch. 12:3]
  29. Revelation 19:12 : ver. 16; ch. 2:17; [Prov. 30:4]
  30. Revelation 19:13 : Isa. 63:2, 3
  31. Revelation 19:13 : See John 1:1
  32. Revelation 19:14 : ch. 3:4; 7:9
  33. Revelation 19:14 : [ch. 14:20]
  34. Revelation 19:15 : ver. 21; See ch. 1:16
  35. Revelation 19:15 : [Isa. 11:4; 2 Thess. 2:8]
  36. Revelation 19:15 : ch. 2:27; 12:5
  37. Revelation 19:15 : ch. 14:20; Isa. 63:3
  38. Revelation 19:16 : ver. 12
  39. Revelation 19:16 : See ch. 17:14
  40. Revelation 19:17 : ver. 21
  41. Revelation 19:17 : Jer. 12:9; Ezek. 39:17
  42. Revelation 19:17 : [Isa. 34:6; Jer. 46:10; Ezek. 39:19]
  43. Revelation 19:18 : Ezek. 39:18, 20
  44. Revelation 19:19 : ch. 11:7; 13:1
  45. Revelation 19:19 : ch. 16:16
  46. Revelation 19:20 : ch. 16:13; 20:10
  47. Revelation 19:20 : ch. 13:11-14
  48. Revelation 19:20 : See ch. 13:15
  49. Revelation 19:20 : ch. 20:10, 14, 15; [Dan. 7:11]
  50. Revelation 19:20 : ch. 14:10; 21:8; See 2 Thess. 1:8
  51. Revelation 19:21 : ver. 15
  52. Revelation 19:21 : ver. 17
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 147

He Heals the Brokenhearted

147 (A)Praise the Lord!
For (B)it is good to sing praises to our God;
for (C)it is pleasant,[a] and (D)a song of praise is fitting.
2 The Lord (E)builds up Jerusalem;
he (F)gathers the outcasts of Israel.
3 He heals (G)the brokenhearted
and (H)binds up their wounds.
4 He (I)determines the number of the stars;
he (J)gives to all of them their names.
5 (K)Great is our Lord, and (L)abundant in power;
(M)his understanding is beyond measure.
6 The Lord (N)lifts up the humble;[b]
he casts the wicked to the ground.

7 (O)Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;
make melody to our God on (P)the lyre!
8 He covers the heavens with clouds;
he prepares (Q)rain for the earth;
he makes (R)grass grow on the hills.
9 He (S)gives to the beasts their food,
and to (T)the young ravens that cry.
10 His delight is not in (U)the strength of the horse,
nor his pleasure in the legs of a man,
11 but the Lord (V)takes pleasure in those who fear him,
in those who (W)hope in his steadfast love.

12 Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem!
Praise your God, O Zion!
13 For he strengthens (X)the bars of your gates;
he blesses your children within you.
14 He (Y)makes peace in your borders;
he (Z)fills you with the (AA)finest of the wheat.
15 He (AB)sends out his command to the earth;
his word runs swiftly.
16 He gives (AC)snow like wool;
he scatters (AD)frost like ashes.
17 He hurls down his crystals of (AE)ice like crumbs;
who can stand before his (AF)cold?
18 He (AG)sends out his word, and melts them;
he makes his wind blow and the waters flow.
19 He declares his word to Jacob,
his (AH)statutes and rules[c] to Israel.
20 He (AI)has not dealt thus with any other nation;
they do not know his rules.[d]
(AJ)Praise the Lord!

Footnotes:

  1. Psalm 147:1 Or for he is beautiful
  2. Psalm 147:6 Or afflicted
  3. Psalm 147:19 Or and just decrees
  4. Psalm 147:20 Or his just decrees

Cross references:

  1. Psalm 147:1 : See Ps. 135:1
  2. Psalm 147:1 : Ps. 92:1
  3. Psalm 147:1 : Ps. 135:3
  4. Psalm 147:1 : Ps. 33:1
  5. Psalm 147:2 : Ps. 51:18; 102:16
  6. Psalm 147:2 : Deut. 30:3; Isa. 11:12; 27:13; 56:8; Ezek. 39:28
  7. Psalm 147:3 : Ps. 34:18
  8. Psalm 147:3 : Ezek. 34:16
  9. Psalm 147:4 : [Gen. 15:5]
  10. Psalm 147:4 : Isa. 40:26
  11. Psalm 147:5 : Ps. 48:1
  12. Psalm 147:5 : Nah. 1:3
  13. Psalm 147:5 : Isa. 40:28; [Job 5:9]
  14. Psalm 147:6 : [Ps. 146:8, 9]
  15. Psalm 147:7 : Ex. 15:21; [Ps. 95:1, 2]
  16. Psalm 147:7 : See 1 Chr. 15:16
  17. Psalm 147:8 : See Job 5:10
  18. Psalm 147:8 : Ps. 104:14; Job 38:27
  19. Psalm 147:9 : Ps. 104:27, 28
  20. Psalm 147:9 : See Job 38:41
  21. Psalm 147:10 : Ps. 33:17
  22. Psalm 147:11 : Ps. 149:4
  23. Psalm 147:11 : Ps. 33:18
  24. Psalm 147:13 : Neh. 7:3
  25. Psalm 147:14 : Ex. 34:24; Prov. 16:7; Isa. 60:17, 18
  26. Psalm 147:14 : Ps. 132:15
  27. Psalm 147:14 : Ps. 81:16; Deut. 32:14
  28. Psalm 147:15 : [Ps. 148:8]
  29. Psalm 147:16 : Job 37:6
  30. Psalm 147:16 : [Job 38:29]
  31. Psalm 147:17 : Job 37:10
  32. Psalm 147:17 : Job 37:9
  33. Psalm 147:18 : ver. 15; [Job 37:12]; See Ps. 33:9; 107:20
  34. Psalm 147:19 : Mal. 4:4; [Ps. 78:5]; See Deut. 33:2-4
  35. Psalm 147:20 : Deut. 4:7; See Deut. 4:32-34
  36. Psalm 147:20 : See Ps. 135:1
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 31:1-7

The Words of King Lemuel

31 The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him:

2 What are you doing, my son?[a] What are you doing, (A)son of my womb?
What are you doing, (B)son of my vows?
3 Do (C)not give your strength to women,
your ways to those (D)who destroy kings.
4 (E)It is not for kings, O Lemuel,
it is not for kings (F)to drink wine,
or for rulers to take (G)strong drink,
5 lest they drink and forget what has been decreed
and (H)pervert the rights of all the afflicted.
6 Give strong drink to the one who (I)is perishing,
and wine to (J)those in bitter distress;[b]
7 (K)let them drink and forget their poverty
and remember their misery no more.

Footnotes:

  1. Proverbs 31:2 Hebrew What, my son?
  2. Proverbs 31:6 Hebrew those bitter in soul

Cross references:

  1. Proverbs 31:2 : Isa. 49:15
  2. Proverbs 31:2 : [1 Sam. 1:27]
  3. Proverbs 31:3 : [ch. 5:9]
  4. Proverbs 31:3 : [ch. 7:26; Deut. 17:17; 1 Kgs. 11:1; Neh. 13:26]
  5. Proverbs 31:4 : Eccles. 10:17; [1 Kgs. 16:9; 20:16]
  6. Proverbs 31:4 : [Hos. 4:11]
  7. Proverbs 31:4 : ch. 20:1
  8. Proverbs 31:5 : [Isa. 5:22, 23]
  9. Proverbs 31:6 : Job 29:13
  10. Proverbs 31:6 : Job 3:20
  11. Proverbs 31:7 : [Ps. 104:15]
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.

Posted on

The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Monday December 27, 2021 (NIV)

Zechariah 10-11

The Restoration for Judah and Israel

10 Ask rain (A)from the Lord
in the season of (B)the spring rain,
from the Lord (C)who makes the storm clouds,
and (D)he will give them showers of rain,
to everyone the vegetation in the field.
2 For (E)the household gods (F)utter nonsense,
and the diviners see lies;
(G)they tell false dreams
and give empty consolation.
Therefore (H)the people wander like sheep;
they are afflicted for lack of a shepherd.

3 (I)“My anger is hot against the shepherds,
and (J)I will punish the leaders;[a]
for (K)the Lord of hosts cares for his flock, the house of Judah,
and will make them like his majestic steed in battle.
4 From him shall come (L)the cornerstone,
from him (M)the tent peg,
from him the battle bow,
from him every ruler—(N)all of them together.
5 They shall be like mighty men in battle,
(O)trampling the foe in the mud of the streets;
they shall fight because the Lord is with them,
and they shall put to shame (P)the riders on horses.

6 (Q)“I will strengthen the house of Judah,
and (R)I will save the house of Joseph.
(S)I will bring them back (T)because I have compassion on them,
and they shall be as though I had not rejected them,
for (U)I am the Lord their God and I will answer them.
7 Then Ephraim shall become like a mighty warrior,
and (V)their hearts shall be glad as with wine.
Their children shall see it and be glad;
their hearts shall rejoice in the Lord.

8 (W)“I will whistle for them and (X)gather them in,
for I have redeemed them,
and (Y)they shall be as many as they were before.
9 (Z)Though I scattered them among the nations,
yet in far countries (AA)they shall remember me,
and with their children they shall live and return.
10 (AB)I will bring them home from the land of Egypt,
and gather them from Assyria,
and (AC)I will bring them to the land of Gilead and to Lebanon,
(AD)till there is no room for them.
11 (AE)He shall pass through the sea of troubles
and strike down the waves of the sea,
(AF)and all the depths of the Nile shall be dried up.
The pride of Assyria shall be laid low,
and (AG)the scepter of Egypt shall depart.
12 (AH)I will make them strong in the Lord,
and (AI)they shall walk in his name,”
declares the Lord.

The Flock Doomed to Slaughter

11 Open your doors, (AJ)O Lebanon,
that the fire may devour your cedars!
2 Wail, O cypress, for the cedar has fallen,
for the glorious trees are ruined!
Wail, (AK)oaks of Bashan,
for the thick forest has been felled!
3 The sound of (AL)the wail of (AM)the shepherds,
for their glory is ruined!
The sound of the roar of (AN)the lions,
(AO)for the thicket of the Jordan is ruined!

4 Thus said the Lord my God: (AP)“Become shepherd of the flock doomed to slaughter. 5 (AQ)Those who buy them slaughter them and go unpunished, and those who sell them say, ‘Blessed be the Lord, (AR)I have become rich,’ and their own shepherds have no pity on them. 6 For (AS)I will no longer have pity on the inhabitants of this land, declares the Lord. Behold, I will cause each of them to fall into the hand of his neighbor, and each into the hand of his king, and they shall crush the land, and I will deliver none from their hand.”

7 (AT)So I became the shepherd of the flock doomed to be slaughtered by the sheep traders. And I took two staffs, one I named (AU)Favor, the other I named (AV)Union. (AW)And I tended the sheep. 8 In one month (AX)I destroyed the three shepherds. But I became impatient with them, and they also detested me. 9 So I said, “I will not be your shepherd. (AY)What is to die, let it die. What is to be destroyed, let it be destroyed. And let those who are left devour the flesh of one another.” 10 And I took (AZ)my staff Favor, and I broke it, annulling the covenant that I had made with all the peoples. 11 So it was annulled on that day, and the sheep traders, who were watching me, knew that it was the word of the Lord. 12 Then I said to them, “If it seems good to you, give me my wages; but if not, keep them.” And they weighed out as my wages (BA)thirty pieces of silver. 13 Then the Lord said to me, “Throw it to the potter”—(BB)the lordly price at which I was priced by them. So I took the (BC)thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the Lord, to the potter. 14 Then I broke (BD)my second staff Union, annulling the brotherhood between Judah and Israel.

15 Then the Lord said to me, “Take once more the equipment of (BE)a foolish shepherd. 16 For behold, I am raising up in the land a shepherd (BF)who does not care for those being destroyed, or seek the young or heal the maimed or nourish the healthy, but (BG)devours the flesh of the fat ones, tearing off even their hoofs.

17 (BH)“Woe to my worthless shepherd,
(BI)who deserts the flock!
May the sword strike his arm
and (BJ)his right eye!
Let his arm be wholly withered,
his right eye utterly blinded!”

Footnotes:

  1. Zechariah 10:3 Hebrew the male goats

Cross references:

  1. Zechariah 10:1 : Jer. 14:22
  2. Zechariah 10:1 : See Deut. 11:14
  3. Zechariah 10:1 : Ps. 135:7
  4. Zechariah 10:1 : Ezek. 34:26
  5. Zechariah 10:2 : See Gen. 31:19
  6. Zechariah 10:2 : Hab. 2:18
  7. Zechariah 10:2 : Jer. 23:25
  8. Zechariah 10:2 : Ezek. 34:5, 6
  9. Zechariah 10:3 : [Ezek. 34:10]
  10. Zechariah 10:3 : [Ezek. 34:17]
  11. Zechariah 10:3 : Zeph. 2:7
  12. Zechariah 10:4 : [Ps. 118:22]
  13. Zechariah 10:4 : Isa. 22:23
  14. Zechariah 10:4 : [ch. 9:8]
  15. Zechariah 10:5 : [ch. 9:15]
  16. Zechariah 10:5 : [Ps. 20:7]
  17. Zechariah 10:6 : [ver. 12]
  18. Zechariah 10:6 : ch. 8:7, 13
  19. Zechariah 10:6 : [Jer. 3:18]
  20. Zechariah 10:6 : Isa. 14:1
  21. Zechariah 10:6 : ch. 13:9
  22. Zechariah 10:7 : ch. 9:15
  23. Zechariah 10:8 : Isa. 5:26
  24. Zechariah 10:8 : Jer. 31:10, 11; See Hos. 1:11
  25. Zechariah 10:8 : Ezek. 36:10, 11, 37
  26. Zechariah 10:9 : [Hos. 2:23]
  27. Zechariah 10:9 : Ezek. 6:9; See Deut. 30:1-3
  28. Zechariah 10:10 : Isa. 11:11; 27:13; Hos. 11:11
  29. Zechariah 10:10 : [Mic. 7:14]
  30. Zechariah 10:10 : Isa. 49:20
  31. Zechariah 10:11 : Isa. 11:15
  32. Zechariah 10:11 : [Amos 8:8]
  33. Zechariah 10:11 : Ezek. 30:13
  34. Zechariah 10:12 : [ver. 6]
  35. Zechariah 10:12 : Mic. 4:5
  36. Zechariah 11:1 : [Isa. 2:12, 13]
  37. Zechariah 11:2 : [See ver. 1 above]; [Isa. 2:12, 13]
  38. Zechariah 11:3 : Jer. 25:34
  39. Zechariah 11:3 : Jer. 25:34
  40. Zechariah 11:3 : See Ezek. 19:1-3
  41. Zechariah 11:3 : [Jer. 12:5]
  42. Zechariah 11:4 : [ver. 7]
  43. Zechariah 11:5 : Ezek. 34:3
  44. Zechariah 11:5 : Hos. 12:8
  45. Zechariah 11:6 : Jer. 13:14
  46. Zechariah 11:7 : [ver. 4]
  47. Zechariah 11:7 : ver. 10
  48. Zechariah 11:7 : ver. 14
  49. Zechariah 11:7 : [ver. 4]
  50. Zechariah 11:8 : [ver. 3, 16; ch. 10:3; Jer. 22:11, 18, 24]
  51. Zechariah 11:9 : Jer. 15:2
  52. Zechariah 11:10 : ver. 7
  53. Zechariah 11:12 : [Ex. 21:32; Matt. 26:15]
  54. Zechariah 11:13 : [Matt. 27:9, 10]
  55. Zechariah 11:13 : [See ver. 12 above]; [Ex. 21:32; Matt. 26:15]
  56. Zechariah 11:14 : ver. 7
  57. Zechariah 11:15 : See 2 Kgs. 24:18-20
  58. Zechariah 11:16 : [Ezek. 34:4; John 10:13]
  59. Zechariah 11:16 : Ezek. 34:3
  60. Zechariah 11:17 : Jer. 23:1
  61. Zechariah 11:17 : John 10:12
  62. Zechariah 11:17 : [2 Kgs. 25:7]
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.

Revelation 18

The Fall of Babylon

18 After this I saw (A)another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and (B)the earth was made bright with his glory. 2 And he called out with a mighty voice,

(C)“Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great!
She has become (D)a dwelling place for demons,
a haunt (E)for every unclean spirit,
a haunt (F)for every unclean bird,
a haunt for every unclean and detestable beast.
3 For all nations have drunk[a]
(G)the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality,
and (H)the kings of the earth have committed immorality with her,
and (I)the merchants of the earth have grown rich from the power of her luxurious living.”

4 Then I heard another voice from heaven saying,

(J)“Come out of her, my people,
lest you take part in her sins,
lest you share in her plagues;
5 for (K)her sins are heaped high as heaven,
and (L)God has remembered her iniquities.
6 (M)Pay her back as she herself has paid back others,
and repay her (N)double for her deeds;
mix a double portion for her (O)in the cup she mixed.
7 (P)As she glorified herself and lived in luxury,
so give her a like measure of torment and mourning,
since in her heart she says,
(Q)‘I sit as a queen,
I am no widow,
and mourning I shall never see.’
8 For this reason her plagues will come (R)in a single day,
death and mourning and famine,
and (S)she will be burned up with fire;
for (T)mighty is the Lord God who has judged her.”

9 And (U)the kings of the earth, who committed sexual immorality and lived in luxury with her, (V)will weep and wail over her (W)when they see the smoke of her burning. 10 (X)They will stand far off, in fear of her torment, and say,

“Alas! Alas! (Y)You great city,
you mighty city, Babylon!
For (Z)in a single hour your judgment has come.”

11 And (AA)the merchants of the earth weep and mourn for her, since no one buys their cargo anymore, 12 cargo of gold, silver, jewels, pearls, fine linen, purple cloth, silk, scarlet cloth, all kinds of scented wood, all kinds of articles of ivory, all kinds of articles of costly wood, bronze, iron and marble, 13 cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, frankincense, wine, oil, fine flour, wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and slaves, that is, human souls.[b]

14 “The fruit for which your soul longed
has gone from you,
and all your delicacies and your splendors
are lost to you,
never to be found again!”

15 (AB)The merchants of these wares, who gained wealth from her, (AC)will stand far off, in fear of her torment, weeping and mourning aloud,

16 “Alas, alas, for the great city
(AD)that was clothed in fine linen,
in purple and scarlet,
adorned with gold,
with jewels, and with pearls!
17 For (AE)in a single hour all this wealth (AF)has been laid waste.”

And (AG)all shipmasters and seafaring men, sailors and all whose trade is on the sea, stood far off 18 and (AH)cried out (AI)as they saw the smoke of her burning,

(AJ)“What city was like the great city?”

19 And they threw (AK)dust on their heads as they wept and mourned, crying out,

“Alas, alas, for the great city
(AL)where all who had ships at sea
grew rich by her wealth!
For (AM)in a single hour she has been laid waste.
20 (AN)Rejoice over her, O heaven,
and you saints and (AO)apostles and prophets,
for (AP)God has given judgment for you against her!”

21 Then (AQ)a mighty angel (AR)took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying,

“So will Babylon (AS)the great city be thrown down with violence,
and will be found no more;
22 and (AT)the sound of harpists and musicians, of flute players and trumpeters,
will be heard in you no more,
and a craftsman of any craft
will be found in you no more,
and (AU)the sound of the mill
will be heard in you no more,
23 and the light of a lamp
will shine in you no more,
and (AV)the voice of bridegroom and bride
will be heard in you no more,
for (AW)your merchants were the great ones of the earth,
and all nations were deceived (AX)by your sorcery.
24 And (AY)in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints,
and of (AZ)all who have been slain on earth.”

Footnotes:

  1. Revelation 18:3 Some manuscripts fallen by
  2. Revelation 18:13 Or and slaves, and human lives

Cross references:

  1. Revelation 18:1 : ch. 17:1, 7
  2. Revelation 18:1 : Ezek. 43:2
  3. Revelation 18:2 : See ch. 14:8
  4. Revelation 18:2 : Isa. 13:21; 34:14; Jer. 50:39; 51:37; [Zeph. 2:14, 15]
  5. Revelation 18:2 : ch. 16:13
  6. Revelation 18:2 : Isa. 14:23; 34:11
  7. Revelation 18:3 : ch. 14:8
  8. Revelation 18:3 : ver. 9; ch. 17:2
  9. Revelation 18:3 : ver. 11, 15; Ezek. 27:33
  10. Revelation 18:4 : [2 Cor. 6:17]; See Isa. 48:20
  11. Revelation 18:5 : Jer. 51:9; [Gen. 18:20, 21; Ezra 9:6; Jonah 1:2]
  12. Revelation 18:5 : ch. 16:19
  13. Revelation 18:6 : Ps. 137:8; Jer. 50:15, 29; 51:24, 49
  14. Revelation 18:6 : Jer. 16:18
  15. Revelation 18:6 : [ch. 14:10; 16:19; 17:4]
  16. Revelation 18:7 : [Ezek. 28:2-8]
  17. Revelation 18:7 : Isa. 47:7, 8; Zeph. 2:15; [ch. 3:17]
  18. Revelation 18:8 : Isa. 47:9; [ver. 10]
  19. Revelation 18:8 : ch. 17:16
  20. Revelation 18:8 : Jer. 50:34
  21. Revelation 18:9 : ver. 3; ch. 17:2; [Ezek. 26:16, 17]
  22. Revelation 18:9 : [Jer. 50:46]
  23. Revelation 18:9 : ver. 18; ch. 19:3
  24. Revelation 18:10 : ver. 15, 17
  25. Revelation 18:10 : See ch. 14:8
  26. Revelation 18:10 : ver. 17, 19; [ver. 8]
  27. Revelation 18:11 : ver. 3, 15; [Ezek. 27:36]
  28. Revelation 18:15 : ver. 3, 11
  29. Revelation 18:15 : ver. 10
  30. Revelation 18:16 : ch. 17:4
  31. Revelation 18:17 : ver. 10, 19
  32. Revelation 18:17 : ch. 17:16
  33. Revelation 18:17 : Ezek. 27:28, 29
  34. Revelation 18:18 : Ezek. 27:30
  35. Revelation 18:18 : ver. 9
  36. Revelation 18:18 : Ezek. 27:32; [ch. 13:4]
  37. Revelation 18:19 : See Josh. 7:6; Job 2:12
  38. Revelation 18:19 : ver. 3, 15
  39. Revelation 18:19 : ver. 10, 17
  40. Revelation 18:20 : Deut. 32:43; Jer. 51:48; See ch. 12:12
  41. Revelation 18:20 : Luke 11:49, 50
  42. Revelation 18:20 : ch. 19:2
  43. Revelation 18:21 : ch. 5:2; 10:1
  44. Revelation 18:21 : [Jer. 51:63, 64]
  45. Revelation 18:21 : ver. 10
  46. Revelation 18:22 : Isa. 14:11; 24:8; Ezek. 26:13
  47. Revelation 18:22 : Eccles. 12:4; Jer. 25:10
  48. Revelation 18:23 : Jer. 7:34; 16:9; 33:11
  49. Revelation 18:23 : Isa. 23:8
  50. Revelation 18:23 : Nah. 3:4
  51. Revelation 18:24 : ch. 17:6; [Matt. 23:35, 36]
  52. Revelation 18:24 : [Jer. 51:49]
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 146

Put Not Your Trust in Princes

146 (A)Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord, O my soul!
2 I will praise the Lord (B)as long as I live;
(C)I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.

3 (D)Put not your trust in princes,
(E)in a son of man, in whom there is (F)no salvation.
4 When (G)his breath departs, he returns to the earth;
on that very day his plans perish.

5 (H)Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose (I)hope is in the Lord his God,
6 (J)who made heaven and earth,
the sea, and all that is in them,
(K)who keeps faith forever;
7 (L)who executes justice for the oppressed,
(M)who gives food to the hungry.

(N)The Lord sets the prisoners free;
8 (O)the Lord opens the eyes of the blind.
(P)The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;
(Q)the Lord loves the righteous.
9 (R)The Lord watches over the sojourners;
(S)he upholds the widow and the fatherless,
but (T)the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.

10 (U)The Lord will reign forever,
your God, O Zion, to all generations.
(V)Praise the Lord!

Cross references:

  1. Psalm 146:1 : See Ps. 135:1
  2. Psalm 146:2 : Ps. 63:4; [Ps. 145:2]
  3. Psalm 146:2 : Ps. 104:33
  4. Psalm 146:3 : Ps. 118:9
  5. Psalm 146:3 : Ps. 118:8; [Isa. 2:22; Jer. 17:5]
  6. Psalm 146:3 : Ps. 60:11; 108:12
  7. Psalm 146:4 : Ps. 104:29; [Eccles. 12:7]; See Job 10:9; 34:14, 15
  8. Psalm 146:5 : [Ps. 144:15]
  9. Psalm 146:5 : Ps. 119:116; See Ps. 2:12
  10. Psalm 146:6 : See Ps. 115:15
  11. Psalm 146:6 : [Ps. 100:5; 117:2]
  12. Psalm 146:7 : Ps. 103:6
  13. Psalm 146:7 : Ps. 107:9; 145:15
  14. Psalm 146:7 : Ps. 105:20; Isa. 61:1; [Ps. 68:6]
  15. Psalm 146:8 : Matt. 9:30; John 9:7
  16. Psalm 146:8 : Ps. 145:14; [Ps. 147:6]
  17. Psalm 146:8 : Ps. 11:7
  18. Psalm 146:9 : [Ex. 22:21]
  19. Psalm 146:9 : Deut. 10:18; [Ex. 22:22]; See Ps. 10:14
  20. Psalm 146:9 : [Ps. 147:6]
  21. Psalm 146:10 : See Ps. 10:16
  22. Psalm 146:10 : [See ver. 1 above]; See Ps. 135:1
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 30:33

33 For pressing milk produces curds,
pressing the nose produces blood,
and pressing anger produces strife.

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.

Posted on

The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Sunday December 26, 2021 (NIV)

Zechariah 9

Judgment on Israel's Enemies

9 The oracle of the word of the Lord is against the land of Hadrach
and (A)Damascus is its resting place.
For the Lord has an eye on mankind
and on all the tribes of Israel,[a]
2 (B)and on Hamath also, which borders on it,
(C)Tyre and (D)Sidon, though (E)they are very wise.
3 Tyre has built herself (F)a rampart
and (G)heaped up silver like dust,
and fine gold like the mud of the streets.
4 But behold, the Lord will strip her of her possessions
and strike down (H)her power on the sea,
and (I)she shall be devoured by fire.

5 (J)Ashkelon shall see it, and be afraid;
Gaza too, and shall writhe in anguish;
Ekron also, because its hopes are confounded.
The king shall perish from Gaza;
Ashkelon shall be uninhabited;
6 (K)a mixed people[b] shall dwell in Ashdod,
and I will cut off the pride of Philistia.
7 I will take away (L)its blood from its mouth,
and (M)its abominations from between its teeth;
(N)it too shall be a remnant for our God;
it shall be like (O)a clan in Judah,
and Ekron shall be like the Jebusites.
8 Then (P)I will encamp at my house as a guard,
(Q)so that none shall march to and fro;
(R)no oppressor shall again march over them,
(S)for now I see with my own eyes.

The Coming King of Zion

9 (T)Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!
(U)Behold, (V)your king is coming to you;
righteous and having salvation is he,
(W)humble and mounted on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
10 (X)I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim
and (Y)the war horse from Jerusalem;
and the battle bow shall be cut off,
and (Z)he shall speak peace to the nations;
(AA)his rule shall be from sea to sea,
and from (AB)the River[c] to the ends of the earth.
11 As for you also, because of (AC)the blood of my covenant with you,
(AD)I will set your prisoners free from (AE)the waterless pit.
12 Return to your stronghold, O (AF)prisoners of hope;
today I declare that (AG)I will restore to you double.
13 For (AH)I have bent Judah as my bow;
I have made Ephraim its arrow.
I will stir up your sons, O Zion,
against your sons, (AI)O Greece,
and wield you like a warrior's sword.

The Lord Will Save His People

14 Then the Lord will appear over them,
and (AJ)his arrow will go forth like lightning;
(AK)the Lord God will sound the trumpet
and will march forth in (AL)the whirlwinds (AM)of the south.
15 The Lord of hosts (AN)will protect them,
and (AO)they shall devour, (AP)and tread down the sling stones,
and (AQ)they shall drink and roar as if drunk with wine,
and be full like a bowl,
drenched (AR)like the corners of the altar.

16 On that day the Lord their God will save them,
as (AS)the flock of his people;
for (AT)like the jewels of a crown
they shall shine on his land.
17 (AU)For how great is his goodness, and how great his beauty!
(AV)Grain shall make the young men flourish,
and new wine the young women.

Footnotes:

  1. Zechariah 9:1 Or For the eye of mankind, especially of all the tribes of Israel, is toward the Lord
  2. Zechariah 9:6 Or a foreign people; Hebrew a bastard
  3. Zechariah 9:10 That is, the Euphrates

Cross references:

  1. Zechariah 9:1 : See Isa. 17:1
  2. Zechariah 9:2 : Jer. 49:23; See 1 Kgs. 8:65
  3. Zechariah 9:2 : Josh. 19:28, 29; Isa. 23:1, 2
  4. Zechariah 9:2 : Josh. 19:28, 29; Isa. 23:1, 2
  5. Zechariah 9:2 : See Ezek. 28:3-5
  6. Zechariah 9:3 : [Josh. 19:29]
  7. Zechariah 9:3 : Ezek. 28:4, 5
  8. Zechariah 9:4 : Ezek. 26:17
  9. Zechariah 9:4 : Ezek. 28:18
  10. Zechariah 9:5 : See Zeph. 2:4
  11. Zechariah 9:6 : [Deut. 23:2]
  12. Zechariah 9:7 : See Lev. 3:17
  13. Zechariah 9:7 : [Isa. 66:17]
  14. Zechariah 9:7 : [Isa. 14:1]
  15. Zechariah 9:7 : ch. 12:5, 6
  16. Zechariah 9:8 : [ch. 2:5]
  17. Zechariah 9:8 : ch. 7:14
  18. Zechariah 9:8 : ch. 10:4; [Isa. 60:17]
  19. Zechariah 9:8 : [ch. 12:4]
  20. Zechariah 9:9 : See Zeph. 3:14
  21. Zechariah 9:9 : Cited Matt. 21:5; [John 12:15]
  22. Zechariah 9:9 : See Jer. 23:5
  23. Zechariah 9:9 : [Matt. 11:29]
  24. Zechariah 9:10 : See Hos. 1:7
  25. Zechariah 9:10 : See Mic. 5:10
  26. Zechariah 9:10 : See Mic. 5:5
  27. Zechariah 9:10 : Ps. 72:8
  28. Zechariah 9:10 : See Ex. 23:31
  29. Zechariah 9:11 : Ex. 24:8
  30. Zechariah 9:11 : Isa. 42:7; 51:14; 61:1
  31. Zechariah 9:11 : [Gen. 37:24; Jer. 38:6]
  32. Zechariah 9:12 : [Jer. 31:17]
  33. Zechariah 9:12 : Isa. 61:7
  34. Zechariah 9:13 : [ch. 10:3, 4]
  35. Zechariah 9:13 : Gen. 10:2; Ezek. 27:13
  36. Zechariah 9:14 : See 2 Sam. 22:15
  37. Zechariah 9:14 : [Isa. 27:13]
  38. Zechariah 9:14 : Isa. 21:1
  39. Zechariah 9:14 : [ch. 6:6]
  40. Zechariah 9:15 : ch. 12:8; [ch. 10:5]
  41. Zechariah 9:15 : ch. 12:6
  42. Zechariah 9:15 : [ch. 10:5]
  43. Zechariah 9:15 : ch. 10:7
  44. Zechariah 9:15 : [Lev. 4:18, 25]
  45. Zechariah 9:16 : Ps. 100:3
  46. Zechariah 9:16 : Isa. 62:3; [Mal. 3:17]
  47. Zechariah 9:17 : [Isa. 62:3, 4]
  48. Zechariah 9:17 : [Isa. 62:8, 9; Jer. 31:12]
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.

Revelation 17

The Great Prostitute and the Beast

17 Then (A)one of the seven angels who had (B)the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of (C)the great prostitute (D)who is seated on many waters, 2 (E)with whom the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality, and (F)with the wine of whose sexual immorality (G)the dwellers on earth have become drunk.” 3 And (H)he carried me away in the Spirit (I)into a wilderness, and I saw a woman sitting on (J)a scarlet beast that was full of (K)blasphemous names, and (L)it had seven heads and ten horns. 4 The woman (M)was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned (N)with gold and jewels and pearls, holding in her hand (O)a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality. 5 And on her forehead was written a name of (P)mystery: (Q)“Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth's abominations.” 6 And I saw the woman, drunk (R)with the blood of the saints, the blood of (S)the martyrs of Jesus.[a]

When I saw her, I marveled greatly. 7 But the angel said to me, “Why do you marvel? I will tell you (T)the mystery of the woman, and of the beast with seven heads and ten horns that carries her. 8 The beast that you saw (U)was, and is not, and (V)is about to rise from (W)the bottomless pit[b] and (X)go to destruction. And (Y)the dwellers on earth whose names have not been written in (Z)the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel to see the beast, because (AA)it was and is not and is to come. 9 (AB)This calls for a mind with wisdom: the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated; 10 they are also seven kings, five of whom have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come, and when he does come he must remain only a little while. 11 As for the beast (AC)that was and is not, it is an eighth but it belongs to the seven, and it goes to destruction. 12 And (AD)the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power, but they are to receive authority as kings (AE)for one hour, together with the beast. 13 These are of one mind, and they hand over their power and authority to the beast. 14 They (AF)will make war on the Lamb, and (AG)the Lamb will conquer them, for he is (AH)Lord of lords and (AI)King of kings, and those with him are (AJ)called and chosen and faithful.”

15 And the angel[c] said to me, (AK)“The waters that you saw, where the prostitute is seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and languages. 16 And (AL)the ten horns that you saw, they and the beast (AM)will hate the prostitute. They will make her (AN)desolate and (AO)naked, and (AP)devour her flesh and (AQ)burn her up with fire, 17 for (AR)God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose by being of one mind and (AS)handing over their royal power to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled. 18 And the woman that you saw is (AT)the great city that has dominion over the kings of the earth.”

Footnotes:

  1. Revelation 17:6 Greek the witnesses to Jesus
  2. Revelation 17:8 Greek the abyss
  3. Revelation 17:15 Greek he

Cross references:

  1. Revelation 17:1 : ch. 21:9
  2. Revelation 17:1 : ch. 15:7
  3. Revelation 17:1 : ch. 19:2; Nah. 3:4; [Isa. 1:21; Jer. 2:20]
  4. Revelation 17:1 : ver. 15; [Jer. 51:13]
  5. Revelation 17:2 : ch. 18:3, 9; [Isa. 23:17]
  6. Revelation 17:2 : ch. 14:8; Jer. 51:7
  7. Revelation 17:2 : See ch. 3:10
  8. Revelation 17:3 : ch. 21:10
  9. Revelation 17:3 : ch. 12:6, 14
  10. Revelation 17:3 : [ch. 12:3]
  11. Revelation 17:3 : ch. 13:1
  12. Revelation 17:3 : ver. 7, 9, 12
  13. Revelation 17:4 : ch. 18:16
  14. Revelation 17:4 : Dan. 11:38
  15. Revelation 17:4 : Jer. 51:7; [ch. 18:6]
  16. Revelation 17:5 : ver. 7; 2 Thess. 2:7
  17. Revelation 17:5 : See ch. 14:8
  18. Revelation 17:6 : ch. 16:6; [ch. 13:15]
  19. Revelation 17:6 : ch. 2:13
  20. Revelation 17:7 : ver. 5
  21. Revelation 17:8 : ver. 11; [ch. 1:4; 13:3]
  22. Revelation 17:8 : ch. 11:7
  23. Revelation 17:8 : See ch. 9:1
  24. Revelation 17:8 : ch. 13:10
  25. Revelation 17:8 : See ch. 3:10
  26. Revelation 17:8 : See ch. 3:5
  27. Revelation 17:8 : ver. 11; [ch. 1:4; 13:3]
  28. Revelation 17:9 : [ch. 13:18]
  29. Revelation 17:11 : ver. 8; [ch. 11:17]
  30. Revelation 17:12 : ver. 16; Dan. 7:24; [ch. 13:1; Zech. 1:18-21]
  31. Revelation 17:12 : [ch. 18:10, 17, 19]
  32. Revelation 17:14 : See ch. 16:14
  33. Revelation 17:14 : See ch. 3:21
  34. Revelation 17:14 : ch. 19:16; Deut. 10:17; Ps. 136:3; Dan. 2:47; 1 Tim. 6:15; [ch. 1:5; Matt. 28:18; Acts 10:36]
  35. Revelation 17:14 : ch. 19:16; Deut. 10:17; Ps. 136:3; Dan. 2:47; 1 Tim. 6:15; [ch. 1:5; Matt. 28:18; Acts 10:36]
  36. Revelation 17:14 : See ch. 2:10; Luke 18:7 (Gk.); Rom. 1:6
  37. Revelation 17:15 : ver. 1; [Isa. 8:7]
  38. Revelation 17:16 : See ver. 12
  39. Revelation 17:16 : [Jer. 50:41, 42]
  40. Revelation 17:16 : ch. 18:17, 19
  41. Revelation 17:16 : Ezek. 16:37, 39
  42. Revelation 17:16 : [ch. 19:18]
  43. Revelation 17:16 : ch. 18:8; [Lev. 21:9]
  44. Revelation 17:17 : 2 Cor. 8:16
  45. Revelation 17:17 : [2 Thess. 2:11]
  46. Revelation 17:18 : ch. 16:19
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 145

Great Is the Lord

[a] A Song of Praise. Of David.

145 (A)I will extol you, my God and (B)King,
and bless your name forever and ever.
2 Every day I will bless you
(C)and praise your name forever and ever.
3 (D)Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,
and his (E)greatness is unsearchable.

4 (F)One generation shall commend your works to another,
and shall declare your mighty acts.
5 On (G)the glorious splendor of your majesty,
and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.
6 They shall speak of (H)the might of your awesome deeds,
and I will declare your greatness.
7 They shall pour forth the fame of your (I)abundant goodness
and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.

8 The Lord is (J)gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
9 The Lord is (K)good to all,
and his mercy is over all that he has made.

10 (L)All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord,
and all your (M)saints shall bless you!
11 They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom
and tell of your power,
12 to (N)make known to the children of man your[b] (O)mighty deeds,
and (P)the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
13 (Q)Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and your dominion endures throughout all generations.

[The Lord is faithful in all his words
and kind in all his works.][c]
14 The Lord (R)upholds all who are falling
and (S)raises up all who are bowed down.
15 The eyes of all (T)look to you,
and you give them their food in due season.
16 You (U)open your hand;
you (V)satisfy the desire of every living thing.
17 The Lord is (W)righteous in all his ways
and (X)kind in all his works.
18 The Lord is (Y)near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him (Z)in truth.
19 He (AA)fulfills the desire of those who fear him;
he also (AB)hears their cry and saves them.
20 The Lord (AC)preserves all who love him,
but all the wicked he will destroy.

21 My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord,
and (AD)let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.

Footnotes:

  1. Psalm 145:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, each verse beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet
  2. Psalm 145:12 Hebrew his; also next line
  3. Psalm 145:13 These two lines are supplied by one Hebrew manuscript, Septuagint, Syriac (compare Dead Sea Scroll)

Cross references:

  1. Psalm 145:1 : Ps. 99:5, 9
  2. Psalm 145:1 : Ps. 98:6
  3. Psalm 145:2 : [Ps. 146:2]
  4. Psalm 145:3 : Ps. 48:1
  5. Psalm 145:3 : Job 5:9; [Isa. 40:28]
  6. Psalm 145:4 : Isa. 38:19
  7. Psalm 145:5 : ver. 12
  8. Psalm 145:6 : [Ps. 78:4]
  9. Psalm 145:7 : Isa. 63:7
  10. Psalm 145:8 : See Ps. 86:5, 15
  11. Psalm 145:9 : See Ps. 100:5
  12. Psalm 145:10 : [Ps. 19:1; 103:22]
  13. Psalm 145:10 : [Ps. 132:9, 16]
  14. Psalm 145:12 : Ps. 105:1
  15. Psalm 145:12 : ver. 4; Ps. 150:2; Deut. 3:24
  16. Psalm 145:12 : ver. 5
  17. Psalm 145:13 : See Ps. 10:16
  18. Psalm 145:14 : [Ps. 37:17, 24]
  19. Psalm 145:14 : Ps. 146:8
  20. Psalm 145:15 : Ps. 104:27
  21. Psalm 145:16 : Ps. 104:28
  22. Psalm 145:16 : [Ps. 104:21; 147:8]
  23. Psalm 145:17 : See Ps. 116:5
  24. Psalm 145:17 : Ps. 18:25; Jer. 3:12
  25. Psalm 145:18 : [Ps. 34:18; 119:151; Deut. 4:7]
  26. Psalm 145:18 : John 4:23, 24
  27. Psalm 145:19 : Prov. 10:24; [John 9:31]
  28. Psalm 145:19 : Ps. 31:22
  29. Psalm 145:20 : See Ps. 97:10
  30. Psalm 145:21 : [Ps. 150:6]
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 30:32

32 If you have been foolish, exalting yourself,
or if you have been devising evil,
(A)put your hand on your mouth.

Cross references:

  1. Proverbs 30:32 : Mic. 7:16; See Job 21:5
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.

Posted on

The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Saturday December 25, 2021 (NIV)

Zechariah 8

8 1-2 The word of the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies, came, this time bringing a series of five short messages about hope.

Eternal One: First, I have a jealous desire to be among My people in Zion. I want it more than anything. I am burning with angry jealousy for her and her welfare.

3 Second, I will return to Zion and live in the heart of Jerusalem. So it will then be known far and wide as the City of Truth, and the mountain of the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies, will be called Holy Mountain.

4 Third, elderly men and women will sit in Jerusalem’s streets with staffs in hand because of their old age. 5 The city streets will bustle with boys and girls playing outside on the roads and in the squares.

Ultimately, God’s purpose is redeeming His fallen creation. He initiated His plan of redemption by calling and equipping the children of Abraham to be a light to the nations. Zechariah foresees a day when Jerusalem is the center of the world; when people of every race, creed, and color journey to it; and when the Jews show the rest of the world the way to the one True God.

After chapter 8, the Book of Zechariah changes—its tone, its character, its focus. Chapters 1–8 have been about the people and times immediately after the exile ended, a period when Persia ruled the world. Chapters 9–14 seem removed from that world, its people, and its interests—but just how far removed is uncertain. It is possible that these last chapters were not written by Zechariah, and the debate about who wrote them and when they were written has raged since Jesus died. In 27:9-10 of his Gospel, Matthew identifies the author as Jeremiah, a forerunner of Zechariah. More recent scholarship has further confused the matter because the setting in chapter 9 could describe any time in Jerusalem between Hezekiah’s rule before the exile and the Maccabean revolts 400 years later. This inability to positively identify the author and the audience, along with the lack of historical, contextual markers in the text itself, make these words universally applicable. They may even describe the end time when God judges the nations.

6 Fourth, this may come as a surprise to the remnant of these people, eking out an existence during these harsh days, but what is surprising to you is not for Me.

7 Fifth, I will rescue My people from far and wide, from east to west across the land, 8 and I will bring them home to live in peace in Jerusalem where they will be My people once more. I will be truthful and just to them as their God.

9 Here is an encouragement from the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies.

Eternal One: To those of you who have been listening recently to My words through the prophets, who were working for Me when the foundation of the house of the Eternal One was being laid just decades ago, keep yourselves strong so that the temple walls may now be built. 10 Before then no one could earn a living in Jerusalem or in exile. Neither men nor their animals could find work. No one could move about safely for fear of his enemies because I had turned every man against each other. 11 However, that was the past. I, the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies, promise I will not treat the remnant of My people as I once did. 12 What you witness now will be very different—a new day when seeds of peace will be sown in fertile soil. The seeds will grow into sheaves of wheat, and the vines will produce luscious grapes. The ground will yield its crops, and pleasant dew will again fall from the heavens. And I will give these things to My remnant as their inheritance. 13 Because you, people of Judah and Israel, were once the objects of scorn among the nations, I will rescue you and you will become a blessing. Don’t be afraid, and keep yourselves strong.

14 When your ancestors angered Me, I was determined to bring disaster to your generation as well as theirs, and I refused to change My plan. 15 All the same, I have now determined to do good for Jerusalem and the people of Judah. Don’t be afraid. 16 Here are the things you must do: Speak truth to each other. Pursue justice in your courts. Render decisions that reflect truth and bring peace to the community. 17 Do not conspire to bring harm against one another. Do not make promises you don’t intend to keep. I hate all these things.

So said the Eternal.

18 The word of the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies, came to me with three brief messages about a happy future for His people and the entire world.

Eternal One: 19 From now on, the fasting times of the fourth, fifth, seventh, and tenth months will be happy occasions and times of celebration for the people of Judah. So you should love truth and pursue peace.

20 Many people from many cities will come streaming to My holy city. 21 The citizens from one of these cities will approach the citizens of another and say, “You must come with me. Let’s journey to Jerusalem to seek the blessings of the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies, and ask for His favor directly. I am certainly going.”

22 That is why many people and powerful nations will come together as one to Jerusalem to seek the blessings of the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies, and ask for His favor directly.

Eternal One: 23 A day is coming when 10 men, people from every nation speaking every language will grab the cloak of a Jew and beg him, “Let us come with you because we have heard the True God is among you and we want Him to save us, too.”

The Voice (VOICE)

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.

Revelation 16

Just as God used the plagues to judge the Egyptians and deliver His people from bondage (Exodus 7–12), these plagues will help rescue God’s faithful servants.

16 Then I heard a great voice coming from the temple ordering the seven heavenly messengers.

A Voice: Go and pour out the seven bowls of the wrath of God upon the earth.

2 So the first messenger poured out his bowl onto the earth. When he did, a foul-smelling, painful sore broke out on each person who bore the mark of the beast and who worshiped its image.

3 The second messenger poured out his bowl into the sea. When he did, the waters became like the blood that spills from a dead body, and every living creature in the sea died.

4 The third messenger poured out his bowl into the rivers and springs of fresh water. When he did, they, too, became blood. 5 And I heard the messenger over the waters speak.

Messenger over the Waters: You are just, O holy One who is and who was,
for You have judged these things rightly.
6 Because people shed the blood of the saints and prophets,
You have given them blood to quench their thirst.
They are deserving of these punishments.

God’s judgment is true and just. Violent people are thirsty for blood, so God gives it to them. Sometimes judgment means receiving what you desire.

7 And I heard a voice from the altar agree.

A Voice: Yes, Lord God, the All Powerful,
true and right are Your judgments!

8 The fourth messenger poured out his bowl on the sun. When he did, the sun was permitted to blister people with its fire. 9 The incredible heat of the sun burned their skin; but instead of rethinking their actions[a] and glorifying God, they cursed God’s name because He had the power to carry out these plagues.

10 The fifth messenger poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast. When he did, its kingdom was blanketed in darkness. People chewed on their tongues out of the depth of their agony. 11 Still they refused to change their wicked ways,[b] so they cursed the God of heaven because of their painful afflictions and ulcerous sores.

12 The sixth messenger poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates. When he did, the river dried up and became a road so that the kings from the east and their armies could make their way. 13 What I saw next troubled me deeply: three foul spirits like frogs appeared, belched from the mouth of the dragon, the mouth of the beast, and the mouth of the earth-beast. 14 These frogs are demonic spirits. As they go into the world, they perform miracles persuading the kings of the world to gather for the last battle on the great day of God, the All Powerful.

The dragon, beast, and earth-beast are an unholy trinity who send out demonic spirits. These spirits resemble frogs and remind the reader of the plague of frogs that invaded Egypt before the exodus. These foul spirits roam the world, persuading the kings of the earth to assemble together to do battle against God and His chosen.

A Voice: 15 See, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the person who watches and waits, dressed and ready to go, so as not to wander about naked, exposed to disgrace.

16 And the kings gathered at the place called Har-Magedon in Hebrew.

Har-Magedon means Mount Megiddo and is sometimes transliterated “Armageddon.” This refers to the battleground where the armies of the earth, led by the forces of evil, will assemble to mount their final attack against God. This place is often associated with the plain of Megiddo in northern Israel because the fertile land there has often been turned into fields of blood during gruesome battles. In a place like this, for one last time, evil will raise its ugly head against good.

17 Finally, the seventh messenger poured out his bowl into the air. When he did, a great voice came out of the temple, from the throne.

A Voice: It is accomplished!

18 At the sound of the voice, there were flashes of lightning, sounds of voices, rumblings of thunder, and tremors of an earthquake. In all of human history, there had never been an earthquake of this magnitude. 19 The great city was torn into three parts, and the cities of all the nations fell. God remembered the great city, Babylon, and made her drink the cup of His fury and wrath. 20 Every island sank into the ocean, and no mountains were left to be discovered. 21 And great hailstones, each weighing nearly 100 pounds, fell from the sky onto the people until they cursed God because the plague of hail was so severe.

Footnotes:

  1. 16:9 Literally, repenting
  2. 16:11 Literally, repent
The Voice (VOICE)

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Psalm 144

Psalm 144

A song of David.

1 Blessed be the Eternal, my rock.
He trains my hands for war, gives me the skills I need for battle.
2 He is my unfailing love and my citadel.
He is my tower of strength and my deliverer.
He is my shield of protection and my shelter;
He holds my people in check under me.

3 O Eternal One, what is man, that You even care to know him?
or the son of man, that You are mindful of him?
4 Humans are like a passing breath;
their time on earth is like a shadow that passes over us during the day and soon is gone.

5 Eternal One, stretch out an opening in the heavens, and descend.
Touch the mountains, and make them smoke.
6 Send forth bolts of lightning, and scatter my enemies.
Shoot Your fiery arrows, and rout the enemy.
7 Reach down from Your high place;
save me out of the great waters;
rescue me from the grasp of these foreigners
8 Who speak only lies
and don’t have truth in their deeds.

9 To You, my God, I will sing a new song;
I will sing Your sweet praises to the sound of a ten-stringed harp,
10 For You deliver kings from their enemies
and You rescue Your servant, David, from the sword of evil.
11 Rescue me,
and save me from the grasp of these foreigners
Who speak only lies
and don’t have truth in their deeds.

12 May our sons be like healthy plants
as they grow and mature,
And may our daughters be like the corner pillars
that decorate a palace.
13 May our storehouses be full
with abundant supplies of every crop,
And may the flocks of our fields
multiply into thousands and tens of thousands!
14 May our cattle be strong and productive,
without miscarriage, without loss,
and may there be no riots or protests in our streets!

15 Happy are the people for whom all this is true;
happy are the people whose God is the Eternal!

The Voice (VOICE)

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Proverbs 30:29-31

29 There are three creatures with majesty in their stride,
no, make it four that move with grace:
30 The lion, which is the strongest of the animals,
does not back down from any other creature;
31 The strutting rooster, the male goat,
and a king as he goes out with his army.[a]

Footnotes:

  1. 30:31 Meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.
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The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Friday December 24, 2021 (NIV)

Zechariah 6-7

When Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem in 586 b.c., he carries her chief citizens off into exile in Babylon. Thousands don’t survive the brutal journey. Those who do must start their lives over in a hostile land where they are subjects of violence, slavery, and every manner of wickedness. That’s why Babylon becomes synonymous with evil. In this vision, the wickedness of Judah is contained and sent far away to Babylon, where it is not only tolerated but is worshiped. Civilization reaches its nadir when wickedness is worshiped.

6 That night I had an eighth vision. I looked up and saw four chariots emerging from between two mountains made of bronze. 2 The first chariot was pulled by red horses; the second was pulled by black horses. 3 The third was hitched to white horses and the fourth to spotted, strong horses.

A final vision echoes the first vision as four great spirits of heaven unleash judgment upon the whole earth.

Zechariah (to the heavenly messenger): 4 What are these, sir?

Heavenly Messenger: 5 These are the four winds of heaven that disperse His power and enact His will. They have been standing in the presence of the Lord of the whole earth awaiting His command. Now the Lord has dispatched them to patrol the earth. 6 The chariot pulled by black horses will travel to the north land, followed by the white horses and then the spotted horses, which travel to the south land.

7 The strong horses and their chariots went on their patrols of the earth with great speed and excitement at God’s command: “Go now. Patrol the entire surface of the earth.” They did as they were told.

Eternal One: 8 Watch, Zechariah. The horses going to the north land have appeased My restless, vengeful Spirit.

9 The word of the Eternal came to me describing how He would fulfill His promise of restoring Jerusalem and His temple.

Message: 10-11 Find three men who have returned to Jerusalem from exile in Babylon. Their names are Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah. Then collect money, silver and gold, from the Babylonians for rebuilding Jerusalem, and travel to the house of Josiah (Zephaniah’s son) who has also returned from Babylon. You will find Joshua (Jehozadak’s son) there. With the money you took from the Babylonians, fashion a crown for Joshua, the high priest, and place it on his head.

12 Once Joshua accepts the crown, tell him these words from the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies: “Pay attention to a man who is named ‘Branch.’ He will branch out from where He is and will build the Eternal’s temple. 13 Yes, He is the temple builder of the Eternal One and will carry honor. He will sit on the throne of His kingdom to rule, and He will sit on a throne as a priest. Between those two there will be a peace agreement.”

14 The crown will then be taken from Joshua’s head and placed in the temple of the Eternal One as a reminder to Heldai,[a] Tobijah, Jedaiah, and Josiah[b] (Zephaniah’s son). 15 People will come from great distances to assist with the building of the Eternal One’s temple. Tell the men, “If you do exactly what the Eternal, your True God, says, this will happen as you have seen and heard it. Then you will know for certain the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies, sent me to you.”

“Branch” is a prophetic title for the Anointed One, that royal descendant of David whom God will send to usher in a new age of justice, peace, and joy. In Zechariah’s day, the people wonder if Zerubbabel is that king. Ac cording to the prophet, God has designs on him as the one to rebuild the temple and occupy the throne, but he is not destined to reign alone as the Anointed One will. Zerubbabel reigns with Joshua, the high priest. Together they are anointed, acclaimed, and crowned leaders to watch over God’s people.

7 Two years after I saw the eight visions, on the fourth day of the ninth month (called Chislev) of the fourth year of the reign of Persian King Darius, the word of the Eternal came to me, Zechariah. 2 The situation was this: the citizens of Bethel had sent a delegation, including Sharezer and Regemmelech and his men, to seek the favor of the Eternal One 3 by questioning the priests working in the temple of the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies, and by questioning the prophets.

Delegation: During the fifth month of every year, I fast and mourn. Should I continue separating myself from the impure world on these occasions as I have for so many years?

4 The word of the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies came to me and told me how to address their question.

Message: 5 Ask the citizens of the land and the priests, “When you fasted and mourned during the fifth and seventh months for the last seventy years, were you really fasting for My benefit or just for yourselves? 6 When you were feasting on holy days, weren’t you just eating and drinking for yourselves instead of honoring Me? 7 Aren’t these the same directives the Eternal One gave you through the work of earlier prophets, when Jerusalem was bustling with people and prosperous, when the villages around Jerusalem throughout the south[c] and the western valleys were settled?”

8 The word of the Eternal came to me, Zechariah, again.

Message: 9 Here is what the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies, has to say: “Dispense true justice, have mercy on others, and show all people compassion. 10 Do not take advantage of those who have lost a spouse or a parent, or those who are outsiders or poor. Don’t purpose to do evil toward your fellow Israelites.”

11 Some refused to listen. They turned their backs on this message and plugged their ears. 12 They made their hearts as hard as flint, refusing to listen to the law or the messages the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies, sent by His Spirit and enacted through earlier prophets. That’s why His great wrath and calamity fell upon His people.

Eternal One: 13 When I called out, they chose not to hear Me, so when they called out, I returned the favor and decided not to hear them. 14 Like a sweeping tornado, I blew them throughout the nations, scattering them in distant lands where they were aliens, all alone. That’s how the land and its cities were emptied out and left so barren that no one even traveled through it. This is how your pleasant hills and valleys turned into empty lands.

Footnotes:

  1. 6:14 Hebrew manuscripts read, “Helem.”
  2. 6:14 Hebrew manuscripts read, “Hen.”
  3. 7:7 Hebrew, Negev
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Revelation 15

The New Testament God is not a God of fluffy love as some suppose. His judgment, while difficult to comprehend, is real; and fear of it should motivate repentance now.

15 Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and amazing: seven messengers with seven plagues—plagues that marked the end. With these the wrath of God reached its end.

2 And then I saw something like a sea made of glass mixed with fire flashing through it. Those who had been victorious over the beast, its image, and the number of its name were standing on the sea of glass, holding the harps of God in their hands. 3 As they stand and play their harps, they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb.

Victors: Great and amazing are Your works,
Lord God, the All Powerful.
Right and true are Your ways,
King of all nations.
4 Who will not fear You, Lord?
Who will not glorify Your name?
Because You alone are holy,
all the nations will come
and worship before You,
For Your righteous judgments have been revealed.

5 After I had taken all this in, I looked again; and the inner part of the tabernacle of witness opened in heaven. 6 Out of the temple came seven messengers, clothed in pure linen, bright and shining, their chests clad in a golden sash, carrying seven plagues. 7 Then one of the four living creatures stepped over to give to the seven messengers seven golden bowls brimming with the wrath of God who lives throughout the ages. 8 The temple was full of the smoke billowing from the magnificent glory of God and from His power, and no one could enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven messengers accomplished their God-ordained end.

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Psalm 143

Psalm 143

A song of David.

1 Eternal One, I come to You in prayer.
Hear me out; I plead with You.
Lend an ear to my requests.
In Your faithfulness and justice, respond to my pleas.
2 Be kind and slow to judge Your faithful servant,
for compared to You, no one is truly just.

3 My adversary has pressed in, drawn closer, threatened my life;
he’s crushed me, driven me underground.
He’s forced me to live in the dark;
it’s as if I joined those who died a long time ago.
4 That’s why my spirit is growing faint inside me; I have nothing left;
my heart is completely empty and desolate.

5 And yet I can’t forget the days of old, the days I’ve heard so much about;
I fix my mind on all You have done;
I ponder the work of Your hands;
6 I reach out my hands to You.
All that I am aches and yearns for You, like a dry land thirsting for rain.

[pause][a]

7 Hurry and answer me, O Eternal One,
for my spirit is weak, my courage is gone.
Do not turn away; let me see Your face;
otherwise, I’ll die and be like all those who have gone to the grave.
8 Make me hear of Your faithful love in the morning,
for I trust in You.
Teach me how I should walk,
for I offer my soul up to You.

9 Rescue me from my enemies, Eternal One,
for You are my shelter from them.
10 Teach me how to do Your will,
for You are my God.
Allow Your good Spirit to guide me
on level ground, to guide me along Your path.

11 For the sake of Your name and the good of Your reputation,
preserve me, O Eternal One.
In Your righteousness, save my life from burden and misery.
12 In Your loyal love, silence my enemies for good;
destroy all those who take pleasure in my suffering,
for I am Your faithful servant!

Footnotes:

  1. 143:6 Literally, selah, likely a musical direction from a Hebrew root meaning “to lift up”
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Proverbs 30:24-28

24 There are four creatures on earth that are small,
but they are very wise and we can learn from them:
25 While ants are hardly a strong species,
they work constantly to store up food during the summer;
26 While badgers are animals without many defenses,
they are wise enough to make their homes in the rocky cliffs;
27 While locusts live without a ruler,
they all know how to move in formation;
28 While a lizard is easy enough to catch in your hand,
it is shrewd enough to enter the palaces of kings.

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The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Thursday December 23, 2021 (NIV)

Zechariah 4-5

4 The heavenly messenger who had been talking with me returned and stirred me, as if I had been asleep. It was time for a fifth vision.

Heavenly Messenger: 2 What do you see before you?

A fifth vision shows the lamp of God’s grace completing what has begun.

Zechariah: I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl on top of it and seven oil lamps on it. Each of the seven lamps has a spout, which the wicks lie in to soak up oil as they’re burned. 3 There are also two olive trees nearby: one on the right and the other on the left of the bowl.

4 But what are these things, lord?

Heavenly Messenger: 5 Do you not know what they are?

Zechariah: No, lord. I don’t.

Heavenly Messenger (changing the subject): 6 The Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies, has said this to Zerubbabel: “Your strength and prowess will not be enough to finish My temple, but My Spirit will be.” And He says this to those thwarting Zerubbabel’s efforts: 7 “Who are you, O mighty mountain of opposition? Before Zerubbabel, you will become nothing more than a smooth plain, and he will quarry the capstone and bring it out to the sound of people shouting, ‘God, grant it Your grace! God bless it!’”

8 The word of the Eternal came to me again to reiterate what was just reported.

Heavenly Messenger: 9 Zerubbabel’s very own hands have laid the foundation of this new temple, and his hands will complete it. When he does, it will be clear to you that the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies, has sent me to you. 10 Now all who have frowned on the day when only slight progress was made to reconstruct the temple will celebrate when they see the stone that centers the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel, who will survey Jerusalem.

(finally answering his earlier question) The seven lamps on top of the lampstand are the eyes of the Eternal One, diligently searching the earth.

Zechariah (to the heavenly messenger): 11 What are the two olive trees, the ones on the right and left of the lampstand? What do these mean?

12 (persisting) And the two fruitful olive branches that extend toward the lampstand, the ones supported by the two gold pipes pouring out their gold oil—what do these mean?

Heavenly Messenger: 13 Do you not know what they are?

Zechariah: No, lord. I don’t.

Heavenly Messenger: 14 The olive trees are the two men who have been anointed with fresh oil, Zerubabbel and Joshua. They will rule Jerusalem jointly, one over politics and one over religion, and serve the Master over all the earth.

5 That night I had a sixth vision. I looked up and saw a large scroll flying.

Heavenly Messenger: 2 What do you see before you?

A sixth vision reveals the righteous ness held in God’s word, the true measure by which all are judged.

Zechariah: I see a large scroll flying. It’s at least 30 feet long and 15 feet wide.

Heavenly Messenger: 3 This scroll is God’s curse of judgment that blankets all the land. On one side, it is written that all who steal will be banished from the land. On the other side, it says that all who break their solemn vows will be banished. 4 The Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies, says, “I will dispatch this curse of judgment into the home of every thief and every perjurer who invokes My name. The decree will remain through the night in that house until it destroys everything, even its wood and stone.”

5 The heavenly messenger who had been talking with me went out. It was time for a seventh vision.

Heavenly Messenger: Look up. What do you see moving forward?

A seventh vision explains that the wickedness infecting the world will one day be contained by the agents of God.

Zechariah: 6 What is it?

Heavenly Messenger: It is a six-gallon basket[a] moving forward. Like the scroll, it, too, is a mark of judgment carrying the iniquity that they committed in the land.

7 Suddenly, the basket’s lead cover was lifted, and I saw a woman inside. She seemed to want out.

Heavenly Messenger: 8 This is Lady Wickedness.

The messenger pushed the woman back into the basket and replaced the basket’s stone (that is, its lead cover) over the mouth so she’d stay inside it. 9 Then in this vision, I looked up and saw two women moving forward with wings resembling the wings of storks. With the power of the wind in their wings, they lifted the basket up to a place somewhere far away, between heaven and earth.

Zechariah: 10 Where are they taking the basket?

Heavenly Messenger: 11 It is being delivered to the land of Shinar, which you know as Babylon. A temple is being built for it there; and once it is ready, they will put the basket on its own altar cart. Let the Babylonians worship what God has condemned.

Footnotes:

  1. 5:6 Hebrew, ephah
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Revelation 14

The number “666” stands in contrast to the perfection of the Lamb and the Spirit. Because this number is “the number of a person,” readers have tried to pin down the identity of this person throughout history. In John’s day, the name and title “Nero Caesar” was a likely candidate for the beast because Nero persecuted and executed believers, demanding obedience and even worship. Every era seems to have its Neros, those beastly characters who occupy seats of power and yet use their power to oppress God’s people. The speculation continues as to this person’s identity, but what has not changed is the message of hope in the midst of extreme persecution; that is the beauty proclaimed in this vision given to John.

14 The scene changed. I looked and saw the Lamb standing on top of Mount Zion, and with Him were the 144,000 who had His name and His Father’s name inscribed on their foreheads. 2 And I heard a voice from heaven roaring like a waterfall and clapping like thunder. The voice I heard was like a symphony of harpists playing their instruments. 3 As I watched, they began to sing a new song before the throne, the four living creatures, and the twenty-four elders. The only ones with the ability to learn this song were the 144,000 who had been rescued from the earth, 4 virgins who had not given themselves to sexual relations. They follow the Lamb wherever He goes. They have been purchased from among humanity as the firstfruits, set apart for God and the Lamb. 5 In their mouths, no lie was found; no blemish marred them.

6 I saw another messenger flying through midheaven. He carried an eternal gospel, bringing good news to all the citizens of the earth—every ethnicity, nation, language, and people.

Heavenly Messenger (with a loud voice): 7 Fear God. Give Him glory, for the time of judgment has arrived. Worship the One who fashioned heaven and earth and created the seas and the springs.

8 Another messenger, a second, came along.

Second Messenger: Fallen, fallen is Babylon, the great city! She has intoxicated all the nations with the wine of the wrath of her sexual perversion.

9 Another messenger, a third, followed.

Third Messenger (with a loud voice): Those who worship the beast and its image, and all who receive its mark on their foreheads or on their hands, 10 will be forced to drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured out undiluted into the cup of God’s anger. And they will face the torment of fire and the agony of sulfurous flames before the holy messengers and the Lamb. 11 The smoke of their torment will rise throughout the ages for eternity. Day and night will come and go without pause or cessation. There will be no end to the torture experienced by those who worship the beast and its image and by those who receive the mark of its name.

12 Here is the patient endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and remain faithful to Jesus.

13 Then I heard a voice call out from heaven.

A Voice: Record this: “Blessed are the dead who have died in the Lord from now until the end.”

Spirit: Yes, they will rest from their labors because their deeds remain with them.

14 Then I saw a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was one like the Son of Man, a golden wreath atop His head and a sharp sickle in His hand. 15 Another messenger proceeded from the temple and called with a loud voice to the One who sat on the cloud.

Heavenly Messenger: Take Your sickle and reap the harvest, because the harvest of the earth is full and ripe and because the time to harvest has come.

16 Then the One seated on the cloud swung His sickle over the earth, and the earth gave up its harvest.

17 Just then another messenger proceeded out of the heavenly temple. He also had a sharp sickle. 18 Then another messenger (the one with authority over fire) came out from the altar, and he called with a loud voice to the one who had the sharp sickle.

Messenger of Fire: Take your sharp sickle and gather together the clusters of grapes from the vines of the earth, for the grapes are ripe and ready for harvest.

19 So the heavenly messenger swung his sickle over the earth, gathered the fruit of the vine from the earth, and threw it into the great winepress, which is the wrath of God. 20 And the winepress was trampled outside of the city, and blood flowed from the winepress. The blood ran deep. It reached as high as the bridle on a horse and ran for the distance of about 185 miles.

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Psalm 142

Psalm 142

A contemplative prayer[a] of David while he hid in a cave.

1 I call out loudly to the Eternal One;
I lift my voice to the Eternal begging for His favor.
2 I let everything that’s going wrong spill out of my mouth;
I spell out all my troubles to Him.
3 When my spirit buckled under the burdens I bear,
You knew my way.
They conspired to trip me up and trap me
on the path where I was walking.
4 Take a look around and see—to the right, to the left—
no one is there who cares for me.
There’s no way out of here;
no one cares about the state of my soul.

5 You are the One I called to, O Eternal One.
I said, “You’re the only safe place I know;
You’re all I’ve got in this world.
6 Oh, let me know that You hear my cry
because I’m languishing and desperate;

Rescue me from those who torment me
because there’s no way I can stand up to them;
they are much too strong for me.
7 Lift my captive soul from this dark prison
so I may render to You my gratitude;
Then Your righteous people will gather around me
because You will treat me with astounding goodness.”

Footnotes:

  1. 142:title Hebrew, maskil
The Voice (VOICE)

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.

Proverbs 30:21-23

21 Three situations disturb the earth,
no, make it four that it cannot endure:
22 When a slave is elevated to king,
when a fool is full of fine food,
23 When a hated woman finally marries,
and when a serving girl takes possession of her mistress’s wealth.

The Voice (VOICE)

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.

Posted on

The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Thursday December 23, 2021 (NIV)

Zechariah 4-5

4 The heavenly messenger who had been talking with me returned and stirred me, as if I had been asleep. It was time for a fifth vision.

Heavenly Messenger: 2 What do you see before you?

A fifth vision shows the lamp of God’s grace completing what has begun.

Zechariah: I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl on top of it and seven oil lamps on it. Each of the seven lamps has a spout, which the wicks lie in to soak up oil as they’re burned. 3 There are also two olive trees nearby: one on the right and the other on the left of the bowl.

4 But what are these things, lord?

Heavenly Messenger: 5 Do you not know what they are?

Zechariah: No, lord. I don’t.

Heavenly Messenger (changing the subject): 6 The Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies, has said this to Zerubbabel: “Your strength and prowess will not be enough to finish My temple, but My Spirit will be.” And He says this to those thwarting Zerubbabel’s efforts: 7 “Who are you, O mighty mountain of opposition? Before Zerubbabel, you will become nothing more than a smooth plain, and he will quarry the capstone and bring it out to the sound of people shouting, ‘God, grant it Your grace! God bless it!’”

8 The word of the Eternal came to me again to reiterate what was just reported.

Heavenly Messenger: 9 Zerubbabel’s very own hands have laid the foundation of this new temple, and his hands will complete it. When he does, it will be clear to you that the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies, has sent me to you. 10 Now all who have frowned on the day when only slight progress was made to reconstruct the temple will celebrate when they see the stone that centers the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel, who will survey Jerusalem.

(finally answering his earlier question) The seven lamps on top of the lampstand are the eyes of the Eternal One, diligently searching the earth.

Zechariah (to the heavenly messenger): 11 What are the two olive trees, the ones on the right and left of the lampstand? What do these mean?

12 (persisting) And the two fruitful olive branches that extend toward the lampstand, the ones supported by the two gold pipes pouring out their gold oil—what do these mean?

Heavenly Messenger: 13 Do you not know what they are?

Zechariah: No, lord. I don’t.

Heavenly Messenger: 14 The olive trees are the two men who have been anointed with fresh oil, Zerubabbel and Joshua. They will rule Jerusalem jointly, one over politics and one over religion, and serve the Master over all the earth.

5 That night I had a sixth vision. I looked up and saw a large scroll flying.

Heavenly Messenger: 2 What do you see before you?

A sixth vision reveals the righteous ness held in God’s word, the true measure by which all are judged.

Zechariah: I see a large scroll flying. It’s at least 30 feet long and 15 feet wide.

Heavenly Messenger: 3 This scroll is God’s curse of judgment that blankets all the land. On one side, it is written that all who steal will be banished from the land. On the other side, it says that all who break their solemn vows will be banished. 4 The Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies, says, “I will dispatch this curse of judgment into the home of every thief and every perjurer who invokes My name. The decree will remain through the night in that house until it destroys everything, even its wood and stone.”

5 The heavenly messenger who had been talking with me went out. It was time for a seventh vision.

Heavenly Messenger: Look up. What do you see moving forward?

A seventh vision explains that the wickedness infecting the world will one day be contained by the agents of God.

Zechariah: 6 What is it?

Heavenly Messenger: It is a six-gallon basket[a] moving forward. Like the scroll, it, too, is a mark of judgment carrying the iniquity that they committed in the land.

7 Suddenly, the basket’s lead cover was lifted, and I saw a woman inside. She seemed to want out.

Heavenly Messenger: 8 This is Lady Wickedness.

The messenger pushed the woman back into the basket and replaced the basket’s stone (that is, its lead cover) over the mouth so she’d stay inside it. 9 Then in this vision, I looked up and saw two women moving forward with wings resembling the wings of storks. With the power of the wind in their wings, they lifted the basket up to a place somewhere far away, between heaven and earth.

Zechariah: 10 Where are they taking the basket?

Heavenly Messenger: 11 It is being delivered to the land of Shinar, which you know as Babylon. A temple is being built for it there; and once it is ready, they will put the basket on its own altar cart. Let the Babylonians worship what God has condemned.

Footnotes:

  1. 5:6 Hebrew, ephah
The Voice (VOICE)

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.

Revelation 14

The number “666” stands in contrast to the perfection of the Lamb and the Spirit. Because this number is “the number of a person,” readers have tried to pin down the identity of this person throughout history. In John’s day, the name and title “Nero Caesar” was a likely candidate for the beast because Nero persecuted and executed believers, demanding obedience and even worship. Every era seems to have its Neros, those beastly characters who occupy seats of power and yet use their power to oppress God’s people. The speculation continues as to this person’s identity, but what has not changed is the message of hope in the midst of extreme persecution; that is the beauty proclaimed in this vision given to John.

14 The scene changed. I looked and saw the Lamb standing on top of Mount Zion, and with Him were the 144,000 who had His name and His Father’s name inscribed on their foreheads. 2 And I heard a voice from heaven roaring like a waterfall and clapping like thunder. The voice I heard was like a symphony of harpists playing their instruments. 3 As I watched, they began to sing a new song before the throne, the four living creatures, and the twenty-four elders. The only ones with the ability to learn this song were the 144,000 who had been rescued from the earth, 4 virgins who had not given themselves to sexual relations. They follow the Lamb wherever He goes. They have been purchased from among humanity as the firstfruits, set apart for God and the Lamb. 5 In their mouths, no lie was found; no blemish marred them.

6 I saw another messenger flying through midheaven. He carried an eternal gospel, bringing good news to all the citizens of the earth—every ethnicity, nation, language, and people.

Heavenly Messenger (with a loud voice): 7 Fear God. Give Him glory, for the time of judgment has arrived. Worship the One who fashioned heaven and earth and created the seas and the springs.

8 Another messenger, a second, came along.

Second Messenger: Fallen, fallen is Babylon, the great city! She has intoxicated all the nations with the wine of the wrath of her sexual perversion.

9 Another messenger, a third, followed.

Third Messenger (with a loud voice): Those who worship the beast and its image, and all who receive its mark on their foreheads or on their hands, 10 will be forced to drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured out undiluted into the cup of God’s anger. And they will face the torment of fire and the agony of sulfurous flames before the holy messengers and the Lamb. 11 The smoke of their torment will rise throughout the ages for eternity. Day and night will come and go without pause or cessation. There will be no end to the torture experienced by those who worship the beast and its image and by those who receive the mark of its name.

12 Here is the patient endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and remain faithful to Jesus.

13 Then I heard a voice call out from heaven.

A Voice: Record this: “Blessed are the dead who have died in the Lord from now until the end.”

Spirit: Yes, they will rest from their labors because their deeds remain with them.

14 Then I saw a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was one like the Son of Man, a golden wreath atop His head and a sharp sickle in His hand. 15 Another messenger proceeded from the temple and called with a loud voice to the One who sat on the cloud.

Heavenly Messenger: Take Your sickle and reap the harvest, because the harvest of the earth is full and ripe and because the time to harvest has come.

16 Then the One seated on the cloud swung His sickle over the earth, and the earth gave up its harvest.

17 Just then another messenger proceeded out of the heavenly temple. He also had a sharp sickle. 18 Then another messenger (the one with authority over fire) came out from the altar, and he called with a loud voice to the one who had the sharp sickle.

Messenger of Fire: Take your sharp sickle and gather together the clusters of grapes from the vines of the earth, for the grapes are ripe and ready for harvest.

19 So the heavenly messenger swung his sickle over the earth, gathered the fruit of the vine from the earth, and threw it into the great winepress, which is the wrath of God. 20 And the winepress was trampled outside of the city, and blood flowed from the winepress. The blood ran deep. It reached as high as the bridle on a horse and ran for the distance of about 185 miles.

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The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.

Psalm 142

Psalm 142

A contemplative prayer[a] of David while he hid in a cave.

1 I call out loudly to the Eternal One;
I lift my voice to the Eternal begging for His favor.
2 I let everything that’s going wrong spill out of my mouth;
I spell out all my troubles to Him.
3 When my spirit buckled under the burdens I bear,
You knew my way.
They conspired to trip me up and trap me
on the path where I was walking.
4 Take a look around and see—to the right, to the left—
no one is there who cares for me.
There’s no way out of here;
no one cares about the state of my soul.

5 You are the One I called to, O Eternal One.
I said, “You’re the only safe place I know;
You’re all I’ve got in this world.
6 Oh, let me know that You hear my cry
because I’m languishing and desperate;

Rescue me from those who torment me
because there’s no way I can stand up to them;
they are much too strong for me.
7 Lift my captive soul from this dark prison
so I may render to You my gratitude;
Then Your righteous people will gather around me
because You will treat me with astounding goodness.”

Footnotes:

  1. 142:title Hebrew, maskil
The Voice (VOICE)

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.

Proverbs 30:21-23

21 Three situations disturb the earth,
no, make it four that it cannot endure:
22 When a slave is elevated to king,
when a fool is full of fine food,
23 When a hated woman finally marries,
and when a serving girl takes possession of her mistress’s wealth.

The Voice (VOICE)

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.

Posted on

The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Wednesday December 22, 2021 (NIV)

Zechariah 2-3

2 That night I had a third vision. I looked up and saw a man with a measuring line in his hand.

Zechariah: 2 Where are you going with that?

Surveyor: I am going to measure the city of Jerusalem to find out how wide and how long it is so that a wall may be built around it.

A third vision looks forward to a time of restoration and the coming of God’s Anointed One when things will be set right.

3 Then the heavenly messenger who had been answering my questions since my first vision left my side, and a second messenger came and met him.

Second Messenger: 4 Go quickly, and tell that young surveyor with the measuring line, “Jerusalem will be a city without walls because of the vast number of people and all their domesticated animals living in it.” 5 For the Eternal One says, “Instead of a wall of stone, I will be a wall of fire protecting her all around, and I will be the shining glory within her.”

Eternal One (to Zechariah): 6 Tell all the Israelites to hear My message: “Up! Flee from your oppressors in the north. I have scattered you far across this earth, as if you were the four winds of heaven, and now I call you to return.” 7 Then tell My people in Jerusalem to hear My message: “Escape from subservience to daughter Babylon and go to Zion!”

8 So said the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies.

After His glory has arrived in the city, He will send me to the nations that stripped you bare, Jerusalem, because any nation who harms you harms the apple of His eye.

Eternal One: 9 Watch what I’m going to do: I am ready to wave My hand over them to command punishment, and their own slaves will turn against them and strip them bare.

When these things happen, you will know the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies, has sent me as His prophet.

Eternal One: 10 Sing out loud and be happy, daughter Zion, because you will see Me coming and I will live among you. I, the Eternal One, promise this. 11 When that day comes, many other nations will join with Me, and their people will become My people. Still I will live among you, my covenant people.

When these things happen, you will know the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies, has sent me to you. 12 The Eternal will inherit Judah as His share in the holy land, and He will again choose Jerusalem as His city. 13 Hush, all people! Be silent before the Eternal, for He has awakened and has come in glory to Jerusalem from His holy home in heaven.

3 Then the heavenly messenger showed me a fourth vision: Joshua, the high priest, was standing in front of the Eternal’s Special Messenger who was presiding over a heavenly council meeting. Standing to Joshua’s right was the one called the Accuser.[a] He was ready to argue that Joshua was unworthy to serve as high priest.

In this vision Zechariah sees a heavenly court. Joshua the high priest is on trial, charged with impurity and accused of being unfit to serve as high priest. The Accuser appears in the role of a prosecuting attorney, bringing charges and attempting to undermine the credibility of the one person God wants to lead His people. But the Judge will have none of it.

Eternal One (to the Accuser): 2 I am reprimanding you, Accuser. I, the Eternal One, have chosen Jerusalem as My own, saved her from My fiery wrath as if she were a wooden poker just pulled from destruction in a fire.

3 Joshua stood motionless before the Eternal’s messenger, still dressed in filth-covered clothes, as if recently returned from captivity.

Special Messenger of the Eternal (to the other heavenly council members): 4 Remove the filth-covered clothes from this man.

(to Joshua) Just as I have taken away your dirty clothes, I have taken away your guilt from you. In place of those clothes, I will dress you in pure, expensive garments. Then you will be ready to serve God and lead the festival.

Zechariah (to the Eternal’s Special Messenger): 5 Your fellow council members should put a pure turban befitting of the high priest on his head. It will indicate his dignity.

So they placed a pure turban on his head and finished dressing him in his new clothes while the Eternal’s Special Messenger stood by, supervising the cleansing. Joshua could now safely approach God.

6 The Eternal’s Special Messenger then stood before Joshua and cautioned him.

Special Messenger of the Eternal: 7 Listen to what the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies, has to say: “If you bind yourself to Me, walk according to My teachings, and perform your priestly duties without fail; then you will be in charge of My house in Jerusalem, you will organize the activities in the courtyards surrounding the most holy place, and I will give you a place among all My heavenly council members gathered here. 8 Listen to Me, Joshua the high priest—you and your colleagues who maintain the temple alongside you. These men are a sign of wonders to come. Watch, because I am going to bring My servant, who is the Branch of David, to lead you.” 9 The Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies, has this to say: “You will see the stone I set before Joshua: on it are seven eyes, on it I will engrave a special word, and in a single day I will purge guilt from the land. 10 And on that day I, the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies, promise everyone will invite one another to sit under the shade of his own vine and fig tree and be at peace.”

Footnotes:

  1. 3:1 Literally, the satan
The Voice (VOICE)

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.

Revelation 13

13 I saw a beast with ten horns and seven heads rising out of the blackness of the sea. On its horns hung ten crowns, and on its heads were inscribed blasphemous names. 2 This beast was like a leopard, its feet were like the claws of a bear, and its mouth was like the jaws of a lion. The dragon bestowed it with his power and his throne and his great authority. 3 One of the beast’s heads appeared to have suffered a fatal blow, but its mortal wound had somehow been healed. Amazed at the miracle and its power, all the earth followed the beast. 4 People worshiped the dragon because he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast because of its power.

Earth: Who can match the beast? Who can fight against it?

The beast emerges from the murky waters resembling the dragon; but it has other features, too, that resemble the four beasts as described in Daniel 7. Daniel, in his visions, learns that the beasts represent the empires that terrorized Israel and the rest of the world: the Babylonians, Persians, Medes, and Greeks. Prophetic images are difficult to identify. The beast in John’s vision could be none other than the Roman Empire or another empire to come later. Rome has its own beastly authority, the Caesar, who demands worship. “Caesar is Lord,” they dare to claim. But John knows better. In every generation, powerful people and institutions arise—political predators that demand loyalty, sometimes even worship.

5 And the beast was given a mouth that bellowed arrogant boasts and uttered great blasphemies, and it was permitted to do what it willed for 42 months. 6 Its mouth opened with a stream of insults against God, blaspheming His name, cursing His dwelling and those who live in heaven. 7 Also it received permission to declare war against the saints and conquer them. Not a single nation, people, language, or ethnicity could escape its dominion. 8 The inhabitants of the earth will worship it, that is, all those whose names have not been recorded before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slaughtered.

9 Let the person who is able to hear, listen carefully.

10 If someone is destined for captivity,
a captive he will be.
If someone is destined [to die][a] by the sword,
by the sword he will die.

The endurance and faithfulness of the saints will be tested here.

11 As I watched, I saw a second beast, this one rising up from the earth. It had two horns like a lamb, but it was speaking with the voice of a dragon.

The second beast, which later becomes “the false prophet,” has horns like the lamb; but its true nature is revealed in its dragon-like voice. Many pretenders and posers exist in the spiritual world. This new beast wants the world to believe it represents the True God, the only King worthy of worship. But it’s a deceiver, a counterfeit of the true King; it steals devotion away from the one true God, producing signs to dazzle the inhabitants of the earth.

12 This earth-beast exercises all of the authority given to it by the first beast, and it forces the earth and all its inhabitants to bow down and worship the first beast, whose mortal wound had been healed. 13 And the earth-beast performs fantastic miracles. Like Elijah on Mount Carmel, it even causes fire to blaze down from heaven to earth for all to see. 14 Since it is allowed to perform these miracles in the presence of the first beast, the earth-beast deceives the inhabitants of the earth, commanding them to make an image of the first beast that had survived the mortal wound inflicted by the sword. 15 And the earth-beast was granted permission to breathe into the image and to animate it so that it could even speak. It decreed that those who refuse to worship the image of the first beast must be killed, 16 and the earth-beast mandates that all humans must carry a mark on their right hands or foreheads: both great and small, both rich and poor, both free and slave.

The beast demands worship and requires all to carry its mark. Those who don’t face severe punishment.

17 Those who do not carry this mark, that is, those who do not have the name of the first beast or the number representing its name inscribed on them, are not allowed to sell their wares or buy in the market.

18 Here is divine wisdom: let anyone who understands these mysteries figure out the number of the beast because it is the number of a person. Its number is 666.[b]

Footnotes:

  1. 13:10 Other manuscripts read “to kill.”
  2. 13:18 Some manuscripts read 616.
The Voice (VOICE)

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.

Psalm 141

Psalm 141

A song of David.

1 O Eternal One, I call upon You.
Come quickly!
Listen to my voice as I call upon You!
2 Consider my prayer as an offering of incense that rises before You;
when I stand with my hands outstretched pleading toward the heavens,
consider it as an evening offering.

3 Guard my mouth, O Eternal One;
control what I say.
Keep a careful watch on every word I speak.
4 Don’t allow my deepest desires to steer me toward doing what is wrong
or associating with wicked people
Or joining in their wicked works
or tasting any of their pleasures.

5 Let those who do right strike me down in kindness
and correct me in love.
Their kind correction washes over my head like pure oil;
do not let me be foolish and refuse such compassion.
Still my prayer is against the deeds of the wicked:
6 Their judges will be thrown from the edges of cliffs and crushed upon the rocks below,
and the wicked will hear my words and realize that what I said was pleasing.
7 Just as when a farmer plows and breaks open the earth, leaving clumps of dirt scattered along the rows,
our bones are scattered at the mouth of the grave.

8 My gaze is fixed upon You, Eternal One, my Lord;
in You I find safety and protection.
Do not abandon me and leave me defenseless.
9 Protect me from the jaws of the trap my enemies have set for me
and from the snares of those who work evil.
10 May the wicked be caught in their own nets
while I alone escape unharmed.

The Voice (VOICE)

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.

Proverbs 30:18-20

18 There are three mysteries I find absolutely amazing,
no, make it four I cannot comprehend:
19 The way an eagle flies through the sky,
the way a snake moves over a rock,
The way a boat glides through the middle of the sea,
and the way a man becomes one with his virgin wife.

20 An adulterous woman is so cavalier by nature.
When she’s done, it is as if she washed after eating
and then says, “I have done nothing wrong.”

The Voice (VOICE)

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.