The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Tuesday September 5, 2017 (NIV)

Ecclesiastes 10-12

10 As dead flies spoil the perfumer’s oil,
so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
The mind of the wise tends toward the right,
but the mind of the fool toward the left.
Fools lack all sense even when they walk down the street;
they show everyone that they are fools.
If a ruler’s temper rises against you,
don’t leave your post, because calmness alleviates great offenses.

There’s an evil that I have seen under the sun: the kind of mistake that comes from people in power. Fools are appointed to high posts, while the rich sit in lowly positions. I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes walk on foot like slaves.

Whoever digs a pit may fall into it,
and whoever breaks through a wall
may be bitten by a snake.
Whoever quarries stones may be injured by them;
whoever splits logs
may be endangered by them.
10 If an ax is dull
and one doesn’t sharpen it first,
then one must exert more force.
It’s profitable to be skillful and wise.
11 If a snake bites before it’s charmed,
then there’s no profit
for the snake charmer.
12 Words from a wise person’s mouth are beneficial, but fools are devoured by their own lips.
13 Fools start out talking foolishness and end up speaking awful nonsense.
14 Fools talk too much! No one knows what will happen; no one can say what will happen in the future.
15 The hard work of fools tires them out because they don’t even know the way to town!
16 Too bad for you, land,
whose king is a boy
and whose princes feast in the morning.
17 Happy is the land
whose king is dignified
and whose princes feast at the right time for energy,
not for drunkenness.
18 Through laziness, the roof sags;
through idle hands, the house leaks.
19 Feasts are made for laughter,
wine cheers the living,
and money answers everything.[a]

20 Don’t curse a king even in private; don’t curse the rich in your bedroom, because a bird could carry your voice; some winged creature could report what you said!

Take risks; life is short

11 Send your bread out on the water because, in the course of time, you may find it again. Give a portion to seven people, even to eight: you don’t know what disaster may come upon the land. If clouds fill up, they will empty out rain on the earth. If a tree falls, whether to the south or to the north, wherever it falls, there it will lie. Those who watch the wind blow will never sow, and those who observe the clouds will never reap. Just as you don’t understand what the life-breath does in the fetus[b] inside a pregnant woman’s womb, so you can’t understand the work of God, who makes everything happen. Scatter your seed in the morning, and in the evening don’t be idle because you don’t know which will succeed, this one or that, or whether both will be equally good.

Sweet is the light, and it’s pleasant for the eyes to see the sun. Even those who live many years should take pleasure in them all. But they should be mindful that there will also be many dark days. Everything that happens is pointless.

Rejoice, young person, while you are young! Your heart should make you happy in your prime. Follow your heart’s inclinations and whatever your eyes see, but know this: God will call you to account for all of these things. 10 Remove anxiety from your heart, banish pain from your body, because youth and the dawn of life are pointless too.

Troubling days to come

12 Remember your creator in your prime,
before the days of trouble arrive,
and those years, about which you’ll say, “I take no pleasure in these”—
before the sun and the light grow dark, the moon and the stars too,
before the clouds return after the rain;
on the day when the housekeepers tremble and the strong men stoop;
when the women who grind stop working because they’re so few,
and those who look through the windows grow dim;
when the doors to the street are shut,
when the sound of the mill fades,
the sound of the bird rises,
and all the singers come down low;
when people are afraid of things above
and of terrors along the way;
when the almond tree blanches, the locust droops,
and the caper-berry comes to nothing;[c]
when the human goes to the eternal abode,
with mourners all around in the street;
before the silver cord snaps and the gold bowl shatters;
the jar is broken at the spring and the wheel is crushed at the pit;
before dust returns to the earth as it was before
and the life-breath returns to God who gave it.

Motto and conclusion

Perfectly pointless, says the Teacher, everything is pointless.

Additionally: Because the Teacher was wise, he constantly taught the people knowledge. He listened and investigated. He composed many proverbs. 10 The Teacher searched for pleasing words, and he wrote truthful words honestly.

11 The words of the wise are like iron-tipped prods;
the collected sayings of the masters
are like nails fixed firmly by a shepherd.[d]
12 Be careful, my child, of anything beyond them!

There’s no end to the excessive production of scrolls. Studying too much wearies the body. 13 So this is the end of the matter; all has been heard. Worship God and keep God’s commandments because this is what everyone must do. 14 God will definitely bring every deed to judgment, including every hidden thing, whether good or bad.

Footnotes:

  1. Ecclesiastes 10:19 Or money is everyone's answer.
  2. Ecclesiastes 11:5 Correction with Tg; MT like the bones
  3. Ecclesiastes 12:5 Heb uncertain
  4. Ecclesiastes 12:11 Or fixed by one shepherd
Common English Bible (CEB)

Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible

2 Corinthians 8:1-15

Encouragement to give generously

Brothers and sisters, we want to let you know about the grace of God that was given to the churches of Macedonia. While they were being tested by many problems, their extra amount of happiness and their extreme poverty resulted in a surplus of rich generosity. I assure you that they gave what they could afford and even more than they could afford, and they did it voluntarily. They urgently begged us for the privilege[a] of sharing in this service for the saints. They even exceeded our expectations, because they gave themselves to the Lord first and to us, consistent with God’s will. As a result, we challenged Titus to finish this work of grace with you the way he had started it.

Be the best in this work of grace in the same way that you are the best in everything, such as faith, speech, knowledge, total commitment, and the love we inspired in you. I’m not giving an order, but by mentioning the commitment of others, I’m trying to prove the authenticity of your love also. You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Although he was rich, he became poor for our sakes, so that you could become rich through his poverty.

10 I’m giving you my opinion about this. It’s to your advantage to do this, since you not only started to do it last year but you wanted to do it too. 11 Now finish the job as well so that you finish it with as much enthusiasm as you started, given what you can afford. 12 A gift is appreciated because of what a person can afford, not because of what that person can’t afford, if it’s apparent that it’s done willingly. 13 It isn’t that we want others to have financial ease and you financial difficulties, but it’s a matter of equality. 14 At the present moment, your surplus can fill their deficit so that in the future their surplus can fill your deficit. In this way there is equality. 15 As it is written, The one who gathered more didn’t have too much, and the one who gathered less didn’t have too little.[b]

Common English Bible (CEB)

Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible

Psalm 49

Psalm 49

For the music leader. A psalm of the Korahites.

49 Listen to this, all you people!
Listen closely, all you citizens of the world—
people of every kind,
rich and poor alike!
My mouth speaks wisdom;
my heart’s meditation is full of insight.
I will pay close attention to a proverb;
I will explain my riddle on the lyre.

Why should I be afraid in times of trouble,
when the wrongdoing of my bullies engulfs me—
those people who trust in their fortunes
and boast of their fantastic wealth?
Wealth? It can’t save a single person!
It can’t pay a life’s ransom-price to God.
The price to save someone’s life is too high—
wealth will never be enough—
no one can live forever
without experiencing the pit.

10 Everyone knows that the wise die too,
just like foolish and stupid people do,
all of them leaving their fortunes to others.
11 Their graves[a] are their eternal homes,
the place they live for all generations,
even if they had counties named after them!
12 People won’t live any longer because of wealth;
they’re just like the animals that pass away.

13 That’s how it goes for those who are foolish,
as well as for those who follow their lead, pleased with their talk.
Selah
14 Like sheep, they’re headed straight for the grave.[b]
Death will be their shepherd—
but those who do right in their hearts will rule over them come morning!—
their forms wasting away in the grave
rather than having some dignified residence.[c]
15 But God will save my life from the power of the grave,
because he will take me. Selah

16 Don’t be overly impressed when someone becomes rich,
their house swelling to fantastic proportions,
17 because when they die, they won’t take any of it with them.
Their fantastic things won’t accompany them down under.
18 Though they consider themselves blessed during their lives,
and even thank you when you deal well with them,[d]
19 they too will join the ancestors who’ve gone ahead;
they too will never see the light again.
20 Wealthy people? They just don’t understand;
they’re just like the animals
that pass away.

Footnotes:

  1. Psalm 49:11 Correction with LXX
  2. Psalm 49:14 Heb Sheol; also again in 49:7, 15
  3. Psalm 49:14 Heb uncertain in 49:13-14
  4. Psalm 49:18 LXX, Syr
Common English Bible (CEB)

Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible

Proverbs 22:20-21

20 Haven’t I written for you thirty[a] sayings
full of advice and knowledge?
21 Their purpose is to teach you true, reliable words,
so you can report back reliably to those who sent you.

Footnotes:

  1. Proverbs 22:20 Heb uncertain
Common English Bible (CEB)

Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible

8/11/2017 DAB Transcript

Nehemiah 1:1-3:14; 1 Corinthians 7:1-24; Psalms 31:19-24; Proverbs 21:4

Today is the 11th day of August. Welcome to the Daily Audio Bible. I’m Brian. It is wonderful to be here with you today. And as we are take the next up forward in the adventure that we are on, following the pathway that leads through the scriptures in a year, we have now come to a new book in the Old Testament, the book of Nehemiah. And the book of Nehemiah is one of the books of history in the bible, as the bible is kind of grouped. And it’s going to up, pretty much, where we left off with Ezra. And Christian tradition offers that Ezra is likely the author of Ezra and Nehemiah because they were at one time a single text. But Nehemiah was a real person. He was a Jewish exile in Persia and he hears of what’s going on with the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. And Nehemiah is high ranking. He’s a direct servant to the king and he has a passion to rebuild the wall. So, he knows his brethren have returned from exile and of begun to rebuild the temple but he gets a passion in his heart to rebuild the wall protecting Jerusalem because he sees that the temple is the heart of the Jewish culture but he also sees that there’s nothing to protect it. And, so, his heart moves in that direction, to rebuild the wall, which presents many metaphors for our lives right there. Nehemiah faces all kinds of opposition but he’s perseverant. He’s smart. We’re going to see this. It’s a great book. He remains single minded. He remains committed. He remains tenacious. Not to mention that he has completely put himself out there. He is utterly dependent on God. These are all things required for a successful life of faith. So, the wall is rebuilt in record time. Nehemiah returns to Persia and he is able to come back a couple years later only to find a strong wall and an incredibly weak people. And, so, he then sets about the task of restoring Israel to its glory before the Lord, which brings about revival in the land, repentance through the reading of the law, of the Hebrew story. So, Nehemiah isn’t just a great story or piece of history. It full of metaphor for our lives and we will certainly find ourselves in its pages. And, so, with that we begin Nehemiah chapter 1 verse 1 through 3 verse 14. And we’re reading from the Good News translation this week.

Commentary:

Ok. The book of Nehemiah is a place that we land each year and I love coming to this oasis. Because we’ve been moving through…ya know…a lot of kings…and goings on…and exile…and destruction…and…being carried off…and being returned…and just a lot of that for quite a while and it’s very important. And then then we get Ezra and we see that God does not forget and He brings his people back. And they begin to rebuild the temple because where else would they start. I mean, the restoration of the temple is more than a symbol to them. It’s the restoration of the heart of the people and the connection to God. So, that’s where they would start. But when we get to Nehemiah this really interesting thing that happens because it really shows us God’s call and then a person, kind of, discerning that call, preparing for that call, leaping into that call but soberly and truly counting the cost of leadership and then beginning to work. So, we just read the story but Nehemiah is the cup bearer to the king. So, he has access to the emperor of Persia every day but he’s a Hebrew and he knows that many exiles have returned to Jerusalem. And, so, he’s trying to keep in touch with that story but they’re a long way from Jerusalem. And, so, you know, he just takes the news as it comes and what he finds out is that it’s pretty hard going. The city of Jerusalem was completely destroyed when the Babylonians took over. So, the people have gone back and its rubble. So, it’s all just been knocked down. It’s burned up. Everything is destroyed. So, they’ve kind of got to wade through, find the remnants of the temple, kind of figure out how to go from there and this is a very, very tedious, kind of, earthmoving kind of thing where allot of things have to be moved out of the way. And, so, Nehemiah’s hearing this. It’s tough going. And he realizes that the temple is being rebuilt and there’s nothing to protect it and that really, really, sinks into his heart. That really, really affects him on an emotional level, that the temple of the most high God is standing within the rubble of a city that was utterly destroyed because the people rejected and walked away from their God and brought these things upon themselves. But now God is giving an opportunity for restoration. And the restoration is happening but everyone is exposed. Even the temple is exposed. There’s nothing to protect it and that bothers him. And, so, he begins to fast and he begins to pray and he begins to kind of move into this desire that is emerging in him. He wants to see the wall of Jerusalem rebuilt so that Gods temple is protected and revered and honored. And, so, he begins to get this desire but the way that he focuses that energy isn’t into drawing up all the plans that he’s going to do and the team he needs assemble and the way they need to plan this. What he does is, he begins to intercede diligently for the people in the place that he is going to go, should God allow him to press into this desire in rebuilding the wall. So, his heart is in intercession to God for the people that are there doing the work on the temple. Four months later…alright this is burning inside Nehemiah…its four months later that he finally has the opportunity to tell the emperor what’s going on inside of his heart. And the emperor, four months later, agrees to let him go and rebuild. And he does. But he goes prepared. The emperor’s willing to send him a guard along that path, which is a long way. He takes it. He’s also given the ability to reach out for supplies that he’s going to need including the supplies that it’s going to take to create a dwelling for himself. So, he plans to plant himself there during this work even though he’s going to be summoned back to Persia. He’s making preparations for what he’s going to need to do this job. He’s got the paperwork that he needs. Right? All the building permits, as it were. He’s got everything that he needs to give to all of those who are in authority governing the place of Jerusalem. And then he goes and makes the trip and he arrives and he makes the connections that he needs to make but he doesn’t, you know, go through the broken gates among the rubble following pathways that have been built just to get around to try to find leaders to try to get up on a large rock and declare, I Nehemiah am here. He’s totally, completely, low key. He comes in and gets some rest and begins to observe. He has a burning passion but he’s just observing the lay of the land. And, so, as he’s observing the people and the lay of the land and the destruction of Jerusalem, the purpose, the passion that he has is for the wall. And so, he sneaks out at night when no one knows, takes a couple people with him, and walks around the broken down walls of the city, surveying everything. Before he invites any other voices into the mix, anything like that, he goes out and systematically surveys everything that’s going to need to be done before he makes any kind of announcement about why he’s there. So, he arrives and sees, actually, what has to be done, assesses the situation before he says anything. This is so helpful because this pattern, this model can be used in just about any situation in our lives. It’s not magic. Right? I mean, it’s not magic. Like he’s not going to have any problems. As we will see, he’s going to have to face plenty of obstacles. The difference is he’s prepared for them. He knows exactly what’s going on. He’s totally not making this up as he goes. Allot times when we feel that call, that passion rise up in us, that God is introducing us or inviting us into a new season, and there’s going to be some new things and we begin to think about it and dream about it get more excited about it and we can’t wait and then we just go. But Nehemiah took months, he took a long, long time. Not only did he take months to intercede for the people in Jerusalem, it took him months to get to Jerusalem. So, there’s a lot of prayer and preparation that went into this before he even left Persia. And as we will see, this posture of leadership that Nehemiah exhibits is necessary. It’s what’s going to help lead this thing forward.

Prayer:

Father, we thank You for another day in Your word. And as we approach the book of Nehemiah, we invite Your Holy Spirit because it truly is helpful and practical in our lives. I mean, every page of Your word is practical and helpful to our lives and some things deal with what’s going on inside of us and other things give us common, solid, true advice about how to approach life on planet earth, walking with You, following You and what You lead us into. And, so, Nehemiah is such a book. And, so, come Holy Spirit, as we work our way through it. We ask, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Announcements:

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And of course, as always, if you have a prayer request or comment 877-942-4253 is the number to dial.

And that’s it for today. I’m Brian I love you and I’ll be waiting for you here tomorrow.

Community Prayers and Praise Reports:

Hi Daily Audio Bible. It’s Margo from Australia. It’s, actually, kind of my first call. I did call last week but had a really bad line and you really couldn’t understand it. I only found out about DAB a few weeks ago I have instantly loved it. I know I’ve got limited time, so I want to get straight to the point because I feel so desperate for prayer right now. My 20-year-old son, his name is Elliot, he was in very bad car crash nearly four months ago and I nearly lost him. He was on a comma in ICU and then in hospital for about a month. He is recovering incredibly well, thanks be to God and many, many, many people praying for him. But for the last two years he’s been in a toxic relationship with a girl who is really bad for him. We have prayed and prayed and prayed about this relationship and since his accident she’s only gotten worse. She has been so nasty and has caused him and half of his family so much pain and suffering. And now she’s almost effectively turned him against us. Elliot is blind to her manipulations and he seems to be under her power. He’s angry at me. He’s very cold towards me. After nearly losing him to death I now feel so rejected by him. Would you please pray for him? I feel so desperate. His anger towards me is so painful and all I ever did was love him. Please pray that he’ll see the truth and the truth will set him free and that the stronghold will be broken in his life. And please pray that God will give me strength to bear what I need to bear. Thank you for praying and God bless you all.

Good afternoon Daily Audio Bible family. This is Lee from New Jersey. Today is August 7th. Yes. And it is a rainy, rainy Monday. And I’m on my way back home from work and just wanted to call in and thank you doctor Jordan. I am sorry that I couldn’t meet up with man. I hope you had a great time on your birthday and down here at East Side Heights, which is a great place to be during the summer time. So, blessings to you and your family. Also, just wanted to call and thank all of you that are continuously praying for my family, for myself, my salvation, the salvation of my family. I also wanted to mention that I share a birthday with a twin sister. Her name is Dianna. And she’s lost. She’s been lost for a few years now. She’s lost her two children. She’s addicted to drugs. She’s actually selling herself. And I haven’t seen her for over two years. And no one knows her whereabouts. So, family, please pray for my sister. Pray for Dianna. Please pray for God’s intervention, that she’ll seek help, that she’ll look to get better and forget about any mistakes that she made. And, you know, coming to God. That’s what it’s all about. So, just asking for our prayer warriors, our friends and family that’s out there just to pray on our behalf our intercession. I just want to say that I love you all and I’ll be calling back soon.

Hi. This is Ola from Athens calling. I had a leading from God to do this for a while now but I was basically feeling uncomfortable about it but I still need to obey. So, here goes. It’s about giving to the Daily Audio Bible. I’ve been a one-and-a-half-year listener and a couple of months ago God led me to start to give to this ministry because, I mean, it’s doing awesome things in my life and your life as well. I struggled because of financial obligations with the family, with kids, with work, and all of that. And God laid in my heart to give part of my tithe to this ministry because, the truth is, this ministry saved me even more than my home church because I listen on a daily basis I get prayers, I get commentary from Brian. I mean, it’s almost like church in the house for me. And this was the revelation that God gave me concerning the Daily Audio Bible. So, I committed to God to give a portion of my tithe to this ministry. So, I don’t know who this is for. I don’t know who really wants to support this ministry and is struggling financially and thinks, ‘oh where  am I going to get the money from’. This is what God asked me to do. I have done it. And it’s my job to obey. It’s His job to turn the hearts of men to listen and be convicted as well. But please, please, there are many, many, ways - many ways God will lead you to give if you have a heart to give. Thank you and God bless.

Hey family. This is Pastor Gene from Bradenton, Florida. I love you very much. I’m returning from the airport from dropping Pastor John, who is going for major surgery in San Diego. I pray that you guys will help me pray for him, that everything will go according to the Lord’s will and that He will keep my husband safe and that the surgery will be a success. And I just want to pray with you guys now. Let’s pray. Father, I thank You very much for my brothers and sisters, whom I love very much. I want to testify to Your goodness and greatness during our youth camp. You worked mightily and we are so grateful to You Father. We also recognize the attacks of the enemy that have followed after the camp, an expected strategy from the enemy. But we declare that no weapon forced against us will prosper and we are more than conquerors in Your name. Father, thank You for affirming the word that You have started in each one of those young people as we continue our work with them as the months go by. Father, I want to thank you for my sister, Sharon, from California, I believe. She’s an older lady. She says she has struggled with depression most of her life and she says that she’s given up. But she hasn’t because she was motivated enough to reach out to us for prayer and that shows that she has hope. She has hope that prayer works. And, so, we come before You and we call upon Your name on behalf of our sister and we pray for a miracle, for a breakthrough in her life, for flesh and bones brothers and sisters that can surround her and be arms and legs for our sister. In Jesus’ name, Father, I pray for my brother David from Kansas and I continue to believe that You are going to lift him up and give him the strength to get up and fight for what You’ve already given him.        

My name is Laurie in Los Angeles. God led me to the Daily Audio Bible in January after I received divorce papers from my husband of 33 years. This ministry has nourished, strengthened, encouraged, and helped me grow in the Lord. Even though finances are tight, I felt led by God to give monthly donations to this ministry and I encourage all listening to do the same. I’m grateful for all that have called in asking for prayer and to those who have blessed us with encouragement and prayers. A big thanks to Sandy in New Hampshire for calling in and praying for marriages. When my husband told me he was filing for divorce I fervently prayed for God to move mountains in our relationship and for restoration of our marriage. But I was soon convicted to change my prayers. I stopped telling God what mountains to move and I let Him show me what needed to be restored. I laid the desires of my heart at the foot of the cross so that I can be receptive to what God was wanting to do in my life. I began to focus my prayers on healing and restoring my relationship with God. I cannot hope to have healthy relationship with others if I don’t have a healthy relationship of God first. I pray that as we listen to God’s word being read and the insight shared by Brian, we will come to a place of surrender, forgiveness, healing, and complete trust in the works God is doing in our lives. Thanks to all in this community for being used by God to help each other walk through the painful seasons of our lives.

The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Monday September 4, 2017 (NIV)

Ecclesiastes 7-9

Wisdom is better than wealth

A good name is better than fine oil,
and the day of death better than the birthday.
It is better to go to a house in mourning
than to a house party,
because that is everyone’s destiny;
and the living should take it to heart.
Aggravation is better than merriment
because a sad face may lead to a glad heart.
The wise heart is in the house that mourns,
but the foolish heart is in the house that rejoices.
It is better to obey the reprimand of the wise
than to listen to the song of fools,
because the fool’s merriment
is like nettles crackling under a kettle.
That too is pointless.
Oppression turns the wise into fools;
a bribe corrupts the heart.
The end of something is better than its beginning.
Patience is better than arrogance.
Don’t be too quick to get angry
because anger lives in the fool’s heart.
10 Don’t ask, “How is it that the former days were better than these?”
because it isn’t wise to ask this.
11 Wisdom is as good as[a] an inheritance—
an advantage for those who see the sun.
12 Wisdom’s protection is like the protection of money;
the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the lives of its possessors.

Good times and bad

13 Consider God’s work! Who can straighten what God has made crooked? 14 When times are good, enjoy the good; when times are bad, consider: God has made the former as well as the latter so that people can’t discover anything that will come to be after them.

15 I have seen everything in my pointless lifetime: the righteous person may die in spite of their righteousness; then again, the wicked may live long in spite of their wickedness. 16 Don’t be too righteous or too wise, or you may be dumbfounded.[b] 17 Don’t be too wicked and don’t be a fool, or you may die before your time. 18 It’s good that you take hold of one of these without letting go of the other because the one who fears God will go forth with both.

19 Wisdom makes a wise person stronger than ten rulers who are in a city. 20 Remember: there’s no one on earth so righteous as to do good only and never make a mistake.[c] 21 Don’t worry about all the things people say, so you don’t hear your servant cursing you. 22 After all, you know that you’ve often cursed others yourself!

Life is complicated

23 I tested all of this by wisdom. I thought, I will be wise, but it eluded me.

24 All that happens is elusive and utterly unfathomable. Who can grasp it? 25 I turned my mind to know, to investigate, and to seek wisdom, along with an account of things, to know that wickedness is foolishness and folly is madness.

26 I found one woman more bitter than death: she who is a trap, her heart a snare, her hands shackles. Anyone who pleases God escapes her, but a sinner is trapped by her. 27 See, this is what I found, says the Teacher, examining one matter after another to account for things. 28 But there’s something that I constantly searched for but couldn’t find: I found one man among a thousand, but I couldn’t find a woman among any of these.[d]

29 See, this alone I found: God made human beings straightforward, but they search for many complications.

Who is wise? And who knows the meaning of anything?
A person’s wisdom brightens the expression;
it changes the hardness of someone’s face.

Watch out for power

Keep[e] the king’s command
as you would keep a solemn pledge.
Don’t be dismayed; leave his presence.
Don’t linger in a harmful situation
because he can do whatever he wants!
Because the king’s word has authority,
no one can say to him, “What are you doing?”

Whoever keeps a command will meet no harm, and the wise heart knows the right time and the right way because there’s a right time and right way for every matter. But human misfortunes are overwhelming because no one knows what will happen, and no one can say when something might happen. No one has control over the life-breath,[f] to retain it, and there’s no control over the day of death. There’s no release from war, and wickedness won’t deliver those who practice it.

I observed all of this as I paid attention to all that happens under the sun. Sometimes people exercise power over each other to their detriment. 10 Then I saw the wicked brought to their graves, with people processing from a holy place,[g] while those who had lived honestly were neglected in the city. This too is pointless.

11 The condemnation for wicked acts isn’t carried out quickly; that’s why people dare to do evil. 12 Wrongdoers may commit a hundred crimes but still live long lives. But I also know that it will go well for those who fear God, for those who are reverent before God. 13 But it will not go well for the wicked; they won’t live long at all because they aren’t reverent before God. 14 Here’s another thing that happens on earth that is pointless: the righteous get what the wicked deserve, and the wicked get what the righteous deserve. I say that this too is pointless.

Enjoy life

15 So I commend enjoyment because there’s nothing better for people to do under the sun but to eat, drink, and be glad. This is what will accompany them in their hard work, during the lifetime that God gives under the sun.

16 Then I set my mind to know wisdom and to observe the business that happens on earth, even going without sleep day and night 17 I observed all the work of God—that no one can grasp what happens under the sun. Those who strive to know can’t grasp it. Even the wise who are set on knowing are unable to grasp it.

Everyone faces the same fate

So I considered all of this carefully, examining all of it: The righteous and the wise and their deeds are in God’s hand, along with both love and hate. People don’t know anything that’s ahead of them. Everything is the same for everyone. The same fate awaits the righteous and the wicked, the good and the bad,[h] the pure and the impure, those who sacrifice and those who don’t sacrifice. The good person is like the wrongdoer; the same holds for those who make solemn pledges and those who are afraid to swear. This is the sad thing about all that happens under the sun: the same fate awaits everyone. Moreover, the human heart is full of evil; people’s minds are full of madness while they are alive, and afterward they die. Whoever is among the living can be certain about this. A living dog is definitely better off than a dead lion, because the living know that they will die. But the dead know nothing at all. There is no more reward for them; even the memory of them is lost. Their love and their hate, as well as their zeal, are already long gone. They will never again have a stake in all that happens under the sun.

Go, eat your food joyfully and drink your wine happily because God has already accepted what you do. Let your garments always be white; don’t run short of oil for your head. Enjoy life with your dearly loved spouse all the days of your pointless life that God[i] gives you under the sun—all the days of your pointless life![j]—because that’s your part to play[k] in this life and in your hard work under the sun. 10 Whatever you are capable of doing, do with all your might because there’s no work, thought, knowledge, or wisdom in the grave,[l] which is where you are headed.

Listen to common wisdom, not fools

11 I also observed under the sun that the race doesn’t always go to the swift, nor the battle to the mighty, nor food to the wise, nor wealth to the intelligent, nor favor to the knowledgeable, because accidents can happen to anyone. 12 People most definitely don’t know when their time will come. Like fish tragically caught in a net or like birds trapped in a snare, so are human beings caught in a time of tragedy that suddenly falls to them.

13 I also observed the following example of wisdom under the sun—it impressed me greatly: 14 There was a small town with only a few residents. A mighty king came against it, surrounded it, and waged a terrible war against it. 15 Now there lived in that town a poor but wise man who saved everyone by his wisdom. But no one remembered that poor man. 16 So I thought, Wisdom is better than might, but the wisdom of commoners is despised and their words aren’t heeded.

17 The calm words of the wise are better heeded than the racket caused by a ruler among fools.

18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one incompetent person destroys much good.

Footnotes:

  1. Ecclesiastes 7:11 Or Wisdom is good with
  2. Ecclesiastes 7:16 Or destroyed
  3. Ecclesiastes 7:20 Or and never sin
  4. Ecclesiastes 7:28 Heb uncertain
  5. Ecclesiastes 8:2 Correction; Heb I (say?) keep
  6. Ecclesiastes 8:8 Or wind
  7. Ecclesiastes 8:10 Or temple
  8. Ecclesiastes 9:2 LXX
  9. Ecclesiastes 9:9 Or he or that are given you
  10. Ecclesiastes 9:9 This phrase is missing in some LXX sources, Syr, and Tg.
  11. Ecclesiastes 9:9 Or portion
  12. Ecclesiastes 9:10 Or underworld; Heb Sheol
Common English Bible (CEB)

Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible

2 Corinthians 7:8-16

Even though my letter hurt you, I don’t regret it. Well—I did regret it just a bit because I see that that letter made you sad, though only for a short time. Now I’m glad—not because you were sad but because you were made sad enough to change your hearts and lives. You felt godly sadness so that no one was harmed by us in any way. 10 Godly sadness produces a changed heart and life that leads to salvation and leaves no regrets, but sorrow under the influence of the world produces death. 11 Look at what this very experience of godly sadness has produced in you: such enthusiasm, what a desire to clear yourselves of blame, such indignation, what fear, what purpose, such concern, what justice! In everything you have shown yourselves to be innocent in the matter.

12 So although I wrote to you, it wasn’t for the sake of the one who did wrong, or for the sake of the one who was wronged, but to show you your own enthusiasm for us in the sight of God. 13 Because of this we have been encouraged. And in addition to our own encouragement, we were even more pleased at how happy Titus was. His mind has been put at rest by all of you. 14 If I’ve bragged about you to him in any way, I haven’t been embarrassed. Instead, our bragging to Titus has also been proven to be true, just like everything we said to you was true. 15 His devotion to you is growing even more as he remembers how all of you were obedient when you welcomed him with fear and trembling. 16 I’m happy, because I can completely depend on you.

Common English Bible (CEB)

Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible

Psalm 48

Psalm 48

A song. A psalm of the Korahites.

48 In the city belonging to our God,
the Lord is great and so worthy of praise!
His holy mountain is a beautiful summit,
the joy of the whole world.
Mount Zion, in the far north,
is the city of the great king.
God is in its fortifications,
revealing himself as a place of safety.

Look: the kings assembled themselves,
advancing all together—
when they saw it, they were stunned;
they panicked and ran away frightened.
Trembling took hold of them right there—
like a woman giving birth,
or like the east wind when it smashes
the ships of Tarshish.
Just like we had heard,
now we’ve seen it for ourselves
in the city of the Lord of heavenly forces,
in the city of our God.
May God make it secure forever! Selah

We dwell on your faithful love, God,
in your temple.
10 Your praise, God, just like your reputation,
extends to the far corners of the earth.
Your strong hand is filled with righteousness.
11 Let Mount Zion be glad;
let the towns of Judah rejoice
because of your acts of justice!

12 Walk around Zion;
go all the way around it;
count its towers.
13 Examine its defenses closely;
tour its fortifications
so that you may tell future generations:
14 “This is God,
our God, forever and always!
He is the one who will lead us
even to the very end.”[a]

Footnotes:

  1. Psalm 48:14 LXX; Heb uncertain; Heb al muth (unto death or against death), but see the notes at Pss 9–10, 46—the words might belong in the heading of Ps 49.
Common English Bible (CEB)

Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible

Proverbs 22:17-19

Thirty sayings of the wise

17 Turn your ear and hear the words of the wise;
focus your mind on my knowledge.
18 It will be pleasant if you keep the words in you,
if you have them ready on your lips.
19 So that your trust will be in the Lord,
I’m teaching you today—yes, you.

Common English Bible (CEB)

Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible

The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Sunday September 3, 2017 (NIV)

Ecclesiastes 4-6

Death is better than oppression

When I next observed all the oppressions that take place under the sun, I saw the tears of the oppressed—and they have no one to comfort them. Their oppressors wield power—but they have no one to comfort them. So I declare that the dead, who have already died, are more fortunate than the living, who are still alive. But happier than both are those who have never existed, who haven’t witnessed the terrible things that happen under the sun.

Envy and loneliness

I also observed that people work hard and become good at what they do only out of mutual envy. This too is pointless, just wind chasing.

Fools fold their hands and eat their own flesh.
But better is resting with one handful
than working hard for two fistfuls and chasing after wind.

Next, I saw under the sun something else that was pointless: There are people who are utterly alone, with no companions, not even a child or a sibling. Yet they work hard without end, never satisfied with their wealth. So for whom am I working so hard and depriving myself of enjoyment? This too is pointless and a terrible obsession.

Two are better than one because they have a good return for their hard work. 10 If either should fall, one can pick up the other. But how miserable are those who fall and don’t have a companion to help them up! 11 Also, if two lie down together, they can stay warm. But how can anyone stay warm alone? 12 Also, one can be overpowered, but two together can put up resistance. A three-ply cord doesn’t easily snap.

13 A poor but wise youth is better than an old and foolish king, who no longer listens to advice. 14 He emerged from prison to become king, even though during his rule a poor child[a] is born. 15 I saw all who live and walk under the sun following the next youth who would rise to take his place. 16 There was no counting the number of people he ruled, but those who came later aren’t happy with him. This too is pointless and a chasing after wind.

Listen and speak carefully

Watch[b] your steps when you go to God’s house. It’s more acceptable to listen than to offer the fools’ sacrifice—they have no idea that they’re acting wrongly. Don’t[c] be quick with your mouth or say anything hastily before God, because God is in heaven, but you are on earth. Therefore, let your words be few.

Remember:
Dreams come with many cares,
and the voice of fools with many words.

When you make a promise to God, fulfill it without delay because God has no pleasure in fools. Fulfill what you promise. Better not to make a promise than to make a promise without fulfilling it. Don’t let your mouth make a sinner of you, and don’t say to the messenger: “It was a mistake!” Otherwise, God may become angry at such talk and destroy what you have accomplished.

Remember:
When dreams multiply,
so do pointless thoughts and excessive speech.
Therefore, fear God.

Hoarding wealth

If you witness the poor being oppressed or the violation of what is just and right in some territory, don’t be surprised because a high official watches over another, and yet others stand over them. But the land’s yield should be for everyone if the field is cultivated.[d] 10 The money lover isn’t satisfied with money; neither is the lover of wealth satisfied with income. This too is pointless. 11 When good things flow, so do those who consume them. But what do owners benefit from such goods, except to feast their eyes on them? 12 Sweet is the worker’s sleep, whether there’s a lot or little to eat; but the excess of the wealthy won’t let them sleep.

13 I have seen a sickening tragedy under the sun: people hoard their wealth to their own detriment. 14 Then that wealth is lost in a bad business venture so that when they have children, they are left with nothing. 15 Just as they came from their mother’s womb naked, naked they’ll return, ending up just like they started. All their hard work produces nothing—nothing they can take with them. 16 This too is a sickening tragedy: they must pass on just as they arrived. What then do they gain from working so hard for wind? 17 What’s more, they constantly eat in darkness, with much aggravation, grief, and anger.

18 This is the one good thing I’ve seen: it’s appropriate for people to eat, drink, and find enjoyment in all their hard work under the sun during the brief lifetime that God gives them because that’s their lot in life. 19 Also, whenever God gives people wealth and riches and enables them to enjoy it, to accept their place in the world[e] and to find pleasure in their hard work—all this is God’s gift. 20 Indeed, people shouldn’t brood too much over the days of their lives because God gives an answer in their hearts’ joy.

Controlled appetite

I saw a tragedy under the sun, and it weighs heavily upon humanity. God may give some people plenty of wealth, riches, and glory so that they lack nothing they desire. But God doesn’t enable them to enjoy it; instead, a stranger enjoys it. This is pointless and a sickening tragedy. Some people may have one hundred children and live a long life. But no matter how long they live, if they aren’t content with life’s good things, I say that even a stillborn child with no grave is better off than they are.[f] Because that child arrives pointlessly, then passes away in darkness. Darkness covers its name. It hasn’t seen the sun or experienced anything. But it has more peace than those who live a thousand years twice over but don’t enjoy life’s good things. Isn’t everyone heading to the same destination? All the hard work of humans is for the mouth, but the appetite is never full. What advantage do the wise have over the foolish? Or what do the poor gain by knowing how to conduct themselves before the living? It’s better to enjoy what’s at hand than to have an insatiable appetite. This too is pointless, just wind chasing.

10 Whatever happens has already been designated, and human beings are fully known. They can’t contend with the one who is stronger than they are. 11 Because the more words increase, the more everything is pointless. What do people gain by it? 12 Because who knows what’s good for human beings during life, during their brief pointless life, which will pass away like a shadow? Who can say what the future holds for people under the sun?

Footnotes:

  1. Ecclesiastes 4:14 Possibly the youth of 4:13; or He emerged from prison to become king, even though he was born poor in the kingdom.
  2. Ecclesiastes 5:1 4:17 in Heb
  3. Ecclesiastes 5:2 5:1 in Heb
  4. Ecclesiastes 5:9 Correction; Heb uncertain; or The land's advantage in everything is this: a king for a plowed field.
  5. Ecclesiastes 5:19 Or portion in life, as in 5:18
  6. Ecclesiastes 6:3 Correction; Heb puts the lack of burial site with those who do not enjoy life's good things.
Common English Bible (CEB)

Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible

2 Corinthians 6:14-7:7

14 Don’t be tied up as equal partners with people who don’t believe. What does righteousness share with that which is outside the Law? What relationship does light have with darkness? 15 What harmony does Christ have with Satan?[a] What does a believer have in common with someone who doesn’t believe? 16 What agreement can there be between God’s temple and idols? Because we are the temple of the living God. Just as God said, I live with them, and I will move among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people.[b] 17 Therefore, come out from among them and be separated, says the Lord. Don’t touch what is unclean. Then I will welcome you.[c] 18 I will be a father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.[d] My dear friends, since we have these promises, let’s cleanse ourselves from anything that contaminates our body or spirit so that we make our holiness complete in the fear of God.

Make room in your hearts for us. We didn’t do anything wrong to anyone. We didn’t ruin anyone. We didn’t take advantage of anyone. I’m not saying this to make you feel guilty. I’ve already said that you are in our hearts so that we die and live together with you. I have every confidence in you. I’m terribly proud of you. I’m filled with encouragement. I’m overwhelmed with happiness while in the middle of our problems.

Titus’ good report

Even after we arrived in Macedonia, we couldn’t rest physically. We were surrounded by problems. There was external conflict, and there were internal fears. However, God comforts people who are discouraged, and he comforted us by Titus’ arrival. We weren’t comforted only by his arrival but also by the comfort he had received from you. He told us about your desire to see me, how you were sorry, and about your concern for me, so that I was even happier.

Common English Bible (CEB)

Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible

Psalm 47

Psalm 47

For the music leader. A psalm of the Korahites.

47 Clap your hands, all you people!
Shout joyfully to God with a joyous shout!
Because the Lord Most High is awesome,
he is the great king of the whole world.
He subdues the nations under us,
subdues all people beneath our feet.
He chooses our inheritance for us:
the heights of Jacob, which he loves. Selah

God has gone up with a joyous shout—
the Lord with the blast of the ram’s horn.
Sing praises to God! Sing praises!
Sing praises to our king! Sing praises
because God is king of the whole world!
Sing praises with a song of instruction![a]

God is king over the nations.
God sits on his holy throne.
The leaders of all people are gathered
with the people of Abraham’s God
because the earth’s guardians belong to God;
God is exalted beyond all.

Footnotes:

  1. Psalm 47:7 Or Sing praises with understanding or wisely (cf LXX, Vulg); Heb maskil; see the note at Ps 32.
Common English Bible (CEB)

Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible

Proverbs 22:16

16 Oppressing the poor to get rich
and giving to the wealthy lead only to poverty.

Common English Bible (CEB)

Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible

8/10/2017 DAB Transcript

Ezra 10:1-44 ~ 1 Corinthians 6:1-20 ~ Psalm 31:9-18 ~ Proverbs 21:3

Today is the 10th day of August. Welcome to the Daily Audio Bible. I am Brian and it’s great to be here with you today. Grateful for the coffee to my left, grateful for the technology that brings us together right now, grateful for the community that we share together as we journey through the scriptures in a year. And speaking of that, we’ll conclude the book of Ezra in our reading today and then continue Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians. So, first, Ezra Chapter 10 verse 1 through 44 today. We’re reading from the Good News translation this week.

Commentary:

OK. So, Paul, I mean, we talked extensively yesterday about a specific incident that was going on in the Corinthian church with a son being in a sexual relationship with his stepmother. And then Paul transitions and continues on with this idea of taking one another to court and allowing, essentially, the secular society to judge the small matters that could and should be worked out between one another or with the leaders of the church. And there’s a reason for all this. So, like, Paul’s being quite direct in the first part of this letter in a fairly confrontational way. So, he’s saying, some things that are going on should not be going on. There’s a reason for this though. Paul’s worldview is that Jesus declared he would make all things new and he believes that to be absolutely the truth. And, so, what that means is that we are being made new creations in Christ, being reborn, born-again, as Jesus said. So, like, restarting as something new. And for Paul, Jesus is the turning of the tide in the human race within this species. Jesus is the turn - the reintegration of God and man together in righteousness because of God’s mercy and grace - all the stuff we watched form in the book of Acts and that Paul unpacked in the book of Romans. So, it’s from that context that he speaks any of his letters. And as he’s speaking today, he’s basically saying to the church in Corinth, come on. Like, we are, we have to be better than this on all of these things. We have to be better than this. We are being remade as new creatures. The turning of the tide has come and we have to do better than how we were because we’re not the same as we were. We’ve got to get rid of all of that. And I think this portion of the letter is succinctly summed up in one verse. And it’s brilliantly stated. It’s one verse that would be worth committing to memory. It’s kind of one of those ones that you want to write on your doorstep or wrap around your fingers…you know…or somewhere where you can remember this, always. It’s this: ‘Someone will say I am allowed to do anything’. Yes, you are. ‘But not everything is good for you’. Right? Just because you can do whatever you want doesn’t mean that’s going anywhere and doesn’t automatically mean that it’s going to turn out well or that it’s even healthy in any way for you. So, someone will say, I’m allowed to do anything. Yes, but not everything is good for you. I could say, and this is Paul, I could say that I’m allowed to do anything but I am not going to let anything make me it’s slave. So, boom! I need like a mic drop effect that I can put in here from time to time. That’s like the mic drop effect right there. That summarizes everything that we’ve been working through. The freedom that you have can also enslave you if you let it. This is like when I was a kid in church and I’m sitting in the pews…the old, hard, wooden pews with the gross carpeting on the floor…right…it’s just gross…and…I don’t know…just red…or some…I don’t know…if you ever were in an old-time church you know what I’m talking about. And the preacher is saying, ‘can I get an Amen.’ That’s kind of how this verse works because it’s comprehensive. We can apply it to anything in our lives. Yes, you have the freedom to do whatever you want. But not everything you might do will be good for you. And although we can do whatever we want we must not let anything make us it’s slave. So, think about your life right now. Just…kind of…maybe you can’t do this is you’re driving right now…just kind of calm yourself here…even just close your eyes for a second…just breathe deeply for a second. Think about your life and now invite the Holy Spirit to show you the entanglements, the different big and small entanglements that are kind of wrapping themselves around you because you are doing things that are not good for you. You can do them but they’re not good for you and they are slowly entangling you and making you a slave. Those are the things to invite Holy Spirit in. And, you know, sometimes what comes up in that is, I don’t know how to get out…like…I’m entangled in lots of ways, relationships, and entangled with business partners, I’m entangled in all kinds of ways. And kind of the posture of the apostle Paul would be, look, you are a new creature, a different kind of being now and you have got to walk with God away from the things that are making you a slave to them. And it’s really easy to read into Paul because he’s direct and blunt in his communication style. It’s very easy to read condemnation all over lots of the things that Paul says. But when you get to condemnation you have to…you know…like…if you’re feeling condemnation from somebody, you actually need to take a step back and a deep breath and count to ten and say why do I feel this. Do I feel this because this person is literally, falsely characterizing me and condemning me for things aren’t a part of my life or that aren’t being portrayed well or true? That’s one thing. But if you’re feeling this thing rise up in you because it’s completely the truth, well, then no one’s condemning you. You’re condemning yourself. Paul’s posture isn’t domination. Right? So, it’s not like domination by condemnation. Which is something that everybody kind of brussels at and many people flee from. That’s something that should not be done, it’s not good for anybody. That’s not Paul’s point though or his posture. His posture is, come on. Wake up. We are different than this now. There are freedoms unspoken that we can walk into. There is no telling the kind of freedoms that we can experience because Christ now lives within us. The human and the divine are reunited together as humanity was intended to be. There’s no telling the freedoms. There is no telling the beauty and the grace and the wonder of being here on earth in Christ. There’s no telling what we can do. We’ve got to stop this other stuff. Wake up. There’s freedom. This is Paul’s posture. And, so, this is the invitation.

Prayer:

Father, we take the invitation and we see it and we accept it and we walk into it. Yes, we can do whatever we want. It’s true. And the truth is, we do whatever we want and blame You for whatever doesn’t go right. That’s not helpful. That doesn’t change us. That’s our own attempt to justify ourselves. But we cannot make ourselves righteous. We will not be able to come before You because we earned it, because we were so good that You have no choice but to accept us. We’re all here because You loved us enough to come and get us. That’s it. So, we can do whatever we want. But that doesn’t mean we should. And we invite Your Holy Spirit to show us the things we’ve gotten ourselves into that are beginning to make us its slave. We want to cut those ties and renounce those things in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ, and move away. Come Holy Spirit show us what that looks like. In the name of Jesus, we ask. Amen.

Announcements:

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And that’s it for today. I’m Brian I love you and I’ll be waiting for you here tomorrow.

Community Prayers and Praise Reports:

Hey guys. How are you doing? It’s John…just John. I want to thank you all for praying for me for my  request to help our  marriage and things like that. And anyway. I’ve got a report. Let’s call it that. I just…ah…she left…she’s gone. She moved to New Jersey…totally out of the blue. She’s never been to New Jersey before in her life. So, it’s been in play for six months or something like that. And I, of course, and am always on the road. So, you know, shame on me. But, anyway, I just ask everybody to pray that she stays happy, that she get what she really wants. She’s a really good woman. I remember when Brian married she and I again at En Gedi Springs back on our trip in Israel. But, you know, stuff happens and you have to move on. One door closes and God opens another for you. He never gives you anything He won’t help you handle. And I really have to believe that because if I don’t I’ll crater. But, anyway, so, I just want to say that everybody’s praying for marriages, pray for them, work on them and just keep your eyes open guys. There’s things that you just might miss…that…one little change…one little word might make the difference…all the difference in the world. Pray every ____ night if you’re challenged with something like that because He shows up. The things is, what I learned, is that he shows up in a way you might never expect. That’s what He did for me. And it was kind of like a wow moment. So, two weeks ago I was doing a leaving Las Vegas thing, trying to drink myself to death. You know, that’s one way to do it. And today I’m smiling, happy, and that’s gone. That’s past. What I have is right now. What I have is the future. And think we all have that, thanks to God. So, anyway, Love you all. And I lost the time on this thing. But, God bless you. Praying for you all. Praying for marriages. Praying for the prayer warriors. God bless you. Out.

Many times I’m angry God with You as well as men. Why is there such happiness and wealth where there is sin. Why do I still suffer while pie falls from the sky. Yet daily I stay serving you and daily still I cry. My heart is filled with anguish with the present and the past. Faith sometimes gets week dear God it seems like it won’t last.  I also get confused dear God when often wrong seems right. Temptations from the wicked one turn darkness into light. I long for you to comfort me. Lord can you hold me know. My Spirit Lord cries out for Thee as humbly now I bow. I trust You Lord above all things. You’ve taught me not to fear. I know there’s nothing in this life that can harm me while You’re near. Stay with me and comfort me. I struggle every day. Even when I know You’re right I still want things my way. David felt that same way too and everything I’ve said. A man you called after Your own heart who still lives though he’s dead. I’m thankful God that in all things I can open up and see. And share with you my inner thoughts. There are so many sides to me. I’m also thankful from my heart that I can speak the truth. Your loving hands have been on me from the time I was a youth. Never have You left me and I pray You never will. Let Your peace surround me now. My wrestles heart keep still. Closer Lord each day to thee please let my actions be holy and acceptable in thy sight for all eternity. Blindtony1016@gmail.com. Like to give a shout out to Less Like Me…haven’t heard from you in a while brother…time to check in. And Gigi…would be good to hear from you too. And Leah from Waskahegan…ya. Anyway. Be good to hear you all’s voices…

Hi you Daily Audio Bible people. This is my second time calling in probably two or three days. I wanted to reach out to…it’s either Peggy or something like that in California. And you touched my heart so much because you said that you were backslidden and now you have cancer. And I just want to say, your prayer was so sweet that you’ve already repented of that…Peggy or Patty in California. God has forgiven you completely and He loves you. Keep listening to the Daily Audio Bible reading every day because then you’ll hear His heart and how He loves you, how forgiving, how much mercifulness, and how much longsuffering He has with all of us. And it’s because you’ve already repented, I feel like, for that part of it, you’re already on your way. You’re already on your way. Just move forward to the next good thing. The next good thing, Patty or Peggy, is you’re reading your bible and you can talk to God just like you talk to another person. You don’t have say ‘these and thoughs’. But just take some time with him every day and He’ll bring you back. As far as the cancer goes. I’m going to be praying about that too. But I know your heart. Your heart is true and your heart is right and the main thing you need is that full assurance that He sees you’re cries, He hears your words, and…

Hey Family. It’s Redeemed in Him from Virginia. Today is August 6th 2017. And I heard Debby from California who is very upset. She’s a first-time caller and previously walked away from the Lord and is now diagnosed with cancer. Debbie, I want to reach out to you and anyone else who previously feels that they’ve walked away from the Lord. If you have returned, there is a party going on right now in heaven because you have returned to the Lord. I want you to go and read, out loud, because there’s power in speaking God’s word out loud, Luke 15:1-10. Verse 7 says, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sheep who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others. Your faith will grow by studying His word. I would start Romans, chapter 4 and 5. And remember that Romans 10:9 says, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and you believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 8:31-39, remember, nothing can ever separate us from the love of God. Romans 4, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight. Debbie, God sees your heart when we humble ourselves before Him and ask for forgiveness of our sins and keep thanking Him for everything you have. Please let us know how you are doing. We love you and are with you and are praying for you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Viola in Maryland, Victoria S., Louise in Alabama, Drew in the bay area, Lisa The Encourager, Charlette in England, Mark S., Robert F., Paula in Albuquerque, More Than a Conqueror, Suzy, Jay in New Jersey, Nadene in Michigan, Christy in Kentucky, Will is Bozeman Montana, Dianna B. in Newburgh Indiana, Gods Girl in east Texas, Dr. John in Jordan, Darlan in Utah, Candice in Oregon, Pastor Gene, my girl Nettie A., Erica M, Boya G…sorry…I’m a very emotional…Laura L. B., Jennifer S., SarahJane, Sheila P., Deborah C., Billy in Montgomery, and anyone that I may have missed…I want to thank you all for your prayers. You know, when it rains and the rain gets in your face and every drop literally makes your eyes blink but you’re awake and that’s what I feel right now. I feel like all of you have been praying over me and every name that I mentioned has been a rain drop onto my face making me blink and it’s washed in with my tears…tears of love…tears of gratitude. I have been so blessed by this community and I would love to continue being a blessing to you all and all of your encouraging words and knowing that God’s will will be done and God has a plan. And something my husband continues to say, focus on the things you can change and be thankful for all the gifts that God has given us especially our little baby g, Aden. I love you DAB family. Thank you for your prayers. Thank you, Brian and Jill Hardin and the DAB family…everyone behind the scenes. Cheers. Asia in Munich.

The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Saturday September 2, 2017 (NIV)

Ecclesiastes 1-3

These are the words of the Teacher,[a] King David’s son, who ruled in Jerusalem.

Everything Is Meaningless

“Everything is meaningless,” says the Teacher, “completely meaningless!”

What do people get for all their hard work under the sun? Generations come and generations go, but the earth never changes. The sun rises and the sun sets, then hurries around to rise again. The wind blows south, and then turns north. Around and around it goes, blowing in circles. Rivers run into the sea, but the sea is never full. Then the water returns again to the rivers and flows out again to the sea. Everything is wearisome beyond description. No matter how much we see, we are never satisfied. No matter how much we hear, we are not content.

History merely repeats itself. It has all been done before. Nothing under the sun is truly new. 10 Sometimes people say, “Here is something new!” But actually it is old; nothing is ever truly new. 11 We don’t remember what happened in the past, and in future generations, no one will remember what we are doing now.

The Teacher Speaks: The Futility of Wisdom

12 I, the Teacher, was king of Israel, and I lived in Jerusalem. 13 I devoted myself to search for understanding and to explore by wisdom everything being done under heaven. I soon discovered that God has dealt a tragic existence to the human race. 14 I observed everything going on under the sun, and really, it is all meaningless—like chasing the wind.

15 What is wrong cannot be made right.
What is missing cannot be recovered.

16 I said to myself, “Look, I am wiser than any of the kings who ruled in Jerusalem before me. I have greater wisdom and knowledge than any of them.” 17 So I set out to learn everything from wisdom to madness and folly. But I learned firsthand that pursuing all this is like chasing the wind.

18 The greater my wisdom, the greater my grief.
To increase knowledge only increases sorrow.

The Futility of Pleasure

I said to myself, “Come on, let’s try pleasure. Let’s look for the ‘good things’ in life.” But I found that this, too, was meaningless. So I said, “Laughter is silly. What good does it do to seek pleasure?” After much thought, I decided to cheer myself with wine. And while still seeking wisdom, I clutched at foolishness. In this way, I tried to experience the only happiness most people find during their brief life in this world.

I also tried to find meaning by building huge homes for myself and by planting beautiful vineyards. I made gardens and parks, filling them with all kinds of fruit trees. I built reservoirs to collect the water to irrigate my many flourishing groves. I bought slaves, both men and women, and others were born into my household. I also owned large herds and flocks, more than any of the kings who had lived in Jerusalem before me. I collected great sums of silver and gold, the treasure of many kings and provinces. I hired wonderful singers, both men and women, and had many beautiful concubines. I had everything a man could desire!

So I became greater than all who had lived in Jerusalem before me, and my wisdom never failed me. 10 Anything I wanted, I would take. I denied myself no pleasure. I even found great pleasure in hard work, a reward for all my labors. 11 But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless—like chasing the wind. There was nothing really worthwhile anywhere.

The Wise and the Foolish

12 So I decided to compare wisdom with foolishness and madness (for who can do this better than I, the king?[b]). 13 I thought, “Wisdom is better than foolishness, just as light is better than darkness. 14 For the wise can see where they are going, but fools walk in the dark.” Yet I saw that the wise and the foolish share the same fate. 15 Both will die. So I said to myself, “Since I will end up the same as the fool, what’s the value of all my wisdom? This is all so meaningless!” 16 For the wise and the foolish both die. The wise will not be remembered any longer than the fool. In the days to come, both will be forgotten.

17 So I came to hate life because everything done here under the sun is so troubling. Everything is meaningless—like chasing the wind.

The Futility of Work

18 I came to hate all my hard work here on earth, for I must leave to others everything I have earned. 19 And who can tell whether my successors will be wise or foolish? Yet they will control everything I have gained by my skill and hard work under the sun. How meaningless! 20 So I gave up in despair, questioning the value of all my hard work in this world.

21 Some people work wisely with knowledge and skill, then must leave the fruit of their efforts to someone who hasn’t worked for it. This, too, is meaningless, a great tragedy. 22 So what do people get in this life for all their hard work and anxiety? 23 Their days of labor are filled with pain and grief; even at night their minds cannot rest. It is all meaningless.

24 So I decided there is nothing better than to enjoy food and drink and to find satisfaction in work. Then I realized that these pleasures are from the hand of God. 25 For who can eat or enjoy anything apart from him?[c] 26 God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to those who please him. But if a sinner becomes wealthy, God takes the wealth away and gives it to those who please him. This, too, is meaningless—like chasing the wind.

A Time for Everything

For everything there is a season,
a time for every activity under heaven.
A time to be born and a time to die.
A time to plant and a time to harvest.
A time to kill and a time to heal.
A time to tear down and a time to build up.
A time to cry and a time to laugh.
A time to grieve and a time to dance.
A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.
A time to embrace and a time to turn away.
A time to search and a time to quit searching.
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
A time to tear and a time to mend.
A time to be quiet and a time to speak.
A time to love and a time to hate.
A time for war and a time for peace.

What do people really get for all their hard work? 10 I have seen the burden God has placed on us all. 11 Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end. 12 So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. 13 And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God.

14 And I know that whatever God does is final. Nothing can be added to it or taken from it. God’s purpose is that people should fear him. 15 What is happening now has happened before, and what will happen in the future has happened before, because God makes the same things happen over and over again.

The Injustices of Life

16 I also noticed that under the sun there is evil in the courtroom. Yes, even the courts of law are corrupt! 17 I said to myself, “In due season God will judge everyone, both good and bad, for all their deeds.”

18 I also thought about the human condition—how God proves to people that they are like animals. 19 For people and animals share the same fate—both breathe[d] and both must die. So people have no real advantage over the animals. How meaningless! 20 Both go to the same place—they came from dust and they return to dust. 21 For who can prove that the human spirit goes up and the spirit of animals goes down into the earth? 22 So I saw that there is nothing better for people than to be happy in their work. That is our lot in life. And no one can bring us back to see what happens after we die.

Footnotes:

  1. 1:1 Hebrew Qoheleth; this term is rendered “the Teacher” throughout this book.
  2. 2:12 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.
  3. 2:25 As in Greek and Syriac versions; Hebrew reads apart from me?
  4. 3:19 Or both have the same spirit.
New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.


2 Corinthians 6:1-13

As God’s partners,[a] we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God’s kindness and then ignore it. For God says,

“At just the right time, I heard you.
On the day of salvation, I helped you.”[b]

Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation.

Paul’s Hardships

We live in such a way that no one will stumble because of us, and no one will find fault with our ministry. In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind. We have been beaten, been put in prison, faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion, endured sleepless nights, and gone without food. We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us,[c] and by our sincere love. We faithfully preach the truth. God’s power is working in us. We use the weapons of righteousness in the right hand for attack and the left hand for defense. We serve God whether people honor us or despise us, whether they slander us or praise us. We are honest, but they call us impostors. We are ignored, even though we are well known. We live close to death, but we are still alive. We have been beaten, but we have not been killed. 10 Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything.

11 Oh, dear Corinthian friends! We have spoken honestly with you, and our hearts are open to you. 12 There is no lack of love on our part, but you have withheld your love from us. 13 I am asking you to respond as if you were my own children. Open your hearts to us!

Footnotes:

  1. 6:1 Or As we work together.
  2. 6:2 Isa 49:8 (Greek version).
  3. 6:6 Or by our holiness of spirit.
New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.


Psalm 46

Psalm 46

For the choir director: A song of the descendants of Korah, to be sung by soprano voices.[a]

God is our refuge and strength,
always ready to help in times of trouble.
So we will not fear when earthquakes come
and the mountains crumble into the sea.
Let the oceans roar and foam.
Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge! Interlude

A river brings joy to the city of our God,
the sacred home of the Most High.
God dwells in that city; it cannot be destroyed.
From the very break of day, God will protect it.
The nations are in chaos,
and their kingdoms crumble!
God’s voice thunders,
and the earth melts!
The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us;
the God of Israel[b] is our fortress. Interlude

Come, see the glorious works of the Lord:
See how he brings destruction upon the world.
He causes wars to end throughout the earth.
He breaks the bow and snaps the spear;
he burns the shields with fire.

10 “Be still, and know that I am God!
I will be honored by every nation.
I will be honored throughout the world.”

11 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us;
the God of Israel is our fortress. Interlude

Footnotes:

  1. 46:Title Hebrew according to alamoth.
  2. 46:7 Hebrew of Jacob; also in 46:11. See note on 44:4.
New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.


Proverbs 22:15

15 A youngster’s heart is filled with foolishness,
but physical discipline will drive it far away.

New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.


The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Friday September 1, 2017 (NIV)

Job 40-42

40 Then the Lord said to Job,

“Do you still want to argue with the Almighty?
You are God’s critic, but do you have the answers?”

Job Responds to the Lord

Then Job replied to the Lord,

“I am nothing—how could I ever find the answers?
I will cover my mouth with my hand.
I have said too much already.
I have nothing more to say.”

The Lord Challenges Job Again

Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind:

“Brace yourself like a man,
because I have some questions for you,
and you must answer them.

“Will you discredit my justice
and condemn me just to prove you are right?
Are you as strong as God?
Can you thunder with a voice like his?
10 All right, put on your glory and splendor,
your honor and majesty.
11 Give vent to your anger.
Let it overflow against the proud.
12 Humiliate the proud with a glance;
walk on the wicked where they stand.
13 Bury them in the dust.
Imprison them in the world of the dead.
14 Then even I would praise you,
for your own strength would save you.

15 “Take a look at Behemoth,[a]
which I made, just as I made you.
It eats grass like an ox.
16 See its powerful loins
and the muscles of its belly.
17 Its tail is as strong as a cedar.
The sinews of its thighs are knit tightly together.
18 Its bones are tubes of bronze.
Its limbs are bars of iron.
19 It is a prime example of God’s handiwork,
and only its Creator can threaten it.
20 The mountains offer it their best food,
where all the wild animals play.
21 It lies under the lotus plants,[b]
hidden by the reeds in the marsh.
22 The lotus plants give it shade
among the willows beside the stream.
23 It is not disturbed by the raging river,
not concerned when the swelling Jordan rushes around it.
24 No one can catch it off guard
or put a ring in its nose and lead it away.

The Lord’s Challenge Continues

41 [c]“Can you catch Leviathan[d] with a hook
or put a noose around its jaw?
Can you tie it with a rope through the nose
or pierce its jaw with a spike?
Will it beg you for mercy
or implore you for pity?
Will it agree to work for you,
to be your slave for life?
Can you make it a pet like a bird,
or give it to your little girls to play with?
Will merchants try to buy it
to sell it in their shops?
Will its hide be hurt by spears
or its head by a harpoon?
If you lay a hand on it,
you will certainly remember the battle that follows.
You won’t try that again!
[e]No, it is useless to try to capture it.
The hunter who attempts it will be knocked down.
10 And since no one dares to disturb it,
who then can stand up to me?
11 Who has given me anything that I need to pay back?
Everything under heaven is mine.

12 “I want to emphasize Leviathan’s limbs
and its enormous strength and graceful form.
13 Who can strip off its hide,
and who can penetrate its double layer of armor?[f]
14 Who could pry open its jaws?
For its teeth are terrible!
15 The scales on its back are like[g] rows of shields
tightly sealed together.
16 They are so close together
that no air can get between them.
17 Each scale sticks tight to the next.
They interlock and cannot be penetrated.

18 “When it sneezes, it flashes light!
Its eyes are like the red of dawn.
19 Lightning leaps from its mouth;
flames of fire flash out.
20 Smoke streams from its nostrils
like steam from a pot heated over burning rushes.
21 Its breath would kindle coals,
for flames shoot from its mouth.

22 “The tremendous strength in Leviathan’s neck
strikes terror wherever it goes.
23 Its flesh is hard and firm
and cannot be penetrated.
24 Its heart is hard as rock,
hard as a millstone.
25 When it rises, the mighty are afraid,
gripped by terror.
26 No sword can stop it,
no spear, dart, or javelin.
27 Iron is nothing but straw to that creature,
and bronze is like rotten wood.
28 Arrows cannot make it flee.
Stones shot from a sling are like bits of grass.
29 Clubs are like a blade of grass,
and it laughs at the swish of javelins.
30 Its belly is covered with scales as sharp as glass.
It plows up the ground as it drags through the mud.

31 “Leviathan makes the water boil with its commotion.
It stirs the depths like a pot of ointment.
32 The water glistens in its wake,
making the sea look white.
33 Nothing on earth is its equal,
no other creature so fearless.
34 Of all the creatures, it is the proudest.
It is the king of beasts.”

Job Responds to the Lord

42 Then Job replied to the Lord:

“I know that you can do anything,
and no one can stop you.
You asked, ‘Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorance?’
It is I—and I was talking about things I knew nothing about,
things far too wonderful for me.
You said, ‘Listen and I will speak!
I have some questions for you,
and you must answer them.’
I had only heard about you before,
but now I have seen you with my own eyes.
I take back everything I said,
and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance.”

Conclusion: The Lord Blesses Job

After the Lord had finished speaking to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite: “I am angry with you and your two friends, for you have not spoken accurately about me, as my servant Job has. So take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and offer a burnt offering for yourselves. My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer on your behalf. I will not treat you as you deserve, for you have not spoken accurately about me, as my servant Job has.” So Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite did as the Lord commanded them, and the Lord accepted Job’s prayer.

10 When Job prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes. In fact, the Lord gave him twice as much as before! 11 Then all his brothers, sisters, and former friends came and feasted with him in his home. And they consoled him and comforted him because of all the trials the Lord had brought against him. And each of them brought him a gift of money[h] and a gold ring.

12 So the Lord blessed Job in the second half of his life even more than in the beginning. For now he had 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 teams of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys. 13 He also gave Job seven more sons and three more daughters. 14 He named his first daughter Jemimah, the second Keziah, and the third Keren-happuch. 15 In all the land no women were as lovely as the daughters of Job. And their father put them into his will along with their brothers.

16 Job lived 140 years after that, living to see four generations of his children and grandchildren. 17 Then he died, an old man who had lived a long, full life.

Footnotes:

  1. 40:15 The identification of Behemoth is disputed, ranging from an earthly creature to a mythical sea monster in ancient literature.
  2. 40:21 Or bramble bushes; also in 40:22.
  3. 41:1a Verses 41:1-8 are numbered 40:25-32 in Hebrew text.
  4. 41:1b The identification of Leviathan is disputed, ranging from an earthly creature to a mythical sea monster in ancient literature.
  5. 41:9 Verses 41:9-34 are numbered 41:1-26 in Hebrew text.
  6. 41:13 As in Greek version; Hebrew reads its bridle?
  7. 41:15 As in some Greek manuscripts and Latin Vulgate; Hebrew reads Its pride is in its.
  8. 42:11 Hebrew a kesitah; the value or weight of the kesitah is no longer known.
New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.


2 Corinthians 5:11-21

We Are God’s Ambassadors

11 Because we understand our fearful responsibility to the Lord, we work hard to persuade others. God knows we are sincere, and I hope you know this, too. 12 Are we commending ourselves to you again? No, we are giving you a reason to be proud of us,[a] so you can answer those who brag about having a spectacular ministry rather than having a sincere heart. 13 If it seems we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God. And if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit. 14 Either way, Christ’s love controls us.[b] Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life.[c] 15 He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.

16 So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! 17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

18 And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. 19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. 20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” 21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin,[d] so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

Footnotes:

  1. 5:12 Some manuscripts read proud of yourselves.
  2. 5:14a Or urges us on.
  3. 5:14b Greek Since one died for all, then all died.
  4. 5:21 Or to become sin itself.
New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.


Psalm 45

Psalm 45

For the choir director: A love song to be sung to the tune “Lilies.” A psalm[a] of the descendants of Korah.

Beautiful words stir my heart.
I will recite a lovely poem about the king,
for my tongue is like the pen of a skillful poet.

You are the most handsome of all.
Gracious words stream from your lips.
God himself has blessed you forever.
Put on your sword, O mighty warrior!
You are so glorious, so majestic!
In your majesty, ride out to victory,
defending truth, humility, and justice.
Go forth to perform awe-inspiring deeds!
Your arrows are sharp, piercing your enemies’ hearts.
The nations fall beneath your feet.

Your throne, O God,[b] endures forever and ever.
You rule with a scepter of justice.
You love justice and hate evil.
Therefore God, your God, has anointed you,
pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else.
Myrrh, aloes, and cassia perfume your robes.
In ivory palaces the music of strings entertains you.
Kings’ daughters are among your noble women.
At your right side stands the queen,
wearing jewelry of finest gold from Ophir!

10 Listen to me, O royal daughter; take to heart what I say.
Forget your people and your family far away.
11 For your royal husband delights in your beauty;
honor him, for he is your lord.
12 The princess of Tyre[c] will shower you with gifts.
The wealthy will beg your favor.
13 The bride, a princess, looks glorious
in her golden gown.
14 In her beautiful robes, she is led to the king,
accompanied by her bridesmaids.
15 What a joyful and enthusiastic procession
as they enter the king’s palace!

16 Your sons will become kings like their father.
You will make them rulers over many lands.
17 I will bring honor to your name in every generation.
Therefore, the nations will praise you forever and ever.

Footnotes:

  1. 45:Title Hebrew maskil. This may be a literary or musical term.
  2. 45:6 Or Your divine throne.
  3. 45:12 Hebrew The daughter of Tyre.
New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.


Proverbs 22:14

14 The mouth of an immoral woman is a dangerous trap;
those who make the Lord angry will fall into it.

New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.