The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Friday December 30, 2022 (NIV)

Malachi 1-2

A prophecy:(A) The word(B) of the Lord to Israel through Malachi.[a]

Israel Doubts God’s Love

“I have loved(C) you,” says the Lord.

“But you ask,(D) ‘How have you loved us?’

“Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the Lord. “Yet I have loved Jacob,(E) but Esau I have hated,(F) and I have turned his hill country into a wasteland(G) and left his inheritance to the desert jackals.(H)

Edom(I) may say, “Though we have been crushed, we will rebuild(J) the ruins.”

But this is what the Lord Almighty says: “They may build, but I will demolish.(K) They will be called the Wicked Land, a people always under the wrath of the Lord.(L) You will see it with your own eyes and say, ‘Great(M) is the Lord—even beyond the borders of Israel!’(N)

Breaking Covenant Through Blemished Sacrifices

“A son honors his father,(O) and a slave his master.(P) If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect(Q) due me?” says the Lord Almighty.(R)

“It is you priests who show contempt for my name.

“But you ask,(S) ‘How have we shown contempt for your name?’

“By offering defiled food(T) on my altar.

“But you ask,(U) ‘How have we defiled you?’

“By saying that the Lord’s table(V) is contemptible. When you offer blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong? When you sacrifice lame or diseased animals,(W) is that not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased(X) with you? Would he accept you?” says the Lord Almighty.(Y)

“Now plead with God to be gracious to us. With such offerings(Z) from your hands, will he accept(AA) you?”—says the Lord Almighty.

10 “Oh, that one of you would shut the temple doors,(AB) so that you would not light useless fires on my altar! I am not pleased(AC) with you,” says the Lord Almighty, “and I will accept(AD) no offering(AE) from your hands. 11 My name will be great(AF) among the nations,(AG) from where the sun rises to where it sets.(AH) In every place incense(AI) and pure offerings(AJ) will be brought to me, because my name will be great among the nations,” says the Lord Almighty.

12 “But you profane it by saying, ‘The Lord’s table(AK) is defiled,’ and, ‘Its food(AL) is contemptible.’ 13 And you say, ‘What a burden!’(AM) and you sniff at it contemptuously,(AN)” says the Lord Almighty.

“When you bring injured, lame or diseased animals and offer them as sacrifices,(AO) should I accept them from your hands?”(AP) says the Lord. 14 “Cursed is the cheat who has an acceptable male in his flock and vows to give it, but then sacrifices a blemished animal(AQ) to the Lord. For I am a great king,(AR)” says the Lord Almighty,(AS) “and my name is to be feared(AT) among the nations.(AU)

Additional Warning to the Priests

“And now, you priests, this warning is for you.(AV) If you do not listen,(AW) and if you do not resolve to honor(AX) my name,” says the Lord Almighty, “I will send a curse(AY) on you, and I will curse your blessings.(AZ) Yes, I have already cursed them, because you have not resolved to honor me.

“Because of you I will rebuke your descendants[b]; I will smear on your faces the dung(BA) from your festival sacrifices, and you will be carried off with it.(BB) And you will know that I have sent you this warning so that my covenant with Levi(BC) may continue,” says the Lord Almighty. “My covenant was with him, a covenant(BD) of life and peace,(BE) and I gave them to him; this called for reverence(BF) and he revered me and stood in awe of my name. True instruction(BG) was in his mouth and nothing false was found on his lips. He walked(BH) with me in peace(BI) and uprightness,(BJ) and turned many from sin.(BK)

“For the lips of a priest(BL) ought to preserve knowledge, because he is the messenger(BM) of the Lord Almighty and people seek instruction from his mouth.(BN) But you have turned from the way(BO) and by your teaching have caused many to stumble;(BP) you have violated the covenant(BQ) with Levi,”(BR) says the Lord Almighty. “So I have caused you to be despised(BS) and humiliated(BT) before all the people, because you have not followed my ways but have shown partiality(BU) in matters of the law.”(BV)

Breaking Covenant Through Divorce

10 Do we not all have one Father[c]?(BW) Did not one God create us?(BX) Why do we profane the covenant(BY) of our ancestors by being unfaithful(BZ) to one another?

11 Judah has been unfaithful. A detestable(CA) thing has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem: Judah has desecrated the sanctuary the Lord loves(CB) by marrying(CC) women who worship a foreign god.(CD) 12 As for the man who does this, whoever he may be, may the Lord remove(CE) him from the tents of Jacob[d](CF)—even though he brings an offering(CG) to the Lord Almighty.

13 Another thing you do: You flood the Lord’s altar with tears.(CH) You weep and wail(CI) because he no longer looks with favor(CJ) on your offerings or accepts them with pleasure from your hands.(CK) 14 You ask,(CL) “Why?” It is because the Lord is the witness(CM) between you and the wife of your youth.(CN) You have been unfaithful to her, though she is your partner, the wife of your marriage covenant.(CO)

15 Has not the one God made you?(CP) You belong to him in body and spirit. And what does the one God seek? Godly offspring.[e](CQ) So be on your guard,(CR) and do not be unfaithful(CS) to the wife of your youth.

16 “The man who hates and divorces his wife,(CT)” says the Lord, the God of Israel, “does violence to the one he should protect,”[f](CU) says the Lord Almighty.

So be on your guard,(CV) and do not be unfaithful.

Breaking Covenant Through Injustice

17 You have wearied(CW) the Lord with your words.

“How have we wearied him?” you ask.(CX)

By saying, “All who do evil are good in the eyes of the Lord, and he is pleased(CY) with them” or “Where is the God of justice?(CZ)

Footnotes:

  1. Malachi 1:1 Malachi means my messenger.
  2. Malachi 2:3 Or will blight your grain
  3. Malachi 2:10 Or father
  4. Malachi 2:12 Or 12 May the Lord remove from the tents of Jacob anyone who gives testimony in behalf of the man who does this
  5. Malachi 2:15 The meaning of the Hebrew for the first part of this verse is uncertain.
  6. Malachi 2:16 Or “I hate divorce,” says the Lord, the God of Israel, “because the man who divorces his wife covers his garment with violence,”

Cross references:

  1. Malachi 1:1 : S Na 1:1
  2. Malachi 1:1 : Ac 7:38; Ro 3:1-2; 1Pe 4:11
  3. Malachi 1:2 : S Dt 4:37
  4. Malachi 1:2 : ver 6, 7; Mal 2:14, 17; 3:7, 13
  5. Malachi 1:2 : S Jer 46:27; Ro 9:13*
  6. Malachi 1:3 : Lk 14:26
  7. Malachi 1:3 : S Isa 34:10
  8. Malachi 1:3 : S Isa 13:22
  9. Malachi 1:4 : S Isa 11:14; S 34:11
  10. Malachi 1:4 : Isa 9:10
  11. Malachi 1:4 : S Isa 34:5
  12. Malachi 1:4 : S La 4:22; S Eze 25:12-14; S 26:14
  13. Malachi 1:5 : Ps 35:27; 48:1; Mic 5:4
  14. Malachi 1:5 : Isa 45:22; 52:10; S Am 1:11-12
  15. Malachi 1:6 : S Lev 20:9; Mt 15:4; 23:9
  16. Malachi 1:6 : Lk 6:46
  17. Malachi 1:6 : S Dt 31:12; S Isa 1:2
  18. Malachi 1:6 : Job 5:17
  19. Malachi 1:6 : S ver 2
  20. Malachi 1:7 : ver 12; Lev 21:6
  21. Malachi 1:7 : S ver 2
  22. Malachi 1:7 : S Eze 23:41
  23. Malachi 1:8 : S Lev 1:3; S Dt 15:21
  24. Malachi 1:8 : S Ge 32:20
  25. Malachi 1:8 : S Isa 43:23
  26. Malachi 1:9 : Lev 23:33-44; Ps 51:17; Mic 6:6-8; Ro 12:1; Heb 13:16
  27. Malachi 1:9 : S Jer 6:20
  28. Malachi 1:10 : 2Ch 28:24
  29. Malachi 1:10 : S Hos 5:6
  30. Malachi 1:10 : Lev 22:20
  31. Malachi 1:10 : ver 13; Isa 1:11-14; Jer 14:12; Mal 2:12
  32. Malachi 1:11 : S Isa 24:15; 56:6
  33. Malachi 1:11 : S Isa 6:3; S 12:4
  34. Malachi 1:11 : S Ps 113:3; S Mt 8:11
  35. Malachi 1:11 : Isa 60:6-7; Rev 5:8; 8:3
  36. Malachi 1:11 : S Isa 19:21; Heb 13:15
  37. Malachi 1:12 : S Eze 41:22
  38. Malachi 1:12 : S ver 7
  39. Malachi 1:13 : Isa 43:22-24
  40. Malachi 1:13 : S Nu 14:11
  41. Malachi 1:13 : S ver 10
  42. Malachi 1:13 : S Dt 15:21
  43. Malachi 1:14 : Ex 12:5; S Lev 22:18-21
  44. Malachi 1:14 : Ps 95:3; S Ob 1:21; 1Ti 6:15
  45. Malachi 1:14 : Jer 46:18
  46. Malachi 1:14 : S Dt 28:58
  47. Malachi 1:14 : Ps 72:8-11
  48. Malachi 2:1 : ver 7
  49. Malachi 2:2 : Jer 13:17
  50. Malachi 2:2 : Mt 15:7-9; Jn 5:23; 1Ti 6:16; Rev 5:12-13
  51. Malachi 2:2 : S Dt 11:26; S 28:20
  52. Malachi 2:2 : Nu 6:23-27
  53. Malachi 2:3 : S Ex 29:14; S Lev 4:11; S Job 9:31
  54. Malachi 2:3 : 1Ki 14:10
  55. Malachi 2:4 : S Nu 3:12
  56. Malachi 2:5 : Dt 33:9; Ps 25:10; 103:18; S Mt 26:28; S Lk 22:20; Heb 7:22
  57. Malachi 2:5 : S Nu 25:12
  58. Malachi 2:5 : S Dt 14:23; S 28:58; Ps 119:161; Heb 12:28
  59. Malachi 2:6 : S Dt 33:10
  60. Malachi 2:6 : S Ge 5:22
  61. Malachi 2:6 : Lk 2:14; S Jn 14:27; Gal 5:22
  62. Malachi 2:6 : S Ps 25:21
  63. Malachi 2:6 : S Ro 11:14; Jas 5:19-20
  64. Malachi 2:7 : S Jer 18:18
  65. Malachi 2:7 : S Nu 27:21; S 2Ch 36:15; Mt 11:10; Mk 1:2
  66. Malachi 2:7 : S Lev 10:11; S 2Ch 17:7
  67. Malachi 2:8 : S Ex 32:8; Jer 2:8
  68. Malachi 2:8 : S Jer 18:15
  69. Malachi 2:8 : Jer 33:21; S Eze 22:26
  70. Malachi 2:8 : S Hos 4:6
  71. Malachi 2:9 : S 1Sa 2:30; S Ps 22:6; S Jer 51:37
  72. Malachi 2:9 : S Ps 35:4; Jer 3:25; Ac 8:32-33
  73. Malachi 2:9 : S Ex 18:16; S Lev 19:15; Ac 10:34; Ro 2:11
  74. Malachi 2:9 : S 1Sa 2:17
  75. Malachi 2:10 : S Ex 4:22; Mt 5:16; 6:4, 18; Lk 11:2; 1Co 8:6
  76. Malachi 2:10 : S Job 4:17; Isa 43:1
  77. Malachi 2:10 : Ex 19:5; S 2Ki 17:15; Jer 31:32
  78. Malachi 2:10 : S Zep 3:3-4
  79. Malachi 2:11 : S Isa 1:13; S 48:8
  80. Malachi 2:11 : S Dt 4:37
  81. Malachi 2:11 : S Ne 13:23
  82. Malachi 2:11 : S Ex 34:16; Jer 3:7-9
  83. Malachi 2:12 : S 1Sa 2:30-33; S Eze 24:21
  84. Malachi 2:12 : S Nu 24:5; 2Sa 20:1
  85. Malachi 2:12 : S Mal 1:10
  86. Malachi 2:13 : S Jer 11:11
  87. Malachi 2:13 : Ps 39:12
  88. Malachi 2:13 : Ps 66:18; Jer 14:12
  89. Malachi 2:13 : Isa 58:2
  90. Malachi 2:14 : S Mal 1:2
  91. Malachi 2:14 : S Ge 21:30; S Jos 24:22
  92. Malachi 2:14 : S Pr 5:18
  93. Malachi 2:14 : S Eze 16:8; Heb 13:4
  94. Malachi 2:15 : S Ge 2:24; Mt 19:4-6
  95. Malachi 2:15 : S Dt 14:2; 1Co 7:14
  96. Malachi 2:15 : S Dt 4:15
  97. Malachi 2:15 : S Isa 54:6; 1Co 7:10; Heb 13:4
  98. Malachi 2:16 : S Dt 24:1; Mt 5:31-32; 19:4-9; Mk 10:4-5
  99. Malachi 2:16 : S Ge 6:11; 34:25; S Pr 4:17; S Isa 58:4
  100. Malachi 2:16 : Ps 51:10
  101. Malachi 2:17 : S Isa 1:14
  102. Malachi 2:17 : S Mal 1:2
  103. Malachi 2:17 : Ps 5:4
  104. Malachi 2:17 : S Ge 18:25; S Job 8:3; S Eze 18:25
New International Version (NIV)

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Revelation 21

A New Heaven and a New Earth

21 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,”[a](A) for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away,(B) and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City,(C) the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,(D) prepared as a bride(E) beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them.(F) They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.(G) ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes.(H) There will be no more death’[b](I) or mourning or crying or pain,(J) for the old order of things has passed away.”(K)

He who was seated on the throne(L) said, “I am making everything new!”(M) Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”(N)

He said to me: “It is done.(O) I am the Alpha and the Omega,(P) the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost(Q) from the spring of the water of life.(R) Those who are victorious(S) will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.(T) But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars(U)—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur.(V) This is the second death.”(W)

The New Jerusalem, the Bride of the Lamb

One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues(X) came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride,(Y) the wife of the Lamb.” 10 And he carried me away(Z) in the Spirit(AA) to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.(AB) 11 It shone with the glory of God,(AC) and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper,(AD) clear as crystal.(AE) 12 It had a great, high wall with twelve gates,(AF) and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel.(AG) 13 There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west. 14 The wall of the city had twelve foundations,(AH) and on them were the names of the twelve apostles(AI) of the Lamb.

15 The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod(AJ) of gold to measure the city, its gates(AK) and its walls. 16 The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide. He measured the city with the rod and found it to be 12,000 stadia[c] in length, and as wide and high as it is long. 17 The angel measured the wall using human(AL) measurement, and it was 144 cubits[d] thick.[e] 18 The wall was made of jasper,(AM) and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass.(AN) 19 The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone.(AO) The first foundation was jasper,(AP) the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth onyx, the sixth ruby,(AQ) the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth turquoise, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.[f] 21 The twelve gates(AR) were twelve pearls,(AS) each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of gold, as pure as transparent glass.(AT)

22 I did not see a temple(AU) in the city, because the Lord God Almighty(AV) and the Lamb(AW) are its temple. 23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God(AX) gives it light,(AY) and the Lamb(AZ) is its lamp. 24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it.(BA) 25 On no day will its gates(BB) ever be shut,(BC) for there will be no night there.(BD) 26 The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it.(BE) 27 Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful,(BF) but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.(BG)

Footnotes:

  1. Revelation 21:1 Isaiah 65:17
  2. Revelation 21:4 Isaiah 25:8
  3. Revelation 21:16 That is, about 1,400 miles or about 2,200 kilometers
  4. Revelation 21:17 That is, about 200 feet or about 65 meters
  5. Revelation 21:17 Or high
  6. Revelation 21:20 The precise identification of some of these precious stones is uncertain.

Cross references:

  1. Revelation 21:1 : S 2Pe 3:13
  2. Revelation 21:1 : S Rev 6:14
  3. Revelation 21:2 : ver 10; Ne 11:18; Isa 52:1; Rev 11:2; 22:19
  4. Revelation 21:2 : ver 10; Heb 11:10; 12:22; Rev 3:12
  5. Revelation 21:2 : S Rev 19:7
  6. Revelation 21:3 : Ex 25:8; 2Ch 6:18; Eze 48:35; Zec 2:10
  7. Revelation 21:3 : S 2Co 6:16
  8. Revelation 21:4 : S Rev 7:17
  9. Revelation 21:4 : Isa 25:8; 1Co 15:26; Rev 20:14
  10. Revelation 21:4 : Isa 35:10; 65:19
  11. Revelation 21:4 : S 2Co 5:17
  12. Revelation 21:5 : Rev 4:9; 20:11
  13. Revelation 21:5 : ver 4
  14. Revelation 21:5 : Rev 19:9; 22:6
  15. Revelation 21:6 : Rev 16:17
  16. Revelation 21:6 : Rev 1:8; 22:13
  17. Revelation 21:6 : Isa 55:1
  18. Revelation 21:6 : S Jn 4:10
  19. Revelation 21:7 : S Jn 16:33
  20. Revelation 21:7 : ver 3; 2Sa 7:14; 2Co 6:16; S Ro 8:14
  21. Revelation 21:8 : ver 27; Ps 5:6; 1Co 6:9; Heb 12:14; Rev 22:15
  22. Revelation 21:8 : S Rev 9:17
  23. Revelation 21:8 : S Rev 2:11
  24. Revelation 21:9 : S Rev 15:1, 6, 7
  25. Revelation 21:9 : S Rev 19:7
  26. Revelation 21:10 : Eze 40:2; Rev 17:3
  27. Revelation 21:10 : S Rev 1:10
  28. Revelation 21:10 : S ver 2
  29. Revelation 21:11 : ver 23; Isa 60:1, 2; Eze 43:2; Rev 15:8; 22:5
  30. Revelation 21:11 : ver 18, 19; Rev 4:3
  31. Revelation 21:11 : Rev 4:6
  32. Revelation 21:12 : ver 15, 21, 25; Rev 22:14
  33. Revelation 21:12 : Eze 48:30-34
  34. Revelation 21:14 : S Eph 2:20; Heb 11:10
  35. Revelation 21:14 : Ac 1:26; Eph 2:20
  36. Revelation 21:15 : Eze 40:3; Rev 11:1
  37. Revelation 21:15 : S ver 12
  38. Revelation 21:17 : Rev 13:18
  39. Revelation 21:18 : S ver 11
  40. Revelation 21:18 : ver 21
  41. Revelation 21:19 : Ex 28:17-20; Isa 54:11, 12; Eze 28:13
  42. Revelation 21:19 : S ver 11
  43. Revelation 21:20 : Rev 4:3
  44. Revelation 21:21 : S ver 12
  45. Revelation 21:21 : Isa 54:12
  46. Revelation 21:21 : ver 18
  47. Revelation 21:22 : Jn 4:21, 23
  48. Revelation 21:22 : S Rev 1:8
  49. Revelation 21:22 : S Rev 5:6
  50. Revelation 21:23 : S ver 11
  51. Revelation 21:23 : Isa 24:23; 60:19, 20; Rev 22:5
  52. Revelation 21:23 : S Rev 5:6
  53. Revelation 21:24 : ver 26; Isa 60:3, 5
  54. Revelation 21:25 : S ver 12
  55. Revelation 21:25 : Isa 60:11
  56. Revelation 21:25 : Zec 14:7; Rev 22:5
  57. Revelation 21:26 : ver 24
  58. Revelation 21:27 : Isa 52:1; Joel 3:17; Rev 22:14, 15
  59. Revelation 21:27 : S Rev 20:12
New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Psalm 149

Psalm 149

Praise the Lord.[a](A)

Sing to the Lord a new song,(B)
his praise in the assembly(C) of his faithful people.

Let Israel rejoice(D) in their Maker;(E)
let the people of Zion be glad in their King.(F)
Let them praise his name with dancing(G)
and make music to him with timbrel and harp.(H)
For the Lord takes delight(I) in his people;
he crowns the humble with victory.(J)
Let his faithful people rejoice(K) in this honor
and sing for joy on their beds.(L)

May the praise of God be in their mouths(M)
and a double-edged(N) sword in their hands,(O)
to inflict vengeance(P) on the nations
and punishment(Q) on the peoples,
to bind their kings with fetters,(R)
their nobles with shackles of iron,(S)
to carry out the sentence written against them—(T)
this is the glory of all his faithful people.(U)

Praise the Lord.

Footnotes:

  1. Psalm 149:1 Hebrew Hallelu Yah; also in verse 9
New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Proverbs 31:10-24

Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character

10 [a]A wife of noble character(A) who can find?(B)
She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband(C) has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.(D)
12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.(E)
14 She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her female servants.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
19 In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.(F)
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders(G) of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.

Footnotes:

  1. Proverbs 31:10 Verses 10-31 are an acrostic poem, the verses of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.