The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Tuesday July 20, 2021 (NIV)

2 Chronicles 1-3

Solomon Asks for Wisdom

Solomon son of David took firm control of his kingdom, for the Lord his God was with him and made him very powerful.

Solomon called together all the leaders of Israel—the generals and captains of the army,[a] the judges, and all the political and clan leaders. Then he led the entire assembly to the place of worship in Gibeon, for God’s Tabernacle[b] was located there. (This was the Tabernacle that Moses, the Lord’s servant, had made in the wilderness.)

David had already moved the Ark of God from Kiriath-jearim to the tent he had prepared for it in Jerusalem. But the bronze altar made by Bezalel son of Uri and grandson of Hur was there[c] at Gibeon in front of the Tabernacle of the Lord. So Solomon and the people gathered in front of it to consult the Lord.[d] There in front of the Tabernacle, Solomon went up to the bronze altar in the Lord’s presence and sacrificed 1,000 burnt offerings on it.

That night God appeared to Solomon and said, “What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!”

Solomon replied to God, “You showed great and faithful love to David, my father, and now you have made me king in his place. O Lord God, please continue to keep your promise to David my father, for you have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth! 10 Give me the wisdom and knowledge to lead them properly,[e] for who could possibly govern this great people of yours?”

11 God said to Solomon, “Because your greatest desire is to help your people, and you did not ask for wealth, riches, fame, or even the death of your enemies or a long life, but rather you asked for wisdom and knowledge to properly govern my people— 12 I will certainly give you the wisdom and knowledge you requested. But I will also give you wealth, riches, and fame such as no other king has had before you or will ever have in the future!”

13 Then Solomon returned to Jerusalem from the Tabernacle at the place of worship in Gibeon, and he reigned over Israel.

14 Solomon built up a huge force of chariots and horses.[f] He had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horses. He stationed some of them in the chariot cities and some near him in Jerusalem. 15 The king made silver and gold as plentiful in Jerusalem as stone. And valuable cedar timber was as common as the sycamore-fig trees that grow in the foothills of Judah.[g] 16 Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt[h] and from Cilicia[i]; the king’s traders acquired them from Cilicia at the standard price. 17 At that time chariots from Egypt could be purchased for 600 pieces of silver,[j] and horses for 150 pieces of silver.[k] They were then exported to the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Aram.

Preparations for Building the Temple

[l]Solomon decided to build a Temple to honor the name of the Lord, and also a royal palace for himself. [m]He enlisted a force of 70,000 laborers, 80,000 men to quarry stone in the hill country, and 3,600 foremen.

Solomon also sent this message to King Hiram[n] at Tyre:

“Send me cedar logs as you did for my father, David, when he was building his palace. I am about to build a Temple to honor the name of the Lord my God. It will be a place set apart to burn fragrant incense before him, to display the special sacrificial bread, and to sacrifice burnt offerings each morning and evening, on the Sabbaths, at new moon celebrations, and at the other appointed festivals of the Lord our God. He has commanded Israel to do these things forever.

“This must be a magnificent Temple because our God is greater than all other gods. But who can really build him a worthy home? Not even the highest heavens can contain him! So who am I to consider building a Temple for him, except as a place to burn sacrifices to him?

“So send me a master craftsman who can work with gold, silver, bronze, and iron, as well as with purple, scarlet, and blue cloth. He must be a skilled engraver who can work with the craftsmen of Judah and Jerusalem who were selected by my father, David.

“Also send me cedar, cypress, and red sandalwood[o] logs from Lebanon, for I know that your men are without equal at cutting timber in Lebanon. I will send my men to help them. An immense amount of timber will be needed, for the Temple I am going to build will be very large and magnificent. 10 In payment for your woodcutters, I will send 100,000 bushels of crushed wheat, 100,000 bushels of barley,[p] 110,000 gallons of wine, and 110,000 gallons of olive oil.[q]

11 King Hiram sent this letter of reply to Solomon:

“It is because the Lord loves his people that he has made you their king! 12 Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, who made the heavens and the earth! He has given King David a wise son, gifted with skill and understanding, who will build a Temple for the Lord and a royal palace for himself.

13 “I am sending you a master craftsman named Huram-abi, who is extremely talented. 14 His mother is from the tribe of Dan in Israel, and his father is from Tyre. He is skillful at making things from gold, silver, bronze, and iron, and he also works with stone and wood. He can work with purple, blue, and scarlet cloth and fine linen. He is also an engraver and can follow any design given to him. He will work with your craftsmen and those appointed by my lord David, your father.

15 “Send along the wheat, barley, olive oil, and wine that my lord has mentioned. 16 We will cut whatever timber you need from the Lebanon mountains and will float the logs in rafts down the coast of the Mediterranean Sea[r] to Joppa. From there you can transport the logs up to Jerusalem.”

17 Solomon took a census of all foreigners in the land of Israel, like the census his father had taken, and he counted 153,600. 18 He assigned 70,000 of them as common laborers, 80,000 as quarry workers in the hill country, and 3,600 as foremen.

Solomon Builds the Temple

So Solomon began to build the Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the Lord had appeared to David, his father. The Temple was built on the threshing floor of Araunah[s] the Jebusite, the site that David had selected. The construction began in midspring,[t] during the fourth year of Solomon’s reign.

These are the dimensions Solomon used for the foundation of the Temple of God (using the old standard of measurement).[u] It was 90 feet long and 30 feet wide.[v] The entry room at the front of the Temple was 30 feet[w] wide, running across the entire width of the Temple, and 30 feet[x] high. He overlaid the inside with pure gold.

He paneled the main room of the Temple with cypress wood, overlaid it with fine gold, and decorated it with carvings of palm trees and chains. He decorated the walls of the Temple with beautiful jewels and with gold from the land of Parvaim. He overlaid the beams, thresholds, walls, and doors throughout the Temple with gold, and he carved figures of cherubim on the walls.

He made the Most Holy Place 30 feet wide, corresponding to the width of the Temple, and 30 feet deep. He overlaid its interior with 23 tons[y] of fine gold. The gold nails that were used weighed 20 ounces[z] each. He also overlaid the walls of the upper rooms with gold.

10 He made two figures shaped like cherubim, overlaid them with gold, and placed them in the Most Holy Place. 11 The total wingspan of the two cherubim standing side by side was 30 feet. One wing of the first figure was 7 1⁄2 feet[aa] long, and it touched the Temple wall. The other wing, also 7 1⁄2 feet long, touched one of the wings of the second figure. 12 In the same way, the second figure had one wing 7 1⁄2 feet long that touched the opposite wall. The other wing, also 7 1⁄2 feet long, touched the wing of the first figure. 13 So the wingspan of the two cherubim side by side was 30 feet. They stood on their feet and faced out toward the main room of the Temple.

14 Across the entrance of the Most Holy Place he hung a curtain made of fine linen, decorated with blue, purple, and scarlet thread and embroidered with figures of cherubim.

15 For the front of the Temple, he made two pillars that were 27 feet[ab] tall, each topped by a capital extending upward another 7 1⁄2 feet. 16 He made a network of interwoven chains[ac] and used them to decorate the tops of the pillars. He also made 100 decorative pomegranates and attached them to the chains. 17 Then he set up the two pillars at the entrance of the Temple, one to the south of the entrance and the other to the north. He named the one on the south Jakin, and the one on the north Boaz.[ad]

Footnotes:

  1. 1:2 Hebrew the commanders of thousands and of hundreds.
  2. 1:3 Hebrew Tent of Meeting; also in 1:6, 13.
  3. 1:5a As in Greek version and Latin Vulgate, and some Hebrew manuscripts; Masoretic Text reads he placed.
  4. 1:5b Hebrew to consult him.
  5. 1:10 Hebrew to go out and come in before this people.
  6. 1:14 Or charioteers; also in 1:14b.
  7. 1:15 Hebrew the Shephelah.
  8. 1:16a Possibly Muzur, a district near Cilicia; also in 1:17.
  9. 1:16b Hebrew Kue, probably another name for Cilicia.
  10. 1:17a Hebrew 600 [shekels] of silver, about 15 pounds or 6.8 kilograms in weight.
  11. 1:17b Hebrew 150 [shekels], about 3.8 pounds or 1.7 kilograms in weight.
  12. 2:1 Verse 2:1 is numbered 1:18 in Hebrew text.
  13. 2:2 Verses 2:2-18 are numbered 2:1-17 in Hebrew text.
  14. 2:3 Hebrew Huram, a variant spelling of Hiram; also in 2:11.
  15. 2:8 Or juniper; Hebrew reads algum, perhaps a variant spelling of almug; compare 9:10-11 and parallel text at 1 Kgs 10:11-12.
  16. 2:10a Hebrew 20,000 cors [4,400 kiloliters] of crushed wheat, 20,000 cors of barley.
  17. 2:10b Hebrew 20,000 baths [420 kiloliters] of wine, and 20,000 baths of olive oil.
  18. 2:16 Hebrew the sea.
  19. 3:1 Hebrew reads Ornan, a variant spelling of Araunah; compare 2 Sam 24:16.
  20. 3:2 Hebrew on the second [day] of the second month. This day of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar occurred in April or May.
  21. 3:3a The “old standard of measurement” was a cubit equal to 18 inches [46 centimeters]. The new standard was a cubit of approximately 21 inches [53 centimeters].
  22. 3:3b Hebrew 60 cubits [27.6 meters] long and 20 cubits [9.2 meters] wide.
  23. 3:4a Hebrew 20 cubits [9.2 meters]; also in 3:8, 11, 13.
  24. 3:4b As in some Greek and Syriac manuscripts, which read 20 cubits [9.2 meters]; Hebrew reads 120 [cubits], which is 180 feet or 55 meters.
  25. 3:8 Hebrew 600 talents [20.4 metric tons].
  26. 3:9 Hebrew 50 shekels [570 grams].
  27. 3:11 Hebrew 5 cubits [2.3 meters]; also in 3:11b, 12, 15.
  28. 3:15 As in Syriac version (see also 1 Kgs 7:15; 2 Kgs 25:17; Jer 52:21), which reads 18 cubits [8.3 meters]; Hebrew reads 35 cubits, which is 52.5 feet or 16.5 meters.
  29. 3:16 Hebrew He made chains in the inner sanctuary. The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.
  30. 3:17 Jakin probably means “he establishes”; Boaz probably means “in him is strength.”
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.


Romans 6

Sin’s Power Is Broken

Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.

Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him. We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him. 10 When he died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God. 11 So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus.

12 Do not let sin control the way you live;[a] do not give in to sinful desires. 13 Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. 14 Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.

15 Well then, since God’s grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not! 16 Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living. 17 Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you wholeheartedly obey this teaching we have given you. 18 Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living.

19 Because of the weakness of your human nature, I am using the illustration of slavery to help you understand all this. Previously, you let yourselves be slaves to impurity and lawlessness, which led ever deeper into sin. Now you must give yourselves to be slaves to righteous living so that you will become holy.

20 When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the obligation to do right. 21 And what was the result? You are now ashamed of the things you used to do, things that end in eternal doom. 22 But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

Footnotes:

  1. 6:12 Or Do not let sin reign in your body, which is subject to death.
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 16

Psalm 16

A psalm[a] of David.

Keep me safe, O God,
for I have come to you for refuge.

I said to the Lord, “You are my Master!
Every good thing I have comes from you.”
The godly people in the land
are my true heroes!
I take pleasure in them!
Troubles multiply for those who chase after other gods.
I will not take part in their sacrifices of blood
or even speak the names of their gods.

Lord, you alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing.
You guard all that is mine.
The land you have given me is a pleasant land.
What a wonderful inheritance!

I will bless the Lord who guides me;
even at night my heart instructs me.
I know the Lord is always with me.
I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.

No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice.[b]
My body rests in safety.
10 For you will not leave my soul among the dead[c]
or allow your holy one[d] to rot in the grave.
11 You will show me the way of life,
granting me the joy of your presence
and the pleasures of living with you forever.[e]

Footnotes:

  1. 16:Title Hebrew miktam. This may be a literary or musical term.
  2. 16:9 Greek version reads and my tongue shouts his praises. Compare Acts 2:26.
  3. 16:10a Hebrew in Sheol.
  4. 16:10b Or your Holy One.
  5. 16:11 Greek version reads You have shown me the way of life, / and you will fill me with the joy of your presence. Compare Acts 2:28.
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 19:20-21

20 Get all the advice and instruction you can,
so you will be wise the rest of your life.

21 You can make many plans,
but the Lord’s purpose will prevail.

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 Monday July 19, 2021 (NIV)

1 Chronicles 28-29

David’s Instructions to Solomon

28 David summoned all the officials of Israel to Jerusalem—the leaders of the tribes, the commanders of the army divisions, the other generals and captains,[a] the overseers of the royal property and livestock, the palace officials, the mighty men, and all the other brave warriors in the kingdom. David rose to his feet and said: “My brothers and my people! It was my desire to build a Temple where the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant, God’s footstool, could rest permanently. I made the necessary preparations for building it, but God said to me, ‘You must not build a Temple to honor my name, for you are a warrior and have shed much blood.’

“Yet the Lord, the God of Israel, has chosen me from among all my father’s family to be king over Israel forever. For he has chosen the tribe of Judah to rule, and from among the families of Judah he chose my father’s family. And from among my father’s sons the Lord was pleased to make me king over all Israel. And from among my sons—for the Lord has given me many—he chose Solomon to succeed me on the throne of Israel and to rule over the Lord’s kingdom. He said to me, ‘Your son Solomon will build my Temple and its courtyards, for I have chosen him as my son, and I will be his father. And if he continues to obey my commands and regulations as he does now, I will make his kingdom last forever.’

“So now, with God as our witness, and in the sight of all Israel—the Lord’s assembly—I give you this charge. Be careful to obey all the commands of the Lord your God, so that you may continue to possess this good land and leave it to your children as a permanent inheritance.

“And Solomon, my son, learn to know the God of your ancestors intimately. Worship and serve him with your whole heart and a willing mind. For the Lord sees every heart and knows every plan and thought. If you seek him, you will find him. But if you forsake him, he will reject you forever. 10 So take this seriously. The Lord has chosen you to build a Temple as his sanctuary. Be strong, and do the work.”

11 Then David gave Solomon the plans for the Temple and its surroundings, including the entry room, the storerooms, the upstairs rooms, the inner rooms, and the inner sanctuary—which was the place of atonement. 12 David also gave Solomon all the plans he had in mind[b] for the courtyards of the Lord’s Temple, the outside rooms, the treasuries, and the rooms for the gifts dedicated to the Lord. 13 The king also gave Solomon the instructions concerning the work of the various divisions of priests and Levites in the Temple of the Lord. And he gave specifications for the items in the Temple that were to be used for worship.

14 David gave instructions regarding how much gold and silver should be used to make the items needed for service. 15 He told Solomon the amount of gold needed for the gold lampstands and lamps, and the amount of silver for the silver lampstands and lamps, depending on how each would be used. 16 He designated the amount of gold for the table on which the Bread of the Presence would be placed and the amount of silver for other tables.

17 David also designated the amount of gold for the solid gold meat hooks used to handle the sacrificial meat and for the basins, pitchers, and dishes, as well as the amount of silver for every dish. 18 He designated the amount of refined gold for the altar of incense. Finally, he gave him a plan for the Lord’s “chariot”—the gold cherubim[c] whose wings were stretched out over the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant. 19 “Every part of this plan,” David told Solomon, “was given to me in writing from the hand of the Lord.[d]

20 Then David continued, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don’t be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. He will see to it that all the work related to the Temple of the Lord is finished correctly. 21 The various divisions of priests and Levites will serve in the Temple of God. Others with skills of every kind will volunteer, and the officials and the entire nation are at your command.”

Gifts for Building the Temple

29 Then King David turned to the entire assembly and said, “My son Solomon, whom God has clearly chosen as the next king of Israel, is still young and inexperienced. The work ahead of him is enormous, for the Temple he will build is not for mere mortals—it is for the Lord God himself! Using every resource at my command, I have gathered as much as I could for building the Temple of my God. Now there is enough gold, silver, bronze, iron, and wood, as well as great quantities of onyx, other precious stones, costly jewels, and all kinds of fine stone and marble.

“And now, because of my devotion to the Temple of my God, I am giving all of my own private treasures of gold and silver to help in the construction. This is in addition to the building materials I have already collected for his holy Temple. I am donating more than 112 tons of gold[e] from Ophir and 262 tons of refined silver[f] to be used for overlaying the walls of the buildings and for the other gold and silver work to be done by the craftsmen. Now then, who will follow my example and give offerings to the Lord today?”

Then the family leaders, the leaders of the tribes of Israel, the generals and captains of the army,[g] and the king’s administrative officers all gave willingly. For the construction of the Temple of God, they gave about 188 tons of gold,[h] 10,000 gold coins,[i] 375 tons of silver,[j] 675 tons of bronze,[k] and 3,750 tons of iron.[l] They also contributed numerous precious stones, which were deposited in the treasury of the house of the Lord under the care of Jehiel, a descendant of Gershon. The people rejoiced over the offerings, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the Lord, and King David was filled with joy.

David’s Prayer of Praise

10 Then David praised the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly:

“O Lord, the God of our ancestor Israel,[m] may you be praised forever and ever! 11 Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O Lord, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things. 12 Wealth and honor come from you alone, for you rule over everything. Power and might are in your hand, and at your discretion people are made great and given strength.

13 “O our God, we thank you and praise your glorious name! 14 But who am I, and who are my people, that we could give anything to you? Everything we have has come from you, and we give you only what you first gave us! 15 We are here for only a moment, visitors and strangers in the land as our ancestors were before us. Our days on earth are like a passing shadow, gone so soon without a trace.

16 “O Lord our God, even this material we have gathered to build a Temple to honor your holy name comes from you! It all belongs to you! 17 I know, my God, that you examine our hearts and rejoice when you find integrity there. You know I have done all this with good motives, and I have watched your people offer their gifts willingly and joyously.

18 “O Lord, the God of our ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, make your people always want to obey you. See to it that their love for you never changes. 19 Give my son Solomon the wholehearted desire to obey all your commands, laws, and decrees, and to do everything necessary to build this Temple, for which I have made these preparations.”

20 Then David said to the whole assembly, “Give praise to the Lord your God!” And the entire assembly praised the Lord, the God of their ancestors, and they bowed low and knelt before the Lord and the king.

Solomon Named as King

21 The next day they brought 1,000 bulls, 1,000 rams, and 1,000 male lambs as burnt offerings to the Lord. They also brought liquid offerings and many other sacrifices on behalf of all Israel. 22 They feasted and drank in the Lord’s presence with great joy that day.

And again they crowned David’s son Solomon as their new king. They anointed him before the Lord as their leader, and they anointed Zadok as priest. 23 So Solomon took the throne of the Lord in place of his father, David, and he succeeded in everything, and all Israel obeyed him. 24 All the officials, the warriors, and the sons of King David pledged their loyalty to King Solomon. 25 And the Lord exalted Solomon in the sight of all Israel, and he gave Solomon greater royal splendor than any king in Israel before him.

Summary of David’s Reign

26 So David son of Jesse reigned over all Israel. 27 He reigned over Israel for forty years, seven of them in Hebron and thirty-three in Jerusalem. 28 He died at a ripe old age, having enjoyed long life, wealth, and honor. Then his son Solomon ruled in his place.

29 All the events of King David’s reign, from beginning to end, are written in The Record of Samuel the Seer, The Record of Nathan the Prophet, and The Record of Gad the Seer. 30 These accounts include the mighty deeds of his reign and everything that happened to him and to Israel and to all the surrounding kingdoms.

Footnotes:

  1. 28:1 Hebrew the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds.
  2. 28:12 Or the plans of the spirit that was with him.
  3. 28:18 Hebrew for the gold cherub chariot.
  4. 28:19 Or was written under the direction of the Lord.
  5. 29:4a Hebrew 3,000 talents [102 metric tons] of gold.
  6. 29:4b Hebrew 7,000 talents [238 metric tons] of silver.
  7. 29:6 Hebrew the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds.
  8. 29:7a Hebrew 5,000 talents [170 metric tons] of gold.
  9. 29:7b Hebrew 10,000 darics [a Persian coin] of gold, about 185 pounds or 84 kilograms in weight.
  10. 29:7c Hebrew 10,000 talents [340 metric tons] of silver.
  11. 29:7d Hebrew 18,000 talents [612 metric tons] of bronze.
  12. 29:7e Hebrew 100,000 talents [3,400 metric tons] of iron.
  13. 29:10 Israel is the name that God gave to Jacob.
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.


Romans 5:6-21

When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. 10 For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. 11 So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.

Adam and Christ Contrasted

12 When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. 13 Yes, people sinned even before the law was given. But it was not counted as sin because there was not yet any law to break. 14 Still, everyone died—from the time of Adam to the time of Moses—even those who did not disobey an explicit commandment of God, as Adam did. Now Adam is a symbol, a representation of Christ, who was yet to come. 15 But there is a great difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ. 16 And the result of God’s gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man’s sin. For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins. 17 For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.

18 Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. 19 Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous.

20 God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant. 21 So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

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 15

Psalm 15

A psalm of David.

Who may worship in your sanctuary, Lord?
Who may enter your presence on your holy hill?
Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right,
speaking the truth from sincere hearts.
Those who refuse to gossip
or harm their neighbors
or speak evil of their friends.
Those who despise flagrant sinners,
and honor the faithful followers of the Lord,
and keep their promises even when it hurts.
Those who lend money without charging interest,
and who cannot be bribed to lie about the innocent.
Such people will stand firm forever.

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 19:18-19

18 Discipline your children while there is hope.
Otherwise you will ruin their lives.

19 Hot-tempered people must pay the penalty.
If you rescue them once, you will have to do it again.

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 Sunday July 18, 2021 (NIV)

1 Chronicles 26:12-27:34

12 These divisions of the gatekeepers were named for their family leaders, and like the other Levites, they served at the house of the Lord. 13 They were assigned by families for guard duty at the various gates, without regard to age or training, for it was all decided by means of sacred lots.

14 The responsibility for the east gate went to Meshelemiah[a] and his group. The north gate was assigned to his son Zechariah, a man of unusual wisdom. 15 The south gate went to Obed-edom, and his sons were put in charge of the storehouse. 16 Shuppim and Hosah were assigned the west gate and the gateway leading up to the Temple.[b] Guard duties were divided evenly. 17 Six Levites were assigned each day to the east gate, four to the north gate, four to the south gate, and two pairs at the storehouse. 18 Six were assigned each day to the west gate, four to the gateway leading up to the Temple, and two to the courtyard.[c]

19 These were the divisions of the gatekeepers from the clans of Korah and Merari.

Treasurers and Other Officials

20 Other Levites, led by Ahijah, were in charge of the treasuries of the house of God and the treasuries of the gifts dedicated to the Lord. 21 From the family of Libni[d] in the clan of Gershon, Jehiel[e] was the leader. 22 The sons of Jehiel, Zetham and his brother Joel, were in charge of the treasuries of the house of the Lord.

23 These are the leaders that descended from Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel:

24 From the clan of Amram, Shebuel was a descendant of Gershom son of Moses. He was the chief officer of the treasuries. 25 His relatives through Eliezer were Rehabiah, Jeshaiah, Joram, Zicri, and Shelomoth.

26 Shelomoth and his relatives were in charge of the treasuries containing the gifts that King David, the family leaders, and the generals and captains[f] and other officers of the army had dedicated to the Lord. 27 These men dedicated some of the plunder they had gained in battle to maintain the house of the Lord. 28 Shelomoth[g] and his relatives also cared for the gifts dedicated to the Lord by Samuel the seer, Saul son of Kish, Abner son of Ner, and Joab son of Zeruiah. All the other dedicated gifts were in their care, too.

29 From the clan of Izhar came Kenaniah. He and his sons were given administrative responsibilities[h] over Israel as officials and judges.

30 From the clan of Hebron came Hashabiah. He and his relatives—1,700 capable men—were put in charge of the Israelite lands west of the Jordan River. They were responsible for all matters related to the things of the Lord and the service of the king in that area.

31 Also from the clan of Hebron came Jeriah,[i] who was the leader of the Hebronites according to the genealogical records. (In the fortieth year of David’s reign, a search was made in the records, and capable men from the clan of Hebron were found at Jazer in the land of Gilead.) 32 There were 2,700 capable men among the relatives of Jeriah. King David sent them to the east side of the Jordan River and put them in charge of the tribes of Reuben and Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh. They were responsible for all matters related to God and to the king.

Military Commanders and Divisions

27 This is the list of Israelite generals and captains,[j] and their officers, who served the king by supervising the army divisions that were on duty each month of the year. Each division served for one month and had 24,000 troops.

Jashobeam son of Zabdiel was commander of the first division of 24,000 troops, which was on duty during the first month. He was a descendant of Perez and was in charge of all the army officers for the first month.

Dodai, a descendant of Ahoah, was commander of the second division of 24,000 troops, which was on duty during the second month. Mikloth was his chief officer.

Benaiah son of Jehoiada the priest was commander of the third division of 24,000 troops, which was on duty during the third month. This was the Benaiah who commanded David’s elite military group known as the Thirty. His son Ammizabad was his chief officer.

Asahel, the brother of Joab, was commander of the fourth division of 24,000 troops, which was on duty during the fourth month. Asahel was succeeded by his son Zebadiah.

Shammah[k] the Izrahite was commander of the fifth division of 24,000 troops, which was on duty during the fifth month.

Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa was commander of the sixth division of 24,000 troops, which was on duty during the sixth month.

10 Helez, a descendant of Ephraim from Pelon, was commander of the seventh division of 24,000 troops, which was on duty during the seventh month.

11 Sibbecai, a descendant of Zerah from Hushah, was commander of the eighth division of 24,000 troops, which was on duty during the eighth month.

12 Abiezer from Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin was commander of the ninth division of 24,000 troops, which was on duty during the ninth month.

13 Maharai, a descendant of Zerah from Netophah, was commander of the tenth division of 24,000 troops, which was on duty during the tenth month.

14 Benaiah from Pirathon in Ephraim was commander of the eleventh division of 24,000 troops, which was on duty during the eleventh month.

15 Heled,[l] a descendant of Othniel from Netophah, was commander of the twelfth division of 24,000 troops, which was on duty during the twelfth month.

Leaders of the Tribes

16 The following were the tribes of Israel and their leaders:

TribeLeader
ReubenEliezer son of Zicri
SimeonShephatiah son of Maacah
17 LeviHashabiah son of Kemuel
Aaron (the priests)Zadok
18 JudahElihu (a brother of David)
IssacharOmri son of Michael
19 ZebulunIshmaiah son of Obadiah
NaphtaliJeremoth son of Azriel
20 EphraimHoshea son of Azaziah
Manasseh (west)Joel son of Pedaiah
21 Manasseh in Gilead (east)Iddo son of Zechariah
BenjaminJaasiel son of Abner
22 DanAzarel son of Jeroham

These were the leaders of the tribes of Israel.

23 When David took his census, he did not count those who were younger than twenty years of age, because the Lord had promised to make the Israelites as numerous as the stars in heaven. 24 Joab son of Zeruiah began the census but never finished it because[m] the anger of God fell on Israel. The total number was never recorded in King David’s official records.

Officials of David’s Kingdom

25 Azmaveth son of Adiel was in charge of the palace treasuries.

Jonathan son of Uzziah was in charge of the regional treasuries throughout the towns, villages, and fortresses of Israel.

26 Ezri son of Kelub was in charge of the field workers who farmed the king’s lands.

27 Shimei from Ramah was in charge of the king’s vineyards.

Zabdi from Shepham was responsible for the grapes and the supplies of wine.

28 Baal-hanan from Geder was in charge of the king’s olive groves and sycamore-fig trees in the foothills of Judah.[n]

Joash was responsible for the supplies of olive oil.

29 Shitrai from Sharon was in charge of the cattle on the Sharon Plain.

Shaphat son of Adlai was responsible for the cattle in the valleys.

30 Obil the Ishmaelite was in charge of the camels.

Jehdeiah from Meronoth was in charge of the donkeys.

31 Jaziz the Hagrite was in charge of the king’s flocks of sheep and goats.

All these officials were overseers of King David’s property.

32 Jonathan, David’s uncle, was a wise counselor to the king, a man of great insight, and a scribe. Jehiel the Hacmonite was responsible for teaching the king’s sons. 33 Ahithophel was the royal adviser. Hushai the Arkite was the king’s friend. 34 Ahithophel was succeeded by Jehoiada son of Benaiah and by Abiathar. Joab was commander of the king’s army.

Footnotes:

  1. 26:14 Hebrew Shelemiah, a variant spelling of Meshelemiah; compare 26:2.
  2. 26:16 Or the gate of Shalleketh on the upper road (also in 26:18). The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.
  3. 26:18 Or the colonnade. The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.
  4. 26:21a Hebrew Ladan, a variant spelling of Libni; compare 6:17.
  5. 26:21b Hebrew Jehieli (also in 26:22), a variant spelling of Jehiel; compare 23:8.
  6. 26:26 Hebrew the commanders of thousands and of hundreds.
  7. 26:28 Hebrew Shelomith, a variant spelling of Shelomoth.
  8. 26:29 Or were given outside work; or were given work away from the Temple area.
  9. 26:31 Hebrew Jerijah, a variant spelling of Jeriah; compare 23:19.
  10. 27:1 Hebrew commanders of thousands and of hundreds.
  11. 27:8 Hebrew Shamhuth, a variant spelling of Shammah; compare 11:27 and 2 Sam 23:25.
  12. 27:15 Hebrew Heldai, a variant spelling of Heled; compare 11:30 and 2 Sam 23:29.
  13. 27:24 Or never finished it, and yet.
  14. 27:28 Hebrew the Shephelah.
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.


Romans 4:13-5:5

13 Clearly, God’s promise to give the whole earth to Abraham and his descendants was based not on his obedience to God’s law, but on a right relationship with God that comes by faith. 14 If God’s promise is only for those who obey the law, then faith is not necessary and the promise is pointless. 15 For the law always brings punishment on those who try to obey it. (The only way to avoid breaking the law is to have no law to break!)

16 So the promise is received by faith. It is given as a free gift. And we are all certain to receive it, whether or not we live according to the law of Moses, if we have faith like Abraham’s. For Abraham is the father of all who believe. 17 That is what the Scriptures mean when God told him, “I have made you the father of many nations.”[a] This happened because Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing.

18 Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have!”[b] 19 And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah’s womb.

20 Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. 21 He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. 22 And because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as righteous. 23 And when God counted him as righteous, it wasn’t just for Abraham’s benefit. It was recorded 24 for our benefit, too, assuring us that God will also count us as righteous if we believe in him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25 He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God.

Faith Brings Joy

Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace[c] with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

Footnotes:

  1. 4:17 Gen 17:5.
  2. 4:18 Gen 15:5.
  3. 5:1 Some manuscripts read let us have peace.
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 14

Psalm 14

For the choir director: A psalm of David.

Only fools say in their hearts,
“There is no God.”
They are corrupt, and their actions are evil;
not one of them does good!

The Lord looks down from heaven
on the entire human race;
he looks to see if anyone is truly wise,
if anyone seeks God.
But no, all have turned away;
all have become corrupt.[a]
No one does good,
not a single one!

Will those who do evil never learn?
They eat up my people like bread
and wouldn’t think of praying to the Lord.
Terror will grip them,
for God is with those who obey him.
The wicked frustrate the plans of the oppressed,
but the Lord will protect his people.

Who will come from Mount Zion to rescue Israel?
When the Lord restores his people,
Jacob will shout with joy, and Israel will rejoice.

Footnotes:

  1. 14:3 Greek version reads have become useless. Compare Rom 3:12.
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 19:17

17 If you help the poor, you are lending to the Lord
and he will repay you!

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 Saturday July 17, 2021 (NIV)

1 Chronicles 24:1-26:11

The Divisions of the Priests

24 The divisions of the descendants of Aaron were as follows: Aaron’s sons were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.(A) But Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and they had no sons, so Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests.(B) Together with Zadok(C) from the descendants of Eleazar and Ahimelech from the descendants of Ithamar, David divided them according to the assigned duties of their service. Since more leaders were found among Eleazar’s descendants than Ithamar’s, they were divided accordingly: sixteen heads of ancestral families[a] were from Eleazar’s descendants, and eight heads of ancestral families were from Ithamar’s. They(D) were assigned by lot, for there were officers of the sanctuary and officers of God among both Eleazar’s and Ithamar’s descendants.

The secretary, Shemaiah son of Nethanel, a Levite, recorded them in the presence of the king and the officers, the priest Zadok, Ahimelech(E) son of Abiathar, and the heads of families of the priests and the Levites. One ancestral family[b] was taken for Eleazar, and then one for Ithamar.

The first lot fell to Jehoiarib, the second to Jedaiah,

the third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim,

the fifth to Malchijah, the sixth to Mijamin,

10 the seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah,(F)

11 the ninth to Jeshua, the tenth to Shecaniah,

12 the eleventh to Eliashib, the twelfth to Jakim,

13 the thirteenth to Huppah, the fourteenth to Jeshebeab,

14 the fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer,

15 the seventeenth to Hezir, the eighteenth to Happizzez,

16 the nineteenth to Pethahiah, the twentieth to Jehezkel,

17 the twenty-first to Jachin, the twenty-second to Gamul,

18 the twenty-third to Delaiah, and the twenty-fourth to Maaziah.

19 These had their assigned duties for service when they entered the Lord’s temple, according to their regulations, which they received from their ancestor Aaron, as the Lord God of Israel had commanded him.

The Rest of the Levites

20 As for the rest of Levi’s sons:

from Amram’s sons: Shubael;

from Shubael’s sons: Jehdeiah.

21 From Rehabiah:

from Rehabiah’s sons: Isshiah was the first.

22 From the Izharites: Shelomoth;

from Shelomoth’s sons: Jahath.

23 Hebron’s[c](G) sons:

Jeriah the first, Amariah the second,

Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth.

24 From Uzziel’s sons: Micah;

from Micah’s sons: Shamir.

25 Micah’s brother: Isshiah;

from Isshiah’s sons: Zechariah.

26 Merari’s sons: Mahli and Mushi,

and from his sons, Jaaziah his son.[d]

27 Merari’s sons, by his son Jaaziah:[e]

Shoham, Zaccur, and Ibri.

28 From Mahli: Eleazar, who had no sons.

29 From Kish, from Kish’s sons: Jerahmeel.

30 Mushi’s sons: Mahli, Eder, and Jerimoth.

Those were the descendants of the Levites according to their ancestral families.[f] 31 They also cast lots the same way as their relatives the descendants of Aaron did in the presence of King David, Zadok, Ahimelech, and the heads of the families of the priests and Levites—the family heads and their younger brothers alike.(H)

The Levitical Musicians

25 David and the officers of the army also set apart some of the sons of Asaph, Heman,(I) and Jeduthun, who were to prophesy(J) accompanied by lyres, harps, and cymbals.(K) This is the list of the men who performed their service:

From Asaph’s sons:

Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asarelah, sons of Asaph, under Asaph’s authority, who prophesied under the authority of the king.

From Jeduthun:(L) Jeduthun’s sons:

Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei,[g] Hashabiah, and Mattithiah—six—under the authority of their father Jeduthun, prophesying to the accompaniment of lyres, giving thanks and praise to the Lord.

From Heman: Heman’s sons:

Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth. All these sons of Heman, the king’s seer,(M) were given by the promises of God to exalt him,[h] for God had given Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.

All these men were under their own fathers’ authority for the music in the Lord’s temple, with cymbals, harps, and lyres for the service of God’s temple. Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman were under the king’s authority. They numbered 288 together with their relatives who were all trained and skillful in music for the Lord. They cast lots for their duties, young and old alike, teacher as well as pupil.(N)

The first lot for Asaph fell to Joseph, his sons, and his relatives—12[i]
to Gedaliah the second: him, his relatives, and his sons—12
10 the third to Zaccur, his sons, and his relatives—12
11 the fourth to Izri,[j] his sons, and his relatives—12
12 the fifth to Nethaniah, his sons, and his relatives—12
13 the sixth to Bukkiah, his sons, and his relatives—12
14 the seventh to Jesarelah, his sons, and his relatives—12
15 the eighth to Jeshaiah, his sons, and his relatives—12
16 the ninth to Mattaniah, his sons, and his relatives—12
17 the tenth to Shimei, his sons, and his relatives—12
18 the eleventh to Azarel,[k] his sons, and his relatives—12
19 the twelfth to Hashabiah, his sons, and his relatives—12
20 the thirteenth to Shubael, his sons, and his relatives—12
21 the fourteenth to Mattithiah, his sons, and his relatives—12
22 the fifteenth to Jeremoth, his sons, and his relatives—12
23 the sixteenth to Hananiah, his sons, and his relatives—12
24 the seventeenth to Joshbekashah, his sons, and his relatives—12
25 the eighteenth to Hanani, his sons, and his relatives—12
26 the nineteenth to Mallothi, his sons, and his relatives—12
27 the twentieth to Eliathah, his sons, and his relatives—12
28 the twenty-first to Hothir, his sons, and his relatives—12
29 the twenty-second to Giddalti, his sons, and his relatives—12
30 the twenty-third to Mahazioth, his sons, and his relatives—12
31 and the twenty-fourth to Romamti-ezer, his sons, and his relatives—12.

The Levitical Gatekeepers

26 The following were the divisions of the gatekeepers:

From the Korahites: Meshelemiah son of Kore, one of the sons of Asaph.

Meshelemiah had sons:

Zechariah the firstborn, Jediael the second,

Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth,

Elam the fifth, Jehohanan the sixth,

and Eliehoenai the seventh.

Obed-edom also had sons:

Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozabad the second,

Joah the third, Sachar the fourth,

Nethanel the fifth, Ammiel the sixth,

Issachar the seventh, and Peullethai the eighth,

for God blessed him.

Also, to his son Shemaiah were born sons who ruled their ancestral families[l] because they were strong, capable men.

Shemaiah’s sons: Othni, Rephael, Obed, and Elzabad; his relatives Elihu and Semachiah were also capable men. All of these were among the sons of Obed-edom with their sons and relatives; they were capable men with strength for the work—sixty-two from Obed-edom.

Meshelemiah also had sons and relatives who were capable men—eighteen.

10 Hosah,(O) from the Merarites, also had sons: Shimri the first (although he was not the firstborn, his father had appointed him as the first), 11 Hilkiah the second, Tebaliah the third, and Zechariah the fourth. The sons and relatives of Hosah were thirteen in all.

Footnotes:

  1. 24:4 Lit house of fathers
  2. 24:6 Lit father’s house
  3. 24:23 Some Hb mss, some LXX mss; other Hb mss omit Hebron’s; 1Ch 23:19
  4. 24:26 Or Mushi; Jaaziah’s sons: Beno.
  5. 24:27 Or sons, Jaaziah: Beno,
  6. 24:30 Lit the house of their fathers
  7. 25:3 One Hb ms, LXX; other Hb mss omit Shimei
  8. 25:5 Lit by the words of God to lift a horn
  9. 25:9 LXX; MT lacks his sons, and his relatives—12
  10. 25:11 Variant of Zeri
  11. 25:18 Variant of Uzziel
  12. 26:6 Lit the house of their fathers, also in v. 13
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.

Romans 4:1-12

Abraham Justified by Faith

What then will we say that Abraham, our forefather(A) according to the flesh, has found?[a] If Abraham was justified[b] by works,(B) he has something to boast about—but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness.[c](C) Now to the one who works,(D) pay is not credited as a gift, but as something owed. But to the one who does not work, but believes on him who justifies the ungodly,(E) his faith is credited for righteousness.

David Celebrating the Same Truth

Just as David also speaks of the blessing of the person to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

Blessed are those whose lawless acts are forgiven
and whose sins are covered.
Blessed is the person
the Lord will never charge with sin.[d](F)

Abraham Justified before Circumcision

Is this blessing only for the circumcised,(G) then? Or is it also for the uncircumcised? For we say, Faith was credited to Abraham for righteousness.[e](H) 10 In what way, then, was it credited—while he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? It was not while he was circumcised, but uncircumcised. 11 And he received the sign of circumcision(I) as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith[f](J) while still uncircumcised. This was to make him the father(K) of all who believe(L) but are not circumcised, so that righteousness may be credited to them also. 12 And he became the father of the circumcised, who are not only circumcised but who also follow in the footsteps of the faith our father Abraham had while he was still uncircumcised.

Footnotes:

  1. 4:1 Or What then shall we say? Have we found Abraham to be our forefather according to the flesh? or What, then, shall we say that Abraham our forefather found according to the flesh?
  2. 4:2 Or was declared righteous, or was acquitted
  3. 4:3 Gn 15:6
  4. 4:7–8 Ps 32:1–2
  5. 4:9 Gn 15:6
  6. 4:11 Lit righteousness of faith, also in v. 13
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.

Psalm 13

Psalm 13

A Plea for Deliverance

For the choir director. A psalm of David.

How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?(A)
How long will I store up anxious concerns[a] within me,
agony in my mind every day?
How long will my enemy dominate me?(B)

Consider me and answer, Lord my God.
Restore brightness to my eyes;(C)
otherwise, I will sleep in death.
My enemy will say, “I have triumphed over him,”
and my foes will rejoice because I am shaken.(D)

But I have trusted in your faithful love;(E)
my heart will rejoice in your deliverance.(F)
I will sing to the Lord
because he has treated me generously.(G)

Footnotes:

  1. 13:2 Or up counsels
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.

Proverbs 19:15-16

15 Laziness induces deep sleep,
and a lazy person will go hungry.(A)

16 The one who keeps commands preserves himself;(B)
one who disregards[a] his ways will die.(C)

Footnotes:

  1. 19:16 Or despises, or treats lightly
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.

The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Friday July 16, 2021 (NIV)

1 Chronicles 22-23

22 Then David said, “This is the house of the Lord God, and this is the altar of burnt offering for Israel.”(A)

David’s Preparations for the Temple

So David gave orders to gather the resident aliens that were in the land of Israel,(B) and he appointed stonecutters to cut finished stones for building God’s house.(C) David supplied a great deal of iron to make the nails for the doors of the gates and for the fittings, together with an immeasurable quantity of bronze,(D) and innumerable cedar logs because the Sidonians and Tyrians had brought a large quantity of cedar logs to David.(E) David said, “My son Solomon is young and inexperienced, and the house that is to be built for the Lord must be exceedingly great and famous and glorious in all the lands.(F) Therefore, I will make provision for it.” So David made lavish preparations for it before his death.

Then he summoned his son Solomon and charged him to build a house for the Lord God of Israel. “My son,” David said to Solomon, “It was in my heart to build a house for the name of the Lord my God,(G) but the word of the Lord came to me: ‘You have shed much blood and waged great wars. You are not to build a house for my name because you have shed so much blood on the ground before me.(H) But a son will be born to you; he will be a man of rest. I will give him rest from all his surrounding enemies,(I) for his name will be Solomon,[a](J) and I will give peace and quiet to Israel during his reign.(K) 10 He is the one who will build a house for my name. He will be my son, and I will be his father. I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.’(L)

11 “Now, my son, may the Lord be with you,(M) and may you succeed in building the house of the Lord your God, as he said about you. 12 Above all, may the Lord give you insight and understanding when he puts you in charge of Israel so that you may keep the law of the Lord your God.(N) 13 Then you will succeed if you carefully follow the statutes and ordinances the Lord commanded Moses for Israel.(O) Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid or discouraged.(P)

14 “Notice I have taken great pains to provide for the house of the Lord—3,775 tons of gold, 37,750 tons of silver,[b](Q) and bronze and iron that can’t be weighed because there is so much of it. I have also provided timber and stone, but you will need to add more to them. 15 You also have many workers: stonecutters, masons, carpenters, and people skilled in every kind of work 16 in gold, silver, bronze, and iron—beyond number. Now begin the work, and may the Lord be with you.”(R)

17 Then David ordered all the leaders of Israel to help his son Solomon: 18 “The Lord your God is with you, isn’t he? And hasn’t he given you rest on every side?(S) For he has handed the land’s inhabitants over to me, and the land has been subdued before the Lord and his people. 19 Now determine in your mind and heart to seek the Lord your God.(T) Get started building the Lord God’s sanctuary so that you may bring the ark of the Lord’s covenant and the holy articles of God to the temple that is to be built(U) for the name of the Lord.”(V)

The Divisions of the Levites

23 When David was old and full of days,(W) he installed his son Solomon as king over Israel.(X) Then he gathered all the leaders of Israel, the priests, and the Levites. The Levites thirty years old or more were counted;(Y) the total number of men was thirty-eight thousand by headcount.(Z) “Of these,” David said, “twenty-four thousand are to be in charge of the work on the Lord’s temple,(AA) six thousand are to be officers and judges,(AB) four thousand are to be gatekeepers, and four thousand are to praise the Lord with the instruments that I have made for worship.”(AC)

Then David divided them into divisions according to Levi’s sons:(AD) Gershom,[c] Kohath, and Merari.

The Gershonites: Ladan and Shimei.

Ladan’s sons: Jehiel was the first, then Zetham, and Joel—three.

Shimei’s sons: Shelomoth, Haziel, and Haran—three. Those were the heads of the families of Ladan.

10 Shimei’s sons: Jahath, Zizah,[d] Jeush, and Beriah. Those were Shimei’s sons—four. 11 Jahath was the first and Zizah was the second; however, Jeush and Beriah did not have many sons, so they became one family[e] and received a single assignment.

12 Kohath’s sons: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel—four.

13 Amram’s sons:(AE) Aaron and Moses.

Aaron, along with his descendants,(AF) was set apart forever to consecrate the most holy things, to burn incense in the presence of the Lord,(AG) to minister to him, and to pronounce blessings in his name forever. 14 As for Moses the man of God,(AH) his sons were named among the tribe of Levi.

15 Moses’s sons: Gershom and Eliezer.

16 Gershom’s sons: Shebuel was first.

17 Eliezer’s sons were Rehabiah, first; Eliezer did not have any other sons, but Rehabiah’s sons were very numerous.

18 Izhar’s sons: Shelomith was first.

19 Hebron’s sons: Jeriah was first, Amariah second, Jahaziel third, and Jekameam fourth.

20 Uzziel’s sons: Micah was first, and Isshiah second.

21 Merari’s sons: Mahli and Mushi.

Mahli’s sons: Eleazar and Kish.

22 Eleazar died having no sons, only daughters. Their cousins, the sons of Kish, married them.

23 Mushi’s sons: Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth—three.

24 These were the descendants of Levi by their ancestral families[f]—the family heads, according to their registration by name in the headcount—twenty years old or more, who worked in the service of the Lord’s temple.(AI) 25 For David said, “The Lord God of Israel has given rest to his people,(AJ) and he has come to stay in Jerusalem forever. 26 Also, the Levites no longer need to carry the tabernacle or any of the equipment for its service”(AK) 27 for according to the last words of David, the Levites twenty years old or more were to be counted— 28 “but their duty will be to assist the descendants of Aaron with the service of the Lord’s temple, being responsible for the courts and the chambers, the purification of all the holy things, and the work of the service of God’s temple— 29 as well as the rows of the Bread of the Presence,(AL) the fine flour for the grain offering,(AM) the wafers of unleavened bread, the baking,[g](AN) the mixing,(AO) and all measurements of volume and length.(AP) 30 They are also to stand every morning to give thanks and praise to the Lord, and likewise in the evening. 31 Whenever burnt offerings are offered to the Lord on the Sabbaths, New Moons,(AQ) and appointed festivals, they are to offer them regularly in the Lord’s presence according to the number prescribed for them.(AR) 32 They are to carry out their responsibilities for the tent of meeting, for the holy place,(AS) and for their relatives, the descendants of Aaron,(AT) in the service of the Lord’s temple.”

Footnotes:

  1. 22:9 In Hb, the name Solomon sounds like “peace.”
  2. 22:14 Lit 100,000 talents of gold and 1,000,000 talents of silver
  3. 23:6 Lit Gershon
  4. 23:10 LXX, Vg; MT reads Zina
  5. 23:11 Lit a father’s house
  6. 23:24 Lit the house of their fathers
  7. 23:29 Lit the griddle
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.

Romans 3:9-31

The Whole World Guilty before God

What then? Are we any better off?[a] Not at all! For we have already charged that both Jews(A) and Greeks(B) are all under sin,[b](C) 10 as it is written:

There is no one righteous, not even one.
11 There is no one who understands;
there is no one who seeks God.
12 All have turned away;
all alike have become worthless.
There is no one who does what is good,
not even one.[c](D)
13 Their throat is an open grave;
they deceive with their tongues.[d](E)
Vipers’ venom is under their lips.[e](F)
14 Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.[f](G)
15 Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16 ruin and wretchedness are in their paths,
17 and the path of peace they have not known.[g](H)
18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.[h](I)

19 Now we know that whatever the law says,(J) it speaks to those who are subject to the law,[i](K) so that every mouth may be shut and the whole world may become subject to God’s judgment.[j](L) 20 For no one will be justified[k] in his sight by the works of the law,(M) because the knowledge of sin comes through the law.(N)

The Righteousness of God through Faith

21 But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed,(O) attested by the Law and the Prophets.[l](P) 22 The righteousness of God is through faith(Q) in Jesus Christ[m](R) to all who believe,(S) since there is no distinction.(T) 23 For all have sinned(U) and fall short of the[n] glory of God; 24 they are justified freely by his grace(V) through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.(W) 25 God presented him as the mercy seat[o](X) by his blood,(Y) through faith, to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his restraint God(Z) passed over the sins previously committed.(AA) 26 God presented him to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so that he would be just and justify the one who has faith in Jesus.

Boasting Excluded

27 Where, then, is boasting?(AB) It is excluded. By what kind of law?[p](AC) By one of works? No, on the contrary, by a law[q] of faith. 28 For we conclude that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.(AD) 29 Or is God the God of Jews only?(AE) Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, 30 since there is one God(AF) who will justify the circumcised by faith(AG) and the uncircumcised through faith. 31 Do we then nullify the law through faith? Absolutely not!(AH) On the contrary, we uphold the law.(AI)

Footnotes:

  1. 3:9 Are we Jews any better than the Gentiles?
  2. 3:9 Under sin’s power or dominion
  3. 3:10–12 Ps 14:1–3; 53:1–3; Ec 7:20
  4. 3:13 Ps 5:9
  5. 3:13 Ps 140:3
  6. 3:14 Ps 10:7
  7. 3:15–17 Is 59:7–8
  8. 3:18 Ps 36:1
  9. 3:19 Lit those in the law
  10. 3:19 Or become guilty before God, or may be accountable to God
  11. 3:20 Or will be declared righteous, or will be acquitted
  12. 3:21 When capitalized, the Law and the Prophets = OT
  13. 3:22 Or through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ
  14. 3:23 Or and lack the
  15. 3:25 Or propitiation, or place of atonement
  16. 3:27 Or what principle?
  17. 3:27 Or a principle
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.

Psalm 12

Psalm 12

Oppression by the Wicked

For the choir director: according to Sheminith.(A) A psalm of David.

Help, Lord, for no faithful one remains;
the loyal have disappeared from the human race.[a](B)
They lie to one another;
they speak with flattering lips and deceptive hearts.(C)
May the Lord cut off all flattering lips
and the tongue that speaks boastfully.(D)
They say, “Through our tongues we have power;
our lips are our own—who can be our master?” (E)

“Because of the devastation of the needy
and the groaning of the poor,
I will now rise up,” says the Lord.
“I will provide safety for the one who longs for it.”(F)

The words of the Lord are pure words,
like silver refined in an earthen furnace,
purified seven times.(G)

You, Lord, will guard us;[b]
you will protect us[c] from this generation forever.(H)
The wicked prowl[d] all around,
and what is worthless is exalted by the human race.(I)

Footnotes:

  1. 12:1 Or the descendants of Adam, also in v. 8
  2. 12:7 Some Hb mss, LXX, Jer; other Hb mss read them
  3. 12:7 Some Hb mss, LXX; other Hb mss read him
  4. 12:8 Lit walk about
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.

Proverbs 19:13-14

13 A foolish son is his father’s ruin,(A)
and a wife’s nagging is an endless dripping.(B)

14 A house and wealth are inherited from fathers,(C)
but a prudent wife is from the Lord.

Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.

The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Thursday July 15, 2021 (NIV)

1 Chronicles 19-21

War with the Ammonites

19 Some time later,(A) King Nahash of the Ammonites died, and his son became king in his place. Then David said, “I’ll show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me.”

So David sent messengers to console him concerning his father. However, when David’s emissaries arrived in the land of the Ammonites to console him, the Ammonite leaders said to Hanun, “Just because David has sent men with condolences for you, do you really believe he’s showing respect for your father? Instead, haven’t his emissaries come in order to scout out, overthrow, and spy on the land?” So Hanun took David’s emissaries, shaved them, cut their clothes in half at the hips, and sent them away.(B)

It was reported to David about his men, so he sent messengers to meet them, since the men were deeply humiliated. The king said, “Stay in Jericho until your beards grow back; then return.”

When the Ammonites realized(C) they had made themselves repulsive to David, Hanun and the Ammonites sent thirty-eight tons[a] of silver to hire chariots and horsemen from Aram-naharaim, Aram-maacah, and Zobah.(D) They hired thirty-two thousand chariots and the king of Maacah with his army, who came and camped near Medeba.(E) The Ammonites also came together from their cities for the battle.

David heard about this and sent Joab and all the elite troops. The Ammonites marched out and lined up in battle formation at the entrance of the city while the kings who had come were in the field by themselves. 10 When Joab saw that there was a battle line in front of him and another behind him, he chose some of Israel’s finest young men[b](F) and lined up in formation to engage the Arameans. 11 He placed the rest of the forces under the command of his brother Abishai. They lined up in formation to engage the Ammonites.

12 “If the Arameans are too strong for me,” Joab said, “then you’ll be my help. However, if the Ammonites are too strong for you, I’ll help you. 13 Be strong! Let’s prove ourselves strong for our people and for the cities of our God.(G) May the Lord’s will be done.”[c]

14 Joab and the people with him approached the Arameans for battle, and they fled before him. 15 When the Ammonites saw that the Arameans had fled, they likewise fled before Joab’s brother Abishai and entered the city. Then Joab went to Jerusalem.

16 When the Arameans realized that they had been defeated by Israel, they sent messengers to summon the Arameans who were beyond the Euphrates River. They were led by Shophach, the commander of Hadadezer’s army.

17 When this was reported to David, he gathered all Israel and crossed the Jordan. He came up to the Arameans and lined up against them. When David lined up to engage them, they fought against him. 18 But the Arameans fled before Israel, and David killed seven thousand of their charioteers and forty thousand foot soldiers. He also killed Shophach, commander of the army. 19 When Hadadezer’s subjects saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with David and became his subjects. After this, the Arameans were never willing to help the Ammonites again.

Capture of the City of Rabbah

20 In the spring[d] when kings march out to war,(H) Joab led the army and destroyed the Ammonites’ land. He came to Rabbah and besieged it, but David remained in Jerusalem.(I) Joab attacked Rabbah and demolished it. Then David took the crown from the head of their king,[e][f](J) and it was placed on David’s head. He found that the crown weighed seventy-five pounds[g] of gold, and there was a precious stone in it. In addition, David took away a large quantity of plunder from the city. He brought out the people who were in it and put them to work with saws,[h] iron picks, and axes.[i](K) David did the same to all the Ammonite cities. Then he and all his troops returned to Jerusalem.

The Philistine Giants

After this,(L) a war broke out with the Philistines at Gezer. At that time Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Sippai, a descendant of the Rephaim,[j](M) and the Philistines were subdued.

Once again there was a battle with the Philistines, and Elhanan son of Jair killed Lahmi the brother of Goliath of Gath. The shaft of his spear was like a weaver’s beam.(N)

There was still another battle at Gath where there was a man of extraordinary stature with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot—twenty-four in all. He, too, was descended from the giant.[k] When he taunted Israel, Jonathan son of David’s brother Shimei killed him.

These were the descendants of the giant in Gath killed by David and his soldiers.

David’s Military Census

21 Satan[l](O) rose up against Israel and incited David(P) to count the people of Israel. So David said to Joab and the commanders of the troops, “Go and count Israel from Beer-sheba to Dan and bring a report to me so I can know their number.”(Q)

Joab replied, “May the Lord multiply the number of his people a hundred times over!(R) My lord the king, aren’t they all my lord’s servants? Why does my lord want to do this? Why should he bring guilt on Israel?”

Yet the king’s order prevailed over Joab. So Joab left and traveled throughout Israel and then returned to Jerusalem. Joab gave the total troop registration to David. In all Israel there were one million one hundred thousand armed men[m] and in Judah itself four hundred seventy thousand armed men. But he did not include Levi and Benjamin in the count because the king’s command was detestable to him. This command was also evil in God’s sight, so he afflicted Israel.

David said to God, “I have sinned greatly because I have done this thing. Now, please take away your servant’s guilt, for I’ve been very foolish.”(S)

David’s Punishment

Then(T) the Lord instructed Gad,(U) David’s seer,(V) 10 “Go and say to David, ‘This is what the Lord says: I am offering you three choices. Choose one of them for yourself, and I will do it to you.’”

11 So Gad went to David and said to him, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Take your choice: 12 three years of famine, or three months of devastation by your foes with the sword of your enemy overtaking you, or three days of the sword of the Lord—a plague on the land, the angel of the Lord bringing destruction to the whole territory of Israel.’ Now decide what answer I should take back to the one who sent me.”

13 David answered Gad, “I’m in anguish. Please, let me fall into the Lord’s hands because his mercies are very great,(W) but don’t let me fall into human hands.”

14 So the Lord sent a plague on Israel, and seventy thousand Israelite men died. 15 Then God sent an angel to Jerusalem to destroy it, but when the angel was about to destroy the city,[n] the Lord looked, relented concerning the destruction,(X) and said to the angel who was destroying the people, “Enough, withdraw your hand now!” The angel of the Lord was then standing at the threshing floor of Ornan[o] the Jebusite.

16 When David looked up and saw the angel of the Lord standing between earth and heaven, with his drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem, David and the elders, covered in sackcloth,(Y) fell facedown. 17 David said to God, “Wasn’t I the one who gave the order to count the people? I am the one who has sinned and acted very wickedly. But these sheep, what have they done? Lord my God, please let your hand be against me and against my father’s family, but don’t let the plague be against your people.”

David’s Altar

18 So the angel of the Lord ordered Gad(Z) to tell David to go and set up an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.(AA) 19 David went up at Gad’s command spoken in the name of the Lord.

20 Ornan was threshing wheat when he turned and saw the angel. His four sons, who were with him, hid. 21 David came to Ornan, and when Ornan looked and saw David, he left the threshing floor and bowed to David with his face to the ground.

22 Then David said to Ornan, “Give me this threshing-floor plot so that I may build an altar to the Lord on it. Give it to me for the full price, so the plague on the people may be stopped.”

23 Ornan said to David, “Take it! My lord the king may do whatever he wants.[p] See, I give the oxen for the burnt offerings, the threshing sledges for the wood, and the wheat for the grain offering—I give it all.”

24 King David answered Ornan, “No, I insist on paying the full price, for I will not take for the Lord what belongs to you or offer burnt offerings that cost me nothing.”

25 So David gave Ornan fifteen pounds of gold[q] for the plot. 26 He built an altar to the Lord there and offered burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. He called on the Lord, and he answered him with fire from heaven on the altar of burnt offering.(AB)

27 Then the Lord spoke to the angel, and he put his sword back into its sheath. 28 At that time, David offered sacrifices there when he saw that the Lord answered him at the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. 29 The tabernacle of the Lord, which Moses made in the wilderness, and the altar of burnt offering were at the high place in Gibeon,(AC) 30 but David could not go before it to inquire of God, because he was terrified of the sword of the Lord’s angel.

Footnotes:

  1. 19:6 Lit 1,000 talents
  2. 19:10 Lit Israel’s choice ones
  3. 19:13 Lit the Lord do what is good in his eyes
  4. 20:1 Lit At the time of the return of the year
  5. 20:2 LXX, Vg read of Milcom
  6. 20:2 = Molech; 1Kg 11:5,7
  7. 20:2 Lit a talent
  8. 20:3 Text emended; MT reads and sawed them with the saw; 2Sm 12:31
  9. 20:3 Text emended; MT reads saws; 2Sm 12:31
  10. 20:4 Or the Rephaites
  11. 20:6 Or Raphah, also in v. 8
  12. 21:1 Or An adversary; Jb 1:6; Zch 3:1–2
  13. 21:5 Lit men drawing the sword
  14. 21:15 Lit but as he was destroying
  15. 21:15–28 = Araunah in 2Sm 24:16–24
  16. 21:23 Lit do what is good in his eyes
  17. 21:25 Lit 600 shekels of gold by weight
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.

Romans 2:25-3:8

Circumcision of the Heart

25 Circumcision benefits you if you observe the law, but if you are a lawbreaker, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.(A) 26 So if an uncircumcised(B) man keeps the law’s requirements,(C) will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision? 27 A man who is physically uncircumcised, but who keeps the law, will judge you(D) who are a lawbreaker in spite of having the letter of the law and circumcision. 28 For a person is not a Jew who is one outwardly,(E) and true circumcision is not something visible in the flesh. 29 On the contrary, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly,(F) and circumcision is of the heart—by the Spirit, not the letter.[a](G) That person’s praise is not from people but from God.(H)

Paul Answers an Objection

So what advantage does the Jew have? Or what is the benefit of circumcision? Considerable in every way. First, they were entrusted(I) with the very words of God.(J) What then? If some were unfaithful,(K) will their unfaithfulness nullify God’s faithfulness? Absolutely not!(L) Let God be true, even though everyone is a liar,(M) as it is written:

That you may be justified in your words
and triumph when you judge.[b](N)

But if our unrighteousness highlights[c] God’s righteousness,(O) what are we to say?(P) I am using a human argument:[d](Q) Is God unrighteous to inflict wrath? Absolutely not! Otherwise, how will God judge the world?(R) But if by my lie God’s truth abounds to his glory, why am I also still being judged as a sinner?(S) And why not say, just as some people slanderously claim we say, “Let us do what is evil so that good may come”?(T) Their condemnation is deserved!

Footnotes:

  1. 2:29 Or heart—spiritually, not literally
  2. 3:4 Ps 51:4
  3. 3:5 Or shows, or demonstrates
  4. 3:5 Lit I speak as a man
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.

Psalm 11

Psalm 11

Refuge in the Lord

For the choir director. Of David.

I have taken refuge in the Lord.(A)
How can you say to me,
“Escape to the mountains[a] like a bird!(B)
For look, the wicked string bows;
they put their arrows on bowstrings
to shoot from the shadows at the upright in heart.(C)
When the foundations are destroyed,
what can the righteous do?” (D)

The Lord is in his holy temple;(E)
the Lord—his throne is in heaven.(F)
His eyes watch;
his gaze[b] examines everyone.[c]
The Lord examines the righteous,
but he hates the wicked
and[d] those who love violence.(G)
Let him rain burning coals[e] and sulfur on the wicked;
let a scorching wind be the portion in their cup.(H)
For the Lord is righteous; he loves righteous deeds.
The upright will see his face.(I)

Footnotes:

  1. 11:1 Lit your mountain
  2. 11:4 Lit eyelids
  3. 11:4 Or examines the descendants of Adam
  4. 11:5 Or righteous and the wicked, and he hates
  5. 11:6 Sym; MT reads rain snares, fire
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.

Proverbs 19:10-12

10 Luxury is not appropriate for a fool(A)
how much less for a slave to rule over princes!(B)

11 A person’s insight gives him patience,(C)
and his virtue is to overlook an offense.(D)

12 A king’s rage is like the roaring of a lion,(E)
but his favor is like dew on the grass.(F)

Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.

The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Wednesday July 14, 2021 (NIV)

1 Chronicles 16:37-18:17

37 So David left Asaph and his relatives there before the ark of the Lord’s covenant to minister regularly(A) before the ark according to the daily requirements.(B) 38 He assigned Obed-edom(C) and his[a] sixty-eight relatives. Obed-edom son of Jeduthun and Hosah(D) were to be gatekeepers. 39 David left the priest Zadok and his fellow priests before the tabernacle of the Lord at the high place in Gibeon(E) 40 to offer burnt offerings regularly, morning and evening, to the Lord on the altar of burnt offerings and to do everything that was written in the law of the Lord, which he had commanded Israel to keep.(F) 41 With them were Heman,(G) Jeduthun, and the rest who were chosen and designated by name(H) to give thanks to the Lord—for his faithful love endures forever.(I) 42 Heman and Jeduthun had with them trumpets and cymbals to play and musical instruments of God.(J) Jeduthun’s sons were at the city gate.

43 Then all the people went home, and David returned home to bless his household.(K)

The Lord’s Covenant with David

17 When David(L) had settled into his palace, he said to the prophet Nathan, “Look! I am living in a cedar house while the ark of the Lord’s covenant is under tent curtains.”(M)

So Nathan told David, “Do all that is on your mind, for God is with you.”

But that night(N) the word of God came to Nathan: “Go to David my servant and say, ‘This is what the Lord says: You are not the one to build me a house to dwell in.(O) From the time I brought Israel out of Egypt until today I have not dwelt in a house; instead, I have moved from one tent site to another, and from one tabernacle location to another.[b](P) In all my journeys throughout Israel, have I ever spoken a word to even one of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people, asking: Why haven’t you built me a house of cedar?’ (Q)

“So now this is what you are to say to my servant David: ‘This is what the Lord of Armies says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, to be ruler over my people Israel.(R) I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies before you. I will make a name for you like that of the greatest on the earth. I will designate a place for my people Israel and plant them,(S) so that they may live there and not be disturbed again. Evildoers will not continue to oppress them as they have done 10 ever since the day I ordered judges to be over my people Israel. I will also subdue all your enemies.

“‘Furthermore, I declare to you that the Lord himself will build a house for you. 11 When your time comes to be with your ancestors, I will raise up after you your descendant, who is one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. 12 He is the one who will build a house for me,(T) and I will establish his throne forever. 13 I will be his father, and he will be my son.(U) I will not remove my faithful love from him as I removed it from the one who was before you.(V) 14 I will appoint him over my house and my kingdom forever, and his throne will be established forever.’”(W)

15 Nathan reported all these words and this entire vision to David.

David’s Prayer of Thanksgiving

16 Then(X) King David went in, sat in the Lord’s presence, and said,

Who am I, Lord God, and what is my house that you have brought me this far? 17 This was a little thing to you,[c] God, for you have spoken about your servant’s house in the distant future. You regard me as a man of distinction,[d] Lord God. 18 What more can David say to you for honoring your servant? You know your servant. 19 Lord, you have done this whole great thing, making known all these great promises for the sake of your servant and according to your will.(Y) 20 Lord, there is no one like you, and there is no God besides you, as all we have heard confirms. 21 And who is like your people Israel? God, you came to one nation on earth to redeem a people for yourself, to make a name for yourself through great and awesome works by driving out nations before your people you redeemed from Egypt.(Z) 22 You made your people Israel your own people forever, and you, Lord, have become their God.(AA)

23 Now, Lord, let the word that you have spoken concerning your servant and his house be confirmed forever, and do as you have promised. 24 Let your name be confirmed and magnified forever in the saying, “The Lord of Armies, the God of Israel, is God over Israel.” May the house of your servant David be established before you. 25 Since you, my God, have revealed to[e](AB) your servant that you will build him a house, your servant has found courage to pray in your presence. 26 Lord, you indeed are God, and you have promised this good thing to your servant. 27 So now, you have been pleased to bless your servant’s house that it may continue before you forever. For you, Lord, have blessed it, and it is blessed forever.

David’s Military Campaigns

18 After this,(AC) David defeated the Philistines, subdued them, and took Gath and its surrounding villages from Philistine control. He also defeated the Moabites, and they became David’s subjects and brought tribute.

David also defeated King Hadadezer of Zobah at Hamath when he went to establish his control at the Euphrates River. David captured one thousand chariots, seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand foot soldiers from him, hamstrung all the horses, and kept a hundred chariots.[f]

When the Arameans of Damascus came to assist King Hadadezer of Zobah,(AD) David struck down twenty-two thousand Aramean men. Then he placed garrisons[g](AE) in Aram of Damascus, and the Arameans became David’s subjects and brought tribute. The Lord made David victorious wherever he went.

David took the gold shields carried by Hadadezer’s officers and brought them to Jerusalem. From Tibhath and Cun, Hadadezer’s cities, David also took huge quantities of bronze, from which Solomon made the bronze basin,[h] the pillars, and the bronze articles.(AF)

When King Tou of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of King Hadadezer of Zobah, 10 he sent his son Hadoram to King David to greet him and to congratulate him because David had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him, for Tou and Hadadezer had fought many wars. Hadoram brought all kinds of gold, silver, and bronze items. 11 King David also dedicated these to the Lord, along with the silver and gold he had carried off from all the nations—from Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, and the Amalekites.

12 Abishai son of Zeruiah struck down eighteen thousand Edomites in the Salt Valley. 13 He put garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites were subject to David. The Lord made David victorious wherever he went.

14 So David reigned over all Israel,(AG) administering justice and righteousness for all his people.

15 Joab(AH) son of Zeruiah was over the army;

Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was court historian;

16 Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech[i](AI) son of Abiathar were priests;

Shavsha was court secretary;

17 Benaiah son of Jehoiada(AJ) was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites;

and David’s sons were the chief officials at the king’s side.

Footnotes:

  1. 16:38 LXX, Syr, Vg; Hb reads their
  2. 17:5 Lit I was from tent to tent and from tabernacle
  3. 17:17 Lit thing in your eyes
  4. 17:17 Hb obscure
  5. 17:25 Lit have uncovered the ear of
  6. 18:4 Or chariot horses
  7. 18:6 Some Hb mss, LXX, Vg; other Hb mss omit garrisons; 2Sm 8:6
  8. 18:8 Lit sea
  9. 18:16 Some Hb mss, LXX, Syr, Vg; other Hb mss read Abimelech; 2Sm 8:17
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.

Romans 2:1-24

God’s Righteous Judgment

Therefore, every one of you[a](A) who judges is without excuse.(B) For when you judge another,(C) you condemn yourself, since you, the judge, do the same things. Now we know that God’s judgment on those who do such things is based on the truth. Do you think—anyone of you who judges those who do such things yet do the same—that you will escape God’s judgment? Or do you despise the riches of his kindness,(D) restraint,(E) and patience,(F) not recognizing[b] that God’s kindness(G) is intended to lead you to repentance? Because of your hardened and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath(H) for yourself in the day of wrath,(I) when God’s righteous judgment is revealed. He will repay each one according to his works:[c](J) eternal life(K) to those who by persistence in doing good(L) seek glory, honor,(M) and immortality;(N) but wrath and anger to those who are self-seeking(O) and disobey the truth(P) while obeying unrighteousness. There will be affliction and distress(Q) for every human being who does evil, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek;(R) 10 but glory, honor, and peace for everyone who does what is good, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek. 11 For there is no favoritism with God.(S)

12 For all who sin without the law(T) will also perish without the law, and all who sin under[d] the law will be judged by the law. 13 For the hearers of the law(U) are not righteous before God, but the doers of the law will be justified.[e] 14 So, when Gentiles, who do not by nature have the law,(V) do[f] what the law demands, they are a law to themselves even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the work of the law[g] is written on their hearts.(W) Their consciences confirm this. Their competing thoughts either accuse or even excuse them[h] 16 on the day when God judges(X) what people have kept secret, according to my gospel through Christ Jesus.(Y)

Jewish Violation of the Law

17 Now if[i] you call yourself a Jew, and rely on the law,(Z) and boast in God, 18 and know his will, and approve the things that are superior,(AA) being instructed from the law, 19 and if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light to those in darkness, 20 an instructor of the ignorant, a teacher of the immature, having the embodiment of knowledge and truth(AB) in the law— 21 you then, who teach another,(AC) don’t you teach yourself? You who preach, “You must not steal”—do you steal? 22 You who say, “You must not commit adultery”—do you commit adultery? You who detest idols, do you rob temples?(AD) 23 You who boast in the law,(AE) do you dishonor God by breaking the law?[j] 24 For, as it is written: The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.[k](AF)

Footnotes:

  1. 2:1 Lit Therefore, O man, every one
  2. 2:4 Or patience, because you do not recognize
  3. 2:6 Ps 62:12; Pr 24:12
  4. 2:12 Lit in
  5. 2:13 Or acquitted
  6. 2:14 Or who do not have the law, instinctively do
  7. 2:15 The code of conduct required by the law
  8. 2:15 Internal debate, either in a person or among the pagan moralists
  9. 2:17 Other mss read Look
  10. 2:23 Or you dishonor God by breaking the law.
  11. 2:24 Is 52:5
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.

Psalm 10:16-18

16 The Lord is King forever and ever;(A)
the nations will perish from his land.(B)
17 Lord, you have heard the desire of the humble;
you will strengthen their hearts.
You will listen carefully,(C)
18 doing justice for the fatherless and the oppressed
so that mere humans from the earth may terrify them no more.(D)

Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.

Proverbs 19:8-9

The one who acquires good sense[a] loves himself;
one who safeguards understanding finds success.(A)

A false witness will not go unpunished,
and one who utters lies perishes.(B)

Footnotes:

  1. 19:8 Lit acquires a heart

Cross references:

  1. 19:8 : Pr 16:20
  2. 19:9 : Pr 19:5; 21:28
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.

The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Tuesday July 13, 2021 (NIV)

1 Chronicles 15:1-16:36

The Ark Comes to Jerusalem

15 David built houses for himself in the city of David, and he prepared a place for the ark of God and pitched a tent for it.(A) Then David said, “No one but the Levites may carry the ark of God, because the Lord has chosen them to carry the ark of the Lord and to minister before him forever.”(B)

David assembled all Israel at Jerusalem(C) to bring the ark of the Lord to the place he had prepared for it.(D) Then he gathered together the descendants of Aaron and the Levites:

From the Kohathites, Uriel the leader and 120 of his relatives; from the Merarites, Asaiah the leader and 220 of his relatives; from the Gershomites,[a] Joel the leader and 130 of his relatives; from the Elizaphanites, Shemaiah the leader and 200 of his relatives; from the Hebronites, Eliel the leader and 80 of his relatives; 10 from the Uzzielites, Amminadab the leader and 112 of his relatives.

11 David summoned the priests Zadok(E) and Abiathar(F) and the Levites Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab. 12 He said to them, “You are the heads of the Levite families. You and your relatives must consecrate yourselves(G) so that you may bring the ark of the Lord God of Israel to the place I have prepared for it.(H) 13 For the Lord our God burst out in anger against us because you Levites were not with us the first time, for we didn’t inquire of him about the proper procedures.”(I) 14 So the priests and the Levites consecrated themselves to bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel. 15 Then the Levites carried the ark of God the way Moses had commanded according to the word of the Lord: on their shoulders with the poles.(J)

16 Then David told the leaders of the Levites to appoint their relatives as singers and to have them raise their voices with joy accompanied by musical instruments—harps, lyres, and cymbals.(K) 17 So the Levites appointed Heman son of Joel; from his relatives, Asaph son of Berechiah; and from their relatives the Merarites, Ethan son of Kushaiah. 18 With them were their relatives second in rank: Zechariah, Jaaziel,[b] Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, and the gatekeepers Obed-edom and Jeiel. 19 The singers Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were to sound the bronze cymbals; 20 Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah were to play harps according to Alamoth[c] 21 and Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah were to lead the music with lyres according to the Sheminith. 22 Chenaniah, the leader of the Levites in music, was to direct the music because he was skillful. 23 Berechiah and Elkanah were to be gatekeepers for the ark. 24 The priests, Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer, were to blow trumpets(L) before the ark of God. Obed-edom and Jehiah were also to be gatekeepers for the ark.

25 David,(M) the elders of Israel, and the commanders of thousands went with rejoicing to bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord from the house of Obed-edom.(N) 26 Because God helped the Levites who were carrying the ark of the covenant of the Lord, with God’s help, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams.(O)

27 Now David was dressed in a robe of fine linen, as were all the Levites who were carrying the ark, as well as the singers and Chenaniah, the music leader of the singers. David also wore a linen ephod. 28 So all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the Lord with shouts, the sound of the ram’s horn, trumpets, and cymbals, and the playing of harps and lyres. 29 As the ark of the covenant of the Lord was entering the city of David, Saul’s daughter Michal looked down from the window and saw King David leaping[d] and dancing, and she despised him in her heart.

16 They(P) brought the ark of God and placed it inside the tent David had pitched for it.(Q) Then they offered burnt offerings and fellowship offerings in God’s presence. When David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord. Then he distributed to each and every Israelite, both men and women, a loaf of bread, a date cake, and a raisin cake.

David appointed some of the Levites to be ministers before the ark of the Lord, to celebrate the Lord God of Israel, and to give thanks and praise to him. Asaph was the chief and Zechariah was second to him. Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel played the harps and lyres, while Asaph sounded the cymbals and the priests Benaiah and Jahaziel blew the trumpets regularly before the ark of the covenant of God.

David’s Psalm of Thanksgiving

On that day David decreed for the first time that thanks be given to the Lord by Asaph and his relatives:

Give thanks(R) to the Lord; call on his name;
proclaim his deeds among the peoples.(S)
Sing to him; sing praise to him;
tell about all his wondrous works!
10 Boast in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
11 Seek the Lord and his strength;
seek his face always.(T)
12 Remember the wondrous works he has done,(U)
his wonders, and the judgments he has pronounced,[e](V)
13 you offspring of Israel his servant,
Jacob’s descendants—his chosen ones.

14 He is the Lord our God;
his judgments govern the whole earth.(W)
15 Remember his covenant forever—
the promise he ordained for a thousand generations,
16 the covenant he made with Abraham,
swore[f] to Isaac,(X)
17 and confirmed to Jacob as a decree,
and to Israel as a permanent covenant:(Y)
18 “I will give the land of Canaan to you
as your inherited portion.”(Z)

19 When they[g] were few in number,
very few indeed,(AA) and resident aliens in Canaan
20 wandering from nation to nation
and from one kingdom to another,
21 he allowed no one to oppress them;
he rebuked kings on their behalf:(AB)
22 “Do not touch my anointed ones
or harm my prophets.”(AC)

23 Let the whole earth sing(AD) to the Lord.
Proclaim his salvation from day to day.
24 Declare his glory among the nations,
his wondrous works among all peoples.

25 For the Lord is great and highly praised;(AE)
he is feared above all gods.(AF)
26 For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols,(AG)
but the Lord made the heavens.(AH)
27 Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and joy are in his place.
28 Ascribe to the Lord, families of the peoples,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
29 Ascribe to the Lord the glory of his name;
bring an offering and come before him.
Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness;(AI)
30 let the whole earth tremble(AJ) before him.
The world is firmly established;
it cannot be shaken.
31 Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice,(AK)
and let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!”
32 Let the sea and all that fills it resound;
let the fields and everything in them exult.(AL)
33 Then the trees of the forest will shout for joy before the Lord,
for he is coming to judge the earth.

34 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his faithful love endures forever.(AM)
35 And say,(AN) “Save us, God of our salvation;
gather us and rescue us from the nations
so that we may give thanks to your holy name
and rejoice in your praise.
36 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel(AO)
from everlasting to everlasting.”

Then all the people said, “Amen” and “Praise the Lord.”

Footnotes:

  1. 15:7 = Gershonites
  2. 15:18 Some Hb mss, LXX; other Hb mss read Zechariah son and Jaaziel
  3. 15:20 This may refer to a high pitch, perhaps a tune sung by soprano voices; the Hb word means “young women”; Ps 46 title
  4. 15:29 Or whirling
  5. 16:12 Lit judgments of his mouth
  6. 16:16 Lit and his oath
  7. 16:19 One Hb ms, LXX, Vg; other Hb mss read you
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.

Romans 1:18-32

The Guilt of the Gentile World

18 For God’s wrath(A) is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth,(B) 19 since what can be known[a] about God is evident among them,(C) because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, that is, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world,(D) being understood through what he has made.(E) As a result, people are without excuse. 21 For though they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became worthless, and their senseless hearts were darkened.(F) 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools(G) 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man, birds, four-footed animals, and reptiles.(H)

24 Therefore God delivered them over in the desires of their hearts(I) to sexual impurity, so that their bodies were degraded among themselves. 25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie,(J) and worshiped and served what has been created instead of the Creator, who is praised forever.(K) Amen.

From Idolatry to Depravity

26 For this reason God delivered them over to disgraceful passions.(L) Their women[b] exchanged natural sexual relations[c] for unnatural ones. 27 The men[d] in the same way also left natural relations with women and were inflamed in their lust for one another. Men committed shameless acts with men(M) and received in their own persons[e] the appropriate penalty of their error.

28 And because they did not think it worthwhile to acknowledge God, God delivered them over to a corrupt mind so that they do what is not right. 29 They are filled with all unrighteousness,[f] evil, greed, and wickedness. They are full of envy, murder, quarrels, deceit, and malice. They are gossips,(N) 30 slanderers, God-haters, arrogant, proud, boastful,(O) inventors of evil, disobedient to parents,(P) 31 senseless, untrustworthy, unloving,[g](Q) and unmerciful. 32 Although they know God’s just sentence—that those who practice such things deserve to die[h](R)—they not only do them, but even applaud[i](S) others who practice them.

Footnotes:

  1. 1:19 Or what is known
  2. 1:26 Lit females, also in v. 27
  3. 1:26 Lit natural use, also in v. 27
  4. 1:27 Lit males, also later in v.
  5. 1:27 Or in themselves
  6. 1:29 Other mss add sexual immorality
  7. 1:31 Other mss add unforgiving
  8. 1:32 Lit things are worthy of death
  9. 1:32 Lit even take pleasure in
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.

Psalm 10:1-15

Psalm 10

Need for God’s Justice

Lord,[a][b] why do you stand so far away?(A)
Why do you hide in times of trouble?(B)
In arrogance the wicked relentlessly pursue their victims;
let them be caught in the schemes they have devised.(C)

For the wicked one boasts about his own cravings;(D)
the one who is greedy curses[c] and despises the Lord.(E)
In all his scheming,
the wicked person arrogantly thinks,[d]
“There’s no accountability,
since there’s no God.”(F)
His ways are always secure;[e]
your lofty judgments have no effect on him;[f]
he scoffs at all his adversaries.(G)
He says to himself, “I will never be moved—
from generation to generation I will be without calamity.”(H)
Cursing, deceit, and violence fill his mouth;
trouble and malice are under his tongue.(I)
He waits in ambush near settlements;(J)
he kills the innocent in secret places.
His eyes are on the lookout for the helpless;(K)
he lurks in secret like a lion in a thicket.
He lurks in order to seize a victim;
he seizes a victim and drags him in his net.
10 So he is oppressed and beaten down;
helpless people fall because of the wicked one’s strength.(L)
11 He says to himself, “God has forgotten;
he hides his face and will never see.”(M)

12 Rise up, Lord God! Lift up your hand.(N)
Do not forget the oppressed.(O)
13 Why has the wicked person despised God?
He says to himself, “You will not demand an account.”(P)
14 But you yourself have seen trouble and grief,
observing it in order to take the matter into your hands.(Q)
The helpless one entrusts himself to you;
you are a helper of the fatherless.(R)
15 Break the arm of the wicked, evil person,(S)
until you look for his wickedness,
but it can’t be found.(T)

Footnotes:

  1. 10:1 Some Hb mss, LXX connect Pss 9–10.
  2. 10:1 Together Pss 9–10 form a partial acrostic.
  3. 10:3 Or he blesses the greedy
  4. 10:4 Lit wicked according to the height of his nose
  5. 10:5 Or prosperous
  6. 10:5 Lit judgments are away from in front of him
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.

Proverbs 19:6-7

Many seek a ruler’s favor,(A)
and everyone is a friend of one who gives gifts.(B)

All the brothers of a poor person hate him;(C)
how much more do his friends
keep their distance from him!
He may pursue them with words,(D)
but they are not there.[a]

Footnotes:

  1. 19:7 Hb uncertain
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.

The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Monday July 12, 2021 (NIV)

1 Chronicles 12:19-14:17

19 Some Manassites defected to David when he went with the Philistines to fight against Saul. However, they did not help the Philistines because the Philistine rulers sent David away after a discussion. They said, “It will be our heads if he defects to his master Saul.”(A) 20 When David went to Ziklag, some men from Manasseh defected to him: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai, chiefs of thousands in Manasseh. 21 They helped David against the raiders,(B) for they were all valiant warriors and commanders in the army. 22 At that time, men came day after day to help David until there was a great army, like an army of God.[a](C)

David’s Soldiers in Hebron

23 The numbers of the armed troops who came to David at Hebron to turn Saul’s kingdom over to him,(D) according to the Lord’s word,(E) were as follows:

24 From the Judahites: 6,800 armed troops bearing shields and spears.

25 From the Simeonites: 7,100 valiant warriors ready for war.

26 From the Levites: 4,600 27 in addition to Jehoiada, leader of the house of Aaron, with 3,700 men; 28 and Zadok,(F) a young valiant warrior, with 22 commanders from his ancestral family.[b]

29 From the Benjaminites, the relatives of Saul:(G) 3,000 (up to that time the majority of the Benjaminites maintained their allegiance to the house of Saul).

30 From the Ephraimites: 20,800 valiant warriors who were famous men in their ancestral families.[c]

31 From half the tribe of Manasseh: 18,000 designated by name to come and make David king.

32 From the Issacharites, who understood the times(H) and knew what Israel should do: 200 chiefs with all their relatives under their command.

33 From Zebulun: 50,000 who could serve in the army, trained for battle with all kinds of weapons of war, with one purpose(I) to help David.[d]

34 From Naphtali: 1,000 commanders accompanied by 37,000 men with shield and spear.

35 From the Danites: 28,600 trained for battle.

36 From Asher: 40,000 who could serve in the army, trained for battle.

37 From across the Jordan—from the Reubenites, Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh: 120,000 men equipped with all the military weapons of war.

38 All these warriors, lined up in battle formation, came to Hebron wholeheartedly determined to make David king over all Israel. All the rest of Israel was also of one mind to make David king.(J) 39 They spent three days there eating and drinking with David, for their relatives had provided for them. 40 In addition, their neighbors from as far away as Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali came and brought food on donkeys, camels, mules, and oxen—abundant provisions of flour, fig cakes, raisins, wine and oil, herds, and flocks.(K) Indeed, there was joy in Israel.

David and the Ark

13 David consulted with all his leaders, the commanders of hundreds and of thousands. Then he said to the whole assembly of Israel, “If it seems good to you, and if this is from the Lord our God, let’s spread out and send the message to the rest of our relatives in all the districts of Israel, including the priests and Levites in their cities with pasturelands,(L) that they should gather together with us. Then let’s bring back the ark of our God, for we did not inquire of him[e](M) in Saul’s days.” Since the proposal seemed right to all the people, the whole assembly agreed to do it.

So David assembled all Israel,(N) from the Shihor of Egypt to the entrance of Hamath,[f](O) to bring the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim.(P) David(Q) and all Israel went to Baalah(R) (that is, Kiriath-jearim that belongs to Judah) to take from there the ark of God, which bears the name of the Lord who is enthroned between the cherubim.(S) At Abinadab’s house(T) they set the ark of God on a new cart. Uzzah and Ahio[g] were guiding the cart.

David and all Israel were dancing with all their might before God with songs and with lyres, harps, tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets.(U) When they came to Chidon’s threshing floor,(V) Uzzah reached out to hold the ark because the oxen had stumbled. 10 Then the Lord’s anger burned against Uzzah, and he struck him dead because he had reached out to the ark.(W) So he died there in the presence of God.(X)

11 David was angry because of the Lord’s outburst against Uzzah, so he named that place Outburst Against Uzzah,[h] as it is still named today. 12 David feared God that day and said, “How can I ever bring the ark of God to me?” 13 So David did not bring the ark of God home[i] to the city of David; instead, he diverted it to the house of Obed-edom of Gath.(Y) 14 The ark of God remained with Obed-edom’s family in his house for three months, and the Lord blessed his family and all that he had.

God’s Blessing on David

14 King Hiram of Tyre sent envoys to David,(Z) along with cedar logs, stonemasons, and carpenters to build a palace for him. Then David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel and that his kingdom had been exalted for the sake of his people Israel.

David took more wives in Jerusalem, and he became the father of more sons and daughters. These(AA) are the names of the children born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet, Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, Elishama, Beeliada, and Eliphelet.

When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, they all went in search of David; when David heard of this, he went out to face them. Now the Philistines had come and raided in Rephaim Valley,(AB) 10 so David inquired of God, “Should I attack the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?”

The Lord replied, “Attack, and I will hand them over to you.”

11 So the Israelites went up to Baal-perazim, and David defeated the Philistines there. Then David said, “Like a bursting flood, God has used me to burst out against my enemies.” Therefore, they named that place The Lord Bursts Out.[j] 12 The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David ordered that they be burned in the fire.

13 Once again the Philistines raided in the valley. 14 So David again inquired of God, and God answered him, “Do not pursue them directly. Circle around them and attack them opposite the balsam trees. 15 When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then go out to battle, for God will have gone out ahead of you to strike down the army of the Philistines.” 16 So David did as God commanded him, and they struck down the Philistine army from Gibeon to Gezer. 17 Then David’s fame spread throughout the lands, and the Lord caused all the nations to be terrified of him.(AC)

Footnotes:

  1. 12:22 Or like the ultimate army
  2. 12:28 Lit the house of his father
  3. 12:30 Lit the house of their fathers
  4. 12:33 LXX; MT omits David
  5. 13:3 Or did not seek it
  6. 13:5 Or to Lebo-hamath
  7. 13:7 Or And his brothers
  8. 13:11 Or Perez-uzzah
  9. 13:13 Lit to himself
  10. 14:11 Or Baal-perazim
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.

Romans 1:1-17

The Gospel of God for Rome

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle[a](A) and set apart(B) for the gospel of God(C) which he promised beforehand(D) through his prophets(E) in the Holy Scriptures— concerning his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who was a descendant of David[b](F) according to the flesh(G) and was appointed to be the powerful(H) Son of God(I) according to the Spirit of holiness[c] by the resurrection of the dead. Through him we have received grace and apostleship(J) to bring about[d] the obedience(K) of faith for the sake of his name among all the Gentiles,[e](L) including you who are also called by Jesus Christ.(M)

To all who are in Rome, loved by God,(N) called(O) as saints.(P)

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul’s Desire to Visit Rome

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you because the news of your faith[f] is being reported in all the world.(Q) God is my witness,(R) whom I serve with my spirit(S) in telling the good news about his Son—that I constantly mention you,(T) 10 always asking in my prayers that if it is somehow in God’s will, I may now at last succeed in coming to you.(U) 11 For I want very much to see you,(V) so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you, 12 that is, to be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.

13 Now I don’t want you to be unaware,(W) brothers and sisters, that I often planned to come to you (but was prevented until now(X)) in order that I might have a fruitful ministry[g] among you,(Y) just as I have had among the rest of the Gentiles. 14 I am obligated both to Greeks and barbarians,[h](Z) both to the wise and the foolish. 15 So I am eager to preach the gospel(AA) to you also who are in Rome.

The Righteous Will Live by Faith

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel,[i](AB) because it is the power of God for salvation(AC) to everyone who believes, first to the Jew,(AD) and also to the Greek.(AE) 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith,[j](AF) just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith.[k][l](AG)

Footnotes:

  1. 1:1 Or Jesus, a called apostle
  2. 1:3 Lit was of the seed of David
  3. 1:4 Or the spirit of holiness, or the Holy Spirit
  4. 1:5 Or him for; lit him into
  5. 1:5 Or nations, also in v. 13
  6. 1:8 Or because your faith
  7. 1:13 Lit have some fruit
  8. 1:14 Or non-Greeks
  9. 1:16 Other mss add of Christ
  10. 1:17 Or revealed out of faith into faith
  11. 1:17 Or The one who is righteous by faith will live
  12. 1:17 Hab 2:4
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.

Psalm 9:13-20

13 Be gracious to me, Lord;
consider my affliction at the hands of those who hate me.(A)
Lift me up from the gates of death,(B)
14 so that I may declare all your praises.
I will rejoice in your salvation(C)
within the gates of Daughter Zion.

15 The nations have fallen into the pit they made;
their foot is caught in the net they have concealed.(D)
16 The Lord has made himself known;
he has executed justice,(E)
snaring the wicked
by the work of their hands.(F)Higgaion. Selah

17 The wicked will return to Sheol(G)
all the nations that forget God.(H)
18 For the needy will not always be forgotten;
the hope of the oppressed[a] will not perish forever.(I)

19 Rise up, Lord! Do not let mere humans prevail;
let the nations be judged in your presence.(J)
20 Put terror in them, Lord;(K)
let the nations know they are only humans.(L)Selah

Footnotes:

  1. 9:18 Alt Hb tradition reads humble
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.

Proverbs 19:4-5

Wealth attracts many friends,(A)
but a poor person is separated from his friend.

A false witness will not go unpunished,(B)
and one who utters lies will not escape.(C)

Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.

The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Sunday July 11, 2021 (NIV)

1 Chronicles 11:1-12:18

David’s Anointing as King

11 All Israel(A) came together to David at Hebron and said, “Here we are, your own flesh and blood.[a] Even previously when Saul was king, you were leading Israel out to battle and bringing us back. The Lord your God also said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will be ruler over my people Israel.’”

So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron. David made a covenant with them at Hebron in the Lord’s presence, and they anointed David king over Israel, in keeping with the Lord’s word through Samuel.(B)

David’s Capture of Jerusalem

David(C) and all Israel marched to Jerusalem (that is, Jebus); the Jebusites who inhabited the land were there.(D) The inhabitants of Jebus said to David, “You will never get in here.” Yet David did capture the stronghold of Zion, that is, the city of David.

David said, “Whoever is the first to kill a Jebusite will become chief commander.” Joab(E) son of Zeruiah went up first, so he became the chief.

Then David took up residence in the stronghold; therefore, it was called the city of David. He built up the city all the way around, from the supporting terraces to the surrounding parts, and Joab restored the rest of the city. David steadily grew more powerful,(F) and the Lord of Armies was with him.

Exploits of David’s Warriors

10 The following were the chiefs of David’s warriors who, together with all Israel, strongly supported him in his reign to make him king according to the Lord’s word about Israel.(G) 11 This(H) is the list of David’s warriors:

Jashobeam son of Hachmoni was chief(I) of the Thirty;[b] he wielded his spear against three hundred and killed them at one time.

12 After him, Eleazar son of Dodo(J) the Ahohite was one of the three warriors. 13 He was with David at Pas-dammim when the Philistines had gathered there for battle. There was a portion of a field full of barley, where the troops had fled from the Philistines.(K) 14 But Eleazar and David[c] took their stand in the middle of the field and defended it. They killed the Philistines, and the Lord gave them a great victory.

15 Three of the thirty chief men went down to David, to the rock at the cave of Adullam,(L) while the Philistine army was encamped in Rephaim Valley.(M) 16 At that time David was in the stronghold,(N) and a Philistine garrison(O) was at Bethlehem. 17 David was extremely thirsty[d] and said, “If only someone would bring me water to drink from the well at the city gate of Bethlehem!” 18 So the Three broke through the Philistine camp and drew water from the well at the gate of Bethlehem. They brought it back to David, but he refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out to the Lord. 19 David said, “I would never do such a thing in the presence of my God! How can I drink the blood of these men who risked their lives?” For they brought it at the risk of their lives. So he would not drink it. Such were the exploits of the three warriors.

20 Abishai,(P) Joab’s brother, was the leader of the Three.[e] He raised his spear against three hundred men and killed them, gaining a reputation among the Three. 21 He was more honored than the Three and became their commander even though he did not become one of the Three.

22 Benaiah son of Jehoiada(Q) was the son of a brave man[f] from Kabzeel, a man of many exploits. Benaiah killed two sons of Ariel of Moab,[g] and he went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion. 23 He also killed an Egyptian who was seven and a half feet tall.[h] Even though the Egyptian had a spear in his hand like a weaver’s beam,(R) Benaiah went down to him with a staff, snatched the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and then killed him with his own spear. 24 These were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada, who had a reputation among the three warriors. 25 He was the most honored of the Thirty, but he did not become one of the Three. David put him in charge of his bodyguard.

26 The best soldiers(S) were

Joab’s brother Asahel,(T)

Elhanan son of Dodo of Bethlehem,

27 Shammoth the Harorite,

Helez the Pelonite,

28 Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,

Abiezer the Anathothite,

29 Sibbecai the Hushathite,

Ilai the Ahohite,

30 Maharai the Netophathite,

Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite,

31 Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah of the Benjaminites,

Benaiah the Pirathonite,

32 Hurai from the wadis of Gaash,

Abiel the Arbathite,

33 Azmaveth the Baharumite,

Eliahba the Shaalbonite,

34 the sons of[i](U) Hashem the Gizonite,

Jonathan son of Shagee the Hararite,

35 Ahiam son of Sachar the Hararite,

Eliphal son of Ur,

36 Hepher the Mecherathite,

Ahijah the Pelonite,

37 Hezro the Carmelite,

Naarai son of Ezbai,

38 Joel the brother of Nathan,

Mibhar son of Hagri,

39 Zelek the Ammonite,

Naharai the Beerothite, the armor-bearer for Joab son of Zeruiah,

40 Ira the Ithrite,

Gareb the Ithrite,

41 Uriah the Hethite,

Zabad son of Ahlai,

42 Adina son of Shiza the Reubenite, chief of the Reubenites, and thirty with him,

43 Hanan son of Maacah,

Joshaphat the Mithnite,

44 Uzzia the Ashterathite,

Shama and Jeiel the sons of Hotham the Aroerite,

45 Jediael son of Shimri and his brother Joha the Tizite,

46 Eliel the Mahavite,

Jeribai and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam,

Ithmah the Moabite,

47 Eliel, Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.

David’s First Supporters

12 The following were the men who came to David at Ziklag while he was still banned from the presence of Saul son of Kish.(V) They were among the warriors who helped him in battle. They were archers who could use either the right or left hand, both to sling stones and shoot arrows from a bow.(W) They were Saul’s relatives(X) from Benjamin:

Their chief was Ahiezer son of Shemaah the Gibeathite.

Then there was his brother Joash;

Jeziel and Pelet sons of Azmaveth;

Beracah, Jehu the Anathothite;

Ishmaiah the Gibeonite, a warrior among the Thirty and a leader over the Thirty;

Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan, Jozabad the Gederathite;

Eluzai, Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah, Shephatiah the Haruphite;

Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, and Jashobeam, the Korahites;

and Joelah and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham from Gedor.

Some Gadites defected to David at his stronghold in the desert. They were valiant warriors, trained for battle, expert with shield and spear. Their faces were like the faces of lions, and they were as swift as gazelles on the mountains.(Y)

Ezer was the chief, Obadiah second, Eliab third,

10 Mishmannah fourth, Jeremiah fifth,

11 Attai sixth, Eliel seventh,

12 Johanan eighth, Elzabad ninth,

13 Jeremiah tenth, and Machbannai eleventh.

14 These Gadites were army commanders; the least of them was a match for a hundred, and the greatest of them for a thousand.(Z) 15 These are the men who crossed the Jordan in the first month[j] when it was overflowing all its banks,(AA) and put to flight all those in the valleys to the east and to the west.

16 Other Benjaminites and men from Judah also went to David at the stronghold.(AB) 17 David went out to meet them and said to them, “If you have come in peace to help me, my heart will be united with you, but if you have come to betray me to my enemies even though my hands have done no wrong, may the God of our ancestors look on it and judge.”

18 Then the Spirit enveloped[k](AC) Amasai,(AD) chief of the Thirty, and he said:

We are yours, David,
we are with you, son of Jesse!
Peace, peace to you,
and peace to him who helps you,(AE)
for your God helps you.

So David received them and made them leaders of his troops.

Footnotes:

  1. 11:1 Lit your bone and your flesh
  2. 11:11 Alt Hb tradition reads Three
  3. 11:14 Lit But they
  4. 11:17 Lit And David craved
  5. 11:20 Syr reads Thirty
  6. 11:22 Or was a valiant man
  7. 11:22 Or He killed two Moabite warriors
  8. 11:23 Lit who measured five cubits
  9. 11:34 LXX omits the sons of; 2Sm 23:32
  10. 12:15 = Nisan (March–April)
  11. 12:18 Lit clothed; Jdg 6:34; 2Ch 24:20
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.

Acts 28

Malta’s Hospitality

28 Once safely ashore, we(A) then learned that the island was called Malta.(B) The local people(C) showed us extraordinary kindness. They lit a fire and took us all in, since it was raining and cold. As Paul gathered a bundle of brushwood and put it on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened itself on his hand. When the local people saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “This man, no doubt, is a murderer. Even though he has escaped the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.”(D) But he shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no harm.(E) They expected that he would begin to swell up or suddenly drop dead. After they waited a long time and saw nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.(F)

Ministry in Malta

Now in the area around that place was an estate belonging to the leading man of the island, named Publius, who welcomed us and entertained us hospitably for three days. Publius’s father was in bed suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went to him, and praying and laying his hands on him, he healed him.(G) After this, the rest of those on the island who had diseases also came and were healed. 10 So they heaped many honors on us, and when we sailed, they gave us what we needed.

Rome at Last

11 After three months we set sail in an Alexandrian ship that had wintered at the island, with the Twin Gods[a] as its figurehead. 12 Putting in at Syracuse, we stayed three days. 13 From there, after making a circuit along the coast,[b] we reached Rhegium. After one day a south wind sprang up, and the second day we came to Puteoli. 14 There we found brothers and sisters(H) and were invited to stay a week with them. And so we came to Rome. 15 Now the brothers and sisters from there had heard the news about us and had come to meet us as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage. 16 When we entered Rome,[c] Paul was allowed to live by himself with the soldier who guarded him.(I)

Paul’s First Interview with Roman Jews

17 After three days he called together the leaders of the Jews. When they had gathered he said to them, “Brothers, although I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors, I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.(J) 18 After they examined me, they wanted to release me, since there was no reason for the death penalty in my case.(K) 19 Because the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar;(L) even though I had no charge to bring against my people. 20 For this reason I’ve asked to see you and speak to you. In fact, it is for the hope of Israel that I’m wearing this chain.”(M)

21 Then they said to him, “We haven’t received any letters about you from Judea. None of the brothers has come and reported or spoken anything evil about you. 22 But we want to hear what your views are, since we know that people everywhere are speaking against this sect.”(N)

The Response to Paul’s Message

23 After arranging a day with him, many came to him at his lodging. From dawn to dusk he expounded and testified about the kingdom of God. He tried to persuade them about Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets.(O) 24 Some were persuaded by what he said, but others did not believe.(P)

25 Disagreeing among themselves, they began to leave after Paul made one statement:[d] “The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your[e] ancestors through the prophet Isaiah 26 when he said,

Go to these people and say:
You will always be listening,
but never understanding;
and you will always be looking,
but never perceiving.
27 For the hearts of these people
have grown callous,
their ears are hard of hearing,
and they have shut their eyes;
otherwise they might see with their eyes
and hear with their ears,
understand with their heart
and turn,
and I would heal them.[f](Q)

28 Therefore, let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.”[g]

Paul’s Ministry Unhindered

30 Paul stayed two whole years in his own rented house. And he welcomed all who visited him, 31 proclaiming the kingdom of God(R) and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness(S) and without hindrance.

Footnotes:

  1. 28:11 Gk Dioscuri, twin sons of Zeus, Castor and Pollux
  2. 28:13 Other mss read From there, casting off,
  3. 28:16 Other mss add the centurion turned the prisoners over to the military commander; but
  4. 28:25 Or after they began to leave, Paul made one statement
  5. 28:25 Other mss read our
  6. 28:26–27 Is 6:9–10
  7. 28:28 Some mss include v. 29: After he said these things, the Jews departed, while engaging in a vigorous debate among themselves.
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.

Psalm 9:1-12

Psalm 9

Celebration of God’s Justice

For the choir director: according to Muth-labben. A psalm of David.

I will thank the Lord with all my heart;
I will declare all your wondrous works.(A)
I will rejoice and boast about you;(B)
I will sing about your name, Most High.(C)

When my enemies retreat,
they stumble and perish before you.(D)
For you have upheld my just cause;(E)
you are seated on your throne as a righteous judge.(F)
You have rebuked the nations:(G)
You have destroyed the wicked;(H)
you have erased their name forever and ever.(I)
The enemy has come to eternal ruin;
you have uprooted the cities,
and the very memory of them has perished.(J)

But the Lord sits enthroned forever;(K)
he has established his throne for judgment.(L)
And he judges the world with righteousness;
he executes judgment on the nations with fairness.(M)
The Lord is a refuge for the persecuted,
a refuge in times of trouble.(N)
10 Those who know your name trust in you
because you have not abandoned
those who seek you, Lord.(O)

11 Sing to the Lord, who dwells in Zion;(P)
proclaim his deeds among the nations.(Q)
12 For the one who seeks an accounting
for bloodshed remembers them;(R)
he does not forget the cry of the oppressed.(S)

Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.

Proverbs 19:1-3

19 Better a poor person who lives with integrity(A)
than someone who has deceitful lips and is a fool.

Even zeal is not good without knowledge,(B)
and the one who acts hastily[a] sins.(C)

A person’s own foolishness leads him astray,
yet his heart rages against the Lord.(D)

Footnotes:

  1. 19:2 Lit who is hasty with feet
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.