the Week of Proper 19 / Ordinary 24
Click here to learn more!
Bible Reading Plan
Daily Bible Reading
December 8 - Bible-in-a-Year
csb
Ezekiel 12-13
Chapter 12
Ezekiel Dramatizes the Exile
1 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 "Son of man, you are living among a rebellious house.(a) They have eyes to see but do not see, and ears to hear but do not hear,(b) for they are a rebellious house.(c)
3 "Son of man, get your bags ready for exile and go into exile in their sight during the day. You will go into exile from your place to another place while they watch; perhaps they will understand, though they are a rebellious house. 4 During the day, bring out your bags like an exile's bags while they look on. Then in the evening go out in their sight like those going into exile. 5 As they watch, dig through the wall and take the bags out through it. 6 And while they look on, lift the bags to your shoulder and take them out in the dark; cover your face so that you cannot see the land. For I have made you a sign to the house of Israel."(d)
7 So I did just as I was commanded. In the daytime I brought out my bags like an exile's bags. In the evening I dug through the wall by hand; I took them out in the dark, carrying them on my shoulder in their sight.
8 Then the word of the Lord came to me in the morning: 9 "Son of man, hasn't the house of Israel, that rebellious house,(e) asked you, ‘What are you doing?'(f) 10 Say to them: This is what the Lord God says: This oracle is about the prince[a] in Jerusalem and all the house of Israel who are living there.[b] 11 You are to say, ‘I am a sign for you. Just as I have done, so it will be done to them; they will go into exile,(g) into captivity.' 12 The prince who is among(h) them will lift his bags to his shoulder in the dark and go out. They[c] will dig through the wall to bring him out through it. He will cover his face so he cannot see the land with his eyes. 13 But I will spread My net over him, and he will be caught in My snare. I will bring him to Babylon, the land of the Chaldeans, yet he will not see it,(i) and he will die there. 14 I will also scatter all the attendants who surround him and all his troops to every direction of the wind,(j) and I will draw a sword to chase after them. 15 They will know that I am Yahweh(k) when I disperse them among the nations and scatter them among the countries.(l) 16 But I will spare a few of them from the sword,(m) famine, and plague so they can tell about all their detestable practices among the nations where they go. Then they will know that I am Yahweh."
Ezekiel Dramatizes Israel's Anxiety
17 The word of the Lord came to me: 18 "Son of man, eat your bread with(n) trembling and drink your water with shaking and anxiety. 19 Then say to the people of the land: This is what the Lord God says about the residents of Jerusalem in the land of Israel: They will eat their bread with anxiety and drink their water in dread, for their[d][e] land will be stripped of everything(o) in it because of the violence of all who live there. 20 The inhabited cities will be destroyed, and the land will become a desolation. Then you will know that I am Yahweh."
A Deceptive Proverb Stopped
21 Again the word of the Lord came to me: 22 "Son of man, what is this proverb you people have about the land of Israel,(p) which goes:
The days keep passing by,(q)
and every vision fails?
23 Therefore say to them: This is what the Lord God says: I will put a stop to this proverb, and they will not use it again in Israel.(r) But say to them: The days draw near,(s) as well as the fulfillment of every vision. 24 For there will no longer be any false vision or flattering divination(t) within the house of Israel. 25 But I, Yahweh, will speak whatever message I will speak, and it will be done.(u) It will no longer be delayed.(v) For in your days, rebellious house, I will speak a message and bring it to pass." This is the declaration of the Lord God .
26 The word of the Lord came to me: 27 "Son of man, notice that the house of Israel is saying, ‘The vision that he sees concerns many years from now;(w) he prophesies about distant times.' 28 Therefore say to them: This is what the Lord God says: None of My words will be delayed any longer. The message I speak will be fulfilled." This is the declaration of the Lord God .
Chapter 13
Israel's False Prophets Condemned
1 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 "Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who(a) are prophesying. Say to those who prophesy out of their own imagination:(b) Hear the word of the Lord ! 3 This is what the Lord God says: Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing. 4 Your prophets, Israel, are like jackals among ruins. 5 You did not go up to the gaps(c) or restore the wall around the house of Israel so that it might stand in battle on the day of the Lord . 6 They see false visions and speak lying divinations.(d) They claim, ‘This is the Lord 's declaration,' when the Lord did not send them,(e) yet they wait for the fulfillment of their message. 7 Didn't you see a false vision and speak a lying divination when you proclaimed, ‘This is the Lord 's declaration,' even though I had not spoken?
8 "Therefore, this is what the Lord God says: I am against you because you have spoken falsely and had lying visions." This is the declaration of the Lord God . 9 "My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and speak lying divinations.(f) They will not be present in the fellowship of My people or be recorded in the register of the house of Israel, and they will not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord Yahweh.
10 "Since they have led My people astray saying, ‘Peace,'(g) when there is no peace, for when someone builds a wall they plaster it with whitewash,(h) 11 therefore, tell those who plaster it that it will fall. Torrential rain will come,(i) and I will send hailstones plunging[a] down, and a windstorm will be released. 12 Now when the wall has fallen, will you not be asked, ‘Where is the coat of whitewash that you put on it?'
13 "So this is what the Lord God says: I will release a windstorm in My wrath. Torrential rain will come in My anger, and hailstones will fall in destructive fury. 14 I will tear down the wall you plastered with whitewash and knock it to the ground so that its foundation is exposed.(j) The city will fall, and you will be destroyed within it. Then you will know that I am Yahweh. 15 After I exhaust My wrath against the wall and against those who plaster it with whitewash, I will say to you: The wall is no more and neither are those who plastered it— 16 those prophets of Israel who prophesied to Jerusalem and saw a vision of peace for her when there was no peace."(k) This is the declaration of the Lord God .
17 "Now, son of man, turn[b] toward the women of your people who prophesy(l) out of their own imagination. Prophesy against them(m) 18 and say: This is what the Lord God says: Woe to the women who sew magic bands on the wrist of every hand and who make veils for the heads of people of every height in order to ensnare lives. Will you ensnare the lives of My people but preserve your own?(n) 19 You profane Me in front of My people for handfuls of barley(o) and scraps of bread; you kill those who should not die and spare those who should not live, when you lie to My people, who listen to lies.
20 "Therefore, this is what the Lord God says: I am against your magic bands that you ensnare people with like birds, and I will tear them from your arms. I will free the people you have ensnared like birds. 21 I will also tear off your veils and deliver My people from your hands,(p) so that they will no longer be prey in your hands. Then you will know that I am Yahweh. 22 Because you have disheartened the righteous person with lies, even though I have not caused him grief,(q) and because you have encouraged the wicked(r) person not to turn from his evil way to save his life, 23 therefore you will no longer see false visions or practice divination.(s) I will deliver My people from your hands. Then you will know that I am Yahweh."
Isaiah 43
Chapter 43
Restoration of Israel
1 Now this is what the
Lord
says—
the One who created you, Jacob,
and the One who formed you, Israel(a)—
"Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;(b)
I have called you by your name; you are Mine.(c)
2 I will be with you(d)
when you pass through the waters,(e)
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not overwhelm you.
You will not be scorched
when you walk through the fire,(f)
and the flame will not burn you.
3 For I Yahweh your God,(g)
the Holy One of Israel, and your Savior,(h)
give Egypt as a ransom for you,
Cush and Seba in your place.
4 Because you are precious in My sight(i)
and honored, and I love you,(j)
I will give people in exchange for you
and nations instead of your life.
5 Do not fear, for I am with you;
I will bring your descendants from the east,(k)
and gather you from the west.(l)
6 I will say to the north: Give them up!
and to the south: Do not hold them back!
Bring My sons from far away,(m)
and My daughters from the ends of the earth(n)—
7 everyone called by My name
and created for My glory.
I have formed him; indeed, I have made him."
8 Bring out a people who are blind, yet have eyes,(o)
and are deaf, yet have ears.
9 All the nations are gathered together,
and the peoples are assembled.(p)
Who among them can declare this,(q)
and tell us the former things?
Let them present their witnesses
to vindicate themselves,
so that people may hear and say, "It is true."
10 "You are My witnesses"(r)—
this is the
Lord
's declaration—
"and My servant whom I have chosen,(s)
so that you may know and believe Me
and understand that I am He.(t)
No god was formed before Me,
and there will be none after Me.(u)
11 I, I am Yahweh,
and there is no other Savior but Me.(v)
12 I alone declared, saved, and proclaimed—
and not some foreign god[a] among you.
So you are My witnesses"—
this is the
Lord
's declaration—
"and[b] I am God.(w)
13 Also, from today on I am He alone,
and none can deliver from My hand.(x)
I act, and who can reverse it?"(y)
God's Deliverance of Rebellious Israel
14 This is what the Lord , your Redeemer,(z) the Holy One of Israel(aa) says:
Because of you, I will send to Babylon
and bring all of them as fugitives,[c]
even the Chaldeans(ab) in the ships in which they rejoice.[d]
15 I am Yahweh, your Holy One,
the Creator of Israel, your King.
16 This is what the
Lord
says—
who makes a way in the sea,
and a path through surging waters,(ac)
17 who brings out the chariot and horse,(ad)
the army and the mighty one together
(they lie down, they do not rise again;
they are extinguished, quenched like a wick(ae))—
18 "Do not remember the past events,
pay no attention to things of old.(af)
19 Look, I am about to do something new;(ag)
even now it is coming. Do you not see it?
Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness,(ah)
rivers[e] in the desert.
20 The animals of the field will honor Me,
jackals and ostriches,
because I provide water in the wilderness,
and rivers in the desert,(ai)
to give drink to My chosen people.
21 The people I formed for Myself
will declare My praise.(aj)
22 "But Jacob, you have not called on Me,
because, Israel, you have become weary of Me.(ak)
23 You have not brought Me your sheep for burnt offerings
or honored Me with your sacrifices.(al)
I have not burdened you with offerings
or wearied you with incense.[f]
24 You have not bought Me aromatic cane with silver,
or satisfied Me with the fat of your sacrifices.
But you have burdened Me with your sins;
you have wearied Me(am) with your iniquities.(an)
25 "It is I who sweep away your transgressions(ao)
for My own sake(ap)
and remember your sins no more.(aq)
26 Take Me to court; let us argue our case together.(ar)
State your case, so that you may be vindicated.
27 Your first father sinned,(as)
and your mediators have rebelled against Me.(at)
28 So I defiled the officers of the sanctuary,
and set Jacob apart for destruction(au)
and Israel for abuse.
Ephesians 4:17-32
Chapter 4
17 Therefore, I say this and testify in the Lord: You should no longer walk as the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their thoughts. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them and because of the hardness of their hearts. 19 They became callous and gave themselves over to promiscuity for the practice of every kind of impurity(ac) with a desire for more and more.[h]
20 But that is not how you learned about the Messiah, 21 assuming you heard about Him and were taught by Him, because the truth(ad) is in Jesus. 22 You took off[i](ae) your former way of life,(af) the old self[j](ag) that is corrupted by deceitful desires; 23 you are being renewed[k] in the spirit(ah) of your minds; 24 you put on[l](ai) the new self, the one created(aj) according to God's likeness(ak) in righteousness and purity of the truth.
25 Since you put away(al) lying, Speak the truth, each one to his neighbor, (am)[m] because we are members of one another. 26 Be angry and do not sin. (an)[n] Don't let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and don't give the Devil an opportunity. 28 The thief must no longer steal. Instead, he must do honest work with his own hands, so that he has something to share(ao) with anyone in need. 29 No foul language is to come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need,[o] so that it gives grace to those who hear. 30 And don't grieve God's Holy Spirit.(ap) You were sealed by Him[p] for the day of redemption.(aq) 31 All bitterness, anger and wrath, shouting and slander must be removed from you, along with all malice. 32 And be kind(ar) and compassionate(as) to one another, forgiving(at) one another, just as God also forgave you[q] in Christ.
Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.
