the Week of Proper 19 / Ordinary 24
Click here to learn more!
Bible Reading Plan
Daily Bible Reading
December 11 - Bible-in-a-Year
csb
Ezekiel 17
Chapter 17
Parable of the Eagles
1 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 "Son of man, pose a riddle and speak a parable to the house of Israel.(a) 3 You are to say: This is what the Lord God says:
A great eagle with great wings,(b) long pinions,
and full plumage of many colors
came to Lebanon and took the top of the cedar.(c)
4 He plucked off its topmost shoot,
brought it to the land of merchants,
and set it in a city of traders.
5 Then he took some of the land's seed
and put it in a fertile field;(d)
he set it like a willow,(e)
a plant[a] by abundant waters.
6 It sprouted and became a spreading vine,
low in height with its branches turned toward him,(f)
yet its roots stayed under it.
So it became a vine,
produced branches, and sent out shoots.
7 But there was another great eagle
with great wings and thick plumage.
And this vine bent its roots toward him!
It stretched out its branches to him
from its planting bed,(g)
so that he might water it.
8 It had been planted
in a good field by abundant waters
in order to produce branches,
bear fruit, and become a splendid vine.
9 You are to say: This is what the Lord God says:
Will it flourish?
Will he not tear out its roots(h)
and strip off its fruit
so that it shrivels?
All its fresh leaves will wither!
Great strength and many people
will not be needed to pull it from its roots.
10 Even though it is planted, will it flourish?
Won't it completely wither
when the east wind strikes it?(i)
It will wither on the bed where it sprouted."
11 The word of the Lord came to me: 12 "Now say to that rebellious house:(j) Don't you know what these things mean? Tell them: The king of Babylon came to Jerusalem, took its king and officials,(k) and brought them back with him to Babylon. 13 He took one of the royal family(l) and made a covenant with him, putting him under oath.(m) Then he took away the leading men of the land, 14 so the kingdom might be humble and not exalt itself(n) but might keep his covenant in order to endure. 15 However, this king revolted against him(o) by sending his ambassadors to Egypt so they might give him horses and a large army.(p) Will he flourish? Will the one who does such things escape? Can he break a covenant and still escape?
16 "As I live"—this is the declaration of the Lord God —"he will die in Babylon, in the land of the king who put him on the throne,(q) whose oath he despised and whose covenant he broke. 17 Pharaoh will not help him with his great army and vast horde in battle,(r) when ramps are built and siege walls constructed to destroy many lives. 18 He despised the oath by breaking the covenant. He did all these things even though he gave his hand in pledge.(s) He will not escape!"
19 Therefore, this is what the Lord God says: "As I live, I will bring down on his head My oath that he despised and My covenant that he broke. 20 I will spread My net over him,(t) and he will be caught in My snare.(u) I will bring him to Babylon and execute judgment on him there for the treachery he committed against Me.(v) 21 All the fugitives[b] among his troops will fall by the sword, and those who survive will be scattered to every direction of the wind.(w) Then you will know that I, Yahweh, have spoken."
22 This is what the Lord God says:
I will take a sprig
from the lofty top of the cedar and plant it.(x)
I will pluck a tender sprig
from its topmost shoots,
and I will plant it
on a high towering mountain.
23 I will plant it on Israel's high mountain(y)
so that it may bear branches, produce fruit,
and become a majestic cedar.
Birds of every kind will nest under it,(z)
taking shelter in the shade of its branches.
24 Then all the trees of the field will know
that I am Yahweh.
I bring down the tall tree,
and make the low tree tall.(aa)
I cause the green tree to wither
and make the withered tree thrive.(ab)
I, Yahweh, have spoken
and I will do it.(ac)
Isaiah 46
Chapter 46
There is No One Like God
1 Bel crouches; Nebo cowers.(a)
Their idols are consigned to beasts and cattle.
The images you carry are loaded,
as a burden for the weary animal.
2 The gods cower; they crouch together;
they are not able to rescue the burden,
but they themselves go into captivity.(b)
3 "Listen to Me, house of Jacob,
all the remnant of the house of Israel,
who have been sustained from the womb,
carried along since birth.
4 I will be the same until your old age,(c)
and I will bear you up when you turn gray.
I have made you, and I will carry you;
I will bear and save you.
5 "Who will you compare Me or make Me equal to?
Who will you measure Me with,
so that we should be like each other?(d)
6 Those who pour out their bags of gold
and weigh out silver on scales—
they hire a goldsmith and he makes it into a god.
Then they kneel and bow down to it.(e)
7 They lift it to their shoulder and bear it along;(f)
they set it in its place, and there it stands;
it does not budge from its place.(g)
They cry out to it but it doesn't answer;
it saves no one from his trouble.
8 "Remember this and be brave;[a]
take it to heart, you transgressors!
9 Remember what happened long ago,(h)
for I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and no one is like Me.
10 I declare the end from the beginning,
and from long ago what is not yet done,
saying: My plan will take place,
and I will do all My will.(i)
11 I call a bird of prey[b] from the east,(j)
a man for My purpose from a far country.
Yes, I have spoken; so I will also bring it about.(k)
I have planned it; I will also do it.
12 Listen to me, you hardhearted,
far removed from justice:
13 I am bringing My justice near;(l)
it is not far away,
and My salvation will not delay.
I will put salvation in Zion,
My splendor in Israel.
Ephesians 6
Chapter 6
Children and Parents
1 Children, obey(a) your parents as you would the Lord,[a] because this is right. 2 Honor your father and mother , which is the first commandment[b] with a promise, 3 so that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life in the land. [c](b)[d] 4 Fathers, don't stir up anger(c) in your children, but bring them up in the training(d) and instruction of the Lord.
Slaves and Masters
5 Slaves, obey your human[e] masters(e) with fear and trembling,(f) in the sincerity(g) of your heart, as to Christ. 6 Don't work only while being watched, in order to please men, but as slaves of Christ, do God's will(h) from your heart.[f] 7 Serve with a good attitude, as to the Lord and not to men,(i) 8 knowing that whatever good each one does, slave or free, he will receive this back from the Lord. 9 And masters, treat your slaves the same way, without threatening(j) them, because you know that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism(k) with Him.(l)
Christian Warfare
10 Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by His vast strength.(m) 11 Put on(n) the full armor(o) of God so that you can stand against the tactics[g] of the Devil. 12 For our battle is not against flesh(p) and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities,(q) against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil(r) in the heavens.(s) 13 This is why you must take up the full armor(t) of God, so that you may be able to resist(u) in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. 14 Stand,(v) therefore,
with truth(w) like a belt around your waist,
righteousness(x) like armor on your chest,(y)
15 and your feet sandaled with readiness
for the gospel of peace.[h]
16 In every situation take the shield(z) of faith,(aa)
and with it you will be able to extinguish
all the flaming arrows of the evil one.(ab)
17 Take the helmet(ac) of salvation,
and the sword(ad) of the Spirit,(ae)
which is God's word.
18 Pray(af) at all times in the Spirit(ag) with every prayer and request, and stay alert(ah) in this with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints. 19 Pray also for me, that the message may be given to me when I open my mouth to make known with boldness(ai) the mystery of the gospel. 20 For this I am an ambassador(aj) in chains. Pray that I might be bold enough in Him to speak as I should.
Paul's Farewell
21 Tychicus,(ak) our dearly loved brother and faithful servant[i] in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me so that you may be informed. 22 I am sending him to you for this very reason, to let you know how we are and to encourage(al) your hearts.(am)
23 Peace to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father(an) and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be with all who have undying love for our Lord Jesus Christ.[j][k]
Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.
