the Week of Proper 19 / Ordinary 24
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Bible Reading Plan
Daily Bible Reading
December 13 - Bible-in-a-Year
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Ezekiel 19
Chapter 19
A Lament for Israel's Princes
1 "Now, lament for the princes of Israel(a) 2 and say:
What was your mother? A lioness!
She lay down among the lions;
she reared her cubs among the young lions.
3 She brought up one of her cubs,
and he became a young lion.(b)
After he learned to tear prey,
he devoured people.
4 When the nations heard about him,
he was caught in their pit.
Then they led him away with hooks
to the land of Egypt.(c)
5 When she saw that she waited in vain,
that her hope was lost,
she took another of her cubs
and made him a young lion.
6 He prowled among the lions,(d)
and he became a young lion.
After he learned to tear prey,
he devoured people.
7 He devastated their strongholds[a]
and destroyed their cities.
The land and everything in it shuddered
at the sound of his roaring.
8 Then the nations from the surrounding provinces
set out against him.(e)
They spread their net over him;
he was caught in their pit.
9 They put a wooden yoke on him[b] with hooks(f)
and led him away to the king of Babylon.
They brought him into the fortresses
so his roar could no longer be heard
on the mountains of Israel.(g)
10 Your mother was like a vine in your vineyard,[c](h)
planted by the water;
it was fruitful and full of branches(i)
because of plentiful waters.
11 It had strong branches, fit for the scepters of rulers;
its height towered among the clouds.[d]
So it was conspicuous for its height
as well as its many branches.
12 But it was uprooted in fury,(j)
thrown to the ground,
and the east wind dried up its fruit.
Its strong branches were torn off and dried up;(k)
fire consumed them.
13 Now it is planted in the wilderness,(l)
in a dry and thirsty land.
14 Fire has gone out from its main branch[e]
and has devoured its fruit,
so that it no longer has a strong branch,
a scepter for ruling.(m)
This is a lament and should be used as a lament."
Isaiah 48
Chapter 48
Israel Must Leave Babylon
1 "Listen to this, house of Jacob—
those who are called by the name Israel
and have descended from[a] Judah,(a)
who swear by the name of Yahweh(b)
and declare the God of Israel,
but not in truth or righteousness.
2 For they are named after the Holy City,
and lean on the God of Israel;(c)
His name is Yahweh of Hosts.
3 I declared the past events long ago;
they came out of My mouth; I proclaimed them.
Suddenly I acted, and they occurred.
4 Because I know that you are stubborn,
and your neck is iron[b]
and your forehead bronze,(d)
5 therefore I declared to you long ago.
I announced it to you before it occurred,
so you could not claim, ‘My idol caused them;
my carved image and cast idol control them.'(e)
6 You have heard it. Observe it all.
Will you not acknowledge it?
From now on I will announce new things to you,
hidden things that you have not known.(f)
7 They have been created now, and not long ago;
you have not heard of them before today,
so you could not claim, ‘I already knew them!'
8 You have never heard; you have never known;
For a long time your ears have not been open.
For I knew that you were very treacherous,
and were known as a rebel from birth.(g)
9 I will delay My anger for the honor of My name,
and I will restrain Myself for your benefit and for My praise,
so that you will not be destroyed.
10 Look, I have refined you,(h) but not as silver;
I have tested[c] you in the furnace of affliction.
11 I will act for My own sake, indeed, My own,(i)
for how can I[d] be defiled?
I will not give My glory to another.(j)
12 "Listen to Me, Jacob,
and Israel, the one called by Me:
I am He; I am the first,
I am also the last.(k)
13 My own hand founded the earth,
and My right hand spread out the heavens;(l)
when I summoned them,
they stood up together.
14 All of you, assemble and listen!
Who among the idols[e] has declared these things?
The
Lord
loves him;[f]
he will accomplish His will against Babylon,(m)
and His arm will be against the Chaldeans.
15 I—I have spoken;
yes, I have called him;(n)
I have brought him,
and he will succeed in his mission.(o)
16 Approach Me and listen to this.
From the beginning I have not spoken in secret;(p)
from the time anything existed, I was there."
And now the Lord
God
has sent me and His Spirit.(q)
17 This is what the Lord , your Redeemer,(r) the Holy One of Israel(s) says:
I am Yahweh your God,
who teaches you for your benefit,
who leads you in the way you should go.
18 If only you had paid attention to My commands.
Then your peace would have been like a river,(t)
and your righteousness like the waves of the sea.(u)
19 Your descendants would have been as countless as the sand,(v)
and the offspring of your body like its grains;
their name would not be cut off
or eliminated from My presence.
20 Leave Babylon,
flee from the Chaldeans!
Declare with a shout of joy,
proclaim this,
let it go out to the end of the earth;
announce,
"The
Lord
has redeemed His servant(w) Jacob!"
21 They did not thirst
when He led them through the deserts;
He made water flow for them from the rock;(x)
He split the rock, and water gushed out.
22 "There is no peace for the wicked," says the
Lord
.(y)
Philippians 1:12-30
Chapter 1
12 Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has actually resulted in the advance of the gospel,(y) 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard,[e] and to everyone else, that my imprisonment is in the cause of Christ. 14 Most of the brothers in the Lord have gained confidence from my imprisonment and dare even more to speak the message[f](z) fearlessly. 15 To be sure, some preach Christ out of envy and strife,(aa) but others out of good will.[g] 16 These do so out of love,(ab) knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; 17 the others proclaim Christ out of rivalry,(ac) not sincerely, seeking to cause me anxiety in my imprisonment.[h] 18 What does it matter? Just that in every way, whether out of false motives(ad) or true, Christ is proclaimed. And in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice 19 because I know this will lead to my deliverance[i](ae) through your prayers and help from the Spirit(af) of Jesus Christ.(ag) 20 My eager expectation and hope(ah) is that I will not be ashamed about anything, but that now as always, with all boldness, Christ will be highly honored in my body, whether by life(ai) or by death.(aj)
Living Is Christ
21 For me, living is Christ(ak) and dying is gain.(al) 22 Now if I live on in the flesh, this means fruitful(am) work(an) for me; and I don't know which one I should choose. 23 I am pressured by both. I have the desire to depart and be with Christ(ao)—which is far better(ap)— 24 but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you. 25 Since I am persuaded of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith,(aq) 26 so that, because of me, your confidence may grow(ar) in Christ Jesus(as) when I come to you again.
27 Just one thing: Live your life(at) in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or am absent, I will hear about you that you are standing firm(au) in one(av) spirit, with one mind,[j] working side by side for the faith(aw) that comes from the gospel, 28 not being frightened in any way by your opponents.(ax) This is a sign of destruction for them,(ay) but of your deliverance(az)—and this is from God. 29 For it has been given to you on Christ's behalf not only to believe(ba) in Him, but also to suffer for Him, 30 having the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I have.
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