the Week of Proper 19 / Ordinary 24
Click to donate today!
Bible Reading Plan
Daily Bible Reading
December 21 - Bible-in-a-Year
csb
Ezekiel 31-32
Chapter 31
Downfall of Egypt and Assyria
1 In the eleventh year,(a) in the third month, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came to me: 2 "Son of man, say to Pharaoh king of Egypt and to his hordes:
Who are you like in your greatness?
3 Think of Assyria, a cedar in Lebanon,(b)
with beautiful branches and shady foliage
and of lofty height.
Its top was among the clouds.[a]
4 The waters caused it to grow;
the underground springs made it tall,
directing their rivers all around
the place where the tree was planted
and sending their channels
to all the trees of the field.
5 Therefore the cedar became greater in height
than all the trees of the field.(c)
Its branches multiplied,
and its boughs grew long
as it spread them out
because of the plentiful water.(d)
6 All the birds of the sky
nested in its branches,(e)
and all the animals of the field
gave birth beneath its boughs;
all the great nations lived in its shade.
7 It was beautiful in its greatness,
in the length of its limbs,
for its roots extended to abundant water.
8 The cedars in God's garden could not rival it;(f)
the pine trees couldn't compare with its branches,
nor could the plane trees match its boughs.
No tree in the garden of God
could compare with it in beauty.
9 I made it beautiful with its many limbs,
and all the trees of Eden,
which were in God's garden, envied it.
10 "Therefore this is what the Lord God says: Since it[b] became great in height and set its top among the clouds,[c] and it[d] grew proud(g) on account of its height, 11 I determined to hand it over to a ruler of nations;(h) he would surely deal with it. I banished it because of its wickedness. 12 Foreigners, ruthless men from the nations,(i) cut it down and left it lying. Its limbs fell on the mountains and in every valley; its boughs lay broken in all the earth's ravines. All the peoples of the earth left its shade and abandoned it. 13 All the birds of the sky nested on its fallen trunk, and all the animals of the field were among its boughs. 14 This happened so that no trees planted beside water would become great in height and set their tops among the clouds,[e] and so that no other well-watered trees would reach them in height. For they have all been consigned to death, to the underworld, among the people who descend to the Pit.(j)
15 "This is what the Lord God says: I caused grieving on the day the cedar went down to Sheol.(k) I closed off the underground deep because of it:[f] I held back the rivers of the deep, and its abundant waters were restrained. I made Lebanon mourn on account of it, and all the trees of the field fainted because of it. 16 I made the nations quake at the sound of its downfall, when I threw it down to Sheol to be with those who descend to the Pit. Then all the trees of Eden,(l) all the well-watered trees, the choice and best of Lebanon, were comforted(m) in the underworld. 17 They too descended with it to Sheol, to those slain by the sword. As its allies[g][h] they had lived in its shade among the nations.
18 "Who then are you like in glory and greatness among Eden's trees? You also will be brought down to the underworld to be with the trees of Eden. You will lie among the uncircumcised with those slain by the sword.(n) This is Pharaoh and all his hordes"—the declaration of the Lord God .
Chapter 32
A Lament for Pharaoh
1 In the twelfth year, in the twelfth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came to me: 2 "Son of man, lament(a) for Pharaoh king of Egypt and say to him:
You compare yourself to a lion of the nations,
but[a] you are like a monster(b) in the seas.
You thrash about in your rivers,
churn up the waters with your feet,
and muddy the[b] rivers."
3 This is what the Lord God says:
I will spread My net over you(c)
with an assembly of many peoples,
and they[c] will haul you up in My net.
4 I will abandon you on the land
and hurl you on the open field.
I will cause all the birds of the sky
to settle on you
and let the beasts of the entire earth
eat their fill of you.(d)
5 I will put your flesh on the mountains(e)
and fill the valleys with your carcass.
6 I will drench the land
with the flow of your blood,
even to the mountains;
the ravines will be filled with your gore.
7 When I snuff you out,
I will cover the heavens
and darken their stars.
I will cover the sun with a cloud,(f)
and the moon will not give its light.
8 I will darken all the shining lights
in the heavens over you,
and will bring darkness on your land.
This is the declaration of the Lord
God
.
9 I will trouble the hearts of many peoples,
when I bring about your destruction
among the nations,
in countries you do not know.
10 I will cause many nations to be appalled at you,
and their kings will shudder with fear because of you(g)
when I brandish My sword in front of them.
On the day of your downfall
each of them will tremble
every moment(h) for his life.
11 For this is what the Lord God says:
The sword of Babylon's king
will come against you!
12 I will make your hordes fall
by the swords of warriors,
all of them ruthless men from the nations.(i)
They will ravage Egypt's pride,
and all its hordes will be destroyed.
13 I will slaughter all its cattle
that are beside many waters.
No human foot will churn them again,
and no cattle hooves will disturb them.(j)
14 Then I will let their waters settle
and will make their rivers flow like oil.
This is the declaration of the Lord
God
.
15 When I make the land of Egypt a desolation,
so that it is emptied of everything in it,
when I strike down all who live there,
then they will know that I am Yahweh.(k)
16 "This is a lament that will be chanted;(l) the women of the nations will chant it. They will chant it over Egypt and all its hordes." This is the declaration of the Lord God .
Egypt in Sheol
17 In the twelfth year,[d] on the fifteenth day of the month, the word of the Lord came to me: 18 "Son of man, wail over the hordes of Egypt and bring Egypt and the daughters of mighty nations down to the underworld,[e] to be with those who descend to the Pit:(m)
19 Who do you surpass in loveliness?
Go down and be laid to rest with the uncircumcised!
20 They will fall among those slain by the sword.
A sword is appointed!(n)
They drag her and all her hordes away.
21 Warrior leaders will speak
from the middle of Sheol
about him[f] and his allies:
They have come down;
the uncircumcised lie
slain by the sword.(o)
22 Assyria is there with all her company;
her graves are all around her.
All of them are slain, fallen by the sword.
23 Her graves are set in the deepest regions of the Pit,
and her company is all around her burial place.
All of them are slain, fallen by the sword—
those who once spread terror
in the land of the living.
24 Elam(p) is there
with all her hordes around her grave.
All of them are slain, fallen by the sword—
those who went down to the underworld[g] uncircumcised,
who once spread their terror
in the land of the living.
They bear their disgrace
with those who descend to the Pit.
25 Among the slain
they prepare a resting place for Elam
with all her hordes.
Her graves are all around her.
All of them are uncircumcised,
slain by the sword,
although their terror was once spread
in the land of the living.
They bear their disgrace
with those who descend to the Pit.
They are placed among the slain.
26 Meshech and Tubal[h](q) are there,
with all their hordes.
Their graves are all around them.
All of them are uncircumcised, slain by the sword,
although their terror was once spread
in the land of the living.
27 They do not lie down
with the fallen warriors of the uncircumcised,[i]
who went down to Sheol
with their weapons of war,
whose swords were placed under their heads.[j]
The punishment for their sins
rested on their bones,
although the terror of these warriors
was once in the land of the living.
28 But you will be shattered
and will lie down among the uncircumcised,
with those slain by the sword.(r)
29 Edom(s) is there, her kings and all her princes,
who, despite their strength, have been placed
among those slain by the sword.
They lie down with the uncircumcised,
with those who descend to the Pit.
30 All the leaders of the north(t)
and all the Sidonians(u) are there.
They went down in shame with the slain,
despite the terror their strength inspired.
They lie down uncircumcised
with those slain by the sword.
They bear their disgrace
with those who descend to the Pit.
31 Pharaoh will see them
and be comforted(v) over all his hordes—
Pharaoh and all his army,
slain by the sword.
This is the declaration of the Lord
God
.
32 For I will spread My[k] terror
in the land of the living,
so Pharaoh and all his hordes
will be laid to rest among the uncircumcised,
with those slain by the sword."
This is the declaration of the Lord
God
.
Isaiah 56
Chapter 56
A House of Prayer for All
1 This is what the Lord says:
Preserve justice and do what is right,(a)
for My salvation is coming soon,
and My righteousness will be revealed.(b)
2 Happy is the man who does this,
anyone who maintains this,
who keeps the Sabbath without desecrating it,
and keeps his hand from doing any evil.(c)
3 No foreigner who has joined himself to the
Lord
should say,
"The
Lord
will exclude me from His people";(d)
and the eunuch should not say,
"Look, I am a dried-up tree."(e)
4 For the
Lord
says this:
"For the eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths,
and choose what pleases Me,
and hold firmly to My covenant,
5 I will give them, in My house and within My walls,
a memorial and a name
better than sons and daughters.
I will give each of them an everlasting name
that will never be cut off.(f)
6 And the foreigners who join themselves to the
Lord
minister to Him, love the name of Yahweh
and become His servants,
all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it
and who hold firmly to My covenant—
7 I will bring them to My holy mountain(g)
and let them rejoice in My house of prayer.
Their burnt offerings and sacrifices
will be acceptable on My altar,(h)
for My house will be called a house of prayer
for all nations."(i)
8 This is the declaration of the Lord
God
,
who gathers the dispersed of Israel:
"I will gather to them still others
besides those already gathered."(j)
Unrighteous Leaders Condemned
9 All you animals of the field and forest,
come and eat!
10 Israel's[a] watchmen are blind, all of them,
they know nothing;
all of them are mute dogs,
they cannot bark;
they dream, lie down,
and love to sleep.
11 These dogs have fierce appetites;
they never have enough.
And they are shepherds
who have no discernment;
all of them turn to their own way,
every last one for his own gain.(k)
12 "Come, let me get some wine,
let's guzzle some beer;
and tomorrow will be like today,
only far better!"(l)
Colossians 3:18-4:18
Chapter 3
18 Wives, be submissive to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.(af)
19 Husbands,(ag) love your wives(ah) and don't be bitter(ai) toward them.
20 Children,(aj) obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.
21 Fathers,(ak) do not exasperate(al) your children, so they won't become discouraged.
22 Slaves, obey your human(am) masters in everything. Don't work only while being watched, in order to please men, but work wholeheartedly, fearing the Lord.(an)
23 Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically,[h] as something done for the Lord and not for men,(ao)
24 knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord. You serve the Lord Christ.
25 For the wrongdoer(ap) will be paid back for whatever wrong he has done, and there is no favoritism.
Chapter 4
1 Masters,(a) supply your slaves with what is right and fair, since you know that you too have a Master in heaven.
Speaking to God and Others
2 Devote yourselves(b) to prayer; stay alert in it with thanksgiving. 3 At the same time, pray also for us that God may open a door(c) to us for the message, to speak the mystery of the Messiah,(d) for which I am in prison,(e) 4 so that I may reveal it as I am required to speak. 5 Act wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time.(f) 6 Your speech should always be gracious, seasoned with salt,(g) so that you may know how you should answer each person.(h)
Christian Greetings
7 Tychicus,(i) our dearly loved brother, faithful(j) servant, and fellow slave in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me. 8 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know how we are[a] and so that he may encourage(k) your hearts.(l) 9 He is with Onesimus,(m) a faithful and dearly loved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you about everything here.
10 Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, greets you, as does Mark,(n) Barnabas's(o) cousin (concerning whom you have received instructions: if he comes to you, welcome him), 11 and so does Jesus who is called Justus. These alone of the circumcision are my coworkers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me. 12 Epaphras,(p) who is one of you, a slave of Christ Jesus, greets you. He is always contending(q) for you in his prayers, so that you can stand mature and fully assured[b] in everything God wills.(r) 13 For I testify about him that he works hard[c](s) for you, for those in Laodicea,(t) and for those in Hierapolis. 14 Luke, the dearly loved physician, and Demas(u) greet you. 15 Give my greetings to the brothers in Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her home.(v) 16 When this letter has been read among you, have it read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea. 17 And tell Archippus,(w) "Pay attention to the ministry you have received in the Lord, so that you can accomplish it."(x)
18 This greeting is in my own hand—Paul. Remember my imprisonment.(y) Grace be with you.[d](z)
Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.
