Professor Horner’s Reading Plan

¹After this, the Lord appointed seventy-two others, and he sent them ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself was about to go.

²He told them, “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.

³Now go; I’m sending you out like lambs among wolves.

⁴Don’t carry a money-bag, traveling bag, or sandals; don’t greet anyone along the road.

⁵Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household.’

⁶If a person of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you.

⁷Remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they offer, for the worker is worthy of his wages. Don’t move from house to house.

⁸When you enter any town, and they welcome you, eat the things set before you.

⁹Heal the sick who are there, and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near you.’

¹⁰When you enter any town, and they don’t welcome you, go out into its streets and say,

¹¹‘We are wiping off even the dust of your town that clings to our feet as a witness against you. Know this for certain: The kingdom of God has come near.’

¹²I tell you, on that day it will be more tolerable for Sodom than for that town.

¹³“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.

¹⁴But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you.

¹⁵And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? No, you will go down to Hades.

¹⁶Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”

¹⁷The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”

¹⁸He said to them, “I watched Satan fall from heaven like lightning.

¹⁹Look, I have given you the authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy; nothing at all will harm you.

²⁰However, don’t rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

²¹At that time he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, because this was your good pleasure.

²²All things have been entrusted to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son desires to reveal him.”

²³Then turning to his disciples he said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see the things you see!

²⁴For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see the things you see but didn’t see them; to hear the things you hear but didn’t hear them.”

²⁵Then an expert in the law stood up to test him, saying, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

²⁶“What is written in the law?” he asked him. “How do you read it?”

²⁷He answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind;” and “your neighbor as yourself.”

²⁸“You’ve answered correctly,” he told him. “Do this and you will live.”

²⁹But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

³⁰Jesus took up the question and said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him, beat him up, and fled, leaving him half dead.

³¹A priest happened to be going down that road. When he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

³²In the same way, a Levite, when he arrived at the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.

³³But a Samaritan on his journey came up to him, and when he saw the man, he had compassion.

³⁴He went over to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on olive oil and wine. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

³⁵The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him. When I come back I’ll reimburse you for whatever extra you spend.’

³⁶“Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?”

³⁷“The one who showed mercy to him,” he said. Then Jesus told him, “Go and do the same.”

³⁸While they were traveling, he entered a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home.

³⁹She had a sister named Mary, who also sat at the Lord’s feet and was listening to what he said.

⁴⁰But Martha was distracted by her many tasks, and she came up and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to serve alone? So tell her to give me a hand.”

⁴¹The Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things,

⁴²but one thing is necessary. Mary has made the right choice, and it will not be taken away from her.”

¹After the plague, the LORD said to Moses and Eleazar son of Aaron the priest,

²“Take a census of the entire Israelite community by their ancestral families of those twenty years old or more who can serve in Israel’s army.”

³So Moses and the priest Eleazar said to them in the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho,

⁴“Take a census of those twenty years old or more, as the LORD had commanded Moses and the Israelites who came out of the land of Egypt.”

⁵Reuben was the firstborn of Israel. Reuben’s descendants: the Hanochite clan from Hanoch; the Palluite clan from Pallu;

⁶the Hezronite clan from Hezron; the Carmite clan from Carmi.

⁷These were the Reubenite clans, and their registered men numbered 43,730.

⁸The son of Pallu was Eliab.

⁹The sons of Eliab were Nemuel, Dathan, and Abiram. (It was Dathan and Abiram, chosen by the community, who fought against Moses and Aaron; they and Korah’s followers fought against the LORD.

¹⁰The earth opened its mouth and swallowed them with Korah, when his followers died and the fire consumed 250 men. They serve as a warning sign.

¹¹The sons of Korah, however, did not die.)

¹²Simeon’s descendants by their clans: the Nemuelite clan from Nemuel; the Jaminite clan from Jamin; the Jachinite clan from Jachin;

¹³the Zerahite clan from Zerah; the Shaulite clan from Shaul.

¹⁴These were the Simeonite clans, numbering 22,200 men.

¹⁵Gad’s descendants by their clans: the Zephonite clan from Zephon; the Haggite clan from Haggi; the Shunite clan from Shuni;

¹⁶the Oznite clan from Ozni; the Erite clan from Eri;

¹⁷the Arodite clan from Arod; the Arelite clan from Areli.

¹⁸These were the Gadite clans numbered by their registered men: 40,500.

¹⁹Judah’s sons included Er and Onan, but they died in the land of Canaan.

²⁰Judah’s descendants by their clans: the Shelanite clan from Shelah; the Perezite clan from Perez; the Zerahite clan from Zerah.

²¹The descendants of Perez: the Hezronite clan from Hezron; the Hamulite clan from Hamul.

²²These were Judah’s clans numbered by their registered men: 76,500.

²³Issachar’s descendants by their clans: the Tolaite clan from Tola; the Punite clan from Puvah;

²⁴the Jashubite clan from Jashub; the Shimronite clan from Shimron.

²⁵These were Issachar’s clans numbered by their registered men: 64,300.

²⁶Zebulun’s descendants by their clans: the Seredite clan from Sered; the Elonite clan from Elon; the Jahleelite clan from Jahleel.

²⁷These were the Zebulunite clans numbered by their registered men: 60,500.

²⁸Joseph’s descendants by their clans from Manasseh and Ephraim:

²⁹Manasseh’s descendants: the Machirite clan from Machir. Machir fathered Gilead; the Gileadite clan from Gilead.

³⁰These were Gilead’s descendants: the Iezerite clan from Iezer; the Helekite clan from Helek;

³¹the Asrielite clan from Asriel; the Shechemite clan from Shechem;

³²the Shemidaite clan from Shemida; the Hepherite clan from Hepher;

³³Zelophehad son of Hepher had no sons — only daughters. The names of Zelophehad’s daughters were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.

³⁴These were Manasseh’s clans, numbered by their registered men: 52,700.

³⁵These were Ephraim’s descendants by their clans: the Shuthelahite clan from Shuthelah; the Becherite clan from Becher; the Tahanite clan from Tahan.

³⁶These were Shuthelah’s descendants: the Eranite clan from Eran.

³⁷These were the Ephraimite clans numbered by their registered men: 32,500. These were Joseph’s descendants by their clans.

³⁸Benjamin’s descendants by their clans: the Belaite clan from Bela; the Ashbelite clan from Ashbel; the Ahiramite clan from Ahiram;

³⁹the Shuphamite clan from Shupham; the Huphamite clan from Hupham.

⁴⁰Bela’s descendants from Ard and Naaman: the Ardite clan from Ard; the Naamite clan from Naaman.

⁴¹These were the Benjaminite clans numbered by their registered men: 45,600.

⁴²These were Dan’s descendants by their clans: the Shuhamite clan from Shuham. These were the clans of Dan by their clans.

⁴³All the Shuhamite clans numbered by their registered men: 64,400.

⁴⁴Asher’s descendants by their clans: the Imnite clan from Imnah; the Ishvite clan from Ishvi; the Beriite clan from Beriah.

⁴⁵From Beriah’s descendants: the Heberite clan from Heber; the Malchielite clan from Malchiel.

⁴⁶And the name of Asher’s daughter was Serah.

⁴⁷These were the Asherite clans numbered by their registered men: 53,400.

⁴⁸Naphtali’s descendants by their clans: the Jahzeelite clan from Jahzeel; the Gunite clan from Guni;

⁴⁹the Jezerite clan from Jezer; the Shillemite clan from Shillem.

⁵⁰These were the Naphtali clans numbered by their registered men: 45,400.

⁵¹These registered Israelite men numbered 601,730.

⁵²The LORD spoke to Moses,

⁵³“The land is to be divided among them as an inheritance based on the number of names.

⁵⁴Increase the inheritance for a large tribe and decrease it for a small one. Each is to be given its inheritance according to those who were registered in it.

⁵⁵The land is to be divided by lot; they will receive an inheritance according to the names of their ancestral tribes.

⁵⁶Each inheritance will be divided by lot among the larger and smaller tribes.”

⁵⁷These were the Levites registered by their clans: the Gershonite clan from Gershon; the Kohathite clan from Kohath; the Merarite clan from Merari.

⁵⁸These were the Levite family groups: the Libnite clan, the Hebronite clan, the Mahlite clan, the Mushite clan, and the Korahite clan. Kohath was the ancestor of Amram.

⁵⁹The name of Amram’s wife was Jochebed, a descendant of Levi, born to Levi in Egypt. She bore to Amram: Aaron, Moses, and their sister Miriam.

⁶⁰Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar were born to Aaron,

⁶¹but Nadab and Abihu died when they presented unauthorized fire before the LORD.

⁶²Those registered were 23,000, every male one month old or more; they were not registered among the other Israelites, because no inheritance was given to them among the Israelites.

⁶³These were the ones registered by Moses and the priest Eleazar when they registered the Israelites on the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho.

⁶⁴But among them there was not one of those who had been registered by Moses and the priest Aaron when they registered the Israelites in the Wilderness of Sinai.

⁶⁵For the LORD had said to them that they would all die in the wilderness. None of them was left except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.

¹Masters, deal with your slaves justly and fairly, since you know that you too have a Master in heaven.

²Devote yourselves to prayer; stay alert in it with thanksgiving.

³At the same time, pray also for us that God may open a door to us for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains,

⁴so that I may make it known as I should.

⁵Act wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time.

⁶Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer each person.

⁷Tychicus, our dearly loved brother, faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me.

⁸I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know how we are and so that he may encourage your hearts.

⁹He is coming with Onesimus, a faithful and dearly loved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you about everything here.

¹⁰Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, sends you greetings, as does Mark, Barnabas’s cousin (concerning whom you have received instructions: if he comes to you, welcome him),

¹¹and so does Jesus who is called Justus. These alone of the circumcised are my coworkers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me.

¹²Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. He is always wrestling for you in his prayers, so that you can stand mature and fully assured in everything God wills.

¹³For I testify about him that he works hard for you, for those in Laodicea, and for those in Hierapolis.

¹⁴Luke, the dearly loved physician, and Demas send you greetings.

¹⁵Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters in Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her home.

¹⁶After this letter has been read at your gathering, have it read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea.

¹⁷And tell Archippus, “Pay attention to the ministry you have received in the Lord, so that you can accomplish it.”

¹⁸I, Paul, am writing this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.

¹Don’t rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers,

²older women as mothers, and the younger women as sisters with all purity.

³Support widows who are genuinely in need.

⁴But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them learn to practice godliness toward their own family first and to repay their parents, for this pleases God.

⁵The widow who is truly in need and left all alone has put her hope in God and continues night and day in her petitions and prayers;

⁶however, she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives.

⁷Command this also, so that they will be above reproach.

⁸But if anyone does not provide for his own family, especially for his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

⁹No widow is to be enrolled on the list for support unless she is at least sixty years old, has been the wife of one husband,

¹⁰and is well known for good works  — that is, if she has brought up children, shown hospitality, washed the saints’ feet, helped the afflicted, and devoted herself to every good work.

¹¹But refuse to enroll younger widows, for when they are drawn away from Christ by desire, they want to marry

¹²and will therefore receive condemnation because they have renounced their original pledge.

¹³At the same time, they also learn to be idle, going from house to house; they are not only idle, but are also gossips and busybodies, saying things they shouldn’t say.

¹⁴Therefore, I want younger women to marry, have children, manage their households, and give the adversary no opportunity to accuse us.

¹⁵For some have already turned away to follow Satan.

¹⁶If any believing woman has widows in her family, let her help them. Let the church not be burdened, so that it can help widows in genuine need.

¹⁷The elders who are good leaders are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.

¹⁸For the Scripture says: Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain, and the worker is worthy of his wages.

¹⁹Don’t accept an accusation against an elder unless it is supported by two or three witnesses.

²⁰Publicly rebuke those who sin, so that the rest will be afraid.

²¹I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels to observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing out of favoritism.

²²Don’t be too quick to appoint anyone as an elder, and don’t share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.

²³Don’t continue drinking only water, but use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.

²⁴Some people’s sins are obvious, preceding them to judgment, but the sins of others surface later.

²⁵Likewise, good works are obvious, and those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden.

¹Then Job answered:

²How long will you torment me and crush me with words?

³You have humiliated me ten times now, and you mistreat me without shame.

⁴Even if it is true that I have sinned, my mistake concerns only me.

⁵If you really want to appear superior to me and would use my disgrace as evidence against me,

⁶then understand that it is God who has wronged me and caught me in his net.

⁷I cry out: “Violence!” but get no response; I call for help, but there is no justice.

⁸He has blocked my way so that I cannot pass through; he has veiled my paths with darkness.

⁹He has stripped me of my honor and removed the crown from my head.

¹⁰He tears me down on every side so that I am ruined. He uproots my hope like a tree.

¹¹His anger burns against me, and he regards me as one of his enemies.

¹²His troops advance together; they construct a ramp against me and camp around my tent.

¹³He has removed my brothers from me; my acquaintances have abandoned me.

¹⁴My relatives stop coming by, and my close friends have forgotten me.

¹⁵My house guests and female servants regard me as a stranger; I am a foreigner in their sight.

¹⁶I call for my servant, but he does not answer, even if I beg him with my own mouth.

¹⁷My breath is offensive to my wife, and my own family finds me repulsive.

¹⁸Even young boys scorn me. When I stand up, they mock me.

¹⁹All of my best friends despise me, and those I love have turned against me.

²⁰My skin and my flesh cling to my bones; I have escaped with only the skin of my teeth.

²¹Have mercy on me, my friends, have mercy, for God’s hand has struck me.

²²Why do you persecute me as God does? Will you never get enough of my flesh?

²³I wish that my words were written down, that they were recorded on a scroll

²⁴or were inscribed in stone forever by an iron stylus and lead!

²⁵But I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the end he will stand on the dust.

²⁶Even after my skin has been destroyed, yet I will see God in my flesh.

²⁷I will see him myself; my eyes will look at him, and not as a stranger. My heart longs within me.

²⁸If you say, “How will we pursue him, since the root of the problem lies with him?”

²⁹then be afraid of the sword, because wrath brings punishment by the sword, so that you may know there is a judgment.

¹A psalm of David. [1] LORD, hear my prayer. In your faithfulness listen to my plea, and in your righteousness answer me.

²Do not bring your servant into judgment, for no one alive is righteous in your sight.

³For the enemy has pursued me, crushing me to the ground, making me live in darkness like those long dead.

⁴My spirit is weak within me; my heart is overcome with dismay.

⁵I remember the days of old; I meditate on all you have done; I reflect on the work of your hands.

⁶I spread out my hands to you; I am like parched land before you. Selah

⁷Answer me quickly, LORD; my spirit fails. Don’t hide your face from me, or I will be like those going down to the Pit.

⁸Let me experience your faithful love in the morning, for I trust in you. Reveal to me the way I should go because I appeal to you.

⁹Rescue me from my enemies, LORD; I come to you for protection.

¹⁰Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me on level ground.

¹¹For your name’s sake, LORD, let me live. In your righteousness deliver me from trouble,

¹²and in your faithful love destroy my enemies. Wipe out all those who attack me, for I am your servant.

¹Better a poor person who lives with integrity than someone who has deceitful lips and is a fool.

²Even zeal is not good without knowledge, and the one who acts hastily sins.

³A person’s own foolishness leads him astray, yet his heart rages against the LORD.

⁴Wealth attracts many friends, but a poor person is separated from his friend.

⁵A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who utters lies will not escape.

⁶Many seek a ruler’s favor, and everyone is a friend of one who gives gifts.

⁷All the brothers of a poor person hate him; how much more do his friends keep their distance from him! He may pursue them with words, but they are not there.

⁸The one who acquires good sense loves himself; one who safeguards understanding finds success.

⁹A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who utters lies perishes.

¹⁰Luxury is not appropriate for a fool —  how much less for a slave to rule over princes!

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

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

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

¹⁴A house and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the LORD.

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

¹⁶The one who keeps commands preserves himself; one who disregards his ways will die.

¹⁷Kindness to the poor is a loan to the LORD, and he will give a reward to the lender.

¹⁸Discipline your son while there is hope; don’t set your heart on being the cause of his death.

¹⁹A person with intense anger bears the penalty; if you rescue him, you’ll have to do it again.

²⁰Listen to counsel and receive instruction so that you may be wise later in life.

²¹Many plans are in a person’s heart, but the LORD’s decree will prevail.

²²What is desirable in a person is his fidelity; better to be a poor person than a liar.

²³The fear of the LORD leads to life; one will sleep at night without danger.

²⁴The slacker buries his hand in the bowl; he doesn’t even bring it back to his mouth!

²⁵Strike a mocker, and the inexperienced learn a lesson; rebuke the discerning, and he gains knowledge.

²⁶The one who plunders his father and evicts his mother is a disgraceful and shameful son.

²⁷If you stop listening to correction, my son, you will stray from the words of knowledge.

²⁸A worthless witness mocks justice, and a wicked mouth swallows iniquity.

²⁹Judgments are prepared for mockers, and beatings for the backs of fools.

¹In the twelfth year of Judah’s King Ahaz, Hoshea son of Elah became king over Israel in Samaria, and he reigned nine years.

²He did what was evil in the LORD’s sight, but not like the kings of Israel who preceded him.

³King Shalmaneser of Assyria attacked him, and Hoshea became his vassal and paid him tribute.

⁴But the king of Assyria caught Hoshea in a conspiracy: He had sent envoys to So king of Egypt and had not paid tribute to the king of Assyria as in previous years. Therefore the king of Assyria arrested him and put him in prison.

⁵The king of Assyria invaded the whole land, marched up to Samaria, and besieged it for three years.

⁶In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria. He deported the Israelites to Assyria and settled them in Halah, along the Habor (Gozan’s river), and in the cities of the Medes.

⁷This disaster happened because the people of Israel sinned against the LORD their God who had brought them out of the land of Egypt from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt and because they worshiped other gods.

⁸They lived according to the customs of the nations that the LORD had dispossessed before the Israelites and according to what the kings of Israel did.

⁹The Israelites secretly did things against the LORD their God that were not right. They built high places in all their towns from watchtower to fortified city.

¹⁰They set up for themselves sacred pillars and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree.

¹¹They burned incense there on all the high places just like the nations that the LORD had driven out before them had done. They did evil things, angering the LORD.

¹²They served idols, although the LORD had told them, “You must not do this.”

¹³Still, the LORD warned Israel and Judah through every prophet and every seer, saying, “Turn from your evil ways and keep my commands and statutes according to the whole law I commanded your ancestors and sent to you through my servants the prophets.”

¹⁴But they would not listen. Instead they became obstinate like their ancestors who did not believe the LORD their God.

¹⁵They rejected his statutes and his covenant he had made with their ancestors and the warnings he had given them. They followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves, following the surrounding nations the LORD had commanded them not to imitate.

¹⁶They abandoned all the commands of the LORD their God. They made cast images for themselves, two calves, and an Asherah pole. They bowed in worship to all the stars in the sky and served Baal.

¹⁷They sacrificed their sons and daughters in the fire and practiced divination and interpreted omens. They devoted themselves to do what was evil in the LORD’s sight and angered him.

¹⁸Therefore, the LORD was very angry with Israel, and he removed them from his presence. Only the tribe of Judah remained.

¹⁹Even Judah did not keep the commands of the LORD their God but lived according to the customs Israel had practiced.

²⁰So the LORD rejected all the descendants of Israel, punished them, and handed them over to plunderers until he had banished them from his presence.

²¹When the LORD tore Israel from the house of David, Israel made Jeroboam son of Nebat king. Then Jeroboam led Israel away from following the LORD and caused them to commit immense sin.

²²The Israelites persisted in all the sins that Jeroboam committed and did not turn away from them.

²³Finally, the LORD removed Israel from his presence just as he had declared through all his servants the prophets. So Israel has been exiled to Assyria from their homeland to this very day.

²⁴Then the king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim and settled them in place of the Israelites in the cities of Samaria. The settlers took possession of Samaria and lived in its cities.

²⁵When they first lived there, they did not fear the LORD. So the LORD sent lions among them, which killed some of them.

²⁶The settlers said to the king of Assyria, “The nations that you have deported and placed in the cities of Samaria do not know the requirements of the god of the land. Therefore he has sent lions among them that are killing them because the people don’t know the requirements of the god of the land.”

²⁷Then the king of Assyria issued a command: “Send back one of the priests you deported. Have him go and live there so he can teach them the requirements of the god of the land.”

²⁸So one of the priests they had deported came and lived in Bethel, and he began to teach them how they should fear the LORD.

²⁹But the people of each nation were still making their own gods in the cities where they lived and putting them in the shrines of the high places that the people of Samaria had made.

³⁰The men of Babylon made Succoth-benoth, the men of Cuth made Nergal, the men of Hamath made Ashima,

³¹the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burned their children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim.

³²They feared the LORD, but they also made from their ranks priests for the high places, who were working for them at the shrines of the high places.

³³They feared the LORD, but they also worshiped their own gods according to the practice of the nations from which they had been deported.

³⁴They are still observing the former practices to this day. None of them fear the LORD or observe the statutes and ordinances, the law and commandments that the LORD had commanded the descendants of Jacob, whom he had given the name Israel.

³⁵The LORD made a covenant with Jacob’s descendants and commanded them, “Do not fear other gods; do not bow in worship to them; do not serve them; do not sacrifice to them.

³⁶Instead fear the LORD, who brought you up from the land of Egypt with great power and an outstretched arm. You are to bow down to him, and you are to sacrifice to him.

³⁷You are to be careful always to observe the statutes, the ordinances, the law, and the commandments he wrote for you; do not fear other gods.

³⁸Do not forget the covenant that I have made with you. Do not fear other gods,

³⁹but fear the LORD your God, and he will rescue you from all your enemies.”

⁴⁰However, these nations would not listen but continued observing their former practices.

⁴¹They feared the LORD but also served their idols. Still today, their children and grandchildren continue doing as their fathers did.

¹In the seventh year, in the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month, some of Israel’s elders came to inquire of the LORD, and they sat down in front of me.

²Then the word of the LORD came to me:

³“Son of man, speak with the elders of Israel and tell them, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says: Are you coming to inquire of me? As I live, I will not let you inquire of me. This is the declaration of the Lord GOD.’

⁴“Will you pass judgment against them, will you pass judgment, son of man? Explain the detestable practices of their fathers to them.

⁵Say to them, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says: On the day I chose Israel, I swore an oath to the descendants of Jacob’s house and made myself known to them in the land of Egypt. I swore to them, saying, “I am the LORD your God.”

⁶On that day I swore to them that I would bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land I had searched out for them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the most beautiful of all lands.

⁷I also said to them, “Throw away, each of you, the abhorrent things that you prize, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.”

⁸“‘But they rebelled against me and were unwilling to listen to me. None of them threw away the abhorrent things that they prized, and they did not abandon the idols of Egypt. So I considered pouring out my wrath on them, exhausting my anger against them within the land of Egypt.

⁹But I acted for the sake of my name, so that it would not be profaned in the eyes of the nations they were living among, in whose sight I had made myself known to Israel by bringing them out of Egypt.

¹⁰“‘So I brought them out of the land of Egypt and led them into the wilderness.

¹¹Then I gave them my statutes and explained my ordinances to them — the person who does them will live by them.

¹²I also gave them my Sabbaths to serve as a sign between me and them, so that they would know that I am the LORD who consecrates them.

¹³“‘But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness. They did not follow my statutes and they rejected my ordinances — the person who does them will live by them. They also completely profaned my Sabbaths. So I considered pouring out my wrath on them in the wilderness to put an end to them.

¹⁴But I acted for the sake of my name, so that it would not be profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out.

¹⁵However, I swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land I had given them — the most beautiful of all lands, flowing with milk and honey —

¹⁶because they rejected my ordinances, profaned my Sabbaths, and did not follow my statutes. For their hearts went after their idols.

¹⁷Yet I spared them from destruction and did not bring them to an end in the wilderness.

¹⁸“‘Then I said to their children in the wilderness, “Don’t follow the statutes of your fathers, defile yourselves with their idols, or keep their ordinances.

¹⁹I am the LORD your God. Follow my statutes, keep my ordinances, and practice them.

²⁰Keep my Sabbaths holy, and they will be a sign between me and you, so you may know that I am the LORD your God.”

²¹“‘But the children rebelled against me. They did not follow my statutes or carefully keep my ordinances — the person who does them will live by them. They also profaned my Sabbaths. So I considered pouring out my wrath on them and exhausting my anger against them in the wilderness.

²²But I withheld my hand and acted for the sake of my name, so that it would not be profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I brought them out.

²³However, I swore to them in the wilderness that I would disperse them among the nations and scatter them among the countries.

²⁴For they did not practice my ordinances but rejected my statutes and profaned my Sabbaths, and their eyes were fixed on their fathers’ idols.

²⁵I also gave them statutes that were not good and ordinances they could not live by.

²⁶When they sacrificed every firstborn in the fire, I defiled them through their gifts in order to devastate them so they would know that I am the LORD.’

²⁷“Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel, and tell them, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says: In this way also your fathers blasphemed me by committing treachery against me:

²⁸When I brought them into the land that I swore to give them and they saw any high hill or leafy tree, they offered their sacrifices and presented their offensive offerings there. They also sent up their pleasing aromas and poured out their drink offerings there.

²⁹So I asked them, “What is this high place you are going to?” And it is still called Bamah today.’

³⁰“Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says: Are you defiling yourselves the way your fathers did, and prostituting yourselves with their abhorrent things?

³¹When you offer your gifts, sacrificing your children in the fire, you still continue to defile yourselves with all your idols today. So should I let you inquire of me, house of Israel? As I live — this is the declaration of the Lord GOD  — I will not let you inquire of me!

³²“‘When you say, “Let us be like the nations, like the clans of other countries, serving wood and stone,” what you have in mind will never happen.

³³As I live — the declaration of the Lord GOD  — I will reign over you with a strong hand, an outstretched arm, and outpoured wrath.

³⁴I will bring you from the peoples and gather you from the countries where you were scattered, with a strong hand, an outstretched arm, and outpoured wrath.

³⁵I will lead you into the wilderness of the peoples and enter into judgment with you there face to face.

³⁶Just as I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will enter into judgment with you. This is the declaration of the Lord GOD.

³⁷I will make you pass under the rod and will bring you into the bond of the covenant.

³⁸I will purge you of those who rebel and transgress against me. I will bring them out of the land where they live as foreign residents, but they will not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD.

³⁹“‘As for you, house of Israel, this is what the Lord GOD says: Go and serve your idols, each of you. But afterward you will surely listen to me, and you will no longer defile my holy name with your gifts and idols.

⁴⁰For on my holy mountain, Israel’s high mountain — the declaration of the Lord GOD  — there the entire house of Israel, all of them, will serve me in the land. There I will accept them and will require your contributions and choicest gifts, all your holy offerings.

⁴¹When I bring you from the peoples and gather you from the countries where you have been scattered, I will accept you as a pleasing aroma. And I will demonstrate my holiness through you in the sight of the nations.

⁴²When I lead you into the land of Israel, the land I swore to give your fathers, you will know that I am the LORD.

⁴³There you will remember your ways and all your deeds by which you have defiled yourself, and you will loathe yourselves for all the evil things you have done.

⁴⁴You will know that I am the LORD, house of Israel, when I have dealt with you for the sake of my name rather than according to your evil ways and corrupt acts. This is the declaration of the Lord GOD.’”

⁴⁵The word of the LORD came to me:

⁴⁶“Son of man, face the south and preach against it. Prophesy against the forest land in the Negev,

⁴⁷and say to the forest there, ‘Hear the word of the LORD! This is what the Lord GOD says: I am about to ignite a fire in you, and it will devour every green tree and every dry tree in you. The blazing flame will not be extinguished, and every face from the south to the north will be scorched by it.

⁴⁸Then all people will see that I, the LORD, have kindled it. It will not be extinguished.’”

⁴⁹Then I said, “Oh, Lord GOD, they are saying of me, ‘Isn’t he just composing parables?’”

¹Now Peter and John were going up to the temple for the time of prayer at three in the afternoon.

²A man who was lame from birth was being carried there. He was placed each day at the temple gate called Beautiful, so that he could beg from those entering the temple.

³When he saw Peter and John about to enter the temple, he asked for money.

⁴Peter, along with John, looked straight at him and said, “Look at us.”

⁵So he turned to them, expecting to get something from them.

⁶But Peter said, “I don’t have silver or gold, but what I do have, I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!”

⁷Then, taking him by the right hand he raised him up, and at once his feet and ankles became strong.

⁸So he jumped up and started to walk, and he entered the temple with them — walking, leaping, and praising God.

⁹All the people saw him walking and praising God,

¹⁰and they recognized that he was the one who used to sit and beg at the Beautiful Gate of the temple. So they were filled with awe and astonishment at what had happened to him.

¹¹While he was holding on to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astonished, ran toward them in what is called Solomon’s Colonnade.

¹²When Peter saw this, he addressed the people: “Fellow Israelites, why are you amazed at this? Why do you stare at us, as though we had made him walk by our own power or godliness?

¹³The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our ancestors, has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you handed over and denied before Pilate, though he had decided to release him.

¹⁴You denied the Holy and Righteous One and asked to have a murderer released to you.

¹⁵You killed the source of life, whom God raised from the dead; we are witnesses of this.

¹⁶By faith in his name, his name has made this man strong, whom you see and know. So the faith that comes through Jesus has given him this perfect health in front of all of you.

¹⁷“And now, brothers and sisters, I know that you acted in ignorance, just as your leaders also did.

¹⁸In this way God fulfilled what he had predicted through all the prophets — that his Messiah would suffer.

¹⁹Therefore repent and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped out,

²⁰that seasons of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send Jesus, who has been appointed for you as the Messiah.

²¹Heaven must receive him until the time of the restoration of all things, which God spoke about through his holy prophets from the beginning.

²²Moses said: The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers and sisters. You must listen to everything he tells you.

²³And everyone who does not listen to that prophet will be completely cut off from the people.

²⁴“In addition, all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those after him, have also foretold these days.

²⁵You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your ancestors, saying to Abraham, And all the families of the earth will be blessed through your offspring.

²⁶God raised up his servant and sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your evil ways.”