Daily Readings for September 10

Daily Readings for September 10
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2Kings 16

1.In the seventeenth year of Pekah the son of Remaliah Ahaz the son of Jotham king of Judah began to reign. 2.Twenty years old was Ahaz when he began to reign; and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: and he didn't do that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh his God, like David his father. 3.But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, yes, and made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the nations, whom Yahweh cast out from before the children of Israel. 4.He sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree. 5.Then Rezin king of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel came up to Jerusalem to war: and they besieged Ahaz, but could not overcome him. 6.At that time Rezin king of Syria recovered Elath to Syria, and drove the Jews from Elath; and the Syrians came to Elath, and lived there, to this day. 7.So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglath Pileser king of Assyria, saying, "I am your servant and your son. Come up, and save me out of the hand of the king of Syria, and out of the hand of the king of Israel, who rise up against me." 8.Ahaz took the silver and gold that was found in the house of Yahweh, and in the treasures of the king's house, and sent it for a present to the king of Assyria. 9.The king of Assyria listened to him; and the king of Assyria went up against Damascus, and took it, and carried its people captive to Kir, and killed Rezin. 10.King Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath Pileser king of Assyria, and saw the altar that was at Damascus; and king Ahaz sent to Urijah the priest the fashion of the altar, and its pattern, according to all its workmanship. 11.Urijah the priest built an altar: according to all that king Ahaz had sent from Damascus, so Urijah the priest made it for the coming of king Ahaz from Damascus. 12.When the king had come from Damascus, the king saw the altar: and the king drew near to the altar, and offered on it. 13.He burnt his burnt offering and his meal offering, and poured his drink offering, and sprinkled the blood of his peace offerings, on the altar. 14.The bronze altar, which was before Yahweh, he brought from the forefront of the house, from between his altar and the house of Yahweh, and put it on the north side of his altar. 15.King Ahaz commanded Urijah the priest, saying, "On the great altar burn the morning burnt offering, and the evening meal offering, and the king's burnt offering, and his meal offering, with the burnt offering of all the people of the land, and their meal offering, and their drink offerings; and sprinkle on it all the blood of the burnt offering, and all the blood of the sacrifice; but the bronze altar shall be for me to inquire by." 16.Urijah the priest did so, according to all that king Ahaz commanded. 17.King Ahaz cut off the panels of the bases, and removed the basin from off them, and took down the sea from off the bronze oxen that were under it, and put it on a pavement of stone. 18.The covered way for the Sabbath that they had built in the house, and the king's entry outside, turned he to the house of Yahweh, because of the king of Assyria. 19.Now the rest of the acts of Ahaz which he did, aren't they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? 20.Ahaz slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David: and Hezekiah his son reigned in his place.

Ezekiel 6

1.The word of Yahweh came to me, saying, 2.Son of man, set your face toward the mountains of Israel, and prophesy to them, 3.and say, You mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord Yahweh: Thus says the Lord Yahweh to the mountains and to the hills, to the watercourses and to the valleys: Behold, I, even I, will bring a sword on you, and I will destroy your high places. 4.Your altars shall become desolate, and your incense altars shall be broken; and I will cast down your slain men before your idols. 5.I will lay the dead bodies of the children of Israel before their idols; and I will scatter your bones around your altars. 6.In all your dwelling places the cities shall be laid waste, and the high places shall be desolate; that your altars may be laid waste and made desolate, and your idols may be broken and cease, and your incense altars may be cut down, and your works may be abolished. 7.The slain shall fall in the midst of you, and you shall know that I am Yahweh. 8.Yet will I leave a remnant, in that you shall have some that escape the sword among the nations, when you shall be scattered through the countries. 9.Those of you that escape shall remember me among the nations where they shall be carried captive, how that I have been broken with their lewd heart, which has departed from me, and with their eyes, which play the prostitute after their idols: and they shall loathe themselves in their own sight for the evils which they have committed in all their abominations. 10.They shall know that I am Yahweh: I have not said in vain that I would do this evil to them. 11.Thus says the Lord Yahweh: Strike with your hand, and stamp with your foot, and say, Alas! because of all the evil abominations of the house of Israel; for they shall fall by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence. 12.He who is far off shall die of the pestilence; and he who is near shall fall by the sword; and he who remains and is besieged shall die by the famine: thus will I accomplish my wrath on them. 13.You shall know that I am Yahweh, when their slain men shall be among their idols around their altars, on every high hill, on all the tops of the mountains, and under every green tree, and under every thick oak, the places where they offered pleasant aroma to all their idols. 14.I will stretch out my hand on them, and make the land desolate and waste, from the wilderness toward Diblah, throughout all their habitations: and they shall know that I am Yahweh.

Luke 2

1.Now it happened in those days, that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled. 2.This was the first enrollment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3.All went to enroll themselves, everyone to his own city. 4.Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David; 5.to enroll himself with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him as wife, being pregnant.

6.It happened, while they were there, that the day had come that she should give birth. 7.She brought forth her firstborn son, and she wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no room for them in the inn. 8.There were shepherds in the same country staying in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock. 9.Behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10.The angel said to them, "Don't be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be to all the people. 11.For there is born to you, this day, in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12.This is the sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth, lying in a feeding trough." 13.Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army praising God, and saying, 14."Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good will toward men."

15.It happened, when the angels went away from them into the sky, that the shepherds said one to another, "Let's go to Bethlehem, now, and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us." 16.They came with haste, and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby was lying in the feeding trough. 17.When they saw it, they publicized widely the saying which was spoken to them about this child. 18.All who heard it wondered at the things which were spoken to them by the shepherds. 19.But Mary kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart. 20.The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, just as it was told them.

21.When eight days were fulfilled for the circumcision of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

22.When the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were fulfilled, they brought him up to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord 23.(as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord"),¹ 24.and to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, "A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons."²

25.Behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26.It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.³ 27.He came in the Spirit into the temple. When the parents brought in the child, Jesus, that they might do concerning him according to the custom of the law, 28.then he received him into his arms, and blessed God, and said, 29."Now you are releasing your servant, Master, according to your word, in peace; 30.for my eyes have seen your salvation, 31.which you have prepared before the face of all peoples; 32.a light for revelation to the nations, and the glory of your people Israel."

33.Joseph and his mother were marveling at the things which were spoken concerning him, 34.and Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary, his mother, "Behold, this child is set for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which is spoken against. 35.Yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."

36.There was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher (she was of a great age, having lived with a husband seven years from her virginity, 37.and she had been a widow for about eighty-four years), who didn't depart from the temple, worshipping with fastings and petitions night and day. 38.Coming up at that very hour, she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of him to all those who were looking for redemption in Jerusalem.

39.When they had accomplished all things that were according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. 40.The child was growing, and was becoming strong in spirit, being filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him. 41.His parents went every year to Jerusalem at the feast of the Passover.

42.When he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast, 43.and when they had fulfilled the days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. Joseph and his mother didn't know it, 44.but supposing him to be in the company, they went a day's journey, and they looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances. 45.When they didn't find him, they returned to Jerusalem, looking for him. 46.It happened after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them, and asking them questions. 47.All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48.When they saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us this way? Behold, your father and I were anxiously looking for you."

49.He said to them, "Why were you looking for me? Didn't you know that I must be in my Father's house?" 50.They didn't understand the saying which he spoke to them. 51.And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth. He was subject to them, and his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. 52.And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.