Get the Flash Player to see this player.
Daily Readings for April 5
Click the arrow above to the left of the audio strip to start audio for today
Numbers 20
1.The children of Israel, even the whole congregation, came into the wilderness of Zin in the first month: and the people stayed in Kadesh; and Miriam died there, and was buried there. 2.There was no water for the congregation: and they assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron. 3.The people strove with Moses, and spoke, saying, "We wish that we had died when our brothers died before Yahweh! 4.Why have you brought the assembly of Yahweh into this wilderness, that we should die there, we and our animals? 5.Why have you made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in to this evil place? It is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; neither is there any water to drink."
6.Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the door of the Tent of Meeting, and fell on their faces: and the glory of Yahweh appeared to them. 7.Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 8."Take the rod, and assemble the congregation, you, and Aaron your brother, and speak to the rock before their eyes, that it give forth its water; and you shall bring forth to them water out of the rock; so you shall give the congregation and their livestock drink."
9.Moses took the rod from before Yahweh, as he commanded him. 10.Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, "Hear now, you rebels; shall we bring you water out of this rock for you?" 11.Moses lifted up his hand, and struck the rock with his rod twice: and water came forth abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their livestock.
12.Yahweh said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you didn't believe in me, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them."
13.These are the waters of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with Yahweh, and he was sanctified in them. 14.Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom, saying:
"Thus says your brother Israel: You know all the travail that has happened to us: 15.how our fathers went down into Egypt, and we lived in Egypt a long time; and the Egyptians dealt ill with us, and our fathers: 16.and when we cried to Yahweh, he heard our voice, and sent an angel, and brought us forth out of Egypt: and behold, we are in Kadesh, a city in the uttermost of your border.
17."Please let us pass through your land: we will not pass through field or through vineyard, neither will we drink of the water of the wells: we will go along the king's highway; we will not turn aside to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed your border."
18.Edom said to him, "You shall not pass through me, lest I come out with the sword against you."
19.The children of Israel said to him, "We will go up by the highway; and if we drink of your water, I and my livestock, then will I give its price: let me only, without doing anything else, pass through on my feet."
20.He said, "You shall not pass through." Edom came out against him with many people, and with a strong hand. 21.Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border, so Israel turned away from him.
22.They traveled from Kadesh: and the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, came to Mount Hor. 23.Yahweh spoke to Moses and Aaron in Mount Hor, by the border of the land of Edom, saying, 24."Aaron shall be gathered to his people; for he shall not enter into the land which I have given to the children of Israel, because you rebelled against my word at the waters of Meribah. 25.Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up to Mount Hor; 26.and strip Aaron of his garments, and put them on Eleazar his son: and Aaron shall be taken, and shall die there."
27.Moses did as Yahweh commanded: and they went up into Mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation. 28.Moses stripped Aaron of his garments, and put them on Eleazar his son; and Aaron died there on the top of the mountain: and Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain. 29.When all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead, they wept for Aaron thirty days, even all the house of Israel.
Numbers 21
1.The Canaanite, the king of Arad, who lived in the South, heard tell that Israel came by the way of Atharim; and he fought against Israel, and took some of them captive. 2.Israel vowed a vow to Yahweh, and said, "If you will indeed deliver this people into my hand, then I will utterly destroy their cities." 3.Yahweh listened to the voice of Israel, and delivered up the Canaanites; and they utterly destroyed them and their cities: and the name of the place was called Hormah.
4.They traveled from Mount Hor by the way to the Red Sea14, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way. 5.The people spoke against God, and against Moses, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no bread, and there is no water; and our soul loathes this light bread."
6.Yahweh sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and many people of Israel died. 7.The people came to Moses, and said, "We have sinned, because we have spoken against Yahweh, and against you. Pray to Yahweh, that he take away the serpents from us." Moses prayed for the people.
8.Yahweh said to Moses, "Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a standard: and it shall happen, that everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live." 9.Moses made a serpent of brass, and set it on the standard: and it happened, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he looked to the serpent of brass, he lived. 10.The children of Israel traveled, and encamped in Oboth. 11.They traveled from Oboth, and encamped at Iyeabarim, in the wilderness which is before Moab, toward the sunrise. 12.From there they traveled, and encamped in the valley of Zered. 13.From there they traveled, and encamped on the other side of the Arnon, which is in the wilderness, that comes out of the border of the Amorites: for the Arnon is the border of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites. 14.Therefore it is said in the book of the Wars of Yahweh, "Vaheb in Suphah, the valleys of the Arnon, 15.the slope of the valleys that incline toward the dwelling of Ar, leans on the border of Moab."
16.From there they traveled to Beer: that is the well of which Yahweh said to Moses, "Gather the people together, and I will give them water."
17.Then sang Israel this song: "Spring up, well; sing to it: 18.the well, which the princes dug, which the nobles of the people dug, with the scepter, and with their poles."
From the wilderness they traveled to Mattanah; 19.and from Mattanah to Nahaliel; and from Nahaliel to Bamoth; 20.and from Bamoth to the valley that is in the field of Moab, to the top of Pisgah, which looks down on the desert. 21.Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, saying, 22."Let me pass through your land: we will not turn aside into field, or into vineyard; we will not drink of the water of the wells: we will go by the king's highway, until we have passed your border."
23.Sihon would not allow Israel to pass through his border: but Sihon gathered all his people together, and went out against Israel into the wilderness, and came to Jahaz; and he fought against Israel. 24.Israel struck him with the edge of the sword, and possessed his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, even to the children of Ammon; for the border of the children of Ammon was strong. 25.Israel took all these cities: and Israel lived in all the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon, and in all its towns. 26.For Heshbon was the city of Sihon the king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab, and taken all his land out of his hand, even to the Arnon. 27.Therefore those who speak in proverbs say, "Come to Heshbon. Let the city of Sihon be built and established; 28.for a fire has gone out of Heshbon, a flame from the city of Sihon. It has devoured Ar of Moab, The lords of the high places of the Arnon. 29.Woe to you, Moab! You are undone, people of Chemosh! He has given his sons as fugitives, and his daughters into captivity, to Sihon king of the Amorites. 30.We have shot at them. Heshbon has perished even to Dibon. We have laid waste even to Nophah, Which reaches to Medeba."
31.Thus Israel lived in the land of the Amorites. 32.Moses sent to spy out Jazer; and they took its towns, and drove out the Amorites who were there. 33.They turned and went up by the way of Bashan: and Og the king of Bashan went out against them, he and all his people, to battle at Edrei.
34.Yahweh said to Moses, "Don't fear him: for I have delivered him into your hand, and all his people, and his land; and you shall do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon."
35.So they struck him, and his sons and all his people, until there was none left him remaining: and they possessed his land.
Proverbs 15
1.A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. 2.The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of fools gush out folly. 3.Yahweh's eyes are everywhere, keeping watch on the evil and the good. 4.A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but deceit in it crushes the spirit. 5.A fool despises his father's correction, but he who heeds reproof shows prudence. 6.In the house of the righteous is much treasure, but the income of the wicked brings trouble. 7.The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so with the heart of fools. 8.The sacrifice made by the wicked is an abomination to Yahweh, but the prayer of the upright is his delight. 9.The way of the wicked is an abomination to Yahweh, but he loves him who follows after righteousness. 10.There is stern discipline for one who forsakes the way: whoever hates reproof shall die. 11.Sheol7 and Abaddon are before Yahweh-- how much more then the hearts of the children of men! 12.A scoffer doesn't love to be reproved; he will not go to the wise. 13.A glad heart makes a cheerful face; but an aching heart breaks the spirit. 14.The heart of one who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly. 15.All the days of the afflicted are wretched, but one who has a cheerful heart enjoys a continual feast. 16.Better is little, with the fear of Yahweh, than great treasure with trouble. 17.Better is a dinner of herbs, where love is, than a fattened calf with hatred. 18.A wrathful man stirs up contention, but one who is slow to anger appeases strife. 19.The way of the sluggard is like a thorn patch, but the path of the upright is a highway. 20.A wise son makes a father glad, but a foolish man despises his mother. 21.Folly is joy to one who is void of wisdom, but a man of understanding keeps his way straight. 22.Where there is no counsel, plans fail; but in a multitude of counselors they are established. 23.Joy comes to a man with the reply of his mouth. How good is a word at the right time! 24.The path of life leads upward for the wise, to keep him from going downward to Sheol8. 25.Yahweh will uproot the house of the proud, but he will keep the widow's borders intact. 26.Yahweh detests the thoughts of the wicked, but the thoughts of the pure are pleasing. 27.He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house, but he who hates bribes will live. 28.The heart of the righteous weighs answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes out evil. 29.Yahweh is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous. 30.The light of the eyes rejoices the heart. Good news gives health to the bones. 31.The ear that listens to reproof lives, and will be at home among the wise. 32.He who refuses correction despises his own soul, but he who listens to reproof gets understanding. 33.The fear of Yahweh teaches wisdom. Before honor is humility.
Ephesians 1
1.Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, to the saints who are at Ephesus, and the faithful in Christ Jesus: 2.Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3.Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ; 4.even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and without blemish before him in love; 5.having predestined us for adoption as children through Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his desire, 6.to the praise of the glory of his grace, by which he freely bestowed favor on us in the Beloved, 7.in whom we have our redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8.which he made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, 9.making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he purposed in him 10.to an administration of the fullness of the times, to sum up all things in Christ, the things in the heavens, and the things on the earth, in him; 11.in whom also we were assigned an inheritance, having been foreordained according to the purpose of him who works all things after the counsel of his will; 12.to the end that we should be to the praise of his glory, we who had before hoped in Christ: 13.in whom you also, having heard the word of the truth, the Good News of your salvation--in whom, having also believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14.who is a pledge of our inheritance, to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of his glory. 15.For this cause I also, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which is among you, and the love which you have toward all the saints, 16.don't cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers, 17.that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him; 18.having the eyes of your hearts1 enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of his calling, and what are the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 19.and what is the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to that working of the strength of his might 20.which he worked in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and made him to sit at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21.far above all rule, and authority, and power, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in that which is to come. 22.He put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things for the assembly, 23.which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
Ephesians 2
1.You were made alive when you were dead in transgressions and sins, 2.in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the children of disobedience; 3.among whom we also all once lived in the lust of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. 4.But God, being rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us, 5.even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6.and raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7.that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus; 8.for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9.not of works, that no one would boast. 10.For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before that we would walk in them.
11.Therefore remember that once you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called "uncircumcision" by that which is called "circumcision," (in the flesh, made by hands); 12.that you were at that time separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13.But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off are made near in the blood of Christ. 14.For he is our peace, who made both one, and broke down the middle wall of partition, 15.having abolished in the flesh the hostility, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man of the two, making peace; 16.and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, having killed the hostility thereby. 17.He came and preached peace to you who were far off and to those who were near. 18.For through him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. 19.So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God, 20.being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone; 21.in whom the whole building, fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord; 22.in whom you also are built together for a habitation of God in the Spirit.