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Daily Readings for April 2
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Numbers 16
1.Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, with Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men: 2.and they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred fifty princes of the congregation, called to the assembly, men of renown; 3.and they assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said to them, "You take too much on yourself, since all the congregation are holy, everyone of them, and Yahweh is among them: why then lift yourselves up above the assembly of Yahweh?"
4.When Moses heard it, he fell on his face: 5.and he spoke to Korah and to all his company, saying, "In the morning Yahweh will show who are his, and who is holy, and will cause him to come near to him: even him whom he shall choose he will cause to come near to him. 6.Do this: take censers, Korah, and all his company; 7.and put fire in them, and put incense on them before Yahweh tomorrow: and it shall be that the man whom Yahweh chooses, he shall be holy. You have gone too far, you sons of Levi!"
8.Moses said to Korah, "Hear now, you sons of Levi! 9.Is it a small thing to you, that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself, to do the service of the tabernacle of Yahweh, and to stand before the congregation to minister to them; 10.and that he has brought you near, and all your brothers the sons of Levi with you? and do you seek the priesthood also? 11.Therefore you and all your company are gathered together against Yahweh: and Aaron, what is he that you murmur against him?"
12.Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab; and they said, "We won't come up: 13.is it a small thing that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, but you must also make yourself a prince over us? 14.Moreover you haven't brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey, nor given us inheritance of fields and vineyards: will you put out the eyes of these men? We won't come up." 15.Moses was very angry, and said to Yahweh, "Don't respect their offering: I have not taken one donkey from them, neither have I hurt one of them." 16.Moses said to Korah, "You and all your company go before Yahweh, you, and they, and Aaron, tomorrow: 17.and each man take his censer, and put incense on them, and each man bring before Yahweh his censer, two hundred fifty censers; you also, and Aaron, each his censer." 18.They each took his censer, and put fire in them, and laid incense thereon, and stood at the door of the Tent of Meeting with Moses and Aaron. 19.Korah assembled all the congregation against them to the door of the Tent of Meeting: and the glory of Yahweh appeared to all the congregation. 20.Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 21."Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment!" 22.They fell on their faces, and said, "God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and will you be angry with all the congregation?"
23.Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 24."Speak to the congregation, saying, 'Get away from around the tent of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram!'" 25.Moses rose up and went to Dathan and Abiram; and the elders of Israel followed him. 26.He spoke to the congregation, saying, "Depart, please, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest you be consumed in all their sins!"
27.So they went away from the tent of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side: and Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood at the door of their tents, and their wives, and their sons, and their little ones. 28.Moses said, "Hereby you shall know that Yahweh has sent me to do all these works; for they are not from my own mind. 29.If these men die the common death of all men, or if they be visited after the visitation of all men; then Yahweh hasn't sent me. 30.But if Yahweh make a new thing, and the ground open its mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain to them, and they go down alive into Sheol12; then you shall understand that these men have despised Yahweh."
31.It happened, as he made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground split apart that was under them; 32.and the earth opened its mouth, and swallowed them up, and their households, and all the men who appertained to Korah, and all their goods. 33.So they, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into Sheol13: and the earth closed on them, and they perished from among the assembly. 34.All Israel that were around them fled at their cry; for they said, "Lest the earth swallow us up!" 35.Fire came forth from Yahweh, and devoured the two hundred fifty men who offered the incense.
36.Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 37."Speak to Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, that he take up the censers out of the burning, and scatter the fire yonder; for they are holy, 38.even the censers of these sinners against their own lives; and let them be made beaten plates for a covering of the altar: for they offered them before Yahweh; therefore they are holy; and they shall be a sign to the children of Israel." 39.Eleazar the priest took the bronze censers, which those who were burnt had offered; and they beat them out for a covering of the altar, 40.to be a memorial to the children of Israel, to the end that no stranger, who isn't of the seed of Aaron, comes near to burn incense before Yahweh; that he not be as Korah, and as his company: as Yahweh spoke to him by Moses. 41.But on the next day all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying, "You have killed Yahweh's people!" 42.It happened, when the congregation was assembled against Moses and against Aaron, that they looked toward the Tent of Meeting: and behold, the cloud covered it, and the glory of Yahweh appeared. 43.Moses and Aaron came to the front of the Tent of Meeting. 44.Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 45."Get away from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment!" They fell on their faces.
46.Moses said to Aaron, "Take your censer, and put fire from off the altar in it, and lay incense on it, and carry it quickly to the congregation, and make atonement for them; for wrath has gone out from Yahweh! The plague has begun."
47.Aaron did as Moses said, and ran into the midst of the assembly; and behold, the plague has begun among the people: and he put on the incense, and made atonement for the people. 48.He stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed. 49.Now those who died by the plague were fourteen thousand and seven hundred, besides those who died about the matter of Korah. 50.Aaron returned to Moses to the door of the Tent of Meeting: and the plague was stayed.
Proverbs 12
1.Whoever loves correction loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid. 2.A good man shall obtain favor from Yahweh, but he will condemn a man of wicked devices. 3.A man shall not be established by wickedness, but the root of the righteous shall not be moved. 4.A worthy woman is the crown of her husband, but a disgraceful wife is as rottenness in his bones. 5.The thoughts of the righteous are just, but the advice of the wicked is deceitful. 6.The words of the wicked are about lying in wait for blood, but the speech of the upright rescues them. 7.The wicked are overthrown, and are no more, but the house of the righteous shall stand. 8.A man shall be commended according to his wisdom, but he who has a warped mind shall be despised. 9.Better is he who is lightly esteemed, and has a servant, than he who honors himself, and lacks bread. 10.A righteous man respects the life of his animal, but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel. 11.He who tills his land shall have plenty of bread, but he who chases fantasies is void of understanding. 12.The wicked desires the plunder of evil men, but the root of the righteous flourishes. 13.An evil man is trapped by sinfulness of lips, but the righteous shall come out of trouble. 14.A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth. The work of a man's hands shall be rewarded to him. 15.The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who is wise listens to counsel. 16.A fool shows his annoyance the same day, but one who overlooks an insult is prudent. 17.He who is truthful testifies honestly, but a false witness lies. 18.There is one who speaks rashly like the piercing of a sword, but the tongue of the wise heals. 19.Truth's lips will be established forever, but a lying tongue is only momentary. 20.Deceit is in the heart of those who plot evil, but joy comes to the promoters of peace. 21.No mischief shall happen to the righteous, but the wicked shall be filled with evil. 22.Lying lips are an abomination to Yahweh, but those who do the truth are his delight. 23.A prudent man keeps his knowledge, but the hearts of fools proclaim foolishness. 24.The hands of the diligent ones shall rule, but laziness ends in slave labor. 25.Anxiety in a man's heart weighs it down, but a kind word makes it glad. 26.A righteous person is cautious in friendship, but the way of the wicked leads them astray. 27.The slothful man doesn't roast his game, but the possessions of diligent men are prized. 28.In the way of righteousness is life; in its path there is no death.
Galatians 1
1.Paul, an apostle (not from men, neither through man, but through Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead), 2.and all the brothers1 who are with me, to the assemblies of Galatia: 3.Grace to you and peace from God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, 4.who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us out of this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father-- 5.to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
6.I marvel that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ to a different "good news"; 7.and there isn't another "good news." Only there are some who trouble you, and want to pervert the Good News of Christ. 8.But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you any "good news" other than that which we preached to you, let him be cursed. 9.As we have said before, so I now say again: if any man preaches to you any "good news" other than that which you received, let him be cursed. 10.For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? For if I were still pleasing men, I wouldn't be a servant of Christ. 11.But I make known to you, brothers, concerning the Good News which was preached by me, that it is not according to man. 12.For neither did I receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came to me through revelation of Jesus Christ. 13.For you have heard of my way of living in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the assembly of God, and ravaged it. 14.I advanced in the Jews' religion beyond many of my own age among my countrymen, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers. 15.But when it was the good pleasure of God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me through his grace, 16.to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I didn't immediately confer with flesh and blood, 17.nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia. Then I returned to Damascus. 18.Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Peter, and stayed with him fifteen days. 19.But of the other apostles I saw no one, except James, the Lord's brother. 20.Now about the things which I write to you, behold, before God, I'm not lying. 21.Then I came to the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22.I was still unknown by face to the assemblies of Judea which were in Christ, 23.but they only heard: "He who once persecuted us now preaches the faith that he once tried to destroy." 24.And they glorified God in me.
Galatians 2
1.Then after a period of fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus also with me. 2.I went up by revelation, and I laid before them the Good News which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately before those who were respected, for fear that I might be running, or had run, in vain. 3.But not even Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. 4.This was because of the false brothers secretly brought in, who stole in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage; 5.to whom we gave no place in the way of subjection, not for an hour, that the truth of the Good News might continue with you. 6.But from those who were reputed to be important (whatever they were, it makes no difference to me; God doesn't show partiality to man)--they, I say, who were respected imparted nothing to me, 7.but to the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the Good News for the uncircumcision, even as Peter with the Good News for the circumcision 8.(for he who appointed Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision appointed me also to the Gentiles); 9.and when they perceived the grace that was given to me, James and Cephas and John, they who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcision. 10.They only asked us to remember the poor--which very thing I was also zealous to do.
11.But when Peter came to Antioch, I resisted him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12.For before some people came from James, he ate with the Gentiles. But when they came, he drew back and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. 13.And the rest of the Jews joined him in his hypocrisy; so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy. 14.But when I saw that they didn't walk uprightly according to the truth of the Good News, I said to Peter before them all, "If you, being a Jew, live as the Gentiles do, and not as the Jews do, why do you compel the Gentiles to live as the Jews do?
15."We, being Jews by nature, and not Gentile sinners, 16.yet knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law, because no flesh will be justified by the works of the law. 17.But if, while we sought to be justified in Christ, we ourselves also were found sinners, is Christ a servant of sin? Certainly not! 18.For if I build up again those things which I destroyed, I prove myself a law-breaker. 19.For I, through the law, died to the law, that I might live to God. 20.I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me. That life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me. 21.I don't make void the grace of God. For if righteousness is through the law, then Christ died for nothing!"