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Daily Readings for April 7
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Numbers 24
1.When Balaam saw that it pleased Yahweh to bless Israel, he didn't go, as at the other times, to meet with enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness. 2.Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel dwelling according to their tribes; and the Spirit of God came on him. 3.He took up his parable, and said, "Balaam the son of Beor says, the man whose eye was closed says; 4.he says, who hears the words of God, who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down, and having his eyes open: 5.How goodly are your tents, Jacob, and your tents, Israel! 6.As valleys they are spread forth, as gardens by the riverside, as aloes which Yahweh has planted, as cedar trees beside the waters. 7.Water shall flow from his buckets. His seed shall be in many waters. His king shall be higher than Agag. His kingdom shall be exalted. 8.God brings him out of Egypt. He has as it were the strength of the wild ox. He shall eat up the nations his adversaries, shall break their bones in pieces, and pierce them with his arrows. 9.He couched, he lay down as a lion, as a lioness; who shall rouse him up? Everyone who blesses you is blessed. Everyone who curses you is cursed."
10.Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he struck his hands together; and Balak said to Balaam, "I called you to curse my enemies, and, behold, you have altogether blessed them these three times. 11.Therefore now flee you to your place! I thought to promote you to great honor; but, behold, Yahweh has kept you back from honor."
12.Balaam said to Balak, "Didn't I also tell your messengers who you sent to me, saying, 13.'If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I can't go beyond the word of Yahweh, to do either good or bad of my own mind. I will say what Yahweh says'? 14.Now, behold, I go to my people: come, I will inform you what this people shall do to your people in the latter days."
15.He took up his parable, and said, "Balaam the son of Beor says, the man whose eye was closed says; 16.he says, who hears the words of God, knows the knowledge of the Most High, and who sees the vision of the Almighty, Falling down, and having his eyes open: 17.I see him, but not now. I see him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob. A scepter will rise out of Israel, and shall strike through the corners of Moab, and break down all the sons of Sheth. 18.Edom shall be a possession. Seir, his enemies, also shall be a possession, while Israel does valiantly. 19.Out of Jacob shall one have dominion, and shall destroy the remnant from the city."
20.He looked at Amalek, and took up his parable, and said, "Amalek was the first of the nations, But his latter end shall come to destruction."
21.He looked at the Kenite, and took up his parable, and said, "Your dwelling place is strong. Your nest is set in the rock. 22.Nevertheless Kain shall be wasted, until Asshur carries you away captive."
23.He took up his parable, and said, "Alas, who shall live when God does this? 24.But ships shall come from the coast of Kittim. They shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber. He also shall come to destruction."
25.Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place; and Balak also went his way.
Numbers 25
1.Israel stayed in Shittim; and the people began to play the prostitute with the daughters of Moab: 2.for they called the people to the sacrifices of their gods; and the people ate, and bowed down to their gods. 3.Israel joined himself to Baal Peor: and the anger of Yahweh was kindled against Israel. 4.Yahweh said to Moses, "Take all the chiefs of the people, and hang them up to Yahweh before the sun, that the fierce anger of Yahweh may turn away from Israel."
5.Moses said to the judges of Israel, "Everyone kill his men who have joined themselves to Baal Peor."
6.Behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought to his brothers a Midianite woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, while they were weeping at the door of the Tent of Meeting. 7.When Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from the midst of the congregation, and took a spear in his hand; 8.and he went after the man of Israel into the pavilion, and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her body. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel. 9.Those who died by the plague were twenty-four thousand. 10.Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 11."Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned my wrath away from the children of Israel, in that he was jealous with my jealousy among them, so that I didn't consume the children of Israel in my jealousy. 12.Therefore say, 'Behold, I give to him my covenant of peace: 13.and it shall be to him, and to his seed after him, the covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he was jealous for his God, and made atonement for the children of Israel.'"
14.Now the name of the man of Israel that was slain, who was slain with the Midianite woman, was Zimri, the son of Salu, a prince of a fathers' house among the Simeonites. 15.The name of the Midianite woman who was slain was Cozbi, the daughter of Zur; he was head of the people of a fathers' house in Midian.
16.Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 17."Harass the Midianites, and strike them; 18.for they harassed you with their wiles, with which they have deceived you in the matter of Peor, and in the matter of Cozbi, the daughter of the prince of Midian, their sister, who was slain on the day of the plague in the matter of Peor."
Proverbs 17
1.Better is a dry morsel with quietness, than a house full of feasting with strife. 2.A servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who causes shame, and shall have a part in the inheritance among the brothers. 3.The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold, but Yahweh tests the hearts. 4.An evildoer heeds wicked lips. A liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue. 5.Whoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker. He who is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished. 6.Children's children are the crown of old men; the glory of children are their parents. 7.Arrogant speech isn't fitting for a fool, much less do lying lips fit a prince. 8.A bribe is a precious stone in the eyes of him who gives it; wherever he turns, he prospers. 9.He who covers an offense promotes love; but he who repeats a matter separates best friends. 10.A rebuke enters deeper into one who has understanding than a hundred lashes into a fool. 11.An evil man seeks only rebellion; therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him. 12.Let a bear robbed of her cubs meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly. 13.Whoever rewards evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house. 14.The beginning of strife is like breaching a dam, therefore stop contention before quarreling breaks out. 15.He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the righteous, both of them alike are an abomination to Yahweh. 16.Why is there money in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, since he has no understanding? 17.A friend loves at all times; and a brother is born for adversity. 18.A man void of understanding strikes hands, and becomes collateral in the presence of his neighbor. 19.He who loves disobedience loves strife. One who builds a high gate seeks destruction. 20.One who has a perverse heart doesn't find prosperity, and one who has a deceitful tongue falls into trouble. 21.He who becomes the father of a fool grieves. The father of a fool has no joy. 22.A cheerful heart makes good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. 23.A wicked man receives a bribe in secret, to pervert the ways of justice. 24.Wisdom is before the face of one who has understanding, but the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth. 25.A foolish son brings grief to his father, and bitterness to her who bore him. 26.Also to punish the righteous is not good, nor to flog officials for their integrity. 27.He who spares his words has knowledge. He who is even tempered is a man of understanding. 28.Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is counted wise. When he shuts his lips, he is thought to be discerning.
Ephesians 5
1.Be therefore imitators of God, as beloved children. 2.Walk in love, even as Christ also loved you, and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling fragrance. 3.But sexual immorality, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not even be mentioned among you, as becomes saints; 4.nor filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not appropriate; but rather giving of thanks.
5.Know this for sure, that no sexually immoral person, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and God.
6.Let no one deceive you with empty words. For because of these things, the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience. 7.Therefore don't be partakers with them. 8.For you were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord. Walk as children of light, 9.for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth, 10.proving what is well pleasing to the Lord. 11.Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather even reprove them. 12.For the things which are done by them in secret, it is a shame even to speak of. 13.But all things, when they are reproved, are revealed by the light, for everything that reveals is light. 14.Therefore he says, "Awake, you who sleep, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."
15.Therefore watch carefully how you walk, not as unwise, but as wise; 16.redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17.Therefore don't be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18.Don't be drunken with wine, in which is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, 19.speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs; singing, and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 20.giving thanks always concerning all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to God, even the Father; 21.subjecting yourselves one to another in the fear of Christ.
22.Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23.For the husband is the head of the wife, and Christ also is the head of the assembly, being himself the savior of the body. 24.But as the assembly is subject to Christ, so let the wives also be to their own husbands in everything.
25.Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the assembly, and gave himself up for it; 26.that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word, 27.that he might present the assembly to himself gloriously, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 28.Even so husbands also ought to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself. 29.For no man ever hated his own flesh; but nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Lord also does the assembly; 30.because we are members of his body, of his flesh and bones. 31."For this cause a man will leave his father and mother, and will be joined to his wife. The two will become one flesh."6 32.This mystery is great, but I speak concerning Christ and of the assembly. 33.Nevertheless each of you must also love his own wife even as himself; and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
Ephesians 6
1.Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2."Honor your father and mother," which is the first commandment with a promise: 3."that it may be well with you, and you may live long on the earth."7
4.You fathers, don't provoke your children to wrath, but nurture them in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
5.Servants, be obedient to those who according to the flesh are your masters, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as to Christ; 6.not in the way of service only when eyes are on you, as men pleasers; but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; 7.with good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men; 8.knowing that whatever good thing each one does, he will receive the same again from the Lord, whether he is bound or free.
9.You masters, do the same things to them, and give up threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with him.
10.Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might. 11.Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12.For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world's rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13.Therefore, put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand. 14.Stand therefore, having the utility belt of truth buckled around your waist, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15.and having fitted your feet with the preparation of the Good News of peace; 16.above all, taking up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one. 17.And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word8 of God; 18.with all prayer and requests, praying at all times in the Spirit, and being watchful to this end in all perseverance and requests for all the saints: 19.on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in opening my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the Good News, 20.for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
21.But that you also may know my affairs, how I am doing, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will make known to you all things; 22.whom I have sent to you for this very purpose, that you may know our state, and that he may comfort your hearts.
23.Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24.Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptible love. Amen.