20 Then (A)Miriam (B)the prophetess, the (C)sister of Aaron, took a tambourine in her hand, and (D)all the women went out after her with tambourines and dancing. 21 And Miriam sang to them:

(E)“Sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously;
the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea.”

Bitter Water Made Sweet

22 Then Moses made Israel set out from the Red Sea, and they went into the wilderness of (F)Shur. They went three days in the wilderness and found no water. 23 When they came to (G)Marah, they could not drink the water of Marah because it was bitter; therefore it was named Marah.[a] 24 And the people (H)grumbled against Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?” 25 And he (I)cried to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a log,[b] and he (J)threw it into the water, and the water became sweet.

There the Lord[c] made for them a statute and a rule, and there he (K)tested them, 26 saying, (L)“If you will diligently listen to the voice of the Lord your God, and do that which is right in his eyes, and give ear to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will put none of the (M)diseases on you that I put on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, (N)your healer.”

27 Then (O)they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees, and they encamped there by the water.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 15:23 Marah means bitterness
  2. Exodus 15:25 Or tree
  3. Exodus 15:25 Hebrew he

The Lord's Covenant with David

(A)Now when the king lived in his house and the Lord (B)had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies, the king said to (C)Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell (D)in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells (E)in a tent.” And Nathan said to the king, (F)“Go, do all that is in your heart, for the Lord is with you.”

But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, “Go and tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord: (G)Would you build me a house to dwell in? I have not lived in a house (H)since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about (I)in a tent for my dwelling. In all places where (J)I have moved with all the people of Israel, did I speak a word with (K)any of the judges[a] of Israel, whom I commanded (L)to shepherd my people Israel, saying, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”’ Now, therefore, thus you shall say to my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, (M)I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince[b] over my people Israel. (N)And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. 10 And I will appoint a place for my people Israel (O)and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place (P)and be disturbed no more. (Q)And violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly, 11 (R)from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And (S)I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the Lord declares to you that (T)the Lord will make you a house. 12 (U)When your days are fulfilled and (V)you lie down with your fathers, (W)I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 (X)He shall build a house for my name, and (Y)I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 (Z)I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, (AA)I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, 15 (AB)but my steadfast love will not depart from him, (AC)as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. 16 (AD)And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me.[c] (AE)Your throne shall be established forever.’” 17 In accordance with all these words, and in accordance with all this vision, Nathan spoke to David.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 7:7 Compare 1 Chronicles 17:6; Hebrew tribes
  2. 2 Samuel 7:8 Or leader
  3. 2 Samuel 7:16 Septuagint; Hebrew you

Message to the Sons of Josiah

11 For thus says the Lord concerning Shallum the son of Josiah, king of Judah, who reigned instead of Josiah his father, and (A)who went away from this place: “He shall return here no more, 12 but (B)in the place where they have carried him captive, there shall he die, and he shall never see this land again.”

13 (C)“Woe to him who builds his house by (D)unrighteousness,
    and his upper rooms by injustice,
(E)who makes his neighbor serve him for nothing
    and does not give him his wages,
14 who says, ‘I will build myself a great house
    with spacious upper rooms,’
who cuts out windows for it,
    paneling it with cedar
    and (F)painting it with vermilion.
15 Do you think you are a king
    because you compete in cedar?
Did not your father eat and drink
    and (G)do justice and righteousness?
    (H)Then it was well with him.
16 (I)He judged the cause of the poor and needy;
    (J)then it was well.
Is not this (K)to know me?
    declares the Lord.
17 But you have eyes and heart
    only for your dishonest gain,
(L)for shedding innocent blood,
    and for practicing oppression and violence.”

18 Therefore thus says the Lord concerning Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah:

(M)“They shall not lament for him, saying,
    (N)‘Ah, my brother!’ or ‘Ah, sister!’
They shall not lament for him, saying,
    (O)‘Ah, lord!’ or ‘Ah, his majesty!’
19 With the burial of a donkey (P)he shall be buried,
    dragged and dumped beyond the gates of Jerusalem.”

20 “Go up to Lebanon, and cry out,
    and lift up your voice in Bashan;
cry out from (Q)Abarim,
    for all (R)your lovers are destroyed.
21 I spoke to you in your prosperity,
    but you said, ‘I will not listen.’
(S)This has been your way from (T)your youth,
    that you have not obeyed my voice.
22 (U)The wind shall shepherd all your shepherds,
    and (V)your lovers shall go into captivity;
(W)then you will be ashamed and confounded
    because of all your evil.
23 O inhabitant of (X)Lebanon,
    nested among the cedars,
how you will be pitied when pangs come upon you,
    (Y)pain as of a woman in labor!”

Read full chapter

He Will Not Forsake His Saints

[a] Of David.

37 (A)Fret not yourself because of evildoers;
    be not (B)envious of wrongdoers!
For they will soon (C)fade like (D)the grass
    and wither (E)like the green herb.

(F)Trust in the Lord, and do good;
    (G)dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.[b]
(H)Delight yourself in the Lord,
    and he will (I)give you the desires of your heart.

(J)Commit your way to the Lord;
    (K)trust in him, and he will act.
(L)He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,
    and your justice as (M)the noonday.

(N)Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;
    (O)fret not yourself over the one who (P)prospers in his way,
    over the man who carries out evil devices!

(Q)Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath!
    (R)Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.
(S)For the evildoers shall be cut off,
    but those who wait for the Lord shall (T)inherit the land.

10 In (U)just a little while, the wicked will be no more;
    though you look carefully at (V)his place, he will not be there.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 37:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, each stanza beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet
  2. Psalm 37:3 Or and feed on faithfulness, or and find safe pasture

Jesus Rejected at Nazareth

(A)He went away from there and came to (B)his hometown, and his disciples followed him. And (C)on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and (D)many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands? (E)Is not this (F)the carpenter, the son of Mary and (G)brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And (H)they took offense at him. And Jesus said to them, (I)“A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.” And (J)he could do no mighty work there, except that (K)he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. And (L)he marveled because of their unbelief.

(M)And he went about among the villages teaching.

Jesus Sends Out the Twelve Apostles

(N)And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts— but to (O)wear sandals and not put on two tunics.[a] 10 And he said to them, “Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you depart from there. 11 And if any place will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave, (P)shake off the dust that is on your feet (Q)as a testimony against them.” 12 (R)So they went out and (S)proclaimed (T)that people should repent. 13 (U)And they cast out many demons and (V)anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Mark 6:9 Greek chiton, a long garment worn under the cloak next to the skin

11 for whoever greets him (A)takes part in his wicked works.

Final Greetings

12 (B)Though I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink. (C)Instead I hope to come to you and talk face to face, (D)so that our joy may be complete.

13 The children of your elect sister greet you.

Read full chapter

Bible Gateway Recommends

ESV Seek and Find Bible, hardcover
ESV Seek and Find Bible, hardcover
Retail: $34.99
Our Price: $9.49
Save: $25.50 (73%)
5.0 of 5.0 stars
Proverbs, ESV Illuminated Scripture Journal
Proverbs, ESV Illuminated Scripture Journal
Retail: $8.99
Our Price: $5.99
Save: $3.00 (33%)
5.0 of 5.0 stars
ESV Economy Bible, Large Print Softcover
ESV Economy Bible, Large Print Softcover
Retail: $7.99
Our Price: $4.99
Save: $3.00 (38%)
4.0 of 5.0 stars