34 Any food in it that could be eaten, on which water comes, shall be unclean. And all drink that could be drunk from every such vessel shall be unclean. 35 And everything on which any part of their carcass falls shall be unclean. Whether oven or stove, it shall be broken in pieces. They are unclean and shall remain unclean for you. 36 Nevertheless, a spring or a cistern holding water shall be clean, but whoever touches a carcass in them shall be unclean. 37 And if any part of their carcass falls upon any seed grain that is to be sown, it is clean, 38 but if water is put on the seed and any part of their carcass falls on it, it is unclean to you.

39 “And if any animal which you may eat dies, whoever touches its carcass shall be unclean until the evening, 40 and (A)whoever eats of its carcass shall wash his clothes and be unclean until the evening. And whoever carries the carcass shall wash his clothes and be unclean until the evening.

41 (B)“Every swarming thing that swarms on the ground is detestable; it shall not be eaten. 42 Whatever goes on its belly, and whatever goes on all fours, or whatever has many feet, any swarming thing that swarms on the ground, you shall not eat, for they are detestable. 43 (C)You shall not make yourselves detestable with any swarming thing that swarms, and you shall not defile yourselves with them, and become unclean through them. 44 For I am the Lord your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and (D)be holy, for I am holy. (E)You shall not defile yourselves with any swarming thing that crawls on the ground. 45 (F)For I am the Lord who brought you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God. (G)You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.”

46 This is the law about beast and bird and every living creature that moves through the waters and every creature that swarms on the ground, 47 (H)to make a distinction between the unclean and the clean and between the living creature that may be eaten and the living creature that may not be eaten.

Read full chapter

34 Any food you are allowed to eat that has come into contact with water from any such pot is unclean, and any liquid that is drunk from such a pot is unclean. 35 Anything that one of their carcasses falls on becomes unclean; an oven or cooking pot must be broken up. They are unclean, and you are to regard them as unclean. 36 A spring, however, or a cistern for collecting water remains clean, but anyone who touches one of these carcasses is unclean. 37 If a carcass falls on any seeds that are to be planted, they remain clean. 38 But if water has been put on the seed and a carcass falls on it, it is unclean for you.

39 “‘If an animal that you are allowed to eat dies,(A) anyone who touches its carcass(B) will be unclean till evening. 40 Anyone who eats some of its carcass(C) must wash their clothes, and they will be unclean till evening.(D) Anyone who picks up the carcass must wash their clothes, and they will be unclean till evening.

41 “‘Every creature that moves along the ground is to be regarded as unclean; it is not to be eaten. 42 You are not to eat any creature that moves along the ground, whether it moves on its belly or walks on all fours or on many feet; it is unclean. 43 Do not defile yourselves by any of these creatures.(E) Do not make yourselves unclean by means of them or be made unclean by them. 44 I am the Lord your God;(F) consecrate yourselves(G) and be holy,(H) because I am holy.(I) Do not make yourselves unclean by any creature that moves along the ground.(J) 45 I am the Lord, who brought you up out of Egypt(K) to be your God;(L) therefore be holy, because I am holy.(M)

46 “‘These are the regulations concerning animals, birds, every living thing that moves about in the water and every creature that moves along the ground. 47 You must distinguish between the unclean and the clean, between living creatures that may be eaten and those that may not be eaten.(N)’”

Read full chapter

The Lord Condemns Ahab

17 (A)Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 18 “Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who is in (B)Samaria; behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth, where he has gone to take possession. 19 And you shall say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord, “Have you killed and also taken possession?”’ And you shall say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord: (C)“In the place where dogs licked up the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick your own blood.”’”

20 Ahab said to Elijah, (D)“Have you found me, O my enemy?” He answered, “I have found you, because (E)you have sold yourself to do what is evil in the sight of the Lord. 21 Behold, I will bring disaster upon you. I will utterly burn you up, and (F)will cut off from Ahab every male, bond or free, in Israel. 22 And I will make your house like (G)the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like (H)the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, for the anger to which you have provoked me, and because you (I)have made Israel to sin. 23 And of Jezebel the Lord also said, (J)‘The dogs shall eat Jezebel within (K)the walls of Jezreel.’ 24 (L)Anyone belonging to Ahab who dies in the city the dogs shall eat, and anyone of his who dies in the open country the birds of the heavens shall eat.”

Ahab's Repentance

25 ((M)There was none who sold himself to do what was evil in the sight of the Lord like Ahab, whom Jezebel his wife incited. 26 He acted very abominably in going after (N)idols, as (O)the Amorites had done, whom the Lord cast out before the people of Israel.)

27 And when Ahab heard those words, he (P)tore his clothes and (Q)put sackcloth on his flesh and (R)fasted and lay in sackcloth and went about dejectedly. 28 And the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 29 “Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself before me, I will not bring the disaster in his days; (S)but in his son's days I will bring the disaster upon his house.”

Ahab and the False Prophets

22 For three years Syria and Israel continued without war. (T)But in the third year (U)Jehoshaphat the king of Judah came down to the king of Israel. And the king of Israel said to his servants, “Do you know that (V)Ramoth-gilead belongs to us, and we keep quiet and do not take it out of the hand of the king of Syria?” And he said to Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to battle at Ramoth-gilead?” And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, (W)“I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.”

And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “Inquire first for the word of the Lord.” Then the king of Israel (X)gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said to them, “Shall I go to battle against Ramoth-gilead, or shall I refrain?” And they said, “Go up, for the Lord will give it into the hand of the king.” But (Y)Jehoshaphat said, “Is there not here another prophet of the Lord of whom we may inquire?” And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the Lord, Micaiah the son of Imlah, but I hate him, for he never prophesies good concerning me, but evil.” And Jehoshaphat said, “Let not the king say so.” Then the king of Israel summoned an officer and said, “Bring quickly Micaiah the son of Imlah.” 10 Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah were sitting on their thrones, arrayed in their robes, at the threshing floor (Z)at the entrance of the gate of Samaria, and all the prophets were prophesying before them. 11 And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made for himself (AA)horns of iron and said, “Thus says the Lord, ‘With these (AB)you shall push the Syrians until they are destroyed.’” 12 And all the prophets prophesied so and said, “Go up to Ramoth-gilead and triumph; the Lord will give it into the hand of the king.”

17 Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite: 18 “Go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who rules in Samaria. He is now in Naboth’s vineyard, where he has gone to take possession of it. 19 Say to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: Have you not murdered a man and seized his property?’(A) Then say to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: In the place where dogs licked up Naboth’s blood,(B) dogs(C) will lick up your blood—yes, yours!’”

20 Ahab said to Elijah, “So you have found me, my enemy!”(D)

“I have found you,” he answered, “because you have sold(E) yourself to do evil in the eyes of the Lord. 21 He says, ‘I am going to bring disaster on you. I will wipe out your descendants and cut off from Ahab every last male(F) in Israel—slave or free.[a](G) 22 I will make your house(H) like that of Jeroboam son of Nebat and that of Baasha son of Ahijah, because you have aroused my anger and have caused Israel to sin.’(I)

23 “And also concerning Jezebel the Lord says: ‘Dogs(J) will devour Jezebel by the wall of[b] Jezreel.’

24 “Dogs(K) will eat those belonging to Ahab who die in the city, and the birds(L) will feed on those who die in the country.”

25 (There was never(M) anyone like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the Lord, urged on by Jezebel his wife. 26 He behaved in the vilest manner by going after idols, like the Amorites(N) the Lord drove out before Israel.)

27 When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth(O) and fasted. He lay in sackcloth and went around meekly.(P)

28 Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite: 29 “Have you noticed how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled(Q) himself, I will not bring this disaster in his day,(R) but I will bring it on his house in the days of his son.”(S)

Micaiah Prophesies Against Ahab(T)

22 For three years there was no war between Aram and Israel. But in the third year Jehoshaphat king of Judah went down to see the king of Israel. The king of Israel had said to his officials, “Don’t you know that Ramoth Gilead(U) belongs to us and yet we are doing nothing to retake it from the king of Aram?”

So he asked Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to fight(V) against Ramoth Gilead?”

Jehoshaphat replied to the king of Israel, “I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.” But Jehoshaphat also said to the king of Israel, “First seek the counsel(W) of the Lord.”

So the king of Israel brought together the prophets—about four hundred men—and asked them, “Shall I go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or shall I refrain?”

“Go,”(X) they answered, “for the Lord will give it into the king’s hand.”(Y)

But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there no longer a prophet(Z) of the Lord here whom we can inquire(AA) of?”

The king of Israel answered Jehoshaphat, “There is still one prophet through whom we can inquire of the Lord, but I hate(AB) him because he never prophesies anything good(AC) about me, but always bad. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.”

“The king should not say such a thing,” Jehoshaphat replied.

So the king of Israel called one of his officials and said, “Bring Micaiah son of Imlah at once.”

10 Dressed in their royal robes, the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah were sitting on their thrones at the threshing floor(AD) by the entrance of the gate of Samaria, with all the prophets prophesying before them. 11 Now Zedekiah(AE) son of Kenaanah had made iron horns(AF) and he declared, “This is what the Lord says: ‘With these you will gore the Arameans until they are destroyed.’”

12 All the other prophets were prophesying the same thing. “Attack Ramoth Gilead and be victorious,” they said, “for the Lord will give it into the king’s hand.”

Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 21:21 Or Israel—every ruler or leader
  2. 1 Kings 21:23 Most Hebrew manuscripts; a few Hebrew manuscripts, Vulgate and Syriac (see also 2 Kings 9:26) the plot of ground at

Ezekiel's Call

And he said to me, (A)“Son of man,[a] (B)stand on your feet, and I will speak with you.” And as he spoke to me, (C)the Spirit entered into me and (D)set me on my feet, and I heard him speaking to me. And he said to me, “Son of man, I send you to the people of Israel, to (E)nations of rebels, who have rebelled against me. (F)They and their fathers have transgressed against me to this very day. The descendants also are (G)impudent and stubborn: I send you to them, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God.’ And (H)whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are (I)a rebellious house) (J)they will know that a prophet has been among them. And you, son of man, (K)be not afraid of them, nor be afraid of their words, (L)though briers and thorns are with you and you sit on (M)scorpions.[b] Be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house. And you shall speak my words to them, (N)whether they hear or refuse to hear, for they are a rebellious house.

“But you, son of man, hear what I say to you. (O)Be not rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and (P)eat what I give you.” And when I looked, behold, (Q)a hand was stretched out to me, and behold, (R)a scroll of a book was in it. 10 And he spread it before me. And it had writing (S)on the front and on the back, and there were written on it words of lamentation and mourning and woe.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 2:1 Or Son of Adam; so throughout Ezekiel
  2. Ezekiel 2:6 Or on scorpion plants

Ezekiel’s Call to Be a Prophet

He said to me, “Son of man,[a](A) stand(B) up on your feet and I will speak to you.(C) As he spoke, the Spirit came into me and raised me(D) to my feet, and I heard him speaking to me.

He said: “Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me; they and their ancestors have been in revolt against me to this very day.(E) The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn.(F) Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says.’(G) And whether they listen or fail to listen(H)—for they are a rebellious people(I)—they will know that a prophet has been among them.(J) And you, son of man, do not be afraid(K) of them or their words. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns(L) are all around you and you live among scorpions. Do not be afraid of what they say or be terrified by them, though they are a rebellious people.(M) You must speak(N) my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are rebellious.(O) But you, son of man, listen to what I say to you. Do not rebel(P) like that rebellious people;(Q) open your mouth and eat(R) what I give you.”

Then I looked, and I saw a hand(S) stretched out to me. In it was a scroll,(T) 10 which he unrolled before me. On both sides of it were written words of lament and mourning and woe.(U)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 2:1 The Hebrew phrase ben adam means human being. The phrase son of man is retained as a form of address here and throughout Ezekiel because of its possible association with “Son of Man” in the New Testament.

I Will Sing of the Steadfast Love of the Lord

A Maskil[a] of (A)Ethan the Ezrahite.

89 (B)I will sing of (C)the steadfast love of the Lord, forever;
    with my mouth I will make known your (D)faithfulness to all generations.
For I said, (E)“Steadfast love will be built up forever;
    in the heavens (F)you will establish your (G)faithfulness.”
You have said, “I have made (H)a covenant with my (I)chosen one;
    I have (J)sworn to David my servant:
‘I will establish your (K)offspring forever,
    and build your (L)throne for all generations.’” Selah

Let (M)the heavens praise your (N)wonders, O Lord,
    your faithfulness in the assembly of (O)the holy ones!
For (P)who in the skies can be compared to the Lord?
    (Q)Who among the heavenly beings[b] is like the Lord,
a God greatly (R)to be feared in the council of (S)the holy ones,
    and awesome above all (T)who are around him?
O Lord God of hosts,
    (U)who is mighty as you are, O (V)Lord,
    with your faithfulness all around you?
You rule the raging of the sea;
    when its waves rise, you (W)still them.
10 You (X)crushed (Y)Rahab like a carcass;
    you (Z)scattered your enemies with your mighty arm.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 89:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term
  2. Psalm 89:6 Hebrew the sons of God, or the sons of might

Psalm 89[a]

A maskil[b] of Ethan the Ezrahite.

I will sing(A) of the Lord’s great love forever;
    with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known(B)
    through all generations.
I will declare that your love stands firm forever,
    that you have established your faithfulness in heaven itself.(C)
You said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one,
    I have sworn to David my servant,
‘I will establish your line forever
    and make your throne firm through all generations.’”[c](D)

The heavens(E) praise your wonders, Lord,
    your faithfulness too, in the assembly(F) of the holy ones.
For who in the skies above can compare with the Lord?
    Who is like the Lord among the heavenly beings?(G)
In the council(H) of the holy ones(I) God is greatly feared;
    he is more awesome than all who surround him.(J)
Who is like you,(K) Lord God Almighty?(L)
    You, Lord, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds you.

You rule over the surging sea;
    when its waves mount up, you still them.(M)
10 You crushed Rahab(N) like one of the slain;
    with your strong arm you scattered(O) your enemies.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 89:1 In Hebrew texts 89:1-52 is numbered 89:2-53.
  2. Psalm 89:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
  3. Psalm 89:4 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verses 37, 45 and 48.

Jesus Heals Many

38 (A)And he arose and left the synagogue and entered Simon's house. Now (B)Simon's mother-in-law was ill with a high fever, and they appealed to him on her behalf. 39 And he stood over her and (C)rebuked the fever, and it left her, and immediately she rose and began to serve them.

40 Now when the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to him, and (D)he laid his hands on every one of them and healed them. 41 (E)And demons also came out of many, (F)crying, “You are (G)the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and (H)would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was (I)the Christ.

Jesus Preaches in Synagogues

42 (J)And when it was day, he departed and went (K)into a desolate place. And (L)the people sought him and came to him, and would have kept him from leaving them, 43 but he said to them, (M)“I must (N)preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.” 44 And he was preaching (O)in the synagogues of Judea.[a]

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Luke 4:44 Some manuscripts Galilee

Jesus Heals Many(A)(B)

38 Jesus left the synagogue and went to the home of Simon. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Jesus to help her. 39 So he bent over her and rebuked(C) the fever, and it left her. She got up at once and began to wait on them.

40 At sunset, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one,(D) he healed them.(E) 41 Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting, “You are the Son of God!”(F) But he rebuked(G) them and would not allow them to speak,(H) because they knew he was the Messiah.

42 At daybreak, Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for him and when they came to where he was, they tried to keep him from leaving them. 43 But he said, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God(I) to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.” 44 And he kept on preaching in the synagogues of Judea.(J)

Read full chapter

22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, (A)all rejoice together.

27 Now (B)you are the body of Christ and individually (C)members of it. 28 And (D)God has appointed in the church first (E)apostles, second (F)prophets, third teachers, then (G)miracles, then (H)gifts of healing, (I)helping, (J)administrating, and (K)various kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But (L)earnestly desire the higher gifts.

And I will show you a still more excellent way.

Read full chapter

22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

27 Now you are the body of Christ,(A) and each one of you is a part of it.(B) 28 And God has placed in the church(C) first of all apostles,(D) second prophets,(E) third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing,(F) of helping, of guidance,(G) and of different kinds of tongues.(H) 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues[a]?(I) Do all interpret? 31 Now eagerly desire(J) the greater gifts.

Love Is Indispensable

And yet I will show you the most excellent way.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 12:30 Or other languages