18 And the rest of the oil that is in the priest's hand he shall put on the head of him who is to be cleansed. (A)Then the priest shall make atonement for him before the Lord. 19 The priest shall offer the sin offering, to make atonement for him who is to be cleansed from his uncleanness. And afterward he shall kill the burnt offering. 20 And the priest shall offer the burnt offering and the (B)grain offering on the altar. (C)Thus the priest shall make atonement for him, and he shall be clean.

21 “But (D)if he is poor and cannot afford so much, then he shall take one male lamb for a guilt offering (E)to be waved, to make atonement for him, and a tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering, and a log of oil; 22 (F)also two turtledoves or two pigeons, whichever he can afford. The one shall be a sin offering and the other a burnt offering. 23 (G)And on the eighth day he shall bring them for his cleansing to the priest, to the entrance of the tent of meeting, before the Lord. 24 (H)And the priest shall take the lamb of the guilt offering and the log of oil, and the priest shall wave them for a wave offering before the Lord. 25 And he shall kill the lamb of the guilt offering. (I)And the priest shall take some of the blood of the guilt offering and put it on the lobe of the right ear of him who is to be cleansed, and on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot. 26 And the priest shall pour some of the oil into the palm of his own left hand, 27 and shall sprinkle with his right finger some of the oil that is in his left hand seven times before the Lord. 28 And the priest shall put some of the oil that is in his hand on the lobe of the right ear of him who is to be cleansed and on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot, in the place where the blood of the guilt offering was put. 29 And the rest of the oil that is in the priest's hand he shall put on the head of him who is to be cleansed, to make atonement for him before the Lord. 30 And he shall offer, of the (J)turtledoves or pigeons, whichever he can afford, 31 one[a] for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering, along with a grain offering. (K)And the priest shall make atonement before the Lord for him who is being cleansed. 32 This is the law for him in whom is a case of leprous disease, who cannot afford (L)the offerings for his cleansing.”

Laws for Cleansing Houses

33 The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, 34 “When you come into the land of Canaan, which I give you (M)for a possession, and I put a case of leprous disease in a house in the land of your possession, 35 then he who owns the house shall come and tell the priest, ‘There seems to me to be some case of (N)disease in my house.’

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Footnotes

  1. Leviticus 14:31 Septuagint, Syriac; Hebrew afford, 31such as he can afford, one

18 The rest of the oil in his palm the priest shall put on the head of the one to be cleansed(A) and make atonement for them before the Lord.

19 “Then the priest is to sacrifice the sin offering and make atonement for the one to be cleansed from their uncleanness.(B) After that, the priest shall slaughter the burnt offering 20 and offer it on the altar, together with the grain offering, and make atonement for them,(C) and they will be clean.(D)

21 “If, however, they are poor(E) and cannot afford these,(F) they must take one male lamb as a guilt offering to be waved to make atonement for them, together with a tenth of an ephah[a] of the finest flour mixed with olive oil for a grain offering, a log of oil, 22 and two doves or two young pigeons,(G) such as they can afford, one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering.(H)

23 “On the eighth day they must bring them for their cleansing to the priest at the entrance to the tent of meeting,(I) before the Lord.(J) 24 The priest is to take the lamb for the guilt offering,(K) together with the log of oil,(L) and wave them before the Lord as a wave offering.(M) 25 He shall slaughter the lamb for the guilt offering and take some of its blood and put it on the lobe of the right ear of the one to be cleansed, on the thumb of their right hand and on the big toe of their right foot.(N) 26 The priest is to pour some of the oil into the palm of his own left hand,(O) 27 and with his right forefinger sprinkle some of the oil from his palm seven times before the Lord. 28 Some of the oil in his palm he is to put on the same places he put the blood of the guilt offering—on the lobe of the right ear of the one to be cleansed, on the thumb of their right hand and on the big toe of their right foot. 29 The rest of the oil in his palm the priest shall put on the head of the one to be cleansed, to make atonement for them before the Lord.(P) 30 Then he shall sacrifice the doves or the young pigeons, such as the person can afford,(Q) 31 one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering,(R) together with the grain offering. In this way the priest will make atonement before the Lord on behalf of the one to be cleansed.(S)

32 These are the regulations for anyone who has a defiling skin disease(T) and who cannot afford the regular offerings(U) for their cleansing.

Cleansing From Defiling Molds

33 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, 34 “When you enter the land of Canaan,(V) which I am giving you as your possession,(W) and I put a spreading mold in a house in that land, 35 the owner of the house must go and tell the priest, ‘I have seen something that looks like a defiling mold in my house.’

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Footnotes

  1. Leviticus 14:21 That is, probably about 3 1/2 pounds or about 1.6 kilograms

Elisha and the Widow's Oil

Now the wife of one of the (A)sons of the prophets cried to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord, (B)but the creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves.” And Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me; what have you in the house?” And she said, “Your servant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil.” Then he said, “Go outside, borrow vessels from all your neighbors, empty vessels and not too few. Then go in and shut the door behind yourself and your sons and pour into all these vessels. And when one is full, set it aside.” So she went from him and shut the door behind herself and her sons. And as she poured they brought the vessels to her. When the vessels were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel.” And he said to her, “There is not another.” Then the oil stopped flowing. She came and told the (C)man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts, and you and your sons can live on the rest.”

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The Widow’s Olive Oil

The wife of a man from the company(A) of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the Lord. But now his creditor(B) is coming to take my two boys as his slaves.”

Elisha replied to her, “How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?”

“Your servant has nothing there at all,” she said, “except a small jar of olive oil.”(C)

Elisha said, “Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few. Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side.”

She left him and shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring. When all the jars were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another one.”

But he replied, “There is not a jar left.” Then the oil stopped flowing.

She went and told the man of God,(D) and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left.”

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14 “They have blown the trumpet and made everything ready, but none goes to battle, (A)for my wrath is upon all their multitude. 15 (B)The sword is without; pestilence and famine are within. (C)He who is in the field dies by the sword, (D)and him who is in the city famine and pestilence devour. 16 (E)And if any survivors escape, they will be on the mountains, like (F)doves of the valleys, all of them moaning, each one over his iniquity. 17 (G)All hands are feeble, and all knees turn to water. 18 (H)They put on sackcloth, and (I)horror covers them. Shame is on all faces, and (J)baldness on all their heads. 19 They cast their silver into the streets, and their gold is like an unclean thing. (K)Their silver and gold are not able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the Lord. They cannot satisfy their hunger or fill their stomachs with it. (L)For it was (M)the stumbling block of their iniquity. 20 (N)His beautiful ornament they used for pride, and (O)they made their abominable images and their detestable things of it. Therefore (P)I make it an unclean thing to them. 21 And I will give it into the hands of (Q)foreigners for prey, (R)and to the wicked of the earth for spoil, and (S)they shall profane it. 22 I will turn my face from them, and (T)they shall profane my treasured[a] place. Robbers shall enter (U)and profane it.

23 (V)“Forge a chain![b] (W)For the land is full of bloody crimes (X)and the city is full of violence. 24 I will bring (Y)the worst of the nations to take possession of their houses. (Z)I will put an end to the pride of the strong, (AA)and their holy places[c] shall be profaned. 25 (AB)When anguish comes, (AC)they will seek peace, but there shall be none. 26 (AD)Disaster comes upon disaster; (AE)rumor follows rumor. (AF)They seek a vision from the prophet, while (AG)the law[d] perishes from the priest and (AH)counsel from the elders. 27 The king mourns, the prince is wrapped in despair, and the hands of the people of the land are paralyzed by terror. According to their way (AI)I will do to them, and according to their judgments I will judge them, (AJ)and they shall know that I am the Lord.”

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Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 7:22 Or secret
  2. Ezekiel 7:23 Probably refers to an instrument of captivity
  3. Ezekiel 7:24 By revocalization (compare Septuagint); Hebrew and those who sanctify them
  4. Ezekiel 7:26 Or instruction

14 “‘They have blown the trumpet,(A)
    they have made all things ready,
but no one will go into battle,
    for my wrath(B) is on the whole crowd.
15 Outside is the sword;
    inside are plague and famine.
Those in the country
    will die by the sword;
those in the city
    will be devoured by famine and plague.(C)
16 The fugitives(D) who escape
    will flee to the mountains.
Like doves(E) of the valleys,
    they will all moan,
    each for their own sins.(F)
17 Every hand will go limp;(G)
    every leg will be wet with urine.(H)
18 They will put on sackcloth(I)
    and be clothed with terror.(J)
Every face will be covered with shame,
    and every head will be shaved.(K)

19 “‘They will throw their silver into the streets,(L)
    and their gold will be treated as a thing unclean.
Their silver and gold
    will not be able to deliver them
    in the day of the Lord’s wrath.(M)
It will not satisfy(N) their hunger
    or fill their stomachs,
    for it has caused them to stumble(O) into sin.(P)
20 They took pride in their beautiful jewelry
    and used it to make(Q) their detestable idols.
They made it into vile images;(R)
    therefore I will make it a thing unclean for them.(S)
21 I will give their wealth as plunder(T) to foreigners
    and as loot to the wicked of the earth,
    who will defile it.(U)
22 I will turn my face(V) away from the people,
    and robbers will desecrate the place I treasure.
They will enter it
    and will defile it.(W)

23 “‘Prepare chains!
    For the land is full of bloodshed,(X)
    and the city is full of violence.(Y)
24 I will bring the most wicked of nations
    to take possession of their houses.
I will put an end to the pride of the mighty,
    and their sanctuaries(Z) will be desecrated.(AA)
25 When terror comes,
    they will seek peace in vain.(AB)
26 Calamity upon calamity(AC) will come,
    and rumor upon rumor.
They will go searching for a vision from the prophet,(AD)
    priestly instruction in the law will cease,
    the counsel of the elders will come to an end.(AE)
27 The king will mourn,
    the prince will be clothed with despair,(AF)
    and the hands of the people of the land will tremble.
I will deal with them according to their conduct,(AG)
    and by their own standards I will judge them.

“‘Then they will know that I am the Lord.(AH)’”

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How Great Are Your Works

A Psalm. A Song for the Sabbath.

92 (A)It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
    to sing praises to your name, (B)O Most High;
to declare your (C)steadfast love in (D)the morning,
    and your (E)faithfulness by (F)night,
to the music of (G)the lute and (H)the harp,
    to the melody of (I)the lyre.
For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your (J)work;
    at (K)the works of your hands I sing for joy.

How (L)great are your works, O Lord!
    Your (M)thoughts are very (N)deep!
The stupid man cannot know;
    the fool cannot understand this:
that though (O)the wicked sprout like grass
    and all (P)evildoers flourish,
they are doomed to destruction forever;
    but you, O Lord, are (Q)on high forever.
For behold, your enemies, O Lord,
    for behold, your enemies shall perish;
    all evildoers shall be (R)scattered.

10 But you have exalted my (S)horn like that of (T)the wild ox;
    you have (U)poured over me[a] fresh oil.
11 My (V)eyes have seen the downfall of my enemies;
    my ears have heard the doom of my evil assailants.

12 (W)The righteous flourish like the palm tree
    and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
13 They are planted in the house of the Lord;
    they flourish in (X)the courts of our God.
14 They still bear fruit in old age;
    they are ever full of sap and green,
15 (Y)to declare that the Lord is upright;
    he is my (Z)rock, and there is (AA)no unrighteousness in him.

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 92:10 Compare Syriac; the meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain

Psalm 92[a]

A psalm. A song. For the Sabbath day.

It is good to praise the Lord
    and make music(A) to your name,(B) O Most High,(C)
proclaiming your love in the morning(D)
    and your faithfulness at night,
to the music of the ten-stringed lyre(E)
    and the melody of the harp.(F)

For you make me glad by your deeds, Lord;
    I sing for joy(G) at what your hands have done.(H)
How great are your works,(I) Lord,
    how profound your thoughts!(J)
Senseless people(K) do not know,
    fools do not understand,
that though the wicked spring up like grass
    and all evildoers flourish,
    they will be destroyed forever.(L)

But you, Lord, are forever exalted.

For surely your enemies(M), Lord,
    surely your enemies will perish;
    all evildoers will be scattered.(N)
10 You have exalted my horn[b](O) like that of a wild ox;(P)
    fine oils(Q) have been poured on me.
11 My eyes have seen the defeat of my adversaries;
    my ears have heard the rout of my wicked foes.(R)

12 The righteous will flourish(S) like a palm tree,
    they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon;(T)
13 planted in the house of the Lord,
    they will flourish in the courts of our God.(U)
14 They will still bear fruit(V) in old age,
    they will stay fresh and green,
15 proclaiming, “The Lord is upright;
    he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.(W)

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 92:1 In Hebrew texts 92:1-15 is numbered 92:2-16.
  2. Psalm 92:10 Horn here symbolizes strength.

Love Your Enemies

27 “But I say to you who hear, (A)Love your enemies, (B)do good to those who hate you, 28 (C)bless those who curse you, (D)pray for those who abuse you. 29 (E)To one who (F)strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic[a] either. 30 (G)Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. 31 And (H)as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.

32 (I)“If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And (J)if you (K)lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. 35 But (L)love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and (M)you will be sons of (N)the Most High, for (O)he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 36 (P)Be merciful, even as (Q)your Father is merciful.

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 6:29 Greek chiton, a long garment worn under the cloak next to the skin

Love for Enemies(A)

27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,(B) 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.(C) 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.(D) 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.(E)

32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?(F) Even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you?(G) Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them,(H) and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children(I) of the Most High,(J) because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful,(K) just as your Father(L) is merciful.

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22 For (A)as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then (B)at his coming (C)those who belong to Christ. 24 Then comes the end, when he delivers (D)the kingdom to God the Father after destroying (E)every rule and every authority and power. 25 For he must reign (F)until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be (G)destroyed is death. 27 For (H)“God[a] has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. 28 When (I)all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that (J)God may be all in all.

29 Otherwise, what do people mean by being baptized on behalf of the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized on their behalf? 30 Why are we (K)in danger every hour? 31 I protest, brothers, by (L)my pride in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, (M)I die every day! 32 What do I gain if, humanly speaking, (N)I fought with beasts at Ephesus? If the dead are not raised, (O)“Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” 33 (P)Do not be deceived: (Q)“Bad company ruins good morals.”[b] 34 (R)Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For (S)some have no knowledge of God. (T)I say this to your shame.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 15:27 Greek he
  2. 1 Corinthians 15:33 Probably from Menander's comedy Thais

22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.(A) 23 But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits;(B) then, when he comes,(C) those who belong to him.(D) 24 Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom(E) to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power.(F) 25 For he must reign(G) until he has put all his enemies under his feet.(H) 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death.(I) 27 For he “has put everything under his feet.”[a](J) Now when it says that “everything” has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ.(K) 28 When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him,(L) so that God may be all in all.(M)

29 Now if there is no resurrection, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized for them? 30 And as for us, why do we endanger ourselves every hour?(N) 31 I face death every day(O)—yes, just as surely as I boast about you in Christ Jesus our Lord. 32 If I fought wild beasts(P) in Ephesus(Q) with no more than human hopes, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised,

“Let us eat and drink,
    for tomorrow we die.”[b](R)

33 Do not be misled:(S) “Bad company corrupts good character.”[c](T) 34 Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God(U)—I say this to your shame.(V)

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 15:27 Psalm 8:6
  2. 1 Corinthians 15:32 Isaiah 22:13
  3. 1 Corinthians 15:33 From the Greek poet Menander