Genesis 24:1-16
English Standard Version
Isaac and Rebekah
24 Now Abraham was old, well advanced in years. And the Lord (A)had blessed Abraham in all things. 2 And Abraham said to his servant, (B)the oldest of his household, who had charge of all that he had, (C)“Put your hand under my thigh, 3 that I may make you swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and God of the earth, that (D)you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell, 4 (E)but will go to my country and to my kindred, and take a wife for my son Isaac.” 5 The servant said to him, “Perhaps the woman may not be willing to follow me to this land. Must I then take your son back to the land from which you came?” 6 Abraham said to him, “See to it that you do not take my son back there. 7 The Lord, the God of heaven, (F)who took me from my father's house and from the land of my kindred, and who spoke to me and swore to me, (G)‘To your offspring I will give this land,’ (H)he will send his angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there. 8 But if the woman is not willing to follow you, then (I)you will be free from this oath of mine; only you must not take my son back there.” 9 So the servant (J)put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master and swore to him concerning this matter.
10 Then the servant took ten of his master's camels and departed, taking all sorts of choice gifts from his master; and he arose and went to (K)Mesopotamia[a] to the city of Nahor. 11 And he made the camels kneel down outside the city by the well of water at the time of evening, the time when (L)women go out to draw water. 12 And he said, “O Lord, (M)God of my master Abraham, (N)please grant me success today and show steadfast love to my master Abraham. 13 Behold, (O)I am standing by the spring of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water. 14 Let the young woman to whom I shall say, ‘Please let down your jar that I may drink,’ and who shall say, ‘Drink, and I will water your camels’—let her be the one whom you have appointed for your servant Isaac. (P)By this[b] I shall know that you have shown steadfast love to my master.”
15 Before he had finished speaking, behold, Rebekah, who was born to Bethuel the son of (Q)Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, came out with her water jar on her shoulder. 16 The young woman (R)was very attractive in appearance, a maiden[c] whom no man had known. She went down to the spring and filled her jar and came up.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Genesis 24:10 Hebrew Aram-naharaim
- Genesis 24:14 Or By her
- Genesis 24:16 Or a woman of marriageable age
Genesis 24:1-16
New International Version
Isaac and Rebekah
24 Abraham was now very old,(A) and the Lord had blessed(B) him in every way.(C) 2 He said to the senior servant(D) in his household, the one in charge of all that he had,(E) “Put your hand under my thigh.(F) 3 I want you to swear(G) by the Lord, the God of heaven(H) and the God of earth,(I) that you will not get a wife for my son(J) from the daughters of the Canaanites,(K) among whom I am living,(L) 4 but will go to my country and my own relatives(M) and get a wife for my son Isaac.(N)”
5 The servant asked him, “What if the woman is unwilling to come back with me to this land?(O) Shall I then take your son back to the country you came from?(P)”
6 “Make sure that you do not take my son back there,”(Q) Abraham said. 7 “The Lord, the God of heaven,(R) who brought me out of my father’s household and my native land(S) and who spoke to me and promised me on oath, saying, ‘To your offspring[a](T) I will give this land’(U)—he will send his angel before you(V) so that you can get a wife for my son from there. 8 If the woman is unwilling to come back with you, then you will be released from this oath(W) of mine. Only do not take my son back there.”(X) 9 So the servant put his hand under the thigh(Y) of his master(Z) Abraham and swore an oath to him concerning this matter.
10 Then the servant left, taking with him ten of his master’s camels(AA) loaded with all kinds of good things(AB) from his master. He set out for Aram Naharaim[b](AC) and made his way to the town of Nahor.(AD) 11 He had the camels kneel down near the well(AE) outside the town; it was toward evening, the time the women go out to draw water.(AF)
12 Then he prayed, “Lord, God of my master Abraham,(AG) make me successful(AH) today, and show kindness(AI) to my master Abraham. 13 See, I am standing beside this spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water.(AJ) 14 May it be that when I say to a young woman, ‘Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink,(AK) and I’ll water your camels too’(AL)—let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac.(AM) By this I will know(AN) that you have shown kindness to my master.”
15 Before he had finished praying,(AO) Rebekah(AP) came out with her jar on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel(AQ) son of Milkah,(AR) who was the wife of Abraham’s brother Nahor.(AS) 16 The woman was very beautiful,(AT) a virgin;(AU) no man had ever slept with her. She went down to the spring, filled her jar and came up again.
Footnotes
- Genesis 24:7 Or seed
- Genesis 24:10 That is, Northwest Mesopotamia
Judges 3:1-11
English Standard Version
3 (A)Now these are the nations that the Lord left, to test Israel by them, that is, all in Israel who had not experienced all the wars in Canaan. 2 It was only in order that the generations of the people of Israel might know war, to teach war to those who had not known it before. 3 These are the nations: (B)the five lords of the Philistines and all the Canaanites and the Sidonians and the Hivites who lived on Mount Lebanon, from Mount Baal-hermon as far as Lebo-hamath. 4 They were for (C)the testing of Israel, to know whether Israel would obey the commandments of the Lord, which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses. 5 So the people of Israel lived (D)among the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. 6 (E)And their daughters they took to themselves for wives, and their own daughters they gave to their sons, and they served their gods.
Othniel
7 (F)And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. They forgot the Lord their God and served the Baals and (G)the Asheroth. 8 Therefore the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, (H)and he sold them into the hand of (I)Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia. And the people of Israel served Cushan-rishathaim eight years. 9 But when the people of Israel (J)cried out to the Lord, the Lord raised up a (K)deliverer for the people of Israel, who saved them, (L)Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother. 10 (M)The Spirit of the Lord was upon him, and he judged Israel. He went out to war, and the Lord gave Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand. And his hand prevailed over Cushan-rishathaim. 11 (N)So the land had rest for forty years. Then Othniel the son of Kenaz died.
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Judges 3:1-11
New International Version
3 These are the nations the Lord left to test(A) all those Israelites who had not experienced any of the wars in Canaan 2 (he did this only to teach warfare to the descendants of the Israelites who had not had previous battle experience): 3 the five(B) rulers of the Philistines,(C) all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites(D) living in the Lebanon mountains from Mount Baal Hermon(E) to Lebo Hamath.(F) 4 They were left to test(G) the Israelites to see whether they would obey the Lord’s commands, which he had given their ancestors through Moses.
5 The Israelites lived(H) among the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites,(I) Hivites and Jebusites.(J) 6 They took their daughters(K) in marriage and gave their own daughters to their sons, and served their gods.(L)
Othniel
7 The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord; they forgot the Lord(M) their God and served the Baals and the Asherahs.(N) 8 The anger of the Lord burned against Israel so that he sold(O) them into the hands of Cushan-Rishathaim(P) king of Aram Naharaim,[a](Q) to whom the Israelites were subject for eight years. 9 But when they cried out(R) to the Lord, he raised up for them a deliverer,(S) Othniel(T) son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother, who saved them. 10 The Spirit of the Lord came on him,(U) so that he became Israel’s judge[b] and went to war. The Lord gave Cushan-Rishathaim(V) king of Aram(W) into the hands of Othniel, who overpowered him. 11 So the land had peace(X) for forty years,(Y) until Othniel son of Kenaz(Z) died.
Footnotes
- Judges 3:8 That is, Northwest Mesopotamia
- Judges 3:10 Or leader
Isaiah 29:17-30:7
English Standard Version
17 Is it not yet a very little while
(A)until Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field,
and the fruitful field shall be regarded as a forest?
18 In that day (B)the deaf shall hear
(C)the words of a book,
and out of their gloom and darkness
(D)the eyes of the blind shall see.
19 (E)The meek shall obtain fresh joy in the Lord,
and the poor among mankind shall exult in the Holy One of Israel.
20 For the ruthless shall come to nothing
and (F)the scoffer cease,
and all who watch to do evil shall be cut off,
21 who by a word make a man out to be an offender,
and (G)lay a snare for him who reproves in the gate,
and with an empty plea (H)turn aside him who is in the right.
22 Therefore thus says the Lord, (I)who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob:
“Jacob shall no more be ashamed,
no more shall his face grow pale.
23 For when he sees his children,
(J)the work of my hands, in his midst,
they will sanctify my name;
(K)they will sanctify the Holy One of Jacob
and will stand in awe of the God of Israel.
24 And those (L)who go astray in spirit will come to understanding,
and those who murmur will accept instruction.”
Do Not Go Down to Egypt
30 “Ah, (M)stubborn children,” declares the Lord,
(N)“who carry out a plan, but not mine,
and who make (O)an alliance,[a] but not of my Spirit,
that they may add sin to sin;
2 (P)who set out to go down to Egypt,
without asking for my direction,
to take refuge in the protection of Pharaoh
and to seek shelter in the shadow of Egypt!
3 (Q)Therefore shall the protection of Pharaoh turn to your shame,
and the shelter in the shadow of Egypt to your humiliation.
4 For though his officials are at (R)Zoan
and (S)his envoys reach (T)Hanes,
5 everyone comes to shame
through (U)a people that cannot profit them,
that brings neither help nor profit,
but shame and disgrace.”
6 An (V)oracle on (W)the beasts of (X)the Negeb.
Through a land of trouble and anguish,
from where come the lioness and the lion,
the adder and the (Y)flying fiery serpent,
they carry their riches on the backs of donkeys,
and their treasures on the humps of camels,
to a people that cannot profit them.
7 Egypt's (Z)help is worthless and empty;
therefore I have called her
(AA)“Rahab who sits still.”
Footnotes
- Isaiah 30:1 Hebrew who weave a web
Isaiah 29:17-30:7
New International Version
17 In a very short time,(A) will not Lebanon(B) be turned into a fertile field(C)
and the fertile field seem like a forest?(D)
18 In that day(E) the deaf(F) will hear the words of the scroll,
and out of gloom and darkness(G)
the eyes of the blind will see.(H)
19 Once more the humble(I) will rejoice in the Lord;
the needy(J) will rejoice in the Holy One(K) of Israel.
20 The ruthless(L) will vanish,(M)
the mockers(N) will disappear,
and all who have an eye for evil(O) will be cut down—
21 those who with a word make someone out to be guilty,
who ensnare the defender in court(P)
and with false testimony(Q) deprive the innocent of justice.(R)
22 Therefore this is what the Lord, who redeemed(S) Abraham,(T) says to the descendants of Jacob:
“No longer will Jacob be ashamed;(U)
no longer will their faces grow pale.(V)
23 When they see among them their children,(W)
the work of my hands,(X)
they will keep my name holy;(Y)
they will acknowledge the holiness of the Holy One(Z) of Jacob,
and will stand in awe of the God of Israel.
24 Those who are wayward(AA) in spirit will gain understanding;(AB)
those who complain will accept instruction.”(AC)
Woe to the Obstinate Nation
30 “Woe(AD) to the obstinate children,”(AE)
declares the Lord,
“to those who carry out plans that are not mine,
forming an alliance,(AF) but not by my Spirit,
heaping sin upon sin;
2 who go down to Egypt(AG)
without consulting(AH) me;
who look for help to Pharaoh’s protection,(AI)
to Egypt’s shade for refuge.(AJ)
3 But Pharaoh’s protection will be to your shame,
Egypt’s shade(AK) will bring you disgrace.(AL)
4 Though they have officials in Zoan(AM)
and their envoys have arrived in Hanes,
5 everyone will be put to shame
because of a people(AN) useless(AO) to them,
who bring neither help(AP) nor advantage,
but only shame and disgrace.(AQ)”
6 A prophecy(AR) concerning the animals of the Negev:(AS)
Through a land of hardship and distress,(AT)
of lions(AU) and lionesses,
of adders and darting snakes,(AV)
the envoys carry their riches on donkeys’(AW) backs,
their treasures(AX) on the humps of camels,
to that unprofitable nation,
7 to Egypt, whose help is utterly useless.(AY)
Therefore I call her
Rahab(AZ) the Do-Nothing.
Job 21:1-15
English Standard Version
Job Replies: The Wicked Do Prosper
21 Then Job answered and said:
2 (A)“Keep listening to my words,
and let this be your comfort.
3 Bear with me, and I will speak,
and after I have spoken, (B)mock on.
4 As for me, is my (C)complaint against man?
Why should I not be impatient?
5 Look at me and be appalled,
and (D)lay your hand over your mouth.
6 When I remember, I am dismayed,
and shuddering seizes my flesh.
7 (E)Why do the wicked live,
reach old age, and grow mighty in power?
8 Their (F)offspring are established in their presence,
and their descendants before their eyes.
9 Their houses are (G)safe from fear,
and (H)no rod of God is upon them.
10 Their bull breeds without fail;
their cow calves and (I)does not miscarry.
11 They send out their (J)little boys like a flock,
and their children dance.
12 They sing to (K)the tambourine and (L)the lyre
and rejoice to the sound of (M)the pipe.
13 They (N)spend their days in prosperity,
and in (O)peace they go down to (P)Sheol.
14 They say to God, (Q)‘Depart from us!
We do not desire the knowledge of your ways.
15 (R)What is the Almighty, that we should serve him?
And what (S)profit do we get if we pray to him?’
Job 21:1-15
New International Version
Job
21 Then Job replied:
2 “Listen carefully to my words;(A)
let this be the consolation you give me.(B)
3 Bear with me while I speak,
and after I have spoken, mock on.(C)
4 “Is my complaint(D) directed to a human being?
Why should I not be impatient?(E)
5 Look at me and be appalled;
clap your hand over your mouth.(F)
6 When I think about this, I am terrified;(G)
trembling seizes my body.(H)
7 Why do the wicked live on,
growing old and increasing in power?(I)
8 They see their children established around them,
their offspring before their eyes.(J)
9 Their homes are safe and free from fear;(K)
the rod of God is not on them.(L)
10 Their bulls never fail to breed;
their cows calve and do not miscarry.(M)
11 They send forth their children as a flock;(N)
their little ones dance about.
12 They sing to the music of timbrel and lyre;(O)
they make merry to the sound of the pipe.(P)
13 They spend their years in prosperity(Q)
and go down to the grave(R) in peace.[a](S)
14 Yet they say to God, ‘Leave us alone!(T)
We have no desire to know your ways.(U)
15 Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him?
What would we gain by praying to him?’(V)
Footnotes
- Job 21:13 Or in an instant
Matthew 12:33-45
English Standard Version
A Tree Is Known by Its Fruit
33 (A)“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, (B)for the tree is known by its fruit. 34 (C)You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, (D)when you are evil? (E)For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 (F)The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. 36 I tell you, (G)on the day of judgment (H)people will give account for (I)every careless word they speak, 37 for (J)by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
The Sign of Jonah
38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, “Teacher, (K)we wish to see a sign from you.” 39 But he answered them, (L)“An evil and (M)adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For (N)just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, (O)so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 (P)The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and (Q)condemn it, for (R)they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, (S)something greater than Jonah is here. 42 (T)The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, (U)something greater than Solomon is here.
Return of an Unclean Spirit
43 “When (V)the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through (W)waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. 44 Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. 45 Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and (X)the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this (Y)evil generation.”
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Matthew 12:33-45
New International Version
33 “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit.(A) 34 You brood of vipers,(B) how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks(C) what the heart is full of. 35 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. 36 But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”(D)
The Sign of Jonah(E)(F)
38 Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign(G) from you.”(H)
39 He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.(I) 40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish,(J) so the Son of Man(K) will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.(L) 41 The men of Nineveh(M) will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah,(N) and now something greater than Jonah is here. 42 The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came(O) from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, and now something greater than Solomon is here.
43 “When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. 44 Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. 45 Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first.(P) That is how it will be with this wicked generation.”
Acts 12:1-11
English Standard Version
James Killed and Peter Imprisoned
12 About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. 2 He killed (A)James the brother of John (B)with the sword, 3 and when he saw (C)that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during (D)the days of Unleavened Bread. 4 And when he had seized him, he put him (E)in prison, delivering him over to four (F)squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people. 5 So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest (G)prayer for him was made to God by the church.
Peter Is Rescued
6 Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, (H)bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison. 7 And behold, (I)an angel of the Lord (J)stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. (K)He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And (L)the chains fell off his hands. 8 And the angel said to him, “Dress yourself and (M)put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” 9 And he went out and followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but (N)thought he was seeing a vision. 10 When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. (O)It opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him. 11 When Peter (P)came to himself, he said, “Now I am sure that (Q)the Lord has sent his angel and (R)rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.”
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Acts 12:1-11
New International Version
Peter’s Miraculous Escape From Prison
12 It was about this time that King Herod(A) arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. 2 He had James, the brother of John,(B) put to death with the sword.(C) 3 When he saw that this met with approval among the Jews,(D) he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Festival of Unleavened Bread.(E) 4 After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover.(F)
5 So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.(G)
6 The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains,(H) and sentries stood guard at the entrance. 7 Suddenly an angel(I) of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists.(J)
8 Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him. 9 Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision.(K) 10 They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself,(L) and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him.
11 Then Peter came to himself(M) and said, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me(N) from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen.”
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