Book of Common Prayer

¹⁴ So the people left their tents to cross the Yarden, with the cohanim carrying the ark for the covenant ahead of the people. ¹⁵ When those carrying the ark had come to the Yarden, and the cohanim carrying the ark had waded into the water (for throughout harvest season the Yarden overflows its banks), ¹⁶ the water upstream stood piled up like an embankment for a great distance at Adam, the city next to Tzartan; so that the water flowing downstream toward the Sea of the ‘Aravah, the Dead Sea, was completely cut off; and the people crossed over right by Yericho. ¹⁷ The cohanim carrying the ark for the covenant of Adonai stood fast on dry ground in the middle of the Yarden, while all Isra’el crossed on dry ground, until the entire nation had finished crossing the Yarden.

4 After the whole nation had finished crossing the Yarden, Adonai said to Y’hoshua, ² “Take for yourselves from the people twelve men, a man from every tribe; ³ and give them this order: ‘Take twelve stones from the middle of the Yarden riverbed, where the cohanim are standing, carry them over with you and set them down in the place where you will camp tonight.’” ⁴ Y’hoshua called the twelve men whom he had chosen from the people of Isra’el, a man from every tribe, ⁵ and said to them, “Go on ahead of the ark of Adonai your God into the riverbed of the Yarden. Then, each of you take a stone on his shoulder, corresponding to the number of tribes of the people of Isra’el. ⁶ This will be a sign for you. In the future, when your children ask, ‘What do you mean by these stones?’ ⁷ you will answer them, ‘It’s because the water in the Yarden was cut off before the ark for the covenant of Adonai; when it crossed the Yarden, the water in the Yarden was cut off; and these stones are to be a reminder for the people of Isra’el forever.’”

5 So imitate God, as his dear children; ² and live a life of love, just as also the Messiah loved us, indeed, on our behalf gave himself up as an offering, as a slaughtered sacrifice to God with a pleasing fragrance. ³ Among you there should not even be mentioned sexual immorality, or any kind of impurity, or greed; these are utterly inappropriate for God’s holy people. ⁴ Also out of place are obscenity and stupid talk or coarse language; instead, you should be giving thanks. ⁵ For of this you can be sure: every sexually immoral, impure or greedy person — that is, every idol-worshipper — has no share in the Kingdom of the Messiah and of God. ⁶ Let no one deceive you with empty talk; for it is because of these things that God’s judgment is coming on those who disobey him. ⁷ So don’t become partners with them!

⁸ For you used to be darkness; but now, united with the Lord, you are light. Live like children of light, ⁹ for the fruit of the light is in every kind of goodness, rightness and truth — ¹⁰ try to determine what will please the Lord. ¹¹ Have nothing to do with the deeds produced by darkness, but instead expose them, ¹² for it is shameful even to speak of the things these people do in secret. ¹³ But everything exposed to the light is revealed clearly for what it is, ¹⁴ since anything revealed is a light. This is why it says,

¹⁵ Therefore, pay careful attention to how you conduct your life — live wisely, not unwisely. ¹⁶ Use your time well, for these are evil days. ¹⁷ So don’t be foolish, but try to understand what the will of the Lord is.

¹⁸ Don’t get drunk with wine, because it makes you lose control. Instead, keep on being filled with the Spirit — ¹⁹ sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs to each other; sing to the Lord and make music in your heart to him; ²⁰ always give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah.

9 As Yeshua passed along, he saw a man blind from birth. ² His talmidim asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned — this man or his parents — to cause him to be born blind?” ³ Yeshua answered, “His blindness is due neither to his sin nor to that of his parents; it happened so that God’s power might be seen at work in him. ⁴ As long as it is day, we must keep doing the work of the One who sent me; the night is coming, when no one can work. ⁵ While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

⁶ Having said this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, put the mud on the man’s eyes, ⁷ and said to him, “Go, wash off in the Pool of Shiloach!” (The name means “sent.”) So he went and washed and came away seeing.

⁸ His neighbors and those who previously had seen him begging said, “Isn’t this the man who used to sit and beg?” ⁹ Some said, “Yes, he’s the one”; while others said, “No, but he looks like him.” However, he himself said, “I’m the one.” ¹⁰ “How were your eyes opened?” they asked him. ¹¹ He answered, “The man called Yeshua made mud, put it on my eyes, and told me, ‘Go to Shiloach and wash!’ So I went; and as soon as I had washed, I could see.” ¹² They said to him, “Where is he?” and he replied, “I don’t know.”

³⁵ Yeshua heard that they had thrown the man out. He found him and said, “Do you trust in the Son of Man?” ³⁶ “Sir,” he answered, “tell me who he is, so that I can trust in him.” ³⁷ Yeshua said to him, “You have seen him. In fact, he’s the one speaking with you now.” ³⁸ “Lord, I trust!” he said, and he kneeled down in front of him.