The Daily Audio Bible
A Reminder to Keep God’s Laws
26 Soon you will enter and take possession of the land that the Lord your God is giving you as your property. When you have settled there, 2 take some of the first produce harvested from the fields in the land that the Lord your God is giving you, and put it in a basket. Then go to the place where the Lord your God will choose for his name to live. 3 Go to the priest who is serving at that time, and tell him, “I declare today to the Lord your God that I have come to the land that the Lord is giving us, as he swore to our ancestors.” 4 Then the priest will take the basket from you and set it down in front of the altar of the Lord your God. 5 You will make this formal statement in the presence of the Lord your God: “My ancestors were wandering Arameans. There were only a few of them when they went to Egypt and lived as foreigners. But then they became a great, powerful, and large nation. 6 So the Egyptians treated us cruelly, oppressed us, and made us do back-breaking work for them. 7 We cried out to the Lord God of our ancestors, and he heard us. He saw our misery, suffering, and oppression. 8 Then the Lord used his mighty hand and powerful arm to bring us out of Egypt. He used spectacular and awe-inspiring deeds, miraculous signs, and amazing things. 9 He brought us to this place and gave us this land flowing with milk and honey. 10 So now I’ve brought the first produce harvested from the fields you gave me, Lord.”
You will place the basket in the presence of the Lord your God and bow down in front of him. 11 Then you, the Levites, and the foreigners who live among you can enjoy all the good things which the Lord your God has given you and your family.
12 Every third year is the year when you will store a tenth of that year’s crops ⌞in your houses⌟. During that year distribute what you have stored to the Levites, foreigners, orphans, and widows in your cities, and they may eat all they want. 13 When you have distributed all that was stored, say to the Lord your God, “Nothing is left of the holy offering stored in my house. I distributed it to the Levites, foreigners, orphans, and widows as you commanded me. I disobeyed none of your commands, and I didn’t forget to do what you commanded. 14 I didn’t eat any of this holy offering while I was in mourning. I didn’t distribute any of it while I was unclean.[a] I didn’t offer any of it to the dead. I have obeyed the Lord my God. I have done everything you commanded me. 15 Look down from your holy place in heaven. Bless your people Israel and the land flowing with milk and honey that you have given us, as you promised with an oath to our ancestors.”
16 Today the Lord your God is commanding you to obey these laws and rules. You must faithfully obey them with all your heart and with all your soul. 17 Today you have declared that the Lord is your God and that you will follow his directions, obey his laws, commands, and rules, and listen to him. 18 Today the Lord has declared that you are his people, his own special possession, as he told you. But you must be sure to obey his commands. 19 Then he will place you high above all the other nations he has made. He will give you praise, fame, and honor, and you will be a people holy to the Lord your God, as he promised.
Write the Law on Stones
27 Moses and the leaders of Israel told the people, “Obey every command I’m giving you today.
2 “The day you cross the Jordan River and enter the land that the Lord your God is giving you, set up some large stones and cover them with plaster. 3 The Lord God of your ancestors is giving you a land flowing with milk and honey, as he promised you. After you’re in that land, write all the words of these teachings on the stones. 4 After you cross the Jordan River, set up these stones on Mount Ebal, and cover them with plaster, following the command I’m giving you today. 5 Build an altar of stones there dedicated to the Lord your God. Don’t use an iron chisel on the stones. 6 You must use uncut stones to build the altar of the Lord your God. Sacrifice burnt offerings on it to the Lord your God. 7 Sacrifice fellowship offerings, eat them there, and enjoy yourselves in the presence of the Lord your God. 8 Write clearly and carefully all the words of these teachings on the stones you set up.”
9 Then Moses and the Levitical priests said to all Israel, “Be quiet and listen, Israel. Today you have become the people of the Lord your God. 10 Obey the Lord your God and follow his commands and laws which I’m giving you today.”
Curses Which Are to Be Recited
11 That same day Moses gave the people this command: 12 After you cross the Jordan River, these are the tribes that will stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin. 13 These are the tribes that will stand on Mount Ebal to announce the curses: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.
14 The Levites will declare to all the people of Israel in a loud voice:
15 “Whoever has a carved or metal statue, anything disgusting to the Lord that was made by a craftsman, and sets it up in secret will be cursed.” Then all the people will say amen.
16 “Whoever curses his father or mother will himself be cursed.” Then all the people will say amen.
17 “Whoever moves his neighbor’s boundary marker will be cursed.” Then all the people will say amen.
18 “Whoever leads blind people in the wrong direction will be cursed.” Then all the people will say amen.
19 “Whoever deprives foreigners, orphans, or widows of justice will be cursed.” Then all the people will say amen.
20 “Whoever has sexual intercourse with his father’s wife will be cursed. He has disgraced his father.” Then all the people will say amen.
21 “Whoever has sexual intercourse with any animal will be cursed.” Then all the people will say amen.
22 “Whoever has sexual intercourse with his sister, his father’s daughter, or his mother’s daughter will be cursed.” Then all the people will say amen.
23 “Whoever has sexual intercourse with his mother-in-law will be cursed.” Then all the people will say amen.
24 “Whoever kills another person secretly will be cursed.” Then all the people will say amen.
25 “Whoever accepts money to kill an innocent person will be cursed.” Then all the people will say amen.
26 “Whoever doesn’t obey every word of these teachings will be cursed.” Then all the people will say amen.
Mary Listens to Jesus
38 As they were traveling along, Jesus went into a village. A woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. 39 She had a sister named Mary. Mary sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to him talk.
40 But Martha was upset about all the work she had to do. So she asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work all by myself? Tell her to help me.”
41 The Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha! You worry and fuss about a lot of things. 42 There’s only one thing you need.[a] Mary has made the right choice, and that one thing will not be taken away from her.”
The Lord’s Prayer(A)
11 Once Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he stopped praying, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray as John taught his disciples.”
2 Jesus told them, “When you pray, say this:
Father,
let your name be kept holy.
Let your kingdom come.
3 Give us our bread day by day.
4 Forgive us as we forgive everyone else.
Don’t allow us to be tempted.”
The Power of Prayer(B)
5 Jesus said to his disciples, “Suppose one of you has a friend. Suppose you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, let me borrow three loaves of bread. 6 A friend of mine on a trip has dropped in on me, and I don’t have anything to serve him.’ 7 Your friend might answer you from inside his house, ‘Don’t bother me! The door is already locked, and my children are in bed. I can’t get up to give you anything.’ 8 I can guarantee that although he doesn’t want to get up to give you anything, he will get up and give you whatever you need because he is your friend and because you were so bold.
9 “So I tell you to ask, and you will receive. Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened for you. 10 Everyone who asks will receive. The one who searches will find, and for the person who knocks, the door will be opened.
11 “If your child asks you, his father, for a fish, would you give him a snake instead? 12 Or if your child asks you for an egg, would you give him a scorpion? 13 Even though you’re evil, you know how to give good gifts to your children. So how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”
For the choir director; on stringed instruments; a psalm by Asaph; a song.
76 God is known in Judah.
His name is great in Israel.
2 His tent is in Salem.
His home is in Zion.
3 There he destroyed flaming arrows,
shields, swords, and weapons of war. Selah
4 You are the radiant one.
You are more majestic than the ancient mountains.[a]
5 Brave people were robbed.
They died.
None of the warriors were able to lift a hand.
6 At your stern warning, O God of Jacob,
chariot riders and horses were put to sleep.
7 You alone must be feared!
Who can stand in your presence when you become angry?
8 From heaven you announced a verdict.
The earth was fearful and silent
9 when you rose to judge, O God,
when you rose to save every oppressed person on earth. Selah
10 Even angry mortals will praise you.
You will wear the remainder of ⌞their⌟ anger.
11 Make vows to the Lord your God, and keep them.
Let everyone around him bring gifts to the one who must be feared.
12 He cuts short the lives of influential people.
He terrifies the kings of the earth.
15 A stubborn fool considers his own way the right one,
but a person who listens to advice is wise.
16 When a stubborn fool is irritated, he shows it immediately,
but a sensible person hides the insult.
17 A truthful witness speaks honestly,
but a lying witness speaks deceitfully.
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