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Daily Readings for March 12
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Leviticus 20
1.Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 2."Moreover, you shall tell the children of Israel, 'Anyone of the children of Israel, or of the strangers who live as foreigners in Israel, who gives any of his seed to Molech; he shall surely be put to death. The people of the land shall stone him with stones. 3.I also will set my face against that person, and will cut him off from among his people because he has given of his seed to Molech, to defile my sanctuary, and to profane my holy name. 4.If the people of the land all hide their eyes from that person, when he gives of his seed to Molech, and don't put him to death; 5.then I will set my face against that man, and against his family, and will cut him off, and all who play the prostitute after him, to play the prostitute with Molech, from among their people.
6."'The person that turns to those who are mediums, and to the wizards, to play the prostitute after them, I will even set my face against that person, and will cut him off from among his people.
7."'Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be holy; for I am Yahweh your God. 8.You shall keep my statutes, and do them. I am Yahweh who sanctifies you.
9."'For everyone who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death: he has cursed his father or his mother; his blood shall be upon him.
10."'The man who commits adultery with another man's wife, even he who commits adultery with his neighbor's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.
11."'The man who lies with his father's wife has uncovered his father's nakedness: both of them shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
12."'If a man lies with his daughter-in-law, both of them shall surely be put to death: they have committed a perversion; their blood shall be upon them.
13."'If a man lies with a male, as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
14."'If a man takes a wife and her mother, it is wickedness: they shall be burned with fire, both he and they; that there may be no wickedness among you.
15."'If a man lies with an animal, he shall surely be put to death; and you shall kill the animal.
16."'If a woman approaches any animal, and lies down with it, you shall kill the woman, and the animal: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
17."'If a man takes his sister, his father's daughter, or his mother's daughter, and sees her nakedness, and she sees his nakedness; it is a shameful thing; and they shall be cut off in the sight of the children of their people: he has uncovered his sister's nakedness; he shall bear his iniquity.
18."'If a man lies with a woman having her monthly period, and uncovers her nakedness; he has made naked her fountain, and she has uncovered the fountain of her blood: and both of them shall be cut off from among their people.
19."'You shall not uncover the nakedness of your mother's sister, nor of your father's sister; for he has made naked his close relative: they shall bear their iniquity. 20.If a man lies with his uncle's wife, he has uncovered his uncle's nakedness: they shall bear their sin; they shall die childless.
21."'If a man takes his brother's wife, it is an impurity: he has uncovered his brother's nakedness; they shall be childless.
22."'You shall therefore keep all my statutes, and all my ordinances, and do them; that the land, where I am bringing you to dwell, may not vomit you out. 23.You shall not walk in the customs of the nation, which I am casting out before you: for they did all these things, and therefore I abhorred them. 24.But I have said to you, "You shall inherit their land, and I will give it to you to possess it, a land flowing with milk and honey." I am Yahweh your God, who has separated you from the peoples.
25."'You shall therefore make a distinction between the clean animal and the unclean, and between the unclean fowl and the clean: and you shall not make yourselves abominable by animal, or by bird, or by anything with which the ground teems, which I have separated from you as unclean for you. 26.You shall be holy to me: for I, Yahweh, am holy, and have set you apart from the peoples, that you should be mine.
27."'A man or a woman that is a medium, or is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones; their blood shall be upon them.'"
Psalm 119
1.Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to Yahweh's law. 2.Blessed are those who keep his statutes, who seek him with their whole heart. 3.Yes, they do nothing wrong. They walk in his ways. 4.You have commanded your precepts, that we should fully obey them. 5.Oh that my ways were steadfast to obey your statutes! 6.Then I wouldn't be disappointed, when I consider all of your commandments. 7.I will give thanks to you with uprightness of heart, when I learn your righteous judgments. 8.I will observe your statutes. Don't utterly forsake me.
9.How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. 10.With my whole heart, I have sought you. Don't let me wander from your commandments. 11.I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. 12.Blessed are you, Yahweh. Teach me your statutes. 13.With my lips, I have declared all the ordinances of your mouth. 14.I have rejoiced in the way of your testimonies, as much as in all riches. 15.I will meditate on your precepts, and consider your ways. 16.I will delight myself in your statutes. I will not forget your word.
105.Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light for my path. 106.I have sworn, and have confirmed it, that I will obey your righteous ordinances. 107.I am afflicted very much. Revive me, Yahweh, according to your word. 108.Accept, I beg you, the willing offerings of my mouth. Yahweh, teach me your ordinances. 109.My soul is continually in my hand, yet I won't forget your law. 110.The wicked have laid a snare for me, yet I haven't gone astray from your precepts. 111.I have taken your testimonies as a heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart. 112.I have set my heart to perform your statutes forever, even to the end.
113.I hate double-minded men, but I love your law. 114.You are my hiding place and my shield. I hope in your word. 115.Depart from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commandments of my God. 116.Uphold me according to your word, that I may live. Let me not be ashamed of my hope. 117.Hold me up, and I will be safe, and will have respect for your statutes continually. 118.You reject all those who stray from your statutes, for their deceit is in vain. 119.You put away all the wicked of the earth like dross. Therefore I love your testimonies. 120.My flesh trembles for fear of you. I am afraid of your judgments.
121.I have done what is just and righteous. Don't leave me to my oppressors. 122.Ensure your servant's well-being. Don't let the proud oppress me. 123.My eyes fail looking for your salvation, for your righteous word. 124.Deal with your servant according to your loving kindness. Teach me your statutes. 125.I am your servant. Give me understanding, that I may know your testimonies. 126.It is time to act, Yahweh, for they break your law. 127.Therefore I love your commandments more than gold, yes, more than pure gold. 128.Therefore I consider all of your precepts to be right. I hate every false way.
129.Your testimonies are wonderful, therefore my soul keeps them. 130.The entrance of your words gives light. It gives understanding to the simple. 131.I opened my mouth wide and panted, for I longed for your commandments. 132.Turn to me, and have mercy on me, as you always do to those who love your name. 133.Establish my footsteps in your word. Don't let any iniquity have dominion over me. 134.Redeem me from the oppression of man, so I will observe your precepts. 135.Make your face shine on your servant. Teach me your statutes. 136.Streams of tears run down my eyes, because they don't observe your law.
137.You are righteous, Yahweh. Your judgments are upright. 138.You have commanded your statutes in righteousness. They are fully trustworthy. 139.My zeal wears me out, because my enemies ignore your words. 140.Your promises have been thoroughly tested, and your servant loves them. 141.I am small and despised. I don't forget your precepts. 142.Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness. Your law is truth. 143.Trouble and anguish have taken hold of me. Your commandments are my delight. 144.Your testimonies are righteous forever. Give me understanding, that I may live.
145.I have called with my whole heart. Answer me, Yahweh! I will keep your statutes. 146.I have called to you. Save me! I will obey your statutes. 147.I rise before dawn and cry for help. I put my hope in your words. 148.My eyes stay open through the night watches, that I might meditate on your word. 149.Hear my voice according to your loving kindness. Revive me, Yahweh, according to your ordinances. 150.They draw near who follow after wickedness. They are far from your law. 151.You are near, Yahweh. All your commandments are truth. 152.Of old I have known from your testimonies, that you have founded them forever.
153.Consider my affliction, and deliver me, for I don't forget your law. 154.Plead my cause, and redeem me! Revive me according to your promise. 155.Salvation is far from the wicked, for they don't seek your statutes. 156.Great are your tender mercies, Yahweh. Revive me according to your ordinances. 157.Many are my persecutors and my adversaries. I haven't swerved from your testimonies. 158.I look at the faithless with loathing, because they don't observe your word. 159.Consider how I love your precepts. Revive me, Yahweh, according to your loving kindness. 160.All of your words are truth. Every one of your righteous ordinances endures forever.
161.Princes have persecuted me without a cause, but my heart stands in awe of your words. 162.I rejoice at your word, as one who finds great spoil. 163.I hate and abhor falsehood. I love your law. 164.Seven times a day, I praise you, because of your righteous ordinances. 165.Those who love your law have great peace. Nothing causes them to stumble. 166.I have hoped for your salvation, Yahweh. I have done your commandments. 167.My soul has observed your testimonies. I love them exceedingly. 168.I have obeyed your precepts and your testimonies, for all my ways are before you.
169.Let my cry come before you, Yahweh. Give me understanding according to your word. 170.Let my supplication come before you. Deliver me according to your word. 171.Let my lips utter praise, for you teach me your statutes. 172.Let my tongue sing of your word, for all your commandments are righteousness. 173.Let your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts. 174.I have longed for your salvation, Yahweh. Your law is my delight. 175.Let my soul live, that I may praise you. Let your ordinances help me. 176.I have gone astray like a lost sheep. Seek your servant, for I don't forget your commandments.
17.Do good to your servant. I will live and I will obey your word. 18.Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things out of your law. 19.I am a stranger on the earth. Don't hide your commandments from me. 20.My soul is consumed with longing for your ordinances at all times. 21.You have rebuked the proud who are cursed, who wander from your commandments. 22.Take reproach and contempt away from me, for I have kept your statutes. 23.Though princes sit and slander me, your servant will meditate on your statutes. 24.Indeed your statutes are my delight, and my counselors.
25.My soul is laid low in the dust. Revive me according to your word! 26.I declared my ways, and you answered me. Teach me your statutes. 27.Let me understand the teaching of your precepts! Then I will meditate on your wondrous works. 28.My soul is weary with sorrow: strengthen me according to your word. 29.Keep me from the way of deceit. Grant me your law graciously! 30.I have chosen the way of truth. I have set your ordinances before me. 31.I cling to your statutes, Yahweh. Don't let me be disappointed. 32.I run in the path of your commandments, for you have set my heart free.
33.Teach me, Yahweh, the way of your statutes. I will keep them to the end. 34.Give me understanding, and I will keep your law. Yes, I will obey it with my whole heart. 35.Direct me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in them. 36.Turn my heart toward your statutes, not toward selfish gain. 37.Turn my eyes away from looking at worthless things. Revive me in your ways. 38.Fulfill your promise to your servant, that you may be feared. 39.Take away my disgrace that I dread, for your ordinances are good. 40.Behold, I long for your precepts! Revive me in your righteousness.
41.Let your loving kindness also come to me, Yahweh, your salvation, according to your word. 42.So I will have an answer for him who reproaches me, for I trust in your word. 43.Don't snatch the word of truth out of my mouth, for I put my hope in your ordinances. 44.So I will obey your law continually, forever and ever. 45.I will walk in liberty, for I have sought your precepts. 46.I will also speak of your statutes before kings, and will not be disappointed. 47.I will delight myself in your commandments, because I love them. 48.I reach out my hands for your commandments, which I love. I will meditate on your statutes.
49.Remember your word to your servant, because you gave me hope. 50.This is my comfort in my affliction, for your word has revived me. 51.The arrogant mock me excessively, but I don't swerve from your law. 52.I remember your ordinances of old, Yahweh, and have comforted myself. 53.Indignation has taken hold on me, because of the wicked who forsake your law. 54.Your statutes have been my songs, in the house where I live. 55.I have remembered your name, Yahweh, in the night, and I obey your law. 56.This is my way, that I keep your precepts.
57.Yahweh is my portion. I promised to obey your words. 58.I sought your favor with my whole heart. Be merciful to me according to your word. 59.I considered my ways, and turned my steps to your statutes. 60.I will hurry, and not delay, to obey your commandments. 61.The ropes of the wicked bind me, but I won't forget your law. 62.At midnight I will rise to give thanks to you, because of your righteous ordinances. 63.I am a friend of all those who fear you, of those who observe your precepts. 64.The earth is full of your loving kindness, Yahweh. Teach me your statutes.
65.Do good to your servant, according to your word, Yahweh. 66.Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe in your commandments. 67.Before I was afflicted, I went astray; but now I observe your word. 68.You are good, and do good. Teach me your statutes. 69.The proud have smeared a lie upon me. With my whole heart, I will keep your precepts. 70.Their heart is as callous as the fat, but I delight in your law. 71.It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn your statutes. 72.The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of pieces of gold and silver.
73.Your hands have made me and formed me. Give me understanding, that I may learn your commandments. 74.Those who fear you will see me and be glad, because I have put my hope in your word. 75.Yahweh, I know that your judgments are righteous, that in faithfulness you have afflicted me. 76.Please let your loving kindness be for my comfort, according to your word to your servant. 77.Let your tender mercies come to me, that I may live; for your law is my delight. 78.Let the proud be disappointed, for they have overthrown me wrongfully. I will meditate on your precepts. 79.Let those who fear you turn to me. They will know your statutes. 80.Let my heart be blameless toward your decrees, that I may not be disappointed.
81.My soul faints for your salvation. I hope in your word. 82.My eyes fail for your word. I say, "When will you comfort me?" 83.For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke. I don't forget your statutes. 84.How many are the days of your servant? When will you execute judgment on those who persecute me? 85.The proud have dug pits for me, contrary to your law. 86.All of your commandments are faithful. They persecute me wrongfully. Help me! 87.They had almost wiped me from the earth, but I didn't forsake your precepts. 88.Preserve my life according to your loving kindness, so I will obey the statutes of your mouth.
89.Yahweh, your word is settled in heaven forever. 90.Your faithfulness is to all generations. You have established the earth, and it remains. 91.Your laws remain to this day, for all things serve you. 92.Unless your law had been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. 93.I will never forget your precepts, for with them, you have revived me. 94.I am yours. Save me, for I have sought your precepts. 95.The wicked have waited for me, to destroy me. I will consider your statutes. 96.I have seen a limit to all perfection, but your commands are boundless.
97.How I love your law! It is my meditation all day. 98.Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, for your commandments are always with me. 99.I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation. 100.I understand more than the aged, because I have kept your precepts. 101.I have kept my feet from every evil way, that I might observe your word. 102.I have not turned aside from your ordinances, for you have taught me. 103.How sweet are your promises to my taste, more than honey to my mouth! 104.Through your precepts, I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.
Luke 3
1.Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, 2.in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness. 3.He came into all the region around the Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for remission of sins. 4.As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness, 'Make ready the way of the Lord. Make his paths straight. 5.Every valley will be filled. Every mountain and hill will be brought low. The crooked will become straight, and the rough ways smooth. 6.All flesh will see God's salvation.'"4
7.He said therefore to the multitudes who went out to be baptized by him, "You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8.Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and don't begin to say among yourselves, 'We have Abraham for our father;' for I tell you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones! 9.Even now the axe also lies at the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that doesn't bring forth good fruit is cut down, and thrown into the fire."
10.The multitudes asked him, "What then must we do?"
11.He answered them, "He who has two coats, let him give to him who has none. He who has food, let him do likewise."
12.Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, "Teacher, what must we do?"
13.He said to them, "Collect no more than that which is appointed to you."
14.Soldiers also asked him, saying, "What about us? What must we do?"
He said to them, "Extort from no one by violence, neither accuse anyone wrongfully. Be content with your wages."
15.As the people were in expectation, and all men reasoned in their hearts concerning John, whether perhaps he was the Christ, 16.John answered them all, "I indeed baptize you with water, but he comes who is mightier than I, the latchet of whose sandals I am not worthy to loosen. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fire, 17.whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor, and will gather the wheat into his barn; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."
18.Then with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people, 19.but Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias, his brother's5 wife, and for all the evil things which Herod had done, 20.added this also to them all, that he shut up John in prison. 21.Now it happened, when all the people were baptized, Jesus also had been baptized, and was praying. The sky was opened, 22.and the Holy Spirit descended in a bodily form as a dove on him; and a voice came out of the sky, saying "You are my beloved Son. In you I am well pleased."
23.Jesus himself, when he began to teach, was about thirty years old, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli, 24.the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph, 25.the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai, 26.the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Joseph, the son of Judah, 27.the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri, 28.the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmodam, the son of Er, 29.the son of Jose, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, 30.the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonan, the son of Eliakim, 31.the son of Melea, the son of Menan, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David, 32.the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon, 33.the son of Amminadab, the son of Aram,6 the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, 34.the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, 35.the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah, 36.the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, 37.the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan, 38.the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.