Daily Readings for July 16

Daily Readings for July 16
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1Samuel 31

1.Now the Philistines fought against Israel: and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain on Mount Gilboa. 2.The Philistines followed hard on Saul and on his sons; and the Philistines killed Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchishua, the sons of Saul. 3.The battle went hard against Saul, and the archers overtook him; and he was greatly distressed by reason of the archers. 4.Then Saul said to his armor bearer, "Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me!" But his armor bearer would not; for he was terrified. Therefore Saul took his sword, and fell on it. 5.When his armor bearer saw that Saul was dead, he likewise fell on his sword, and died with him. 6.So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armor bearer, and all his men, that same day together. 7.When the men of Israel who were on the other side of the valley, and those who were beyond the Jordan, saw that the men of Israel fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook the cities, and fled; and the Philistines came and lived in them. 8.It happened on the next day, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. 9.They cut off his head, and stripped off his armor, and sent into the land of the Philistines all around, to carry the news to the house of their idols, and to the people. 10.They put his armor in the house of the Ashtaroth; and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth Shan. 11.When the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead heard concerning him that which the Philistines had done to Saul, 12.all the valiant men arose, and went all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth Shan; and they came to Jabesh, and burnt them there. 13.They took their bones, and buried them under the tamarisk tree in Jabesh, and fasted seven days.

Jeremiah 6

1."Flee for safety, you children of Benjamin, out of the midst of Jerusalem, and blow the trumpet in Tekoa, and raise up a signal on Beth Haccherem; for evil looks forth from the north, and a great destruction. 2.The comely and delicate one, the daughter of Zion, will I cut off. 3.Shepherds with their flocks shall come to her; they shall pitch their tents against her all around; they shall feed everyone in his place."

4."Prepare war against her; arise, and let us go up at noon. Woe to us! For the day declines, for the shadows of the evening are stretched out. 5.Arise, and let us go up by night, and let us destroy her palaces." 6.For Yahweh of Armies said, "Cut down trees, and cast up a mound against Jerusalem: this is the city to be visited; she is wholly oppression in the midst of her. 7.As a well casts forth its waters, so she casts forth her wickedness: violence and destruction is heard in her; before me continually is sickness and wounds. 8.Be instructed, Jerusalem, lest my soul be alienated from you; lest I make you a desolation, a land not inhabited."

9.Thus says Yahweh of Armies, "They shall thoroughly glean the remnant of Israel like a vine. Turn again your hand as a grape gatherer into the baskets."

10.To whom shall I speak and testify, that they may hear? Behold, their ear is uncircumcised, and they can't listen. Behold, the word of Yahweh has become a reproach to them. They have no delight in it. 11.Therefore I am full of the wrath of Yahweh. I am weary with holding in. "Pour it out on the children in the street, and on the assembly of young men together; for even the husband with the wife shall be taken, the aged with him who is full of days. 12.Their houses shall be turned to others, their fields and their wives together; for I will stretch out my hand on the inhabitants of the land, says Yahweh." 13."For from their least even to their greatest, everyone is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even to the priest, everyone deals falsely. 14.They have healed also the hurt of my people superficially, saying, 'Peace, peace!' when there is no peace. 15.Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? No, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; at the time that I visit them, they shall be cast down," says Yahweh.

16.Thus says Yahweh, "Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, 'Where is the good way?' and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But they said, 'We will not walk in it.' 17.I set watchmen over you, saying, 'Listen to the sound of the trumpet!' But they said, 'We will not listen!' 18.Therefore hear, you nations, and know, congregation, what is among them. 19.Hear, earth! Behold, I will bring evil on this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not listened to my words; and as for my law, they have rejected it. 20.To what purpose comes there to me frankincense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country? your burnt offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices pleasing to me."

21.Therefore thus says Yahweh, "Behold, I will lay stumbling blocks before this people. The fathers and the sons together shall stumble against them. The neighbor and his friend shall perish." 22.Thus says Yahweh, "Behold, a people comes from the north country. A great nation shall be stirred up from the uttermost parts of the earth. 23.They take hold of bow and spear. They are cruel, and have no mercy. Their voice roars like the sea, and they ride on horses, everyone set in array, as a man to the battle, against you, daughter of Zion."

24.We have heard its report; our hands become feeble: anguish has taken hold of us, and pains as of a woman in labor. 25.Don't go forth into the field, nor walk by the way; for the sword of the enemy and terror, are on every side. 26.Daughter of my people, clothe yourself with sackcloth, and wallow in ashes! Mourn, as for an only son, most bitter lamentation; for the destroyer shall suddenly come on us.

27."I have made you a tester of metals and a fortress among my people; that you may know and try their way. 28.They are all grievous rebels, going about with slanders; they are brass and iron: they all of them deal corruptly. 29.The bellows blow fiercely; the lead is consumed of the fire: in vain do they go on refining; for the wicked are not plucked away. 30.Men will call them rejected silver, because Yahweh has rejected them."

Matthew 17

1.After six days, Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John his brother, and brought them up into a high mountain by themselves. 2.He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his garments became as white as the light. 3.Behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them talking with him.

4.Peter answered, and said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you want, let's make three tents here: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."

5.While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them. Behold, a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to him."

6.When the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces, and were very afraid. 7.Jesus came and touched them and said, "Get up, and don't be afraid." 8.Lifting up their eyes, they saw no one, except Jesus alone. 9.As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, "Don't tell anyone what you saw, until the Son of Man has risen from the dead."

10.His disciples asked him, saying, "Then why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?"

11.Jesus answered them, "Elijah indeed comes first, and will restore all things, 12.but I tell you that Elijah has come already, and they didn't recognize him, but did to him whatever they wanted to. Even so the Son of Man will also suffer by them." 13.Then the disciples understood that he spoke to them of John the Baptizer.

14.When they came to the multitude, a man came to him, kneeling down to him, saying, 15."Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is epileptic, and suffers grievously; for he often falls into the fire, and often into the water. 16.So I brought him to your disciples, and they could not cure him."

17.Jesus answered, "Faithless and perverse generation! How long will I be with you? How long will I bear with you? Bring him here to me." 18.Jesus rebuked him, the demon went out of him, and the boy was cured from that hour.

19.Then the disciples came to Jesus privately, and said, "Why weren't we able to cast it out?"

20.He said to them, "Because of your unbelief. For most certainly I tell you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. 21.But this kind doesn't go out except by prayer and fasting."

22.While they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, "The Son of Man is about to be delivered up into the hands of men, 23.and they will kill him, and the third day he will be raised up."

They were exceedingly sorry. 24.When they had come to Capernaum, those who collected the didrachma coins⁷⁹ came to Peter, and said, "Doesn't your teacher pay the didrachma?" 25.He said, "Yes."

When he came into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, "What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth receive toll or tribute? From their children, or from strangers?"

26.Peter said to him, "From strangers."

Jesus said to him, "Therefore the children are exempt. 27.But, lest we cause them to stumble, go to the sea, cast a hook, and take up the first fish that comes up. When you have opened its mouth, you will find a stater coin.⁸⁰ Take that, and give it to them for me and you."