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Daily Readings for July 4
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1Samuel 16
1.Yahweh said to Samuel, "How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite; for I have provided a king for myself among his sons."
2.Samuel said, "How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me."
Yahweh said, "Take a heifer with you, and say, I have come to sacrifice to Yahweh. 3.Call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do. You shall anoint to me him whom I name to you."
4.Samuel did that which Yahweh spoke, and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and said, "Do you come peaceably?"
5.He said, "Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to Yahweh. Sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice." He sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice. 6.It happened, when they had come, that he looked at Eliab, and said, "Surely Yahweh's anointed is before him."
7.But Yahweh said to Samuel, "Don't look on his face, or on the height of his stature; because I have rejected him: for I see not as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but Yahweh looks at the heart." 8.Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. He said, "Neither has Yahweh chosen this one." 9.Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. He said, "Neither has Yahweh chosen this one." 10.Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. Samuel said to Jesse, "Yahweh has not chosen these." 11.Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all your children here?"
He said, "There remains yet the youngest, and behold, he is keeping the sheep."
Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and get him; for we will not sit down until he comes here."
12.He sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful face, and goodly to look on. Yahweh said, "Arise, anoint him; for this is he."
13.Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brothers: and the Spirit of Yahweh came mightily on David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah. 14.Now the Spirit of Yahweh departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from Yahweh troubled him. 15.Saul's servants said to him, "See now, an evil spirit from God troubles you. 16.Let our lord now command your servants who are before you, to seek out a man who is a skillful player on the harp. It shall happen, when the evil spirit from God is on you, that he shall play with his hand, and you shall be well."
17.Saul said to his servants, "Provide me now a man who can play well, and bring him to me."
18.Then one of the young men answered, and said, "Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a mighty man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a comely person; and Yahweh is with him."
19.Therefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse, and said, "Send me David your son, who is with the sheep."
20.Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a young goat, and sent them by David his son to Saul. 21.David came to Saul, and stood before him. He loved him greatly; and he became his armor bearer. 22.Saul sent to Jesse, saying, "Please let David stand before me; for he has found favor in my sight." 23.It happened, when the spirit from God was on Saul, that David took the harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.
Isaiah 60
1."Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of Yahweh is risen on you. 2.For, behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the peoples; but Yahweh will arise on you, and his glory shall be seen on you. 3.Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.
4."Lift up your eyes all around, and see: they all gather themselves together, they come to you; your sons shall come from far, and your daughters shall be carried in the arms. 5.Then you shall see and be radiant, and your heart shall thrill and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you. 6.The multitude of camels shall cover you, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come; they shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praises of Yahweh. 7.All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together to you, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister to you; they shall come up with acceptance on my altar; and I will glorify the house of my glory.
8."Who are these who fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows? 9.Surely the islands shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring your sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, for the name of Yahweh your God, and for the Holy One of Israel, because he has glorified you.
10."Foreigners shall build up your walls, and their kings shall minister to you: for in my wrath I struck you, but in my favor have I had mercy on you. 11.Your gates also shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day nor night; that men may bring to you the wealth of the nations, and their kings led captive. 12.For that nation and kingdom that will not serve you shall perish; yes, those nations shall be utterly wasted.
13."The glory of Lebanon shall come to you, the fir tree, the pine, and the box tree together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary; and I will make the place of my feet glorious. 14.The sons of those who afflicted you shall come bending to you; and all those who despised you shall bow themselves down at the soles of your feet; and they shall call you The city of Yahweh, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel.
15."Whereas you have been forsaken and hated, so that no man passed through you, I will make you an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations. 16.You shall also drink the milk of the nations, and shall nurse from royal breasts; and you shall know that I, Yahweh, am your Savior, and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob. 17.For brass I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring silver, and for wood brass, and for stones iron. I will also make your officers peace, and righteousness your ruler. 18.Violence shall no more be heard in your land, desolation nor destruction within your borders; but you shall call your walls Salvation, and your gates Praise. 19.The sun shall be no more your light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light to you: but Yahweh will be to you an everlasting light, and your God your glory. 20.Your sun shall no more go down, neither shall your moon withdraw itself; for Yahweh will be your everlasting light, and the days of your mourning shall be ended. 21.Your people also shall be all righteous; they shall inherit the land forever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified. 22.The little one shall become a thousand, and the small one a strong nation; I, Yahweh, will hasten it in its time."
Matthew 5
1.Seeing the multitudes, he went up onto the mountain. When he had sat down, his disciples came to him. 2.He opened his mouth and taught them, saying, 3."Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.20 4.Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.21 5.Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.22 6.Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled. 7.Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. 8.Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 9.Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God. 10.Blessed are those who have been persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
11."Blessed are you when people reproach you, persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12.Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
13."You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt has lost its flavor, with what will it be salted? It is then good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under the feet of men. 14.You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill can't be hidden. 15.Neither do you light a lamp, and put it under a measuring basket, but on a stand; and it shines to all who are in the house. 16.Even so, let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
17."Don't think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets. I didn't come to destroy, but to fulfill. 18.For most certainly, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not even one smallest letter23 or one tiny pen stroke24 shall in any way pass away from the law, until all things are accomplished. 19.Whoever, therefore, shall break one of these least commandments, and teach others to do so, shall be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven; but whoever shall do and teach them shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. 20.For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, there is no way you will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.
21."You have heard that it was said to the ancient ones, 'You shall not murder;'[25] and 'Whoever shall murder shall be in danger of the judgment.' 22.But I tell you, that everyone who is angry with his brother without a cause26 shall be in danger of the judgment; and whoever shall say to his brother, 'Raca27!' shall be in danger of the council; and whoever shall say, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of the fire of Gehenna.28
23."If therefore you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has anything against you, 24.leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25.Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are with him in the way; lest perhaps the prosecutor deliver you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and you be cast into prison. 26.Most certainly I tell you, you shall by no means get out of there, until you have paid the last penny.29
27."You have heard that it was said, [30] 'You shall not commit adultery;'[31] 28.but I tell you that everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart. 29.If your right eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna.32 30.If your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off, and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna.33
31."It was also said, 'Whoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorce,'[34] 32.but I tell you that whoever puts away his wife, except for the cause of sexual immorality, makes her an adulteress; and whoever marries her when she is put away commits adultery.
33."Again you have heard that it was said to them of old time, 'You shall not make false vows, but shall perform to the Lord your vows,' 34.but I tell you, don't swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God; 35.nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36.Neither shall you swear by your head, for you can't make one hair white or black. 37.But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes' and your 'No' be 'No.' Whatever is more than these is of the evil one.
38."You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.'[35] 39.But I tell you, don't resist him who is evil; but whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40.If anyone sues you to take away your coat, let him have your cloak also. 41.Whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. 42.Give to him who asks you, and don't turn away him who desires to borrow from you.
43."You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor,[36] and hate your enemy.[37]' 44.But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you, 45.that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust. 46.For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Don't even the tax collectors do the same? 47.If you only greet your friends, what more do you do than others? Don't even the tax collectors38 do the same? 48.Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.