Daily Readings for May 10

Daily Readings for May 10
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Deuteronomy 27

1.Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people, saying, "Keep all the commandment which I command you this day. 2.It shall be on the day when you shall pass over the Jordan to the land which Yahweh your God gives you, that you shall set yourself up great stones, and plaster them with plaster: 3.and you shall write on them all the words of this law, when you have passed over; that you may go in to the land which Yahweh your God gives you, a land flowing with milk and honey, as Yahweh, the God of your fathers, has promised you. 4.It shall be, when you have passed over the Jordan, that you shall set up these stones, which I command you this day, in Mount Ebal, and you shall plaster them with plaster. 5.There you shall build an altar to Yahweh your God, an altar of stones: you shall lift up no iron on them. 6.You shall build the altar of Yahweh your God of uncut stones; and you shall offer burnt offerings thereon to Yahweh your God: 7.and you shall sacrifice peace offerings, and shall eat there; and you shall rejoice before Yahweh your God. 8.You shall write on the stones all the words of this law very plainly."

9.Moses and the priests the Levites spoke to all Israel, saying, "Keep silence, and listen, Israel: this day you have become the people of Yahweh your God. 10.You shall therefore obey the voice of Yahweh your God, and do his commandments and his statutes, which I command you this day."

11.Moses commanded the people the same day, saying, 12."These shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people, when you have passed over the Jordan: Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Joseph, and Benjamin. 13.These shall stand on Mount Ebal for the curse: Reuben, Gad, and Asher, and Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali. 14.The Levites shall answer, and tell all the men of Israel with a loud voice, 15.'Cursed is the man who makes an engraved or molten image, an abomination to Yahweh, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and sets it up in secret.' All the people shall answer and say, 'Amen.' 16.'Cursed is he who sets light by his father or his mother.' All the people shall say, 'Amen.' 17.'Cursed is he who removes his neighbor's landmark.' All the people shall say, 'Amen.' 18.'Cursed is he who makes the blind to wander out of the way.' All the people shall say, 'Amen.' 19.'Cursed is he who the foreigner, fatherless, and widow of justice.' All the people shall say, 'Amen.' 20.'Cursed is he who lies with his father's wife, because he has uncovered his father's skirt.' All the people shall say, 'Amen.' 21.'Cursed is he who lies with any kind of animal.' All the people shall say, 'Amen.' 22.'Cursed is he who lies with his sister, the daughter of his father, or the daughter of his mother.' All the people shall say, 'Amen.' 23.'Cursed is he who lies with his mother-in-law.' All the people shall say, 'Amen.' 24.'Cursed is he who strikes his neighbor in secret.' All the people shall say, 'Amen.' 25.'Cursed is he who takes a bribe to kill an innocent person.' All the people shall say, 'Amen.' 26.'Cursed is he who doesn't confirm the words of this law to do them.' All the people shall say, 'Amen.'"

Song of Solomon 7

Lover Why do you desire to gaze at the Shulammite, as at the dance of Mahanaim? 1.How beautiful are your feet in sandals, prince's daughter! Your rounded thighs are like jewels, the work of the hands of a skillful workman. 2.Your body is like a round goblet, no mixed wine is wanting. Your waist is like a heap of wheat, set about with lilies. 3.Your two breasts are like two fawns, that are twins of a roe. 4.Your neck is like an ivory tower. Your eyes are like the pools in Heshbon by the gate of Bathrabbim. Your nose is like the tower of Lebanon which looks toward Damascus. 5.Your head on you is like Carmel. The hair of your head like purple. The king is held captive in its tresses. 6.How beautiful and how pleasant you are, love, for delights! 7.This, your stature, is like a palm tree, your breasts like its fruit. 8.I said, "I will climb up into the palm tree. I will take hold of its fruit." Let your breasts be like clusters of the vine, the smell of your breath like apples,

Beloved 9.Your mouth like the best wine, that goes down smoothly for my beloved, gliding through the lips of those who are asleep.

10.I am my beloved's. His desire is toward me. 11.Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the field. Let us lodge in the villages. 12.Let's go early up to the vineyards. Let's see whether the vine has budded, its blossom is open, and the pomegranates are in flower. There I will give you my love. 13.The mandrakes give forth fragrance. At our doors are all kinds of precious fruits, new and old, which I have stored up for you, my beloved.

Acts 23

1.Paul, looking steadfastly at the council, said, "Brothers, I have lived before God in all good conscience until this day."

2.The high priest, Ananias, commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth.

3.Then Paul said to him, "God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! Do you sit to judge me according to the law, and command me to be struck contrary to the law?"

4.Those who stood by said, "Do you malign God's high priest?"

5.Paul said, "I didn't know, brothers, that he was high priest. For it is written, 'You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.'"⁷³ 6.But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, "Men and brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. Concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged!"

7.When he had said this, an argument arose between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 8.For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit; but the Pharisees confess all of these. 9.A great clamor arose, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees part stood up, and contended, saying, "We find no evil in this man. But if a spirit or angel has spoken to him, let's not fight against God!"

10.When a great argument arose, the commanding officer, fearing that Paul would be torn in pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them, and bring him into the barracks.

11.The following night, the Lord stood by him, and said, "Cheer up, Paul, for as you have testified about me at Jerusalem, so you must testify also at Rome."

12.When it was day, some of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul. 13.There were more than forty people who had made this conspiracy. 14.They came to the chief priests and the elders, and said, "We have bound ourselves under a great curse, to taste nothing until we have killed Paul. 15.Now therefore, you with the council inform the commanding officer that he should bring him down to you tomorrow, as though you were going to judge his case more exactly. We are ready to kill him before he comes near."

16.But Paul's sister's son heard of their lying in wait, and he came and entered into the barracks and told Paul. 17.Paul summoned one of the centurions, and said, "Bring this young man to the commanding officer, for he has something to tell him."

18.So he took him, and brought him to the commanding officer, and said, "Paul, the prisoner, summoned me and asked me to bring this young man to you, who has something to tell you."

19.The commanding officer took him by the hand, and going aside, asked him privately, "What is it that you have to tell me?"

20.He said, "The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though intending to inquire somewhat more accurately concerning him. 21.Therefore don't yield to them, for more than forty men lie in wait for him, who have bound themselves under a curse neither to eat nor to drink until they have killed him. Now they are ready, looking for the promise from you."

22.So the commanding officer let the young man go, charging him, "Tell no one that you have revealed these things to me." 23.He called to himself two of the centurions, and said, "Prepare two hundred soldiers to go as far as Caesarea, with seventy horsemen, and two hundred men armed with spears, at the third hour of the night⁷⁴." 24.He asked them to provide animals, that they might set Paul on one, and bring him safely to Felix the governor. 25.He wrote a letter like this:

26."Claudius Lysias to the most excellent governor Felix: Greetings.

27."This man was seized by the Jews, and was about to be killed by them, when I came with the soldiers and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman. 28.Desiring to know the cause why they accused him, I brought him down to their council. 29.I found him to be accused about questions of their law, but not to be charged with anything worthy of death or of imprisonment. 30.When I was told that the Jews lay in wait for the man, I sent him to you immediately, charging his accusers also to bring their accusations against him before you. Farewell."

31.So the soldiers, carrying out their orders, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris. 32.But on the next day they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the barracks. 33.When they came to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him. 34.When the governor had read it, he asked what province he was from. When he understood that he was from Cilicia, he said, 35."I will hear you fully when your accusers also arrive." He commanded that he be kept in Herod's palace.

Acts 24

1.After five days, the high priest, Ananias, came down with certain elders and an orator, one Tertullus. They informed the governor against Paul. 2.When he was called, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, "Seeing that by you we enjoy much peace, and that excellent measures are coming to this nation, 3.we accept it in all ways and in all places, most excellent Felix, with all thankfulness. 4.But, that I don't delay you, I entreat you to bear with us and hear a few words. 5.For we have found this man to be a plague, an instigator of insurrections among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. 6.He even tried to profane the temple, and we arrested him.⁷⁵ 7.⁷⁶ 8.⁷⁷By examining him yourself you may ascertain all these things of which we accuse him."

9.The Jews also joined in the attack, affirming that these things were so. 10.When the governor had beckoned to him to speak, Paul answered, "Because I know that you have been a judge of this nation for many years, I cheerfully make my defense, 11.seeing that you can recognize that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship at Jerusalem. 12.In the temple they didn't find me disputing with anyone or stirring up a crowd, either in the synagogues, or in the city. 13.Nor can they prove to you the things of which they now accuse me. 14.But this I confess to you, that after the Way, which they call a sect, so I serve the God of our fathers, believing all things which are according to the law, and which are written in the prophets; 15.having hope toward God, which these also themselves look for, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. 16.Herein I also practice always having a conscience void of offense toward God and men. 17.Now after some years, I came to bring gifts for the needy to my nation, and offerings; 18.amid which certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, not with a mob, nor with turmoil. 19.They ought to have been here before you, and to make accusation, if they had anything against me. 20.Or else let these men themselves say what injustice they found in me when I stood before the council, 21.unless it is for this one thing that I cried standing among them, 'Concerning the resurrection of the dead I am being judged before you today!'"

22.But Felix, having more exact knowledge concerning the Way, deferred them, saying, "When Lysias, the commanding officer, comes down, I will decide your case." 23.He ordered the centurion that Paul should be kept in custody, and should have some privileges, and not to forbid any of his friends to serve him or to visit him. 24.But after some days, Felix came with Drusilla, his wife, who was a Jewess, and sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ Jesus. 25.As he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was terrified, and answered, "Go your way for this time, and when it is convenient for me, I will summon you." 26.Meanwhile, he also hoped that money would be given to him by Paul, that he might release him. Therefore also he sent for him more often, and talked with him. 27.But when two years were fulfilled, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, and desiring to gain favor with the Jews, Felix left Paul in bonds.