Joshua 1:8

"...[B]ut you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success." (Joshua 1:8).

"You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me." (John 5:39).

"And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:13).

Monday, July 22, 2013

Matthew 6: 25-34

25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? 

28 “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 

31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 

34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Matthew 6: 19-24

19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

22 “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

Matthew 6: 1-18

1 “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 3 But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.

5 “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. 7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. 

8 “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. 9 In this manner, therefore, pray: 

Our Father in heaven, 
Hallowed be Your name. 
10 Your kingdom come.
Your will be done 
On earth as it is in heaven. 
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors. 
13 And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one. 
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. 

14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

16 “Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

Matthew 5: 38-48

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40 If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. 41 And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.

 43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? 

48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Matthew 5: 31-37

31 “Furthermore it has been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.

33 “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ 34 But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35 nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. 

37 But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.

Matthew 5: 21-30

21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire. 23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something 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 on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. 26 Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny.

27 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.

Matthew 5: 13-20

13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. 

14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

17 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. 19 Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5: 2-12

 2 Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
For they shall be comforted. 
5 Blessed are the meek,
For they shall inherit the earth. 
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for 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 sons of God. 
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 “Blessed are you when they revile and 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 so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Thursday, July 18, 2013

Matthew 5

1 And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. 2 Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
For they shall be comforted. 
5 Blessed are the meek,
For they shall inherit the earth. 
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for 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 sons of God. 
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 “Blessed are you when they revile and 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 so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. 
14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

17 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. 19 Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire. 23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something 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 on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. 26 Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny.

27 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.

31 “Furthermore it has been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.

33 “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ 34 But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35 nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40 If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. 41 And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? 48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Matthew 4

1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. 3 Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” 
4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’” 
5 Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written:

‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’

and,

‘In their hands they shall bear you up, 
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’” 

7 Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’” 
8 Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.” 
10 Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’” 
11 Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.

12 Now when Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, He departed to Galilee. 13 And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:

15 “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,
By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, 
Galilee of the Gentiles: 
16 The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light,
And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death 
Light has dawned.”

17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

18 And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 19 Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 They immediately left their nets and followed Him. 
21 Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.

23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. 24 Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them. 25 Great multitudes followed Him—from Galilee, and from Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan.

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Matthew 3

1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying:

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 
‘Prepare the way of the Lord; 
Make His paths straight.’ ” 

4 Now John himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him 6 and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. 

7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, 9 and do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. 10 And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. 14 And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?” 

15 But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him. 

16 When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. 

17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

Thursday, July 11, 2013

Malachi 3

1 “Behold, I send My messenger,
And he will prepare the way before Me. 
And the Lord, whom you seek, 
Will suddenly come to His temple, 
Even the Messenger of the covenant, 
In whom you delight. 
Behold, He is coming,” 
Says the LORD of hosts.

2 “But who can endure the day of His coming?
And who can stand when He appears? 
For He is like a refiner’s fire 
And like launderers’ soap. 
3 He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver;
He will purify the sons of Levi, 
And purge them as gold and silver, 
That they may offer to the LORD 
An offering in righteousness.

4 “Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem
Will be pleasant to the LORD, 
As in the days of old, 
As in former years. 
5 And I will come near you for judgment;
I will be a swift witness 
Against sorcerers, 
Against adulterers, 
Against perjurers, 
Against those who exploit wage earners and widows and orphans, 
And against those who turn away an alien—
Because they do not fear Me,” 
Says the LORD of hosts.

6 “For I am the LORD, I do not change;
Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob. 
7 Yet from the days of your fathers
You have gone away from My ordinances 
And have not kept them. 
Return to Me, and I will return to you,” 
Says the LORD of hosts. 
“But you said, 
‘In what way shall we return?’

8 “Will a man rob God?
Yet you have robbed Me! 
But you say, 
‘In what way have we robbed You?’ 
In tithes and offerings. 
9 You are cursed with a curse,
For you have robbed Me, 
Even this whole nation. 
10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse,
That there may be food in My house, 
And try Me now in this,” 
Says the LORD of hosts, 
“If I will not open for you the windows of heaven 
And pour out for you such blessing 
That there will not be room enough to receive it.

11 “And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes,
So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, 
Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,” 
Says the LORD of hosts; 
12 “And all nations will call you blessed,
For you will be a delightful land,” 
Says the LORD of hosts.

13 “Your words have been harsh against Me,”
Says the LORD, 
“Yet you say, 
‘What have we spoken against You?’ 
14 You have said,
‘It is useless to serve God; 
What profit is it that we have kept His ordinance, 
And that we have walked as mourners 
Before the LORD of hosts? 
15 So now we call the proud blessed,
For those who do wickedness are raised up; 
They even tempt God and go free.’ ”

16 Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another,
And the LORD listened and heard them; 
So a book of remembrance was written before Him 
For those who fear the LORD 
And who meditate on His name.

17 “They shall be Mine,” says the LORD of hosts,
“On the day that I make them My jewels. 
And I will spare them 
As a man spares his own son who serves him.” 
18 Then you shall again discern
Between the righteous and the wicked, 
Between one who serves God 
And one who does not serve Him.

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Malachi 2

1 “And now, O priests, this commandment is for you.
2 If you will not hear,
And if you will not take it to heart, 
To give glory to My name,” 
Says the LORD of hosts, 
“I will send a curse upon you, 
And I will curse your blessings. 
Yes, I have cursed them already, 
Because you do not take it to heart.

3 “Behold, I will rebuke your descendants
And spread refuse on your faces, 
The refuse of your solemn feasts; 
And one will take you away with it. 
4 Then you shall know that I have sent this commandment to you,
That My covenant with Levi may continue,” 
Says the LORD of hosts. 
5 “My covenant was with him, one of life and peace,
And I gave them to him that he might fear Me; 
So he feared Me 
And was reverent before My name. 
6 The law of truth was in his mouth,
And injustice was not found on his lips. 
He walked with Me in peace and equity, 
And turned many away from iniquity.

7 “For the lips of a priest should keep knowledge,
And people should seek the law from his mouth; 
For he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts. 
8 But you have departed from the way;
You have caused many to stumble at the law. 
You have corrupted the covenant of Levi,” 
Says the LORD of hosts. 
9 “Therefore I also have made you contemptible and base
Before all the people, 
Because you have not kept My ways 
But have shown partiality in the law.”

10 Have we not all one Father?
Has not one God created us? 
Why do we deal treacherously with one another 
By profaning the covenant of the fathers? 
11 Judah has dealt treacherously,
And an abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem, 
For Judah has profaned 
The LORD’s holy institution which He loves: 
He has married the daughter of a foreign god. 
12 May the LORD cut off from the tents of Jacob
The man who does this, being awake and aware, 
Yet who brings an offering to the LORD of hosts!

13 And this is the second thing you do:
You cover the altar of the LORD with tears, 
With weeping and crying; 
So He does not regard the offering anymore, 
Nor receive it with goodwill from your hands. 
14 Yet you say, “For what reason?”
Because the LORD has been witness 
Between you and the wife of your youth, 
With whom you have dealt treacherously; 
Yet she is your companion 
And your wife by covenant. 
15 But did He not make them one,
Having a remnant of the Spirit? 
And why one? 
He seeks godly offspring. 
Therefore take heed to your spirit, 
And let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth.

16 “For the LORD God of Israel says
That He hates divorce, 
For it covers one’s garment with violence,” 
Says the LORD of hosts. 
“Therefore take heed to your spirit, 
That you do not deal treacherously.”

17 You have wearied the LORD with your words;
Yet you say, 
“In what way have we wearied Him?” 
In that you say, 
“Everyone who does evil 
Is good in the sight of the LORD, 
And He delights in them,” 
Or, “Where is the God of justice?”

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Malachi 1

1 The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi.
 
2 “I have loved you,” says the LORD.
“Yet you say, ‘In what way have You loved us?’ 
Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” 
Says the LORD. 
“Yet Jacob I have loved; 
3 But Esau I have hated,
And laid waste his mountains and his heritage 
For the jackals of the wilderness.”

4 Even though Edom has said,
“We have been impoverished, 
But we will return and build the desolate places,”

Thus says the LORD of hosts:
“They may build, but I will throw down; 
They shall be called the Territory of Wickedness, 
And the people against whom the LORD will have indignation forever. 
5 Your eyes shall see,
And you shall say, 
‘The LORD is magnified beyond the border of Israel.’
 
6 “A son honors his father,
And a servant his master. 
If then I am the Father, 
Where is My honor? 
And if I am a Master, 
Where is My reverence? 
Says the LORD of hosts 
To you priests who despise My name. 
Yet you say, ‘In what way have we despised Your name?’

7 “You offer defiled food on My altar,
But say, 
‘In what way have we defiled You?’ 
By saying, 
‘The table of the LORD is contemptible.’ 
8 And when you offer the blind as a sacrifice,
Is it not evil? 
And when you offer the lame and sick, 
Is it not evil? 
Offer it then to your governor! 
Would he be pleased with you? 
Would he accept you favorably?” 
Says the LORD of hosts.

9 “But now entreat God’s favor,
That He may be gracious to us. 
While this is being done by your hands, 
Will He accept you favorably?” 
Says the LORD of hosts. 
10 “Who is there even among you who would shut the doors,
So that you would not kindle fire on My altar in vain? 
I have no pleasure in you,” 
Says the LORD of hosts, 
“Nor will I accept an offering from your hands. 
11 For from the rising of the sun, even to its going down,
My name shall be great among the Gentiles; 
In every place incense shall be offered to My name, 
And a pure offering; 
For My name shall be great among the nations,” 
Says the LORD of hosts.

12 “But you profane it,
In that you say, 
‘The table of the LORD is defiled; 
And its fruit, its food, is contemptible.’ 
13 You also say,
‘Oh, what a weariness!’ 
And you sneer at it,” 
Says the LORD of hosts. 
“And you bring the stolen, the lame, and the sick; 
Thus you bring an offering! 
Should I accept this from your hand?” 
Says the LORD. 
14 “But cursed be the deceiver
Who has in his flock a male, 
And takes a vow, 
But sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished—
For I am a great King,” 
Says the LORD of hosts, 
“And My name is to be feared among the nations.

Tuesday, July 2, 2013