the Week of Proper 28 / Ordinary 33
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Bible Reading Plan
Daily Bible Reading
March 17 - Bible-in-a-Year
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Numbers 3-4
Chapter 3
Aaron's Sons and the Levites
1 These are the family records of Aaron and Moses at the time the Lord spoke with Moses on Mount Sinai.(a) 2 These are the names of Aaron's sons: Nadab, the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 3 These are the names of Aaron's sons, the anointed priests, who were ordained to serve as priests. 4 But Nadab and Abihu died in the Lord 's presence when they presented unauthorized fire(b) before the Lord in the Wilderness of Sinai, and they had no sons. So Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests under the direction of Aaron their father.(c)
5 The Lord spoke to Moses: 6 "Bring the tribe of Levi near and present them to Aaron the priest to assist him. 7 They are to perform duties for[a] him and the entire community before the tent of meeting by attending to the service of the tabernacle. 8 They are to take care of[b] all the furnishings of the tent of meeting(d) and perform duties for[c] the Israelites by attending to the service of the tabernacle. 9 Assign the Levites to Aaron and his sons; they have been assigned exclusively to him[d] from the Israelites.(e) 10 You are to appoint Aaron and his sons to carry out their priestly responsibilities, but any unauthorized person who comes near the sanctuary must be put to death."(f)
11 The Lord spoke to Moses: 12 "See, I have taken the Levites from the Israelites in place of every firstborn Israelite from the womb.(g) The Levites belong to Me, 13 because every firstborn belongs to Me. At the time I struck down every firstborn in the land of Egypt,(h) I consecrated every firstborn in Israel to Myself, both man and animal. They are Mine; I am Yahweh."(i)
The Levitical Census
14 The Lord spoke to Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai: 15 "Register the Levites by their ancestral houses and their clans. You are to register every male one month old or more." 16 So Moses registered them in obedience to the Lord as he had been commanded:
17 These were Levi's sons by name: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. 18 These were the names of Gershon's sons by their clans: Libni and Shimei. 19 Kohath's sons by their clans were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. 20 Merari's sons by their clans were Mahli and Mushi. These were the Levite clans by their ancestral houses.(j)
21 The Libnite clan and the Shimeite clan came from Gershon; these were the Gershonite clans. 22 Those registered, counting every male one month old or more, numbered 7,500. 23 The Gershonite clans camped behind the tabernacle on the west side,(k) 24 and the leader of the Gershonite family was Eliasaph son of Lael. 25 The Gershonites' duties(l) at the tent of meeting involved the tabernacle, the tent, its covering, the screen for the entrance to the tent of meeting,(m) 26 the hangings of the courtyard, the screen for the entrance(n) to the courtyard that surrounds the tabernacle and the altar, and the tent ropes—all the work relating to these.
27 The Amramite clan, the Izharite clan, the Hebronite clan, and the Uzzielite clan came from Kohath; these were the Kohathites. 28 Counting every male one month old or more, there were 8,600[e] responsible for the duties of[f] the sanctuary. 29 The clans of the Kohathites camped on the south side of the tabernacle,(o) 30 and the leader of the family of the Kohathite clans was Elizaphan son of Uzziel. 31 Their duties involved the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, the sanctuary utensils that were used with these, and the screen[g](p)—and all the work relating to them.(q) 32 The chief of the Levite leaders was Eleazar(r) son of Aaron the priest; he had oversight of those responsible for the duties of[h] the sanctuary.
33 The Mahlite clan and the Mushite clan came from Merari; these were the Merarite clans. 34 Those registered, counting every male one month old or more, numbered 6,200. 35 The leader of the family of the Merarite clans was Zuriel son of Abihail; they camped on the north side of the tabernacle.(s) 36 The assigned duties of Merari's descendants involved the tabernacle's supports, crossbars, posts, bases, all its equipment, and all the work related to these,(t) 37 in addition to the posts of the surrounding courtyard with their bases, tent pegs, and ropes.
38 Moses, Aaron, and his sons, who performed the duties of[i] the sanctuary as a service on behalf of the Israelites, camped in front of the tabernacle on the east,(u) in front of the tent of meeting toward the sunrise. Any unauthorized person who came near it was to be put to death.(v)
39 The total number of all the Levite males one month old or more that Moses and Aaron[j] registered by their clans at the Lord 's command was 22,000.
Redemption of the Firstborn
40 The Lord told Moses: "Register every firstborn male of the Israelites(w) one month old or more, and list their names. 41 You are to take the Levites for Me—I am Yahweh—in place of every firstborn among the Israelites, and the Levites' cattle in place of every firstborn among the Israelites' cattle." 42 So Moses registered every firstborn among the Israelites, as the Lord commanded him. 43 The total number of the firstborn males one month old or more listed by name was 22,273.
44 The Lord spoke to Moses again: 45 "Take the Levites in place of every firstborn among the Israelites, and the Levites' cattle in place of their cattle. The Levites belong to Me; I am Yahweh.(x) 46 As the redemption price for the 273 firstborn Israelites who outnumber the Levites, 47 collect five shekels for each person, according to the standard sanctuary shekel—20 gerahs to the shekel.(y) 48 Give the money to Aaron and his sons as the redemption price for those who are in excess among the Israelites."
49 So Moses collected the redemption money from those in excess of the ones redeemed by the Levites. 50 He collected the money from the firstborn Israelites: 1,365 shekels[k] measured by the standard sanctuary shekel. 51 He gave the redemption money to Aaron and his sons in obedience to the Lord , just as the Lord commanded Moses.
Chapter 4
Duties of the Kohathites
1 The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron: 2 "Among the Levites, take a census of the Kohathites(a) by their clans and their ancestral houses, 3 men from 30 years old to 50 years old—everyone who is qualified[a] to do work at the tent of meeting.
4 "The service of the Kohathites at the tent of meeting concerns the most holy objects.(b) 5 Whenever the camp is about to move on, Aaron and his sons are to go in, take down the screening veil, and cover the ark of the testimony with it.(c) 6 They are to place over this a covering made of manatee skin,[b] spread a solid blue cloth on top, and insert its poles.(d)
7 "They are to spread a blue cloth over the table of the Presence and place the plates and cups on it, as well as the bowls and pitchers for the drink offering. The regular bread offering is to be on it.(e) 8 They are to spread a scarlet cloth over them, cover them with a covering made of manatee skin,[c] and insert the poles in the table.(f)
9 "They are to take a blue cloth and cover the lampstand(g) used for light, with its lamps, snuffers, and firepans,(h) as well as its jars of oil by which they service it. 10 Then they must place it with all its utensils inside a covering made of manatee skin[d] and put them on the carrying frame.
11 "They are to spread a blue cloth over the gold altar,(i) cover it with a covering made of manatee skin,[e] and insert its poles.(j) 12 They are to take all the serving utensils they use in the sanctuary, place them in a blue cloth, cover them with a covering made of manatee skin,[f] and put them on a carrying frame.
13 "They are to remove the ashes from the bronze altar, spread a purple cloth over it, 14 and place all the equipment on it that they use in serving: the firepans, meat forks, shovels, and basins—all the equipment of the altar.(k) They are to spread a covering made of manatee skin[g] over it and insert its poles.[h](l)
15 "Aaron and his sons are to finish covering the holy objects and all their equipment whenever the camp is to move on. The Kohathites will come and carry them, but they are not to touch the holy objects or they will die.(m) These are the transportation duties of the Kohathites regarding the tent of meeting.
16 "Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, has oversight of the lamp oil,(n) the fragrant incense,(o) the daily grain offering,(p) and the anointing oil.(q) He has oversight of the entire tabernacle and everything in it, the holy objects and their utensils."[i]
17 Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron: 18 "Do not allow the Kohathite tribal clans to be wiped out from the Levites. 19 Do this for them so that they may live and not die when they come near the most holy objects:(r) Aaron and his sons are to go in and assign each man his task and transportation duty. 20 The Kohathites are not to go in and look at the holy objects, even for a moment,[j] or they will die."
Duties of the Gershonites
21 The Lord spoke to Moses: 22 "Take a census of the Gershonites(s) also, by their ancestral houses and their clans. 23 Register men from 30 years old to 50 years old, everyone who is qualified to perform service, to do work at the tent of meeting. 24 This is the service of the Gershonite clans regarding work and transportation duties: 25 They are to transport the tabernacle curtains,(t) the tent of meeting with its covering and the covering made of manatee skin[k] on top of it, the screen for the entrance to the tent of meeting, 26 the hangings of the courtyard, the screen for the entrance at the gate of the courtyard that surrounds the tabernacle and the altar, along with their ropes and all the equipment for their service. They will carry out everything that needs to be done with these items.
27 "All the service of the Gershonites, all their transportation duties and all their other work, is to be done at the command of Aaron and his sons; you are to assign to them all that they are responsible to carry. 28 This is the service of the Gershonite clans at the tent of meeting, and their duties will be under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.
Duties of the Merarites
29 "As for the Merarites, you are to register them by their clans(u) and their ancestral houses. 30 Register men from 30 years old to 50 years old, everyone who is qualified to do the work of the tent of meeting. 31 This is what they are responsible to carry as the whole of their service at the tent of meeting: the supports of the tabernacle, with its crossbars, posts, and bases, 32 the posts of the surrounding courtyard with their bases, tent pegs, and ropes, including all their equipment and all the work related to them. You are to assign by name the items that they are responsible to carry. 33 This is the service of the Merarite clans regarding all their work at the tent of meeting, under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest."
Census of the Levites
34 So Moses, Aaron, and the leaders of the community registered the Kohathites by their clans and their ancestral houses, 35 men from 30 years old to 50 years old, everyone who was qualified for work at the tent of meeting. 36 The men registered by their clans numbered 2,750. 37 These were the registered men of the Kohathite clans, everyone who could serve at the tent of meeting. Moses and Aaron registered them at the Lord 's command through Moses.
38 The Gershonites were registered by their clans and their ancestral houses, 39 men from 30 years old to 50 years old, everyone who was qualified for work at the tent of meeting. 40 The men registered by their clans and their ancestral houses numbered 2,630. 41 These were the registered men of the Gershonite clans. At the Lord 's command Moses and Aaron registered everyone who could serve at the tent of meeting.
42 The men of the Merarite clans were registered by their clans and their ancestral houses, 43 those from 30 years old to 50 years old, everyone who was qualified for work at the tent of meeting. 44 The men registered by their clans numbered 3,200. 45 These were the registered men of the Merarite clans; Moses and Aaron registered them at the Lord 's command through Moses.
46 Moses, Aaron, and the leaders of Israel registered all the Levites by their clans and their ancestral houses, 47 from 30 years old to 50 years old, everyone who was qualified to do the work of serving at the tent of meeting and transporting it. 48 Their registered men numbered 8,580. 49 At the Lord 's command they were registered under the direction of Moses, each one according to his work and transportation duty, and his assignment was as the Lord commanded Moses.
Ecclesiastes 3:16-4:16
Chapter 3
16 I also observed under the sun: there is wickedness at the place of judgment and there is wickedness at the place of righteousness.(q) 17 I said to myself, "God will judge the righteous and the wicked,(r) since there is a time for every activity and every work."(s) 18 I said to myself, "This happens concerning people, so that God may test them and they may see for themselves that they are like animals."(t) 19 For the fate of people and the fate of animals is the same.(u) As one dies, so dies the other; they all have the same breath. People have no advantage over animals since everything is futile. 20 All are going to the same place; all come from dust, and all return to dust.(v) 21 Who knows if the spirit of people rises upward and the spirit of animals goes downward to the earth? 22 I have seen that there is nothing better than for a person to enjoy his activities(w) because that is his reward. For who can enable him to see what will happen after he dies?[f](x)
Chapter 4
1 Again, I observed all the acts of oppression being done under the sun.(a) Look at the tears of those who are oppressed; they have no one to comfort them. Power is with those who oppress them; they have no one to comfort them. 2 So I admired the dead,(b) who have already died, more than the living, who are still alive. 3 But better than either of them is the one who has not yet existed,(c) who has not seen the evil activity that is done under the sun.
The Loneliness of Wealth
4 I saw that all labor and all skillful work is due to a man's jealousy of his friend.(d) This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.(e)
5 The fool folds his arms(f)
and consumes his own flesh.(g)
6 Better one handful with rest
than two handfuls with effort and a pursuit of the wind.(h)
7 Again, I saw futility under the sun: 8 There is a person without a companion,[a] without even a son or brother, and though there is no end to all his struggles, his eyes are still not content with riches.(i) "So who am I struggling for," he asks, "and depriving myself from good?" This too is futile and a miserable task.
9 Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their efforts. 10 For if either falls, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to lift him up. 11 Also, if two lie down together, they can keep warm; but how can one person alone keep warm?(j) 12 And if someone overpowers one person, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not easily broken.
13 Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer pays attention to warnings.(k) 14 For he came from prison to be king,(l) even though he was born poor in his kingdom. 15 I saw all the living, who move about under the sun, follow[b] a second youth who succeeds him. 16 There is no limit to all the people who were before them, yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.(m)
Matthew 17
Chapter 17
The Transfiguration
1 After six days(a) Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother John and led them up on a high mountain by themselves.(b) 2 He was transformed[a] in front of them, and His face shone like the sun. Even His clothes became as white as the light.(c) 3 Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him.
4 Then Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it's good for us to be here! If You want, I will make[b] three tabernacles here: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."(d)
5 While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud covered[c] them, and a voice from the cloud said:
This is My beloved Son.
I take delight in Him.
Listen to Him!(e)
6 When the disciples(f) heard it, they fell facedown and were terrified.
7 Then Jesus came up, touched them, and said, "Get up; don't be afraid." (g) 8 When they looked up they saw no one except Him[d]—Jesus alone. 9 As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them,(h) "Don't tell anyone about the vision until the Son of Man is raised[e] from the dead."
10 So the disciples questioned Him, "Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?"(i)
11 "Elijah is coming[f] and will restore everything," He replied.[g](j) 12 "But I tell you: Elijah has already come, and they didn't recognize him. On the contrary, they did whatever they pleased to him. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands." [h](k) 13 Then the disciples understood that He spoke to them about John the Baptist.
The Power of Faith over a Demon
14 When they reached the crowd,(l) a man approached and knelt down before Him. 15 "Lord," he said, "have mercy on my son, because he has seizures[i] and suffers severely. He often falls into the fire and often into the water. 16 I brought him to Your disciples, but they couldn't heal him."(m)
17 Jesus replied, "You unbelieving and rebellious[j] generation! How long will I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him here to Me." (n) 18 Then Jesus rebuked the demon,[k] and it[l] came out of him,(o) and from that moment[m] the boy was healed.
19 Then the disciples approached Jesus privately and said, "Why couldn't we drive it out?"
20 "Because of your little faith," He[n] told them. "For I assure you: If you have faith the size of[o] a mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,' and it will move.(p) Nothing will be impossible for you. (q) [21 However, this kind does not come out except by prayer and fasting.] " [p]
The Second Prediction of His Death
22 As(r) they were meeting[q] in Galilee, Jesus told them, "The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men. 23 They will kill Him, and on the third day He will be raised up." And they were deeply distressed.
Paying the Temple Tax
24 When they came to Capernaum, those who collected the double-drachma tax[r] approached Peter and said, "Doesn't your Teacher pay the double-drachma tax?"(s)
25 "Yes," he said.
When he went into the house, Jesus spoke to him first,[s] "What do you think, Simon? Who do earthly kings collect tariffs or taxes from? From their sons or from strangers?" [t](t)
26 "From strangers," he said.[u]
"Then the sons are free," Jesus told him. 27 "But, so we won't offend them, go to the sea, cast in a fishhook, and take the first fish that you catch. When you open its mouth you'll find a coin.[v] Take it and give it to them for Me and you." (u)
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