the Fifth Week after Easter
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Bible Reading Plan
Daily Bible Reading
April 1 - Bible-in-a-Year
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Numbers 30-31
Chapter 30
The Law of Vows
1 (F1)Then Moses spoke to (C1)the heads of the tribes of the sons of Israel, saying, "This is the word which the LORD has commanded:2 "(C1)If a man makes a vow to the LORD, or takes an oath to (F1)put himself under a binding obligation, he shall not break his word; he shall act in accordance with everything that comes out of his mouth.
3 "And if a woman makes a vow to the LORD, and puts herself under a binding obligation in her father's house in her youth,4 and her father hears her vow and her obligation under which she has put herself, and her father (F1)says nothing to her, then all her vows shall (F2)remain valid and every binding obligation under which she has put herself shall (F2)remain valid.5 "But if her father expresses disapproval to her on the day he hears of it, none of her vows or her obligations under which she has put herself shall remain valid; and the LORD will (F1)forgive her because her father has expressed disapproval to her.
6 "However, if she happens to (F1)marry while (F2)under her vows or the impulsive statement of her lips by which she has obligated herself,7 and her husband hears of it and says nothing to her on the day he hears it, then her vows shall remain valid and her binding obligations under which she has put herself shall remain valid.8 "But if on the day her husband hears of it, he expresses disapproval to her, then he will annul her vow which (F1)she is under and the impulsive statement of her lips by which she has obligated herself; and the LORD will (F2)forgive her.
9 "But as for the vow of a widow or of a divorced woman, every binding obligation under which she has put herself, shall remain valid against her.10 "However, if a married woman vowed in her husband's house, or put herself under a binding obligation with an oath,11 and her husband heard it, but said nothing to her and did not express disapproval to her, then all her vows shall remain valid and every binding obligation under which she put herself shall remain valid.12 "But if her husband actually annuls them on the day he hears them, then no utterance from her lips concerning her vows or the obligation she put on herself shall remain valid; her husband has annulled them, and the LORD will (F1)forgive her.
13 "Every vow and every binding oath to humble herself, her husband may confirm it or her husband may annul it.14 "But if her husband in fact says nothing to her from day to day, then he confirms all her vows or all her binding obligations which are on her; he has confirmed them, because he said nothing to her on the day he heard them.15 "However, if he actually annuls them (F1)after he has heard them, then he shall bear the responsibility for her guilt."
16 These are the statutes which the LORD commanded Moses concerning matters between a man and his wife, and between a father and his daughter while she is in her youth in her father's house.
Chapter 31
The Slaughter of Midian
1 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,2 "(C1)Take vengeance on the Midianites for the sons of Israel; afterward you will be (C2)gathered to your people."3 So Moses spoke to the people, saying, "Arm men from among you for the war, so that they may (F1)go against Midian to execute (C1)the LORD'S vengeance on Midian.4 "You shall send a thousand from each tribe of all the tribes of Israel to the war."5 So there were selected from the thousands of Israel, a thousand from each tribe, twelve thousand armed for war.6 And Moses sent them, a thousand from each tribe, to the war, and Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, to the war with them, (C1)and the holy implements and (C2)the trumpets for the alarm in his hand.7 So they made war against Midian, just as the LORD had commanded Moses, and (C1)they killed every male.8 They killed the kings of Midian along with the rest of those killed: (C1)Evi, Rekem, (C2)Zur, Hur, and Reba, the five kings of Midian. They also killed (C3)Balaam the son of Beor with the sword.9 And the sons of Israel took captive the women of Midian and their little ones; and they plundered all their cattle, all their flocks, and all their property.10 Then they (F1)burned all their cities where they lived and all their encampments.11 And (C1)they took all the plunder and all the spoils, both of people and of livestock.12 They brought the captives and the spoils and the plunder to Moses, to Eleazar the priest, and to the congregation of the sons of Israel, to the camp at the plains of Moab which are by the Jordan, opposite Jericho.
13 And Moses, Eleazar the priest, and all the leaders of the congregation went out to meet them outside the camp.14 But Moses was angry with the officers of the army, the commanders of thousands and the commanders of hundreds, who had come from service in the war.15 And Moses said to them, "Have you (F1)spared (C1)all the women?16 "(C1)Behold, they caused the sons of Israel, through the (F1)counsel of (C2)Balaam, to be unfaithful to the LORD in the matter of Peor, so that the plague took place among the congregation of the LORD!17 "(C1)Now therefore, kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman who has known a man (F1)intimately.18 "However, all the (F1)girls who have not known a (F2)man intimately, keep alive for yourselves.19 "(C1)And as for you, camp outside the camp for seven days; whoever has killed a person and whoever has touched anyone killed, purify yourselves, you and your captives, on the third day and on the seventh day.20 "And you shall purify for yourselves every garment, every article of leather, every work of goats' hair, and every article of wood."
21 Then Eleazar the priest said to the men of war who had gone to battle, "This is the statute of the Law which the LORD has commanded Moses:22 only the gold and the silver, the bronze, the iron, the tin, and the lead,23 everything that can (F1)withstand the fire, you shall pass through the fire, and it will be clean, only it shall be purified with (C1)water for impurity. But whatever cannot (F1)withstand the fire you shall pass through the water.24 "And you shall wash your clothes on the seventh day and you will be clean; and afterward you may enter the camp."
Division of the Plunder
25 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,26 "You and Eleazar the priest and the heads of the fathers' households of the congregation take a count of the spoils (F1)that were captured, both of people and of livestock;27 and (C1)divide the spoils between the warriors who went to battle and all the congregation.28 "Also, (C1)collect a tribute tax for the LORD from the men of war who went to battle, one (F1)in five hundred of the persons, of the cattle, of the donkeys, and of the sheep;29 take it from their half and give it to Eleazar the priest, as an (F1)offering to the LORD.30 "And from the sons of Israel's half, you shall take one drawn from every fifty of the persons, of the cattle, of the donkeys, and of the sheep, from all the animals; and give them to the Levites who (C1)perform the duty of the tabernacle of the LORD."31 Moses and Eleazar the priest did just as the LORD had commanded Moses.
32 Now the spoils that remained from the plunder which the (F1)men of war had plundered was 675,000 sheep,33 seventy-two thousand cattle,34 sixty-one thousand donkeys,35 and of captive people, of the women who had not known a (F1)man intimately, in all were thirty-two thousand people.
36 The half, the share of those who went to war, was as follows: the number of sheep was 337,500,37 the LORD'S tribute tax of the sheep was 675;38 the cattle were thirty-six thousand, from which the LORD'S tribute tax was seventy-two;39 the donkeys were 30,500, from which the LORD'S tribute tax was sixty-one;40 and the captive people were sixteen thousand, from whom the LORD'S tribute tax was thirty-two persons.41 And Moses gave the tribute tax, which was the LORD'S offering, to Eleazar the priest, just (C1)as the LORD had commanded Moses.
42 As for the sons of Israel's half, which Moses (F1)separated from the men who had gone to war—43 now the congregation's half was 337,500 sheep,44 thirty-six thousand cattle,45 30,500 donkeys,46 and the captive people were sixteen thousand—47 from the sons of Israel's half Moses took one drawn from every fifty, both of people and of animals, and gave them to the Levites, who performed the duty of the tabernacle of the LORD, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.
48 Then the officers who were over the thousands of the army, the commanders of thousands and the commanders of hundreds, approached Moses,49 and they said to Moses, "Your servants have taken a census of the men of war who are (F1)under our authority, and no man of us is missing.50 "So we have brought as an offering to the LORD what each man found, articles of gold, armlets and bracelets, signet rings, earrings, and necklaces, (C1)to make atonement for ourselves before the LORD."51 Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold from them, all kinds of crafted articles.52 All the gold of the offering which they offered up to the LORD, from the commanders of thousands and the commanders of hundreds, was 16,750 shekels.53 (C1)The men of war had taken plunder, every man for himself.54 So Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold from the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and brought it to the tent of meeting as (C1)a memorial for the sons of Israel before the LORD.
Job 1
Chapter 1
Job's Character and Wealth
1 There was a man in the (C1)land of Uz whose name was (C2)Job; and that man was (C3)blameless, upright, (C4)fearing God and (C5)turning away from evil.2 (C1)Seven sons and three daughters were born to him.3 (C1)His possessions were seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and very many servants; and that man was (C2)the greatest of all the (F1)men of the east.4 His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send word and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them.5 When the days of feasting had completed their cycle, Job would send word to them and consecrate them, getting up early in the morning and offering (C1)burnt offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, "(C2)Perhaps my sons have sinned and (C3)cursed God in their hearts." Job did so continually.
6 (C1)Now there was a day when the (F1)(C2)sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and (F2)Satan also came among them.7 The LORD said to Satan, "From where do you come?" Satan answered the LORD and said, "(C1)From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it."8 The LORD said to Satan, "Have you (F1)considered (C1)My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, (C2)a blameless and upright man, (F2)fearing God and turning away from evil."9 Then (C1)Satan answered the (F1)LORD, "Does Job fear God for nothing?10 "(C1)Have You not made a fence around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? (C2)You have blessed the work of his hands, and his (C3)possessions have increased in the land.11 "(C1)But reach out with Your hand now and (C2)touch all that he has; he will certainly curse You to Your face."12 Then the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your (F1)power; only do not reach out and put your hand on him." So Satan departed from the presence of the LORD.
Satan Allowed to Test Job
13 Now on the day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house,14 a messenger came to Job and said, "The oxen were plowing and the female donkeys feeding beside them,15 and (F1)the (C1)Sabeans (F2)attacked and took them. They also (F3)killed the servants with the edge of the sword, and (F4)I alone have escaped to tell you."16 While he was still speaking, another came and said, "(C1)The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you."17 While he was still speaking, another came and said, "The (C1)Chaldeans formed three units and made a raid on the camels and took them, and (F1)killed the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you."18 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, "Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house,19 and behold, a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people and they died, and I alone have escaped to tell you."
20 Then Job got up, (C1)tore his robe, and shaved his head; then he fell to the ground and worshiped.21 He said, "(C1)Naked I came from my mother's womb,
And naked I shall return there.
The (C2)LORD gave and the LORD has taken away.
Blessed be the name of the LORD."
22 (C1)Despite all this, Job did not sin, nor did he (F1)blame God.
Matthew 25:1-30
Chapter 25
Parable of Ten Virgins
1 "Then (C1)the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their (C2)lamps and went out to meet the groom.2 "Five of them were foolish, and five were (C1)prudent.3 "For when the foolish took their lamps, they did not take extra oil with them;4 but the (C1)prudent ones took oil in flasks with their lamps.5 "Now while the groom was delaying, they all became drowsy and began to sleep.6 "But at midnight (F1)there finally was a shout: 'Behold, the groom! Come out to meet him.'7 "Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps.8 "But the foolish virgins said to the prudent ones, 'Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.'9 "However, the (C1)prudent ones answered, 'No, there most certainly would not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.'10 "But while they were (F1)on their way to buy the oil, the groom came, and those who were (C1)ready went in with him to (C2)the wedding feast; and (C3)the door was shut.11 "Yet later, the other virgins also came, saying, '(C1)Lord, lord, open up for us.'12 "But he answered, 'Truly I say to you, I do not know you.'13 "(C1)Be on the alert then, because you do not know the day nor the hour.
Parable of the Talents
14 "(C1)For it is just like a man (C2)about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them.15 "To one he gave five (F1)(C1)talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he (C2)went on his journey.16 "The one who had received the five (C1)talents immediately went and did business with them, and earned five more talents.17 "In the same way the one who had received the two talents earned two more.18 "But he who received the one talent went away and dug a hole in the ground, and hid his (F1)master's money.
19 "Now after a long time the master of those slaves (*)came and (*)(C1)settled accounts with them.20 "The one who had received the five (C1)talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, 'Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have earned five more talents.'21 "His master said to him, 'Well done, good and (C1)faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will (C2)put you in charge of many things; enter the joy of your (F1)master.'
22 "Also the one who had received the two (C1)talents came up and said, 'Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have earned two more talents.'23 "His master said to him, 'Well done, good and (C1)faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter the joy of your master.'
24 "Now the one who had received the one (C1)talent also came up and said, 'Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed.25 'And I was afraid, so I went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you still have what is yours.'
26 "But his master answered and said to him, 'You (F1)worthless, lazy slave! Did you know that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter seed?27 'Then you ought to have (F1)put my money in the bank, and (F2)on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest.28 'Therefore: take the talent away from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.'
29 "(C1)For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away.30 "And throw the worthless slave into (C1)the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.<
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