the Week of Proper 28 / Ordinary 33
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December 22 - Bible-in-a-Year
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Ezekiel 33
Chapter 33
Ezekiel as Israel's Watchman
1 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 "Son of man, speak to your people and tell them: Suppose I bring the sword against a land, and the people of that land select a man from among them, appointing him as their watchman, 3 and he sees the sword coming against the land and blows his trumpet(a) to warn the people. 4 Then, if anyone hears the sound of the trumpet but ignores the warning,(b) and the sword comes and takes him away, his blood will be on his own head. 5 Since he heard the sound of the trumpet but ignored the warning, his blood is on his own hands.[a] If he had taken warning, he would have saved his life. 6 However, if the watchman sees the sword coming but doesn't blow the trumpet, so that the people aren't warned, and the sword comes and takes away their lives, then they have been taken away because of their iniquity, but I will hold the watchman accountable for their blood.
7 "As for you, son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel.(c) When you hear a word from My mouth, give them a warning from Me. 8 If I say to the wicked, ‘Wicked one, you will surely die,'(d) but you do not speak out to warn him about his way, that wicked person will die for his iniquity, yet I will hold you responsible for his blood. 9 But if you warn a wicked person to turn from his way and he doesn't turn from it, he will die for his iniquity, but you will have saved your life.
10 "Now as for you, son of man, say to the house of Israel: You have said this, ‘Our transgressions and our sins are heavy on us, and we are wasting away because of them!(e) How then can we survive?'(f) 11 Tell them: As I live"—the declaration of the Lord God —"I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked person should turn from his way and live.(g) Repent, repent of your evil ways! Why will you die, house of Israel?
12 "Now, son of man, say to your people: The righteousness of the righteous person will not save him on the day of his transgression; neither will the wickedness of the wicked person cause him to stumble on the day he turns from his wickedness. The righteous person won't be able to survive by his righteousness on the day he sins. 13 When I tell the righteous person that he will surely live, but he trusts in his righteousness and commits iniquity, then none of his righteousness will be remembered, and he will die because of the iniquity he has committed.(h)
14 "So when I tell the wicked person, ‘You will surely die,' but he repents of his sin and does what is just and right— 15 he returns collateral, makes restitution for what he has stolen, and walks in the statutes of life(i) without practicing iniquity—he will certainly live; he will not die. 16 None of the sins he committed will be held against him. He has done what is just and right; he will certainly live.(j)
17 "But your people say, ‘The Lord's way isn't fair,'(k) even though it is their own way that isn't fair. 18 When a righteous person turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, he will die on account of this. 19 But if a wicked person turns from his wickedness and does what is just and right, he will live because of this. 20 Yet you say, ‘The Lord's way isn't fair.' I will judge each of you according to his ways, house of Israel."
The News of Jerusalem's Fall
21 In the twelfth year of our exile, in the tenth month, on the fifth day of the month, a fugitive from Jerusalem came to me and reported, "The city has been taken!" 22 Now the hand of the Lord had been on me the evening before the fugitive arrived, and He opened my mouth before the man came to me in the morning. So my mouth was opened and I was no longer mute.(l)
Israel's Continued Rebellion
23 Then the word of the Lord came to me: 24 "Son of man, those who live in the[b] ruins in the land of Israel are saying, ‘Abraham was only one person,(m) yet he received possession of the land.(n) But we are many; the land has been given to us as a possession.'(o) 25 Therefore say to them: This is what the Lord God says: You eat meat with blood in it,(p) raise your eyes to your idols, and shed blood. Should you then receive possession of the land? 26 You have relied on your swords, you have committed detestable acts, and each of you has defiled his neighbor's wife. Should you then receive possession of the land?(q)
27 "Tell them this: This is what the Lord God says: As surely as I live, those who are in the ruins will fall by the sword, those in the open field I have given to wild animals to be devoured, and those in the strongholds and caves will die by plague.(r) 28 I will make the land a desolate waste,(s) and its proud strength will come to an end.(t) The mountains of Israel(u) will become desolate, with no one passing through. 29 They will know that I am Yahweh when I make the land a desolate waste because of all the detestable acts they have committed.
30 "Now, son of man, your people are talking about you near the city walls and in the doorways of their houses. One person speaks to another, each saying to his brother, ‘Come and hear what the message is that comes from the Lord !' 31 So My people come to you in crowds,[c] sit in front of you, and hear your words, but they don't obey them. Although they express love with their mouths, their hearts pursue dishonest profit. 32 Yes, to them you are like a singer of love songs who has a beautiful voice and plays skillfully on an instrument. They hear your words, but they don't obey them. 33 Yet when it comes(v)—and it will definitely come—then they will know that a prophet has been among them."
Isaiah 57
Chapter 57
1 The righteous one perishes,
and no one takes it to heart;
faithful men are swept away,
with no one realizing
that the righteous one is swept away
from the presence[a] of evil.
2 He will enter into peace—
they will rest on their beds[b]—
everyone who lives uprightly.
Pagan Religion Denounced
3 But come here,
you sons of a sorceress,
offspring of an adulterer and a prostitute![c]
4 Who is it you are mocking?
Who is it you are opening your mouth
and sticking out your tongue at?
Isn't it you, you rebellious children,(a)
you race of liars,
5 who burn with lust among the oaks,
under every green tree,(b)
who slaughter children in the wadis
below the clefts of the rocks?(c)
6 Your portion is among the smooth stones of the wadi;
indeed, they are your lot.
You have even poured out a drink offering to them;
you have offered a grain offering;
should I be satisfied with these?
7 You have placed your bed
on a high and lofty mountain;(d)
you also went up there to offer sacrifice.
8 You have set up your memorial
behind the door and doorpost.
For away from Me, you stripped,
went up, and made your bed wide,(e)
and you have made a bargain[d] for yourself with them.
You have loved their bed;
you have gazed on their genitals.[e][f]
9 You went to the king with oil
and multiplied your perfumes;
you sent your couriers far away(f)
and sent them down even to Sheol.
10 You became weary on your many journeys,
but you did not say, "I give up!"(g)
You found a renewal of your strength;[g]
therefore you did not grow weak.
11 Who was it you dreaded and feared,
so that you lied and didn't remember Me
or take it to heart?
Have I not kept silent for such a long time[h](h)
and you do not fear Me?
12 I will expose your righteousness,
and your works—they will not profit you.
13 When you cry out,
let your collection of idols deliver you!
The wind will carry all of them off,
a breath will take them away.
But whoever takes refuge in Me
will inherit the land(i)
and possess My holy mountain.(j)
Healing and Peace
14 He said,
"Build it up, build it up, prepare the way,
remove every obstacle from My people's way."(k)
15 For the High and Exalted One
who lives forever, whose name is Holy(l) says this:
"I live in a high and holy place,
and with the oppressed and lowly of spirit,(m)
to revive the spirit of the lowly
and revive the heart of the oppressed.(n)
16 For I will not accuse you forever,
and I will not always be angry;(o)
for then the spirit would grow weak before Me,
even the breath of man, which I have made.
17 Because of his sinful greed I was angry,(p)
so I struck him; I was angry and hid;[i]
but he went on turning back to the desires of his heart.
18 I have seen his ways, but I will heal him;
I will lead him and restore comfort
to him and his mourners,(q)
19 creating words of praise."[j](r)
The
Lord
says,
"Peace, peace to the one who is far or near,(s)
and I will heal him.
20 But the wicked are like the storm-tossed sea,(t)
for it cannot be still,
and its waters churn up mire and muck.
21 There is no peace for the wicked,"
says my God.(u)
Luke 1:1-25
Chapter 1
The Dedication to Theophilus
1 Many have undertaken to compile a narrative about the events that have been fulfilled[a] among us,(a) 2 just as the original eyewitnesses(b) and servants of the word(c) handed them down to us. 3 It also seemed good to me, since I have carefully investigated everything from the very first, to write to you in an orderly sequence, most honorable(d) Theophilus,(e) 4 so that you may know the certainty of the things about which you have been instructed.[b](f)
Gabriel Predicts John's Birth
5 In the days of King Herod(g) of Judea, there was a priest of Abijah's division[c](h) named Zechariah. His wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 Both were righteous in God's sight,(i) living without blame(j) according to all the commands and requirements of the Lord. 7 But they had no children[d] because Elizabeth could not conceive,[e] and both of them were well along in years.[f]
8 When his division was on duty(k) and he was serving as priest before God, 9 it happened that he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense.(l) 10 At the hour of incense the whole assembly of the people was praying outside. 11 An angel of the Lord(m) appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and overcome with fear.[g] 13 But the angel said to him:
Do not be afraid,(n) Zechariah,
because your prayer has been heard.
Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son,
and you will name him John.(o)
14 There will be joy and delight for you,
and many will rejoice at his birth.
15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord
and will never drink wine or beer.(p)
He will be filled with the Holy Spirit
while still in his mother's womb.(q)
16 He will turn many of the sons of Israel
to the Lord their God.
17 And he will go before Him
in the spirit and power of Elijah,
to turn the hearts of fathers
to their children,(r)
and the disobedient
to the understanding of the righteous,
to make ready for the Lord a prepared people.(s)
18 "How can I know this?" Zechariah asked the angel. "For I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years."[h]
19 The angel answered him, "I am Gabriel,(t) who stands in the presence of God,(u) and I was sent to speak to you and tell you this good news. 20 Now listen! You will become silent and unable to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time."
21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah, amazed that he stayed so long in the sanctuary. 22 When he did come out, he could not speak to them. Then they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He kept making signs to them(v) and remained speechless. 23 When the days of his ministry were completed, he went back home.
24 After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived and kept herself in seclusion for five months. She said, 25 "The Lord has done this for me. He has looked with favor in these days to take away my disgrace(w) among the people."
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