the Week of Proper 21 / Ordinary 26
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October 4 - Bible-in-a-Year
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Nehemiah 5:1-7:4
Chapter 5
Social Injustice
1 There was a widespread outcry from the people and their wives against their Jewish countrymen. 2 Some were saying, "We, our sons, and our daughters are numerous. Let us get grain so that we can eat and live." 3 Others were saying, "We are mortgaging our fields, vineyards, and homes to get grain during the famine."(a) 4 Still others were saying, "We have borrowed money to pay the king's tax(b) on our fields and vineyards.(c) 5 We and our children are just like our countrymen and their children, yet we are subjecting our sons and daughters to slavery.(d) Some of our daughters are already enslaved,(e) but we are powerless[a] because our fields and vineyards belong to others."
6 I became extremely angry(f) when I heard their outcry and these complaints. 7 After seriously considering the matter, I accused the nobles and officials, saying to them, "Each of you is charging his countrymen interest."(g) So I called a large assembly against them 8 and said, "We have done our best to buy back our Jewish countrymen who were sold to foreigners, but now you sell your own countrymen, and we have to buy them back."(h) They remained silent and could not say a word.(i) 9 Then I said, "What you are doing isn't right. Shouldn't you walk in the fear of our God(j) and not invite the reproach of our foreign enemies?(k) 10 Even I, as well as my brothers and my servants, have been lending them money and grain. Please, let us stop charging this interest.[b] 11 Return their fields, vineyards, olive groves, and houses to them immediately, along with the percentage[c] of the money, grain, new wine, and olive oil(l) that you have been assessing them."
12 They responded: "We will return these things and require nothing more from them.(m) We will do as you say."
So I summoned the priests and made everyone take an oath(n) to do this. 13 I also shook the folds of my robe and said, "May God likewise shake from his house and property everyone who doesn't keep this promise. May he be shaken out(o) and have nothing!"
The whole assembly said, "Amen," and they praised the Lord . Then the people did as they had promised.(p)
Good and Bad Governors
14 Furthermore, from the day King Artaxerxes(q) appointed me to be their governor in the land of Judah—from the twentieth year until his thirty-second year, 12 years(r)—I and my associates never ate from the food allotted to the governor. 15 The governors(s) who preceded me had heavily burdened the people, taking food and wine from them, as well as a pound[d] of silver. Their subordinates also oppressed the people, but I didn't do this, because of the fear of God.(t) 16 Instead, I devoted myself to the construction of the wall,(u) and all my subordinates were gathered there for the work. We didn't buy any land.(v)
17 There were 150 Jews and officials, as well as guests from the surrounding nations at my table.(w) 18 Each[e] day, one ox, six choice sheep, and some fowl were prepared for me. An abundance of all kinds of wine was provided every 10 days.(x) But I didn't demand the food allotted to the governor, because the burden on the people was so heavy.
19 Remember me favorably, my God, for all that I have done for this people.(y)
Chapter 6
Attempts to Discourage the Builders
1 When Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies(a) heard that I had rebuilt the wall and that no gap was left in it(b)—though at that time I had not installed the doors in the gates(c)— 2 Sanballat and Geshem(d) sent me a message: "Come, let's meet together in the villages of[a] the Ono Valley."(e) But they were planning to harm me.
3 So I sent messengers to them, saying, "I am doing a great work and cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you?" 4 Four times they sent me the same proposal, and I gave them the same reply.
5 Sanballat(f) sent me this same message a fifth time by his aide, who had an open letter in his hand. 6 In it was written:
It is reported among the nations—and Geshem[b](g) agrees—that you and the Jews plan to rebel. This is the reason you are building the wall. According to these reports, you are to become their king 7 and have even set up the prophets in Jerusalem to proclaim on your behalf: "There is a king in Judah."(h) These rumors will be heard by the king. So come, let's confer together.
8 Then I replied to him, "There is nothing to these rumors you are spreading; you are inventing them in your own mind."(i) 9 For they were all trying to intimidate(j) us, saying, "They will become discouraged[c] in the work,(k) and it will never be finished."
But now, my God, strengthen me.[d](l)
Attempts to Intimidate Nehemiah
10 I went to the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah, son of Mehetabel, who was restricted to his house. He said:
Let us meet at the house of God
inside the temple.
Let us shut the temple doors
because they are coming to kill you.
They are coming to kill you tonight![e]
11 But I said, "Should a man like me run away? How can I enter the temple and live?(m) I will not go." 12 I realized that God had not sent him, because of the prophecy he spoke against me. Tobiah and Sanballat(n) had hired him. 13 He was hired, so that I would be intimidated,(o) do as he suggested, sin, and get a bad reputation, in order that they could discredit me.
14 My God, remember(p) Tobiah and Sanballat for what they have done, and also Noadiah the prophetess(q) and the other prophets who wanted to intimidate me.
The Wall Completed
15 The wall was completed(r) in 52 days, on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul.(s) 16 When all our enemies(t) heard this, all the surrounding nations were intimidated(u) and lost their confidence,[f] for they realized that this task had been accomplished by our God.(v)
17 During those days, the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah,(w) and Tobiah's letters came to them. 18 For many in Judah were bound by oath(x) to him, since he was a son-in-law of Shecaniah son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan had married the daughter of Meshullam(y) son of Berechiah. 19 These nobles kept mentioning Tobiah's good deeds to me, and they reported my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to intimidate(z) me.
Chapter 7
lass="pPsalms 99
Chapter 99
Psalm 99
The King Is Holy
1 The
Lord
reigns! Let the peoples tremble.
He is enthroned above the cherubim.(a)
Let the earth quake.(b)
2 Yahweh is great in Zion;
He is exalted above all the peoples.(c)
3 Let them praise Your great
and awe-inspiring name.(d)
He is holy.(e)
4 The mighty King loves justice.
You have established fairness;
You have administered justice
and righteousness in Jacob.(f)
5 Exalt the
Lord
our God;
bow in worship at His footstool.(g)
He is holy.(h)
6 Moses and Aaron were among His priests;(i)
Samuel also was among those calling on His name.
They called to Yahweh and He answered them.(j)
7 He spoke to them in a pillar of cloud;(k)
they kept His decrees and the statutes He gave them.
8
Lord
our God, You answered them.
You were a forgiving God to them,(l)
an avenger of their sinful actions.(m)
9 Exalt the
Lord
our God;
bow in worship at His holy mountain,
for the
Lord
our God is holy.(n)
Revelation 4
Chapter 4
The Throne Room of Heaven
1 After this I looked, and there in heaven was an open door. The first voice that I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this."
2 Immediately I was in the Spirit,[a](a) and a throne was set there in heaven.(b) One was seated on the throne, 3 and the One seated[b] looked like jasper[c] and carnelian[d] stone. A rainbow that looked like an emerald surrounded the throne. 4 Around that throne were 24 thrones, and on the thrones sat 24 elders dressed in white clothes, with gold crowns on their heads. 5 Flashes of lightning and rumblings of thunder came from the throne. Seven fiery torches were burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God.(c) 6 Something like a sea of glass, similar to crystal, was also before the throne. Four living creatures(d) covered with eyes in front and in back were in the middle[e] and around the throne. 7 The first living creature was like a lion; the second living creature was like a calf; the third living creature had a face like a man; and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. 8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings;(e) they were covered with eyes around and inside. Day and night they never stop,[f] saying:
Holy, holy, holy,[g]
Lord God, the Almighty,
who was, who is, and who is coming.
9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to the One seated on the throne, the One who lives forever and ever, 10 the 24 elders fall down before the One seated on the throne, worship the One who lives forever and ever, cast their crowns before the throne, and say:
11 Our Lord and God,[h]
You are worthy to receive
glory and honor and power,
because You have created all things,
and because of Your will
they exist and were created.
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