the Fifth Week after Easter
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Bible Reading Plan
Daily Bible Reading
December 8 - Bible-in-a-Year
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Ezekiel 12-13
Chapter 12
Ezekiel Prepares for Exile
1 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,2 "Son of man, you live in the (C1)midst of the (C2)rebellious house, who (C3)have eyes to see but do not see, ears to hear but do not hear; for they are a rebellious house.3 "So as for you, son of man, prepare for yourself baggage for exile and go into exile by day in their sight; that is, go into exile from your place to another place in their sight. (C1)Perhaps they will (F1)understand, though they are a rebellious house.4 "Bring your baggage out by day in their sight, as baggage for exile. Then you shall go out (C1)at evening in their sight, as those who are going into exile.5 "Dig a hole through the wall in their sight and (F1)go out through it.6 "Load the baggage on your shoulder in their sight and carry it out in the dark. You shall (C1)cover your face so that you cannot see the land, for I have set you as a (C2)sign to the house of Israel."
7 Then I (C1)did so, just as I had been commanded. By day I (C2)brought out my baggage like the baggage of an exile. Then in the evening I dug through the wall with my hands; I went out in the dark and carried the baggage on my shoulder in their sight.
8 And in the morning the word of the LORD came to me, saying,9 "Son of man, has the house of Israel, the (C1)rebellious house, not said to you, '(C2)What are you doing?'10 "Say to them, 'This is what the Lord (F1)GOD says: "This (C1)pronouncement concerns the prince in Jerusalem as well as all the house of Israel who are (F2)in it."'11 "Say, 'I am (F1)a (C1)sign to you. Just as I have done, so it will be done to them; they will (C2)go into exile, into captivity.'12 "The (C1)prince who is among them will load his baggage on his shoulder in the dark and go out. (F1)They will dig a hole through the wall to bring it out through it. He will cover his face so that he cannot see the land with his eyes.13 "I will also spread My (C1)net over him, and he will be caught in My net. And I will bring him to Babylon in the land of the Chaldeans; yet he will (C2)not see it, though he will die there.14 "And I will (C1)scatter to every wind all who are around him, his helpers and all his troops; and I will draw out a sword after them.15 "So they will (C1)know that I am the LORD, when I disperse them among the nations and scatter them among the countries.16 "But I will (F1)spare a few of them from the (C1)sword, the famine, and plague so that they may tell of all their abominations among the nations where they go, and (F2)may (C2)know that I am the LORD."
17 Moreover, the word of the LORD came to me, saying,18 "Son of man, (C1)eat your bread with trembling, and drink your water with quivering and anxiety.19 "Then say to the people of the land, 'This is what the Lord GOD says concerning the inhabitants of Jerusalem in the land of Israel: "They will eat their bread with anxiety and drink their water with horror, because (F1)their land will be (F2)(C1)stripped of its fullness on account of the violence of all who live in it.20 "The inhabited (C1)cities will be in ruins, and the (C2)land will be a desolation. So you will know that I am the LORD."'"
21 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,22 "Son of man, what is this (C1)proverb you people have about the land of Israel, saying, 'The (C2)days are long, and every (C3)vision fails'?23 "Therefore say to them, 'This is what the Lord GOD says: "I will put an end to this proverb so that they will no longer use it as a proverb in Israel." But tell them, "(C1)The days are approaching as well as the (F1)fulfillment of every vision.24 "For there will no longer be any (F1)(C1)false vision or deceptive divination within the house of Israel.25 "For I the LORD will speak whatever (C1)word I speak, and it will be performed. It will no longer be delayed, for in (C2)your days, you (C3)rebellious house, I will speak the word and perform it," declares the Lord GOD.'"
26 Furthermore, the word of the LORD came to me, saying,27 "Son of man, behold, the house of Israel is saying, 'The vision that he sees is for (C1)many (F1)years from now, and he prophesies of times far off.'28 "Therefore say to them, 'This is what the Lord GOD says: "None of My words will be delayed any longer. Whatever word I speak will be performed,"'" declares the Lord GOD.
Chapter 13
False Prophets Condemned
1 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,2 "Son of man, prophesy against the (C1)prophets of Israel who prophesy, and say to those who prophesy from their own (F1)inspiration, '(C2)Listen to the word of the LORD!3 'This is what the Lord (F1)GOD says: "Woe to the (C1)foolish prophets who are following their own spirit and have (C2)seen nothing!4 "Israel, your prophets have been like jackals among ruins.5 "You have not (C1)gone up into the (C2)breaches, nor did you build up a stone wall around the house of Israel to stand in the battle on the (C3)day of the LORD.6 "They see (C1)deceit and lying divination, those who are saying, 'The LORD declares,' when the LORD has not sent them; (C2)yet they wait for the fulfillment of their word!7 "(C1)Did you not see a false vision and tell a lying divination when you said, 'The LORD declares,' but it is not I who have spoken?"'"
8 Therefore, this is what the Lord GOD says: "Because you have spoken deceit and have seen a lie, therefore behold, (C1)I am against you," declares the Lord GOD.9 "So My hand will be against the (C1)prophets who see false visions and utter lying divinations. They will (F1)have no place in the council of My people, (C2)nor will they be written down in the register of the house of Israel, nor will they enter the land of Israel, (F2)so that you may know that I am the Lord GOD.10 "It is definitely because they have (C1)misled My people by saying, '(C2)Peace!' when there is (C3)no peace. And when anyone builds a wall, behold, they plaster it over with whitewash;11 so tell those who plaster it over with whitewash, that it will fall. A (C1)flooding rain will come, and you, hailstones, will fall, and a violent wind will break out.12 "Behold, when the wall has fallen, will you not be asked, 'Where is the plaster with which you plastered it?'"13 Therefore, this is what the Lord GOD says: "I will make a violent wind break out in My wrath. There will also be in My anger a flooding rain and (C1)hailstones to consume it in wrath.14 "So I will tear down the wall which you plastered over with whitewash and hurl it down to the ground, so that its (C1)foundation is exposed; and when it falls, you will (C2)perish in its midst. And you will (C3)know that I am the LORD.15 "So I will expend My wrath on the wall and on those who have plastered it over with whitewash; and I will say to you, 'The wall (F1)is gone and those who plastered it are gone,16 along with the prophets of Israel who prophesy to Jerusalem, and who (C1)see a vision of peace for her when there is (C2)no peace,' declares the Lord GOD.
17 "Now you, son of man, set your face against the daughters of your people who are (C1)talking like prophets (C2)from their own (F1)imagination. Prophesy against them18 and say, 'This is what the Lord GOD says: "Woe to the women who sew magic bands on (F1)all wrists and make veils for the heads of persons of every stature to (C1)capture souls! Will you capture the souls of My people, but keep the souls of others alive for yourselves?19 "(C1)For handfuls of barley and pieces of bread, you have profaned Me to My people, to put to death (F1)some who should not die, and to (C2)keep (F1)others alive who should not live, by your lying to My people who listen to lies."'"
20 Therefore, this is what the Lord GOD says: "Behold, I am against your magic bands by which you capture souls there as (F1)birds, and I will tear them from your arms; and I will let (F1)them go, those souls whom you capture as (F1)birds.21 "I will also tear off your veils and (C1)save My people from your hands, and they will no longer be in your hands as prey; and you will know that I am the LORD.22 "Because you (C1)disheartened the righteous with falsehood when I did not cause him pain, but you have (F1)(C2)encouraged the wicked not to (C3)turn from his wicked way to keep him alive,23 therefore you women will no longer see (C1)deceitful visions or practice divination, and I will (C2)save My people from your hands. So you will (C3)know that I am the LORD."
Isaiah 43
Chapter 43
Israel Redeemed
1 But now, this is what the LORD says, He who is your (C1)Creator, Jacob,
And He who (C2)formed you, Israel:
"Do not (C3)fear, for I have (C4)redeemed you;
I have (C5)called you by name; you are (C6)Mine!
2 "When you (C1)pass through the waters, (C2)I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they will not overflow you.
When you (C3)walk through the fire, you will not be scorched,
Nor will the flame burn you.
3 "For (C1)I am the LORD your God,
The Holy One of Israel, your (C2)Savior;
I have given Egypt as your ransom,
(F1)(C3)Cush and Seba in exchange for you.
4 "Since you are (C1)precious in My sight,
Since you are (C2)honored and I (C3)love you,
I will give other people in your place and other nations in exchange for your life.
5 "Do not fear, for (C1)I am with you;
I will bring (C2)your offspring from the east,
And (C3)gather you from the west.
6 "I will say to the (C1)north, 'Give them up!'
And to the south, 'Do not hold them back.'
Bring My (C2)sons from afar
And My daughters from the (C3)ends of the earth,
7 Everyone who is (C1)called by My name,
And whom I have (C2)created for My (C3)glory,
(C4)Whom I have formed, even whom I have made."
Israel Is God's Witness
8 Bring out the people who are (C1)blind, even though they have eyes,
And those who are deaf, even though they have ears.
9 All the nations have (C1)gathered together
So that the peoples may be assembled.
Who among them can (C2)declare this
And proclaim to us the former things?
Let them present (C3)their witnesses so (C4)that they may be justified,
Or let them hear and say, "It is true."
10 "You are (C1)My witnesses," declares the LORD,
"And (C2)My servant whom I have chosen,
So that you may know and believe Me
And understand that (C3)I am He.
(C4)Before Me there was no God formed,
And there will be none after Me.
11 "I, only I, am the LORD,
And there is no (C1)savior (C2)besides Me.
12 "It is I who have declared and saved and proclaimed,
And there was no (C1)strange god among you;
So you are My witnesses," declares the LORD,
"And I am God.
13 "Even (F1)(C1)from eternity (C2)I am He,
And there is (C3)no one who can rescue from My hand;
(C4)I act, and who can reverse it?"
Babylon to Be Destroyed
14 This is what the LORD your (C1)Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel says: "For your sake I have sent to Babylon,
And will bring them all down as fugitives,
(F1)Even the (C2)Chaldeans, into the (C3)ships (F2)over which they rejoice.
15 "I am the LORD, your Holy One,
(C1)The Creator of Israel, your (C2)King."
He who (C1)makes a way through the sea
And a path through the mighty waters,
17 Who brings out the (C1)chariot and the horse,
The army and the mighty man
(They will lie down together and not rise again;
They have been (C2)extinguished, and have gone out like a wick):
18 "(C1)Do not call to mind the former things,
Or consider things of the past.
19 "Behold, I am going to do something (C1)new,
Now it will spring up;
Will you not be aware of it?
I will even (C2)make a roadway in the wilderness,
Rivers in the desert.
20 "The animals of the field will glorify Me,
The (C1)jackals and the ostriches,
Because I have (C2)given waters in the wilderness
And rivers in the desert,
To give drink to My chosen people.
21 "The people whom (C1)I formed for Myself
(C2)Will declare My praise.
The Shortcomings of Israel
22 "Yet you have not called on Me, Jacob;
But you have become (C1)weary of Me, Israel.
23 "You have (C1)not brought to Me the sheep of your burnt offerings,
Nor have you (C2)honored Me with your sacrifices.
I have not (C3)burdened you with (F1)offerings,
Nor wearied you with (C4)incense.
24 "You have not bought Me (F1)(C1)sweet cane with money,
Nor have you satisfied Me with the fat of your sacrifices;
Rather, you have burdened Me with your sins,
You have (C2)wearied Me with your wrongdoings.
25 "I, I alone, am the one who (C1)wipes out your wrongdoings (C2)for My own sake,
And I will (C3)not remember your sins.
26 "(F1)Meet Me in court, (C1)let's argue our case together;
State your cause, (C2)so that you may be proved right.
27 "Your (C1)first (F1)forefather sinned,
And your (F2)(C2)spokesmen have rebelled against Me.
28 "So I will profane the (F1)officials of the sanctuary,
And I will turn Jacob over to (C1)destruction and Israel to (C2)abuse.
Ephesians 4:17-32
Chapter 4
17 (C1)So I say this, and affirm in the Lord, (C2)that you are to no longer walk just as the (F1)Gentiles also walk, in the (C3)futility of their minds,18 being (C1)darkened in their understanding, (F1)(C2)excluded from the life of God because of the (C3)ignorance that is in them, because of the (C4)hardness of their heart;19 and they, having (C1)become callous, (C2)have given themselves up to (C3)indecent behavior (F1)for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.20 But you did not (C1)learn Christ in this way,21 if indeed you (C1)have heard Him and have (C2)been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus,22 that, in reference to your former way of life, you are to (C1)rid yourselves of the (C2)old (F1)self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the (C3)lusts of deceit,23 and that you are to be (C1)renewed in the spirit of your minds,24 and to (C1)put on the (C2)new (F1)self, which (F2)(C3)in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.
25 Therefore, (C1)ridding yourselves of falsehood, (C2)SPEAK TRUTH EACH ONE OF YOU WITH HIS NEIGHBOR, because we are (C3)parts of one another.26 (C1)BE ANGRY, AND YET DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger,27 and do not (C1)give the devil (F1)an opportunity.28 The one who steals must no longer steal; but rather (C1)he must labor, (C2)producing with his own hands what is good, (C3)so that he will have something to share with the one who has need.29 Let no (F1)(C1)unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but if there is any good word for (C2)edification (F2)according to the need of the moment, say that, so that it will give grace to those who hear.30 (C1)Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, (F1)by whom you were (C2)sealed for the day of redemption.31 (C1)All bitterness, wrath, anger, (F1)clamor, and slander must be (C2)removed from you, along with all (C3)malice.32 (C1)Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving each other, (C2)just as God in Christ also has forgiven (F1)you.
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