Weekly Scripture Reading
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Torah: Genesis 41-43
Prophets: Jeremiah 16-17
Historical Writings: 2 SAMUEL 16-17
New Testament: Mark 13
Wisdom Writings: PSALMS 69
Non-Canonical: SIRACH 8-9
The following translation is from The Scriptures | ISR98
Genesis 41-43
41| 1 And it came to be, at the end of two years’ time, that Pharaoh had a dream, and saw him standing by the river,
2 and saw seven cows coming up out of the river, fine looking and fat, and they fed amongst the reeds,
3 then saw seven other cows coming up after them out of the river, ugly and lean of flesh, and stood by the other cows on the bank of the river.
4 And the ugly and lean of flesh cows ate up the seven fine looking and fat cows. Then Pharaoh awoke.
5 And he slept and dreamed a second time and saw seven heads of grain coming up on one stalk, plump and good,
6 and saw seven lean heads, scorched by the east wind, coming up after them.
7 And the seven lean heads swallowed the seven plump and complete heads. Then Pharaoh awoke and saw it was a dream.
8 And it came to be in the morning that his spirit was moved, and he sent and called for all the magicians of Mitsrayim and all its wise men. And Pharaoh related to them his dreams, but there was no one who could interpret them for Pharaoh.
9 Then the chief cupbearer spoke to Pharaoh, saying, “I remember my crimes this day.
10 “When Pharaoh was wroth with his servants, and put me in confinement in the house of the captain of the guard, both me and the chief baker,
11 each one of us dreamed a dream in one night, he and I. Each of us dreamed according to the interpretation of his own dream.
12 “And there was with us a Heḇrew youth, a servant of the captain of the guard. And we related to him, and he interpreted our dreams for us. To each man he interpreted according to his own dream.
13 “And it came to be, as he interpreted for us, so it came to be. He restored me to my office, and he hanged him.”
14 Then Pharaoh sent and called Yosĕph, and they hurriedly brought him out of the dungeon. And he shaved and changed his garments, and came to Pharaoh.
15 And Pharaoh said to Yosĕph, “I have dreamed a dream, and there is no one to interpret it. Now I myself have heard it said of you that you understand a dream, to interpret it.”
16 And Yosĕph answered Pharaoh, saying, “It is not in me, let Elohim answer Pharaoh with peace.”
17 And Pharaoh said to Yosĕph, “See, in my dream I stood on the bank of the river
18 and saw seven cows coming up out of the river, fine looking and fat, and they fed amongst the reeds,
19 then saw seven other cows coming up after them, poor and very ugly and lean of flesh, such ugliness as I have never seen in all the land of Mitsrayim.
20 “And the lean of flesh and ugly cows ate up the first seven, the fat cows.
21 “Yet when they had eaten them up, no one would have known that they had eaten them, for they were as ugly as at the beginning. Then I awoke.
22 “Also, I looked in my dream and saw seven heads coming up on one stalk, complete and good,
23 then saw seven heads, withered, lean, scorched by the east wind, coming up after them.
24 “And the lean heads swallowed the seven good heads. And I spoke to the magicians, but there was no one who could explain it to me.”
25 And Yosĕph said to Pharaoh, “The dream of Pharaoh is one. Elohim has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do:
26 “The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good heads are seven years – it is one dream.
27 “And the seven lean and ugly cows which came up after them are seven years, and the seven empty heads scorched by the east wind are seven years of scarcity of food.
28 “This is the word which I spoke to Pharaoh: Elohim has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do.
29 “See, seven years of great plenty are coming in all the land of Mitsrayim,
30 but after them seven years of scarcity of food shall arise and all the plenty be forgotten in the land of Mitsrayim. And the scarcity of food shall destroy the land,
31 and the plenty shall not be remembered in the land, because of the scarcity of food following, for it is very severe.
32 “And the dream was repeated to Pharaoh twice because the word is established by Elohim, and Elohim is hastening to do it.
33 “And now, let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man, and set him over the land of Mitsrayim.
34 “Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint overseers over the land, to take up one-fifth of the land of Mitsrayim in the seven years of plenty.
35 “And let them gather all the food of those good years that are coming, and store up grain under the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities.
36 “And the food shall be for a store for the land for the seven years of scarcity of food which shall be in the land of Mitsrayim, and do not let the land be cut off by the scarcity of food.”
37 And the word was good in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of all his servants.
38 And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Could we find another like him, a man in whom is the Spirit of Elohim?”
39 Then Pharaoh said to Yosĕph, “Since Elohim has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you.
40 “Be over my house, you yourself, and at your mouth all my people shall kiss – only in the throne I am greater than you.”
41 And Pharaoh said to Yosĕph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Mitsrayim.”
42 And Pharaoh took his seal-ring off his hand and put it on Yosĕph’s hand. And he dressed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck.
43 And he had him ride in the second chariot which he had. And they cried out before him, “Bow the knee!” And he set him over all the land of Mitsrayim.
44 And Pharaoh said to Yosĕph, “I am Pharaoh, and without a word from you let no man lift his hand or foot in all the land of Mitsrayim.”
45 And Pharaoh called Yosĕph’s name Zaphnath-Pa‛nĕaḥ. And he gave him as a wife Asenath, the daughter of Poti-Pherah priest of On. And Yosĕph went out over all the land of Mitsrayim.
46 Now Yosĕph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh sovereign of Mitsrayim. And Yosĕph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Mitsrayim.
47 And in the seven years of plenty the ground brought forth generously.
48 And he gathered all the food of the seven years which were in the land of Mitsrayim, and laid up the food in the cities. He laid up in every city the food of the fields which surrounded them.
49 Thus Yosĕph gathered very much grain, as the sand of the sea, until he ceased counting, for it was without number.
50 And to Yosĕph were born two sons before the years of scarcity of food came, whom Asenath, the daughter of Poti-Pherah priest of On, bore to him.
51 And Yosĕph called the name of the first-born Menashsheh, “For Elohim has made me forget all my toil and all my father’s house.”
52 And the name of the second he called Ephrayim, “For Elohim has caused me to bear fruit in the land of my affliction.”
53 And the seven years of plenty which were in the land of Mitsrayim came to an end,
54 and the seven years of scarcity of food began to come, as Yosĕph had said. And the scarcity of food was in all lands, but in all the land of Mitsrayim there was bread.
55 But when all the land of Mitsrayim hungered, and the people cried to Pharaoh for bread, Pharaoh said to all the Mitsrites, “Go to Yosĕph, do whatever he says to you.”
56 And the scarcity of food was over all the face of the earth, and Yosĕph opened all the storehouses and sold to the Mitsrites. And the scarcity of food was severe in the land of Mitsrayim.
57 And all the earth came to Yosĕph in Mitsrayim to buy grain, because the scarcity of food was severe in all the earth.
42| 1 And when Ya‛aqoḇ saw that there was grain in Mitsrayim, Ya‛aqoḇ said to his sons, “Why do you look at each other?”
2 And he said, “See, I have heard that there is grain in Mitsrayim. Go down to that place and buy for us there, and let us live and not die.”
3 And Yosĕph’s ten brothers went down to buy grain in Mitsrayim.
4 But Ya‛aqoḇ did not send Yosĕph’s brother Binyamin with his brothers, for he said, “Lest some harm come to him.”
5 And the sons of Yisra’ĕl went to buy grain among those who journeyed, for the scarcity of food was in the land of Kena‛an.
6 And Yosĕph was the governor over the land, he was the one who sold to all the people of the land. And Yosĕph’s brothers came and bowed down before him with their faces to the earth.
7 And Yosĕph saw his brothers and recognised them, but he acted as a stranger to them and spoke to them harshly, and said to them, “Where do you come from?” And they said, “From the land of Kena‛an to buy food.”
8 So Yosĕph recognised his brothers, but they did not recognise him.
9 And Yosĕph remembered the dreams which he had dreamed about them, and said to them, “You are spies! You have come to see the nakedness of the land!”
10 And they said to him, “No, my master, but your servants have come to buy food.
11 “We are all one man’s sons, we are trustworthy, your servants are not spies.”
12 But he said to them, “No, but you have come to see the nakedness of the land.”
13 And they said, “Your servants are twelve brothers, the sons of one man in the land of Kena‛an. And see, the youngest is with our father today, and one is no more.”
14 And Yosĕph said to them, “It is as I spoke to you, saying, ‘You are spies!’
15 “By this you shall be proven: By the life of Pharaoh, you do not leave this place unless your youngest brother comes here.
16 “Send one of you, and let him bring your brother, while you are kept in prison. So let your words be proven to see whether there is any truth in you, or else, by the life of Pharaoh, you are spies!”
17 And he put them all together in prison for three days.
18 Now Yosĕph said to them the third day, “Do this and live, for I fear Elohim:
19 “If you are trustworthy, let one of your brothers be confined to your prison house, and you, go, bring grain for the scarcity of food of your houses.
20 “And bring your youngest brother to me, and let your words be confirmed, and you do not die.” And so they did.
21 And they said to each other, “Truly, we are guilty concerning our brother, for we saw the distress of his life when he pleaded with us, yet we did not listen, that is why this distress has come upon us.”
22 And Re’uḇĕn answered them, saying, “Did I not speak to you, saying, ‘Do not sin against the boy,’ and you would not listen? And see, his blood is now required of us.”
23 And they did not know that Yosĕph understood them, for he spoke to them through an interpreter.
24 And he turned himself away from them and wept, but came back to them and spoke to them. And he took Shim‛on from them and bound him before their eyes.
25 And Yosĕph commanded and they filled their sacks with grain, also to put back every man’s silver to his sack, and to give them food for the journey. And thus it was done for them.
26 So they loaded their donkeys with the grain and went from there.
27 And as one of them opened his sack to give his donkey fodder at the lodging place, he saw his silver, for there it was in the mouth of his sack!
28 And he said to his brothers, “My silver has been returned, and there it is, in my sack!” And their hearts sank and they were afraid, saying to each other, “What is this that Elohim has done to us?”
29 So they came to Ya‛aqoḇ their father in the land of Kena‛an and reported to him all that befell them, saying,
30 “The man, the master of the land, spoke to us harshly, and took us for spies of the land.
31 “But we said to him, ‘We are trustworthy, we are not spies.
32 ‘We are twelve brothers, sons of our father. One is no more, and the youngest is today with our father in the land of Kena‛an.’
33 “And the man, the master of the land, said to us, ‘By this I know that you are trustworthy: Leave one of your brothers here with me, and take food for the scarcity of food of your households, and go.
34 ‘And bring your youngest brother to me, then I know that you are not spies, but that you are trustworthy – I give your brother to you, and you move about in the land.’ ”
35 And it came to be as they emptied their sacks, that look, the bundle of each man’s silver was in his sack! And when they and their father saw the bundles of silver, they were afraid.
36 And Ya‛aqoḇ their father said to them, “You have bereaved me – Yosĕph is no more, and Shim‛on is no more, and you would take Binyamin! All this is against me.”
37 So Re’uḇĕn spoke to his father, saying, “Take the lives of my two sons if I do not bring him back to you. Put him in my hands, and I myself bring him back to you.”
38 But he said, “My son is not going down with you, for his brother is dead, and he is left alone. If any harm should come to him along the way in which you go, then you would bring down my grey hair with sorrow to the grave.”
43| 1 But the scarcity of food was severe in the land.
2 And it came to be, when they had eaten up the grain which they had brought from Mitsrayim, that their father said to them, “Go back, buy us a little food.”
3 But Yehuḏah spoke to him, saying, “The man vehemently warned us, saying, ‘You do not see my face unless your brother is with you.’ ”
4 “If you let our brother go with us, we go down and buy you food.
5 “But if you do not let him go, we do not go down, because the man said to us, ‘You do not see my face unless your brother is with you.’ ”
6 And Yisra’ĕl said, “Why did you do evil to me to inform the man that you still had another brother?”
7 And they said, “The man kept asking about us and our relatives, saying, ‘Is your father still alive? Have you another brother?’ And we informed him according to these words. How could we know that he would say, ‘Bring your brother down’?”
8 And Yehuḏah said to Yisra’ĕl his father, “Send the boy with me, and let us arise and go, and live and not die, both we and you and also our little ones.
9 “I myself shall stand guaranty for him – from my hand you are to require him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever.
10 “For if we had not delayed, truly by now we could have returned this second time.”
11 And their father Yisra’ĕl said to them, “If so, then do this: Take some of the best fruit of the land in your vessels and bring a present down for the man, a little balm and a little honey, spices and myrrh, nuts and almonds.
12 “And take double silver in your hand, and take back in your hand the silver that was returned in the mouth of your sacks. It could have been a mistake.
13 “And take your brother, and arise, go back to the man.
14 “And Ěl Shaddai give to you compassion before the man, so that he shall release your other brother and Binyamin. And I, if I am bereaved, I am bereaved!”
15 And the men took that present and Binyamin, and they took double the amount of silver in their hand, and arose and went down to Mitsrayim, and stood before Yosĕph.
16 And Yosĕph saw Binyamin with them, and said to the one over his house, “Bring the men home, and make a great slaughter, and prepare, for these men are to eat with me at noon.”
17 And the man did as Yosĕph said, and the man brought the men into Yosĕph’s house.
18 And the men were afraid because they were brought into Yosĕph’s house. And they said, “It is because of the silver, which was put back into our sacks the first time, that we are brought in, to throw himself upon us and fall upon us, to take us as slaves, our donkeys too.”
19 So they came near to the man over the house of Yosĕph, and spoke to him at the door of the house,
20 and said, “O my master, we indeed came down the first time to buy food,
21 but it came to be, when we came to the lodging place, that we opened our sacks and saw each man’s silver in the mouth of his sack, our silver in its weight. And we have brought it back in our hand.
22 “And we have brought down other silver in our hands to buy food. We do not know who put our silver in our sacks.”
23 But he said, “Peace be with you, do not be afraid. Your Elohim and the Elohim of your father has given you treasure in your sacks – your silver had come to me!” And he brought Shim‛on out to them.
24 And the man brought the men into Yosĕph’s house and gave them water, and they washed their feet. And he gave their donkeys fodder.
25 And they made the present ready for Yosĕph’s coming at noon, for they heard that they were to eat there.
26 And when Yosĕph came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand, into the house, and bowed down before him to the earth.
27 And he asked them about their welfare, and said, “Is your father well, the old man of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?”
28 And they said, “Your servant our father is in good health, he is still alive.” And they bowed their heads down and did obeisance.
29 And he lifted his eyes and saw his brother Binyamin, his mother’s son, and said, “Is this your younger brother of whom you spoke to me?” And he said, “Elohim show favour to you, my son.”
30 And Yosĕph hurried, for his emotions were deeply moved towards his brother, and he looked for a place to weep, and went into his room and wept there.
31 Then he washed his face and came out, and controlled himself, and said, “Serve the food.”
32 And they set him a place by himself, and them by themselves, and the Mitsrites who ate with him by themselves, for the Mitsrites could not eat food with the Heḇrews, for that is an abomination to the Mitsrites.
33 And they sat before him, the first-born according to his birthright and the youngest according to his youth, and the men looked at each other in astonishment.
34 And he took portions to them from before him, but Binyamin’s portion was five times as much as any of theirs. And they feasted and they drank with him.
JEREMIAH 16-17
16| 1 And the word of יהוה came to me, saying,
2 “Do not take a wife, nor have sons or daughters in this place.”
3 For thus said יהוה concerning the sons and daughters who are born in this place, and concerning their mothers who bear them and their fathers who bring them forth in this land,
4 “They shall die of deaths from diseases, they shall not be lamented nor be buried, but be like dung on the face of the earth, and be consumed by sword and by scarcity of food. And their corpses shall be meat for the birds of the heavens and for the beasts of the earth.”
5 For thus said יהוה, “Do not enter the house of mourning, neither go to lament or mourn for them, for I have withdrawn My peace from this people,” declares יהוה, “even the kindness and the compassions.
6 “Both great and small shall die in this land. They shall not be buried, and no one shall lament for them, or cut themselves, or make themselves bald for them.
7 “Neither shall they break bread in mourning for them to comfort them for the dead, nor give them the cup of comfort to drink for their father or their mother.
8 “Do not enter the house of feasting to sit with them, to eat and drink.”
9 For thus said יהוה of hosts, the Elohim of Yisra’ĕl, “See, before your eyes and in your days, I am making the voice of rejoicing and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride to cease in this place.
10 “And it shall be, when you declare to this people all these words, and they shall say to you, ‘Why has יהוה pronounced all this great evil against us? And what is our crookedness, and what is our sin that we have committed against יהוה our Elohim?’
11 then you shall say to them, ‘Because your fathers have forsaken Me,’ declares יהוה, ‘and have walked after other mighty ones and served them and bowed themselves to them, and have forsaken Me, and did not guard My Torah.
12 ‘And you have done more evil than your fathers, for look, each one walks according to the stubbornness of his own evil heart, without listening to Me.
13 ‘So I shall throw you out of this land into a land that you do not know, neither you nor your fathers. And there you shall serve other mighty ones day and night, where I show you no favour.’
14 “Therefore see, the days are coming,” declares יהוה, “when it is no longer said, ‘יהוה lives who brought up the children of Yisra’ĕl from the land of Mitsrayim,’
15 but, ‘יהוה lives who brought up the children of Yisra’ĕl from the land of the north and from all the lands where He had driven them.’ For I shall bring them back into their land I gave to their fathers.
16 “See, I am sending for many fishermen,” declares יהוה, “and they shall fish them. And after that I shall send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain and every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks.
17 “For My eyes are on all their ways; they have not been hidden from My face, nor has their crookedness been hidden from My eyes.
18 “And first I shall repay double for their crookedness and their sin, because they have defiled My land with the dead bodies of their disgusting matters, and have filled My inheritance with their abominations.”
19 O יהוה, my strength and my stronghold and my refuge, in the day of distress the gentiles shall come to You from the ends of the earth and say, “Our fathers have inherited only falsehood, futility, and there is no value in them.”a
20 Would a man make mighty ones for himself, which are not mighty ones?
21 “Therefore see, I am causing them to know, this time I cause them to know My hand and My might. And they shall know that My Name is יהוה!”
17| 1 “The sin of Yehuḏah is written with a pen of iron, engraved with the point of a diamond on the tablet of their heart, and on the horns of your altars,
2 while their children remember their altars and their Ashĕrim by the spreading trees on the high hills.
3 “My mountain in the field, I give as plunder your wealth, all your treasures, your high places of sin, throughout all your borders.
4 “And you, even of yourself, shall let go of your inheritance which I gave you. And I shall make you serve your enemies in a land which you have not known, for you have kindled a fire in My displeasure which burns forever.”
5 Thus said יהוה, “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his arm, and whose heart turns away from יהוה.
6 “For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, and not see when good comes, and shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, a salt land that is not inhabited.
7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in יהוה, and whose trust is יהוה.
8 “For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and does not see when heat comes. And his leaf shall be green, and in the year of drought he is not anxious, nor does he cease from yielding fruit.
9 “The heart is crooked above all, and desperately sick – who shall know it?
10 “I, יהוה, search the heart, I try the kidneys, and give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.
11 “As a partridge that broods but does not hatch, so is he who gets riches, but not by right. It leaves him in the midst of his days, and at his end he is a fool.”
12 An esteemed throne, exalted from the beginning, is the place of our set-apart place.
13 O יהוה, the expectation of Yisra’ĕl, all who forsake You are put to shame. “Those who depart from Me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken יהוה, the fountain of living waters.”a
14 Heal me, O יהוה, so that I am healed. Save me, so that I am saved, for You are my praise.
15 See, they say to me, “Where is the word of יהוה? Let it come now!”
16 And I have not run away from being a shepherd who follows You, nor have I longed for the desperately sick day. You Yourself have known, that which came out of my lips was before You.
17 Do not be a ruin to me, You are my shelter in the day of evil.
18 Let these who persecute me be put to shame, but do not let me be put to shame. Let them be broken, but do not let me be broken. Bring on them the day of evil, and destroy them with double destruction!
19 Thus יהוה said to me, “Go and stand in the gate of the children of the people, by which the sovereigns of Yehuḏah come in and by which they go out, and in all the gates of Yerushalayim.
20 “And you shall say to them, ‘Hear the word of יהוה, you sovereigns of Yehuḏah, and all Yehuḏah, and all the inhabitants of Yerushalayim, who enter by these gates.
21 ‘Thus said יהוה, “Guard yourselves, and bear no burden on the Sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Yerushalayim,
22 nor take a burden out of your houses on the Sabbath day, nor do any work. And you shall set apart the Sabbath day, as I commanded your fathers.
23 “But they did not obey, or incline their ear, and they made their neck stiff not to hear and not to receive instruction.
24 “And it shall be, if you diligently obey Me,” declares יהוה, “to bring in no burden through the gates of this city on the Sabbath day, and set apart the Sabbath day, to do no work in it,
25 then sovereigns and heads sitting on the throne of Dawiḏ shall enter in through the gates of this city, riding in chariots and on horses, they and their heads – the men of Yehuḏah and the inhabitants of Yerushalayim. And this city shall be inhabited forever.
26 “And they shall come from the cities of Yehuḏah and from the places around Yerushalayim, and from the land of Binyamin and from the low country, from the mountains and from the South, bringing burnt offerings and slaughterings, grain offerings and incense, bringing offerings of praise to the House of יהוה.
27 “But if you do not obey Me to set apart the Sabbath day, and not to bear a burden when entering the gates of Yerushalayim on the Sabbath day, then I shall kindle a fire in its gates, and it shall consume the palaces of Yerushalayim, and not be quenched.” ’ ”
2 SAMUEL 16-17
16| 1 And Dawiḏ had passed on a little from the summit, and saw Tsiḇa the servant of Mephiḇosheth, who met him with a couple of saddled donkeys, and on them two hundred loaves, and one hundred cakes of raisins, and one hundred summer fruit, and a skin of wine.
2 And the sovereign said to Tsiḇa, “Why do you have these?” And Tsiḇa said, “The donkeys are for the sovereign’s household to ride on, and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat, and the wine for the wearied to drink in the wilderness.”
3 And the sovereign said, “And where is the son of your master?” And Tsiḇa said to the sovereign, “See, he remains in Yerushalayim, for he said, ‘Today the house of Yisra’ĕl is going to return the reign of my father to me.’ ”
4 And the sovereign said to Tsiḇa, “See, all that belongs to Mephiḇosheth is yours.” And Tsiḇa said, “I have bowed myself, let me find favour in your eyes, my master, O sovereign!”
5 And when Sovereign Dawiḏ came to Baḥurim he saw a man from the clan of the house of Sha’ul, whose name was Shim‛i son of Gĕra, coming from there. He came out, cursing as he came.
6 And he threw Dawiḏ with stones, and all the servants of Sovereign Dawiḏ. And all the people and all the mighty men were on his right and on his left.
7 And this is what Shim‛i said as he cursed, “Get out! Get out! O man of blood, and man of Beliya‛al!
8 “יהוה has brought upon you all the blood of the house of Sha’ul, in whose place you have reigned. And יהוה has given the reign into the hand of Aḇshalom your son. And see, you are in your own evil, for you are a man of blood!”
9 And Aḇishai son of Tseruyah said to the sovereign, “Why should this dead dog curse my master the sovereign? Please, let me pass over and take off his head!”
10 And the sovereign said, “What have I to do with you, you sons of Tseruyah? For let him curse, even because יהוה has said to him, ‘Curse Dawiḏ.’ And who should say, ‘Why did you do that?’ ”
11 And Dawiḏ said to Aḇishai and all his servants, “See how my son who came from my own body seeks my life, and how much more now this Binyamite? Leave him alone, and let him curse, for יהוה has spoken to him.
12 “If so be, יהוה does look on my affliction, and יהוה shall return good to me for his cursing today.”
13 And as Dawiḏ and his men went in the way, Shim‛i walked alongside him on the hillside, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him and kicked up dust.
14 And the sovereign and all the people who were with him became weary, and they refreshed themselves there.
15 And Aḇshalom and all the people, the men of Yisra’ĕl, came to Yerushalayim, and Aḥithophel was with him.
16 And it came to be, when Ḥushai the Arkite, the friend of Dawiḏ, had come to Aḇshalom, that Ḥushai said to Aḇshalom, “Let the sovereign live! Let the sovereign live!”
17 And Aḇshalom said to Ḥushai, “Is this your kindness to your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?”
18 And Ḥushai said to Aḇshalom, “No, I am for the one whom יהוה and this people and all the men of Yisra’ĕl have chosen, and with him I remain.
19 “And besides, whom should I serve? Should it not be before his son? As I have served before your father, so I am before you.”
20 And Aḇshalom said to Aḥithophel, “Give your advice. What should we do?”
21 And Aḥithophel said to Aḇshalom, “Go in to your father’s concubines, whom he has left to look after the house. And all Yisra’ĕl shall hear that you have made yourself a stench to your father. And the hands of all who are with you shall be strong.”
22 So they pitched a tent for Aḇshalom on the top of the house, and Aḇshalom went in to his father’s concubines before the eyes of all Yisra’ĕl.
23 Now the advice Aḥithophel gave in those days was as if one had inquired at the word of Elohim. So was all the advice of Aḥithophel both to Dawiḏ and to Aḇshalom.
17| 1 And Aḥithophel said to Aḇshalom, “Please let me choose twelve thousand men, and let me arise and pursue Dawiḏ tonight,
2 and come upon him while he is weary and weak. And I shall make him afraid and all the people who are with him shall flee. And I shall smite the sovereign alone,
3 and bring back all the people to you. When all return except the man whom you seek, all the people should be at peace.”
4 And the saying pleased Aḇshalom and all the elders of Yisra’ĕl.
5 But Aḇshalom said, “Now call Ḥushai the Arkite also, and let us hear what he says too.”
6 And Ḥushai came to Aḇshalom, and Aḇshalom spoke to him, saying, “Aḥithophel has spoken according to this word. Should we do as he says? If not, speak up.”
7 And Ḥushai said to Aḇshalom, “The advice that Aḥithophel has given is not good at this time.”
8 And Ḥushai said, “You know your father and his men, that they are mighty men, and they are as bitter in being as a bear robbed of her cubs in the field. And your father is a man of battle, and would not spend the night with the people.
9 “See, by now he is hidden in some pit, or in some place. And it shall be, when some of them fall at the first, that whoever hears it shall say, ‘There has been a slaughter among the people who are following Aḇshalom.’
10 “And even he who is brave, whose heart is like the heart of a lion, would utterly melt. For all Yisra’ĕl knows that your father is a mighty man, and those who are with him are brave men.
11 “But I advise: Let all Yisra’ĕl without fail be gathered to you, from Dan to Be’ĕrsheḇa, as numerous as the sand by the sea, and that you yourself go to battle.
12 “And we shall come upon him in some place where he is found, and fall on him as the dew falls on the ground. And there shall be left of him and of all the men with him not even one.
13 “And if he withdraws into a city, then all Yisra’ĕl shall bring ropes to that city. And we shall pull it into the wadi, until there is not one small stone found there.”
14 Aḇshalom and all the men of Yisra’ĕl then said, “The advice of Ḥushai the Arkite is better than the advice of Aḥithophel.” For יהוה had ordained to nullify the good advice of Aḥithophel, for the sake of יהוה bringing evil upon Aḇshalom.
15 Ḥushai then said to Tsaḏoq and to Eḇyathar the priests, “Aḥithophel has advised Aḇshalom and the elders of Yisra’ĕl such and such, but I have advised so and so.
16 “And now, send hastily and inform Dawiḏ, saying, ‘Do not spend this night in the desert plains of the wilderness, but pass over without fail, lest the sovereign and all the people with him be swallowed up.’ ”
17 And Yehonathan and Aḥima‛ats were stationed at Ěn Rog̅ĕl, and a female servant would come and inform them, and they would go and inform Sovereign Dawiḏ, for they could not be seen entering the city.
18 But a youth saw them, and informed Aḇshalom. So the two of them went away at once and came to a man’s house in Baḥurim, who had a well in his courtyard, and they went down into it.
19 And the woman took and spread a covering over the well’s mouth, and spread ground grain on it, so the matter was not known.
20 And the servants of Aḇshalom came to the woman at the house and said, “Where are Aḥima‛ats and Yehonathan?” And the woman said to them, “They have passed over the stream of water.” And they looked and did not find them, and returned to Yerushalayim.
21 And it came to be, after they had left, that they came up out of the well and went and informed Sovereign Dawiḏ, and said to Dawiḏ, “Arise and pass over the water quickly. For thus Aḥithophel has advised against you.”
22 And Dawiḏ and all the people who were with him rose up and passed over the Yardĕn. And by morning light not even one remained who had not gone over the Yardĕn.
23 And Aḥithophel saw that his advice was not followed, so he saddled his donkey, and rose up and went home to his house, to his city. Then he gave charge to his house, and hanged himself, and died. And he was buried in his father’s tomb.
24 And Dawiḏ came to Maḥanayim. And Aḇshalom passed over the Yardĕn, he and all the men of Yisra’ĕl with him.
25 And Aḇshalom appointed Amasa over the army instead of Yo’aḇ. Now Amasa was the son of a man whose name was Yithra, an Yisra’ĕlite, who had gone in to Aḇig̅ayil the daughter of Naḥash, sister of Tseruyah, Yo’aḇ’s mother.
26 And Yisra’ĕl and Aḇshalom encamped in the land of Gil‛aḏ.
27 And it came to be, when Dawiḏ had come to Maḥanayim, that Shoḇi son of Naḥash from Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and Maḵir son of Ammi’ĕl from Lo Ḏeḇar, and Barzillai the Gil‛aḏite from Rog̅elim,
28 brought beds and basins, and earthen vessels and wheat, and barley and flour, and roasted grain and beans, and lentils, and parched vegetables,
29 and honey and curds, and sheep and cheese of the herd, for Dawiḏ and the people who were with him to eat. For they said, “The people are hungry and weary and thirsty in the wilderness.”
MaRK 13
13| 1 And as He went out of the Set-apart Place, one of His taught ones said to Him, “Teacher, see what stones! And what buildings!”
2 And יהושע answering, said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone shall be left upon another at all, which shall not be thrown down.”a
3 And as He sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the Set-apart Place, Kĕpha, and Ya‛aqoḇ, and Yoḥanan, and Andri asked Him separately,
4 “Say to us, when shall these events be? And what shall be the sign when all this is going to be accomplished?”
5 And יהושע began to say to them, “Take heed that no one leads you astray,
6 for many shall come in My Name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and they shall lead many astray.
7 “And when you hear of fightings and reports of fightings, do not be troubled – it has to take place, but the end is not yet.
8 “For nation shall rise against nation, and reign against reign. And there shall be earthquakes in various places, and there shall be scarcities of food, and disturbances. These are the beginnings of birth-pains.
9 “But take heed to yourselves, for they shall deliver you up to councils and to congregations. You shall be beaten, and you shall be brought before rulers and sovereigns for My sake, for a witness to them.
10 “And the Good News has to be proclaimed first to all the nations.
11 “And when they lead you away and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand what you are to say. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that, for it is not you who are speaking, but the Set-apart Spirit.
12 “And brother shall deliver up brother to death, and a father his child. And children shall rise up against parents and shall put them to death.
13 “And you shall be hated by all because of My Name. But he who shall have endured to the end, he shall be saved.a
14 “And when you see the ‘abomination that lays waste,’a spoken of by Dani’ĕl the prophet, set up where it should not be” – he who reads, let him understand – “then let those who are in Yehuḏah flee to the mountains.
15 “And he who is on the house-top, let him not go down into the house, nor come in to take whatever out of his house.
16 “And he who is in the field, let him not go back to get his cloak.
17 “And woe to those who are pregnant and to those nursing children in those days!
18 “And pray that your flight does not take place in winter.
19 “For in those days there shall be distress, such as has not been from the beginning of creation which Elohim created until this time, nor ever shall be.
20 “And if the Master had not shortened those days, no flesh would have been saved; but because of the chosen ones, whom He chose, He shortened the days.
21 “And if anyone then says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘Look, there!’ do not believe it.
22 “For false messiahs and false prophets shall rise and show signs and wonders to lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones.
23 “And you, take heed. See, I have forewarned you of it all.
24 “But in those days, after that distress, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give its light,
25 and the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers in the heavens shall be shaken.
26 “And then they shall see the Son of Aḏam coming in the clouds with much power and esteem.
27 “And then He shall send His messengers, and assemble His chosen ones from the four winds, from the farthest part of earth to the farthest part of heaven.
28 “And learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender, and puts forth leaves, you know that the summer is near.
29 “So you also, when you see these taking place, know that it is near, at the door.
30 “Truly, I say to you, this generation shall by no means pass away till all this takes place.
31 “The heaven and the earth shall pass away, but My words shall by no means pass away.
32 “But concerning that day and the hour no one knows, not even the messengers in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
33 “Take heed, watch and pray, for you do not know when the time is –
34 as a man going abroad, having left his house and given authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch.
35 “Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming – in the evening or at midnight, or at the crowing of the cock, or in the morning,
36 lest, coming suddenly, he should find you sleeping.
37 “And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!”
Psalms 69
69| 1 Save me, O Elohim! For waters have come up to my neck.
2 I have sunk in deep mud, And there is no place to stand; I have come into deep waters, And the floods overflow me.
3 I am worn out from my crying; My throat is dry; My eyes grow dim As I wait for my Elohim.
4 Those who hate me without a cause Are more than the hairs of my head; They are mighty who would destroy me, My lying enemies; What I did not steal, I restored.
5 O Elohim, You Yourself know my foolishness; And my guilt has not been hidden from You.
6 Let not those who wait for You, O Master יהוה of hosts, Be ashamed because of me; Let not those who seek You Be humbled because of me, O Elohim of Yisra’ĕl.
7 Because I have borne reproach for Your sake; Shame has covered my face.
8 I have become a stranger to my brothers, And a foreigner to my mother’s children;
9 Because ardour for Your house has eaten me up, And the reproaches of those who reproach You have fallen on me.
10 And I wept in my being with fasting, And it became my reproach.
11 And when I put on sackcloth, I became a proverb to them.
12 They who sit in the gate talk about me, And I am the song of the drunkards.
13 But as for me, my prayer is to You, O יהוה, At an acceptable time, O Elohim. In the greatness of Your kindness, Answer me in the truth of Your deliverance.
14 Rescue me out of the mire, And let me not sink. Let me be rescued from those who hate me, And out of the deep waters.
15 Let not a flood of waters overflow me, Nor let the deep swallow me up, Nor let the pit shut its mouth on me.
16 Answer me, O יהוה, for Your kindness is good. According to the greatness of Your compassion, turn to me.
17 And do not hide Your face from Your servant, For I am in distress; Answer me speedily.
18 Draw near to my being, redeem it; Ransom me because of my enemies.
19 You Yourself know my reproach, And my shame and my confusion; My adversaries are all before You.
20 Reproach has broken my heart and I am sick; I looked for sympathy, but there was none; And for comforters, but I found none.
21 And they gave me gall for my food, And for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.
22 Let their table before them become a snare, And a trap to those at ease.
23 Let their eyes be darkened, so as not to see; And make their loins shake continually.
24 Pour out Your wrath upon them, And let Your burning displeasure overtake them.
25 Let their encampments be deserted; Let no one dwell in their tents.
26 For they persecute him whom You have smitten, And talk about the pain of those You have wounded.
27 Add crookedness to their crookedness, And let them not enter into Your righteousness.
28 Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, And not be written with the righteous.
29 But I am poor and in pain; Let Your deliverance, O Elohim, set me up on high.
30 I praise the Name of Elohim with a song, And I make Him great with thanksgiving.
31 And this pleases יהוה more than an ox, A bull with horns and hooves.
32 The humble shall see, they rejoice, You who seek Elohim, and your hearts live.
33 For יהוה hears the poor, And He shall not despise His captives.
34 Let the heavens and earth praise Him, The seas and all that moves in them.
35 For Elohim shall save Tsiyon And build the cities of Yehuḏah. And they shall dwell there and possess it,
36 And the seed of His servants inherit it, And those who love His Name dwell in it.
Sirach 8 – 9 (RH CHARLES)
8| 1 STRIVE not with a mighty man lest you fall into his hands.
2 ‘Be not at variance with a rich man, lest he overweigh you: for gold has destroyed many, and perverted the hearts of kings.
3 ‘Strive not with a man that is full of tongue, and heap not wood upon his fire.
4 ‘Jest not with a rude man, lest your ancestors be disgraced.
5 ‘Reproach not a man that turns from sin, but remember that we are all worthy of punishment.
6 ‘Dishonour not a man in his old age: for even some of us wax old.
7 ‘Rejoice not over your greatest enemy being dead, but remember that we die all.
8 ‘Despise not the discourse of the wise, but acquaint yourself with their proverbs: for of them you shall learn Torah, and how to serve great men with ease.
9 ‘Miss not the discourse of the elders: for they also learned of their fathers, and of them you shall learn understanding, and to give answer as need requires.
10 ‘Kindle not the coals of a sinner, lest you be burnt with the flame of his fire.
11 ‘Rise not up in anger at the presence of an injurious person, lest he lie in wait to entrap you in your words.
12 ‘Lend not unto him that is mightier than yourself; for if you lend him, count it but lost.
13 ‘Be not surety above your power: for if you be surety, take care to pay it.
14 ‘Go not to law with a judge; for they will judge for him according to his honour.
15 ‘Travel not by the way with a bold fellow, lest he become grievous unto you: for he will do according to his own will, and you shall perish with him through his folly.
16 ‘Strive not with an angry man, and go not with him into a solitary place: for blood is as nothing in his sight, and where there is no help, he will overthrow you.
17 ‘Consult not with a fool; for he cannot keep counsel.
18 ‘Do no secret thing before a stranger; for you know not what he will bring forth.
19 ‘Open not your heart to every man, lest he requite you with a shrewd turn.
9| 1 BE not jealous over the woman of your bosom, and teach her not an evil lesson against yourself.
2 ‘Give not your soul unto a woman to set her foot upon your substance.
3 ‘Meet not with a harlot, lest you fall into her snares.
4 ‘Use not much the company of a woman that is a singer, lest you be taken with her attempts.
5 ‘Gaze not on a maid, that you fall not by those things that are precious in her.
6 ‘Give not your soul unto harlots, that you lose not your inheritance.
7 ‘Look not round about you in the streets of the city, neither wander in the solitary place thereof.
8 ‘Turn away your eye from a beautiful woman, and look not upon another’s beauty; for many have been deceived by the beauty of a woman; for herewith love is kindled as a fire.
9 ‘Sit not at all with another man’s woman, nor sit down with her in your arms, and spend not your money with her at the wine; lest your heart incline unto her, and so through your desire you fall into destruction.
10 ‘Forsake not an old friend; for the new is not comparable to him: a new friend is as new wine; when it is old, you shall drink it with pleasure.
11 ‘Envy not the glory of a sinner: for you know not what shall be his end.
12 ‘Delight not in the thing that the wicked have pleasure in; but remember they shall not go unpunished unto their grave.
13 ‘Keep far from the man that has power to kill; so shall you not doubt the fear of death: and if you come unto him, make no fault, lest he take away your life presently: remember that you go in the midst of snares, and that you walk upon the battlements of the city.
14 ‘As near as you can, guess at your neighbour, and consult with the wise.
15 ‘Let your talk be with the wise, and all your communication in the Torah of EL ELYON.
16 ‘And let just men eat and drink with you; and let your glorying be in the fear of YAHUAH.
17 ‘For the hand of the artificer the work shall be commended: and the wise ruler of the people for his speech.
18 ‘A man of an ill tongue is dangerous in his city; and he that is rash in his talk shall be hated.
Thank you for joining us as we read through the entire WORD of GOD! As for me and My House, we will serve the LORD.
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