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Weekly Scripture Reading
Torah: Numbers 34-36
Prophets: Isaiah 61-63
Historical Writings: 1 Samuel 15-16
New Testament: Acts 27-28
Wisdom Writings: Job 32
Non-Canonical: 2 Baruk 22-27
The following translation is from The Scriptures | ISR98
Numbers 34-36
34 | 1 And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying,
2 “Command the children of Yisra’ĕl, and say to them, ‘When you come into the land of Kena‛an, this is the land which falls to you as an inheritance, the land of Kena‛an to its boundaries:
3 ‘Then your southern border shall be from the Wilderness of Tsin along the border of Eḏom, and your southern border shall be eastward from the end of the Salt Sea.
4 ‘Then your border shall turn from the southern side of the Ascent of Aqrabbim, continue to Tsin, and be on the south of Qaḏĕsh Barnĕa, and it shall go on to Ḥatsar Addar, and continue to Atsmon.
5 ‘And the border shall turn from Atsmon to the wadi of Mitsrayim, and it shall end at the Sea.
6 ‘As for the western border, you shall have the Great Sea for a border, this is your western border.
7 ‘And this is your northern border: From the Great Sea you mark out your borderline to Mount Hor,
8 from Mount Hor you mark out your border to the entrance of Ḥamath, and the edge of the border shall be toward Tseḏaḏ,
9 and the border shall proceed to Ziphron, and it shall end at Ḥatsar Ěnan. This is your northern border.
10 ‘And you shall mark out your eastern border from Ḥatsar Ěnan to Shepham,
11 and the border shall go down from Shepham to Riḇlah on the east side of Ayin, and the border shall go down and reach to the eastern side of the Sea of Kinnereth.
12 ‘And the border shall go down along the Yardĕn, and it shall end at the Salt Sea. This is your land with its surrounding boundaries.’ ”
13 And Mosheh commanded the children of Yisra’ĕl, saying, “This is the land which you inherit by lot, which יהוה has commanded to give to the nine tribes and to the half-tribe.
14 “For the tribe of the children of Re’uḇĕn according to the house of their fathers, and the tribe of the children of Gaḏ according to the house of their fathers, have received their inheritance. And the half-tribe of Menashsheh has received its inheritance.
15 “The two tribes and the half-tribe have received their inheritance beyond the Yardĕn of Yeriḥo eastward, toward the sunrise.”
16 And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying,
17 “These are the names of the men who divide the land among you as an inheritance: El‛azar the priest, and Yehoshua son of Nun.
18 “And take one leader of every tribe to divide the land for the inheritance.
19 “And these are the names of the men. From the tribe of Yehuḏah: Kalĕḇ son of Yephunneh.
20 “And from the tribe of the children of Shim‛on: Shemu’ĕl son of Ammihuḏ.
21 “From the tribe of Binyamin: Eliḏaḏ son of Kislon.
22 “And a leader from the tribe of the children of Dan: Buqqi son of Yog̅li.
23 “From the sons of Yosĕph: a leader from the tribe of the children of Menashsheh, Ḥanni’ĕl son of Ěphoḏ.
24 “And a leader from the tribe of the children of Ephrayim: Qemu’ĕl son of Shiphtan.
25 “And a leader from the tribe of the children of Zeḇulun: Elitsaphan son of Parnaḵ.
26 “And a leader from the tribe of the children of Yissasḵar: Palti’ĕl son of Azzan.
27 “And a leader from the tribe of the children of Ashĕr: Aḥihuḏ son of Shelomi.
28 “And a leader from the tribe of the children of Naphtali: Peḏah’ĕl son of Ammihuḏ.”
29 These are the ones יהוה commanded to divide the inheritance among the children of Yisra’ĕl in the land of Kena‛an.
35 | 1 And יהוה spoke to Mosheh in the desert plains of Mo’aḇ by the Yardĕn of Yeriḥo, saying,
2 “Command the children of Yisra’ĕl that they shall give the Lĕwites cities to dwell in from the inheritance of their possession. Also give the Lĕwites open land around the cities.
3 “And they shall have the cities to dwell in, and their open land for their cattle, and for their herds, and for all their livestock.
4 “And the open land of the cities which you give the Lĕwites are from the wall of the city outward a thousand cubits all around.
5 “And you shall measure outside the city on the east side two thousand cubits, and on the south side two thousand cubits, and on the west side two thousand cubits, and on the north side two thousand cubits. And the city is in the middle. This is to them the open land for the cities.
6 “And the cities which you give to the Lĕwites are the six cities of refuge, which you give to him who killed someone to flee to, and to these you add forty-two cities.
7 “All the cities which you give to the Lĕwites are forty-eight, these with their open land.
8 “And the cities which you give are from the possession of the children of Yisra’ĕl. From the larger tribe you give many, from the smaller you give few, each one gives some of its cities to the Lĕwites, in proportion to the inheritance that each inherits.”
9 And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying,
10 “Speak to the children of Yisra’ĕl, and say to them, ‘When you pass over the Yardĕn into the land of Kena‛an,
11 then you shall choose cities to be cities of refuge for you, that the one who accidentally killed someone shall flee there.
12 ‘And they shall be cities of refuge for you from the revenger, and the one who killed someone is not to die until he stands before the congregation in right-ruling.
13 ‘And of the cities which you give, six are to be cities of refuge.
14 ‘Give three cities beyond the Yardĕn, and give three cities in the land of Kena‛an, as cities of refuge.
15 ‘These six cities are for refuge for the children of Yisra’ĕl, and for the sojourner, and for the settler in their midst, for anyone who accidentally kills someone to flee there.
16 ‘But if he has smitten him with an instrument of iron, so that he dies, he is a murderer. The murderer shall certainly be put to death.
17 ‘And if he has smitten him with a stone in the hand, by which one could die, and he does die, he is a murderer. The murderer shall certainly be put to death.
18 ‘Or if he has smitten him with a wooden instrument that could kill, and he does die, he is a murderer. The murderer shall certainly be put to death.
19 ‘The revenger of blood himself puts the murderer to death. When he meets him, he puts him to death.
20 ‘And if he thrusts him through in hatred, or throws an object at him while lying in wait, so that he dies,
21 or in enmity he smites him with his hand so that he dies, the one who smote him shall certainly be put to death, for he is a murderer. The revenger of blood puts the murderer to death when he meets him.
22 ‘But if he pushes him suddenly without enmity, or throws an object at him without lying in wait,
23 or uses a stone, by which a man could die, throwing it at him without seeing him, so that he dies, while he was not his enemy or seeking his harm,
24 then the congregation shall judge between him who killed someone and the revenger of blood, according to these right-rulings.
25 ‘And the congregation shall rescue the one who killed someone from the hand of the revenger of blood, and the congregation shall return him to the city of refuge where he had fled, and he shall remain there until the death of the high priest who was anointed with the set-apart oil.
26 ‘But if the one who killed someone at any time goes outside the limits of the city of refuge where he fled,
27 and the revenger of blood finds him outside the limits of his city of refuge, and the revenger of blood kills him who killed someone, he is not guilty of blood,
28 because he should have remained in his city of refuge until the death of the high priest. But after the death of the high priest he who killed someone is to return to the land of his possession.
29 ‘And these shall be for a law of right-ruling to you throughout your generations in all your dwellings.
30 ‘Whoever kills someone has to be put to death as a murderer by the mouth of witnesses, but only one witness does not bear witness against someone to die.
31 ‘And take no ransom for the life of a murderer who is guilty of death, but he shall certainly be put to death.
32 ‘And take no ransom for him who has fled to his city of refuge to return to dwell in the land before the death of the priest.
33 ‘And do not profane the land where you are, for blood profanes the land, and the land is not pardoned for the blood that is shed on it, except by the blood of him who shed it.
34 ‘And do not defile the land which you inhabit, in the midst of which I dwell, for I, יהוה, am dwelling in the midst of the children of Yisra’ĕl.’ ”
36 | 1 And the heads of the fathers of the clans of the children of Gil‛aḏ, son of Maḵir, son of Menashsheh, of the clans of the sons of Yosĕph, came near and spoke before Mosheh and before the leaders, the heads of the fathers of the children of Yisra’ĕl,
2 and said, “יהוה commanded my master to give the land as an inheritance by lot to the children of Yisra’ĕl, and my master was commanded by יהוה to give the inheritance of our brother Tselophḥaḏ to his daughters.
3 “Now if they are married to any of the sons of the other tribes of the children of Yisra’ĕl, then their inheritance shall be taken from the inheritance of our fathers, and shall be added to the inheritance of the tribe into which they marry, and taken from the lot of our inheritance.
4 “And if the Jubilee of the children of Yisra’ĕl takes place, then their inheritance shall be added to the inheritance of the tribe into which they marry, and their inheritance taken away from the inheritance of the tribe of our fathers.”
5 And Mosheh commanded the children of Yisra’ĕl according to the word of יהוה, saying, “What the tribe of the sons of Yosĕph speaks is right.
6 “This is the word which יהוה has commanded, for the daughters of Tselophḥaḏ, saying, ‘Let them marry who is good in their eyes, but let them marry only within the clan of their father’s tribe.’
7 “And the inheritance of the children of Yisra’ĕl is not to change hands from tribe to tribe, for every one of the children of Yisra’ĕl is to cling to the inheritance of the tribe of his fathers.
8 “And every daughter possessing an inheritance in any tribe of the children of Yisra’ĕl is to be the wife of one of the clan of her father’s tribe, so that the children of Yisra’ĕl possess each the inheritance of his fathers.
9 “Thus the inheritance is not to change hands from one tribe to another, but every tribe of the children of Yisra’ĕl is to cling to its own inheritance.”
10 As יהוה commanded Mosheh, so did the daughters of Tselophḥaḏ.
11 For Maḥlah, Tirtsah, and Ḥog̅lah, and Milkah, and No‛ah, the daughters of Tselophḥaḏ, were married to the sons of their father’s brothers.
12 And they were married into the clans of the children of Menashsheh, the son of Yosĕph, and their inheritance remained in the tribe of their father’s clan.
13 These are the commands and the right-rulings which יהוה commanded the children of Yisra’ĕl by the hand of Mosheh in the desert plains of Mo’aḇ by the Yardĕn of Yeriḥo.
Isaiah 61-63
61 | 1 The Spirit of the Master יהוה is upon Me, because יהוה has anointed Me to bring good news to the meek. He has sent Me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim release to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound,
2 to proclaim the acceptable year of יהוה, and the day of vengeance of our Elohim, to comfort all who mourn,
3 to appoint unto those who mourn in Tsiyon: to give them embellishment for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. And they shall be called trees of righteousness, a planting of יהוה, to be adorned.
4 And they shall rebuild the old ruins, raise up the former wastes. And they shall restore the ruined cities, the wastes of many generations.
5 And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the foreigner be your ploughmen and your vinedressers.
6 But you shall be called, ‘Priests of יהוה,’ ‘Servants of our Elohim’ shall be said of you. You shall consume the strength of the gentiles, and boast in their esteem.
7 Instead of your shame and reproach, they rejoice a second time in their portion. Therefore they take possession a second time in their land, everlasting joy is theirs.
8 “For I, יהוה, love right-ruling; I hate robbery for burnt offering. And I shall give their reward in truth, and make an everlasting covenant with them.
9 “And their seed shall be known among the gentiles, and their offspring in the midst of the peoples. All who see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed יהוה has blessed.”
10 I greatly rejoice in יהוה, my being exults in my Elohim. For He has put garments of deliverance on me, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
11 For as the earth brings forth its bud, as the garden causes the seed to shoot up, so the Master יהוה causes righteousness and praise to shoot up before all the nations!
62 | 1 For Tsiyon’s sake I am not silent, and for Yerushalayim’s sake I do not rest, until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, and her deliverance as a lamp that burns.
2 And the nations shall see your righteousness, and all sovereigns your esteem. And you shall be called by a new name, which the mouth of יהוה designates.
3 And you shall be a crown of comeliness in the hand of יהוה, and a royal head-dress in the hand of your Elohim.
4 No longer are you called “Forsaken,” and no longer is your land called “Deserted.” But you shall be called “Ḥephtsiḇah,” and your land “Married,” for יהוה shall delight in you, and your land be married.
5 For as a young man marries a maiden, so shall your sons marry you. And as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your Elohim rejoice over you.
6 I have set watchmen on your walls, O Yerushalayim, all the day and all the night, continually, who are not silent. You who remember יהוה, give yourselves no rest,
7 and give Him no rest till He establishes and till He makes Yerushalayim a praise in the earth.
8 יהוה has sworn by His right hand and by the arm of His strength, “No more do I give your grain to be food for your enemies, nor do sons of the foreigner drink your new wine, for which you have laboured;
9 but those gathering it shall eat it, and praise יהוה. And those collecting it shall drink it in My set-apart courts.”
10 Pass through, pass through the gates! Prepare the way for the people. Build up, build up the highway! Remove the stones. Lift up a banner for the peoples!
11 See, יהוה has proclaimed to the end of the earth: “Say to the daughter of Tsiyon, ‘See, your deliverance has come; see, His reward is with Him, and His work before Him.’ ”
12 And they shall be called, “The Set-apart People, the Redeemed of יהוה.” And you shall be called, “Sought Out, a City Not Forsaken.”
63 | 1 Who is this coming from Eḏom, with garments of glowing colours from Botsrah, who is robed in splendour, striding forward in the greatness of His strength? “It is I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save.”
2 Why is there red on Your raiment, and Your garments like one who treads in the winepress?
3 “I have trodden the winepress alone, and from the peoples no one was with Me. And I trod them down in My displeasure, and I trampled them in My wrath. Their blood is sprinkled upon My garments, and I have defiled all My raiment.
4 “For a day of vengeance is in My heart, and the year of My redeemed has come.
5 “And I looked, but there was none helping, and I was astonished that there was none upholding. So My own arm saved for Me, and My wrath upheld Me.
6 “And I trod down peoples in My displeasure, and made them drunk in My wrath, and brought down their strength to earth.”
7 Let me recount the kindnesses of יהוה and the praises of יהוה, according to all that יהוה has done for us, and the great goodness toward the house of Yisra’ĕl, which He has done for them according to His compassion, and according to His many kindnesses.
8 And He said, “They are My people, children who do not act falsely.” And He became their Saviour.
9 In all their distress He was distressed, and the Messenger of His Presence saved them. In His love and in His compassion He redeemed them, and He lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.
10 But they rebelled and grieved His Set-apart Spirit, so He turned against them as an enemy, and He fought against them.
11 Then He remembered the days of old, Mosheh, His people, “Where is He who brought them up out of the sea with the shepherd of His flock? Where is He who put His Set-apart Spirit within him,
12 who led them by the right hand of Mosheh, with His comely arm, dividing the water before them to make for Himself an everlasting Name,
13 who led them through the deep? Like a horse in the wilderness they did not stumble.”
14 As a beast goes down into the valley, and the Spirit of יהוה causes him to rest, so You led Your people, to make Yourself a comely Name.
15 Look down from the heavens, and see from Your set-apart and comely dwelling. Where are Your ardour and Your might, the stirring of Your inward parts and Your compassion toward me? Are they withheld?
16 For You are our Father, though Aḇraham does not know us, and Yisra’ĕl does not recognise us. You, O יהוה, are our Father, our Redeemer – Your Name is from of old.
17 O יהוה, why do You make us stray from Your ways, and harden our heart from Your fear? Turn back, for the sake of Your servants, the tribes of Your inheritance.
18 For a little while Your set-apart people possessed it – our adversaries have trodden down Your set-apart place.
19 We have become like those over whom You never ruled – Your Name is not called on them!
1 Samuel 15-16
15 | 1 And Shemu’ĕl said to Sha’ul, “יהוה sent me to anoint you sovereign over His people, over Yisra’ĕl. And now, listen to the voice of the words of יהוה.
2 “Thus said יהוה of hosts, ‘I shall punish Amalĕq for what he did to Yisra’ĕl, how he set himself against him on the way when he came up from Mitsrayim.
3 ‘Now go, and you shall smite Amalĕq and put under the ban all that he has, and you shall not spare them, and put to death from man to woman, from infant to nursing child, from ox to sheep, from camel to donkey.’ ”
4 Then Sha’ul summoned the people and mustered them in Tela’im, two hundred thousand foot soldiers and ten thousand men of Yehuḏah.
5 And Sha’ul came to a city of Amalĕq, and lay in wait in the wadi.
6 And Sha’ul said to the Qĕynites, “Go, turn aside, come down from among the Amalĕqites, lest I destroy you with them. For you did show kindness to all the children of Yisra’ĕl when they came up out of Mitsrayim.” So the Qĕynites turned aside from the midst of the Amalĕqites.
7 And Sha’ul smote the Amalĕqites, from Ḥawilah all the way to Shur, which is before Mitsrayim.
8 And he caught Ag̅ag̅ sovereign of the Amalĕqites alive, and put under the ban all the people with the edge of the sword.
9 But Sha’ul and the people spared Ag̅ag̅ and the best of the sheep, and the cattle, and the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not put them under the ban. But all goods despised and worthless, that they put under the ban.
10 And the word of יהוה came to Shemu’ĕl, saying,
11 “I am grieved that I have set up Sha’ul as sovereign, for he has turned back from following Me, and has not performed My words.” And it displeased Shemu’ĕl, and he cried to יהוה all night.
12 And Shemu’ĕl rose early in the morning to meet Sha’ul, and it was told to Shemu’ĕl, saying, “Sha’ul went to Karmel, and see, he set up a monument for himself, then turned and passed over, and went down to Gilgal.”
13 And Shemu’ĕl came to Sha’ul, and Sha’ul said to him, “Blessed are you of יהוה! I have performed the word of יהוה.”
14 But Shemu’ĕl said, “What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the lowing of the cattle which I hear?”
15 And Sha’ul said, “They have brought them from Amalĕq, because the people spared the best of the sheep and the cattle, to slaughter to יהוה your Elohim. And the rest we have put under the ban.”
16 And Shemu’ĕl said to Sha’ul, “Wait, and let me declare to you what יהוה said to me last night.” And he said to him, “Speak.”
17 And Shemu’ĕl said, “Though you were little in your own eyes, were you not head of the tribes of Yisra’ĕl? And did not יהוה anoint you sovereign over Yisra’ĕl?
18 “And יהוה sent you on the way, and said, ‘Go, and you shall put under the ban the sinners, the Amalĕqites, and fight against them until they are consumed.’
19 “And why did you not obey the voice of יהוה, but swooped down on the spoil, and did evil in the eyes of יהוה?”
20 And Sha’ul said to Shemu’ĕl, “I did obey the voice of יהוה, and I went on the way on which יהוה sent me, and brought back Ag̅ag̅ sovereign of Amalĕq, and I put Amalĕq under the ban.
21 “But the people took of the spoil, of the sheep and cattle, the best of that which should have been put under the ban, to slaughter to יהוה your Elohim in Gilgal.”
22 Then Shemu’ĕl said, “Does יהוה delight in burnt offerings and slaughterings, as in obeying the voice of יהוה? Look, to obey is better than an offering, to heed is better than the fat of rams.
23 “For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and stubbornness is as wickedness and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of יהוה, He also does reject you as sovereign.”
24 And Sha’ul said to Shemu’ĕl, “I have sinned, for I have transgressed the command of יהוה and your words, because I feared the people and listened to their voice.
25 “And now, please pardon my sin, and return with me, and let me bow myself to יהוה.”
26 But Shemu’ĕl said to Sha’ul, “I do not return with you, for you have rejected the word of יהוה, and יהוה does reject you from being sovereign over Yisra’ĕl.”
27 And as Shemu’ĕl turned around to go away, Sha’ul seized the edge of his robe, and it tore.
28 And Shemu’ĕl said to him, “יהוה has torn the reign of Yisra’ĕl from you today, and has given it to a neighbour of yours, better than you.
29 “Moreover, the Eminence of Yisra’ĕl does not lie nor relent. For He is not a man, that He should relent.”
30 Then he said, “I have sinned. But esteem me now, please, before the elders of my people and before Yisra’ĕl, and return with me, and I shall bow myself to יהוה your Elohim.”
31 And Shemu’ĕl turned back after Sha’ul, and Sha’ul bowed himself to יהוה.
32 And Shemu’ĕl said, “Bring Ag̅ag̅ sovereign of the Amalĕqites here to me.” So Ag̅ag̅ came to him delightedly, and Ag̅ag̅ said, “Truly, the bitterness of death has turned aside.”
33 And Shemu’ĕl said, “As your sword bereaved women, let your mother be bereaved among women too.” Shemu’ĕl then hewed Ag̅ag̅ to pieces before יהוה in Gilgal.
34 And Shemu’ĕl went to Ramah, while Sha’ul went up to his house at Giḇ‛ah of Sha’ul.
35 And Shemu’ĕl did not see Sha’ul again until the day of his death, for Shemu’ĕl mourned for Sha’ul. And יהוה was grieved that He had made Sha’ul to reign over Yisra’ĕl.
16 | 1 And יהוה said to Shemu’ĕl, “How long are you going to mourn for Sha’ul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Yisra’ĕl? Fill your horn with oil, and go, I am sending you to Yishai the Bĕyth Leḥemite. For I have seen among his sons a sovereign for Myself.”
2 And Shemu’ĕl said, “How would I go? When Sha’ul hears it, he shall kill me.” And יהוה said, “Take a heifer with you, and say, ‘I have come to slaughter to יהוה.’
3 “And you shall invite Yishai to the slaughtering, then let Me show you what to do. And you shall anoint for Me the one I say to you.”
4 And Shemu’ĕl did what יהוה said, and went to Bĕyth Leḥem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, “Do you come in peace?”
5 And he said, “In peace. I have come to slaughter to יהוה. Set yourselves apart, and you shall come with me to the slaughtering.” And he set Yishai and his sons apart, and invited them to the slaughtering.
6 And it came to be, when they came, that he saw Eliyaḇ and thought, “The anointed of יהוה is indeed before Him.”
7 But יהוה said to Shemu’ĕl, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have refused him, for not as man sees, for man looks at the eyes, but יהוה looks at the heart.”
8 Then Yishai called Aḇinaḏaḇ, and made him pass before Shemu’ĕl. And he said, “Neither has יהוה chosen this one.”
9 Next Yishai made Shammah pass by. And he said, “Neither has יהוה chosen this one.”
10 And Yishai made seven of his sons pass before Shemu’ĕl. And Shemu’ĕl said to Yishai, “יהוה has not chosen these.”
11 And Shemu’ĕl said to Yishai, “Are these all the young men?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, and see, he is tending the sheep.” And Shemu’ĕl said to Yishai, “Send and bring him, for we do not turn round till he comes here.”
12 And he sent and brought him in. And he was ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-looking. And יהוה said, “Arise, anoint him, for this is the one!”
13 And Shemu’ĕl took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of יהוה came upon Dawiḏ from that day and onwards. And Shemu’ĕl arose and went to Ramah.
14 And the Spirit of יהוה turned aside from Sha’ul, and an evil spirit from יהוה troubled him.
15 And the servants of Sha’ul said to him, “Look, now, an evil spirit from Elohim is troubling you.
16 “Please, let our master command your servants who are before you, to seek out a man who is a skilled player on the lyre. And it shall be that when the evil spirit from Elohim is upon you, that he shall play with his hand, and you be well.”
17 And Sha’ul said to his servants, “Please get me a man that plays well, and bring him to me.”
18 And one of the servants answered and said, “Look, I have seen a son of Yishai the Bĕyth Leḥemite, who knows how to play, a brave one, and a man of battle, and skilled in words, and a handsome man. And יהוה is with him.”
19 So Sha’ul sent messengers to Yishai, and said, “Send me your son Dawiḏ, who is with the sheep.”
20 And Yishai took a donkey loaded with bread, and a skin of wine, and a young goat, and sent them by his son Dawiḏ to Sha’ul.
21 And Dawiḏ came to Sha’ul and stood before him. And he loved him greatly, and he became his armour-bearer.
22 Sha’ul therefore sent to Yishai, saying, “Please let Dawiḏ stand before me, for he has found favour in my eyes.”
23 And it came to be, whenever the evil spirit from Elohim was upon Sha’ul, that Dawiḏ would take a lyre and play it with his hand. Then Sha’ul would become refreshed and well, and the evil spirit would leave him.
Acts 27-28
27 | 1 And when it was decided that we should sail to Italy, they delivered Sha’ul and some other prisoners to one named Julius, a captain of the Augustan regiment.
2 And having embarked in a ship from Adramyttium, about to sail along the coasts of Asia, did set sail. Aristarchos, a Makedonian of Thessalonike, was with us.
3 And on the next day we landed at Tsiḏon. And Julius treated Sha’ul kindly and allowed him to go to his friends to receive attention.
4 And from there we put out to sea and sailed close to Cyprus, because the winds were against us.
5 And having sailed over the sea along Kilikia and Pamphulia, we came to Mura, of Lukia.
6 And there the captain, having found an Alexandrian ship sailing to Italy, did put us on board.
7 And having sailed slowly many days, and arriving with difficulty off Knidos, the wind not allowing us to proceed, we sailed close to Crete, off Salmone.
8 And passing it with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near the city of Lasea.
9 And much time having passed, and the sailing now being dangerous, because the Fast was already over, Sha’ul advised them,
10 saying, “Men, I see that this voyage is going to end with damage and great loss, not only of the cargo and ship, but also our lives.”
11 But the captain was persuaded by the pilot and the owner of the ship, rather than what Sha’ul said.
12 And because the harbour was unsuitable to winter in, the greater part advised to set sail from there too, if somehow they were able to reach Phoenix, a harbour of Crete facing southwest and northwest, to pass the winter.
13 And a south wind blowing softly, thinking they had obtained their purpose, having lifted anchor, they sailed along Crete, close inshore.
14 And not long after, a stormy head wind rushed down from it, called Northeaster.
15 And when the ship was caught in it, and unable to head against the wind, we let her go and were driven.
16 And having run under a small island called Klauda, we were hardly able to control the small boat.
17 And having hoisted it, they used helps to undergird the ship. And fearing lest they should run aground on Surtis, they lowered the tackle and so were driven.
18 And because we were exceedingly storm-tossed, the next day they began to throw overboard.
19 And on the third day we threw out the ship’s tackle with our own hands.
20 When, now, neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small storm beat on us, all expectancy that we would be saved was taken away.
21 And when there had been a long abstinence from food, then Sha’ul, standing in the midst of them, said, “Truly, men, you should have listened to me not to have sailed from Crete and sustained this damage and loss.
22 “And now I urge you to take courage, for there shall be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship.
23 “For tonight a messenger of the Elohim to whom I belong and whom I serve, stood by me,
24 saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Sha’ul, you have to be brought before Caesar. And look, Elohim has favourably given you all those who sail with you.’
25 “Therefore take courage, men, for I believe Elohim that it shall be according to the way it was spoken to me.
26 “However, we need to run aground on some island.”
27 And when the fourteenth night came, as we were driven up and down in the Adriatic Sea, about midnight the sailors suspected that they were drawing near some land.
28 So, taking soundings, they found it to be twenty fathoms. And a little farther on they took soundings again and found it to be fifteen fathoms.
29 And, fearing lest we should run aground on the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern, and were praying for day to come.
30 But when the sailors were seeking to escape from the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under pretence of going to cast out anchors from the prow,
31 Sha’ul said to the captain and the soldiers, “If these do not remain in the ship, it is impossible for you to be saved.”
32 Then the soldiers did cut the ropes of the boat and let it fall off.
33 And when day was about to come, Sha’ul urged them all to take food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day you have continued without food, and eaten none at all.
34 “So I urge you to take food, for this concerns your safety, since not a hair shall fall from the head of any of you.”
35 And having said this, he took bread and gave thanks to Elohim in the presence of them all. And when he had broken it he began to eat.
36 And they were all encouraged, and also took food themselves.
37 And all of us were two hundred and seventy-six beings in the ship.
38 And being satisfied with food, they were lightening the ship, throwing out the wheat into the sea.
39 And when day came, they did not recognise the land, but they noted a certain bay with a beach, onto which they planned to run the ship if possible.
40 And having cast off the anchors, they left them in the sea, meanwhile untying the rudder ropes. And they hoisted the foresail to the wind and made for the beach.
41 But coming upon a place where two seas met, they grounded the ship, and the prow stuck fast and remained immovable, but the stern was broken by the pounding of the surf.
42 And the soldiers intended to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim away and escape.
43 But the captain, intending to save Sha’ul, kept them from their intention, and commanded those able to swim to jump first and get to land,
44 and the rest, some indeed on boards, and some on items of the ship. And so it came to be that all reached the land in safety.
28 | 1 And having come to safety, they then learned that the island was called Melite.
2 And the foreigners showed us extraordinary kindness, for they kindled a fire and received us all, because of the rain that was falling and because of the cold.
3 But Sha’ul, having gathered a bundle of sticks, and having laid them on the fire, an adder came out because of the heat, and fastened itself on his hand.
4 And when the foreigners saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to each other, “This man is certainly a murderer, whom, though saved from the sea, still right-ruling does not allow to live.”
5 Then, indeed, he shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no evil.
6 And expecting that he would swell up or suddenly fall down dead, they waited for a long time and saw no harm come to him, changing their minds they said that he was a mighty one.
7 And in the neighbourhood of that place there were lands of the chief of the island, whose name was Poplius, who received us and housed us in a friendly way for three days.
8 And it came to be that the father of Poplius lay sick with inflammation and dysentery. Sha’ul went in to him, and having prayed he laid his hands on him and healed him.
9 And when this took place, the rest of those on the island who had diseases also came and were healed,
10 who also respected us in many ways. And when we were setting sail, they provided us with our needs.
11 And after three months we set sail in an Alexandrian ship which had wintered at the island, and whose figurehead was “Twin Brothers.”a
12 And having landed at Syracuse, we stayed three days,
13 from which place we went round and arrived at Rhegium. And after one day the south wind blew, and the second day we came to Puteoli,
14 where we found brothers, and were invited to stay with them seven days. And so we went toward Rome.
15 And when the brothers there heard about us, they came to meet us as far as Forum of Appius and Three Taverns. When Sha’ul saw them, he thanked Elohim and took courage.
16 And when we came to Rome, the captain delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard, but Sha’ul was allowed to stay by himself with the soldier guarding him.
17 And it came to be after three days that Sha’ul called the leaders of the Yehuḏim together. And when they had come together, he said to them, “Men, brothers, though I have done none at all against our people or the practices of our fathers, I was delivered as a prisoner from Yerushalayim into the hands of the Romans,
18 who, when they had examined me, intended to let me go, because there was no cause for putting me to death.
19 “But the Yehuḏim spoke against it, and I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, not that I had any accusation against my nation.
20 “This therefore is the reason I called for you, to see you and speak with you. It is because of the expectation of Yisra’ĕl that I am bound with this chain.”
21 And they said to him, “We neither received letters from Yehuḏah concerning you, nor have any of the brothers who came reported or spoken whatever wicked about you.
22 “And we think it right to hear from you what you think, for indeed, concerning this sect, we know that it is spoken against everywhere.”
23 And having appointed him a day, many came to him where he was staying, to whom he was explaining, earnestly witnessing about the reign of Elohim, and persuading them concerning יהושע from both the Torah of Mosheh and the Prophets, from morning until evening.
24 And some indeed were persuaded by what was said, but some believed not.
25 And disagreeing with one another, they began to leave, after Sha’ul had spoken one word, “The Set-apart Spirit rightly spoke through Yeshayahu the prophet to our fathers,
26 saying, ‘Go to this people and say, “Hearing you shall hear but by no means understand, and seeing you shall see but by no means perceive,
27 for the heart of this people has become thickened, and with their ears they heard heavily, and they have closed their eyes, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and turn back, and I should heal them.” ’
28 “Therefore let it be known to you that the deliverance of Elohim has been sent to the gentiles, and they shall hear!”
29 And when he had said these words, the Yehuḏim went away and had a great dispute among themselves.
30 And Sha’ul stayed two entire years in his own rented house, and was receiving all who came to him,
31 proclaiming the reign of Elohim and teaching about the Master יהושע Messiah with all boldness, unhindered.
Job 32
32 | 1 Then these three men ceased to answer Iyoḇ, because he was righteous in his own eyes.
2 And the wrath of Elihu, son of Baraḵ’ĕl the Buzite, of the clan of Ram, burned against Iyoḇ. His wrath burned because he declared himself right rather than Elohim.
3 And against his three friends his wrath burned, because they had found no answer, and pronounced Elohim wrong.
4 And because they were years older than he, Elihu had waited to speak to Iyoḇ.
5 And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, his wrath burned.
6 And Elihu, son of Baraḵ’ĕl the Buzite, responded and said, “I am young in years, and you are aged. Therefore I was afraid to let you know my opinion.
7 I said, ‘Days should speak, and many years should teach wisdom.’
8 But truly it is the spirit in man and the breath of the Almighty that gives him understanding.
9 The multitude are not wise, nor do the aged understand right-ruling.
10 Therefore I have said, ‘Listen to me, let me also make my opinion known to you.’
11 Look, I waited for your words, I listened to your reasonings, while you searched out what to say.
12 And I paid close attention to you. But look, not one of you proved Iyoḇ wrong, nor answered his words.
13 Lest you say, ‘We have found wisdom’ – it is Ěl that drives him away, not man.
14 Now he has not ordered words against me, so I would not answer him with your words.
15 They have broken down; they have not answered again; words have departed from them.
16 And I have waited, but they do not speak, because they have stood still, they answered no more.
17 Let me answer on my part, let me also make my opinion known.
18 For I am filled with words; the spirit within me presses me.
19 See, within me it is like wine not opened; it shall burst like new wineskins.
20 Let me speak, so that I find relief; let me open my lips and answer.
21 Please, let me not show partiality to anyone, nor let me flatter any man.
22 For I do not know how to flatter, lest my Maker should soon take me away!
2 Baruk 22-27
(CEPHER TRANSLATION)
22 | 1 AND it came to pass after these things that lo! the heavens were opened, and I saw, and power was given to me, and a voice was heard from on high, and it said unto me:
2 Baruk, Baruk, why are you troubled?
3 He who travels by a road but does not complete it, or who departs by sea but does not arrive at the port, can he be comforted?
4 Or he who promises to give a present to another, but does not fulfil it, is it not robbery?
5 Or he who sows the earth, but does not reap its fruit in its season, does he not lose everything?
6 Or he who plants a plant unless it grows till the time suitable to it, does he who planted it expect to receive fruit from it?
7 Or a woman who has conceived, if she bring forth untimely, does she not assuredly slay her infant? Or he who builds a house, if he does not roof it and complete it, can it be called a house? Tell me that first.
23 | 1 AND I answered and said: Not so, O YAHUAH, my ADONAI.
2 And he answered and said unto me: Why therefore are you troubled about that which you know not, and why are you ill at ease about things in which you are ignorant?
3 For as you have not forgotten the people who now are and those who have passed away, so I remember those who are appointed to come.
4 Because when A’dam sinned and death was decreed against those who should be born, then the multitude of those who should be born was numbered, and for that number a place was prepared where the living might dwell and the dead might be guarded.
5 Before, therefore, the number aforesaid is fulfilled, the creature will not live again for my RUACH is the Creator of life, and She’ol will receive the dead.
6 And again it is given to you to hear what things are to come after these times.
7 For truly my redemption has drawn nigh, and is not far distant as aforetime.
24 | 1 FOR behold! the days come and the cepheriym shall be opened in which are written the sins of all those who have sinned, and again also the treasuries in which the righteousness of all those who have been righteous in creation is gathered.
2 For it shall come to pass at that time that you shall see, and the many that are with you, the longsuffering of EL ELYON, which has been throughout all generations, who has been longsuffering towards all who are born, alike those who sin and those who are righteous.
3 And I answered and said: But, behold! O YAHUAH, no one knows the number of those things which have passed nor yet of those things which are to come.
4 For I know indeed that which has befallen us, but what will happen to our enemies I know not, and when you will visit your works.
25 | 1 AND he answered and said unto me:
2 You too shall be preserved till that time till that sign which EL ELYON will work for the inhabitants of the earth in the end of days.
3 This therefore shall be the sign. When a stupor shall seize the inhabitants of the earth, and they shall fall into many tribulations, and again when they shall fall into great torments.
4 And it will come to pass when they say in their thoughts by reason of their much tribulation: EL ELOHIYM no longer remembers the earth yea, it will come to pass when they abandon hope, that the time will then awake.
26 | 1 AND I answered and said: Will that tribulation which is to be continue a long time, and will that necessity embrace many years?
27 | 1 AND he answered and said unto me: Into twelve parts is that time divided, and each one of them is reserved for that which is appointed for it.
2 In the first part there shall be the beginning of commotions.
3 And in the second part there shall be slayings of the great ones.
4 And in the third part the fall of many by death.
5 And in the fourth part the sending of the sword.
6 And in the fifth part famine and the withholding of rain.
7 And in the sixth part earthquakes and terrors.
8 Wanting.
9 And in the eighth part a multitude of spectres and attacks of the Shediym.
10 And in the ninth part the fall of fire.
11 And in the tenth part rapine and much oppression,
12 And in the eleventh part wickedness and unchastity.
13 And in the twelfth part confusion from the mingling together of all those things aforesaid.
14 For these parts of that time are reserved, and shall be mingled one with another and minister one to another.
15 For some shall leave out some of their own, and receive in its stead from others, and some complete their own and that of others, so that those may not understand who are upon the earth in those days that this is the consummation of the times.
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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