Previous Week | Next Week
Weekly Scripture Reading
Torah: Numbers 16-18
Prophets: Isaiah 47-48
Historical Writings: 1 Samuel 5-6
New Testament: Acts 18-19
Wisdom Writings: Job 23-24
Non-Canonical: 1 Baruk 4-5
The following translation is from The Scriptures | ISR98
Numbers 16-18
16 | 1 And Qoraḥ, son of Yitshar, son of Qehath, son of Lĕwi, took both Dathan and Aḇiram the sons of Eliyaḇ, and On, son of Peleth, sons of Re’uḇĕn,
2 and they rose up before Mosheh with some of the children of Yisra’ĕl, two hundred and fifty leaders of the congregation, called ones of the meeting, men of name.
3 And they assembled against Mosheh and against Aharon, and said to them, “Enough of you! For all the congregation is set-apart, all of them, and יהוה is in their midst. Why then do you lift up yourselves above the assembly of יהוה?”
4 And when Mosheh heard, he fell on his face,
5 and spoke to Qoraḥ and all his company, saying, “Tomorrow morning יהוה shall make known who is His and who is set-apart, and bring him near to Him. And let Him bring near to Him the one whom He chooses.
6 “Do this: Take fire holders, Qoraḥ and all your company,
7 and put fire in them and put incense in them before יהוה tomorrow. And it shall be that the one whom יהוה chooses is the set-apart one. Enough of you, sons of Lĕwi!”
8 And Mosheh said to Qoraḥ, “Hear now, you sons of Lĕwi:
9 “Is it little to you that the Elohim of Yisra’ĕl has separated you from the congregation of Yisra’ĕl, to bring you near to Himself, to perform the service of the Dwelling Place of יהוה, and to stand before the congregation to serve them,
10 and that He has brought you near to Himself, you and all your brothers, the sons of Lĕwi, with you? Yet you seek the priesthood as well?
11 “Therefore you and all your company are set against יהוה. And Aharon, what is he that you grumble against him?”
12 And Mosheh sent to call Dathan and Aḇiram the sons of Eliyaḇ, but they said, “We are not coming up!
13 “Is it little that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, that you would also seize total rule over us?
14 “Also, you have not brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey, nor given us inheritance of fields and vineyards. Would you bore out the eyes of these men? We are not coming up!”
15 And Mosheh became very displeased, and said to יהוה, “Do not respect their offering. I have not taken one donkey from them, nor have I done harm to any of them.”
16 Then Mosheh said to Qoraḥ, “Tomorrow, you and all your company shall be there before יהוה, you and they and Aharon.
17 “And take each one his fire holder, and you shall put incense in it. And let each one bring his fire holder before יהוה, two hundred and fifty fire holders, and you and Aharon, each one with his fire holder.”
18 So each one took his fire holder, and put fire in it, and laid incense on it, and stood at the door of the Tent of Meeting with Mosheh and Aharon.
19 And Qoraḥ assembled all the congregation against them at the door of the Tent of Meeting. Then the esteem of יהוה appeared to all the congregation.
20 And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, and to Aharon, saying,
21 “Separate yourselves from the midst of this congregation, and let Me consume them in a moment.”
22 But they fell on their faces, and said, “O Ěl, Elohim of the spirits of all flesh! When one man sins, are You wroth with all the congregation?”
23 And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying,
24 “Speak to the congregation, saying, ‘Move away from around the tents of Qoraḥ, Dathan, and Aḇiram.’ ”
25 So Mosheh rose up and went to Dathan and Aḇiram, and the elders of Yisra’ĕl followed him.
26 And he spoke to the congregation, saying, “Please turn away from the tents of these wrong men! Do not touch whatever belongs to them, lest you be consumed in all their sins.”
27 Then they moved away from around the tents of Qoraḥ, Dathan, and Aḇiram. And Dathan and Aḇiram came out and stood at the door of their tents, with their wives, and their sons, and their little children.
28 And Mosheh said, “By this you know that יהוה has sent me to do all these works, that they are not from my own heart.
29 “If these die as all men do, or if they are visited as all men are visited, then יהוה has not sent me.
30 “But if יהוה creates what is unheard of, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that belongs to them, and they go down alive into the grave, then you shall know that these men have scorned יהוה.”
31 And it came to be, as he ended speaking all these words, that the ground under them split apart,
32 and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the men with Qoraḥ, with all their goods.
33 So they and all those with them went down alive into the grave, and the earth closed over them, and they perished from the midst of the assembly.
34 And all Yisra’ĕl who were round about them fled at their cry, for they said, “Lest the earth swallow us up!”
35 And a fire came out from יהוה and consumed the two hundred and fifty men who were offering incense.
36 And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying,
37 “Say to El‛azar, son of Aharon the priest, to pick up the fire holders out of the blaze, for they are set-apart, and scatter the fire some distance away.
38 “The fire holders of these men who sinned against their own lives, let them be made into beaten plates as a covering for the altar. Because they brought them before יהוה, therefore they are set-apart. And let them become a sign to the children of Yisra’ĕl.”
39 And El‛azar the priest took the bronze fire holders, which those who were burned up had brought, and they were beaten out as a covering on the altar –
40 a remembrance to the children of Yisra’ĕl that no stranger who is not of the seed of Aharon, should come near to offer incense before יהוה, and not be like Qoraḥ and his company – as יהוה had said to him through Mosheh.
41 But all the congregation of the children of Yisra’ĕl grumbled against Mosheh and against Aharon on the next day, saying, “You, you have killed the people of יהוה.”
42 And it came to be, when the congregation assembled against Mosheh and against Aharon, that they turned toward the Tent of Meeting. And see, the cloud covered it, and the esteem of יהוה appeared.
43 And Mosheh and Aharon came before the Tent of Meeting.
44 And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying,
45 “Arise from amidst this congregation, and let Me consume them in a moment.” And they fell on their faces.
46 So Mosheh said to Aharon, “Take the fire holder and put fire in it from the altar, and lay incense on, and go, hurry to the congregation and make atonement for them, for wrath has gone out from יהוה, the plague has begun.”
47 And Aharon took it as Mosheh commanded, and ran into the midst of the assembly, and saw that the plague had begun among the people. And he laid on the incense and made atonement for the people,
48 and stood between the dead and the living. And the plague was stopped.
49 And those who died in the plague were fourteen thousand seven hundred, besides those who died on account of Qoraḥ.
50 Then Aharon returned to Mosheh at the door of the Tent of Meeting, for the plague had stopped.
17 | 1 And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying,
2 “Speak to the children of Yisra’ĕl, and take from them a rod from each father’s house, all their leaders according to their fathers’ houses, twelve rods. Write each one’s name on his rod,
3 and write Aharon’s name on the rod of Lĕwi, for there is one rod for the head of each father’s house.
4 “You shall then place them in the Tent of Meeting before the Witness, where I meet with you.
5 “And it shall be that the rod of the man whom I choose buds, and I shall rid Myself of the grumblings of the children of Yisra’ĕl, which they grumble against you.”
6 And Mosheh spoke to the children of Yisra’ĕl, and all their leaders gave him a rod each, for each leader according to their fathers’ houses, twelve rods. And the rod of Aharon was among their rods.
7 So Mosheh placed the rods before יהוה in the Tent of the Witness.
8 And it came to be on the next day that Mosheh went into the Tent of the Witness and saw that the rod of Aharon, of the house of Lĕwi, had budded, and brought forth buds, and blossomed and bore ripe almonds.
9 And Mosheh brought out all the rods from before יהוה to all the children of Yisra’ĕl. And they looked, and each man took his rod.
10 And יהוה said to Mosheh, “Bring Aharon’s rod back before the Witness, to be kept as a sign against the rebels, so that you put an end to their grumblings against Me, lest they die.”
11 And Mosheh did as יהוה had commanded him, so he did.
12 And the children of Yisra’ĕl spoke to Mosheh, saying, “See, we shall die, we shall perish, we shall all perish!
13 “Anyone who comes near the Dwelling Place of יהוה dies. Shall we be consumed – to die?”
18 | 1 And יהוה said to Aharon, “You and your sons and your father’s house with you are to bear the crookedness against the set-apart place, and you and your sons with you are to bear the crookedness against your priesthood.
2 “But bring with you your brothers of the tribe of Lĕwi too, the tribe of your father to join you and serve you while you and your sons are with you before the Tent of the Witness.
3 “And they shall guard your charge, and the duty of all the Tent, but they do not come near the furnishings of the set-apart place and the altar, lest they die, both they and you.
4 “And they shall be joined with you and guard the duty to the Tent of Meeting, for all the service of the Tent, but a stranger does not come near you.
5 “And you shall guard the duty of the set-apart place and the duty of the altar, so that there be no more wrath on the children of Yisra’ĕl.
6 “And see, I Myself have taken your brothers the Lĕwites from the midst of the children of Yisra’ĕl – a gift to you, given by יהוה, to do the service of the Tent of Meeting.
7 “But you and your sons with you are to guard your priesthood for all matters at the altar and behind the veil, and you shall serve. I have given you the priesthood as a gift for service, but the stranger who comes near is put to death.”
8 And יהוה spoke to Aharon, “And see, I Myself have also given you the charge of My contributions, all the set-apart gifts of the children of Yisra’ĕl. I have given them to you for the anointing, and to your sons, as a law forever.
9 “This is yours of the most set-apart gifts, from the fire: all their offerings, all their grain offerings and all their sin offerings and all their guilt offerings which they render to Me, are most set-apart for you and your sons.
10 “Eat it in the most set-apart place – every male eats it. It is set-apart to you.
11 “This also is yours: the contribution of their gift, with all the wave offerings of the children of Yisra’ĕl. I have given them to you, and your sons and daughters with you, as a law forever. Everyone who is clean in your house eats it.
12 “All the best of the oil, and all the best of the new wine and the grain – their first-fruits which they give to יהוה – I have given them to you.
13 “The first-fruits of all that is in their land, which they bring to יהוה, are yours. Everyone who is clean in your house eats it.
14 “All that is dedicated in Yisra’ĕl is yours.
15 “Everyone opening a womb of all flesh, which they bring to יהוה, whether man or beast, is yours. But the first-born of man you shall certainly ransom, and the first-born of the unclean beast you ransom.
16 “And ransom their ransomed ones when one month old, according to your valuation, five sheqels of silver, according to the sheqel of the set-apart place, which is twenty gĕrahs.
17 “But the first-born of a cow, or the first-born of a sheep, or the first-born of a goat you do not ransom, they are set-apart. Sprinkle their blood on the altar, and burn their fat as an offering made by fire for a sweet fragrance to יהוה.
18 “And their flesh is yours, as the wave breast and as the right thigh, it is yours.
19 “All the contributions of the set-apart gifts, which the children of Yisra’ĕl present to יהוה, I have given to you and your sons and daughters with you as a law forever. It is a covenant of salt forever before יהוה with you and your seed with you.”
20 And יהוה said to Aharon, “You are not to have an inheritance in their land, nor have any portion in their midst. I am your portion and your inheritance among the children of Yisra’ĕl.
21 “And see, I have given the children of Lĕwi all the tithes in Yisra’ĕl as an inheritance in return for the service which they are serving, the service of the Tent of Meeting.
22 “And let the children of Yisra’ĕl no more come near the Tent of Meeting, lest they bear sin and die,
23 because the Lĕwites shall do the service of the Tent of Meeting, so they themselves bear their crookedness. A law forever, throughout your generations: that among the children of Yisra’ĕl they are to have no inheritance,
24 but the tithes of the children of Yisra’ĕl, which they present as a contribution to יהוה, I have given to the Lĕwites as an inheritance. That is why I have said to them, ‘Among the children of Yisra’ĕl they have no inheritance.’ ”
25 And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying,
26 “Speak to the Lĕwites and say to them, ‘When you take from the children of Yisra’ĕl the tithes which I have given you from them as your inheritance, then you shall present a contribution of it to יהוה, a tenth of the tithe.
27 ‘And your contribution shall be reckoned to you as grain from the threshing-floor and as filling from the winepress.
28 ‘Thus you also present a contribution unto יהוה from all your tithes which you receive from the children of Yisra’ĕl. And you shall give from it the contribution to יהוה to Aharon the priest.
29 ‘From all your gifts you present every contribution due to יהוה, from all the best of them, the set-apart part of them.’
30 “And you shall say to them, ‘When you have presented the best of it, then the rest shall be reckoned to the Lĕwites as the yield of the threshing-floor and as the yield of the winepress.
31 ‘And you shall eat it in any place, you and your households, for it is your reward for your service in the Tent of Meeting,
32 and bear no sin because of it, when you have presented the best of it, and do not profane the set-apart gifts of the children of Yisra’ĕl, lest you die.’ ”
Isaiah 47-48
47|1 “Come down and sit in the dust, O maiden daughter of Baḇel. Sit on the ground without a throne, O daughter of the Chaldeans! For no more do they call you tender and delicate.
2 “Take the millstones and grind flour. Remove your veil, lift up the skirt, uncover the leg, pass through rivers.
3 “Let your nakedness be uncovered, let your shame also be exposed. I take vengeance, and meet no man.”
4 Our Redeemer, יהוה of hosts is His Name, the Set-apart One of Yisra’ĕl.
5 “Sit silent, and go into darkness, O daughter of the Chaldeans! For no more do they call you Mistress of Reigns.
6 “I was wroth with My people, I have profaned My inheritance and I gave them into your hand. You showed them no compassion, you made your yoke very heavy on the elderly.
7 “And you said, ‘I am mistress forever,’ so that you did not take these matters to heart, and did not remember the latter end of them.
8 “And now, hear this, you who are given to pleasures, who dwells complacently, who says in your heart, ‘I am, and there is none but me. I do not sit as a widow, nor do I know the loss of children.’
9 “Both of these come to you suddenly, in one day: the loss of children, and widowhood. They shall come upon you in completeness, because of your many witchcrafts, for your numerous great potent spells.
10 “And you have trusted in your evil, you have said, ‘No one sees me.’ Your wisdom and your knowledge have led you astray. And you have said in your heart, ‘I am, and there is none but me.’
11 “But evil shall come upon you, you not knowing from where it arises, and trouble fall upon you, you being unable to put it off, and ruin come upon you suddenly, which you know not.
12 “Stand now with your potent spells and your many witchcrafts, in which you have laboured from your youth, if so be you are able to profit, if so be you find strength.
13 “You are exhausted by your many counsels; let the astrologers, the stargazers, and those who prognosticate by the new moons stand up and save you from what is coming upon you.
14 “See, they shall be as stubble, fire shall burn them, they do not deliver themselves from the power of the flame, there is not a coal to be warmed by, nor a fire to sit before it!
15 “So they shall be to you with whom you have laboured, your merchants from your youth. They shall wander, each one his own way, there is none to save you.
48 | 1 “Hear this, O house of Ya‛aqoḇ, who are called by the name of Yisra’ĕl, and have come from the waters of Yehuḏah, who swear by the Name of יהוה, and profess the Elohim of Yisra’ĕl – though not in truth or in righteousness –
2 for they call themselves after the set-apart city, and lean on the Elohim of Yisra’ĕl – יהוה of hosts is His Name:
3 “I have declared the former events from the beginning, and they went forth from My mouth, and I made you hear them. Suddenly I acted, and they came to be.
4 “Because I knew that you were hard, and your neck was an iron sinew, and your forehead bronze,
5 therefore I declared it to you long ago. Before it came I made you hear, lest you should say, ‘My idol has done them, and my carved image and my moulded image commanded them.’
6 “You have heard, look at them all. And do you not declare it? From now on I shall make you hear new ones, even hidden ones, which you have not known.
7 “Now they shall be created and not long ago. And before this day you have not heard them, lest you should say, ‘Look, I knew them.’
8 “No, you have not heard; no, you have not known; no, from of old your ear has not been open. Because I knew that you are indeed treacherous, and are called ‘a transgressor from the womb.’
9 “For My Name’s sake I postponed My displeasure, and for My praise I held it back from you, so as not to cut you off.
10 “See, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have chosen you in the furnace of affliction.
11 “For My own sake, for My own sake, I do it. For how is it profaned? And My esteem I do not give to another.
12 “Listen to Me, O Ya‛aqoḇ, and Yisra’ĕl, My called: I am He, I am the First, I am also the Last.
13 “Also, My hand has laid the foundation of the earth, and My right hand has stretched out the heavens. I call to them, let them stand together.
14 “All of you, gather yourselves, and hear! Who among them has declared these? יהוה has loved him. Let him do His pleasure on Baḇel, and His arm be on the Chaldeans.
15 “I, I have spoken, I have also called him, I have brought him, and he shall make his way prosperous.
16 “Come near to Me, hear this: I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, I was there. And now the Master יהוה has sent Me, and His Spirit.”
17 Thus said יהוה, your Redeemer, the Set-apart One of Yisra’ĕl, “I am יהוה your Elohim, teaching you what is best, leading you by the way you should go.
18 “If only you had listened to My commands! Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea.
19 “And your seed would have been like the sand, and the offspring of your inward parts like the grains of sand. His name would not have been cut off nor destroyed from before Me.
20 “Come out of Baḇel! Flee from the Chaldeans! Declare this with a voice of singing, proclaim it, send it out to the end of the earth! Say, ‘יהוה has redeemed His servant Ya‛aqoḇ!’ ”
21 And they did not thirst when He led them through the deserts; He caused waters from a rock to flow for them; He split the rock, and waters gushed out.
22 “There is no peace for the wrong,” said יהוה.”
1 Samuel 5-6
5 | 1 And the Philistines took the ark of Elohim and brought it from Eḇen Ha‛ĕzer to Ashdoḏ,
2 and the Philistines took the ark of Elohim and brought it into the house of Dag̅on and set it by Dag̅on.
3 And the Ashdoḏites rose early in the morning and saw Dag̅on fallen on its face to the ground before the ark of יהוה. So they took Dag̅on and put it in its place again.
4 And they arose early the next morning and saw Dag̅on fallen on its face to the ground before the ark of יהוה, and the head of Dag̅on and both the palms of its hands cut off, on the threshold, only Dag̅on itself was left of it.
5 That is why, to this day, the priests of Dag̅on and all who come into Dag̅on’s house do not tread on the threshold of Dag̅on in Ashdoḏ.
6 But the hand of יהוה was heavy on the Ashdoḏites, and He wasted them and smote them with tumours – Ashdoḏ and its borders.
7 And when the men of Ashdoḏ saw this, they said, “Let not the ark of the Elohim of Yisra’ĕl remain with us, for His hand has been hard on us, and on Dag̅on our mighty one.”
8 Then they sent and gathered to them all the princes of the Philistines, and said, “What do we do with the ark of the Elohim of Yisra’ĕl?” And they answered, “Let the ark of the Elohim of Yisra’ĕl be removed to Gath.” And they removed the ark of the Elohim of Yisra’ĕl.
9 And it came to be, after they removed it, that the hand of יהוה was against the city with a very great destruction. And He smote the men of the city, from the least to the greatest, and tumours broke out on them.
10 They then sent the ark of Elohim to Eqron. And it came to be, as the ark of Elohim came to Eqron, that the Eqronites cried out, saying, “They have removed the ark of the Elohim of Yisra’ĕl to us, to kill us and our people!”
11 And they sent and gathered together all the princes of the Philistines, and said, “Send away the ark of the Elohim of Yisra’ĕl, and let it return to its own place, so that it does not kill us and our people.” For there had come a deadly destruction throughout all the city – the hand of Elohim was very heavy there.
12 And the men who did not die were smitten with tumours, and the cry of the city went up to the heavens.
6 | 1 And the ark of יהוה was in the field of the Philistines for seven months.
2 And the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners, saying, “What do we do with the ark of יהוה? Let us know with what we should send it to its place.”
3 And they said, “If you send away the ark of the Elohim of Yisra’ĕl, do not send it empty, but you shall certainly return it to Him with a guilt offering. Then you are going to be healed, and it shall be known to you why His hand does not turn aside from you.”
4 And they said, “What is the guilt offering which we return to Him?” And they answered, “The number of the princes of the Philistines: five golden tumours and five golden rats. For the same plague was on all of you and on your princes.
5 “And you shall make images of your tumours and images of your rats that ruin the land, and you shall give esteem to the Elohim of Yisra’ĕl. It could be that He does lift His hand from you, from your mighty ones, and from your land.
6 “And why do you harden your hearts as the Mitsrites and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? When He had severely dealt with them, did they not send them away, and they went?
7 “And now, take and make a new wagon, and two milk cows which have never been yoked, and hitch the cows to the wagon. And take their calves home, away from them.
8 “And take the ark of יהוה and put it on the wagon. And put the objects of gold which you are returning to Him as a guilt offering in a chest by its side, and send it away, and it shall go.
9 “And you shall see, if it goes up the way to its own border, to Bĕyth Shemesh, then He has done us this great evil. But if not, then we shall know that His hand has not come against us – an accident it was to us.”
10 And the men did so and took two milk cows and hitched them to the wagon, and shut up their calves at home.
11 And they put the ark of יהוה on the wagon, and the chest with the gold rats and the images of their tumours.
12 And the cows went straight for the way to Bĕyth Shemesh, and went along the highway, bellowing as they went, and did not turn aside, right or left. And the princes of the Philistines went after them to the border of Bĕyth Shemesh.
13 And they of Bĕyth Shemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley. And they lifted their eyes and saw the ark, and rejoiced to see it.
14 And the wagon came into the field of Yehoshua of Bĕyth Shemesh and stood there, and there was a great stone. So they split the wood of the wagon and offered the cows as a burnt offering to יהוה.
15 And the Lĕwites took down the ark of יהוה and the chest that was with it, in which were the objects of gold, and put them on the great stone. And the men of Bĕyth Shemesh slaughtered burnt offerings and made offerings the same day to יהוה.
16 And when the five princes of the Philistines saw it, they returned to Eqron the same day.
17 And these are the gold tumours which the Philistines returned as a guilt offering to יהוה: one for Ashdoḏ, one for Azzah, one for Ashqelon, one for Gath, one for Eqron,
18 and the gold rats, by the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five princes, both walled cities and country villages, even as far as the great meadow on which they placed the ark of יהוה, remain to this day in the field of Yehoshua of Bĕyth Shemesh.
19 And He smote among the men of Bĕyth Shemesh, for they had looked into the ark of יהוה. He smote among the people seventy men, and the people mourned because יהוה smote among the people, a great smiting.
20 And the men of Bĕyth Shemesh said, “Who is able to stand before this set-apart יהוה Elohim? And to whom shall He go from us?”
21 And they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Qiryath Ye‛arim, saying, “The Philistines have brought back the ark of יהוה. Come down, take it up to you.”
Acts 18-19
18 | 1 And after this Sha’ul left Athens and went to Corinth.
2 And he found a certain Yehuḏite named Aqulas, born in Pontos, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla – because Claudius had commanded all the Yehuḏim to leave Rome – and he came to them.
3 And because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and was working, for they were tentmakers by trade.
4 And he was reasoning in the congregation every Sabbath, and won over both Yehuḏim and Greeks.
5 And when Sila and Timothy came down from Makedonia, Sha’ul was pressed by the Spirit, and earnestly witnessed to the Yehuḏim that יהושע is the Messiah.
6 However, when they resisted and blasphemed, he shook his garments and said to them, “Your blood is upon your head, I am clean. From now on I shall go to the gentiles.”
7 And having left there he came to the house of a certain man named Justus, who worshipped Elohim, whose house was next to the congregation.
8 And Crispus, the ruler of the congregation, did believe in the Master with all his household. And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were immersed.
9 And the Master spoke to Sha’ul in the night by a vision, “Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not be silent,
10 because I am with you, and no one shall attack you to do you evil, because I have much people in this city.”
11 And he remained a year and six months, teaching the Word of יהוה among them.
12 And when Gallion was proconsul of Achaia, the Yehuḏim with one mind rose up against Sha’ul and brought him to the judgment seat,
13 saying, “This one does seduce men to worship Elohim contrary to the Torah.”
14 And as Sha’ul was about to open his mouth, Gallion said to the Yehuḏim, “If it were a matter of wrongdoing or wicked recklessness, O Yehuḏim, there would be reason why I should bear with you.
15 “But if it is a question of words and names and a law which is among you, see to it yourselves, for I do not wish to be a judge of these matters.”
16 And he drove them away from the judgment seat.
17 And all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the ruler of the congregation, and beat him before the judgment seat. But Gallion showed no concern whatever.
18 And Sha’ul, having stayed several days more, having taken leave of the brothers, was sailing for Syria, and Priscilla and Aqulas were with him, having shaved his hair at Kenḥrea, for he had taken a vow.
19 And he came to Ephesos, and left them there, but he himself went into the congregation and reasoned with the Yehuḏim.
20 And when they asked him to stay a longer time with them, he declined,
21 but took leave of them, saying, “I have to keep this coming festival in Yerushalayim by all means, but I shall come back to you, Elohim desiring so.” And he sailed from Ephesos.
22 And having come to Caesarea, going up and greeting the assembly, he went down to Antioch.
23 And having spent some time there, he went forth, passing through the country of Galatia and on through Phrygia, strengthening all the taught ones.
24 And a certain Yehuḏite named Apollos, born at Alexandria, a learned man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesos.
25 This one had been instructed in the way of the Master. And being fervent in spirit, he was speaking and teaching the matters about the Master exactly, though he knew only the immersion of Yoḥanan.
26 And he began to speak boldly in the congregation. And when Aqulas and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of Elohim more exactly.
27 And when he intended to pass through to Achaia, the brothers, having encouraged him, wrote to the taught ones to receive him, who, having arrived, greatly helped those who believed through favour,
28 for with power he refuted the Yehuḏim publicly, showing from the Scriptures that יהושע is the Messiah.
19 | 1 And it came to be, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Sha’ul, having passed through the upper parts, came to Ephesos. And having found some taught ones,
2 he said to them, “Did you receive the Set-apart Spirit when you believed?” And they said to him, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Set-apart Spirit.”
3 And he said to them, “Into what then were you immersed?” And they said, “Into Yoḥanan’s immersion.”
4 And Sha’ul said, “Yoḥanan indeed immersed with an immersion of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe in the One who is coming after him, that is, in Messiah יהושע.”
5 And when they heard this, they were immersed in the Name of the Master יהושע.
6 And when Sha’ul had laid hands on them, the Set-apart Spirit came upon them, and they were speaking in tongues and prophesying.
7 And all the men were about twelve.
8 And having gone into the congregation he spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the reign of Elohim.
9 But when some were hardened and did not believe, speaking evil of the Way before the crowd, he withdrew from them and separated the taught ones, reasoning daily in the school of Turannos.
10 And this took place for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Master יהושע, both Yehuḏim and Greeks.
11 And Elohim worked unusual miracles through the hands of Sha’ul,
12 so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the wicked spirits went out of them.
13 But certain roving Yehuḏite exorcists took it upon themselves to call the Name of the Master יהושע over those who had wicked spirits, saying, “We exorcise you by יהושע whom Sha’ul proclaims.”
14 And there were seven sons of a certain Skeua, a Yehuḏite chief priest, who were doing this.
15 And the wicked spirit answering, said, “יהושע I know, and Sha’ul I know, but who are you?”
16 And the man in whom the wicked spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
17 And this became known to all, both Yehuḏim and Greeks dwelling in Ephesos. And fear fell on them all, and the Name of the Master יהושע was made great.
18 And many who had believed came confessing and declaring their deeds.
19 And many of those who had practised magic brought their books together, burning them before all. And they reckoned up the value of them, and found it to be fifty thousand pieces of silver.
20 So the word of the Master was growing mightily and prevailing.
21 Now when these matters had been completed, Sha’ul purposed in the Spirit, when he had passed through Makedonia and Achaia, to go to Yerushalayim, saying, “After I have been there, I have to see Rome too.”
22 And having sent into Makedonia two of those assisting him, Timothy and Ěrastos, he himself remained in Asia for a time.
23 And about that time there came to be a great commotion about the Way.
24 For a certain man named Demetrios, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, provided no little business to the craftsmen,
25 who, having called them together, with the workers of similar trade, said, “Men, you know that our wealth is from this business.
26 “And you see and hear that not only at Ephesos, but throughout almost all Asia, this Sha’ul has persuaded and turned away a large number, saying that they are not mighty ones which are made with hands.
27 “And not only is this trade of ours in danger of coming to rejection, but also that the temple of the great female mighty one Artemis whom all Asia and the world worship, shall be regarded as worthless and her greatness diminished.”
28 And having heard this, they were filled with rage and cried out, saying, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
29 And the entire city was filled with confusion, and they rushed with one mind into the theatre, having seized Gaios and Aristarchos, Makedonians, Sha’ul’s fellow travellers.
30 And Sha’ul, intending to go in among the mob, the taught ones did not allow him.
31 And some of the officials of Asia, being his friends, sent to him begging him not to risk himself into the theatre.
32 Then others indeed shouted this and others that, for the assembly was confused, and most of them did not know why they had come together.
33 And some of the crowd instructed Alexander – the Yehuḏim putting him forward. And Alexander motioned with his hand, and wished to make his defence to the people.
34 But having recognised that he was a Yehuḏite, all with one voice cried out for about two hours, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
35 And the city clerk, having calmed the crowd, said, “Men of Ephesos, what man is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is the guardian of the temple of the great female mighty one Artemis, and of that which fell down from Zeus?
36 “Therefore, if these matters are undeniable, you need to be calm, and do not act rashly.
37 “For you have brought these men here who are neither temple-robbers nor speaking evil of your female mighty one.
38 “If truly then Demetrios and his fellow craftsmen have a case against anyone, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. Let them accuse one another.
39 “And if you have any further complaint, it shall be settled in the regular assembly.
40 “For we are in danger of being accused of riot concerning today, there being no reason which we could give to account for this disorderly gathering.”
41 And having said this, he dismissed the assembly.
Job 23-24
23 | 1 And Iyoḇ answered and said,
2 “Even today my complaint is bitter; my hand is heavy on account of my groaning.
3 If only I knew where to find Him, I would come to His dwelling-place!
4 I would present my case before Him, and fill my mouth with proofs.
5 I would know the words which He would answer me, and understand what He would say to me.
6 Would He contend with me in great power? No! But He would pay attention to me.
7 There the upright might reason with Him, and I would go safe forever from my Judge.
8 See, I go forward, but He is not; and backward, but I do not perceive Him;
9 to the left where He is working, but I do not see; He turns to the right, but I do not see.
10 For He knows the way that I take. When He has tried me, I would come forth as gold.
11 My foot has held fast to His steps. I have guarded His way, and did not turn aside.
12 I have not strayed from the command of His lips. I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily portion.
13 But He is One, and who does turn Him? And He does whatever His being has desired.
14 For He completes my portion, and many like these are with Him.
15 Therefore I am troubled at His presence; I consider, and I am afraid of Him.
16 For Ěl has made me faint-hearted, and the Almighty has alarmed me;
17 because I was not cut off before darkness, and from my face He has covered the thick darkness.
24 | 1 “Times are not hidden from the Almighty, and why have not those who know Him seen His days?
2 They remove landmarks; they rob and feed on flocks;
3 they drive away the donkey of the fatherless; they take the widow’s ox as a pledge;
4 they turn the needy out of the way; the poor of the earth have hidden together.
5 See, as wild donkeys in the wilderness they go about their tasks, eager seekers for prey; the desert gives his bread, for the children.
6 They reap his fodder in a field and they glean the vineyard of the wrong.
7 They spend the night naked, without a garment, and without covering in the cold.
8 They are wet with the showers of the hills, and have embraced a rock for lack of shelter.
9 They snatch away the fatherless from the breast, and take a pledge from the poor;
10 naked, they shall go about without a garment; and hungry, they shall take away sheaves.
11 They press out oil within their walls; winepresses they shall tread, yet suffer thirst.
12Men groan in the city, and the beings of the wounded cry out, and Eloah does not regard it as foolish.
13 They have become rebels against the light; they have not known His ways nor remained in His paths.
14 The murderer rises at daylight, he slays the poor and needy, and in the night he is as a thief.
15 And the eye of the adulterer watches for dusk, saying, ‘No eye sees me.’ And he puts a covering on the face.
16 In the dark he has broken into houses; by day they shut themselves up; they have not known light.
17 For all of them morning is the same as the shadow of death, when he discerns the extreme fears of the shadow of death.
18 He is swift on the face of the waters; their portion is cursed in the earth; he does not turn into the way of vineyards.
19 Drought and heat snatch away snow waters – the grave those who have sinned.
20 The womb forgets him, the worm feeds sweetly on him; he is remembered no more, and wickedness is broken like a tree;
21 treating evil the barren who does not bear, and does no good for the widow.
22 But He draws the mighty away with His power – He rises up, and no one is certain of life.
23 He gives him safety, and he leans on it; yet His eyes are on their ways.
24 They are lifted up for a little while, then they are gone, then they shall be brought low. Like all else they are gathered up, and they are cut off like the heads of grain.
25 And if it is not so, who does prove me a liar, and make my word worthless?”
1 Baruk 4-5
(CEPHER TRANSLATION)
4 | 1 THIS is the cepher of the commandments of ELOHIYM, and the Torah that endures forever: all they that guard it shall come to life; but such as leave it shall die.
2 Turn you, O Ya`aqov, and take hold of it: walk in the presence of the light thereof, that you may be illuminated.
3 ‘Give not your honour to another, nor the things that are profitable unto you to a strange nation.
4 ‘O Yashar’el, happy are we: for things that are pleasing to ELOHIYM are made known unto us.
5 ‘Be of good cheer, my people, the memorial of Yashar’el.
6 ‘Ye were sold to the nations, not for your destruction: but because ye moved ELOHIYM to wrath, ye were delivered unto the enemies.
7 ‘For ye provoked him that made you by sacrificing unto devils, and not to ELOHIYM.
8 ‘Ye have forgotten the everlasting ELOHIYM, that brought you up; and ye have grieved Yerushalayim, that nursed you.
9 ‘For when she saw the wrath of ELOHIYM coming upon you, she said, Hearken, O ye that dwell about Tsiyon: ELOHIYM has brought upon me great mourning;
10 ‘For I saw the captivity of my sons and daughters, which the Everlasting brought upon them.
11 ‘With joy did I nourish them; but sent them away with weeping and mourning.
12 ‘Let no man rejoice over me, a widow, and forsaken of many, who for the sins of my children am left desolate; because they departed from the Torah of ELOHIYM.
13 ‘They knew not his statutes, nor walked in the ways of his commandments, nor trod in the paths of discipline in his righteousness.
14 ‘Let them that dwell about Tsiyon come, and remember ye the captivity of my sons and daughters, which the Everlasting has brought upon them.
15 ‘For he has brought a nation upon them from far, a shameless nation, and of a strange language, who neither reverenced old man, nor pitied child.
16 ‘These have carried away the dear beloved children of the widow, and left her that was alone desolate without daughters.
17 ‘But what can I help you?
18 ‘For he that brought these plagues upon you will deliver you from the hands of your enemies.
19 ‘Go your way, O my children, go your way: for I am left desolate.
20 ‘I have put off the clothing of peace, and put upon me the sackcloth of my prayer: I will cry unto the Everlasting in my days.
21 ‘Be of good cheer, O my children, cry unto YAHUAH, and he will deliver you from the power and hand of the enemies.
22 ‘For my hope is in the Everlasting, that he will save you; and joy is come unto me from the Holy One, because of the mercy which shall soon come unto you from the Everlasting our Saviour.
23 ‘For I sent you out with mourning and weeping: but ELOHIYM will give you to me again with joy and gladness forever.
24 Like as now the neighbours of Tsiyon have seen your captivity: so shall they see shortly your yeshu`ah from our ELOHIYM which shall come upon you with great glory, and brightness of the Everlasting.
25 ‘My children, suffer patiently the wrath that is come upon you from ELOHIYM: for your enemy has persecuted you; but shortly you shall see his destruction, and shall tread upon his neck.
26 ‘My delicate ones have gone rough ways, and were taken away as a flock caught of the enemies.
27 ‘Be of good comfort, O my children, and cry unto ELOHIYM: for ye shall be remembered of him that brought these things upon you.
28 ‘For as it was your mind to go astray from ELOHIYM: so, being returned, seek him ten times more.
29 For he that has brought these plagues upon you shall bring you everlasting joy with your yeshu`ah.
30 ‘Take a good heart, O Yerushalayim: for he that gave you that name will comfort you.
31 ‘Miserable are they that afflicted you, and rejoiced at your fall.
32 ‘Miserable are the cities which your children served: miserable is she that received your sons.
33 ‘For as she rejoiced at your ruin, and was glad of your fall: so shall she be grieved for her own desolation.
34 ‘For I will take away the rejoicing of her great multitude, and her pride shall be turned into mourning.
35 ‘For fire shall come upon her from the Everlasting, long to endure; and she shall be inhabited of devils for a great time.
36 ‘O Yerushalayim, look about you toward the east, and behold the joy that comes unto you from ELOHIYM.
37 ‘Lo, your sons come, whom you sent away, they come gathered together from the east to the west by the word of the Holy One, rejoicing in the glory of ELOHIYM. BARUK RI’SHON (1 BARUK) 4:37 את CEPHER
5 | 1 PUT off, O Yerushalayim, the garment of mourning and affliction, and put on the comeliness of the glory that comes from ELOHIYM forever.
2 ‘Cast about you a double garment of the righteousness which comes from ELOHIYM; and set a diadem on your head of the glory of the Everlasting.
3 ‘For ELOHIYM will show your brightness unto every country under heaven.
4 ‘For your name shall be called of ELOHIYM forever The peace of righteousness, and The glory of ELOHIYM’S worship.
5 ‘Arise, O Yerushalayim, and stand on high, and look about toward the east, and behold your children gathered from the west unto the east by the word of the Holy One, rejoicing in the remembrance of ELOHIYM.
6 ‘For they departed from you on foot, and were led away of their enemies: but ELOHIYM brings them unto you exalted with glory, as children of the kingdom.
7 ‘For ELOHIYM has appointed that every high hill, and banks of long continuance, should be cast down, and valleys filled up, to make even the ground, that Yashar’el may go safely in the glory of ELOHIYM,
8 ‘Moreover even the woods and every sweetsmelling tree shall overshadow Yashar’el by the commandment of ELOHIYM.
9 ‘For ELOHIYM shall lead Yashar’el with joy in the light of his glory with the mercy and righteousness that comes from him.
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.
myhouseministries.blog 