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Weekly Scripture Reading
Torah: DEUTERONOMY 30-34
Prophets: HABAKKUK 3
Historical Writings: 1 SAMUEL 30-31
New Testament: PHILIPPIANS 3-4
Wisdom Writings: JOB 41-42
Non-Canonical: 2 BARUK 63-67
The following translation is from The Scriptures | ISR98
DEUTERONOMY 30-34
30 | 1 “And it shall be, when all these words come upon you, the blessing and the curse which I have set before you, and you shall bring them back to your heart among all the gentiles where יהוה your Elohim drives you,
2 and shall turn back to יהוה your Elohim and obey His voice, according to all that I command you today, with all your heart and with all your being, you and your children,
3 then יהוה your Elohim shall turn back your captivity, and shall have compassion on you, and He shall turn back and gather you from all the peoples where יהוה your Elohim has scattered you.
4 “If any of you are driven out to the farthest parts under the heavens, from there יהוה your Elohim does gather you, and from there He does take you.
5 “And יהוה your Elohim shall bring you to the land which your fathers possessed, and you shall possess it. And He shall do good to you, and increase you more than your fathers.
6 “And יהוה your Elohim shall circumcise your heart and the heart of your seed, to love יהוה your Elohim with all your heart and with all your being, so that you might live,
7 and יהוה your Elohim shall put all these curses on your enemies and on those who hate you, who persecuted you.
8 “And you shall turn back and obey the voice of יהוה and do all His commands which I command you today.
9 “And יהוה your Elohim shall make you have excess in all the work of your hand, in the fruit of your body, and in the fruit of your livestock, and in the fruit of your ground for good. For יהוה turns back to rejoice over you for good as He rejoiced over your fathers,
10 if you obey the voice of יהוה your Elohim, to guard His commands and His laws which are written in this Book of the Torah, if you turn back to יהוה your Elohim with all your heart and with all your being.
11 “For this command which I am commanding you today, it is not too hard for you, nor is it far off.
12 “It is not in the heavens, to say, ‘Who shall ascend into the heavens for us, and bring it to us, and cause us to hear it, so that we do it?’
13 “Nor is it beyond the sea, to say, ‘Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it to us, and cause us to hear it, so that we do it?’
14 “For the Word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart – to do it.
15 “See, I have set before you today life and good, and death and evil,
16 in that I am commanding you today to love יהוה your Elohim, to walk in His ways, and to guard His commands, and His laws, and His right-rulings. And you shall live and increase, and יהוה your Elohim shall bless you in the land which you go to possess.
17 “But if your heart turns away, and you do not obey, and shall be drawn away, and shall bow down to other mighty ones and serve them,
18 “I have declared to you today that you shall certainly perish, you shall not prolong your days in the land which you are passing over the Yardĕn to enter and possess.
19 “I have called the heavens and the earth as witnesses today against you: I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. Therefore you shall choose life, so that you live, both you and your seed,
20 to love יהוה your Elohim, to obey His voice, and to cling to Him – for He is your life and the length of your days – to dwell in the land which יהוה swore to your fathers, to Aḇraham, to Yitsḥaq, and to Ya‛aqoḇ, to give them.”
31 | 1 And Mosheh went and spoke these words to all Yisra’ĕl,
2 and he said to them, “I am one hundred and twenty years old today. I am no longer able to go out and come in. And יהוה has said to me, ‘You do not pass over this Yardĕn.’
3 “יהוה your Elohim Himself is passing over before you. He shall destroy these nations from before you and you possess them. Yehoshua himself is passing over before you, as יהוה has spoken.
4 “And יהוה shall do to them as He did to Siḥon and to Og̅, the sovereigns of the Amorites and their land, when He destroyed them.
5 “And יהוה shall give them over to you, and you shall do to them according to all the command which I have commanded you.
6 “Be strong and courageous, do not fear nor be afraid of them. For it is יהוה your Elohim who is going with you. He does not fail you nor forsake you.”
7 And Mosheh called Yehoshua and said to him before the eyes of all Yisra’ĕl, “Be strong and courageous, for you are going with this people to the land which יהוה has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you are to let them inherit it.
8 “And it is יהוה who is going before you, He Himself is with you. He does not fail you nor forsake you. Do not fear nor be discouraged.”
9 And Mosheh wrote this Torah and gave it to the priests, the sons of Lĕwi, who bore the ark of the covenant of יהוה, and to all the elders of Yisra’ĕl.
10 And Mosheh commanded them, saying, “At the end of seven years, at the appointed time, the year of release, at the Festival of Booths,
11 when all Yisra’ĕl comes to appear before יהוה your Elohim in the place which He chooses, read this Torah before all Yisra’ĕl in their hearing.
12 “Assemble the people, the men and the women and the little ones, and your sojourner who is within your gates, so that they hear, and so that they learn to fear יהוה your Elohim and guard to do all the Words of this Torah.
13 “And their children, who have not known it, should hear and learn to fear יהוה your Elohim as long as you live in the land you are passing over the Yardĕn to possess.”
14 And יהוה said to Mosheh, “See, the days have drawn near for you to die. Call Yehoshua, and present yourselves in the Tent of Meeting, so that I command him.” And Mosheh and Yehoshua went and presented themselves in the Tent of Meeting.
15 And יהוה appeared at the Tent in a column of a cloud, and the column of a cloud stood above the door of the Tent.
16 And יהוה said to Mosheh, “See, you are about to sleep with your fathers. And this people shall rise and whore after the mighty ones of the strangers of the land into the midst of which they shall enter, and forsake Me and break My covenant which I have made with them.
17 “Then My displeasure shall burn against them in that day, and I shall forsake them and hide My face from them, and they shall be consumed. And many evils and distresses shall come upon them, and it shall be said in that day, ‘Is it not because our Elohim is not in our midst that these evils have come upon us?’
18 “And I shall certainly hide My face in that day, because of all the evil which they have done, for they shall turn to other mighty ones.
19 “And now write down this song for yourselves, and teach it to the children of Yisra’ĕl. Put it in their mouths, so that this song is to Me for a witness against the children of Yisra’ĕl.
20 “And I shall bring them to the land flowing with milk and honey, of which I swore to their fathers, and they shall eat and be satisfied and be fat, then they shall turn to other mighty ones, and they shall serve them, and scorn Me and break My covenant.
21 “And it shall be, when many evils and distresses come upon them, that this song shall answer before them as a witness. For it is not to be forgotten in the mouths of their seed, for I know their thoughts which they are forming today, even before I bring them to the land of which I swore to give them.”
22 And Mosheh wrote this song the same day, and taught it to the children of Yisra’ĕl.
23 And He commanded Yehoshua son of Nun, and said, “Be strong and courageous, for you are to bring the children of Yisra’ĕl into the land of which I swore to them, and I Myself am with you.”
24 And it came to be, when Mosheh had completed writing the Words of this Torah in a book, until their completion,
25 that Mosheh commanded the Lĕwites, who bore the ark of the covenant of יהוה, saying,
26 “Take this Book of the Torah, and you shall place it beside the ark of the covenant of יהוה your Elohim, and it shall be there as a witness against you,
27 for I myself know your rebellion and your stiff neck. See, while I am still alive with you today, you have been rebellious against יהוה, then how much more after my death?
28 “Assemble unto me all the elders of your tribes, and your officers, so that I speak these words in their hearing and call the heavens and the earth to witness against them.
29 “For I know that after my death you shall do very corruptly and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you. And evil shall come to you in the latter days, because you do what is evil in the eyes of יהוה, to provoke Him through the work of your hands.”
30 So Mosheh spoke in the hearing of all the assembly of Yisra’ĕl the words of this song till their completion:
32 | 1 “Give ear, O heavens, and let me speak; And hear, O earth, The words of my mouth.
2 “Let my instruction fall as rain, My speech drop down as dew, As fine rain on the tender plants, And as showers on the grass.
3 “For I proclaim the Name of יהוה, Ascribe greatness to our Elohim.
4 “The Rock! His work is perfect, For all His ways are right-ruling, An Ěl of truth and without unrighteousness, Righteous and straight is He.
5 “A twisted and crooked generation has corrupted itself, Their blemish, they are not His children.
6 “Do you do this to יהוה, O foolish and unwise people? Is He not your Father, who bought you, Who created you and established you?
7 “Remember the days of old, Consider the years of many generations. Ask your father and let him show you, Your elders, and let them say to you:
8 “When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance When He separated the sons of Aḏam, He set the boundaries of the peoples According to the number of the children of Yisra’ĕl.
9 “For the portion of יהוה is His people, Ya‛aqoḇ His allotted inheritance.
10 “He found him in a wilderness, And in a wasted, howling desert. He encompassed him, He made him understand, He watched over him as the apple of His eye.
11 “As an eagle stirs up its nest, Flutters over its young, Spreading out its wings, taking them up, Bearing them on its wings.
12 “יהוה alone led him, And there was no strange mighty one with him.
13 “He made him ride in the heights of the earth, And he ate the fruit of the fields, And He made him to draw honey from the rock, And oil from the flinty rock,
14 “Curds from the cattle, And milk of the flock, With fat of lambs, And rams of the breed of Bashan, And goats, with the choicest wheat; And you drank wine, the blood of the grapes.
15 “But Yeshurun grew fat and kicked; You grew fat, you grew thick, You are covered with fat; So he forsook Eloah who made him, And scorned the Rock of his deliverance.
16 “They moved Him to jealousy with foreign matters, With abominations they provoked Him.
17 “They slaughtered to demons – not Eloah – Mighty ones they did not know, New ones who came lately, Which your fathers did not fear.
18 “You neglected the Rock who brought you forth, And forgot the Ěl who fathered you.
19 “And יהוה saw, and despised, Because of the provocation of His sons and His daughters.
20 “And He said, ‘Let Me hide My face from them, Let Me see what their end is, For they are a perverse generation, Children in whom there is no trusting.
21 “They made Me jealous by what is not Ěl, They provoked Me with their worthless matters. But I make them jealous by those who are no people, I provoke them with a foolish nation.
22 “For a fire was kindled in My wrath And burns to the bottom of She’ol, And consumes the earth and its increase, And sets on fire the foundations of mountains.
23 “I gather evils upon them, I use up My arrows upon them –
24 “Wasted by scarcity of food, And consumed by heat and bitter destruction, And the teeth of beasts I send upon them, With the poison of serpents of the dust.
25 “The sword bereaves from the outside, And fear from within, Both young man and maiden, Nursing child with the man of grey hairs.
26 “I said, ‘I should blow them away, I should make the remembrance of them To cease from among men,
27 ‘If I did not fear the enemy’s taunt, Lest their adversaries misunderstand, Lest they say, “Our hand is high, And יהוה has not done all this.” ’
28 “For they are a nation lost to counsel, And there is no understanding in them.
29 “If they were wise, They would understand this, They would consider their latter end!
30 “How would one chase a thousand, And two put ten thousand to flight, Unless their Rock had sold them, And יהוה had given them up?
31 “For their rock is not like our Rock – Even our enemies are judges.
32 “Their vine is of the vine of Seḏom And of the fields of Amorah; Their grapes are grapes of gall, Their clusters are bitter.
33 “Their wine is the poison of serpents, And the fierce venom of cobras.
34 ‘Is it not stored up with Me, Sealed up among My treasures?
35 ‘Vengeance is Mine, and repayment, At the time their foot slips; For near is the day of their calamity, And the matters prepared are hastening to them.’
36 “For יהוה rightly rules His people And has compassion on His servants, When He sees that their power is gone, And there is no one remaining, Shut up or at large.
37 “And He shall say, ‘Where are their mighty ones, The rock in whom they sought refuge?
38 ‘Who ate the fat of their slaughterings, And drank the wine of their drink offering? Let them arise and help you, Let it be a hiding-place for you!
39 ‘See now that I, I am He, And there is no Elohim besides Me. I put to death and I make alive. I have wounded, and I heal. And from My hand no one delivers!
40 ‘For I lift My hand to the heavens, And shall say: As I live forever,
41 ‘If I have sharpened My flashing sword, And My hand takes hold on judgment, I shall return vengeance to My enemies, And repay those who hate Me.
42 ‘I make My arrows drunk with blood, And My sword devours flesh, With the blood of the slain and the captives, From the long-haired enemy chiefs.’
43 “O nations, acclaim His people! For He avenges the blood of His servants, And returns vengeance to His adversaries, And shall pardon His land, His people.”
44 Then Mosheh came, with Yehoshua son of Nun, and spoke all the words of this song in the hearing of the people.
45 And when Mosheh ended speaking all these words to all Yisra’ĕl,
46 he said to them, “Set your heart on all the words with which I warn you today, so that you command your children to guard to do all the Words of this Torah.
47 “For it is not a worthless Word for you, because it is your life, and by this Word you prolong your days on the soil which you pass over the Yardĕn to possess.”
48 And יהוה spoke to Mosheh that same day, saying,
49 “Go up this mountain of the Aḇarim, Mount Neḇo, which is in the land of Mo’aḇ, which is opposite Yeriḥo, and look at the land of Kena‛an, which I give to the children of Yisra’ĕl as a possession,
50 and die on the mountain which you ascend, and be gathered to your people, as Aharon your brother died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his people,
51 because you trespassed against Me in the midst of the children of Yisra’ĕl at the waters of Meriḇah Qaḏĕsh, in the Wilderness of Tsin, because you did not set Me apart in the midst of the children of Yisra’ĕl.
52 “For you are to look at the land before you, but not enter there, into the land which I am giving to the children of Yisra’ĕl.”
33 | 1 And this is the blessing with which Mosheh the man of Elohim blessed the children of Yisra’ĕl before his death.
2 And he said, “יהוה came from Sinai, and rose from Sĕ‛ir for them. He shone forth from Mount Paran, and came with ten thousands of set-apart ones – at His right hand a law of fire for them.
3 Indeed, He loves the peoples, all His set-apart ones are in Your hand. And they, they sat down at Your feet, receiving Your Words.
4 Mosheh commanded us a Torah, an inheritance of the assembly of Ya‛aqoḇ.
5 And He was Sovereign in Yeshurun, when the heads of the people were gathered, the tribes of Yisra’ĕl.
6 “Let Re’uḇĕn live, and not die, and let his men be numbered.”
7 And this of Yehuḏah, and he said, “Hear, יהוה, the voice of Yehuḏah, and bring him to his people. His hands shall fight for him, and You be a help against his enemies.”
8 And of Lĕwi he said, “Your Tummim and Your Urim belong to Your kind one, whom You tried at Massah, with whom You contended at the waters of Meriḇah,
9 who said of his father and mother, ‘I have not seen them.’ And he did not acknowledge his brothers, or know his own children, for they have guarded Your Word and watched over Your covenant.
10 “They teach Your right-rulings to Ya‛aqoḇ, and Your Torah to Yisra’ĕl. They put incense before You, and a complete burnt offering on Your altar.
11 “O יהוה, bless his strength, and accept the work of his hands. Smite the loins of those who rise against him, and of those who hate him, that they rise no more.”
12 Of Binyamin he said, “Let the beloved of יהוה dwell in safety by Him, shielding him all the day, as he dwells between His shoulders.”
13 And of Yosĕph he said, “Blessed of יהוה is his land, with the choicest from the heavens, with the dew, and the deep lying beneath,
14 with the choice fruits of the sun, with the choice yield of the months,
15 with the finest of the ancient mountains, with the choicest of the everlasting hills,
16 with the choicest of the earth and all that fills it, and the good pleasure of Him who dwelt in the bush. Let it come on the head of Yosĕph, and on the crown of the head of him who was separate from his brothers.
17 “His splendour is like a first-born bull, and his horns are like the horns of the wild ox. With them he pushes the peoples to the ends of the earth. And they are the ten thousands of Ephrayim, and they are the thousands of Menashsheh.”
18 And of Zeḇulun he said, “Rejoice, O Zeḇulun, in your going out, and Yissasḵar in your tents!
19 “They call peoples to the mountain, there they bring offerings of righteousness, for they draw from the riches of the seas, and treasures hidden in the sand.”
20 And of Gaḏ he said, “Blessed is he who enlarges Gaḏ. He dwells as a lion, and shall tear off the arm, also the crown.
21 “And he chose the best for himself, for there the portion of the lawgiver was hidden. And he came with the heads of the people. The righteousness of יהוה he did, and His right-rulings with Yisra’ĕl.”
22 And of Dan he said, “Dan is a lion’s cub, that leaps from Bashan.”
23 And of Naphtali he said, “O Naphtali, satisfied with pleasure, and filled with the blessing of יהוה, possess the west and the south.”
24 And of Ashĕr he said, “Ashĕr is most blessed of sons. Let him be accepted by his brothers, and dip his foot in oil.
25 “Your sandals are iron and bronze, and your strength as your days.
26 “O Yeshurun, there is no one like Ěl, riding the heavens to help you, and on the clouds, in His excellency.
27 “The Elohim of old is a refuge, and beneath are everlasting arms. And He drives out the enemy from before you and says, ‘Destroy!’
28 “Thus Yisra’ĕl dwells in safety, the fountain of Ya‛aqoḇ alone, in a land of grain and new wine. His heavens also drop down dew.
29 “Blessed are you, O Yisra’ĕl! Who is like you, a people saved by יהוה, the shield of your help, and He who is the sword of your excellency! And your enemies are subdued for you, and you tread down their high places.”
34 | 1 And Mosheh went up from the desert plains of Mo’aḇ to Mount Neḇo, to the top of Pisgah, which is opposite Yeriḥo. And יהוה showed him all the land of Gil‛aḏ as far as Dan,
2 and all Naphtali and the land of Ephrayim and Menashsheh, all the land of Yehuḏah as far as the Western Sea,
3 and the Negeḇ, and the plain of the Valley of Yeriḥo, the city of palm trees, as far as Tso‛ar.
4 And יהוה said to him, “This is the land of which I swore to Aḇraham, to Yitsḥaq, and to Ya‛aqoḇ, saying, ‘To your seed I give it.’ I have let you look at it with your eyes, but you do not pass over there.”
5 And Mosheh the servant of יהוה died there in the land of Mo’aḇ, according to the mouth of יהוה.
6 And He buried him in a valley in the land of Mo’aḇ, opposite Bĕyth Pe‛or, and no one knows his burial place to this day.
7 And Mosheh was one hundred and twenty years old when he died. His eyes were not dim nor his freshness gone.
8 And the children of Yisra’ĕl wept for Mosheh in the desert plains of Mo’aḇ thirty days. And the days of weeping and mourning for Mosheh were completed.
9 And Yehoshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom, for Mosheh had laid his hands on him. And the children of Yisra’ĕl listened to him, and did as יהוה had commanded Mosheh.
10 And since then no prophet has arisen in Yisra’ĕl like Mosheh, whom יהוה knew face to face,
11 for all the signs and wonders which יהוה sent him to do in the land of Mitsrayim, before Pharaoh, and before all his servants, and in all his land,
12 and for all that strong hand and all the great fearsome deeds which Mosheh did before the eyes of all Yisra’ĕl.
HABAKKUK 3
63 | 1 A prayer of Ḥaḇaqquq the prophet, on Shig̅ionoth.
2 O יהוה, I have heard your report, I was afraid. O יהוה, renew Your work in the midst of the years! Make it known in the midst of the years. In wrath remember compassion.
3 Eloah comes from Tĕman, And the Set-apart One from Mount Paran. Selah. His splendour shall cover the heavens, And His praise shall fill the earth.
4 And the brightness is as the light, He has rays from His hand, And there His power is hidden.
5 Before Him goes pestilence, And a burning flame goes forth at His feet.
6 He shall stand and measure the earth. He shall look and shake the nations. And the ancient mountains are shattered, The age-old hills shall bow. His ways are everlasting.
7 I saw the tents of Kushan under sorrow, The curtains of the land of Miḏyan tremble.
8 Shall יהוה burn against the rivers? Is Your displeasure against the rivers, Is Your wrath against the sea, That You ride on Your horses, Your chariots of deliverance?
9 You uncover Your bow, The oaths of the rod of the Word. Selah. You cut through the earth with rivers.
10 The mountains shall see You, they tremble. The storm of water shall pass over. The deep shall give forth its voice, It shall lift up its hands.
11 Sun, moon shall stand still in their places. Like light Your arrows fly, Like lightning is Your glittering spear.
12 You step through the earth in rage, You thresh the gentiles in wrath.
13 You shall go forth to save Your people, To save Your Anointed. You shall smite the Head from the house of the wrong, By laying bare from foundation to neck. Selah.
14 You shall pierce with his own arrows The head of his leaders. They stormed along to scatter me, Rejoicing as if to devour the poor in secret.
15 You shall tread the sea with Your horses, The foaming of many waters.
16 I heard, and my body trembled, My lips quivered at the sound, Rottenness came into my bones. And I trembled within myself, That I might rest for the day of distress, To come upon the people who would attack us.
17 Though the fig tree does not blossom, And there is no fruit on the vine, The yield of the olive has failed, And the fields brought forth no food, The flock has been cut off from the fold, And there is no herd in the stalls,
18 Yet I exult in יהוה, I rejoice in the Elohim of my deliverance.
19 יהוה the Master is my strength. And He makes my feet like those of deer, And makes me walk on my high places. To the chief singer with my stringed instruments.
1 Samuel 30-31
30 | 1 And it came to be, when Dawiḏ and his men came to Tsiqlag̅, on the third day, that the Amalĕqites had invaded the South and Tsiqlag̅, and smote Tsiqlag̅ and burned it with fire.
2 And they took captive the women and those who were there, from small to great. They did not kill anyone, but they led them away and went their way.
3 And Dawiḏ and his men came to the city and saw it burned with fire, and their wives and their sons and their daughters had been taken captive.
4 And Dawiḏ and the people who were with him lifted up their voices and wept, until they had no more power to weep.
5 And Dawiḏ’s two wives, Aḥino‛am the Yizre‛ĕlitess, and Aḇig̅ayil the widow of Naḇal the Karmelite, had been taken captive.
6 And Dawiḏ was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the being of all the people was grieved, each for his sons and his daughters. But Dawiḏ strengthened himself in יהוה his Elohim.
7 And Dawiḏ said to Eḇyathar the priest, son of Aḥimeleḵ, “Please bring the shoulder garment here to me.” So Eḇyathar brought the shoulder garment to Dawiḏ.
8 And Dawiḏ inquired of יהוה, saying, “Do I pursue this band? Do I overtake them?” And He answered him, “Pursue, for you shall certainly overtake them, and certainly rescue.”
9 So Dawiḏ went, he and the six hundred men who were with him, and came to the wadi Besor, where a halt was made by those who were left behind,
10 while Dawiḏ pursued, he and four hundred men – for two hundred halted, who were too faint to pass over the wadi Besor.
11 And they found a man in the field, a Mitsrite, and took him to Dawiḏ. And they gave him bread and he ate, and they let him drink water,
12 and gave him a piece of a cake of figs and two clusters of raisins. And when he had eaten, his strength came back to him, for he had not eaten bread nor drunk water for three days and three nights.
13 And Dawiḏ said to him, “To whom do you belong, and where are you from?” And he said, “I am a young man from Mitsrayim, servant of an Amalĕqite. And my master left me behind, for I had been sick three days.
14 “We attacked the south of the Kerĕthites and against that which belongs to Yehuḏah, and upon the south of Kalĕḇ, and we burned Tsiqlag̅ with fire.”
15 And Dawiḏ said to him, “Could you bring me down to this marauding band?” And he said, “Swear to me by Elohim that you neither kill me nor surrender me into the hands of my master, then I bring you down to this marauding band.”
16 And he brought him down and saw they were spread out over all the land, eating and drinking and dancing, because of all the great spoil which they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from the land of Yehuḏah.
17 And Dawiḏ smote them from twilight until the evening of the next day. And none of them escaped, except four hundred young men who rode on camels and fled.
18 And Dawiḏ rescued all that the Amalĕqites had taken. Dawiḏ also rescued his two wives.
19 And there was none missing to them, whether small or great, whether sons or daughters, or spoil or whatever they had taken from them. Dawiḏ recovered all.
20 Besides, Dawiḏ captured all the flocks and herds they had driven before those livestock, and they said, “This is Dawiḏ’s spoil.”
21 And Dawiḏ came to the two hundred men who were too faint to follow Dawiḏ, who had also been left at the wadi Besor. And they went out to meet Dawiḏ and to meet the people who were with him. And when Dawiḏ came near the people, he greeted them.
22 And all the evil and worthless men of those who went with Dawiḏ answered and said, “Because they did not go with us, we do not give them any of the spoil that we have rescued, except for every man’s wife and children, and let them take them and go.”
23 But Dawiḏ said, “My brothers, do not do so with what יהוה has given us, who has protected us and gave into our hand the band that came against us.
24 “And who would listen to you in this matter? For as his portion is who goes down to the battle, so is his portion who remains with the baggage, they share alike.”
25 And it came to be, from that day forward, he appointed it for a law and a right-ruling for Yisra’ĕl to this day.
26 And when Dawiḏ came to Tsiqlag̅, he sent some of the spoil to the elders of Yehuḏah, to his friends, saying, “Here is a present for you from the spoil of the enemies of יהוה,”
27 to those in Bĕyth Ěl, and to those in Ramoth of the South, and to those in Yattir,
28 and to those in Aro‛ĕr, and to those in Siphmoth, and to those in Eshtemoa,
29 and to those in Raḵal, and to those in the cities of the Yeraḥme’ĕlites, and to those in the cities of the Qĕynites,
30 and to those in Ḥormah, and to those in Korashan, and to those in Athaḵ,
31 and to those in Ḥeḇron, and to all the places where Dawiḏ had gone up and down, he and his men.
31 | 1 And the Philistines were fighting against Yisra’ĕl, and the men of Yisra’ĕl fled from before the Philistines, and fell slain on Mount Gilboa.
2 And the Philistines followed hard after Sha’ul and his sons. And the Philistines smote Yehonathan, and Aḇinaḏaḇ, and Malkishua, sons of Sha’ul.
3 And the battle went hard against Sha’ul, and the archers hit him, so that he was severely wounded by the archers.
4 And Sha’ul said to his armour-bearer, “Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised men come and thrust me through and roll themselves on me.” But his armour-bearer would not, for he was greatly afraid. So Sha’ul took the sword and fell on it.
5 And when his armour-bearer saw that Sha’ul was dead, he also fell on his sword, and died with him.
6 Thus Sha’ul died, and three of his sons, and his armour-bearer, also all his men, together on that day.
7 And they saw – the men of Yisra’ĕl who were beyond the valley, and those who were beyond the Yardĕn – that the men of Yisra’ĕl had fled and that Sha’ul and his sons were dead. So they forsook the cities and fled, and the Philistines came and dwelt in them.
8 And the next day it came to be, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Sha’ul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa.
9 And they cut off his head and stripped off his armour, and sent word throughout the land of the Philistines, to announce it in the house of their idols and to the people.
10 And they placed his armour in the house of the Ashtaroth, and they fastened his body to the wall of Bĕyth Shan.
11 And the inhabitants of Yaḇĕsh Gil‛aḏ heard what the Philistines had done to Sha’ul,
12 and all the brave men arose and went all night, and took the body of Sha’ul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Bĕyth Shan. And they came to Yaḇĕsh and burned them there.
13 And they took their bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree at Yaḇĕsh, and fasted for seven days.
PHILIPPIANS 3-4
3 | 1 For the rest, my brothers, rejoice in יהוה. To write the same matters to you is truly no trouble to me, and for you it is safe.
2 Look out for dogs, look out for the evil workers, look out for the mutilation!
3 For we are the circumcision, who are serving Elohim in the Spirit, and boasting in Messiah יהושע, and do not trust in the flesh,
4 though I too might have trust in the flesh. If anyone else thinks to trust in the flesh, I more –
5 circumcised the eighth day, of the race of Yisra’ĕl, of the tribe of Binyamin, a Heḇrew of Heḇrews, according to Torah a Pharisee,
6 according to ardour, persecuting the assembly; according to righteousness that is in the law, having become blameless.
7 But what might have been a gain to me, I have counted as loss, because of Messiah.
8 What is more, I even count all to be loss because of the excellence of the knowledge of Messiah יהושע my Master, for whom I have suffered the loss of all, and count them as refuse, in order to gain Messiah,
9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through belief in Messiah, the righteousness which is from Elohim on the basis of belief,
10 to know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,
11 if somehow I might attain to the resurrection from the dead.
12 Not that I have already received, or already been perfected, but I press on, to lay hold of that for which Messiah יהושע has also laid hold of me.
13 Brothers, I do not count myself to have laid hold of it yet, but only this: forgetting what is behind and reaching out for what lies ahead,
14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the high calling of Elohim in Messiah יהושע.
15 As many, then, as are perfect, should have this mind. And if you think differently in any respect, Elohim shall also reveal this to you.
16 But to what we have already attained – walk by the same rule, be of the same mind.
17 Become joint imitators of me, brothers, and observe those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern.
18 For many – of whom I have often told you, and now say to you even weeping – walk as enemies of the stake of Messiah.
19 Their end is destruction, their mighty one is their stomach, and their esteem is in their shame – they mind the earthly.
20 For our citizenship is in the heavens, from which we also eagerly wait for the Saviour, the Master יהושע Messiah,
21 who shall change our lowly body, to be conformed to His esteemed body, according to the working by which He is able even to bring all under His control.
4 | 1 So then, my brothers, beloved and longed-for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Master, beloved.
2 I appeal to Euodia and I appeal to Suntuche to be of the same mind in the Master.
3 And I also ask you, true companion, help these women who laboured with me in the Good News, with Qlemes also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.
4 Rejoice in יהוה always, again I say, rejoice!
5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Master is near.
6 Do not worry at all, but in every matter, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to Elohim.
7 And the peace of Elohim, which surpasses all understanding, shall guard your hearts and minds through Messiah יהושע.
8 For the rest, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is righteous, whatever is clean, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good report, if there is any uprightness and if there is any praise – think on these.
9 And what you have learned and received and heard and saw in me, practise these, and the Elohim of peace shall be with you.
10 And I rejoiced in יהוה greatly that now at last your concern for me has revived again – though you were concerned, but had no chance.
11 Not that I speak concerning need, for I have learned to be content in whatever state I am.
12 I know what it is to be humbled, and I know what it is to have in excess. In any and every situation I have learned both to be filled, and to be hungry, both to have in excess, and to be in need.
13 I have strength to do all, through Messiaha who empowers me.
14 Yet you did well in sharing in my pressure.
15 And you know too, Philippians, that in the beginning of the Good News, when I went out from Makedonia, no assembly shared with me concerning giving and receiving, except you only,
16 because, even in Thessalonike you sent to my need, once and twice.
17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that is multiplying to your account.
18 Indeed I have all and more than enough. I have been filled, having received from Epaphroditos what you sent, a sweet-smelling fragrance, an acceptable offering, well-pleasing to Elohim.
19 And my Elohim shall fill all your need according to His riches in esteem by Messiah יהושע.
20 And to our Elohim and Father be esteem forever and ever. Amĕn.
21 Greet every set-apart one in Messiah יהושע. The brothers with me greet you.
22 All the set-apart ones greet you, but most of all those of Caesar’s household.
23 The favour of our Master יהושע Messiah be with you all. Amĕn.
Job 41-42
41 | 1 “Would you draw out Liwiathan with a hook, or snare his tongue with a line which you lower?
2 Would you put a cord through his nose, or pierce his jaw with a hook?
3 Would he keep on pleading with you? Would he speak softly to you?
4 Would he make a covenant with you to be taken as a servant forever?
5 Would you play with him as with a bird? Or leash him for your young girls?
6 Would trading partners bargain over him? Would they divide him among the merchants?
7 Fill his skin with harpoons? Or his head with fishing spears?
8 Put your hand on him – think of the struggle! Do not do it again!
9 See, any expectation of him is disappointed – he is laid low even at the sight of him!
10 No one is so foolhardy to wake him up. Who then is able to stand against Me?
11 Who has given to Me first, that I should repay him – under all the heavens that is Mine?
12 I would not keep silent concerning his limbs, or his mighty power, or his fair frame.
13 Who shall take off the surface of his skin? Who approaches him with a double bridle?
14 Who shall open the doors of his face, with his frightening teeth all around?
15 Rows of scales are his pride – closed up, a binding seal.
16 One to the other they fit closely, not even a breath enters between them.
17 They are joined one to another, they stick together and are not separated.
18 His sneezings flash forth light, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning.
19 Out of his mouth go firebrands – sparks of fire shoot out.
20 Out of his nostrils comes smoke, like a boiling pot or kettle.
21 His breath sets coals on fire, and a flame goes out of his mouth.
22 Strength dwells in his neck, and fear leaps before him.
23 The folds of his flesh cleave together. They are firm on him, immovable.
24 His heart is as hard as stone, even as hard as the lower millstone.
25 When he raises himself up, the mighty are afraid. Because of his crashings they are bewildered.
26 No sword that reaches him does prevail, neither spear, dart, or lance.
27 He reckons iron as straw, bronze as rotten wood.
28 The arrow does not make him flee, sling-stones become like stubble to him.
29 Clubs are reckoned as straw, he laughs at the rattle of a lance.
30 His undersides are like sharp potsherds. He sprawls on the mud like a threshing-sledge.
31 He makes the deep boil like a pot, he makes the sea like a pot of ointment.
32 He leaves a shining path behind him. One would think the deep to be grey-haired.
33 No one on earth is like him – one made without fear.
34 He sees all that is haughty. He is sovereign over all the sons of pride.”
42 | 1 And Iyoḇ answered יהוה and said,
2 “You know that You are able to do all, and that no purpose is withheld from You.
3 Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge? Therefore I declared but I did not understand, matters too marvellous for me, which I did not know.
4 Listen, please, and let me speak. I ask You, then would You make it known to me?’
5 I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You.
6 Therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”
7 And it came to be, after יהוה had spoken these words to Iyoḇ, that יהוה said to Eliphaz the Tĕmanite, “My wrath has burned against you and your two friends, for you have not spoken of Me what is right, as did My servant Iyoḇ.
8 And now, take seven bulls and seven rams, and go to My servant Iyoḇ, and offer up a burnt offering for yourselves. And let My servant Iyoḇ pray for you – for I accept him – lest I punish you; because you have not spoken of Me what is right, as did My servant Iyoḇ.”
9 So Eliphaz the Tĕmanite and Bildaḏ the Shuḥite, Tsophar the Na‛amathite went and did as יהוה commanded them. And יהוה accepted the face of Iyoḇ.
10 And יהוה turned the captivity of Iyoḇ when he prayed for his friends. And יהוה gave Iyoḇ twice as much as he had before.
11 And all his brothers, and all his sisters, and all those who had been his friends before, came to him and ate food with him in his house. And they sympathised with him and comforted him for all the evil that יהוה had brought upon him. And they each gave him a piece of silver and each one a ring of gold.
12 And יהוה blessed the latter days of Iyoḇ more than his beginning; for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and one thousand yoke of oxen, and one thousand female donkeys.
13 And he had seven sons and three daughters.
14 And he called the name of the first Yemimah, and the name of the second Qetsi‛ah, and the name of the third Qeren-Happuḵ.
15 And in all the land were found no women so pretty as the daughters of Iyoḇ. And their father gave them an inheritance among their brothers.
16 And after this Iyoḇ lived one hundred and forty years, and saw his children and grandchildren for four generations.
17 And Iyoḇ died, old and satisfied with days.
2 Baruk 63-67
(CEPHER TRANSLATION)
63 | 1 And the bright eighth waters which you have seen, this is the rectitude and uprightness of Yechizqiyahu king of Yahudah and the grace of ELOHIYM which came upon him.
2 For when Cancheriyv was stirred up in order that he might perish, and his wrath troubled him in order that he might thereby perish, for the multitude also of the nations which were with him.
3 When, moreover, Yechizqiyahu the kind heard those things which the king Ashshur was devising, that he was coming to seize him and destroy his people, the two and a half tribes which remained: nay, more he wished to overthrow Tsiyon also: then Yechizqiyahu trusted in his works, and had hope in his righteousness, and spoke with EL ELOHIYM and said:
4 Behold, for lo! Cancheriyv is prepared to destroy us, and he will be boastful and uplifted when he has destroyed Tsiyon.
5. An EL ELOHIYM heard him, for Yechizqiyahu was wise, and he had respect unto his prayer, because he was righteous.
6. And thereupon EL ELOHIYM commanded Ramiy’el his angel who speaks with you.
7 And I went forth and destroyed their multitude, the number o whose chiefs only was a hundred and eighty five thousand, and each one of them had an equal number at his command.
8 And at that time I burned their bodies within, but their raiment and arms I preserved outwardly, in order that the still more wonderful deeds of EL ELOHIYM might appear, and that thereby his name might be spoken of throughout the whole earth.
9 And Tsiyon was saved and Yerushalayim delivered:
10 Yashar’el also was freed from tribulation. And all those who were in the holy land rejoiced, and the name of EL ELOHIYM was glorified so that it was spoken of.
11 These are the bright waters which you have seen.
64 | 1 And the black ninth waters which you have seen, this is all the wickedness which was in the days of Menashsheh the son of Yechizqiyahu.
2 For he wrought much impiety; and he slew the righteous, and he perverted judgment.
3 And he shed the blood of the innocent and wedded women he violently polluted, and he overturned the altars, and destroyed their offerings, and drove forth the priests lest they should minister in the sanctuary.
4 And he made an image with five faces: four of them looked to the four winds, and the fifth on the summit of the image as an adversary of the zeal of EL ELOHIYM.
5 And then wrath went forth from the presence of EL ELOHIYM to the intent that Tsiyon should be rooted out, as also it befell in your days.
6 But also against the two tribes and a half went forth a decree that they should also be led away captive, as you have now seen. And such a degree did the impiety of Menashsheh increase, that it removed the praise of EL ELYON from the sanctuary.
7 On this account Menashsheh was a t the time named: The Impious, and finally his abode was in the fire.
8 For though his prayer was heard with EL ELYON, finally, when he was cast into the brazen horse and the brazen horse was melted, it served as a sign unto him for the hour.
9 For he head not lived perfectly, for he was not worthy but that thenceforward he might know by whom finally he should be tormented.
10 For he who is able to benefit is also able to torment.
65 | 1 Thus, moreover, did Menashsheh act impiously, and thought that in his time L ELOHIYM would not inquire into these things.
2 These are the black ninth waters which you have seen.
66 | 1 And the bright tenth waters which you have seen: this is the purity of the generations of Yo’shiyahu king of Yahudah, who was the only one at the time who submitted himself to EL ELOHIYM with all his heart and with all his soul.
2 And he cleansed the land from idols, and sanctified all the vessels which had been polluted, and restored the offerings to the altar, and raise the horn of the holy, and exalted the righteous, and honoured all that were wise in understanding, and brought back the priests to their ministry, and destroyed and removed the magicians and enchanters and necromancers from the land.
3 And not only did he slay the impious that were living, but they also took from the sepulchers the bones of the dead and burned them with fire.
4 And the feasts of the Shabbathoth he established in their sanctity, and their polluted ones he burnt in the fire, and the lying prophets which deceived the people, these also he burnt in the fire, and the people who listened to them when they were living, he cast them into the broook Qidron, and heaped stones upon them.
5 And he was zealous with zeal for EL ELOHIYM with all his soul, and he alone was firm in the Torah at that time, so that he left none that was uncircumcised. or that wrought impiety in all the land, all the days of his life.
6 Therefore he shall receive an eternal reward, and he shall be glorified with EL ELOHIYM beyond many at a later time.
7 For on his account and on account of those who are like him were the honourable glories, of which you were told before, created and prepared.
8 These are the bright waters which you have seen.
67 | 1 And the black eleventh waters which you have seen: this is the calamity which is no befalling Tsiyon.
2 Do you think that there is non anguish to the angels in the presence of EL ELOHIYM, that Tsiyon was so delivered up, and that lo! the other nations boast in their hearts, and assemble before their idols and say: She is trodden down who oft times trod down, and she has been reduced to servitude that reduced other?
3 Do you think that in these things EL ELYON rejoices, or that this name is glorified?
4 But how will it serve towards his righteous judgment?
5 Yet after these things shall the dispersed amongth the other nations be taken hold of by tribulation, and in shame shall they dwell in every place.
Because so far as Tsiyon is delivered up and Yerushalayim laid waste, shall idols prosper in the cities of the other nations, and the vapour of the smoke of the incense of the righteousness which is by the Torah is extinguished in Tsiyon, and in the region of Tsiyon in every place lo! there is the smoke of impiety.
7 But the king of Babel will arise who has now destroyed Tsiyon, an the will boast over the people, and he will speak great things in his heart in the presence of EL ELYON.
8 But he also shall fall at last. These are the black waters.
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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