Bible Readings for September 23, 2013

Today our passages are Isaiah  41:17–43:13; Ephesians 2:1-22; Psalm 67:1-7; and Proverbs 23:29-35. The readings are the Contemporary English Version.

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Isaiah 41:17-43:13 (Contemporary English Version)

The LORD Helps the Poor

 ¹⁷When the poor and needy    are dying of thirst
   and cannot find water,
   I, the LORD God of Israel,
   will come to their rescue.
   I won't forget them.
    ¹⁸I will make rivers flow
   on mountain peaks.
   I will send streams
   to fill the valleys.
   Dry and barren land
   will flow with springs
   and become a lake.
    ¹⁹I will fill the desert
   with all kinds of trees--
   cedars, acacias, and myrtles;
   olive and cypress trees;
   fir trees and pines.
    ²⁰Everyone will see this
   and know that I,
   the holy LORD God of Israel,
   created it all.
   

Idols Are Useless

 ²¹I am the LORD,    the King of Israel!
   Come argue your case with me.
   Present your evidence.
    ²²Come near me, you idols. ^[a] Tell us about the past,
   and we will think about it.
   Tell us about the future,
   so we will know
   what is going to happen.
    ²³Prove that you are gods
   by making your predictions
   come true.
   Do something good or evil,
   so we can be amazed
   and terrified. ^{[b] 24}You idols are nothing,
   and you are powerless. ^[c] To worship you
   would be disgusting.
    ²⁵I, the LORD, appointed a ruler
   in the north;
   now he comes from the east
   to honor my name.
   He tramples ^[d] kings like mud, as potters trample clay. ^{[e] 26}Did any of you idols predict
   what would happen?
   Did any of you get it right?
   None of you told about this
   or even spoke a word.
    ²⁷I was the first to tell
   the people of Jerusalem,
   "Look, it's happening!" ^[f] I was the one who announced
   this good news to Zion.
    ²⁸None of these idols
   are able to give advice
   or answer questions.
    ²⁹They are nothing, ^[g] and they can do nothing--
   they are less
   than a passing breeze.
   

Isaiah 42

The LORD's Servant

 ¹Here is my servant!    I have made him strong.
   He is my chosen one;
   I am pleased with him.
   I have given him my Spirit,
   and he will bring justice
   to the nations.
    ²He won't shout or yell
   or call out in the streets.
    ³He won't break off a bent reed
   or put out a dying flame,
   but he will make sure
   that justice is done.
    ⁴He won't quit or give up
   until he brings justice
   everywhere on earth,
   and people in foreign nations
   long for his teaching.
    ⁵I am the LORD God.
   I created the heavens
   like an open tent above.
   I made the earth and everything
   that grows on it.
   I am the source of life
   for all who live on this earth,
   so listen to what I say.
    ⁶I chose you to bring justice,
   and I am here at your side.
   I selected and sent you ^[h] to bring light
   and my promise of hope
   to the nations.
    ⁷You will give sight
   to the blind;
   you will set prisoners free
   from dark dungeons.
    ⁸My name is the LORD!
   I won't let idols or humans
   share my glory and praise.
    ⁹Everything has happened
   just as I said it would;
   now I will announce
   what will happen next.
   

Sing Praises to the LORD

 ¹⁰Tell the whole world to sing    a new song to the LORD!
   Tell those who sail the ocean
   and those who live far away
   to join in the praise.
    ¹¹Tell the tribes of the desert
   and everyone in the mountains ^[i] to celebrate and sing.
    ¹²Let them announce
   his praises everywhere.
    ¹³The LORD is marching out
   like an angry soldier,
   shouting with all his might
   while attacking his enemies.
   

The LORD Will Help His People

 ¹⁴For a long time, I, the LORD,    have held my temper;
   now I will scream and groan
   like a woman giving birth.
    ¹⁵I will destroy the mountains
   and what grows on them;
   I will dry up rivers and ponds.
    ¹⁶I will lead the blind on roads
   they have never known;
   I will guide them on paths
   they have never traveled.
   Their road is dark and rough,
   but I will give light
   to keep them from stumbling.
   This is my solemn promise.
    ¹⁷Everyone who worships idols
   as though they were gods
   will be terribly ashamed.
   

God's People Won't Obey

 ¹⁸You people are deaf and blind,    but the LORD commands you
   to listen and to see.
    ¹⁹No one is as blind or deaf
   as his messenger,
   his chosen servant,
    ²⁰who sees and hears so much,
   but pays no attention.
    ²¹The LORD always does right,
   and so he wanted his Law
   to be greatly praised. ^{[j] 22}But his people were trapped
   and imprisoned in holes
   with no one to rescue them.
   All they owned had been taken,
   and no one was willing
   to give it back.
    ²³Why won't his people
   ever learn to listen?
    ²⁴Israel sinned and refused
   to obey the LORD
   or follow his instructions.
   So the LORD let them be robbed
   of everything they owned.
    ²⁵He was furious with them
   and punished their nation
   with the fires of war.
   Still they paid no attention.
   They didn't even care
   when they were surrounded
   and scorched by flames.
   

Isaiah 43

The LORD Has Rescued His People

 ¹Descendants of Jacob,    I, the LORD, created you
   and formed your nation.
   Israel, don't be afraid.
   I have rescued you.
   I have called you by name;
   now you belong to me.
    ²When you cross deep rivers,
   I will be with you,
   and you won't drown.
   When you walk through fire,
   you won't be burned
   or scorched by the flames.
    ³I am the LORD, your God,
   the Holy One of Israel,
   the God who saves you.
   I gave up Egypt, Ethiopia, ^[k] and the region of Seba ^[l] in exchange for you.
    ⁴To me, you are very dear,
   and I love you.
   That's why I gave up nations
   and people to rescue you.
    ⁵Don't be afraid! I am with you.
   From both east and west
   I will bring you together.
    ⁶I will say to the north
   and to the south,
   "Free my sons and daughters!
   Let them return
   from distant lands.
    ⁷They are my people--
   I created each of them
   to bring honor to me."
   
   

The LORD Alone Is God

The LORD said:

 ⁸Bring my people together.    They have eyes and ears,
   but they can't see or hear.
    ⁹Tell everyone of every nation
   to gather around.
   None of them can honestly say,
   "We told you so!"
   If someone heard them say this,
   then tell us about it now.
    ¹⁰My people, you are my witnesses
   and my chosen servant.
   I want you to know me,
   to trust me,
   and understand
   that I alone am God.
   I have always been God;
   there can be no others.
    ¹¹I alone am the LORD;
   only I can rescue you.
    ¹²I promised to save you,
   and I kept my promise.
   You are my witnesses
   that no other god did this.
   I, the LORD, have spoken.
    ¹³I am God now and forever.
   No one can snatch you from me
   or stand in my way.
   

Footnotes:

1. Isaiah 41:22 Come near. . . idols: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
2. Isaiah 41:23 and terrified: Or "when we see it."
3. Isaiah 41:24 powerless: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
4. Isaiah 41:25 tramples: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
5. Isaiah 41:25 trample clay: This was done to soften the clay and make it easier to shape.
6. Isaiah 41:27 Look. . . happening: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
7. Isaiah 41:29 nothing: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
8. Isaiah 42:6 I selected. . . you: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
9. Isaiah 42:11 desert. . . mountains: The Hebrew text includes the place names of Kedar in the desert and Sela in the mountains.
10. Isaiah 42:21 greatly praised: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 21.
11. Isaiah 43:3 Ethiopia: See the note at 11.11.
12. Isaiah 43:3 Seba: A region in southwest Arabia. Egypt, Ethiopia, and Seba probably stood for all that was known of Africa in biblical times.

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Ephesians 2:1-22 (Contemporary English Version)

Ephesians 2

From Death to Life

 ¹In the past you were dead because you sinned and fought against God. ²You followed the ways of this world and obeyed the devil. He rules the world, and his spirit has power over everyone who doesn't obey God. ³Once we were also ruled by the selfish desires of our bodies and minds. We had made God angry, and we were going to be punished like everyone else.     ^4-5But God was merciful! We were dead because of our sins, but God loved us so much that he made us alive with Christ, and God's wonderful kindness is what saves you. ⁶God raised us from death to life with Christ Jesus, and he has given us a place beside Christ in heaven. ⁷God did this so that in the future world he could show how truly good and kind he is to us because of what Christ Jesus has done. ⁸You were saved by faith in God, who treats us much better than we deserve. ^[a] This is God's gift to you, and not anything you have done on your own. ⁹It isn't something you have earned, so there is nothing you can brag about. ¹⁰God planned for us to do good things and to live as he has always wanted us to live. That's why he sent Christ to make us what we are.

United by Christ

 ¹¹Don't forget that you are Gentiles. In fact, you used to be called "uncircumcised" by those who take pride in being circumcised. ¹²At that time you did not know about Christ. You were foreigners to the people of Israel, and you had no part in the promises that God had made to them. You were living in this world without hope and without God, ¹³and you were far from God. But Christ offered his life's blood as a sacrifice and brought you near God.     ¹⁴Christ has made peace between Jews and Gentiles, and he has united us by breaking down the wall of hatred that separated us. Christ gave his own body ¹⁵to destroy the Law of Moses with all its rules and commands. He even brought Jews and Gentiles together as though we were only one person, when he united us in peace. ¹⁶On the cross Christ did away with our hatred for each other. He also made peace ^[b] between us and God by uniting Jews and Gentiles in one body. ¹⁷Christ came and preached peace to you Gentiles, who were far from God, and peace to us Jews, who were near God. ¹⁸And because of Christ, all of us can come to the Father by the same Spirit. ¹⁹You Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens with everyone else who belongs to the family of God. ²⁰You are like a building with the apostles and prophets as the foundation and with Christ as the most important stone. ²¹Christ is the one who holds the building together and makes it grow into a holy temple for the Lord. ²²And you are part of that building Christ has built as a place for God's own Spirit to live.
   

Footnotes:

1. Ephesians 2:8 treats us much better than we deserve: The Greek word charis, traditionally rendered grace, is translated here and other places in the CEV to express the overwhelming kindness of God.
2. Ephesians 2:16 He also made peace: Or The cross also made peace.

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Psalm 67:1-7 (Contemporary English Version)

Psalm 67

(A psalm and a song for the music leader. Use with stringed instruments.)

Tell the Nations To Praise God

 ¹Our God, be kind and bless us!    Be pleased and smile.
    ²Then everyone on earth
   will learn to follow you,
   and all nations will see
   your power to save us.
    ³Make everyone praise you
   and shout your praises.
    ⁴Let the nations celebrate
   with joyful songs,
   because you judge fairly
   and guide all nations.
    ⁵Make everyone praise you
   and shout your praises.
    ⁶Our God has blessed the earth
   with a wonderful harvest!
    ⁷Pray for his blessings
   to continue
   and for everyone on earth
   to worship our God.

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Proverbs 23:29-35 (Contemporary English Version)

-18-

 ²⁹ Who is always in trouble?    Who argues and fights?
   Who has cuts and bruises?
   Whose eyes are red?
    ³⁰Everyone who stays up late,
   having just one more drink.
    ³¹Don't even look
   at that colorful stuff
   bubbling up in the glass!
   It goes down so easily,
    ³²but later it bites
   like a poisonous snake.
    ³³You will see weird things,
   and your mind
   will play tricks on you.
    ³⁴You will feel tossed about
   like someone trying to sleep
   on a ship in a storm.
    ³⁵You will be bruised all over,
   without even remembering
   how it all happened.
   And you will lie awake asking,
   "When will morning come,
   so I can drink some more?"

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Verse of the Day

“But that's not all! We gladly suffer, because we know that suffering helps us to endure. And endurance builds character, which gives us a hope” - Romans 5:3-4

Today's passage is from the Contemporary English Version.

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Thought for the Day

Ray Charles, American singer-songwriter, musician and composer, wrote, “Soul is when you take a song and make it a part of you — a part that's so true, so real, people think it must have happened to you. … It's like electricity — we don't really know what it is, do we? But it's a force that can light a room. Soul is like electricity, like a spirit, a drive, a power.”