Bible Readings for April 25, 2013

Today our passages are Judges 4:1–5:31; Luke 22:35-53; Psalm 94:1-23; and Proverbs 14:3-4. The readings are the Contemporary English Version.

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Judges 4-5:31 (Contemporary English Version)

Judges 4

Deborah and Barak

 ¹After the death of Ehud, the Israelites again started disobeying the LORD.     ²So the LORD let the Canaanite King Jabin of Hazor conquer Israel. Sisera, the commander of Jabin's army, lived in Harosheth-Ha-Goiim.
    ³Jabin's army had nine hundred iron chariots, and for twenty years he made life miserable for the Israelites, until finally they begged the LORD for help.
    ⁴Deborah the wife of Lappidoth was a prophet and a leader ^[a] of Israel during those days.
    ⁵She would sit under Deborah's Palm Tree between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, where Israelites would come and ask her to settle their legal cases.
    ⁶One day, Barak the son of Abinoam was in Kedesh in Naphtali, and Deborah sent word for him to come and talk with her. When he arrived, she said:
   I have a message for you from the LORD God of Israel! You are to get together an army of ten thousand men from the Naphtali and Zebulun tribes and lead them to Mount Tabor.
    ⁷The LORD will trick Sisera into coming out to fight you at the Kishon River. Sisera will be leading King Jabin's army as usual, and they will have their chariots, but the LORD has promised to help you defeat them.
    ⁸" I'm not going unless you go!" Barak told her.
    ⁹" All right, I'll go!" she replied. " But I'm warning you that the LORD is going to let a woman defeat Sisera, and no one will honor you for winning the battle."
   Deborah and Barak left for Kedesh,
    ¹⁰where Barak called together the troops from Zebulun and Naphtali. Ten thousand soldiers gathered there, and Barak led them out from Kedesh. Deborah went too.
    ¹¹At this time, Heber of the Kenite clan was living near the village of Oak in Zaanannim, ^[b] not far from Kedesh. The Kenites were descendants of Hobab, the father-in-law of Moses, but Heber had moved and had set up his tents away from the rest of the clan.
    ¹²When Sisera learned that Barak had led an army to Mount Tabor,
    ¹³he called his troops together and got all nine hundred iron chariots ready. Then he led his army away from Harosheth-Ha-Goiim to the Kishon River.
    ¹⁴Deborah shouted, " Barak, it's time to attack Sisera! Because today the LORD is going to help you defeat him. In fact, the LORD has already gone on ahead to fight for you."
   Barak led his ten thousand troops down from Mount Tabor.
    ¹⁵And during the battle, the LORD confused Sisera, his chariot drivers, and his whole army. Everyone was so afraid of Barak and his army, that even Sisera jumped down from his chariot and tried to escape.
    ¹⁶Barak's forces went after Sisera's chariots and army as far as Harosheth-Ha-Goiim.
   Sisera's entire army was wiped out.
    ¹⁷Only Sisera escaped. He ran to Heber's camp, because Heber and his family had a peace treaty with the king of Hazor. Sisera went to the tent that belonged to Jael, Heber's wife.
    ¹⁸She came out to greet him and said, " Come in, sir! Please come on in. Don't be afraid."
   After they had gone inside, Sisera lay down, and Jael covered him with a blanket.
    ¹⁹" Could I have a little water?" he asked. " I'm thirsty."
   Jael opened a leather bottle and poured him some milk, then she covered him back up.
    ²⁰" Stand at the entrance to the tent," Sisera told her. " If someone comes by and asks if anyone is inside, tell them `No.' "
    ²¹Sisera was exhausted and soon fell fast asleep. Jael took a hammer and drove a tent-peg through his head into the ground, and he died.
    ²²Meanwhile, Barak had been following Sisera, and Jael went out to meet him. " The man you're looking for is inside," she said. " Come in and I'll show him to you."
   They went inside, and there was Sisera--dead and stretched out with a tent-peg through his skull.
    ²³That same day the Israelites defeated the Canaanite King Jabin, and his army was no longer powerful enough to attack the Israelites.
    ²⁴Jabin grew weaker while the Israelites kept growing stronger, and at last the Israelites destroyed him.
   

Judges 5

Deborah and Barak Sing for the LORD

 ¹After the battle was over that day, Deborah and Barak sang this song:     ²We praise you, LORD!
   Our soldiers volunteered,
   ready to follow you.
    ³Listen, kings and rulers,
   while I sing for the LORD,
   the God of Israel.
    ⁴Our LORD, God of Israel,
   when you came from Seir,
   where the Edomites live,
    ⁵rain poured from the sky,
   the earth trembled,
   and mountains shook.
    ⁶In the time of Shamgar
   son of Anath,
   and now again in Jael's time,
   roads were too dangerous
   for caravans.
   Travelers had to take
   the back roads,
    ⁷and villagers couldn't work
   in their fields. ^[c] Then Deborah ^[d] took command, protecting Israel
   as a mother
   protects her children.
    ⁸The Israelites worshiped
   other gods,
   and the gates of their towns
   were then attacked. ^[e] But they had no shields
   or spears to fight with.
    ⁹I praise you, LORD,
   and I am grateful
   for those leaders and soldiers
   who volunteered.
    ¹⁰Listen, everyone!
   Whether you ride a donkey
   with a padded saddle
   or have to walk.
    ¹¹Even those who carry water ^[f] to the animals will tell you,
   " The LORD has won victories,
   and so has Israel."
   Then the LORD's people marched
   down to the town gates
    ¹²and said, " Deborah, let's go!
   Let's sing as we march.
   Barak, capture our enemies."
    ¹³The LORD's people who were left
   joined with their leaders
   and fought at my side. ^{[g]
    14}Troops came from Ephraim,
   where Amalekites once lived.
   Others came from Benjamin;
   officers and leaders
   came
   from Machir and Zebulun.
    ¹⁵The rulers of Issachar
   came along with Deborah,
   and Issachar followed Barak
   into the valley.
   But the tribe of Reuben
   was no help at all! ^{[h]
    16}Reuben, why did you stay
   among your sheep pens? ^[i] Was it to listen to shepherds
   whistling for their sheep?
   No one could figure out
   why Reuben wouldn't come. ^{[j]
    17}The people of Gilead stayed
   across the Jordan.
   Why did the tribe of Dan
   remain on their ships
   and the tribe of Asher
   stay along the coast
   near the harbors?
    ¹⁸But soldiers of Zebulun
   and Naphtali
   risked their lives
   to attack the enemy. ^{[k]
    19}Canaanite kings fought us
   at Taanach by the stream
   near Megiddo ^[l] -- but they couldn't rob us
   of our silver. ^{[m]
    20}From their pathways in the sky
   the stars ^[n] fought Sisera,
    ²¹and his soldiers were swept away
   by the ancient Kishon River.
   I will march on and be brave.
    ²²Sisera's horses galloped off,
   their hoofs thundering
   in retreat.
    ²³The LORD's angel said,
   " Put a curse on Meroz Town!
   Its people refused
   to help the LORD fight
   his powerful enemies."
    ²⁴But honor Jael,
   the wife of Heber
   from the Kenite clan.
   Give more honor to her
   than to any other woman
   who lives in tents.
   Yes, give more honor to her
   than to any other woman.
    ²⁵Sisera asked for water,
   but Jael gave him milk--
   cream in a fancy cup.
    ²⁶She reached for a tent-peg
   and held a hammer
   in her right hand.
   And with a blow to the head,
   she crushed his skull.
    ²⁷Sisera sank to his knees
   and fell dead at her feet.
    ²⁸Sisera's mother looked out
   through her window.
   " Why is he taking so long?"
   she asked.
   " Why haven't we heard
   his chariots coming?"
    ²⁹She and her wisest women
   gave the same answer:
    ³⁰" Sisera and his troops
   are finding treasures
   to bring back--
   a woman, or maybe two,
   for each man,
   and beautiful dresses
   for those women to wear." ^{[o]
    31}Our LORD, we pray
   that all your enemies
   will die like Sisera.
   But let everyone who loves you
   shine brightly
   like the sun
   at dawn.
   There was peace in Israel for about forty years.
   

Footnotes:

1. Judges 4:4 leader: See 2.16 and the note there.
2. Judges 4:11 the village. . . Zaanannim: Or " the oak tree in the town of Zaanannim."
3. Judges 5:7 villagers. . . fields: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
4. Judges 5:7 Deborah: Or " I, Deborah."
5. Judges 5:8 The Israelites. . . attacked: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
6. Judges 5:11 Even. . . water: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
7. Judges 5:13 side: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 13.
8. Judges 5:15 But. . . at all: Or " But the people of Reuben couldn't make up their minds."
9. Judges 5:16 sheep pens: Or " campfires."
10. Judges 5:16 No. . . come: Or " The people of Reuben couldn't make up their minds."
11. Judges 5:18 to attack the enemy: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
12. Judges 5:19 stream near Megiddo: Probably refers to one of the streams that flow into the Kishon River.
13. Judges 5:19 rob us of our silver: The army that won a battle would take everything of value from the dead enemy soldiers.
14. Judges 5:20 stars: In ancient times, the stars were sometimes regarded as supernatural beings.
15. Judges 5:30 and beautiful. . . wear: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.

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Luke 22:35-53 (Contemporary English Version)

Moneybags, Traveling Bags, and Swords

 ³⁵Jesus asked his disciples, "When I sent you out without a moneybag or a traveling bag or sandals, did you need anything?"    "No!" they answered.
    ³⁶Jesus told them, "But now, if you have a moneybag, take it with you. Also take a traveling bag, and if you don't have a sword, ^[a] sell some of your clothes and buy one. ³⁷Do this because the Scriptures say, `He was considered a criminal.' This was written about me, and it will soon come true." ³⁸The disciples said, "Lord, here are two swords!"
   "Enough of that!" Jesus replied.
   

Jesus Prays

(Matthew 26.36-46; Mark 14.32-42)

 ³⁹Jesus went out to the Mount of Olives, as he often did, and his disciples went with him. ⁴⁰When they got there, he told them, "Pray that you won't be tested."     ⁴¹Jesus walked on a little way before he knelt down and prayed, ⁴²"Father, if you will, please don't make me suffer by having me drink from this cup. ^[b] But do what you want, and not what I want." ⁴³Then an angel from heaven came to help him. ⁴⁴Jesus was in great pain and prayed so sincerely that his sweat fell to the ground like drops of blood. ^{[c] 45}Jesus got up from praying and went over to his disciples. They were asleep and worn out from being so sad. ⁴⁶He said to them, "Why are you asleep? Wake up and pray that you won't be tested."
   

Jesus Is Arrested

(Matthew 26.47-56; Mark 14.43-50; John 18.3-11)

 ⁴⁷While Jesus was still speaking, a crowd came up. It was led by Judas, one of the twelve apostles. He went over to Jesus and greeted him with a kiss. ^{[d] 48}Jesus asked Judas, "Are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?"     ⁴⁹When Jesus' disciples saw what was about to happen, they asked, "Lord, should we attack them with a sword?" ⁵⁰One of the disciples even struck at the high priest's servant with his sword and cut off the servant's right ear.
    ⁵¹"Enough of that!" Jesus said. Then he touched the servant's ear and healed it.
    ⁵²Jesus spoke to the chief priests, the temple police, and the leaders who had come to arrest him. He said, "Why do you come out with swords and clubs and treat me like a criminal? ⁵³I was with you every day in the temple, and you didn't arrest me. But this is your time, and darkness ^[e] is in control."

Footnotes:

1. Luke 22:36 moneybag. . . traveling bag. . . sword: These were things that someone would take on a dangerous journey. Jesus was telling his disciples to be ready for anything that might happen. They seem to have understood what he meant (see 22.49-51).
2. Luke 22:42 having me drink from this cup: In the Scriptures " to drink from a cup" sometimes means to suffer.
3. Luke 22:44 Then an angel. . . like drops of blood: Verses 43,44 are not in some manuscripts.
4. Luke 22:47 greeted him with a kiss: It was the custom for people to greet each other with a kiss on the cheek.
5. Luke 22:53 darkness: Darkness stands for the power of the devil.

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Psalm 94:1-23 (Contemporary English Version)

Psalm 94

The LORD Punishes the Guilty

 ¹LORD God, you punish    the guilty.
   Show what you are like
   and punish them now.
    ²You judge the earth.
   Come and help us!
   Pay back those proud people
   for what they have done.
    ³How long will the wicked
   celebrate and be glad?
    ⁴All of those cruel people
   strut and boast,
    ⁵and they crush and wound
   your chosen nation, LORD.
    ⁶They murder widows,
   foreigners, and orphans.
    ⁷Then they say,
   "The LORD God of Jacob
   doesn't see or know."
    ⁸Can't you fools see?
   Won't you ever learn?
    ⁹God gave us ears and eyes!
   Can't he hear and see?
    ¹⁰God instructs the nations
   and gives knowledge to us all.
   Won't he also correct us?
    ¹¹The LORD knows how useless
   our plans really are.
    ¹²Our LORD, you bless everyone
   that you instruct and teach
   by using your Law.
    ¹³You give them rest
   from their troubles,
   until a pit can be dug
   for the wicked.
    ¹⁴You won't turn your back
   on your chosen nation.
    ¹⁵Justice and fairness
   will go hand in hand,
   and all who do right
   will follow along.
    ¹⁶Who will stand up for me
   against those cruel people?
    ¹⁷If you had not helped me, LORD,
   I would soon have gone
   to the land of silence. ^{[a] 18}When I felt my feet slipping,
   you came with your love
   and kept me steady.
    ¹⁹And when I was burdened
   with worries,
   you comforted me
   and made me feel secure.
    ²⁰But you are opposed
   to dishonest lawmakers
    ²¹who gang up to murder
   innocent victims.
    ²²You, LORD God, are my fortress,
   that mighty rock ^[b] where I am safe.
    ²³You will pay back my enemies,
   and you will wipe them out
   for the evil they did.
   

Footnotes:

1. Psalm 94:17 land of silence: The grave or the world of the dead.
2. Psalm 94:22 mighty rock: See the note at 18.2.

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Proverbs 14:3-4 (Contemporary English Version)

³Proud fools are punished
   for their stupid talk,
   but sensible talk
   can save your life.
    ⁴Without the help of an ox
   there can be no crop,
   but with a strong ox
   a big crop is possible.

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Verse of the Day

“God did this because he wanted you Gentiles to understand his wonderful and glorious mystery. And the mystery is that Christ lives in you, and he is your hope of sharing in God's glory. We announce the message about Christ, and we use all our wisdom to warn and teach everyone, so that all of Christ's followers will grow and become mature.” - Colossians 1:27-28

Today's passage is from the Contemporary English Version.

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Thought for the Day

Early Christian author from Carthage in the Roman province of Africa Tertullian wrote, “Man is one name belonging to every nation upon earth. In them all is one soul though many tongues. Every country has its own language, yet the subjects of which the untutored soul speaks are the same everywhere.”

Today our passages are Joshua 13:1–14:15; Luke 18:1-17; Psalm 85:1-13; and Proverbs 13:7-8. The readings are the Contemporary English Version.

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Joshua 13-14:15 (Contemporary English Version)

Joshua 13

The Land Israel Had Not Yet Taken

 ¹Many years later, the LORD told Joshua:    Now you are very old, but there is still a lot of land that Israel has not yet taken. ^2-7First, there is the Canaanite territory that starts at the Shihor River just east of Egypt and goes north to Ekron. The southern part of this region belongs to the Avvites and the Geshurites, ^[a] and the land around Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron belongs to the five Philistine rulers. The other Canaanite territory is in the north. Its northern border starts at the town of Arah, which belongs to the Sidonians. From there, it goes to Aphek, ^[b] then along the Amorite border ^[c] to Hamath Pass. ^[d] The eastern border starts at Hamath Pass and goes south to Baal-Gad at the foot of Mount Hermon, and its southern boundary runs west from there to Misrephoth-Maim. ^[e] This northern region includes the Lebanon Mountains and the land that belongs to the Gebalites ^[f] and the Sidonians who live in the hill country from the Lebanon Mountains to Misrephoth-Maim. With my help, Israel will capture these Canaanite territories and force out the people who live there. But you must divide up the land from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea ^[g] among the nine tribes and the half of Manasseh that don't have any land yet. Then each tribe will have its own land.

The Land East of the Jordan River

 ⁸Moses had already given land east of the Jordan River to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh. ⁹This region stretched north from the town in the middle of the Arnon River valley, and included the town of Aroer on the northern edge of the valley. It covered the flatlands of Medeba north of Dibon, ¹⁰and took in the towns that had belonged to Sihon, the Amorite king of Heshbon. Some of these towns were as far east as the Ammonite border.     ^11-12Geshur and Maacah were part of this region, and so was the whole territory that King Og had ruled, that is, Gilead, Mount Hermon, and all of Bashan as far east as Salecah. Og had lived in Ashtaroth part of each year, and he had lived in Edrei the rest of the year. Og had been one of the last of the Rephaim, ^[h] but Moses had defeated Sihon and Og and their people ^[i] and had forced them to leave their land. ¹³However, the Israelites did not force the people of Geshur and Maacah to leave, and they still live there among the Israelites.

Moses Did Not Give Land to the Levi Tribe

 ¹⁴Moses did not give any land to the Levi tribe, because the LORD God of Israel had told them, " Instead of land, you will receive the sacrifices offered at my altar."    

Moses Gives Land to the Reuben Tribe

 ¹⁵Moses gave land to each of the clans in the Reuben tribe. ¹⁶Their land started in the south at the town in the middle of the Arnon River valley, took in the town of Aroer on the northern edge of the valley, and went as far north as the flatlands around Medeba. ^17-21The Amorite King Sihon had lived in Heshbon and had ruled the towns in the flatlands. Now Heshbon belonged to Reuben, and so did the following towns in the flatlands: Dibon, Bamoth-Baal, Beth-Baal-Meon, Jahaz, Kedemoth, Mephaath, Kiriathaim, Sibmah, Zereth-Shahar on the hill in the valley, Beth-Peor, Slopes of Mount Pisgah, and Beth-Jeshimoth.    Moses defeated Sihon and killed him and the Midianite chiefs who ruled parts of his kingdom for him. Their names were Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba. ²²The Israelites also killed Balaam the son of Beor, who had been a fortuneteller.
    ²³This region with its towns and villages was the land for the Reuben tribe, and the Jordan River was its western border.
   

Moses Gives Land to the Gad Tribe

 ²⁴Moses also gave land to each of the clans in the Gad tribe. ²⁵It included the town of Jazer, and in the Gilead region their territory took in the land and towns as far east as the town of Aroer ^[j] just west of Rabbah. ^[k] This was about half of the land that had once belonged to the Ammonites. ²⁶The land given to Gad stretched from Heshbon in the south to Ramath-Mizpeh and Betonim in the north, and even further north to Mahanaim and Lidebor. ^[l] ²⁷Gad also received the eastern half of the Jordan River valley, which had been ruled by King Sihon of Heshbon. This territory stretched as far north as Lake Galilee, ^[m] and included the towns of Beth-Haram, Beth-Nimrah, Succoth, and Zaphon. ²⁸These regions with their towns and villages were given to the Gad tribe.

Moses Gives Land to Half of the Manasseh Tribe

 ²⁹Moses gave land east of the Jordan River to half of the clans from the Manasseh tribe. ^30-31Their land started at Mahanaim and took in the region that King Og of Bashan had ruled, including Ashtaroth and Edrei, the two towns where he had lived. The villages where the Jair clan settled were part of Manasseh's land, and so was the northern half of the region of Gilead. The clans of this half of Manasseh had sixty towns in all.    The Manasseh tribe is sometimes called the Machir tribe, after Manasseh's son Machir.
    ³²That was how Moses divided up the Moab Plains to the east of Jericho on the other side of the Jordan River, so these two and a half tribes would have land of their own. ³³But Moses did not give any land to the Levi tribe, because the LORD had promised that he would always provide for them.
   

Joshua 14

The Land West of the Jordan River

 ^1-5Nine and a half tribes still did not have any land, although two and a half tribes had already received land east of the Jordan River. Moses had divided that land among them, and he had also said that the Levi tribe would not receive a large region like the other tribes. Instead, the people of Levi would receive towns and the nearby pastures for their sheep, goats, and cattle. And since the descendants of Joseph had become the two tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, there were still nine and a half tribes that needed land. The LORD had told Moses that he would show those tribes ^[n] how to divide up the land of Canaan. When the priest Eleazar, Joshua, and the leaders of the families and tribes of Israel met to divide up the land of Canaan, the LORD showed them how to do it.    

Joshua Gives Hebron to Caleb

 ⁶One day while the Israelites were still camped at Gilgal, Caleb the son of Jephunneh went to talk with Joshua. Caleb belonged to the Kenaz clan, and many other people from the Judah tribe went with Caleb. He told Joshua:    You know that back in Kadesh-Barnea the LORD talked to his prophet Moses about you and me. ⁷I was forty years old at the time Moses sent me from Kadesh-Barnea into Canaan as a spy. When I came back and told him about the land, everything I said was true. ⁸The other spies said things that made our people afraid, but I completely trusted the LORD God. ⁹The same day I came back, Moses told me, " Since you were faithful to the LORD God, I promise that the places where you went as a spy will belong to you and your descendants forever."
    ¹⁰Joshua, it was forty-five years ago that the LORD told Moses to make that promise, and now I am eighty-five. Even though Israel has moved from place to place in the desert, the LORD has kept me alive all this time as he said he would. ¹¹I'm just as strong today as I was then, and I can still fight as well in battle.
    ¹²So I'm asking you for the hill country that the LORD promised me that day. You were there. You heard the other spies talk about that part of the hill country and the large, walled towns where the Anakim ^[o] live. But maybe the LORD will help me take their land, just as he promised. ¹³Joshua prayed that God would help Caleb, then he gave Hebron to Caleb and his descendants. ¹⁴And Hebron still belongs to Caleb's descendants, because he was faithful to the LORD God of Israel.
    ¹⁵Hebron used to be called Arba's Town, ^[p] because Arba had been one of the greatest ^[q] of the Anakim. There was peace in the land.
   

Footnotes:

1. Joshua 13:2 Geshurites: Not the same Geshur as in 12.5 and 13.11. One ancient translation has " Gezerites." Gezer was a town north of Ekron that the Israelites did not capture (see Judges 1.29).
2. Joshua 13:2 Aphek: Not the same Aphek as in 12.9-24.
3. Joshua 13:2 Amorite border: What had been the southern border of the old Amorite kingdom of Amurru.
4. Joshua 13:2 Hamath Pass: Or " Lebo-Hamath."
5. Joshua 13:2 Misrephoth-Maim: Or " Misrephoth" or " the Misrephoth River."
6. Joshua 13:2 Gebalites: Gebal was another name for Byblos.
7. Joshua 13:2 from. . . Sea: One ancient translation; the Hebrew text does not have these words.
8. Joshua 13:11 Rephaim: See the note at 12.4.
9. Joshua 13:11 Sihon. . . people: Or " the Rephaim."
10. Joshua 13:25 Aroer: Not the same town as the Aroer in verse 16.
11. Joshua 13:25 Rabbah: The capital city of Ammon.
12. Joshua 13:26 Lidebor: This may be another name for Lodebar, a town a few miles east of the Jordan River and about ten miles south of Lake Galilee.
13. Joshua 13:27 Lake Galilee: See the note at 11.2.
14. Joshua 14:1 he would show those tribes: The Hebrew text has " those tribes must cast lots to find out." Pieces of wood or stone (called " lots" ) were used to find out what God wanted his people to do.
15. Joshua 14:12 Anakim: See the note at 11.21.
16. Joshua 14:15 Arba's Town: Or " Kiriath-Arba."
17. Joshua 14:15 Arba's Town, because. . . greatest: Hebrew; one ancient translation " Arba's Town. It was one of the main towns."

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Luke 18:1-17 (Contemporary English Version)

Luke 18

A Widow and a Judge

 ¹Jesus told his disciples a story about how they should keep on praying and never give up:     ²In a town there was once a judge who didn't fear God or care about people. ³In that same town there was a widow who kept going to the judge and saying, "Make sure that I get fair treatment in court."
    ⁴For a while the judge refused to do anything. Finally, he said to himself, "Even though I don't fear God or care about people, ⁵I will help this widow because she keeps on bothering me. If I don't help her, she will wear me out."
    ⁶The Lord said:
   Think about what that crooked judge said. ⁷Won't God protect his chosen ones who pray to him day and night? Won't he be concerned for them? ⁸He will surely hurry and help them. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find on this earth anyone with faith?
   

A Pharisee and a Tax Collector

 ⁹Jesus told a story to some people who thought they were better than others and who looked down on everyone else:     ¹⁰Two men went into the temple to pray. ^[a] One was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. ^[b] ¹¹The Pharisee stood over by himself and prayed, ^[c] "God, I thank you that I am not greedy, dishonest, and unfaithful in marriage like other people. And I am really glad that I am not like that tax collector over there. ¹²I go without eating ^[d] for two days a week, and I give you one tenth of all I earn." ¹³The tax collector stood off at a distance and did not think he was good enough even to look up toward heaven. He was so sorry for what he had done that he pounded his chest and prayed, "God, have pity on me! I am such a sinner."
    ¹⁴Then Jesus said, "When the two men went home, it was the tax collector and not the Pharisee who was pleasing to God. If you put yourself above others, you will be put down. But if you humble yourself, you will be honored."
   

Jesus Blesses Little Children

(Matthew 19.13-15; Mark 10.13-16)

 ¹⁵Some people brought their little children for Jesus to bless. But when his disciples saw them doing this, they told the people to stop bothering him. ¹⁶So Jesus called the children over to him and said, "Let the children come to me! Don't try to stop them. People who are like these children belong to God's kingdom. ^[e] ¹⁷You will never get into God's kingdom unless you enter it like a child!"

Footnotes:

1. Luke 18:10 into the temple to pray: Jewish people usually prayed there early in the morning and late in the afternoon.
2. Luke 18:10 tax collector: See the note at 3.12.
3. Luke 18:11 stood over by himself and prayed: Some manuscripts have " stood up and prayed to himself."
4. Luke 18:12 without eating: See the note at 2.37.
5. Luke 18:16 People who are like these children belong to God's kingdom: Or " God's kingdom belongs to people who are like these children."

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Psalm 85:1-13 (Contemporary English Version)

Psalm 85

(A psalm by the people of Korah for the music leader.)

A Prayer for Peace

 ¹Our LORD, you have blessed    your land
   and made all go well
   for Jacob's descendants.
    ²You have forgiven the sin
   and taken away the guilt
   of your people.
    ³Your fierce anger is no longer
   aimed at us.
    ⁴Our LORD and our God,
   you save us!
   Please bring us back home
   and don't be angry.
    ⁵Will you always be angry
   with us and our families?
    ⁶Won't you give us fresh life
   and let your people be glad
   because of you?
    ⁷Show us your love
   and save us!
    ⁸I will listen to you, LORD God,
   because you promise peace
   to those
   who are faithful
   and no longer foolish.
    ⁹You are ready to rescue
   everyone who worships you,
   so that you will live with us
   in all of your glory.
    ¹⁰Love and loyalty
   will come together;
   goodness and peace
   will unite.
    ¹¹Loyalty will sprout
   from the ground;
   justice will look down
   from the sky above.
    ¹²Our LORD, you will bless us;
   our land will produce
   wonderful crops.
    ¹³Justice will march in front,
   making a path
   for you to follow.

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Proverbs 13:7-8 (Contemporary English Version)

⁷Some who have nothing
   may pretend to be rich,
   and some who have everything
   may pretend to be poor.
    ⁸The rich may have
   to pay a ransom,
   but the poor don't have
   that problem.

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Verse of the Day

“[Love]Let love be your only debt! If you love others, you have done all that the Law demands.” - Romans 13:8

Today's passage is from the Contemporary English Version.

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Thought for the Day

Prolific early Christian author from Carthage in the Roman province of Africa Tertullian wrote, “The entire fruit is already present in the seed.”