The Daily Audio Bible
Today's audio is from the EHV. Switch to the EHV to read along with the audio.
Israel’s Rebellion
20 In the seventh year, in the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month, some of Israel’s elders came to inquire of the Lord,(A) and they sat down in front of me. 2 Then the word of the Lord came to me: 3 “Son of man, speak with the elders of Israel and tell them, ‘This is what the Lord God says: Are you coming to inquire of me? As I live, I will not let you inquire of me.(B) This is the declaration of the Lord God.’
4 “Will you pass judgment against them, will you pass judgment, son of man? Explain the detestable practices of their ancestors to them.(C) 5 Say to them, ‘This is what the Lord God says: On the day I chose Israel, I swore an oath[a](D) to the descendants of Jacob’s house and made myself known to them in the land of Egypt. I swore to them, saying, “I am the Lord your God.”(E) 6 On that day I swore[b] to them that I would bring them out(F) of the land of Egypt into a land I had searched out for them, a land flowing with milk and honey,(G) the most beautiful of all lands.(H) 7 I also said to them, “Throw away, each of you, the abhorrent things that you prize,[c] and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt.(I) I am the Lord your God.”(J)
8 “‘But they rebelled against me and were unwilling to listen to me. None of them threw away the abhorrent things that they prized,[d] and they did not abandon the idols of Egypt. So I considered pouring out my wrath on them,(K) exhausting my anger against them within the land of Egypt. 9 But I acted for the sake of my name,(L) so that it would not be profaned in the eyes of the nations they were living among, in whose sight I had made myself known to Israel by bringing them out of Egypt.
10 “‘So I brought them out of the land of Egypt and led them into the wilderness.(M) 11 Then I gave them my statutes and explained my ordinances to them—the person who does them will live by them.(N) 12 I also gave them my Sabbaths to serve as a sign between me and them,(O) so that they would know that I am the Lord who consecrates them.
13 “‘But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness.(P) They did not follow my statutes and they rejected my ordinances—the person who does them will live by them.(Q) They also completely profaned my Sabbaths.(R) So I considered pouring out my wrath on them in the wilderness to put an end to them.(S) 14 But I acted for the sake of my name, so that it would not be profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out. 15 However, I swore to them(T) in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land I had given them—the most beautiful of all lands, flowing with milk and honey— 16 because they rejected my ordinances, profaned my Sabbaths, and did not follow my statutes. For their hearts went after their idols.(U) 17 Yet I spared them from destruction and did not bring them to an end in the wilderness.(V)
18 “‘Then I said to their children in the wilderness, “Don’t follow the statutes of your fathers, defile yourselves with their idols, or keep their ordinances.(W) 19 I am the Lord your God. Follow my statutes, keep my ordinances, and practice them.(X) 20 Keep my Sabbaths holy,(Y) and they will be a sign between me and you, so you may know that I am the Lord your God.”
21 “‘But the children rebelled against me.(Z) They did not follow my statutes or carefully keep my ordinances—the person who does them will live by them. They also profaned my Sabbaths. So I considered pouring out my wrath on them and exhausting my anger against them in the wilderness. 22 But I withheld my hand and acted for the sake of my name, so that it would not be profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I brought them out. 23 However, I swore to them in the wilderness that I would disperse them among the nations and scatter them among the countries.(AA) 24 For they did not practice my ordinances but rejected my statutes and profaned my Sabbaths, and their eyes were fixed(AB) on their fathers’ idols. 25 I also gave them statutes that were not good and ordinances(AC) they could not live by. 26 When they sacrificed every firstborn in the fire,[e](AD) I defiled them through their gifts in order to devastate them so they would know that I am the Lord.’(AE)
27 “Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel, and tell them, ‘This is what the Lord God says: In this way also your ancestors blasphemed me by(AF) committing treachery against me: 28 When I brought them into the land that I swore to give them and they saw any high hill or leafy tree,(AG) they offered their sacrifices and presented their offensive offerings there. They also sent up their pleasing aromas and poured out their drink offerings there. 29 So I asked them, “What is this high place you are going to?” And it is still called Bamah[f] today.’
30 “Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘This is what the Lord God says: Are you defiling yourselves the way your ancestors did,(AH) and prostituting yourselves with their abhorrent things? 31 When you offer your gifts, sacrificing your children in the fire,[g](AI) you still continue to defile yourselves with all your idols today. So should I let you inquire of me, house of Israel? As I live—this is the declaration of the Lord God—I will not let you inquire of me!
Israel’s Restoration
32 “‘When you say, “Let’s be like the nations, like the clans of other countries, serving wood and stone,”(AJ) what you have in mind will never happen.(AK) 33 As I live—the declaration of the Lord God—I will reign over you with a strong hand, an outstretched arm,(AL) and outpoured wrath. 34 I will bring you from the peoples and gather you from the countries where you were scattered,(AM) with a strong hand, an outstretched arm,(AN) and outpoured wrath. 35 I will lead you into the wilderness of the peoples(AO) and enter into judgment with you there face to face. 36 Just as I entered into judgment with your ancestors in the wilderness of the land of Egypt,(AP) so I will enter into judgment with you. This is the declaration of the Lord God. 37 I will make you pass under the rod(AQ) and will bring you into the bond of the covenant. 38 I will purge you of those who rebel and transgress against me.(AR) I will bring them out of the land where they live as foreign residents, but they will not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord.
39 “‘As for you, house of Israel, this is what the Lord God says: Go and serve your idols, each of you. But afterward you will surely listen to me, and you will no longer defile my holy name with your gifts and idols.(AS) 40 For on my holy mountain, Israel’s high mountain—the declaration of the Lord God—there the entire house of Israel, all of them,(AT) will serve me in the land. There I will accept them and will require your contributions and choicest gifts,(AU) all your holy offerings. 41 When I bring you from the peoples and gather you from the countries where you have been scattered, I will accept you as a pleasing aroma. And I will demonstrate my holiness through you in the sight of the nations.(AV) 42 When I lead you into the land of Israel, the land I swore to give your ancestors, you will know that I am the Lord.(AW) 43 There you will remember your ways and all your deeds by which you have defiled yourself,(AX) and you will loathe yourselves for all the evil things you have done.(AY) 44 You will know that I am the Lord,(AZ) house of Israel, when I have dealt with you for the sake of my name(BA) rather than according to your evil ways and corrupt acts. This is the declaration of the Lord God.’”
Fire in the South
45 The word of the Lord came to me: 46 “Son of man, face the south and preach against it. Prophesy against the forest land in the Negev,(BB) 47 and say to the forest there, ‘Hear the word of the Lord! This is what the Lord God says: I am about to ignite a fire in you, and it will devour every green tree and every dry tree in you. The blazing flame will not be extinguished, and every face from the south to the north will be scorched by it. 48 Then all humanity will see that I, the Lord, have kindled it.(BC) It will not be extinguished.’”
49 Then I said, “Oh, Lord God, they are saying of me, ‘Isn’t he just composing parables?’” (BD)
New Covenant Ministry
11 But Christ has appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come.[a] In the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands (that is, not of this creation(A)), 12 he entered the most holy place once for all time, not by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption.(B) 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a young cow, sprinkling those who are defiled, sanctify for the purification of the flesh,(C) 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit(D) offered himself without blemish to God, cleanse our[b] consciences from dead works so that we can serve the living God?(E)
15 Therefore, he is the mediator(F) of a new covenant,[c](G) so that those who are called might receive the promise(H) of the eternal inheritance, because a death has taken place for redemption from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.(I) 16 Where a will exists, the death of the one who made it must be established. 17 For a will is valid only when people die, since it is never in effect while the one who made it is living. 18 That is why even the first covenant was inaugurated with blood. 19 For when every command had been proclaimed by Moses to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats,[d] along with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll itself and all the people,(J) 20 saying, This is the blood of the covenant that God has ordained for you.[e](K) 21 In the same way, he sprinkled the tabernacle and all the articles of worship with blood.(L) 22 According to the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.(M)
23 Therefore, it was necessary for the copies of the things in the heavens to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves to be purified with better sacrifices than these.(N) 24 For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with hands (only a model[f] of the true one) but into heaven itself, so that he might now appear in the presence of God for us.(O) 25 He did not do this to offer himself many times, as the high priest enters the sanctuary yearly with the blood of another.(P) 26 Otherwise, he would have had to suffer many times since the foundation of the world. But now he has appeared one time, at the end of the ages,(Q) for the removal of sin by the sacrifice of himself.(R) 27 And just as it is appointed for people to die once—and after this, judgment(S)— 28 so also Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many,(T) will appear a second time,(U) not to bear sin, but[g] to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.(V)
BOOK V
(Psalms 107–150)
Psalm 107
Thanksgiving for God’s Deliverance
1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his faithful love endures forever.(A)
2 Let the redeemed of the Lord proclaim
that he has redeemed them from the power of the foe(B)
3 and has gathered them from the lands—
from the east and the west,
from the north and the south.(C)
4 Some wandered in the desolate wilderness,
finding no way to a city where they could live.(D)
5 They were hungry and thirsty;
their spirits failed[a] within them.(E)
6 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble;
he rescued them from their distress.(F)
7 He led them by the right path
to go to a city where they could live.(G)
8 Let them give thanks to the Lord
for his faithful love
and his wondrous works for all humanity.(H)
9 For he has satisfied the thirsty
and filled the hungry with good things.(I)
10 Others sat in darkness and gloom[b]—
prisoners in cruel chains(J)—
11 because they rebelled against God’s commands
and despised the counsel of the Most High.(K)
12 He broke their spirits[c] with hard labor;
they stumbled, and there was no one to help.(L)
13 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble;
he saved them from their distress.(M)
14 He brought them out of darkness and gloom
and broke their chains apart.(N)
15 Let them give thanks to the Lord
for his faithful love
and his wondrous works for all humanity.(O)
16 For he has broken down the bronze gates
and cut through the iron bars.(P)
17 Fools suffered affliction
because of their rebellious ways and their iniquities.(Q)
18 They loathed all food
and came near the gates of death.(R)
19 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble;
he saved them from their distress.(S)
20 He sent his word and healed them;
he rescued them from their traps.
21 Let them give thanks to the Lord
for his faithful love
and his wondrous works for all humanity.(T)
22 Let them offer thanksgiving sacrifices
and announce his works with shouts of joy.(U)
23 Others went to sea in ships,
conducting trade on the vast water.(V)
24 They saw the Lord’s works,
his wondrous works in the deep.(W)
25 He spoke and raised a stormy wind
that stirred up the waves of the sea.[d](X)
26 Rising up to the sky, sinking down to the depths,
their courage[e] melting away in anguish,(Y)
27 they reeled and staggered like a drunkard,
and all their skill was useless.(Z)
28 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
and he brought them out of their distress.(AA)
29 He stilled the storm to a whisper,
and the waves of the sea were hushed.(AB)
30 They rejoiced when the waves grew quiet.
Then he guided them to the harbor they longed for.(AC)
31 Let them give thanks to the Lord
for his faithful love
and his wondrous works for all humanity.(AD)
32 Let them exalt him in the assembly of the people
and praise him in the council of the elders.(AE)
33 He turns rivers into desert,
springs into thirsty ground,(AF)
34 and fruitful land into salty wasteland,
because of the wickedness of its inhabitants.(AG)
35 He turns a desert into a pool,
dry land into springs.(AH)
36 He causes the hungry to settle there,
and they establish a city where they can live.(AI)
37 They sow fields and plant vineyards
that yield a fruitful harvest.(AJ)
38 He blesses them, and they multiply greatly;(AK)
he does not let their livestock decrease.(AL)
39 When they are diminished and are humbled
by cruel oppression and sorrow,(AM)
40 he pours contempt on nobles(AN)
and makes them wander in a trackless wasteland.(AO)
41 But he lifts the needy out of their suffering(AP)
and makes their families multiply like flocks.(AQ)
42 The upright see it and rejoice,(AR)
and all injustice shuts its mouth.(AS)
43 Let whoever is wise pay attention to these things
and consider the Lord’s acts of faithful love.(AT)
The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.