The Daily Audio Bible
Water from the Temple
47 Then he brought me back to the entrance of the temple. I noticed[a] that water was flowing from under the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was flowing down from under the right side of the temple, from south of the altar. 2 He led me out by way of the north gate and brought me around the outside of the outer gate that faces toward the east; I noticed[b] that the water was trickling out from the south side.
3 When the man went out toward the east with a measuring line in his hand, he measured 1,750 feet,[c] and then he led me through water, which was ankle deep. 4 Again he measured 1,750 feet and led me through the water, which was now knee deep. Once more he measured 1,750 feet and led me through the water, which was waist deep. 5 Again he measured 1,750 feet, and it was a river I could not cross, for the water had risen; it was deep enough to swim in, a river that could not be crossed. 6 He said to me, “Son of man, have you seen this?”
Then he led me back to the bank of the river. 7 When I had returned, I noticed[d] a vast number of trees on the banks of the river, on both sides. 8 He said to me, “These waters go out toward the eastern region and flow down into the rift valley; when they enter the Dead Sea,[e] where the sea is stagnant,[f] the waters become fresh.[g] 9 Every living creature that swarms where the river[h] flows will live; there will be many fish, for these waters flow there. It will become fresh,[i] and everything will live where the river flows. 10 Fishermen will stand beside it; from En Gedi to En Eglaim they will spread nets. They will catch many kinds of fish, like the fish of the Great Sea.[j] 11 But its swamps and its marshes will not become fresh; they will remain salty. 12 On both sides of the river’s banks, every kind of tree will grow for food. Their leaves will not wither nor will their fruit fail, but they will bear fruit every month, because their water source flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food and their leaves for healing.”[k]
Boundaries for the Land
13 This is what the Sovereign Lord says: “Here[l] are the borders[m] you will observe as you allot the land to the twelve tribes of Israel. (Joseph will have two portions.)[n] 14 You must divide it equally just as I vowed to give it to your forefathers;[o] this land will be assigned as your inheritance.[p]
15 “This will be the border of the land:[q] On the north side, from the Great Sea by way of Hethlon to the entrance of Zedad; 16 Hamath, Berothah, Sibraim, which is between the border of Damascus and the border of Hamath, as far as Hazer Hattikon, which is on the border of Hauran. 17 The border will run from the sea to Hazar Enan, at the border of Damascus, and on the north is the border of Hamath. This is the north side. 18 On the east side, between Hauran and Damascus, and between Gilead and the land of Israel, will be the Jordan. You will measure from the border to the eastern sea. This is the east side. 19 On the south side it will run from Tamar to the waters of Meribah Kadesh, the river,[r] to the Great Sea. This is the south side. 20 On the west side the Great Sea will be the boundary to a point opposite Lebo Hamath. This is the west side.
21 “This is how you will divide this land for yourselves among the tribes of Israel. 22 You must allot it as an inheritance among yourselves and for the resident foreigners who live among you, who have fathered sons among you. You must treat them as native-born among the people of Israel; they will be allotted an inheritance with you among the tribes of Israel.[s] 23 In whatever tribe the resident foreigner lives, there you will give him his inheritance,” declares the Sovereign Lord.
The Tribal Portions
48 “These are the names of the tribes: From the northern end beside the road of Hethlon to Lebo Hamath, as far as Hazar Enan (which is on the border of Damascus, toward the north beside Hamath), extending from the east side to the west, Dan will have one portion. 2 Next to the border of Dan, from the east side to the west side, Asher[t] will have one portion. 3 Next to the border of Asher from the east side to the west side, Naphtali will have one portion. 4 Next to the border of Naphtali from the east side to the west side, Manasseh will have one portion. 5 Next to the border of Manasseh from the east side to the west side, Ephraim will have one portion. 6 Next to the border of Ephraim from the east side to the west side, Reuben will have one portion. 7 Next to the border of Reuben from the east side to the west side, Judah[u] will have one portion.
8 “Next to the border of Judah from the east side to the west side will be the allotment you must set apart. It is to be 8¼ miles[v] wide, and the same length as one of the tribal portions, from the east side to the west side; the sanctuary will be in the middle of it. 9 The allotment you set apart to the Lord will be 8¼ miles[w] in length and 3⅓ miles[x] in width. 10 These will be the allotments for the holy portion: for the priests, toward the north 8¼ miles[y] in length, toward the west 3⅓ miles[z] in width, toward the east 3⅓ miles[aa] in width, and toward the south 8¼ miles[ab] in length; the sanctuary of the Lord will be in the middle. 11 This will be for the priests who are set apart from the descendants of Zadok who kept my charge and did not go astray when the people of Israel strayed off, as the Levites did.[ac] 12 It will be their portion from the allotment of the land, a Most Holy Place, next to the border of the Levites.
13 “Alongside the border of the priests, the Levites will have an allotment 8¼ miles[ad] in length and 3⅓ miles[ae] in width. The whole length will be 8¼ miles[af] and the width 3⅓ miles.[ag] 14 They must not sell or exchange any of it; they must not transfer this choice portion of land, for it is set apart[ah] to the Lord.
15 “The remainder, 1⅔ miles[ai] in width and 8¼ miles[aj] in length, will be for common use by the city, for houses and for open space. The city will be in the middle of it; 16 these will be its measurements: The north side will be 1½ miles,[ak] the south side 1½ miles, the east side 1½ miles, and the west side 1½ miles. 17 The city will have open spaces: On the north there will be 437½ feet,[al] on the south 437½ feet, on the east 437½ feet, and on the west 437½ feet. 18 The remainder of the length alongside the holy allotment will be 3⅓ miles[am] to the east and 3⅓ miles toward the west, and it will be beside the holy allotment. Its produce will be for food for the workers of the city. 19 The workers of the city from all the tribes of Israel will cultivate it. 20 The whole allotment will be 8¼ miles[an] square; you must set apart the holy allotment with the possession of the city.
21 “The rest, on both sides of the holy allotment and the property of the city, will belong to the prince. Extending from the 8¼ miles[ao] of the holy allotment to the east border, and westward from the 8¼ miles[ap] to the west border, alongside the portions, it will belong to the prince. The holy allotment and the sanctuary of the temple will be in the middle of it. 22 The property of the Levites and of the city will be in the middle of that which belongs to the prince. The portion between the border of Judah and the border of Benjamin will be for the prince.
23 “As for the rest of the tribes: From the east side to the west side, Benjamin will have one portion. 24 Next to the border of Benjamin, from the east side to the west side, Simeon will have one portion. 25 Next to the border of Simeon, from the east side to the west side, Issachar will have one portion. 26 Next to the border of Issachar, from the east side to the west side, Zebulun will have one portion. 27 Next to the border of Zebulun, from the east side to the west side, Gad will have one portion. 28 Next to the border of Gad, at the south side, the border will run from Tamar to the waters of Meribah Kadesh, to the Stream of Egypt,[aq] and on to the Great Sea. 29 This is the land that you will allot to the tribes of Israel, and these are their portions, declares the Sovereign Lord.
30 “These are the exits of the city: On the north side, 1½ miles[ar] by measure, 31 the gates of the city[as] will be named for the tribes of Israel. There will be three gates to the north: one gate for Reuben, one gate for Judah, and one gate for Levi. 32 On the east side, 1½ miles in length, there will be three gates: one gate for Joseph, one gate for Benjamin, and one gate for Dan. 33 On the south side, 1½ miles by measure, there will be three gates: one gate for Simeon, one gate for Issachar, and one gate for Zebulun. 34 On the west side, 1½ miles in length, there will be three gates: one gate for Gad, one gate for Asher, and one gate for Naphtali. 35 The circumference of the city will be 6 miles.[at] The name of the city from that day forward will be: ‘The Lord Is There.’”[au]
11 Dear friends, I urge you as foreigners and exiles to keep away from fleshly desires that do battle against the soul, 12 and maintain good conduct[a] among the non-Christians,[b] so that though[c] they now malign you as wrongdoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God when he appears.[d]
Submission to Authorities
13 Be subject to every human institution[e] for the Lord’s sake, whether to a king as supreme 14 or to governors as those he commissions[f] to punish wrongdoers and praise[g] those who do good. 15 For God wants you[h] to silence the ignorance of foolish people by doing good. 16 Live[i] as free people, not using your freedom as a pretext for evil, but as God’s slaves.[j] 17 Honor all people, love the family of believers,[k] fear God, honor the king.
18 Slaves,[l] be subject[m] to your masters with all reverence, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are perverse. 19 For this finds God’s favor,[n] if because of conscience toward God[o] someone endures hardships in suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is it if you sin and are mistreated and endure it? But if you do good and suffer and so endure, this finds favor with God.[p] 21 For to this you were called, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving an example for you to follow in his steps. 22 He[q] committed no sin nor was deceit found in his mouth.[r] 23 When he was maligned, he[s] did not answer back; when he suffered, he threatened[t] no retaliation,[u] but committed himself to God[v] who judges justly. 24 He[w] himself bore our sins[x] in his body on the tree, that we may cease from sinning[y] and live for righteousness. By his[z] wounds[aa] you were healed.[ab] 25 For you were going astray like sheep[ac] but now you have turned back to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.
Wives and Husbands
3 In the same way, wives, be subject to your own husbands. Then,[ad] even if some are disobedient to the word, they will be won over without a word by the way you live,[ae] 2 when they see your pure and reverent conduct.[af] 3 Let your[ag] beauty[ah] not be external—the braiding of hair and wearing of gold jewelry[ai] or fine clothes— 4 but the inner person[aj] of the heart, the lasting beauty of a gentle and tranquil spirit, which is precious in God’s sight. 5 For in the same way the holy women who hoped in God long ago adorned themselves by being subject to their husbands, 6 like Sarah who obeyed[ak] Abraham, calling him lord. You become her children[al] when you do what is good and have no fear in doing so.[am] 7 Husbands, in the same way, treat your wives with consideration as the weaker partners and show them honor[an] as fellow heirs of the grace of life. In this way nothing will hinder your prayers.[ao]
ז (Zayin)
49 Remember your word to your servant,
for you have given me hope.
50 This[a] is what comforts me in my trouble,
for your promise revives me.[b]
51 Arrogant people do nothing but scoff at me.[c]
Yet I do not turn aside from your law.
52 I remember your ancient regulations,[d]
O Lord, and console myself.[e]
53 Rage takes hold of me because of the wicked,
those who reject your law.
54 Your statutes have been my songs[f]
in the house where I live.[g]
55 I remember your name during the night, O Lord,
and I will keep[h] your law.
56 This[i] has been my practice,
for I observe your precepts.
ח (Khet)
57 The Lord is my source of security.[j]
I have determined[k] to follow your instructions.[l]
58 I seek your favor[m] with all my heart.
Have mercy on me as you promised.[n]
59 I consider my actions[o]
and follow[p] your rules.
60 I keep your commands eagerly
and without delay.[q]
61 The ropes of the wicked tighten around[r] me,
but I do not forget your law.
62 In the middle of the night I arise[s] to thank you
for your just regulations.
63 I am a friend to all your loyal followers,[t]
and to those who keep your precepts.
64 O Lord, your loyal love fills the earth.
Teach me your statutes!
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