Ezekiel 29
Judgment on Egypt
1 In the tenth year, in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came to me, saying,†
2 “Son of man, set your face toward Pharaoh king of Egypt, and prophesy against him and against all Egypt.
3 Speak and say, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Behold, I am against you, O Pharaoh king of Egypt, O great dragon who lies in the midst of his rivers and says, ‘The rivers are mine, for I made them.’
4 But I shall put hooks in your jaws and join the fish of your rivers to your wings, and I shall bring you and all the fish of your river up from the midst of your river.
5 Then I will quickly cast down you and all the fish of your river. You will fall to the surface of the plain, and you will not be gathered and buried. I will give you as food to the wild animals of the field and to the birds of the heavens.
6 Then all the inhabitants of Egypt shall know that I am the Lord, because they were a staff made of reed to the house of Israel.
7 For when they took hold of you with their hand, you broke it, and when every hand conquered them and they rested their hand on you, you crushed it and broke all their backs.”
8 ‘Therefore thus says the Lord: “Behold, I will bring a sword against you, and destroy man and cattle from you.
9 Thus the land of Egypt shall be destroyed and become a desert. Then they will know that I am the Lord, because you say, ‘The rivers are mine, and I made them.’
10 Therefore, behold, I am against you and against all your rivers, and I shall turn the land of Egypt into a desert, to the sword and to destruction, from Migdol to Syene, as far as the borders of Ethiopia.
11 Neither foot of man nor foot of cattle will pass through it, and it will be uninhabited for forty years.
12 I shall make the land of Egypt a destruction in the midst of a land laid waste, and her cities will be laid waste for forty years. I shall scatter Egypt among the nations and disperse them like chaff throughout the countries.”
13 ‘Yet, thus says the Lord: “At the end of forty years, I shall gather the Egyptians from the nations where they were scattered.
14 I shall bring back the captives of the Egyptians and cause them to dwell in the land of Pathros, in the land from which they were taken; but they will be a lowly dominion.
15 Alongside all the dominions, it will not be exalted any longer among the nations, for I shall make them to be very small, so as not to be great among the nations.
16 So they shall no longer be to the house of Israel as an expectation to remind them to follow after their lawlessness. Then they will know that I am the Lord.” ’ ”
Babylon Will Plunder Egypt
17 Again it came to pass in the twenty-seventh year, in the first month, on the first day of the month, that the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
18 “Son of man, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon caused his army to labor strenuously against Tyre. Every head was made bald, and every shoulder rubbed raw; yet there was no reward to him nor his army serving against Tyre, for the labor they expended on it.
19 Therefore thus says the Lord and Master: ‘Behold, I will give the land of Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he will plunder it and carry off her spoil. It will be the wages for his army.
20 As compensation for his service in which he served against Tyre, I will give him the land of Egypt,’ says the Lord and Master.
21 “In that day a horn shall spring forth for all the house of Israel, and I will give you an open mouth in the midst of them. Then they will know that I am the Lord.”
Psalms 125
1 An ode of ascents. When the Lord returned the captives of Zion, We became like those who are comforted.
2 Then our mouth was filled with joy, And our tongue with exceeding joy. Then they shall say among the Gentiles, “The Lord did great things with them.”
3 The Lord has done great things with us; We were glad.
4 Return, O Lord, our captivity Like streams in the south.
5 Those who sow with tears Shall reap with exceeding joy.
6 They went forth and wept, Carrying their seeds with them; But they shall return with exceeding joy, Carrying their sheaves.
Psalms 126
1 An ode of ascents; for Solomon. Unless the Lord builds the house, Those who build it labor in vain; Unless the Lord guard the city, Those who guard it stay awake in vain.
2 It is in vain for you to rise early, To awaken from your rest, You who eat the bread of grief, When He gives His beloved ones sleep.
3 Behold, children are the Lord’s inheritance; The fruit of the womb His reward.
4 Like arrows in the hand of a mighty one, So are the children of those who were outcasts.
5 Blessed is the man who shall fulfill his desire with them; They shall not be ashamed, when they speak to their enemies at the gate.
Proverbs of Solomon 27
25 Know thoroughly the souls of your sheep, And you will set your heart on your flocks,†
26 Since strength and might are not in man forever, Neither are they transmitted from generation to generation.
27 Take care of the green plants in the field, and cut the herbs short, And gather the grass of the mountains.
28 That you may have the wool of sheep for clothing, Honor the field, so there may be lambs for you.
29 My son, you have strong sayings from me for your life And for the life of your servants.
1 John 4
Love of God Means Love of Others
20 If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?
21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.
1 John 5
Faith Overcomes the World
1 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him.†
2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments.
3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.†
4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
God Validates Our Faith
6 This is He who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth.†
7 For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.
8 And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one.
Faith Brings Eternal Life
9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son.
10 He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son.
11 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.
12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.†
Pray According to God’s Will
14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.
16 If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that.†
17 All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death.
Separate from Sin
18 We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him.
19 We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.
Live in Christ
20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.
21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.†