Today's Readings: August 1

[1] The LORD spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tent of meeting, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying, [2] “Take a census of all the congregation of the people of Israel, by clans, by fathers’ houses, according to the number of names, every male, head by head. [3] From twenty years old and upward, all in Israel who are able to go to war, you and Aaron shall list them, company by company. [4] And there shall be with you a man from each tribe, each man being the head of the house of his fathers. [5] And these are the names of the men who shall assist you. From Reuben, Elizur the son of Shedeur; [6] from Simeon, Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai; [7] from Judah, Nahshon the son of Amminadab; [8] from Issachar, Nethanel the son of Zuar; [9] from Zebulun, Eliab the son of Helon; [10] from the sons of Joseph, from Ephraim, Elishama the son of Ammihud, and from Manasseh, Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur; [11] from Benjamin, Abidan the son of Gideoni; [12] from Dan, Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai; [13] from Asher, Pagiel the son of Ochran; [14] from Gad, Eliasaph the son of Deuel; [15] from Naphtali, Ahira the son of Enan.” [16] These were the ones chosen from the congregation, the chiefs of their ancestral tribes, the heads of the clans of Israel.

[17] Moses and Aaron took these men who had been named, [18] and on the first day of the second month, they assembled the whole congregation together, who registered themselves by clans, by fathers’ houses, according to the number of names from twenty years old and upward, head by head, [19] as the LORD commanded Moses. So he listed them in the wilderness of Sinai.

[20] The people of Reuben, Israel’s firstborn, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of names, head by head, every male from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go to war: [21] those listed of the tribe of Reuben were 46,500.

[22] Of the people of Simeon, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers’ houses, those of them who were listed, according to the number of names, head by head, every male from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go to war: [23] those listed of the tribe of Simeon were 59,300.

[24] Of the people of Gad, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go to war: [25] those listed of the tribe of Gad were 45,650.

[26] Of the people of Judah, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, every man able to go to war: [27] those listed of the tribe of Judah were 74,600.

[28] Of the people of Issachar, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, every man able to go to war: [29] those listed of the tribe of Issachar were 54,400.

[30] Of the people of Zebulun, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, every man able to go to war: [31] those listed of the tribe of Zebulun were 57,400.

[32] Of the people of Joseph, namely, of the people of Ephraim, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, every man able to go to war: [33] those listed of the tribe of Ephraim were 40,500.

[34] Of the people of Manasseh, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, every man able to go to war: [35] those listed of the tribe of Manasseh were 32,200.

[36] Of the people of Benjamin, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, every man able to go to war: [37] those listed of the tribe of Benjamin were 35,400.

[38] Of the people of Dan, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, every man able to go to war: [39] those listed of the tribe of Dan were 62,700.

[40] Of the people of Asher, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, every man able to go to war: [41] those listed of the tribe of Asher were 41,500.

[42] Of the people of Naphtali, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, every man able to go to war: [43] those listed of the tribe of Naphtali were 53,400.

[44] These are those who were listed, whom Moses and Aaron listed with the help of the chiefs of Israel, twelve men, each representing his fathers’ house. [45] So all those listed of the people of Israel, by their fathers’ houses, from twenty years old and upward, every man able to go to war in Israel—[46] all those listed were 603,550.

[47] But the Levites were not listed along with them by their ancestral tribe. [48] For the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, [49] “Only the tribe of Levi you shall not list, and you shall not take a census of them among the people of Israel. [50] But appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of the testimony, and over all its furnishings, and over all that belongs to it. They are to carry the tabernacle and all its furnishings, and they shall take care of it and shall camp around the tabernacle. [51] When the tabernacle is to set out, the Levites shall take it down, and when the tabernacle is to be pitched, the Levites shall set it up. And if any outsider comes near, he shall be put to death. [52] The people of Israel shall pitch their tents by their companies, each man in his own camp and each man by his own standard. [53] But the Levites shall camp around the tabernacle of the testimony, so that there may be no wrath on the congregation of the people of Israel. And the Levites shall keep guard over the tabernacle of the testimony.” [54] Thus did the people of Israel; they did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses.

[1] The word of the LORD came to me: [2] “Son of man, set your face toward Jerusalem and preach against the sanctuaries. Prophesy against the land of Israel [3] and say to the land of Israel, Thus says the LORD: Behold, I am against you and will draw my sword from its sheath and will cut off from you both righteous and wicked. [4] Because I will cut off from you both righteous and wicked, therefore my sword shall be drawn from its sheath against all flesh from south to north. [5] And all flesh shall know that I am the LORD. I have drawn my sword from its sheath; it shall not be sheathed again.

[6] “As for you, son of man, groan; with breaking heart and bitter grief, groan before their eyes. [7] And when they say to you, ‘Why do you groan?’ you shall say, ‘Because of the news that it is coming. Every heart will melt, and all hands will be feeble; every spirit will faint, and all knees will be weak as water. Behold, it is coming, and it will be fulfilled,’” declares the Lord GOD.

[8] And the word of the LORD came to me: [9] “Son of man, prophesy and say, Thus says the Lord, say:

“A sword, a sword is sharpened
and also polished,
[10] sharpened for slaughter,
polished to flash like lightning!


(Or shall we rejoice? You have despised the rod, my son, with everything of wood.) [11] So the sword is given to be polished, that it may be grasped in the hand. It is sharpened and polished to be given into the hand of the slayer. [12] Cry out and wail, son of man, for it is against my people. It is against all the princes of Israel. They are delivered over to the sword with my people. Strike therefore upon your thigh. [13] For it will not be a testing—what could it do if you despise the rod?” declares the Lord GOD.

[14] “As for you, son of man, prophesy. Clap your hands and let the sword come down twice, yes, three times, the sword for those to be slain. It is the sword for the great slaughter, which surrounds them, [15] that their hearts may melt, and many stumble. At all their gates I have given the glittering sword. Ah, it is made like lightning; it is taken up for slaughter. [16] Cut sharply to the right; set yourself to the left, wherever your face is directed. [17] I also will clap my hands, and I will satisfy my fury; I the LORD have spoken.”

[18] The word of the LORD came to me again: [19] “As for you, son of man, mark two ways for the sword of the king of Babylon to come. Both of them shall come from the same land. And make a signpost; make it at the head of the way to a city. [20] Mark a way for the sword to come to Rabbah of the Ammonites and to Judah, into Jerusalem the fortified. [21] For the king of Babylon stands at the parting of the way, at the head of the two ways, to use divination. He shakes the arrows; he consults the teraphim; he looks at the liver. [22] Into his right hand comes the divination for Jerusalem, to set battering rams, to open the mouth with murder, to lift up the voice with shouting, to set battering rams against the gates, to cast up mounds, to build siege towers. [23] But to them it will seem like a false divination. They have sworn solemn oaths, but he brings their guilt to remembrance, that they may be taken.

[24] “Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Because you have made your guilt to be remembered, in that your transgressions are uncovered, so that in all your deeds your sins appear—because you have come to remembrance, you shall be taken in hand. [25] And you, O profane wicked one, prince of Israel, whose day has come, the time of your final punishment, [26] thus says the Lord GOD: Remove the turban and take off the crown. Things shall not remain as they are. Exalt that which is low, and bring low that which is exalted. [27] A ruin, ruin, ruin I will make it. This also shall not be, until he comes, the one to whom judgment belongs, and I will give it to him.

[28] “And you, son of man, prophesy, and say, Thus says the Lord GOD concerning the Ammonites and concerning their reproach; say, A sword, a sword is drawn for the slaughter. It is polished to consume and to flash like lightning—[29] while they see for you false visions, while they divine lies for you—to place you on the necks of the profane wicked, whose day has come, the time of their final punishment. [30] Return it to its sheath. In the place where you were created, in the land of your origin, I will judge you. [31] And I will pour out my indignation upon you; I will blow upon you with the fire of my wrath, and I will deliver you into the hands of brutish men, skillful to destroy. [32] You shall be fuel for the fire. Your blood shall be in the midst of the land. You shall be no more remembered, for I the LORD have spoken.”

[1] Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity
than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool.
[2] Desire without knowledge is not good,
and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way.
[3] When a man’s folly brings his way to ruin,
his heart rages against the LORD.
[4] Wealth brings many new friends,
but a poor man is deserted by his friend.
[5] A false witness will not go unpunished,
and he who breathes out lies will not escape.
[6] Many seek the favor of a generous man,
and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts.
[7] All a poor man’s brothers hate him;
how much more do his friends go far from him!
He pursues them with words, but does not have them.
[8] Whoever gets sense loves his own soul;
he who keeps understanding will discover good.
[9] A false witness will not go unpunished,
and he who breathes out lies will perish.
[10] It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury,
much less for a slave to rule over princes.
[11] Good sense makes one slow to anger,
and it is his glory to overlook an offense.
[12] A king’s wrath is like the growling of a lion,
but his favor is like dew on the grass.
[13] A foolish son is ruin to his father,
and a wife’s quarreling is a continual dripping of rain.
[14] House and wealth are inherited from fathers,
but a prudent wife is from the LORD.
[15] Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep,
and an idle person will suffer hunger.
[16] Whoever keeps the commandment keeps his life;
he who despises his ways will die.
[17] Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the LORD,
and he will repay him for his deed.
[18] Discipline your son, for there is hope;
do not set your heart on putting him to death.
[19] A man of great wrath will pay the penalty,
for if you deliver him, you will only have to do it again.
[20] Listen to advice and accept instruction,
that you may gain wisdom in the future.
[21] Many are the plans in the mind of a man,
but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.
[22] What is desired in a man is steadfast love,
and a poor man is better than a liar.
[23] The fear of the LORD leads to life,
and whoever has it rests satisfied;
he will not be visited by harm.
[24] The sluggard buries his hand in the dish
and will not even bring it back to his mouth.
[25] Strike a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence;
reprove a man of understanding, and he will gain knowledge.
[26] He who does violence to his father and chases away his mother
is a son who brings shame and reproach.
[27] Cease to hear instruction, my son,
and you will stray from the words of knowledge.
[28] A worthless witness mocks at justice,
and the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity.
[29] Condemnation is ready for scoffers,
and beating for the backs of fools.

[1] When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints? [2] Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? [3] Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life! [4] So if you have such cases, why do you lay them before those who have no standing in the church? [5] I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to settle a dispute between the brothers, [6] but brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers? [7] To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded? [8] But you yourselves wrong and defraud—even your own brothers!

[9] Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, [10] nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. [11] And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

[12] “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything. [13] “Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food”—and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. [14] And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. [15] Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! [16] Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, “The two will become one flesh.” [17] But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. [18] Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. [19] Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, [20] for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.