Saturday, 17 February

14.   So the LORD said to Moses: "Pharaoh’s heart is hard; he refuses to let the people go. 15.   "Go to Pharaoh in the morning, when he goes out to the water, and you shall stand by the river’s bank to meet him; and the rod which was turned to a serpent you shall take in your hand. 16.   "And you shall say to him, ‘The LORD God of the Hebrews has sent me to you, saying, "Let My people go, that they may serve Me in the wilderness"; but indeed, until now you would not hear! 17.   ‘Thus says the LORD: "By this you shall know that I am the LORD. Behold, I will strike the waters which are in the river with the rod that is in my hand, and they shall be turned to blood. 18.   "And the fish that are in the river shall die, the river shall stink, and the Egyptians will loathe to drink the water of the river."’" 19.   Then the LORD spoke to Moses, "Say to Aaron, ‘Take your rod and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt, over their streams, over their rivers, over their ponds, and over all their pools of water, that they may become blood. And there shall be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in buckets of wood and pitchers of stone.’" 20.   And Moses and Aaron did so, just as the LORD commanded. So he lifted up the rod and struck the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants. And all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood. 21.   The fish that were in the river died, the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink the water of the river. So there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt. 22.   Then the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments; and Pharaoh’s heart grew hard, and he did not heed them, as the LORD had said. 23.   And Pharaoh turned and went into his house. Neither was his heart moved by this. 24.   So all the Egyptians dug all around the river for water to drink, because they could not drink the water of the river. 25.   And seven days passed after the LORD had struck the river.

1.   And the LORD spoke to Moses, "Go to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD: "Let My people go, that they may serve Me. 2.   "But if you refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite all your territory with frogs. 3.   "So the river shall bring forth frogs abundantly, which shall go up and come into your house, into your bedroom, on your bed, into the houses of your servants, on your people, into your ovens, and into your kneading bowls. 4.   "And the frogs shall come up on you, on your people, and on all your servants."’" 5.   Then the LORD spoke to Moses, "Say to Aaron, ‘Stretch out your hand with your rod over the streams, over the rivers, and over the ponds, and cause frogs to come up on the land of Egypt.’" 6.   So Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt, and the frogs came up and covered the land of Egypt. 7.   And the magicians did so with their enchantments, and brought up frogs on the land of Egypt. 8.   Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, "Entreat the LORD that He may take away the frogs from me and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may sacrifice to the LORD." 9.   And Moses said to Pharaoh, "Accept the honor of saying when I shall intercede for you, for your servants, and for your people, to destroy the frogs from you and your houses, that they may remain in the river only." 10.   So he said, "Tomorrow." And he said, " Let it be according to your word, that you may know that there is no one like the LORD our God. 11.   "And the frogs shall depart from you, from your houses, from your servants, and from your people. They shall remain in the river only." 12.   Then Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh. And Moses cried out to the LORD concerning the frogs which He had brought against Pharaoh. 13.   So the LORD did according to the word of Moses. And the frogs died out of the houses, out of the courtyards, and out of the fields. 14.   They gathered them together in heaps, and the land stank. 15.   But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and did not heed them, as the LORD had said. 16.   So the LORD said to Moses, "Say to Aaron, ‘Stretch out your rod, and strike the dust of the land, so that it may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt.’" 17.   And they did so. For Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod and struck the dust of the earth, and it became lice on man and beast. All the dust of the land became lice throughout all the land of Egypt. 18.   Now the magicians so worked with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not. So there were lice on man and beast. 19.   Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, "This is the finger of God." But Pharaoh’s heart grew hard, and he did not heed them, just as the LORD had said.

1.   So these three men ceased answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. 2.   Then the wrath of Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, was aroused against Job; his wrath was aroused because he justified himself rather than God. 3.   Also against his three friends his wrath was aroused, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job. 4.   Now because they were years older than he, Elihu had waited to speak to Job. 5.   When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, his wrath was aroused. 6.   So Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, answered and said: "I am young in years, and you are very old; Therefore I was afraid, And dared not declare my opinion to you. 7.   I said, ‘Age should speak, And multitude of years should teach wisdom.’ 8.   But there is a spirit in man, And the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding. 9.   Great men are not always wise, Nor do the aged always understand justice. 10.   "Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me, I also will declare my opinion.’ 11.   Indeed I waited for your words, I listened to your reasonings, while you searched out what to say. 12.   I paid close attention to you; And surely not one of you convinced Job, Or answered his words–– 13.   Lest you say, ‘We have found wisdom’; God will vanquish him, not man. 14.   Now he has not directed his words against me; So I will not answer him with your words. 15.   "They are dismayed and answer no more; Words escape them. 16.   And I have waited, because they did not speak, Because they stood still and answered no more. 17.   I also will answer my part, I too will declare my opinion. 18.   For I am full of words; The spirit within me compels me. 19.   Indeed my belly is like wine that has no vent; It is ready to burst like new wineskins. 20.   I will speak, that I may find relief; I must open my lips and answer. 21.   Let me not, I pray, show partiality to anyone; Nor let me flatter any man. 22.   For I do not know how to flatter, Else my Maker would soon take me away.

1.   "But please, Job, hear my speech, And listen to all my words. 2.   Now, I open my mouth; My tongue speaks in my mouth. 3.   My words come from my upright heart; My lips utter pure knowledge. 4.   The Spirit of God has made me, And the breath of the Almighty gives me life. 5.   If you can answer me, Set your words in order before me; Take your stand. 6.   Truly I am as your spokesman before God; I also have been formed out of clay. 7.   Surely no fear of me will terrify you, Nor will my hand be heavy on you. 8.   "Surely you have spoken in my hearing, And I have heard the sound of your words, saying , 9.   ‘I am pure, without transgression; I am innocent, and there is no iniquity in me. 10.   Yet He finds occasions against me, He counts me as His enemy; 11.   He puts my feet in the stocks, He watches all my paths.’ 12.   "Look, in this you are not righteous. I will answer you, For God is greater than man. 13.   Why do you contend with Him? For He does not give an accounting of any of His words. 14.   For God may speak in one way, or in another, Yet man does not perceive it. 15.   In a dream, in a vision of the night, When deep sleep falls upon men, While slumbering on their beds, 16.   Then He opens the ears of men, And seals their instruction. 17.   In order to turn man from his deed, And conceal pride from man, 18.   He keeps back his soul from the Pit, And his life from perishing by the sword. 19.   "Man is also chastened with pain on his bed, And with strong pain in many of his bones, 20.   So that his life abhors bread, And his soul succulent food. 21.   His flesh wastes away from sight, And his bones stick out which once were not seen. 22.   Yes, his soul draws near the Pit, And his life to the executioners. 23.   "If there is a messenger for him, A mediator, one among a thousand, To show man His uprightness, 24.   Then He is gracious to him, and says, ‘Deliver him from going down to the Pit; I have found a ransom’; 25.   His flesh shall be young like a child’s, He shall return to the days of his youth. 26.   He shall pray to God, and He will delight in him, He shall see His face with joy, For He restores to man His righteousness. 27.   Then he looks at men and says, ‘I have sinned, and perverted what was right, And it did not profit me.’ 28.   He will redeem his soul from going down to the Pit, And his life shall see the light. 29.   "Behold, God works all these things , Twice, in fact , three times with a man, 30.   To bring back his soul from the Pit, That he may be enlightened with the light of life. 31.   "Give ear, Job, listen to me; Hold your peace, and I will speak. 32.   If you have anything to say, answer me; Speak, for I desire to justify you. 33.   If not, listen to me; Hold your peace, and I will teach you wisdom."

1.   Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. 2.   And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. 3.   His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. 4.   And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men . 5.   But the angel answered and said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6.   "He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 7.   "And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you." 8.   So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word. 9.   And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, "Rejoice!" So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him. 10.   Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me." 11.   Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all the things that had happened. 12.   When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, 13.   saying, "Tell them, ‘His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.’ 14.   "And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will appease him and make you secure." 15.   So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day. 16.   Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. 17.   When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. 18.   And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19.   "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20.   "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.