Sunday, 12 May

1.   Then Moses spoke to the heads of the tribes concerning the children of Israel, saying, "This is the thing which the LORD has commanded: 2.   "If a man makes a vow to the LORD, or swears an oath to bind himself by some agreement, he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth. 3.   "Or if a woman makes a vow to the LORD, and binds herself by some agreement while in her father’s house in her youth, 4.   "and her father hears her vow and the agreement by which she has bound herself, and her father holds his peace, then all her vows shall stand, and every agreement with which she has bound herself shall stand. 5.   "But if her father overrules her on the day that he hears, then none of her vows nor her agreements by which she has bound herself shall stand; and the LORD will release her, because her father overruled her. 6.   "If indeed she takes a husband, while bound by her vows or by a rash utterance from her lips by which she bound herself, 7.   "and her husband hears it , and makes no response to her on the day that he hears, then her vows shall stand, and her agreements by which she bound herself shall stand. 8.   "But if her husband overrules her on the day that he hears it , he shall make void her vow which she took and what she uttered with her lips, by which she bound herself, and the LORD will release her. 9.   "Also any vow of a widow or a divorced woman, by which she has bound herself, shall stand against her. 10.   "If she vowed in her husband’s house, or bound herself by an agreement with an oath, 11.   "and her husband heard it , and made no response to her and did not overrule her, then all her vows shall stand, and every agreement by which she bound herself shall stand. 12.   "But if her husband truly made them void on the day he heard them , then whatever proceeded from her lips concerning her vows or concerning the agreement binding her, it shall not stand; her husband has made them void, and the LORD will release her. 13.   "Every vow and every binding oath to afflict her soul, her husband may confirm it, or her husband may make it void. 14.   "Now if her husband makes no response whatever to her from day to day, then he confirms all her vows or all the agreements that bind her; he confirms them, because he made no response to her on the day that he heard them . 15.   "But if he does make them void after he has heard them , then he shall bear her guilt." 16.   These are the statutes which the LORD commanded Moses, between a man and his wife, and between a father and his daughter in her youth in her father’s house.

1.   And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 2.   "Take vengeance on the Midianites for the children of Israel. Afterward you shall be gathered to your people." 3.   So Moses spoke to the people, saying, "Arm some of yourselves for war, and let them go against the Midianites to take vengeance for the LORD on Midian. 4.   "A thousand from each tribe of all the tribes of Israel you shall send to the war." 5.   So there were recruited from the divisions of Israel one thousand from each tribe, twelve thousand armed for war. 6.   Then Moses sent them to the war, one thousand from each tribe; he sent them to the war with Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, with the holy articles and the signal trumpets in his hand. 7.   And they warred against the Midianites, just as the LORD commanded Moses, and they killed all the males. 8.   They killed the kings of Midian with the rest of those who were killed––Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba, the five kings of Midian. Balaam the son of Beor they also killed with the sword. 9.   And the children of Israel took the women of Midian captive, with their little ones, and took as spoil all their cattle, all their flocks, and all their goods. 10.   They also burned with fire all the cities where they dwelt, and all their forts. 11.   And they took all the spoil and all the booty––of man and beast. 12.   Then they brought the captives, the booty, and the spoil to Moses, to Eleazar the priest, and to the congregation of the children of Israel, to the camp in the plains of Moab by the Jordan, across from Jericho. 13.   And Moses, Eleazar the priest, and all the leaders of the congregation, went to meet them outside the camp. 14.   But Moses was angry with the officers of the army, with the captains over thousands and captains over hundreds, who had come from the battle. 15.   And Moses said to them: "Have you kept all the women alive? 16.   "Look, these women caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to trespass against the LORD in the incident of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the LORD. 17.   "Now therefore, kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman who has known a man intimately. 18.   "But keep alive for yourselves all the young girls who have not known a man intimately. 19.   "And as for you, remain outside the camp seven days; whoever has killed any person, and whoever has touched any slain, purify yourselves and your captives on the third day and on the seventh day. 20.   "Purify every garment, everything made of leather, everything woven of goats’ hair , and everything made of wood." 21.   Then Eleazar the priest said to the men of war who had gone to the battle, "This is the ordinance of the law which the LORD commanded Moses: 22.   Only the gold, the silver, the bronze, the iron, the tin, and the lead, 23.   "everything that can endure fire, you shall put through the fire, and it shall be clean; and it shall be purified with the water of purification. But all that cannot endure fire you shall put through water. 24.   "And you shall wash your clothes on the seventh day and be clean, and afterward you may come into the camp."

1.   Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, But he who hates correction is stupid. 2.   A good man obtains favor from the LORD, But a man of wicked intentions He will condemn. 3.   A man is not established by wickedness, But the root of the righteous cannot be moved. 4.   An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, But she who causes shame is like rottenness in his bones. 5.   The thoughts of the righteous are right, But the counsels of the wicked are deceitful. 6.   The words of the wicked are , "Lie in wait for blood," But the mouth of the upright will deliver them. 7.   The wicked are overthrown and are no more, But the house of the righteous will stand. 8.   A man will be commended according to his wisdom, But he who is of a perverse heart will be despised. 9.   Better is the one who is slighted but has a servant, Than he who honors himself but lacks bread. 10.   A righteous man regards the life of his animal, But the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel. 11.   He who tills his land will be satisfied with bread, But he who follows frivolity is devoid of understanding. 12.   The wicked covet the catch of evil men , But the root of the righteous yields fruit . 13.   The wicked is ensnared by the transgression of his lips, But the righteous will come through trouble. 14.   A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth, And the recompense of a man’s hands will be rendered to him. 15.   The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But he who heeds counsel is wise. 16.   A fool’s wrath is known at once, But a prudent man covers shame. 17.   He who speaks truth declares righteousness, But a false witness, deceit. 18.   There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, But the tongue of the wise promotes health. 19.   The truthful lip shall be established forever, But a lying tongue is but for a moment. 20.   Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, But counselors of peace have joy. 21.   No grave trouble will overtake the righteous, But the wicked shall be filled with evil. 22.   Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD, But those who deal truthfully are His delight. 23.   A prudent man conceals knowledge, But the heart of fools proclaims foolishness. 24.   The hand of the diligent will rule, But the lazy man will be put to forced labor. 25.   Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, But a good word makes it glad. 26.   The righteous should choose his friends carefully, For the way of the wicked leads them astray. 27.   The lazy man does not roast what he took in hunting, But diligence is man’s precious possession. 28.   In the way of righteousness is life, And in its pathway there is no death.

1.   A wise son heeds his father’s instruction, But a scoffer does not listen to rebuke. 2.   A man shall eat well by the fruit of his mouth, But the soul of the unfaithful feeds on violence. 3.   He who guards his mouth preserves his life, But he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction. 4.   The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing; But the soul of the diligent shall be made rich. 5.   A righteous man hates lying, But a wicked man is loathsome and comes to shame. 6.   Righteousness guards him whose way is blameless, But wickedness overthrows the sinner. 7.   There is one who makes himself rich, yet has nothing; And one who makes himself poor, yet has great riches. 8.   The ransom of a man’s life is his riches, But the poor does not hear rebuke. 9.   The light of the righteous rejoices, But the lamp of the wicked will be put out. 10.   By pride comes nothing but strife, But with the well–advised is wisdom. 11.   Wealth gained by dishonesty will be diminished, But he who gathers by labor will increase. 12.   Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life. 13.   He who despises the word will be destroyed, But he who fears the commandment will be rewarded. 14.   The law of the wise is a fountain of life, To turn one away from the snares of death. 15.   Good understanding gains favor, But the way of the unfaithful is hard. 16.   Every prudent man acts with knowledge, But a fool lays open his folly. 17.   A wicked messenger falls into trouble, But a faithful ambassador brings health. 18.   Poverty and shame will come to him who disdains correction, But he who regards a rebuke will be honored. 19.   A desire accomplished is sweet to the soul, But it is an abomination to fools to depart from evil. 20.   He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will be destroyed. 21.   Evil pursues sinners, But to the righteous, good shall be repaid. 22.   A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, But the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous. 23.   Much food is in the fallow ground of the poor, And for lack of justice there is waste. 24.   He who spares his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him promptly. 25.   The righteous eats to the satisfying of his soul, But the stomach of the wicked shall be in want.

20.   But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21.   For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22.   For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. 23.   But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. 24.   Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. 25.   For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. 26.   The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. 27.   For "He has put all things under His feet." But when He says "all things are put under Him," it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted. 28.   Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all. 29.   Otherwise, what will they do who are baptized for the dead, if the dead do not rise at all? Why then are they baptized for the dead? 30.   And why do we stand in jeopardy every hour? 31.   I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. 32.   If, in the manner of men, I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantage is it to me? If the dead do not rise, "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!" 33.   Do not be deceived: "Evil company corrupts good habits." 34.   Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame. 35.   But someone will say, "How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come?" 36.   Foolish one, what you sow is not made alive unless it dies. 37.   And what you sow, you do not sow that body that shall be, but mere grain––perhaps wheat or some other grain . 38.   But God gives it a body as He pleases, and to each seed its own body. 39.   All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of animals, another of fish, and another of birds. 40.   There are also celestial bodies and terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. 41.   There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory. 42.   So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. 43.   It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. 44.   It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 45.   And so it is written, "The first man Adam became a living being." The last Adam became a life–giving spirit. 46.   However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual. 47.   The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven. 48.   As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man , so also are those who are heavenly. 49.   And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man . 50.   Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. 51.   Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed–– 52.   in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53.   For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54.   So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory." 55.   "O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?" 56.   The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 57.   But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58.   Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.