Thursday, 23 May

41.   Then Moses set apart three cities on this side of the Jordan, toward the rising of the sun, 42.   that the manslayer might flee there, who kills his neighbor unintentionally, without having hated him in time past, and that by fleeing to one of these cities he might live: 43.   Bezer in the wilderness on the plateau for the Reubenites, Ramoth in Gilead for the Gadites, and Golan in Bashan for the Manassites. 44.   Now this is the law which Moses set before the children of Israel. 45.   These are the testimonies, the statutes, and the judgments which Moses spoke to the children of Israel after they came out of Egypt, 46.   on this side of the Jordan, in the valley opposite Beth Peor, in the land of Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt at Heshbon, whom Moses and the children of Israel defeated after they came out of Egypt. 47.   And they took possession of his land and the land of Og king of Bashan, two kings of the Amorites, who were on this side of the Jordan, toward the rising of the sun, 48.   from Aroer, which is on the bank of the River Arnon, even to Mount Sion (that is, Hermon), 49.   and all the plain on the east side of the Jordan as far as the Sea of the Arabah, below the slopes of Pisgah.

1.   And Moses called all Israel, and said to them: "Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your hearing today, that you may learn them and be careful to observe them. 2.   "The LORD our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. 3.   "The LORD did not make this covenant with our fathers, but with us, those who are here today, all of us who are alive. 4.   "The LORD talked with you face to face on the mountain from the midst of the fire. 5.   "I stood between the LORD and you at that time, to declare to you the word of the LORD; for you were afraid because of the fire, and you did not go up the mountain. He said: 6.   ‘I am the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 7.   ‘You shall have no other gods before Me. 8.   ‘You shall not make for yourself a carved image––any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; 9.   you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, 10.   but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments. 11.   ‘You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain. 12.   ‘Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, as the LORD your God commanded you. 13.   Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 14.   but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your ox, nor your donkey, nor any of your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates, that your male servant and your female servant may rest as well as you. 15.   And remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God brought you out from there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm; therefore the LORD your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day. 16.   ‘Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may be well with you in the land which the LORD your God is giving you. 17.   ‘You shall not murder. 18.   ‘You shall not commit adultery. 19.   ‘You shall not steal. 20.   ‘You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. 21.   ‘You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife; and you shall not desire your neighbor’s house, his field, his male servant, his female servant, his ox, his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.’ 22.   "These words the LORD spoke to all your assembly, in the mountain from the midst of the fire, the cloud, and the thick darkness, with a loud voice; and He added no more. And He wrote them on two tablets of stone and gave them to me.

1.   The wicked flee when no one pursues, But the righteous are bold as a lion. 2.   Because of the transgression of a land, many are its princes; But by a man of understanding and knowledge Right will be prolonged. 3.   A poor man who oppresses the poor Is like a driving rain which leaves no food. 4.   Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, But such as keep the law contend with them. 5.   Evil men do not understand justice, But those who seek the LORD understand all. 6.   Better is the poor who walks in his integrity Than one perverse in his ways, though he be rich. 7.   Whoever keeps the law is a discerning son, But a companion of gluttons shames his father. 8.   One who increases his possessions by usury and extortion Gathers it for him who will pity the poor. 9.   One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, Even his prayer is an abomination. 10.   Whoever causes the upright to go astray in an evil way, He himself will fall into his own pit; But the blameless will inherit good. 11.   The rich man is wise in his own eyes, But the poor who has understanding searches him out. 12.   When the righteous rejoice, there is great glory; But when the wicked arise, men hide themselves. 13.   He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy. 14.   Happy is the man who is always reverent, But he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity. 15.   Like a roaring lion and a charging bear Is a wicked ruler over poor people. 16.   A ruler who lacks understanding is a great oppressor, But he who hates covetousness will prolong his days. 17.   A man burdened with bloodshed will flee into a pit; Let no one help him. 18.   Whoever walks blamelessly will be saved, But he who is perverse in his ways will suddenly fall. 19.   He who tills his land will have plenty of bread, But he who follows frivolity will have poverty enough! 20.   A faithful man will abound with blessings, But he who hastens to be rich will not go unpunished. 21.   To show partiality is not good, Because for a piece of bread a man will transgress. 22.   A man with an evil eye hastens after riches, And does not consider that poverty will come upon him. 23.   He who rebukes a man will find more favor afterward Than he who flatters with the tongue. 24.   Whoever robs his father or his mother, And says, " It is no transgression," The same is companion to a destroyer. 25.   He who is of a proud heart stirs up strife, But he who trusts in the LORD will be prospered. 26.   He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, But whoever walks wisely will be delivered. 27.   He who gives to the poor will not lack, But he who hides his eyes will have many curses. 28.   When the wicked arise, men hide themselves; But when they perish, the righteous increase.

1.   Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ––who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you. 2.   But I beg you that when I am present I may not be bold with that confidence by which I intend to be bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. 3.   For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4.   For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5.   casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6.   and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled. 7.   Do you look at things according to the outward appearance? If anyone is convinced in himself that he is Christ’s, let him again consider this in himself, that just as he is Christ’s, even so we are Christ’s. 8.   For even if I should boast somewhat more about our authority, which the Lord gave us for edification and not for your destruction, I shall not be ashamed–– 9.   lest I seem to terrify you by letters. 10.   "For his letters," they say, " are weighty and powerful, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible." 11.   Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such we will also be in deed when we are present. 12.   For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. 13.   We, however, will not boast beyond measure, but within the limits of the sphere which God appointed us––a sphere which especially includes you. 14.   For we are not overextending ourselves (as though our authority did not extend to you), for it was to you that we came with the gospel of Christ; 15.   not boasting of things beyond measure, that is , in other men’s labors, but having hope, that as your faith is increased, we shall be greatly enlarged by you in our sphere, 16.   to preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man’s sphere of accomplishment. 17.   But "he who glories, let him glory in the LORD." 18.   For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.