Bible Reading
April 16
The World English Bible
Apr. 16
Numbers 23, 24
Num 23:1 Balaam said to Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven bulls and seven rams.
Num 23:2 Balak did as Balaam had spoken; and Balak and Balaam offered on every altar a bull and a ram.
Num 23:3 Balaam said to Balak, Stand by your burnt offering, and I will go: perhaps Yahweh will come to meet me; and whatever he shows me I will tell you. He went to a bare height.
Num 23:4 God met Balaam: and he said to him, I have prepared the seven altars, and I have offered up a bull and a ram on every altar.
Num 23:5 Yahweh put a word in Balaam's mouth, and said, Return to Balak, and thus you shall speak.
Num 23:6 He returned to him, and behold, he was standing by his burnt offering, he, and all the princes of Moab.
Num 23:7 He took up his parable, and said, From Aram has Balak brought me, The king of Moab from the mountains of the East: Come, curse me Jacob, Come, defy Israel.
Num 23:8 How shall I curse, whom God has not cursed? How shall I defy, whom Yahweh has not defied?
Num 23:9 For from the top of the rocks I see him, From the hills I see him: behold, it is a people that dwells alone, And shall not be reckoned among the nations.
Num 23:10 Who can count the dust of Jacob, Or number the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, Let my last end be like his!
Num 23:11 Balak said to Balaam, What have you done to me? I took you to curse my enemies, and behold, you have blessed them altogether.
Num 23:12 He answered and said, Must I not take heed to speak that which Yahweh puts in my mouth?
Num 23:13 Balak said to him, Please come with me to another place, from whence you may see them; you shall see but the utmost part of them, and shall not see them all: and curse me them from there.
Num 23:14 He took him into the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah, and built seven altars, and offered up a bull and a ram on every altar.
Num 23:15 He said to Balak, Stand here by your burnt offering, while I meet Yahweh yonder.
Num 23:16 Yahweh met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth, and said, Return to Balak, and say this.
Num 23:17 He came to him, and behold, he was standing by his burnt offering, and the princes of Moab with him. Balak said to him, What has Yahweh spoken?
Num 23:18 He took up his parable, and said, Rise up, Balak, and hear! Listen to me, you son of Zippor.
Num 23:19 God is not a man, that he should lie, nor the son of man, that he should repent. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not make it good?
Num 23:20 Behold, I have received a command to bless. He has blessed, and I can't reverse it.
Num 23:21 He has not seen iniquity in Jacob. Neither has he seen perverseness in Israel. Yahweh his God is with him. The shout of a king is among them.
Num 23:22 God brings them out of Egypt. He has as it were the strength of the wild ox.
Num 23:23 Surely there is no enchantment with Jacob; Neither is there any divination with Israel. Now it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What has God done!
Num 23:24 Behold, the people rises up as a lioness, As a lion he lifts himself up. He shall not lie down until he eat of the prey, and drinks the blood of the slain.
Num 23:25 Balak said to Balaam, Neither curse them at all, nor bless them at all.
Num 23:26 But Balaam answered Balak, Didn't I tell you, saying, All that Yahweh speaks, that I must do?
Num 23:27 Balak said to Balaam, Come now, I will take you to another place; peradventure it will please God that you may curse me them from there.
Num 23:28 Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor, that looks down on the desert.
Num 23:29 Balaam said to Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven bulls and seven rams.
Num 23:30 Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered up a bull and a ram on every altar.
Num 24:1 When Balaam saw that it pleased Yahweh to bless Israel, he didn't go, as at the other times, to meet with enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.
Num 24:2 Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel dwelling according to their tribes; and the Spirit of God came on him.
Num 24:3 He took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor says, the man whose eye was closed says;
Num 24:4 he says, who hears the words of God, who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down, and having his eyes open:
Num 24:5 How goodly are your tents, Jacob, and your tents, Israel!
Num 24:6 As valleys they are spread forth, as gardens by the riverside, as aloes which Yahweh has planted, as cedar trees beside the waters.
Num 24:7 Water shall flow from his buckets. His seed shall be in many waters. His king shall be higher than Agag. His kingdom shall be exalted.
Num 24:8 God brings him out of Egypt. He has as it were the strength of the wild ox. He shall eat up the nations his adversaries, shall break their bones in pieces, and pierce them with his arrows.
Num 24:9 He couched, he lay down as a lion, as a lioness; who shall rouse him up? Everyone who blesses you is blessed. Everyone who curses you is cursed.
Num 24:10 Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he struck his hands together; and Balak said to Balaam, I called you to curse my enemies, and, behold, you have altogether blessed them these three times.
Num 24:11 Therefore now flee you to your place: I thought to promote you to great honor; but, behold, Yahweh has kept you back from honor.
Num 24:12 Balaam said to Balak, Didn't I also tell your messengers who you sent to me, saying,
Num 24:13 If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I can't go beyond the word of Yahweh, to do either good or bad of my own mind; what Yahweh speaks, that will I speak?
Num 24:14 Now, behold, I go to my people: come, and I will inform you what this people shall do to your people in the latter days.
Num 24:15 He took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor says, the man whose eye was closed says;
Num 24:16 he says, who hears the words of God, knows the knowledge of the Most High, and who sees the vision of the Almighty, Falling down, and having his eyes open:
Num 24:17 I see him, but not now. I see him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob. A scepter will rise out of Israel, and shall strike through the corners of Moab, and break down all the sons of Sheth.
Num 24:18 Edom shall be a possession. Seir, his enemies, also shall be a possession, while Israel does valiantly.
Num 24:19 Out of Jacob shall one have dominion, and shall destroy the remnant from the city.
Num 24:20 He looked at Amalek, and took up his parable, and said, Amalek was the first of the nations, But his latter end shall come to destruction.
Num 24:21 He looked at the Kenite, and took up his parable, and said, Your dwelling place is strong. Your nest is set in the rock.
Num 24:22 Nevertheless Kain shall be wasted, until Asshur carries you away captive.
Num 24:23 He took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God does this?
Num 24:24 But ships shall come from the coast of Kittim. They shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber. He also shall come to destruction.
Num 24:25 Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place; and Balak also went his way.
Apr. 16, 17
Luke 10
Luk 10:1 Now after these things, the Lord also appointed seventy others, and sent them two by two ahead of him into every city and place, where he was about to come.
Luk 10:2 Then he said to them, "The harvest is indeed plentiful, but the laborers are few. Pray therefore to the Lord of the harvest, that he may send out laborers into his harvest.
Luk 10:3 Go your ways. Behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves.
Luk 10:4 Carry no purse, nor wallet, nor sandals. Greet no one on the way.
Luk 10:5 Into whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace be to this house.'
Luk 10:6 If a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you.
Luk 10:7 Remain in that same house, eating and drinking the things they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Don't go from house to house.
Luk 10:8 Into whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat the things that are set before you.
Luk 10:9 Heal the sick who are therein, and tell them, 'The Kingdom of God has come near to you.'
Luk 10:10 But into whatever city you enter, and they don't receive you, go out into its streets and say,
Luk 10:11 'Even the dust from your city that clings to us, we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the Kingdom of God has come near to you.'
Luk 10:12 I tell you, it will be more tolerable in that day for Sodom than for that city.
Luk 10:13 "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon which were done in you, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.
Luk 10:14 But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the judgment than for you.
Luk 10:15 You, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades.
Luk 10:16 Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me. Whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me."
Luk 10:17 The seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!"
Luk 10:18 He said to them, "I saw Satan having fallen like lightning from heaven.
Luk 10:19 Behold, I give you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will in any way hurt you.
Luk 10:20 Nevertheless, don't rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."
Luk 10:21 In that same hour Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit, and said, "I thank you, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for so it was well-pleasing in your sight."
Luk 10:22 Turning to the disciples, he said, "All things have been delivered to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is, except the Father, and who the Father is, except the Son, and he to whomever the Son desires to reveal him."
Luk 10:23 Turning to the disciples, he said privately, "Blessed are the eyes which see the things that you see,
Luk 10:24 for I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see the things which you see, and didn't see them, and to hear the things which you hear, and didn't hear them."
Luk 10:25 Behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested him, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"
Luk 10:26 He said to him, "What is written in the law? How do you read it?"
Luk 10:27 He answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself."
Luk 10:28 He said to him, "You have answered correctly. Do this, and you will live."
Luk 10:29 But he, desiring to justify himself, asked Jesus, "Who is my neighbor?"
Luk 10:30 Jesus answered, "A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who both stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
Luk 10:31 By chance a certain priest was going down that way. When he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
Luk 10:32 In the same way a Levite also, when he came to the place, and saw him, passed by on the other side.
Luk 10:33 But a certain Samaritan, as he traveled, came where he was. When he saw him, he was moved with compassion,
Luk 10:34 came to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. He set him on his own animal, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
Luk 10:35 On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, and gave them to the host, and said to him, 'Take care of him. Whatever you spend beyond that, I will repay you when I return.'
Luk 10:36 Now which of these three do you think seemed to be a neighbor to him who fell among the robbers?"
Luk 10:37 He said, "He who showed mercy on him." Then Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."
Luk 10:38 It happened as they went on their way, he entered into a certain village, and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.
Luk 10:39 She had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.
Luk 10:40 But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she came up to him, and said, "Lord, don't you care that my sister left me to serve alone? Ask her therefore to help me."
Luk 10:41 Jesus answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things,
Luk 10:42 but one thing is needed. Mary has chosen the good part, which will not be taken away from her."
Atheism has no rational basis upon which to call anything objectively just or unjust, including racism. If mankind is merely the result of billions of years of mindless evolution and is nothing more than animals (as atheistic evolution contends; Marchant, 2008), then man can logically make evolutionary-based racist remarks that are consistent with the godless General Theory of Evolution. In fact, Charles Darwin’s “Bulldog,” atheist Thomas Huxley, did just that in his 1865 essay, “Emancipation—Black and White.” He alleged, for example, “no rational man, cognizant of the facts, believes that the average Negro is the equal, still less superior, of the white man.” In truth, if there is no God, mankind could just as easily look down upon and mistreat others (whom he deems are less evolved), as he does roaches, rats, and orangutans (