Bible Reading
July 7
The World English Bible
July
7
2
Kings 7-9
2Ki
7:1 Elisha said, Hear the word of Yahweh. Thus says Yahweh, Tomorrow
about this time a measure of fine flour shall be sold for a shekel,
and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.
2Ki
7:2 Then the captain on whose hand the king leaned answered the man
of God, and said, Behold, if Yahweh should make windows in heaven,
might this thing be? He said, Behold, you shall see it with your
eyes, but shall not eat of it.
2Ki
7:3 Now there were four leprous men at the entrance of the gate: and
they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die?
2Ki
7:4 If we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine is in
the city, and we shall die there; and if we sit still here, we die
also. Now therefore come, and let us fall to the army of the Syrians:
if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall
but die.
2Ki
7:5 They rose up in the twilight, to go to the camp of the Syrians;
and when they were come to the outermost part of the camp of the
Syrians, behold, there was no man there.
2Ki
7:6 For the Lord had made the army of the Syrians to hear a noise of
chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of a great army: and
they said one to another, Behold, the king of Israel has hired
against us the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of the Egyptians,
to come on us.
2Ki
7:7 Therefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their
tents, and their horses, and their donkeys, even the camp as it was,
and fled for their life.
2Ki
7:8 When these lepers came to the outermost part of the camp, they
went into one tent, and ate and drink, and carried there silver, and
gold, and clothing, and went and hid it; and they came back, and
entered into another tent, and carried there also, and went and hid
it.
2Ki
7:9 Then they said one to another, We aren't doing right. This day
is a day of good news, and we hold our peace: if we wait until the
morning light, punishment will overtake us; now therefore come, let
us go and tell the king's household.
2Ki
7:10 So they came and called to the porter of the city; and they
told them, saying, We came to the camp of the Syrians, and, behold,
there was no man there, neither voice of man, but the horses tied,
and the donkeys tied, and the tents as they were.
2Ki
7:11 He called the porters; and they told it to the king's household
within.
2Ki
7:12 The king arose in the night, and said to his servants, I will
now show you what the Syrians have done to us. They know that we are
hungry; therefore are they gone out of the camp to hide themselves in
the field, saying, When they come out of the city, we shall take them
alive, and get into the city.
2Ki
7:13 One of his servants answered, Please let some take five of the
horses that remain, which are left in the city (behold, they are as
all the multitude of Israel who are left in it; behold, they are as
all the multitude of Israel who are consumed); and let us send and
see.
2Ki
7:14 They took therefore two chariots with horses; and the king sent
after the army of the Syrians, saying, Go and see.
2Ki
7:15 They went after them to the Jordan: and behold, all the way was
full of garments and vessels, which the Syrians had cast away in
their haste. The messengers returned, and told the king.
2Ki
7:16 The people went out, and plundered the camp of the Syrians. So
a measure of fine flour was sold
for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, according to
the word of Yahweh.
2Ki
7:17 The king appointed the captain on whose hand he leaned to be in
charge of the gate: and the people trod on him in the gate, and he
died as the man of God had said, who spoke when the king came down to
him.
2Ki
7:18 It happened, as the man of God had spoken to the king, saying,
Two measures of barley for a shekel, and a measure of fine flour for
a shekel, shall be tomorrow about this time in the gate of Samaria;
2Ki
7:19 and that captain answered the man of God, and said, Now,
behold, if Yahweh should make windows in heaven, might such a thing
be? and he said, Behold, you shall see it with your eyes, but shall
not eat of it:
2Ki
7:20 it happened even so to him; for the people trod on him in the
gate, and he died.
2Ki
8:1 Now Elisha had spoken to the woman, whose son he had restored to
life, saying, Arise, and go, you and your household, and sojourn
wherever you can sojourn: for Yahweh has called for a famine; and it
shall also come on the land seven years.
2Ki
8:2 The woman arose, and did according to the word of the man of
God; and she went with her household, and sojourned in the land of
the Philistines seven years.
2Ki
8:3 It happened at the seven years' end, that the woman returned out
of the land of the Philistines: and she went forth to cry to the king
for her house and for her land.
2Ki
8:4 Now the king was talking with Gehazi the servant of the man of
God, saying, Please tell me all the great things that Elisha has
done.
2Ki
8:5 It happened, as he was telling the king how he had restored to
life him who was dead, that behold, the woman, whose son he had
restored to life, cried to the king for her house and for her land.
Gehazi said, My lord, O king, this is the woman, and this is her son,
whom Elisha restored to life.
2Ki
8:6 When the king asked the woman, she told him. So the king
appointed to her a certain officer, saying, Restore all that was
hers, and all the fruits of the field since the day that she left the
land, even until now.
2Ki
8:7 Elisha came to Damascus; and Benhadad the king of Syria was
sick; and it was told him, saying, The man of God is come here.
2Ki
8:8 The king said to Hazael, Take a present in your hand, and go,
meet the man of God, and inquire of Yahweh by him, saying, Shall I
recover of this sickness?
2Ki
8:9 So Hazael went to meet him, and took a present with him, even of
every good thing of Damascus, forty camels' burden, and came and
stood before him, and said, Your son Benhadad king of Syria has sent
me to you, saying, Shall I recover of this sickness?
2Ki
8:10 Elisha said to him, Go, tell him, You shall surely recover;
however Yahweh has shown me that he shall surely die.
2Ki
8:11 He settled his gaze steadfastly on
him, until he was ashamed: and the man
of God wept.
2Ki
8:12 Hazael said, Why weeps my lord? He answered, Because I know the
evil that you will do to the children of Israel: you will set their
strongholds on fire, and you will their young men with the sword, and
will dash in pieces their little ones, and rip up their women with
child.
2Ki
8:13 Hazael said, But what is your servant, who is but a dog, that
he should do this great thing? Elisha answered, Yahweh has shown me
that you shall be king over Syria.
2Ki
8:14 Then he departed from Elisha, and came to his master; who said
to him, What did Elisha say to you? He answered, He told me that you
would surely recover.
2Ki
8:15 It happened on the next day, that he took the coverlet, and
dipped it in water, and spread it on his face, so that he died: and
Hazael reigned in his place.
2Ki
8:16 In the fifth year of Joram the son of Ahab king of Israel,
Jehoshaphat being then king of Judah, Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat
king of Judah began to reign.
2Ki
8:17 Thirty-two years old was he when he began to reign; and he
reigned eight years in Jerusalem.
2Ki
8:18 He walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as did the house
of Ahab: for he had the daughter of Ahab as wife; and he did that
which was evil in the sight of Yahweh.
2Ki
8:19 However Yahweh would not destroy Judah, for David his servant's
sake, as he promised him to give to him a lamp for his children
always.
2Ki
8:20 In his days Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah, and
made a king over themselves.
2Ki
8:21 Then Joram passed over to Zair, and all his chariots with him:
and he rose up by night, and struck the Edomites who surrounded him,
and the captains of the chariots; and the people fled to their tents.
2Ki
8:22 So Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah to this day. Then
did Libnah revolt at the same time.
2Ki
8:23 The rest of the acts of Joram, and all that he did, aren't they
written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
2Ki
8:24 Joram slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers
in the city of David; and Ahaziah his son reigned in his place.
2Ki
8:25 In the twelfth year of Joram the son of Ahab king of Israel did
Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah begin to reign.
2Ki
8:26 Twenty-two years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign; and he
reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Athaliah the
daughter of Omri king of Israel.
2Ki
8:27 He walked in the way of the house of Ahab, and did that which
was evil in the sight of Yahweh, as did the house of Ahab; for he was
the son-in-law of the house of Ahab.
2Ki
8:28 He went with Joram the son of Ahab to war against Hazael king
of Syria at Ramoth Gilead: and the Syrians wounded Joram.
2Ki
8:29 King Joram returned to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds which
the Syrians had given him at Ramah, when he fought against Hazael
king of Syria. Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to
see Joram the son of Ahab in Jezreel, because he was sick.
2Ki
9:1 Elisha the prophet called one of the sons of the prophets, and
said to him, Gird up your waist, and take this vial of oil in your
hand, and go to Ramoth Gilead.
2Ki
9:2 When you come there, look out there Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat
the son of Nimshi, and go in, and make him arise up from among his
brothers, and carry him to an inner chamber.
2Ki
9:3 Then take the vial of oil, and pour it on his head, and say,
Thus says Yahweh, I have anointed you king over Israel. Then open the
door, and flee, and don't wait.
2Ki
9:4 So the young man, even the young man the prophet, went to Ramoth
Gilead.
2Ki
9:5 When he came, behold, the captains of the army were sitting; and
he said, I have a message for you, captain. Jehu said, To which of us
all? He said, To you, O captain.
2Ki
9:6 He arose, and went into the house; and he poured the oil on his
head, and said to him, Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel, I have
anointed you king over the people of Yahweh, even over Israel.
2Ki
9:7 You shall strike the house of Ahab your master, that I may
avenge the blood of my servants the prophets, and the blood of all
the servants of Yahweh, at the hand of Jezebel.
2Ki
9:8 For the whole house of Ahab shall perish; and I will cut off
from Ahab everyone who urinates against a wall, and him who is shut
up and him who is left at large in Israel.
2Ki
9:9 I will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam the son
of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah.
2Ki
9:10 The dogs shall eat Jezebel in the portion of Jezreel, and there
shall be none to bury her. He opened the door, and fled.
2Ki
9:11 Then Jehu came forth to the servants of his lord: and one said
to him, "Is all well? Why did this mad fellow come to you?"
He said to them, "You know the man and what his talk was."
2Ki
9:12 They said, "That is a lie. Tell us now." He said,
Thus and thus spoke he to me, saying, Thus says Yahweh, I have
anointed you king over Israel.
2Ki
9:13 Then they hurried, and took every man his garment, and put it
under him on the top of the stairs, and blew the trumpet, saying,
Jehu is king.
2Ki
9:14 So Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi conspired
against Joram. (Now Joram was keeping Ramoth Gilead, he and all
Israel, because of Hazael king of Syria;
2Ki
9:15 but king Joram was returned to be healed in Jezreel of the
wounds which the Syrians had given him, when he fought with Hazael
king of Syria.) Jehu said, If this is your thinking, then let no one
escape and go out of the city, to go to tell it in Jezreel.
2Ki
9:16 So Jehu rode in a chariot, and went to Jezreel; for Joram lay
there. Ahaziah king of Judah was come down to see Joram.
2Ki
9:17 Now the watchman was standing on the tower in Jezreel, and he
spied the company of Jehu as he came, and said, I see a company.
Joram said, Take a horseman, and send to meet them, and let him say,
Is it peace?
2Ki
9:18 So there went one on horseback to meet him, and said, Thus says
the king, Is it peace? Jehu said, What have you to do with peace?
Fall in behind me! The watchman told, saying, The messenger came to
them, but he isn't coming back.
2Ki
9:19 Then he sent out a second on horseback, who came to them, and
said, Thus says the king, Is it peace? Jehu answered, What have you
to do with peace? Fall in behind me!
2Ki
9:20 The watchman told, saying, He came even to them, and isn't
coming back: and the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of
Nimshi; for he drives furiously.
2Ki
9:21 Joram said, Make ready. They made ready his chariot. Joram king
of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah went out, each in his chariot,
and they went out to meet Jehu, and found him in the portion of
Naboth the Jezreelite.
2Ki
9:22 It happened, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, Is it peace,
Jehu? He answered, What peace, so long as the prostitution of your
mother Jezebel and her witchcraft abound?
2Ki
9:23 Joram turned his hands, and fled, and said to Ahaziah, There is
treachery, Ahaziah.
2Ki
9:24 Jehu drew his bow with his full strength, and struck Joram
between his arms; and the arrow went out at his heart, and he sunk
down in his chariot.
2Ki
9:25 Then said Jehu
to Bidkar his captain, Take up, and cast him in the portion of the
field of Naboth the Jezreelite; for remember how that, when you and I
rode together after Ahab his father, Yahweh laid this burden on him:
2Ki
9:26 Surely I have seen yesterday the blood of Naboth, and the blood
of his sons, says Yahweh; and I will repay you in this plot of
ground, says Yahweh. Now therefore take and cast him onto the plot of
ground, according to the word of Yahweh.
2Ki
9:27 But when Ahaziah the king of Judah saw this, he fled by the way
of the garden house. Jehu followed after him, and said, Smite him
also in the chariot: and they struck him
at the ascent of Gur, which is by Ibleam. He fled to Megiddo, and
died there.
2Ki
9:28 His servants carried him in a chariot to Jerusalem, and buried
him in his tomb with his fathers in the city of David.
2Ki
9:29 In the eleventh year of Joram the son of Ahab began Ahaziah to
reign over Judah.
2Ki
9:30 When Jehu was come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she
painted her eyes, and attired her head, and looked out at the window.
2Ki
9:31 As Jehu entered in at the gate, she said, Do you come in peace,
Zimri, you murderer of your master?
2Ki
9:32 He lifted up his face to the window, and said, Who is on my
side? who? There looked out to him two or three eunuchs.
2Ki
9:33 He said, Throw her down. So they threw her down; and some of
her blood was sprinkled on the wall, and on the horses: and he trod
her under foot.
2Ki
9:34 When he was come in, he ate and drink; and he said, See now to
this cursed woman, and bury her; for she is a king's daughter.
2Ki
9:35 They went to bury her; but they found no more of her than the
skull, and the feet, and the palms of her hands.
2Ki
9:36 Therefore they came back, and told him. He said, This is the
word of Yahweh, which he spoke by his servant Elijah the Tishbite,
saying, In the portion of Jezreel shall the dogs eat the flesh of
Jezebel;
2Ki
9:37 and the body of Jezebel shall be as dung on the face of the
field in the portion of Jezreel, so that they shall not say, This is
Jezebel.
Jul.
6, 7
Acts
6
Act
6:1 Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was
multiplying, a complaint arose from the Hellenists against the
Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily service.
Act
6:2 The twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, "It
is not appropriate for us to forsake the word of God and serve
tables.
Act
6:3 Therefore select from among you, brothers, seven men of good
report, full of the Holy Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint
over this business.
Act
6:4 But we will continue steadfastly in prayer and in the ministry
of the word."
Act
6:5 These words pleased the whole multitude. They chose Stephen, a
man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor,
Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch;
Act
6:6 whom they set before the apostles. When they had prayed, they
laid their hands on them.
Act
6:7 The word of God increased and the number of the disciples
multiplied in Jerusalem exceedingly. A great company of the priests
were obedient to the faith.
Act
6:8 Stephen, full of faith and power, performed great wonders and
signs among the people.
Act
6:9 But some of those who were of the synagogue called "The
Libertines," and of the Cyrenians, of the Alexandrians, and of
those of Cilicia and Asia arose, disputing with Stephen.
Act
6:10 They weren't able to withstand the wisdom and the Spirit by
which he spoke.
Act
6:11 Then they secretly induced men to say, "We have heard him
speak blasphemous words against Moses and God."
Act
6:12 They stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes, and
came against him and seized him, and brought him in to the council,
Act
6:13 and set up false witnesses who said, "This man never stops
speaking blasphemous words against this holy place and the law.
Act
6:14 For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will
destroy this place, and will change the customs which Moses delivered
to us."
Act
6:15 All who sat in the council, fastening their eyes on him, saw
his face like it was the face of an angel.
