Bible Reading for January 18 and 19
World English Bible
Jan.
18
Genesis
18
Gen
18:1 Yahweh appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat in the
tent door in the heat of the day.
Gen
18:2 He lifted up his eyes and looked, and saw that three men stood
opposite him. When he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent
door, and bowed himself to the earth,
Gen
18:3 and said, "My lord, if now I have found favor in your
sight, please don't go away from your servant.
Gen
18:4 Now let a little water be fetched, wash your feet, and rest
yourselves under the tree.
Gen
18:5 I will get a morsel of bread so you can refresh your heart.
After that you may go your way, now that you have come to your
servant." They said, "Very well, do as you have said."
Gen
18:6 Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah, and said, "Quickly
make ready three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes."
Gen
18:7 Abraham ran to the herd, and fetched a tender and good calf,
and gave it to the servant. He hurried to dress it.
Gen
18:8 He took butter, milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and
set it before them. He stood by them under the tree, and they ate.
Gen
18:9 They said to him, "Where is Sarah, your wife? He said,
"See, in the tent."
Gen
18:10 He said, "I will certainly return to you when the season
comes round. Behold, Sarah your wife will have a son." Sarah
heard in the tent door, which was behind him.
Gen
18:11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in age. It had
ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.
Gen
18:12 Sarah laughed within herself, saying, "After I have grown
old will I have pleasure, my lord being old also?"
Gen
18:13 Yahweh said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh, saying,
'Will I really bear a child, yet I am old?'
Gen
18:14 Is anything too hard for Yahweh? At the set time I will return
to you, when the season comes round, and Sarah will have a son."
Gen
18:15 Then Sarah denied, saying, "I didn't laugh," for she
was afraid. He said, "No, but you did laugh."
Gen
18:16 The men rose up from there, and looked toward Sodom. Abraham
went with them to see them on their way.
Gen
18:17 Yahweh said, "Will I hide from Abraham what I do,
Gen
18:18 seeing that Abraham has surely become a great and mighty
nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed in him?
Gen
18:19 For I have known him, to the end that he may command his
children and his household after him, that they may keep the way of
Yahweh, to do righteousness and justice; to the end that Yahweh may
bring on Abraham that which he has spoken of him."
Gen
18:20 Yahweh said, "Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is
great, and because their sin is very grievous,
Gen
18:21 I will go down now, and see whether their deeds are as bad as
the reports which have come to me. If not, I will know."
Gen
18:22 The men turned from there, and went toward Sodom, but Abraham
stood yet before Yahweh.
Gen
18:23 Abraham drew near, and said, "Will you consume the
righteous with the wicked?
Gen
18:24 What if there are fifty righteous within the city? Will you
consume and not spare the place for the fifty righteous who are in
it?
Gen
18:25 Be it far from you to do things like that, to kill the
righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be like the
wicked. May that be far from you. Shouldn't the Judge of all the
earth do right?"
Gen
18:26 Yahweh said, "If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within
the city, then I will spare all the place for their sake."
Gen
18:27 Abraham answered, "See now, I have taken it on myself to
speak to the Lord, who am but dust and ashes.
Gen
18:28 What if there will lack five of the fifty righteous? Will you
destroy all the city for lack of five?" He said, "I will
not destroy it, if I find forty-five there."
Gen
18:29 He spoke to him yet again, and said, "What if there are
forty found there?" He said, "I will not do it for the
forty's sake."
Gen
18:30 He said, "Oh don't let the Lord be angry, and I will
speak. What if there are thirty found there?" He said, "I
will not do it, if I find thirty there."
Gen
18:31 He said, "See now, I have taken it on myself to speak to
the Lord. What if there are twenty found there?" He said, "I
will not destroy it for the twenty's sake."
Gen
18:32 He said, "Oh don't let the Lord be angry, and I will
speak just once more. What if ten are found there?" He said, "I
will not destroy it for the ten's sake."
Gen
18:33 Yahweh went his way, as soon as he had finished communing with
Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.
Jan.
19
Genesis
19
Gen
19:1 The two angels came to Sodom at evening. Lot sat in the gate of
Sodom. Lot saw them, and rose up to meet them. He bowed himself with
his face to the earth,
Gen
19:2 and he said, "See now, my lords, please turn aside into
your servant's house, stay all night, wash your feet, and you will
rise up early, and go on your way." They said, "No, but we
will stay in the street all night."
Gen
19:3 He urged them greatly, and they came in with him, and entered
into his house. He made them a feast, and baked unleavened bread, and
they ate.
Gen
19:4 But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of
Sodom, surrounded the house, both young and old, all the people from
every quarter.
Gen
19:5 They called to Lot, and said to him, "Where are the men
who came in to you this night? Bring them out to us, that we may have
sex with them."
Gen
19:6 Lot went out to them to the door, and shut the door after him.
Gen
19:7 He said, "Please, my brothers, don't act so wickedly.
Gen
19:8 See now, I have two virgin daughters. Please let me bring them
out to you, and you may do to them what seems good to you. Only don't
do anything to these men, because they have come under the shadow of
my roof."
Gen
19:9 They said, "Stand back!" Then they said, "This
one fellow came in to live as a foreigner, and he appoints himself a
judge. Now will we deal worse with you, than with them!" They
pressed hard on the man Lot, and drew near to break the door.
Gen
19:10 But the men put forth their hand, and brought Lot into the
house to them, and shut the door.
Gen
19:11 They struck the men who were at the door of the house with
blindness, both small and great, so that they wearied themselves to
find the door.
Gen
19:12 The men said to Lot, "Do you have anybody else here?
Sons-in-law, your sons, your daughters, and whoever you have in the
city, bring them out of the place:
Gen
19:13 for we will destroy this place, because the outcry against
them has grown great before Yahweh that Yahweh has sent us to destroy
it."
Gen
19:14 Lot went out, and spoke to his sons-in-law, who were pledged
to marry his daughters, and said, "Get up! Get out of this
place, for Yahweh will destroy the city." But he seemed to his
sons-in-law to be joking.
Gen
19:15 When the morning came, then the angels hurried Lot, saying,
"Get up! Take your wife, and your two daughters who are here,
lest you be consumed in the iniquity of the city."
Gen
19:16 But he lingered; and the men grabbed his hand, his wife's
hand, and his two daughters' hands, Yahweh being merciful to him; and
they took him out, and set him outside of the city.
Gen
19:17 It came to pass, when they had taken them out, that he said,
"Escape for your life! Don't look behind you, and don't stay
anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be
consumed!"
Gen
19:18 Lot said to them, "Oh, not so, my lord.
Gen
19:19 See now, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you
have magnified your loving kindness, which you have shown to me in
saving my life. I can't escape to the mountain, lest evil overtake
me, and I die.
Gen
19:20 See now, this city is near to flee to, and it is a little one.
Oh let me escape there (isn't it a little one?), and my soul will
live."
Gen
19:21 He said to him, "Behold, I have granted your request
concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow the city of
which you have spoken.
Gen
19:22 Hurry, escape there, for I can't do anything until you get
there." Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.
Gen
19:23 The sun had risen on the earth when Lot came to Zoar.
Gen
19:24 Then Yahweh rained on Sodom and on Gomorrah sulfur and fire
from Yahweh out of the sky.
Gen
19:25 He overthrew those cities, all the plain, all the inhabitants
of the cities, and that which grew on the ground.
Gen
19:26 But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a
pillar of salt.
Gen
19:27 Abraham got up early in the morning to the place where he had
stood before Yahweh.
Gen
19:28 He looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land
of the plain, and looked, and saw that the smoke of the land went up
as the smoke of a furnace.
Gen
19:29 It happened, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that
God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the middle of the
overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in which Lot lived.
Gen
19:30 Lot went up out of Zoar, and lived in the mountain, and his
two daughters with him; for he was afraid to live in Zoar. He lived
in a cave with his two daughters.
Gen
19:31 The firstborn said to the younger, "Our father is old,
and there is not a man in the earth to come in to us after the manner
of all the earth.
Gen
19:32 Come, let's make our father drink wine, and we will lie with
him, that we may preserve our father's seed."
Gen
19:33 They made their father drink wine that night: and the
firstborn went in, and lay with her father. He didn't know when she
lay down, nor when she arose.
Gen
19:34 It came to pass on the next day, that the firstborn said to
the younger, "Behold, I lay last night with my father. Let us
make him drink wine again, tonight. You go in, and lie with him, that
we may preserve our father's seed."
Gen
19:35 They made their father drink wine that night also. The younger
went and lay with him. He didn't know when she lay down, nor when she
got up.
Gen
19:36 Thus both of Lot's daughters were with child by their father.
Gen
19:37 The firstborn bore a son, and named him Moab. He is the father
of the Moabites to this day.
Gen
19:38 The younger also bore a son, and called his name Ben Ammi. He
is the father of the children of Ammon to this day.
Jan. 18
Matthew
9
Mat 9:1
He entered into a boat, and crossed over, and came into his own
city.
Mat 9:2
Behold, they brought to him a man who was paralyzed, lying on a bed.
Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic, "Son, cheer
up! Your sins are forgiven you."
Mat 9:3
Behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, "This man
blasphemes."
Mat 9:4
Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in
your hearts?
Mat 9:5
For which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven;' or to say,
'Get up, and walk?'
Mat 9:6
But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to
forgive sins..." (then he said to the paralytic), "Get up,
and take up your mat, and go up to your house."
Mat 9:7
He arose and departed to his house.
Mat 9:8
But when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who
had given such authority to men.
Mat 9:9
As Jesus passed by from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting
at the tax collection office. He said to him, "Follow me."
He got up and followed him.
Mat
9:10 It happened as he sat in the house, behold, many tax collectors
and sinners came and sat down with Jesus and his disciples.
Mat
9:11 When the Pharisees saw it, they said to his disciples, "Why
does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?"
Mat
9:12 When Jesus heard it, he said to them, "Those who are
healthy have no need for a physician, but those who are sick do.
Mat
9:13 But you go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, and not
sacrifice,' for I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to
repentance."
Mat
9:14 Then John's disciples came to him, saying, "Why do we and
the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples don't fast?"
Mat
9:15 Jesus said to them, "Can the friends of the bridegroom
mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come
when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will
fast.
Mat
9:16 No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for
the patch would tear away from the garment, and a worse hole is made.
Mat
9:17 Neither do people put new wine into old wineskins, or else the
skins would burst, and the wine be spilled, and the skins ruined. No,
they put new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved."
Mat
9:18 While he told these things to them, behold, a ruler came and
worshiped him, saying, "My daughter has just died, but come and
lay your hand on her, and she will live."
Mat
9:19 Jesus got up and followed him, as did his disciples.
Mat
9:20 Behold, a woman who had an issue of blood for twelve years came
behind him, and touched the fringe of his garment;
Mat
9:21 for she said within herself, "If I just touch his garment,
I will be made well."
Mat
9:22 But Jesus, turning around and seeing her, said, "Daughter,
cheer up! Your faith has made you well." And the woman was made
well from that hour.
Mat
9:23 When Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the flute
players, and the crowd in noisy disorder,
Mat
9:24 he said to them, "Make room, because the girl isn't dead,
but sleeping." They were ridiculing him.
Mat
9:25 But when the crowd was put out, he entered in, took her by the
hand, and the girl arose.
Mat
9:26 The report of this went out into all that land.
Mat
9:27 As Jesus passed by from there, two blind men followed him,
calling out and saying, "Have mercy on us, son of David!"
Mat
9:28 When he had come into the house, the blind men came to him.
Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?"
They told him, "Yes, Lord."
Mat
9:29 Then he touched their eyes, saying, "According to your
faith be it done to you."
Mat
9:30 Their eyes were opened. Jesus strictly commanded them, saying,
"See that no one knows about this."
Mat
9:31 But they went out and spread abroad his fame in all that land.
Mat
9:32 As they went out, behold, a mute man who was demon possessed
was brought to him.
Mat
9:33 When the demon was cast out, the mute man spoke. The multitudes
marveled, saying, "Nothing like this has ever been seen in
Israel!"
Mat
9:34 But the Pharisees said, "By the prince of the demons, he
casts out demons."
Mat
9:35 Jesus went about all the cities and the villages, teaching in
their synagogues, and preaching the Good News of the Kingdom, and
healing every disease and every sickness among the people.
Mat
9:36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion
for them, because they were harassed and scattered, like sheep
without a shepherd.
Mat
9:37 Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest indeed is
plentiful, but the laborers are few.
Mat
9:38 Pray therefore that the Lord of the harvest will send out
laborers into his harvest."
Jan.
19
Matthew
10
Mat
10:1 He called to himself his twelve disciples, and gave them
authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every
disease and every sickness.
Mat
10:2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these. The first,
Simon, who is called Peter; Andrew, his brother; James the son of
Zebedee; John, his brother;
Mat
10:3 Philip; Bartholomew; Thomas; Matthew the tax collector; James
the son of Alphaeus; Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;
Mat
10:4 Simon the Canaanite; and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.
Mat
10:5 Jesus sent these twelve out, and commanded them, saying, "Don't
go among the Gentiles, and don't enter into any city of the
Samaritans.
Mat
10:6 Rather, go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Mat
10:7 As you go, preach, saying, 'The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!'
Mat
10:8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, and cast out demons. Freely
you received, so freely give.
Mat
10:9 Don't take any gold, nor silver, nor brass in your money belts.
Mat
10:10 Take no bag for your journey, neither two coats, nor shoes,
nor staff: for the laborer is worthy of his food.
Mat
10:11 Into whatever city or village you enter, find out who in it is
worthy; and stay there until you go on.
Mat
10:12 As you enter into the household, greet it.
Mat
10:13 If the household is worthy, let your peace come on it, but if
it isn't worthy, let your peace return to you.
Mat
10:14 Whoever doesn't receive you, nor hear your words, as you go
out of that house or that city, shake off the dust from your feet.
Mat
10:15 Most certainly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the
land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city.
Mat
10:16 "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves.
Therefore be wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
Mat
10:17 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to councils,
and in their synagogues they will scourge you.
Mat
10:18 Yes, and you will be brought before governors and kings for my
sake, for a testimony to them and to the nations.
Mat
10:19 But when they deliver you up, don't be anxious how or what you
will say, for it will be given you in that hour what you will say.
Mat
10:20 For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who
speaks in you.
Mat
10:21 "Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father
his child. Children will rise up against parents, and cause them to
be put to death.
Mat
10:22 You will be hated by all men for my name's sake, but he who
endures to the end will be saved.
Mat
10:23 But when they persecute you in this city, flee into the next,
for most certainly I tell you, you will not have gone through the
cities of Israel, until the Son of Man has come.
Mat
10:24 "A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above
his lord.
Mat
10:25 It is enough for the disciple that he be like his teacher, and
the servant like his lord. If they have called the master of the
house Beelzebul, how much more those of his household!
Mat
10:26 Therefore don't be afraid of them, for there is nothing
covered that will not be revealed; and hidden that will not be known.
Mat
10:27 What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what
you hear whispered in the ear, proclaim on the housetops.
Mat
10:28 Don't be afraid of those who kill the body, but are not able
to kill the soul. Rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul
and body in Gehenna.
Mat
10:29 "Aren't two sparrows sold for an assarion coin? Not one
of them falls on the ground apart from your Father's will,
Mat
10:30 but the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
Mat
10:31 Therefore don't be afraid. You are of more value than many
sparrows.
Mat
10:32 Everyone therefore who confesses me before men, him I will
also confess before my Father who is in heaven.
Mat
10:33 But whoever denies me before men, him I will also deny before
my Father who is in heaven.
Mat
10:34 "Don't think that I came to send peace on the earth. I
didn't come to send peace, but a sword.
Mat
10:35 For I came to set a man at odds against his father, and a
daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her
mother-in-law.
Mat
10:36 A man's foes will be those of his own household.
Mat
10:37 He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of
me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me isn't worthy of me.
Mat
10:38 He who doesn't take his cross and follow after me, isn't
worthy of me.
Mat
10:39 He who seeks his life will lose it; and he who loses his life
for my sake will find it.
Mat
10:40 He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me
receives him who sent me.
Mat
10:41 He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet will
receive a prophet's reward. He who receives a righteous man in the
name of a righteous man will receive a righteous man's reward.
Mat
10:42 Whoever gives one of these little ones just a cup of cold
water to drink in the name of a disciple, most certainly I tell you
he will in no way lose his reward."
