Bible Reading for March 31 and April 1
World English Bible
Mar.
31
Leviticus
17, 18
Lev
17:1 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
Lev
17:2 "Speak to Aaron, and to his sons, and to all the children
of Israel, and say to them: 'This is the thing which Yahweh has
commanded,
Lev
17:3 Whatever man there is of the house of Israel, who kills a bull,
or lamb, or goat, in the camp, or who kills it outside the camp,
Lev
17:4 and hasn't brought it to the door of the Tent of Meeting, to
offer it as an offering to Yahweh before the tabernacle of Yahweh:
blood shall be imputed to that man. He has shed blood; and that man
shall be cut off from among his people.
Lev
17:5 This is to the end that the children of Israel may bring their
sacrifices, which they sacrifice in the open field, that they may
bring them to Yahweh, to the door of the Tent of Meeting, to the
priest, and sacrifice them for sacrifices of peace offerings to
Yahweh.
Lev
17:6 The priest shall sprinkle the blood on the altar of Yahweh at
the door of the Tent of Meeting, and burn the fat for a pleasant
aroma to Yahweh.
Lev
17:7 They shall no more sacrifice their sacrifices to the goat
idols, after which they play the prostitute. This shall be a statute
forever to them throughout their generations.'
Lev
17:8 "You shall say to them, 'Any man there is of the house of
Israel, or of the strangers who live as foreigners among them, who
offers a burnt offering or sacrifice,
Lev
17:9 and doesn't bring it to the door of the Tent of Meeting, to
sacrifice it to Yahweh; that man shall be cut off from his people.
Lev
17:10 " 'Any man of the house of Israel, or of the strangers
who live as foreigners among them, who eats any kind of blood, I will
set my face against that soul who eats blood, and will cut him off
from among his people.
Lev
17:11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood; and I have given it
to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls: for it is the
blood that makes atonement by reason of the life.
Lev
17:12 Therefore I have said to the children of Israel, "No
person among you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger who
lives as a foreigner among you eat blood."
Lev
17:13 " 'Whatever man there is of the children of Israel, or of
the strangers who live as foreigners among them, who takes in hunting
any animal or bird that may be eaten; he shall pour out its blood,
and cover it with dust.
Lev
17:14 For as to the life of all flesh, its blood is with its life:
therefore I said to the children of Israel, "You shall not eat
the blood of any kind of flesh; for the life of all flesh is its
blood. Whoever eats it shall be cut off."
Lev
17:15 " 'Every person that eats what dies of itself, or that
which is torn by animals, whether he is native-born or a foreigner,
he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean
until the evening: then he shall be clean.
Lev
17:16 But if he doesn't wash them, or bathe his flesh, then he shall
bear his iniquity.' "
Lev
18:1 Yahweh said to Moses,
Lev
18:2 "Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them, 'I am
Yahweh your God.
Lev
18:3 You shall not do as they do in the land of Egypt, where you
lived: and you shall not do as they do in the land of Canaan, where I
am bringing you; neither shall you walk in their statutes.
Lev
18:4 You shall do my ordinances, and you shall keep my statutes, and
walk in them: I am Yahweh your God.
Lev
18:5 You shall therefore keep my statutes and my ordinances; which
if a man does, he shall live in them: I am Yahweh.
Lev
18:6 " 'None of you shall approach anyone who are his close
relatives, to uncover their nakedness: I am Yahweh.
Lev
18:7 " 'You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father, nor
the nakedness of your mother: she is your mother. You shall not
uncover her nakedness.
Lev
18:8 " 'You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's
wife: it is your father's nakedness.
Lev
18:9 " 'You shall not uncover the nakedness of your sister, the
daughter of your father, or the daughter of your mother, whether born
at home, or born abroad.
Lev
18:10 " 'You shall not uncover the nakedness of your son's
daughter, or of your daughter's daughter, even their nakedness: for
theirs is your own nakedness.
Lev
18:11 " 'You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's
wife's daughter, conceived by your father, since she is your sister.
Lev
18:12 " 'You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's
sister: she is your father's near kinswoman.
Lev
18:13 " 'You shall not uncover the nakedness of your mother's
sister: for she is your mother's near kinswoman.
Lev
18:14 " 'You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's
brother, you shall not approach his wife: she is your aunt.
Lev
18:15 " 'You shall not uncover the nakedness of your
daughter-in-law: she is your son's wife. You shall not uncover her
nakedness.
Lev
18:16 " 'You shall not uncover the nakedness of your brother's
wife: it is your brother's nakedness.
Lev
18:17 " 'You shall not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her
daughter. You shall not take her son's daughter, or her daughter's
daughter, to uncover her nakedness; they are near kinswomen: it is
wickedness.
Lev
18:18 " 'You shall not take a wife to her sister, to be a
rival, to uncover her nakedness, while her sister is yet alive.
Lev
18:19 " 'You shall not approach a woman to uncover her
nakedness, as long as she is impure by her uncleanness.
Lev
18:20 " 'You shall not lie carnally with your neighbor's wife,
and defile yourself with her.
Lev
18:21 " 'You shall not give any of your children to sacrifice
to Molech; neither shall you profane the name of your God: I am
Yahweh.
Lev
18:22 " 'You shall not lie with a man, as with a woman. That is
detestable.
Lev
18:23 " 'You shall not lie with any animal to defile yourself
with it; neither shall any woman give herself to an animal, to lie
down with it: it is a perversion.
Lev
18:24 " 'Don't defile yourselves in any of these things: for in
all these the nations which I am casting out before you were defiled.
Lev
18:25 The land was defiled: therefore I punished its iniquity, and
the land vomited out her inhabitants.
Apr.
1
Leviticus
19, 20
Lev
19:1 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
Lev
19:2 "Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel,
and tell them, 'You shall be holy; for I Yahweh your God am holy.
Lev
19:3 " 'Each one of you shall respect his mother and his
father. You shall keep my Sabbaths. I am Yahweh your God.
Lev
19:4 " 'Don't turn to idols, nor make molten gods for
yourselves. I am Yahweh your God.
Lev
19:5 " 'When you offer a sacrifice of peace offerings to
Yahweh, you shall offer it so that you may be accepted.
Lev
19:6 It shall be eaten the same day you offer it, and on the next
day: and if anything remains until the third day, it shall be burned
with fire.
Lev
19:7 If it is eaten at all on the third day, it is an abomination.
It will not be accepted;
Lev
19:8 but everyone who eats it shall bear his iniquity, because he
has profaned the holy thing of Yahweh, and that soul shall be cut off
from his people.
Lev
19:9 " 'When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not
wholly reap the corners of your field, neither shall you gather the
gleanings of your harvest.
Lev
19:10 You shall not glean your vineyard, neither shall you gather
the fallen grapes of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor
and for the foreigner. I am Yahweh your God.
Lev
19:11 " 'You shall not steal; neither shall you deal falsely,
nor lie to one another.
Lev
19:12 " 'You shall not swear by my name falsely, and profane
the name of your God. I am Yahweh.
Lev
19:13 " 'You shall not oppress your neighbor, nor rob him. The
wages of a hired servant shall not remain with you all night until
the morning.
Lev
19:14 " 'You shall not curse the deaf, nor put a stumbling
block before the blind; but you shall fear your God. I am Yahweh.
Lev
19:15 " 'You shall do no injustice in judgment: you shall not
be partial to the poor, nor show favoritism to the great; but you
shall judge your neighbor in righteousness.
Lev
19:16 " 'You shall not go up and down as a slanderer among your
people; neither shall you stand against the life of your neighbor. I
am Yahweh.
Lev
19:17 " 'You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You
shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him.
Lev
19:18 " 'You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge
against the children of your people; but you shall love your neighbor
as yourself. I am Yahweh.
Lev
19:19 " 'You shall keep my statutes. " 'You shall not
crossbreed different kinds of animals. " 'you shall not sow your
field with two kinds of seed; " 'neither shall there come upon
on you a garment made of two kinds of material.
Lev
19:20 " 'If a man lies carnally with a woman who is a slave
girl, pledged to be married to another man, and not ransomed, or
given her freedom; they shall be punished. They shall not be put to
death, because she was not free.
Lev
19:21 He shall bring his trespass offering to Yahweh, to the door of
the Tent of Meeting, even a ram for a trespass offering.
Lev
19:22 The priest shall make atonement for him with the ram of the
trespass offering before Yahweh for his sin which he has committed:
and the sin which he has committed shall be forgiven him.
Lev
19:23 " 'When you come into the land, and have planted all
kinds of trees for food, then you shall count their fruit as
forbidden. Three years shall they be forbidden to you. It shall not
be eaten.
Lev
19:24 But in the fourth year all its fruit shall be holy, for giving
praise to Yahweh.
Lev
19:25 In the fifth year you shall eat its fruit, that it may yield
its increase to you. I am Yahweh your God.
Lev
19:26 " 'You shall not eat any meat with the blood still in it;
neither shall you use enchantments, nor practice sorcery.
Lev
19:27 " 'You shall not cut the hair on the sides of your heads,
neither shall you clip off the edge of your beard.
Lev
19:28 " 'You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the
dead, nor tattoo any marks on you. I am Yahweh.
Lev
19:29 " 'Don't profane your daughter, to make her a prostitute;
lest the land fall to prostitution, and the land become full of
wickedness.
Lev
19:30 " 'You shall keep my Sabbaths, and reverence my
sanctuary; I am Yahweh.
Lev
19:31 " 'Don't turn to those who are mediums, nor to the
wizards. Don't seek them out, to be defiled by them. I am Yahweh your
God.
Lev
19:32 " 'You shall rise up before the gray head, and honor the
face of an old man, and you shall fear your God. I am Yahweh.
Lev
19:33 " 'If a stranger lives as a foreigner with you in your
land, you shall not do him wrong.
Lev
19:34 The stranger who lives as a foreigner with you shall be to you
as the native-born among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for
you lived as foreigners in the land of Egypt. I am Yahweh your God.
Lev
19:35 " 'You shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, in
measures of length, of weight, or of quantity.
Lev
19:36 You shall have just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and
a just hin. I am Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of
Egypt.
Lev
19:37 You shall observe all my statutes, and all my ordinances, and
do them. I am Yahweh.' "
Lev
20:1 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
Lev
20:2 "Moreover, you shall tell the children of Israel, 'Anyone
of the children of Israel, or of the strangers who live as foreigners
in Israel, who gives any of his seed to Molech; he shall surely be
put to death. The people of the land shall stone him with stones.
Lev
20:3 I also will set my face against that person, and will cut him
off from among his people because he has given of his seed to Molech,
to defile my sanctuary, and to profane my holy name.
Lev
20:4 If the people of the land all hide their eyes from that person,
when he gives of his seed to Molech, and don't put him to death;
Lev
20:5 then I will set my face against that man, and against his
family, and will cut him off, and all who play the prostitute after
him, to play the prostitute with Molech, from among their people.
Lev
20:6 " 'The person that turns to those who are mediums, and to
the wizards, to play the prostitute after them, I will even set my
face against that person, and will cut him off from among his people.
Lev
20:7 " 'Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be holy; for I am
Yahweh your God.
Lev
20:8 You shall keep my statutes, and do them. I am Yahweh who
sanctifies you.
Lev
20:9 " 'For everyone who curses his father or his mother shall
surely be put to death: he has cursed his father or his mother; his
blood shall be upon him.
Lev
20:10 " 'The man who commits adultery with another man's wife,
even he who commits adultery with his neighbor's wife, the adulterer
and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.
Lev
20:11 The man who lies with his father's wife has uncovered his
father's nakedness: both of them shall surely be put to death; their
blood shall be upon them.
Lev
20:12 " 'If a man lies with his daughter-in-law, both of them
shall surely be put to death: they have committed a perversion; their
blood shall be upon them.
Lev
20:13 " 'If a man lies with a male, as with a woman, both of
them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to
death; their blood shall be upon them.
Lev
20:14 " 'If a man takes a wife and her mother, it is
wickedness: they shall be burned with fire, both he and they; that
there may be no wickedness among you.
Lev
20:15 " 'If a man lies with an animal, he shall surely be put
to death; and you shall kill the animal.
Lev
20:16 " 'If a woman approaches any animal, and lies down with
it, you shall kill the woman, and the animal: they shall surely be
put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
Lev
20:17 " 'If a man takes his sister, his father's daughter, or
his mother's daughter, and sees her nakedness, and she sees his
nakedness; it is a shameful thing; and they shall be cut off in the
sight of the children of their people: he has uncovered his sister's
nakedness; he shall bear his iniquity.
Lev
20:18 " 'If a man lies with a woman having her monthly period,
and uncovers her nakedness; he has made naked her fountain, and she
has uncovered the fountain of her blood: and both of them shall be
cut off from among their people.
Lev
20:19 " 'You shall not uncover the nakedness of your mother's
sister, nor of your father's sister; for he has made naked his close
relative: they shall bear their iniquity.
Lev
20:20 If a man lies with his uncle's wife, he has uncovered his
uncle's nakedness: they shall bear their sin; they shall die
childless.
Lev
20:21 " 'If a man takes his brother's wife, it is an impurity:
he has uncovered his brother's nakedness; they shall be childless.
Lev
20:22 " 'You shall therefore keep all my statutes, and all my
ordinances, and do them; that the land, where I am bringing you to
dwell, may not vomit you out.
Lev
20:23 You shall not walk in the customs of the nation, which I am
casting out before you: for they did all these things, and therefore
I abhorred them.
Lev
20:24 But I have said to you, "You shall inherit their land,
and I will give it to you to possess it, a land flowing with milk and
honey." I am Yahweh your God, who has separated you from the
peoples.
Lev
20:25 " 'You shall therefore make a distinction between the
clean animal and the unclean, and between the unclean fowl and the
clean: and you shall not make yourselves abominable by animal, or by
bird, or by anything with which the ground teems, which I have
separated from you as unclean for you.
Lev
20:26 You shall be holy to me: for I, Yahweh, am holy, and have set
you apart from the peoples, that you should be mine.
Lev
20:27 " 'A man or a woman that is a medium, or is a wizard,
shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones;
their blood shall be upon them.' "
Mar. 31 and April 1
Luke 2
Luk 2:1
Now it happened in those days, that a decree went out from Caesar
Augustus that all the world should be enrolled.
Luk 2:2
This was the first enrollment made when Quirinius was governor of
Syria.
Luk 2:3
All went to enroll themselves, everyone to his own city.
Luk 2:4
Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into
Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he
was of the house and family of David;
Luk 2:5
to enroll himself with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him as
wife, being pregnant.
Luk 2:6
It happened, while they were there, that the day had come that she
should give birth.
Luk 2:7
She brought forth her firstborn son, and she wrapped him in bands of
cloth, and laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no room
for them in the inn.
Luk 2:8
There were shepherds in the same country staying in the field, and
keeping watch by night over their flock.
Luk 2:9
Behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the
Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
Luk
2:10 The angel said to them, "Don't be afraid, for behold, I
bring you good news of great joy which will be to all the people.
Luk
2:11 For there is born to you, this day, in the city of David, a
Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
Luk
2:12 This is the sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in strips
of cloth, lying in a feeding trough."
Luk
2:13 Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly
army praising God, and saying,
Luk
2:14 "Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good will
toward men."
Luk
2:15 It happened, when the angels went away from them into the sky,
that the shepherds said one to another, "Let's go to Bethlehem,
now, and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made
known to us."
Luk
2:16 They came with haste, and found both Mary and Joseph, and the
baby was lying in the feeding trough.
Luk
2:17 When they saw it, they publicized widely the saying which was
spoken to them about this child.
Luk
2:18 All who heard it wondered at the things which were spoken to
them by the shepherds.
Luk
2:19 But Mary kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart.
Luk
2:20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the
things that they had heard and seen, just as it was told them.
Luk
2:21 When eight days were fulfilled for the circumcision of the
child, his name was called Jesus, which was given by the angel before
he was conceived in the womb.
Luk
2:22 When the days of their purification according to the law of
Moses were fulfilled, they brought him up to Jerusalem, to present
him to the Lord
Luk
2:23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male who
opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord"),
Luk
2:24 and to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the
law of the Lord, "A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons."
Luk
2:25 Behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon.
This man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of
Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him.
Luk
2:26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should
not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
Luk
2:27 He came in the Spirit into the temple. When the parents brought
in the child, Jesus, that they might do concerning him according to
the custom of the law,
Luk
2:28 then he received him into his arms, and blessed God, and said,
Luk
2:29 "Now you are releasing your servant, Master, according to
your word, in peace;
Luk
2:30 for my eyes have seen your salvation,
Luk
2:31 which you have prepared before the face of all peoples;
Luk
2:32 a light for revelation to the nations, and the glory of your
people Israel."
Luk
2:33 Joseph and his mother were marveling at the things which were
spoken concerning him,
Luk
2:34 and Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary, his mother, "Behold,
this child is set for the falling and the rising of many in Israel,
and for a sign which is spoken against.
Luk
2:35 Yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul, that the
thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."
Luk
2:36 There was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of
the tribe of Asher (she was of a great age, having lived with a
husband seven years from her virginity,
Luk
2:37 and she had been a widow for about eighty-four years), who
didn't depart from the temple, worshipping with fastings and
petitions night and day.
Luk
2:38 Coming up at that very hour, she gave thanks to the Lord, and
spoke of him to all those who were looking for redemption in
Jerusalem.
Luk
2:39 When they had accomplished all things that were according to
the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city,
Nazareth.
Luk
2:40 The child was growing, and was becoming strong in spirit, being
filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.
Luk
2:41 His parents went every year to Jerusalem at the feast of the
Passover.
Luk
2:42 When he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem
according to the custom of the feast,
Luk
2:43 and when they had fulfilled the days, as they were returning,
the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. Joseph and his mother
didn't know it,
Luk
2:44 but supposing him to be in the company, they went a day's
journey, and they looked for him among their relatives and
acquaintances.
Luk
2:45 When they didn't find him, they returned to Jerusalem, looking
for him.
Luk
2:46 It happened after three days they found him in the temple,
sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them, and
asking them questions.
Luk
2:47 All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his
answers.
Luk
2:48 When they saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to
him, "Son, why have you treated us this way? Behold, your father
and I were anxiously looking for you."
Luk
2:49 He said to them, "Why were you looking for me? Didn't you
know that I must be in my Father's house?"
Luk
2:50 They didn't understand the saying which he spoke to them.
Luk
2:51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth. He was
subject to them, and his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.
Luk
2:52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with
God and men.
