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Today's Readings
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Wednesday, 29th May 2024 --- 21 Bashans 1740
Exodus 19 : 1 - 9
Chapter 19
| 1 | In the third month after the children of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on the same day, they came to the Wilderness of Sinai.
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| 2 | For they had departed from Rephidim, had come to the Wilderness of Sinai, and camped in the wilderness. So Israel camped there before the mountain.
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| 3 | And Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain, saying, "Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel:
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| 4 | "You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to Myself.
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| 5 | Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine.
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| 6 | And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel."
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| 7 | So Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before them all these words which the LORD commanded him.
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| 8 | Then all the people answered together and said, "All that the LORD has spoken we will do." So Moses brought back the words of the people to the LORD.
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| 9 | And the LORD said to Moses, "Behold, I come to you in the thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and believe you forever." So Moses told the words of the people to the LORD.
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Job 23 : 2 - 24 : 25
Chapter 23
| 2 | "Even today my complaint is bitter; My hand is listless because of my groaning.
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| 3 | Oh, that I knew where I might find Him, That I might come to His seat!
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| 4 | I would present my case before Him, And fill my mouth with arguments.
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| 5 | I would know the words which He would answer me, And understand what He would say to me.
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| 6 | Would He contend with me in His great power? No! But He would take note of me.
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| 7 | There the upright could reason with Him, And I would be delivered forever from my Judge.
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| 8 | "Look, I go forward, but He is not there, And backward, but I cannot perceive Him;
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| 9 | When He works on the left hand, I cannot behold Him; When He turns to the right hand, I cannot see Him.
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| 10 | But He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.
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| 11 | My foot has held fast to His steps; I have kept His way and not turned aside.
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| 12 | I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth More than my necessary food.
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| 13 | "But He is unique, and who can make Him change? And whatever His soul desires, that He does.
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| 14 | For He performs what is appointed for me, And many such things are with Him.
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| 15 | Therefore I am terrified at His presence; When I consider this, I am afraid of Him.
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| 16 | For God made my heart weak, And the Almighty terrifies me;
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| 17 | Because I was not cut off from the presence of darkness, And He did not hide deep darkness from my face.
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Chapter 24
| 1 | "Since times are not hidden from the Almighty, Why do those who know Him see not His days?
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| 2 | "Some remove landmarks; They seize flocks violently and feed on them;
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| 3 | They drive away the donkey of the fatherless; They take the widow's ox as a pledge.
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| 4 | They push the needy off the road; All the poor of the land are forced to hide.
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| 5 | Indeed, like wild donkeys in the desert, They go out to their work, searching for food. The wilderness yields food for them and for their children.
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| 6 | They gather their fodder in the field And glean in the vineyard of the wicked.
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| 7 | They spend the night naked, without clothing, And have no covering in the cold.
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| 8 | They are wet with the showers of the mountains, And huddle around the rock for want of shelter.
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| 9 | "Some snatch the fatherless from the breast, And take a pledge from the poor.
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| 10 | They cause the poor to go naked, without clothing; And they take away the sheaves from the hungry.
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| 11 | They press out oil within their walls, And tread winepresses, yet suffer thirst.
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| 12 | The dying groan in the city, And the souls of the wounded cry out; Yet God does not charge them with wrong.
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| 13 | "There are those who rebel against the light; They do not know its ways Nor abide in its paths.
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| 14 | The murderer rises with the light; He kills the poor and needy; And in the night he is like a thief.
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| 15 | The eye of the adulterer waits for the twilight, Saying, "No eye will see me'; And he disguises his face.
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| 16 | In the dark they break into houses Which they marked for themselves in the daytime; They do not know the light.
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| 17 | For the morning is the same to them as the shadow of death; If someone recognizes them, They are in the terrors of the shadow of death.
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| 18 | "They should be swift on the face of the waters, Their portion should be cursed in the earth, So that no one would turn into the way of their vineyards.
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| 19 | As drought and heat consume the snow waters, So the grave consumes those who have sinned.
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| 20 | The womb should forget him, The worm should feed sweetly on him; He should be remembered no more, And wickedness should be broken like a tree.
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| 21 | For he preys on the barren who do not bear, And does no good for the widow.
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| 22 | "But God draws the mighty away with His power; He rises up, but no man is sure of life.
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| 23 | He gives them security, and they rely on it; Yet His eyes are on their ways.
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| 24 | They are exalted for a little while, Then they are gone. They are brought low; They are taken out of the way like all others; They dry out like the heads of grain.
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| 25 | "Now if it is not so, who will prove me a liar, And make my speech worth nothing?"
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Hosea 4 : 1 - 8
Chapter 4
| 1 | Hear the word of the LORD, You children of Israel, For the LORD brings a charge against the inhabitants of the land: "There is no truth or mercy Or knowledge of God in the land.
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| 2 | By swearing and lying, Killing and stealing and committing adultery, They break all restraint, With bloodshed upon bloodshed.
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| 3 | Therefore the land will mourn; And everyone who dwells there will waste away With the beasts of the field And the birds of the air; Even the fish of the sea will be taken away.
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| 4 | "Now let no man contend, or rebuke another; For your people are like those who contend with the priest.
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| 5 | Therefore you shall stumble in the day; The prophet also shall stumble with you in the night; And I will destroy your mother.
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| 6 | My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.
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| 7 | "The more they increased, The more they sinned against Me; I will change their glory into shame.
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| 8 | They eat up the sin of My people; They set their heart on their iniquity.
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Acknowledgement
Opening page