Exodus 8
20And the LORD said to Moses, "Rise early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh as he comes out to the water. Then say to him, "Thus says the LORD: "Let My people go, that they may serve Me.
21Or else, if you will not let My people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies on you and your servants, on your people and into your houses. The houses of the Egyptians shall be full of swarms of flies, and also the ground on which they stand.
22And in that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, in which My people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there, in order that you may know that I am the LORD in the midst of the land.
23I will make a difference between My people and your people. Tomorrow this sign shall be.""'
24And the LORD did so. Thick swarms of flies came into the house of Pharaoh, into his servants' houses, and into all the land of Egypt. The land was corrupted because of the swarms of flies.
25Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, "Go, sacrifice to your God in the land."
26And Moses said, "It is not right to do so, for we would be sacrificing the abomination of the Egyptians to the LORD our God. If we sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians before their eyes, then will they not stone us?
27We will go three days' journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to the LORD our God as He will command us."
28So Pharaoh said, "I will let you go, that you may sacrifice to the LORD your God in the wilderness; only you shall not go very far away. Intercede for me."
29Then Moses said, "Indeed I am going out from you, and I will entreat the LORD, that the swarms of flies may depart tomorrow from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people. But let Pharaoh not deal deceitfully anymore in not letting the people go to sacrifice to the LORD."
30So Moses went out from Pharaoh and entreated the LORD.
31And the LORD did according to the word of Moses; He removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people. Not one remained.
32But Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also; neither would he let the people go.
Exodus 9
1Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go in to Pharaoh and tell him, "Thus says the LORD God of the Hebrews: "Let My people go, that they may serve Me.
2For if you refuse to let them go, and still hold them,
3behold, the hand of the LORD will be on your cattle in the field, on the horses, on the donkeys, on the camels, on the oxen, and on the sheep--a very severe pestilence.
4And the LORD will make a difference between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt. So nothing shall die of all that belongs to the children of Israel.""'
5Then the LORD appointed a set time, saying, "Tomorrow the LORD will do this thing in the land."
6So the LORD did this thing on the next day, and all the livestock of Egypt died; but of the livestock of the children of Israel, not one died.
7Then Pharaoh sent, and indeed, not even one of the livestock of the Israelites was dead. But the heart of Pharaoh became hard, and he did not let the people go.
8So the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Take for yourselves handfuls of ashes from a furnace, and let Moses scatter it toward the heavens in the sight of Pharaoh.
9And it will become fine dust in all the land of Egypt, and it will cause boils that break out in sores on man and beast throughout all the land of Egypt."
10Then they took ashes from the furnace and stood before Pharaoh, and Moses scattered them toward heaven. And they caused boils that break out in sores on man and beast.
11And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils, for the boils were on the magicians and on all the Egyptians.
12But the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh; and he did not heed them, just as the LORD had spoken to Moses.
13Then the LORD said to Moses, "Rise early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh, and say to him, "Thus says the LORD God of the Hebrews: "Let My people go, that they may serve Me,
14for at this time I will send all My plagues to your very heart, and on your servants and on your people, that you may know that there is none like Me in all the earth.
15Now if I had stretched out My hand and struck you and your people with pestilence, then you would have been cut off from the earth.
16But indeed for this purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.
17As yet you exalt yourself against My people in that you will not let them go.
18Behold, tomorrow about this time I will cause very heavy hail to rain down, such as has not been in Egypt since its founding until now.
19Therefore send now and gather your livestock and all that you have in the field, for the hail shall come down on every man and every animal which is found in the field and is not brought home; and they shall die.""'
20He who feared the word of the LORD among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his livestock flee to the houses.
21But he who did not regard the word of the LORD left his servants and his livestock in the field.
22Then the LORD said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt--on man, on beast, and on every herb of the field, throughout the land of Egypt."
23And Moses stretched out his rod toward heaven; and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and fire darted to the ground. And the LORD rained hail on the land of Egypt.
24So there was hail, and fire mingled with the hail, so very heavy that there was none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation.
25And the hail struck throughout the whole land of Egypt, all that was in the field, both man and beast; and the hail struck every herb of the field and broke every tree of the field.
26Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, there was no hail.
27And Pharaoh sent and called for Moses and Aaron, and said to them, "I have sinned this time. The LORD is righteous, and my people and I are wicked.
28Entreat the LORD, that there may be no more mighty thundering and hail, for it is enough. I will let you go, and you shall stay no longer."
29So Moses said to him, "As soon as I have gone out of the city, I will spread out my hands to the LORD; the thunder will cease, and there will be no more hail, that you may know that the earth is the LORD's.
30But as for you and your servants, I know that you will not yet fear the LORD God."
31Now the flax and the barley were struck, for the barley was in the head and the flax was in bud.
32But the wheat and the spelt were not struck, for they are late crops.
33So Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh and spread out his hands to the LORD; then the thunder and the hail ceased, and the rain was not poured on the earth.
34And when Pharaoh saw that the rain, the hail, and the thunder had ceased, he sinned yet more; and he hardened his heart, he and his servants.
35So the heart of Pharaoh was hard; neither would he let the children of Israel go, as the LORD had spoken by Moses.
Isaiah 41
4Who has performed and done it, Calling the generations from the beginning? "I, the LORD, am the first; And with the last I am He."'
5The coastlands saw it and feared, The ends of the earth were afraid; They drew near and came.
6Everyone helped his neighbor, And said to his brother, "Be of good courage!"
7So the craftsman encouraged the goldsmith; He who smooths with the hammer inspired him who strikes the anvil, Saying, "It is ready for the soldering"; Then he fastened it with pegs, That it might not totter.
8"But you, Israel, are My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, The descendants of Abraham My friend.
9You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, And called from its farthest regions, And said to you, "You are My servant, I have chosen you and have not cast you away:
10Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.'
11"Behold, all those who were incensed against you Shall be ashamed and disgraced; They shall be as nothing, And those who strive with you shall perish.
12You shall seek them and not find them-- Those who contended with you. Those who war against you Shall be as nothing, As a nonexistent thing.
13For I, the LORD your God, will hold your right hand, Saying to you, "Fear not, I will help you.'
14"Fear not, you worm Jacob, You men of Israel! I will help you," says the LORD And your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.
Joel 3
9Proclaim this among the nations: "Prepare for war! Wake up the mighty men, Let all the men of war draw near, Let them come up.
10Beat your plowshares into swords And your pruning hooks into spears; Let the weak say, "I am strong."'
11Assemble and come, all you nations, And gather together all around. Cause Your mighty ones to go down there, O LORD.
12"Let the nations be wakened, and come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; For there I will sit to judge all the surrounding nations.
13Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, go down; For the winepress is full, The vats overflow-- For their wickedness is great."
14Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.
15The sun and moon will grow dark, And the stars will diminish their brightness.
16The LORD also will roar from Zion, And utter His voice from Jerusalem; The heavens and earth will shake; But the LORD will be a shelter for His people, And the strength of the children of Israel.
17"So you shall know that I am the LORD your God, Dwelling in Zion My holy mountain. Then Jerusalem shall be holy, And no aliens shall ever pass through her again."
18And it will come to pass in that day That the mountains shall drip with new wine, The hills shall flow with milk, And all the brooks of Judah shall be flooded with water; A fountain shall flow from the house of the LORD And water the Valley of Acacias.
19"Egypt shall be a desolation, And Edom a desolate wilderness, Because of violence against the people of Judah, For they have shed innocent blood in their land.
20But Judah shall abide forever, And Jerusalem from generation to generation.
21For I will acquit them of the guilt of bloodshed, whom I had not acquitted; For the LORD dwells in Zion."
Job 28
12"But where can wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?
13Man does not know its value, Nor is it found in the land of the living.
14The deep says, "It is not in me'; And the sea says, "It is not with me.'
15It cannot be purchased for gold, Nor can silver be weighed for its price.
16It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir, In precious onyx or sapphire.
17Neither gold nor crystal can equal it, Nor can it be exchanged for jewelry of fine gold.
18No mention shall be made of coral or quartz, For the price of wisdom is above rubies.
19The topaz of Ethiopia cannot equal it, Nor can it be valued in pure gold.
20"From where then does wisdom come? And where is the place of understanding?
21It is hidden from the eyes of all living, And concealed from the birds of the air.
22Destruction and Death say, "We have heard a report about it with our ears.'
23God understands its way, And He knows its place.
24For He looks to the ends of the earth, And sees under the whole heavens,
25To establish a weight for the wind, And apportion the waters by measure.
26When He made a law for the rain, And a path for the thunderbolt,
27Then He saw wisdom and declared it; He prepared it, indeed, He searched it out.
28And to man He said, "Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, And to depart from evil is understanding."'
Proverbs 4
10Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, And the years of your life will be many.
11I have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in right paths.
12When you walk, your steps will not be hindered, And when you run, you will not stumble.
13Take firm hold of instruction, do not let go; Keep her, for she is your life.
14Do not enter the path of the wicked, And do not walk in the way of evil.
15Avoid it, do not travel on it; Turn away from it and pass on.
16For they do not sleep unless they have done evil; And their sleep is taken away unless they make someone fall.
17For they eat the bread of wickedness, And drink the wine of violence.
18But the path of the just is like the shining sun, That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.
19The way of the wicked is like darkness; They do not know what makes them stumble.
1 Samuel 1
1Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim Zophim, of the mountains of Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.
2And he had two wives: the name of one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.
3This man went up from his city yearly to worship and sacrifice to the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. Also the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, were there.
4And whenever the time came for Elkanah to make an offering, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters.
5But to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved Hannah, although the LORD had closed her womb.
6And her rival also provoked her severely, to make her miserable, because the LORD had closed her womb.
7So it was, year by year, when she went up to the house of the LORD, that she provoked her; therefore she wept and did not eat.
8Then Elkanah her husband said to her, "Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not eat? And why is your heart grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?"
9So Hannah arose after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of the tabernacle of the LORD.
10And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the LORD and wept in anguish.
11Then she made a vow and said, "O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head."
12And it happened, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli watched her mouth.
13Now Hannah spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk.
14So Eli said to her, "How long will you be drunk? Put your wine away from you!"
15But Hannah answered and said, "No, my lord, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD.
16Do not consider your maidservant a wicked woman, for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief I have spoken until now."
17Then Eli answered and said, "Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him."
18And she said, "Let your maidservant find favor in your sight." So the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.
19Then they rose early in the morning and worshiped before the LORD, and returned and came to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the LORD remembered her.
20So it came to pass in the process of time that Hannah conceived and bore a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, "Because I have asked for him from the LORD."
21Now the man Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to the LORD the yearly sacrifice and his vow.
22But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, "Not until the child is weaned; then I will take him, that he may appear before the LORD and remain there forever."
23So Elkanah her husband said to her, "Do what seems best to you; wait until you have weaned him. Only let the LORD establish His word." Then the woman stayed and nursed her son until she had weaned him.
24Now when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bulls, one ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of the LORD in Shiloh. And the child was young.
25Then they slaughtered a bull, and brought the child to Eli.
26And she said, "O my lord! As your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood by you here, praying to the LORD.
27For this child I prayed, and the LORD has granted me my petition which I asked of Him.
28Therefore I also have lent him to the LORD; as long as he lives he shall be lent to the LORD." So they worshiped the LORD there.
1 Samuel 2
1And Hannah prayed and said: "My heart rejoices in the LORD; My horn is exalted in the LORD. I smile at my enemies, Because I rejoice in Your salvation.
2"No one is holy like the LORD, For there is none besides You, Nor is there any rock like our God.
3"Talk no more so very proudly; Let no arrogance come from your mouth, For the LORD is the God of knowledge; And by Him actions are weighed.
4"The bows of the mighty men are broken, And those who stumbled are girded with strength.
5Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, And the hungry have ceased to hunger. Even the barren has borne seven, And she who has many children has become feeble.
6"The LORD kills and makes alive; He brings down to the grave and brings up.
7The LORD makes poor and makes rich; He brings low and lifts up.
8He raises the poor from the dust And lifts the beggar from the ash heap, To set them among princes And make them inherit the throne of glory. "For the pillars of the earth are the LORD's, And He has set the world upon them.
9He will guard the feet of His saints, But the wicked shall be silent in darkness. "For by strength no man shall prevail.
10The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken in pieces; From heaven He will thunder against them. The LORD will judge the ends of the earth. "He will give strength to His king, And exalt the horn of His anointed."
11Then Elkanah went to his house at Ramah. But the child ministered to the LORD before Eli the priest.
12Now the sons of Eli were corrupt; they did not know the LORD.
13And the priests' custom with the people was that when any man offered a sacrifice, the priest's servant would come with a three-pronged fleshhook in his hand while the meat was boiling.
14Then he would thrust it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; and the priest would take for himself all that the fleshhook brought up. So they did in Shiloh to all the Israelites who came there.
15Also, before they burned the fat, the priest's servant would come and say to the man who sacrificed, "Give meat for roasting to the priest, for he will not take boiled meat from you, but raw."
16And if the man said to him, "They should really burn the fat first; then you may take as much as your heart desires," he would then answer him, "No, but you must give it now; and if not, I will take it by force."
17Therefore the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD, for men abhorred the offering of the LORD.
18But Samuel ministered before the LORD, even as a child, wearing a linen ephod.
19Moreover his mother used to make him a little robe, and bring it to him year by year when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.
20And Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, and say, "The LORD give you descendants from this woman for the loan that was given to the LORD." Then they would go to their own home.
21And the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile the child Samuel grew before the LORD.
Glory be to God forever. Amen.