Genesis 22
1Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am."
2Then He said, "Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you."
3So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.
4Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off.
5And Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you."
6So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together.
7But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, "My father!" And he said, "Here I am, my son." Then he said, "Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?"
8And Abraham said, "My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering." So the two of them went together.
9Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood.
10And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.
11But the Angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" So he said, "Here I am."
12And He said, "Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me."
13Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son.
14And Abraham called the name of the place, The-LORD-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, "In the Mount of the LORD it shall be provided."
15Then the Angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time out of heaven,
16and said: "By Myself I have sworn, says the LORD, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son--
17blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies.
18In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice."
Isaiah 45
11Thus says the LORD, The Holy One of Israel, and his Maker: "Ask Me of things to come concerning My sons; And concerning the work of My hands, you command Me.
12I have made the earth, And created man on it. I--My hands--stretched out the heavens, And all their host I have commanded.
13I have raised him up in righteousness, And I will direct all his ways; He shall build My city And let My exiles go free, Not for price nor reward," Says the LORD of hosts.
14Thus says the LORD: "The labor of Egypt and merchandise of Cush And of the Sabeans, men of stature, Shall come over to you, and they shall be yours; They shall walk behind you, They shall come over in chains; And they shall bow down to you. They will make supplication to you, saying, "Surely God is in you, And there is no other; There is no other God."'
15Truly You are God, who hide Yourself, O God of Israel, the Savior!
16They shall be ashamed And also disgraced, all of them; They shall go in confusion together, Who are makers of idols.
17But Israel shall be saved by the LORD With an everlasting salvation; You shall not be ashamed or disgraced Forever and ever.
Proverbs 9
12If you are wise, you are wise for yourself, And if you scoff, you will bear it alone."
13A foolish woman is clamorous; She is simple, and knows nothing.
14For she sits at the door of her house, On a seat by the highest places of the city,
15To call to those who pass by, Who go straight on their way:
16"Whoever is simple, let him turn in here"; And as for him who lacks understanding, she says to him,
17"Stolen water is sweet, And bread eaten in secret is pleasant."
18But he does not know that the dead are there, That her guests are in the depths of hell.
Proverbs 9:19-25
Job 36
1Elihu also proceeded and said:
2"Bear with me a little, and I will show you That there are yet words to speak on God's behalf.
3I will fetch my knowledge from afar; I will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
4For truly my words are not false; One who is perfect in knowledge is with you.
5"Behold, God is mighty, but despises no one; He is mighty in strength of understanding.
6He does not preserve the life of the wicked, But gives justice to the oppressed.
7He does not withdraw His eyes from the righteous; But they are on the throne with kings, For He has seated them forever, And they are exalted.
8And if they are bound in fetters, Held in the cords of affliction,
9Then He tells them their work and their transgressions-- That they have acted defiantly.
10He also opens their ear to instruction, And commands that they turn from iniquity.
11If they obey and serve Him, They shall spend their days in prosperity, And their years in pleasures.
12But if they do not obey, They shall perish by the sword, And they shall die without knowledge.
13"But the hypocrites in heart store up wrath; They do not cry for help when He binds them.
14They die in youth, And their life ends among the perverted persons.
15He delivers the poor in their affliction, And opens their ears in oppression.
16"Indeed He would have brought you out of dire distress, Into a broad place where there is no restraint; And what is set on your table would be full of richness.
17But you are filled with the judgment due the wicked; Judgment and justice take hold of you.
18Because there is wrath, beware lest He take you away with one blow; For a large ransom would not help you avoid it.
19Will your riches, Or all the mighty forces, Keep you from distress?
20Do not desire the night, When people are cut off in their place.
21Take heed, do not turn to iniquity, For you have chosen this rather than affliction.
22"Behold, God is exalted by His power; Who teaches like Him?
23Who has assigned Him His way, Or who has said, "You have done wrong'?
24"Remember to magnify His work, Of which men have sung.
25Everyone has seen it; Man looks on it from afar.
26"Behold, God is great, and we do not know Him; Nor can the number of His years be discovered.
27For He draws up drops of water, Which distill as rain from the mist,
28Which the clouds drop down And pour abundantly on man.
29Indeed, can anyone understand the spreading of clouds, The thunder from His canopy?
30Look, He scatters His light upon it, And covers the depths of the sea.
31For by these He judges the peoples; He gives food in abundance.
32He covers His hands with lightning, And commands it to strike.
33His thunder declares it, The cattle also, concerning the rising storm.
Job 37
1"At this also my heart trembles, And leaps from its place.
2Hear attentively the thunder of His voice, And the rumbling that comes from His mouth.
3He sends it forth under the whole heaven, His lightning to the ends of the earth.
4After it a voice roars; He thunders with His majestic voice, And He does not restrain them when His voice is heard.
5God thunders marvelously with His voice; He does great things which we cannot comprehend.
6For He says to the snow, "Fall on the earth'; Likewise to the gentle rain and the heavy rain of His strength.
7He seals the hand of every man, That all men may know His work.
8The beasts go into dens, And remain in their lairs.
9From the chamber of the south comes the whirlwind, And cold from the scattering winds of the north.
10By the breath of God ice is given, And the broad waters are frozen.
11Also with moisture He saturates the thick clouds; He scatters His bright clouds.
12And they swirl about, being turned by His guidance, That they may do whatever He commands them On the face of the whole earth.
13He causes it to come, Whether for correction, Or for His land, Or for mercy.
14"Listen to this, O Job; Stand still and consider the wondrous works of God.
15Do you know when God dispatches them, And causes the light of His cloud to shine?
16Do you know how the clouds are balanced, Those wondrous works of Him who is perfect in knowledge?
17Why are your garments hot, When He quiets the earth by the south wind?
18With Him, have you spread out the skies, Strong as a cast metal mirror?
19"Teach us what we should say to Him, For we can prepare nothing because of the darkness.
20Should He be told that I wish to speak? If a man were to speak, surely he would be swallowed up.
21Even now men cannot look at the light when it is bright in the skies, When the wind has passed and cleared them.
22He comes from the north as golden splendor; With God is awesome majesty.
23As for the Almighty, we cannot find Him; He is excellent in power, In judgment and abundant justice; He does not oppress.
24Therefore men fear Him; He shows no partiality to any who are wise of heart."
Tobit
Glory be to God forever. Amen.