Baramhat 18, 1742

¹Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, ²all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, ³all ate the same spiritual food, ⁴and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. ⁵But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. ⁶Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. ⁷And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play." ⁸Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; ⁹nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; ¹⁰nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. ¹¹Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. ¹²Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. ¹³No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

¹²I write to you, little children, Because your sins are forgiven you for His name's sake. ¹³I write to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, Because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children, Because you have known the Father. ¹⁴I have written to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, And you have overcome the wicked one. ¹⁵Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ¹⁶For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world. ¹⁷And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

⁹But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great, ¹⁰to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, "This man is the great power of God." ¹¹And they heeded him because he had astonished them with his sorceries for a long time. ¹²But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. ¹³Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done. ¹⁴Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, ¹⁵who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. ¹⁶For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. ¹⁷Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

¹I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. ²My soul shall make its boast in the LORD; The humble shall hear of it and be glad. ³Oh, magnify the LORD with me, And let us exalt His name together. ⁴I sought the LORD, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears. ⁵They looked to Him and were radiant, And their faces were not ashamed. ⁶This poor man cried out, and the LORD heard him, And saved him out of all his troubles. ⁷The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them. ⁸Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! ⁹Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him. ¹⁰The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing. ¹¹Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD. ¹²Who is the man who desires life, And loves many days, that he may see good? ¹³Keep your tongue from evil, And your lips from speaking deceit. ¹⁴Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it. ¹⁵The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their cry. ¹⁶The face of the LORD is against those who do evil, To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. ¹⁷The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles. ¹⁸The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit. ¹⁹Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all. ²⁰He guards all his bones; Not one of them is broken. ²¹Evil shall slay the wicked, And those who hate the righteous shall be condemned. ²²The LORD redeems the soul of His servants, And none of those who trust in Him shall be condemned.

¹There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. ²This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him." ³Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." ⁴Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" ⁵Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. ⁶That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. ⁷Do not marvel that I said to you, "You must be born again.' ⁸The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit." ⁹Nicodemus answered and said to Him, "How can these things be?" ¹⁰Jesus answered and said to him, "Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? ¹¹Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. ¹²If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? ¹³No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.

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