Leviticus 1; John 20; Proverbs 17; Philippians 4

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Leviticus 1

Laws for Burnt Offerings

aThe Lord called Moses and spoke to him bfrom the tent of meeting, saying, Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, cWhen any one of you brings an offering to the Lord, you shall bring your offering of livestock from the herd or from the flock.

If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he shall offer da male without blemish. He shall bring it to the entrance of the tent of meeting, that he may be accepted before the Lord. eHe shall lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it shall be faccepted for him gto make atonement for him. Then he shall kill the bull before the Lord, and Aaron’s sons the priests shall bring the blood hand throw the blood against the sides of the altar that is at the entrance of the tent of meeting. Then he shall flay the burnt offering and cut it into pieces, and the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire on the altar and iarrange wood on the fire. And Aaron’s sons the priests shall arrange the pieces, the head, and the fat, on the wood that is on the fire on the altar; but its entrails and its legs he shall wash with water. And the priest shall burn all of it on the altar, as ja burnt offering, a food offering1 with a kpleasing aroma to the Lord.

10 If his gift for a burnt offering is from the flock, from the sheep or goats, he shall bring a male without blemish, 11 land he shall kill it on the north side of the altar before the Lord, and Aaron’s sons the priests shall throw its blood against the sides of the altar. 12 And he shall cut it into pieces, with its head and its fat, and the priest shall arrange them on the wood that is on the fire on the altar, 13 but the entrails and the legs he shall wash with water. And the priest shall offer all of it and burn it on the altar; it is ja burnt offering, a food offering with ka pleasing aroma to the Lord.

14 If his offering to the Lord is a burnt offering of birds, then he shall bring his offering of mturtledoves or pigeons. 15 And the priest shall bring it to the altar and wring off its head and burn it on the altar. Its blood shall be drained out on the side of the altar. 16 He shall remove its crop with its contents2 and cast it nbeside the altar on the east side, in the place for ashes. 17 He shall tear it open by its wings, but oshall not sever it completely. And the priest shall burn it on the altar, on the wood that is on the fire. It is a burnt offering, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the Lord.


John 20

The Resurrection

eNow on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that fthe stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, gthe one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and hwe do not know where they have laid him. iSo Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. And stooping to look in, he saw jthe linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, and kthe face cloth, which had been on Jesus’1 head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, lwho had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet mthey did not understand the Scripture, nthat he must rise from the dead. 10 Then the disciples went back to their homes.

Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene

11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. 12 And oshe saw ptwo angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. 13 They said to her, qWoman, why are you weeping? She said to them, rThey have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him. 14 Having said this, she turned around and ssaw Jesus standing, tbut she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, uWoman, why are you weeping? vWhom are you seeking? Supposing him to be wthe gardener, she said to him, Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away. 16 Jesus said to her, Mary. She turned and said to him in Aramaic,2 xRabboni! (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to ymy brothers and say to them, zI am ascending to my Father and your Father, to amy God and your God. 18 Mary Magdalene bwent and announced to the disciples, I have seen the Lordand that he had said these things to her.

Jesus Appears to the Disciples

19 cOn the evening dof that day, the first day of the week, ethe doors being locked where the disciples were ffor fear of the Jews,3 Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, gPeace be with you. 20 When he had said this, hhe showed them his hands and his side. Then ithe disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, Peace be with you. As jthe Father has sent me, keven so I am sending you. 22 And when he had said this, he lbreathed on them and said to them, mReceive the Holy Spirit. 23 nIf you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.

Jesus and Thomas

24 Now oThomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin,4 was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, We have seen the Lord. But he said to them, pUnless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.

26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. qAlthough the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, qPeace be with you. 27 Then he said to Thomas, rPut your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe. 28 Thomas answered him, sMy Lord and my God! 29 Jesus said to him, Have you believed because you have seen me? tBlessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.

The Purpose of This Book

30 uNow Jesus did many other signs vin the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 wbut these are written so that you may xbelieve that Jesus is the Christ, ythe Son of God, and that by believing zyou may have life ain his name.


Proverbs 17

mBetter is a dry morsel with quiet

than a house full of feasting1 with strife.

A servant who deals wisely will rule over na son who acts shamefully

and owill share the inheritance as one of the brothers.

pThe crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold,

qand the Lord tests hearts.

An evildoer listens to wicked lips,

and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.

Whoever mocks the poor rinsults his Maker;

he who is sglad at calamity will not go tunpunished.

uGrandchildren are vthe crown of the aged,

and the glory of children is their fathers.

Fine speech is not wbecoming to a fool;

still less is xfalse speech to a prince.

yA bribe is like a magic2 stone in the eyes of the one who gives it;

wherever he turns he prospers.

Whoever zcovers an offense seeks love,

but he who repeats a matter aseparates close friends.

10  A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding

than a hundred blows into a fool.

11  An evil man seeks only rebellion,

and ba cruel messenger will be sent against him.

12  Let a man meet ca she-bear robbed of her cubs

drather than a fool in his folly.

13  If anyone ereturns evil for good,

fevil will not depart from his house.

14  The beginning of strife is like letting out water,

so gquit before the quarrel breaks out.

15  He who hjustifies the wicked and he who icondemns the righteous

are both alike an abomination to the Lord.

16  Why should a fool have money in his hand jto buy wisdom

when he has no sense?

17  kA friend loves at all times,

and a brother is born for adversity.

18  One who lacks sense gives a pledge

and puts up security in the presence of his neighbor.

19  Whoever loves transgression loves strife;

he who lmakes his door high seeks destruction.

20  mA man of crooked heart does not discover good,

and one with a dishonest tongue falls into calamity.

21  He who nsires a fool gets himself sorrow,

and the father of a fool has no joy.

22  oA joyful heart is good medicine,

but a crushed spirit pdries up the bones.

23  The wicked accepts qa bribe in secret3

to rpervert the ways of justice.

24  sThe discerning sets his face toward wisdom,

but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.

25  nA foolish son is a grief to his father

tand bitterness to uher who bore him.

26  vTo impose a fine on a righteous man is not good,

nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.

27  Whoever wrestrains his words has knowledge,

and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.

28  Even a fool xwho keeps silent is considered wise;

when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.


Philippians 4

Therefore, my brothers,1 whom I love and jlong for, kmy joy and lcrown, mstand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.

Exhortation, Encouragement, and Prayer

I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to nagree in the Lord. Yes, I ask you also, true companion,2 help these women, who have labored3 side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, owhose names are in the book of life.

pRejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness4 be known to everyone. qThe Lord is at hand; rdo not be anxious about anything, sbut in everything by prayer and supplication twith thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And uthe peace of God, vwhich surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned5 and wreceived and heard and seen xin mepractice these things, and ythe God of peace will be with you.

God’s Provision

10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length zyou have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be acontent. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and bhunger, abundance and cneed. 13 I can do all things dthrough him who strengthens me.

14 Yet it was kind of you eto share6 my trouble. 15 And you Philippians yourselves know that fin the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, gno church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. 16 Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. 17 hNot that I seek the gift, but I seek ithe fruit that increases to your credit.7 18 I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, jhaving received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, ka fragrant offering, la sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. 19 And my God mwill supply every need of yours naccording to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 20 To oour God and Father be pglory forever and ever. Amen.

Final Greetings

21 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. qThe brothers who are with me greet you. 22 rAll the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household.

23 sThe grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.