Month: December 2019

Habakkuk

A Prayer of Habakkuk

1 This is a prayer of the prophet Habakkuk:

2 OLord, I have heard of what you have done,

and I am filled with awe.

Now do again in our times

the great deeds you used to do.

Be merciful, even when you are angry.

3 God is coming again from Edom;

the holy God is coming from the hills of Paran.

His splendor covers the heavens,

and the earth is full of his praise.

4 He comes with the brightness of lightning;

light flashes from his hand,

there where his power is hidden.

5 He sends disease before him

and commands death to follow him.

6 When he stops, the earth shakes;

at his glance the nations tremble.

The eternal mountains are shattered;

the everlasting hills sink down,

the hills where he walked in ancient times.

7 I saw the people of Cushan afraid

and the people of Midian tremble.

8 Was it the rivers that made you angry,Lord?

Was it the sea that made you furious?

You rode upon the clouds;

the storm cloud was your chariot,

as you brought victory to your people.

9 You got ready to use your bow,

ready to shoot your arrows.

Your lightning split open the earth.

10 When the mountains saw you, they trembled;

water poured down from the skies.

The waters under the earth roared,

and their waves rose high.

11 At the flash of your speeding arrows

and the gleam of your shining spear,

the sun and the moon stood still.

12 You marched across the earth in anger;

in fury you trampled the nations.

13 You went out to save your people,

to save your chosen king.

You struck down the leader of the wicked

and completely destroyed his followers.

14 Your arrows pierced the commander of his army

when it came like a storm to scatter us,

gloating like those who secretly oppress the poor.

15 You trampled the sea with your horses,

and the mighty waters foamed.

16 I hear all this, and I tremble;

my lips quiver with fear.

My body goes limp,

and my feet stumblebeneath me.

I will quietly wait for the time to come

when God will punish those who attack us.

17 Even though the fig trees have no fruit

and no grapes grow on the vines,

even though the olive crop fails

and the fields produce no grain,

even though the sheep all die

and the cattle stalls are empty,

18 I will still be joyful and glad,

because theLordGod is my savior.

19 The SovereignLordgives me strength.

He makes me sure-footed as a deer

and keeps me safe on the mountains.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/363/32k/HAB/3-c0b79a96b35f67fffd09831cdc14e299.mp3?version_id=68—

Zephaniah

Zephaniah Introduction

Introduction

The prophet Zephaniah preached in the latter part of the seventh century

b.c.

, probably in the decade before King Josiah’s religious reforms of 621

b.c.

The book contains the familiar prophetic themes: A day of doom and destruction is threatened, when Judah will be punished for her worship of other gods. The Lord will punish other nations also. Although Jerusalem is doomed, in time the city will be restored, with a humble and righteous people living there.

Outline of Contents

The day of the Lord’s judgment (1.1—2.3)

The doom of Israel’s neighbors (2.4-15)

Jerusalem’s doom and redemption (3.1-20)

Zephaniah

Zephaniah 1

1 This is the message that theLordgave to Zephaniah during the time that Josiah son of Amon was king of Judah. (Zephaniah was descended from King Hezekiah through Amariah, Gedaliah, and Cushi.)

The Day of the Lord’s Judgment

2 TheLordsaid, “I am going to destroy everything on earth,

3 all human beings and animals, birds and fish. I will bring about the downfall ofthe wicked. I will destroy everyone, and no survivors will be left. I, theLord, have spoken.

4 “I will punish the people of Jerusalem and of all Judah. I will destroy the last trace of the worship of Baal there, and no one will even remember the pagan priests who serve him.

5 I will destroy anyone who goes up on the roof and worships the sun, the moon, and the stars. I will also destroy those who worship me and swear loyalty to me, but then take oaths in the name of the god Molech.

6 I will destroy those who have turned back and no longer follow me, those who do not come to me or ask me to guide them.”

7 The day is near when theLordwill sit in judgment; so be silent in his presence. TheLordis preparing to sacrifice his people and has invited enemies to plunder Judah.

8 “On that day of slaughter,” says theLord, “I will punish the officials, the king’s sons, and all who practice foreign customs.

9 I will punish all who worship like pagans and who steal and kill in order to fill their master’s housewith loot.

10 “On that day,” says theLord, “you will hear the sound of crying at the Fish Gate in Jerusalem. You will hear wailing in the newer part of the city and a great crashing sound in the hills.

11 Wail and cry when you hear this, you that live in the lower part of the city, because all the merchants will be dead!

12 “At that time I will take a lamp and search Jerusalem. I will punish the people who are self-satisfied and confident, who say to themselves, ‘TheLordnever does anything, one way or the other.’

13 Their wealth will be looted and their houses destroyed. They will never live in the houses they are building or drink wine from the vineyards they are planting.”

14 The great day of theLordis near—very near and coming fast! That day will be bitter, for eventhe bravest soldiers will cry out in despair!

15 It will be a day of fury, a day of trouble and distress, a day of ruin and destruction, a day of darkness and gloom, a black and cloudy day,

16 a day filled with the sound of war trumpets and the battle cry of soldiers attacking fortified cities and high towers.

17 TheLordsays, “I will bring such disasters on the human race that everyone will grope about like someone blind. They have sinned against me, and now their blood will be poured out like water, and their dead bodies will lie rotting on the ground.”

18 On the day when theLordshows his fury, not even all their silver and gold will save them. The whole earth will be destroyed by the fire of his anger. He will put an end—a sudden end—to everyone who lives on earth.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/363/32k/ZEP/1-66f5af91a8044e0292f1e064c3e232b8.mp3?version_id=68—

Zephaniah

Zephaniah 2

A Plea for Repentance

1 Shameless nation, come to your senses

2 before you are driven away like chaff blown by the wind, before the burning anger of theLordcomes upon you, before the day when he shows his fury.

3 Turn to theLord, all you humble people of the land, who obey his commands. Do what is right, and humble yourselves before theLord. Perhaps you will escape punishment on the day when theLordshows his anger.

The Doom of the Nations around Judah

4 No one will be left in the city of Gaza. Ashkelon will be deserted. The people of Ashdod will be driven out in half a day,and the people of Ekron will be driven from their city.

5 You Philistines are doomed, you people who live along the coast. TheLordhas passed sentence on you. He will destroy you, and not one of you will be left.

6 Your land by the sea will become open fields with shepherd’s huts and sheep pens.

7 The people of Judah who survive will occupy your land. They will pasture their flocks there and sleep in the houses of Ashkelon. TheLordtheir God will be with them and make them prosper again.

8 TheLordAlmighty says, “I have heard the people of Moab and Ammon insulting and taunting my people, and boasting that they would seize their land.

9 As surely as I am the livingLord, the God of Israel, I swear that Moab and Ammon are going to be destroyed like Sodom and Gomorrah. They will become a place of salt pits and everlasting ruin, overgrown with weeds. Those of my people who survive will plunder them and take their land.”

10 That is how the people of Moab and Ammon will be punished for their pride and arrogance and for insulting the people of theLordAlmighty.

11 TheLordwill terrify them. He will reduce the gods of the earth to nothing, and then every nation will worship him, each in its own land.

12 TheLordwill also put the people of Ethiopiato death.

13 TheLordwill use his power to destroy Assyria. He will make the city of Nineveh a deserted ruin, a waterless desert.

14 It will be a place where flocks, herds, and animals of every kind will lie down. Owls will live among its ruins and hoot from the windows. Crowswill caw on the doorsteps. The cedar wood of her buildings will be stripped away.

15 That is what will happen to the city that is so proud of its own power and thinks it is safe. Its people think that their city is the greatest in the world. What a desolate place it will become, a place where wild animals will rest! Everyone who passes by will shrink back in horror.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/363/32k/ZEP/2-b79cb98146828c04e72b48c62477edd3.mp3?version_id=68—

Zephaniah

Zephaniah 3

Jerusalem’s Sin and Redemption

1 Jerusalem is doomed, that corrupt, rebellious city that oppresses its own people.

2 It has not listened to theLordor accepted his discipline. It has not put its trust in theLordor asked for his help.

3 Its officials are like roaring lions; its judges are like hungry wolves, too greedy to leave a bone until morning.

4 The prophets are irresponsible and treacherous; the priests defile what is sacred, and twist the law of God to their own advantage.

5 But theLordis still in the city; he does what is right and never what is wrong. Every morning without fail, he brings justice to his people. And yet the unrighteous people there keep on doing wrong and are not ashamed.

6 TheLordsays, “I have wiped out whole nations; I have destroyed their cities and left their walls and towers in ruins. The cities are deserted; the streets are empty—no one is left.

7 I thought that then my people would have reverence for me and accept my discipline, that they would never forgetthe lesson I taught them. But soon they were behaving as badly as ever.

8 “Just wait,” theLordsays. “Wait for the day when I rise to accuse the nations. I have made up my mind to gather nations and kingdoms in order to let them feel the force of my anger. The whole earth will be destroyed by the fire of my fury.

9 “Then I will change the people of the nations, and they will pray to me alone and not to other gods. They will all obey me.

10 Even from distant Ethiopiamy scattered people will bring offerings to me.

11 At that time you, my people, will no longer need to be ashamed that you rebelled against me. I will remove everyone who is proud and arrogant, and you will never again rebel against me on my sacred hill.

12 I will leave there a humble and lowly people, who will come to me for help.

13 The people of Israel who survive will do no wrong to anyone, tell no lies, nor try to deceive. They will be prosperous and secure, afraid of no one.”

A Song of Joy

14 Sing and shout for joy, people of Israel!

Rejoice with all your heart, Jerusalem!

15 TheLordhas stopped your punishment;

he has removed all your enemies.

TheLord, the king of Israel, is with you;

there is no reason now to be afraid.

16 The time is coming when they will say to Jerusalem,

“Do not be afraid, city of Zion!

Do not let your hands hang limp!

17 TheLordyour God is with you;

his power gives you victory.

TheLordwill take delight in you,

and in his love he will give you new life.

He will sing and be joyful over you,

18 as joyful as people at a festival.”

TheLordsays,

“I have ended the threat of doom

and taken away your disgrace.

19 The time is coming!

I will punish your oppressors;

I will rescue all the lame

and bring the exiles home.

I will turn their shame to honor,

and all the world will praise them.

20 The time is coming!

I will bring your scattered people home;

I will make you famous throughout the world

and make you prosperous once again.”

TheLordhas spoken.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/363/32k/ZEP/3-50762e3d8332673d868ba266be81ea01.mp3?version_id=68—

Haggai

Haggai Introduction

Introduction

The Book of Haggai

is a collection of brief messages that came from the Lord through the prophet Haggai in 520

b.c.

The people had returned from exile and had lived in Jerusalem for some years, but the Temple still lay in ruins. The messages urge the leaders of the people to rebuild the Temple, and the Lord promises prosperity and peace in the future for a renewed and purified people.

Outline of Contents

The command to rebuild the Temple (1.1-15)

Messages of comfort and hope (2.1-23)

Haggai

Haggai 1

The Lord’s Command to Rebuild the Temple

1 During the second year that Darius was emperor of Persia, on the first day of the sixth month, theLordspoke through the prophet Haggai. The message was for the governor of Judah, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, and for the High Priest, Joshua son of Jehozadak.

2 TheLordAlmighty said to Haggai, “These people say that this is not the right time to rebuild the Temple.”

3 TheLordthen gave this message to the people through the prophet Haggai:

4 “My people, why should you be living in well-built houses while my Temple lies in ruins?

5 Don’t you see what is happening to you?

6 You have planted much grain, but have harvested very little. You have food to eat, but not enough to make you full. You have wine to drink, but not enough to get drunk on! You have clothing, but not enough to keep you warm. And workers cannot earn enough to live on.

7 Can’t you see why this has happened?

8 Now go up into the hills, get lumber, and rebuild the Temple; then I will be pleased and will be worshiped as I should be.

9 “You hoped for large harvests, but they turned out to be small. And when you brought the harvest home, I blew it away.Why did I do that? Because my Temple lies in ruins while every one of you is busy working on your own house.

10 That is why there is no rain and nothing can grow.

11 I have brought drought on the land—on its hills, grainfields, vineyards, and olive orchards—on every crop the ground produces, on people and animals, on everything you try to grow.”

The People Obey the Lord’s Command

12 Then Zerubbabel and Joshua and all the people who had returned from the exilein Babylonia, did what theLordtheir God told them to do. They were afraid and obeyed the prophet Haggai, theLord’s messenger.

13 Then Haggai gave theLord’s message to the people: “I will be with you—that is my promise.”

14 TheLordinspired everyone to work on the Temple: Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah; Joshua, the High Priest, and all the people who had returned from the exile.They began working on the Temple of theLordAlmighty, their God,

15 on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month of the second year that Darius was emperor.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/363/32k/HAG/1-d98309fe648775189a4818b92a36a024.mp3?version_id=68—

Haggai

Haggai 2

Miniature of a nimbed bishop in the act of vesting a nimbed abbess in a medallion.

The Splendor of the New Temple

1 On the twenty-first day of the seventh month of that same year, theLordspoke again through the prophet Haggai.

2 He told Haggai to speak to Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah, to Joshua, the High Priest, and to the people, and to say to them,

3 “Is there anyone among you who can still remember how splendid the Temple used to be? How does it look to you now? It must seem like nothing at all.

4 But now don’t be discouraged, any of you. Do the work, for I am with you.

5 When you came out of Egypt, I promised that I would always be with you. I am still with you, so do not be afraid.

6 “Before long I will shake heaven and earth, land and sea.

7 I will overthrow all the nations, and their treasures will be brought here, and the Temple will be filled with wealth.

8 All the silver and gold of the world is mine.

9 The new Temple will be more splendid than the old one, and there I will give my people prosperity and peace.” TheLordAlmighty has spoken.

The Prophet Consults the Priests

10 On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month of the second year that Darius was emperor, theLordAlmighty spoke again to the prophet Haggai.

11 He said, “Ask the priests for a ruling on this question:

12 Suppose someone takes a piece of consecrated meat from a sacrifice and carries it in a fold of his robe. If he then lets his robe touch any bread, cooked food, wine, olive oil, or any kind of food at all, will it make that food consecrated also?”

When the question was asked, the priests answered, “No.”

13 Then Haggai asked, “Suppose someone is defiled because he has touched a dead body. If he then touches any of these foods, will that make them defiled too?”

The priests answered, “Yes.”

14 Then Haggai said, “TheLordsays that the same thing applies to the people of this nation and to everything they produce; and so everything they offer on the altar is defiled.”

The Lord Promises His Blessing

15 TheLordsays, “Can’t you see what has happened to you? Before you started to rebuild the Temple,

16 you would go to a pile of grain expecting to find twenty bushels, but there would be only ten. You would go to draw fifty gallons of wine from a vat, but find only twenty.

17 I sent scorching winds and hail to ruin everything you tried to grow, but still you did not repent.

18 Today is the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, the day that the foundation of the Temple has been completed. See what is going to happen from now on.

19 Although there is no grain left, and the grapevines, fig trees, pomegranates, and olive trees have not yet produced, yet from now on I will bless you.”

The Lord’s Promise to Zerubbabel

20 On that same day, the twenty-fourth of the month, theLordgave Haggai a second message

21 for Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah: “I am about to shake heaven and earth

22 and overthrow kingdoms and end their power. I will overturn chariots and their drivers; the horses will die, and their riders will kill one another.

23 On that day I will take you, Zerubbabel my servant, and I will appoint you to rule in my name. You are the one I have chosen.” TheLordAlmighty has spoken.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/363/32k/HAG/2-cc0e88e58f6406fa7c2027966e02edec.mp3?version_id=68—

Zechariah

Zechariah Introduction

Introduction

The Book of Zechariah

has two distinct parts: 1)

Chapters 1–8

Prophecies from the prophet Zechariah, dated at various times in the years from 520 to 518

b.c.

These are largely in the form of visions, and deal with the restoration of Jerusalem, the rebuilding of the Temple, the purification of God’s people, and the messianic age to come. 2)

Chapters 9–14

A collection of messages about the expected Messiah and the final judgment.

Outline of Contents

Messages of warning and hope (1.1—8.23)

Judgment on Israel’s neighbors (9.1-8)

Future prosperity and peace (9.9—14.21)

Zechariah

Zechariah 1

The Lord Calls His People to Return to Him

1 In the eighth month of the second year that Darius was emperor of Persia, theLordgave this message to the prophet Zechariah, the son of Berechiah and grandson of Iddo.

2 TheLordAlmighty told Zechariah to say to the people, “I, theLord, was very angry with your ancestors,

3 but now I say to you, ‘Return to me, and I will return to you.

4 Do not be like your ancestors. Long ago the prophets gave them my message, telling them not to live evil, sinful lives any longer. But they would not listen to me or obey me.

5 Your ancestors and those prophets are no longer alive.

6 Through my servants the prophets I gave your ancestors commands and warnings, but they disregarded them and suffered the consequences. Then they repented and acknowledged that I, theLordAlmighty, had punished them as they deserved and as I had determined to do.’”

The Prophet’s Vision of the Horses

7 In the second year that Darius was emperor, on the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month (the month of Shebat), theLordgave me a message in a vision at night.

8 I saw someone riding a red horse. He had stopped among some myrtle trees in a valley, and behind him were other horses—red, dappled, and white.

9 I asked him, “Sir, what do these horses mean?”

He answered, “I will show you what they mean.

10 TheLordsent them to go and inspect the earth.”

11 They reported to the angel: “We have been all over the world and have found that the whole world lies helpless and subdued.”

12 Then the angel said, “AlmightyLord, you have been angry with Jerusalem and the cities of Judah for seventy years now. How much longer will it be before you show them mercy?”

13 TheLordanswered the angel with comforting words,

14 and the angel told me to proclaim what theLordAlmighty had said: “I have a deep love and concern for Jerusalem, my holy city,

15 and I am very angry with the nations that enjoy quiet and peace. For while I was holding back my anger against my people, those nations made the sufferings of my people worse.

16 So I have come back to Jerusalem to show mercy to the city. My Temple will be restored, and the city will be rebuilt.”

17 The angel also told me to proclaim: “TheLordAlmighty says that his cities will be prosperous again and that he will once again help Jerusalem and claim the city as his own.”

The Vision of the Horns

18 In another vision I saw four ox horns.

19 I asked the angel that had been speaking to me, “What do these horns mean?”

He answered, “They stand for the world powers that have scattered the people of Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.”

20 Then theLordshowed me four workers with hammers.

21 I asked, “What have they come to do?”

He answered, “They have come to terrify and overthrow the nations that completely crushed the land of Judah and scattered its people.”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/363/32k/ZEC/1-ef355a643cea58bab9039e840bbe6bc2.mp3?version_id=68—