Leviticus 14
1 The Lord spoke to Moses: 2 “This is the law of the diseased person on the day of his purification, when he is brought to the priest. 3 The priest is to go outside the camp and examine the infection. If the infection of the diseased person has been healed, 4 then the priest will command that two live clean birds, a piece of cedar wood, a scrap of crimson fabric, and some twigs of hyssop be taken up for the one being cleansed. 5 The priest will then command that one bird be slaughtered into a clay vessel over fresh water. 6 Then he is to take the live bird along with the piece of cedar wood, the scrap of crimson fabric, and the twigs of hyssop, and he is to dip them and the live bird in the blood of the bird slaughtered over the fresh water, 7 and sprinkle it seven times on the one being cleansed from the disease, pronounce him clean, and send the live bird away over the open countryside.
8 “The one being cleansed must then wash his clothes, shave off all his hair, and bathe in water, and so be clean. Then afterward he may enter the camp, but he must live outside his tent seven days. 9 When the seventh day comes he must shave all his hair—his head, his beard, his eyebrows, all his hair—and he must wash his clothes, bathe his body in water, and so be clean.
10 “On the eighth day he must take two flawless male lambs, one flawless yearling female lamb, three-tenths of an ephah of choice wheat flour as a grain offering mixed with olive oil, and one log of olive oil, 11 and the priest who pronounces him clean will have the man who is being cleansed stand along with these offerings before the Lord at the entrance of the Meeting Tent.
12 “The priest is to take one male lamb and present it for a guilt offering along with the log of olive oil and present them as a wave offering before the Lord. 13 He must then slaughter the male lamb in the place where the sin offering and the burnt offering are slaughtered, in the sanctuary, because, like the sin offering, the guilt offering belongs to the priest; it is most holy. 14 Then the priest is to take some of the blood of the guilt offering and put it on the right earlobe of the one being cleansed, on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot. 15 The priest will then take some of the log of olive oil and pour it into his own left hand. 16 Then the priest is to dip his right forefinger into the olive oil that is in his left hand, and sprinkle some of the olive oil with his finger seven times before the Lord. 17 The priest will then put some of the rest of the olive oil that is in his hand on the right earlobe of the one being cleansed, on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot, on the blood of the guilt offering, 18 and the remainder of the olive oil that is in his hand the priest is to put on the head of the one being cleansed. So the priest is to make atonement for him before the Lord.
19 “The priest must then perform the sin offering and make atonement for the one being cleansed from his impurity. After that he is to slaughter the burnt offering, 20 and the priest is to offer the burnt offering and the grain offering on the altar. So the priest is to make atonement for him and he will be clean.
21 “If the person is poor and does not have sufficient means, he must take one male lamb as a guilt offering for a wave offering to make atonement for himself, one-tenth of an ephah of choice wheat flour mixed with olive oil for a grain offering, a log of olive oil, 22 and two turtledoves or two young pigeons, which are within his means. One will be a sin offering and the other a burnt offering.
23 “On the eighth day he must bring them for his purification to the priest at the entrance of the Meeting Tent before the Lord, 24 and the priest is to take the male lamb of the guilt offering and the log of olive oil and wave them as a wave offering before the Lord. 25 Then he is to slaughter the male lamb of the guilt offering, and the priest is to take some of the blood of the guilt offering and put it on the right earlobe of the one being cleansed, on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot. 26 The priest will then pour some of the olive oil into his own left hand, 27 and sprinkle some of the olive oil that is in his left hand with his right forefinger seven times before the Lord. 28 Then the priest is to put some of the olive oil that is in his hand on the right earlobe of the one being cleansed, on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot, on the place of the blood of the guilt offering, 29 and the remainder of the olive oil that is in the hand of the priest he is to put on the head of the one being cleansed to make atonement for him before the Lord.
30 “He will then make one of the turtledoves or young pigeons, which are within his means, 31 a sin offering and the other a burnt offering along with the grain offering. So the priest is to make atonement for the one being cleansed before the Lord. 32 This is the law of the one in whom there is a diseased infection, who does not have sufficient means for his purification.”
33 The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron: 34 “When you enter the land of Canaan which I am about to give to you for a possession, and I put a diseased infection in a house in the land you are to possess, 35 then whoever owns the house must come and declare to the priest, ‘Something like an infection is visible to me in the house.’ 36 Then the priest will command that the house be cleared before the priest enters to examine the infection so that everything in the house does not become unclean, and afterward the priest will enter to examine the house. 37 He is to examine the infection, and if the infection in the walls of the house consists of yellowish green or reddish eruptions, and it appears to be deeper than the surface of the wall, 38 then the priest is to go out of the house to the doorway of the house and quarantine the house for seven days. 39 The priest must return on the seventh day and examine it, and if the infection has spread in the walls of the house, 40 then the priest is to command that the stones that had the infection in them be pulled and thrown outside the city into an unclean place. 41 Then they shall scrape the house all around on the inside, and the plaster which they have scraped off must be dumped outside the city into an unclean place. 42 They are then to take other stones and replace those stones, and he is to take other plaster and replaster the house.
43 “If the infection returns and breaks out in the house after he has pulled out the stones, scraped the house, and it is replastered, 44 the priest is to come and examine it, and if the infection has spread in the house, it is a malignant disease in the house. It is unclean. 45 He must tear down the house, its stones, its wood, and all the plaster of the house, and bring all of it outside the city to an unclean place. 46 Anyone who enters the house all the days the priest has quarantined it will be unclean until evening. 47 Anyone who lies down in the house must wash his clothes. Anyone who eats in the house must wash his clothes.
48 “If, however, the priest enters and examines it, and the infection has not spread in the house after the house has been replastered, then the priest is to pronounce the house clean because the infection has been healed. 49 Then he is to take two birds, a piece of cedar wood, a scrap of crimson fabric, and some twigs of hyssop to purify the house, 50 and he is to slaughter one bird into a clay vessel over fresh water. 51 He must then take the piece of cedar wood, the twigs of hyssop, the scrap of crimson fabric, and the live bird, and dip them in the blood of the slaughtered bird and in the fresh water, and sprinkle the house seven times. 52 So he is to purify the house with the blood of the bird, the fresh water, the live bird, the piece of cedar wood, the twigs of hyssop, and the scrap of crimson fabric, 53 and he is to send the live bird away outside the city into the open countryside. So he is to make atonement for the house and it will be clean.
54 “This is the law for all diseased infections, for scall, 55 for the diseased garment, for the house, 56 for the swelling, for the scab, and for the bright spot, 57 to teach when something is unclean and when it is clean. This is the law for dealing with infectious disease.”
Psalms 17
1 Lord, consider my just cause.
Pay attention to my cry for help.
Listen to the prayer
I sincerely offer.
2 Make a just decision on my behalf.
Decide what is right.
3 You have scrutinized my inner motives;
you have examined me during the night.
You have carefully evaluated me, but you find no sin.
I am determined I will say nothing sinful.
4 As for the actions of people—
just as you have commanded,
I have not followed in the footsteps of violent men.
5 I carefully obey your commands;
I do not deviate from them.
6 I call to you because you will answer me, O God.
Listen to me!
Hear what I say!
7 Accomplish awesome, faithful deeds,
you who powerfully deliver those who look to you for protection from their enemies.
8 Protect me as you would protect the pupil of your eye.
Hide me in the shadow of your wings.
9 Protect me from the wicked men who attack me,
my enemies who crowd around me for the kill.
10 They are calloused;
they speak arrogantly.
11 They attack me, now they surround me;
they intend to throw me to the ground.
12 He is like a lion that wants to tear its prey to bits,
like a young lion crouching in hidden places.
13 Rise up, Lord!
Confront him. Knock him down.
Use your sword to rescue me from the wicked man.
14 Lord, use your power to deliver me from these murderers,
from the murderers of this world.
They enjoy prosperity;
you overwhelm them with the riches they desire.
They have many children,
and leave their wealth to their offspring.
15 As for me, because I am innocent I will see your face;
when I awake you will reveal yourself to me.
Proverbs 28
1 The wicked person fled, though no one was pursuing,
but the righteous person can be as confident as a lion.
2 When a country is rebellious it has many princes,
but by someone who is discerning and knowledgeable order is maintained.
3 A poor person who oppresses the weak
is like a driving rain without food.
4 Those who forsake the law praise the wicked,
but those who keep the law contend with them.
5 Evil people do not understand justice,
but those who seek the Lord understand it all.
6 A poor person who walks in his integrity is better
than one who is perverse in his ways even though he is rich.
7 The one who keeps the law is a discerning child,
but a companion of gluttons brings shame to his parents.
8 The one who increases his wealth by increasing interest
gathers it for someone who is gracious to the needy.
9 The one who turns away his ear from hearing the law,
even his prayer is an abomination.
10 The one who leads the upright astray in an evil way
will himself fall into his own pit,
but the blameless will inherit what is good.
11 A rich person is wise in his own opinion,
but a discerning poor person can evaluate him properly.
12 When the righteous rejoice, great is the glory,
but when the wicked rise to power, people are sought out.
13 The one who covers his transgressions will not prosper,
but whoever confesses them and forsakes them will find mercy.
14 Blessed is the one who is always cautious,
but whoever hardens his heart will fall into evil.
15 Like a roaring lion or a roving bear,
so is a wicked ruler over a poor people.
16 The prince who is a great oppressor lacks wisdom,
but the one who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.
17 The one who is tormented by the murder of another will flee to the pit;
let no one support him.
18 The one who walks blamelessly will be delivered,
but whoever is perverse in his ways will fall at once.
19 The one who works his land will be satisfied with food,
but whoever chases daydreams will have his fill of poverty.
20 A faithful person will have an abundance of blessings,
but the one who hastens to gain riches will not go unpunished.
21 To show partiality is terrible,
for a person will transgress over the smallest piece of bread.
22 The stingy person hastens after riches
and does not know that poverty will overtake him.
23 The one who reproves another will in the end find more favor
than the one who flatters with the tongue.
24 The one who robs his father and mother and says, “There is no transgression,”
is a companion to the one who destroys.
25 The greedy person stirs up dissension,
but the one who trusts in the Lord will prosper.
26 The one who trusts in his own heart is a fool,
but the one who walks in wisdom will escape.
27 The one who gives to the poor will not lack,
but whoever shuts his eyes to them will receive many curses.
28 When the wicked gain control, people hide themselves,
but when they perish, the righteous increase.
2 Thessalonians 2
1 Now regarding the arrival of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to be with him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, 2 not to be easily shaken from your composure or disturbed by any kind of spirit or message or letter allegedly from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord is already here. 3 Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not arrive until the rebellion comes and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction. 4 He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, and as a result he takes his seat in God’s temple, displaying himself as God. 5 Surely you recall that I used to tell you these things while I was still with you. 6 And so you know what holds him back, so that he will be revealed in his own time. 7 For the hidden power of lawlessness is already at work. However, the one who holds him back will do so until he is taken out of the way, 8 and then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will destroy by the breath of his mouth and wipe out by the manifestation of his arrival. 9 The arrival of the lawless one will be by Satan’s working with all kinds of miracles and signs and false wonders, 10 and with every kind of evil deception directed against those who are perishing, because they found no place in their hearts for the truth so as to be saved. 11 Consequently God sends on them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false. 12 And so all of them who have not believed the truth but have delighted in evil will be condemned.
13 But we ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. 14 He called you to this salvation through our gospel, so that you may possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 Therefore, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold on to the traditions that we taught you, whether by speech or by letter. 16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope, 17 encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good thing you do or say.
