September 25

Luke 24:45-53

[45] Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, [46] and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, [47] and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. [48] You are witnesses of these things. [49] And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

The Ascension

[50] And he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. [51] While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. [52] And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, [53] and were continually in the temple blessing God.

Hebrews 13:9-25

[9] Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them. [10] We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat. [11] For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. [12] So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. [13] Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. [14] For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. [15] Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. [16] Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

[17] Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

[18] Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things. [19] I urge you the more earnestly to do this in order that I may be restored to you the sooner.

Benediction

[20] Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, [21] equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Final Greetings

[22] I appeal to you, brothers, bear with my word of exhortation, for I have written to you briefly. [23] You should know that our brother Timothy has been released, with whom I shall see you if he comes soon. [24] Greet all your leaders and all the saints. Those who come from Italy send you greetings. [25] Grace be with all of you.

Proverbs 31

The Words of King Lemuel

[1] The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him:

    [2] What are you doing, my son? What are you doing, son of my womb?

        What are you doing, son of my vows? 

    [3] Do not give your strength to women,

        your ways to those who destroy kings. 

    [4] It is not for kings, O Lemuel,

        it is not for kings to drink wine,

        or for rulers to take strong drink, 

    [5] lest they drink and forget what has been decreed

        and pervert the rights of all the afflicted. 

    [6] Give strong drink to the one who is perishing,

        and wine to those in bitter distress; 

    [7] let them drink and forget their poverty

        and remember their misery no more. 

    [8] Open your mouth for the mute,

        for the rights of all who are destitute. 

    [9] Open your mouth, judge righteously,

        defend the rights of the poor and needy.

    The Woman Who Fears the LORD

    [10]  An excellent wife who can find?

        She is far more precious than jewels. 

    [11] The heart of her husband trusts in her,

        and he will have no lack of gain. 

    [12] She does him good, and not harm,

        all the days of her life. 

    [13] She seeks wool and flax,

        and works with willing hands. 

    [14] She is like the ships of the merchant;

        she brings her food from afar. 

    [15] She rises while it is yet night

        and provides food for her household

        and portions for her maidens. 

    [16] She considers a field and buys it;

        with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard. 

    [17] She dresses herself with strength

        and makes her arms strong. 

    [18] She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.

        Her lamp does not go out at night. 

    [19] She puts her hands to the distaff,

        and her hands hold the spindle. 

    [20] She opens her hand to the poor

        and reaches out her hands to the needy. 

    [21] She is not afraid of snow for her household,

        for all her household are clothed in scarlet. 

    [22] She makes bed coverings for herself;

        her clothing is fine linen and purple. 

    [23] Her husband is known in the gates

        when he sits among the elders of the land. 

    [24] She makes linen garments and sells them;

        she delivers sashes to the merchant. 

    [25] Strength and dignity are her clothing,

        and she laughs at the time to come. 

    [26] She opens her mouth with wisdom,

        and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. 

    [27] She looks well to the ways of her household

        and does not eat the bread of idleness. 

    [28] Her children rise up and call her blessed;

        her husband also, and he praises her: 

    [29] “Many women have done excellently,

        but you surpass them all.” 

    [30] Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,

        but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. 

    [31] Give her of the fruit of her hands,

        and let her works praise her in the gates.

Isaiah 65

Judgment and Salvation

    [1] I was ready to be sought by those who did not ask for me;

        I was ready to be found by those who did not seek me.

    I said, “Here I am, here I am,”

        to a nation that was not called by my name. 

    [2] I spread out my hands all the day

        to a rebellious people,

    who walk in a way that is not good,

        following their own devices; 

    [3] a people who provoke me

        to my face continually,

    sacrificing in gardens

        and making offerings on bricks; 

    [4] who sit in tombs,

        and spend the night in secret places;

    who eat pig’s flesh,

        and broth of tainted meat is in their vessels; 

    [5] who say, “Keep to yourself,

        do not come near me, for I am too holy for you.”

    These are a smoke in my nostrils,

        a fire that burns all the day. 

    [6] Behold, it is written before me:

        “I will not keep silent, but I will repay;

    I will indeed repay into their lap 

    [7]     both your iniquities and your fathers’ iniquities together,

    says the LORD;

    because they made offerings on the mountains

        and insulted me on the hills,

    I will measure into their lap

        payment for their former deeds.”

    [8] Thus says the LORD:

    “As the new wine is found in the cluster,

        and they say, ‘Do not destroy it,

        for there is a blessing in it,’

    so I will do for my servants’ sake,

        and not destroy them all. 

    [9] I will bring forth offspring from Jacob,

        and from Judah possessors of my mountains;

    my chosen shall possess it,

        and my servants shall dwell there. 

    [10] Sharon shall become a pasture for flocks,

        and the Valley of Achor a place for herds to lie down,

        for my people who have sought me. 

    [11] But you who forsake the LORD,

        who forget my holy mountain,

    who set a table for Fortune

        and fill cups of mixed wine for Destiny, 

    [12] I will destine you to the sword,

        and all of you shall bow down to the slaughter,

    because, when I called, you did not answer;

        when I spoke, you did not listen,

    but you did what was evil in my eyes

        and chose what I did not delight in.”

    [13] Therefore thus says the Lord GOD:

    “Behold, my servants shall eat,

        but you shall be hungry;

    behold, my servants shall drink,

        but you shall be thirsty;

    behold, my servants shall rejoice,

        but you shall be put to shame; 

    [14] behold, my servants shall sing for gladness of heart,

        but you shall cry out for pain of heart

        and shall wail for breaking of spirit. 

    [15] You shall leave your name to my chosen for a curse,

        and the Lord GOD will put you to death,

        but his servants he will call by another name, 

    [16] so that he who blesses himself in the land

        shall bless himself by the God of truth,

    and he who takes an oath in the land

        shall swear by the God of truth;

    because the former troubles are forgotten

        and are hidden from my eyes.

    New Heavens and a New Earth

    [17] “For behold, I create new heavens

        and a new earth,

    and the former things shall not be remembered

        or come into mind. 

    [18] But be glad and rejoice forever

        in that which I create;

    for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy,

        and her people to be a gladness. 

    [19] I will rejoice in Jerusalem

        and be glad in my people;

    no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping

        and the cry of distress. 

    [20] No more shall there be in it

        an infant who lives but a few days,

        or an old man who does not fill out his days,

    for the young man shall die a hundred years old,

        and the sinner a hundred years old shall be accursed. 

    [21] They shall build houses and inhabit them;

        they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. 

    [22] They shall not build and another inhabit;

        they shall not plant and another eat;

    for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be,

        and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands. 

    [23] They shall not labor in vain

        or bear children for calamity,

    for they shall be the offspring of the blessed of the LORD,

        and their descendants with them. 

    [24] Before they call I will answer;

        while they are yet speaking I will hear. 

    [25] The wolf and the lamb shall graze together;

        the lion shall eat straw like the ox,

        and dust shall be the serpent’s food.

    They shall not hurt or destroy

        in all my holy mountain,”

    says the LORD.

Isaiah 66

The Humble and Contrite in Spirit

    [1] Thus says the LORD:

    “Heaven is my throne,

        and the earth is my footstool;

    what is the house that you would build for me,

        and what is the place of my rest? 

    [2] All these things my hand has made,

        and so all these things came to be,

    declares the LORD.

    But this is the one to whom I will look:

        he who is humble and contrite in spirit

        and trembles at my word.

    [3] “He who slaughters an ox is like one who kills a man;

        he who sacrifices a lamb, like one who breaks a dog’s neck;

    he who presents a grain offering, like one who offers pig’s blood;

        he who makes a memorial offering of frankincense, like one who blesses an idol.

    These have chosen their own ways,

        and their soul delights in their abominations; 

    [4] I also will choose harsh treatment for them

        and bring their fears upon them,

    because when I called, no one answered,

        when I spoke, they did not listen;

    but they did what was evil in my eyes

        and chose that in which I did not delight.”

    [5] Hear the word of the LORD,

        you who tremble at his word:

    “Your brothers who hate you

        and cast you out for my name’s sake

    have said, ‘Let the LORD be glorified,

        that we may see your joy’;

        but it is they who shall be put to shame.

    [6] “The sound of an uproar from the city!

        A sound from the temple!

    The sound of the LORD,

        rendering recompense to his enemies!

    Rejoice with Jerusalem

    [7] “Before she was in labor

        she gave birth;

    before her pain came upon her

        she delivered a son. 

    [8] Who has heard such a thing?

        Who has seen such things?

    Shall a land be born in one day?

        Shall a nation be brought forth in one moment?

    For as soon as Zion was in labor

        she brought forth her children. 

    [9] Shall I bring to the point of birth and not cause to bring forth?”

        says the LORD;

    “shall I, who cause to bring forth, shut the womb?”

        says your God.

    [10] “Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her,

        all you who love her;

    rejoice with her in joy,

        all you who mourn over her; 

    [11] that you may nurse and be satisfied

        from her consoling breast;

    that you may drink deeply with delight

        from her glorious abundance.”

    [12] For thus says the LORD:

    “Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river,

        and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream;

    and you shall nurse, you shall be carried upon her hip,

        and bounced upon her knees. 

    [13] As one whom his mother comforts,

        so I will comfort you;

        you shall be comforted in Jerusalem. 

    [14] You shall see, and your heart shall rejoice;

        your bones shall flourish like the grass;

    and the hand of the LORD shall be known to his servants,

        and he shall show his indignation against his enemies.

    Final Judgment and Glory of the LORD

    [15] “For behold, the LORD will come in fire,

        and his chariots like the whirlwind,

    to render his anger in fury,

        and his rebuke with flames of fire. 

    [16] For by fire will the LORD enter into judgment,

        and by his sword, with all flesh;

        and those slain by the LORD shall be many.

    [17] “Those who sanctify and purify themselves to go into the gardens, following one in the midst, eating pig’s flesh and the abomination and mice, shall come to an end together, declares the LORD.

[18] “For I know their works and their thoughts, and the time is coming to gather all nations and tongues. And they shall come and shall see my glory, [19] and I will set a sign among them. And from them I will send survivors to the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, who draw the bow, to Tubal and Javan, to the coastlands far away, that have not heard my fame or seen my glory. And they shall declare my glory among the nations. [20] And they shall bring all your brothers from all the nations as an offering to the LORD, on horses and in chariots and in litters and on mules and on dromedaries, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, says the LORD, just as the Israelites bring their grain offering in a clean vessel to the house of the LORD. [21] And some of them also I will take for priests and for Levites, says the LORD.

    [22] “For as the new heavens and the new earth

        that I make

    shall remain before me, says the LORD,

        so shall your offspring and your name remain. 

    [23] From new moon to new moon,

        and from Sabbath to Sabbath,

    all flesh shall come to worship before me,

    declares the LORD.

    [24] “And they shall go out and look on the dead bodies of the men who have rebelled against me. For their worm shall not die, their fire shall not be quenched, and they shall be an abhorrence to all flesh.”