Day 309 of 365

Lam 4:1–5:22

4:1 ALEPH How the gold has become dim! How the most pure gold has changed! The stones of the sanctuary are poured out at the head of every street.

4:2 The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, How they are regarded as clay jars, the work of the hands of the potter!

4:3 Even the jackals offer the breast, they nurse their young ones, but the daughter of my people has become cruel, like the ostriches in the wilderness.

4:4 The nursing infant's tongue sticks to the roof of his mouth for thirst. The young children ask for bread, but no one gives to them.

4:5 Those who ate delicacies are destitute in the streets. Those who were brought up in purple embrace ash heaps.

4:6 For the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the sin of Sodom, which was overthrown in an instant, and no hands were laid on her.

4:7 Her consecrated ones were purer than snow, whiter than milk; their bodies more ruddy than rubies, their appearance was like lapis lazuli.

4:8 They appear darker than soot; they are not known in the streets. Their skin cleaves to their bones; it is withered and has become as dry as a stick.

4:9 Those who are killed with the sword are better than those who are killed with hunger; those who waste away, pierced through, for lack of the fruits of the field.

4:10 The hands of the compassionate women have cooked their own children; they were their food in the destruction of the daughter of my people.

4:11 The Lord has accomplished his wrath, he has poured out his fierce anger; he has kindled a fire in Zion, which has devoured its foundations.

4:12 The kings of the earth did not believe, neither all the inhabitants of the world, that the adversary or the enemy would enter into the gates of Jerusalem.

4:13 It is because of the sins of her prophets, and the iniquities of her priests, that have shed the blood of the just in the midst of her.

4:14 They wander as blind men in the streets, they are polluted with blood, so that men can't touch their garments.

4:15 "Turn away!" they cried to them, "Unclean! depart, depart, do not touch!" When they fled away and wandered, men said among the nations, "They shall not live here anymore."

4:16 The Lord himself has scattered them; he will no more regard them. They did not respect the priests, they did not favor the elders.

4:17 Our eyes still fail, looking in vain for our help. In our watching we have watched for a nation that could not save.

4:18 They hunt our steps, so that we can't go in our streets. Our end is near, our days are fulfilled; for our end has come.

4:19 Our pursuers were swifter than the eagles of the sky. They chased us on the mountains, they lay in wait for us in the wilderness.

4:20 The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of the Lord, was taken in their pits; of whom we said, "Under his shadow we can live among the nations."

4:21 Rejoice and be glad, daughter of Edom, that dwell in the land of Uz. The cup shall pass through to you also; you will get drunk, and shall make yourself naked.

4:22 The punishment of your iniquity is accomplished, daughter of Zion; he will no more carry you away into captivity. He will visit your iniquity, daughter of Edom; he will uncover your sins.

5:1 Remember, Lord, what has come on us. Look, and see our disgrace.

5:2 Our inheritance is turned over to strangers, our houses to foreigners.

5:3 We are orphans and fatherless. Our mothers are like widows.

5:4 We have to pay for a drink of water; our wood is sold to us.

5:5 Our pursuers are on our necks; we are weary, and have no rest.

5:6 We have submitted to the Egyptians and to the Assyrians, to get enough bread.

5:7 Our fathers sinned, and are no more; we have borne their iniquities.

5:8 Servants rule over us: There is none to deliver us out of their hand.

5:9 We get our bread at the peril of our lives, because of the sword in the wilderness.

5:10 Our skin is hot like an oven, because of the burning heat of famine.

5:11 They raped the women in Zion, the virgins in the cities of Judah.

5:12 Princes were hanged by their hands; elders were shown no respect.

5:13 The young men grind at the mill; the boys stagger under loads of wood.

5:14 The elders have gone from the gate, the young men from their music.

5:15 The joy of our heart has ceased; our dancing is turned into mourning.

5:16 The crown is fallen from our head; woe to us, for we have sinned!

5:17 For this our heart is faint; for these things our eyes grow dim.

5:18 For the mountain of Zion, which is desolate; the foxes walk on it.

5:19 You, Lord, abide forever; your throne is from generation to generation.

5:20 Why do you keep on forgetting us? Why do you forsake us so long?

5:21 Restore us to you, Lord, and we shall be restored; renew our days as in former times,

5:22 unless you have completely rejected us and are angry with us beyond measure.

Ezek 1:1–28

1 Now it happened in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, in the fifth of the month, as I was among the captives by the river Chebar, that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.

2 In the fifth of the month, which was the fifth year of king Jehoiachin's captivity,

3 the word of the Lord came expressly to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of the Lord was there on him.

4 I looked, and behold, a stormy wind came out of the north, a great cloud, with flashing lightning, and a brightness around it, and out of its midst as it were glowing metal, out of the midst of the fire.

5 Out of its midst came the likeness of four living creatures. This was their appearance: they had the likeness of a man.

6 Everyone had four faces, and each one of them had four wings.

7 Their feet were straight feet; and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf's foot; and they sparkled like burnished brass.

8 They had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and the four of them had their faces and their wings thus:

9 their wings were joined one to another; they didn't turn when they went; each one went straight forward.

10 As for the likeness of their faces, they had the face of a man; and the four of them had the face of a lion on the right side; and the four of them had the face of an ox on the left side; the four of them also had the face of an eagle.

11 Such were their faces. Their wings were spread out above. Two wings of each one touched another, and two covered their bodies.

12 Each one went straight forward: where the spirit was to go, they went; they didn't turn when they went.

13 As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches: the fire went up and down among the living creatures; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning.

14 The living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning.

15 Now as I saw the living creatures, behold, one wheel on the earth beside the living creatures, for each of the four faces of it.

16 The appearance of the wheels and their work was like a beryl: and the four of them had one likeness; and their appearance and their work was as it were a wheel within a wheel.

17 When they went, they went in their four directions: they didn't turn when they went.

18 As for their rims, they were high and dreadful; and the four of them had their rims full of eyes all around.

19 When the living creatures went, the wheels went beside them; and when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up.

20 Wherever the spirit was to go, they went; there was the spirit to go: and the wheels were lifted up beside them; for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.

21 When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up beside them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.

22 Over the head of the living creature there was the likeness of an expanse, like the awesome crystal to look on, stretched forth over their heads above.

23 Under the expanse were their wings straight, the one toward the other: each one had two which covered on this side, and every one had two which covered on that side, their bodies.

24 When they went, I heard the noise of their wings like the noise of great waters, like the voice of the Almighty, a noise of tumult like the noise of an army: when they stood, they let down their wings.

25 There was a voice above the expanse that was over their heads: when they stood, they let down their wings.

26 Above the expanse that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone; and on the likeness of the throne was a likeness as the appearance of a man on it above.

27 I saw as it were glowing metal, as the appearance of fire within it all around, from the appearance of his waist and upward; and from the appearance of his waist and downward I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and there was brightness around him.

28 As the appearance of the rainbow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. When I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard a voice of one that spoke.

Col 4:1–18

1 Masters, give to your servants that which is just and equal, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, watching therein with thanksgiving;

3 praying together for us also, that God may open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds;

4 that I may reveal it as I ought to speak.

5 Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.

6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

7 All my affairs will be made known to you by Tychicus, the beloved brother, faithful servant, and fellow bondservant in the Lord.

8 I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts,

9 together with Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will make known to you everything that is going on here.

10 Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark, the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you received commandments, "if he comes to you, receive him"),

11 and Jesus who is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These are my only fellow workers for the Kingdom of God, men who have been a comfort to me.

12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, salutes you, always striving for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God.

13 For I testify about him, that he has worked hard for you, and for those in Laodicea, and for those in Hierapolis.

14 Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas greet you.

15 Greet the brothers who are in Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church that is in her house.

16 When this letter has been read among you, cause it to be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that you also read the letter from Laodicea.

17 Tell Archippus, "Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you fulfill it."

18 The salutation of me, Paul, with my own hand: remember my bonds. Grace be with you.

Job 29:1–20

1 Job again took up his parable, and said,

2 "Oh that I were as in the months of old, as in the days when God watched over me;

3 when his lamp shone on my head, and by his light I walked through darkness,

4 as I was in the ripeness of my days, when the friendship of God was in my tent,

5 when the Almighty was yet with me, and my children were around me,

6 when my steps were washed with butter, and the rock poured out streams of oil for me,

7 when I went forth to the city gate, when I prepared my seat in the street.

8 The young men saw me and hid themselves. The aged rose up and stood.

9 The princes refrained from talking, and laid their hand on their mouth.

10 The voice of the nobles was hushed, and their tongue stuck to the roof of their mouth.

11 For when the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it commended me:

12 Because I delivered the poor who cried, and the fatherless also, who had none to help him,

13 the blessing of him who was ready to perish came on me, and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.

14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me. My justice was as a robe and a diadem.

15 I was eyes to the blind, and feet to the lame.

16 I was a father to the needy. The cause of him who I did not know, I searched out.

17 I broke the jaws of the unrighteous, and plucked the prey out of his teeth.

18 Then I said, 'I shall die in my own house, I shall number my days as the sand.

19 My root is spread out to the waters. The dew lies all night on my branch.

20 My glory is fresh in me. My bow is renewed in my hand.'