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WEBC: World English Bible, Catholic Edition

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Patriarchs
Egypt and Exodus
Desert Wanderings
Conquest and Judges
Royal Kingdom
Divided Kingdom
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Royal Kingdom
Divided Kingdom
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Wisdom & Poetry
Exile
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Day 223 of 365

about 15 minutes

Sirach 49-51

Sirach Chapter 49

¹The memory of Josiah is like the composition of incense prepared by the work of the perfumer. It will be sweet as honey in every mouth, and like music at a banquet of wine. ²He did what was right in the reforming of the people, and took away the abominations of iniquity. ³He set his heart right toward the Lord. In lawless days, he made godliness prevail. ⁴Except David, Hezekiah, and Josiah, all were wicked, because they abandoned the law of the Most High. The kings of Judah came to an end. ⁵They gave their power to others, and their glory to a foreign nation. ⁶They set the chosen city of the sanctuary on fire and made her streets desolate, as it was written by the hand of Jeremiah. ⁷For they mistreated him; yet he was sanctified in the womb to be a prophet, to root out, to afflict, to destroy and likewise to build and to plant. ⁸Ezekiel saw the vision of glory, which God showed him on the chariot of the cherubim. ⁹For truly he remembered the enemies in rainstorm, and to do good to those who directed their ways aright. ¹⁰Also of the twelve prophets, may their bones flourish again out of their place. He comforted the people of Jacob, and delivered them by confident hope. ¹¹How shall we magnify Zerubbabel? He was like a signet ring on the right hand. ¹²So was Jesus the son of Josedek, who in their days built the house, and exalted a people holy to the Lord, prepared for everlasting glory. ¹³Also of Nehemiah the memory is great. He raised up for us fallen walls, set up the gates and bars, and rebuilt our houses. ¹⁴No man was created upon the earth like Enoch, for he was taken up from the earth. ¹⁵Nor was there a man born like Joseph, a leader of his kindred, a supporter of the people. Even his bones were cared for. ¹⁶Shem and Seth were honored among men, but above every living thing in the creation was Adam.

1: The memory of Josiah is like the composition of incense prepared by the work of the perfumer. It will be sweet as honey in every mouth, and like music at a banquet of wine.

2: He did what was right in the reforming of the people, and took away the abominations of iniquity.

3: He set his heart right toward the Lord. In lawless days, he made godliness prevail.

4: Except David, Hezekiah, and Josiah, all were wicked, because they abandoned the law of the Most High. The kings of Judah came to an end.

5: They gave their power to others, and their glory to a foreign nation.

6: They set the chosen city of the sanctuary on fire and made her streets desolate, as it was written by the hand of Jeremiah.

7: For they mistreated him; yet he was sanctified in the womb to be a prophet, to root out, to afflict, to destroy and likewise to build and to plant.

8: Ezekiel saw the vision of glory, which God showed him on the chariot of the cherubim.

9: For truly he remembered the enemies in rainstorm, and to do good to those who directed their ways aright.

10: Also of the twelve prophets, may their bones flourish again out of their place. He comforted the people of Jacob, and delivered them by confident hope.

11: How shall we magnify Zerubbabel? He was like a signet ring on the right hand.

12: So was Jesus the son of Josedek, who in their days built the house, and exalted a people holy to the Lord, prepared for everlasting glory.

13: Also of Nehemiah the memory is great. He raised up for us fallen walls, set up the gates and bars, and rebuilt our houses.

14: No man was created upon the earth like Enoch, for he was taken up from the earth.

15: Nor was there a man born like Joseph, a leader of his kindred, a supporter of the people. Even his bones were cared for.

16: Shem and Seth were honored among men, but above every living thing in the creation was Adam.

Sirach Chapter 50

¹It was Simon, the son of Onias, the high priest, who in his life repaired the house, and in his days strengthened the temple. ²The foundation was built by him to the height of the double walls, the lofty retaining walls of the temple enclosure. ³In his days, a water cistern was dug, the brazen vessel like the sea in circumference. ⁴He planned to save his people from ruin, and fortified the city against siege. ⁵How glorious he was when the people gathered around him as he came out of the house of the veil! ⁶He was like the morning star among clouds, like the full moon, ⁷like the sun shining on the temple of the Most High, like the rainbow shining in clouds of glory, ⁸like roses in the days of first fruits, like lilies by a water spring, like the shoot of the frankincense tree in summer time, ⁹like fire and incense in the censer, like a vessel of beaten gold adorned with all kinds of precious stones, ¹⁰like an olive tree loaded with fruit, and like a cypress growing high among the clouds. ¹¹When he put on his glorious robe, and clothed himself in perfect splendor, ascending to the holy altar, he made the court of the sanctuary glorious. ¹²When he received the portions out of the priests’ hands, as he stood by the hearth of the altar, with his kindred like a garland around him, he was like a young cedar in Lebanon surrounded by the trunks of palm trees. ¹³All the sons of Aaron in their glory, held the Lord’s offering in their hands before all the congregation of Israel. ¹⁴Finishing the service at the altars, that he might arrange the offering of the Most High, the Almighty, ¹⁵he stretched out his hand to the cup of libation, and poured out the cup of the grape. He poured it out at the foot of the altar, a sweet smelling fragrance to the Most High, the King of all. ¹⁶Then the sons of Aaron shouted. They sounded the trumpets of beaten work. They made a great fanfare to be heard, for a reminder before the Most High. ¹⁷Then all the people together hurried, and fell down to the ground on their faces to worship their Lord, the Almighty, God Most High. ¹⁸The singers also praised him with their voices. There was a sweet melody in the whole house. ¹⁹And the people implored the Lord Most High, in prayer before him who is merciful, until the worship of the Lord was finished, and so they accomplished his service. ²⁰Then he went down, and lifted up his hands over the whole congregation of the children of Israel, to give blessing to the Lord with his lips, and to glory in his name. ²¹He bowed himself down in worship the second time, to declare the blessing from the Most High. ²²Now bless the God of all, who everywhere does great things, who exalts our days from the womb, and deals with us according to his mercy. ²³May he grant us joyfulness of heart, and that peace may be in our days in Israel for the days of eternity, ²⁴to entrust his mercy with us, and let him deliver us in his time! ²⁵With two nations my soul is vexed, and the third is no nation: ²⁶Those who sit on the mountain of Samaria, the Philistines, and the foolish people who live in Shechem. ²⁷I have written in this book the instruction of understanding and knowledge, I Jesus, the son of Sirach Eleazar, of Jerusalem, who out of his heart poured forth wisdom. ²⁸Blessed is he who will exercise these things. He who lays them up in his heart will become wise. ²⁹For if he does them, he will be strong in all things, for the light of the Lord is his guide.

1: It was Simon, the son of Onias, the high priest, who in his life repaired the house, and in his days strengthened the temple.

2: The foundation was built by him to the height of the double walls, the lofty retaining walls of the temple enclosure.

3: In his days, a water cistern was dug, the brazen vessel like the sea in circumference.

4: He planned to save his people from ruin, and fortified the city against siege.

5: How glorious he was when the people gathered around him as he came out of the house of the veil!

6: He was like the morning star among clouds, like the full moon,

7: like the sun shining on the temple of the Most High, like the rainbow shining in clouds of glory,

8: like roses in the days of first fruits, like lilies by a water spring, like the shoot of the frankincense tree in summer time,

9: like fire and incense in the censer, like a vessel of beaten gold adorned with all kinds of precious stones,

10: like an olive tree loaded with fruit, and like a cypress growing high among the clouds.

11: When he put on his glorious robe, and clothed himself in perfect splendor, ascending to the holy altar, he made the court of the sanctuary glorious.

12: When he received the portions out of the priests’ hands, as he stood by the hearth of the altar, with his kindred like a garland around him, he was like a young cedar in Lebanon surrounded by the trunks of palm trees.

13: All the sons of Aaron in their glory, held the Lord’s offering in their hands before all the congregation of Israel.

14: Finishing the service at the altars, that he might arrange the offering of the Most High, the Almighty,

15: he stretched out his hand to the cup of libation, and poured out the cup of the grape. He poured it out at the foot of the altar, a sweet smelling fragrance to the Most High, the King of all.

16: Then the sons of Aaron shouted. They sounded the trumpets of beaten work. They made a great fanfare to be heard, for a reminder before the Most High.

17: Then all the people together hurried, and fell down to the ground on their faces to worship their Lord, the Almighty, God Most High.

18: The singers also praised him with their voices. There was a sweet melody in the whole house.

19: And the people implored the Lord Most High, in prayer before him who is merciful, until the worship of the Lord was finished, and so they accomplished his service.

20: Then he went down, and lifted up his hands over the whole congregation of the children of Israel, to give blessing to the Lord with his lips, and to glory in his name.

21: He bowed himself down in worship the second time, to declare the blessing from the Most High.

22: Now bless the God of all, who everywhere does great things, who exalts our days from the womb, and deals with us according to his mercy.

23: May he grant us joyfulness of heart, and that peace may be in our days in Israel for the days of eternity,

24: to entrust his mercy with us, and let him deliver us in his time!

25: With two nations my soul is vexed, and the third is no nation:

26: Those who sit on the mountain of Samaria, the Philistines, and the foolish people who live in Shechem.

27: I have written in this book the instruction of understanding and knowledge, I Jesus, the son of Sirach Eleazar, of Jerusalem, who out of his heart poured forth wisdom.

28: Blessed is he who will exercise these things. He who lays them up in his heart will become wise.

29: For if he does them, he will be strong in all things, for the light of the Lord is his guide.

Sirach Chapter 51

¹I will give thanks to you, O Lord, O King, and will praise you, O God my Savior. I give thanks to your name, ²for you have been my protector and helper, and delivered my body out of destruction, and out of the snare of a slanderous tongue, from lips that fabricate lies. You were my helper before those who stood by, ³and delivered me, according to the abundance of your mercy and of your name, from the gnashings of teeth ready to devour, out of the hand of those seeking my life, out of the many afflictions I endured, ⁴from the choking of a fire on every side, and out of the midst of fire that I hadn’t kindled, ⁵out of the depth of the belly of Hades, from an unclean tongue, and from lying words— ⁶the slander of an unrighteous tongue to the king. My soul drew near to death. My life was near to Hades. ⁷They surrounded me on every side. There was no one to help me. I was looking for human help, and there was none. ⁸Then I remembered your mercy, O Lord, and your working which has been from everlasting, how you deliver those who wait for you, and save them out of the hand of their enemies. ⁹I lifted up my prayer from the earth, and prayed for deliverance from death. ¹⁰I called upon the Lord, the Father of my Lord, that he would not forsake me in the days of affliction, in the time when there was no help against the proud. ¹¹I will praise your name continually. I will sing praise with thanksgiving. My prayer was heard. ¹²You saved me from destruction and delivered me from the evil time. Therefore I will give thanks and praise to you, and bless the name of the Lord. ¹³When I was yet young, before I went abroad, I sought wisdom openly in my prayer. ¹⁴Before the temple I asked for her. I will seek her out even to the end. ¹⁵From the first flower to the ripening grape my heart delighted in her. My foot walked in uprightness. From my youth I followed her steps. ¹⁶I inclined my ear a little, and received her, and found for myself much instruction. ¹⁷I profited in her. I will give glory to him who gives me wisdom. ¹⁸For I determined to practice her. I was zealous for that which is good. I will never be put to shame. ¹⁹My soul has wrestled with her. In my conduct I was exact. I spread out my hands to the sky above, and bewailed my ignorances of her. ²⁰I directed my soul to her. In purity I found her. I got myself a heart joined with her from the beginning. Therefore I won’t be forsaken. ²¹My belly also was troubled to seek her. Therefore I have gained a good possession. ²²The Lord gave me a tongue for my reward. I will praise him with it. ²³Draw near to me, all you who are uneducated, and live in the house of instruction. ²⁴Why therefore are you all lacking in these things, and your souls are very thirsty? ²⁵I opened my mouth and spoke, “Get her for yourselves without money.” ²⁶Put your neck under the yoke, and let your soul receive instruction. She is near to find. ²⁷See with your eyes how I labored just a little and found for myself much rest. ²⁸Get instruction with a great sum of silver, and gain much gold by her. ²⁹May your soul rejoice in his mercy, and may you all not be put to shame in praising him. ³⁰Work your work before the time comes, and in his time he will give you your reward.

1: I will give thanks to you, O Lord, O King, and will praise you, O God my Savior. I give thanks to your name,

2: for you have been my protector and helper, and delivered my body out of destruction, and out of the snare of a slanderous tongue, from lips that fabricate lies. You were my helper before those who stood by,

3: and delivered me, according to the abundance of your mercy and of your name, from the gnashings of teeth ready to devour, out of the hand of those seeking my life, out of the many afflictions I endured,

4: from the choking of a fire on every side, and out of the midst of fire that I hadn’t kindled,

5: out of the depth of the belly of Hades, from an unclean tongue, and from lying words—

6: the slander of an unrighteous tongue to the king. My soul drew near to death. My life was near to Hades.

7: They surrounded me on every side. There was no one to help me. I was looking for human help, and there was none.

8: Then I remembered your mercy, O Lord, and your working which has been from everlasting, how you deliver those who wait for you, and save them out of the hand of their enemies.

9: I lifted up my prayer from the earth, and prayed for deliverance from death.

10: I called upon the Lord, the Father of my Lord, that he would not forsake me in the days of affliction, in the time when there was no help against the proud.

11: I will praise your name continually. I will sing praise with thanksgiving. My prayer was heard.

12: You saved me from destruction and delivered me from the evil time. Therefore I will give thanks and praise to you, and bless the name of the Lord.

13: When I was yet young, before I went abroad, I sought wisdom openly in my prayer.

14: Before the temple I asked for her. I will seek her out even to the end.

15: From the first flower to the ripening grape my heart delighted in her. My foot walked in uprightness. From my youth I followed her steps.

16: I inclined my ear a little, and received her, and found for myself much instruction.

17: I profited in her. I will give glory to him who gives me wisdom.

18: For I determined to practice her. I was zealous for that which is good. I will never be put to shame.

19: My soul has wrestled with her. In my conduct I was exact. I spread out my hands to the sky above, and bewailed my ignorances of her.

20: I directed my soul to her. In purity I found her. I got myself a heart joined with her from the beginning. Therefore I won’t be forsaken.

21: My belly also was troubled to seek her. Therefore I have gained a good possession.

22: The Lord gave me a tongue for my reward. I will praise him with it.

23: Draw near to me, all you who are uneducated, and live in the house of instruction.

24: Why therefore are you all lacking in these things, and your souls are very thirsty?

25: I opened my mouth and spoke, “Get her for yourselves without money.”

26: Put your neck under the yoke, and let your soul receive instruction. She is near to find.

27: See with your eyes how I labored just a little and found for myself much rest.

28: Get instruction with a great sum of silver, and gain much gold by her.

29: May your soul rejoice in his mercy, and may you all not be put to shame in praising him.

30: Work your work before the time comes, and in his time he will give you your reward.

Isaiah 1

Isaiah Chapter 1

¹The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. ²Hear, heavens, and listen, earth; for the LORD has spoken: “I have nourished and brought up children and they have rebelled against me. ³The ox knows his owner, and the donkey his master’s crib; but Israel doesn’t know. My people don’t consider.” ⁴Ah sinful nation, a people loaded with iniquity, offspring of evildoers, children who deal corruptly! They have forsaken the LORD. They have despised the Holy One of Israel. They are estranged and backward. ⁵Why should you be beaten more, that you revolt more and more? The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. ⁶From the sole of the foot even to the head there is no soundness in it, but wounds, welts, and open sores. They haven’t been closed, bandaged, or soothed with oil. ⁷Your country is desolate. Your cities are burned with fire. Strangers devour your land in your presence and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers. ⁸The daughter of Zion is left like a shelter in a vineyard, like a hut in a field of melons, like a besieged city. ⁹Unless the LORD of Armies had left to us a very small remnant, we would have been as Sodom. We would have been like Gomorrah. ¹⁰Hear the LORD’s word, you rulers of Sodom! Listen to the law of our God, you people of Gomorrah! ¹¹“What are the multitude of your sacrifices to me?”, says the LORD. “I have had enough of the burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed animals. I don’t delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of male goats. ¹²When you come to appear before me, who has required this at your hand, to trample my courts? ¹³Bring no more vain offerings. Incense is an abomination to me. New moons, Sabbaths, and convocations— I can’t stand evil assemblies. ¹⁴My soul hates your New Moons and your appointed feasts. They are a burden to me. I am weary of bearing them. ¹⁵When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you. Yes, when you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood. ¹⁶Wash yourselves. Make yourself clean. Put away the evil of your doings from before my eyes. Cease to do evil. ¹⁷Learn to do well. Seek justice. Relieve the oppressed. Defend the fatherless. Plead for the widow.” ¹⁸“Come now, and let’s reason together,” says the LORD: “Though your sins are as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool. ¹⁹If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good of the land; ²⁰but if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured with the sword; for the LORD’s mouth has spoken it.” ²¹How the faithful city has become a prostitute! She was full of justice. Righteousness lodged in her, but now there are murderers. ²²Your silver has become dross, your wine mixed with water. ²³Your princes are rebellious and companions of thieves. Everyone loves bribes and follows after rewards. They don’t defend the fatherless, neither does the cause of the widow come to them. ²⁴Therefore the Lord, GOD of Armies, the Mighty One of Israel, says: “Ah, I will get relief from my adversaries, and avenge myself on my enemies. ²⁵I will turn my hand on you, thoroughly purge away your dross, and will take away all your tin. ²⁶I will restore your judges as at the first, and your counselors as at the beginning. Afterward you shall be called ‘The city of righteousness, a faithful town.’ ²⁷Zion shall be redeemed with justice, and her converts with righteousness. ²⁸But the destruction of transgressors and sinners shall be together, and those who forsake the LORD shall be consumed. ²⁹For they shall be ashamed of the oaks which you have desired, and you shall be confounded for the gardens that you have chosen. ³⁰For you shall be as an oak whose leaf fades, and as a garden that has no water. ³¹The strong will be like tinder, and his work like a spark. They will both burn together, and no one will quench them.”

1: The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

2: Hear, heavens, and listen, earth; for the LORD has spoken: “I have nourished and brought up children and they have rebelled against me.

3: The ox knows his owner, and the donkey his master’s crib; but Israel doesn’t know. My people don’t consider.”

4: Ah sinful nation, a people loaded with iniquity, offspring of evildoers, children who deal corruptly! They have forsaken the LORD. They have despised the Holy One of Israel. They are estranged and backward.

5: Why should you be beaten more, that you revolt more and more? The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.

6: From the sole of the foot even to the head there is no soundness in it, but wounds, welts, and open sores. They haven’t been closed, bandaged, or soothed with oil.

7: Your country is desolate. Your cities are burned with fire. Strangers devour your land in your presence and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers.

8: The daughter of Zion is left like a shelter in a vineyard, like a hut in a field of melons, like a besieged city.

9: Unless the LORD of Armies had left to us a very small remnant, we would have been as Sodom. We would have been like Gomorrah.

10: Hear the LORD’s word, you rulers of Sodom! Listen to the law of our God, you people of Gomorrah!

11: “What are the multitude of your sacrifices to me?”, says the LORD. “I have had enough of the burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed animals. I don’t delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of male goats.

12: When you come to appear before me, who has required this at your hand, to trample my courts?

13: Bring no more vain offerings. Incense is an abomination to me. New moons, Sabbaths, and convocations— I can’t stand evil assemblies.

14: My soul hates your New Moons and your appointed feasts. They are a burden to me. I am weary of bearing them.

15: When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you. Yes, when you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood.

16: Wash yourselves. Make yourself clean. Put away the evil of your doings from before my eyes. Cease to do evil.

17: Learn to do well. Seek justice. Relieve the oppressed. Defend the fatherless. Plead for the widow.”

18: “Come now, and let’s reason together,” says the LORD: “Though your sins are as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

19: If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good of the land;

20: but if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured with the sword; for the LORD’s mouth has spoken it.”

21: How the faithful city has become a prostitute! She was full of justice. Righteousness lodged in her, but now there are murderers.

22: Your silver has become dross, your wine mixed with water.

23: Your princes are rebellious and companions of thieves. Everyone loves bribes and follows after rewards. They don’t defend the fatherless, neither does the cause of the widow come to them.

24: Therefore the Lord, GOD of Armies, the Mighty One of Israel, says: “Ah, I will get relief from my adversaries, and avenge myself on my enemies.

25: I will turn my hand on you, thoroughly purge away your dross, and will take away all your tin.

26: I will restore your judges as at the first, and your counselors as at the beginning. Afterward you shall be called ‘The city of righteousness, a faithful town.’

27: Zion shall be redeemed with justice, and her converts with righteousness.

28: But the destruction of transgressors and sinners shall be together, and those who forsake the LORD shall be consumed.

29: For they shall be ashamed of the oaks which you have desired, and you shall be confounded for the gardens that you have chosen.

30: For you shall be as an oak whose leaf fades, and as a garden that has no water.

31: The strong will be like tinder, and his work like a spark. They will both burn together, and no one will quench them.”

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Scripture text: World English Bible, Catholic Edition (WEBC) — public domain

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