Contemplative Bible Reading

Exodus 7:22 (New Living Translation) 22 But again the magicians of Egypt used their magic, and they, too, turned water into blood. So Pharaoh’s heart remained hard. He refused to listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord had predicted. This is part of the (hi)story of Moses’ negotiations with Pharaoh and the attempts […]

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Luke 1:51-54 (New Living Translation) 51 His mighty arm has done tremendous things!He has scattered the proud and haughty ones.52 He has brought down princes from their thronesand exalted the humble.53 He has filled the hungry with good thingsand sent the rich away with empty hands.54 He has helped his servant Israeland remembered to be […]

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Ezra 9:2 (New Living Translation) 2 For the men of Israel have married women from these people and have taken them as wives for their sons. So the holy race has become polluted by these mixed marriages. Worse yet, the leaders and officials have led the way in this outrage. Notice the second sentence: So […]

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Jeremiah 40:2-3 (New Living Translation) 2 The captain of the guard (Nebuzaradan) called for Jeremiah and said, “The Lord your God has brought this disaster on this land, 3 just as he said he would. For these people have sinned against the Lord and disobeyed him. That is why it happened. The Babylonians have captured […]

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Isaiah 40:13-14 (New Living Translation) 13 Who is able to advise the Spirit of the Lord?Who knows enough to give him advice or teach him?14 Has the Lord ever needed anyone’s advice?Does he need instruction about what is good?Did someone teach him what is rightor show him the path of justice? Take the first phrase […]

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Nehemiah 6:12 (New Living Translation) 12 I realized that God had not spoken to him, but that he had uttered this prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. Nehemiah is writing these words. Nehemiah and the people have finished rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, but there is still more work to complete. […]

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Ezra 9:3-4 (New Living Translation) 3 When I heard this, I tore my cloak and my shirt, pulled hair from my head and beard, and sat down utterly shocked. 4 Then all who trembled at the words of the God of Israel came and sat with me because of this outrage committed by the returned […]

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2 Chronicles 14:12-13 (New English Translation) 12 The Lord struck down the Cushites before Asa and Judah. The Cushites fled, 13 and Asa and his army chased them as far as Gerar. The Cushites were wiped out; they were shattered before the Lord and his army. The men of Judah carried off a huge amount […]

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This is part of the back-and-forth among Job and his close friends as they discuss the plight of Job and his misery. And, let’s not forget, Job had been struck with big calamities. And, let’s not forget, Job’s friends were friends. While some of their arguments and advice were poor, they were present when Job […]

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2 Chronicles 25:8 (New Living Translation) If you let them go with your troops into battle, you will be defeated by the enemy no matter how well you fight. God will overthrow you, for he has the power to help you or to trip you up. A man of God is speaking to King Amaziah […]

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