Contemplative Bible Reading

Leviticus 20: 2b-5 (New Living Translation) “If any of them offer their children as a sacrifice to Molech, they must be put to death. The people of the community must stone them to death. 3 I myself will turn against them and cut them off from the community, because they have defiled my sanctuary and […]

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Numbers 6: (New Living Translation) 22 Then the Lord said to Moses, 23 “Tell Aaron and his sons to bless the people of Israel with this special blessing: 24 ‘May the Lord bless you and protect you.25 May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you.26 May the Lord show you his favor […]

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Exodus 20:24-15 (New Living Translation) 24 “Build for me an altar made of earth, and offer your sacrifices to me—your burnt offerings and peace offerings, your sheep and goats, and your cattle. Build my altar wherever I cause my name to be remembered, and I will come to you and bless you. 25 If you […]

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Psalms 27:1-3 (New Living Translation) 1 The Lord is my light and my salvation—so why should I be afraid?The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger,so why should I tremble?2 When evil people come to devour me,when my enemies and foes attack me,they will stumble and fall.3 Though a mighty army surrounds me,my heart […]

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Zechariah 8:23 (New Living Translation) 23 “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: In those days ten men from different nations and languages of the world will clutch at the sleeve of one Jew. And they will say, ‘Please let us walk with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’” […]

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Amos 6:12 (New Living Translation) 12 Can horses gallop over boulders?Can oxen be used to plow them?But that’s how foolish you are when you turn justice into poisonand the sweet fruit of righteousness into bitterness. God is speaking to the people through the prophet Amos. And the topic, once again, is justice and righteousness. This […]

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Amos 5:23-24 (New Living Translation) 23 Away with your noisy hymns of praise!I will not listen to the music of your harps.24 Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice,an endless river of righteous living. God is speaking to the people through the prophet Amos. Once again, God wants justice and righteousness. God […]

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Hosea 7:11-12 (New Living Translation) 11 The people of Israel have become like silly, witless doves,first calling to Egypt, then flying to Assyria for help.12 But as they fly about,I will throw my net over themand bring them down like a bird from the sky.I will punish them for all the evil they do. This […]

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Hosea 6:6 (New Living Translation) 6 I want you to show love,not offer sacrifices.I want you to know memore than I want burnt offerings. God is speaking to the people through the prophet Hosea. The people are “going through the motions” or “checking off the boxes” or some cliche that means, “Hey God, look, we […]

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Ezekiel 33:30-31 (New Living Translation) 30 “Son of man, your people talk about you in their houses and whisper about you at the doors. They say to each other, ‘Come on, let’s go hear the prophet tell us what the Lord is saying!’ 31 So my people come pretending to be sincere and sit before […]

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