Contemplative Bible Reading

Isaiah 59:1 (New English Translation) Look, the Lord’s hand is not too weak to deliver you; his ear is not too deaf to hear you. This verse is a great comfort. The Lord is listening to me. He hears my prayers and my thoughts. The Lord is strong and active. He will do some of […]

[Read more →]

Jonah 1:7-16 (New International Version) 7 Then the sailors said to each other, “Come, let us cast lots to find out who is responsible for this calamity.” They cast lots and the lot fell on Jonah. 8 So they asked him, “Tell us, who is responsible for making all this trouble for us? What do […]

[Read more →]

Jonah 4:5-11 (New International Version) 5 Jonah went out and sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city. 6 Then the LORD God provided a vine and made it grow up over Jonah to […]

[Read more →]

Ezekial 22:6-12 (New Century Version) 6 ” ‘Jerusalem, see how each ruler of Israel in you has been trying to kill people.7 The people in you hate their fathers and mothers. They mistreat the foreigners in you and wrong the orphans and widows in you.8 You hate my holy things and dishonor my Sabbaths.9 The […]

[Read more →]

Zechariah 8:23 (New International Version) 23 This is what the LORD Almighty says: “In those days ten men from all languages and nations will take firm hold of one Jew by the hem of his robe and say, ‘Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you.’ “ The LORD […]

[Read more →]

Jeremiah 29:7 (New International Version) Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” The prophet Jeremiah is writing to the Jews who are exiled in Babylon. This is an awful condition. They […]

[Read more →]

Jeremiah 9:4-6 (New International Version) 4 “Beware of your friends; do not trust your brothers. For every brother is a deceiver, and every friend a slanderer. 5 Friend deceives friend, and no one speaks the truth. They have taught their tongues to lie; they weary themselves with sinning. 6 You live in the midst of […]

[Read more →]

Psalms 78:72 (New English Translation) David cared for them with pure motives; he led them with skill. When I read this yesterday, a sense of peace came over me. This describes David, who at times in his life was a great leader of his people. He knew what had to be done and he was […]

[Read more →]

Ezra 7:18 (New International Version) You and your brother Jews may then do whatever seems best with the rest of the silver and gold, in accordance with the will of your God. These are the words that Artaxerxes the King wrote to Ezra. Artaxerxes is sending treasures with Ezra back to Jerusalem to help rebuild […]

[Read more →]

Jeremiah 22:3 (New International Version) This is what the LORD says: Do what is just and right. Rescue from the hand of his oppressor the one who has been robbed. Do no wrong or violence to the alien, the fatherless or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place. The prophet Jeremiah […]

[Read more →]