Matthew 14:13-21 Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand 13 When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. 14 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their […] [READ MORE]

John 6:1-4 Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand  Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), 2 and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs he had performed by healing the sick. 3 Then Jesus […] [READ MORE]

Acts 12:1-19 Peter’s Miraculous Escape From Prison 12 It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. 2 He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. 3 When he saw that this met with approval among the […] [READ MORE]

John 11:17-44 Jesus Comforts the Sisters of Lazarus 17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18 Now Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, 19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of […] [READ MORE]

2 Kings 5:1-15 Naaman Healed of Leprosy 5 Now Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded, because through him the Lord had given victory to Aram. He was a valiant soldier, but he had […] [READ MORE]

1 Chronicles 29:1-9 Gifts for Building the Temple 29 Then King David said to the whole assembly: “My son Solomon, the one whom God has chosen, is young and inexperienced. The task is great, because this palatial structure is not for man but for the Lord God. 2 With all my resources […] [READ MORE]

Ephesians 3:14-21 A Prayer for the Ephesians 14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 7 […] [READ MORE]

1 Peter 2:4-9 The Living Stone and a Chosen People 4 As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through […] [READ MORE]

Isaiah 42:10-17 Song of Praise to the Lord 10 Sing to the Lord a new song,    his praise from the ends of the earth,you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it,    you islands, and all who live in them.11 Let the wilderness and its towns raise their voices;    let the settlements where […] [READ MORE]

Isaiah 41:1-10 The Helper of Israel 41 “Be silent before me, you islands!    Let the nations renew their strength!Let them come forward and speak;    let us meet together at the place of judgment. 2 “Who has stirred up one from the east,    calling him in righteousness to his service[a]?He hands nations over to him    and subdues kings before himHe […] [READ MORE]

Isaiah 40:18-31 18 With whom, then, will you compare God?    To what image will you liken him?19 As for an idol, a metalworker casts it,    and a goldsmith overlays it with gold    and fashions silver chains for it.20 A person too poor to present such an offering    selects wood that will not rot;they look for a skilled workernbsp;   to […] [READ MORE]

Isaiah 40:1-17 Comfort for God’s People 40 Comfort, comfort my people,    says your God.2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,    and proclaim to herthat her hard service has been completed,    that her sin has been paid for,that she has received from the Lord’s hand    double for all her sins. 3 A voice of one calling:“In the wilderness prepare    the way for the Lordmake […] [READ MORE]

Esther 10 The Greatness of Mordecai 10 King Xerxes imposed tribute throughout the empire, to its distant shores.2 And all his acts of power and might, together with a full account of the greatness of Mordecai, whom the king had promoted, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings […] [READ MORE]

Esther 9 9 On the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, the edict commanded by the king was to be carried out. On this day the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower them, but now the tables were turned and the Jews got the upper hand […] [READ MORE]

Genesis 21:1-7The Birth of Isaac 21 Now the Lord was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did for Sarah what he had promised.2 Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him. 3 Abraham gave […] [READ MORE]

Esther 8 The King’s Edict in Behalf of the Jews 8 That same day King Xerxes gave Queen Esther the estate of Haman, the enemy of the Jews. And Mordecai came into the presence of the king, for Esther had told how he was related to her. 2 The king took off […] [READ MORE]

Esther 7 Haman Impaled 7 So the king and Haman went to Queen Esther’s banquet,2 and as they were drinking wine on the second day, the king again asked, “Queen Esther, what is your petition? It will be given you. What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will […] [READ MORE]

Esther 6 Mordecai Honored 6 That night the king could not sleep; so he ordered the book of the chronicles, the record of his reign, to be brought in and read to him. 2 It was found recorded there that Mordecai had exposed Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s officers who […] [READ MORE]

Esther 5 Esther’s Request to the King 5 On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace, in front of the king’s hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall, facing the entrance. 2 When he saw Queen […] [READ MORE]

Esther 4 Mordecai Persuades Esther to Help 4 When Mordecai learned of all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly. 2 But he went only as far as the king’s gate, because no one clothed in […] [READ MORE]

Esther 3Haman’s Plot to Destroy the Jews 3 After these events, King Xerxes honored Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, elevating him and giving him a seat of honor higher than that of all the other nobles. 2 All the royal officials at the king’s gate knelt down and paid honor […] [READ MORE]

Genesis 17:1-6The Covenant of Circumcision 17 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty; walk before me faithfully and be blameless. 2 Then I will make my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers.” 3 Abram fell facedown, and […] [READ MORE]

Esther 2Esther Made Queen 2 Later when King Xerxes’ fury had subsided, he remembered Vashti and what she had done and what he had decreed about her. 2 Then the king’s personal attendants proposed, “Let a search be made for beautiful young virgins for the king. 3 Let the king appoint […] [READ MORE]

Esther 1Queen Vashti Deposed 1 This is what happened during the time of Xerxes, the Xerxes who ruled over 127 provinces stretching from India to Cush: 2 At that time King Xerxes reigned from his royal throne in the citadel of Susa, 3 and in the third year of his reign […] [READ MORE]

Nehemiah 13Nehemiah’s Final Reforms 13 On that day the Book of Moses was read aloud in the hearing of the people and there it was found written that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever be admitted into the assembly of God,2 because they had not met the Israelites with food and […] [READ MORE]