Leviticus 1, John 20, Proverbs 17, Philippians 4

Leviticus 1,

1 The LORD called to Moses and spoke to him from the Tent of Meeting. He said,
 
2 "Speak to the Israelites and say to them: 'When any of you brings an offering to the LORD, bring as your offering an animal from either the herd or the flock.
 
3 " 'If the offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he is to offer a male without defect. He must present it at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting so that it will be acceptable to the LORD.
 
4 He is to lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it will be accepted on his behalf to make atonement for him.
 
5 He is to slaughter the young bull before the LORD, and then Aaron's sons the priests shall bring the blood and sprinkle it against the altar on all sides at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.
 
6 He is to skin the burnt offering and cut it into pieces.
 
7 The sons of Aaron the priest are to put fire on the altar and arrange wood on the fire.
 
8 Then Aaron's sons the priests shall arrange the pieces, including the head and the fat, on the burning wood that is on the altar.
 
9 He is to wash the inner parts and the legs with water, and the priest is to burn all of it on the altar. It is a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, an aroma pleasing to the LORD.
 
10 " 'If the offering is a burnt offering from the flock, from either the sheep or the goats, he is to offer a male without defect.
 
11 He is to slaughter it at the north side of the altar before the LORD, and Aaron's sons the priests shall sprinkle its blood against the altar on all sides.
 
12 He is to cut it into pieces, and the priest shall arrange them, including the head and the fat, on the burning wood that is on the altar.
 
13 He is to wash the inner parts and the legs with water, and the priest is to bring all of it and burn it on the altar. It is a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, an aroma pleasing to the LORD.
 
14 " 'If the offering to the LORD is a burnt offering of birds, he is to offer a dove or a young pigeon.
 
15 The priest shall bring it to the altar, wring off the head and burn it on the altar; its blood shall be drained out on the side of the altar.
 
16 He is to remove the crop with its contents and throw it to the east side of the altar, where the ashes are.
 
17 He shall tear it open by the wings, not severing it completely, and then the priest shall burn it on the wood that is on the fire on the altar. It is a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, an aroma pleasing to the LORD.

John 20,

1 In the first month the whole Israelite community arrived at the Desert of Zin, and they stayed at Kadesh. There Miriam died and was buried.
 
2 Now there was no water for the community, and the people gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron.
 
3 They quarreled with Moses and said, "If only we had died when our brothers fell dead before the LORD!
 
4 Why did you bring the LORD's community into this desert, that we and our livestock should die here?
 
5 Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place? It has no grain or figs, grapevines or pomegranates. And there is no water to drink!"
 
6 Moses and Aaron went from the assembly to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and fell facedown, and the glory of the LORD appeared to them.
 
7 The LORD said to Moses,
 
8 "Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink."
 
9 So Moses took the staff from the LORD's presence, just as he commanded him.
 
10 He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to them, "Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?"
 
11 Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank.
 
12 But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them."
 
13 These were the waters of Meribah, where the Israelites quarreled with the LORD and where he showed himself holy among them.
 
14 Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom, saying: "This is what your brother Israel says: You know about all the hardships that have come upon us.
 
15 Our forefathers went down into Egypt, and we lived there many years. The Egyptians mistreated us and our fathers,
 
16 but when we cried out to the LORD, he heard our cry and sent an angel and brought us out of Egypt. "Now we are here at Kadesh, a town on the edge of your territory.
 
17 Please let us pass through your country. We will not go through any field or vineyard, or drink water from any well. We will travel along the king's highway and not turn to the right or to the left until we have passed through your territory."
 
18 But Edom answered: "You may not pass through here; if you try, we will march out and attack you with the sword."
 
19 The Israelites replied: "We will go along the main road, and if we or our livestock drink any of your water, we will pay for it. We only want to pass through on foot-nothing else."
 
20 Again they answered: "You may not pass through." Then Edom came out against them with a large and powerful army.
 
21 Since Edom refused to let them go through their territory, Israel turned away from them.
 
22 The whole Israelite community set out from Kadesh and came to Mount Hor.
 
23 At Mount Hor, near the border of Edom, the LORD said to Moses and Aaron,
 
24 "Aaron will be gathered to his people. He will not enter the land I give the Israelites, because both of you rebelled against my command at the waters of Meribah.
 
25 Get Aaron and his son Eleazar and take them up Mount Hor.
 
26 Remove Aaron's garments and put them on his son Eleazar, for Aaron will be gathered to his people; he will die there."
 
27 Moses did as the LORD commanded: They went up Mount Hor in the sight of the whole community.
 
28 Moses removed Aaron's garments and put them on his son Eleazar. And Aaron died there on top of the mountain. Then Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain,
 
29 and when the whole community learned that Aaron had died, the entire house of Israel mourned for him thirty days.

Proverbs 17,

1 Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife.
 
2 A wise servant will rule over a disgraceful son, and will share the inheritance as one of the brothers.
 
3 The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests the heart.
 
4 A wicked man listens to evil lips; a liar pays attention to a malicious tongue.
 
5 He who mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker; whoever gloats over disaster will not go unpunished.
 
6 Children's children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children.
 
7 Arrogant lips are unsuited to a fool-how much worse lying lips to a ruler!
 
8 A bribe is a charm to the one who gives it; wherever he turns, he succeeds.
 
9 He who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.
 
10 A rebuke impresses a man of discernment more than a hundred lashes a fool.
 
11 An evil man is bent only on rebellion; a merciless official will be sent against him.
 
12 Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly.
 
13 If a man pays back evil for good, evil will never leave his house.
 
14 Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.
 
15 Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent-the LORD detests them both.
 
16 Of what use is money in the hand of a fool, since he has no desire to get wisdom?
 
17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
 
18 A man lacking in judgment strikes hands in pledge and puts up security for his neighbor.
 
19 He who loves a quarrel loves sin; he who builds a high gate invites destruction.
 
20 A man of perverse heart does not prosper; he whose tongue is deceitful falls into trouble.
 
21 To have a fool for a son brings grief; there is no joy for the father of a fool.
 
22 A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
 
23 A wicked man accepts a bribe in secret to pervert the course of justice.
 
24 A discerning man keeps wisdom in view, but a fool's eyes wander to the ends of the earth.
 
25 A foolish son brings grief to his father and bitterness to the one who bore him.
 
26 It is not good to punish an innocent man, or to flog officials for their integrity.
 
27 A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered.
 
28 Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue.

Philippians 4

1 So King Solomon ruled over all Israel.
 
2 And these were his chief officials: Azariah son of Zadok-the priest;
 
3 Elihoreph and Ahijah, sons of Shisha-secretaries; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud-recorder;
 
4 Benaiah son of Jehoiada-commander in chief; Zadok and Abiathar-priests;
 
5 Azariah son of Nathan-in charge of the district officers; Zabud son of Nathan-a priest and personal adviser to the king;
 
6 Ahishar-in charge of the palace; Adoniram son of Abda-in charge of forced labor.
 
7 Solomon also had twelve district governors over all Israel, who supplied provisions for the king and the royal household. Each one had to provide supplies for one month in the year.
 
8 These are their names: Ben-Hur-in the hill country of Ephraim;
 
9 Ben-Deker-in Makaz, Shaalbim, Beth Shemesh and Elon Bethhanan;
 
10 Ben-Hesed-in Arubboth (Socoh and all the land of Hepher were his);
 
11 Ben-Abinadab-in Naphoth Dor (he was married to Taphath daughter of Solomon);
 
12 Baana son of Ahilud-in Taanach and Megiddo, and in all of Beth Shan next to Zarethan below Jezreel, from Beth Shan to Abel Meholah across to Jokmeam;
 
13 Ben-Geber-in Ramoth Gilead (the settlements of Jair son of Manasseh in Gilead were his, as well as the district of Argob in Bashan and its sixty large walled cities with bronze gate bars);
 
14 Ahinadab son of Iddo-in Mahanaim;
 
15 Ahimaaz-in Naphtali (he had married Basemath daughter of Solomon);
 
16 Baana son of Hushai-in Asher and in Aloth;
 
17 Jehoshaphat son of Paruah-in Issachar;
 
18 Shimei son of Ela-in Benjamin;
 
19 Geber son of Uri-in Gilead (the country of Sihon king of the Amorites and the country of Og king of Bashan). He was the only governor over the district.
 
20 The people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand on the seashore; they ate, they drank and they were happy.
 
21 And Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the River to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt. These countries brought tribute and were Solomon's subjects all his life.
 
22 Solomon's daily provisions were thirty cors of fine flour and sixty cors of meal,
 
23 ten head of stall-fed cattle, twenty of pasture-fed cattle and a hundred sheep and goats, as well as deer, gazelles, roebucks and choice fowl.
 
24 For he ruled over all the kingdoms west of the River, from Tiphsah to Gaza, and had peace on all sides.
 
25 During Solomon's lifetime Judah and Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, lived in safety, each man under his own vine and fig tree.
 
26 Solomon had four thousand stalls for chariot horses, and twelve thousand horses.
 
27 The district officers, each in his month, supplied provisions for King Solomon and all who came to the king's table. They saw to it that nothing was lacking.
 
28 They also brought to the proper place their quotas of barley and straw for the chariot horses and the other horses.
 
29 God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore.
 
30 Solomon's wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the men of the East, and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt.
 
31 He was wiser than any other man, including Ethan the Ezrahite-wiser than Heman, Calcol and Darda, the sons of Mahol. And his fame spread to all the surrounding nations.
 
32 He spoke three thousand proverbs and his songs numbered a thousand and five.
 
33 He described plant life, from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of walls. He also taught about animals and birds, reptiles and fish.
 
34 Men of all nations came to listen to Solomon's wisdom, sent by all the kings of the world, who had heard of his wisdom.