March 14  

Daily Bible in a Year

Daily Old and New Testaments, Psalms, and Proverbs

  •    Numbers 21:1-22:20
    Numbers 21:1-22:20

    Arad Destroyed
    21 When the Canaanite, the king of Arad, who lived in the Negeb, heard that Israel was coming by the way of Atharim, he fought against Israel, and took some of them captive. 2 And Israel vowed a vow to the Lord and said, “If you will indeed give this people into my hand, then I will devote their cities to destruction.”[a] 3 And the Lord heeded the voice of Israel and gave over the Canaanites, and they devoted them and their cities to destruction. So the name of the place was called Hormah.[b]

    The Bronze Serpent
    4 From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom. And the people became impatient on the way. 5 And the people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food.” 6 Then the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. 7 And the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you. Pray to the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. 8 And the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.” 9 So Moses made a bronze[c] serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.

    The Song of the Well
    10 And the people of Israel set out and camped in Oboth. 11 And they set out from Oboth and camped at Iye-abarim, in the wilderness that is opposite Moab, toward the sunrise. 12 From there they set out and camped in the Valley of Zered. 13 From there they set out and camped on the other side of the Arnon, which is in the wilderness that extends from the border of the Amorites, for the Arnon is the border of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites. 14 Therefore it is said in the Book of the Wars of the Lord,
    “Waheb in Suphah, and the valleys of the Arnon,
    15 
    and the slope of the valleys
     that extends to the seat of Ar,
     and leans to the border of Moab.”

    16 And from there they continued to Beer;[d] that is the well of which the Lord said to Moses, “Gather the people together, so that I may give them water.” 17 Then Israel sang this song:
    “Spring up, O well!—Sing to it!—
    18 
    the well that the princes made,
     that the nobles of the people dug,
     with the scepter and with their staffs.”

    And from the wilderness they went on to Mattanah, 19 and from Mattanah to Nahaliel, and from Nahaliel to Bamoth, 20 and from Bamoth to the valley lying in the region of Moab by the top of Pisgah that looks down on the desert.[e]

    King Sihon Defeated
    21 Then Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, saying, 22 “Let me pass through your land. We will not turn aside into field or vineyard. We will not drink the water of a well. We will go by the King's Highway until we have passed through your territory.” 23 But Sihon would not allow Israel to pass through his territory. He gathered all his people together and went out against Israel to the wilderness and came to Jahaz and fought against Israel. 24 And Israel defeated him with the edge of the sword and took possession of his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, as far as to the Ammonites, for the border of the Ammonites was strong. 25 And Israel took all these cities, and Israel settled in all the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon, and in all its villages. 26 For Heshbon was the city of Sihon the king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab and taken all his land out of his hand, as far as the Arnon. 27 Therefore the ballad singers say,
    “Come to Heshbon, let it be built;
         let the city of Sihon be established.
    28 
    For fire came out from Heshbon,
         flame from the city of Sihon.
     It devoured Ar of Moab,
         and swallowed[f] the heights of the Arnon.
    29 
    Woe to you, O Moab!
         You are undone, O people of Chemosh!
     He has made his sons fugitives,
         and his daughters captives,
         to an Amorite king, Sihon.
    30 
    So we overthrew them;
         Heshbon, as far as Dibon, perished;
         and we laid waste as far as Nophah;
         fire spread as far as Medeba.”[g]

    King Og Defeated
    31 Thus Israel lived in the land of the Amorites. 32 And Moses sent to spy out Jazer, and they captured its villages and dispossessed the Amorites who were there.33 Then they turned and went up by the way to Bashan. And Og the king of Bashan came out against them, he and all his people, to battle at Edrei. 34 But the Lord said to Moses, “Do not fear him, for I have given him into your hand, and all his people, and his land. And you shall do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon.” 35 So they defeated him and his sons and all his people, until he had no survivor left. And they possessed his land.

    Balak Summons Balaam
    22 Then the people of Israel set out and camped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho. 2 And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. 3 And Moab was in great dread of the people, because they were many. Moab was overcome with fear of the people of Israel. 4 And Moab said to the elders of Midian, “This horde will now lick up all that is around us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field.” So Balak the son of Zippor, who was king of Moab at that time, 5 sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor at Pethor, which is near the River[h] in the land of the people of Amaw,[i] to call him, saying, “Behold, a people has come out of Egypt. They cover the face of the earth, and they are dwelling opposite me. 6 Come now, curse this people for me, since they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall be able to defeat them and drive them from the land, for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.”
    7 So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the fees for divination in their hand. And they came to Balaam and gave him Balak's message.8 And he said to them, “Lodge here tonight, and I will bring back word to you, as the Lord speaks to me.” So the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam. 9 And God came to Balaam and said, “Who are these men with you?” 10 And Balaam said to God, “Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me, saying, 11 ‘Behold, a people has come out of Egypt, and it covers the face of the earth. Now come, curse them for me. Perhaps I shall be able to fight against them and drive them out.’” 12 God said to Balaam, “You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.” 13 So Balaam rose in the morning and said to the princes of Balak, “Go to your own land, for the Lord has refused to let me go with you.” 14 So the princes of Moab rose and went to Balak and said, “Balaam refuses to come with us.”
    15 Once again Balak sent princes, more in number and more honorable than these.16 And they came to Balaam and said to him, “Thus says Balak the son of Zippor: ‘Let nothing hinder you from coming to me, 17 for I will surely do you great honor, and whatever you say to me I will do. Come, curse this people for me.’” 18 But Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, “Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the command of the Lord my God to do less or more. 19 So you, too, please stay here tonight, that I may know what more the Lord will say to me.” 20 And God came to Balaam at night and said to him, “If the men have come to call you, rise, go with them; but only do what I tell you.”

    Footnotes:
    1. Numbers 21:2 That is, set apart (devote) as an offering to the Lord (for destruction); also verse 3
    2. Numbers 21:3 Hormah means destruction
    3. Numbers 21:9 Or copper
    4. Numbers 21:16 Beer means well
    5. Numbers 21:20 Or Jeshimon
    6. Numbers 21:28 Septuagint; Hebrew the lords of
    7. Numbers 21:30 Compare Samaritan and Septuagint; Hebrew and we laid waste as far as Nophah, which is as far as Medeba
    8. Numbers 22:5 That is, the Euphrates
    9. Numbers 22:5 Or the people of his kindred
  •   Luke 1:26-56
    Luke Luke 1:26-56

    Birth of Jesus Foretold
    26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed[a] to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!”[b] 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be.30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
    34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”[c]
    35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born[d] will be called holy—the Son of God. 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant[e] of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

    Mary Visits Elizabeth
    39 In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, 40 and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, 42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be[f] a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”

    Mary's Song of Praise: The Magnificat
    46 And Mary said,

    “My soul magnifies the Lord,

    47 
        and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

    48 
    for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
         For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;

    49 
    for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
         and holy is his name.

    50 
    And his mercy is for those who fear him
         from generation to generation.

    51 
    He has shown strength with his arm;
         he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;

    52 
    he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
         and exalted those of humble estate;

    53 
    he has filled the hungry with good things,
         and the rich he has sent away empty.

    54 
    He has helped his servant Israel,
         in remembrance of his mercy,

    55 
    as he spoke to our fathers,
         to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”

    56 And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.

    Footnotes:
    1. Luke 1:27 That is, legally pledged to be married
    2. Luke 1:28 Some manuscripts add Blessed are you among women!
    3. Luke 1:34 Greek since I do not know a man
    4. Luke 1:35 Some manuscripts add of you
    5. Luke 1:38 Greek bondservant; also verse 48
    6. Luke 1:45 Or believed, for there will be
  •   Psalm 57
    Psalm 57

    Let Your Glory Be over All the Earth
    To the choirmaster: according to Do Not Destroy. A Miktam[a] of David, when he fled from Saul, in the cave.

    57 
    Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me,
         for in you my soul takes refuge;
     in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge,
         till the storms of destruction pass by.

    2 
    I cry out to God Most High,
         to God who fulfills his purpose for me.

    3 
    He will send from heaven and save me;
         he will put to shame him who tramples on me. Selah
     God will send out his steadfast love and his faithfulness!

    4 
    My soul is in the midst of lions;
         I lie down amid fiery beasts—
     the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows,
         whose tongues are sharp swords.

    5 
    Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!
         Let your glory be over all the earth!

    6 
    They set a net for my steps;
         my soul was bowed down.
     They dug a pit in my way,
         but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah

    7 
    My heart is steadfast, O God,
         my heart is steadfast!
     I will sing and make melody!

    8 
        Awake, my glory![b]
     Awake, O harp and lyre!
         I will awake the dawn!

    9 
    I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples;
         I will sing praises to you among the nations.

    10 
    For your steadfast love is great to the heavens,
         your faithfulness to the clouds.

    11 
    Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!
         Let your glory be over all the earth!

    Footnotes:
    1. Psalm 57:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term
    2. Psalm 57:8 Or my whole being
  •   Proverbs 11:9-11

    Proverbs 11:9-11

    9 
    With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor,

        but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.

    10 
    When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices,

        and when the wicked perish there are shouts of gladness.

    11 
    By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,

        but by the mouth of the wicked it is overthrown.




    English Standard Version (ESV)
    The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.