Friday in Season after Pentecost

1Verse 1. In the first month, the whole congregation of Israel entered the Wilderness of Zin and stayed in Kadesh. There Miriam died and was buried. 2Verse 2. Now there was no water for the congregation, so they gathered against Moses and Aaron. 3Verse 3. The people quarreled with Moses and said, “If only we had perished with our brothers before the LORD! 4Verse 4. Why have you brought the LORD’s assembly into this wilderness for us and our livestock to die here? 5Verse 5. Why have you led us up out of Egypt to bring us to this wretched place? It is not a place of grain, figs, vines, or pomegranates — and there is no water to drink!” 6Verse 6. Then Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. They fell facedown, and the glory of the LORD appeared to them. 7Verse 7. And the LORD said to Moses, 8Verse 8. “Take the staff and assemble the congregation. You and your brother Aaron are to speak to the rock while they watch, and it will pour out its water. You will bring out water from the rock and provide drink for the congregation and their livestock.” 9Verse 9. So Moses took the staff from the LORD’s presence, just as he had been commanded. 10Verse 10. Then Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly in front of the rock, and Moses said to them, “Listen now, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?” 11Verse 11. Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with his staff, so that a great amount of water gushed out, and the congregation and their livestock were able to drink. 12Verse 12. But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust Me to show My holiness in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.” 13Verse 13. These were the waters of Meribah, where the Israelites quarreled with the LORD, and He showed His holiness among them.

5Verse 5. Now suppose a man is righteous and does what is just and right: 6Verse 6. He does not eat at the mountain or look to the idols of the house of Israel. He does not defile his neighbor’s wife or approach a woman during her period. 7Verse 7. He does not oppress another, but restores the pledge to the debtor. He does not commit robbery, but gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with clothing. 8Verse 8. He does not engage in usury or take excess interest, but he withholds his hand from iniquity and executes true justice between men. 9Verse 9. He follows My statutes and faithfully keeps My ordinances. That man is righteous; surely he will live, 10Verse 10. Now suppose that man has a violent son, who sheds blood or does any of these things, 11Verse 11. though the father has done none of them: Indeed, the son eats at the mountain and defiles his neighbor’s wife. 12Verse 12. He oppresses the poor and needy; he commits robbery and does not restore a pledge. He lifts his eyes to idols; he commits abominations. 13Verse 13. He engages in usury and takes excess interest. Will this son live? He will not! Since he has committed all these abominations, he will surely die; his blood will be on his own head. 14Verse 14. Now suppose this son has a son who sees all the sins his father has committed, considers them, and does not do likewise: 15Verse 15. He does not eat at the mountain or look to the idols of the house of Israel. He does not defile his neighbor’s wife. 16Verse 16. He does not oppress another, or retain a pledge, or commit robbery. He gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with clothing. 17Verse 17. He withholds his hand from harming the poor and takes no interest or usury. He keeps My ordinances and follows My statutes. Such a man will not die for his father’s iniquity. He will surely live. 18Verse 18. As for his father, he will die for his own iniquity, because he practiced extortion, robbed his brother, and did what was wrong among his people.