Do not be afraid when a man is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased, for when he dies he will carry nothing away. His glory will not descend after him. Ps. 49:16-17
Numbers 6-7
Numbers 6
The Nazirite Vow
1 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to the Israelites and tell them, ‘When either man or woman makes a special vow, the vow of a Nazirite, to dedicate himself to the Lord, 3 he shall abstain from wine and strong drink. He shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of fermented drink, nor shall he drink any juice of grapes, nor eat fresh grapes or dried. 4 For as long as he is separated as a Nazirite, he shall eat nothing that is made of the grapevine, from the seeds or the skins.
5 All the days of his vow of separation no razor shall touch his head, until the days are fulfilled in which he consecrates himself to the Lord. He shall be holy. He shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow long.
6 All the days that he separates himself to the Lord he shall not go near a dead body. 7 He shall not make himself unclean for his father or for his mother, for his brother or for his sister, when they die, because his separation to the Lord is on his head. 8 All the days of his separation he is holy to the Lord.
9 If any man dies very suddenly beside him, and he defiles his head which he has consecrated to the Lord, then he shall shave his head on the day of his cleansing. On the seventh day he shall shave it. 10 On the eighth day he shall bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons to the priest, to the door of the Tent of Meeting. 11 The priest shall offer one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering and make atonement for him, because he sinned because of the dead and shall make his head holy that same day. 12 He shall consecrate to the Lord the days of his separation and shall bring a one year old male lamb to the Lord for a trespass offering, but the former days shall be void because his separation was defiled.
13 This is the law of the Nazirite: When the days of his separation are fulfilled, he shall be brought to the door of the Tent of Meeting, 14 and he shall present his offering to the Lord: one male lamb a year old without defect for a burnt offering, one ewe lamb a year old without defect for a sin offering, one ram without defect for peace offerings, 15 a basket of unleavened bread, cakes of fine flour mixed with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil with their grain offering and their drink offerings.
16 The priest shall present them before the Lord and shall present his sin offering and his burnt offering. 17 He shall offer the ram for a sacrifice of peace offerings to the Lord, with the basket of unleavened bread. The priest shall offer also its grain offering and its drink offering.
18 The Nazirite shall shave the head of his separation at the door of the Tent of Meeting, take the hair of the head of his separation and put it on the fire which is under the sacrifice of peace offerings.
19 The priest shall take the boiled shoulder of the ram, one unleavened cake out of the basket and one unleavened wafer and shall put them on the hands of the Nazirite after he has shaved the head of his separation, 20 and the priest shall wave them for a wave offering before the Lord. They are holy for the priest, together with the breast that is waved and the thigh that is offered. After that the Nazirite may drink wine.
21 This is the law of the Nazirite who vows and of his offering to the Lord for his separation, in addition to that which he is able to afford. According to his vow which he makes, so he must do after the law of his separation.’ ”
Aaron’s Blessing
22 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 23 “Speak to Aaron and to his sons, saying, ‘This is how you shall bless the Israelites.’ You shall tell them,
24 ‘The Lord bless you, and keep you.
25 The Lord make his face to shine upon you,
and be gracious to you.
26 The Lord lift up his countenance upon you,
and give you peace.’
27 “So they shall put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.”
Numbers 7
Offerings of Dedication
1 On the day that Moses had finished setting up the tabernacle, he anointed it and sanctified it with all its furnishings, as well as the altar with all its utensils. After having anointed them, 2 the leaders of Israel, the heads of their fathers’ houses, presented an offering. These were the leaders of the tribes. These are the ones who were over those who were counted, 3 and they brought their offering before the Lord, six covered wagons and twelve oxen, a wagon for every two of the leaders, and for each one an ox. They presented them before the tabernacle.
4 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 5 “Accept these from them, that they may be used in doing the service of the Tent of Meeting, and you shall give them to the Levites, to every man according to his service.”
6 Moses took the wagons and the oxen and gave them to the Levites. 7 He gave two wagons and four oxen to the sons of Gershon, according to their service. 8 He gave four wagons and eight oxen to the sons of Merari, according to their service, under the direction of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest. 9 But to the sons of Kohath he gave none, because the service of the sanctuary, which they carried on their shoulders, was their responsibility.
10 The leaders gave offerings for the dedication of the altar on the day that it was anointed. The leaders gave their offerings before the altar.
11 The Lord said to Moses, “They shall make their offering, each leader on his day, for the dedication of the altar.”
The Offerings for the Leaders
12 The one who gave his offering on the first day was Nahshon the son of Amminadab, of the tribe of Judah. 13 His offering was one silver platter, the weight of which was 130 shekels and one silver bowl of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering:
14 one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense;
15 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;
16 one male goat for a sin offering;
17 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old.
This was the offering of Nahshon the son of Amminadab.
18 On the second day Nethanel the son of Zuar, leader of Issachar, gave his offering. 19 For his offering, he gave:
one silver platter, the weight of which was 130 shekels, one silver bowl of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;
20 one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense;
21 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;
22 one male goat for a sin offering;
23 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, five male lambs a year old.
This was the offering of Nethanel the son of Zuar.
24 On the third day Eliab the son of Helon, leader of the Zebulunites, 25 gave his offering:
one silver platter, the weight of which was a 130 shekels and one silver bowl of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;
26 one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense;
27 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;
28 one male goat for a sin offering;
29 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old.
This was the offering of Eliab the son of Helon.
30 On the fourth day Elizur the son of Shedeur, leader of the Reubenites, 31 gave his offering:
one silver platter, the weight of which was 130 shekels and one silver bowl of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;
32 one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense;
33 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;
34 one male goat for a sin offering;
35 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old.
This was the offering of Elizur the son of Shedeur.
36 On the fifth day Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai, leader of the Simeonites, 37 gave his offering:
one silver platter, the weight of which was 130 shekels and one silver bowl of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;
38 one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense;
39 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;
40 one male goat for a sin offering;
41 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old.
This was the offering of Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.
42 On the sixth day, Eliasaph the son of Deuel, leader of the Gadites, 43 gave his offering:
one silver platter, the weight of which was 130 shekels and one silver bowl of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;
44 one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense;
45 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;
46 one male goat for a sin offering;
47 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old.
This was the offering of Eliasaph the son of Deuel.
48 On the seventh day Elishama the son of Ammihud, leader of the Ephraimites, 49 gave his offering:
one silver platter, the weight of which was 130 shekels and one silver bowl of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;
50 one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense; 51 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;
52 one male goat for a sin offering;
53 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old.
This was the offering of Elishama the son of Ammihud.
54 On the eighth day Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur, leader of the Manassites, 55 gave his offering:
one silver platter, the weight of which was 130 shekels and one silver bowl of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;
56 one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense;
57 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;
58 one male goat for a sin offering;
59 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old.
This was the offering of Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.
60 On the ninth day Abidan the son of Gideoni, leader of the Benjamites, 61 gave his offering:
one silver platter, the weight of which was 130 shekels and one silver bowl of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;
62 one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense;
63 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;
64 one male goat for a sin offering;
65 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old.
This was the offering of Abidan the son of Gideoni.
66 On the tenth day Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai, leader of the Danites, 67 gave his offering:
one silver platter, the weight of which was one 130 shekels and one silver bowl of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;
68 one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense;
69 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;
70 one male goat for a sin offering;
71 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old.
This was the offering of Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.
72 On the eleventh day Pagiel the son of Ochran, leader of the children of Asher, 73 gave his offering:
one silver platter, the weight of which was 130 shekels and one silver bowl of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;
74 one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense;
75 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;
76 one male goat for a sin offering;
77 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old.
This was the offering of Pagiel the son of Ochran.
78 On the twelfth day Ahira the son of Enan, leader of the Naphtalites, 79 gave his offering:
one silver platter, the weight of which was 130 shekels and one silver bowl of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;
80 one golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense;
81 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;
82 one male goat for a sin offering;
83 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old.
This was the offering of Ahira the son of Enan.
84 This was the dedication offering of the altar, on the day when it was anointed, by the leaders of Israel:
twelve silver platters, twelve silver bowls, twelve golden ladles, 85 each silver platter weighing 130 shekels, and each bowl 70;
all the silver of the vessels 2,400 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary;
86 the twelve golden ladles, full of incense, weighing ten shekels apiece, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, and all the gold of the ladles weighed 120 shekels;
87 all the cattle for the burnt offering was twelve bulls, the twelve rams, twelve one year old male lambs, and their grain offering, and twelve male goats for a sin offering;
88 and all the cattle for the sacrifice of peace offerings totaled 24 bulls, 60 rams, 60 male goats, and 60 male lambs a year old.
This was the dedication offering of the altar, after it was anointed.
89 When Moses went into the Tent of Meeting to speak with the Lord, he heard his voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the Testimony, from between the two cherubim, and he spoke to him.
Mark 13:1-23
Temple Destruction Foretold
1 As Jesus went out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Teacher, look! What stones and what buildings!”
2 Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? There will not be one stone left on another here, that will not be thrown down.”
3 As he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, 4 “Tell us, when will these things be? What is the sign that these things are all about to be fulfilled?”
5 Jesus, answering, began to tell them, “Be careful that no one leads you astray. 6 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am He!’ and will lead many astray.
7 When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled. For those must happen, but the end is not yet. 8 For nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places. There will be famines and troubles. These things are the beginning of birth pains. 9 But watch yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils. You will be beaten in synagogues. You will stand before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony to them.”
Witnessing to All Nations
10 “The Gospel must first be preached to all the nations. 11 When they lead you away and deliver you up, do not be anxious beforehand, or premeditate what you will say, but say whatever will be given you in that hour. For it is not you who is speaking, but the Holy Spirit.
12 Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child. Children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. 13 You will be hated by all men for my name’s sake, but he who endures to the end will be saved.”
The Abomination of Desolation
14 “But when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing where it ought not” (let the reader understand), “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, 15 and let him who is on the housetop not go down, nor enter in, to take anything out of his house.
16 Let him who is in the field not return back to take his cloak. 17 But woe to those who are with child and to those who nurse babies in those days! 18 Pray that your flight will not be in the winter.
19 For in those days there will be oppression, such as there has not been the like from the beginning of the creation which the Lord created until now, and never will be. 20 Unless the Lord had shortened the days, no flesh would have been saved, but for the sake of the chosen ones, whom he picked out, he shortened the days.
21 Then if anyone tells you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘Look, there!’ do not believe it. 22 For there will arise false messiahs and false prophets who will show signs and wonders, that they may lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones. 23 So watch: I have told you everything beforehand.”
Psalm 49
The Transiency of Wealth
For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by the sons of Korah.
1 Hear this, all you peoples.
Listen, all you inhabitants of the world,
2 both low and high,
rich and poor together.
3 My mouth will speak words of wisdom.
My heart will utter understanding.
4 I will incline my ear to a proverb.
I will solve my riddle on the harp.
5 Why should I fear in the days of evil,
when iniquity at my heels surrounds me?
6 Those who trust in their wealth,
and boast in the multitude of their riches—
7 none of them can by any means redeem his brother,
nor give the Lord a ransom for him.
8 For the redemption of their life is costly,
no payment is ever enough,
9 that he should live on forever,
that he should not see corruption.
10 For he sees that wise men die;
likewise the fool and the senseless perish,
and leave their wealth to others.
11 Their inner thought is that their houses will endure forever,
and their dwelling places to all generations.
They name their lands after themselves.
12 But man, despite his riches, does not endure.
He is like the animals that perish.
13 This is the destiny of those who are foolish,
and of those who approve their sayings.
Selah.
14 They are appointed as a flock for Sheol.
Death shall be their shepherd.
The upright shall have dominion over them in the morning.
Their beauty shall decay in Sheol,
far from their mansion.
15 But the Lord will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol,
for he will receive me.
Selah.
16 Do not be afraid when a man is made rich,
when the glory of his house is increased,
17 for when he dies he will carry nothing away.
His glory will not descend after him.
18 Though while he lived he blessed his soul—
and men praise you when you do well for yourself—
19 he shall go to the generation of his fathers.
They shall never see the light.
20 A man who has riches without understanding,
is like the animals that perish.
Proverbs 10:27-28
27 The fear of the Lord prolongs days,
but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.
28 The prospect of the righteous is joy,
but the hope of the wicked will perish.