BibleProject | Redemption in the Biblical Story

Overcoming Offense

1 Samuel | Chapter Summaries + Study Questions

Journey Through Psalms & Song of Songs

God of the in Between

Always Abounding: A 3-Day Devotional on Hope and Faith

Journey Through Esther, Ezra & Nehemiah

Forever Open: A Pilgrimage of the Heart

Back to School, Back to You

After Your Heart

The Listener’s Bible®: NIV Edition

New International Version™  (Anglicised), Audio Edition

Holy Bible, New International Version™ (Anglicised), South Asian Audio Edition

<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
 <div class="book bkGEN">
 <div class="chapter ch20" data-usfm="GEN.20">
 <div class="label">20</div><div class="s1">Abraham and Abimelek</div><div class="p"> 1Now Abraham moved on from there into the region of the Negev and lived between Kadesh and Shur. For a while he stayed in Gerar, 2and there Abraham said of his wife Sarah, &#8220;She is my sister.&#8221; Then Abimelek king of Gerar sent for Sarah and took her.</div><div class="p"> 3But God came to Abimelek in a dream one night and said to him, &#8220;You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken; she is a married woman.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 4Now Abimelek had not gone near her, so he said, &#8220;Lord, will you destroy an innocent nation? 5Did he not say to me, &#8216;She is my sister,&#8217; and didn&#8217;t she also say, &#8216;He is my brother&#8217;? I have done this with a clear conscience and clean hands.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 6Then God said to him in the dream, &#8220;Yes, I know you did this with a clear conscience, and so I have kept you from sinning against me. That is why I did not let you touch her. 7Now return the man&#8217;s wife, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not return her, you may be sure that you and all who belong to you will die.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 8Early the next morning Abimelek summoned all his officials, and when he told them all that had happened, they were very much afraid. 9Then Abimelek called Abraham in and said, &#8220;What have you done to us? How have I wronged you that you have brought such great guilt upon me and my kingdom? You have done things to me that should never be done.&#8221; 10And Abimelek asked Abraham, &#8220;What was your reason for doing this?&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 11Abraham replied, &#8220;I said to myself, &#8216;There is surely no fear of God in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.&#8217; 12Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father though not of my mother; and she became my wife. 13And when God had me wander from my father&#8217;s household, I said to her, &#8216;This is how you can show your love to me: Everywhere we go, say of me, &#8220;He is my brother.&#8221;&#8198;&#8217;&#8198;&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 14Then Abimelek brought sheep and cattle and male and female slaves and gave them to Abraham, and he returned Sarah his wife to him. 15And Abimelek said, &#8220;My land is before you; live wherever you like.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 16To Sarah he said, &#8220;I am giving your brother a thousand shekels#20:16 That is, about 25 pounds or about 12 kilograms of silver. This is to cover the offense against you before all who are with you; you are completely vindicated.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 17Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelek, his wife and his female slaves so they could have children again, 18for the Lord had kept all the women in Abimelek&#8217;s household from conceiving because of Abraham&#8217;s wife Sarah.</div>
 </div>
 </div>
</div>

<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
 <div class="book bkGEN">
 <div class="chapter ch21" data-usfm="GEN.21">
 <div class="label">21</div><div class="s1">The Birth of Isaac</div><div class="p"> 1Now the Lord was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did for Sarah what he had promised. 2Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him. 3Abraham gave the name Isaac#21:3 Isaac means he laughs. to the son Sarah bore him. 4When his son Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him, as God commanded him. 5Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him.</div><div class="p"> 6Sarah said, &#8220;God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.&#8221; 7And she added, &#8220;Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.&#8221;</div><div class="s1">Hagar and Ishmael Sent Away</div><div class="p"> 8The child grew and was weaned, and on the day Isaac was weaned Abraham held a great feast. 9But Sarah saw that the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham was mocking, 10and she said to Abraham, &#8220;Get rid of that slave woman and her son, for that woman&#8217;s son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 11The matter distressed Abraham greatly because it concerned his son. 12But God said to him, &#8220;Do not be so distressed about the boy and your slave woman. Listen to whatever Sarah tells you, because it is through Isaac that your offspring#21:12 Or seed will be reckoned. 13I will make the son of the slave into a nation also, because he is your offspring.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 14Early the next morning Abraham took some food and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar. He set them on her shoulders and then sent her off with the boy. She went on her way and wandered in the Desert of Beersheba.</div><div class="p"> 15When the water in the skin was gone, she put the boy under one of the bushes. 16Then she went off and sat down about a bowshot away, for she thought, &#8220;I cannot watch the boy die.&#8221; And as she sat there, she#21:16 Hebrew; Septuagint the child began to sob.</div><div class="p"> 17God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, &#8220;What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid; God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. 18Lift the boy up and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 19Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. So she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink.</div><div class="p"> 20God was with the boy as he grew up. He lived in the desert and became an archer. 21While he was living in the Desert of Paran, his mother got a wife for him from Egypt.</div><div class="s1">The Treaty at Beersheba</div><div class="p"> 22At that time Abimelek and Phicol the commander of his forces said to Abraham, &#8220;God is with you in everything you do. 23Now swear to me here before God that you will not deal falsely with me or my children or my descendants. Show to me and the country where you now reside as a foreigner the same kindness I have shown to you.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 24Abraham said, &#8220;I swear it.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 25Then Abraham complained to Abimelek about a well of water that Abimelek&#8217;s servants had seized. 26But Abimelek said, &#8220;I don&#8217;t know who has done this. You did not tell me, and I heard about it only today.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 27So Abraham brought sheep and cattle and gave them to Abimelek, and the two men made a treaty. 28Abraham set apart seven ewe lambs from the flock, 29and Abimelek asked Abraham, &#8220;What is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs you have set apart by themselves?&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 30He replied, &#8220;Accept these seven lambs from my hand as a witness that I dug this well.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 31So that place was called Beersheba,#21:31 Beersheba can mean well of seven and well of the oath. because the two men swore an oath there.</div><div class="p"> 32After the treaty had been made at Beersheba, Abimelek and Phicol the commander of his forces returned to the land of the Philistines. 33Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there he called on the name of the Lord, the Eternal God. 34And Abraham stayed in the land of the Philistines for a long time.</div>
 </div>
 </div>
</div>

<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
 <div class="book bkGEN">
 <div class="chapter ch22" data-usfm="GEN.22">
 <div class="label">22</div><div class="s1">Abraham Tested</div><div class="p"> 1Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, &#8220;Abraham!&#8221;</div><div class="p">&#8220;Here I am,&#8221; he replied.</div><div class="p"> 2Then God said, &#8220;Take your son, your only son, whom you love&#8212;Isaac&#8212;and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 3Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. 4On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. 5He said to his servants, &#8220;Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 6Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, 7Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, &#8220;Father?&#8221;</div><div class="p">&#8220;Yes, my son?&#8221; Abraham replied.</div><div class="p">&#8220;The fire and wood are here,&#8221; Isaac said, &#8220;but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 8Abraham answered, &#8220;God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.&#8221; And the two of them went on together.</div><div class="p"> 9When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 11But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, &#8220;Abraham! Abraham!&#8221;</div><div class="p">&#8220;Here I am,&#8221; he replied.</div><div class="p"> 12&#8220;Do not lay a hand on the boy,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 13Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram#22:13 Many manuscripts of the Masoretic Text, Samaritan Pentateuch, Septuagint and Syriac; most manuscripts of the Masoretic Text a ram behind him caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, &#8220;On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 15The angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven a second time 16and said, &#8220;I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, 18and through your offspring#22:18 Or seed all nations on earth will be blessed,#22:18 Or and all nations on earth will use the name of your offspring in blessings (see 48:20) because you have obeyed me.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 19Then Abraham returned to his servants, and they set off together for Beersheba. And Abraham stayed in Beersheba.</div><div class="s1">Nahor&#8217;s Sons</div><div class="p"> 20Some time later Abraham was told, &#8220;Milkah is also a mother; she has borne sons to your brother Nahor: 21Uz the firstborn, Buz his brother, Kemuel (the father of Aram), 22Kesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph and Bethuel.&#8221; 23Bethuel became the father of Rebekah. Milkah bore these eight sons to Abraham&#8217;s brother Nahor. 24His concubine, whose name was Reumah, also had sons: Tebah, Gaham, Tahash and Maakah.</div>
 </div>
 </div>
</div>

<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
 <div class="book bkLUK">
 <div class="chapter ch8" data-usfm="LUK.8">
 <div class="label">8</div><div class="s1">The Parable of the Sower</div><div class="p"> 1After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, 2and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; 3Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod&#8217;s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.</div><div class="p"> 4While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable: 5&#8220;A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up. 6Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. 7Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. 8Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.&#8221;</div><div class="p">When he said this, he called out, &#8220;Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 9His disciples asked him what this parable meant. 10He said, &#8220;The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that,</div><div class="q1"> &#8220;&#8198;&#8216;though seeing, they may not see;</div><div class="q2"> though hearing, they may not understand.&#8217; # 8:10 
 Isaiah 6:9
 </div><div class="p"> 11 &#8220;This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. 12Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. 14The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life&#8217;s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. 15But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.</div><div class="s1">A Lamp on a Stand</div><div class="p"> 16 &#8220;No one lights a lamp and hides it in a clay jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light. 17For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open. 18Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them.&#8221;</div><div class="s1">Jesus&#8217; Mother and Brothers</div><div class="p"> 19Now Jesus&#8217; mother and brothers came to see him, but they were not able to get near him because of the crowd. 20Someone told him, &#8220;Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 21He replied, &#8220;My mother and brothers are those who hear God&#8217;s word and put it into practice.&#8221;</div><div class="s1">Jesus Calms the Storm</div><div class="p"> 22One day Jesus said to his disciples, &#8220;Let us go over to the other side of the lake.&#8221; So they got into a boat and set out. 23As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.</div><div class="p"> 24The disciples went and woke him, saying, &#8220;Master, Master, we&#8217;re going to drown!&#8221;</div><div class="p">He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. 25&#8220;Where is your faith?&#8221; he asked his disciples.</div><div class="p">In fear and amazement they asked one another, &#8220;Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.&#8221;</div><div class="s1">Jesus Restores a Demon-Possessed Man</div><div class="p"> 26They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes,#8:26 Some manuscripts Gadarenes; other manuscripts Gergesenes; also in verse 37 which is across the lake from Galilee. 27When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs. 28When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his voice, &#8220;What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don&#8217;t torture me!&#8221; 29For Jesus had commanded the impure spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard, he had broken his chains and had been driven by the demon into solitary places.</div><div class="p"> 30Jesus asked him, &#8220;What is your name?&#8221;</div><div class="p">&#8220;Legion,&#8221; he replied, because many demons had gone into him. 31And they begged Jesus repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss.</div><div class="p"> 32A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into the pigs, and he gave them permission. 33When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.</div><div class="p"> 34When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, 35and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus&#8217; feet, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 36Those who had seen it told the people how the demon-possessed man had been cured. 37Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. So he got into the boat and left.</div><div class="p"> 38The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, 39&#8220;Return home and tell how much God has done for you.&#8221; So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.</div><div class="s1">Jesus Raises a Dead Girl and Heals a Sick Woman</div><div class="p"> 40Now when Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him, for they were all expecting him. 41Then a man named Jairus, a synagogue leader, came and fell at Jesus&#8217; feet, pleading with him to come to his house 42because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying.</div><div class="p">As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. 43And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years,#8:43 Many manuscripts years, and she had spent all she had on doctors but no one could heal her. 44She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.</div><div class="p"> 45 &#8220;Who touched me?&#8221; Jesus asked.</div><div class="p">When they all denied it, Peter said, &#8220;Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 46But Jesus said, &#8220;Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 47Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. 48Then he said to her, &#8220;Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 49While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. &#8220;Your daughter is dead,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Don&#8217;t bother the teacher anymore.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 50Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, &#8220;Don&#8217;t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 51When he arrived at the house of Jairus, he did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John and James, and the child&#8217;s father and mother. 52Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her. &#8220;Stop wailing,&#8221; Jesus said. &#8220;She is not dead but asleep.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 53They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. 54But he took her by the hand and said, &#8220;My child, get up!&#8221; 55Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. 56Her parents were astonished, but he ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.</div>
 </div>
 </div>
</div>

<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
 <div class="book bkPRO">
 <div class="chapter ch8" data-usfm="PRO.8">
 <div class="label">8</div><div class="s1">Wisdom&#8217;s Call</div><div class="q1"> 1Does not wisdom call out?</div><div class="q2">Does not understanding raise her voice?</div><div class="q1"> 2At the highest point along the way,</div><div class="q2">where the paths meet, she takes her stand;</div><div class="q1"> 3beside the gate leading into the city,</div><div class="q2">at the entrance, she cries aloud:</div><div class="q1"> 4&#8220;To you, O people, I call out;</div><div class="q2">I raise my voice to all mankind.</div><div class="q1"> 5You who are simple, gain prudence;</div><div class="q2">you who are foolish, set your hearts on it.#8:5 Septuagint; Hebrew foolish, instruct your minds</div><div class="q1"> 6Listen, for I have trustworthy things to say;</div><div class="q2">I open my lips to speak what is right.</div><div class="q1"> 7My mouth speaks what is true,</div><div class="q2">for my lips detest wickedness.</div><div class="q1"> 8All the words of my mouth are just;</div><div class="q2">none of them is crooked or perverse.</div><div class="q1"> 9To the discerning all of them are right;</div><div class="q2">they are upright to those who have found knowledge.</div><div class="q1"> 10Choose my instruction instead of silver,</div><div class="q2">knowledge rather than choice gold,</div><div class="q1"> 11for wisdom is more precious than rubies,</div><div class="q2">and nothing you desire can compare with her.</div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"> 12&#8220;I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence;</div><div class="q2">I possess knowledge and discretion.</div><div class="q1"> 13To fear the Lord is to hate evil;</div><div class="q2">I hate pride and arrogance,</div><div class="q2">evil behavior and perverse speech.</div><div class="q1"> 14Counsel and sound judgment are mine;</div><div class="q2">I have insight, I have power.</div><div class="q1"> 15By me kings reign</div><div class="q2">and rulers issue decrees that are just;</div><div class="q1"> 16by me princes govern,</div><div class="q2">and nobles&#8212;all who rule on earth.#8:16 Some Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint; other Hebrew manuscripts all righteous rulers</div><div class="q1"> 17I love those who love me,</div><div class="q2">and those who seek me find me.</div><div class="q1"> 18With me are riches and honor,</div><div class="q2">enduring wealth and prosperity.</div><div class="q1"> 19My fruit is better than fine gold;</div><div class="q2">what I yield surpasses choice silver.</div><div class="q1"> 20I walk in the way of righteousness,</div><div class="q2">along the paths of justice,</div><div class="q1"> 21bestowing a rich inheritance on those who love me</div><div class="q2">and making their treasuries full.</div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"> 22&#8220;The Lord brought me forth as the first of his works,#8:22 Or way; or dominion#8:22 Or The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work; or The Lord brought me forth at the beginning of his work</div><div class="q2">before his deeds of old;</div><div class="q1"> 23I was formed long ages ago,</div><div class="q2">at the very beginning, when the world came to be.</div><div class="q1"> 24When there were no watery depths, I was given birth,</div><div class="q2">when there were no springs overflowing with water;</div><div class="q1"> 25before the mountains were settled in place,</div><div class="q2">before the hills, I was given birth,</div><div class="q1"> 26before he made the world or its fields</div><div class="q2">or any of the dust of the earth.</div><div class="q1"> 27I was there when he set the heavens in place,</div><div class="q2">when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep,</div><div class="q1"> 28when he established the clouds above</div><div class="q2">and fixed securely the fountains of the deep,</div><div class="q1"> 29when he gave the sea its boundary</div><div class="q2">so the waters would not overstep his command,</div><div class="q1">and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.</div><div class="q2"> 30Then I was constantly#8:30 Or was the artisan; or was a little child at his side.</div><div class="q1">I was filled with delight day after day,</div><div class="q2">rejoicing always in his presence,</div><div class="q1"> 31rejoicing in his whole world</div><div class="q2">and delighting in mankind.</div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"> 32&#8220;Now then, my children, listen to me;</div><div class="q2">blessed are those who keep my ways.</div><div class="q1"> 33Listen to my instruction and be wise;</div><div class="q2">do not disregard it.</div><div class="q1"> 34Blessed are those who listen to me,</div><div class="q2">watching daily at my doors,</div><div class="q2">waiting at my doorway.</div><div class="q1"> 35For those who find me find life</div><div class="q2">and receive favor from the Lord.</div><div class="q1"> 36But those who fail to find me harm themselves;</div><div class="q2">all who hate me love death.&#8221;</div>
 </div>
 </div>
</div>

ZOE DEVOSample

Scripture

About this Plan

Related plans