9 Tammuz, 5784

Balaam arose in the morning and said to Balak’s dignitaries, “Go back to your own country, for the LORD will not let me go with you.”

The Moabite dignitaries left, and they came to Balak and said, “Balaam refused to come with us.”

Then Balak sent other dignitaries, more numerous and distinguished than the first.

They came to Balaam and said to him, “Thus says Balak son of Zippor: Please do not refuse to come to me.

I will reward you richly and I will do anything you ask of me. Only come and damn this people for me.”

Balaam replied to Balak’s officials, “Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything, big or little, contrary to the command of the LORD my God.

So you, too, stay here overnight, and let me find out what else the LORD may say to me.”

That night God came to Balaam and said to him, “If these men have come to invite you, you may go with them. But whatever I command you, that you shall do.”

Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures, published by JPS
Copyright: JPS, 1985

Psalms 49

For the leader. Of the Korahites. A psalm. Hear this, all you peoples; give ear, all inhabitants of the world, men of all estates, rich and poor alike. My mouth utters wisdom, my speech is full of insight. I will turn my attention to a theme, set forth my lesson to the music of a lyre. In time of trouble, why should I fear the encompassing evil of those who would supplant me— men who trust in their riches, who glory in their great wealth? Ah, it cannot redeem a man, or pay his ransom to God; the price of life is too high; and so one ceases to be, forever. Shall he live eternally, and never see the grave? For one sees that the wise die, that the foolish and ignorant both perish, leaving their wealth to others. Their grave is their eternal home, the dwelling-place for all generations of those once famous on earth. Man does not abide in honor; he is like the beasts that perish. Such is the fate of those who are self-confident, the end of those pleased with their own talk. Selah. Sheeplike they head for Sheol, with Death as their shepherd. The upright shall rule over them at daybreak, and their form shall waste away in Sheol till its nobility be gone. But God will redeem my life from the clutches of Sheol, for He will take me.Selah. Do not be afraid when a man becomes rich, when his household goods increase; for when he dies he can take none of it along; his goods cannot follow him down. Though he congratulates himself in his lifetime —“They must admit that you did well by yourself”— yet he must join the company of his ancestors, who will never see daylight again. Man does not understand honor; he is like the beasts that perish.

Psalms 50

A psalm of Asaph. God, the LORD God spoke and summoned the world from east to west. From Zion, perfect in beauty, God appeared —let our God come and not fail to act! Devouring fire preceded Him; it stormed around Him fiercely. He summoned the heavens above, and the earth, for the trial of His people. “Bring in My devotees, who made a covenant with Me over sacrifice!” Then the heavens proclaimed His righteousness, for He is a God who judges.Selah. “Pay heed, My people, and I will speak, O Israel, and I will arraign you. I am God, your God. I censure you not for your sacrifices, and your burnt offerings, made to Me daily; I claim no bull from your estate, no he-goats from your pens. For Mine is every animal of the forest, the beasts on a thousand mountains. I know every bird of the mountains, the creatures of the field are subject to Me. Were I hungry, I would not tell you, for Mine is the world and all it holds. Do I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of he-goats? Sacrifice a thank offering to God, and pay your vows to the Most High. Call upon Me in time of trouble; I will rescue you, and you shall honor Me.” And to the wicked, God said: “Who are you to recite My laws, and mouth the terms of My covenant, seeing that you spurn My discipline, and brush My words aside? When you see a thief, you fall in with him, and throw in your lot with adulterers; you devote your mouth to evil, and yoke your tongue to deceit; you are busy maligning your brother, defaming the son of your mother. If I failed to act when you did these things, you would fancy that I was like you; so I censure you and confront you with charges. Mark this, you who are unmindful of God, lest I tear you apart and no one save you. He who sacrifices a thank offering honors Me, and to him who improves his way I will show the salvation of God.”

Psalms 51

For the leader. A psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came to him after he had come to Bathsheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, as befits Your faithfulness; in keeping with Your abundant compassion, blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly of my iniquity, and purify me of my sin; for I recognize my transgressions, and am ever conscious of my sin. Against You alone have I sinned, and done what is evil in Your sight; so You are just in Your sentence, and right in Your judgment. Indeed I was born with iniquity; with sin my mother conceived me. Indeed You desire truth about that which is hidden; teach me wisdom about secret things. Purge me with hyssop till I am pure; wash me till I am whiter than snow. Let me hear tidings of joy and gladness; let the bones You have crushed exult. Hide Your face from my sins; blot out all my iniquities. Fashion a pure heart for me, O God; create in me a steadfast spirit. Do not cast me out of Your presence, or take Your holy spirit away from me. Let me again rejoice in Your help; let a vigorous spirit sustain me. I will teach transgressors Your ways, that sinners may return to You. Save me from bloodguilt, O God, God, my deliverer, that I may sing forth Your beneficence. O Lord, open my lips, and let my mouth declare Your praise. You do not want me to bring sacrifices; You do not desire burnt offerings; True sacrifice to God is a contrite spirit; God, You will not despise a contrite and crushed heart. May it please You to make Zion prosper; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Then You will want sacrifices offered in righteousness, burnt and whole offerings; then bulls will be offered on Your altar.

Psalms 52

For the leader. A maskil of David, when Doeg the Edomite came and informed Saul, telling him, “David came to Ahimelech’s house.” Why do you boast of your evil, brave fellow? God’s faithfulness never ceases. Your tongue devises mischief, like a sharpened razor that works treacherously. You prefer evil to good, the lie, to speaking truthfully.Selah. You love all pernicious words, treacherous speech. So God will tear you down for good, will break you and pluck you from your tent, and root you out of the land of the living. Selah. The righteous, seeing it, will be awestruck; they will jibe at him, saying, “Here was a fellow who did not make God his refuge, but trusted in his great wealth, relied upon his mischief.” But I am like a thriving olive tree in God’s house; I trust in the faithfulness of God forever and ever. I praise You forever, for You have acted; I declare that Your name is good in the presence of Your faithful ones.

Psalms 53

For the leader; on mahalath.A maskil of David. The benighted man thinks, “God does not care.” Man’s wrongdoing is corrupt and loathsome; no one does good. God looks down from heaven on mankind to find a man of understanding, a man mindful of God. Everyone is dross, altogether foul; there is none who does good, not even one. Are they so witless, those evildoers, who devour my people as they devour food, and do not invoke God? There they will be seized with fright —never was there such a fright— for God has scattered the bones of your besiegers; you have put them to shame, for God has rejected them. O that the deliverance of Israel might come from Zion! When God restores the fortunes of His people, Jacob will exult, Israel will rejoice.

Psalms 54

For the leader; with instrumental music. A maskil of David, when the Ziphites came and told Saul, “Know, David is in hiding among us.” O God, deliver me by Your name; by Your power vindicate me. O God, hear my prayer; give ear to the words of my mouth. For strangers have risen against me, and ruthless men seek my life; they are unmindful of God.Selah. See, God is my helper; the Lord is my support. He will repay the evil of my watchful foes; by Your faithfulness, destroy them! Then I will offer You a freewill sacrifice; I will praise Your name, LORD, for it is good, for it has saved me from my foes, and let me gaze triumphant upon my enemies.

Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures, published by JPS
Copyright: JPS, 1985

And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city. And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Yeshua saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.” And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” But Yeshua, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic—“Rise, pick up your bed and go home.” And he rose and went home. When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men.

As Yeshua passed on from there, he saw a man called Mattai sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.

And as Yeshua reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Yeshua and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Then the disciples of Yochanan came to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” And Yeshua said to them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast. No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch tears away from the garment, and a worse tear is made. Neither is new wine put into old wineskins. If it is, the skins burst and the wine is spilled and the skins are destroyed. But new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved.”

While he was saying these things to them, behold, a ruler came in and knelt before him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.” And Yeshua rose and followed him, with his disciples. And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the tzitzit of his garment, for she said to herself, “If I only touch his garment, I will be made well.” Yeshua turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly the woman was made well. And when Yeshua came to the ruler’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, he said, “Go away, for the girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose. And the report of this went through all that district.

And as Yeshua passed on from there, two blind men followed him, crying aloud, “Have mercy on us, Son of David.” When he entered the house, the blind men came to him, and Yeshua said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to him, “Yes, Lord.” Then he touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith be it done to you.” And their eyes were opened. And Yeshua sternly warned them, “See that no one knows about it.” But they went away and spread his fame through all that district.

As they were going away, behold, a demon-oppressed man who was mute was brought to him. And when the demon had been cast out, the mute man spoke. And the crowds marveled, saying, “Never was anything like this seen in Israel.” But the Pharisees said, “He casts out demons by the prince of demons.”

And Yeshua went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

(ESV)