Isaiah 45:11-17

¹¹ Yahweh, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker says: “You ask me about the things that are to come, concerning my sons, and you command me concerning the work of my hands! ¹² I have made the earth, and created man on it. I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens; and I have commanded all their army. ¹³ I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will make straight all his ways. He shall build my city, and he shall let my exiles go free, not for price nor reward,” says Yahweh of Armies. ¹⁴ Yahweh says: “The labor of Egypt, and the merchandise of Ethiopia, and the Sabeans, men of stature, shall come over to you, and they shall be yours. They will go after you. They shall come over in chains; and they will bow down to you. They will make supplication to you: ‘Surely God is in you; and there is no one else. There is no other god. ¹⁵ Most certainly you are a God who has hidden yourself, God of Israel, the Savior.’” ¹⁶ They will be disappointed, yes, confounded, all of them. Those who are makers of idols will go into confusion together. ¹⁷ Israel will be saved by Yahweh with an everlasting salvation. You will not be disappointed nor confounded to ages everlasting.

Genesis 22:1-18

¹ After these things, God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” He said, “Here I am.” ² He said, “Now take your son, your only son, whom you love, even Isaac, and go into the land of Moriah. Offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains which I will tell you of.” ³ Abraham rose early in the morning, and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son. He split the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went to the place of which God had told him. ⁴ On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place far off. ⁵ Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey. The boy and I will go yonder. We will worship, and come back to you.” ⁶ Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. He took in his hand the fire and the knife. They both went together. ⁷ Isaac spoke to Abraham his father, and said, “My father?” He said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “Here is the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” ⁸ Abraham said, “God will provide himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they both went together. ⁹ They came to the place which God had told him of. Abraham built the altar there, and laid the wood in order, bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar, on the wood. ¹⁰ Abraham stretched out his hand, and took the knife to kill his son. ¹¹ Yahweh’s angel called to him out of the sky, and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” He said, “Here I am.” ¹² He said, “Don’t lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him. For now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” ¹³ Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and saw that behind him was a ram caught in the thicket by his horns. Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering instead of his son. ¹⁴ Abraham called the name of that place Yahweh Will Provide. As it is said to this day, “On Yahweh’s mountain, it will be provided.” ¹⁵ Yahweh’s angel called to Abraham a second time out of the sky, ¹⁶ and said, “I have sworn by myself, says Yahweh, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son, ¹⁷ that I will bless you greatly, and I will multiply your offspring greatly like the stars of the heavens, and like the sand which is on the seashore. Your offspring will possess the gate of his enemies. ¹⁸ All the nations of the earth will be blessed by your offspring, because you have obeyed my voice.”

Proverbs 17:17-18:5

¹⁷ A friend loves at all times; and a brother is born for adversity. ¹⁸ A man void of understanding strikes hands, and becomes collateral in the presence of his neighbor. ¹⁹ He who loves disobedience loves strife. One who builds a high gate seeks destruction. ²⁰ One who has a perverse heart doesn’t find prosperity, and one who has a deceitful tongue falls into trouble. ²¹ He who becomes the father of a fool grieves. The father of a fool has no joy. ²² A cheerful heart makes good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. ²³ A wicked man receives a bribe in secret, to pervert the ways of justice. ²⁴ Wisdom is before the face of one who has understanding, but the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth. ²⁵ A foolish son brings grief to his father, and bitterness to her who bore him. ²⁶ Also to punish the righteous is not good, nor to flog officials for their integrity. ²⁷ He who spares his words has knowledge. He who is even tempered is a man of understanding. ²⁸ Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is counted wise. When he shuts his lips, he is thought to be discerning. ¹ An unfriendly man pursues selfishness, and defies all sound judgment. ² A fool has no delight in understanding, but only in revealing his own opinion. ³ When wickedness comes, contempt also comes, and with shame comes disgrace. ⁴ The words of a man’s mouth are like deep waters. The fountain of wisdom is like a flowing brook. ⁵ To be partial to the faces of the wicked is not good, nor to deprive the innocent of justice.