One Year Bible.

The Second Plague: Frogs

¹Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and tell him that this is what the LORD says: ‘Let My people go, so that they may worship Me. ²But if you refuse to let them go, I will plague your whole country with frogs. ³The Nile will teem with frogs, and they will come into your palace and up to your bedroom and onto your bed, into the houses of your officials and your people, and into your ovens and kneading bowls. ⁴The frogs will come up on you and your people and all your officials.’”

⁵And the LORD said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Stretch out your hand with your staff over the rivers and canals and ponds, and cause the frogs to come up onto the land of Egypt.’”

⁶So Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt, and the frogs came up and covered the land of Egypt.

⁷But the magicians did the same thing by their magic arts, and they also brought frogs up onto the land of Egypt.

⁸Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “Pray to the LORD to take the frogs away from me and my people. Then I will let your people go, that they may sacrifice to the LORD.”

⁹Moses said to Pharaoh, “You may have the honor over me. When shall I pray for you and your officials and your people that the frogs (except for those in the Nile) may be taken away from you and your houses?”

¹⁰“Tomorrow,” Pharaoh answered.

“May it be as you say,” Moses replied, “so that you may know that there is no one like the LORD our God. ¹¹The frogs will depart from you and your houses and your officials and your people; they will remain only in the Nile.”

¹²After Moses and Aaron had left Pharaoh, Moses cried out to the LORD for help with the frogs that He had brought against Pharaoh. ¹³And the LORD did as Moses requested, and the frogs in the houses, the courtyards, and the fields died. ¹⁴They were piled into countless heaps, and there was a terrible stench in the land.

¹⁵When Pharaoh saw that there was relief, however, he hardened his heart and would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the LORD had said.

The Third Plague: Gnats

¹⁶Then the LORD said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Stretch out your staff and strike the dust of the earth, that it may turn into swarms of gnats throughout the land of Egypt.’”

¹⁷This they did, and when Aaron stretched out his hand with his staff and struck the dust of the earth, gnats came upon man and beast. All the dust of the earth turned into gnats throughout the land of Egypt.

¹⁸The magicians tried to produce gnats using their magic arts, but they could not. And the gnats remained on man and beast.

¹⁹“This is the finger of God,” the magicians said to Pharaoh. But Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, just as the LORD had said.

The Fourth Plague: Flies

²⁰Then the LORD said to Moses, “Get up early in the morning, and when Pharaoh goes out to the water, stand before him and tell him that this is what the LORD says: ‘Let My people go, so that they may worship Me. ²¹But if you will not let My people go, I will send swarms of flies upon you and your officials and your people and your houses. The houses of the Egyptians and even the ground where they stand will be full of flies.

²²But on that day I will give special treatment to the land of Goshen, where My people live; no swarms of flies will be found there. In this way you will know that I, the LORD, am in the land. ²³I will make a distinction between My people and your people. This sign will take place tomorrow.’”

²⁴And the LORD did so. Thick swarms of flies poured into Pharaoh’s palace and into the houses of his officials. Throughout Egypt the land was ruined by swarms of flies.

²⁵Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “Go, sacrifice to your God within this land.”

²⁶But Moses replied, “It would not be right to do that, because the sacrifices we offer to the LORD our God would be detestable to the Egyptians. If we offer sacrifices that are detestable before the Egyptians, will they not stone us? ²⁷We must make a three-day journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to the LORD our God as He commands us.”

²⁸Pharaoh answered, “I will let you go and sacrifice to the LORD your God in the wilderness, but you must not go very far. Now pray for me.”

²⁹“As soon as I leave you,” Moses said, “I will pray to the LORD, so that tomorrow the swarms of flies will depart from Pharaoh and his officials and his people. But Pharaoh must not act deceitfully again by refusing to let the people go and sacrifice to the LORD.”

³⁰Then Moses left Pharaoh and prayed to the LORD, ³¹and the LORD did as Moses requested. He removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh and his officials and his people; not one fly remained. ³²But Pharaoh hardened his heart this time as well, and he would not let the people go.

Jesus before Pilate

¹Then the whole council rose and led Jesus away to Pilate. ²And they began to accuse Him, saying, “We found this man subverting our nation, forbidding payment of taxes to Caesar, and proclaiming Himself to be Christ, a King.”

³So Pilate asked Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?”

“You have said so,” Jesus replied.

⁴Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.”

⁵But they kept insisting, “He stirs up the people all over Judea with His teaching. He began in Galilee and has come all the way here.”

Jesus before Herod

⁶When Pilate heard this, he asked if the man was a Galilean. ⁷And learning that Jesus was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who himself was in Jerusalem at that time.

⁸When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased. He had wanted to see Him for a long time, because he had heard about Him and was hoping to see Him perform a miracle. ⁹Herod questioned Jesus at great length, but He gave no answer.

¹⁰Meanwhile, the chief priests and scribes stood there, vehemently accusing Him. ¹¹And even Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked Him. Dressing Him in a fine robe, they sent Him back to Pilate.

¹²That day Herod and Pilate became friends; before this time they had been enemies.

The Crowd Chooses Barabbas

¹³Then Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people, ¹⁴and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined Him here in your presence and found Him not guilty of your charges against Him. ¹⁵Neither has Herod, for he sent Him back to us. As you can see, He has done nothing deserving of death. ¹⁶Therefore I will punish Him and release Him.”

¹⁸But they all cried out in unison: “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!” ¹⁹(Barabbas had been imprisoned for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.)

²⁰Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate addressed them again, ²¹but they kept shouting, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!”

²²A third time he said to them, “What evil has this man done? I have found in Him no offense worthy of death. So after I punish Him, I will release Him.”

²³But they were insistent, demanding with loud voices for Jesus to be crucified. And their clamor prevailed. ²⁴So Pilate sentenced that their demand be met. ²⁵As they had requested, he released the one imprisoned for insurrection and murder, and he handed Jesus over to their will.

The Crucifixion

²⁶As the soldiers led Him away, they seized Simon of Cyrene on his way in from the country, and they put the cross on him to carry behind Jesus.

²⁷A great number of people followed Him, including women who kept mourning and wailing for Him. ²⁸But Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. ²⁹Look, the days are coming when people will say, ‘Blessed are the barren women, the wombs that never bore, and breasts that never nursed!’ ³⁰At that time

‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!”

and to the hills, “Cover us!”’

³¹For if men do these things while the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”

³²Two others, who were criminals, were also led away to be executed with Jesus.

³³When they came to the place called The Skull, they crucified Him there, along with the criminals, one on His right and the other on His left.

³⁴Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up His garments by casting lots.

³⁵The people stood watching, and the rulers sneered at Him, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.”

³⁶The soldiers also mocked Him and came up to offer Him sour wine. ³⁷“If You are the King of the Jews,” they said, “save Yourself!”

³⁸Above Him was posted an inscription:

THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

³⁹One of the criminals who hung there heaped abuse on Him. “Are You not the Christ?” he said. “Save Yourself and us!”

⁴⁰But the other one rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same judgment? ⁴¹We are punished justly, for we are receiving what our actions deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” ⁴²Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom!”

⁴³And Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

The Death of Jesus

⁴⁴It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over all the land until the ninth hour. ⁴⁵The sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn down the middle.

⁴⁶Then Jesus called out in a loud voice, “Father, into Your hands I commit My Spirit.” And when He had said this, He breathed His last.

⁴⁷When the centurion saw what had happened, he gave glory to God, saying, “Surely this was a righteous man.” ⁴⁸And when all the people who had gathered for this spectacle saw what had happened, they returned home beating their breasts. ⁴⁹But all those who knew Jesus, including the women who had followed Him from Galilee, stood at a distance watching these things.

The Burial of Jesus

⁵⁰Now there was a Council member named Joseph, a good and righteous man, ⁵¹who had not consented to their decision or action. He was from the Judean town of Arimathea and was waiting for the kingdom of God. ⁵²He went to Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus. ⁵³Then he took it down, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and placed it in a tomb cut into the rock, where no one had yet been laid. ⁵⁴It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was beginning.

⁵⁵The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed, and they saw the tomb and how His body was placed. ⁵⁶Then they returned to prepare spices and perfumes. And they rested on the Sabbath, according to the commandment.

Israel’s Sin

¹This is what the LORD says:

“Where is your mother’s certificate of divorce

with which I sent her away?

Or to which of My creditors

did I sell you?

Look, you were sold for your iniquities,

and for your transgressions your mother was sent away.

²Why was no one there when I arrived?

Why did no one answer when I called?

Is My hand too short to redeem you?

Or do I lack the strength to deliver you?

Behold, My rebuke dries up the sea;

I turn the rivers into a desert;

the fish rot for lack of water

and die of thirst.

³I clothe the heavens in black

and make sackcloth their covering.”

The Servant’s Obedience

⁴The Lord GOD has given Me

the tongue of discipleship,

to sustain the weary with a word.

He awakens Me morning by morning;

He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple.

⁵The Lord GOD has opened My ears,

and I have not been rebellious,

nor have I turned back.

⁶I offered My back to those who struck Me,

and My cheeks to those who tore out My beard.

I did not hide My face from scorn and spittle.

⁷Because the Lord GOD helps Me,

I have not been disgraced;

therefore I have set My face like flint,

and I know that I will not be put to shame.

⁸The One who vindicates Me is near.

Who will dare to contend with Me?

Let us confront each other!

Who has a case against Me?

Let him approach Me!

⁹Surely the Lord GOD helps Me.

Who is there to condemn Me?

See, they will all wear out like a garment;

the moths will devour them.

¹⁰Who among you fears the LORD

and obeys the voice of His Servant?

Who among you walks in darkness

and has no light?

Let him trust in the name of the LORD;

let him lean on his God.

¹¹Behold, all you who kindle a fire,

who array yourselves with firebrands,

walk in the light of your fire

and of the firebrands you have lit!

This is what you will receive from My hand:

You will lie down in a place of torment.

Salvation for Zion

¹“Listen to Me, you who pursue righteousness,

you who seek the LORD:

Look to the rock from which you were cut,

and to the quarry from which you were hewn.

²Look to Abraham your father,

and to Sarah who gave you birth.

When I called him, he was but one;

then I blessed him and multiplied him.

³For the LORD will comfort Zion

and will look with compassion on all her ruins;

He will make her wilderness like Eden

and her desert like the garden of the LORD.

Joy and gladness will be found in her,

thanksgiving and melodious song.

⁴Pay attention to Me, My people,

and listen to Me, My nation;

for a law will go out from Me,

and My justice will become a light to the nations;

I will bring it about quickly.

⁵My righteousness draws near,

My salvation is on the way,

and My arms will bring justice to the nations.

The islands will look for Me

and wait in hope for My arm.

⁶Lift up your eyes to the heavens,

and look at the earth below;

for the heavens will vanish like smoke,

the earth will wear out like a garment,

and its people will die like gnats.

But My salvation will last forever,

and My righteousness will never fail.

⁷Listen to Me, you who know what is right,

you people with My law in your hearts:

Do not fear the scorn of men;

do not be broken by their insults.

⁸For the moth will devour them like a garment,

and the worm will eat them like wool.

But My righteousness will last forever,

My salvation through all generations.”

⁹Awake, awake,

put on strength, O arm of the LORD.

Wake up as in days past,

as in generations of old.

Was it not You who cut Rahab to pieces,

who pierced through the dragon?

¹⁰Was it not You who dried up the sea,

the waters of the great deep,

who made a road in the depths of the sea

for the redeemed to cross over?

¹¹So the redeemed of the LORD will return

and enter Zion with singing,

crowned with everlasting joy.

Gladness and joy will overtake them,

and sorrow and sighing will flee.

¹²“I, even I, am He who comforts you.

Why should you be afraid of mortal man,

of a son of man who withers like grass?

¹³But you have forgotten the LORD, your Maker,

who stretched out the heavens

and laid the foundations of the earth.

You live in terror all day long

because of the fury of the oppressor

who is bent on destruction.

But where is the fury of the oppressor?

¹⁴The captive will soon be freed;

he will not die in the dungeon,

and his bread will not be lacking.

¹⁵For I am the LORD your God

who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar—

the LORD of Hosts is His name.

¹⁶I have put My words in your mouth,

and covered you with the shadow of My hand,

to establish the heavens, to found the earth,

and to say to Zion, ‘You are My people.’”

God’s Fury Removed

¹⁷Awake, awake!

Rise up, O Jerusalem,

you who have drunk from the hand of the LORD

the cup of His fury;

you who have drained the goblet to the dregs —

the cup that makes men stagger.

¹⁸Among all the sons she bore,

there is no one to guide her;

among all the sons she brought up,

there is no one to take her hand.

¹⁹These pairs have befallen you:

devastation and destruction,

famine and sword.

Who will grieve for you?

Who can comfort you?

²⁰Your sons have fainted;

they lie at the head of every street,

like an antelope in a net.

They are full of the wrath of the LORD,

the rebuke of your God.

²¹Therefore now hear this, you afflicted one,

drunken, but not with wine.

²²Thus says your Lord, the LORD,

even your God, who defends His people:

“See, I have removed from your hand

the cup of staggering.

From that goblet, the cup of My fury,

you will never drink again.

²³I will place it in the hands of your tormentors,

who told you: ‘Lie down, so we can walk over you,’

so that you made your back like the ground,

like a street to be traversed.”

Deliverance for Jerusalem

¹Awake, awake,

clothe yourself with strength, O Zion!

Put on your garments of splendor,

O Jerusalem, holy city!

For the uncircumcised and unclean

will no longer enter you.

²Shake off your dust!

Rise up and sit on your throne, O Jerusalem.

Remove the chains from your neck,

O captive Daughter of Zion.

³For this is what the LORD says:

“You were sold for nothing,

and without money you will be redeemed.”

⁴For this is what the Lord GOD says:

“At first My people went down to Egypt to live,

then Assyria oppressed them without cause.

⁵And now what have I here?

declares the LORD.

For My people have been taken without cause;

those who rule them taunt,

declares the LORD,

and My name is blasphemed continually

all day long.

⁶Therefore My people will know My name;

therefore they will know on that day

that I am He who speaks.

Here I am!”

⁷How beautiful on the mountains

are the feet of those who bring good news,

who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings,

who proclaim salvation,

who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”

⁸Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices,

together they shout for joy.

For every eye will see

when the LORD returns to Zion.

⁹Break forth in joy, sing together,

O ruins of Jerusalem,

for the LORD has comforted His people;

He has redeemed Jerusalem.

¹⁰The LORD has bared His holy arm

in the sight of all the nations;

all the ends of the earth will see

the salvation of our God.

¹¹Depart, depart, go out from there!

Touch no unclean thing;

come out from it, purify yourselves,

you who carry the vessels of the LORD.

¹²For you will not leave in a hurry

nor flee in haste,

for the LORD goes before you,

and the God of Israel is your rear guard.

The Servant Exalted

¹³Behold, My Servant will prosper;

He will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.

¹⁴Just as many were appalled at Him—

His appearance was disfigured beyond that of any man,

and His form was marred beyond human likeness—

¹⁵so He will sprinkle many nations.

Kings will shut their mouths because of Him.

For they will see what they have not been told,

and they will understand what they have not heard.