AME Zion Universal Reading February 11th 2024

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First Portion

Exodus Chapter 21

1And these are the ordinances that you shall set before them.2Should you buy a Hebrew slave, he shall work [for] six years, and in the seventh [year], he shall go out to freedom without charge.3If he comes [in] alone, he shall go out alone; if he is a married man, his wife shall go out with him.4If his master gives him a wife, and she bears him sons or daughters, the woman and her children shall belong to her master, and he shall go out alone.5But if the slave says, "I love my master, my wife, and my children. I will not go free,"6his master shall bring him to the judges, and he shall bring him to the door or to the doorpost, and his master shall bore his ear with an awl, and he shall serve him forever.7Now if a man sells his daughter as a maidservant, she shall not go free as the slaves go free.8If she is displeasing to her master, who did not designate her [for himself], then he shall enable her to be redeemed; he shall not rule over her to sell her to another person, when he betrays her.9And if he designates her for his son, he shall deal with her according to the law of the daughters [of Israel].10If he takes another [wife] for himself, he shall not diminish her sustenance, her clothing, or her marital relations.11And if he does not do these three things for her, she shall go free without charge, without [payment of] money.12One who strikes a man so that he dies shall surely be put to death.13But one who did not stalk [him], but God brought [it] about into his hand, I will make a place for you to which he shall flee.14But if a man plots deliberately against his friend to slay him with cunning, [even] from My altar you shall take him to die.15And one who strikes his father or his mother shall surely be put to death.16And whoever kidnaps a man and sells him, and he is found in his possession, shall surely be put to death.17And one who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death.18And if men quarrel, and one strikes the other with a stone or with a fist, and he does not die but is confined to [his] bed,19if he gets up and walks about outside on his support, the assailant shall be cleared; he shall give only [payment] for his [enforced] idleness, and he shall provide for his cure.

Daniel 3:19–23 (NLT): The Blazing Furnace

19 Nebuchadnezzar was so furious with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego that his face became distorted with rage. He commanded that the furnace be heated seven times hotter than usual. 20 Then he ordered some of the strongest men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. 21 So they tied them up and threw them into the furnace, fully dressed in their pants, turbans, robes, and other garments. 22 And because the king, in his anger, had demanded such a hot fire in the furnace, the flames killed the soldiers as they threw the three men in. 23 So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, securely tied, fell into the roaring flames.

Second Portion

Exodus Chapter 21

20And should a man strike his manservant or his maidservant with a rod, and [that one] die under his hand, he shall surely be avenged.21But if he survives for a day or for two days, he shall not be avenged, because he is his property.22And should men quarrel and hit a pregnant woman, and she miscarries but there is no fatality, he shall surely be punished, when the woman's husband makes demands of him, and he shall give [restitution] according to the judges' [orders].23But if there is a fatality, you shall give a life for a life,24an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a hand for a hand, a foot for a foot,25a burn for a burn, a wound for a wound, a bruise for a bruise.26And if a man strikes the eye of his manservant or the eye of his maidservant and destroys it, he shall set him free in return for his eye,27and if he knocks out the tooth of his manservant or the tooth of his maidservant, he shall set him free in return for his tooth.28And if a bull gores a man or a woman and [that one] dies, the bull shall surely be stoned, and its flesh shall not be eaten, and the owner of the bull is clear.29But if it is a [habitually] goring bull since yesterday and the day before yesterday, and its owner had been warned, but he did not guard it, and it puts to death a man or a woman, the bull shall be stoned, and also its owner shall be put to death,30insofar as ransom shall be levied upon him, he shall give the redemption of his soul according to all that is levied upon him.31Or if it gores a young boy or a young girl, according to this ordinance shall be done to him.32If the bull gores a manservant or a maidservant, he shall give silver [in the amount of] thirty shekels to his master, and the bull shall be stoned.33And if a person opens a pit, or if a person digs a pit and does not cover it, and a bull or a donkey falls into it,34the owner of the pit shall pay; he shall return money to its owner, and the dead body shall be his.35And if a man's bull strikes his friend's bull and it dies, they shall sell the live bull and divide the money received for it, and they shall also divide the dead body.36Or if it was known that it was a [habitually] goring bull since yesterday and the day before yesterday, and its owner does not watch it, he shall surely pay a bull for a bull, and the dead body shall be his.37If a man steals a bull or a lamb and slaughters it or sells it, he shall pay five cattle for the bull or four sheep for the lamb.

Exodus Chapter 22

1If, while breaking in, the thief is discovered, and he is struck and dies, [it is as if] he has no blood.2If the sun shone upon him, [it is as if] he has blood; he shall surely pay. If he has no [money], he shall be sold for his theft.3If the stolen article is found in his possession whether a bull, a donkey, or a lamb live ones he shall pay twofold.

Monday

Daniel 3:1–7 (NLT): Nebuchadnezzar’s Gold Statue

King Nebuchadnezzar made a gold statue ninety feet tall and nine feet wide and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. 2 Then he sent messages to the high officers, officials, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the provincial officials to come to the dedication of the statue he had set up. 3 So all these officials came and stood before the statue King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

4 Then a herald shouted out, “People of all races and nations and languages, listen to the king’s command! 5 When you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and other musical instruments, bow to the ground to worship King Nebuchadnezzar’s gold statue. 6 Anyone who refuses to obey will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.”

7 So at the sound of the musical instruments, all the people, whatever their race or nation or language, bowed to the ground and worshiped the gold statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

Third Portion

Exodus Chapter 22

4If a man leads his animals into a field or a vineyard, or lets his animal loose and it eats in another's field, the best of his field or the best of his vineyard he shall pay.5If a fire goes forth and finds thorns, and a stack of grain or standing grain or the field be consumed, the one who ignited the fire shall surely pay.6If a man gives his neighbor money or articles for safekeeping, and it is stolen from the man's house, if the thief is found, he shall pay twofold.7If the thief is not found, the homeowner shall approach the judges, [to swear] that he has not laid his hand upon his neighbor's property.8For any sinful word, for a bull, for a donkey, for a lamb, for a garment, for any lost article, concerning which he will say that this is it, the plea[s] of both parties shall come to the judges, [and] whoever the judges declare guilty shall pay twofold to his neighbor.9If a man gives his neighbor a donkey, a bull, a lamb, or any animal for safekeeping, and it dies, breaks a limb, or is captured, and no one sees [it],10the oath of the Lord shall be between the two of them provided that he did not lay his hand upon his neighbor's property, and its owner shall accept [it], and he shall not pay.11But if it is stolen from him, he shall pay its owner.12If it is torn apart, he shall bring witness for it; [for] the torn one he shall not pay.13And if a person borrows [an animal] from his neighbor and it breaks a limb or dies, if its owner is not with him, he shall surely pay.14If its owner is with him, he shall not pay; if it is a hired [animal], it has come for its hire.15If a man seduces a virgin who is not betrothed and lies with her, he shall provide her with a marriage contract as a wife.16If her father refuses to give her to him [in marriage], he shall weigh out money according to the dowry of the virgins.17You shall not allow a sorceress to live.18Whoever lies [carnally] with an animal shall surely be put to death.19He who slaughters [a sacrifice] to the gods shall be destroyed, except to the Lord alone.20And you shall not mistreat a stranger, nor shall you oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.21You shall not oppress any widow or orphan.22If you oppress him, [beware,] for if he cries out to Me, I will surely hear his cry.23My wrath will be kindled, and I will slay you with the sword, and your wives will be widows and your children orphans.24When you lend money to My people, to the poor person [who is] with you, you shall not behave toward him as a lender; you shall not impose interest upon him.25If you take your neighbor's garment as security, until sunset you shall return it to him,26for it is his only covering; it is his garment for his skin. With what shall he lie? And it shall be [that] if he cries out to Me, I will hear because I am gracious.

Tuesday

Daniel 3:8–18 (NLT):

8 But some of the astrologers went to the king and informed on the Jews. 9 They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “Long live the king! 10 You issued a decree requiring all the people to bow down and worship the gold statue when they hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and other musical instruments. 11 That decree also states that those who refuse to obey must be thrown into a blazing furnace. 12 But there are some Jews—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—whom you have put in charge of the province of Babylon. They pay no attention to you, Your Majesty. They refuse to serve your gods and do not worship the gold statue you have set up.”

13 Then Nebuchadnezzar flew into a rage and ordered that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought before him. When they were brought in, 14 Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you refuse to serve my gods or to worship the gold statue I have set up? 15 I will give you one more chance to bow down and worship the statue I have made when you hear the sound of the musical instruments. But if you refuse, you will be thrown immediately into the blazing furnace. And then what god will be able to rescue you from my power?”

16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. 18 But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”

Fourth Portion

Exodus Chapter 22

27You shall not curse a judge, neither shall you curse a prince among your people.28Your fullness offering and your heave offering you shall not delay; the firstborn of your sons you shall give Me.29So shall you do with your cattle and with your sheep: seven days it shall be with its mother, on the eighth day you may give it to Me.30And you shall be holy people to Me, and flesh torn in the field you shall not eat; you shall throw it to the dog[s].Exodus Chapter 231You shall not accept a false report; do not place your hand with a wicked person to be a false witness.2You shall not follow the majority for evil, and you shall not respond concerning a lawsuit to follow many to pervert [justice].3Neither shall you glorify a poor man in his lawsuit.4If you come upon your enemy's bull or his stray donkey, you shall surely return it to him.5If you see your enemy's donkey lying under its burden would you refrain from helping him? You shall surely help along with him.

Wednesday

John 10:24–38 (NLT):

24 The people surrounded him and asked, “How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”

25 Jesus replied, “I have already told you, and you don’t believe me. The proof is the work I do in my Father’s name. 26 But you don’t believe me because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, 29 for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand. 30 The Father and I are one.”

31 Once again the people picked up stones to kill him. 32 Jesus said, “At my Father’s direction I have done many good works. For which one are you going to stone me?”

33 They replied, “We’re stoning you not for any good work, but for blasphemy! You, a mere man, claim to be God.”

34 Jesus replied, “It is written in your own Scriptures that God said to certain leaders of the people, ‘I say, you are gods!’ 35 And you know that the Scriptures cannot be altered. So if those people who received God’s message were called ‘gods,’ 36 why do you call it blasphemy when I say, ‘I am the Son of God’? After all, the Father set me apart and sent me into the world. 37 Don’t believe me unless I carry out my Father’s work. 38 But if I do his work, believe in the evidence of the miraculous works I have done, even if you don’t believe me. Then you will know and understand that the Father is in me, and I am in the Father.”

Fifth Portion

Exodus Chapter 23

6You shall not pervert the judgment of your poor man in his lawsuit.7Distance yourself from a false matter; and do not kill a truly innocent person or one who has been declared innocent, for I will not vindicate a guilty person.8You shall not accept a bribe, for a bribe will blind the clear sighted and corrupt words that are right.9And you shall not oppress a stranger, for you know the feelings of the stranger, since you were strangers in the land of Egypt.10Six years you may sow your land and gather in its produce.11But in the seventh [year] you shall release it and abandon it; the poor of your people shall eat [it], and what they leave over, the beasts of the field shall eat. So shall you do to your vineyard [and] to your olive tree[s].12Six days you may do your work, but on the seventh day you shall rest, in order that your ox and your donkey shall rest, and your maidservant's son and the stranger shall be refreshed.13Concerning all that I have said to you you shall beware, and the name of the gods of others you shall not mention; it shall not be heard through your mouth.14Three times you shall slaughter sacrifices to Me during the year.15You shall observe the festival of unleavened bread; for seven days you shall eat unleavened bread as I have commanded you, at the appointed time of the month of springtime, for then you left Egypt, and they shall not appear before Me empty handed.16And the festival of the harvest, the first fruits of your labors, which you will sow in the field, and the festival of the ingathering at the departure of the year, when you gather in [the products of] your labors from the field.17Three times during the year, all your males shall appear before the Master, the Lord.18You shall not sacrifice the blood of My sacrifice with leaven, and the fat of My festive sacrifice shall not stay overnight until morning.19The choicest of the first fruits of your soil you shall bring to the house of the Lord, your God. You shall not cook a kid in its mother's milk.

Thursday

Acts 4:1–20 (NLT): Peter and John before the Council

While Peter and John were speaking to the people, they were confronted by the priests, the captain of the Temple guard, and some of the Sadducees. 2 These leaders were very disturbed that Peter and John were teaching the people that through Jesus there is a resurrection of the dead. 3 They arrested them and, since it was already evening, put them in jail until morning. 4 But many of the people who heard their message believed it, so the number of men who believed now totaled about 5,000.

5 The next day the council of all the rulers and elders and teachers of religious law met in Jerusalem. 6 Annas the high priest was there, along with Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and other relatives of the high priest. 7 They brought in the two disciples and demanded, “By what power, or in whose name, have you done this?”

8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of our people, 9 are we being questioned today because we’ve done a good deed for a crippled man? Do you want to know how he was healed? 10 Let me clearly state to all of you and to all the people of Israel that he was healed by the powerful name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, the man you crucified but whom God raised from the dead. 11 For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says,

‘The stone that you builders rejected

has now become the cornerstone.’

12 There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”

13 The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus. 14 But since they could see the man who had been healed standing right there among them, there was nothing the council could say. 15 So they ordered Peter and John out of the council chamber and conferred among themselves.

16 “What should we do with these men?” they asked each other. “We can’t deny that they have performed a miraculous sign, and everybody in Jerusalem knows about it. 17 But to keep them from spreading their propaganda any further, we must warn them not to speak to anyone in Jesus’ name again.” 18 So they called the apostles back in and commanded them never again to speak or teach in the name of Jesus.

19 But Peter and John replied, “Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him? 20 We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard.”

Sixth Portion

Exodus Chapter 23

20Behold, I am sending an angel before you to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place that I have prepared.21Beware of him and obey him; do not rebel against him, for he will not forgive your transgression, for My Name is within him.22For if you hearken to his voice and do all that I say, I will hate your enemies and oppress your adversaries.23For My angel will go before you, and bring you to the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Canaanites, the Hivvites, and the Jebusites, and I will destroy them.24You shall not prostrate yourself before their gods, and you shall not worship them, and you shall not follow their practices, but you shall tear them down and you shall utterly shatter their monuments.25And you shall worship the Lord, your God, and He will bless your food and your drink, and I will remove illness from your midst.

Friday

Acts 5:17–29 (NLT): The Apostles Meet Opposition

17 The high priest and his officials, who were Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. 18 They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. 19 But an angel of the Lord came at night, opened the gates of the jail, and brought them out. Then he told them, 20 “Go to the Temple and give the people this message of life!”

21 So at daybreak the apostles entered the Temple, as they were told, and immediately began teaching.

When the high priest and his officials arrived, they convened the high council—the full assembly of the elders of Israel. Then they sent for the apostles to be brought from the jail for trial. 22 But when the Temple guards went to the jail, the men were gone. So they returned to the council and reported, 23 “The jail was securely locked, with the guards standing outside, but when we opened the gates, no one was there!”

24 When the captain of the Temple guard and the leading priests heard this, they were perplexed, wondering where it would all end. 25 Then someone arrived with startling news: “The men you put in jail are standing in the Temple, teaching the people!”

26 The captain went with his Temple guards and arrested the apostles, but without violence, for they were afraid the people would stone them. 27 Then they brought the apostles before the high council, where the high priest confronted them. 28 “We gave you strict orders never again to teach in this man’s name!” he said. “Instead, you have filled all Jerusalem with your teaching about him, and you want to make us responsible for his death!”

29 But Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than any human authority.

Seventh Portion

Exodus Chapter 23

26There will be no bereaved or barren woman in your land; I will fill the number of your days.27I will send My fear before you, and I will confuse all the people among whom you shall come, and I will make all your enemies turn their backs to you.28And I will send the tzir'ah before you, and it will drive out the Hivvites, the Canaanites, and the Hittites from before you.29I will not drive them away from before you in one year, lest the land become desolate and the beasts of the field outnumber you.30I will drive them out from before you little by little, until you have increased and can occupy the land.31And I will make your boundary from the Red Sea to the sea of the Philistines, and from the desert to the river, for I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hands, and you shall drive them out from before you.32You shall not form a covenant for them or for their gods.33They shall not dwell in your land, lest they cause you to sin against Me, that you will worship their gods, which will be a snare for you.

Exodus Chapter 24

1And to Moses He said, "Come up to the Lord, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and prostrate yourselves from afar.2And Moses alone shall approach the Lord but they shall not approach, and the people shall not ascend with him."3So Moses came and told the people all the words of the Lord and all the ordinances, and all the people answered in unison and said, "All the words that the Lord has spoken we will do."4And Moses wrote all the words of the Lord, and he arose early in the morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain and twelve monuments for the twelve tribes of Israel.5And he sent the youths of the children of Israel, and they offered up burnt offerings, and they slaughtered peace offerings to the Lord, bulls.6And Moses took half the blood and put it into the basins, and half the blood he cast onto the altar.7And he took the Book of the Covenant and read it within the hearing of the people, and they said, "All that the Lord spoke we will do and we will hear."8And Moses took the blood and sprinkled [it] on the people, and he said, "Behold the blood of the covenant, which the Lord has formed with you concerning these words."9And Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel ascended,10and they perceived the God of Israel, and beneath His feet was like the forming of a sapphire brick and like the appearance of the heavens for clarity.11And upon the nobles of the children of Israel He did not lay His hand, and they perceived God, and they ate and drank.12And the Lord said to Moses, "Come up to Me to the mountain and remain there, and I will give you the stone tablets, the Law and the commandments, which I have written to instruct them."13So Moses and Joshua, his servant, arose, and Moses ascended to the mount of God.14And to the elders he said, "Wait for us here until we return to you, and here Aaron and Hur are with you; whoever has a case, let him go to them."15And Moses went up to the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain.16And the glory of the Lord rested on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days, and He called to Moses on the seventh day from within the cloud.17And the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a consuming fire atop the mountain, before the eyes of the children of Israel.18And Moses came within the cloud, and he went up to the mountain, and Moses was upon the mountain forty days and forty nights.

Saturday

Isaiah 43:1–7 (NLT): The Savior of Israel

1 But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you.

O Israel, the one who formed you says,

“Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.

I have called you by name; you are mine.

2 When you go through deep waters,

I will be with you.

When you go through rivers of difficulty,

you will not drown.

When you walk through the fire of oppression,

you will not be burned up;

the flames will not consume you.

3 For I am the Lord, your God,

the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.

I gave Egypt as a ransom for your freedom;

I gave Ethiopia and Seba in your place.

4 Others were given in exchange for you.

I traded their lives for yours

because you are precious to me.

You are honored, and I love you.

5 “Do not be afraid, for I am with you.

I will gather you and your children from east and west.

6 I will say to the north and south,

‘Bring my sons and daughters back to Israel

from the distant corners of the earth.

7 Bring all who claim me as their God,

for I have made them for my glory.

It was I who created them.’ ”

Maftir Portion

Exodus Chapter 30

11The Lord spoke to Moses, saying:12"When you take the sum of the children of Israel according to their numbers, let each one give to the Lord an atonement for his soul when they are counted; then there will be no plague among them when they are counted.13This they shall give, everyone who goes through the counting: half a shekel according to the holy shekel. Twenty gerahs equal one shekel; half of [such] a shekel shall be an offering to the Lord.14Everyone who goes through the counting, from the age of twenty and upward, shall give an offering to the Lord.15The rich shall give no more, and the poor shall give no less than half a shekel, with which to give the offering to the Lord, to atone for your souls.16You shall take the silver of the atonements from the children of Israel and use it for the work of the Tent of Meeting; it shall be a remembrance for the children of Israel before the Lord, to atone for your souls."

Haftarah

II Kings Chapter 11

17And Jehoiada enacted the covenant between the Lord and between the king and [between] the people, to be the people of the Lord, and between the king and between the people.18And all the people of the land came to the temple of the Baal and tore it down, its altars and its images they smashed, and Mattan the priest of the Baal they slew before the altars; and the priest set up appointees over the house of the Lord.19And he took the officers of the hundreds and the mighty warriors and the couriers and all the people of the land, and they brought the king down from the house of the Lord, and they came by way of the gate of the couriers to the king's palace; and he sat on the throne of the kings.20And all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city quieted down, and Athaliah they had dispatched by the sword in the royal palace.

II Kings Chapter 12

1Jehoash was seven years old when he became king.2Jehoash became king in the seventh year of Jehu, and he reigned in Jerusalem for forty years; and his mother's name was Zibiah from Beersheba.3And Jehoash did what was proper in the eyes of the Lord all his days, what Jehoiada the priest instructed him.4However, the high places were not removed. The people were still slaughtering sacrifices and burning incense on the high places.5And Jehoash said to the priests, "All money of the hallowed things which is brought to the house of the Lord, the money of anyone who passes [the numbering], each one the money of the value of the people [whose value he vows to donate,] all money which comes upon a man's heart to bring to the house of the Lord.6The priests shall take for themselves each one from his acquaintance; and they shall strengthen the damage of the house, wherever damage is found."7And it was that in the twenty-third year of King Jehoash, the priests did not strengthen the damages of the house.8And King Jehoash summoned Jehoiada the priest and the priests and said to them, "Why are you not repairing the damage of the house? Now, take no money from your acquaintances, but give it for the damage of the house."9And the priests agreed not to take money from the people and not to repair the damage of the house.10And Jehoiada the priest took one chest and bored a hole in its door; and he placed it near the altar on the right, where a person enters the house of the Lord: and the priests, the guards of the threshold, would put all the money that was brought into the house of the Lord, into there.11And it was when they saw that there was much money in the chest, that the king's scribe and the high priest went up and packed and counted the money which was brought into the house of the Lord.12And they would give the counted money into the hands of the foremen of the work who were appointed in the house of the Lord; and they spent it for the carpenters and for the builders who work in the house of the Lord.13And for the masons and for the stonecutters and to buy wood and quarried stones to repair the damage of the house of the Lord, and for everything which would be spent for the house to strengthen it.14However, there would not be made for the house of the Lord, silver pitchers, musical instruments, basins, trumpets, or any golden or silver utensils, from the money brought into the house of the Lord.15But they would give it to the foremen over the work, and they would repair therewith the house of the Lord.16And they would not reckon with the men into whose hand they would give the money to give the foremen over the work, for they did [the work] honestly.17The money for guilt-offerings and the money for sin-offerings would not be brought to the house of the Lord; they would go to the priests.