Dagens läsningar

Morgonbön — första läsningen

Judith 7

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The next day Holofernes commanded all his army and all the people who had come to be his allies, that they should move their camp toward Bethulia, take beforehand the ascents of the hill country, and make war against the children of Israel. Every mighty man of them moved that day. The army of their men of war was one hundred seventy thousand footmen, plus twelve thousand horsemen, besides the baggage, and the men that were on foot among them: an exceedingly great multitude. They encamped in the valley near Bethulia, by the fountain. They spread themselves in breadth over Dothaim even to Belmaim, and in length from Bethulia to Cyamon, which is near Esdraelon. But the children of Israel, when they saw the multitude of them, were troubled exceedingly, and everyone said to his neighbor, “Now these men will lick up the face of all the earth. Neither the high mountains, nor the valleys, nor the hills will be able to bear their weight. Every man took up his weapons of war, and when they had kindled fires upon their towers, they remained and watched all that night. But on the second day Holofernes led out all his horse in the sight of the children of Israel which were in Bethulia, viewed the ascents to their city, and searched out the springs of the waters, seized upon them, and set garrisons of men of war over them. Then he departed back to his people. All the rulers of the children of Esau, all the leaders of the people of Moab, and the captains of the sea coast came to him and said, “Let our lord now hear a word, that there be not losses in your army. For this people of the children of Israel do not trust in their spears, but in the height of the mountains wherein they dwell, for it is not easy to come up to the tops of their mountains. And now, my lord, don’t fight against them as men fight who join battle, and there will not so much as one man of your people perish. Remain in your camp, and keep every man of your army safe. Let your servants get possession of the water spring, which flows from the foot of the mountain, because all the inhabitants of Bethulia get their water from there. Then thirst will kill them, and they will give up their city. Then we and our people will go up to the tops of the mountains that are near, and will encamp upon them, to watch that not one man gets out of the city. They will be consumed with famine, they and their wives and their children. Before the sword comes against them they will be laid low in the streets where they dwell. And you will pay them back with evil, because they rebelled, and didn’t meet your face in peace.” Their words were pleasing in the sight of Holofernes and in the sight of all his servants; and he ordered them to do as they had spoken. And the army of the children of Ammon moved, and with them five thousand of the children of Asshur, and they encamped in the valley. They seized the waters and the springs of the waters of the children of Israel. The children of Esau went up with the children of Ammon, and encamped in the hill country near Dothaim. They sent some of them toward the south, and toward the east, near Ekrebel, which is near Chusi, that is upon the brook Mochmur. The rest of the army of the Assyrians encamped in the plain, and covered all the face of the land. Their tents and baggage were pitched upon it in a great crowd. They were an exceedingly great multitude. The children of Israel cried to the Lord their God, for their spirit fainted; for all their enemies had surrounded them. There was no way to escape out from among them. All the army of Asshur remained around them, their footmen and their chariots and their horsemen, thirty-four days. All their vessels of water ran dry for all the inhabitants of Bethulia. The cisterns were emptied, and they had no water to drink their fill for one day; for they rationed drink by measure. Their young children were discouraged. The women and the young men fainted for thirst. They fell down in the streets of the city, and in the passages of the gates. There was no longer any strength in them. All the people, including the young men, the women, and the children, were gathered together against Ozias, and against the rulers of the city. They cried with a loud voice, and said before all the elders, “God be judge between all of you and us, because you have done us great wrong, in that you have not spoken words of peace with the children of Asshur. Now we have no helper; but God has sold us into their hands, that we should be laid low before them with thirst and great destruction. And now summon them, and deliver up the whole city as prey to the people of Holofernes, and to all his army. For it is better for us to be made a plunder to them. For we will be servants, and our souls will live, and we will not see the death of our babies before our eyes, and our wives and our children fainting in death. We take to witness against you the heaven and the earth, and our God and the Lord of our fathers, who punishes us according to our sins and the sins of our fathers. Do what we have said today!” And there was great weeping of all with one consent in the midst of the assembly; and they cried to the Lord God with a loud voice. And Ozias said to them, “Brethren, be of good courage! Let us endure five more days, during which the Lord our God will turn his mercy toward us; for he will not forsake us utterly. But if these days pass, and no help comes to us, I will do what you say.” Then he dispersed the people, every man to his own camp; and they went away to the walls and towers of their city. He sent the women and children into their houses. They were brought very low in the city.

Morgonbön — andra läsningen

Markus 11

När de nu nalkades Jerusalem och voro nära Betfage och Betania vid Oljeberget, sände han åstad två av sina lärjungar och sade till dem: »Gån in i byn som ligger mitt framför eder, så skolen I, strax då I kommen ditin, finna en åsnefåle stå där bunden, som ännu ingen människa har suttit på; lösen den och fören den hit. Och om någon frågar eder varför I gören detta, så skolen I svara: 'Herren behöver den, men han skall strax sända den tillbaka hit.» Då gingo de åstad och funno en åsnefåle stå där bunden utanför en port vid vägen, och de löste den. Och några som stodo där bredvid sade till dem: »Vad gören I? Varför lösen I fålen?» Men de svarade dem såsom Jesus hade bjudit. Då lät man dem vara. Och de förde fålen till Jesus och lade sina mantlar på den, och han satte sig upp på den. Och många bredde ut sina mantlar på vägen, andra åter skuro av kvistar och löv på fälten och strödde på vägen. Och de som gingo före och de som följde efter ropade: »Hosianna! Välsignad vare han som kommer[1], i Herrens namn. Välsignat vare vår fader Davids rike, som nu kommer. Hosianna i höjden!» Så drog han in i Jerusalem och kom in i helgedomen; och när han hade sett sig omkring överallt och det redan var sent på dagen, gick han med de tolv ut till Betania. När de dagen därefter voro på väg tillbaka från Betania, blev han hungrig. Och då han på avstånd fick se ett fikonträd som hade löv, gick han dit för att se om han till äventyrs skulle finna något därpå; men när han kom fram till det, fann han intet annat än löv, det var icke då fikonens tid. Då talade han och sade till trädet: »Aldrig någonsin mer äte någon frukt av dig.» Och hans lärjungar hörde detta. När de sedan kommo fram till Jerusalem, gick han in i helgedomen och begynte driva ut dem som sålde och köpte i helgedomen. Och han stötte omkull växlarnas bord och duvomånglarnas säten; han tillstadde icke heller att man bar någonting genom helgedomen. Och han undervisade dem och sade: »Det är ju skrivet: 'Mitt hus skall kallas ett bönehus för alla folk.' Men I haven gjort det till en rövarkula.» Då översteprästerna och de skriftlärde fingo höra härom, sökte de efter tillfälle att förgöra honom; ty de fruktade för honom, eftersom allt folket häpnade över hans undervisning. När det blev afton, begåvo de sig ut ur staden. Men då de nu på morgonen åter gingo där fram, fingo de se fikonträdet vara förtorkat ända från roten. Då kom Petrus ihåg vad som hade skett och sade till honom: »Rabbi, se, fikonträdet som du förbannade är förtorkat.» Jesus svarade och sade till dem: »Haven tro på Gud. Sannerligen säger jag eder: Om någon säger till detta berg: 'Häv dig upp, och kasta dig i havet' och därvid icke tvivlar i sitt hjärta, utan tror att det han säger skall ske, då skall det ske honom så. Därför säger jag eder: Allt vad I bedjen om och begären, tron att det är eder givet; och det skall ske eder så. Och när I stån och bedjen, så förlåten, om I haven något emot någon, för att också eder Fader, som är i himmelen, må förlåta eder edra försyndelser.» [2] Så kommo de åter till Jerusalem. Och medan han gick omkring i helgedomen, kommo översteprästerna och de skriftlärde och de äldste fram till honom; och de sade till honom: »Med vad myndighet gör du detta? Och vem har givit dig myndighet att göra detta?» Jesus svarade dem: »Jag vill ställa en fråga till eder; svaren mig på den, så skall ock jag säga eder med vad myndighet jag gör detta. Johannes' döpelse, var den från himmelen eller från människor? Svaren mig härpå.» Då överlade de med varandra och sade: »Om vi svara: 'Från himmelen', så frågar han: 'Varför trodden I honom då icke?' Eller skola vi svara: 'Från människor'?» -- det vågade de icke av fruktan för folket, ty alla höllo före att Johannes verkligen var en profet. De svarade alltså Jesus och sade: »Vi veta det icke.» Då sade Jesus till dem: »Så säger icke heller jag eder med vad myndighet jag gör detta.» [1] Se Messias i Ordförklaringarna. [2] Se Nya testamentets text i Ordförklaringarna.

Aftonbön — första läsningen

Judith 8

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In those days Judith heard about this. She was the daughter of Merari, the son of Ox, the son of Joseph, the son of Oziel, the son of Elkiah, the son of Ananias, the son of Gideon, the son of Raphaim, the son of Ahitub, the son of Elihu, the son of Eliab, the son of Nathanael, the son of Salamiel, the son of Salasadai, the son of Israel. Her husband was Manasses, of her tribe and of her family. He died in the days of barley harvest. For he stood over those who bound sheaves in the field, and the heat came upon his head, and he fell on his bed, and died in his city Bethulia. So they buried him with his fathers in the field which is between Dothaim and Balamon. Judith was a widow in her house three years and four months. She made herself a tent upon the roof of her house, and put on sackcloth upon her loins. The garments of her widowhood were upon her. And she fasted all the days of her widowhood, except the eves of the Sabbaths, the Sabbaths, the eves of the new moons, the new moons, and the feasts and joyful days of the house of Israel. She was of a goodly countenance, and exceeding beautiful to behold. Her husband Manasses had left her gold, silver, menservants, maidservants, cattle, and lands. She remained on those lands. No one said anything evil about her; for she feared God exceedingly. She heard the evil words of the people against the governor, because they fainted for lack of water; and Judith heard all the words that Ozias spoke to them, how he swore to them that he would deliver the city to the Assyrians after five days. So she sent her maid, who was over all things that she had, to summon Ozias, Chabris, and Charmis, the elders of her city. They came to her, and she said to them, “Hear me now, O you rulers of the inhabitants of Bethulia: for your word that you have spoken before the people this day is not right. You have set the oath which you have pronounced between God and you, and have promised to deliver the city to our enemies, unless within these days the Lord turns to help you. Now who are you that you have tempted God this day, and stand in the place of God among the children of men? Now try the Lord Almighty, and you will never know anything. For you will not find the depth of the heart of man, and you will not perceive the things that he thinks. How will you search out God, who has made all these things, and know his mind, and comprehend his purpose? No, my kindred, don’t provoke the Lord our God to anger! For if he has not decided to help us within these five days, he has power to defend us in such time as he will, or to destroy us before the face of our enemies. But don’t you pledge the counsels of the Lord our God! For God is not as man, that he should be threatened; neither as the son of man, that he should be turned by entreaty. Therefore let’s wait for the salvation that comes from him, and call upon him to help us. He will hear our voice, if it pleases him. For there arose none in our age, neither is there any of us today, tribe, or kindred, or family, or city, which worship gods made with hands, as it was in the former days; for which cause our fathers were given to the sword, and for plunder, and fell with a great fall before our enemies. But we know no other god beside him. Therefore we hope that he will not despise us, nor any of our race. For if we are taken so, all Judea will sit upon the ground, and our sanctuary will be plundered; and he will require our blood for profaning it. And the slaughter of our kindred, and the captivity of the land, and the desolation of our inheritance, will he turn upon our heads among the Gentiles, wherever we will be in bondage. We will be an offense and a reproach before those who take us for a possession. For our bondage will not be ordered to favor; but the Lord our God will turn it to dishonor. And now, kindred, let us show an example to our kindred, because their soul hangs upon us, and the sanctuary, the house, and the altar rest upon us. Besides all this let us give thanks to the Lord our God, who tries us, even as he did our fathers also. Remember all the things which he did to Abraham, and all the things in which he tried Isaac, and all the things which happened to Jacob in Mesopotamia of Syria, when he kept the sheep of Laban his mother’s brother. For he has not tried us in the fire, as he did them, to search out their hearts, neither has he taken vengeance on us; but the Lord does scourge them that come near to him, to admonish them.” And Ozias said to her, “All that you have spoken, you have spoken with a good heart. There is no one who will deny your words. For this is not the first day wherein your wisdom is manifested; but from the beginning of your days all the people have known your understanding, because the disposition of your heart is good. But the people were exceedingly thirsty, and compelled us to do as we spoke to them, and to bring an oath upon ourselves, which we will not break. And now pray you for us, because you are a godly woman, and the Lord will send us rain to fill our cisterns, and we will faint no more.” Then Judith said to them, “Hear me, and I will do a thing, which will go down to all generations among the children of our race. You shall all stand at the gate tonight. I will go out with my maid. Within the days after which you said that you would deliver the city to our enemies, the Lord will visit Israel by my hand. But you shall not inquire of my act; for I will not declare it to you, until the things are finished that I will do.” Then Ozias and the rulers said to her, “Go in peace. May the Lord God be before you, to take vengeance on our enemies.” So they returned from the tent, and went to their stations.

Aftonbön — andra läsningen

2 Korinthierbrevet 7

Då vi nu hava dessa löften, mina älskade, så låtom oss rena oss från allt som befläckar vare sig kött eller ande, i det vi fullborda vår helgelse i Guds fruktan. Bereden oss ett rum i edra hjärtan; vi hava icke handlat orätt mot någon, icke varit någon till skada, icke gjort någon något förfång. -- Jag säger icke detta för att döma eder; jag har ju redan sagt att I haven ett rum i vårt hjärta, så att vi skola både dö och leva med varandra. Stor är den tillit som jag har till eder, mycket berömmer jag mig av eder; jag har fått hugnad i fullt mått och glädje i rikt överflöd, mitt i allt vårt betryck. Ty väl fingo vi till köttet ingen ro, icke ens sedan vi hade kommit till Macedonien, utan vi voro på allt sätt i trångmål, utifrån genom strider, inom oss genom farhågor; men Gud, som tröstar dem som äro betryckta, han tröstade oss genom Titus' ankomst, och icke allenast genom hans ankomst, utan ock därigenom att han hade fått så mycken hugnad av eder. Han omtalade nämligen för oss eder längtan, eder klagan, eder iver i fråga om mig; och så gladde jag mig ännu mer. Ty om jag ock bedrövade eder genom mitt brev, så ångrar jag nu icke detta. Nej, om jag förut ångrade det -- eftersom jag ser att det brevet har bedrövat eder, låt vara allenast för en liten tid -- så gläder jag mig nu i stället, icke därför att I bleven bedrövade, utan därför att eder bedrövelse lände eder till bättring. Det var ju efter Guds sinne som I bleven bedrövade, och I haven alltså icke genom oss lidit någon skada. Ty den bedrövelse som är efter Guds sinne kommer åstad en bättring som leder till frälsning, och som man icke ångrar; men världens bedrövelse kommer åstad död. Se, just detta, att I bleven bedrövade efter Guds sinne, huru mycket nit har det icke framkallat hos eder, ja, huru många ursäkter, huru stor förtrytelse, huru mycken fruktan, huru mycken längtan, huru mycken iver, huru många bestraffningar! På allt sätt haven I bevisat att I viljen vara rena i den sak det här gäller. -- Om jag skrev till eder, så skedde detta alltså icke för den mans skull, som hade gjort orätt, ej heller för den mans skull, som hade lidit orätt, utan på det att edert nit för oss skulle bliva uppenbart bland eder själva inför Gud. Så hava vi nu fått hugnad. Och till den hugnad, som vi redan för egen del fingo, kom den ännu mer överflödande glädje som bereddes oss av den glädje Titus hade fått. Ty hans ande har fått vederkvickelse genom eder alla. Och om jag inför honom har berömt mig något i fråga om eder, så har jag icke kommit på skam därmed; utan likasom vi eljest i allting hava talat sanning inför eder, så har också det som vi inför Titus hava sagt till eder berömmelse visat sig vara sanning. Och hans hjärta överflödar ännu mer av kärlek till eder, då han nu påminner sig allas eder lydnad, huru I villigt togen emot honom, med fruktan och bävan. Jag gläder mig över att jag, i allt vad eder angår, kan vara vid gott mod.