Daily Readings - 28/05/2026

^22:9 When they arrived at the place God had pointed out to him, Abraham built an altar there, and arranged the wood. Then he bound his son Isaac and put him on the altar on top of the wood.

^22:10 Abraham stretched out his hand and seized the knife to kill his son.

^22:11 But the angel of Yahweh called to him from heaven. ‘Abraham, Abraham’ he said. ‘I am here’ he replied.

^22:12 ‘Do not raise your hand against the boy’ the angel said. ‘Do not harm him, for now I know you fear God. You have not refused me your son, your only son.’

^22:13 Then looking up, Abraham saw a ram caught by its horns in a bush. Abraham took the ram and offered it as a burnt-offering in place of his son.

^22:14 Abraham called this place ‘Yahweh provides’, and hence the saying today: On the mountain Yahweh provides.

^22:15 The angel of Yahweh called Abraham a second time from heaven.

^22:16 ‘I swear by my own self – it is Yahweh who speaks – because you have done this, because you have not refused me your son, your only son,

^22:17 I will shower blessings on you, I will make your descendants as many as the stars of heaven and the grains of sand on the seashore. Your descendants shall gain possession of the gates[*b] of their enemies.

^22:18 All the nations of the earth shall bless themselves by your descendants, as a reward for your obedience.’

^10:4 Bulls’ blood and goats’ blood are useless for taking away sins,

^10:5 and this is what he said, on coming into the world: You who wanted no sacrifice or oblation, prepared a body for me.

^10:6 You took no pleasure in holocausts or sacrifices for sin;

^10:7 then I said, just as I was commanded in the scroll of the book, ‘God, here I am! I am coming to obey your will.'[*a]

^10:8 Notice that he says first: You did not want what the Law lays down as the things to be offered, that is: the sacrifices, the oblations, the holocausts and the sacrifices for sin, and you took no pleasure in them;

^10:9 and then he says: Here I am! I am coming to obey your will. He is abolishing the first sort to replace it with the second.

^10:10 And this will was for us to be made holy by the offering of his body made once and for all by Jesus Christ.

^40:1 I waited and waited for Yahweh, now at last he has stooped to me and heard my cry for help.

^40:2 He has pulled me out of the horrible pit, out of the slough of the marsh, has settled my feet on a rock and steadied my steps.

^40:3 He has put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; dread will seize many at the sight, and they will put their trust in Yahweh.

^40:4 Happy the man who puts his trust in Yahweh, and does not side with rebels who stray after false gods.

^40:5 How many wonders you have done for us, Yahweh, my God! How many plans you have made for us; you have no equal! I want to proclaim them, again and again, but they are more than I can count.

^40:6 You, who wanted no sacrifice or oblation, opened my ear, you asked no holocaust or sacrifice for sin;

^40:7 then I said, ‘Here I am! I am coming!’ In the scroll of the book am I not commanded

^40:8 to obey your will? My God, I have always loved your Law from the depths of my being.

^40:9 I have always proclaimed the righteousness of Yahweh in the Great Assembly; nor do I mean to stop proclaiming, as you know well.

^40:10 I have never kept your righteousness to myself, but have spoken of your faithfulness and saving help; I have made no secret of your love and faithfulness in the Great Assembly.

^40:11 For your part, Yahweh, do not withhold your kindness from me! May your love and faithfulness constantly preserve me.

^40:12 More misfortunes beset me than I can count, my sins close in on me until I can hardly see, they outnumber the hairs on my head; my courage is running out.

^40:13 Oh come and rescue me, Yahweh, Yahweh come quickly and help me!

^40:14 Shame and dishonour on all who are out to kill, to destroy me! Down with them! Disgrace on those who enjoy my misfortune!

^40:15 May they be aghast with shame, those who say to me, ‘Aha! Aha!’

^40:16 But joy and gladness for all who seek you! To all who love your saving power give constant cause to say, ‘God is great!’

^40:17 To me, poor wretch, come quickly, Lord! My helper, my saviour, my God, come and do not delay!

^26:36 Then Jesus came with them to a small estate called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, ‘Stay here while I go over there to pray’.

^26:37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee with him. And sadness came over him, and great distress.

^26:38 Then he said to them, ‘My soul is sorrowful to the point of death. Wait here and keep awake with me.’

^26:39 And going on a little further he fell on his face and prayed. ‘My Father,’ he said ‘if it is possible, let this cup pass me by. Nevertheless, let it be as you, not I, would have it.’

^26:40 He came back to the disciples and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, ‘So you had not the strength to keep awake with me one hour?

^26:41 You should be awake, and praying not to be put to the test. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.’

^26:42 Again, a second time, he went away and prayed: ‘My Father,’ he said ‘If this cup cannot pass by without my drinking it, your will be done!’