Genesis 1:1 1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
DECEMBER
23
PSALMS:
23, 53, 83, 113, 143
PROVERBS:
23
OLD
TESTAMENT:
NUMBERS 21:1 - 22:20
NEW
TESTAMENT:
LUKE 1:26 - 56
PSALMS:
23
A
psalm of David.
1
The
LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
2
He
makes me lie down in green pastures,
he
leads me beside quiet waters,
3
he
restores my soul.
He
guides me in paths of righteousness
for
his name's sake.
4
Even
though I walk
through
the valley of the shadow of death, A
I
will fear no evil,
for
you are with me;
your
rod and your staff,
they
comfort me.
5
You
prepare a table before me
in
the presence of my enemies.
You
anoint my head with oil;
my
cup overflows.
6
Surely
goodness and love will follow me
all
the days of my life,
and
I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.
1
PSALMS:
53
For
the director of music. According to mahalath.
A
A maskil
B
of David.
1
The
fool says in his heart,
"There
is no God."
They
are corrupt, and their ways are vile;
there
is no one who does good.
2
God
looks down from heaven
on
the sons of men
to
see if there are any who understand,
any
who seek God.
3
Everyone
has turned away,
they
have together become corrupt;
there
is no one who does good,
not
even one.
4
Will
the evildoers never learn--
those
who devour my people as men eat bread
and
who do not call on God?
5
There
they were, overwhelmed with dread,
where
there was nothing to dread.
God
scattered the bones of those who attacked you;
you
put them to shame, for God despised them.
6
Oh,
that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!
When
God restores the fortunes of his people,
let
Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad! 2
PSALMS:
83
A
song. A psalm of Asaph.
1
O
God, do not keep silent;
be
not quiet, O God, be not still.
2
See
how your enemies are astir,
how
your foes rear their heads.
3
With
cunning they conspire against your people;
they
plot against those you cherish.
4
"Come,"
they say, "let us destroy them as a nation,
that
the name of Israel be remembered no more."
5
With
one mind they plot together;
they
form an alliance against you--
6
the
tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites,
of
Moab and the Hagrites,
7
Gebal,
A
Ammon and Amalek,
Philistia,
with the people of Tyre.
8
Even
Assyria has joined them
to
lend strength to the descendants of Lot.
Selah
9
Do
to them as you did to Midian,
as
you did to Sisera and Jabin at the river Kishon,
10
who
perished at Endor
and
became like refuse on the ground.
11
Make
their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb,
all
their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,
12
who
said, "Let us take possession
of
the pasturelands of God." 3
13
Make
them like tumbleweed, O my God,
like
chaff before the wind.
14
As
fire consumes the forest
or
a flame sets the mountains ablaze,
15
so
pursue them with your tempest
and
terrify them with your storm.
16
Cover
their faces with shame
so
that men will seek your name, O LORD.
17
May
they ever be ashamed and dismayed;
may
they perish in disgrace.
18
Let
them know that you, whose name is the LORD--
that
you alone are the Most High over all the earth. 4
PSALMS:
113
1
Praise
the LORD. A
Praise,
O servants of the LORD,
praise
the name of the LORD.
2
Let
the name of the LORD be praised,
both
now and forevermore.
3
From
the rising of the sun to the place where it sets,
the
name of the LORD is to be praised.
4
The
LORD is exalted over all the nations,
his
glory above the heavens.
5
Who
is like the LORD our God,
the
One who sits enthroned on high,
6
who
stoops down to look
on
the heavens and the earth?
7
He
raises the poor from the dust
and
lifts the needy from the ash heap;
8
he
seats them with princes,
with
the princes of their people.
9
He
settles the barren woman in her home
as
a happy mother of children.
Praise
the LORD. 5
PSALMS:
143
A
psalm of David.
1
O
LORD, hear my prayer,
listen
to my cry for mercy;
in
your faithfulness and righteousness
come
to my relief.
2
Do
not bring your servant into judgment,
for
no one living is righteous before you.
3
The
enemy pursues me,
he
crushes me to the ground;
he
makes me dwell in darkness
like
those long dead.
4
So
my spirit grows faint within me;
my
heart within me is dismayed.
5
I
remember the days of long ago;
I
meditate on all your works
and
consider what your hands have done.
6
I
spread out my hands to you;
my
soul thirsts for you like a parched land.
Selah
7
Answer
me quickly, O LORD;
my
spirit fails.
Do
not hide your face from me
or
I will be like those who go down to the pit.
8
Let
the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,
for
I have put my trust in you.
Show
me the way I should go,
for
to you I lift up my soul.
9
Rescue
me from my enemies, O LORD, 6
for
I hide myself in you.
10
Teach
me to do your will,
for
you are my God;
may
your good Spirit
lead
me on level ground.
11
For
your name's sake, O LORD, preserve my life;
in
your righteousness, bring me out of trouble.
12In
your unfailing love, silence my enemies;
destroy
all my foes,
for
I am your servant. 7
PROVERBS:
23
23
1
When you sit to dine with a ruler,
note
well what A
is before you,
2
and
put a knife to your throat
if
you are given to gluttony.
3
Do
not crave his delicacies,
for
that food is deceptive.
4
Do
not wear yourself out to get rich;
have
the wisdom to show restraint.
5
Cast
but a glance at riches, and they are gone,
for
they will surely sprout wings
and
fly off to the sky like an eagle.
6
Do
not eat the food of a stingy man,
do
not crave his delicacies;
7
for
he is the kind of man
who
is always thinking about the cost. B
"Eat
and drink," he says to you,
but
his heart is not with you.
8
You
will vomit up the little you have eaten
and
will have wasted your compliments.
9
Do
not speak to a fool,
for
he will scorn the wisdom of your words.
10
Do
not move an ancient boundary stone
or
encroach on the fields of the fatherless,
11
for
their Defender is strong;
he
will take up their case against you.
12
Apply
your heart to instruction
and
your ears to words of knowledge. 8
13
Do
not withhold discipline from a child;
if
you punish him with the rod, he will not die.
14
Punish
him with the rod
and
save his soul from death. C
15
My
son, if your heart is wise,
then
my heart will be glad;
16
my
inmost being will rejoice
when
your lips speak what is right.
17
Do
not let your heart envy sinners,
but
always be zealous for the fear of the LORD.
18
There
is surely a future hope for you,
and
your hope will not be cut off.
19
Listen,
my son, and be wise,
and
keep your heart on the right path.
20
Do
not join those who drink too much wine
or
gorge themselves on meat,
21
for
drunkards and gluttons become poor,
and
drowsiness clothes them in rags.
22
Listen
to your father, who gave you life,
and
do not despise your mother when she is old.
23
Buy
the truth and do not sell it;
get
wisdom, discipline and understanding.
24
The
father of a righteous man has great joy;
he
who has a wise son delights in him.
25
May
your father and mother be glad;
may
she who gave you birth rejoice! 9
26
My
son, give me your heart
and
let your eyes keep to my ways,
27
for
a prostitute is a deep pit
and
a wayward wife is a narrow well.
28
Like
a bandit she lies in wait,
and
multiplies the unfaithful among men.
29
Who
has woe? Who has sorrow?
Who
has strife? Who has complaints?
Who
has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?
30
Those
who linger over wine,
who
go to sample bowls of mixed wine.
31
Do
not gaze at wine when it is red,
when
it sparkles in the cup,
when
it goes down smoothly!
32
In
the end it bites like a snake
and
poisons like a viper.
33
Your
eyes will see strange sights
and
your mind imagine confusing things.
34
You
will be like one sleeping on the high seas,
lying
on top of the rigging. 10
OLD
TESTAMENT:
NUMBERS 21:1 - 22:20
21
1
When
the Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the Negev, heard that Israel
was coming along the road to Atharim, he attacked the Israelites and
captured some of them. 2
Then
Israel made this vow to the LORD: "If you will deliver these
people into our hands, we will totally destroy A
their cities." 3
The
LORD listened to Israel's plea and gave the Canaanites over to them.
They completely destroyed them and their towns; so the place was
named Hormah.B
4
They
traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, C
to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; 5
they
spoke against God and against Moses, and said, "Why have you
brought us up out of Egypt to die in the desert? There is no bread!
There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!"
6
Then
the LORD sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and
many Israelites died. 7
The
people came to Moses and said, "We sinned when we spoke against
the LORD and against you. Pray that the LORD will take the snakes
away from us." So Moses prayed for the people.
8
The
LORD said to Moses, "Make
a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it
and live."
9
So
Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone
was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, he lived.
10
The
Israelites moved on and camped at Oboth. 11
Then
they set out from Oboth and camped in Iye Abarim, in the desert that
faces Moab toward the sunrise. 12
From
there they moved on and camped in the Zered Valley. 13
They
set out from there and camped alongside the Arnon, which is in the
desert extending into Amorite territory. The Arnon is the border of
Moab, between Moab and the Amorites.
14
That
is why the Book of the Wars of the LORD says:
".
. . Waheb in Suphah D
and the ravines,
the
Arnon 15
and
E
the slopes of the ravines
that
lead to the site of Ar
and
lie along the border of Moab."
16
From
there they continued on to Beer, the well where the LORD said to
Moses, "Gather
the people together and I will give them water."
11
17
Then
Israel sang this song:
"Spring
up, O well!
Sing
about it,
18
about
the well that the princes dug,
that
the nobles of the people sank--
the
nobles with scepters and staffs."
Then
they went from the desert to Mattanah, 19
from
Mattanah to Nahaliel, from Nahaliel to Bamoth, 20
and
from Bamoth to the valley in Moab where the top of Pisgah overlooks
the wasteland.
21
Israel
sent messengers to say to Sihon king of the Amorites:
22
"Let
us pass through your country. We will not turn aside into any field
or vineyard, or drink water from any well. We will travel along the
king's highway until we have passed through your territory."
23
But
Sihon would not let Israel pass through his territory. He mustered
his entire army and marched out into the desert against Israel. When
he reached Jahaz, he fought with Israel. 24
Israel,
however, put him to the sword and took over his land from the Arnon
to the Jabbok, but only as far as the Ammonites, because their border
was fortified. 25
Israel
captured all the cities of the Amorites and occupied them, including
Heshbon and all its surrounding settlements. 26
Heshbon
was the city of Sihon king of the Amorites, who had fought against
the former king of Moab and had taken from him all his land as far as
the Arnon.
27
That
is why the poets say:
"Come
to Heshbon and let it be rebuilt;
let
Sihon's city be restored.
28
"Fire
went out from Heshbon12
a
blaze from the city of Sihon.
It
consumed Ar of Moab,
the
citizens of Arnon's heights.
29
Woe
to you, O Moab!
You
are destroyed, O people of Chemosh!
He
has given up his sons as fugitives
and
his daughters as captives
to
Sihon king of the Amorites.
30
"But
we have overthrown them;
Heshbon
is destroyed all the way to Dibon.
We
have demolished them as far as Nophah,
which
extends to Medeba."
31
So
Israel settled in the land of the Amorites.
32
After
Moses had sent spies to Jazer, the Israelites captured its
surrounding settlements and drove out the Amorites who were there. 33
Then
they turned and went up along the road toward Bashan, and Og king of
Bashan and his whole army marched out to meet them in battle at
Edrei.
34
The
LORD said to Moses, "Do
not be afraid of him, for I have handed him over to you, with his
whole army and his land. Do to him what you did to Sihon king of the
Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon."
35
So
they struck him down, together with his sons and his whole army,
leaving them no survivors. And they took possession of his land.
22
1
Then
the Israelites traveled to the plains of Moab and camped along the
Jordan across from Jericho. A
2
Now
Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites, 3
and
Moab was terrified because there were so many people. Indeed, Moab
was filled with dread because of the Israelites. 13
4
The
Moabites said to the elders of Midian, "This horde is going to
lick up everything around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the
field."
So
Balak son of Zippor, who was king of Moab at that time, 5
sent
messengers to summon Balaam son of Beor, who was at Pethor, near the
River, B
in his native land. Balak said:
"A
people has come out of Egypt; they cover the face of the land and
have settled next to me. 6
Now
come and put a curse on these people, because they are too powerful
for me. Perhaps then I will be able to defeat them and drive them out
of the country. For I know that those you bless are blessed, and
those you curse are cursed."
7
The
elders of Moab and Midian left, taking with them the fee for
divination. When they came to Balaam, they told him what Balak had
said.
8
"Spend
the night here," Balaam said to them, "and I will bring you
back the answer the LORD gives me." So the Moabite princes
stayed with him.
9God
came to Balaam and asked, "Who
are these men with you?"
10
Balaam
said to God, "Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent me this
message: 11
`A
people that has come out of Egypt covers the face of the land. Now
come and put a curse on them for me. Perhaps then I will be able to
fight them and drive them away.' "
12
But
God said to Balaam, "Do
not go with them. You must not put a curse on those people, because
they are blessed."
13
The
next morning Balaam got up and said to Balak's princes, "Go back
to your own country, for the LORD has refused to let me go with you."
14
So
the Moabite princes returned to Balak and said, "Balaam refused
to come with us."
15
Then
Balak sent other princes, more numerous and more distinguished than
the first.
16
They
came to Balaam and said:
"This
is what Balak son of Zippor says: Do not let anything keep you from
coming to me,
17
because
I will reward you handsomely and do whatever you say. Come and put a
curse on these people for me."
18
But
Balaam answered them, "Even if Balak gave me his palace filled
with silver and gold, I could not do anything great or small to go
beyond the command of the LORD my God.
19
Now
stay here tonight as the others did, and I will find out what else
the LORD will tell me."
20
That
night God came to Balaam and said, "Since
these men have come to summon you, go with them, but do only what I
tell you."
14
NEW
TESTAMENT:
LUKE 1:26 - 56
26
In
the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in
Galilee, 27
to
a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of
David. The virgin's name was Mary. 28
The
angel went to her and said, "Greetings,
you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you."
29
Mary
was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting
this might be. 30
But
the angel said to her, "Do
not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.
31
You
will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him
the name Jesus.
32
He
will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord
God will give him the throne of his father David,
33
and
he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never
end."
34
"How
will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"
35
The
angel answered, "The
Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will
overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called
C
the
Son of God.
36
Even
Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and
she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month.
37
For
nothing is impossible with God."
38
"I
am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as
you have said." Then the angel left her.
39
At
that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of
Judea,
40
where
she entered Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth. 41
When
Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and
Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42
In
a loud voice she exclaimed: "Blessed are you among women, and
blessed is the child you will bear! 43
But
why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44
As
soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my
womb leaped for joy. 45
Blessed
is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be
accomplished!"
46And
Mary said:
"My
soul glorifies the Lord
47
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48
for
he has been mindful
of
the humble state of his servant. 15
From
now on all generations will call me blessed,
holy
is his name.
50
His
mercy extends to those who fear him,
from
generation to generation.
51
He
has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he
has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
52
He
has brought down rulers from their thrones
but
has lifted up the humble.
53
He
has filled the hungry with good things
but
has sent the rich away empty.
54
He
has helped his servant Israel,
remembering
to be merciful
55
to
Abraham and his descendants forever,
even
as he said to our fathers."
56
Mary
stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.
16
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John 3:16-21 16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, F that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.G 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God." H
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