Genesis 1:1 1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
MAY
12
PSALMS:
12, 42, 72, 102, 132
PROVERBS:
12
OLD
TESTAMENT:
2 CHRONICLES 30:1 - 31:21
NEW
TESTAMENT:
ROMANS 15:1 - 22
PSALMS:
12
For
the director of music. According to sheminith.
A
A psalm of David.
1
Help,
LORD, for the godly are no more;
the
faithful have vanished from among men.
2
Everyone
lies to his neighbor;
their
flattering lips speak with deception.
3
May
the LORD cut off all flattering lips
and
every boastful tongue
4
that
says, "We will triumph with our tongues;
we
own our lips B--who
is our master?"
5
"Because
of the oppression of the weak
and
the groaning of the needy,
I
will now arise,"
says the LORD.
"I
will protect them from those who malign them."
6
And
the words of the LORD are flawless,
like
silver refined in a furnace of clay,
purified
seven times.
7
O
LORD, you will keep us safe
and
protect us from such people forever.
8
The
wicked freely strut about
when
what is vile is honored among men. 1
PSALMS:
42
For
A
the director of music. A maskil
B
of the Sons of Korah.
1
As
the deer pants for streams of water,
so
my soul pants for you, O God.
2
My
soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When
can I go and meet with God?
3
My
tears have been my food
day
and night,
while
men say to me all day long,
"Where
is your God?"
4
These
things I remember
as
I pour out my soul:
how
I used to go with the multitude,
leading
the procession to the house of God,
with
shouts of joy and thanksgiving
among
the festive throng.
5
Why
are you downcast, O my soul?
Why
so disturbed within me?
Put
your hope in God,
for
I will yet praise him,
my
Savior and 6
my
God.
My
C
soul is downcast within me;
therefore
I will remember you
from
the land of the Jordan,
the
heights of Hermon--from Mount Mizar.
7
Deep
calls to deep
in
the roar of your waterfalls;
all
your waves and breakers
have
swept over me.
8
By
day the LORD directs his love,
at
night his song is with me--
a
prayer to the God of my life.
9
I
say to God my Rock,
"Why
have you forgotten me?
Why
must I go about mourning,
oppressed
by the enemy?"
10
My
bones suffer mortal agony
as
my foes taunt me,
saying
to me all day long,
"Where
is your God?"
11
Why
are you downcast, O my soul?
Why
so disturbed within me?
Put
your hope in God,
for
I will yet praise him,
my
Savior and my God. 2
PSALMS:
72
Of
Solomon.
1
Endow
the king with your justice, O God,
the
royal son with your righteousness.
2
He
will A
judge your people in righteousness,
your
afflicted ones with justice.
3
The
mountains will bring prosperity to the people,
the
hills the fruit of righteousness.
4
He
will defend the afflicted among the people
and
save the children of the needy;
he
will crush the oppressor.
5
He
will endure B
as long as the sun,
as
long as the moon, through all generations.
6
He
will be like rain falling on a mown field,
like
showers watering the earth.
7
In
his days the righteous will flourish;
prosperity
will abound till the moon is no more.
8
He
will rule from sea to sea
and
from the River C
to the ends of the earth. D
9
The
desert tribes will bow before him
and
his enemies will lick the dust.
10
The
kings of Tarshish and of distant shores
will
bring tribute to him;
the
kings of Sheba and Seba
will
present him gifts.
11
All
kings will bow down to him
and
all nations will serve him. 3
Of
Solomon.
12
For
he will deliver the needy who cry out,
the
afflicted who have no one to help.
13
He
will take pity on the weak and the needy
and
save the needy from death.
14
He
will rescue them from oppression and violence,
for
precious is their blood in his sight.
15
Long
may he live!
May
gold from Sheba be given him.
May
people ever pray for him
and
bless him all day long.
16
Let
grain abound throughout the land;
on
the tops of the hills may it sway.
Let
its fruit flourish like Lebanon;
let
it thrive like the grass of the field.
17
May
his name endure forever;
may
it continue as long as the sun.
All
nations will be blessed through him,
and
they will call him blessed. 4
18
Praise
be to the LORD God, the God of Israel,
who
alone does marvelous deeds.
19
Praise
be to his glorious name forever;
may
the whole earth be filled with his glory.
Amen
and Amen.
20
This
concludes the prayers of David son of Jesse. 5
PSALMS:
102
A
prayer of an afflicted man. When he is faint and pours out his lament
before the LORD.
1
Hear
my prayer, O LORD;
let
my cry for help come to you.
2
Do
not hide your face from me
when
I am in distress.
Turn
your ear to me;
when
I call, answer me quickly.
3
For
my days vanish like smoke;
my
bones burn like glowing embers.
4
My
heart is blighted and withered like grass;
I
forget to eat my food.
5
Because
of my loud groaning
I
am reduced to skin and bones.
6
I
am like a desert owl,
like
an owl among the ruins.
7
I
lie awake; I have become
like
a bird alone on a roof.
8
All
day long my enemies taunt me;
those
who rail against me use my name as a curse.
9
For
I eat ashes as my food
and
mingle my drink with tears
10
because
of your great wrath,
for
you have taken me up and thrown me aside.
11
My
days are like the evening shadow;
I
wither away like grass. 6
12
But
you, O LORD, sit enthroned forever;
your
renown endures through all generations.
13
You
will arise and have compassion on Zion,
for
it is time to show favor to her;
the
appointed time has come.
14
For
her stones are dear to your servants;
her
very dust moves them to pity.
15
The
nations will fear the name of the LORD,
all
the kings of the earth will revere your glory.
16
For
the LORD will rebuild Zion
and
appear in his glory.
17
He
will respond to the prayer of the destitute;
he
will not despise their plea.
18
Let
this be written for a future generation,
that
a people not yet created may praise the LORD:
19
"The
LORD looked down from his sanctuary on high,
from
heaven he viewed the earth,
20
to
hear the groans of the prisoners
and
release those condemned to death."
21
So
the name of the LORD will be declared in Zion
and
his praise in Jerusalem
22
when
the peoples and the kingdoms
assemble
to worship the LORD.
23
In
the course of my life A
he broke my strength;
he
cut short my days.
24
So
I said:
"Do
not take me away, O my God, in the midst of my days;
your
years go on through all generations.
25
In
the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth,
and
the heavens are the work of your hands.7
26
They
will perish, but you remain;
they
will all wear out like a garment.
Like
clothing you will change them
and
they will be discarded.
27
But
you remain the same,
and
your years will never end.
28
The
children of your servants will live in your presence;
their
descendants will be established before you." 8
PSALMS:
132
A
song of ascents.
1
O
LORD, remember David
and
all the hardships he endured.
2
He
swore an oath to the LORD
and
made a vow to the Mighty One of Jacob:
3
"I
will not enter my house
or
go to my bed--
4
I
will allow no sleep to my eyes,
no
slumber to my eyelids,
5
till
I find a place for the LORD,
a
dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob."
6
We
heard it in Ephrathah,
we
came upon it in the fields of Jaar A:B
7
"Let
us go to his dwelling place;
let
us worship at his footstool--
8
arise,
O LORD, and come to your resting place,
you
and the ark of your might.
9
May
your priests be clothed with righteousness;
may
your saints sing for joy."
10
For
the sake of David your servant,
do
not reject your anointed one. 9
11
The
LORD swore an oath to David,
a
sure oath that he will not revoke:
"One
of your own descendants
I
will place on your throne--
12
if
your sons keep my covenant
and
the statutes I teach them,
then
their sons will sit
on
your throne for ever and ever."
13
For
the LORD has chosen Zion,
he
has desired it for his dwelling:
14
"This
is my resting place for ever and ever;
here
I will sit enthroned, for I have desired it--
15
I
will bless her with abundant provisions;
her
poor will I satisfy with food.
16
I
will clothe her priests with salvation,
and
her saints will ever sing for joy.
17
"Here
I will make a horn C
grow for David
and
set up a lamp for my anointed one.
18
I
will clothe his enemies with shame,
but
the crown on his head will be resplendent."
10
PROVERBS:
12
12
1
Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
but
he who hates correction is stupid.
2
A
good man obtains favor from the LORD,
but
the LORD condemns a crafty man.
3
A
man cannot be established through wickedness,
but
the righteous cannot be uprooted.
4
A
wife of noble character is her husband's crown,
but
a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones.
5
The
plans of the righteous are just,
but
the advice of the wicked is deceitful.
6
The
words of the wicked lie in wait for blood,
but
the speech of the upright rescues them.
7
Wicked
men are overthrown and are no more,
but
the house of the righteous stands firm.
8
A
man is praised according to his wisdom,
but
men with warped minds are despised.
9
Better
to be a nobody and yet have a servant
than
pretend to be somebody and have no food.
10
A
righteous man cares for the needs of his animal,
but
the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.
11
He
who works his land will have abundant food,
but
he who chases fantasies lacks judgment.11
12
The
wicked desire the plunder of evil men,
but
the root of the righteous flourishes.
13
An
evil man is trapped by his sinful talk,
but
a righteous man escapes trouble.
14
From
the fruit of his lips a man is filled with good things
as
surely as the work of his hands rewards him.
15
The
way of a fool seems right to him,
but
a wise man listens to advice.
16
A
fool shows his annoyance at once,
but
a prudent man overlooks an insult.
17
A
truthful witness gives honest testimony,
but
a false witness tells lies.
18
Reckless
words pierce like a sword,
but
the tongue of the wise brings healing.
19
Truthful
lips endure forever,
but
a lying tongue lasts only a moment.
20
There
is deceit in the hearts of those who plot evil,
but
joy for those who promote peace.
21
No
harm befalls the righteous,
but
the wicked have their fill of trouble. 12
22
The
LORD detests lying lips,
but
he delights in men who are truthful.
23
A
prudent man keeps his knowledge to himself,
but
the heart of fools blurts out folly.
24
Diligent
hands will rule,
but
laziness ends in slave labor.
25
An
anxious heart weighs a man down,
but
a kind word cheers him up.
26
A
righteous man is cautious in friendship, A
but
the way of the wicked leads them astray.
27
The
lazy man does not roast B
his game,
but
the diligent man prizes his possessions.
28
In
the way of righteousness there is life;
along
that path is immortality. 13
OLD
TESTAMENT:
2 CHRONICLES 30:1 - 31:21
30
1
Hezekiah
sent word to all Israel and Judah and also wrote letters to Ephraim
and Manasseh, inviting them to come to the temple of the LORD in
Jerusalem and celebrate the Passover to the LORD, the God of Israel.
2
The
king and his officials and the whole assembly in Jerusalem decided to
celebrate the Passover in the second month. 3
They
had not been able to celebrate it at the regular time because not
enough priests had consecrated themselves and the people had not
assembled in Jerusalem. 4
The
plan seemed right both to the king and to the whole assembly. 5
They
decided to send a proclamation throughout Israel, from Beersheba to
Dan, calling the people to come to Jerusalem and celebrate the
Passover to the LORD, the God of Israel. It had not been celebrated
in large numbers according to what was written.
6
At
the king's command, couriers went throughout Israel and Judah with
letters from the king and from his officials, which read:
"People
of Israel, return to the LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel,
that he may return to you who are left, who have escaped from the
hand of the kings of Assyria. 7
Do
not be like your fathers and brothers, who were unfaithful to the
LORD, the God of their fathers, so that he made them an object of
horror, as you see. 8
Do
not be stiff-necked, as your fathers were; submit to the LORD. Come
to the sanctuary, which he has consecrated forever. Serve the LORD
your God, so that his fierce anger will turn away from you. 9
If
you return to the LORD, then your brothers and your children will be
shown compassion by their captors and will come back to this land,
for the LORD your God is gracious and compassionate. He will not turn
his face from you if you return to him."
10
The
couriers went from town to town in Ephraim and Manasseh, as far as
Zebulun, but the people scorned and ridiculed them. 11
Nevertheless,
some men of Asher, Manasseh and Zebulun humbled themselves and went
to Jerusalem. 12
Also
in Judah the hand of God was on the people to give them unity of mind
to carry out what the king and his officials had ordered, following
the word of the LORD.
13
A
very large crowd of people assembled in Jerusalem to celebrate the
Feast of Unleavened Bread in the second month. 14
They
removed the altars in Jerusalem and cleared away the incense altars
and threw them into the Kidron Valley.
15
They
slaughtered the Passover lamb on the fourteenth day of the second
month. The priests and the Levites were ashamed and consecrated
themselves and brought burnt offerings to the temple of the LORD. 16
Then
they took up their regular positions as prescribed in the Law of
Moses the man of God. The priests sprinkled the blood handed to them
by the Levites. 17
Since
many in the crowd had not consecrated themselves, the Levites had to
kill the Passover lambs for all those who were not ceremonially clean
and could not consecrate their lambs to the LORD. 18
Although
most of the many people who came from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar and
Zebulun had not purified themselves, yet they ate the Passover,
contrary to what was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying,
"May the LORD, who is good, pardon everyone 19
who
sets his heart on seeking God--the LORD, the God of his fathers--even
if he is not clean according to the rules of the sanctuary." 20
And
the LORD heard 14
Hezekiah and healed the people.
21
The
Israelites who were present in Jerusalem celebrated the Feast of
Unleavened Bread for seven days with great rejoicing, while the
Levites and priests sang to the LORD every day, accompanied by the
LORD's instruments of praise. A
22
Hezekiah
spoke encouragingly to all the Levites, who showed good understanding
of the service of the LORD. For the seven days they ate their
assigned portion and offered fellowship offerings B
and praised the LORD, the God of their fathers.
23
The
whole assembly then agreed to celebrate the festival seven more days;
so for another seven days they celebrated joyfully. 24
Hezekiah
king of Judah provided a thousand bulls and seven thousand sheep and
goats for the assembly, and the officials provided them with a
thousand bulls and ten thousand sheep and goats. A great number of
priests consecrated themselves. 25
The
entire assembly of Judah rejoiced, along with the priests and Levites
and all who had assembled from Israel, including the aliens who had
come from Israel and those who lived in Judah.
26
There
was great joy in Jerusalem, for since the days of Solomon son of
David king of Israel there had been nothing like this in Jerusalem.
27
The
priests and the Levites stood to bless the people, and God heard
them, for their prayer reached heaven, his holy dwelling place.
31
1
When
all this had ended, the Israelites who were there went out to the
towns of Judah, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah
poles. They destroyed the high places and the altars throughout Judah
and Benjamin and in Ephraim and Manasseh. After they had destroyed
all of them, the Israelites returned to their own towns and to their
own property.
2
Hezekiah
assigned the priests and Levites to divisions--each of them according
to their duties as priests or Levites--to offer burnt offerings and
fellowship offerings, A
to minister, to give thanks and to sing praises at the gates of the
LORD's dwelling. 3
The
king contributed from his own possessions for the morning and evening
burnt offerings and for the burnt offerings on the Sabbaths, New
Moons and appointed feasts as written in the Law of the LORD. 4
He
ordered the people living in Jerusalem to give the portion due the
priests and Levites so they could devote themselves to the Law of the
LORD.
5
As
soon as the order went out, the Israelites generously gave the
firstfruits of their grain, new wine, oil and honey and all that the
fields produced. They brought a great amount, a tithe of everything.
6
The
men of Israel and Judah who lived in the towns of Judah also brought
a tithe of their herds and flocks and a tithe of the holy things
dedicated to the LORD their God, and they piled them in heaps. 7
They
began doing this in the third month and finished in the seventh
month. 8
When
Hezekiah and his officials came and saw the heaps, they praised the
LORD and blessed his people Israel.
9
Hezekiah
asked the priests and Levites about the heaps; 10
and
Azariah the chief priest, from the family of Zadok, answered, "Since
the 15
people began to bring their contributions to the temple of the LORD,
we have had enough to eat and plenty to spare, because the LORD has
blessed his people, and this great amount is left over."
11
Hezekiah
gave orders to prepare storerooms in the temple of the LORD, and this
was done. 12
Then
they faithfully brought in the contributions, tithes and dedicated
gifts. Conaniah, a Levite, was in charge of these things, and his
brother Shimei was next in rank. 13
Jehiel,
Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismakiah, Mahath
and Benaiah were supervisors under Conaniah and Shimei his brother,
by appointment of King Hezekiah and Azariah the official in charge of
the temple of God.
14
Kore
son of Imnah the Levite, keeper of the East Gate, was in charge of
the freewill offerings given to God, distributing the contributions
made to the LORD and also the consecrated gifts. 15
Eden,
Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah and Shecaniah assisted him
faithfully in the towns of the priests, distributing to their fellow
priests according to their divisions, old and young alike.
16
In
addition, they distributed to the males three years old or more whose
names were in the genealogical records--all who would enter the
temple of the LORD to perform the daily duties of their various
tasks, according to their responsibilities and their divisions. 17
And
they distributed to the priests enrolled by their families in the
genealogical records and likewise to the Levites twenty years old or
more, according to their responsibilities and their divisions. 18
They
included all the little ones, the wives, and the sons and daughters
of the whole community listed in these genealogical records. For they
were faithful in consecrating themselves.
19
As
for the priests, the descendants of Aaron, who lived on the farm
lands around their towns or in any other towns, men were designated
by name to distribute portions to every male among them and to all
who were recorded in the genealogies of the Levites.
20
This
is what Hezekiah did throughout Judah, doing what was good and right
and faithful before the LORD his God. 21
In
everything that he undertook in the service of God's temple and in
obedience to the law and the commands, he sought his God and worked
wholeheartedly. And so he prospered. 16
NEW
TESTAMENT:
ROMANS 15:1 - 22
15
1
We
who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to
please ourselves. 2
Each
of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 3
For
even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: "The
insults of those who insult you have fallen on me."
A
4
For
everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so
that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we
might have hope.
5
May
the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of
unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, 6
so
that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of
our Lord Jesus Christ.
7
Accept
one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring
praise to God.
8
For
I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews B
on behalf of God's truth, to confirm the promises made to the
patriarchs 9
so
that the Gentiles may glorify God for his mercy, as it is written:
"Therefore
I will praise you among the Gentiles;
I
will sing hymns to your name."
C
10
Again, it says,
"Rejoice,
O Gentiles, with his people."
D
11
And again,
"Praise
the Lord, all you Gentiles,
and
sing praises to him, all you peoples."
E
12
And again, Isaiah says,
"The
Root of Jesse will spring up,
one
who will arise to rule over the nations;
the
Gentiles will hope in him."
F
13
May
the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him,
so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. 17
14
I
myself am convinced, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of
goodness, complete in knowledge and competent to instruct one
another. 15
I
have written you quite boldly on some points, as if to remind you of
them again, because of the grace God gave me 16
to
be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles with the priestly duty
of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become
an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
17
Therefore
I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God. 18
I
will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has
accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I
have said and done—19
by
the power of signs and miracles, through the power of the Spirit. So
from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully
proclaimed the gospel of Christ. 20
It
has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not
known, so that I would not be building on someone else's foundation.
21
Rather,
as it is written:
"Those
who were not told about him will see,
and
those who have not heard will understand."
G
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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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