Genesis 1:1 1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
AUGUST 25
PSALMS: 25, 55, 85,
115, 145
PROVERBS: 25
OLD TESTAMENT:
EZEKIEL 29:1 - 30:26
NEW TESTAMENT:
HEBREWS 11:32 – 12:13
PSALMS:
25
Of
David.
1
To
A
you, O LORD, I lift up my soul;
2
in
you I trust, O my God.
Do
not let me be put to shame,
nor
let my enemies triumph over me.
3
No
one whose hope is in you
will
ever be put to shame,
but
they will be put to shame
who
are treacherous without excuse.
4
Show
me your ways, O LORD,
teach
me your paths;
5
guide
me in your truth and teach me,
for
you are God my Savior,
and
my hope is in you all day long.
6
Remember,
O LORD, your great mercy and love,
for
they are from of old.
7
Remember
not the sins of my youth
and
my rebellious ways;
according
to your love remember me,
for
you are good, O LORD.
8
Good
and upright is the LORD;
therefore
he instructs sinners in his ways.
9
He
guides the humble in what is right
and
teaches them his way.
10
All
the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful
for
those who keep the demands of his covenant.
11
For
the sake of your name, O LORD,
forgive
my iniquity, though it is great.
12
Who,
then, is the man that fears the LORD? 1
He
will instruct him in the way chosen for him.
13
He
will spend his days in prosperity,
and
his descendants will inherit the land.
14
The
LORD confides in those who fear him;
he
makes his covenant known to them.
15
My
eyes are ever on the LORD,
for
only he will release my feet from the snare.
16
Turn
to me and be gracious to me,
for
I am lonely and afflicted.
17
The
troubles of my heart have multiplied;
free
me from my anguish.
18
Look
upon my affliction and my distress
and
take away all my sins.
19
See
how my enemies have increased
and
how fiercely they hate me!
20
Guard
my life and rescue me;
let
me not be put to shame,
for
I take refuge in you.
21
May
integrity and uprightness protect me,
because
my hope is in you.
22
Redeem
Israel, O God,
from
all their troubles! 2
PSALMS:
55
For
the director of music. With stringed instruments. A maskil
A
of David.
1
Listen
to my prayer, O God,
do
not ignore my plea;
2
hear
me and answer me.
My
thoughts trouble me and I am distraught
3
at
the voice of the enemy,
at
the stares of the wicked;
for
they bring down suffering upon me
and
revile me in their anger.
4
My
heart is in anguish within me;
the
terrors of death assail me.
5
Fear
and trembling have beset me;
horror
has overwhelmed me.
6
I
said, "Oh, that I had the wings of a dove!
I
would fly away and be at rest--
7
I
would flee far away
and
stay in the desert;
Selah
8
I
would hurry to my place of shelter,
far
from the tempest and storm."
9
Confuse
the wicked, O Lord, confound their speech,
for
I see violence and strife in the city.
10
Day
and night they prowl about on its walls;
malice
and abuse are within it.
11
Destructive
forces are at work in the city;
threats
and lies never leave its streets. 3
12
If
an enemy were insulting me,
I
could endure it;
if
a foe were raising himself against me,
I
could hide from him.
13
But
it is you, a man like myself,
my
companion, my close friend,
14
with
whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship
as
we walked with the throng at the house of God.
15
Let
death take my enemies by surprise;
let
them go down alive to the grave, B
for
evil finds lodging among them.
16
But
I call to God,
and
the LORD saves me.
17
Evening,
morning and noon
I
cry out in distress,
and
he hears my voice.
18
He
ransoms me unharmed
from
the battle waged against me,
even
though many oppose me.
19
God,
who is enthroned forever,
will
hear them and afflict them--
Selah
men
who never change their ways
and
have no fear of God.
20
My
companion attacks his friends;
he
violates his covenant.
21
His
speech is smooth as butter,
yet
war is in his heart;
his
words are more soothing than oil, 4
yet
they are drawn swords.
22
Cast
your cares on the LORD
and
he will sustain you;
he
will never let the righteous fall.
23
But
you, O God, will bring down the wicked
into
the pit of corruption;
bloodthirsty
and deceitful men
will
not live out half their days.
But
as for me, I trust in you. 5
PSALMS:
85
For
the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.
1
You
showed favor to your land, O LORD;
you
restored the fortunes of Jacob.
2
You
forgave the iniquity of your people
and
covered all their sins.
Selah
3
You
set aside all your wrath
and
turned from your fierce anger.
4
Restore
us again, O God our Savior,
and
put away your displeasure toward us.
5
Will
you be angry with us forever?
Will
you prolong your anger through all generations?
6
Will
you not revive us again,
that
your people may rejoice in you?
7
Show
us your unfailing love, O LORD,
and
grant us your salvation.
8
I
will listen to what God the LORD will say;
he
promises peace to his people, his saints--
but
let them not return to folly.
9
Surely
his salvation is near those who fear him,
that
his glory may dwell in our land.
10
Love
and faithfulness meet together;
righteousness
and peace kiss each other.
11
Faithfulness
springs forth from the earth,
and
righteousness looks down from heaven.
12
The
LORD will indeed give what is good,
and
our land will yield its harvest.
13
Righteousness
goes before him 6
and
prepares the way for his steps. 7
PSALMS:
115
1
Not
to us, O LORD, not to us
but
to your name be the glory,
because
of your love and faithfulness.
2
Why
do the nations say,
"Where
is their God?"
3
Our
God is in heaven;
he
does whatever pleases him.
4
But
their idols are silver and gold,
made
by the hands of men.
5
They
have mouths, but cannot speak,
eyes,
but they cannot see;
6
they
have ears, but cannot hear,
noses,
but they cannot smell;
7
they
have hands, but cannot feel,
feet,
but they cannot walk;
nor
can they utter a sound with their throats.
8
Those
who make them will be like them,
and
so will all who trust in them.
9
O
house of Israel, trust in the LORD--
he
is their help and shield.
10
O
house of Aaron, trust in the LORD--
he
is their help and shield.
11
You
who fear him, trust in the LORD--
he
is their help and shield.
12
The
LORD remembers us and will bless us:
He
will bless the house of Israel,
he
will bless the house of Aaron,
13
he
will bless those who fear the LORD--
small
and great alike. 8
14
May
the LORD make you increase,
both
you and your children.
15
May
you be blessed by the LORD,
the
Maker of heaven and earth.
16
The
highest heavens belong to the LORD,
but
the earth he has given to man.
17
It
is not the dead who praise the LORD,
those
who go down to silence;
18
it
is we who extol the LORD,
both
now and forevermore.
PSALMS:
145
A
psalm of praise. Of David.
1
I
A
will exalt you, my God the King;
I
will praise your name for ever and ever.
2
Every
day I will praise you
and
extol your name for ever and ever.
3
Great
is the LORD and most worthy of praise;
his
greatness no one can fathom.
4
One
generation will commend your works to another;
they
will tell of your mighty acts.
5
They
will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty,
and
I will meditate on your wonderful works. B
6
They
will tell of the power of your awesome works,
and
I will proclaim your great deeds.
7
They
will celebrate your abundant goodness
and
joyfully sing of your righteousness.
8
The
LORD is gracious and compassionate,
slow
to anger and rich in love.
9
The
LORD is good to all;
he
has compassion on all he has made.
10
All
you have made will praise you, O LORD;
your
saints will extol you.
11
They
will tell of the glory of your kingdom
and
speak of your might,
12
so
that all men may know of your mighty acts
and
the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
13
Your
kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and
your dominion endures through all generations. 10
The
LORD is faithful to all his promises
and
loving toward all he has made. C
14
The
LORD upholds all those who fall
and
lifts up all who are bowed down.
15
The
eyes of all look to you,
and
you give them their food at the proper time.
16
You
open your hand
and
satisfy the desires of every living thing.
17
The
LORD is righteous in all his ways
and
loving toward all he has made.
18
The
LORD is near to all who call on him,
to
all who call on him in truth.
19
He
fulfills the desires of those who fear him;
he
hears their cry and saves them.
20
The
LORD watches over all who love him,
but
all the wicked he will destroy.
21
My
mouth will speak in praise of the LORD.
Let
every creature praise his holy name
for
ever and ever. 11
PROVERBS:
25
25
1
These
are more proverbs of Solomon, copied by the men of Hezekiah king of
Judah:
2
It
is the glory of God to conceal a matter;
to
search out a matter is the glory of kings.
3
As
the heavens are high and the earth is deep,
so
the hearts of kings are unsearchable.
4
Remove
the dross from the silver,
and
out comes material for A
the silversmith;
5
remove
the wicked from the king's presence,
and
his throne will be established through righteousness.
6
Do
not exalt yourself in the king's presence,
and
do not claim a place among great men;
7
it
is better for him to say to you, "Come up here,"
than
for him to humiliate you before a nobleman.
What
you have seen with your eyes
8
do not bring B
hastily to court,
for
what will you do in the end
if
your neighbor puts you to shame?
9
If
you argue your case with a neighbor,
do
not betray another man's confidence,
10
or
he who hears it may shame you
and
you will never lose your bad reputation.
11
A
word aptly spoken
is
like apples of gold in settings of silver.
12
Like
an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold
is
a wise man's rebuke to a listening ear. 12
13
Like
the coolness of snow at harvest time
is
a trustworthy messenger to those who send him;
he
refreshes the spirit of his masters.
14
Like
clouds and wind without rain
is
a man who boasts of gifts he does not give.
15
Through
patience a ruler can be persuaded,
and
a gentle tongue can break a bone.
16
If
you find honey, eat just enough--
too
much of it, and you will vomit.
17
Seldom
set foot in your neighbor's house--
too
much of you, and he will hate you.
18
Like
a club or a sword or a sharp arrow
is
the man who gives false testimony against his neighbor.
19
Like
a bad tooth or a lame foot
is
reliance on the unfaithful in times of trouble.
20
Like
one who takes away a garment on a cold day,
or
like vinegar poured on soda,
is
one who sings songs to a heavy heart.
21
If
your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;
if
he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
22
In
doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head,
and
the LORD will reward you.
23
As
a north wind brings rain,
so
a sly tongue brings angry looks. 13
24
Better
to live on a corner of the roof
than
share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
25
Like
cold water to a weary soul
is
good news from a distant land.
26
Like
a muddied spring or a polluted well
is
a righteous man who gives way to the wicked.
27
It
is not good to eat too much honey,
nor
is it honorable to seek one's own honor.
28
Like
a city whose walls are broken down
is
a man who lacks self-control. 14
OLD TESTAMENT:
EZEKIEL 29:1 - 30:26
29
1
In
the tenth year, in the tenth month on the twelfth day, the word of
the LORD came to me: 2
"Son
of man, set your face against Pharaoh king of Egypt and prophesy
against him and against all Egypt. 3
Speak to him and say: `This is what the Sovereign LORD says:
"I
am against you, Pharaoh king of Egypt,
you
great monster lying among your streams.
You
say, "The Nile is mine;
I
made it for myself."
4
But I will put hooks in your jaws
and
make the fish of your streams stick to your scales.
I
will pull you out from among your streams,
with
all the fish sticking to your scales.
5
I will leave you in the desert,
you
and all the fish of your streams.
You
will fall on the open field
and
not be gathered or picked up.
I
will give you as food
to
the beasts of the earth and the birds of the air.
6
Then all who live in Egypt will know that I am the LORD.
"`You
have been a staff of reed for the house of Israel. 7
When they grasped you with their hands, you splintered and you tore
open their shoulders; when they leaned on you, you broke and their
backs were wrenched. A
8
"`Therefore
this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will bring a sword against
you and kill your men and their animals. 9
Egypt will become a desolate wasteland. Then they will know that I am
the LORD.
"`Because
you said, "The Nile is mine; I made it," 10
therefore I am against you and against your streams, and I will make
the land of Egypt a ruin and a desolate waste from Migdol to Aswan,
as far as the border of Cush.
B
11
No
foot of man or animal will pass through it; no one will 15
live there for forty years. 12
I will make the land of Egypt desolate among devastated lands, and
her cities will lie desolate forty years among ruined cities. And I
will disperse the Egyptians among the nations and scatter them
through the countries.
13"`Yet
this is what the Sovereign LORD says: At the end of forty years I
will gather the Egyptians from the nations where they were scattered.
14
I will bring them back from captivity and return them to Upper Egypt,
C
the land of their ancestry. There they will be a lowly kingdom. 15
It will be the lowliest of kingdoms and will never again exalt itself
above the other nations. I will make it so weak that it will never
again rule over the nations.
16 Egypt will no longer be a source of confidence for the people of Israel but will be a reminder of their sin in turning to her for help. Then they will know that I am the Sovereign LORD.'"
16 Egypt will no longer be a source of confidence for the people of Israel but will be a reminder of their sin in turning to her for help. Then they will know that I am the Sovereign LORD.'"
17
In
the twenty-seventh year, in the first month on the first day, the
word of the LORD came to me: 18
"Son
of man, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon drove his army in a hard
campaign against Tyre; every head was rubbed bare and every shoulder
made raw. Yet he and his army got no reward from the campaign he led
against Tyre.
19
Therefore
this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am going to give Egypt to
Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he will carry off its wealth. He
will loot and plunder the land as pay for his army.
20
I
have given him Egypt as a reward for his efforts because he and his
army did it for me, declares the Sovereign LORD.
21
"On
that day I will make a horn D
grow for the house of Israel, and I will open your mouth among them.
Then they will know that I am the LORD."
30
1
The
word of the LORD came to me: 2
"Son
of man, prophesy and say: `This is what the Sovereign LORD says:
"`Wail
and say,
"Alas
for that day!"
3
For the day is near,
the
day of the LORD is near--
a
day of clouds,
a
time of doom for the nations.
4
A sword will come against Egypt, 16
and
anguish will come upon Cush. A
When
the slain fall in Egypt,
her
wealth will be carried away
and
her foundations torn down.
5
Cush and Put, Lydia and all Arabia, Libya B
and the people of the covenant land will fall by the sword along with
Egypt.
6
"`This
is what the LORD says:
"`The
allies of Egypt will fall
and
her proud strength will fail.
From
Migdol to Aswan
they
will fall by the sword within her,
declares
the Sovereign LORD.
7"`They
will be desolate
among
desolate lands,
and
their cities will lie
among
ruined cities.
8
Then they will know that I am the LORD,
when
I set fire to Egypt
and
all her helpers are crushed.
9
"`On
that day messengers will go out from me in ships to frighten Cush out
of her complacency. Anguish will take hold of them on the day of
Egypt's doom, for it is sure to come.
10
"`This
is what the Sovereign LORD says:
"`I
will put an end to the hordes of Egypt
by
the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. 17
11
He and his army--the most ruthless of nations--
will
be brought in to destroy the land.
They
will draw their swords against Egypt
and
fill the land with the slain.
12
I will dry up the streams of the Nile
and
sell the land to evil men;
by
the hand of foreigners
I
will lay waste the land and everything in it.
I
the LORD have spoken.
13
"`This
is what the Sovereign LORD says:
"`I
will destroy the idols
and
put an end to the images in Memphis. C
No
longer will there be a prince in Egypt,
and
I will spread fear throughout the land.
14
I will lay waste Upper Egypt, D
set
fire to Zoan
and
inflict punishment on Thebes. E
15
I will pour out my wrath on Pelusium, F
the
stronghold of Egypt,
and
cut off the hordes of Thebes.
16
I will set fire to Egypt;
Pelusium
will writhe in agony.
Thebes
will be taken by storm;
Memphis
will be in constant distress. 18
17
The young men of Heliopolis G
and Bubastis H
will
fall by the sword,
and
the cities themselves will go into captivity.
18
Dark will be the day at Tahpanhes
when
I break the yoke of Egypt;
there
her proud strength will come to an end.
She
will be covered with clouds,
and
her villages will go into captivity.
19
So I will inflict punishment on Egypt,
and
they will know that I am the LORD.'"
20
In
the eleventh year, in the first month on the seventh day, the word of
the LORD came to me: 21
"Son
of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt. It has not
been bound up for healing or put in a splint so as to become strong
enough to hold a sword.
22 Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am against Pharaoh king of Egypt. I will break both his arms, the good arm as well as the broken one, and make the sword fall from his hand. 23 I will disperse the Egyptians among the nations and scatter them through the countries. 24 I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon and put my sword in his hand, but I will break the arms of Pharaoh, and he will groan before him like a mortally wounded man. 25 I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, but the arms of Pharaoh will fall limp. Then they will know that I am the LORD, when I put my sword into the hand of the king of Babylon and he brandishes it against Egypt. 26 I will disperse the Egyptians among the nations and scatter them through the countries. Then they will know that I am the LORD." 19
22 Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am against Pharaoh king of Egypt. I will break both his arms, the good arm as well as the broken one, and make the sword fall from his hand. 23 I will disperse the Egyptians among the nations and scatter them through the countries. 24 I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon and put my sword in his hand, but I will break the arms of Pharaoh, and he will groan before him like a mortally wounded man. 25 I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, but the arms of Pharaoh will fall limp. Then they will know that I am the LORD, when I put my sword into the hand of the king of Babylon and he brandishes it against Egypt. 26 I will disperse the Egyptians among the nations and scatter them through the countries. Then they will know that I am the LORD." 19
NEW
TESTAMENT:
HEBREWS 11:32 – 12:13
32
And
what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon,
Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, 33
who
through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained
what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions,
34
quenched
the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose
weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle
and routed foreign armies.
35 Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. 36 Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. 37 They were stoned F; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated—38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.
35 Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. 36 Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. 37 They were stoned F; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated—38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.
39
These
were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what
had been promised. 40
God
had planned something better for us so that only together with us
would they be made perfect.
12
1
Therefore,
since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us
throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily
entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for
us. 2
Let
us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who
for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and
sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3
Consider
him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not
grow weary and lose heart.
4
In
your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of
shedding your blood. 5
And
you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as
sons:
"My
son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline,
and
do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
6
because
the Lord disciplines those he loves,
7
Endure
hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is
not disciplined by his father? 8
If
you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you
are illegitimate children and not true sons. 9
Moreover,
we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected
them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our
spirits and live! 10
Our
fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but
God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness.
11
No
discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on,
however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those
who have been trained by it.
12
Therefore,
strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. 13
"Make
level paths for your feet,"
B
so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed. 21
1
Excerpted from Compton's
Interactive Bible NIV.
Copyright (c) 1994, 1995, 1996 SoftKey Multimedia Inc. All Rights
Reserved
2
Excerpted from Compton's
Interactive Bible NIV.
Copyright (c) 1994, 1995, 1996 SoftKey Multimedia Inc. All Rights
Reserved
3
Excerpted from Compton's
Interactive Bible NIV.
Copyright (c) 1994, 1995, 1996 SoftKey Multimedia Inc. All Rights
Reserved
4
Excerpted from Compton's
Interactive Bible NIV.
Copyright (c) 1994, 1995, 1996 SoftKey Multimedia Inc. All Rights
Reserved
5
Excerpted from Compton's
Interactive Bible NIV.
Copyright (c) 1994, 1995, 1996 SoftKey Multimedia Inc. All Rights
Reserved
6
Excerpted from Compton's
Interactive Bible NIV.
Copyright (c) 1994, 1995, 1996 SoftKey Multimedia Inc. All Rights
Reserved
7
Excerpted from Compton's
Interactive Bible NIV.
Copyright (c) 1994, 1995, 1996 SoftKey Multimedia Inc. All Rights
Reserved
8
Excerpted from Compton's
Interactive Bible NIV.
Copyright (c) 1994, 1995, 1996 SoftKey Multimedia Inc. All Rights
Reserved
9
Excerpted from Compton's
Interactive Bible NIV.
Copyright (c) 1994, 1995, 1996 SoftKey Multimedia Inc. All Rights
Reserved
10
Excerpted from Compton's
Interactive Bible NIV.
Copyright (c) 1994, 1995, 1996 SoftKey Multimedia Inc. All Rights
Reserved
11
Excerpted from Compton's
Interactive Bible NIV.
Copyright (c) 1994, 1995, 1996 SoftKey Multimedia Inc. All Rights
Reserved
12
Excerpted from Compton's
Interactive Bible NIV.
Copyright (c) 1994, 1995, 1996 SoftKey Multimedia Inc. All Rights
Reserved
13
Excerpted from Compton's
Interactive Bible NIV.
Copyright (c) 1994, 1995, 1996 SoftKey Multimedia Inc. All Rights
Reserved
14
Excerpted from Compton's
Interactive Bible NIV.
Copyright (c) 1994, 1995, 1996 SoftKey Multimedia Inc. All Rights
Reserved
15
Excerpted from Compton's
Interactive Bible NIV.
Copyright (c) 1994, 1995, 1996 SoftKey Multimedia Inc. All Rights
Reserved
16
Excerpted from Compton's
Interactive Bible NIV.
Copyright (c) 1994, 1995, 1996 SoftKey Multimedia Inc. All Rights
Reserved
17
Excerpted from Compton's
Interactive Bible NIV.
Copyright (c) 1994, 1995, 1996 SoftKey Multimedia Inc. All Rights
Reserved
18
Excerpted from Compton's
Interactive Bible NIV.
Copyright (c) 1994, 1995, 1996 SoftKey Multimedia Inc. All Rights
Reserved
19
Excerpted from Compton's
Interactive Bible NIV.
Copyright (c) 1994, 1995, 1996 SoftKey Multimedia Inc. All Rights
Reserved
20
Excerpted from Compton's
Interactive Bible NIV.
Copyright (c) 1994, 1995, 1996 SoftKey Multimedia Inc. All Rights
Reserved
21
Excerpted from Compton's
Interactive Bible NIV.
Copyright (c) 1994, 1995, 1996 SoftKey Multimedia Inc. All Rights
Reserved
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
No comments:
Post a Comment