AUGUST
16
PSALMS: 16,
46, 76, 106, 136
PROVERBS: 16
OLD TESTAMENT: EZEKIEL 12:1 - 14:11
NEW TESTAMENT: HEBREWS 7:1 - 17
PSALMS: 16
A
miktam A of David.
1
Keep me safe, O God,
for
in you I take refuge.
2
I said to the LORD, "You are my Lord;
apart
from you I have no good thing."
3
As for the saints who are in the land,
they
are the glorious ones in whom is all my delight. B
4
The sorrows of those will increase
who
run after other gods.
I
will not pour out their libations of blood
or
take up their names on my lips.
5
LORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup;
you
have made my lot secure.
6
The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant
places;
surely
I have a delightful inheritance.
7
I will praise the LORD, who counsels me;
even
at night my heart instructs me.
8
I have set the LORD always before me.
Because
he is at my right hand,
I
will not be shaken. [1]
9
Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my
body also will rest secure,
10
because you will not abandon me to the grave, C
nor
will you let your Holy One D see decay.
11
You have made E known to me the path of
life;
you
will fill me with joy in your presence,
with
eternal pleasures at your right hand. [2]
PSALMS: 46
For
the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. According to alamoth. A
A song.
1
God is our refuge and strength,
an
ever-present help in trouble.
2
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and
the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3
though its waters roar and foam
and
the mountains quake with their surging.
Selah
4
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of
God,
the
holy place where the Most High dwells.
5
God is within her, she will not fall;
God
will help her at break of day.
6
Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
he
lifts his voice, the earth melts.
7
The LORD Almighty is with us;
the
God of Jacob is our fortress.
Selah
8
Come and see the works of the LORD,
the
desolations he has brought on the earth.
9
He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth;
he
breaks the bow and shatters the spear,
he
burns the shields B with fire.
10
"Be still, and know
that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth."
11
The LORD Almighty is with us;
the
God of Jacob is our fortress.
Selah
[3]
PSALMS: 76
For
the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm of Asaph. A song.
1
In Judah God is known;
his
name is great in Israel.
2
His tent is in Salem,
his
dwelling place in Zion.
3
There he broke the flashing arrows,
the
shields and the swords, the weapons of war.
Selah
4
You are resplendent with light,
more
majestic than mountains rich with game.
5
Valiant men lie plundered,
they
sleep their last sleep;
not
one of the warriors
can
lift his hands.
6
At your rebuke, O God of Jacob,
both
horse and chariot lie still.
7
You alone are to be feared.
Who
can stand before you when you are angry?
8
From heaven you pronounced judgment,
and
the land feared and was quiet--
9
when you, O God, rose up to judge,
to
save all the afflicted of the land.
Selah
10
Surely your wrath against men brings you praise,
and
the survivors of your wrath are restrained. A
11
Make vows to the LORD your God and fulfill them;
let
all the neighboring lands
bring
gifts to the One to be feared.
12
He breaks the spirit of rulers; [4]
he
is feared by the kings of the earth [5]
PSALMS: 106
1
Praise the LORD. A
Give
thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his
love endures forever.
2
Who can proclaim the mighty acts of the LORD
or
fully declare his praise?
3
Blessed are they who maintain justice,
who
constantly do what is right.
4
Remember me, O LORD, when you show favor to your
people,
come
to my aid when you save them,
5
that I may enjoy the prosperity of your chosen ones,
that
I may share in the joy of your nation
and
join your inheritance in giving praise.
6
We have sinned, even as our fathers did;
we
have done wrong and acted wickedly.
7
When our fathers were in Egypt,
they
gave no thought to your miracles;
they
did not remember your many kindnesses,
and
they rebelled by the sea, the Red Sea. B
8
Yet he saved them for his name's sake,
to
make his mighty power known.
9
He rebuked the Red Sea, and it dried up;
he
led them through the depths as through a desert.
10
He saved them from the hand of the foe;
from
the hand of the enemy he redeemed them.
11
The waters covered their adversaries;
not
one of them survived.
12
Then they believed his promises
and
sang his praise. [6]
13
But they soon forgot what he had done
and
did not wait for his counsel.
14
In the desert they gave in to their craving;
in
the wasteland they put God to the test.
15
So he gave them what they asked for,
but
sent a wasting disease upon them.
16
In the camp they grew envious of Moses
and
of Aaron, who was consecrated to the LORD.
17
The earth opened up and swallowed Dathan;
it
buried the company of Abiram.
18
Fire blazed among their followers;
a
flame consumed the wicked.
19
At Horeb they made a calf
and
worshiped an idol cast from metal.
20
They exchanged their Glory
for
an image of a bull, which eats grass.
21
They forgot the God who saved them,
who
had done great things in Egypt,
22
miracles in the land of Ham
and
awesome deeds by the Red Sea.
23
So he said he would destroy them--
had
not Moses, his chosen one,
stood
in the breach before him
to
keep his wrath from destroying them.
24
Then they despised the pleasant land;
they
did not believe his promise.
25
They grumbled in their tents
and
did not obey the LORD.
26
So he swore to them with uplifted hand
that
he would make them fall in the desert,
27
make their descendants fall among the nations [7]
and
scatter them throughout the lands.
28
They yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor
and
ate sacrifices offered to lifeless gods;
29
they provoked the LORD to anger by their wicked deeds,
and
a plague broke out among them.
30
But Phinehas stood up and intervened,
and
the plague was checked.
31
This was credited to him as righteousness
for
endless generations to come.
32
By the waters of Meribah they angered the LORD,
and
trouble came to Moses because of them;
33
for they rebelled against the Spirit of God,
and
rash words came from Moses' lips. C
34
They did not destroy the peoples
as
the LORD had commanded them,
35
but they mingled with the nations
and
adopted their customs.
36
They worshiped their idols,
which
became a snare to them.
37
They sacrificed their sons
and
their daughters to demons.
38
They shed innocent blood,
the
blood of their sons and daughters,
whom
they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan,
and
the land was desecrated by their blood.
39
They defiled themselves by what they did;
by
their deeds they prostituted themselves.
40
Therefore the LORD was angry with his people
and
abhorred his inheritance.
41
He handed them over to the nations,
and
their foes ruled over them. [8]
42
Their enemies oppressed them
and
subjected them to their power.
43
Many times he delivered them,
but
they were bent on rebellion
and
they wasted away in their sin.
44
But he took note of their distress
when
he heard their cry;
45
for their sake he remembered his covenant
and
out of his great love he relented.
46
He caused them to be pitied
by
all who held them captive.
47
Save us, O LORD our God,
and
gather us from the nations,
that
we may give thanks to your holy name
and
glory in your praise.
48
Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel,
from
everlasting to everlasting.
Let
all the people say, "Amen!"
Praise
the LORD. [9]
PSALMS: 136
1
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good.
His
love endures forever.
2
Give thanks to the God of gods.
His
love endures forever.
3
Give thanks to the Lord of lords:
His
love endures forever.
4
to him who alone does great wonders,
His
love endures forever.
5
who by his understanding made the heavens,
His
love endures forever.
6
who spread out the earth upon the waters,
His
love endures forever.
7
who made the great lights--
His
love endures forever.
8
the sun to govern the day,
His
love endures forever.
9
the moon and stars to govern the night;
His
love endures forever.
10
to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt
His
love endures forever.
11
and brought Israel out from among them
His
love endures forever.
12
with a mighty hand and outstretched arm;
His
love endures forever.
13
to him who divided the Red Sea A asunder
His
love endures forever.
14
and brought Israel through the midst of it,
His
love endures forever.
15
but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea;
His
love endures forever.
16
to him who led his people through the desert,
His
love endures forever.
17
who struck down great kings,
His
love endures forever.
18
and killed mighty kings--
His
love endures forever.
19
Sihon king of the Amorites
His
love endures forever.
20
and Og king of Bashan--
His
love endures forever.
21
and gave their land as an inheritance,
His
love endures forever.
22
an inheritance to his servant Israel;
His
love endures forever.
23
to the One who remembered us in our low estate
His
love endures forever.
24
and freed us from our enemies,
His
love endures forever.
25
and who gives food to every creature.
His
love endures forever.
26
Give thanks to the God of heaven.
PROVERBS: 16
16
1 To man belong the plans
of the heart,
but
from the LORD comes the reply of the tongue.
2
All a man's ways seem innocent to him,
but
motives are weighed by the LORD.
3
Commit to the LORD whatever you do,
and
your plans will succeed.
4
The LORD works out everything for his own ends--
even
the wicked for a day of disaster.
5
The LORD detests all the proud of heart.
Be
sure of this: They will not go unpunished.
6
Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for;
through
the fear of the LORD a man avoids evil.
7
When a man's ways are pleasing to the LORD,
he
makes even his enemies live at peace with him.
8
Better a little with righteousness
than
much gain with injustice.
9
In his heart a man plans his course,
but
the LORD determines his steps.
10
The lips of a king speak as an oracle,
and
his mouth should not betray justice.
11
Honest scales and balances are from the LORD;
all
the weights in the bag are of his making.[12]
12
Kings detest wrongdoing,
for
a throne is established through righteousness.
13
Kings take pleasure in honest lips;
they
value a man who speaks the truth.
14
A king's wrath is a messenger of death,
but
a wise man will appease it.
15
When a king's face brightens, it means life;
his
favor is like a rain cloud in spring.
16
How much better to get wisdom than gold,
to
choose understanding rather than silver!
17
The highway of the upright avoids evil;
he
who guards his way guards his life.
18
Pride goes before destruction,
a
haughty spirit before a fall.
19
Better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed
than
to share plunder with the proud.
20
Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers,
and
blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.
21
The wise in heart are called discerning,
and
pleasant words promote instruction. A
22
Understanding is a fountain of life to those who have
it,
but
folly brings punishment to fools. [13]
23
A wise man's heart guides his mouth,
and
his lips promote instruction. B
24
Pleasant words are a honeycomb,
sweet
to the soul and healing to the bones.
25
There is a way that seems right to a man,
but
in the end it leads to death.
26
The laborer's appetite works for him;
his
hunger drives him on.
27
A scoundrel plots evil,
and
his speech is like a scorching fire.
28
A perverse man stirs up dissension,
and
a gossip separates close friends.
29
A violent man entices his neighbor
and
leads him down a path that is not good.
30
He who winks with his eye is plotting perversity;
he
who purses his lips is bent on evil.
31
Gray hair is a crown of splendor;
it
is attained by a righteous life.
32
Better a patient man than a warrior,
a
man who controls his temper than one who takes a city.
33
The lot is cast into the lap,
but
its every decision is from the LORD. [14]
OLD TESTAMENT: EZEKIEL 12:1 - 14:11
12 1
The word of the LORD came to me: 2 "Son of man, you are living among a rebellious people. They
have eyes to see but do not see and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are
a rebellious people.
3 "Therefore, son of man, pack your
belongings for exile and in the daytime, as they watch, set out and go from
where you are to another place. Perhaps they will understand, though they are a
rebellious house.
4 During the daytime, while they watch, bring
out your belongings packed for exile. Then in the evening, while they are
watching, go out like those who go into exile. 5 While they
watch, dig through the wall and take your belongings out through it. 6 Put them on
your shoulder as they are watching and carry them out at dusk. Cover your face
so that you cannot see the land, for I have made you a sign to the house of
Israel."
7 So
I did as I was commanded. During the day I brought out my things packed for
exile. Then in the evening I dug through the wall with my hands. I took my
belongings out at dusk, carrying them on my shoulders while they watched.
8 In
the morning the word of the LORD came to me: 9 "Son of man, did not that rebellious house of Israel ask you,
`What are you doing?'
10 "Say to
them, `This is what the Sovereign LORD says: This oracle concerns the prince in
Jerusalem and the whole house of Israel who are there.' 11 Say to them,
`I am a sign to you.'
"As I
have done, so it will be done to them. They will go into exile as captives.
12 "The
prince among them will put his things on his shoulder at dusk and leave, and a
hole will be dug in the wall for him to go through. He will cover his face so
that he cannot see the land. 13 I will spread
my net for him, and he will be caught in my snare; I will bring him to
Babylonia, the land of the Chaldeans, but he will not see it, and there he will
die. 14 I will scatter to the winds all those around him--his staff and all his
troops--and I will pursue them with drawn sword.
15 "They
will know that I am the LORD, when I disperse them among the nations and
scatter them through the countries. 16 But I will
spare a few of them from the sword, famine and plague, so that in the nations
where they go they may acknowledge all their detestable practices. Then they
will know that I am the LORD."
17 The
word of the LORD came to me: 18 "Son
of man, tremble as you eat your food, and shudder in fear as you drink your
water. 19 Say to the people of the land: `This is what the Sovereign
LORD says about those living in Jerusalem and in the land of Israel: They will
eat their food in anxiety and drink their water in despair, for their land will
be stripped of everything in it because of the violence of all who live there. 20 The inhabited towns
will be laid waste and the land will be desolate. Then you will know that I am
the LORD.'"
21 The word of the LORD
came to me: 22 "Son of man, what is
this proverb you have in the land of Israel: `The days go by and every vision [15]comes to nothing'? 23 Say to them, `This is
what the Sovereign LORD says: I am going to put an end to this proverb, and
they will no longer quote it in Israel.' Say to them, `The days are near when
every vision will be fulfilled. 24 For there will be no more false visions or flattering
divinations among the people of Israel.
25 But I the
LORD will speak what I will, and it shall be fulfilled without delay. For in
your days, you rebellious house, I will fulfill whatever I say, declares the
Sovereign LORD.'"
26 The word of
the LORD came to me: 27 "Son of man, the house of Israel is saying, `The vision he sees is
for many years from now, and he prophesies about the distant future.'
28 "Therefore
say to them, `This is what the Sovereign LORD says: None of my words will be
delayed any longer; whatever I say will be fulfilled, declares the Sovereign
LORD.'"
13 1
The word of the LORD came to me: 2 "Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who are
now prophesying. Say to those who prophesy out of their own imagination: `Hear
the word of the LORD! 3 This is what the
Sovereign LORD says: Woe to the foolish A prophets who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing!
4 Your
prophets, O Israel, are like jackals among ruins. 5 You have not gone up
to the breaks in the wall to repair it for the house of Israel so that it will
stand firm in the battle on the day of the LORD. 6 Their visions are
false and their divinations a lie. They say, "The LORD declares,"
when the LORD has not sent them; yet they expect their words to be fulfilled. 7 Have you not seen
false visions and uttered lying divinations when you say, "The LORD declares," though I have not spoken?
8 "`Therefore this is what the Sovereign
LORD says: Because of your false words and lying visions, I am against you,
declares the Sovereign LORD. 9 My hand will be against the prophets who
see false visions and utter lying divinations. They will not belong to the
council of my people or be listed in the records of the house of Israel, nor
will they enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Sovereign
LORD.
10 "`Because
they lead my people astray, saying, "Peace," when there is no peace,
and because, when a flimsy wall is built, they cover it with whitewash, 11 therefore
tell those who cover it with whitewash that it is going to fall. Rain will come
in torrents, and I will send hailstones hurtling down, and violent winds will
burst forth. 12 When the wall collapses, will people not ask you, "Where is the
whitewash you covered it with?"
13"`Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: In my wrath I
will unleash a violent wind, and in my anger hailstones and torrents of rain
will fall with destructive fury. 14 I will tear
down the wall you have covered with whitewash and will level it to the ground
so that its foundation will be laid bare. When it B falls, you will be destroyed in it; and you will know that I am the
LORD. 15 So I will spend my wrath [16] against the wall and against those who covered it with whitewash. I
will say to you, "The wall is gone and so are those who whitewashed it, 16 those
prophets of Israel who prophesied to Jerusalem and saw visions of peace for her
when there was no peace, declares the Sovereign LORD."'
17 "Now, son of man, set your face against the daughters of your
people who prophesy out of their own imagination. Prophesy against them 18 and say, `This is
what the Sovereign LORD says: Woe to the women who sew magic charms on all
their wrists and make veils of various lengths for their heads in order to
ensnare people. Will you ensnare the lives of my people but preserve your own? 19 You have profaned me
among my people for a few handfuls of barley and scraps of bread. By lying to
my people, who listen to lies, you have killed those who should not have died
and have spared those who should not live.
20 "`Therefore
this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am against your magic charms with which
you ensnare people like birds and I will tear them from your arms; I will set free
the people that you ensnare like birds. 21 I will tear
off your veils and save my people from your hands, and they will no longer fall
prey to your power. Then you will know that I am the LORD. 22 Because you
disheartened the righteous with your lies, when I had brought them no grief,
and because you encouraged the wicked not to turn from their evil ways and so
save their lives, 23 therefore you will no longer see false visions or practice divination.
I will save my people from your hands. And then you will know that I am the
LORD.'"
14 1
Some of the elders of Israel came to me and sat down
in front of me. 2 Then the word of the LORD came to me: 3 "Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts and
put wicked stumbling blocks before their faces. Should I let them inquire of me
at all? 4 Therefore speak to them and tell them, `This is what the
Sovereign LORD says: When any Israelite sets up idols in his heart and puts a
wicked stumbling block before his face and then goes to a prophet, I the LORD
will answer him myself in keeping with his great idolatry. 5 I will do this to
recapture the hearts of the people of Israel, who have all deserted me for
their idols.'
6 "Therefore say to the house of Israel,
`This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Repent! Turn from your idols and
renounce all your detestable practices!
7 "`When any Israelite or any alien
living in Israel separates himself from me and sets up idols in his heart and
puts a wicked stumbling block before his face and then goes to a prophet to
inquire of me, I the LORD will answer him myself. 8 I will set my
face against that man and make him an example and a byword. I will cut him off
from my people. Then you will know that I am the LORD.
9 "`And if the prophet is enticed to
utter a prophecy, I the LORD have enticed that prophet, and I will stretch out
my hand against him and [17] destroy him from among my people Israel. 10 They will
bear their guilt--the prophet will be as guilty as the one who consults him. 11 Then the
people of Israel will no longer stray from me, nor will they defile themselves
anymore with all their sins. They will be my people, and I will be their God,
declares the Sovereign LORD.'" [18]
NEW TESTAMENT: HEBREWS 7:1 - 17
7 1
This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God
Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed
him, 2 and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, his name
means "king of righteousness"; then also, "king of Salem"
means "king of peace." 3 Without father or mother, without
genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God he
remains a priest forever.
4 Just
think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the
plunder! 5 Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become
priests to collect a tenth from the people--that is, their brothers--even
though their brothers are descended from Abraham. 6 This man,
however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from
Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 7 And without doubt
the lesser person is blessed by the greater. 8 In the one case, the
tenth is collected by men who die; but in the other case, by him who is
declared to be living. 9 One might even say that Levi, who collects
the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham, 10 because when
Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor.
11 If
perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on
the basis of it the law was given to the people), why was there still need for
another priest to come--one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of
Aaron? 12 For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must
also be a change of the law. 13 He of whom these things are said
belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at
the altar. 14 For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah,
and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. 15 And
what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek
appears, 16 one who has become a priest not on the basis of a
regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an
indestructible life. 17 For it is declared:
"You are a priest forever,
in the order
of Melchizedek." A [19]
[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]
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[4]
Excerpted from Compton's Interactive Bible NIV.
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[5]
Excerpted from Compton's Interactive Bible NIV.
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[6]
Excerpted from Compton's Interactive Bible NIV.
Copyright (c) 1994, 1995, 1996 SoftKey Multimedia Inc. All Rights Reserved
[7]
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Copyright (c) 1994, 1995, 1996 SoftKey Multimedia Inc. All Rights Reserved
[8]
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[9]
Excerpted from Compton's Interactive Bible NIV.
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[10] Excerpted from Compton's
Interactive Bible NIV. Copyright (c) 1994, 1995, 1996 SoftKey Multimedia
Inc. All Rights Reserved
[11] Excerpted from Compton's
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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
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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
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Inc. All Rights Reserved
[17] Excerpted from Compton's
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[18] Excerpted from Compton's
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[19] Excerpted from Compton's
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