AUGUST
28
PSALMS: 28,
58, 88, 118, 148
PROVERBS: 28
OLD TESTAMENT: EZEKIEL 35:1 - 36:38
NEW TESTAMENT: JAMES 1:1 - 18
PSALMS: 28
Of
David.
1
To you I call, O LORD my Rock;
do
not turn a deaf ear to me.
For
if you remain silent,
I
will be like those who have gone down to the pit.
2
Hear my cry for mercy
as
I call to you for help,
as
I lift up my hands
toward
your Most Holy Place.
3
Do not drag me away with the wicked,
with
those who do evil,
who
speak cordially with their neighbors
but
harbor malice in their hearts.
4
Repay them for their deeds
and
for their evil work;
repay
them for what their hands have done
and
bring back upon them what they deserve.
5
Since they show no regard for the works of the LORD
and
what his hands have done,
he
will tear them down
and
never build them up again.
6
Praise be to the LORD,
for
he has heard my cry for mercy.
7
The LORD is my strength and my shield;
my
heart trusts in him, and I am helped.
My
heart leaps for joy
and
I will give thanks to him in song. [1]
8
The LORD is the strength of his people,
a
fortress of salvation for his anointed one.
9
Save your people and bless your inheritance;
be
their shepherd and carry them forever. [2]
PSALMS: 58
For
the director of music. To the tune of "Do Not Destroy." Of David. A miktam.
A
1
Do you rulers indeed speak justly?
Do
you judge uprightly among men?
2
No, in your heart you devise injustice,
and
your hands mete out violence on the earth.
3
Even from birth the wicked go astray;
from
the womb they are wayward and speak lies.
4
Their venom is like the venom of a snake,
like
that of a cobra that has stopped its ears,
5
that will not heed the tune of the charmer,
however
skillful the enchanter may be.
6
Break the teeth in their mouths, O God;
tear
out, O LORD, the fangs of the lions!
7
Let them vanish like water that flows away;
when
they draw the bow, let their arrows be blunted.
8
Like a slug melting away as it moves along,
like
a stillborn child, may they not see the sun.
9
Before your pots can feel the heat of the thorns--
whether
they be green or dry--the wicked will be swept away. B
10
The righteous will be glad when they are avenged,
when
they bathe their feet in the blood of the wicked.
11
Then men will say,
"Surely
the righteous still are rewarded;
surely
there is a God who judges the earth." [3]
PSALMS: 88
A
song. A psalm of the Sons of Korah. For the director of music. According to mahalath
leannoth. A A maskil B of Heman the Ezrahite.
1
O LORD, the God who saves me,
day
and night I cry out before you.
2
May my prayer come before you;
turn
your ear to my cry.
3
For my soul is full of trouble
and
my life draws near the grave. C
4
I am counted among those who go down to the pit;
I
am like a man without strength.
5
I am set apart with the dead,
like
the slain who lie in the grave,
whom
you remember no more,
who
are cut off from your care.
6
You have put me in the lowest pit,
in
the darkest depths.
7
Your wrath lies heavily upon me;
you
have overwhelmed me with all your waves.
Selah
8
You have taken from me my closest friends
and
have made me repulsive to them.
I
am confined and cannot escape;
9
my eyes are dim with grief.
I
call to you, O LORD, every day;
I
spread out my hands to you.
10
Do you show your wonders to the dead? [4]
Do
those who are dead rise up and praise you?
Selah
11
Is your love declared in the grave,
your
faithfulness in DestructionD?
12
Are your wonders known in the place of darkness,
or
your righteous deeds in the land of oblivion?
13
But I cry to you for help, O LORD;
in
the morning my prayer comes before you.
14
Why, O LORD, do you reject me
and
hide your face from me?
15
From my youth I have been afflicted and close to
death;
I
have suffered your terrors and am in despair.
16
Your wrath has swept over me;
your
terrors have destroyed me.
17
All day long they surround me like a flood;
they
have completely engulfed me.
18
You have taken my companions and loved ones from me;
the
darkness is my closest friend. [5]
PSALMS: 118
1
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his
love endures forever.
2
Let Israel say:
"His love endures forever."
3
Let the house of Aaron say:
"His love endures forever."
4
Let those who fear the LORD say:
"His love endures forever."
5
In my anguish I cried to the LORD,
and
he answered by setting me free.
6
The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid.
What
can man do to me?
7
The LORD is with me; he is my helper.
I
will look in triumph on my enemies.
8
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than
to trust in man.
9
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than
to trust in princes.
10
All the nations surrounded me,
but
in the name of the LORD I cut them off.
11
They surrounded me on every side,
but
in the name of the LORD I cut them off.
12
They swarmed around me like bees,
but
they died out as quickly as burning thorns;
in
the name of the LORD I cut them off.
13
I was pushed back and about to fall,
but
the LORD helped me.
14
The LORD is my strength and my song;
he
has become my salvation. [6]
15
Shouts of joy and victory
resound
in the tents of the righteous:
"The
LORD's right hand has done mighty things!
16
The LORD's right hand is lifted high;
the
LORD's right hand has done mighty things!"
17
I will not die but live,
and
will proclaim what the LORD has done.
18
The LORD has chastened me severely,
but
he has not given me over to death.
19
Open for me the gates of righteousness;
I
will enter and give thanks to the LORD.
20
This is the gate of the LORD
through
which the righteous may enter.
21
I will give you thanks, for you answered me;
you
have become my salvation.
22
The stone the builders rejected
has
become the capstone;
23
the LORD has done this,
and
it is marvelous in our eyes.
24
This is the day the LORD has made;
let
us rejoice and be glad in it.
25
O LORD, save us;
O
LORD, grant us success.
26
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD.
From
the house of the LORD we bless you. A
27
The LORD is God,
and
he has made his light shine upon us.
With
boughs in hand, join in the festal procession
up
B to the horns of the altar. [7]
28
You are my God, and I will give you thanks;
you
are my God, and I will exalt you.
29
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his
love endures forever. [8]
PSALMS: 148
1
Praise the LORD. A
Praise
the LORD from the heavens,
praise
him in the heights above.
2
Praise him, all his angels,
praise
him, all his heavenly hosts.
3
Praise him, sun and moon,
praise
him, all you shining stars.
4
Praise him, you highest heavens
and
you waters above the skies.
5
Let them praise the name of the LORD,
for
he commanded and they were created.
6
He set them in place for ever and ever;
he
gave a decree that will never pass away.
7
Praise the LORD from the earth,
you
great sea creatures and all ocean depths,
8
lightning and hail, snow and clouds,
stormy
winds that do his bidding,
9
you mountains and all hills,
fruit
trees and all cedars,
10
wild animals and all cattle,
small
creatures and flying birds,
11kings
of the earth and all nations,
you
princes and all rulers on earth,
12
young men and maidens,
old
men and children.
13
Let them praise the name of the LORD,
for
his name alone is exalted;
his
splendor is above the earth and the heavens.
14
He has raised up for his people a horn, B
the
praise of all his saints,
of
Israel, the people close to his heart. [9]
Praise
the LORD. [10]
PROVERBS: 28
28
1 The wicked man flees
though no one pursues,
but
the righteous are as bold as a lion.
2
When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers,
but
a man of understanding and knowledge maintains order.
3
A ruler A who oppresses the poor
is
like a driving rain that leaves no crops.
4
Those who forsake the law praise the wicked,
but
those who keep the law resist them.
5
Evil men do not understand justice,
but
those who seek the LORD understand it fully.
6
Better a poor man whose walk is blameless
than
a rich man whose ways are perverse.
7
He who keeps the law is a discerning son,
but
a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.
8
He who increases his wealth by exorbitant interest
amasses
it for another, who will be kind to the poor.
9
If anyone turns a deaf ear to the law,
even
his prayers are detestable.
10
He who leads the upright along an evil path
will
fall into his own trap,
but
the blameless will receive a good inheritance.
11
A rich man may be wise in his own eyes,
but
a poor man who has discernment sees through him. [11]
12
When the righteous triumph, there is great elation;
but
when the wicked rise to power, men go into hiding.
13
He who conceals his sins does not prosper,
but
whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.
14
Blessed is the man who always fears the LORD,
but
he who hardens his heart falls into trouble.
15
Like a roaring lion or a charging bear
is
a wicked man ruling over a helpless people.
16
A tyrannical ruler lacks judgment,
but
he who hates ill-gotten gain will enjoy a long life.
17
A man tormented by the guilt of murder
will
be a fugitive till death;
let
no one support him.
18
He whose walk is blameless is kept safe,
but
he whose ways are perverse will suddenly fall.
19
He who works his land will have abundant food,
but
the one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.
20
A faithful man will be richly blessed,
but
one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.
21
To show partiality is not good--
yet
a man will do wrong for a piece of bread.
22
A stingy man is eager to get rich
and
is unaware that poverty awaits him. [12]
23
He who rebukes a man will in the end gain more favor
than
he who has a flattering tongue.
24
He who robs his father or mother
and
says, "It's not wrong"--
he
is partner to him who destroys.
25
A greedy man stirs up dissension,
but
he who trusts in the LORD will prosper.
26
He who trusts in himself is a fool,
but
he who walks in wisdom is kept safe.
27
He who gives to the poor will lack nothing,
but
he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses.
28
When the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding;
but
when the wicked perish, the righteous thrive.[13]
OLD TESTAMENT: EZEKIEL 35:1 - 36:38
35 1 The word of the LORD came to me: 2
"Son of man, set your face against Mount
Seir; prophesy against it 3 and say: `This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am against you, Mount Seir, and I will
stretch out my hand against you and make you a desolate waste. 4 I will turn your towns into ruins and you
will be desolate. Then you will know that I am the LORD.
5 "`Because
you harbored an ancient hostility and delivered the Israelites over to the
sword at the time of their calamity, the time their punishment reached its climax,
6 therefore as surely as I live, declares the
Sovereign LORD, I will give you over to bloodshed and it
will pursue you. Since you did not hate bloodshed, bloodshed will pursue you. 7 I will make Mount Seir a desolate waste and
cut off from it all who come and go. 8 I will
fill your mountains with the slain; those killed by the sword will fall on your
hills and in your valleys and in all your ravines. 9 I will make you desolate forever; your
towns will not be inhabited. Then you will know that I am the LORD.
10 "`Because
you have said, "These two nations and countries will be ours and we will
take possession of them," even though I the LORD was
there, 11 therefore as surely as I
live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I
will treat you in accordance with the anger and jealousy you showed in your
hatred of them and I will make myself known among them when I judge you. 12 Then you will know that I the LORD have heard all the contemptible things you have said
against the mountains of Israel. You said, "They have been laid waste and
have been given over to us to devour." 13 You
boasted against me and spoke against me without restraint, and I heard it. 14 This is what the Sovereign LORD says: While the whole earth rejoices, I will make you
desolate. 15 Because you rejoiced when the inheritance of the house
of Israel became desolate, that is how I will treat you. You will be desolate,
O Mount Seir, you and all of Edom.
Then they will know that I am the LORD.'"
36 1 "Son of man, prophesy to the mountains of Israel and say, `O
mountains of Israel, hear the word of the LORD. 2 This is what the Sovereign LORD says: The enemy said of you, "Aha! The ancient
heights have become our possession.” ' 3 Therefore
prophesy and say, `This is what the Sovereign LORD says:
Because they ravaged and hounded you from every side so that you became the
possession of the rest of the nations and the object of people's malicious talk
and slander, 4 therefore, O mountains of
Israel, hear the word of the Sovereign LORD: This
is what the Sovereign LORD says to the mountains and hills, to the
ravines and valleys, to the desolate ruins and the deserted towns that have
been plundered and ridiculed by the rest of the nations around you—5 this is what the Sovereign LORD says: In my burning zeal I have spoken against the
rest of the nations, and against all Edom, for with glee and with malice in
their hearts they made my land their own possession so that they might plunder
its pastureland.' 6 Therefore
prophesy concerning the land of Israel and say to the mountains and hills, to
the ravines and valleys: `This is [14] what
the Sovereign LORD says: I speak in my jealous wrath because
you have suffered the scorn of the nations. 7 Therefore
this is what the Sovereign LORD says:
I swear with uplifted hand that the nations around you will also suffer scorn.
8 "`But
you, O mountains of Israel, will produce branches and fruit for my people
Israel, for they will soon come home. 9 I am
concerned for you and will look on you with favor; you will be plowed and sown,
10 and I
will multiply the number of people upon you, even the whole house of Israel.
The towns will be inhabited and the ruins rebuilt. 11 I will increase the number of men and
animals upon you, and they will be fruitful and become numerous. I will settle
people on you as in the past and will make you prosper more than before. Then
you will know that I am the LORD. 12 I will cause people, my people Israel, to
walk upon you. They will possess you, and you will be their inheritance; you
will never again deprive them of their children.
13 "`This
is what the Sovereign LORD says: Because people say to you, "You
devour men and deprive your nation of its children,"
14 therefore
you will no longer devour men or make your nation childless, declares the
Sovereign LORD. 15 No
longer will I make you hear the taunts of the nations, and no longer will you
suffer the scorn of the peoples or cause your nation to fall, declares the
Sovereign LORD.'"
16 Again the word of
the LORD came to me: 17 "Son of man, when the people of Israel were living in their
own land, they defiled it by their conduct and their actions. Their conduct was
like a woman's monthly uncleanness in my sight. 18 So I poured out my
wrath on them because they had shed blood in the land and because they had
defiled it with their idols. 19 I dispersed them among the nations, and they were scattered
through the countries; I judged them according to their conduct and their
actions. 20 And wherever they went among the nations they profaned my
holy name, for it was said of them, `These are the LORD's people, and yet they had to leave his land.' 21 I had concern for my holy name, which the
house of Israel profaned among the nations where they had gone.
22 "Therefore
say to the house of Israel, `This is what the Sovereign LORD says: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel,
that I am going to do these things, but for the sake of my holy name, which you
have profaned among the nations where you have gone. 23 I will show the holiness of my great name,
which has been profaned among the nations, the name you have profaned among
them. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD,
declares the Sovereign LORD, when I show myself holy through you
before their eyes.
24 "`For
I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries
and bring you back into your own land. 25 I will
sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all
your impurities and from all your idols. 26 I will
give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your
heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move
you [15]
to follow my decrees and be careful to keep
my laws. 28 You will live in the land
I gave your forefathers; you will be my people, and I will be your God. 29 I will save you from all your uncleanness.
I will call for the grain and make it plentiful and will not bring famine upon
you. 30 I will increase the fruit
of the trees and the crops of the field, so that you will no longer suffer
disgrace among the nations because of famine. 31 Then you will remember your evil ways and
wicked deeds, and you will loathe yourselves for your sins and detestable
practices. 32 I want you to know that I
am not doing this for your sake, declares the Sovereign LORD. Be ashamed and disgraced for your conduct, O house
of Israel!
33 "`This is what the Sovereign LORD says: On the day I cleanse you from all your sins, I
will resettle your towns, and the ruins will be rebuilt. 34 The desolate land will be cultivated
instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass through it. 35 They will say, "This land that was
laid waste has become like the garden of Eden; the cities that were lying in
ruins, desolate and destroyed, are now fortified and inhabited." 36 Then the nations around you that remain
will know that I the LORD have rebuilt what was destroyed and have
replanted what was desolate. I the LORD have
spoken, and I will do it.'
37 "This
is what the Sovereign LORD says: Once again I will yield to the plea
of the house of Israel and do this for them: I will make their people as
numerous as sheep, 38 as
numerous as the flocks for offerings at Jerusalem during her appointed feasts.
So will the ruined cities be filled with flocks of people. Then they will know
that I am the LORD." [16]
NEW TESTAMENT: JAMES 1:1 - 18
1 1 James, a servant
of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations:
Greetings.
2 Consider it pure
joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because
you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance
must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking
anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives
generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6 But
when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a
wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That man should not
think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a
double-minded man, unstable in all he does.
9 The brother in
humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. 10 But
the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass
away like a wild flower. 11 For the sun rises with scorching heat
and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the
same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business.
12 Blessed is the
man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will
receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
13 When tempted, no
one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by
evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each one is tempted when, by
his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15 Then, after
desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown,
gives birth to death.
16 Don't be
deceived, my dear brothers. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from
above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change
like shifting shadows. 18 He chose to give us birth through the word
of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.
[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
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