DECEMBER
25
PSALMS: 25, 55, 85, 115, 145
PROVERBS: 25
OLD TESTAMENT: NUMBERS 24:1 - 25:16
NEW TESTAMENT: LUKE 2:1 - 35
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.
Praise
the LORD. A [9]
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 forA 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 bringB 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: NUMBERS 24:1 - 25:16
24 1
Now when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless
Israel, he did not resort to sorcery as at other times, but turned his face
toward the desert. 2 When Balaam looked out and saw Israel encamped
tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came upon him 3and he uttered his
oracle:
"The oracle of Balaam son of Beor,
the oracle of
one whose eye sees clearly,
4 the oracle of one who hears the words of God,
who sees a
vision from the Almighty,A
who falls
prostrate, and whose eyes are opened:
5 "How beautiful are your tents, O Jacob,
your
dwelling places, O Israel!
6 "Like valleys they spread out,
like gardens
beside a river,
like aloes
planted by the LORD,
like cedars
beside the waters.
7 Water will flow from their buckets;
their seed
will have abundant water.
"Their
king will be greater than Agag;
their kingdom
will be exalted.
8 "God brought them out of Egypt;
they have the
strength of a wild ox.
They devour
hostile nations
and break
their bones in pieces;
with their
arrows they pierce them. [15]
9 Like a lion they crouch and lie down,
like a
lioness--who dares to rouse them?
"May
those who bless you be blessed
and those who
curse you be cursed!"
10 Then
Balak's anger burned against Balaam. He struck his hands together and said to
him, "I summoned you to curse my enemies, but you have blessed them these
three times. 11 Now leave at once and go home! I said I would reward
you handsomely, but the LORD has kept you from being rewarded."
12 Balaam
answered Balak, "Did I not tell the messengers you sent me, 13 `Even
if Balak gave me his palace filled with silver and gold, I could not do
anything of my own accord, good or bad, to go beyond the command of the
LORD--and I must say only what the LORD says'? 14 Now I am going
back to my people, but come, let me warn you of what this people will do to
your people in days to come."
15 Then
he uttered his oracle:
"The oracle of Balaam son of Beor,
the oracle of
one whose eye sees clearly,
16 the oracle of one who hears the words of God,
who has
knowledge from the Most High,
who sees a
vision from the Almighty,
who falls
prostrate, and whose eyes are opened:
17 "I see him, but not now;
I behold him,
but not near.
A star will
come out of Jacob; [16]
a scepter
will rise out of Israel.
He will crush
the foreheads of Moab,
the skulls B of C all the sons
of Sheth.D
18 Edom will be
conquered;
Seir, his
enemy, will be conquered,
but Israel
will grow strong.
19 A ruler will come out of Jacob
and destroy
the survivors of the city."
20 Then
Balaam saw Amalek and uttered his oracle:
"Amalek was first among the nations,
but he will
come to ruin at last."
21 Then
he saw the Kenites and uttered his oracle:
"Your dwelling place is secure,
your nest is
set in a rock;
22 yet you Kenites will be destroyed
when Asshur
takes you captive."
23 Then
he uttered his oracle:
"Ah, who can live when God does this?E
24 Ships will come from the shores of Kittim;
they will
subdue Asshur and Eber, [17]
but they too
will come to ruin."
25 Then
Balaam got up and returned home and Balak went his own way.
25 1
While Israel was staying in Shittim, the men began to
indulge in sexual immorality with Moabite women, 2 who invited them
to the sacrifices to their gods. The people ate and bowed down before these
gods. 3 So Israel joined in worshiping the Baal of Peor. And the
LORD's anger burned against them.
4 The
LORD said to Moses, "Take all the leaders of
these people, kill them and expose them in broad daylight before the LORD, so
that the LORD's fierce anger may turn away from Israel."
5 So
Moses said to Israel's judges, "Each of you must put to death those of
your men who have joined in worshiping the Baal of Peor."
6 Then
an Israelite man brought to his family a Midianite woman right before the eyes
of Moses and the whole assembly of Israel while they were weeping at the
entrance to the Tent of Meeting. 7 When Phinehas son of Eleazar, the
son of Aaron, the priest, saw this, he left the assembly, took a spear in his
hand 8 and followed the Israelite into the tent. He drove the spear
through both of them--through the Israelite and into the woman's body. Then the
plague against the Israelites was stopped; 9 but those who died in
the plague numbered 24,000.
10 The
LORD said to Moses, 11 "Phinehas son
of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest, has turned my anger away from the
Israelites; for he was as zealous as I am for my honor among them, so that in
my zeal I did not put an end to them. 12 Therefore tell him I am making my covenant of peace with
him. 13 He and his descendants will
have a covenant of a lasting priesthood, because he was zealous for the honor
of his God and made atonement for the Israelites."
14 The
name of the Israelite who was killed with the Midianite woman was Zimri son of
Salu, the leader of a Simeonite family. 15 And the name of the
Midianite woman who was put to death was Cozbi daughter of Zur, a tribal chief
of a Midianite family.
16 The
LORD said to Moses, [18]
NEW TESTAMENT: LUKE 2:1 - 35
2 1
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a
census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first
census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And
everyone went to his own town to register.
4 So
Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem
the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He
went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was
expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the
baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She
wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for
them in the inn.
8 And
there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their
flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the
glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But
the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I
bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you;
he is Christ A the Lord.
12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and
lying in a manger."
13 Suddenly
a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and
saying,
14 "Glory
to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to
men on whom his favor rests."
1 5When
the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one
another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened,
which the Lord has told us about."
16 So
they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the
manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning
what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it
were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary [19]
treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The
shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had
heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
21 On
the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus, the
name the angel had given him before he had been conceived.
22 When
the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been
completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23
(as it is written in the Law of the Lord, "Every
firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord" B), 24
and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the
Lord: "a pair of doves or two young pigeons." C
25 Now
there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He
was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26
It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die
before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
27 Moved
by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the
child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28Simeon
took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
29 "Sovereign
Lord, as you have promised,
you now dismiss D
your servant in peace.
30 For
my eyes have seen your salvation,
31
which you have prepared in the sight of all people,
32 a
light for revelation to the Gentiles
and for glory to your
people Israel."
33 The
child's father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 Then
Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: "This child is destined
to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will
be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be
revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too." [20]
[1]
Excerpted from Compton's Interactive Bible NIV.
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[2]
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[3]
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[4]
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[5]
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[6]
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[7]
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[8]
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[9]
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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
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Inc. All Rights Reserved
[12] Excerpted from Compton's
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[13] Excerpted from Compton's
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[14] Excerpted from Compton's
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[15] Excerpted from Compton's
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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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[20] Excerpted from Compton's
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