JUNE
14
PSALMS: 14, 44, 74, 104, 144
PROVERBS: 14
OLD TESTAMENT: ECCLESIASTES 4:1 – 6:12
NEW TESTAMENT: 2 CORINTHIANS 6:14 – 7:7
PSALMS: 14
For
the director of music. Of David.
1
The fool A says in his heart,
"There
is no God."
They
are corrupt, their deeds are vile;
there
is no one who does good.
2
The LORD looks down from heaven
on
the sons of men
to
see if there are any who understand,
any
who seek God.
3
All have turned aside,
they
have together become corrupt;
there
is no one who does good,
not
even one.
4
Will evildoers never learn--
those
who devour my people as men eat bread
and
who do not call on the LORD?
5
There they are, overwhelmed with dread,
for
God is present in the company of the righteous.
6
You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor,
but
the LORD is their refuge.
7
Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!
When
the LORD restores the fortunes of his people,
let
Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad! [1]
PSALMS: 44
For
the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A maskil. A
1
We have heard with our ears, O God;
our
fathers have told us
what
you did in their days,
in
days long ago.
2
With your hand you drove out the nations
and
planted our fathers;
you
crushed the peoples
and
made our fathers flourish.
3
It was not by their sword that they won the land,
nor
did their arm bring them victory;
it
was your right hand, your arm,
and
the light of your face, for you loved them.
4
You are my King and my God,
who
decrees B victories for Jacob.
5
Through you we push back our enemies;
through
your name we trample our foes.
6
I do not trust in my bow,
my
sword does not bring me victory;
7
but you give us victory over our enemies,
you
put our adversaries to shame.
8
In God we make our boast all day long,
and
we will praise your name forever.
Selah
9
But now you have rejected and humbled us;
you
no longer go out with our armies.
10
You made us retreat before the enemy,
and
our adversaries have plundered us. [2]
11
You gave us up to be devoured like sheep
and
have scattered us among the nations.
12
You sold your people for a pittance,
gaining
nothing from their sale.
13
You have made us a reproach to our neighbors,
the
scorn and derision of those around us.
14
You have made us a byword among the nations;
the
peoples shake their heads at us.
15
My disgrace is before me all day long,
and
my face is covered with shame
16
at the taunts of those who reproach and revile me,
because
of the enemy, who is bent on revenge.
17
All this happened to us,
though
we had not forgotten you
or
been false to your covenant.
18 Our hearts had not
turned back;
our
feet had not strayed from your path.
19
But you crushed us and made us a haunt for jackals
and
covered us over with deep darkness.
20
If we had forgotten the name of our God
or
spread out our hands to a foreign god,
21
would not God have discovered it,
since
he knows the secrets of the heart?
22
Yet for your sake we face death all day long;
we
are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.
23
Awake, O Lord! Why do you sleep?
Rouse
yourself! Do not reject us forever. [3]
24
Why do you hide your face
and
forget our misery and oppression?
25
We are brought down to the dust;
our
bodies cling to the ground.
26
Rise up and help us;
redeem
us because of your unfailing love. [4]
PSALMS: 74
A
maskil A of Asaph.
1
Why have you rejected us forever, O God?
Why
does your anger smolder against the sheep of your pasture?
2
Remember the people you purchased of old,
the
tribe of your inheritance, whom you redeemed--
Mount
Zion, where you dwelt.
3
Turn your steps toward these everlasting ruins,
all
this destruction the enemy has brought on the sanctuary.
4
Your foes roared in the place where you met with us;
they
set up their standards as signs.
5
They behaved like men wielding axes
to
cut through a thicket of trees.
6
They smashed all the carved paneling
with
their axes and hatchets.
7
They burned your sanctuary to the ground;
they
defiled the dwelling place of your Name.
8
They said in their hearts, "We will crush them
completely!"
They
burned every place where God was worshiped in the land.
9
We are given no miraculous signs;
no
prophets are left,
and
none of us knows how long this will be.
10
How long will the enemy mock you, O God?
Will
the foe revile your name forever?
11
Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand?
Take
it from the folds of your garment and destroy them!
12
But you, O God, are my king from of old;
you
bring salvation upon the earth. [5]
13
It was you who split open the sea by your power;
you
broke the heads of the monster in the waters.
14
It was you who crushed the heads of Leviathan
and
gave him as food to the creatures of the desert.
15
It was you who opened up springs and streams;
you
dried up the ever flowing rivers.
16
The day is yours, and yours also the night;
you
established the sun and moon.
17
It was you who set all the boundaries of the earth;
you
made both summer and winter.
18
Remember how the enemy has mocked you, O LORD,
how
foolish people have reviled your name.
19
Do not hand over the life of your dove to wild beasts;
do
not forget the lives of your afflicted people forever.
20
Have regard for your covenant,
because
haunts of violence fill the dark places of the land.
21
Do not let the oppressed retreat in disgrace;
may
the poor and needy praise your name.
22
Rise up, O God, and defend your cause;
remember
how fools mock you all day long.
23
Do not ignore the clamor of your adversaries,
the
uproar of your enemies, which rises continually. [6]
PSALMS: 104
1
Praise the LORD, O my soul.
O
LORD my God, you are very great;
you
are clothed with splendor and majesty.
2
He wraps himself in light as with a garment;
he
stretches out the heavens like a tent
3
and lays the beams of his upper chambers on their
waters.
He
makes the clouds his chariot
and
rides on the wings of the wind.
4
He makes winds his messengers, A
flames
of fire his servants.
5
He set the earth on its foundations;
it
can never be moved.
6
You covered it with the deep as with a garment;
the
waters stood above the mountains.
7
But at your rebuke the waters fled,
at
the sound of your thunder they took to flight;
8
they flowed over the mountains,
they
went down into the valleys,
to
the place you assigned for them.
9
You set a boundary they cannot cross;
never
again will they cover the earth.
10
He makes springs pour water into the ravines;
it
flows between the mountains.
11
They give water to all the beasts of the field;
the
wild donkeys quench their thirst.
12
The birds of the air nest by the waters;
they
sing among the branches.
13
He waters the mountains from his upper chambers;
the
earth is satisfied by the fruit of his work.
14
He makes grass grow for the cattle,
and
plants for man to cultivate--
bringing
forth food from the earth: [7]
15
wine that gladdens the heart of man,
oil
to make his face shine,
and
bread that sustains his heart.
16
The trees of the LORD are well watered,
the
cedars of Lebanon that he planted.
17
There the birds make their nests;
the
stork has its home in the pine trees.
18
The high mountains belong to the wild goats;
the
crags are a refuge for the coneys. B
19
The moon marks off the seasons,
and
the sun knows when to go down.
20
You bring darkness, it becomes night,
and
all the beasts of the forest prowl.
21
The lions roar for their prey
and
seek their food from God.
22
The sun rises, and they steal away;
they
return and lie down in their dens.
23
Then man goes out to his work,
to
his labor until evening.
24
How many are your works, O LORD!
In
wisdom you made them all;
the
earth is full of your creatures.
25
There is the sea, vast and spacious,
teeming
with creatures beyond number--
living
things both large and small.
26
There the ships go to and fro,
and
the leviathan, which you formed to frolic there. [8]
27
These all look to you
to
give them their food at the proper time.
28
When you give it to them,
they
gather it up;
when
you open your hand,
they
are satisfied with good things.
29
When you hide your face,
they
are terrified;
when
you take away their breath,
they
die and return to the dust.
30
When you send your Spirit,
they
are created,
and
you renew the face of the earth.
31
May the glory of the LORD endure forever;
may
the LORD rejoice in his works--
32
he who looks at the earth, and it trembles,
who
touches the mountains, and they smoke.
33 I will sing to the LORD
all my life;
I
will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
34
May my meditation be pleasing to him,
as
I rejoice in the LORD.
35
But may sinners vanish from the earth
and
the wicked be no more.
Praise
the LORD, O my soul.
Praise
the LORD. C [9]
PSALMS: 134
A
song of ascents.
1
Praise the LORD, all you servants of the LORD
who
minister by night in the house of the LORD.
2
Lift up your hands in the sanctuary
and
praise the LORD.
3
May the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth,
bless
you from Zion. [10]
PROVERBS: 14
14
1 The wise woman builds
her house,
but
with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.
2
He whose walk is upright fears the LORD,
but
he whose ways are devious despises him.
3
A fool's talk brings a rod to his back,
but
the lips of the wise protect them.
4
Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty,
but
from the strength of an ox comes an abundant harvest.
5
A truthful witness does not deceive,
but
a false witness pours out lies.
6
The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none,
but
knowledge comes easily to the discerning.
7
Stay away from a foolish man,
for
you will not find knowledge on his lips.
8
The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their
ways,
but
the folly of fools is deception.
9
Fools mock at making amends for sin,
but
goodwill is found among the upright.
10
Each heart knows its own bitterness,
and
no one else can share its joy.
11
The house of the wicked will be destroyed,
but
the tent of the upright will flourish. [11]
12
There is a way that seems right to a man,
but
in the end it leads to death.
13
Even in laughter the heart may ache,
and
joy may end in grief.
14
The faithless will be fully repaid for their ways,
and
the good man rewarded for his.
15
A simple man believes anything,
but
a prudent man gives thought to his steps.
16
A wise man fears the LORD and shuns evil,
but
a fool is hotheaded and reckless.
17
A quick-tempered man does foolish things,
and
a crafty man is hated.
18
The simple inherit folly,
but
the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19
Evil men will bow down in the presence of the good,
and
the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20
The poor are shunned even by their neighbors,
but
the rich have many friends.
21
He who despises his neighbor sins,
but
blessed is he who is kind to the needy.
22
Do not those who plot evil go astray?
But
those who plan what is good findA love and faithfulness. [12]
23
All hard work brings a profit,
but
mere talk leads only to poverty.
24
The wealth of the wise is their crown,
but
the folly of fools yields folly.
25
A truthful witness saves lives,
but
a false witness is deceitful.
26
He who fears the LORD has a secure fortress,
and
for his children it will be a refuge.
27
The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life,
turning
a man from the snares of death.
28
A large population is a king's glory,
but
without subjects a prince is ruined.
29
A patient man has great understanding,
but
a quick-tempered man displays folly.
30
A heart at peace gives life to the body,
but
envy rots the bones.
31
He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their
Maker,
but
whoever is kind to the needy honors God.
32
When calamity comes, the wicked are brought down,
but
even in death the righteous have a refuge.
33
Wisdom reposes in the heart of the discerning
and
even among fools she lets herself be known. B [13]
34
Righteousness exalts a nation,
but
sin is a disgrace to any people.
35
A king delights in a wise servant,
but
a shameful servant incurs his wrath. [14]
OLD TESTAMENT: ECCLESIASTES 4:1 – 6:16
4 1 Again I looked and saw
all the oppression that was taking place under the sun:
I saw the tears of the
oppressed--
and they have no
comforter;
power was on the side of
their oppressors--
and they have no
comforter.
2 And I declared that the
dead,
who had already died,
are happier than the
living,
who are still alive.
3 But better than both
is he who has not yet
been,
who has not seen the
evil
that is done under the
sun.
4 And I saw that all labor
and all achievement spring from man's envy of his neighbor. This too is
meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
5 The fool folds his hands
and ruins himself.
6 Better one handful with
tranquillity
than two handfuls with
toil
and chasing after the
wind.
7 Again I saw something
meaningless under the sun: [15]
8 There was a man all
alone;
he had neither son nor
brother.
There was no end to his
toil,
yet his eyes were not
content with his wealth.
"For whom am I
toiling," he asked,
"and why am I
depriving myself of enjoyment?"
This too is
meaningless--
a miserable business!
9 Two are better than one,
because they have a good
return for their work:
10 If one falls down,
his friend can help him
up.
But pity the man who
falls
and has no one to help
him up!
11 Also, if two lie down
together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep
warm alone?
12 Though one may be
overpowered,
two can defend
themselves.
A cord of three strands
is not quickly broken.
13 Better a poor but wise
youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to take warning. 14
The youth may have come from prison to the kingship, or he may have been
born in poverty within his kingdom. 15 I saw that all who lived and
walked under the sun followed the youth, the king's successor. 16 There
was no end to all the people who were before them. But those who came later
were not pleased with the successor. This too is meaningless, a chasing after
the wind.
5 1 Guard your steps when
you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the
sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong.
2 Do not be quick with
your mouth,
do not be hasty in your
heart
to utter anything before
God.
God is in heaven
and you are on earth,
so let your words be
few.
3 As a dream comes when
there are many cares,
so the speech of a fool
when there are many words.
4 When you make a vow to
God, do not delay in fulfilling it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your
vow. 5 It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill
it. 6 Do not let your mouth lead you into sin. And do not protest to
the temple messenger, "My vow was a mistake." Why should God be angry
at what you say and destroy the work of your hands? 7 Much dreaming
and many words are meaningless. Therefore stand in awe of God.
8 If you see the poor
oppressed in a district, and justice and rights denied, do not be surprised at
such things; for one official is [16]
[17]
eyed by a higher one, and over them both are others higher still. 9 The
increase from the land is taken by all; the king himself profits from the
fields.
10 Whoever loves money
never has money enough;
whoever loves wealth is
never satisfied with his income.
This too is meaningless.
11 As goods increase,
so do those who consume
them.
And what benefit are
they to the owner
except to feast his eyes
on them?
12 The sleep of a laborer
is sweet,
whether he eats little
or much,
but the abundance of a
rich man
permits him no sleep.
13 I have seen a grievous
evil under the sun:
wealth hoarded to the
harm of its owner,
14 or wealth lost through some misfortune,
so that when he has a
son
there is nothing left
for him.
15 Naked a man comes from his mother's womb, [18]
and as he comes, so he
departs.
He takes nothing from
his labor
that he can carry in his
hand.
16 This too is a grievous
evil:
As a man comes, so he
departs,
and what does he gain,
since he toils for the
wind?
17 All his days he eats in
darkness,
with great frustration,
affliction and anger.
18 Then I realized that it
is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his
toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him--for
this is his lot. 19 Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and
possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in
his work--this is a gift of God. 20 He seldom reflects on the days
of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart.
6 1 I have seen another evil
under the sun, and it weighs heavily on men: 2 God gives a man
wealth, possessions and honor, so that he lacks nothing his heart desires, but
God does not enable him to enjoy them, and a stranger enjoys them instead. This
is meaningless, a grievous evil.
3 A man may have a hundred
children and live many years; yet no matter how long he lives, if he cannot
enjoy his prosperity and does not receive proper burial, I say that a stillborn
child is better off than he. 4 It comes without meaning, it departs
in darkness, and in darkness its name is shrouded. 5 Though it never
saw the sun or knew anything, it has more rest than does that man—6 even
if he lives a thousand years twice over but fails to enjoy his prosperity. Do
not all go to the same place?
7 All man's efforts are
for his mouth,
yet his appetite is
never satisfied.
8 What advantage has a
wise man
over a fool?
What does a poor man
gain
by knowing how to
conduct himself before others?
9 Better what the eye sees
than the roving of the
appetite.
This too is meaningless,
a chasing after the
wind.
10 Whatever exists has
already been named,
and what man is has been
known;
no man can contend
with one who is stronger
than he.
11 The more the words,
the less the meaning,
12 For who knows what is good for a man in life,
during the few and meaningless days he passes through like a shadow? Who can
tell him what will happen under the sun after he is gone? [21]
NEW TESTAMENT: 2 CORINTHIANS 6:14 – 7:7
14 Do not be yoked together
with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or
what fellowship can light have with darkness? 15 What harmony is
there between Christ and Belial B? What does a believer have in
common with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement is there between the
temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has
said: "I will live with them and walk among them,
and I will be their God, and they will be my people." C
17 "Therefore come out from them
and be
separate,
says the
Lord.
Touch no
unclean thing,
and I will
receive you."
D
18 "I will be a Father to you,
and you will
be my sons and daughters,
says the Lord
Almighty."
E
7 1 Since we have these
promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that
contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.
2 Make room for us in your
hearts. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have exploited no
one. 3 I do not say this to condemn you; I have said before that you
have such a place in our hearts that we would live or die with you. 4 I
have great confidence in you; I take great pride in you. I am greatly
encouraged; in all our [22]
troubles my joy knows no bounds.
5
For
when we came into Macedonia, this body of ours had no rest, but we were
harassed at every turn--conflicts on the outside, fears within. 6 But
God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 7 and
not only by his coming but also by the comfort you had given him. He told us
about your longing for me, your deep sorrow, your ardent concern for me, so
that my joy was greater than ever. [23]
[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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[10] Excerpted from Compton's
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[11] Excerpted from Compton's
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[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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[16]Excerpted from Compton's
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[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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[21]Excerpted from Compton's
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[22]Excerpted from Compton's
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[23]Excerpted from Compton's
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