JUNE
16
PSALMS: 16,
46, 76, 106, 136
PROVERBS: 16
OLD TESTAMENT: ECCLESIASTES 10:1 - 12:14
NEW TESTAMENT: 2 CORINTHIANS 8:1 - 15
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: ECCLESIASTES 10:1 - 12:14
10 1
As dead flies give perfume a bad smell,
so a little folly
outweighs wisdom and honor.
2 The
heart of the wise inclines to the right,
but the heart of the
fool to the left.
3 Even
as he walks along the road,
the fool lacks sense
and shows everyone how
stupid he is.
4 If
a ruler's anger rises against you,
do not leave your post;
calmness can lay great
errors to rest.
5 There
is an evil I have seen under the sun,
the sort of error that
arises from a ruler:
6 Fools
are put in many high positions,
while the rich occupy
the low ones.
7 I
have seen slaves on horseback,
while princes go on foot
like slaves.
8 Whoever
digs a pit may fall into it;
whoever breaks through a
wall may be bitten by a snake.
9 Whoever
quarries stones may be injured by them;
whoever splits logs may
be endangered by them.
10 If
the ax is dull
and its edge
unsharpened,
more strength is needed
but skill will bring
success. [15]
11 If
a snake bites before it is charmed,
there is no profit for
the charmer.
12 Words
from a wise man's mouth are gracious,
but a fool is consumed
by his own lips.
13 At
the beginning his words are folly;
at the end they are
wicked madness--
14
and the fool multiplies words.
No one knows what is
coming--
who can tell him what
will happen after him?
15 A
fool's work wearies him;
he does not know the way
to town.
16 Woe
to you, O land whose king was a servant A
and whose princes feast
in the morning.
17 Blessed
are you, O land whose king is of noble birth
and whose princes eat at
a proper time--
for strength and not for
drunkenness.
18 If
a man is lazy, the rafters sag;
if his hands are idle,
the house leaks.
19 A
feast is made for laughter, [16]
and wine makes life
merry,
but money is the answer
for everything.
20 Do
not revile the king even in your thoughts,
or curse the rich in
your bedroom,
because a bird of the
air may carry your words,
and a bird on the wing
may report what you say.
11 1
Cast your bread upon the waters,
for after many days you
will find it again.
2 Give
portions to seven, yes to eight,
for you do not know what
disaster may come upon the land.
3 If
clouds are full of water,
they pour rain upon the
earth.
Whether a tree falls to
the south or to the north,
in the place where it
falls, there will it lie.
4 Whoever
watches the wind will not plant;
whoever looks at the
clouds will not reap.
5 As
you do not know the path of the wind,
or how the body is
formed A in a mother's womb,
so you cannot understand
the work of God, [17]
the Maker of all things.
6 Sow
your seed in the morning,
and at evening let not
your hands be idle,
for you do not know
which will succeed,
whether this or that,
or whether both will do
equally well.
7 Light
is sweet,
and it pleases the eyes
to see the sun.
8 However
many years a man may live,
let him enjoy them all.
But let him remember the
days of darkness,
for they will be many.
Everything to come is
meaningless.
9 Be
happy, young man, while you are young,
and let your heart give
you joy in the days of your youth.
Follow the ways of your
heart
and whatever your eyes
see,
but know that for all
these things
God will bring you to
judgment.
10 So
then, banish anxiety from your heart
and cast off the
troubles of your body,
for youth and vigor are
meaningless. [18]
12 1
Remember your Creator
in the days of your
youth,
before the days of
trouble come
and the years approach
when you will say,
"I find no pleasure
in them"--
2 before
the sun and the light
and the moon and the
stars grow dark,
and the clouds return
after the rain;
3 when
the keepers of the house tremble,
and the strong men
stoop,
when the grinders cease
because they are few,
and those looking
through the windows grow dim;
4 when
the doors to the street are closed
and the sound of
grinding fades;
when men rise up at the
sound of birds,
but all their songs grow
faint;
5 when
men are afraid of heights
and of dangers in the
streets;
when the almond tree
blossoms
and the grasshopper
drags himself along
and desire no longer is
stirred.
Then man goes to his
eternal home
and mourners go about
the streets.
6 Remember
him--before the silver cord is severed,
or the golden bowl is
broken;
before the pitcher is
shattered at the spring, [19]
or the wheel broken at
the well,
7 and
the dust returns to the ground it came from,
and the spirit returns
to God who gave it.
8 "Meaningless!
Meaningless!" says the Teacher. A
"Everything is
meaningless!"
9 Not
only was the Teacher wise, but also he imparted knowledge to the people. He
pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs. 10 The
Teacher searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright
and true.
11 The
words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded
nails--given by one Shepherd. 12 Be warned, my son, of anything in
addition to them.
Of making many books
there is no end, and much study wearies the body.
13 Now
all has been heard;
here is the conclusion
of the matter:
Fear God and keep his
commandments,
for this is the whole
duty of man.
14 For
God will bring every deed into judgment,
including every hidden
thing, [20]
whether it is good or
evil. [21]
NEW TESTAMENT: 2 CORINTHIANS 8:1 - 15
8 1
And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace
that God has given the Macedonian churches.
2 Out
of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty
welled up in rich generosity.
3 For
I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their
ability. Entirely on their own,
4 they
urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the
saints. 5 And they did not do as we expected, but they gave
themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will. 6 So
we urged Titus, since he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to
completion this act of grace on your part.
7 But
just as you excel in everything--in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete
earnestness and in your love for us A--see that you also excel in
this grace of giving.
8 I
am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by
comparing it with the earnestness of others. 9 For you know the
grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he
became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.
10 And
here is my advice about what is best for you in this matter: Last year you were
the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. 11 Now
finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your
completion of it, according to your means. 12 For if the willingness
is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to
what he does not have.
13 Our
desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but
that there might be equality. 14 At the present time [22]
your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will
supply what you need. Then there will be equality, 15 as it is
written: "He who gathered much did not have
too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little." B
[23]
[1]
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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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