MAY
13
PSALMS: 13, 43, 73, 103, 133
PROVERBS: 13
OLD TESTAMENT: 2 CHRONICLES 32:1 - 33:13
NEW TESTAMENT: ROMANS 15:23 - 16:9
PSALMS: 13
For
the director of music. A psalm of David.
1
How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever?
How
long will you hide your face from me?
2
How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
and
every day have sorrow in my heart?
How
long will my enemy triumph over me?
3
Look on me and answer, O LORD my God.
Give
light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death;
4
my enemy will say, "I have overcome him,"
and
my foes will rejoice when I fall.
5
But I trust in your unfailing love;
my
heart rejoices in your salvation.
6
I will sing to the LORD,
for
he has been good to me. [1]
PSALMS: 43
1
Vindicate A me, O God,
and
plead my cause against an ungodly nation;
rescue
me from deceitful and wicked men.
2
You are God my stronghold.
Why
have you rejected me?
Why
must I go about mourning,
oppressed
by the enemy?
3
Send forth your light and your truth,
let
them guide me;
let
them bring me to your holy mountain,
to
the place where you dwell.
4
Then will I go to the altar of God,
to
God, my joy and my delight.
I
will praise you with the harp,
O
God, my God.
5
Why are you downcast, O my soul?
Why
so disturbed within me?
Put
your hope in God,
for
I will yet praise him,
my
Savior and my God. [2]
PSALMS: 73
A
psalm of Asaph.
1
Surely God is good to Israel,
to
those who are pure in heart.
2
But as for me, my feet had almost slipped;
I
had nearly lost my foothold.
3
For I envied the arrogant
when
I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4
They have no struggles;
their
bodies are healthy and strong. A
5
They are free from the burdens common to man;
they
are not plagued by human ills.
6
Therefore pride is their necklace;
they
clothe themselves with violence.
7
From their callous hearts comes iniquity B;
the
evil conceits of their minds know no limits.
8
They scoff, and speak with malice;
in
their arrogance they threaten oppression.
9
Their mouths lay claim to heaven,
and
their tongues take possession of the earth.
10
Therefore their people turn to them
and
drink up waters in abundance. C
11
They say, "How can God know?
Does
the Most High have knowledge?"
12
This is what the wicked are like--
always
carefree, they increase in wealth. [3]
A
psalm of Asaph.
13
Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure;
in
vain have I washed my hands in innocence.
14
All day long I have been plagued;
I
have been punished every morning.
15
If I had said, "I will speak thus,"
I
would have betrayed your children.
16
When I tried to understand all this,
it
was oppressive to me
17
till I entered the sanctuary of God;
then
I understood their final destiny.
18
Surely you place them on slippery ground;
you
cast them down to ruin.
19
How suddenly are they destroyed,
completely
swept away by terrors!
20
As a dream when one awakes,
so
when you arise, O Lord,
you
will despise them as fantasies.
21
When my heart was grieved
and
my spirit embittered,
22
I was senseless and ignorant;
I
was a brute beast before you.
23
Yet I am always with you;
you
hold me by my right hand.
24
You guide me with your counsel,
and
afterward you will take me into glory.
25
Whom have I in heaven but you?
And
earth has nothing I desire besides you.
26
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but
God is the strength of my heart
and
my portion forever. [4]
27
Those who are far from you will perish;
you
destroy all who are unfaithful to you.
28
But as for me, it is good to be near God.
I
have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge;
I
will tell of all your deeds. [5]
PSALMS: 103
Of
David.
1
Praise the LORD, O my soul;
all
my inmost being, praise his holy name.
2
Praise the LORD, O my soul,
and
forget not all his benefits--
3
who forgives all your sins
and
heals all your diseases,
4
who redeems your life from the pit
and
crowns you with love and compassion,
5
who satisfies your desires with good things
so
that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
6
The LORD works righteousness
and
justice for all the oppressed.
7
He made known his ways to Moses,
his
deeds to the people of Israel:
8
The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
slow
to anger, abounding in love.
9
He will not always accuse,
nor
will he harbor his anger forever;
10
he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or
repay us according to our iniquities.
11
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so
great is his love for those who fear him;
12
as far as the east is from the west,
so
far has he removed our transgressions from us.
13
As a father has compassion on his children,
so
the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;
14
for he knows how we are formed, [6]
he
remembers that we are dust.
15
As for man, his days are like grass,
he
flourishes like a flower of the field;
16
the wind blows over it and it is gone,
and
its place remembers it no more.
17
But from everlasting to everlasting
the
LORD's love is with those who fear him,
and
his righteousness with their children's children--
18
with those who keep his covenant
and
remember to obey his precepts.
19
The LORD has established his throne in heaven,
and
his kingdom rules over all.
20
Praise the LORD, you his angels,
you
mighty ones who do his bidding,
who
obey his word.
21
Praise the LORD, all his heavenly hosts,
you
his servants who do his will.
22
Praise the LORD, all his works
everywhere
in his dominion.
Praise
the LORD, O my soul. [7]
PSALMS: 133
A
song of ascents. Of David.
1
How good and pleasant it is
when
brothers live together in unity!
2
It is like precious oil poured on the head,
running
down on the beard,
running
down on Aaron's beard,
down
upon the collar of his robes.
3
It is as if the dew of Hermon
were
falling on Mount Zion.
For
there the LORD bestows his blessing,
even
life forevermore. [8]
PROVERBS: 13
13
1 A wise son heeds his
father's instruction,
but
a mocker does not listen to rebuke.
2
From the fruit of his lips a man enjoys good things,
but
the unfaithful have a craving for violence.
3
He who guards his lips guards his life,
but
he who speaks rashly will come to ruin.
4
The sluggard craves and gets nothing,
but
the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.
5
The righteous hate what is false,
but
the wicked bring shame and disgrace.
6
Righteousness guards the man of integrity,
but
wickedness overthrows the sinner.
7
One man pretends to be rich, yet has nothing;
another
pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.
8
A man's riches may ransom his life,
but
a poor man hears no threat.
9
The light of the righteous shines brightly,
but
the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.
10
Pride only breeds quarrels,
but
wisdom is found in those who take advice.
11
Dishonest money dwindles away,
but
he who gathers money little by little makes it grow. [9]
12
Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
but
a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.
13
He who scorns instruction will pay for it,
but
he who respects a command is rewarded.
14
The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,
turning
a man from the snares of death.
15
Good understanding wins favor,
but
the way of the unfaithful is hard. A
16
Every prudent man acts out of knowledge,
but
a fool exposes his folly.
17
A wicked messenger falls into trouble,
but
a trustworthy envoy brings healing.
18
He who ignores discipline comes to poverty and shame,
but
whoever heeds correction is honored.
19
A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul,
but
fools detest turning from evil.
20
He who walks with the wise grows wise,
but
a companion of fools suffers harm.
21
Misfortune pursues the sinner,
but
prosperity is the reward of the righteous.
22
A good man leaves an inheritance for his children's
children,
but
a sinner's wealth is stored up for the righteous. [10]
23
A poor man's field may produce abundant food,
but
injustice sweeps it away.
24
He who spares the rod hates his son,
but
he who loves him is careful to discipline him.
25
The righteous eat to their hearts' content,
but
the stomach of the wicked goes hungry. [11]
OLD TESTAMENT: 2 CHRONICLES 32:1 - 33:13
32 1
After all that Hezekiah had so faithfully done,
Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah. He laid siege to the
fortified cities, thinking to conquer them for himself. 2 When
Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come and that he intended to make war on
Jerusalem, 3 he consulted with his officials and military staff
about blocking off the water from the springs outside the city, and they helped
him. 4 A large force of men assembled, and they blocked all the
springs and the stream that flowed through the land. "Why should the kings
A of Assyria come and find plenty of water?" they said.
5 Then
he worked hard repairing all the broken sections of the wall and building
towers on it. He built another wall outside that one and reinforced the
supporting terraces B of the City of David. He also made large
numbers of weapons and shields.
6 He
appointed military officers over the people and assembled them before him in
the square at the city gate and encouraged them with these words: 7 "Be
strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of
Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than
with him. 8 With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the
LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles." And the people gained
confidence from what Hezekiah the king of Judah said.
9 Later,
when Sennacherib king of Assyria and all his forces were laying siege to
Lachish, he sent his officers to Jerusalem with this message for Hezekiah king
of Judah and for all the people of Judah who were there:
10 "This
is what Sennacherib king of Assyria says: On what are you basing your
confidence, that you remain in Jerusalem under siege? 11 When
Hezekiah says, `The LORD our God will save us from the hand of the king of
Assyria,' he is misleading you, to let you die of hunger and thirst. 12 Did
not Hezekiah himself remove this god's high places and altars, saying to Judah
and Jerusalem, `You must worship before one altar and burn sacrifices on it'?
13 "Do
you not know what I and my fathers have done to all the peoples of the other
lands? Were the gods of those nations ever able to deliver their land from my
hand?
14 Who
of all the gods of these nations that my fathers destroyed has been able to
save his people from me? How then can your god deliver you from my hand? 15
Now do not let Hezekiah deceive you and mislead you like this. Do not
believe him, for no god of any nation or kingdom has been able to deliver his
people from my hand or the hand of my fathers. How much less will your god
deliver you from my hand!"
16 Sennacherib's
officers spoke further against the LORD God and against his servant Hezekiah. 17
The king also wrote letters insulting the LORD, the God of Israel, and
saying this against him: "Just as the gods of the peoples of the other
lands did not rescue their people from my hand, so the god of Hezekiah will not
rescue his people from my hand." 18 Then they called out in
Hebrew to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall, to terrify them and
make them afraid in order to capture the city. 19 They spoke about
the God of Jerusalem as they did about the gods of the [12]
other peoples of the world--the work of men's hands.
20 King
Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz cried out in prayer to heaven about
this. 21 And the LORD sent an angel, who annihilated all the
fighting men and the leaders and officers in the camp of the Assyrian king. So
he withdrew to his own land in disgrace. And when he went into the temple of
his god, some of his sons cut him down with the sword.
22 So
the LORD saved Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem from the hand of
Sennacherib king of Assyria and from the hand of all others. He took care of
them C on every side. 23 Many brought offerings to
Jerusalem for the LORD and valuable gifts for Hezekiah king of Judah. From then
on he was highly regarded by all the nations.
24 In
those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. He prayed to the
LORD, who answered him and gave him a miraculous sign. 25 But
Hezekiah's heart was proud and he did not respond to the kindness shown him;
therefore the LORD's wrath was on him and on Judah and Jerusalem. 26 Then
Hezekiah repented of the pride of his heart, as did the people of Jerusalem;
therefore the LORD's wrath did not come upon them during the days of Hezekiah.
27 Hezekiah
had very great riches and honor, and he made treasuries for his silver and gold
and for his precious stones, spices, shields and all kinds of valuables. 28
He also made buildings to store the harvest of grain, new wine and oil;
and he made stalls for various kinds of cattle, and pens for the flocks. 29
He built villages and acquired great numbers of flocks and herds, for God
had given him very great riches.
30 It
was Hezekiah who blocked the upper outlet of the Gihon spring and channeled the
water down to the west side of the City of David. He succeeded in everything he
undertook. 31 But when envoys were sent by the rulers of Babylon to
ask him about the miraculous sign that had occurred in the land, God left him
to test him and to know everything that was in his heart.
32 The
other events of Hezekiah's reign and his acts of devotion are written in the
vision of the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz in the book of the kings of Judah and
Israel.
33 Hezekiah
rested with his fathers and was buried on the hill where the tombs of David's
descendants are. All Judah and the people of Jerusalem honored him when he
died. And Manasseh his son succeeded him as king.
33 1
Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and
he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years. 2 He did evil in the eyes
of the LORD, following the detestable practices of the nations the LORD had
driven out before the Israelites. 3 He rebuilt the high places his
father Hezekiah had demolished; he also erected altars to the Baals and made
Asherah poles. He bowed down to all the starry hosts and worshiped them. 4
He built altars in the temple of the LORD, of which the LORD had said,
"My Name will remain in Jerusalem forever."
5 In both courts of the temple of [13]
the LORD, he built altars to all the starry hosts. 6 He sacrificed
his sons in A the fire in the Valley of Ben Hinnom, practiced
sorcery, divination and witchcraft, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He
did much evil in the eyes of the LORD, provoking him to anger.
7 He
took the carved image he had made and put it in God's temple, of which God had
said to David and to his son Solomon, "In this
temple and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I
will put my Name forever. 8 I
will not again make the feet of the Israelites leave the land I assigned to
your forefathers, if only they will be careful to do everything I commanded
them concerning all the laws, decrees and ordinances given through Moses."
9 But Manasseh led Judah and the people of Jerusalem astray, so that
they did more evil than the nations the LORD had destroyed before the
Israelites.
10 The
LORD spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they paid no attention. 11 So
the LORD brought against them the army commanders of the king of Assyria, who
took Manasseh prisoner, put a hook in his nose, bound him with bronze shackles
and took him to Babylon. 12 In his distress he sought the favor of
the LORD his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. 13
And when he prayed to him, the LORD was moved by his entreaty and
listened to his plea; so he brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom.
Then Manasseh knew that the LORD is God. [14]
NEW TESTAMENT: ROMANS 15:23 - 16:9
23 But
now that there is no more place for me to work in these regions, and since I
have been longing for many years to see you, 24 I plan to do so when
I go to Spain. I hope to visit you while passing through and to have you assist
me on my journey there, after I have enjoyed your company for a while. 25 Now,
however, I am on my way to Jerusalem in the service of the saints there. 26
For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor
among the saints in Jerusalem. 27 They were pleased to do it, and
indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews'
spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material
blessings. 28 So after I have completed this task and have made sure
that they have received this fruit, I will go to Spain and visit you on the
way. 29 I know that when I come to you, I will come in the full
measure of the blessing of Christ.
30 I
urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to
join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. 31 Pray that I may
be rescued from the unbelievers in Judea and that my service in Jerusalem may
be acceptable to the saints there, 32 so that by God's will I may
come to you with joy and together with you be refreshed. 33 The God
of peace be with you all. Amen.
16 1
I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant A
of the church in Cenchrea. 2 I ask you to receive her in the Lord in
a way worthy of the saints and to give her any help she may need from you, for
she has been a great help to many people, including me.
3 Greet
Priscilla B and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus. 4 They
risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are
grateful to them.
5 Greet
also the church that meets at their house.
Greet my dear friend
Epenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia.
6 Greet
Mary, who worked very hard for you.
7 Greet
Andronicus and Junias, my relatives who have been in prison with me. They are
outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was.
8 Greet
Ampliatus, whom I love in the Lord.
9 Greet
Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my dear friend Stachys.
[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
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