MAY
7
PSALMS: 7, 37,
67, 97, 127
PROVERBS: 7
OLD TESTAMENT: 2CHRONICLES 19:1 - 20:37
NEW TESTAMENT: ROMANS 10:14 - 11:12
PSALMS: 7
A
shiggaion A of David, which he sang to the LORD concerning
Cush, a Benjamite.
1
O LORD my God, I take refuge in you;
save
and deliver me from all who pursue me,
2
or they will tear me like a lion
and
rip me to pieces with no one to rescue me.
3
O LORD my God, if I have done this
and
there is guilt on my hands--
4
if I have done evil to him who is at peace with me
or
without cause have robbed my foe--
5
then let my enemy pursue and overtake me;
let
him trample my life to the ground
and
make me sleep in the dust.
Selah
6
Arise, O LORD, in your anger;
rise
up against the rage of my enemies.
Awake,
my God; decree justice.
7
Let the assembled peoples gather around you.
Rule
over them from on high;
8
let the LORD judge the peoples.
Judge
me, O LORD, according to my righteousness,
according
to my integrity, O Most High.
9
O righteous God,
who
searches minds and hearts,
bring
to an end the violence of the wicked
and
make the righteous secure. [1]
10
My shield B is God Most High,
who
saves the upright in heart.
11
God is a righteous judge,
a
God who expresses his wrath every day.
12
If he does not relent,
he
C will sharpen his sword;
he
will bend and string his bow.
13
He has prepared his deadly weapons;
he
makes ready his flaming arrows.
14
He who is pregnant with evil
and
conceives trouble gives birth to disillusionment.
15
He who digs a hole and scoops it out
falls
into the pit he has made.
16
The trouble he causes recoils on himself;
his
violence comes down on his own head.
17
I will give thanks to the LORD because of his
righteousness
and
will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High. [2]
PSALMS: 37
Of
David.
1
Do A not fret because of evil men
or
be envious of those who do wrong;
2
for like the grass they will soon wither,
like
green plants they will soon die away.
3
Trust in the LORD and do good;
dwell
in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
4
Delight yourself in the LORD
and
he will give you the desires of your heart.
5
Commit your way to the LORD;
trust
in him and he will do this:
6
He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,
the
justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
7
Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;
do
not fret when men succeed in their ways,
when
they carry out their wicked schemes.
8
Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
do
not fret--it leads only to evil.
9
For evil men will be cut off,
but
those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.
10
A little while, and the wicked will be no more;
though
you look for them, they will not be found.
11
But the meek will inherit the land
and
enjoy great peace. [3]
12
The wicked plot against the righteous
and
gnash their teeth at them;
13
but the Lord laughs at the wicked,
for
he knows their day is coming.
14
The wicked draw the sword
and
bend the bow
to
bring down the poor and needy,
to
slay those whose ways are upright.
15
But their swords will pierce their own hearts,
and
their bows will be broken.
16
Better the little that the righteous have
than
the wealth of many wicked;
17
for the power of the wicked will be broken,
but
the LORD upholds the righteous.
18
The days of the blameless are known to the LORD,
and
their inheritance will endure forever.
19
In times of disaster they will not wither;
in
days of famine they will enjoy plenty.
20
But the wicked will perish:
The
LORD's enemies will be like the beauty of the fields,
they
will vanish--vanish like smoke.
21
The wicked borrow and do not repay,
but
the righteous give generously;
22
those the LORD blesses will inherit the land,
but
those he curses will be cut off.[4]
23
If the LORD delights in a man's way,
he
makes his steps firm;
24
though he stumble, he will not fall,
for
the LORD upholds him with his hand.
25
I was young and now I am old,
yet
I have never seen the righteous forsaken
or
their children begging bread.
26
They are always generous and lend freely;
their
children will be blessed.
27
Turn from evil and do good;
then
you will dwell in the land forever.
28
For the LORD loves the just
and
will not forsake his faithful ones.
They
will be protected forever,
but
the offspring of the wicked will be cut off;
29
the righteous will inherit the land
and
dwell in it forever.
30
The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom,
and
his tongue speaks what is just.
31
The law of his God is in his heart;
his
feet do not slip.
32
The wicked lie in wait for the righteous,
seeking
their very lives;
33
but the LORD will not leave them in their power
or
let them be condemned when brought to trial. [5]
34
Wait for the LORD
and
keep his way.
He
will exalt you to inherit the land;
when
the wicked are cut off, you will see it.
35
I have seen a wicked and ruthless man
flourishing
like a green tree in its native soil,
36
but he soon passed away and was no more;
though
I looked for him, he could not be found.
37
Consider the blameless, observe the upright;
there
is a future B for the man of peace.
38
But all sinners will be destroyed;
the
future C of the wicked will be cut off.
39
The salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD;
he
is their stronghold in time of trouble.
40
The LORD helps them and delivers them;
he
delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
because
they take refuge in him. [6]
PSALMS: 67
For
the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm. A song.
1
May God be gracious to us and bless us
and
make his face shine upon us,
Selah
2
that your ways may be known on earth,
your
salvation among all nations.
3
May the peoples praise you, O God;
may
all the peoples praise you.
4
May the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for
you rule the peoples justly
and
guide the nations of the earth.
Selah
5
May the peoples praise you, O God;
may
all the peoples praise you.
6
Then the land will yield its harvest,
and
God, our God, will bless us.
7
God will bless us,
and
all the ends of the earth will fear him. [7]
PSALMS: 97
1
The LORD reigns, let the earth be glad;
let
the distant shores rejoice.
2
Clouds and thick darkness surround him;
righteousness
and justice are the foundation of his throne.
3
Fire goes before him
and
consumes his foes on every side.
4
His lightning lights up the world;
the
earth sees and trembles.
5
The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,
before
the Lord of all the earth.
6
The heavens proclaim his righteousness,
and
all the peoples see his glory.
7
All who worship images are put to shame,
those
who boast in idols--
worship
him, all you gods!
8
Zion hears and rejoices
and
the villages of Judah are glad
because
of your judgments, O LORD.
9
For you, O LORD, are the Most High over all the earth;
you
are exalted far above all gods.
10
Let those who love the LORD hate evil,
for
he guards the lives of his faithful ones
and
delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
11
Light is shed upon the righteous
and
joy on the upright in heart.
12
Rejoice in the LORD, you who are righteous,
and
praise his holy name. [8]
PSALMS: 127
A
song of ascents. Of Solomon.
1
Unless the LORD builds the house,
its
builders labor in vain.
Unless
the LORD watches over the city,
the
watchmen stand guard in vain.
2
In vain you rise early
and
stay up late,
toiling
for food to eat--
for
he grants sleep to A those he loves.
3
Sons are a heritage from the LORD,
children
a reward from him.
4
Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
are
sons born in one's youth.
5
Blessed is the man
whose
quiver is full of them.
They
will not be put to shame
when
they contend with their enemies in the gate. [9]
PROVERBS: 7
7
1 My son, keep my words
and
store up my commands within you.
2
Keep my commands and you will live;
guard
my teachings as the apple of your eye.
3
Bind them on your fingers;
write
them on the tablet of your heart.
4
Say to wisdom, "You
are my sister,"
and
call understanding your kinsman;
5
they will keep you from the adulteress,
from
the wayward wife with her seductive words.
6
At the window of my house
I
looked out through the lattice.
7
I saw among the simple,
I
noticed among the young men,
a
youth who lacked judgment.
8
He was going down the street near her corner,
walking
along in the direction of her house
9
at twilight, as the day was fading,
as
the dark of night set in.
10
Then out came a woman to meet him,
dressed
like a prostitute and with crafty intent.
11
(She is loud and defiant,
her
feet never stay at home;
12
now in the street, now in the squares,
at
every corner she lurks.)
13
She took hold of him and kissed him
and
with a brazen face she said:
14
"I have fellowship offerings A at
home;
today
I fulfilled my vows.
15
So I came out to meet you; [10]
I
looked for you and have found you!
16
I have covered my bed
with
colored linens from Egypt.
17
I have perfumed my bed
with
myrrh, aloes and cinnamon.
18
Come, let's drink deep of love till morning;
let's
enjoy ourselves with love!
19
My husband is not at home;
he
has gone on a long journey.
20
He took his purse filled with money
and
will not be home till full moon."
21
With persuasive words she led him astray;
she
seduced him with her smooth talk.
22
All at once he followed her
like
an ox going to the slaughter,
like
a deer B stepping into a noose C
23
till an arrow pierces his liver,
like
a bird darting into a snare,
little
knowing it will cost him his life.
24
Now then, my sons, listen to me;
pay
attention to what I say.
25
Do not let your heart turn to her ways
or
stray into her paths.
26
Many are the victims she has brought down;
her
slain are a mighty throng.
27
Her house is a highway to the grave, D
leading
down to the chambers of death. [11]
OLD TESTAMENT: 2 CHRONICLES 19:1 - 20:37
19 1
When Jehoshaphat king of Judah returned safely to his
palace in Jerusalem, 2 Jehu the seer, the son of Hanani, went out to
meet him and said to the king, "Should you help the wicked and love A
those who hate the LORD? Because of this, the wrath of the LORD is upon you. 3
There is, however, some good in you, for you have rid the land of the
Asherah poles and have set your heart on seeking God."
4 Jehoshaphat
lived in Jerusalem, and he went out again among the people from Beersheba to
the hill country of Ephraim and turned them back to the LORD, the God of their
fathers. 5 He appointed judges in the land, in each of the fortified
cities of Judah.
6 He
told them, "Consider carefully what you do,
because you are not judging for man but for the LORD, who is with you whenever
you give a verdict. 7 Now let the
fear of the LORD be upon you. Judge carefully, for with the LORD our God there
is no injustice or partiality or bribery."
8 In
Jerusalem also, Jehoshaphat appointed some of the Levites, priests and heads of
Israelite families to administer the law of the LORD and to settle disputes.
And they lived in Jerusalem. 9 He gave them these orders: "You
must serve faithfully and wholeheartedly in the fear of the LORD. 10 In
every case that comes before you from your fellow countrymen who live in the
cities--whether bloodshed or other concerns of the law, commands, decrees or
ordinances--you are to warn them not to sin against the LORD; otherwise his
wrath will come on you and your brothers. Do this, and you will not sin.
11 "Amariah
the chief priest will be over you in any matter concerning the LORD, and
Zebadiah son of Ishmael, the leader of the [12]
tribe of Judah, will be over you in any matter concerning the king, and the
Levites will serve as officials before you. Act with courage, and may the LORD
be with those who do well."
20 1
After this, the Moabites and Ammonites with some of
the MeunitesA came to make war on Jehoshaphat.
2 Some
men came and told Jehoshaphat, "A vast army is coming against you from
Edom, B from the other side
of the Sea. C It is already in Hazazon Tamar" (that is, En
Gedi). 3 Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the LORD, and
he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. 4 The people of Judah came
together to seek help from the LORD; indeed, they came from every town in Judah
to seek him.
5 Then
Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the temple of
the LORD in the front of the new courtyard 6 and said:
"O LORD, God of our
fathers, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms
of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you.
7 O our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land
before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham
your [13]
friend?
8 They
have lived in it and have built in it a sanctuary for your Name, saying, 9`If
calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we
will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will
cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.'
10 "But
now here are men from Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, whose territory you would not
allow Israel to invade when they came from Egypt; so they turned away from them
and did not destroy them. 11 See how they are repaying us by coming
to drive us out of the possession you gave us as an inheritance. 12 O
our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army
that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon
you."
13 All
the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, stood there
before the LORD.
14 Then
the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah,
the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite and descendant of Asaph, as he
stood in the assembly.
15 He
said: "Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live
in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the LORD says to you: `Do not be afraid or
discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's. 16 Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up
by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the
Desert of Jeruel. 17 You will not
have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the
deliverance the LORD will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; [14] do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and
the LORD will be with you.' "
18 Jehoshaphat
bowed with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem
fell down in worship before the LORD. 19 Then some Levites from the
Kohathites and Korahites stood up and praised the LORD, the God of Israel, with
very loud voice.
20 Early
in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat
stood and said, "Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith
in the LORD your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you
will be successful." 21 After consulting the people,
Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the LORD and to praise him for the
splendor of his D holiness as they went out at the head of the army,
saying:
"Give thanks to the
LORD,
for his love endures forever."
22 As
they began to sing and praise, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon
and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated. 23
The men of Ammon and Moab rose up against the men from Mount Seir to
destroy and annihilate them. After they finished slaughtering the men from
Seir, they helped to destroy one another.
24 When
the men of Judah came to the place that overlooks the desert and looked toward
the vast army, they saw only dead bodies lying on the ground; no one had
escaped. 25 So Jehoshaphat and his men went to carry off their
plunder, and they found among them a [15]
great amount of equipment and clothing E and also articles of
value--more than they could take away. There was so much plunder that it took
three days to collect it.
26 On
the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Beracah, where they praised the
LORD. This is why it is called the Valley of BeracahF to this day.
27 Then,
led by Jehoshaphat, all the men of Judah and Jerusalem returned joyfully to Jerusalem,
for the LORD had given them cause to rejoice over their enemies. 28 They
entered Jerusalem and went to the temple of the LORD with harps and lutes and
trumpets.
29 The
fear of God came upon all the kingdoms of the countries when they heard how the
LORD had fought against the enemies of Israel. 30 And the kingdom of
Jehoshaphat was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side.
31 So
Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he became
king of Judah, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-five years. His mother's name
was Azubah daughter of Shilhi. 32 He walked in the ways of his
father Asa and did not stray from them; he did what was right in the eyes of
the LORD. 33 The high places, however, were not removed, and the people
still had not set their hearts on the God of their fathers.
34 The
other events of Jehoshaphat's reign, from beginning to end, are written in the
annals of Jehu son of Hanani, which are recorded in the book of the kings of
Israel.
35 Later,
Jehoshaphat king of Judah made an alliance with Ahaziah king of Israel, who was
guilty of wickedness.
36 He
agreed with him to construct a fleet of trading ships. G After these
were [16]
built at Ezion Geber, 37 Eliezer son of Dodavahu of Mareshah
prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, "Because you have made an alliance
with Ahaziah, the LORD will destroy what you have made." The ships were
wrecked and were not able to set sail to trade. H [17]
NEW TESTAMENT: ROMANS 10:14 - 11:12
14 How,
then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they
believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without
someone preaching to them? 15 And how can they preach unless they
are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are
the feet of those who bring good news!" G
16But
not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who
has believed our message?" H 17 Consequently, faith
comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of
Christ. 18 But I ask: Did they not hear? Of course they did:
"Their voice has gone out into all the earth,
their
words to the ends of the world." I
19 Again I ask: Did Israel not
understand? First, Moses says,
"I will make you envious by those who are not a nation;
I will
make you angry by a nation that has no understanding."
J
20 And Isaiah boldly says,
"I was found by those who did not seek me;
I revealed
myself to those who did not ask for me." K
21 But concerning Israel he says,
"All day long I have held out my hands
to a
disobedient and obstinate people." L [18]
11 1
I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means! I
am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. 2
God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew. Don't you know what the
Scripture says in the passage about Elijah--how he appealed to God against
Israel: 3 "Lord, they have killed
your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are
trying to kill me" A? 4 And what was God's
answer to him? "I have reserved for myself
seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal." B 5
So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. 6 And
if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer
be grace. C
7 What
then? What Israel sought so earnestly it did not obtain, but the elect did. The
others were hardened, 8 as it is written:
"God gave them a spirit of stupor,
eyes so
that they could not see
and ears
so that they could not hear,
to this
very day." D
9 And David says:
"May their table
become a snare and a trap,
a stumbling block and a
retribution for them.
10May
their eyes be darkened so they cannot see,
and their backs be bent
forever." E
[19]
11 Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond
recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has
come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious. 12 But if their
transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the
Gentiles, how much greater riches will their fullness bring! [20]
[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.
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[3]
Excerpted from Compton's Interactive Bible NIV.
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[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
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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
[17] Excerpted from Compton's
Interactive Bible NIV. Copyright (c) 1994, 1995, 1996 SoftKey Multimedia
Inc. All Rights Reserved
[18] Excerpted from Compton's
Interactive Bible NIV. Copyright (c) 1994, 1995, 1996 SoftKey Multimedia
Inc. All Rights Reserved
[19] Excerpted from Compton's
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[20] Excerpted from Compton's
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