FEBRUARY 7
PSALMS: 7, 37,
67, 97, 127
PROVERBS: 7
OLD TESTAMENT: JUDGES 9:22 - 10:18
NEW TESTAMENT: LUKE 24:13 - 53
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: JUDGES 9:22 - 10:18
22 After
Abimelech had governed Israel three years, 23 God sent an evil
spirit between Abimelech and the citizens of Shechem, who acted treacherously
against Abimelech.
24 God
did this in order that the crime against Jerub-Baal's seventy sons, the
shedding of their blood, might be avenged on their brother Abimelech and on the
citizens of Shechem, who had helped him murder his brothers. 25 In
opposition to him these citizens of Shechem set men on the hilltops to ambush
and rob everyone who passed by, and this was reported to Abimelech.
26 Now
Gaal son of Ebed moved with his brothers into Shechem, and its citizens put
their confidence in him. 27 After they had gone out into the fields
and gathered the grapes and trodden them, they held a festival in the temple of
their god. While they were eating and drinking, they cursed Abimelech. 28 Then
Gaal son of Ebed said, "Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we
should be subject to him? Isn't he Jerub-Baal's son, and isn't Zebul his
deputy? Serve the men of Hamor, Shechem's father! Why should we serve
Abimelech? 29 If only this people were under my command! Then I
would get rid of him. I would say to Abimelech, `Call out your whole army!'"
B
30 When
Zebul the governor of the city heard what Gaal son of Ebed said, he was very
angry. 31 Under cover he sent messengers to Abimelech, saying,
"Gaal son of Ebed and his brothers have come to Shechem and are stirring
up the city against you. 32 Now then, during the night you and your
men should come and lie in wait in the fields. 33 In the morning at
sunrise, advance against the city. When Gaal and his men come out against you,
do whatever your hand [12]
finds to do."
34 So
Abimelech and all his troops set out by night and took up concealed positions
near Shechem in four companies. 35 Now Gaal son of Ebed had gone out
and was standing at the entrance to the city gate just as Abimelech and his
soldiers came out from their hiding place.
36 When
Gaal saw them, he said to Zebul, "Look, people are coming down from the
tops of the mountains!"
Zebul replied, "You
mistake the shadows of the mountains for men."
37 But
Gaal spoke up again: "Look, people are coming down from the center of the
land, and a company is coming from the direction of the soothsayers'
tree."
38 Then
Zebul said to him, "Where is your big talk now, you who said, `Who is
Abimelech that we should be subject to him?' Aren't these the men you
ridiculed? Go out and fight them!"
39 So
Gaal led out C the citizens of Shechem and fought Abimelech. 40
Abimelech chased him, and many fell wounded in the flight--all the way to
the entrance to the gate. 41 Abimelech stayed in Arumah, and Zebul
drove Gaal and his brothers out of Shechem.
42 The next day the people
of Shechem went out to the fields, and this was reported to Abimelech. 43 So
he took his men, divided them into three companies and set an ambush in the
fields. When he saw the people coming out of the city, he rose to attack them. 44
Abimelech and the companies with him rushed forward to a position at the
entrance to the city gate. Then two companies rushed upon those in the fields
and struck them down. 45 All that day [13]
Abimelech pressed his attack against the city until he had captured it and killed
its people. Then he destroyed the city and scattered salt over it.
46 On
hearing this, the citizens in the tower of Shechem went into the stronghold of
the temple of El-Berith.
47 When
Abimelech heard that they had assembled there, 48 he and all his men
went up Mount Zalmon. He took an ax and cut off some branches, which he lifted
to his shoulders. He ordered the men with him, "Quick! Do what you have
seen me do!" 49 So all the men cut branches and followed
Abimelech. They piled them against the stronghold and set it on fire over the
people inside. So all the people in the tower of Shechem, about a thousand men
and women, also died.
50 Next
Abimelech went to Thebez and besieged it and captured it. 51 Inside
the city, however, was a strong tower, to which all the men and women--all the
people of the city--fled. They locked themselves in and climbed up on the tower
roof. 52 Abimelech went to the tower and stormed it. But as he
approached the entrance to the tower to set it on fire, 53 a woman
dropped an upper millstone on his head and cracked his skull.
54 Hurriedly
he called to his armor-bearer, "Draw your sword and kill me, so that they
can't say, `A woman killed him.'" So his servant ran him through, and he
died. 55 When the Israelites saw that Abimelech was dead, they went
home.
56 Thus God repaid the
wickedness that Abimelech had done to his father by murdering his seventy
brothers. 57 God also made the [14]
men of Shechem pay for all their wickedness. The curse of Jotham son of
Jerub-Baal came on them.
10 1
After the time of Abimelech a man of Issachar, Tola
son of Puah, the son of Dodo, rose to save Israel. He lived in Shamir, in the
hill country of Ephraim. 2 He led A Israel twenty-three
years; then he died, and was buried in Shamir.
3 He
was followed by Jair of Gilead, who led Israel twenty-two years. 4 He
had thirty sons, who rode thirty donkeys. They controlled thirty towns in
Gilead, which to this day are called Havvoth Jair. B 5 When
Jair died, he was buried in Kamon. save you from their hands?
6 Again
the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD. They served the Baals and the
Ashtoreths, and the gods of Aram, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods
of the Ammonites and the gods of the Philistines. And because the Israelites
forsook the LORD and no longer served him, 7 he became angry with
them. He sold them into the hands of the Philistines and the Ammonites, 8 who
that year shattered and crushed them. For eighteen years they oppressed all the
Israelites on the east side of the Jordan in Gilead, the land of the Amorites. 9
The Ammonites also crossed the Jordan to fight against Judah, Benjamin
and the house of Ephraim; and Israel was in great distress. 10Then
the Israelites cried out to the LORD, "We have sinned against you,
forsaking our God and serving the Baals."
11 The
LORD replied, "When the Egyptians, the Amorites,
the Ammonites, the Philistines, 12 the
Sidonians, the Amalekites and the Maonites C oppressed you and you cried to me for help, did I not [15]
13 But you have forsaken me and served other gods, so I will no longer
save you. 14 Go and cry
out to the gods you have chosen. Let them save you when you are in trouble!"
15 But
the Israelites said to the LORD, "We have sinned. Do with us whatever you
think best, but please rescue us now." 16 Then they got rid of
the foreign gods among them and served the LORD. And he could bear Israel's
misery no longer.
17 When
the Ammonites were called to arms and camped in Gilead, the Israelites
assembled and camped at Mizpah. 18 The leaders of the people of
Gilead said to each other, "Whoever will launch the attack against the
Ammonites will be the head of all those living in Gilead." [16]
NEW TESTAMENT: LUKE 24:13 - 53
13 Now
that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven
miles A from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each
other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and
discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along
with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him.
17 He
asked them, "What are you discussing together as you walk along?"
They stood still, their
faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, "Are
you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened
there in these days?"
19 "What things?" he asked.
"About Jesus of
Nazareth," they replied. "He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed
before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers
handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but
we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is
more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition,
some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but
didn't find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of
angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went
to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not
see."
25 He
said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow
of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26Did not the Christ B [17] have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?"
27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to
them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
28 As
they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were
going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, "Stay with us,
for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over." So he went in to stay
with them.
30 When
he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began
to give it to them.
31 Then
their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their
sight. 32 They asked each other, "Were not our hearts burning
within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to
us?"
33 They
got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those
with them, assembled together 34 and saying, "It is true! The
Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon." 35 Then the two told
what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he
broke the bread.
36 While
they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to
them, "Peace be with you."
37 They
were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 38 He said
to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts
rise in your minds? 39 Look at my
hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have
flesh and bones, as you see I have."
40 When
he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. [18]
41 And while they still did not believe it because of joy and
amazement, he asked them, "Do you have anything
here to eat?" 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43
and he took it and ate it in their presence.
44 He
said to them, "This is what I told you while I
was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in
the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms."
45 Then
he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He
told them, "This is what is written: The Christ
will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in
his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but
stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high."
50 When
he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and
blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was
taken up into heaven. 52 Then they worshiped him and returned to
Jerusalem with great joy. 53 And they stayed continually at the
temple, praising God. [19]
[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
[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
Interactive Bible NIV. Copyright (c) 1994, 1995, 1996 SoftKey Multimedia
Inc. All Rights Reserved
No comments:
Post a Comment