APRIL
7
PSALMS: 7, 37, 67, 97,
127
PROVERBS: 7
OLD
TESTAMENT: 2 KINGS 10:32 - 12:31
NEW
TESTAMENT: ACTS 18:1 - 22
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,
heC
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 KINGS 10:32 - 12:31
32
In
those days the LORD began to reduce the size of Israel. Hazael overpowered the
Israelites throughout their territory 33 east of the Jordan in all
the land of Gilead (the region of Gad, Reuben and Manasseh), from Aroer by the
Arnon Gorge through Gilead to Bashan.
34
As
for the other events of Jehu's reign, all he did, and all his achievements, are
they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel?
35
Jehu
rested with his fathers and was buried in Samaria. And Jehoahaz his son
succeeded him as king. 36 The time that Jehu reigned over Israel in
Samaria was twenty-eight years.
11
1
When
Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to
destroy the whole royal family. 2 But Jehosheba, the daughter of King
Jehoram A and sister of Ahaziah, took Joash son of Ahaziah and stole
him away from among the royal princes, who were about to be murdered. She put
him and his nurse in a bedroom to hide him from Athaliah; so he was not killed.
3 He remained hidden with his nurse at the temple of the LORD for six
years while Athaliah ruled the land.
4
In
the seventh year Jehoiada sent for the commanders of units of a hundred, the
Carites and the guards and had them brought to him at the temple of the LORD. He
made a covenant with them and put them under oath at the temple of the LORD.
Then he showed them the [12]
king's son. 5 He commanded them, saying, "This is what you are to do:
You who are in the three companies that are going on duty on the Sabbath--a
third of you guarding the royal palace, 6 a third at the Sur Gate,
and a third at the gate behind the guard, who take turns guarding the
temple—7 and you who are in the other two companies that normally go
off Sabbath duty are all to guard the temple for the king. 8 Station
yourselves around the king, each man with his weapon in his hand. Anyone who
approaches your ranks B must be put to death. Stay close to the king
wherever he goes."
9
The
commanders of units of a hundred did just as Jehoiada the priest ordered. Each
one took his men--those who were going on duty on the Sabbath and those who were
going off duty--and came to Jehoiada the priest. 10 Then he gave the
commanders the spears and shields that had belonged to King David and that were
in the temple of the LORD. 11 The guards, each with his weapon in his
hand, stationed themselves around the king--near the altar and the temple, from
the south side to the north side of the temple.
12
Jehoiada
brought out the king's son and put the crown on him; he presented him with a
copy of the covenant and proclaimed him king. They anointed him, and the people
clapped their hands and shouted, "Long live the king!"
13
When
Athaliah heard the noise made by the guards and the people, she went to the
people at the temple of the LORD.
14
She
looked and there was the king, standing by the pillar, as the custom was. The
officers and the trumpeters were beside the king, and all the people of the land
were rejoicing and blowing trumpets. Then
[13]
Athaliah tore her robes and called out, "Treason! Treason!"
15
Jehoiada
the priest ordered the commanders of units of a hundred, who were in charge of
the troops: "Bring her out between the ranks C and put to the sword
anyone who follows her." For the priest had said, "She must not be put to death
in the temple of the LORD." 16 So they seized her as she reached the
place where the horses enter the palace grounds, and there she was put to death.
17
Jehoiada
then made a covenant between the LORD and the king and people that they would be
the LORD's people. He also made a covenant between the king and the people.
18 All the people of the land went to the temple of Baal and tore it
down. They smashed the altars and idols to pieces and killed Mattan the priest
of Baal in front of the altars.
Then
Jehoiada the priest posted guards at the temple of the LORD. 19 He
took with him the commanders of hundreds, the Carites, the guards and all the
people of the land, and together they brought the king down from the temple of
the LORD and went into the palace, entering by way of the gate of the guards.
The king then took his place on the royal throne, 20 and all the
people of the land rejoiced. And the city was quiet, because Athaliah had been
slain with the sword at the palace.
21
Joash
D was seven years old when he began to reign.
12
1
In
the seventh year of Jehu, JoashA became king, and he reigned in
Jerusalem forty years. His mother's name was Zibiah; she was [14]
from Beersheba. 2 Joash did what was right in the eyes of the LORD
all the years Jehoiada the priest instructed him. 3 The high places,
however, were not removed; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn
incense there.
4
Joash
said to the priests, "Collect all the money that is brought as sacred offerings
to the temple of the LORD--the money collected in the census, the money received
from personal vows and the money brought voluntarily to the temple. 5
Let every priest receive the money from one of the treasurers, and let it
be used to repair whatever damage is found in the temple."
6
But
by the twenty-third year of King Joash the priests still had not repaired the
temple. 7 Therefore King Joash summoned Jehoiada the priest and the
other priests and asked them, "Why aren't you repairing the damage done to the
temple? Take no more money from your treasurers, but hand it over for repairing
the temple." 8 The priests agreed that they would not collect any
more money from the people and that they would not repair the temple themselves.
9
Jehoiada
the priest took a chest and bored a hole in its lid. He placed it beside the
altar, on the right side as one enters the temple of the LORD. The priests who
guarded the entrance put into the chest all the money that was brought to the
temple of the LORD. 10 Whenever they saw that there was a large
amount of money in the chest, the royal secretary and the high priest came,
counted the money that had been brought into the temple of the LORD and put it
into bags. 11 When the amount had been determined, they gave the
money to the men appointed to supervise
the
work on the temple. [15]With
it they paid those who worked on the temple of the LORD--the carpenters and
builders, 12 the masons and stonecutters. They purchased timber and
dressed stone for the repair of the temple of the LORD, and met all the other
expenses of restoring the temple.
13
The
money brought into the temple was not spent for making silver basins, wick
trimmers, sprinkling bowls, trumpets or any other articles of gold or silver for
the temple of the LORD; 14 it was paid to the workmen, who used it to
repair the temple.
15
They
did not require an accounting from those to whom they gave the money to pay the
workers, because they acted with complete honesty. 16 The money from
the guilt offerings and sin offerings was not brought into the temple of the
LORD; it belonged to the priests.
17
About
this time Hazael king of Aram went up and attacked Gath and captured it. Then he
turned to attack Jerusalem. 18 But Joash king of Judah took all the
sacred objects dedicated by his fathers--Jehoshaphat, Jehoram and Ahaziah, the
kings of Judah--and the gifts he himself had dedicated and all the gold found in
the treasuries of the temple of the LORD and of the royal palace, and he sent
them to Hazael king of Aram, who then withdrew from Jerusalem.
19
As
for the other events of the reign of Joash, and all he did, are they not written
in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? 20 His officials
conspired against him and assassinated him at Beth Millo, on the road down to
Silla. 21 The officials who murdered him were Jozabad son of Shimeath
and Jehozabad son of Shomer. He died and was buried with his fathers in the City
of David. And [16]
Amaziah his son succeeded him as king. [17]
NEW
TESTAMENT: ACTS 18:1 - 22
18
1
After
this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 There he met a Jew
named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife
Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to
see them, 3 and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed
and worked with them. 4 Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue,
trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.
5
When
Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to
preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ. A 6
But when the Jews opposed Paul and became abusive, he shook out his
clothes in protest and said to them, "Your blood be on your own heads! I am
clear of my responsibility. From now on I will go to the Gentiles."
7
Then
Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a
worshiper of God. 8 Crispus, the synagogue ruler, and his entire
household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard him
believed
and
were baptized.
9
One
night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: "Do not be
afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. 10 For I am with you,
and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this
city." 11 So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them
the word of God.
12
While
Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and
brought him into court. 13 "This man," they charged, "is persuading
the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law." [18]
14
Just
as Paul was about to speak, Gallio said to the Jews, "If you Jews were making a
complaint about some misdemeanor or serious crime, it would be reasonable for me
to listen to you. 15 But since it involves questions about words and
names and your own law--settle the matter yourselves. I will not be a judge of
such things." 16 So he had them ejected from the court. 17
Then they all turned on Sosthenes the synagogue ruler and beat him in
front of the court. But Gallio showed no concern whatever.
18
Paul
stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the brothers and sailed for
Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. Before he sailed, he had his hair
cut off at Cenchrea because of a vow he had taken. 19 They arrived at
Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the
synagogue and reasoned with the Jews.
20
When
they asked him to spend more time with them, he declined. 21 But as
he left, he promised, "I will come back if it is God's will." Then he set sail
from Ephesus.
22
When
he landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church and then went down to
Antioch. [19]
[1]
Excerpted from Compton's Interactive Bible NIV.
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Reserved
[2]
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[3]
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[4]
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Reserved
[5]
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Reserved
[6]
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Reserved
[7]
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[8]
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Reserved
[9]
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Reserved
[10]
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Reserved
[11]
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[12]
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[13]
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[14]
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[15]
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[16]
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[17]
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[18]
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[19]
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