JANUARY
4
PSALMS: 4, 34,
64, 94, 124
PROVERBS: 4
OLD TESTAMENT: DEUTERONOMY 5:1 - 6:25
NEW TESTAMENT: LUKE 7:11 - 35
PSALMS: 4
For
the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm of David.
1
Answer me when I call to you,
O
my righteous God.
Give
me relief from my distress;
be
merciful to me and hear my prayer.
2
How long, O men, will you turn my glory into shame A?
How
long will you love delusions and seek false gods B?
Selah
3
Know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself;
the
LORD will hear when I call to him.
4
In your anger do not sin;
when
you are on your beds,
search
your hearts and be silent.
Selah
5
Offer right sacrifices
and
trust in the LORD.
6
Many are asking, "Who can show us any good?"
Let
the light of your face shine upon us, O LORD.
7
You have filled my heart with greater joy
than
when their grain and new wine abound.
8
I will lie down and sleep in peace,
for
you alone, O LORD,
make
me dwell in safety. [1]
PSALMS: 34
Of
David. When he pretended to be insane before Abimelech, who drove him away, and
he left.
1
I A will extol the LORD at all times;
his
praise will always be on my lips.
2
My soul will boast in the LORD;
let
the afflicted hear and rejoice.
3
Glorify the LORD with me;
let
us exalt his name together.
4
I sought the LORD, and he answered me;
he
delivered me from all my fears.
5
Those who look to him are radiant;
their
faces are never covered with shame.
6
This poor man called, and the LORD heard him;
he
saved him out of all his troubles.
7
The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear
him,
and
he delivers them.
8
Taste and see that the LORD is good;
blessed
is the man who takes refuge in him.
9
Fear the LORD, you his saints,
for
those who fear him lack nothing.
10
The lions may grow weak and hungry,
but
those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.
11
Come, my children, listen to me;
I
will teach you the fear of the LORD.
12
Whoever of you loves life
and
desires to see many good days, [2]
13
keep your tongue from evil
and
your lips from speaking lies.
14
Turn from evil and do good;
seek
peace and pursue it.
15
The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous
and
his ears are attentive to their cry;
16
the face of the LORD is against those who do evil,
to
cut off the memory of them from the earth.
17
The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them;
he
delivers them from all their troubles.
18
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted
and
saves those who are crushed in spirit.
19
A righteous man may have many troubles,
but
the LORD delivers him from them all;
20
he protects all his bones,
not
one of them will be broken.
21
Evil will slay the wicked;
the
foes of the righteous will be condemned.
22
The LORD redeems his servants;
no
one will be condemned who takes refuge in him. [3]
PSALMS: 64
For
the director of music. A psalm of David.
1
Hear me, O God, as I voice my complaint;
protect
my life from the threat of the enemy.
2
Hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked,
from
that noisy crowd of evildoers.
3
They sharpen their tongues like swords
and
aim their words like deadly arrows.
4
They shoot from ambush at the innocent man;
they
shoot at him suddenly, without fear.
5
They encourage each other in evil plans,
they
talk about hiding their snares;
they
say, "Who will see them A?"
6
They plot injustice and say,
"We
have devised a perfect plan!"
Surely
the mind and heart of man are cunning.
7
But God will shoot them with arrows;
suddenly
they will be struck down.
8
He will turn their own tongues against them
and
bring them to ruin;
all
who see them will shake their heads in scorn.
9
All mankind will fear;
they
will proclaim the works of God
and
ponder what he has done.
10
Let the righteous rejoice in the LORD
and
take refuge in him;
let
all the upright in heart praise him! [4]
PSALMS: 94
1
O LORD, the God who avenges,
O
God who avenges, shine forth.
2
Rise up, O Judge of the earth;
pay
back to the proud what they deserve.
3
How long will the wicked, O LORD,
how
long will the wicked be jubilant?
4
They pour out arrogant words;
all
the evildoers are full of boasting.
5
They crush your people, O LORD;
they
oppress your inheritance.
6
They slay the widow and the alien;
they
murder the fatherless.
7
They say, "The LORD does not see;
the
God of Jacob pays no heed."
8
Take heed, you senseless ones among the people;
you
fools, when will you become wise?
9
Does he who implanted the ear not hear?
Does
he who formed the eye not see?
10
Does he who disciplines nations not punish?
Does
he who teaches man lack knowledge?
11
The LORD knows the thoughts of man;
he
knows that they are futile.
12
Blessed is the man you discipline, O LORD,
the
man you teach from your law;
13
you grant him relief from days of trouble,
till
a pit is dug for the wicked.
14
For the LORD will not reject his people;
he
will never forsake his inheritance.
15
Judgment will again be founded on righteousness,
and
all the upright in heart will follow it.[5]
16
Who will rise up for me against the wicked?
Who
will take a stand for me against evildoers?
17
Unless the LORD had given me help,
I
would soon have dwelt in the silence of death.
18
When I said, "My foot is slipping,"
your
love, O LORD, supported me.
19
When anxiety was great within me,
your
consolation brought joy to my soul.
20
Can a corrupt throne be allied with you--
one
that brings on misery by its decrees?
21
They band together against the righteous
and
condemn the innocent to death.
22
But the LORD has become my fortress,
and
my God the rock in whom I take refuge.
23
He will repay them for their sins
and
destroy them for their wickedness;
the
LORD our God will destroy them. [6]
PSALMS: 124
A
song of ascents. Of David.
1
If the LORD had not been on our side--
let
Israel say--
2
if the LORD had not been on our side
when
men attacked us,
3
when their anger flared against us,
they
would have swallowed us alive;
4
the flood would have engulfed us,
the
torrent would have swept over us,
5
the raging waters
would
have swept us away.
6
Praise be to the LORD,
who
has not let us be torn by their teeth.
7
We have escaped like a bird
out
of the fowler's snare;
the
snare has been broken,
and
we have escaped.
8
Our help is in the name of the LORD,
the
Maker of heaven and earth. [7]
PROVERBS: 4
4
1 Listen, my sons, to a
father's instruction;
pay
attention and gain understanding.
2
I give you sound learning,
so
do not forsake my teaching.
3
When I was a boy in my father's house,
still
tender, and an only child of my mother,
4
he taught me and said,
"Lay hold of my words with all your heart;
keep my commands and you will live.
5
Get wisdom, get understanding;
do not forget my words or swerve from them.
6 Do not
forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;
love her, and she will watch over you.
7
Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom.
Though it cost all you have, A get understanding.
8
Esteem her, and she will exalt you;
embrace her, and she will honor you.
9
She will set a garland of grace on your
head
and present you with a crown of splendor."
10
Listen, my son, accept what I say,
and
the years of your life will be many.
11
I guide you in the way of wisdom
and
lead you along straight paths.
12
When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;
when
you run, you will not stumble.
13
Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;
guard
it well, for it is your life.
14
Do not set foot on the path of the wicked
or
walk in the way of evil men.
15
Avoid it, do not travel on it;
turn
from it and go on your way.
16
For they cannot sleep till they do evil; [8]
they
are robbed of slumber till they make someone fall.
17
They eat the bread of wickedness
and
drink the wine of violence.
18
The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of
dawn,
shining
ever brighter till the full light of day.
19
But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
they
do not know what makes them stumble.
20
My son, pay attention to what I say;
listen
closely to my words.
21
Do not let them out of your sight,
keep
them within your heart;
22
for they are life to those who find them
and
health to a man's whole body.
23
Above all else, guard your heart,
for
it is the wellspring of life.
24
Put away perversity from your mouth;
keep
corrupt talk far from your lips.
25
Let your eyes look straight ahead,
fix
your gaze directly before you.
26
Make level B paths for your feet
and
take only ways that are firm.
27
Do not swerve to the right or the left;
keep
your foot from evil. [9]
OLD TESTAMENT: DEUTERONOMY 5:1 - 6:25
5 1
Moses summoned all Israel and said:
Hear, O Israel, the
decrees and laws I declare in your hearing today. Learn them and be sure to
follow them.
2 The
LORD our God made a covenant with us at Horeb. 3 It was not with our
fathers that the LORD made this covenant, but with us, with all of us who are
alive here today. 4 The LORD spoke to you face to face out of the
fire on the mountain. 5 (At that time I stood between the LORD and
you to declare to you the word of the LORD, because you were afraid of the fire
and did not go up the mountain.) And he said:
6 "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of
the land of slavery.
7 "You shall have no other gods before A me.
8 "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything
in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 9 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your
God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the
third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 10 but showing love to a thousand generations of [10] those who love me and keep my commandments.
11 "You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD
will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
12 "Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the LORD your God
has commanded you. 13 Six days you
shall labor and do all your work, 14 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall
not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or
maidservant, nor your ox, your donkey or any of your animals, nor the alien
within your gates, so that your manservant and maidservant may rest, as you do.
15 Remember
that you were slaves in Egypt and that the LORD your God brought you out of
there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the LORD your God
has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day.
16 "Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has
commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in
the land the LORD your [11]
God is giving you.
17 "You shall not murder.
18 "You shall not commit adultery.
19 "You shall not steal.
20 "You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
21 "You shall not covet your neighbor's wife. You shall not set your
desire on your neighbor's house or land, his manservant or maidservant, his ox
or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor."
22 These
are the commandments the LORD proclaimed in a loud voice to your whole assembly
there on the mountain from out of the fire, the cloud and the deep darkness;
and he added nothing more. Then he wrote them on two stone tablets and gave
them to me.
23 When
you heard the voice out of the darkness, while the mountain was ablaze with
fire, all the leading men of your tribes and your elders came to me. 24 And
you said, "The LORD our God has shown us his glory and his majesty, and we
have heard his voice from the fire. Today we have seen that a man can live [12]
even if God speaks with
him. 25 But now, why should we die? This great fire will consume us,
and we will die if we hear the voice of the LORD our God any longer. 26 For
what mortal man has ever heard the voice of the living God speaking out of
fire, as we have, and survived? 27 Go near and listen to all that
the LORD our God says. Then tell us whatever the LORD our God tells you. We
will listen and obey."
28 The
LORD heard you when you spoke to me and the LORD said to me, "I have heard what this people said to you. Everything they
said was good. 29 Oh, that their
hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it
might go well with them and their children forever!
30 "Go, tell them to return to their tents. 31 But you stay here with me so that I may give you all the commands,
decrees and laws you are to teach them to follow in the land I am giving them
to possess."
32 So
be careful to do what the LORD your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to
the right or to the left. 33 Walk in all the way that the LORD your
God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your [13]
days in the land that you will possess.
6 1
These are the commands, decrees and laws the LORD your
God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the
Jordan to possess, 2 so that you, your children and their children after
them may fear the LORD your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees
and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life. 3 Hear,
O Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you
may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD,
the God of your fathers, promised you.
4 Hear,
O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. A 5 Love the
LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your
strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon
your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when
you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when
you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands [14]
and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of
your houses and on your gates.
10 When
the LORD your God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, to
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you--a land with large, flourishing cities
you did not build, 11 houses filled with all kinds of good things
you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you
did not plant--then when you eat and are satisfied, 12 be careful
that you do not forget the LORD, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land
of slavery.
13 Fear
the LORD your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name. 14 Do
not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you; 15 for
the LORD your God, who is among you, is a jealous God and his anger will burn
against you, and he will destroy you from the face of the land. 16 Do
not test the LORD your God as you did at Massah. 17 Be sure to keep
the commands of the LORD your God and the stipulations and decrees he has given
you. 18 Do what is right and good in the LORD's sight, so that it
may go well with you and you may go in [15]
and take over the good land that the LORD promised on oath to your forefathers,
19 thrusting out all your
enemies before you, as the LORD said.
20 In
the future, when your son asks you, "What is the meaning of the
stipulations, decrees and laws the LORD our God has commanded you?" 21
tell him: "We were slaves of Pharaoh in
Egypt, but the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand.
22 Before our
eyes the LORD sent miraculous signs and wonders--great and terrible--upon
Egypt and Pharaoh and his whole household. 23 But he brought us out from there to bring us in and give
us the land that he promised on oath to our forefathers. 24 The LORD commanded us to obey all these decrees and to
fear the LORD our God, so that we might always prosper and be kept alive, as is
the case today. 25 And if we are
careful to obey all this law before the LORD our God, as he has commanded us,
that will be our righteousness." [16]
NEW TESTAMENT: LUKE 7:11 - 35
11 Soon
afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large
crowd went along with him. 12 As he approached the town gate, a dead
person was being carried out--the only son of his mother, and she was a widow.
And a large crowd from the town was with her. 13 When the Lord saw
her, his heart went out to her and he said, "Don't
cry."
14 Then
he went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. He said,
"Young man, I say to you, get up!" 15
The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his
mother.
16 They
were all filled with awe and praised God. "A great prophet has appeared
among us," they said. "God has come to help his people." 17
This news about Jesus spread throughout JudeaA and the
surrounding country.
18 John's
disciples told him about all these things. Calling two of them, 19 he
sent them to the Lord to ask, "Are you the one who was to come, or should
we expect someone else?"
20 When
the men came to Jesus, they said, "John the Baptist sent us to you to ask,
`Are [17]
you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?' "
21 At
that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits,
and gave sight to many who were blind. 22 So he replied to the
messengers, "Go back and report to John what you
have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have
leprosy B are cured, the deaf hear,
the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. 23 Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me."
24 After
John's messengers left, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: "What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swayed by
the wind? 25 If not, what did you go
out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear expensive clothes
and indulge in luxury are in palaces. 26 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you,
and more than a prophet. 27 This is
the one about whom it is written:
"`I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will
prepare your way before you.' C [18]
28 I tell you, among those born of women
there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of
God is greater than he."
29 (All
the people, even the tax collectors, when they heard Jesus' words, acknowledged
that God's way was right, because they had been baptized by John. 30 But
the Pharisees and experts in the law rejected God's purpose for themselves,
because they had not been baptized by John.)
31 "To
what, then, can I compare the people of this generation? What are they like?
32 They
are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to each other:
"`We played the
flute for you,
and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge,
and you did not cry.'
33 For
John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, `He
has a demon.' 34 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you
say, [19]
`Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and
"sinners."' 35 But wisdom is proved right by all her
children." [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.
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
[20] Excerpted from Compton's
Interactive Bible NIV. Copyright (c) 1994, 1995, 1996 SoftKey Multimedia
Inc. All Rights Reserved
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