March
17
PSALMS: 17, 47, 77, 107, 137
PROVERBS: 17
OLD TESTAMENT: 1 KINGS 1:1 - 53
NEW TESTAMENT: ACTS 4:1 - 37
PSALMS: 17
A
prayer of David.
1
Hear, O LORD, my righteous plea;
listen
to my cry.
Give
ear to my prayer--
it
does not rise from deceitful lips.
2
May my vindication come from you;
may
your eyes see what is right.
3
Though you probe my heart and examine me at night,
though
you test me, you will find nothing;
I
have resolved that my mouth will not sin.
4
As for the deeds of men--
by
the word of your lips
I
have kept myself
from
the ways of the violent.
5
My steps have held to your paths;
my
feet have not slipped.
6
I call on you, O God, for you will answer me;
give
ear to me and hear my prayer.
7
Show the wonder of your great love,
you
who save by your right hand
those
who take refuge in you from their foes.
8
Keep me as the apple of your eye;
hide
me in the shadow of your wings
9
from the wicked who assail me,
from my mortal enemies who surround me. [1]
10
They close up their callous hearts,
and
their mouths speak with arrogance.
11
They have tracked me down, they now surround me,
with
eyes alert, to throw me to the ground.
12
They are like a lion hungry for prey,
like
a great lion crouching in cover.
13
Rise up, O LORD, confront them, bring them down;
rescue
me from the wicked by your sword.
14
O LORD, by your hand save me from such men,
from
men of this world whose reward is in this life.
You
still the hunger of those you cherish;
their
sons have plenty,
and
they store up wealth for their children.
15
And I--in righteousness I will see your face;
when
I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing
your
likeness. [2]
PSALMS: 47
For
the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.
1
Clap your hands, all you nations;
shout
to God with cries of joy.
2
How awesome is the LORD Most High,
the
great King over all the earth!
3
He subdued nations under us,
peoples
under our feet.
4
He chose our inheritance for us,
the
pride of Jacob, whom he loved.
Selah
5
God has ascended amid shouts of joy,
the
LORD amid the sounding of trumpets.
6
Sing praises to God, sing praises;
sing
praises to our King, sing praises.
7
For God is the King of all the earth;
sing
to him a psalm A of praise.
8
God reigns over the nations;
God
is seated on his holy throne.
9
The nobles of the nations assemble
as
the people of the God of Abraham,
for
the kings B of the earth belong to God;
he
is greatly exalted. [3]
PSALMS: 77
For
the director of music. For Jeduthun. Of Asaph. A psalm.
1
I cried out to God for help;
I
cried out to God to hear me.
2
When I was in distress, I sought the Lord;
at
night I stretched out untiring hands
and
my soul refused to be comforted.
3
I remembered you, O God, and I groaned;
I
mused, and my spirit grew faint.
Selah
4
You kept my eyes from closing;
I
was too troubled to speak.
5
I thought about the former days,
the
years of long ago;
6
I remembered my songs in the night.
My
heart mused and my spirit inquired:
7
"Will the Lord reject forever?
Will
he never show his favor again?
8
Has his unfailing love vanished forever?
Has
his promise failed for all time?
9
Has God forgotten to be merciful?
Has
he in anger withheld his compassion?"
Selah
[4]
10
Then I thought, "To this I will appeal:
the
years of the right hand of the Most High."
11
I will remember the deeds of the LORD;
yes,
I will remember your miracles of long ago.
12
I will meditate on all your works
and
consider all your mighty deeds.
13
Your ways, O God, are holy.
What
god is so great as our God?
14
You are the God who performs miracles;
you
display your power among the peoples.
15
With your mighty arm you redeemed your people,
the
descendants of Jacob and Joseph.
Selah
16
The waters saw you, O God,
the
waters saw you and writhed;
the
very depths were convulsed.
17
The clouds poured down water,
the
skies resounded with thunder;
your
arrows flashed back and forth.
18
Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind,
your
lightning lit up the world;
the
earth trembled and quaked.
19
Your path led through the sea,
your
way through the mighty waters,
though
your footprints were not seen.
20
You led your people like a flock
by
the hand of Moses and Aaron. [5]
PSALMS: 107
1
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his
love endures forever.
2
Let the redeemed of the LORD say this--
those
he redeemed from the hand of the foe,
3
those he gathered from the lands,
from
east and west, from north and south. A
4
Some wandered in desert wastelands,
finding
no way to a city where they could settle.
5
They were hungry and thirsty,
and
their lives ebbed away.
6
Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble,
and
he delivered them from their distress.
7
He led them by a straight way
to
a city where they could settle.
8
Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing
love
and
his wonderful deeds for men,
9
for he satisfies the thirsty
and
fills the hungry with good things.
10
Some sat in darkness and the deepest gloom,
prisoners
suffering in iron chains,
11
for they had rebelled against the words of God
and
despised the counsel of the Most High.
12
So he subjected them to bitter labor;
they
stumbled, and there was no one to help.
13
Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,
and
he saved them from their distress.
14
He brought them out of darkness and the deepest gloom
and
broke away their chains.
15
Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing
love
and
his wonderful deeds for men,
16
for he breaks down gates of bronze
and
cuts through bars of iron. [6]
17
Some became fools through their rebellious ways
and
suffered affliction because of their iniquities.
18
They loathed all food
and
drew near the gates of death.
19
Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,
and
he saved them from their distress.
20
He sent forth his word and healed them;
he
rescued them from the grave.
21
Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing
love
and
his wonderful deeds for men.
22
Let them sacrifice thank offerings
and
tell of his works with songs of joy.
23
Others went out on the sea in ships;
they
were merchants on the mighty waters.
24
They saw the works of the LORD,
his
wonderful deeds in the deep.
25
For he spoke and stirred up a tempest
that
lifted high the waves.
26
They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the
depths;
in
their peril their courage melted away.
27
They reeled and staggered like drunken men;
they
were at their wits' end.
28
Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble,
and
he brought them out of their distress.
29
He stilled the storm to a whisper;
the
waves of the sea were hushed.
30
They were glad when it grew calm,
and
he guided them to their desired haven.
31
Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing
love
and
his wonderful deeds for men.
32
Let them exalt him in the assembly of the people [7]
and
praise him in the council of the elders.
33
He turned rivers into a desert,
flowing
springs into thirsty ground,
34
and fruitful land into a salt waste,
because
of the wickedness of those who lived there.
35
He turned the desert into pools of water
and
the parched ground into flowing springs;
36
there he brought the hungry to live,
and
they founded a city where they could settle.
37
They sowed fields and planted vineyards
that
yielded a fruitful harvest;
38
he blessed them, and their numbers greatly increased,
and
he did not let their herds diminish.
39
Then their numbers decreased, and they were humbled
by
oppression, calamity and sorrow;
40
he who pours contempt on nobles
made
them wander in a trackless waste.
41
But he lifted the needy out of their affliction
and
increased their families like flocks.
42
The upright see and rejoice,
but
all the wicked shut their mouths.
43
Whoever is wise, let him heed these things
and
consider the great love of the LORD. [8]
PSALMS: 137
1
By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept
when
we remembered Zion.
2
There on the poplars
we
hung our harps,
3
for there our captors asked us for songs,
our
tormentors demanded songs of joy;
they
said, "Sing us one of the songs of Zion!"
4
How can we sing the songs of the LORD
while
in a foreign land?
5
If I forget you, O Jerusalem,
may
my right hand forget its skill.
6
May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth
if
I do not remember you,
if
I do not consider Jerusalem
my
highest joy.
7
Remember, O LORD, what the Edomites did
on
the day Jerusalem fell.
"Tear
it down," they cried,
"tear
it down to its foundations!"
8
O Daughter of Babylon, doomed to destruction,
happy
is he who repays you
for
what you have done to us--
9
he who seizes your infants
and
dashes them against the rocks. [9]
PROVERBS: 17
17
1 Better a dry crust with
peace and quiet
than
a house full of feasting, A with strife.
2
A wise servant will rule over a disgraceful son,
and
will share the inheritance as one of the brothers.
3
The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold,
but
the LORD tests the heart.
4
A wicked man listens to evil lips;
a
liar pays attention to a malicious tongue.
5
He who mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker;
whoever
gloats over disaster will not go unpunished.
6
Children's children are a crown to the aged,
and
parents are the pride of their children.
7
Arrogant B lips are unsuited to a fool--
how
much worse lying lips to a ruler!
8
A bribe is a charm to the one who gives it;
wherever
he turns, he succeeds.
9
He who covers over an offense promotes love,
but
whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.
10
A rebuke impresses a man of discernment
more
than a hundred lashes a fool.
11
An evil man is bent only on rebellion;
a
merciless official will be sent against him. [10]
12
Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs
than
a fool in his folly.
13
If a man pays back evil for good,
evil
will never leave his house.
14
Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam;
so
drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.
15
Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent--
the
LORD detests them both.
16
Of what use is money in the hand of a fool,
since
he has no desire to get wisdom?
17
A friend loves at all times,
and
a brother is born for adversity.
18
A man lacking in judgment strikes hands in pledge
and
puts up security for his neighbor.
19
He who loves a quarrel loves sin;
he
who builds a high gate invites destruction.
20
A man of perverse heart does not prosper;
he
whose tongue is deceitful falls into trouble.
21
To have a fool for a son brings grief;
there
is no joy for the father of a fool. [11]
22
A cheerful heart is good medicine,
but
a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
23
A wicked man accepts a bribe in secret
to
pervert the course of justice.
24
A discerning man keeps wisdom in view,
but
a fool's eyes wander to the ends of the earth.
25
A foolish son brings grief to his father
and
bitterness to the one who bore him.
26
It is not good to punish an innocent man,
or
to flog officials for their integrity.
27
A man of knowledge uses words with restraint,
and
a man of understanding is even-tempered.
28
Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent,
and
discerning if he holds his tongue. [12]
OLD TESTAMENT: 1 KINGS 1:1 - 53
1 1
When King David was old and well advanced in years, he
could not keep warm even when they put covers over him. 2 So his
servants said to him, "Let us look for a young virgin to attend the king
and take care of him. She can lie beside him so that our lord the king may keep
warm."
3 Then
they searched throughout Israel for a beautiful girl and found Abishag, a
Shunammite, and brought her to the king. 4 The girl was very
beautiful; she took care of the king and waited on him, but the king had no
intimate relations with her.
5 Now
Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith, put himself forward and said, "I will
be king." So he got chariots and horses A ready, with fifty men
to run ahead of him. 6 (His father had never interfered with him by
asking, "Why do you behave as you do?" He was also very handsome and
was born next after Absalom.)
7 Adonijah
conferred with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, and they gave
him their support. 8 But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada,
Nathan the prophet, Shimei and Rei B and David's special guard did
not join Adonijah.
9 Adonijah
then sacrificed sheep, cattle and fattened calves at the Stone of Zoheleth near
En Rogel. He invited all his brothers, the king's sons, and all the men of
Judah who were royal officials, 10 but he did not invite Nathan the
prophet or Benaiah or the special guard or his brother Solomon.
11 Then
Nathan asked Bathsheba, Solomon's mother, "Have you not heard that
Adonijah, the son of Haggith, has become king without our lord David's knowing
it? 12 Now then, let me advise you how you can save your own life
and the life of your son Solomon. [13]
13 Go in to King David and say to him, `My lord the king, did you
not swear to me your servant: "Surely Solomon your son shall be king after
me, and he will sit on my throne"? Why then has Adonijah become king?' 14
While you are still there talking to the king, I will come in and confirm
what you have said."
15 So
Bathsheba went to see the aged king in his room, where Abishag the Shunammite
was attending him.
16 Bathsheba
bowed low and knelt before the king.
"What is it you
want?" the king asked.
17 She
said to him, "My lord, you yourself swore to me your servant by the LORD
your God: `Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he will sit on my
throne.' 18 But now Adonijah has become king, and you, my lord the
king, do not know about it. 19 He has sacrificed great numbers of
cattle, fattened calves, and sheep, and has invited all the king's sons,
Abiathar the priest and Joab the commander of the army, but he has not invited
Solomon your servant. 20 My lord the king, the eyes of all Israel
are on you, to learn from you who will sit on the throne of my lord the king
after him. 21 Otherwise, as soon as my lord the king is laid to rest
with his fathers, I and my son Solomon will be treated as criminals."
22 While
she was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet arrived. 23 And
they told the king, "Nathan the prophet is here." So he went before
the king and bowed with his face to the ground.
24 Nathan
said, "Have you, my lord the king, declared that Adonijah shall be king
after you, and that he will sit on your throne? 25 Today he has gone
down and sacrificed great numbers of cattle, [14]fattened
calves, and sheep. He has invited all the king's sons, the commanders of the
army and Abiathar the priest. Right now they are eating and drinking with him
and saying, `Long live King Adonijah!' 26 But me your servant, and
Zadok the priest, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and your servant Solomon he did
not invite. 27 Is this something my lord the king has done without
letting his servants know who should sit on the throne of my lord the king
after him?"
28 Then
King David said, "Call in Bathsheba." So she came into the king's
presence and stood before him.
29 The
king then took an oath: "As surely as the LORD lives, who has delivered me
out of every trouble, 30 I will surely carry out today what I swore
to you by the LORD, the God of Israel: Solomon your son shall be king after me,
and he will sit on my throne in my place."
31 Then
Bathsheba bowed low with her face to the ground and, kneeling before the king,
said, "May my lord King David live forever!"
32 King
David said, "Call in Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet and Benaiah son
of Jehoiada." When they came before the king, 33 he said to
them: "Take your lord's servants with you and set Solomon my son on my own
mule and take him down to Gihon. 34 There have Zadok the priest and
Nathan the prophet anoint him king over Israel. Blow the trumpet and shout,
`Long live King Solomon!' 35 Then you are to go up with him, and he
is to come and sit on my throne and reign in my place. I have appointed him
ruler over Israel and Judah." [15]
36 Benaiah son of Jehoiada answered the king, "Amen! May the
LORD, the God of my lord the king, so declare it. 37 As the LORD was
with my lord the king, so may he be with Solomon to make his throne even
greater than the throne of my lord King David!"
38 So
Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the Kerethites
and the Pelethites went down and put Solomon on King David's mule and escorted
him to Gihon. 39 Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the
sacred tent and anointed Solomon. Then they sounded the trumpet and all the
people shouted, "Long live King Solomon!" 40 And all the
people went up after him, playing flutes and rejoicing greatly, so that the
ground shook with the sound.
41 Adonijah
and all the guests who were with him heard it as they were finishing their
feast. On hearing the sound of the trumpet, Joab asked, "What's the
meaning of all the noise in the city?"
42 Even
as he was speaking, Jonathan son of Abiathar the priest arrived. Adonijah said,
"Come in. A worthy man like you must be bringing good news."
43 "Not
at all!" Jonathan answered. "Our lord King David has made Solomon
king.
44 The
king has sent with him Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of
Jehoiada, the Kerethites and the Pelethites, and they have put him on the
king's mule, 45 and Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have
anointed him king at Gihon. From there they have gone up cheering, and the city
resounds with it. That's the noise you hear. 46 Moreover, Solomon
has taken his seat on the royal throne.
47 Also,
the royal officials have come to [16]
congratulate our lord King David, saying, `May your God make Solomon's name
more famous than yours and his throne greater than yours!' And the king bowed
in worship on his bed 48 and said, `Praise be to the LORD, the God
of Israel, who has allowed my eyes to see a successor on my throne today.'
"
49 At
this, all Adonijah's guests rose in alarm and dispersed. 50 But
Adonijah, in fear of Solomon, went and took hold of the horns of the altar. 51
Then Solomon was told, "Adonijah is afraid of King Solomon and is
clinging to the horns of the altar. He says, `Let King Solomon swear to me
today that he will not put his servant to death with the sword.' "
52 Solomon
replied, "If he shows himself to be a worthy man, not a hair of his head
will fall to the ground; but if evil is found in him, he will die." 53
Then King Solomon sent men, and they brought him down from the altar. And
Adonijah came and bowed down to King Solomon, and Solomon said, "Go to
your home." [17]
NEW TESTAMENT: ACTS 4:1 - 37
4 1
The priests and the captain of the temple guard and
the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people.
2 They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the
people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. 3 They
seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in jail until
the next day. 4 But many who heard the message believed, and the
number of men grew to about five thousand.
5 The
next day the rulers, elders and teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6 Annas
the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and the other
men of the high priest's family. 7 They had Peter and John brought
before them and began to question them: "By what power or what name did
you do this?"
8 Then
Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: "Rulers and elders of the people! 9 If we are being called to account today for an act of
kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, 10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by
the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised
from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11 He is
"`the
stone you builders rejected,
which has
become the capstone. A'B
12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under
heaven given to men by which we must be saved."
13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they
were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they [18]
"`Why do
the nations rage
and the
peoples plot in vain?
26 The kings of the earth take their stand
and the
rulers gather together
against the
Lord
and against
his Anointed One. C'D
27 Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the
people E of Israel in
this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed.
28 They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should
happen. 29 Now, Lord,
consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great
boldness. 30 Stretch out
your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of
your holy servant Jesus."
31 After
they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all
filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
32 All
the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his
possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With
great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord
Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. 34 There were no needy
persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold
them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the
apostles' feet, and it was [19]distributed
to anyone as he had need.
36 Joseph,
a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of
Encouragement),
37 sold
a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles' feet. [20]
[1]
Excerpted from Compton's Interactive Bible NIV.
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[2]
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[3]
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[4]
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[5]
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[6]
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[7]
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[8]
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[9]
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[10] Excerpted from Compton's
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[11] Excerpted from Compton's
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[12] Excerpted from Compton's
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[13] Excerpted from Compton's
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[14] Excerpted from Compton's
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[15] Excerpted from Compton's
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[16] Excerpted from Compton's
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[17] Excerpted from Compton's
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[18] Excerpted from Compton's
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[19] Excerpted from Compton's
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[20] Excerpted from Compton's
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