MARCH
28
PSALMS: 28,
58, 88, 118, 148
PROVERBS: 28
OLD
TESTAMENT: 1 KINGS 18:1 - 46
NEW
TESTAMENT: ACTS 11:1 - 30
PSALMS: 28
Of
David.
1
To
you I call, O LORD my Rock;
do
not turn a deaf ear to me.
For
if you remain silent,
I
will be like those who have gone down to the pit.
2
Hear
my cry for mercy
as
I call to you for help,
as
I lift up my hands
toward
your Most Holy Place.
3
Do
not drag me away with the wicked,
with
those who do evil,
who
speak cordially with their neighbors
but
harbor malice in their hearts.
4
Repay
them for their deeds
and
for their evil work;
repay
them for what their hands have done
and
bring back upon them what they deserve.
5
Since
they show no regard for the works of the LORD
and
what his hands have done,
he
will tear them down
and
never build them up again.
6
Praise
be to the LORD,
for
he has heard my cry for mercy.
7
The
LORD is my strength and my shield;
my
heart trusts in him, and I am helped.
My
heart leaps for joy
and
I will give thanks to him in song. [1]
8
The
LORD is the strength of his people,
a
fortress of salvation for his anointed one.
9
Save
your people and bless your inheritance;
be
their shepherd and carry them forever. [2]
PSALMS: 58
For
the director of music. To the tune of "Do Not Destroy." Of David. A miktam.
A
1
Do
you rulers indeed speak justly?
Do
you judge uprightly among men?
2
No,
in your heart you devise injustice,
and
your hands mete out violence on the earth.
3
Even
from birth the wicked go astray;
from
the womb they are wayward and speak lies.
4
Their
venom is like the venom of a snake,
like
that of a cobra that has stopped its ears,
5
that
will not heed the tune of the charmer,
however
skillful the enchanter may be.
6
Break
the teeth in their mouths, O God;
tear
out, O LORD, the fangs of the lions!
7
Let
them vanish like water that flows away;
when
they draw the bow, let their arrows be blunted.
8
Like
a slug melting away as it moves along,
like
a stillborn child, may they not see the sun.
9
Before
your pots can feel the heat of the thorns--
whether
they be green or dry--the wicked will be swept away.
B
10
The
righteous will be glad when they are avenged,
when
they bathe their feet in the blood of the wicked.
11
Then
men will say,
"Surely
the righteous still are rewarded;
surely
there is a God who judges the earth." [3]
PSALMS: 88
A
song. A psalm of the Sons of Korah. For the director of music. According to
mahalath leannoth. A A maskil B of Heman the
Ezrahite.
1
O
LORD, the God who saves me,
day
and night I cry out before you.
2
May
my prayer come before you;
turn
your ear to my cry.
3
For
my soul is full of trouble
and
my life draws near the grave. C
4
I
am counted among those who go down to the pit;
I
am like a man without strength.
5
I
am set apart with the dead,
like
the slain who lie in the grave,
whom
you remember no more,
who
are cut off from your care.
6
You
have put me in the lowest pit,
in
the darkest depths.
7
Your
wrath lies heavily upon me;
you
have overwhelmed me with all your waves.
Selah
8
You
have taken from me my closest friends
and
have made me repulsive to them.
I
am confined and cannot escape;
9
my
eyes are dim with grief.
I
call to you, O LORD, every day;
I
spread out my hands to you.
10
Do
you show your wonders to the dead? [4]
Do
those who are dead rise up and praise you?
Selah
11Is
your love declared in the grave,
your
faithfulness in DestructionD?
12
Are
your wonders known in the place of darkness,
or
your righteous deeds in the land of oblivion?
13
But
I cry to you for help, O LORD;
in
the morning my prayer comes before you.
14
Why,
O LORD, do you reject me
and
hide your face from me?
15
From
my youth I have been afflicted and close to death;
I
have suffered your terrors and am in despair.
16
Your
wrath has swept over me;
your
terrors have destroyed me.
17
All
day long they surround me like a flood;
they
have completely engulfed me.
18
You
have taken my companions and loved ones from me;
the
darkness is my closest friend. [5]
PSALMS: 118
1
Give
thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his
love endures forever.
2
Let
Israel say:
"His love endures forever."
3
Let
the house of Aaron say:
"His love endures forever."
4
Let
those who fear the LORD say:
"His love endures forever."
5
In
my anguish I cried to the LORD,
and
he answered by setting me free.
6
The
LORD is with me; I will not be afraid.
What
can man do to me?
7
The
LORD is with me; he is my helper.
I
will look in triumph on my enemies.
8
It
is better to take refuge in the LORD
than
to trust in man.
9
It
is better to take refuge in the LORD
than
to trust in princes.
10
All
the nations surrounded me,
but
in the name of the LORD I cut them off.
11
They
surrounded me on every side,
but
in the name of the LORD I cut them off.
12
They
swarmed around me like bees,
but
they died out as quickly as burning thorns;
in
the name of the LORD I cut them off.
13
I
was pushed back and about to fall,
but
the LORD helped me.
14
The
LORD is my strength and my song;
he
has become my salvation. [6]
15
Shouts
of joy and victory
resound
in the tents of the righteous:
"The LORD's right hand has done mighty
things!
16
The
LORD's right hand is lifted high;
the
LORD's right hand has done mighty things!"
17
I
will not die but live,
and
will proclaim what the LORD has done.
18
The
LORD has chastened me severely,
but
he has not given me over to death.
19
Open
for me the gates of righteousness;
I
will enter and give thanks to the LORD.
20
This
is the gate of the LORD
through
which the righteous may enter.
21
I
will give you thanks, for you answered me;
you
have become my salvation.
22
The
stone the builders rejected
has
become the capstone;
23
the
LORD has done this,
and
it is marvelous in our eyes.
24
This
is the day the LORD has made;
let
us rejoice and be glad in it.
25
O
LORD, save us;
O
LORD, grant us success.
26
Blessed
is he who comes in the name of the LORD.
From
the house of the LORD we bless you. A
27
The
LORD is God,
and
he has made his light shine upon us.
With
boughs in hand, join in the festal procession
Up
B to the horns of the altar. [7]
28
You
are my God, and I will give you thanks;
you
are my God, and I will exalt you.
29
Give
thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his
love endures forever. [8]
PSALMS: 148
1
Praise
the LORD. A
Praise
the LORD from the heavens,
praise
him in the heights above.
2
Praise
him, all his angels,
praise
him, all his heavenly hosts.
3
Praise
him, sun and moon,
praise
him, all you shining stars.
4
Praise
him, you highest heavens
and
you waters above the skies.
5
Let
them praise the name of the LORD,
for
he commanded and they were created.
6
He
set them in place for ever and ever;
he
gave a decree that will never pass away.
7
Praise
the LORD from the earth,
you
great sea creatures and all ocean depths,
8
lightning
and hail, snow and clouds,
stormy
winds that do his bidding,
9
you
mountains and all hills,
fruit
trees and all cedars,
10
wild
animals and all cattle,
small
creatures and flying birds,
11kings
of the earth and all nations,
you
princes and all rulers on earth,
12
young
men and maidens,
old
men and children.
13
Let
them praise the name of the LORD,
for
his name alone is exalted;
his
splendor is above the earth and the heavens.
14
He
has raised up for his people a horn, B
the
praise of all his saints,
of
Israel, the people close to his heart. [9]
Praise
the LORD. [10]
PROVERBS: 28
28
1
The wicked man flees though no one pursues,
but
the righteous are as bold as a lion.
2
When
a country is rebellious, it has many rulers,
but
a man of understanding and knowledge maintains order.
3
A
ruler A who oppresses the poor
is
like a driving rain that leaves no crops.
4
Those
who forsake the law praise the wicked,
but
those who keep the law resist them.
5
Evil
men do not understand justice,
but
those who seek the LORD understand it fully.
6
Better
a poor man whose walk is blameless
than
a rich man whose ways are perverse.
7
He
who keeps the law is a discerning son,
but
a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.
8
He
who increases his wealth by exorbitant interest
amasses
it for another, who will be kind to the poor.
9
If
anyone turns a deaf ear to the law,
even
his prayers are detestable.
10
He
who leads the upright along an evil path
will
fall into his own trap,
but
the blameless will receive a good inheritance.
11
A
rich man may be wise in his own eyes,
but
a poor man who has discernment sees through him. [11]
12
When
the righteous triumph, there is great elation;
but
when the wicked rise to power, men go into hiding.
13
He
who conceals his sins does not prosper,
but
whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.
14
Blessed
is the man who always fears the LORD,
but
he who hardens his heart falls into trouble.
15
Like
a roaring lion or a charging bear
is
a wicked man ruling over a helpless people.
16
A
tyrannical ruler lacks judgment,
but
he who hates ill-gotten gain will enjoy a long life.
17
A
man tormented by the guilt of murder
will
be a fugitive till death;
let
no one support him.
18
He
whose walk is blameless is kept safe,
but
he whose ways are perverse will suddenly fall.
19
He
who works his land will have abundant food,
but
the one who chases fantasies will have his fill of
poverty.
20
A
faithful man will be richly blessed,
but
one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.
21
To
show partiality is not good--
yet
a man will do wrong for a piece of bread.
22
A
stingy man is eager to get rich
and
is unaware that poverty awaits him. [12]
23
He
who rebukes a man will in the end gain more favor
than
he who has a flattering tongue.
24
He
who robs his father or mother
and
says, "It's not wrong"--
he
is partner to him who destroys.
25
A
greedy man stirs up dissension,
but
he who trusts in the LORD will prosper.
26
He
who trusts in himself is a fool,
but
he who walks in wisdom is kept safe.
27
He
who gives to the poor will lack nothing,
but
he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses.
28
When
the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding;
but
when the wicked perish, the righteous thrive. [13]
OLD
TESTAMENT: 1 KINGS 18:1 - 46
18
1
After
a long time, in the third year, the word of the LORD came to Elijah: "1y." 2 So Elijah went to present himself
to Ahab.
Now
the famine was severe in Samaria, 3 and Ahab had summoned Obadiah,
who was in charge of his palace. (Obadiah was a devout believer in the LORD.
4 While Jezebel was killing off the LORD's prophets, Obadiah had
taken a hundred prophets and hidden them in two caves, fifty in each, and had
supplied them with food and water.) 5 Ahab had said to Obadiah, "Go
through the land to all the springs and valleys. Maybe we can find some grass to
keep the horses and mules alive so we will not have to kill any of our animals."
6 So they divided the land they were to cover, Ahab going in one
direction and Obadiah in another.
7
As
Obadiah was walking along, Elijah met him. Obadiah recognized him, bowed down to
the ground, and said, "Is it really you, my lord Elijah?"
8
"Yes,"
he replied. "Go tell your master, `Elijah is here.'"
9
"What
have I done wrong," asked Obadiah, "that you are handing your servant over to
Ahab to be put to death? 10 As surely as the LORD your God lives,
there is not a nation or kingdom where my master has not sent someone to look
for you. And whenever a nation or kingdom claimed you were not there, he made
them swear they could not find you. 11 But now you tell me to go to
my master and say, `Elijah is here.' 12 I don't know where the Spirit
of the LORD may carry you when I leave you. If I go and tell Ahab and he doesn't
find you, he will kill me. Yet I your servant have worshiped the LORD since my
youth. 13 Haven't you heard, my lord, what I did while [14]
Jezebel was killing the prophets of the LORD? I hid a hundred of the LORD's
prophets in two caves, fifty in each, and supplied them with food and water.
14 And now you tell me to go to my master and say, `Elijah is here.'
He will kill me!"
15
Elijah
said, "As the LORD Almighty lives, whom I serve, I will surely present myself to
Ahab today."
16
So
Obadiah went to meet Ahab and told him, and Ahab went to meet Elijah. 17
When he saw Elijah, he said to him, "Is that you, you troubler of Israel?"
18
"I
have not made trouble for Israel," Elijah replied. "But you and your father's
family have. You have abandoned the LORD's commands and have followed the Baals.
19 Now summon the people from all over Israel to meet me on Mount
Carmel. And bring the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four
hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel's table."
20
So
Ahab sent word throughout all Israel and assembled the prophets on Mount Carmel.
21 Elijah went before the people and said, "How long will you waver
between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow
him."
But
the people said nothing.
22
Then
Elijah said to them, "I am the only one of the LORD's prophets left, but Baal
has four hundred and fifty prophets. 23 Get two bulls for us. Let
them choose one for themselves, and let them cut it into pieces and put it on
the wood but not set fire to it. I will [15]
prepare the other bull and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. 24
Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the
LORD. The god who answers by fire--he is God."
Then
all the people said, "What you say is good."
25
Elijah
said to the prophets of Baal, "Choose one of the bulls and prepare it first,
since there are so many of you. Call on the name of your god, but do not light
the fire." 26 So they took the bull given them and prepared it.
Then
they called on the name of Baal from morning till noon. "O Baal, answer us!"
they shouted. But there was no response; no one answered. And they danced around
the altar they had made.
27
At
noon Elijah began to taunt them. "Shout louder!" he said. "Surely he is a god!
Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and
must be awakened." 28 So they shouted louder and slashed themselves
with swords and spears, as was their custom, until their blood flowed. 29
Midday passed, and they continued their frantic prophesying until the time
for the evening sacrifice. But there was no response, no one answered, no one
paid attention.
30
Then
Elijah said to all the people, "Come here to me." They came to him, and he
repaired the altar of the LORD, which was in ruins. 31 Elijah took
twelve stones, one for each of the tribes descended from Jacob, to whom the word
of the LORD had come, saying, "Your name shall be
Israel." 32 With the stones he built an [16]
altar in the name of the LORD, and he dug a trench around it large enough to
hold two seahs A of seed.
33
He
arranged the wood, cut the bull into pieces and laid it on the wood. Then he
said to them, "Fill four large jars with water and pour it on the offering and
on the wood."
34
"Do
it again," he said, and they did it again.
"Do
it a third time," he ordered, and they did it the third time. 35 The
water ran down around the altar and even filled the trench.
36
At
the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: "O LORD,
God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in
Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your
command. 37 Answer me, O LORD, answer me, so these people will know
that you, O LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again."
38
Then
the fire of the LORD fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and
the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.
39
When
all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, "The LORD--he is God!
The LORD--he is God!"
40
Then
Elijah commanded them, "Seize the prophets of Baal. Don't let anyone get away!"
They seized them, and Elijah had them brought down to the Kishon Valley and
slaughtered there.
41
And
Elijah said to Ahab, "Go, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy
rain."
42
So
Ahab went off to eat and drink, but Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel, bent
down to the ground and put his face between his knees. [17]
43 "Go and look toward the sea," he told his servant. And he went up
and looked.
"There
is nothing there," he said.
Seven
times Elijah said, "Go back."
44
The
seventh time the servant reported, "A cloud as small as a man's hand is rising
from the sea."
So
Elijah said, "Go and tell Ahab, `Hitch up your chariot and go down before the
rain stops you.' "
45
Meanwhile,
the sky grew black with clouds, the wind rose, a heavy rain came on and Ahab
rode off to Jezreel. 46 The power of the LORD came upon Elijah and,
tucking his cloak into his belt, he ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel. [18]
NEW
TESTAMENT: ACTS 11:1 - 30
11
1
The
apostles and the brothers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had
received the word of God. 2 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the
circumcised believers criticized him 3 and said, "You went into the
house of uncircumcised men and ate with them."
4
Peter
began and explained everything to them precisely as it had happened: 5
"I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. I saw
something like a large sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners, and
it came down to where I was. 6 I looked into it and saw four-footed
animals of the earth, wild beasts, reptiles, and birds of the air. 7
Then I heard a voice telling me, `Get up, Peter.
Kill and eat.'
8
"I
replied, `Surely not, Lord! Nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my
mouth.'
9
"The
voice spoke from heaven a second time, `Do not call
anything impure that God has made clean.' 10 This happened
three times, and then it was all pulled up to heaven again.
11
"Right
then three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea stopped at the house where
I was staying. 12 The Spirit told me to have no hesitation about
going with them. These six brothers also went with me, and we entered the man's
house. 13 He told us how he had seen an angel appear in his house and
say, `Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. 14 He will bring
you a message through which you and all your household will be saved.'
15
"As
I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the
beginning. 16 Then I remembered what the Lord had said: `John baptized with A water, but you will be baptized with the Holy
Spirit.' 17 So if God gave them the same gift as he gave us,
[19]who
believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could oppose God?"
18
When
they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, "So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto
life."
19
Now
those who had been scattered by the persecution in connection with Stephen
traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, telling the message only to
Jews.
20 Some of them, however, men from
Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling
them the good news about the Lord Jesus. 21 The Lord's hand was with
them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.
22
News
of this reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to
Antioch. 23 When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God,
he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their
hearts. 24 He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and
a great number of people were brought to the Lord.
25
Then
Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26 and when he found him,
he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the
church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians
first at Antioch.
27
During
this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 One
of them, named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe
famine would spread over the entire Roman world. (This happened during the reign
of Claudius.) 29 The [20]
disciples, each according to his ability, decided to provide help for the
brothers living in Judea. 30 This they did, sending their gift to the
elders by Barnabas and Saul. [21]
[1]
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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]
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[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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[20]
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[21]
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