Genesis 1:1 1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
DECEMBER
6
PSALMS:
6, 36, 66, 96, 126
PROVERBS:
6
OLD
TESTAMENT:
LEVITICUS 16:29 - 18:30
NEW
TESTAMENT:
MARK 7:24 - 8:10
PSALMS:
6
For
the director of music. With stringed instruments. According to
sheminith.
A
A psalm of David.
1
O
LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger
or
discipline me in your wrath.
2
Be
merciful to me, LORD, for I am faint;
O
LORD, heal me, for my bones are in agony.
3
My
soul is in anguish.
How
long, O LORD, how long?
4
Turn,
O LORD, and deliver me;
save
me because of your unfailing love.
5
No
one remembers you when he is dead.
Who
praises you from the grave B?
6
I
am worn out from groaning;
all
night long I flood my bed with weeping
and
drench my couch with tears.
7
My
eyes grow weak with sorrow;
they
fail because of all my foes.
8
Away
from me, all you who do evil,
for
the LORD has heard my weeping.
9
The
LORD has heard my cry for mercy;
the
LORD accepts my prayer.
10
All
my enemies will be ashamed and dismayed;
they
will turn back in sudden disgrace.
PSALMS:
36
For
the director of music. Of David the servant of the LORD.
1
An
oracle is within my heart
concerning
the sinfulness of the wicked: A
There
is no fear of God
before
his eyes.
2
For
in his own eyes he flatters himself
too
much to detect or hate his sin.
3
The
words of his mouth are wicked and deceitful;
he
has ceased to be wise and to do good.
4
Even
on his bed he plots evil;
he
commits himself to a sinful course
and
does not reject what is wrong.
5
Your
love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens,
your
faithfulness to the skies.
6
Your
righteousness is like the mighty mountains,
your
justice like the great deep.
O
LORD, you preserve both man and beast.
7
How
priceless is your unfailing love!
Both
high and low among men
find
B
refuge in the shadow of your wings.
8
They
feast on the abundance of your house;
you
give them drink from your river of delights.
9
For
with you is the fountain of life;
in
your light we see light.
10
Continue
your love to those who know you,
your
righteousness to the upright in heart.
11
May
the foot of the proud not come against me,
nor
the hand of the wicked drive me away.
12
See
how the evildoers lie fallen--
thrown
down, not able to rise!
PSALMS:
66
For
the director of music. A song. A psalm.
1
Shout
with joy to God, all the earth!
2
Sing
the glory of his name;
make
his praise glorious!
3
Say
to God, "How awesome are your deeds!
So
great is your power
that
your enemies cringe before you.
4
All
the earth bows down to you;
they
sing praise to you,
they
sing praise to your name."
Selah
5
Come
and see what God has done,
how
awesome his works in man's behalf!
6
He
turned the sea into dry land,
they
passed through the waters on foot--
come,
let us rejoice in him.
7
He
rules forever by his power,
his
eyes watch the nations--
let
not the rebellious rise up against him.
Selah
8
Praise
our God, O peoples,
let
the sound of his praise be heard;
9
he
has preserved our lives
and
kept our feet from slipping.
10
For
you, O God, tested us;
you
refined us like silver.
11
You
brought us into prison
and
laid burdens on our backs.
12
You
let men ride over our heads;
we
went through fire and water,
but
you brought us to a place of abundance.
13
I
will come to your temple with burnt offerings
and
fulfill my vows to you--
14
vows
my lips promised and my mouth spoke
when
I was in trouble.
15
I
will sacrifice fat animals to you
and
an offering of rams;
I
will offer bulls and goats.
Selah
16
Come
and listen, all you who fear God;
let
me tell you what he has done for me.
17
I
cried out to him with my mouth;
his
praise was on my tongue.
18
If
I had cherished sin in my heart,
the
Lord would not have listened;
19
but
God has surely listened
and
heard my voice in prayer.
20
Praise
be to God,
who
has not rejected my prayer
or
withheld his love from me!
PSALMS:
96
1
Sing
to the LORD a new song;
sing
to the LORD, all the earth.
2
Sing
to the LORD, praise his name;
proclaim
his salvation day after day.
3
Declare
his glory among the nations,
his
marvelous deeds among all peoples.
4
For
great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;
he
is to be feared above all gods.
5
For
all the gods of the nations are idols,
but
the LORD made the heavens.
6
Splendor
and majesty are before him;
strength
and glory are in his sanctuary.
7
Ascribe
to the LORD, O families of nations,
ascribe
to the LORD glory and strength.
8
Ascribe
to the LORD the glory due his name;
bring
an offering and come into his courts.
9
Worship
the LORD in the splendor of his A
holiness;
tremble
before him, all the earth.
10
Say
among the nations, "The
LORD reigns."
The
world is firmly established, it cannot be moved;
he
will judge the peoples with equity.
11
Let
the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;
let
the sea resound, and all that is in it;
12
let
the fields be jubilant, and everything in them.
Then
all the trees of the forest will sing for joy;
13
they
will sing before the LORD, for he comes,
he
comes to judge the earth.
He
will judge the world in righteousness
and
the peoples in his truth.
PSALMS:
126
A
song of ascents.
1
When
the LORD brought back the captives to A
Zion,
we
were like men who dreamed. B
2
Our
mouths were filled with laughter,
our
tongues with songs of joy.
Then
it was said among the nations,
"The
LORD has done great things for them."
3
The
LORD has done great things for us,
and
we are filled with joy.
4
Restore
our fortunes, C
O LORD,
like
streams in the Negev.
5
Those
who sow in tears
will
reap with songs of joy.
6
He
who goes out weeping,
carrying
seed to sow,
will
return with songs of joy,
carrying
sheaves with him.
PROVERBS:
6
6
1
My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor,
if
you have struck hands in pledge for another,
2
if
you have been trapped by what you said,
ensnared
by the words of your mouth,
3
then
do this, my son, to free yourself,
since
you have fallen into your neighbor's hands:
Go
and humble yourself;
press
your plea with your neighbor!
4
Allow
no sleep to your eyes,
no
slumber to your eyelids.
5
Free
yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter,
like
a bird from the snare of the fowler.
6
Go
to the ant, you sluggard;
consider
its ways and be wise!
7
It
has no commander,
no
overseer or ruler,
8
yet
it stores its provisions in summer
and
gathers its food at harvest.
9
How
long will you lie there, you sluggard?
When
will you get up from your sleep?
10
A
little sleep, a little slumber,
a
little folding of the hands to rest--
11
and
poverty will come on you like a bandit
and
scarcity like an armed man. A
12
A
scoundrel and villain,
who
goes about with a corrupt mouth,
13
who winks with his eye,
signals
with his feet
and
motions with his fingers,
14
who plots evil with deceit in his heart--
he
always stirs up dissension.
15
Therefore
disaster will overtake him in an instant;
he
will suddenly be destroyed--without remedy.
16
There
are six things the LORD hates,
seven
that are detestable to him:
17
haughty
eyes,
a
lying tongue,
hands
that shed innocent blood,
18
a
heart that devises wicked schemes,
feet
that are quick to rush into evil,
19
a
false witness who pours out lies
and
a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.
20
My
son, keep your father's commands
and
do not forsake your mother's teaching.
21
Bind
them upon your heart forever;
fasten
them around your neck.
22
When
you walk, they will guide you;
when
you sleep, they will watch over you;
when
you awake, they will speak to you.
23
For
these commands are a lamp,
this
teaching is a light,
and
the corrections of discipline
are
the way to life,
24
keeping
you from the immoral woman,
from
the smooth tongue of the wayward wife.
25
Do
not lust in your heart after her beauty
or
let her captivate you with her eyes,
26
for
the prostitute reduces you to a loaf of bread,
and
the adulteress preys upon your very life.
27
Can
a man scoop fire into his lap
without
his clothes being burned?
28
Can
a man walk on hot coals
without
his feet being scorched?
29
So
is he who sleeps with another man's wife;
no
one who touches her will go unpunished.
30
Men
do not despise a thief if he steals
to
satisfy his hunger when he is starving.
31
Yet
if he is caught, he must pay sevenfold,
though
it costs him all the wealth of his house.
32
But
a man who commits adultery lacks judgment;
whoever
does so destroys himself.
33
Blows
and disgrace are his lot,
and
his shame will never be wiped away;
34
for
jealousy arouses a husband's fury,
and
he will show no mercy when he takes revenge.
35
He
will not accept any compensation;
he
will refuse the bribe, however great it is.
OLD
TESTAMENT:
LEVITICUS 16:29 - 18:30
29
"This
is to be a lasting ordinance for you: On the tenth day of the seventh
month you must deny yourselves B
and not do any work--whether native-born or an alien living among
you—30
because
on this day atonement will be made for you, to cleanse you.
Then, before the LORD, you will be clean from all your sins.
31
It
is a sabbath of rest, and you must deny yourselves; it is a lasting
ordinance.
32
The
priest who is anointed and ordained to succeed his father as high
priest is to make atonement.
He
is to put on the sacred linen garments 33
and
make atonement for the Most Holy Place, for the Tent of Meeting and
the altar, and for the priests and all the people of the community.
34
"This
is to be a lasting ordinance for you: Atonement is to be made once a
year for all the sins of the Israelites."
And
it was done, as the LORD commanded Moses.
17
1
The
LORD said to Moses, 2
"Speak
to Aaron and his sons and to all the Israelites and say to them:
`This
is what the LORD has commanded:
3
Any
Israelite who sacrifices an ox,
A
a lamb or a goat in the camp or outside of it 4
instead
of bringing it to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting to present it
as an offering to the LORD in front of the tabernacle of the
LORD--that man shall be considered guilty of bloodshed;
he has shed blood and must be cut off from his people.
5
This
is so the Israelites will bring to the LORD the sacrifices they are
now making in the open fields.
They must bring them to the priest, that is, to the LORD, at the
entrance to the Tent of Meeting and sacrifice them as fellowship
offerings.
B
6
The
priest is to sprinkle the blood against the altar of the LORD at the
entrance to the Tent of Meeting and burn the fat as an aroma pleasing
to the LORD.
7
They
must no longer offer any of their sacrifices to the goat idols C
to whom they prostitute themselves.
This is to be a lasting ordinance for them and for the generations to
come.'
8
"Say
to them:
`Any
Israelite or any alien living among them who offers a burnt offering
or sacrifice 9
and
does not bring it to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting to sacrifice
it to the LORD--that man must be cut off from his people.
10
"`Any
Israelite or any alien living among them who eats any blood--I will
set my face against that person who eats blood and will cut him off
from his people.
11
For
the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to
make atonement for yourselves on the altar;
it is the blood that makes atonement for one's life.
12
Therefore
I say to the Israelites,
"None
of you may eat blood, nor may an alien living among you eat blood."
13
"`Any
Israelite or any alien living among you who hunts any animal or bird
that may be eaten must drain out the blood and cover it with earth,
14
because
the life of every creature is its blood.
That
is why I have said to the Israelites,
"You
must not eat the blood of any creature, because the life of every
creature is its blood;
anyone who eats it must be cut off."
15
"`Anyone,
whether native-born or alien, who eats anything found dead or torn by
wild animals must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will
be ceremonially unclean till evening; then he will be clean.
16
But
if he does not wash his clothes and bathe himself, he will be held
responsible.'
"
18
1
The
LORD said to Moses, 2
"Speak
to the Israelites and say to them:
`I
am the LORD your God.
3
You
must not do as they do in Egypt, where you used to live, and you must
not do as they do in the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you.
Do not follow their practices.
4
You
must obey my laws and be careful to follow my decrees.
I am the LORD your God.
5
Keep
my decrees and laws, for the man who obeys them will live by them. I
am the LORD.
6
"`No
one is to approach any close relative to have sexual relations.
I
am the LORD.
7
"`Do
not dishonor your father by having sexual relations with your mother.
She is your mother;
do
not have relations with her.
8
"`Do
not have sexual relations with your father's wife;
that would dishonor your father.
9
"`Do
not have sexual relations with your sister, either your father's
daughter or your mother's daughter, whether she was born in the same
home or elsewhere.
10
"`Do
not have sexual relations with your son's daughter or your daughter's
daughter; that would dishonor you.
11
"`Do
not have sexual relations with the daughter of your father's wife,
born to your father; she is your sister.
12
"`Do
not have sexual relations with your father's sister;
she
is your father's close relative.
13"
`Do
not have sexual relations with your mother's sister, because she is
your mother's close relative.
14
"`Do
not dishonor your father's brother by approaching his wife to have
sexual relations;
she is your aunt.
15
"`Do
not have sexual relations with your daughter-in-law. She is your
son's wife; do not have relations with her.
16
"`Do
not have sexual relations with your brother's wife;
that would dishonor your brother.
17
"`Do
not have sexual relations with both a woman and her daughter.
Do not have sexual relations with either her son's daughter or her
daughter's daughter;
they are her close relatives.
That is wickedness.
18
"`Do
not take your wife's sister as a rival wife and have sexual relations
with her while your wife is living.
19
"`Do
not approach a woman to have sexual relations during the uncleanness
of her monthly period.
20
"`Do
not have sexual relations with your neighbor's wife and defile
yourself with her.
21
"`Do
not give any of your children to be sacrificed A
to Molech, for you must not profane the name of your God.
I
am the LORD.
22
"`Do
not lie with a man as one lies with a woman;
that is detestable.
23
"`Do
not have sexual relations with an animal and defile yourself with it.
A woman must not present herself to an animal to have sexual
relations with it;
that is a perversion.
24
"`Do
not defile yourselves in any of these ways, because this is how the
nations that I am going to drive out before you became defiled.
25
Even
the land was defiled;
so
I punished it for its sin, and the land vomited out its inhabitants.
26
But
you must keep my decrees and my laws.
The native-born and the aliens living among you must not do any of
these detestable things,
27
for
all these things were done by the people who lived in the land before
you, and the land became defiled.
28
And
if you defile the land, it will vomit you out as it vomited out the
nations that were before you.
29
"`Everyone
who does any of these detestable things--such persons must be cut off
from their people.
30
Keep
my requirements and do not follow any of the detestable customs that
were practiced before you came and do not defile yourselves with
them. I am the LORD your God.'
"
NEW
TESTAMENT:
MARK 7:24 - 8:10
24
Jesus
left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre. G
He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could
not keep his presence secret. 25
In
fact, as soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter
was possessed by an evil H
spirit came and fell at his feet. 26
The
woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to
drive the demon out of her daughter.
27
"First
let the children eat all they want,"
he told her, "for
it is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their
dogs."
28
"Yes,
Lord," she replied, "but even the dogs under the table eat
the children's crumbs."
29
Then
he told her, "For
such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter."
30
She
went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.
31
Then
Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went through Sidon, down to the
Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis. I
32
There
some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk,
and they begged him to place his hand on the man.
33
After
he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into
the man's ears. Then he spit and touched the man's tongue. 34
He
looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, "Ephphatha!"
(which means, "Be
opened!").
35
At
this, the man's ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he
began to speak plainly.
36
Jesus
commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more he did so, the more
they kept talking about it. 37
People
were overwhelmed with amazement. "He
has done everything well,"
they said. "He
even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak."
8
1
During
those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to
eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said, 2
"I
have compassion for these people;
they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. 3
If
I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some
of them have come a long distance."
4
His
disciples answered, "But where in this remote place can anyone
get enough bread to feed them?"
5
"How
many loaves do you have?"
Jesus asked.
"Seven,"
they replied.
6
He
told the crowd to sit down on the ground. When he had taken the seven
loaves and given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples
to set before the people, and they did so. 7
They
had a few small fish as well; he gave thanks for them also and told
the disciples to distribute them. 8
The
people ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up
seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 9
About
four thousand men were present. And having sent them away, 10
he
got into the boat with his disciples and went to the region of
Dalmanutha.
John 3:16-21 16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, F that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.G 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God." H
