Genesis 1:1 1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
MARCH
31
PSALMS:
31, 61, 91, 121
PROVERBS:
31
OLD
TESTAMENT:
1 KINGS 22:1 - 53
NEW
TESTAMENT:
ACTS 16:16 - 41
PSALMS:
31
For
the director of music. A psalm of David.
1
In
you, O LORD, I have taken refuge;
let
me never be put to shame;
deliver
me in your righteousness.
2
Turn
your ear to me,
come
quickly to my rescue;
be
my rock of refuge,
a
strong fortress to save me.
3
Since
you are my rock and my fortress,
for
the sake of your name lead and guide me.
4
Free
me from the trap that is set for me,
for
you are my refuge.
5
Into
your hands I commit my spirit;
redeem
me, O LORD, the God of truth.
6
I
hate those who cling to worthless idols;
I
trust in the LORD.
7
I
will be glad and rejoice in your love,
for
you saw my affliction
and
knew the anguish of my soul.
8
You
have not handed me over to the enemy
but
have set my feet in a spacious place.
9
Be
merciful to me, O LORD, for I am in distress;
my
eyes grow weak with sorrow,
my
soul and my body with grief.
10
My
life is consumed by anguish
and
my years by groaning;
my
strength fails because of my affliction, A
and
my bones grow weak. 1
11
Because
of all my enemies,
I
am the utter contempt of my neighbors;
I
am a dread to my friends--
those
who see me on the street flee from me.
12
I
am forgotten by them as though I were dead;
I
have become like broken pottery.
13
For
I hear the slander of many;
there
is terror on every side;
they
conspire against me
and
plot to take my life.
14
But
I trust in you, O LORD;
I
say, "You are my God."
15
My
times are in your hands;
deliver
me from my enemies
and
from those who pursue me.
16
Let
your face shine on your servant;
save
me in your unfailing love.
17
Let
me not be put to shame, O LORD,
for
I have cried out to you;
but
let the wicked be put to shame
and
lie silent in the grave. B
18
Let
their lying lips be silenced,
for
with pride and contempt
they
speak arrogantly against the righteous.
19
How
great is your goodness,
which
you have stored up for those who fear you,
which
you bestow in the sight of men
on
those who take refuge in you.
20
In
the shelter of your presence you hide them
from
the intrigues of men;
in
your dwelling you keep them safe 2
from
accusing tongues.
21
Praise
be to the LORD,
for
he showed his wonderful love to me
when
I was in a besieged city.
22
In
my alarm I said,
"I
am cut off from your sight!"
Yet
you heard my cry for mercy
when
I called to you for help.
23
Love
the LORD, all his saints!
The
LORD preserves the faithful,
but
the proud he pays back in full.
24
Be
strong and take heart,
all
you who hope in the LORD. 3
PSALMS:
61
For
the director of music. With stringed instruments. Of David.
1
Hear
my cry, O God;
listen
to my prayer.
2
From
the ends of the earth I call to you,
I
call as my heart grows faint;
lead
me to the rock that is higher than I.
3
For
you have been my refuge,
a
strong tower against the foe.
4
I
long to dwell in your tent forever
and
take refuge in the shelter of your wings.
Selah
5
For
you have heard my vows, O God;
you
have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.
6
Increase
the days of the king's life,
his
years for many generations.
7
May
he be enthroned in God's presence forever;
appoint
your love and faithfulness to protect him.
8
Then
will I ever sing praise to your name
and
fulfill my vows day after day. 4
PSALMS:
91
1
He
who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will
rest in the shadow of the Almighty. A
2
I
will say B
of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress,
my
God, in whom I trust."
3
Surely
he will save you from the fowler's snare
and
from the deadly pestilence.
4
He
will cover you with his feathers,
and
under his wings you will find refuge;
his
faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5
You
will not fear the terror of night,
nor
the arrow that flies by day,
6
nor
the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor
the plague that destroys at midday.
7
A
thousand may fall at your side,
ten
thousand at your right hand,
but
it will not come near you.
8
You
will only observe with your eyes
and
see the punishment of the wicked.
9
If
you make the Most High your dwelling--
even
the LORD, who is my refuge--
10then
no harm will befall you,
no
disaster will come near your tent.
11
For
he will command his angels concerning you
to
guard you in all your ways;
12
they
will lift you up in their hands,
so
that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13
You
will tread upon the lion and the cobra;
you
will trample the great lion and the serpent. 5
14
"Because
he loves me,"
says the LORD, "I
will rescue him;
I
will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15
He
will call upon me, and I will answer him;
I
will be with him in trouble,
I
will deliver him and honor him.
16
With
long life will I satisfy him
PSALMS:
121
A
song of ascents.
1
I
lift up my eyes to the hills--
where
does my help come from?
2
My
help comes from the LORD,
the
Maker of heaven and earth.
3
He
will not let your foot slip--
he
who watches over you will not slumber;
4
indeed,
he who watches over Israel
will
neither slumber nor sleep.
5
The
LORD watches over you--
the
LORD is your shade at your right hand;
6
the
sun will not harm you by day,
nor
the moon by night.
7
The
LORD will keep you from all harm--
he
will watch over your life;
8
the
LORD will watch over your coming and going
both
now and forevermore. 7
PROVERBS:
31
31
1
The
sayings of King Lemuel--an oracle A
his mother taught him:
2
"O
my son, O son of my womb,
O
son of my vows, B
3
do
not spend your strength on women,
your
vigor on those who ruin kings.
4
"It
is not for kings, O Lemuel--
not
for kings to drink wine,
not
for rulers to crave beer,
5
lest
they drink and forget what the law decrees,
and
deprive all the oppressed of their rights.
6
Give
beer to those who are perishing,
wine
to those who are in anguish;
7
let
them drink and forget their poverty
and
remember their misery no more.
8
"Speak
up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
for
the rights of all who are destitute.
9
Speak
up and judge fairly;
10
C
A wife of noble character who can find?
She
is worth far more than rubies.
11
Her
husband has full confidence in her
and
lacks nothing of value.
12
She
brings him good, not harm,
all
the days of her life.
13
She
selects wool and flax
and
works with eager hands.
14
She
is like the merchant ships,
bringing
her food from afar.
15
She
gets up while it is still dark;
she
provides food for her family
and
portions for her servant girls.
16
She
considers a field and buys it;
out
of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17
She
sets about her work vigorously;
her
arms are strong for her tasks.
18
She
sees that her trading is profitable,
and
her lamp does not go out at night.
19
In
her hand she holds the distaff
and
grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20
She
opens her arms to the poor
and
extends her hands to the needy.
21
When
it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for
all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22
She
makes coverings for her bed;
she
is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23
Her
husband is respected at the city gate,
where
he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
24
She
makes linen garments and sells them,
and
supplies the merchants with sashes.
25
She
is clothed with strength and dignity;
she
can laugh at the days to come.
and
faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27
She
watches over the affairs of her household
and
does not eat the bread of idleness.
28
Her
children arise and call her blessed;
her
husband also, and he praises her:
29
"Many
women do noble things,
but
you surpass them all."
30
Charm
is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but
a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
31
Give
her the reward she has earned,
OLD
TESTAMENT:
1 KINGS 22:1 - 53
22
1
For
three years there was no war between Aram and Israel. 2
But
in the third year Jehoshaphat king of Judah went down to see the king
of Israel. 3
The
king of Israel had said to his officials, "Don't you know that
Ramoth Gilead belongs to us and yet we are doing nothing to retake it
from the king of Aram?"
4
So
he asked Jehoshaphat, "Will you go with me to fight against
Ramoth Gilead?"
Jehoshaphat
replied to the king of Israel, "I am as you are, my people as
your people, my horses as your horses." 5
But
Jehoshaphat also said to the king of Israel, "First seek the
counsel of the LORD."
6
So
the king of Israel brought together the prophets--about four hundred
men--and asked them, "Shall I go to war against Ramoth Gilead,
or shall I refrain?"
"Go,"
they answered, "for the Lord will give it into the king's hand."
7
But
Jehoshaphat asked, "Is there not a prophet of the LORD here whom
we can inquire of?"
8
The
king of Israel answered Jehoshaphat, "There is still one man
through whom we can inquire of the LORD, but I hate him because he
never prophesies anything good about me, but always bad. He is
Micaiah son of Imlah."
"The
king should not say that," Jehoshaphat replied.
9
So
the king of Israel called one of his officials and said, "Bring
Micaiah son of Imlah at once."
10
Dressed
in their royal robes, the king of Israel and 11
Jehoshaphat king of Judah were sitting on their thrones at the
threshing floor by the entrance of the gate of Samaria, with all the
prophets prophesying before them. 11
Now
Zedekiah son of Kenaanah had made iron horns and he declared, "This
is what the LORD says:
`With
these you will gore the Arameans until they are destroyed.'"
12
All
the other prophets were prophesying the same thing. "Attack
Ramoth Gilead and be victorious," they said, "for the LORD
will give it into the king's hand."
13
The
messenger who had gone to summon Micaiah said to him, "Look, as
one man the other prophets are predicting success for the king. Let
your word agree with theirs, and speak favorably."
14
But
Micaiah said, "As surely as the LORD lives, I can tell him only
what the LORD tells me."
15
When
he arrived, the king asked him, "Micaiah, shall we go to war
against Ramoth Gilead, or shall I refrain?"
"Attack
and be victorious," he answered, "for the LORD will give it
into the king's hand."
16
The
king said to him, "How many times must I make you swear to tell
me nothing but the truth in the name of the LORD?"
17
Then
Micaiah answered, "I saw all Israel scattered on the hills like
sheep without a shepherd, and the LORD said,
`These
people have no master. Let each one go home in peace.'"
18
The
king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "Didn't I tell you that he
never prophesies anything good about me, but only bad?"
19
Micaiah
continued, "Therefore
hear the word of the LORD:
I 12
saw the LORD sitting on his throne with all the host of heaven
standing around him on his right and on his left.
20
And the LORD said,
`Who
will entice Ahab into attacking Ramoth Gilead and going to his death
there?'
"One
suggested this, and another that.
21
Finally, a spirit came forward, stood before the LORD and said,
`I
will entice him.'
22"`By
what means?'
the
LORD asked.
"`I
will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouths of all his prophets,'
he said.
"`You
will succeed in enticing him,'
said
the LORD.
`Go
and do it.'
23
"So
now the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouths of all these
prophets of yours. The LORD has decreed disaster for you."
24
Then
Zedekiah son of Kenaanah went up and slapped Micaiah in the face.
"Which way did the spirit from A
the LORD go when he went from me to speak to you?" he asked.
25
Micaiah
replied, "You will find out on the day you go to hide in an
inner room."
26
The
king of Israel then ordered, "Take Micaiah and send him back to
Amon the ruler of the city and to Joash the king's son 27
and
say, `This is what the king says: Put this fellow in prison and give
him nothing but bread and water until I return safely.'"
28Micaiah
declared, "If you ever return safely, the LORD has not spoken
through me." Then he added, "Mark my words, all you
people!"
30
The
king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "I will enter the battle in
disguise, but you wear your royal robes." So the king of Israel
disguised himself and went into battle.
31
Now
the king of Aram had ordered his thirty-two chariot commanders, "Do
not fight with anyone, small or great, except the king of Israel."
32
When
the chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat, they thought, "Surely
this is the king of Israel." So they turned to attack him, but
when Jehoshaphat cried out, 33
the
chariot commanders saw that he was not the king of Israel and stopped
pursuing him.
34
But
someone drew his bow at random and hit the king of Israel between the
sections of his armor. The king told his chariot driver, "Wheel
around and get me out of the fighting. I've been wounded." 35
All
day long the battle raged, and the king was propped up in his chariot
facing the Arameans. The blood from his wound ran onto the floor of
the chariot, and that evening he died. 36
As
the sun was setting, a cry spread through the army: "Every man
to his town; everyone to his land!"
37
So
the king died and was brought to Samaria, and they buried him there.
38
They
washed the chariot at a pool in Samaria (where the prostitutes
bathed), B
and the dogs licked up his blood, as the word of the LORD had
declared.
39
As
for the other events of Ahab's reign, including all he did, the
palace he built and inlaid with ivory, and the cities he fortified,
are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of
Israel? 40
Ahab
rested with his fathers. And Ahaziah his son succeeded him 14
as king.
41
Jehoshaphat
son of Asa became king of Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of
Israel. 42
Jehoshaphat
was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in
Jerusalem twenty-five years. His mother's name was Azubah daughter of
Shilhi.
43
In
everything he walked in the ways of his father Asa and did not stray
from them; he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD. The high
places, however, were not removed, and the people continued to offer
sacrifices and burn incense there.
44
Jehoshaphat
was also at peace with the king of Israel.
45
As
for the other events of Jehoshaphat's reign, the things he achieved
and his military exploits, are they not written in the book of the
annals of the kings of Judah? 46
He
rid the land of the rest of the male shrine prostitutes who remained
there even after the reign of his father Asa. 47
There
was then no king in Edom; a deputy ruled.
48
Now
Jehoshaphat built a fleet of trading ships C
to go to Ophir for gold, but they never set sail--they were wrecked
at Ezion Geber. 49
At
that time Ahaziah son of Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, "Let my men
sail with your men," but Jehoshaphat refused.
50
Then
Jehoshaphat rested with his fathers and was buried with them in the
city of David his father. And Jehoram his son succeeded him.
51
Ahaziah
son of Ahab became king of Israel in Samaria in the seventeenth year
of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and he reigned over Israel two years.
52
He
did evil in the eyes of the LORD, because he walked in the ways of
his father and mother and in the ways of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who
caused Israel to sin. 53
He
served and 15
worshiped Baal and provoked the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger,
just as his father had done. 16
NEW
TESTAMENT: ACTS 13:16 - 41
16
Standing
up, Paul motioned with his hand and said: "Men of Israel and you
Gentiles who worship God, listen to me! 17
The
God of the people of Israel chose our fathers; he made the people
prosper during their stay in Egypt, with mighty power he led them out
of that country, 18
he
endured their conduct A
for about forty years in the desert,
19
he
overthrew seven nations in Canaan and gave their land to his people
as their inheritance. 20
All
this took about 450 years.
"After
this, God gave them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet. 21
Then
the people asked for a king, and he gave them Saul son of Kish, of
the tribe of Benjamin, who ruled forty years. 22
After
removing Saul, he made David their king. He testified concerning him:
`I
have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart;
he will do everything I want him to do.'
23
"From
this man's descendants God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as
he promised. 24
Before
the coming of Jesus, John preached repentance and baptism to all the
people of Israel. 25
As
John was completing his work, he said: `Who do you think I am? I am
not that one. No, but he is coming after me, whose sandals I am not
worthy to untie.'
26
"Brothers,
children of Abraham, and you God-fearing Gentiles, it is to us that
this message of salvation has been sent. 27
The
people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus, yet in
condemning him they fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read
every Sabbath. 28
Though
they found no proper ground for a death sentence, they asked Pilate
to have him executed. 29
When
they had carried out all that was written about him, they took him
down 17
from the tree and laid him in a tomb. 30
But
God raised him from the dead, 31
and
for many days he was seen by those who had traveled with him from
Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now his witnesses to our people.
32
"We
tell you the good news: What God promised our fathers 33
he
has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it is
written in the second Psalm:
"`You
are my Son;
today
I have become your Father.
B'
C
34
The
fact that God raised him from the dead, never to decay, is stated in
these words:
"`I
will give you the holy and sure blessings promised to David.'
D
35
So it is stated elsewhere:
"`You
will not let your Holy One see decay.'
E
36
"For
when David had served God's purpose in his own generation, he fell
asleep; he was buried with his fathers and his body decayed. 37
But
the one whom God raised from the dead did not see decay.
38
"Therefore,
my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of
sins is proclaimed to you.
39
Through him everyone who believes is justified from everything you
could not be 18
justified from by the law of Moses.
40
Take care that what the prophets have said does not happen to you:
41"`Look,
you scoffers,
wonder
and perish,
for
I am going to do something in your days
that
you would never believe,
1
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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
