Genesis 1:1 1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
APRIL
20
PSALMS:
20, 50, 80, 110, 140
PROVERBS:
20
OLD
TESTAMENT:
1 CHRONICLES 9:1 - 10:14
NEW
TESTAMENT:
ACTS 22:21 - 44
PSALMS:
20
For
the director of music. A psalm of David.
1
May
the LORD answer you when you are in distress;
may
the name of the God of Jacob protect you.
2
May
he send you help from the sanctuary
and
grant you support from Zion.
3
May
he remember all your sacrifices
and
accept your burnt offerings.
Selah
4
May
he give you the desire of your heart
and
make all your plans succeed.
5
We
will shout for joy when you are victorious
and
will lift up our banners in the name of our God.
May
the LORD grant all your requests.
6
Now
I know that the LORD saves his anointed;
he
answers him from his holy heaven
with
the saving power of his right hand.
7
Some
trust in chariots and some in horses,
but
we trust in the name of the LORD our God.
8
They
are brought to their knees and fall,
but
we rise up and stand firm.
9
O
LORD, save the king!
PSALMS:
50
A
psalm of Asaph.
1
The
Mighty One, God, the LORD,
speaks
and summons the earth
from
the rising of the sun to the place where it sets.
2
From
Zion, perfect in beauty,
God
shines forth.
3
Our
God comes and will not be silent;
a
fire devours before him,
and
around him a tempest rages.
4
He
summons the heavens above,
and
the earth, that he may judge his people:
5
"Gather
to me my consecrated ones,
who
made a covenant with me by sacrifice."
6
And
the heavens proclaim his righteousness,
for
God himself is judge.
Selah
7
"Hear,
O my people, and I will speak,
O
Israel, and I will testify against you:
I
am God, your God.
8
I
do not rebuke you for your sacrifices
or
your burnt offerings, which are ever before me.
9
I
have no need of a bull from your stall
or
of goats from your pens,
10
for
every animal of the forest is mine,
and
the cattle on a thousand hills.
11
I
know every bird in the mountains,
and
the creatures of the field are mine.
for
the world is mine, and all that is in it.
13
Do
I eat the flesh of bulls
or
drink the blood of goats?
14
Sacrifice
thank offerings to God,
fulfill
your vows to the Most High,
15
and
call upon me in the day of trouble;
I
will deliver you, and you will honor me."
16
But
to the wicked, God says:
"What
right have you to recite my laws
or
take my covenant on your lips?
17
You
hate my instruction
and
cast my words behind you.
18
When
you see a thief, you join with him;
you
throw in your lot with adulterers.
19
You
use your mouth for evil
and
harness your tongue to deceit.
20
You
speak continually against your brother
and
slander your own mother's son.
21
These
things you have done and I kept silent;
you
thought I was altogether A
like you.
But
I will rebuke you
and
accuse you to your face.
22
"Consider
this, you who forget God,
or
I will tear you to pieces, with none to rescue:
23
He
who sacrifices thank offerings honors me,
and
he prepares the way
PSALMS:
80
For
the director of music. To the tune of "The Lilies of the
Covenant." Of Asaph. A psalm.
1
Hear
us, O Shepherd of Israel,
you
who lead Joseph like a flock;
you
who sit enthroned between the cherubim, shine forth
2
before
Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh.
Awaken
your might;
come
and save us.
3
Restore
us, O God;
make
your face shine upon us,
that
we may be saved.
4
O
LORD God Almighty,
how
long will your anger smolder
against
the prayers of your people?
5
You
have fed them with the bread of tears;
you
have made them drink tears by the bowlful.
6
You
have made us a source of contention to our neighbors,
and
our enemies mock us.
7
Restore
us, O God Almighty;
make
your face shine upon us,
that
we may be saved.
8
You
brought a vine out of Egypt;
you
drove out the nations and planted it.
9
You
cleared the ground for it,
and
it took root and filled the land.
10
The
mountains were covered with its shade,
the
mighty cedars with its branches. 4
11
It
sent out its boughs to the Sea, A
its
shoots as far as the River. B
12
Why
have you broken down its walls
so
that all who pass by pick its grapes?
13
Boars
from the forest ravage it
and
the creatures of the field feed on it.
14
Return
to us, O God Almighty!
Look
down from heaven and see!
Watch
over this vine,
15
the
root your right hand has planted,
the
son C
you have raised up for yourself.
16
Your
vine is cut down, it is burned with fire;
at
your rebuke your people perish.
17
Let
your hand rest on the man at your right hand,
the
son of man you have raised up for yourself.
18
Then
we will not turn away from you;
revive
us, and we will call on your name.
19
Restore
us, O LORD God Almighty;
make
your face shine upon us,
that
we may be saved. 5
PSALMS:
110
Of
David. A psalm.
1
The
LORD says to my Lord:
"Sit
at my right hand
until
I make your enemies
a
footstool for your feet."
2
The
LORD will extend your mighty scepter from Zion;
you
will rule in the midst of your enemies.
3
Your
troops will be willing
on
your day of battle.
Arrayed
in holy majesty,
from
the womb of the dawn
you
will receive the dew of your youth. A
4
The
LORD has sworn
and
will not change his mind:
"You
are a priest forever,
in
the order of Melchizedek."
5
The
Lord is at your right hand;
he
will crush kings on the day of his wrath.
6
He
will judge the nations, heaping up the dead
and
crushing the rulers of the whole earth.
7
He
will drink from a brook beside the way B;
therefore
he will lift up his head. 6
PSALMS:
140
For
the director of music. A psalm of David.
1
Rescue
me, O LORD, from evil men;
protect
me from men of violence,
2
who
devise evil plans in their hearts
and
stir up war every day.
3
They
make their tongues as sharp as a serpent's;
the
poison of vipers is on their lips.
Selah
4
Keep
me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked;
protect
me from men of violence
who
plan to trip my feet.
5
Proud
men have hidden a snare for me;
they
have spread out the cords of their net
and
have set traps for me along my path.
Selah
6
O
LORD, I say to you, "You are my God."
Hear,
O LORD, my cry for mercy.
7
O
Sovereign LORD, my strong deliverer,
who
shields my head in the day of battle--
8
do
not grant the wicked their desires, O LORD;
do
not let their plans succeed,
or
they will become proud.
Selah
9
Let
the heads of those who surround me
be
covered with the trouble their lips have caused.
10Let
burning coals fall upon them;
may
they be thrown into the fire,
into
miry pits, never to rise. 7
11
Let
slanderers not be established in the land;
may
disaster hunt down men of violence.
12
I
know that the LORD secures justice for the poor
and
upholds the cause of the needy.
13
Surely
the righteous will praise your name
and
the upright will live before you. 8
PROVERBS:
20
20
1
Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler;
whoever
is led astray by them is not wise.
2
A
king's wrath is like the roar of a lion;
he
who angers him forfeits his life.
3
It
is to a man's honor to avoid strife,
but
every fool is quick to quarrel.
4
A
sluggard does not plow in season;
so
at harvest time he looks but finds nothing.
5
The
purposes of a man's heart are deep waters,
but
a man of understanding draws them out.
6
Many
a man claims to have unfailing love,
but
a faithful man who can find?
7
The
righteous man leads a blameless life;
blessed
are his children after him.
8
When
a king sits on his throne to judge,
he
winnows out all evil with his eyes.
9
Who
can say, "I have kept my heart pure;
I
am clean and without sin"?
10
Differing
weights and differing measures--
the
LORD detests them both.
11
Even
a child is known by his actions,
by
whether his conduct is pure and right. 9
12
Ears
that hear and eyes that see--
the
LORD has made them both.
13
Do
not love sleep or you will grow poor;
stay
awake and you will have food to spare.
14
"It's
no good, it's no good!" says the buyer;
then
off he goes and boasts about his purchase.
15
Gold
there is, and rubies in abundance,
but
lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel.
16
Take
the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger;
hold
it in pledge if he does it for a wayward woman.
17
Food
gained by fraud tastes sweet to a man,
but
he ends up with a mouth full of gravel.
18
Make
plans by seeking advice;
if
you wage war, obtain guidance.
19
A
gossip betrays a confidence;
so
avoid a man who talks too much.
20
If
a man curses his father or mother,
his
lamp will be snuffed out in pitch darkness.
21
An
inheritance quickly gained at the beginning
will
not be blessed at the end.
22
Do
not say, "I'll pay you back for this wrong!"
Wait
for the LORD, and he will deliver you. 10
23
The
LORD detests differing weights,
and
dishonest scales do not please him.
24
A
man's steps are directed by the LORD.
How
then can anyone understand his own way?
25
It
is a trap for a man to dedicate something rashly
and
only later to consider his vows.
26
A
wise king winnows out the wicked;
he
drives the threshing wheel over them.
27
The
lamp of the LORD searches the spirit of a man A;
it
searches out his inmost being.
28
Love
and faithfulness keep a king safe;
through
love his throne is made secure.
29
The
glory of young men is their strength,
gray
hair the splendor of the old.
30
Blows
and wounds cleanse away evil,
and
beatings purge the inmost being. 11
OLD
TESTAMENT:
1 CHRONICLES 9:1 - 10:14
9
1
All
Israel was listed in the genealogies recorded in the book of the
kings of Israel.
The
people of Judah were taken captive to Babylon because of their
unfaithfulness.
2
Now
the first to resettle on their own property in their own towns were
some Israelites, priests, Levites and temple servants.
3
Those
from Judah, from Benjamin, and from Ephraim and Manasseh who lived in
Jerusalem were:
4
Uthai
son of Ammihud, the son of Omri, the son of Imri, the son of Bani, a
descendant of Perez son of Judah.
5
Of
the Shilonites:
Asaiah
the firstborn and his sons.
6
Of
the Zerahites:
Jeuel.
The
people from Judah numbered 690.
7
Of
the Benjamites:
Sallu
son of Meshullam, the son of Hodaviah, the son of Hassenuah;
8
Ibneiah
son of Jeroham; Elah son of Uzzi, the son of Micri; and Meshullam son
of Shephatiah, the son of Reuel, the son of Ibnijah.
9
The
people from Benjamin, as listed in their genealogy, numbered 956. All
these men were heads of their families.
10
Of
the priests:
Jedaiah;
Jehoiarib; Jakin;
11
Azariah
son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of
Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the official in charge of the house of
God;
12
Adaiah
son of Jeroham, the son of Pashhur, the son of Malkijah; and Maasai
son of Adiel, the son of Jahzerah, the son of Meshullam, the son of
Meshillemith, the son of Immer.
13
The
priests, who were heads of families, numbered 1,760. They were able
men, responsible for ministering in the house of God.
14
Of
the Levites:
Shemaiah
son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, a Merarite;
15
Bakbakkar,
Heresh, Galal and Mattaniah son of Mica, the son of Zicri, the son of
Asaph; 16
Obadiah
son of Shemaiah, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun; and Berekiah
son of Asa, the son of 12
Elkanah, who lived in the villages of the Netophathites.
17
The
gatekeepers:
Shallum,
Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman and their brothers, Shallum their chief
18
being
stationed at the King's Gate on the east, up to the present time.
These were the gatekeepers belonging to the camp of the Levites. 19
Shallum
son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his fellow
gatekeepers from his family (the Korahites) were responsible for
guarding the thresholds of the Tent A
just as their fathers had been responsible for guarding the entrance
to the dwelling of the LORD. 20
In
earlier times Phinehas son of Eleazar was in charge of the
gatekeepers, and the LORD was with him.
21
Zechariah
son of Meshelemiah was the gatekeeper at the entrance to the Tent of
Meeting.
22
Altogether,
those chosen to be gatekeepers at the thresholds numbered 212. They
were registered by genealogy in their villages. The gatekeepers had
been assigned to their positions of trust by David and Samuel the
seer. 23
They
and their descendants were in charge of guarding the gates of the
house of the LORD--the house called the Tent.
24
The
gatekeepers were on the four sides: east, west, north and south.
25
Their
brothers in their villages had to come from time to time and share
their duties for seven-day periods. 26
But
the four principal gatekeepers, who were Levites, were entrusted with
the responsibility for the rooms and treasuries in the house of God.
27
They
would spend the night stationed around the house of God, because they
had to guard it; and they had charge of the key for opening it each
morning.
28
Some
of them were in charge of the articles used in the temple service;
they counted them when they were brought in and when they were taken
out. 29
Others
were assigned to take care of the furnishings and all the other
articles of the sanctuary, as well as the flour and wine, and the
oil, incense and spices. 30
But
some of the priests took care of mixing the spices. 31
A
Levite named Mattithiah, the firstborn son of Shallum the Korahite,
was entrusted with the responsibility for baking the offering bread.
32
Some
of their Kohathite brothers were in charge of preparing for every
Sabbath the bread set out on the table.
33
Those
who were musicians, heads of Levite families, stayed in the rooms of
the temple and were exempt from other duties because they were
responsible for the work day and night.
34
All
these were heads of Levite families, chiefs as listed in their
genealogy, and they lived in Jerusalem.
35
Jeiel
the father B
of Gibeon lived in Gibeon.
His
wife's name was Maacah, 36
and
his firstborn son was Abdon, followed by Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab,
37
Gedor,
Ahio, Zechariah and Mikloth. 38
Mikloth
was the father of Shimeam. They too lived near their relatives in
Jerusalem.
39
Ner
was the father of Kish, Kish the father of Saul, and Saul the father
of Jonathan, Malki-Shua, Abinadab and Esh-Baal. C
13
40
The
son of Jonathan:
Merib-Baal,
D
who was the father of Micah.
41
The
sons of Micah:
Pithon,
Melech, Tahrea and Ahaz. E
42
Ahaz
was the father of Jadah, Jadah F
was the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth and Zimri, and Zimri was the
father of Moza. 43
Moza
was the father of Binea; Rephaiah was his son, Eleasah his son and
Azel his son.
44
Azel
had six sons, and these were their names:
Azrikam,
Bokeru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah and Hanan. These were the sons of
Azel.
10
1
Now
the Philistines fought against Israel; the Israelites fled before
them, and many fell slain on Mount Gilboa. 2
The
Philistines pressed hard after Saul and his sons, and they killed his
sons Jonathan, Abinadab and Malki-Shua. 3
The
fighting grew fierce around Saul, and when the archers overtook him,
they wounded him.
4
Saul
said to his armor-bearer, "Draw your sword and run me through,
or these uncircumcised fellows will come and abuse me."
But
his armor-bearer was terrified and would not do it; so Saul took his
own sword and fell on it. 5
When
the armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he too fell on his sword and
died.
6
So
Saul and his three sons died, and all his house died together.
7
When
all the Israelites in the valley saw that the army had fled and that
Saul and his sons had died, they abandoned their towns and fled. And
the Philistines came and occupied them.
8
The
next day, when the Philistines came to strip the dead, they found
Saul and his sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. 9
They
stripped him and took his head and his armor, and sent messengers
throughout the land of the Philistines to proclaim the news among
their idols and their people. 10
They
put his armor in the temple of their gods and hung up his head in the
temple of Dagon. 14
11
When
all the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead heard of everything the
Philistines had done to Saul, 12
all
their valiant men went and took the bodies of Saul and his sons and
brought them to Jabesh. Then they buried their bones under the great
tree in Jabesh, and they fasted seven days.
13
Saul
died because he was unfaithful to the LORD; he did not keep the word
of the LORD and even consulted a medium for guidance, 14
and
did not inquire of the LORD. So the LORD put him to death and turned
the kingdom over to David son of Jesse. 15
NEW
TESTAMENT:
ACTS 22:21 - 44
21
After
the men had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them
and said: "Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from
Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. 22
But
now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will
be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. 23
Last
night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me
24
and
said, `Do
not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar;
and
God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.'
25
So
keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will
happen just as he told me. 26
Nevertheless,
we must run aground on some island."
27
On
the fourteenth night we were still being driven across the Adriatic B
Sea, when about midnight the sailors sensed they were approaching
land. 28
They
took soundings and found that the water was a hundred and twenty feet
C
deep. A short time later they took soundings again and found it was
ninety feet D
deep. 29
Fearing
that we would be dashed against the rocks, they dropped four anchors
from the stern and prayed for daylight. 30
In
an attempt to escape from the ship, the sailors let the lifeboat down
into the sea, pretending they were going to lower some anchors from
the bow. 31
Then
Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, "Unless these men
stay with the ship, you cannot be saved." 32
So
the soldiers cut the ropes that held the lifeboat and let it fall
away.
33
Just
before dawn Paul urged them all to eat. "For the last fourteen
days," he said, "you have been in constant suspense and
have gone without food--you haven't eaten anything.
34
Now
I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you
will lose a single hair from his head." 35
After
he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of
them all. Then he broke it and began to eat. 36
They
were all encouraged and ate some food themselves. 37
Altogether
there were 276 of us on board. 38
When
they had eaten as much as they wanted, they lightened the ship by
throwing the grain into the sea.
39
When
daylight came, they did not recognize the land, but they saw a bay
with a sandy beach, where they decided to run the ship aground if
they could. 40
Cutting
loose the anchors, they left them in the sea and at the same time
untied the ropes that held the rudders. Then they hoisted the
foresail to the wind and made for the beach. 41
But
the ship struck a sandbar and ran aground. The bow stuck fast and
would not move, and the stern was broken to pieces by the pounding of
the surf.
42
The
soldiers planned to kill the prisoners to prevent any of them from
swimming away and escaping. 43
But
the centurion wanted to spare Paul's life and kept them from carrying
out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard
first and get to land.
44
The
rest were to get there on planks or on pieces of the ship. In this
way everyone reached land in safety. 16
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16
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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
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