Genesis 1:1 1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
AUGUST
12
PSALMS:
12, 42, 72, 102, 132
PROVERBS:
12
OLD
TESTAMENT:
EZEKIEL 1:1 - 3:15
NEW
TESTAMENT:
HEBREWS 3:1 - 19
PSALMS:
12
For
the director of music. According to sheminith.
A
A psalm of David.
1
Help,
LORD, for the godly are no more;
the
faithful have vanished from among men.
2
Everyone
lies to his neighbor;
their
flattering lips speak with deception.
3
May
the LORD cut off all flattering lips
and
every boastful tongue
4
that
says, "We will triumph with our tongues;
we
own our lips B--who
is our master?"
5
"Because
of the oppression of the weak
and
the groaning of the needy,
I
will now arise,"
says the LORD.
"I
will protect them from those who malign them."
6
And
the words of the LORD are flawless,
like
silver refined in a furnace of clay,
purified
seven times.
7
O
LORD, you will keep us safe
and
protect us from such people forever.
8
The
wicked freely strut about
when
what is vile is honored among men. 1
PSALMS:
42
For
A
the director of music. A maskil
B
of the Sons of Korah.
1
As
the deer pants for streams of water,
so
my soul pants for you, O God.
2
My
soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When
can I go and meet with God?
3
My
tears have been my food
day
and night,
while
men say to me all day long,
"Where
is your God?"
4
These
things I remember
as
I pour out my soul:
how
I used to go with the multitude,
leading
the procession to the house of God,
with
shouts of joy and thanksgiving
among
the festive throng.
5
Why
are you downcast, O my soul?
Why
so disturbed within me?
Put
your hope in God,
for
I will yet praise him,
my
Savior and 6
my
God.
My
C
soul is downcast within me;
therefore
I will remember you
from
the land of the Jordan,
the
heights of Hermon--from Mount Mizar.
7
Deep
calls to deep
in
the roar of your waterfalls;
all
your waves and breakers
have
swept over me.
8
By
day the LORD directs his love,
at
night his song is with me--
a
prayer to the God of my life.
9
I
say to God my Rock,
"Why
have you forgotten me?
Why
must I go about mourning,
oppressed
by the enemy?"
10
My
bones suffer mortal agony
as
my foes taunt me,
saying
to me all day long,
"Where
is your God?"
11
Why
are you downcast, O my soul?
Why
so disturbed within me?
Put
your hope in God,
for
I will yet praise him,
my
Savior and my God. 2
PSALMS:
72
Of
Solomon.
1
Endow
the king with your justice, O God,
the
royal son with your righteousness.
2
He
will A
judge your people in righteousness,
your
afflicted ones with justice.
3
The
mountains will bring prosperity to the people,
the
hills the fruit of righteousness.
4
He
will defend the afflicted among the people
and
save the children of the needy;
he
will crush the oppressor.
5
He
will endure B
as long as the sun,
as
long as the moon, through all generations.
6
He
will be like rain falling on a mown field,
like
showers watering the earth.
7
In
his days the righteous will flourish;
prosperity
will abound till the moon is no more.
8
He
will rule from sea to sea
and
from the River C
to the ends of the earth. D
9
The
desert tribes will bow before him
and
his enemies will lick the dust.
10
The
kings of Tarshish and of distant shores
will
bring tribute to him;
the
kings of Sheba and Seba
will
present him gifts.
11
All
kings will bow down to him
and
all nations will serve him. 3
Of
Solomon.
12
For
he will deliver the needy who cry out,
the
afflicted who have no one to help.
13
He
will take pity on the weak and the needy
and
save the needy from death.
14
He
will rescue them from oppression and violence,
for
precious is their blood in his sight.
15
Long
may he live!
May
gold from Sheba be given him.
May
people ever pray for him
and
bless him all day long.
16
Let
grain abound throughout the land;
on
the tops of the hills may it sway.
Let
its fruit flourish like Lebanon;
let
it thrive like the grass of the field.
17
May
his name endure forever;
may
it continue as long as the sun.
All
nations will be blessed through him,
and
they will call him blessed. 4
18
Praise
be to the LORD God, the God of Israel,
who
alone does marvelous deeds.
19
Praise
be to his glorious name forever;
may
the whole earth be filled with his glory.
Amen
and Amen.
PSALMS:
102
A
prayer of an afflicted man. When he is faint and pours out his lament
before the LORD.
1
Hear
my prayer, O LORD;
let
my cry for help come to you.
2
Do
not hide your face from me
when
I am in distress.
Turn
your ear to me;
when
I call, answer me quickly.
3
For
my days vanish like smoke;
my
bones burn like glowing embers.
4
My
heart is blighted and withered like grass;
I
forget to eat my food.
5
Because
of my loud groaning
I
am reduced to skin and bones.
6
I
am like a desert owl,
like
an owl among the ruins.
7
I
lie awake; I have become
like
a bird alone on a roof.
8
All
day long my enemies taunt me;
those
who rail against me use my name as a curse.
9
For
I eat ashes as my food
and
mingle my drink with tears
10
because
of your great wrath,
for
you have taken me up and thrown me aside.
11
My
days are like the evening shadow;
I
wither away like grass. 6
12
But
you, O LORD, sit enthroned forever;
your
renown endures through all generations.
13
You
will arise and have compassion on Zion,
for
it is time to show favor to her;
the
appointed time has come.
14
For
her stones are dear to your servants;
her
very dust moves them to pity.
15
The
nations will fear the name of the LORD,
all
the kings of the earth will revere your glory.
16
For
the LORD will rebuild Zion
and
appear in his glory.
17
He
will respond to the prayer of the destitute;
he
will not despise their plea.
18
Let
this be written for a future generation,
that
a people not yet created may praise the LORD:
19
"The
LORD looked down from his sanctuary on high,
from
heaven he viewed the earth,
20
to
hear the groans of the prisoners
and
release those condemned to death."
21
So
the name of the LORD will be declared in Zion
and
his praise in Jerusalem
22
when
the peoples and the kingdoms
assemble
to worship the LORD.
23
In
the course of my life A
he broke my strength;
he
cut short my days.
24
So
I said:
"Do
not take me away, O my God, in the midst of my days;
your
years go on through all generations.
25
In
the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth,
and
the heavens are the work of your hands.7
26
They
will perish, but you remain;
they
will all wear out like a garment.
Like
clothing you will change them
and
they will be discarded.
27
But
you remain the same,
and
your years will never end.
28
The
children of your servants will live in your presence;
their
descendants will be established before you." 8
PSALMS:
132
A
song of ascents.
1
O
LORD, remember David
and
all the hardships he endured.
2
He
swore an oath to the LORD
and
made a vow to the Mighty One of Jacob:
3
"I
will not enter my house
or
go to my bed--
4
I
will allow no sleep to my eyes,
no
slumber to my eyelids,
5
till
I find a place for the LORD,
a
dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob."
6
We
heard it in Ephrathah,
we
came upon it in the fields of Jaar A:
B
7
"Let
us go to his dwelling place;
let
us worship at his footstool--
8
arise,
O LORD, and come to your resting place,
you
and the ark of your might.
9
May
your priests be clothed with righteousness;
may
your saints sing for joy."
10
For
the sake of David your servant,
do
not reject your anointed one. 9
11
The
LORD swore an oath to David,
a
sure oath that he will not revoke:
"One
of your own descendants
I
will place on your throne--
12
if
your sons keep my covenant
and
the statutes I teach them,
then
their sons will sit
on
your throne for ever and ever."
13
For
the LORD has chosen Zion,
he
has desired it for his dwelling:
14
"This
is my resting place for ever and ever;
here
I will sit enthroned, for I have desired it--
15
I
will bless her with abundant provisions;
her
poor will I satisfy with food.
16
I
will clothe her priests with salvation,
and
her saints will ever sing for joy.
17
"Here
I will make a horn C
grow for David
and
set up a lamp for my anointed one.
18
I
will clothe his enemies with shame,
PROVERBS:
12
12
1
Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
but
he who hates correction is stupid.
2
A
good man obtains favor from the LORD,
but
the LORD condemns a crafty man.
3
A
man cannot be established through wickedness,
but
the righteous cannot be uprooted.
4
A
wife of noble character is her husband's crown,
but
a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones.
5
The
plans of the righteous are just,
but
the advice of the wicked is deceitful.
6
The
words of the wicked lie in wait for blood,
but
the speech of the upright rescues them.
7
Wicked
men are overthrown and are no more,
but
the house of the righteous stands firm.
8
A
man is praised according to his wisdom,
but
men with warped minds are despised.
9
Better
to be a nobody and yet have a servant
than
pretend to be somebody and have no food.
10
A
righteous man cares for the needs of his animal,
but
the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.
11
He
who works his land will have abundant food,
but
he who chases fantasies lacks judgment. 11
12
The
wicked desire the plunder of evil men,
but
the root of the righteous flourishes.
13
An
evil man is trapped by his sinful talk,
but
a righteous man escapes trouble.
14
From
the fruit of his lips a man is filled with good things
as
surely as the work of his hands rewards him.
15
The
way of a fool seems right to him,
but
a wise man listens to advice.
16A
fool shows his annoyance at once,
but
a prudent man overlooks an insult.
17
A
truthful witness gives honest testimony,
but
a false witness tells lies.
18
Reckless
words pierce like a sword,
but
the tongue of the wise brings healing.
19
Truthful
lips endure forever,
but
a lying tongue lasts only a moment.
20
There
is deceit in the hearts of those who plot evil,
but
joy for those who promote peace.
21
No
harm befalls the righteous,
but
the wicked have their fill of trouble. 12
22
The
LORD detests lying lips,
but
he delights in men who are truthful.
23
A
prudent man keeps his knowledge to himself,
but
the heart of fools blurts out folly.
24
Diligent
hands will rule,
but
laziness ends in slave labor.
25
An
anxious heart weighs a man down,
but
a kind word cheers him up.
26
A
righteous man is cautious in friendship, A
but
the way of the wicked leads them astray.
27
The
lazy man does not roast B
his game,
but
the diligent man prizes his possessions.
28
In
the way of righteousness there is life;
along
that path is immortality. 13
OLD
TESTAMENT:
EZEKIEL 1:1 - 3:15
1
1
In
the A
thirtieth year, in the fourth month on the fifth day, while I was
among the exiles by the Kebar River, the heavens were opened and I
saw visions of God.
2
On
the fifth of the month--it was the fifth year of the exile of King
Jehoiachin—
3
the
word of the LORD came to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, B
by the Kebar River in the land of the Babylonians. C
There the hand of the LORD was upon him.
4
I
looked, and I saw a windstorm coming out of the north--an immense
cloud with flashing lightning and surrounded by brilliant light. The
center of the fire looked like glowing metal, 5
and
in the fire was what looked like four living creatures. In appearance
their form was that of a man, 6
but
each of them had four faces and four wings.
7
Their
legs were straight; their feet were like those of a calf and gleamed
like burnished bronze. 8
Under
their wings on their four sides they had the hands of a man. All four
of them had faces and wings, 9
and
their wings touched one another. Each one went straight ahead; they
did not turn as they moved.
10
Their
faces looked like this: Each of the four had the face of a man, and
on the right side each had the face of a lion, and on the left the
face of an ox; each also had the face of an eagle. 11
Such
were their faces. Their wings were spread out upward; each had two
wings, one touching the wing of another creature on either side, and
two wings covering its body. 12
Each
one went straight ahead. Wherever the spirit would go, they would go,
without turning as they went. 13
The
appearance of the living creatures was like burning coals of fire or
like torches. Fire moved back and forth among the creatures; it was
bright, and lightning flashed out of it. 14
The
creatures sped back and forth like flashes of lightning.
15
As
I looked at the living creatures, I saw a wheel on the ground beside
each creature with its four faces. 16
This
was the appearance and structure of the wheels: They sparkled like
chrysolite, and all four looked alike. Each appeared to be made like
a wheel intersecting a wheel. 17
As
they moved, they would go in any one of the four directions the
creatures faced; the wheels did not turn about D
as the creatures went. 18
Their
rims were high and awesome, and all four rims were full of eyes all
around.
19
When
the living creatures moved, the wheels beside them moved; and when
the living creatures rose from the ground, the wheels also rose. 20
Wherever
the spirit would go, they would go, and the wheels would rise along
with them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in the
wheels. 21
When
the creatures moved, they also moved; when the creatures stood still,
they also stood still; and when the creatures rose from the ground,
the wheels rose along with them, because the spirit of the living
creatures was in the wheels.
22
Spread
out above the heads of the living creatures was what looked like an
expanse, sparkling like ice, and awesome. 23
Under
the expanse their wings were stretched out one toward the other, and
each had two wings covering its body. 24
When
the creatures moved, I heard the sound of their wings, like the roar
of rushing waters, like the voice of the Almighty, E
like the tumult of an army. When they stood still, they lowered 14
their wings.
25
Then
there came a voice from above the expanse over their heads as they
stood with lowered wings. 26
Above
the expanse over their heads was what looked like a throne of
sapphire, F
and high above on the throne was a figure like that of a man. 27
I
saw that from what appeared to be his waist up he looked like glowing
metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like
fire; and brilliant light surrounded him. 28
Like
the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the
radiance around him.
This
was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. When I
saw it, I fell facedown, and I heard the voice of one speaking.
2
1
He
said to me, "Son
of man, stand up on your feet and I will speak to you."
2
As
he spoke, the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet, and I
heard him speaking to me.
3
He
said: "Son
of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, to a rebellious nation
that has rebelled against me;
they
and their fathers have been in revolt against me to this very day. 4
The
people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn.
Say
to them, `This
is what the Sovereign LORD says.'
5
And
whether they listen or fail to listen--for they are a rebellious
house--they will know that a prophet has been among them.
6
And
you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words.
Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns are all around you and you
live among scorpions.
Do
not be afraid of what they say or terrified by them, though they are
a rebellious house.
7
You
must speak my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen,
for they are rebellious.
8
But
you, son of man, listen to what I say to you. Do not rebel like that
rebellious house;
open
your mouth and eat what I give you."
9
Then
I looked, and I saw a hand stretched out to me. In it was a scroll,
10
which
he unrolled before me. On both sides of it were written words of
lament and mourning and woe.
3
1
And
he said to me, "Son
of man, eat what is before you, eat this scroll;
then go and speak to the house of Israel."
2
So
I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat.
3
Then
he said to me, "Son
of man, eat this scroll I am giving you and fill your stomach with
it."
So I ate it, and it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth. 15
4
He
then said to me: "Son
of man, go now to the house of Israel and speak my words to them. 5
You
are not being sent to a people of obscure speech and difficult
language, but to the house of Israel—6
not
to many peoples of obscure speech and difficult language, whose words
you cannot understand.
Surely if I had sent you to them, they would have listened to you.
7
But
the house of Israel is not willing to listen to you because they are
not willing to listen to me, for the whole house of Israel is
hardened and obstinate.
8
But
I will make you as unyielding and hardened as they are.
9
I
will make your forehead like the hardest stone, harder than flint.
Do
not be afraid of them or terrified by them, though they are a
rebellious house."
10
And
he said to me, "Son
of man, listen carefully and take to heart all the words I speak to
you.
11
Go
now to your countrymen in exile and speak to them.
Say to them,
`This
is what the Sovereign LORD says,'
whether they listen or fail to listen."
12
Then
the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard behind me a loud rumbling
sound--May the glory of the LORD be praised in his dwelling place!—13
the
sound of the wings of the living creatures brushing against each
other and the sound of the wheels beside them, a loud rumbling sound.
14
The
Spirit then lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness
and in the anger of my spirit, with the strong hand of the LORD upon
me.
15
I
came to the exiles who lived at Tel Abib near the Kebar River. And
there, where they were living, I sat among them for seven
days--overwhelmed. 16
NEW
TESTAMENT:
HEBREWS 3:1 - 19
3
1
Therefore,
holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts
on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess. 2
He
was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful
in all God's house. 3
Jesus
has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the
builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. 4
For
every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of
everything. 5
Moses
was faithful as a servant in all God's house, testifying to what
would be said in the future. 6
But
Christ is faithful as a son over God's house. And we are his house,
if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast.
7
So,
as the Holy Spirit says:
"Today,
if you hear his voice,
8
do not harden your hearts
as
you did in the rebellion,
during
the time of testing in the desert,
9
where
your fathers tested and tried me
and
for forty years saw what I did.
10
That
is why I was angry with that generation,
and
I said,
`Their
hearts are always going astray,
and
they have not known my ways.'
11
So
I declared on oath in my anger,
`They
shall never enter my rest.'"
A
12
See
to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart
that turns away from the living God. 13
But
encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that
none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. 14
We
have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the
confidence we had at first. 15
As
has just been said:
"Today,
if you hear his voice,
do
not harden your hearts
16
Who
were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led
out of Egypt? 17
And
with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who
sinned, whose bodies fell in the desert? 18
And
to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to
those who disobeyed C?
19
So
we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief. 18
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4 Excerpted
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18
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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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