DECEMBER 25
PSALMS: 25, 55, 85, 115, 145
PROVERBS: 25
OLD TESTAMENT: NUMBERS 24:1 - 25:16
NEW TESTAMENT: LUKE 2:1 - 35
PSALMS: 25
1 To you, LORD, do I lift up my soul.
2 My God, in you have I trusted,
Let me not be put to shame.
Don't let my enemies triumph over me.
3 Yes, no one who waits for you shall be put to shame.
They shall be put to shame who deal treacherously without cause.
4 Show me your ways, LORD.
Teach me your paths.
5 Guide me in your truth, and teach me,
For you are the God of my salvation,
I wait for you all day long.
6 LORD, remember your tender mercies and your loving kindness,
For they are from old times.
7 Don't remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions.
Remember me according to your loving kindness,
For your goodness' sake, LORD.
8 Good and upright is the LORD,
Therefore he will instruct sinners in the way.
9 He will guide the humble in justice.
He will teach the humble his way.
10 All the paths of the LORD are loving kindness and truth
To such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.
11 For your name's sake, LORD,
Pardon my iniquity, for it is great.
12 What man is he who fears the LORD?
He shall instruct him in the way that he shall choose.
13 His soul shall dwell at ease.
His seed shall inherit the land.
14 The friendship of the LORD is with those who fear him.
He will show them his covenant.
15 My eyes are ever on the LORD,
For he will pluck my feet out of the net.
16 Turn to me, and have mercy on me,
For I am desolate and afflicted.
17 The troubles of my heart are enlarged.
Oh bring me out of my distresses.
18 Consider my affliction and my travail.
Forgive all my sins.
19 Consider my enemies, for they are many.
They hate me with cruel hatred.
20 Oh keep my soul, and deliver me.
Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.
21 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me,
For I wait for you.
22 Redeem Yisra'el, God,
Out all of his troubles.
PSALMS: 55
1 Listen to my prayer, God.
Don't hide yourself from my supplication.
2 Attend to me, and answer me.
I am restless in my complaint, and moan,
3 Because of the voice of the enemy,
Because of the oppression of the wicked.
For they bring suffering on me.
In anger they hold a grudge against me.
4 My heart is severely pained within me.
The terrors of death have fallen on me.
5 Fearfulness and trembling have come on me.
Horror has overwhelmed me.
6 I said, "Oh that I had wings like a dove!
Then I would fly away, and be at rest.
7 Behold, then I would wander far off.
I would lodge in the wilderness."
Selah.
8 "I would hurry to a shelter from the stormy wind and tempest."
9 Confuse them, Lord, and confound their language,
For I have seen violence and strife in the city.
10 Day and night they prowl around on its walls.
Malice and abuse are also within her.
11 Destructive forces are within her.
Threats and lies don't depart from her streets.
12 For it was not an enemy who insulted me,
Then I could have endured it.
Neither was it he who hated me who raised himself up against me,
Then I would have hid myself from him.
13 But it was you, a man like me,
My companion, and my familiar friend.
14 We took sweet fellowship together.
We walked in God's house with the throng.
15 Let death come suddenly on them.
Let them go down alive into She'ol.
For wickedness is in their dwelling, in the midst of them.
16 As for me, I will call on God.
The LORD will save me.
17 Evening, morning, and at noon, I will cry out in distress.
He will hear my voice.
18 He has redeemed my soul in shalom from the battle that was against me,
Although there are many who oppose me.
19 God, who is enthroned forever,
Will hear, and answer them.
Selah.
They never change,
Who don't fear God.
20 He raises his hands against his friends.
He has violated his covenant.
21 His mouth was smooth as butter,
But his heart was war.
His words were softer than oil,
Yet they were drawn swords.
22 Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you.
He will never allow the righteous to be moved.
23 But you, God, will bring them down into the pit of destruction.
Bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days,
But I will trust in you.
PSALMS: 85
1 LORD, you have been favorable to your land.
You have restored the fortunes of Ya`akov.
2 You have forgiven the iniquity of your people.
You have covered all their sin.
Selah.
3 You have taken away all your wrath.
You have turned from the fierceness of your anger.
4 Turn us, God of our salvation,
And cause your indignation toward us to cease.
5 Will you be angry with us forever?
Will you draw out your anger to all generations?
6 Won't you revive us again,
That your people may rejoice in you?
7 Show us your loving kindness, LORD.
Grant us your salvation.
8 I will hear what God, the LORD, will speak,
For he will speak shalom to his people, his holy ones;
But let them not turn again to folly.
9 Surely his salvation is near those who fear him,
That glory may dwell in our land.
10 Mercy and truth meet together.
Righteousness and shalom have kissed each other.
11 Truth springs out of the eretz.
Righteousness has looked down from heaven.
12 Yes, the LORD will give that which is good.
Our land will yield its increase.
13 Righteousness goes before him,
And prepares the way for his steps.
PSALMS: 115
1 Not to us, LORD, not to us,
But to your name give glory,
For your loving kindness, and for your truth's sake.
2 Why should the nations say,
"Where is their God, now?"
3 But our God is in the heavens.
He does whatever he pleases.
4 Their idols are silver and gold,
The work of men's hands.
5 They have mouths, but they don't speak;
They have eyes, but they don't see;
6 They have ears, but they don't hear;
They have noses, but they don't smell;
7 They have hands, but they don't feel;
They have feet, but they don't walk;
Neither do they speak through their throat.
8 Those who make them will be like them;
Yes, everyone who trusts in them.
9 Yisra'el, trust in the LORD!
He is their help and their shield.
10 House of Aharon, trust in the LORD!
He is their help and their shield.
11 You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD!
He is their help and their shield.
12 The LORD remembers us.
He will bless us. 4
He will bless the house of Yisra'el.
He will bless the house of Aharon.
13 He will bless those who fear the LORD,
Both small and great.
14 May the LORD increase you more and more,
You and your children.
15 Blessed are you by the LORD,
Who made heaven and eretz.
16 The heavens are the heavens of the LORD;
But the eretz has he given to the children of men.
17 The dead don't praise the LORD,
Neither any who go down into silence;
18 But we will bless the LORD,
From this time forth and forevermore.
Praise the LORD!
PSALMS: 145
1 I will exalt you, my God, the King.
I will praise your name forever and ever.
2 Every day I will praise you.
I will extol your name forever and ever.
3 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised!
His greatness is unsearchable.
4 One generation will commend your works to another,
And will declare your mighty acts.
5 Of the glorious majesty of your honor,
Of your wondrous works, I will meditate.
6 Men will speak of the might of your awesome acts.
I will declare your greatness.
7 They will utter the memory of your great goodness,
And will sing of your righteousness.
8 The LORD is gracious, merciful,
Slow to anger, and of great loving kindness.
9 The LORD is good to all.
His tender mercies are over all his works.
10 All your works will give thanks to you, LORD.
Your holy ones will extol you.
11 They will speak of the glory of your kingdom,
And talk about your power;
12 To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts,
The glory of the majesty of his kingdom.
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom.
Your dominion endures throughout all generations.
14 The LORD upholds all who fall,
And raises up all those who are bowed down.
15 The eyes of all wait for you.
You give them their food in due season.
16 You open your hand,
And satisfy the desire of every living thing.
17 The LORD is righteous in all his ways,
And gracious in all his works.
18 The LORD is near to all those who call on him,
To all who call on him in truth.
19 He will fulfill the desire of those who fear him.
He also will hear their cry, and will save them.
20 The LORD preserves all those who love him,
But all the wicked he will destroy.
21 My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD.
Let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.
PROVERBS: 25
1 These also are proverbs of Shlomo,
which the men of Hizkiyahu king of Yehudah copied out.
2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing,
But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.
3 As the heavens for height, and the eretz for depth,
So the hearts of kings are unsearchable.
4 Take away the dross from the silver,
And material comes out for the refiner;
5 Take away the wicked from the king's presence,
And his throne will be established in righteousness.
6 Don't exalt yourself in the presence of the king,
Or claim a place among great men;
7 For it is better that it be said to you, "Come up here,
" Than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince,
Whom your eyes have seen.
8 Don't be hasty in bringing charges to court.
What will you do in the end when your neighbor shames you?
9 Debate your case with your neighbor,
And don't betray the confidence of another;
10 Lest one who hears it put you to shame,
And your bad reputation never depart.
11 A word fitly spoken Is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
12 As an ear-ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold,
So is a wise reprover to an obedient ear.
13 As the cold of snow in the time of harvest,
So is a faithful messenger to those who send him;
For he refreshes the soul of his masters.
14 As clouds and wind without rain,
So is he who boasts of gifts deceptively.
15 By patience a ruler is persuaded.
A soft tongue breaks the bone.
16 Have you found honey?
Eat as much as is sufficient for you,
Lest you eat too much, and vomit it.
17 Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor's house,
Lest he be weary of you, and hate you.
18 A man who gives false testimony against his neighbor
Is like a club, a sword, or a sharp arrow.
19 Confidence in someone unfaithful in time of trouble
Is like a bad tooth, or a lame foot.
20 As one who takes away a garment in cold weather,
Or vinegar on soda, So is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.
21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;
If he is thirsty, give him water to drink:
22 For you will heap coals of fire on his head,
And the LORD will reward you.
23 The north wind brings forth rain:
So a backbiting tongue brings an angry face.
24 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop,
Than to share a house with a contentious woman.
25 Like cold water to a thirsty soul,
So is good news from a far country.
26 Like a muddied spring, and a polluted well,
So is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.
27 It is not good to eat much honey;
Nor is it honorable to seek ones own honor.
28 Like a city that is broken down and without walls
Is a man whose spirit is without restraint.
OLD TESTAMENT: NUMBERS 24:1 - 25:16
24:1 When Bil`am saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Yisra'el, he didn't go, as at the other times, to meet with enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness. 2 Bil`am lifted up his eyes, and he saw Yisra'el dwelling according to their tribes; and the Spirit of God came on him. 3 He took up his parable, and said, Bil`am the son of Be'or says, The man whose eye was closed says; 4 He says, who hears the words of God, Who sees the vision of Shaddai, Falling down, and having his eyes open:
5 How goodly are your tents, Ya`akov, Your tents, Yisra'el! 6 As valleys are they spread forth, As gardens by the river-side, As lign-aloes which the LORD has planted, As cedar trees beside the waters. 7 Water shall flow from his buckets, His seed shall be in many waters, His king shall be higher than Agag, His kingdom shall be exalted. 8 God brings him forth out of Mitzrayim; He has as it were the strength of the wild-ox: He shall eat up the nations his adversaries, Shall break their bones in pieces, Smite [them] through with his arrows. 9 He couched, he lay down as a lion, As a lioness; who shall rouse him up? Blessed be everyone who blesses you, Cursed be everyone who curses you. 10 Balak's anger was kindled against Bil`am, and he struck his hands together; and Balak said to Bil`am, I called you to curse my enemies, and, behold, you have altogether blessed them these three times. 11 Therefore now flee you to your place: I thought to promote you to great honor; but, behold, the LORD has kept you back from honor. 12 Bil`am said to Balak, Didn't I also tell your messengers who you sent to me, saying, 13 If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I can't go beyond the word of the LORD, to do either good or bad of my own mind; what the LORD speaks, that will I speak? 14 Now, behold, I go to my people: come, [and] I will advertise you what this people shall do to your people in the latter days. 15 He took up his parable, and said, Bil`am the son of Be'or says, The man whose eye was closed says; 16 He says, who hears the words of God, Knows the knowledge of Ha`Elyon, Who sees the vision of Shaddai, Falling down, and having his eyes open: 17 I see him, but not now; I see him, but not near: There shall come forth a star out of Ya`akov, A scepter shall rise out of Yisra'el, Shall strike through the corners of Mo'av, Break down all the sons of tumult. 18 Edom shall be a possession, Se`ir also shall be a possession, [who were] his enemies; While Yisra'el does valiantly. 19 Out of Ya`akov shall one have dominion, Shall destroy the remnant from the city. 20 He looked at `Amalek, and took up his parable, and said, `Amalek was the first of the nations; But his latter end shall come to destruction. 21 He looked at the Keni, and took up his parable, and said, Strong is your dwelling-place, Your nest is set in the rock. 22 Nevertheless Kayin shall be wasted, Until Ashshur shall carry you away captive. 23 He took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God does this? 24 But ships [shall come] from the coast of Kittim, They shall afflict Ashshur, and shall afflict `Ever; He also shall come to destruction. 25 Bil`am rose up, and went and returned to his place; and Balak also went his way.
25:1 Yisra'el abode in Shittim; and the people began to play the prostitute with the daughters of Mo'av: 2 for they called the people to the sacrifices of their gods; and the people ate, and bowed down to their gods. 3 Yisra'el joined himself to Ba`al-Pe`or: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Yisra'el. 4 The LORD said to Moshe, Take all the chiefs of the people, and hang them up to the LORD before the sun, that the fierce anger of the LORD may turn away from Yisra'el. 5 Moshe said to the judges of Yisra'el, Kill you everyone his men who have joined themselves to Ba`al-Pe`or. 6 Behold, one of the children of Yisra'el came and brought to his brothers a Midyanite woman in the sight of Moshe, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Yisra'el, while they were weeping at the door of the tent of meeting. 7 When Pinechas, the son of El`azar, the son of Aharon the Kohen, saw it, he rose up from the midst of the congregation, and took a spear in his hand; 8 and he went after the man of Yisra'el into the pavilion, and thrust both of them through, the man of Yisra'el, and the woman through her body. So the plague was stayed from the children of Yisra'el. 9 Those who died by the plague were twenty-four thousand. 10 The LORD spoke to Moshe, saying, 11 Pinechas, the son of El`azar, the son of Aharon the Kohen, has turned my wrath away from the children of Yisra'el, in that he was jealous with my jealousy among them, so that I didn't consume the children of Yisra'el in my jealousy. 12 Therefore say, Behold, I give to him my covenant of shalom: 13 and it shall be to him, and to his seed after him, the covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he was jealous for his God, and made atonement for the children of Yisra'el. 14 Now the name of the man of Yisra'el that was slain, who was slain with the Midyanite woman, was Zimri, the son of Salu, a prince of a fathers' house among the Shim`oni. 15 The name of the Midyanite woman who was slain was Kozbi, the daughter of Tzur; he was head of the people of a fathers' house in Midyan. 16 The LORD spoke to Moshe, saying,
NEW TESTAMENT: LUKE 2:1 - 35
2:1 Now it happened in those days, that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled.
2 This was the first enrollment made when Quirinius was governor of Aram.
3 All went to enroll themselves, everyone to his own city.
4 Yosef also went up from the Galil, out of the city of Natzeret, into Yehudah, to the city of David, which is called Beit-Lechem, because he was of the house and family of David;
5 to enroll himself with Miryam, who was pledged to be married to him as wife, being great with child.
6 It happened, while they were there, that the day had come that she should give birth.
7 She brought forth her firstborn son, and she wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 There were shepherds in the same country staying in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock.
9 Behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
10 The angel said to them, "Don't be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be to all the people.
11 For there is born to you, this day, in the city of David, a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord.
12 This is the sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth, lying in a feeding trough."
13 Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14 "Glory to God in the highest, On eretz shalom, good will toward men."
15 It happened, when the angels went away from them into the sky, that the shepherds said one to another, "Let's go to Beit-Lechem, now, and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us."
16 They came with haste, and found both Miryam and Yosef, and the baby lying in the feeding trough.
17 When they saw it, they publicized widely the saying which was spoken to them about this child.
18 All who heard it wondered at the things which were spoken to them by the shepherds.
19 But Miryam kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart.
20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, even as it was spoken to them.
21 When eight days were fulfilled for the circumcision of the child, his name was called Yeshua, which was given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
22 When the days of their purification according to the law of Moshe were fulfilled, they brought him up to Yerushalayim, to present him to the Lord
23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord"),
24 and to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, "A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons."
25 Behold, there was a man in Yerushalayim whose name was Shim`on; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Yisra'el, and the Ruach HaKodesh was on him.
26 It had been revealed to him by the Ruach HaKodesh that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Messiah.
27 He came in the Spirit into the temple. When the parents brought in the child, Yeshua, that they might do concerning him according to the custom of the law,
28 then he received him into his arms, and blessed God, and said,
29 "Now let you your servant depart, Lord, According to your word, in shalom;
30 For my eyes have seen your yeshu`ah,
31 Which you have prepared before the face of all peoples;
32 A light for revelation to the Goyim, The glory of your people Yisra'el."
33 Yosef and his mother were marveling at the things which were spoken concerning him,
34 and Shim`on blessed them, and said to Miryam, his mother, "Behold, this child is set for the falling and the rising of many in Yisra'el, and for a sign which is spoken against.
35 Yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul, that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed."
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