APRIL 8
PSALMS: 8, 38, 68, 98, 128
PROVERBS: 8
OLD TESTAMENT: 2 KINGS 13:1 - 14:29
NEW TESTAMENT: ACTS 18:23 - 19:12
PSALMS: 8
1 LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the eretz,
Who has set your glory above the heavens!
2 From the lips of babes and infants you have established strength,
Because of your adversaries, that you might silence the enemy and the avenger.
3 When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers,
The moon and the stars, which you have ordained;
4 What is man, that you think of him?
The son of man, that you care for him?
5 For you have made him a little lower than God,
And crowned him with glory and honor.
6 You make him ruler over the works of your hands.
You have put all things under his feet:
7 All sheep and oxen,
Yes, and the animals of the field,
8 The birds of the sky, the fish of the sea,
And whatever passes through the paths of the seas.
9 LORD, our Lord,
How majestic is your name in all the eretz!
PSALMS: 38
1 LORD, don't rebuke me in your wrath,
Neither chasten me in your hot displeasure.
2 For your arrows have pierced me,
Your hand presses hard on me.
3 There is no soundness in my flesh because of your indignation,
Neither is there any health in my bones because of my sin.
4 For my iniquities have gone over my head.
As a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me.
5 My wounds are loathsome and corrupt,
Because of my foolishness.
6 I am pained and bowed down greatly.
I go mourning all day long.
7 For my loins are filled with burning.
There is no soundness in my flesh.
8 I am faint and severely bruised.
I have groaned by reason of the anguish of my heart.
9 Lord, all my desire is before you.
My groaning is not hidden from you.
10 My heart throbs. My strength fails me.
As for the light of my eyes, it also is gone from me.
11 My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my plague.
My kinsmen stand afar off.
12 They also who seek after my life lay snares.
Those who seek my hurt speak mischievous things,
And meditate deceits all day long.
13 But I, as a deaf man, don't hear.
I am as a mute man who doesn't open his mouth.
14 Yes, I am as a man who doesn't hear,
In whose mouth are no reproofs.
15 For in you, LORD, do I hope.
You will answer, Lord my God.
16 For I said, "Don't let them gloat over me,
Or exalt themselves over me when my foot slips."
17 For I am ready to fall.
My pain is continually before me.
18 For I will declare my iniquity.
I will be sorry for my sin.
19 But my enemies are vigorous and many.
Those who hate me without reason are numerous.
20 They who also render evil for good are adversaries to me,
Because I follow what is good.
21 Don't forsake me, LORD.
My God, don't be far from me.
22 Hurry to help me,
Lord, my salvation.
PSALMS: 68
1 Let God arise!
Let his enemies be scattered!
Let them who hate him also flee before him.
2 As smoke is driven away, so drive them away.
As wax melts before the fire,
So let the wicked perish at the presence of God.
3 But let the righteous be glad.
Let them rejoice before God.
Yes, let them rejoice with gladness.
4 Sing to God! Sing praises to his name!
Extol him who rides on the clouds -- To the LORD, his name!
Rejoice before him.
5 A father of the fatherless, and a defender of the widows,
Is God in his holy habitation.
6 God sets the lonely in families.
He brings out the prisoners with singing,
But the rebellious dwell in a sun-scorched land.
7 God, when you went forth before your people,
When you marched through the wilderness...
Selah.
8 The eretz trembled.
The sky also poured down rain at the presence of the God of Sinai --
At the presence of God, the God of Yisra'el.
9 You, God, sent a plentiful rain.
You confirmed your inheritance, when it was weary.
10 Your congregation lived therein.
You, God, prepared your goodness for the poor.
11 The Lord announced the word.
The ones who proclaim it are a great company.
12 "Kings of armies flee! They flee!"
She who waits at home divides the spoil,
13 While you sleep among the campfires,
The wings of a dove sheathed with silver,
Her feathers with shining gold.
14 When Shaddai scattered kings in her,
It snowed on Tzalmon.
15 The mountains of Bashan are majestic mountains.
The mountains of Bashan are rugged.
16 Why do you look in envy, you rugged mountains,
At the mountain where God chooses to reign?
Yes, the LORD will dwell there forever.
17 The chariots of God are tens of thousands and thousands of thousands.
The Lord is among them, from Sinai, into the sanctuary.
18 You have ascended on high.
You have led away captives.
You have received gifts among men,
Yes, among the rebellious also,
that the LORD God might dwell there.
19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burdens,
Even the God who is our salvation. Selah.
20 God is to us a God of deliverance.
To the LORD, the Lord,
belongs escape from death.
21 But God will strike through the head of his enemies,
The hairy scalp of such a one as still continues in his guiltiness.
22 The Lord said, "I will bring you again from Bashan,
I will bring you again from the depths of the sea;
23 That you may crush them, dipping your foot in blood,
That the tongues of your dogs may have their portion from your enemies."
24 They have seen your goings, God,
Even the goings of my God, my King, into the sanctuary.
25 The singers went before, the minstrels followed after,
In the midst of the ladies playing with timbrels,
26"Bless God in the congregations,
Even the Lord in the assembly of Yisra'el!"
27 There is little Binyamin, their ruler,
The princes of Yehudah, their council,
The princes of Zevulun, and the princes of Naftali.
28 Your God has commanded your strength.
Strengthen, God, that which you have done for us.
29 Because of your temple at Yerushalayim,
Kings shall bring presents to you.
30 Rebuke the wild animal of the reeds,
The multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the peoples.
Being humbled, may it bring bars of silver.
Scatter the nations that delight in war.
31 Princes shall come out of Mitzrayim.
Kush shall hurry to stretch out her hands to God.
32 Sing to God, you kingdoms of the eretz!
Sing praises to the Lord!
Selah.
33 To him who rides on the heaven of heavens, which are of old;
Behold, he utters his voice, a mighty voice.
34 Ascribe strength to God!
His excellency is over Yisra'el,
His strength is in the skies.
35 You are awesome, God, in your sanctuaries.
The God of Yisra'el gives strength and power to his people.
Praise be to God!
PSALMS: 98
1 Sing to the LORD a new song,
For he has done marvelous things!
His right hand, and his holy arm,
have worked salvation for him.
2 The LORD has made known his yeshu`ah.
He has openly shown his righteousness in the sight of the nations.
3 He has remembered his loving kindness
and his faithfulness toward the house of Yisra'el.
All the ends of the eretz have seen the yeshu`ah of our God.
4 Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the eretz!
Burst out and sing for joy, yes, sing praises!
5 Sing praises to the LORD with the harp,
With the harp and the voice of melody.
6 With trumpets and sound of the ram's horn.
Make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD.
7 Let the sea roar with its fullness;
The world, and those who dwell therein.
8 Let the rivers clap their hands.
Let the mountains sing for joy together.
9 Let them sing before the LORD,
For he comes to judge the eretz.
He will judge the world with righteousness,
And the peoples with equity.
PSALMS: 128
1 Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD,
Who walks in his ways.
2 For you will eat the labor of your hands.
You will be happy, and it will be well with you.
3 Your wife will be as a fruitful vine,
In the innermost parts of your house;
Your children like olive plants, Around your table.
4 Behold, thus is the man blessed who fears the LORD.
5 May the LORD bless you out of Tziyon,
And may you see the good of Yerushalayim all the days of your life.
6 Yes, may you see your children's children.
Shalom be upon Yisra'el.
PROVERBS: 8
1 Doesn't wisdom cry out?
Doesn't understanding raise her voice?
2 On the top of high places by the way,
Where the paths meet, she stands.
3 Beside the gates, at the entry of the city,
At the entry doors, she cries aloud:
4 "To you men, I call!
I send my voice to the sons of mankind.
5 You simple, understand prudence.
You fools, be of an understanding heart.
6 Hear, for I will speak excellent things.
The opening of my lips is for right things.
7 For my mouth speaks truth.
Wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness.
There is nothing crooked or perverse in them.
9 They are all plain to him who understands,
Right to those who find knowledge.
10 Receive my instruction rather than silver;
Knowledge rather than choice gold.
11 For wisdom is better than rubies.
All the things that may be desired can't be compared to it.
12 "I, wisdom, have made prudence my dwelling.
Find out knowledge and discretion.
13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil.
I hate pride, arrogance, the evil way, and the perverse mouth.
14 Counsel and sound knowledge are mine.
I have understanding and power.
15 By me kings reign,
And princes decree justice.
16 By me princes rule; Nobles,
and all the righteous rulers of the eretz.
17 I love those who love me.
Those who seek me diligently will find me.
18 With me are riches, honor,
Enduring wealth, and prosperity.
19 My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold;
My yield than choice silver.
20 I walk in the way of righteousness,
In the midst of the paths of justice;
21 That I may give wealth to those who love me.
I fill their treasuries.
22 "The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his work,
Before his deeds of old.
23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning,
Before the eretz existed.
24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth,
When there were no springs abounding with water.
25 Before the mountains were settled in place,
Before the hills, I was brought forth;
26 While as yet he had not made the eretz, nor the fields,
Nor the beginning of the dust of the world.
27 When he established the heavens, I was there;
When he set a circle on the surface of the deep,
28 When he established the clouds above,
When the springs of the deep became strong,
29 When he gave to the sea its boundary,
That the waters should not violate his mitzvah,
When he marked out the foundations of the eretz;
30 Then I was the craftsman by his side.
I was a delight day by day,
Always rejoicing before him,
31 Rejoicing in his whole world.
My delight was with the sons of men.
32 "Now therefore, my sons, listen to me,
For blessed are those who keep my ways.
33 Hear instruction, and be wise, Don't refuse it.
34 Blessed is the man who hears me,
Watching daily at my gates,
Waiting at my door posts.
35 For whoever finds me, finds life,
And will obtain favor from the LORD.
36 But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul.
All those who hate me love death."
OLD TESTAMENT: 2 KINGS 15:1 - 16:20
15:1 In the twenty-seventh year of Yarov`am king of Yisra'el began `Azaryah son of Amatzyah king of Yehudah to reign. 2 Sixteen years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned fifty-two years in Yerushalayim: and his mother's name was Yekholyahu of Yerushalayim. 3 He did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, according to all that his father Amatzyah had done. 4 However the high places were not taken away: the people still sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places. 5 The LORD struck the king, so that he was a leper to the day of his death, and lived in a separate house. Yotam the king's son was over the household, judging the people of the land. 6 Now the rest of the acts of `Azaryah, and all that he did, aren't they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Yehudah? 7 `Azaryah slept with his fathers; and they buried him with his fathers in the city of David: and Yotam his son reigned in his place. 8 In the thirty-eighth year of `Azaryah king of Yehudah did Zekharyah the son of Yarov`am reign over Yisra'el in Shomron six months. 9 He did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, as his fathers had done: he didn't depart from the sins of Yarov`am the son of Nevat, with which he made Yisra'el to sin. 10 Shallum the son of Yavesh conspired against him, and struck him before the people, and killed him, and reigned in his place. 11 Now the rest of the acts of Zekharyah, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Yisra'el. 12 This was the word of the LORD which he spoke to Yehu, saying, Your sons to the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Yisra'el. So it came to pass. 13 Shallum the son of Yavesh began to reign in the nine and thirtieth year of `Uzziyah king of Yehudah; and he reigned the space of a month in Shomron.
14 Menachem the son of Gadi went up from Tirtzah, and came to Shomron, and struck Shallum the son of Yavesh in Shomron, and killed him, and reigned in his place. 15 Now the rest of the acts of Shallum, and his conspiracy which he made, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Yisra'el. 16 Then Menachem struck Tifsach, and all who were therein, and the borders of it, from Tirtzah: because they didn't open to him, therefore he struck it; and all the women therein who were with child he ripped up. 17 In the nine and thirtieth year of `Azaryah king of Yehudah began Menachem the son of Gadi to reign over Yisra'el, [and reigned] ten years in Shomron. 18 He did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: he didn't depart all his days from the sins of Yarov`am the son of Nevat, with which he made Yisra'el to sin. 19 There came against the land Pul the king of Ashshur; and Menachem gave Pul one thousand talents of silver, that his hand might be with him to confirm the kingdom in his hand. 20 Menachem exacted the money of Yisra'el, even of all the mighty men of wealth, of each man fifty shekels of silver, to give to the king of Ashshur. So the king of Ashshur turned back, and didn't stay there in the land. 21 Now the rest of the acts of Menachem, and all that he did, aren't they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Yisra'el? 22 Menachem slept with his fathers; and Pekachyah his son reigned in his place. 23 In the fiftieth year of `Azaryah king of Yehudah Pekachyah the son of Menachem began to reign over Yisra'el in Shomron, [and reigned] two years. 24 He did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: he didn't depart from the sins of Yarov`am the son of Nevat, with which he made Yisra'el to sin. 25 Pekach the son of Remalyahu, his captain, conspired against him, and struck him in Shomron, in the castle of the king's house, with Argov and Arye; and with him were fifty men of the Gil`adi: and he killed him, and reigned in his place. 26 Now the rest of the acts of Pekachyah, and all that he did, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Yisra'el. 27 In the two and fiftieth year of `Azaryah king of Yehudah Pekach the son of Remalyahu began to reign over Yisra'el in Shomron, [and reigned] twenty years. 28 He did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: he didn't depart from the sins of Yarov`am the son of Nevat, with which he made Yisra'el to sin. 29 In the days of Pekach king of Yisra'el came Tiglat-Pil'eser king of Ashshur, and took `Iyon, and Avel-Beit-Ma`akhah, and Yano`ach, and Kedesh, and Hatzor, and Gil`ad, and the Galil, all the land of Naftali; and he carried them captive to Ashshur. 30 Hoshea the son of Elah made a conspiracy against Pekach the son of Remalyahu, and struck him, and killed him, and reigned in his place, in the twentieth year of Yotam the son of `Uzziyah. 31 Now the rest of the acts of Pekach, and all that he did, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Yisra'el. 32 In the second year of Pekach the son of Remalyahu king of Yisra'el began Yotam the son of `Uzziyah king of Yehudah to reign. 33 He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned sixteen years in Yerushalayim: and his mother's name was Yerusha the daughter of Tzadok. 34 He did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD; he did according to all that his father `Uzziyah had done. 35 However the high places were not taken away: the people still sacrificed and burned incense in the high places. He built the upper gate of the house of the LORD. 36 Now the rest of the acts of Yotam, and all that he did, aren't they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Yehudah? 37 In those days the LORD began to send against Yehudah Retzin the king of Aram, and Pekach the son of Remalyahu. 38 Yotam slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father: and Achaz his son reigned in his place.
16:1 In the seventeenth year of Pekach the son of Remalyahu Achaz the son of Yotam king of Yehudah began to reign. 2 Twenty years old was Achaz when he began to reign; and he reigned sixteen years in Yerushalayim: and he didn't do that which was right in the eyes of the LORD his God, like David his father. 3 But he walked in the way of the kings of Yisra'el, yes, and made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the nations, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Yisra'el. 4 He sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree. 5 Then Retzin king of Aram and Pekach son of Remalyahu king of Yisra'el came up to Yerushalayim to war: and they besieged Achaz, but could not overcome him. 6 At that time Retzin king of Aram recovered Elat to Aram, and drove the Yehudim from Elat; and the Aram came to Elat, and lived there, to this day. 7 So Achaz sent messengers to Tiglat-Pil'eser king of Ashshur, saying, I am your servant and your son: come up, and save me out of the hand of the king of Aram, and out of the hand of the king of Yisra'el, who rise up against me. 8 Achaz took the silver and gold that was found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king's house, and sent it for a present to the king of Ashshur. 9 The king of Ashshur listened to him; and the king of Ashshur went up against Dammesek, and took it, and carried [the people of] it captive to Kir, and killed Retzin. 10 King Achaz went to Dammesek to meet Tiglat-Pil'eser king of Ashshur, and saw the altar that was at Dammesek; and king Achaz sent to Uriyahu the Kohen the fashion of the altar, and the pattern of it, according to all the workmanship of it. 11 Uriyahu the Kohen built an altar: according to all that king Achaz had sent from Dammesek, so did Uriyahu the Kohen make it against the coming of king Achaz from Dammesek. 12 When the king was come from Dammesek, the king saw the altar: and the king drew near to the altar, and offered thereon. 13 He burnt his burnt offering and his meal-offering, and poured his drink-offering, and sprinkled the blood of his peace-offerings, on the altar. 14 The brazen altar, which was before the LORD, he brought from the forefront of the house, from between his altar and the house of the LORD, and put it on the north side of his altar. 15 King Achaz commanded Uriyahu the Kohen, saying, On the great altar burn the morning burnt offering, and the evening meal-offering, and the king's burnt offering, and his meal-offering, with the burnt offering of all the people of the land, and their meal-offering, and their drink-offerings; and sprinkle on it all the blood of the burnt offering, and all the blood of the sacrifice: but the brazen altar shall be for me to inquire by. 16 Thus did Uriyahu the Kohen, according to all that king Achaz commanded. 17 King Achaz cut off the panels of the bases, and removed the basin from off them, and took down the sea from off the brazen oxen that were under it, and put it on a pavement of stone. 18 The covered way for the Shabbat that they had built in the house, and the king's entry outside, turned he to the house of the LORD, because of the king of Ashshur. 19 Now the rest of the acts of Achaz which he did, aren't they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Yehudah? 20 Achaz slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David: and Hizkiyahu his son reigned in his place.
NEW TESTAMENT: ACTS 19:13 - 41
19:13 But some of the itinerant Yehudim, exorcists, took on themselves to name over those who had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Yeshua, saying, "We adjure you by Yeshua whom Sha'ul preaches."
14 There were seven sons of one Skeva, a Yehudi chief Kohen, who did this.
15 The evil spirit answered, "Yeshua I know, and Sha'ul I know, but who are you?"
16 The man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
17 This became known to all, both Yehudim and Yevanim, who lived at Ephesus. Fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Yeshua was magnified.
18 Many also of those who had believed came, confessing, and declaring their deeds.
19 Many of those who practiced magical arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. They counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.
20 So the word of the Lord was growing and becoming mighty.
21 Now after these things had ended, Sha'ul determined in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Yerushalayim, saying, "After I have been there, I must also see Rome."
22 Having sent into Macedonia two of those who ministered to him, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while.
23 About that time there arose no small stir concerning the Way.
24 For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought no little business to the craftsmen,
25 whom he gathered together, with the workmen of like occupation, and said, "Sirs, you know that by this business we have our wealth.
26 You see and hear, that not at Ephesus alone, but almost throughout all Asia, this Sha'ul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that they are no gods, that are made with hands.
27 Not only is there danger that this our trade come into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be counted as nothing, and her majesty destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worships."
28 When they heard this they were filled with anger, and cried out, saying, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!"
29 The whole city was filled with confusion, and they rushed with one accord into the theater, having seized Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Sha'ul's companions in travel.
30 When Sha'ul wanted to enter in to the people, the talmidim didn't allow him.
31 Certain also of the Asiarchs, being his friends, sent to him and begged him not to venture into the theater.
32 Some therefore cried one thing, and some another, for the assembly was in confusion. Most of them didn't know why they had come together.
33 They brought Alexander out of the multitude, the Yehudim putting him forward. Alexander beckoned with his hand, and would have made a defense to the people.
34 But when they perceived that he was a Yehudi, all with one voice for a time of about two hours cried out, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!"
35 When the town clerk had quieted the multitude, he said, "You men of Ephesus, what man is there who doesn't know that the city of the Ephesians is temple-keeper of the great goddess Artemis, and of the image which fell down from Zeus?
36 Seeing then that these things can't be denied, you ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rash.
37 For you have brought these men here, who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of your goddess.
38 If therefore Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a matter against anyone, the courts are open, and there are proconsuls. Let them press charges against one another.
39 But if you seek anything about other matters, it will be settled in the regular assembly.
40 For indeed we are in danger of being accused concerning this day's riot, there being no cause. Concerning it, we wouldn't be able to give an account of this commotion."
41 When he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.
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
