THEinc-HIM Daily Bible Meditation - July 26 - Full Text! - Shabbat Shalom!

Genesis 1:1 1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 

THEinc-HIM Daily Bible Meditation

JULY 26

PSALMS:   26, 56, 86, 116, 146

PROVERBS:  26

OLD TESTAMENT:  JEREMIAH 26:1 - 27:22

NEW TESTAMENT:  2 THESSALONIANS 3:1 - 18

PSALMS:  26

1 Judge me, LORD, for I have walked in my integrity. 

I have trusted also in LORD without wavering. 

2 Examine me, LORD, and prove me. 

Try my heart and my mind. 

3 For your loving kindness is before my eyes. 

I have walked in your truth. 

4 I have not sat with deceitful men, 

Neither will I go in with hypocrites. 

5 I hate the assembly of evil-doers, 

And will not sit with the wicked. 

6 I will wash my hands in innocence, 

So I will go about your altar, LORD; 

7 That I may make the voice of thanksgiving to be heard, 

And tell of all your wondrous works. 

8 LORD, I love the habitation of your house, 

The place where your glory dwells. 

9 Don't gather my soul with sinners, 

Nor my life with bloodthirsty men; 

10 In whose hands is wickedness, 

Their right hand is full of bribes. 

11 But as for me, I will walk in my integrity. 

Redeem me, and be merciful to me. 

12 My foot stands in an even place. 

In the congregations will I bless the LORD.

PSALMS:  56

1 Be merciful to me, God, for man wants to swallow me up. 

All day long, he attacks and oppresses me. 

2 My enemies want to swallow me up all day long, 

For they are many who fight proudly against me. 

3 When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. 

4 In God, I praise his word. In God, 

I put my trust. I will not be afraid. 

What can flesh do to me? 

5 All day long they twist my words. 

All their thoughts are against me for evil. 

6 They conspire and lurk, 

Watching my steps, they are eager to take my life. 

7 Shall they escape by iniquity? I

n anger cast down the peoples, God. 

8 You number my wanderings. 

You put my tears into your bottle. 

Aren't they in your book? 

9 Then shall my enemies turn back in the day that I call. 

I know this, that God is for me. 

10 In God, I will praise his word. In the LORD, 

I will praise his word. 

11 I have put my trust in God. 

I will not be afraid. 

What can man do to me? 

12 Your vows are on me, God.

 I will give thank offerings to you. 

13 For you have delivered my soul from death, 

And prevented my feet from falling, 

That I may walk before God in the light of the living.

PSALMS:  86

1 Hear, LORD, and answer me, 

For I am poor and needy. 

2 Preserve my soul, for I am godly. 

You, my God, save your servant who trusts in you. 

3 Be merciful to me, Lord, 

For I call to you all day long.

4 Bring joy to the soul of your servant, 

For to you, Lord, do I lift up my soul. 

5 For you, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive; 

Abundant in loving kindness to all those who call on you. 

6 Hear, LORD, my prayer. 

Listen to the voice of my petitions. 

7  In the day of my trouble I will call on you, 

For you will answer me. 

8 There is no one like you among the gods, Lord, 

Nor any deeds like your deeds. 

9 All nations you have made will come and worship before you, Lord. 

They shall glorify your name. 

10 For you are great, and do wondrous things. 

You are God alone. 

11 Teach me your way, LORD. 

I will walk in your truth. 

Make my heart undivided to fear your name. 

12 I will praise you, Lord my God, with my whole heart. 

I will glorify your name forevermore. 

13 For your loving kindness is great toward me. 

You have delivered my soul from the lowest She'ol. 

14 God, the proud have risen up against me. 

A company of violent men have sought after my soul, 

And they don't hold regard for you before them. 

15 But you, Lord, are a merciful and gracious God, 

Slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness and truth. 

16 Turn to me, and have mercy on me! 

Give your strength to your servant. 

Save the son of your handmaid. 

17  Show me a sign of your goodness, 

That those who hate me may see it, and be put to shame, 

Because you, LORD, have helped me, and comforted me.

PSALMS:  116

1 I love the LORD, because he listens to my voice, 

And my cries for mercy. 

2 Because he has turned his ear to me, 

Therefore I will call on him as long as I live. 

3 The cords of death surrounded me, 

The pains of She'ol got a hold on me. 

I found trouble and sorrow. 

4 Then called I on the name of the LORD: 

"The LORD, I beg you, deliver my soul." 

5 Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; 

Yes, our God is merciful. 

6 The LORD preserves the simple. 

I was brought low, and he saved me. 

7 Return to your rest, my soul, 

For the LORD has dealt bountifully with you. 

8 For you have delivered my soul from death, 

My eyes from tears, 

And my feet from falling. 

9 I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living. 

10 I believed, therefore I said, 

"I was greatly afflicted." 

11 I said in my haste, 

"All men are liars." 

12 What will I give to the LORD for all his benefits toward me?

13 I will take the cup of salvation, 

and call on the name of the LORD. 

14 I will pay my vows to the LORD, 

Yes, in the presence of all his people. 

15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his holy ones. 

16 LORD, truly I am your servant. 

I am your servant, the son of your handmaid. 

You have freed me from my chains. 

17 I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving, 

And will call on the name of the LORD. 

18 I will pay my vows to the LORD, 

Yes, in the presence of all his people, 

19 In the courts of the LORD's house, 

In the midst of you, Yerushalayim. 

Praise the LORD!

PSALMS:  146

1 Praise the LORD! 

Praise the LORD, my soul. 

2 While I live, I will praise the LORD. 

I will sing praises to my God as long as I exist. 

3 Don't put your trust in princes, 

Each a son of man in whom there is no help. 

4 His spirit departs, and he returns to the eretz. 

In that very day, his thoughts perish. 

5 Happy is he who has the God of Ya`akov for his help, 

Whose hope is in the LORD, his God: 

6 Who made heaven and eretz, 

The sea, and all that is in them; 

Who keeps truth forever; 

7 Who executes justice for the oppressed; 

Who gives food to the hungry. 

The LORD frees the prisoners. 

8 The LORD opens the eyes of the blind. 

The LORD raises up those who are bowed down. 

The LORD loves the righteous. 

9 The LORD preserves the sojourners. 

He upholds the fatherless and widow, 

But the way of the wicked he turns upside down. 

10 The LORD will reign forever; 

Your God, O Tziyon, to all generations. Praise the LORD!

PROVERBS:  26

1 Like snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, 

So honor is not fitting for a fool. 

2 Like a fluttering sparrow, 

Like a darting swallow, 

So the undeserved curse doesn't come to rest. 

3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, 

And a rod for the back of fools! 

4 Don't answer a fool according to his folly, 

Lest you also be like him.

5 Answer a fool according to his folly, 

Lest he be wise in his own eyes. 

6 One who sends a message by the hand of a fool 

Is cutting off feet and drinking violence. 

7 Like the legs of the lame that hang loose: 

So is a parable in the mouth of fools. 

8 As one who binds a stone in a sling, 

So is he who gives honor to a fool. 

9 Like a thornbush that goes into the hand of a drunkard, 

So is a parable in the mouth of fools. 

10 As an archer who wounds all, 

So is he who hires a fool

 Or he who hires those who pass by. 

11 As a dog that returns to his vomit, 

So is a fool who repeats his folly. 

12 Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? 

There is more hope for a fool than for him. 

13 The sluggard says, 

"There is a lion in the road! 

A fierce lion roams the streets!" 

14 As the door turns on its hinges, 

So does the sluggard on his bed. 

15 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish. 

He is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth. 

16 The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes 

Than seven men who answer with discretion. 

17 Like one who seizes a dog's ears 

Is one who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own. 

18 Like a madman who shoots firebrands, arrows, and death, 

19 Is the man who deceives his neighbor and says,

 "Am I not joking?" 

20 For lack of wood the fire goes out; 

Where there is no gossip, a quarrel dies down. 

21 As coals are to hot embers, And wood to fire, 

So is a contentious man to kindle strife.

22 The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, 

They go down into the innermost parts. 

23 Like silver dross on an earthen vessel 

Are the lips of a fervent one with an evil heart. 

24 A malicious man disguises himself with his lips, 

But he harbors evil in his heart. 

25 When his speech is charming, don't believe him; 

For there are seven abominations in his heart: 

26 His malice may be concealed by deception, 

But his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. 

27  Whoever digs a pit shall fall into it. ‘

Whoever rolls a stone, it will come back on him. 

28 A lying tongue hates those it hurts; 

And a flattering mouth works ruin.

OLD TESTAMENT:  JEREMIAH 26:1 - 27:22

26:1 Early in the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, this word came from the LORD: 2 “This is what the LORD says: Stand in the courtyard of the LORD’s house and speak to all the people of the towns of Judah who come to worship in the house of the LORD. Tell them everything I command you; do not omit a word. 3 Perhaps they will listen and each will turn from their evil ways. Then I will relent and not inflict on them the disaster I was planning because of the evil they have done. 4 Say to them, ‘This is what the LORD says: If you do not listen to me and follow my law, which I have set before you, 5 and if you do not listen to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I have sent to you again and again (though you have not listened), 6 then I will make this house like Shiloh and this city a curse among all the nations of the earth.’ ” 7  The priests, the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speak these words in the house of the LORD. 8 But as soon as Jeremiah finished telling all the people everything the LORD had commanded him to say, the priests, the prophets and all the people seized him and said, “You must die! 9 Why do you prophesy in the LORD’s name that this house will be like Shiloh and this city will be desolate and deserted?” And all the people crowded around Jeremiah in the house of the LORD. 10 When the officials of Judah heard about these things, they went up from the royal palace to the house of the LORD and took their places at the entrance of the New Gate of the LORD’s house. 11 Then the priests and the prophets said to the officials and all the people, “This man should be sentenced to death because he has prophesied against this city. You have heard it with your own ears!” 12 Then Jeremiah said to all the officials and all the people: “The LORD sent me to prophesy against this house and this city all the things you have heard. 13 Now reform your ways and your actions and obey the LORD your God. Then the LORD will relent and not bring the disaster he has pronounced against you. 14 As for me, I am in your hands; do with me whatever you think is good and right. 15 Be assured, however, that if you put me to death, you will bring the guilt of innocent blood on yourselves and on this city and on those who live in it, for in truth the LORD has sent me to you to speak all these words in your hearing.” 16 Then the officials and all the people said to the priests and the prophets, “This man should not be sentenced to death! He has spoken to us in the name of the LORD our God.” 17 Some of the elders of the land stepped forward and said to the entire assembly of people, 18 “Micah of Moresheth prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah. He told all the people of Judah, ‘This is what the LORD Almighty says: “ ‘Zion will be plowed like a field, Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble, the temple hill a mound overgrown with thickets.’ 19 “Did Hezekiah king of Judah or anyone else in Judah put him to death? Did not Hezekiah fear the LORD and seek his favor? And did not the LORD relent, so that he did not bring the disaster he pronounced against them? We are about to bring a terrible disaster on ourselves!” 20 (Now Uriah son of Shemaiah from Kiriath Jearim was another man who prophesied in the name of the LORD; he prophesied the same things against this city and this land as Jeremiah did. 21 When King Jehoiakim and all his officers and officials heard his words, the king was determined to put him to death. But Uriah heard of it and fled in fear to Egypt. 22 King Jehoiakim, however, sent Elnathan son of Akbor to Egypt, along with some other men. 23 They brought Uriah out of Egypt and took him to King Jehoiakim, who had him struck down with a sword and his body thrown into the burial place of the common people.) 24 Furthermore, Ahikam son of Shaphan supported Jeremiah, and so he was not handed over to the people to be put to death. 

27:1 Early in the reign of Zedekiah son of Josiah king of Judah, this word came to Jeremiah from the LORD: 2 This is what the LORD said to me: “Make a yoke out of straps and crossbars and put it on your neck. 3 Then send word to the kings of Edom, Moab, Ammon, Tyre and Sidon through the envoys who have come to Jerusalem to Zedekiah king of Judah. 4 Give them a message for their masters and say, ‘This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “Tell this to your masters: 5 With my great power and outstretched arm I made the earth and its people and the animals that are on it, and I give it to anyone I please. 6 Now I will give all your countries into the hands of my servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; I will make even the wild animals subject to him. 7 All nations will serve him and his son and his grandson until the time for his land comes; then many nations and great kings will subjugate him. 8 “ ‘ “If, however, any nation or kingdom will not serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon or bow its neck under his yoke, I will punish that nation with the sword, famine and plague, declares the LORD, until I destroy it by his hand. 9 So do not listen to your prophets, your diviners, your interpreters of dreams, your mediums or your sorcerers who tell you, ‘You will not serve the king of Babylon.’ 10 They prophesy lies to you that will only serve to remove you far from your lands; I will banish you and you will perish. 11 But if any nation will bow its neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon and serve him, I will let that nation remain in its own land to till it and to live there, declares the LORD.” ’ ” 12 I gave the same message to Zedekiah king of Judah. I said, “Bow your neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon; serve him and his people, and you will live. 13 Why will you and your people die by the sword, famine and plague with which the LORD has threatened any nation that will not serve the king of Babylon? 14 Do not listen to the words of the prophets who say to you, ‘You will not serve the king of Babylon,’ for they are prophesying lies to you. 15 ‘I have not sent them,’ declares the LORD. ‘They are prophesying lies in my name. Therefore, I will banish you and you will perish, both you and the prophets who prophesy to you.’ ” 16 Then I said to the priests and all these people, “This is what the LORD says: Do not listen to the prophets who say, ‘Very soon now the articles from the LORD’s house will be brought back from Babylon.’ They are prophesying lies to you. 17  Do not listen to them. Serve the king of Babylon, and you will live. Why should this city become a ruin? 18 If they are prophets and have the word of the LORD, let them plead with the LORD Almighty that the articles remaining in the house of the LORD and in the palace of the king of Judah and in Jerusalem not be taken to Babylon. 19 For this is what the LORD Almighty says about the pillars, the bronze Sea, the movable stands and the other articles that are left in this city, 20 which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon did not take away when he carried Jehoiachin son of Jehoiakim king of Judah into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon, along with all the nobles of Judah and Jerusalem— 21 yes, this is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says about the things that are left in the house of the LORD and in the palace of the king of Judah and in Jerusalem: 22 ‘They will be taken to Babylon and there they will remain until the day I come for them,’ declares the LORD. ‘Then I will bring them back and restore them to this place.’ ” 

NEW TESTAMENT:  2 THESSALONIANS 3:1 - 18

Request for Prayer

3:1 As for other matters, brothers and sisters, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you. 

2 And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil people, for not everyone has faith. 

3 But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one. 

4 We have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command. 

5 May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.

Warning Against Idleness

6 In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive and does not live according to the teaching you received from us. 

7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, 

8 nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. 

9 We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate. 

10 For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.” 

11 We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies.

12 Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the food they eat. 

13 And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good. 

14 Take special note of anyone who does not obey our instruction in this letter. Do not associate with them, in order that they may feel ashamed. 

15 Yet do not regard them as an enemy, but warn them as you would a fellow believer.

Final Greetings

16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you. 

17 I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand, which is the distinguishing mark in all my letters. This is how I write. 

18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

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

THEinc-HIM Daily Bible Meditation - July 26 - Daily Post! - Shabbat Shalom!

Genesis 1:1 1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 

THEinc-HIM Daily Bible Meditation

Shabbat Shalom!

July 26

THEINC-HIM DAILY BIBLE MEDITATION

Psalms: 26, 56, 86, 116, 146

Proverbs: 26

Old Testament: Jeremiah 26:1 - 27:22

New Testament: 2 Thessalonians 3:1 - 18

I am a Jewish Believer, a believer in

Father G-D (Abba Father), Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus the Christ),

and Ruach HaKodesh (the Holy Spirit)!

We offer various ways for you to study the Holy Bible:

through my blogs and site @

https://theinc-him-daily-bible-meditation.blogspot.com

anchor.fm/JESHorowitz16 Podcast

https://www.facebook.com/THEINCHIM.Daily.Meditation

http://theinchimdailybiblemeditation.wordpress.com

At any of the blogs or site, please pick the current date or any day

you want to study and enjoy growing with the living word of G-D.

You never know when the LORD will call you home – for judgment!

Yours in Yeshua!

ffeJ

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

THEinc-HIM Daily Bible Meditation - July 25 - Full Text! - Shabbat Shalom!

Genesis 1:1 1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 

THEinc-HIM Daily Bible Meditation

JULY 25

PSALMS:   25, 55, 85, 115, 145

PROVERBS:  25

OLD TESTAMENT:  JEREMIAH 23:28 - 25:38

NEW TESTAMENT:  2 THESSALONIANS 2:1 - 17

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:  JEREMIAH 23:28 - 25:38

23:28 Let the prophet who has a dream recount the dream, but let the one who has my word speak it faithfully. For what has straw to do with grain?” declares the LORD. 29 “Is not my word like fire,” declares the LORD, “and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces? 30 “Therefore,” declares the LORD, “I am against the prophets who steal from one another words supposedly from me. 31 Yes,” declares the LORD, “I am against the prophets who wag their own tongues and yet declare, ‘The LORD declares.’ 32 Indeed, I am against those who prophesy false dreams,” declares the LORD. “They tell them and lead my people astray with their reckless lies, yet I did not send or appoint them. They do not benefit these people in the least,” declares the LORD. 33 “When these people, or a prophet or a priest, ask you, ‘What is the message from the LORD?’ say to them, ‘What message? I will forsake you, declares the LORD.’ 34 If a prophet or a priest or anyone else claims, ‘This is a message from the LORD,’ I will punish them and their household. 35 This is what each of you keeps saying to your friends and other Israelites: ‘What is the LORD’s answer?’ or ‘What has the LORD spoken?’ 36 But you must not mention ‘a message from the LORD’ again, because each one’s word becomes their own message. So you distort the words of the living God, the LORD Almighty, our God. 

37  This is what you keep saying to a prophet: ‘What is the LORD’s answer to you?’ or ‘What has the LORD spoken?’ 38 Although you claim, ‘This is a message from the LORD,’ this is what the LORD says: You used the words, ‘This is a message from the LORD,’ even though I told you that you must not claim, ‘This is a message from the LORD.’ 39 Therefore, I will surely forget you and cast you out of my presence along with the city I gave to you and your ancestors. 40 I will bring on you everlasting disgrace—everlasting shame that will not be forgotten.” 

24:1 After Jehoiachin son of Jehoiakim king of Judah and the officials, the skilled workers and the artisans of Judah were carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the LORD showed me two baskets of figs placed in front of the temple of the LORD. 2 One basket had very good figs, like those that ripen early; the other basket had very bad figs, so bad they could not be eaten. 3 Then the LORD asked me, “What do you see, Jeremiah?” “Figs,” I answered. “The good ones are very good, but the bad ones are so bad they cannot be eaten.” 4 Then the word of the LORD came to me: 5 “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Like these good figs, I regard as good the exiles from Judah, whom I sent away from this place to the land of the Babylonians. 6 My eyes will watch over them for their good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up and not tear them down; I will plant them and not uproot them. 7 I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the LORD. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart. 8 “‘But like the bad figs, which are so bad they cannot be eaten,’ says the LORD, ‘so will I deal with Zedekiah king of Judah, his officials and the survivors from Jerusalem, whether they remain in this land or live in Egypt. 9 I will make them abhorrent and an offense to all the kingdoms of the earth, a reproach and a byword, a curse and an object of ridicule, wherever I banish them. 10 I will send the sword, famine and plague against them until they are destroyed from the land I gave to them and their ancestors.’ ” 

25:1 The word came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah in the fourth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, which was the first year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. 2 So Jeremiah the prophet said to all the people of Judah and to all those living in Jerusalem: 3 For twenty-three years—from the thirteenth year of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah until this very day—the word of the LORD has come to me and I have spoken to you again and again, but you have not listened. 4 And though the LORD has sent all his servants the prophets to you again and again, you have not listened or paid any attention. 5 They said, “Turn now, each of you, from your evil ways and your evil practices, and you can stay in the land the LORD gave to you and your ancestors for ever and ever. 6 Do not follow other gods to serve and worship them; do not arouse my anger with what your hands have made. Then I will not harm you.” 7 “But you did not listen to me,” declares the LORD, “and you have aroused my anger with what your hands have made, and you have brought harm to yourselves.” 8 Therefore the LORD Almighty says this: “Because you have not listened to my words, 9 I will summon all the peoples of the north and my servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon,” declares the LORD, “and I will bring them against this land and its inhabitants and against all the surrounding nations. I will completely destroy them and make them an object of horror and scorn, and an everlasting ruin. 10 I will banish from them the sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of bride and bridegroom, the sound of millstones and the light of the lamp. 11 This whole country will become a desolate wasteland, and these nations will serve the king of Babylon seventy years. 12 “But when the seventy years are fulfilled, I will punish the king of Babylon and his nation, the land of the Babylonians, for their guilt,” declares the LORD, “and will make it desolate forever. 13 I will bring on that land all the things I have spoken against it, all that are written in this book and prophesied by Jeremiah against all the nations. 14 They themselves will be enslaved by many nations and great kings; I will repay them according to their deeds and the work of their hands.” 15 This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, said to me: “Take from my hand this cup filled with the wine of my wrath and make all the nations to whom I send you drink it. 16 When they drink it, they will stagger and go mad because of the sword I will send among them.” 17 So I took the cup from the LORD’s hand and made all the nations to whom he sent me drink it: 18 Jerusalem and the towns of Judah, its kings and officials, to make them a ruin and an object of horror and scorn, a curse —as they are today; 19 Pharaoh king of Egypt, his attendants, his officials and all his people, 20 and all the foreign people there; all the kings of Uz; all the kings of the Philistines (those of Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron, and the people left at Ashdod); 21 Edom, Moab and Ammon; 22 all the kings of Tyre and Sidon; the kings of the coastlands across the sea; 23 Dedan, Tema, Buz and all who are in distant places ; 24 all the kings of Arabia and all the kings of the foreign people who live in the wilderness; 25 all the kings of Zimri, Elam and Media; 26 and all the kings of the north, near and far, one after the other—all the kingdoms on the face of the earth. And after all of them, the king of Sheshak will drink it too. 27  “Then tell them, ‘This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Drink, get drunk and vomit, and fall to rise no more because of the sword I will send among you.’ 28 But if they refuse to take the cup from your hand and drink, tell them, ‘This is what the LORD Almighty says: You must drink it! 29 See, I am beginning to bring disaster on the city that bears my Name, and will you indeed go unpunished? You will not go unpunished, for I am calling down a sword on all who live on the earth, declares the LORD Almighty.’ 30 “Now prophesy all these words against them and say to them: “ ‘The LORD will roar from on high; he will thunder from his holy dwelling and roar mightily against his land. He will shout like those who tread the grapes, shout against all who live on the earth. 31 The tumult will resound to the ends of the earth, for the LORD will bring charges against the nations; he will bring judgment on all mankind and put the wicked to the sword,’ ” declares the LORD. 32 This is what the LORD Almighty says: “Look! Disaster is spreading from nation to nation; a mighty storm is rising from the ends of the earth.”33 At that time those slain by the LORD will be everywhere—from one end of the earth to the other. They will not be mourned or gathered up or buried, but will be like dung lying on the ground. 34 Weep and wail, you shepherds; roll in the dust, you leaders of the flock. For your time to be slaughtered has come; you will fall like the best of the rams. 35 The shepherds will have nowhere to flee, the leaders of the flock no place to escape. 36 Hear the cry of the shepherds, the wailing of the leaders of the flock, for the LORD is destroying their pasture. 37 The peaceful meadows will be laid waste because of the fierce anger of the LORD. 38 Like a lion he will leave his lair, and their land will become desolate because of the sword of the oppressor and because of the LORD’s fierce anger. 

NEW TESTAMENT:  2 THESSALONIANS 2:1 - 17

The Man of Lawlessness

2:1 Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, 

2 not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us—whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter—asserting that the day of the Lord has already come. 

3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 

4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God. 

5 Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? 

6 And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. 

7 For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. 

8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. 

9 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie,

10 and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 

11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 

12 and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.

Stand Firm

13 But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. 

14 He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

15 So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. 

16 May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, 

17 encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.

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