MAY 21
PSALMS: 21, 51, 81, 111, 141
PROVERBS: 21
OLD TESTAMENT: EZRA 10:1 - 44
NEW TESTAMENT: 1 CORINTHIANS 6:1 - 20
PSALMS: 21
1 The king rejoices in your strength, LORD!
How greatly he rejoices in your yeshu`ah!
2 You have given him his heart's desire,
And have not withheld the request of his lips.
Selah.
3 For you meet him with the blessings of goodness;
You set a crown of fine gold on his head.
4 He asked life of you, you gave it to him,
Even length of days forever and ever.
5 His glory is great in your salvation.
You lay honor and majesty on him.
6 For you make him most blessed forever.
You make him glad with joy in your presence.
7 For the king trusts in the LORD.
Through the loving kindness of Ha`Elyon,
he shall not be moved.
8 Your hand will find out all of your enemies.
Your right hand will find out those who hate you.
9 You will make them as a fiery furnace in the time of your anger.
The LORD will swallow them up in his wrath.
The fire shall devour them.
10 You will destroy their descendants from the eretz,
Their posterity from among the children of men.
11 For they intended evil against you.
They plotted evil against you which cannot succeed.
12 For you will make them turn their back,
When you aim drawn bows at their face.
13 Be exalted, LORD, in your strength,
So we will sing and praise your power.
PSALMS: 51
1 Have mercy on me, God, according to your loving kindness.
According to the multitude of your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity.
Cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions.
My sin is constantly before me.
4 Against you, and you only, have I sinned,
And done that which is evil in your sight;
That you may be proved right when you speak,
And justified when you judge.
5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity.
In sin did my mother conceive me.
6 Behold, you desire truth in the inward parts.
You teach me wisdom in the inmost place.
7 Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean.
Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness,
That the bones which you have broken may rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins,
And blot out all of my iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God.
Renew a right spirit within me.
11 Don't throw me from your presence,
And don't take your holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation.
Uphold me with a willing spirit.
13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways.
Sinners shall be converted to you.
14 Deliver me from blood guiltiness,
O God, the God of my salvation.
My tongue shall sing aloud of your righteousness.
15 Lord, open my lips.
My mouth shall declare your praise.
16 For you don't delight in sacrifice, or else I would give it.
You have no pleasure in burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit.
A broken and contrite heart,
O God, you will not despise.
18 Do well in your good pleasure to Tziyon.
Build the walls of Yerushalayim.
19 Then will you delight in the sacrifices of righteousness,
In burnt offerings and in whole burnt offerings.
Then they will offer bulls on your altar.
PSALMS: 81
1 Sing aloud to God, our strength!
Make a joyful noise to the God of Ya`akov!
2 Raise a song, and bring here the tambourine,
The pleasant lyre with the harp.
3 Blow the shofar at the New Moon,
At the full moon, on our feast day.
4 For it is a statute for Yisra'el,
An ordinance of the God of Ya`akov.
5 He appointed it in Yosef for a testimony,
When he went out over the land of Mitzrayim,
I heard a language that I didn't know.
6 "I removed his shoulder from the burden.
His hands were freed from the basket.
7 You called in trouble, and I delivered you.
I answered you in the secret place of thunder.
I tested you at the waters of Merivah."
Selah.
8 "Hear, my people, and I will testify to you.
Yisra'el, if you would listen to me!
9 There shall be no strange god in you,
Neither shall you worship any foreign god.
10 I am the LORD, your God,
Who brought you up out of the land of Mitzrayim.
Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.
11 But my people didn't listen to my voice.
Yisra'el desired none of me.
12 So I let them go after the stubbornness of their hearts,
That they might walk in their own counsels.
13 Oh that my people would listen to me,
That Yisra'el would walk in my ways!
14 I would soon subdue their enemies,
And turn my hand against their adversaries.
15 The haters of the LORD would cringe before him,
And their punishment would last forever.
16 But he would have also fed them with the finest of the wheat.
I will satisfy you with honey out of the rock."
PSALMS: 111
1 Praise the LORD!
I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart,
In the council of the upright, and in the congregation.
2 The works of the LORD are great,
Pondered by all those who delight in them.
3 His work is honor and majesty.
His righteousness endures forever.
4 He has caused his wonderful works to be remembered.
The LORD is gracious and merciful.
5 He has given food to those who fear him.
He always remembers his covenant.
6 He has shown his people the power of his works,
In giving them the heritage of the nations.
7 The works of his hands are truth and justice.
All his precepts are sure.
8 They are established forever and ever.
They are done in truth and uprightness.
9 He has sent redemption to his people.
He has ordained his covenant forever.
His name is holy and awesome!
10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.
All those who do his work have a good understanding.
His praise endures forever!
PSALMS: 141
1 LORD, I have called on you. Come to me quickly!
Listen to my voice when I call to you.
2 Let my prayer be set before you like incense; ‘
The lifting up of my hands like the evening sacrifice.
3 Set a watch, LORD, before my mouth.
Keep the door of my lips.
4 Don't incline my heart to any evil thing, ‘
To practice deeds of wickedness with men who work iniquity.
Don't let me eat of their delicacies.
5 Let the righteous strike me, it is kindness;
Let him reprove me, it is like oil on the head;
Don't let my head refuse it;
Yet my prayer is always against evil deeds.
6 Their judges are thrown down by the sides of the rock.
They will hear my words, for they are well spoken.
7 "As when one plows and breaks up the eretz,
Our bones are scattered at the mouth of She'ol."
8 For my eyes are on you, LORD, the Lord.
In you, I take refuge. Don't leave my soul destitute.
9 Keep me from the snare which they have laid for me,
From the traps of the workers of iniquity.
10 Let the wicked fall together into their own nets,
While I pass by.
PROVERBS: 21
1 The king's heart is in the LORD's hand like the watercourses.
He turns it wherever he desires.
2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes,
But the LORD weighs the hearts.
3 To do righteousness and justice
Is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
4 A high look, and a proud heart,
The lamp of the wicked, is sin.
5 The plans of the diligent surely lead to profit;
And everyone who is hasty surely rushes to poverty.
6 Getting treasures by a lying tongue
Is a fleeting vapor for those who seek death.
7 The violence of the wicked will drive them away,
Because they refuse to do what is right.
8 The way of the guilty is devious,
But the conduct of the innocent is upright.
9 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop,
Than to share a house with a contentious woman.
10 The soul of the wicked desires evil;
His neighbor finds no mercy in his eyes.
11 When the mocker is punished, the simple gains wisdom;
When the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.
12 The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked,
And brings the wicked to ruin.
13 Whoever stops his ears at the cry of the poor,
He will also cry out, but shall not be heard.
14 A gift in secret pacifies anger;
And a bribe in the cloak, strong wrath.
15 It is joy to the righteous to do justice;
But it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity.
16 The man who wanders out of the way of understanding
Shall rest in the assembly of the dead.
17 He who loves pleasure shall be a poor man:
He who loves wine and oil shall not be rich.
18 The wicked is a ransom for the righteous;
The treacherous for the upright.
19 It is better to dwell in a desert land,
Than with a contentious and fretful woman.
20 There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise;
But a foolish man swallows it up.
21 He who follows after righteousness and kindness
Finds life, righteousness, and honor.
22 A wise man scales the city of the mighty,
And brings down the strength of its confidence.
23Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue
Keeps his soul from troubles.
24 The proud and haughty man, "scoffer" is his name;
He works in the arrogance of pride.
25 The desire of the sluggard kills him,
For his hands refuse to labor.
26 There are those who covet greedily all the day long;
But the righteous gives and doesn't withhold.
27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination:
How much more, when he brings it with a wicked mind!
28 A false witness will perish,
And a man who listens speaks to eternity.
29 A wicked man hardens his face;
But as for the upright, he establishes his ways.
30 There is no wisdom nor understanding
Nor counsel against the LORD.
31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle;
But victory is with the LORD.
OLD TESTAMENT: EZRA 10:1 - 44
10:1 Now while Ezra prayed and made confession, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, there was gathered together to him out of Yisra'el a very great assembly of men and women and children; for the people wept very sore.
2 Shekhanyahu the son of Yechi'el, one of the sons of `Elam, answered Ezra, We have trespassed against our God, and have married foreign women of the peoples of the land: yet now there is hope for Yisra'el concerning this thing.
3 Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives, and such as are born of them, according to the counsel of my lord, and of those who tremble at the mitzvah of our God; and let it be done according to the law.
4 Arise; for the matter belongs to you, and we are with you: be of good courage, and do it.
5 Then arose Ezra, and made the chiefs of the Kohanim, the Levites, and all Yisra'el, to swear that they would do according to this word. So they swore.
6 Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God, and went into the chamber of Yehochanan the son of Elyashiv: and [when] he came there, he ate no bread, nor drink water; for he mourned because of the trespass of them of the captivity.
7 They made proclamation throughout Yehudah and Yerushalayim to all the children of the captivity, that they should gather themselves together to Yerushalayim;
8 and that whoever didn't come within three days, according to the counsel of the princes and the Zakenim, all his substance should be forfeited, and himself separated from the assembly of the captivity.
9 Then all the men of Yehudah and Binyamin gathered themselves together to Yerushalayim within the three days; it was the ninth month, on the twentieth [day] of the month: and all the people sat in the broad place before the house of God, trembling because of this matter, and for the great rain.
10 Ezra the Kohen stood up, and said to them, You have trespassed, and have married foreign women, to increase the guilt of Yisra'el.
11 Now therefore make confession to the LORD, the God of your fathers, and do his pleasure; and separate yourselves from the peoples of the land, and from the foreign women.
12 Then all the assembly answered with a loud voice, As you have said concerning us, so must we do.
13 But the people are many, and it is a time of much rain, and we are not able to stand outside: neither is this a work of one day or two; for we have greatly transgressed in this matter.
14 Let now our princes be appointed for all the assembly, and let all those who are in our cities who have married foreign women come at appointed times, and with them the Zakenim of every city, and the judges of it, until the fierce wrath of our God be turned from us, until this matter be dispatched.
15 Only Yonatan the son of `Asa'el and Yachzeyah the son of Tikvah stood up against this [matter]: and Meshullam and Shabbetai the Levite helped them.
16 The children of the captivity did so. Ezra the Kohen, [with] certain heads of fathers' [houses], after their fathers' houses, and all of them by their names, were set apart; and they sat down in the first day of the tenth month to examine the matter.
17 They made an end with all the men who had married foreign women by the first day of the first month.
18 Among the sons of the Kohanim there were found who had married foreign women: [namely], of the sons of Yeshua, the son of Yotzadak, and his brothers, Ma`aseyah, and Eli`ezer, and Yariv, and Gedalyahu.
19 They gave their hand that they would put away their wives; and being guilty, [they offered] a ram of the flock for their guilt.
20 Of the sons of Immer: Hanani and Zevadyah.
21 Of the sons of Harim: Ma`aseyah, and Eliyah, and Shemayah, and Yechi'el, and `Uzziyah.
22 Of the sons of Pashchur: Elyo`enai, Ma`aseyah, Yishma'el, Netan'el, Yozavad, and El`asah.
23 Of the Levites: Yozavad, and Shim`i, and Kelayah (the same is Kelita), Petachyah, Yehudah, and Eli`ezer.
24 Of the singers: Elyashiv. Of the porters: Shallum, and Telem, and Uri.
25 Of Yisra'el: Of the sons of Par`osh: Ramyah, and Yizziyah, and Malkiyah, and Miyamin, and El`azar, and Malkiyah, and Benayah.
26 Of the sons of `Elam: Mattanyah, Zekharyah, and Yechi'el, and `Avdi, and Yeremot, and Eliyah.
27 Of the sons of Zattu: Elyo`enai, Elyashiv, Mattanyah, and Yeremot, and Zavad, and Aziza.
28 Of the sons of Bevai: Yehochanan, Hananyah, Zakkai, `Atlai.
29 Of the sons of Bani: Meshullam, Mallukh, and `Adayah, Yashuv, and She'al, Ramot.
30 Of the sons of Pachat-Mo'av: `Adna, and Kelal, Benayah, Ma`aseyah, Mattanyah, Betzal'el, and Binnui, and Menashsheh.
31 [of] the sons of Harim: Eli`ezer, Yishshiyah, Malkiyah, Shemayah, Shim`on,
32 Binyamin, Mallukh, Shemaryahu.
33 Of the sons of Hashum: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zavad, Elifelet, Yeremai, Menashsheh, Shim`i.
34 Of the sons of Bani: Ma`adai, `Amram, and U'el,
35 Benayah, Bedeyah, Keluhu,
36 Vanyah, Meremot, Elyashiv,
37 Mattanyah, Mattenai, and Ya`asai,
38 and Bani, and Binnui, Shim`i,
39 and Shelemyahu, and Natan, and `Adayah,
40 Makhnadvai, Shashai, Sharai,
41 `Azar'el, and Shelemyahu, Shemaryahu,
42 Shallum, Amaryah, Yosef.
43 Of the sons of Nevo: Ye`i'el, Mattityah, Zavad, Zevina, Yaddai, and Yo'el, Benayah.
44 All these had taken foreign wives; and some of them had wives by whom they had children.
NEW TESTAMENT: 1 CORINTHIANS 6:1 - 20
6 1 Dare any of you, having a matter against his neighbor, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the holy ones? 2 Don’t you know that the holy ones will judge the world? And if the world is judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 3 Don’t you know that we will judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? 4 If then you have to judge things pertaining to this life, do you set them to judge who are of no account in the assembly? 5 I say this to move you to shame. Isn’t there even one wise man among you who would be able to decide between his brothers? 6 But brother goes to law with brother, and that before unbelievers! 7 Therefore it is already altogether a defect in you that you have lawsuits one with another. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded? 8 No, but you yourselves do wrong and defraud, and that against your brothers.
9 Or don’t you know that the unrighteous will not inherit God’s Kingdom? Don’t be deceived. Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor male prostitutes, nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor extortionists, will inherit God’s Kingdom. 11 Some of you were such, but you were washed. You were sanctified. You were justified in the name of the Lord Yeshua, and in the Spirit of our God.
12 “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are expedient. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be brought under the power of anything. 13 “Foods for the belly, and the belly for foods,” but God will bring to nothing both it and them. But the body is not for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 Now God raised up the Lord, and will also raise us up by his power. 15 Don’t you know that your bodies are members of Messiah? Shall I then take the members of Messiah and make them members of a prostitute? May it never be! 16 Or don’t you know that he who is joined to a prostitute is one body? For, “The two”, he says, “will become one flesh.”✡ 17 But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit. 18 Flee sexual immorality! “Every sin that a man does is outside the body,” but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. 19 Or don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.
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
