October 26 Reading through the Bible

 

JEREMIAH 49:23-50:46

TITUS 1:1-16

PSALM 97:1-98:9

PROVERBS 26:13-16

JEREMIAH 49:23-50:46

This message was given concerning Damascus. This is what the LORD says: " The towns of Hamath and Arpad are struck with fear, for they have heard the news of their destruction. Their hearts are troubled like a wild sea in a raging storm. 24 Damascus has become feeble, and all her people turn to flee. Fear, anguish, and pain have gripped her as they do a woman giving birth. 25 That famous city, a city of joy, will be forsaken! 26 Her young men will fall in the streets and die. Her warriors will all be killed," says the LORD Almighty. 27 " And I will start a fire at the edge of Damascus that will burn up the palaces of Ben-hadad." 28 This message was given concerning Kedar and the kingdoms of Hazor, which were attacked by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.This is what the LORD says: " Advance against Kedar! Blot out the warriors from the East! 29 Their flocks and tents will be captured, and their household goods and camels will be taken away. Everywhere shouts of panic will be heard: ` We are terrorized at every turn!' 30 Flee for your lives," says the LORD. " Hide yourselves in deep caves, you people of Hazor, for King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon has plotted against you and is preparing to destroy you. 31 " Go up and attack those self-sufficient nomadic tribes," says the LORD. " They live alone in the desert without walls or gates. 32 Their camels and cattle will all be yours. I will scatter to the winds these people who live in distant places. I will bring calamity upon them from every direction," says the LORD. 33 " Hazor will be inhabited by jackals, and it will be desolate forever. No one will live there anymore." 34 This message concerning Elam came to the prophet Jeremiah from the LORD at the beginning of the reign of King Zedekiah of Judah. 35 This is what the LORD Almighty says: " I will destroy the archers of Elam--the best of their marksmen. 36 I will bring enemies from all directions, and I will scatter the people of Elam to the four winds. They will be exiled to countries around the world. 37 I myself will go with Elam's enemies to shatter it. My fierce anger will bring great disaster upon the people of Elam," says the LORD. " Their enemies will chase them with the sword until I have destroyed them completely. 38 I will set my throne in Elam," says the LORD, " and I will destroy its king and princes. 39 But in the latter days I will restore the fortunes of Elam," says the LORD.50:1 THE LORD gave Jeremiah the prophet this message concerning Babylon and the land of the Babylonians. 2 This is what the LORD says: " Tell the whole world, and keep nothing back! Raise a signal flag so everyone will know that Babylon will fall! Her images and idols will be shattered. Her gods Bel and Marduk will be utterly disgraced. 3 For a nation will attack her from the north and bring such destruction that no one will live in her again. Everything will be gone; both people and animals will flee. 4 " Then the people of Israel and Judah will join together," says the LORD, " weeping and seeking the LORD their God. 5 They will ask the way to Jerusalem and will start back home again. They will bind themselves to the LORD with an eternal covenant that will never again be broken. 6 " My people have been lost sheep. Their shepherds have led them astray and turned them loose in the mountains. They have lost their way and cannot remember how to get back to the fold. 7 All who found them devoured them. Their enemies said, ` We are allowed to attack them freely, for they have sinned against the LORD, their place of rest, the hope of their ancestors.' 8 " But now, flee from Babylon! Leave the land of the Babylonians. Lead my people home again. 9 For look, I am raising up an army of great nations from the north. I will bring them against Babylon to attack her, and she will be captured. The enemies' arrows will go straight to the mark; they will not miss! 10 Babylonia will be plundered until the attackers are glutted with plunder," says the LORD. 11 " You rejoice and are glad, you plunderers of my chosen people. You frisk about like a calf in a meadow and neigh like a stallion. 12 But your homeland will be overwhelmed with shame and disgrace. You will become the least of nations--a wilderness, a dry and desolate land. 13 Because of the LORD's anger, Babylon will become a deserted wasteland. All who pass by will be horrified and will gasp at the destruction they see there. 14 " Yes, prepare to attack Babylon, all you nations round about. Let your archers shoot at her. Spare no arrows, for she has sinned against the LORD. 15 Shout against her from every side. Look! She surrenders! Her walls have fallen. The LORD has taken vengeance, so do not spare her. Do to her as she has done to others! 16 Lead from Babylon all those who plant crops; send all the harvesters away. Let the captives escape the sword of the enemy and rush back to their own lands.17 " The Israelites are like sheep that have been scattered by lions. First the king of Assyria ate them up. Then King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon cracked their bones." 18 Therefore, the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: " Now I will punish the king of Babylon and his land, just as I punished the king of Assyria. 19 And I will bring Israel home again to her own land, to feed in the fields of Carmel and Bashan, and to be satisfied once more on the hill country of Ephraim and Gilead. 20 In those days," says the LORD, " no sin will be found in Israel or in Judah, for I will forgive the remnant I preserve. 21 " Go up, my warriors, against the land of Merathaim and against the people of Pekod. Yes, march against Babylon, the land of rebels, a land that I will judge! Pursue, kill, and completely destroy them, as I have commanded you," says the LORD. 22 " Let the battle cry be heard in the land, a shout of great destruction. 23 Babylon, the mightiest hammer in all the earth, lies broken and shattered. Babylon is desolate among the nations! 24 Listen, Babylon, for I have set a trap for you. You are caught, for you have fought against the LORD. 25 " The LORD has opened his armory and brought out weapons to vent his fury against his enemies. The terror that falls upon the Babylonians will be the work of the Sovereign LORD Almighty. 26 Yes, come against her from distant lands. Break open her granaries. Crush her walls and houses into heaps of rubble. Destroy her completely, and leave nothing! 27 Even destroy her cattle--it will be terrible for them, too! Slaughter them all! For the time has come for Babylon to be devastated. 28 Listen to the people who have escaped from Babylon, as they declare in Jerusalem how the LORD our God has taken vengeance against those who destroyed his Temple. 29 " Send out a call for archers to come to Babylon. Surround the city so none can escape. Do to her as she has done to others, for she has defied the LORD, the Holy One of Israel. 30 Her young men will fall in the streets and die. Her warriors will all be killed," says the LORD. 31 " See, I am your enemy, O proud people," says the Lord, the LORD Almighty. " Your day of reckoning has arrived. 32 O land of pride, you will stumble and fall, and no one will raise you up. For I will light a fire in the cities of Babylon that will burn everything around them." 33 And now the LORD Almighty says this: " The people of Israel and Judah have been wronged. Their captors hold them and refuse to let them go. 34 But the one who redeems them is strong. His name is the LORD Almighty. He will defend them and give them rest again in Israel. But the people of Babylon--there will be no rest for them! 35 " The sword of destruction will strike the Babylonians," says the LORD. " It will strike the people of Babylon--her princes and wise men, too. 36 And when it strikes her wise counselors, they will become fools! When it strikes her mightiest warriors, panic will seize them! 37 When it strikes her horses and chariots, her allies from other lands will become as weak as women. When it strikes her treasures, they all will be plundered. 38 It will even strike her water supply, causing it to dry up. And why? Because the whole land is filled with idols, and the people are madly in love with them. 39 " Soon this city of Babylon will be inhabited by ostriches and jackals. It will be a home for the wild animals of the desert. Never again will people live there; it will lie desolate forever. 40 I will destroy it just as I destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighboring towns," says the LORD. " No one will live there anymore. 41 " Look! A great army is marching from the north! A great nation and many kings are rising against you from far-off lands. 42 They are fully armed for slaughter. They are cruel and show no mercy. As they ride forward, the noise of their army is like a roaring sea. They are marching in battle formation to destroy you, Babylon. 43 The king of Babylon has received reports about the enemy, and he is weak with fright. Fear and pain have gripped him, like that of a woman about to give birth. 44 " I will come like a lion from the thickets of the Jordan, leaping on the sheep in the pasture. I will chase Babylon from its land, and I will appoint the leader of my choice. For who is like me, and who can challenge me? What ruler can oppose my will?"45 Listen to the LORD's plans against Babylon and the land of the Babylonians. Even little children will be dragged off, and their homes will be empty. 46 The earth will shake with the noise of Babylon's fall, and her cry of despair will be heard around the world.

TITUS 1:1-16

This letter is from Paul, a slave of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ. I have been sent to bring faith to those God has chosen and to teach them to know the truth that shows them how to live godly lives. 2 This truth gives them the confidence of eternal life, which God promised them before the world began--and he cannot lie. 3 And now at the right time he has revealed this Good News, and we announce it to everyone. It is by the command of God our Savior that I have been trusted to do this work for him. 4 This letter is written to Titus, my true child in the faith that we share. May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior give you grace and peace.5 I left you on the island of Crete so you could complete our work there and appoint elders in each town as I instructed you. 6 An elder must be well thought of for his good life. He must be faithful to his wife, and his children must be believers who are not wild or rebellious. 7 An elder must live a blameless life because he is God's minister. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered; he must not be a heavy drinker, violent, or greedy for money. 8 He must enjoy having guests in his home and must love all that is good. He must live wisely and be fair. He must live a devout and disciplined life. 9 He must have a strong and steadfast belief in the trustworthy message he was taught; then he will be able to encourage others with right teaching and show those who oppose it where they are wrong. 10 For there are many who rebel against right teaching; they engage in useless talk and deceive people. This is especially true of those who insist on circumcision for salvation. 11 They must be silenced. By their wrong teaching, they have already turned whole families away from the truth. Such teachers only want your money. 12 One of their own men, a prophet from Crete, has said about them, " The people of Crete are all liars; they are cruel animals and lazy gluttons." 13 This is true. So rebuke them as sternly as necessary to make them strong in the faith. 14 They must stop listening to Jewish myths and the commands of people who have turned their backs on the truth. 15 Everything is pure to those whose hearts are pure. But nothing is pure to those who are corrupt and unbelieving, because their minds and consciences are defiled. 16 Such people claim they know God, but they deny him by the way they live. They are despicable and disobedient, worthless for doing anything good.

PSALM 97:1-98:9

The LORD is king! Let the earth rejoice!

Let the farthest islands be glad.

2 Clouds and darkness surround him.

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.

3 Fire goes forth before him

and burns up all his foes.

4 His lightning flashes out across the world.

The earth sees and trembles.

5 The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,

before the Lord of all the earth.

6 The heavens declare his righteousness;

every nation sees his glory.

7 Those who worship idols are disgraced--

all who brag about their worthless gods--

for every god must bow to him.

8 Jerusalem has heard and rejoiced,

and all the cities of Judah are glad

because of your justice, LORD!

9 For you, O LORD, are most high over all the earth;

you are exalted far above all gods.

10 You who love the LORD, hate evil!

He protects the lives of his godly people

and rescues them from the power of the wicked.

11 Light shines on the godly,

and joy on those who do right.

12 May all who are godly be happy in the LORD

and praise his holy name!

98:1 SING a new song to the LORD,

for he has done wonderful deeds.

He has won a mighty victory

by his power and holiness.

2 The LORD has announced his victory

and has revealed his righteousness to every nation!

3 He has remembered his promise to love and be faithful to Israel.

The whole earth has seen the salvation of our God.

4 Shout to the LORD, all the earth;

break out in praise and sing for joy!

5 Sing your praise to the LORD with the harp,

with the harp and melodious song,

6 with trumpets and the sound of the ram's horn.

Make a joyful symphony before the LORD, the King!

7 Let the sea and everything in it shout his praise!

Let the earth and all living things join in.

8 Let the rivers clap their hands in glee!

Let the hills sing out their songs of joy 9 before the LORD.

For the LORD is coming to judge the earth.

He will judge the world with justice,

and the nations with fairness.

PROVERBS 26:13-16

The lazy person is full of excuses, saying, " I can't go outside because there might be a lion on the road! Yes, I'm sure there's a lion out there!" As a door turns back and forth on its hinges, so the lazy person turns over in bed. Some people are so lazy that they won't lift a finger to feed themselves. Lazy people consider themselves smarter than seven wise counselors.

October 25 Reading through the Bible

 JEREMIAH 48:1-49:22

2 TIMOTHY 4:1-22

PSALM 95:1-96:13

PROVERBS 26:9-12

JEREMIAH 48:1-49:22

This message was given concerning Moab. This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: " Destruction is certain for the city of Nebo; it will soon lie in ruins. The city of Kiriathaim will be humiliated and captured; the fortress will be humiliated and broken down. 2 No one will ever brag about Moab again, for there is a plot against her life. In Heshbon plans have been completed to destroy her. ` Come,' they say, ` we will cut her off from being a nation.' The city of Madmen, too, will be silenced; the sword will follow you there. 3 And then the roar of battle will surge against Horonaim, 4 for all Moab is being destroyed. Her little ones will cry out. 5 Her refugees will climb the hills of Luhith, weeping bitterly, while cries of terror rise from Horonaim below. 6 Flee for your lives! Hide in the wilderness! 7 Because you have trusted in your wealth and skill, you will be taken captive. Your god Chemosh, with his priests and princes, will be exiled to distant lands! 8 " All the towns will be destroyed, both on the plateaus and in the valleys, for the LORD has spoken. 9 Oh, that Moab had wings so she could fly away, for her cities will be left empty, with no one living in them. 10 Cursed be those who refuse to do the work the LORD has given them, who hold back their swords from shedding blood! 11 " From her earliest history, Moab has lived in peace. She is like wine that has been allowed to settle. She has not been poured from flask to flask, and she is now fragrant and smooth. 12 But the time is coming soon," says the LORD, " when I will send troublemakers to pour her from her jar. They will pour her out, then shatter the jar! 13 At last Moab will be ashamed of her idol Chemosh, as Israel was ashamed of her gold calf at Bethel. 14 " You used to boast, ` We are heroes, mighty men of war.' 15 But now Moab and her towns will be destroyed. Her most promising youth are doomed to slaughter," says the King, whose name is the LORD Almighty. 16 " Calamity is coming fast to Moab; it threatens ominously. 17 " You friends of Moab, weep for her and cry! See how the strong scepter is broken, how the beautiful staff is shattered! 18 Come down from your glory and sit in the dust, you people of Dibon, for those who destroy Moab will shatter Dibon, too. They will tear down all your towers. 19 The people of Aroer stand anxiously beside the road to watch. They shout to those who flee from Moab, ` What has happened there?' 20 " And the reply comes back, ` Moab lies in ruins; weep and wail! Tell it by the banks of the Arnon River: Moab has been destroyed!' 21 All the cities of the plateau lie in ruins, too. Judgment has been poured out on them all--on Holon and Jahaz and Mephaath, 22 and on Dibon and Nebo and Beth-diblathaim, 23 and on Kiriathaim and Beth-gamul and Beth-meon, 24 and on Kerioth and Bozrah--all the cities of Moab, far and near. 25 " The strength of Moab has ended. Her horns have been cut off, and her arms have been broken," says the LORD. 26 " Let her stagger and fall like a drunkard, for she has rebelled against the LORD. Moab will wallow in her own vomit, ridiculed by all. 27 Did you not make Israel the object of your ridicule? Was she caught in the company of thieves that you should despise her as you do? 28 " You people of Moab, flee from your cities and towns! Live in the caves like doves that nest in the clefts of the rocks. 29 We have heard of the pride of Moab, for it is very great. We know of her loftiness, her arrogance, and her haughty heart. 30 I know about her insolence," says the LORD, " but her boasts are false; they accomplish nothing. 31 Yes, I wail for Moab; my heart is broken for the men of Kir-hareseth. 32 " You people of Sibmah, rich in vineyards, I will weep for you even more than I did for Jazer. Your spreading vines once reached as far as the Dead Sea, but the destroyer has stripped you bare! He has harvested your grapes and summer fruits. 33 Joy and gladness are gone from fruitful Moab. The presses yield no wine. No one treads the grapes with shouts of joy. There is shouting, yes, but not of joy. 34 Instead, their awful cries of terror can be heard from Heshbon clear across to Elealeh and Jahaz; from Zoar all the way to Horonaim and Eglath-shelishiyah. Even the waters of Nimrim are dried up now. 35 " I will put an end to Moab," says the LORD, " for they offer sacrifices at the pagan shrines and burn incense to their false gods. 36 My heart moans like a flute for Moab and Kir-hareseth, for all their wealth has disappeared. 37 They shave their heads and beards in mourning. They slash their hands and put on clothes made of sackcloth. 38 Crying and sorrow will be in every Moabite home and on every street. For I have smashed Moab like an old, unwanted bottle. 39 How it is broken! Hear the wailing! See the shame of Moab! She has become an object of ridicule, an example of ruin to all her neighbors. 40 " An eagle swoops down on the land of Moab," says the LORD. 41 " Her cities will fall; her strongholds will be seized. Even the mightiest warriors will be as frightened as a woman about to give birth. 42 Moab will no longer be a nation, for she has boasted against the LORD. 43 " Terror and traps and snares will be your lot, O Moab," says the LORD. 44 " Those who flee in terror will fall into a trap, and those who escape the trap will step into a snare. I will see to it that you do not get away, for the time of your judgment has come," says the LORD. 45 " The people flee as far as Heshbon but are unable to go on. For a fire comes from Heshbon, King Sihon's ancestral home, to devour the entire land with all its rebellious people. 46 " O Moab, your destruction is sure! The people of the god Chemosh are destroyed! Your sons and daughters have been taken away as captives. 47 But in the latter days I will restore the fortunes of Moab," says the LORD. This is the end of Jeremiah's prophecy concerning Moab.49:1 THIS message was given concerning the Ammonites. This is what the LORD says: " What are you doing? Are there no descendants of Israel to inherit the land of Gad? Why are you, who worship Molech, living in its towns? 2 I will punish you for this," says the LORD, " by destroying your city of Rabbah. It will become a desolate heap, and the neighboring towns will be burned. Then Israel will come and take back the land you took from her," says the LORD. 3 " Cry out, O Heshbon, for the town of Ai is destroyed. Weep, O people of Rabbah! Put on your clothes of mourning. Weep and wail, hiding in the hedges, for your god Molech will be exiled along with his princes and priests. 4 You are proud of your fertile valleys, but they will soon be ruined. You rebellious daughter, you trusted in your wealth and thought no one could ever harm you. 5 But look! I will bring terror upon you," says the Lord, the LORD Almighty. " Your neighbors will chase you from your land, and no one will help your exiles as they flee. 6 But afterward I will restore the fortunes of the Ammonites," says the LORD. 7 This message was given concerning Edom. This is what the LORD Almighty says: " Where are all the wise men of Teman? Is there no one left to give wise counsel? 8 Turn and flee! Hide in deep caves, you people of Dedan! For when I bring disaster on Edom, I will punish you, too! 9 Those who harvest grapes always leave a few for the poor. If thieves came at night, even they would not take everything. 10 But I will strip bare the land of Edom, and there will be no place left to hide. Its children, its brothers, and its neighbors--all will be destroyed--and Edom itself will be no more. 11 But I will preserve the orphans who remain among you. Your widows, too, will be able to depend on me for help." 12 And this is what the LORD says: " If the innocent must suffer, how much more must you! You will not go unpunished! You must drink this cup of judgment! 13 For I have sworn by my own name," says the LORD, " that Bozrah will become an object of horror and a heap of rubble; it will be mocked and cursed. All its towns and villages will be desolate forever." 14 I have heard a message from the LORD that an ambassador was sent to the nations to say, " Form a coalition against Edom, and prepare for battle!" 15 This is what the LORD says: " I will cut you down to size among the nations, Edom. You will be despised by all. 16 You are proud that you inspire fear in others. And you are proud because you live in a rock fortress and hide high in the mountains. But don't fool yourselves! Though you live among the peaks with the eagles, I will bring you crashing down," says the LORD. 17 " Edom will be an object of horror. All who pass by will be appalled and will gasp at the destruction they see there. 18 It will be like the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighboring towns," says the LORD. " No one will live there anymore. 19 I will come like a lion from the thickets of the Jordan, leaping on the sheep in the pasture. I will chase Edom from its land, and I will appoint the leader of my choice. For who is like me, and who can challenge me? What ruler can oppose my will?" 20 Listen to the LORD's plans for Edom and the people of Teman. Even the little children will be dragged off, and their homes will be empty. 21 The earth will shake with the noise of Edom's fall, and its cry of despair will be heard all the way to the Red Sea. 22 The enemy will come as swiftly as an eagle, and he will spread his wings against Bozrah. Even the mightiest warriors will be as frightened as a woman about to give birth.

2 TIMOTHY 4:1-22

And so I [Paul] solemnly urge you [Timothy] before God and before Christ Jesus--who will someday judge the living and the dead when he appears to set up his Kingdom: 2 Preach the word of God. Be persistent, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching. 3 For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to right teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever they want to hear. 4 They will reject the truth and follow strange myths. 5 But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don't be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at bringing others to Christ. Complete the ministry God has given you. 6 As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near. 7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. 8 And now the prize awaits me--the crown of righteousness that the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that great day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his glorious return. 9 Please come as soon as you can. 10 Demas has deserted me because he loves the things of this life and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus has gone to Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Bring Mark with you when you come, for he will be helpful to me. 12 I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. 13 When you come, be sure to bring the coat I left with Carpus at Troas. Also bring my books, and especially my papers. 14 Alexander the coppersmith has done me much harm, but the Lord will judge him for what he has done. 15 Be careful of him, for he fought against everything we said. 16 The first time I was brought before the judge, no one was with me. Everyone had abandoned me. I hope it will not be counted against them. 17 But the Lord stood with me and gave me strength, that I might preach the Good News in all its fullness for all the Gentiles to hear. And he saved me from certain death. 18 Yes, and the Lord will deliver me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly Kingdom. To God be the glory forever and ever. Amen. 19 Give my greetings to Priscilla and Aquila and those living at the household of Onesiphorus. 20 Erastus stayed at Corinth, and I left Trophimus sick at Miletus. 21 Hurry so you can get here before winter. Eubulus sends you greetings, and so do Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers and sisters.* 22 May the Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you all.

PSALM 95:1-96:13

Come, let us sing to the LORD!

Let us give a joyous shout to the rock of our salvation!

2 Let us come before him with thanksgiving.

Let us sing him psalms of praise.

3 For the LORD is a great God,

the great King above all gods.

4 He owns the depths of the earth,

and even the mightiest mountains are his.

5 The sea belongs to him, for he made it.

His hands formed the dry land, too.

6 Come, let us worship and bow down.

Let us kneel before the LORD our maker,

7 for he is our God.

We are the people he watches over,

the sheep under his care.

Oh, that you would listen to his voice today!

8 The LORD says, " Don't harden your hearts as Israel did at Meribah,

as they did at Massah in the wilderness.

9 For there your ancestors tried my patience;

they courted my wrath though they had seen my many miracles.

10 For forty years I was angry with them, and I said,

` They are a people whose hearts turn away from me.

They refuse to do what I tell them.'

11 So in my anger I made a vow:

` They will never enter my place of rest.' "

96:1 SING a new song to the LORD! Let the whole earth sing to the LORD!

2 Sing to the LORD; bless his name.

Each day proclaim the good news that he saves.

3 Publish his glorious deeds among the nations.

Tell everyone about the amazing things he does.

4 Great is the LORD! He is most worthy of praise!

He is to be revered above all the gods.

5 The gods of other nations are merely idols,

but the LORD made the heavens!

6 Honor and majesty surround him;

strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.

7 O nations of the world, recognize the LORD;

recognize that the LORD is glorious and strong.

8 Give to the LORD the glory he deserves!

Bring your offering and come to worship him.

9 Worship the LORD in all his holy splendor.

Let all the earth tremble before him.

10 Tell all the nations that the LORD is king.

The world is firmly established and cannot be shaken.

He will judge all peoples fairly.

11 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice!

Let the sea and everything in it shout his praise!

12 Let the fields and their crops burst forth with joy!

Let the trees of the forest rustle with praise 13 before the LORD!

For the LORD is coming!

He is coming to judge the earth.

He will judge the world with righteousness

and all the nations with his truth.

PROVERBS 26:9-12

A proverb in a fool's mouth is as dangerous as a thornbush brandished by a drunkard. An employer who hires a fool or a bystander is like an archer who shoots recklessly. As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly. There is more hope for fools than for people who think they are wise.

October 24 Reading through the Bible

 

JEREMIAH 44:24-47:7

2 TIMOTHY 2:22-3:17

PSALM 94:1-23

PROVERBS 26:6-8

JEREMIAH 44:24-47:7

Then Jeremiah said to them all, including the women, " Listen to this message from the LORD, all you citizens of Judah who live in Egypt. 25 The LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: You and your wives have said that you will never give up your devotion and sacrifices to the Queen of Heaven, and you have proved it by your actions. Then go ahead and carry out your promises and vows to her! 26 " But listen to this message from the LORD, all you Judeans now living in Egypt: I have sworn by my great name, says the LORD, that my name will no longer be spoken by any of the Judeans in the land of Egypt. None of you may invoke my name or use this oath: ` As surely as the Sovereign LORD lives!' 27 For I will watch over you to bring you disaster and not good. You will suffer war and famine until all of you are dead. 28 " Only a small number will escape death and return to Judah from Egypt. Then all those who came to Egypt will find out whose words are true, mine or theirs! 29 And this is the proof I give you, says the LORD, that all I have threatened will happen to you and that I will punish you here: 30 I will turn Pharaoh Hophra, king of Egypt, over to his enemies who want to kill him, just as I turned King Zedekiah of Judah over to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. I, the LORD, have spoken!"45:1 THE prophet Jeremiah gave a message to Baruch son of Neriah in the fourth year of the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, after Baruch had written down everything Jeremiah had dictated to him. He said, 2 " This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says to you, Baruch: 3 You have said, ` I am overwhelmed with trouble! Haven't I had enough pain already? And now the LORD has added more! I am weary of my own sighing and can find no rest.' 4 " Baruch, this is what the LORD says: I will destroy this nation that I built. I will uproot what I planted. 5 Are you seeking great things for yourself? Don't do it! But don't be discouraged. I will bring great disaster upon all these people, but I will protect you wherever you go. I, the LORD, have spoken!"46:1 THE following messages were given to Jeremiah the prophet from the LORD concerning foreign nations. 2 This message concerning Egypt was given in the fourth year of the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, the king of Judah, on the occasion of the battle of Carchemish when Pharaoh Neco, king of Egypt, and his army were defeated beside the Euphrates River by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.3 " Buckle on your armor and advance into battle! 4 Harness the horses, and prepare to mount them. Put on your helmets, sharpen your spears, and prepare your armor. 5 But look! The Egyptian army flees in terror. The bravest of its fighting men run without a backward glance. They are terrorized at every turn, says the LORD. 6 The swiftest cannot flee; the mightiest warriors cannot escape. By the Euphrates River to the north they stumble and fall. 7 " Who is this, rising like the Nile River at floodtime, overflowing all the land? 8 It is the Egyptian army, boasting that it will cover the earth like a flood, destroying every foe. 9 Then come, you horses and chariots and mighty warriors of Egypt! Come, all you allies from Ethiopia, Libya, and Lydia who are skilled with the shield and bow! 10 For this is the day of the Lord, the LORD Almighty, a day of vengeance on his enemies. The sword will devour until it is satisfied, yes, drunk with your blood! The Lord, the LORD Almighty, will receive a sacrifice today in the north country beside the Euphrates River. 11 Go up to Gilead to get ointment, O virgin daughter of Egypt! But your many medicines will bring you no healing. 12 The nations have heard of your shame. The earth is filled with your cries of despair. Your mightiest warriors will stumble across each other and fall together." 13 Then the LORD gave the prophet Jeremiah this message about King Nebuchadnezzar's plans to attack Egypt. 14 " Shout it out in Egypt! Publish it in the cities of Migdol, Memphis, and Tahpanhes! Mobilize for battle, for the sword of destruction will devour everyone around you. 15 Why have your warriors fled in terror? They cannot stand because the LORD has driven them away. 16 They stumble and fall over each other and say among themselves, ` Come, let's go back to our homeland where we were born. Let's get away from the sword of the enemy!' 17 There they will say, ` Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, is a loudmouth who missed his opportunity!' 18 " As surely as I live," says the King, whose name is the LORD Almighty, " one is coming against Egypt who is as tall as Mount Tabor or Mount Carmel by the sea! 19 Pack up! Get ready to leave for exile, you citizens of Egypt! The city of Memphis will be destroyed, without a single person living there. 20 Egypt is as sleek as a young cow, but a gadfly from the north is on its way! 21 Egypt's famed mercenaries have become like fattened calves. They turn and run, for it is a day of great disaster for Egypt, a time of great punishment. 22 Silent as a serpent gliding away, Egypt flees. The invading army marches in; they come against her with axes like woodsmen. 23 They will cut down her people like trees," says the LORD, " for they are more numerous than grasshoppers. 24 Egypt will be humiliated; she will be handed over to men from the north."25 The LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: " I will punish Amon, the god of Thebes, and all the other gods of Egypt. I will punish its rulers and Pharaoh, too, and all who trust in him. 26 I will hand them over to those who want them killed--to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and his army. But afterward the land will recover from the ravages of war. I, the LORD, have spoken! 27 " But do not be afraid, Jacob, my servant; do not be dismayed, Israel. For I will bring you home again from distant lands, and your children will return from their exile. Israel will return and will have peace and quiet, and nothing will make them afraid. 28 Fear not, Jacob, my servant," says the LORD, " for I am with you. I will destroy the nations to which I have exiled you, but I will not destroy you. But I must discipline you; I cannot let you go unpunished."47:1 THIS is the LORD's message to the prophet Jeremiah concerning the Philistines of Gaza, before it was captured by the Egyptian army. 2 This is what the LORD says: " A flood is coming from the north to overflow the land. It will destroy the land and everything in it--cities and people alike. People will scream in terror, and everyone in the land will weep. 3 Hear the clatter of hooves and the rumble of wheels as the chariots rush by. Terrified fathers run madly, without a backward glance at their helpless children. 4 " The time has come for the Philistines to be destroyed, along with their allies from Tyre and Sidon. Yes, the LORD is destroying the Philistines, those colonists from Crete. 5 The city of Gaza will be demolished; Ashkelon will lie in ruins. You remnant of the Mediterranean plain, how long will you lament and mourn? 6 " Now, O sword of the LORD, when will you be at rest again? Go back into your sheath; rest and be still! 7 But how can it be still when the LORD has sent it on an errand? For the city of Ashkelon and the people living along the sea must be destroyed."

2 TIMOTHY 2:22-3:17

Run from anything that stimulates youthful lust. Follow anything that makes you want to do right. Pursue faith and love and peace, and enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts. 23 Again I say, don't get involved in foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights. 24 The Lord's servants must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone. They must be able to teach effectively and be patient with difficult people. 25 They should gently teach those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people's hearts, and they will believe the truth. 26 Then they will come to their senses and escape from the Devil's trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants.3:1 YOU should also know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. 2 For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. 3 They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control; they will be cruel and have no interest in what is good. 4 They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. 5 They will act as if they are religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. You must stay away from people like that. 6 They are the kind who work their way into people's homes and win the confidence of vulnerable women who are burdened with the guilt of sin and controlled by many desires. 7 Such women are forever following new teachings, but they never understand the truth. 8 And these teachers fight the truth just as Jannes and Jambres fought against Moses. Their minds are depraved, and their faith is counterfeit. 9 But they won't get away with this for long. Someday everyone will recognize what fools they are, just as happened with Jannes and Jambres. 10 But you know what I teach, Timothy, and how I live, and what my purpose in life is. You know my faith and how long I have suffered. You know my love and my patient endurance. 11 You know how much persecution and suffering I have endured. You know all about how I was persecuted in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra--but the Lord delivered me from all of it. 12 Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. 13 But evil people and impostors will flourish. They will go on deceiving others, and they themselves will be deceived.14 But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. 15 You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. 17 It is God's way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do.

PSALM 94:1-23

O LORD, the God to whom vengeance belongs,

O God of vengeance, let your glorious justice be seen!

2 Arise, O judge of the earth.

Sentence the proud to the penalties they deserve.

3 How long, O LORD?

How long will the wicked be allowed to gloat?

4 Hear their arrogance!

How these evildoers boast!

5 They oppress your people, LORD,

hurting those you love.

6 They kill widows and foreigners

and murder orphans.

7 " The LORD isn't looking," they say,

" and besides, the God of Israel doesn't care."

8 Think again, you fools!

When will you finally catch on?

9 Is the one who made your ears deaf?

Is the one who formed your eyes blind?

10 He punishes the nations--won't he also punish you?

He knows everything--doesn't he also know what you are doing?

11 The LORD knows people's thoughts,

that they are worthless!

12 Happy are those whom you discipline, LORD,

and those whom you teach from your law.

13 You give them relief from troubled times

until a pit is dug for the wicked.

14 The LORD will not reject his people;

he will not abandon his own special possession.

15 Judgment will come again for the righteous,

and those who are upright will have a reward.

16 Who will protect me from the wicked?

Who will stand up for me against evildoers?

17 Unless the LORD had helped me,

I would soon have died.

18 I cried out, " I'm slipping!"

and your unfailing love, O LORD, supported me.

19 When doubts filled my mind,

your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.

20 Can unjust leaders claim that God is on their side--

leaders who permit injustice by their laws?

21 They attack the righteous

and condemn the innocent to death.

22 But the LORD is my fortress;

my God is a mighty rock where I can hide.

23 God will make the sins of evil people fall back upon them.

He will destroy them for their sins.

The LORD our God will destroy them.

PROVERBS 26:6-8

Trusting a fool to convey a message is as foolish as cutting off one's feet or drinking poison! In the mouth of a fool, a proverb becomes as limp as a paralyzed leg. Honoring a fool is as foolish as tying a stone to a slingshot.

October 23 Reading through the Bible!

 

JEREMIAH 42:1-44:23

2 TIMOTHY 2:1-21

PSALM 92:1-93:5

PROVERBS 26:3-5

JEREMIAH 42:1-44:23

Then all the army officers, including Johanan son of Kareah and Jezaniah son of Hoshaiah, and all the people, from the least to the greatest, approached 2 Jeremiah the prophet. They said, " Please pray to the LORD your God for us. As you know, we are only a tiny remnant compared to what we were before. 3 Beg the LORD your God to show us what to do and where to go." 4 " All right," Jeremiah replied. " I will pray to the LORD your God, and I will tell you everything he says. I will hide nothing from you." 5 Then they said to Jeremiah, " May the LORD your God be a faithful witness against us if we refuse to obey whatever he tells us to do! 6 Whether we like it or not, we will obey the LORD our God to whom we send you with our plea. For if we obey him, everything will turn out well for us." 7 Ten days later, the LORD gave his reply to Jeremiah. 8 So he called for Johanan son of Kareah and the army officers, and for all the people, from the least to the greatest. 9 He said to them, " You sent me to the LORD, the God of Israel, with your request, and this is his reply: 10 ` Stay here in this land. If you do, I will build you up and not tear you down; I will plant you and not uproot you. For I am sorry for all the punishment I have had to bring upon you. 11 Do not fear the king of Babylon anymore, says the LORD. For I am with you and will save you and rescue you from his power. 12 I will be merciful to you by making him kind, so he will let you stay here in your land.' 13 " But if you refuse to obey the LORD your God and say, ` We will not stay here,' 14 and if you insist on going to live in Egypt where you think you will be free from war, famine, and alarms, 15 then this is what the LORD says to the remnant of Judah. The LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ` If you insist on going to Egypt, 16 the war and famine you fear will follow close behind you, and you will die there. 17 That is the fate awaiting every one of you who insists on going to live in Egypt. Yes, you will die from war, famine, and disease. None of you will escape from the disaster I will bring upon you there.' 18 " For the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ` Just as my anger and fury were poured out on the people of Jerusalem, so they will be poured out on you when you enter Egypt. You will become an object of damnation, horror, cursing, and mockery. And you will never see your homeland again.' 19 " Listen, you remnant of Judah. The LORD has told you: ` Do not go to Egypt!' Don't forget this warning I have given you today. 20 For you were deceitful when you sent me to pray to the LORD your God for you, saying, ` Just tell us what the LORD our God says, and we will do it!' 21 And today I have told you exactly what he said, but you will not obey the LORD your God any better now than you have in the past. 22 So you can be sure that you will die from war, famine, and disease in Egypt, where you insist on going."43:1 WHEN Jeremiah had finished giving this message from the LORD their God to all the people, 2 Azariah son of Hoshaiah and Johanan son of Kareah and all the other proud men said to Jeremiah, " You lie! The LORD our God hasn't forbidden us to go to Egypt! 3 Baruch son of Neriah has convinced you to say this, so we will stay here and be killed by the Babylonians or be carried off into exile." 4 So Johanan and all the army officers and all the people refused to obey the LORD's command to stay in Judah. 5 Johanan and his officers took with them all the people who had returned from the nearby countries to which they had fled. 6 In the crowd were men, women, and children, the king's daughters, and all those whom Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, had left with Gedaliah. Also included were the prophet Jeremiah and Baruch. 7 The people refused to obey the LORD and went to Egypt, going as far as the city of Tahpanhes. 8 Then at Tahpanhes, the LORD gave another message to Jeremiah. He said, 9 " While the people of Judah are watching, bury large rocks between the pavement stones at the entrance of Pharaoh's palace here in Tahpanhes. 10 Then say to the people of Judah, ` The LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: I will surely bring my servant Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, here to Egypt. I will set his throne on these stones that I have hidden. He will spread his royal canopy over them. 11 And when he comes, he will destroy the land of Egypt. He will bring death to those destined for death; he will bring captivity to those destined for captivity; he will bring the sword against those destined for the sword. 12 He will set fire to the temples of Egypt's gods, burning all their idols and carrying away the people as captives. He will pick clean the land of Egypt as a shepherd picks fleas from his cloak. And he himself will leave unharmed. 13 He will break down the sacred pillars standing in the temple of the sun in Egypt, and he will burn down the temples of Egypt's gods.' " 44:1 THIS is the message Jeremiah received concerning the Judeans living in northern Egypt in the cities of Migdol, Tahpanhes, and Memphis, and throughout southern Egypt as well: 2 " This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: You saw what I did to Jerusalem and to all the towns of Judah. They now lie in ruins, and no one lives in them. 3 Because of all their wickedness, my anger rose high against them. They burned incense and worshiped other gods--gods that neither they nor you nor any of your ancestors have ever known. 4 " Again and again I sent my servants, the prophets, to plead with them, ` Don't do these horrible things that I hate so much.' 5 But my people would not listen or turn back from their wicked ways. They kept right on burning incense to these gods. 6 And so my fury boiled over and fell like fire on the towns of Judah and into the streets of Jerusalem, and now they are a desolate ruin. 7 " And now the LORD God Almighty, the God of Israel, asks you: Why are you destroying yourselves? For not one of you will survive--not a man, woman, or child among you who has come here from Judah, not even the babies in your arms. 8 Why arouse my anger by burning incense to the idols you have made here in Egypt? You will only destroy yourselves and make yourselves an object of cursing and mockery for all the nations of the earth. 9 Have you forgotten the sins of your ancestors, the sins of the kings and queens of Judah, and the sins you and your wives committed in Judah and Jerusalem? 10 To this very hour you have shown no remorse or reverence. No one has chosen to follow my law and the decrees I gave to you and your ancestors before you.11 " Therefore, the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: I have made up my mind to destroy every one of you! 12 I will take this remnant of Judah that insisted on coming here to Egypt, and I will consume them. They will fall here in Egypt, killed by war and famine. All will die, from the least to the greatest. They will be an object of damnation, horror, cursing, and mockery. 13 I will punish them in Egypt just as I punished them in Jerusalem, by war, famine, and disease. 14 Of those who fled to Egypt with dreams of returning home to Judah, only a handful will escape." 15 Then all the women present and all the men who knew that their wives had burned incense to idols--a great crowd of all the Judeans living in Pathros, the southern region of Egypt--answered Jeremiah, 16 " We will not listen to your messages from the LORD! 17 We will do whatever we want. We will burn incense to the Queen of Heaven and sacrifice to her just as much as we like--just as we and our ancestors did before us, and as our kings and princes have always done in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem. For in those days we had plenty to eat, and we were well off and had no troubles! 18 But ever since we quit burning incense to the Queen of Heaven and stopped worshiping her, we have been in great trouble and have suffered the effects of war and famine." 19 " And," the women added, " do you suppose that we were worshiping the Queen of Heaven, pouring out drink offerings to her, and making cakes marked with her image, without our husbands knowing it and helping us? Of course not!"20 Then Jeremiah said to all of them, men and women alike, who had given him that answer, 21 " Do you think the LORD did not know that you and your ancestors, your kings and officials, and all the people were burning incense to idols in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? 22 It was because the LORD could no longer bear all the evil things you were doing that he made your land an object of cursing--a desolate ruin without a single inhabitant--as it is today. 23 The very reason all these terrible things have happened to you is because you have burned incense to idols and sinned against the LORD, refusing to obey him and follow his instructions, laws, and stipulations."

2 TIMOTHY 2:1-21

Timothy, my dear son, be strong with the special favor God gives you in Christ Jesus. 2 You have heard me teach many things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Teach these great truths to trustworthy people who are able to pass them on to others. 3 Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 And as Christ's soldier, do not let yourself become tied up in the affairs of this life, for then you cannot satisfy the one who has enlisted you in his army. 5 Follow the Lord's rules for doing his work, just as an athlete either follows the rules or is disqualified and wins no prize. 6 Hardworking farmers are the first to enjoy the fruit of their labor. 7 Think about what I am saying. The Lord will give you understanding in all these things. 8 Never forget that Jesus Christ was a man born into King David's family and that he was raised from the dead. This is the Good News I preach. 9 And because I preach this Good News, I am suffering and have been chained like a criminal. But the word of God cannot be chained. 10 I am willing to endure anything if it will bring salvation and eternal glory in Christ Jesus to those God has chosen. 11 This is a true saying: If we die with him,

we will also live with him.

12 If we endure hardship,

we will reign with him.

If we deny him,

he will deny us.

13 If we are unfaithful,

he remains faithful,

for he cannot deny himself.

14 Remind everyone of these things, and command them in God's name to stop fighting over words. Such arguments are useless, and they can ruin those who hear them. 15 Work hard so God can approve you. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth. 16 Avoid godless, foolish discussions that lead to more and more ungodliness. 17 This kind of talk spreads like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are examples of this. 18 They have left the path of truth, preaching the lie that the resurrection of the dead has already occurred; and they have undermined the faith of some. 19 But God's truth stands firm like a foundation stone with this inscription: " The Lord knows those who are his," and " Those who claim they belong to the Lord must turn away from all wickedness." 20 In a wealthy home some utensils are made of gold and silver, and some are made of wood and clay. The expensive utensils are used for special occasions, and the cheap ones are for everyday use. 21 If you keep yourself pure, you will be a utensil God can use for his purpose. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work.

PSALM 92:1-93:5

A psalm to be sung on the LORD's Day. A song.

1 It is good to give thanks to the LORD,

to sing praises to the Most High.

2 It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning,

your faithfulness in the evening,

3 accompanied by the harp and lute

and the harmony of the lyre.

4 You thrill me, LORD, with all you have done for me!

I sing for joy because of what you have done.

5 O LORD, what great miracles you do!

And how deep are your thoughts.

6 Only an ignorant person would not know this!

Only a fool would not understand it.

7 Although the wicked flourish like weeds,

and evildoers blossom with success,

there is only eternal destruction ahead of them.

8 But you are exalted in the heavens.

You, O LORD, continue forever.

9 Your enemies, LORD, will surely perish;

all evildoers will be scattered.

10 But you have made me as strong as a wild bull.

How refreshed I am by your power!

11 With my own eyes I have seen the downfall of my enemies;

with my own ears I have heard the defeat of my wicked opponents.

12 But the godly will flourish like palm trees

and grow strong like the cedars of Lebanon.

13 For they are transplanted into the LORD's own house.

They flourish in the courts of our God.

14 Even in old age they will still produce fruit;

they will remain vital and green.

15 They will declare, " The LORD is just!

He is my rock!

There is nothing but goodness in him!"

93:1 THE LORD is king! He is robed in majesty.

Indeed, the LORD is robed in majesty and armed with strength.

The world is firmly established;

it cannot be shaken.

2 Your throne, O LORD, has been established from time immemorial.

You yourself are from the everlasting past.

3 The mighty oceans have roared, O LORD.

The mighty oceans roar like thunder;

the mighty oceans roar as they pound the shore.

4 But mightier than the violent raging of the seas,

mightier than the breakers on the shore--

the LORD above is mightier than these!

5 Your royal decrees cannot be changed.

The nature of your reign, O LORD, is holiness forever.

PROVERBS 26:3-5

Guide a horse with a whip, a donkey with a bridle, and a fool with a rod to his back! When arguing with fools, don't answer their foolish arguments, or you will become as foolish as they are. When arguing with fools, be sure to answer their foolish arguments, or they will become wise in their own estimation.

October 22 Reading through the Bible

JEREMIAH 39:1-41:18

2 TIMOTHY 1:1-18

PSALM 90:1-91:16

PROVERBS 26:1-2

JEREMIAH 39:1-41:18

It was in January during the ninth year of King Zedekiah's reign that King Nebuchadnezzar and his army returned to besiege Jerusalem. 2 Two and a half years later, on July 18, the Babylonians broke through the wall, and the city fell. 3 All the officers of the Babylonian army came in and sat in triumph at the Middle Gate: Nergal-sharezer of Samgar, and Nebo-sarsekim, a chief officer, and Nergal-sharezer, the king's adviser, and many others. 4 King Zedekiah and his royal guard saw the Babylonians in the city gate, so they fled when the darkness of night arrived. They went out through a gate between the two walls behind the king's garden and headed toward the Jordan Valley. 5 But the Babylonians chased the king and caught him on the plains of Jericho. They took him to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, who was at Riblah in the land of Hamath. There the king of Babylon pronounced judgment upon Zedekiah. 6 He made Zedekiah watch as they killed his sons and all the nobles of Judah. 7 Then he gouged out Zedekiah's eyes, bound him in chains, and sent him away to exile in Babylon. 8 Meanwhile, the Babylonians burned Jerusalem, including the palace, and tore down the walls of the city. 9 Then Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, sent to Babylon the remnant of the population as well as those who had defected to him. 10 But Nebuzaradan left a few of the poorest people in Judah, and he assigned them fields and vineyards to care for. 11 King Nebuchadnezzar had told Nebuzaradan to find Jeremiah. 12 " See that he isn't hurt," he had said. " Look after him well, and give him anything he wants." 13 So Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, and Nebushazban, a chief officer, and Nergal-sharezer, the king's adviser, and the other officers of Babylon's king 14 sent messengers to bring Jeremiah out of the prison. They put him under the care of Gedaliah son of Ahikam and grandson of Shaphan, who was to take him back to his home. So Jeremiah stayed in Judah among his own people. 15 The LORD had given the following message to Jeremiah while he was still in prison: 16 " Say to Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, ` The LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: I will do to this city everything I have threatened. I will send disaster, not prosperity. You will see its destruction, 17 but I will rescue you from those you fear so much. 18 Because you trusted me, I will preserve your life and keep you safe. I, the LORD, have spoken!' "40:1 THE LORD gave a message to Jeremiah after Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard, had released him at Ramah. He had found Jeremiah bound in chains among the captives of Jerusalem and Judah who were being sent to exile in Babylon. 2 The captain of the guard called for Jeremiah and said, " The LORD your God has brought this disaster on this land, 3 just as he said he would. For these people have sinned against the LORD and disobeyed him. That is why it happened. 4 Now I am going to take off your chains and let you go. If you want to come with me to Babylon, you are welcome. I will see that you are well cared for. But if you don't want to come, you may stay here. The whole land is before you--go wherever you like. 5 If you decide to stay, then return to Gedaliah son of Ahikam and grandson of Shaphan. He has been appointed governor of Judah by the king of Babylon. Stay there with the people he rules. But it's up to you; go wherever you like." Then Nebuzaradan gave Jeremiah some food and money and let him go. 6 So Jeremiah returned to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah and lived in Judah with the few who were still left in the land.7 The leaders of the Judean guerrilla bands in the countryside heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam as governor over the poor people who were left behind in Judah, and that he hadn't exiled everyone to Babylon. 8 So they came to see Gedaliah at Mizpah. These are the names of the leaders who came: Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan and Jonathan, sons of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth, the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, Jaazaniah son of the Maacathite, and all their men. 9 Gedaliah assured them that it would be safe for them to surrender to the Babylonians. " Stay here, and serve the king of Babylon," he said, " and all will go well for you. 10 As for me, I will stay at Mizpah to represent you before the Babylonians who come to meet with us. Settle in any town you wish, and live off the land. Harvest the grapes and summer fruits and olives, and store them away."11 When the Judeans in Moab, Ammon, Edom, and the other nearby countries heard that the king of Babylon had left a few people in Judah and that Gedaliah was the governor, 12 they began to return to Judah from the places to which they had fled. They stopped at Mizpah to discuss their plans with Gedaliah and then went out into the Judean countryside to gather a great harvest of grapes and other crops. 13 Soon after this, Johanan son of Kareah and the other guerrilla leaders came to Gedaliah at Mizpah. 14 They said to him, " Did you know that Baalis, king of Ammon, has sent Ishmael son of Nethaniah to assassinate you?" But Gedaliah refused to believe them. 15 Later Johanan had a private conference with Gedaliah and volunteered to kill Ishmael secretly. " Why should we let him come and murder you?" Johanan asked. " What will happen then to the Judeans who have returned? Why should the few of us who are still left be scattered and lost?" 16 But Gedaliah said to Johanan, " I forbid you to do any such thing, for you are lying about Ishmael."41:1 BUT in midautumn, Ishmael son of Nethaniah and grandson of Elishama, who was a member of the royal family, arrived in Mizpah accompanied by ten men. Gedaliah invited them to dinner. While they were eating, 2 Ishmael and his ten men suddenly drew their swords and killed Gedaliah, whom the king of Babylon had appointed governor. 3 Then they went out and slaughtered all the Judean officials and Babylonian soldiers who were with Gedaliah at Mizpah. 4 The next day, before anyone had heard about Gedaliah's murder, 5 eighty men arrived from Shechem, Shiloh, and Samaria. They had come to worship at the Temple of the LORD. They had shaved off their beards, torn their clothes, and cut themselves, and had brought along grain offerings and incense. 6 Ishmael left Mizpah to meet them, weeping as he went. When he reached them, he said, " Oh, come and see what has happened to Gedaliah!" 7 But as soon as they were all inside the town, Ishmael and his men killed all but ten of them and threw their bodies into a cistern. 8 The other ten had talked Ishmael into letting them go by promising to bring him their stores of wheat, barley, oil, and honey that they had hidden away. 9 The cistern where Ishmael dumped the bodies of the men he murdered was the large one made by King Asa when he fortified Mizpah to protect himself against King Baasha of Israel. Ishmael son of Nethaniah filled it with corpses. 10 Ishmael made captives of the king's daughters and the other people who had been left under Gedaliah's care in Mizpah by Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard. Taking them with him, he started back toward the land of Ammon.11 But when Johanan son of Kareah and the rest of the guerrilla leaders heard what Ishmael had done, 12 they took all their men and set out to stop him. They caught up with him at the pool near Gibeon. 13 The people Ishmael had captured shouted for joy when they saw Johanan and his men. 14 And all the captives from Mizpah escaped and began to help Johanan. 15 Meanwhile, Ishmael and eight of his men escaped from Johanan into the land of Ammon. 16 Then Johanan son of Kareah and his officers led away all the people they had rescued--warriors, women, children, and palace officials. 17 They took them all to the village of Geruth-kimham near Bethlehem, where they prepared to leave for Egypt. 18 They were afraid of what the Babylonians would do when they heard that Ishmael had killed Gedaliah, the governor appointed by the Babylonian king.

2 TIMOTHY 1:1-18

This letter is from Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God's will, sent out to tell others about the life he has promised through faith in Christ Jesus. 2 It is written to Timothy, my dear son. May God our Father and Christ Jesus our Lord give you grace, mercy, and peace.3 Timothy, I thank God for you. He is the God I serve with a clear conscience, just as my ancestors did. Night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. 4 I long to see you again, for I remember your tears as we parted. And I will be filled with joy when we are together again. 5 I know that you sincerely trust the Lord, for you have the faith of your mother, Eunice, and your grandmother, Lois. 6 This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. 8 So you must never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. And don't be ashamed of me, either, even though I'm in prison for Christ. With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the proclamation of the Good News. 9 It is God who saved us and chose us to live a holy life. He did this not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan long before the world began--to show his love and kindness to us through Christ Jesus. 10 And now he has made all of this plain to us by the coming of Christ Jesus, our Savior, who broke the power of death and showed us the way to everlasting life through the Good News. 11 And God chose me to be a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of this Good News. 12 And that is why I am suffering here in prison. But I am not ashamed of it, for I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until the day of his return. 13 Hold on to the pattern of right teaching you learned from me. And remember to live in the faith and love that you have in Christ Jesus. 14 With the help of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, carefully guard what has been entrusted to you. 15 As you know, all the Christians who came here from the province of Asia have deserted me; even Phygelus and Hermogenes are gone. 16 May the Lord show special kindness to Onesiphorus and all his family because he often visited and encouraged me. He was never ashamed of me because I was in prison. 17 When he came to Rome, he searched everywhere until he found me. 18 May the Lord show him special kindness on the day of Christ's return. And you know how much he helped me at Ephesus.

PSALM 90:1-91:16

A prayer of Moses, the man of God.

1 Lord, through all the generations

you have been our home!

2 Before the mountains were created,

before you made the earth and the world,

you are God, without beginning or end.

3 You turn people back to dust, saying,

" Return to dust!"

4 For you, a thousand years are as yesterday!

They are like a few hours!

5 You sweep people away like dreams that disappear

or like grass that springs up in the morning.

6 In the morning it blooms and flourishes,

but by evening it is dry and withered.

7 We wither beneath your anger;

we are overwhelmed by your fury.

8 You spread out our sins before you--

our secret sins--and you see them all.

9 We live our lives beneath your wrath.

We end our lives with a groan.

10 Seventy years are given to us!

Some may even reach eighty.

But even the best of these years are filled with pain and trouble;

soon they disappear, and we are gone.

11 Who can comprehend the power of your anger?

Your wrath is as awesome as the fear you deserve.

12 Teach us to make the most of our time,

so that we may grow in wisdom.

13 O LORD, come back to us!

How long will you delay?

Take pity on your servants!

14 Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,

so we may sing for joy to the end of our lives.

15 Give us gladness in proportion to our former misery!

Replace the evil years with good.

16 Let us see your miracles again;

let our children see your glory at work.

17 And may the Lord our God show us his approval

and make our efforts successful.

Yes, make our efforts successful!

91:1 THOSE who live in the shelter of the Most High

will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

2 This I declare of the LORD:

He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;

he is my God, and I am trusting him.

3 For he will rescue you from every trap

and protect you from the fatal plague.

4 He will shield you with his wings.

He will shelter you with his feathers.

His faithful promises are your armor and protection.

5 Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night,

nor fear the dangers of the day,

6 nor dread the plague that stalks in darkness,

nor the disaster that strikes at midday.

7 Though a thousand fall at your side,

though ten thousand are dying around you,

these evils will not touch you.

8 But you will see it with your eyes;

you will see how the wicked are punished.

9 If you make the LORD your refuge,

if you make the Most High your shelter,

10 no evil will conquer you;

no plague will come near your dwelling.

11 For he orders his angels

to protect you wherever you go.

12 They will hold you with their hands

to keep you from striking your foot on a stone.

13 You will trample down lions and poisonous snakes;

you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet!

14 The LORD says, " I will rescue those who love me.

I will protect those who trust in my name.

15 When they call on me, I will answer;

I will be with them in trouble.

I will rescue them and honor them.

16 I will satisfy them with a long life

and give them my salvation."

PROVERBS 26:1-2

Honor doesn't go with fools any more than snow with summer or rain with harvest. Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an unfair curse will not land on its intended victim. 

October 21 Reading through the Bible!

 

JEREMIAH 37:1-38:28

1 TIMOTHY 6:1-21

PSALM 89:38-52

PROVERBS 25:28

JEREMIAH 37:1-38:28

Zedekiah son of Josiah succeeded Jehoiachin son of Jehoiakim as the king of Judah. He was appointed by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. 2 But neither King Zedekiah nor his officials nor the people who were left in the land listened to what the LORD said through Jeremiah. 3 Nevertheless, King Zedekiah sent Jehucal son of Shelemiah and Zephaniah the priest, son of Maaseiah, to ask Jeremiah, " Please pray to the LORD our God for us." 4 Jeremiah had not yet been imprisoned, so he could come and go as he pleased. 5 At this time the army of Pharaoh Hophra of Egypt appeared at the southern border of Judah. When the Babylonian army heard about it, they withdrew from their siege of Jerusalem. 6 Then the LORD gave this message to Jeremiah: 7 " This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: Tell the king of Judah, who sent you to ask me what is going to happen, that Pharaoh's army is about to return to Egypt, though he came here to help you. 8 Then the Babylonians will come back and capture this city and burn it to the ground. 9 The LORD says: Do not fool yourselves that the Babylonians are gone for good. They aren't! 10 Even if you were to destroy the entire Babylonian army, leaving only a handful of wounded survivors, they would still stagger from their tents and burn this city to the ground!" 11 When the Babylonian army left Jerusalem because of Pharaoh's approaching army, 12 Jeremiah started to leave the city on his way to the land of Benjamin, to see the property he had bought. 13 But as he was walking through the Benjamin Gate, a sentry arrested him and said, " You are defecting to the Babylonians!" The sentry making the arrest was Irijah son of Shelemiah and grandson of Hananiah. 14 " That's not true!" Jeremiah protested. " I had no intention of doing any such thing." But Irijah wouldn't listen, and he took Jeremiah before the officials. 15 They were furious with Jeremiah and had him flogged and imprisoned in the house of Jonathan the secretary. Jonathan's house had been converted into a prison. 16 Jeremiah was put into a dungeon cell, where he remained for many days. 17 Later King Zedekiah secretly requested that Jeremiah come to the palace, where the king asked him, " Do you have any messages from the LORD?" " Yes, I do!" said Jeremiah. " You will be defeated by the king of Babylon." 18 Then Jeremiah asked the king, " What crime have I committed? What have I done against you, your officials, or the people that I should be imprisoned like this? 19 Where are your prophets now who told you the king of Babylon would not attack you? 20 Listen, my lord the king, I beg you. Don't send me back to the dungeon in the house of Jonathan the secretary, for I will die there." 21 So King Zedekiah commanded that Jeremiah not be returned to the dungeon. Instead, he was imprisoned in the courtyard of the guard in the royal palace. The king also commanded that Jeremiah be given a loaf of fresh bread every day as long as there was any left in the city. So Jeremiah was put in the palace prison.38:1 NOW Shephatiah son of Mattan, Gedaliah son of Pashhur, Jehucal son of Shelemiah, and Pashhur son of Malkijah heard what Jeremiah had been telling the people. He was saying, 2 " This is what the LORD says: Everyone who stays in Jerusalem will die from war, famine, or disease, but those who surrender to the Babylonians will live. 3 The LORD also says: The city of Jerusalem will surely be handed over to the army of the king of Babylon, who will capture it." 4 So these officials went to the king and said, " Sir, this man must die! That kind of talk will undermine the morale of the few fighting men we have left, as well as that of all the people, too. This man is a traitor!" 5 So King Zedekiah agreed. " All right," he said. " Do as you like. I will do nothing to stop you." 6 So the officials took Jeremiah from his cell and lowered him by ropes into an empty cistern in the prison yard. It belonged to Malkijah, a member of the royal family. There was no water in the cistern, but there was a thick layer of mud at the bottom, and Jeremiah sank down into it. 7 But Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, an important palace official, heard that Jeremiah was in the cistern. At that time the king was holding court at the Benjamin Gate, 8 so Ebed-melech rushed from the palace to speak with him. 9 " My lord the king," he said, " these men have done a very evil thing in putting Jeremiah the prophet into the cistern. He will soon die of hunger, for almost all the bread in the city is gone." 10 So the king told Ebed-melech, " Take along thirty of my men, and pull Jeremiah out of the cistern before he dies."11 So Ebed-melech took the men with him and went to a room in the palace beneath the treasury, where he found some old rags and discarded clothing. He carried these to the cistern and lowered them to Jeremiah on a rope. 12 Ebed-melech called down to Jeremiah, " Put these rags under your armpits to protect you from the ropes." Then when Jeremiah was ready, 13 they pulled him out. So Jeremiah was returned to the courtyard of the guard--the palace prison--where he remained. 14 One day King Zedekiah sent for Jeremiah to meet him at the third entrance of the LORD's Temple. " I want to ask you something," the king said. " And don't try to hide the truth." 15 Jeremiah said, " If I tell you the truth, you will kill me. And if I give you advice, you won't listen to me anyway." 16 So King Zedekiah secretly promised him, " As surely as the LORD our Creator lives, I will not kill you or hand you over to the men who want you dead." 17 Then Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, " The LORD God Almighty, the God of Israel, says: If you surrender to Babylon, you and your family will live, and the city will not be burned. 18 But if you refuse to surrender, you will not escape! This city will be handed over to the Babylonians, and they will burn it to the ground." 19 " But I am afraid to surrender," the king said, " for the Babylonians will hand me over to the Judeans who have defected to them. And who knows what they will do to me?" 20 Jeremiah replied, " You won't be handed over to them if you choose to obey the LORD. Your life will be spared, and all will go well for you. 21 But if you refuse to surrender, this is what the LORD has revealed to me: 22 All the women left in your palace will be brought out and given to the officers of the Babylonian army. Then the women will taunt you, saying, ` What fine friends you have! They have betrayed and misled you. When your feet sank in the mud, they left you to your fate!' 23 All your wives and children will be led out to the Babylonians, and you will not escape. You will be seized by the king of Babylon, and this city will be burned." 24 Then Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, " Don't tell anyone you told me this, or you will die! 25 My officials may hear that I spoke to you. Then they may say to you, ` Tell us what you and the king were talking about. If you don't tell us, we will kill you.' 26 If this happens, just tell them you begged me not to send you back to Jonathan's dungeon, for fear you would die there." 27 Sure enough, it wasn't long before the king's officials came to Jeremiah and asked him why the king had called for him. But Jeremiah followed the king's instructions, and they left without finding out the truth. No one had overheard the conversation between Jeremiah and the king. 28 And Jeremiah remained a prisoner in the courtyard of the guard until the day Jerusalem was captured.

1 TIMOTHY 6:1-21

Christians who are slaves should give their masters full respect so that the name of God and his teaching will not be shamed. 2 If your master is a Christian, that is no excuse for being disrespectful. You should work all the harder because you are helping another believer by your efforts. Teach these truths, Timothy, and encourage everyone to obey them. 3 Some false teachers may deny these things, but these are the sound, wholesome teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ, and they are the foundation for a godly life. 4 Anyone who teaches anything different is both conceited and ignorant. Such a person has an unhealthy desire to quibble over the meaning of words. This stirs up arguments ending in jealousy, fighting, slander, and evil suspicions. 5 These people always cause trouble. Their minds are corrupt, and they don't tell the truth. To them religion is just a way to get rich.6 Yet true religion with contentment is great wealth. 7 After all, we didn't bring anything with us when we came into the world, and we certainly cannot carry anything with us when we die. 8 So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content. 9 But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is at the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows. 11 But you, Timothy, belong to God; so run from all these evil things, and follow what is right and good. Pursue a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight for what we believe. Hold tightly to the eternal life that God has given you, which you have confessed so well before many witnesses. 13 And I command you before God, who gives life to all, and before Christ Jesus, who gave a good testimony before Pontius Pilate, 14 that you obey his commands with all purity. Then no one can find fault with you from now until our Lord Jesus Christ returns. 15 For at the right time Christ will be revealed from heaven by the blessed and only almighty God, the King of kings and Lord of lords. 16 He alone can never die, and he lives in light so brilliant that no human can approach him. No one has ever seen him, nor ever will. To him be honor and power forever. Amen. 17 Tell those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which will soon be gone. But their trust should be in the living God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. 18 Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and should give generously to those in need, always being ready to share with others whatever God has given them. 19 By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may take hold of real life. 20 Timothy, guard what God has entrusted to you. Avoid godless, foolish discussions with those who oppose you with their so-called knowledge. 21 Some people have wandered from the faith by following such foolishness. May God's grace be with you all.

PSALM 89:38-52

But now you [the LORD] have rejected him [David].

Why are you so angry with the one you chose as king?

39 You have renounced your covenant with him,

for you have thrown his crown in the dust.

40 You have broken down the walls protecting him

and laid in ruins every fort defending him.

41 Everyone who comes along has robbed him

while his neighbors mock.

42 You have strengthened his enemies against him

and made them all rejoice.

43 You have made his sword useless

and have refused to help him in battle.

44 You have ended his splendor

and overturned his throne.

45 You have made him old before his time

and publicly disgraced him.

Interlude46 O LORD, how long will this go on?

Will you hide yourself forever?

How long will your anger burn like fire?

47 Remember how short my life is,

how empty and futile this human existence!

48 No one can live forever; all will die.

No one can escape the power of the grave.

Interlude49 Lord, where is your unfailing love?

You promised it to David with a faithful pledge.

50 Consider, Lord, how your servants are disgraced!

I carry in my heart the insults of so many people.

51 Your enemies have mocked me, O LORD;

they mock the one you anointed as king.

52 Blessed be the LORD forever!

Amen and amen!

PROVERBS 25:28

A person without self-control is as defenseless as a city with broken-down walls.

October 20 Reading through the Bible

JEREMIAH 35:1-36:32

1 TIMOTHY 5:1-25

PSALM 89:14-37

PROVERBS 25:25-27

JEREMIAH 35:1-36:32

This is the message the LORD gave Jeremiah when Jehoiakim son of Josiah was king of Judah: 2 " Go to the settlement where the families of the Recabites live, and invite them to the LORD's Temple. Take them into one of the inner rooms, and offer them some wine." 3 So I went to see Jaazaniah son of Jeremiah and grandson of Habazziniah and all his brothers and sons--representing all the Recabite families. 4 I took them to the Temple, and we went into the room assigned to the sons of Hanan son of Igdaliah, a man of God. This room was located next to the one used by the palace officials, directly above the room of Maaseiah son of Shallum, the Temple gatekeeper. 5 I set cups and jugs of wine before them and invited them to have a drink, 6 but they refused. " No," they said. " We don't drink wine, because Jehonadab son of Recab, our ancestor, gave us this command: ` You and your descendants must never drink wine. 7 And do not build houses or plant crops or vineyards, but always live in tents. If you follow these commands, you will live long, good lives in the land.' 8 So we have obeyed him in all these things. We have never had a drink of wine since then, nor have our wives, our sons, or our daughters. 9 We haven't built houses or owned vineyards or farms or planted crops. 10 We have lived in tents and have fully obeyed all the commands of Jehonadab, our ancestor. 11 But when King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon arrived in this country, we were afraid of the Babylonian and Aramean armies. So we decided to move to Jerusalem. That is why we are here." 12 Then the LORD gave this message to Jeremiah: 13 " The LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Go and say to the people in Judah and Jerusalem, ` Come and learn a lesson about how to obey me. 14 The Recabites do not drink wine because their ancestor Jehonadab told them not to. But I have spoken to you again and again, and you refuse to listen or obey. 15 I have sent you prophet after prophet to tell you to turn from your wicked ways and to stop worshiping other gods, so that you might live in peace here in the land I gave to you and your ancestors. But you would not listen to me or obey. 16 The families of Recab have obeyed their ancestor completely, but you have refused to listen to me.' 17 " Therefore, the LORD God Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Because you refuse to listen or answer when I call, I will send upon Judah and Jerusalem all the disasters I have threatened." 18 Then Jeremiah turned to the Recabites and said, " This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: You have obeyed your ancestor Jehonadab in every respect, following all his instructions. 19 Because of this, Jehonadab son of Recab will always have descendants who serve me. I, the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, have spoken!"36:1 DURING the fourth year that Jehoiakim son of Josiah was king in Judah, the LORD gave this message to Jeremiah: 2 " Get a scroll, and write down all my messages against Israel, Judah, and the other nations. Begin with the first message back in the days of Josiah, and write down every message you have given, right up to the present time. 3 Perhaps the people of Judah will repent if they see in writing all the terrible things I have planned for them. Then I will be able to forgive their sins and wrongdoings." 4 So Jeremiah sent for Baruch son of Neriah, and as Jeremiah dictated, Baruch wrote down all the prophecies that the LORD had given him. 5 Then Jeremiah said to Baruch, " I am a prisoner here and unable to go to the Temple. 6 So you go to the Temple on the next day of fasting, and read the messages from the LORD that are on this scroll. On that day people will be there from all over Judah. 7 Perhaps even yet they will turn from their evil ways and ask the LORD's forgiveness before it is too late. For the LORD's terrible anger has been pronounced against them." 8 Baruch did as Jeremiah told him and read these messages from the LORD to the people at the Temple. 9 This happened on the day of sacred fasting held in late autumn, during the fifth year of the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah. People from all over Judah came to attend the services at the Temple on that day. 10 Baruch read Jeremiah's words to all the people from the Temple room of Gemariah son of Shaphan. This room was just off the upper courtyard of the Temple, near the New Gate entrance.11 When Micaiah son of Gemariah and grandson of Shaphan heard the messages from the LORD, 12 he went down to the secretary's room in the palace where the administrative officials were meeting. Elishama the secretary was there, along with Delaiah son of Shemaiah, Elnathan son of Acbor, Gemariah son of Shaphan, Zedekiah son of Hananiah, and all the others with official responsibilities. 13 When Micaiah told them about the messages Baruch was reading to the people, 14 the officials sent Jehudi son of Nethaniah, grandson of Shelemiah, and great-grandson of Cushi, to ask Baruch to come and read the messages to them, too. So Baruch took the scroll and went to them. 15 " Sit down and read the scroll to us," the officials said, and Baruch did as they requested. 16 By the time Baruch had finished reading, they were badly frightened. " We must tell the king what we have heard," they said. 17 " But first, tell us how you got these messages. Did they come directly from Jeremiah?" 18 So Baruch explained, " Jeremiah dictated them to me word by word, and I wrote down his words with ink on this scroll." 19 " You and Jeremiah should both hide," the officials told Baruch. " Don't tell anyone where you are!" 20 Then the officials left the scroll for safekeeping in the room of Elishama the secretary and went to tell the king. 21 The king sent Jehudi to get the scroll. Jehudi brought it from Elishama's room and read it to the king as all his officials stood by. 22 It was late autumn, and the king was in a winterized part of the palace, sitting in front of a fire to keep warm. 23 Whenever Jehudi finished reading three or four columns, the king took his knife and cut off that section of the scroll. He then threw it into the fire, section by section, until the whole scroll was burned up. 24 Neither the king nor his officials showed any signs of fear or repentance at what they heard. 25 Even when Elnathan, Delaiah, and Gemariah begged the king not to burn the scroll, he wouldn't listen. 26 Then the king commanded his son Jerahmeel, Seraiah son of Azriel, and Shelemiah son of Abdeel to arrest Baruch and Jeremiah. But the LORD had hidden them.27 After the king had burned Jeremiah's scroll, the LORD gave Jeremiah another message. He said, 28 " Get another scroll, and write everything again just as you did on the scroll King Jehoiakim burned. 29 Then say to the king, ` This is what the LORD says: You burned the scroll because it said the king of Babylon would destroy this land and everything in it. 30 Now this is what the LORD says about King Jehoiakim of Judah: He will have no heirs to sit on the throne of David. His dead body will be thrown out to lie unburied--exposed to hot days and frosty nights. 31 I will punish him and his family and his officials because of their sins. I will pour out on them and on all the people of Judah and Jerusalem all the disasters I have promised, for they would not listen to my warnings.' " 32 Then Jeremiah took another scroll and dictated again to his secretary Baruch. He wrote everything that had been on the scroll King Jehoiakim had burned in the fire. Only this time, he added much more!

1 TIMOTHY 5:1-25

Never speak harshly to an older man, but appeal to him respectfully as though he were your own father. Talk to the younger men as you would to your own brothers. 2 Treat the older women as you would your mother, and treat the younger women with all purity as your own sisters. 3 The church should care for any widow who has no one else to care for her. 4 But if she has children or grandchildren, their first responsibility is to show godliness at home and repay their parents by taking care of them. This is something that pleases God very much. 5 But a woman who is a true widow, one who is truly alone in this world, has placed her hope in God. Night and day she asks God for help and spends much time in prayer. 6 But the widow who lives only for pleasure is spiritually dead. 7 Give these instructions to the church so that the widows you support will not be criticized. 8 But those who won't care for their own relatives, especially those living in the same household, have denied what we believe. Such people are worse than unbelievers. 9 A widow who is put on the list for support must be a woman who is at least sixty years old and was faithful to her husband. 10 She must be well respected by everyone because of the good she has done. Has she brought up her children well? Has she been kind to strangers? Has she served other Christians humbly? Has she helped those who are in trouble? Has she always been ready to do good? 11 The younger widows should not be on the list, because their physical desires will overpower their devotion to Christ and they will want to remarry. 12 Then they would be guilty of breaking their previous pledge. 13 Besides, they are likely to become lazy and spend their time gossiping from house to house, getting into other people's business and saying things they shouldn't. 14 So I advise these younger widows to marry again, have children, and take care of their own homes. Then the enemy will not be able to say anything against them. 15 For I am afraid that some of them have already gone astray and now follow Satan. 16 If a Christian woman has relatives who are widows, she must take care of them and not put the responsibility on the church. Then the church can care for widows who are truly alone. 17 Elders who do their work well should be paid well, especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching. 18 For the Scripture says, " Do not keep an ox from eating as it treads out the grain." And in another place, " Those who work deserve their pay!" 19 Do not listen to complaints against an elder unless there are two or three witnesses to accuse him. 20 Anyone who sins should be rebuked in front of the whole church so that others will have a proper fear of God. 21 I solemnly command you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus and the holy angels to obey these instructions without taking sides or showing special favor to anyone. 22 Never be in a hurry about appointing an elder. Do not participate in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.23 Don't drink only water. You ought to drink a little wine for the sake of your stomach because you are sick so often. 24 Remember that some people lead sinful lives, and everyone knows they will be judged. But there are others whose sin will not be revealed until later. 25 In the same way, everyone knows how much good some people do, but there are others whose good deeds won't be known until later.

PSALM 89:14-37

Your throne is founded on two strong pillars--righteousness and justice.

Unfailing love and truth walk before you as attendants.

15 Happy are those who hear the joyful call to worship,

for they will walk in the light of your presence, LORD.

16 They rejoice all day long in your wonderful reputation.

They exult in your righteousness.

17 You are their glorious strength.

Our power is based on your favor.

18 Yes, our protection comes from the LORD,

and he, the Holy One of Israel, has given us our king.

19 You once spoke in a vision to your prophet and said,

" I have given help to a warrior.

I have selected him from the common people to be king.

20 I have found my servant David.

I have anointed him with my holy oil.

21 I will steady him,

and I will make him strong.

22 His enemies will not get the best of him,

nor will the wicked overpower him.

23 I will beat down his adversaries before him

and destroy those who hate him.

24 My faithfulness and unfailing love will be with him,

and he will rise to power because of me.

25 I will extend his rule from the Mediterranean Sea in the west

to the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in the east.

26 And he will say to me, ` You are my Father,

my God, and the Rock of my salvation.'

27 I will make him my firstborn son,

the mightiest king on earth.

28 I will love him and be kind to him forever;

my covenant with him will never end.

29 I will preserve an heir for him;

his throne will be as endless as the days of heaven.

30 But if his sons forsake my law

and fail to walk in my ways,

31 if they do not obey my decrees

and fail to keep my commands,

32 then I will punish their sin with the rod,

and their disobedience with beating.

33 But I will never stop loving him,

nor let my promise to him fail.

34 No, I will not break my covenant;

I will not take back a single word I said.

35 I have sworn an oath to David,

and in my holiness I cannot lie:

36 His dynasty will go on forever;

his throne is as secure as the sun,

37 as eternal as the moon,

my faithful witness in the sky!"

Interlude

PROVERBS 25:25-27

Good news from far away is like cold water to the thirsty. If the godly compromise with the wicked, it is like polluting a fountain or muddying a spring. Just as it is not good to eat too much honey, it is not good for people to think about all the honors they deserve. 

October 19 Reading through the Bible

 

JEREMIAH 33:1-34:22

1 TIMOTHY 4:1-16

PSALM 89:1-13

PROVERBS 25:23-24

JEREMIAH 33:1-34:22

While Jeremiah was still confined in the courtyard of the guard, the LORD gave him this second message: 2 " The LORD, the Maker of the heavens and earth--the LORD is his name--says this: 3 Ask me and I will tell you some remarkable secrets about what is going to happen here. 4 For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: Though you have torn down the houses of this city and even the king's palace to get materials to strengthen the walls against the siege weapons of the enemy, 5 the Babylonians will still enter. The men of this city are already as good as dead, for I have determined to destroy them in my terrible anger. I have abandoned them because of all their wickedness. 6 " Nevertheless, the time will come when I will heal Jerusalem's damage and give her prosperity and peace. 7 I will restore the fortunes of Judah and Israel and rebuild their cities. 8 I will cleanse away their sins against me, and I will forgive all their sins of rebellion. 9 Then this city will bring me joy, glory, and honor before all the nations of the earth! The people of the world will see the good I do for my people and will tremble with awe! 10 " This is what the LORD says: You say, ` This land has been ravaged, and the people and animals have all disappeared.' Yet in the empty streets of Jerusalem and Judah's other towns, there will be heard once more 11 the sounds of joy and laughter. The joyful voices of bridegrooms and brides will be heard again, along with the joyous songs of people bringing thanksgiving offerings to the LORD. They will sing, ` Give thanks to the LORD Almighty, for the LORD is good.

His faithful love endures forever!'

For I will restore the prosperity of this land to what it was in the past, says the LORD. 12 " This is what the LORD Almighty says: This land--though it is now desolate and the people and animals have all disappeared--will once more see shepherds leading sheep and lambs. 13 Once again their flocks will prosper in the towns of the hill country, the foothills of Judah, the Negev, the land of Benjamin, the vicinity of Jerusalem, and all the towns of Judah. I, the LORD, have spoken! 14 " The day will come, says the LORD, when I will do for Israel and Judah all the good I have promised them. 15 At that time I will bring to the throne of David a righteous descendant, and he will do what is just and right throughout the land. 16 In that day Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will live in safety. And their motto will be ` The LORD is our righteousness!' 17 For this is what the LORD says: David will forever have a descendant sitting on the throne of Israel. 18 And there will always be Levitical priests to offer burnt offerings and grain offerings and sacrifices to me." 19 Then this message came to Jeremiah from the LORD: 20 " If you can break my covenant with the day and the night so that they do not come on their usual schedule, 21 only then will my covenant with David, my servant, be broken. Only then will he no longer have a descendant to reign on his throne. The same is true for my covenant with the Levitical priests who minister before me. 22 And as the stars cannot be counted and the sand on the seashores cannot be measured, so I will multiply the descendants of David, my servant, and the Levites who minister before me." 23 The LORD gave another message to Jeremiah. He said, 24 " Have you heard what people are saying?--` The LORD chose Judah and Israel and then abandoned them!' They are sneering and saying that Israel is not worthy to be counted as a nation. 25 But this is the LORD's reply: I would no more reject my people than I would change my laws of night and day, of earth and sky. 26 I will never abandon the descendants of Jacob or David, my servant, or change the plan that David's descendants will rule the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Instead, I will restore them to their land and have mercy on them."34:1 KING Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came with all the armies from the kingdoms he ruled, and he fought against Jerusalem and the towns of Judah. At that time this message came to Jeremiah from the LORD: 2 " Go to King Zedekiah of Judah, and tell him, ` This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: I am about to hand this city over to the king of Babylon, and he will burn it. 3 You will not escape his grasp but will be taken into captivity. You will stand before the king of Babylon to be judged and sentenced. Then you will be exiled to Babylon.' 4 " But listen to this promise from the LORD, O Zedekiah, king of Judah. This is what the LORD says: ` You will not be killed in war 5 but will die peacefully among your people. They will burn incense in your memory, just as they did for your ancestors. They will weep for you and say, " Alas, our king is dead!" This I have decreed, says the LORD.' " 6 So Jeremiah the prophet delivered the message to King Zedekiah of Judah. 7 At this time the Babylonian army was besieging Jerusalem, Lachish, and Azekah--the only cities of Judah with their walls still standing.8 This message came to Jeremiah from the LORD after King Zedekiah made a covenant with the people, proclaiming freedom for the slaves. 9 He had ordered all the people to free their Hebrew slaves--both men and women. No one was to keep a fellow Judean in bondage. 10 The officials and all the people had obeyed the king's command, 11 but later they changed their minds. They took back the people they had freed, making them slaves again. 12 So the LORD gave them this message through Jeremiah: 13 " This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: I made a covenant with your ancestors long ago when I rescued them from their slavery in Egypt. 14 I told them that every Hebrew slave must be freed after serving six years. But this was never done. 15 Recently you repented and did what was right, following my command. You freed your slaves and made a solemn covenant with me in my Temple. 16 But now you have shrugged off your oath and defiled my name by taking back the men and women you had freed, making them slaves once again. 17 " Therefore, this is what the LORD says: Since you have not obeyed me by setting your countrymen free, I will set you free to be destroyed by war, famine, and disease. You will be considered a disgrace by all the nations of the earth. 18 Because you have refused the terms of our covenant, I will cut you apart just as you cut apart the calf when you walked between its halves to solemnize your vows. 19 Yes, I will cut you apart, whether you are officials of Judah or Jerusalem, court officials, priests, or common people--for you have broken your oath. 20 I will give you to your enemies, and they will kill you. Your bodies will be food for the vultures and wild animals. 21 I will hand over King Zedekiah of Judah and his officials to the army of the king of Babylon. And though Babylon's king has left this city for a while, 22 I will call the Babylonian armies back again. They will fight against this city and will capture and burn it. I will see to it that all the towns of Judah are destroyed and left completely empty."

1 TIMOTHY 4:1-16

Now the Holy Spirit tells us [believers] clearly that in the last times some will turn away from what we believe; they will follow lying spirits and teachings that come from demons. 2 These teachers are hypocrites and liars. They pretend to be religious, but their consciences are dead. 3 They will say it is wrong to be married and wrong to eat certain foods. But God created those foods to be eaten with thanksgiving by people who know and believe the truth. 4 Since everything God created is good, we should not reject any of it. We may receive it gladly, with thankful hearts. 5 For we know it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.6 If you explain this to the brothers and sisters,* you will be doing your duty as a worthy servant of Christ Jesus, one who is fed by the message of faith and the true teaching you have followed. 7 Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives' tales. Spend your time and energy in training yourself for spiritual fitness. 8 Physical exercise has some value, but spiritual exercise is much more important, for it promises a reward in both this life and the next. 9 This is true, and everyone should accept it. 10 We work hard and suffer much in order that people will believe the truth, for our hope is in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and particularly of those who believe. 11 Teach these things and insist that everyone learn them. 12 Don't let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you teach, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity. 13 Until I get there, focus on reading the Scriptures to the church, encouraging the believers, and teaching them. 14 Do not neglect the spiritual gift you received through the prophecies spoken to you when the elders of the church laid their hands on you. 15 Give your complete attention to these matters. Throw yourself into your tasks so that everyone will see your progress. 16 Keep a close watch on yourself and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right, and God will save you and those who hear you.

PSALM 89:1-13

A psalm of Ethan the Ezrahite.

1 I will sing of the tender mercies of the LORD forever!

Young and old will hear of your faithfulness.

2 Your unfailing love will last forever.

Your faithfulness is as enduring as the heavens.

3 The LORD said, " I have made a solemn agreement with David, my chosen servant.

I have sworn this oath to him:

4 ` I will establish your descendants as kings forever;

they will sit on your throne from now until eternity.' "

Interlude5 All heaven will praise your miracles, LORD;

myriads of angels will praise you for your faithfulness.

6 For who in all of heaven can compare with the LORD?

What mightiest angel is anything like the LORD?

7 The highest angelic powers stand in awe of God.

He is far more awesome than those who surround his throne.

8 O LORD God Almighty!

Where is there anyone as mighty as you, LORD?

Faithfulness is your very character.

9 You are the one who rules the oceans.

When their waves rise in fearful storms, you subdue them.

10 You are the one who crushed the great sea monster.

You scattered your enemies with your mighty arm.

11 The heavens are yours, and the earth is yours;

everything in the world is yours--you created it all.

12 You created north and south.

Mount Tabor and Mount Hermon praise your name.

13 Powerful is your arm!

Strong is your hand!

Your right hand is lifted high in glorious strength.

PROVERBS 25:23-24

As surely as a wind from the north brings rain, so a gossiping tongue causes anger! It is better to live alone in the corner of an attic than with a contentious wife in a lovely home.