February 8 Reading through the Bible

 

EXODUS 28:1-43
MATTHEW 25:31-26:13
PSALM 31:9-18
PROVERBS 8:12-13

EXODUS 28:1-43
" Your [Moses'] brother, Aaron, and his sons, Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar, will be set apart from the common people. They will be my priests and will minister to me. 2 Make special clothing for Aaron to show his separation to God--beautiful garments that will lend dignity to his work. 3 Instruct all those who have special skills as tailors to make the garments that will set Aaron apart from everyone else, so he may serve me as a priest. 4 They are to make a chestpiece, an ephod, a robe, an embroidered tunic, a turban, and a sash. They will also make special garments for Aaron's sons to wear when they serve as priests before me. 5 These items must be made of fine linen cloth and embroidered with gold thread and blue, purple, and scarlet yarn. 6 " The ephod must be made of fine linen cloth and skillfully embroidered with gold thread and blue, purple, and scarlet yarn. 7 It will consist of two pieces, front and back, joined at the shoulders with two shoulder-pieces. 8 And the sash will be made of the same materials: fine linen cloth embroidered with gold thread and blue, purple, and scarlet yarn. 9 Take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the tribes of Israel. 10 Six names will be on each stone, naming all the tribes in the order of their ancestors' births. 11 Engrave these names in the same way a gemcutter engraves a seal. Mount the stones in gold settings. 12 Fasten the two stones on the shoulder-pieces of the ephod as memorial stones for the people of Israel. Aaron will carry these names before the LORD as a constant reminder. 13 The settings are to be made of gold filigree, 14 and two cords made of pure gold will be attached to the settings on the shoulders of the ephod. 15 " Then, with the most careful workmanship, make a chestpiece that will be used to determine God's will. Use the same materials as you did for the ephod: fine linen cloth embroidered with gold thread and blue, purple, and scarlet yarn. 16 This chestpiece will be made of two folds of cloth, forming a pouch nine inches square. 17 Four rows of gemstones will be attached to it. The first row will contain a red carnelian, a chrysolite, and an emerald. 18 The second row will contain a turquoise, a sapphire, and a white moonstone. 19 The third row will contain a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst. 20 The fourth row will contain a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper. All these stones will be set in gold. 21 Each stone will represent one of the tribes of Israel, and the name of that tribe will be engraved on it as though it were a seal. 22 " To attach the chestpiece to the ephod, make braided cords of pure gold. 23 Then make two gold rings and attach them to the top corners of the chestpiece. 24 The two gold cords will go through the rings on the chestpiece, 25 and the ends of the cords will be tied to the gold settings on the shoulder-pieces of the ephod. 26 Then make two more gold rings, and attach them to the two lower inside corners of the chestpiece next to the ephod. 27 And make two more gold rings and attach them to the ephod near the sash. 28 Then attach the bottom rings of the chestpiece to the rings on the ephod with blue cords. This will hold the chestpiece securely to the ephod above the beautiful sash. 29 In this way, Aaron will carry the names of the tribes of Israel on the chestpiece over his heart when he goes into the presence of the LORD in the Holy Place. Thus, the LORD will be reminded of his people continually. 30 Insert into the pocket of the chestpiece the Urim and Thummim, to be carried over Aaron's heart when he goes into the LORD's presence. Thus, Aaron will always carry the objects used to determine the LORD's will for his people whenever he goes in before the LORD. 31 " Make the robe of the ephod entirely of blue cloth, 32 with an opening for Aaron's head in the middle of it. The opening will be reinforced by a woven collar so it will not tear. 33 Make pomegranates out of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and attach them to the hem of the robe, with gold bells between them. 34 The gold bells and pomegranates are to alternate all the way around the hem. 35 Aaron will wear this robe whenever he enters the Holy Place to minister to the LORD, and the bells will tinkle as he goes in and out of the LORD's presence. If he wears it, he will not die. 36 " Next make a medallion of pure gold. Using the techniques of an engraver, inscribe it with these words: SET APART AS HOLY TO THE LORD. 37 This medallion will be attached to the front of Aaron's turban by means of a blue cord. 38 Aaron will wear it on his forehead, thus bearing the guilt connected with any errors regarding the sacred offerings of the people of Israel. He must always wear it so the LORD will accept the people. 39 " Weave Aaron's patterned tunic from fine linen cloth. Fashion the turban out of this linen as well. Also make him an embroidered sash. 40 " Then for Aaron's sons, make tunics, sashes, and headdresses to give them dignity and respect. 41 Clothe Aaron and his sons with these garments, and then anoint and ordain them. Set them apart as holy so they can serve as my priests. 42 Also make linen underclothes for them, to be worn next to their bodies, reaching from waist to thigh. 43 These must be worn whenever Aaron and his sons enter the Tabernacle or approach the altar in the Holy Place to perform their duties. Thus they will not incur guilt and die. This law is permanent for Aaron and his descendants."

MATTHEW 25:31-26:13
" But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate them as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left. 34 Then the King will say to those on the right, ` Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. 36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.' 37 " Then these righteous ones will reply, ` Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison, and visit you?' 40 And the King will tell them, ` I assure you, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters,* you were doing it to me!' 41 " Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ` Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his demons! 42 For I was hungry, and you didn't feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn't give me anything to drink. 43 I was a stranger, and you didn't invite me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me no clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn't visit me.' 44 " Then they will reply, ` Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?' 45 And he will answer, ` I assure you, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.' 46 And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life."26:1 WHEN Jesus had finished saying these things, he said to his disciples, 2 " As you know, the Passover celebration begins in two days, and I, the Son of Man, will be betrayed and crucified." 3 At that same time the leading priests and other leaders were meeting at the residence of Caiaphas, the high priest, 4 to discuss how to capture Jesus secretly and put him to death. 5 " But not during the Passover," they agreed, " or there will be a riot." 6 Meanwhile, Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had leprosy. 7 During supper, a woman came in with a beautiful jar of expensive perfume and poured it over his head. 8 The disciples were indignant when they saw this. " What a waste of money," they said. 9 " She could have sold it for a fortune and given the money to the poor." 10 But Jesus replied, " Why berate her for doing such a good thing to me? 11 You will always have the poor among you, but I will not be here with you much longer. 12 She has poured this perfume on me to prepare my body for burial. 13 I assure you, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman's deed will be talked about in her memory."

PSALM 31:9-18
Have mercy on me, LORD, for I am in distress.
My sight is blurred because of my tears.
My body and soul are withering away.
10 I am dying from grief;
my years are shortened by sadness.
Misery has drained my strength;
I am wasting away from within.
11 I am scorned by all my enemies
and despised by my neighbors--
even my friends are afraid to come near me.
When they see me on the street,
they turn the other way.
12 I have been ignored as if I were dead,
as if I were a broken pot.
13 I have heard the many rumors about me,
and I am surrounded by terror.
My enemies conspire against me,
plotting to take my life.
14 But I am trusting you, O LORD,
saying, " You are my God!"
15 My future is in your hands.
Rescue me from those who hunt me down relentlessly.
16 Let your favor shine on your servant.
In your unfailing love, save me.
17 Don't let me be disgraced,O LORD,
for I call out to you for help.
Let the wicked be disgraced;
let them lie silent in the grave.
18 May their lying lips be silenced--
those proud and arrogant lips that accuse the godly.

PROVERBS 8:12-13
" I, Wisdom, live together with good judgment. I know where to discover knowledge and discernment. All who fear the LORD will hate evil. That is why I hate pride, arrogance, corruption, and perverted speech."

February 7 Reading through the Bible

 

EXODUS 26:1-27:21
MATTHEW 25:1-30
PSALM 31:1-8
PROVERBS 8:1-11

EXODUS 26:1-27:21
" Make the Tabernacle from ten sheets of fine linen. These sheets are to be decorated with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, with figures of cherubim skillfully embroidered into them. 2 Each sheet must be forty-two feet long and six feet wide. All ten sheets must be exactly the same size. 3 Join five of these sheets together into one set; then join the other five sheets into a second set. 4 Put loops of blue yarn along the edge of the last sheet in each set. 5 The fifty loops along the edge of one set are to match the fifty loops along the edge of the other. 6 Then make fifty gold clasps to fasten the loops of the two sets of sheets together, making the Tabernacle a single unit. 7 " Make heavy sheets of cloth from goat hair to cover the Tabernacle. There must be eleven of these sheets, 8 each forty-five feet long and six feet wide. All eleven of these sheets must be exactly the same size. 9 Join five of these together into one set, and join the other six into a second set. The sixth sheet of the second set is to be doubled over at the entrance of the sacred tent. 10 Put fifty loops along the edge of the last sheet in each set, 11 and fasten them together with fifty bronze clasps. In this way, the two sets will become a single unit. 12 An extra half sheet of this roof covering will be left to hang over the back of the Tabernacle, 13 and the covering will hang down an extra eighteen inches on each side. 14 On top of these coverings place a layer of tanned ram skins, and over them put a layer of fine goatskin leather. This will complete the roof covering. 15 " The framework of the Tabernacle will consist of frames made of acacia wood. 16 Each frame must be 15 feet high and 2 feet wide. 17 There will be two pegs on each frame so they can be joined to the next frame. All the frames must be made this way. 18 Twenty of these frames will support the south side of the Tabernacle. 19 They will fit into forty silver bases--two bases under each frame. 20 On the north side there will also be twenty of these frames, 21 with their forty silver bases, two bases for each frame. 22 On the west side there will be six frames, 23 along with an extra frame at each corner. 24 These corner frames will be connected at the bottom and firmly attached at the top with a single ring, forming a single unit. Both of these corner frames will be made the same way. 25 So there will be eight frames on that end of the Tabernacle, supported by sixteen silver bases--two bases under each frame. 26 " Make crossbars of acacia wood to run across the frames, five crossbars for the north side of the Tabernacle 27 and five for the south side. Also make five crossbars for the rear of the Tabernacle, which will face westward. 28 The middle crossbar, halfway up the frames, will run all the way from one end of the Tabernacle to the other. 29 Overlay the frames with gold and make gold rings to support the crossbars. Overlay the crossbars with gold as well. 30 " Set up this Tabernacle according to the design you were shown on the mountain. 31 " Across the inside of the Tabernacle hang a special curtain made of fine linen, with cherubim skillfully embroidered into the cloth using blue, purple, and scarlet yarn. 32 Hang this inner curtain on gold hooks set into four posts made from acacia wood and overlaid with gold. The posts will fit into silver bases. 33 When the inner curtain is in place, put the Ark of the Covenant behind it. This curtain will separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place. 34 " Then put the Ark's cover--the place of atonement--on top of the Ark of the Covenant inside the Most Holy Place. 35 Place the table and lampstand across the room from each other outside the inner curtain. The lampstand must be placed on the south side, and the table must be set toward the north. 36 " Make another curtain from fine linen for the entrance of the sacred tent, and embroider exquisite designs into it, using blue, purple, and scarlet yarn. 37 Hang this curtain on gold hooks set into five posts made from acacia wood and overlaid with gold. The posts will fit into five bronze bases.27:1 " USING acacia wood, make a square altar 7 feet wide, 7 feet long, and 4 feet high. 2 Make a horn at each of the four corners of the altar so the horns and altar are all one piece. Overlay the altar and its horns with bronze. 3 The ash buckets, shovels, basins, meat hooks, and firepans will all be made of bronze. 4 Make a bronze grating, with a metal ring at each corner. 5 Fit the grating halfway down into the firebox, resting it on the ledge built there. 6 For moving the altar, make poles from acacia wood, and overlay them with bronze. 7 To carry it, put the poles into the rings at two sides of the altar. 8 The altar must be hollow, made from planks. Be careful to build it just as you were shown on the mountain. 9 " Then make a courtyard for the Tabernacle, enclosed with curtains made from fine linen. On the south side the curtains will stretch for 150 feet. 10 They will be held up by twenty bronze posts that fit into twenty bronze bases. The curtains will be held up with silver hooks attached to the silver rods that are attached to the posts. 11 It will be the same on the north side of the courtyard--150 feet of curtains held up by twenty posts fitted into bronze bases, with silver hooks and rods. 12 The curtains on the west end of the courtyard will be 75 feet long, supported by ten posts set into ten bases. 13 The east end will also be 75 feet long. 14 The courtyard entrance will be on the east end, flanked by two curtains. The curtain on the right side will be 22 feet long, supported by three posts set into three bases. 15 The curtain on the left side will also be 22 feet long, supported by three posts set into three bases.16 " For the entrance to the courtyard, make a curtain that is 30 feet long. Fashion it from fine linen, and decorate it with beautiful embroidery in blue, purple, and scarlet yarn. It will be attached to four posts that fit into four bases. 17 All the posts around the courtyard must be connected by silver rods, using silver hooks. The posts are to be set in solid bronze bases. 18 So the entire courtyard will be 150 feet long and 75 feet wide, with curtain walls 7 feet high, made from fine linen. The bases supporting its walls will be made of bronze. 19 " All the articles used in the work of the Tabernacle, including all the tent pegs used to support the Tabernacle and the courtyard curtains, must be made of bronze. 20 " Tell the people of Israel to bring you pure olive oil for the lampstand, so it can be kept burning continually. 21 The lampstand will be placed outside the inner curtain of the Most Holy Place in the Tabernacle. Aaron and his sons will keep the lamps burning in the LORD's presence day and night. This is a permanent law for the people of Israel, and it must be kept by all future generations."

MATTHEW 25:1-30
" The Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 The five who were foolish took no oil for their lamps, 4 but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil. 5 When the bridegroom was delayed, they all lay down and slept. 6 At midnight they were roused by the shout, ` Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out and welcome him!' 7 " All the bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps. 8 Then the five foolish ones asked the others, ` Please give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.' 9 But the others replied, ` We don't have enough for all of us. Go to a shop and buy some for yourselves.' 10 " But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked. 11 Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, ` Sir, open the door for us!' 12 But he called back, ` I don't know you!' 13 " So stay awake and be prepared, because you do not know the day or hour of my return. 14 " Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a trip. He called together his servants and gave them money to invest for him while he was gone. 15 He gave five bags of gold to one, two bags of gold to another, and one bag of gold to the last--dividing it in proportion to their abilities--and then left on his trip. 16 The servant who received the five bags of gold began immediately to invest the money and soon doubled it. 17 The servant with two bags of gold also went right to work and doubled the money. 18 But the servant who received the one bag of gold dug a hole in the ground and hid the master's money for safekeeping.19 " After a long time their master returned from his trip and called them to give an account of how they had used his money. 20 The servant to whom he had entrusted the five bags of gold said, ` Sir, you gave me five bags of gold to invest, and I have doubled the amount.' 21 The master was full of praise. ` Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let's celebrate together!' 22 " Next came the servant who had received the two bags of gold, with the report, ` Sir, you gave me two bags of gold to invest, and I have doubled the amount.' 23 The master said, ` Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let's celebrate together!' 24 " Then the servant with the one bag of gold came and said, ` Sir, I know you are a hard man, harvesting crops you didn't plant and gathering crops you didn't cultivate. 25 I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth and here it is.'26 " But the master replied, ` You wicked and lazy servant! You think I'm a hard man, do you, harvesting crops I didn't plant and gathering crops I didn't cultivate? 27 Well, you should at least have put my money into the bank so I could have some interest. 28 Take the money from this servant and give it to the one with the ten bags of gold. 29 To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who are unfaithful, even what little they have will be taken away. 30 Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' "

PSALM 31:1-8
For the choir director: A psalm of David.
1 O LORD, I have come to you for protection;
don't let me be put to shame.
Rescue me, for you always do what is right.
2 Bend down and listen to me;
rescue me quickly.
Be for me a great rock of safety,
a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me.
3 You are my rock and my fortress.
For the honor of your name, lead me out of this peril.
4 Pull me from the trap my enemies set for me,
for I find protection in you alone.
5 I entrust my spirit into your hand.
Rescue me, LORD, for you are a faithful God.
6 I hate those who worship worthless idols.
I trust in the LORD.
7 I am overcome with joy because of your unfailing love,
for you have seen my troubles,
and you care about the anguish of my soul.
8 You have not handed me over to my enemy
but have set me in a safe place.

PROVERBS 8:1-11
Listen as wisdom calls out! Hear as understanding raises her voice! She stands on the hilltop and at the crossroads. At the entrance to the city, at the city gates, she cries aloud, " I call to you, to all of you! I am raising my voice to all people. How naive you are! Let me give you common sense. O foolish ones, let me give you understanding. Listen to me! For I have excellent things to tell you. Everything I say is right, for I speak the truth and hate every kind of deception. My advice is wholesome and good. There is nothing crooked or twisted in it. My words are plain to anyone with understanding, clear to those who want to learn. Choose my instruction rather than silver, and knowledge over pure gold. For wisdom is far more valuable than rubies. Nothing you desire can be compared with it."

February 6 Reading through the Bible

 

EXODUS 23:14-25:40
MATTHEW 24:29-51
PSALM 30:1-12
PROVERBS 7:24-27

EXODUS 23:14-25:40
" Each year you must celebrate three festivals in my honor. 15 The first is the Festival of Unleavened Bread. For seven days you are to eat bread made without yeast, just as I commanded you before. This festival will be an annual event at the appointed time in early spring, for that is the anniversary of your exodus from Egypt. Everyone must bring me a sacrifice at that time. 16 You must also celebrate the Festival of Harvest, when you bring me the first crops of your harvest. Finally, you are to celebrate the Festival of the Final Harvest at the end of the harvest season. 17 At these three times each year, every man in Israel must appear before the Sovereign LORD. 18 " Sacrificial blood must never be offered together with bread that has yeast in it. And no sacrificial fat may be left unoffered until the next morning. 19 " As you harvest each of your crops, bring me a choice sample of the first day's harvest. It must be offered to the LORD your God. " You must not cook a young goat in its mother's milk. 20 " See, I am sending my angel before you to lead you safely to the land I have prepared for you. 21 Pay attention to him, and obey all of his instructions. Do not rebel against him, for he will not forgive your sins. He is my representative--he bears my name. 22 But if you are careful to obey him, following all my instructions, then I will be an enemy to your enemies, and I will oppose those who oppose you. 23 For my angel will go before you and bring you into the land of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hivites, and Jebusites, so you may live there. And I will destroy them. 24 Do not worship the gods of these other nations or serve them in any way, and never follow their evil example. Instead, you must utterly conquer them and break down their shameful idols. 25 " You must serve only the LORD your God. If you do, I will bless you with food and water, and I will keep you healthy. 26 There will be no miscarriages or infertility among your people, and I will give you long, full lives. 27 " I will send my terror upon all the people whose lands you invade, and they will panic before you. 28 I will send hornets ahead of you to drive out the Hivites, Canaanites, and Hittites. 29 But I will not do this all in one year because the land would become a wilderness, and the wild animals would become too many to control. 30 I will drive them out a little at a time until your population has increased enough to fill the land. 31 And I will fix your boundaries from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, and from the southern deserts to the Euphrates River. I will help you defeat the people now living in the land, and you will drive them out ahead of you. 32 " Make no treaties with them and have nothing to do with their gods. 33 Do not even let them live among you! If you do, they will infect you with their sin of idol worship, and that would be disastrous for you."24:1 THEN the LORD instructed Moses: " Come up here to me, and bring along Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy of Israel's leaders. All of them must worship at a distance. 2 You alone, Moses, are allowed to come near to the LORD. The others must not come too close. And remember, none of the other people are allowed to climb on the mountain at all." 3 When Moses had announced to the people all the teachings and regulations the LORD had given him, they answered in unison, " We will do everything the LORD has told us to do." 4 Then Moses carefully wrote down all the LORD's instructions. Early the next morning he built an altar at the foot of the mountain. He also set up twelve pillars around the altar, one for each of the twelve tribes of Israel. 5 Then he sent some of the young men to sacrifice young bulls as burnt offerings and peace offerings to the LORD. 6 Moses took half the blood from these animals and drew it off into basins. The other half he splashed against the altar. 7 Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people. They all responded again, " We will do everything the LORD has commanded. We will obey." 8 Then Moses sprinkled the blood from the basins over the people and said, " This blood confirms the covenant the LORD has made with you in giving you these laws." 9 Then Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy of the leaders of Israel went up the mountain. 10 There they saw the God of Israel. Under his feet there seemed to be a pavement of brilliant sapphire, as clear as the heavens. 11 And though Israel's leaders saw God, he did not destroy them. In fact, they shared a meal together in God's presence!12 And the LORD said to Moses, " Come up to me on the mountain. Stay there while I give you the tablets of stone that I have inscribed with my instructions and commands. Then you will teach the people from them." 13 So Moses and his assistant Joshua climbed up the mountain of God. 14 Moses told the other leaders, " Stay here and wait for us until we come back. If there are any problems while I am gone, consult with Aaron and Hur, who are here with you." 15 Then Moses went up the mountain, and the cloud covered it. 16 And the glorious presence of the LORD rested upon Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days. On the seventh day the LORD called to Moses from the cloud. 17 The Israelites at the foot of the mountain saw an awesome sight. The awesome glory of the LORD on the mountaintop looked like a devouring fire. 18 Then Moses disappeared into the cloud as he climbed higher up the mountain. He stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights.25:1 THE LORD said to Moses, 2 " Tell the people of Israel that everyone who wants to may bring me an offering. 3 Here is a list of items you may accept on my behalf: gold, silver, and bronze; 4 blue, purple, and scarlet yarn; fine linen; goat hair for cloth; 5 tanned ram skins and fine goatskin leather; acacia wood; 6 olive oil for the lamps; spices for the anointing oil and the fragrant incense; 7 onyx stones, and other stones to be set in the ephod and the chestpiece. 8 " I want the people of Israel to build me a sacred residence where I can live among them. 9 You must make this Tabernacle and its furnishings exactly according to the plans I will show you. 10 " Make an Ark of acacia wood--a sacred chest 3 feet long, 2 feet wide, and 2 feet high. 11 Overlay it inside and outside with pure gold, and put a molding of gold all around it. 12 Cast four rings of gold for it, and attach them to its four feet, two rings on each side. 13 Make poles from acacia wood, and overlay them with gold. 14 Fit the poles into the rings at the sides of the Ark to carry it. 15 These carrying poles must never be taken from the rings; they are to be left there permanently. 16 When the Ark is finished, place inside it the stone tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant, which I will give to you.17 " Then make the Ark's cover--the place of atonement--out of pure gold. It must be 3 feet long and 2 feet wide. 18 Then use hammered gold to make two cherubim, and place them at the two ends of the atonement cover. 19 Attach the cherubim to each end of the atonement cover, making it all one piece. 20 The cherubim will face each other, looking down on the atonement cover with their wings spread out above it. 21 Place inside the Ark the stone tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant, which I will give to you. Then put the atonement cover on top of the Ark. 22 I will meet with you there and talk to you from above the atonement cover between the gold cherubim that hover over the Ark of the Covenant. From there I will give you my commands for the people of Israel. 23 " Then make a table of acacia wood, 3 feet long, 1 feet wide, and 2 feet high. 24 Overlay it with pure gold and run a molding of gold around it. 25 Put a rim about three inches wide around the top edge, and put a gold molding all around the rim. 26 Make four gold rings, and put the rings at the four corners by the four legs, 27 close to the rim around the top. These rings will support the poles used to carry the table. 28 Make these poles from acacia wood and overlay them with gold. 29 And make gold plates and dishes, as well as pitchers and bowls to be used in pouring out drink offerings. 30 You must always keep the special Bread of the Presence on the table before me.31 " Make a lampstand of pure, hammered gold. The entire lampstand and its decorations will be one piece--the base, center stem, lamp cups, buds, and blossoms. 32 It will have six branches, three branches going out from each side of the center stem. 33 Each of the six branches will hold a cup shaped like an almond blossom, complete with buds and petals. 34 The center stem of the lampstand will be decorated with four almond blossoms, complete with buds and petals. 35 One blossom will be set beneath each pair of branches where they extend from the center stem. 36 The decorations and branches must all be one piece with the stem, and they must be hammered from pure gold. 37 Then make the seven lamps for the lampstand, and set them so they reflect their light forward. 38 The lamp snuffers and trays must also be made of pure gold. 39 You will need seventy-five pounds of pure gold for the lampstand and its accessories. 40 " Be sure that you make everything according to the pattern I have shown you here on the mountain."

MATTHEW 24:29-51
" Immediately after those horrible days end, the sun will be darkened,
the moon will not give light,
the stars will fall from the sky,
and the powers of heaven will be shaken.
30 And then at last, the sign of the coming of the Son of Man will appear in the heavens, and there will be deep mourning among all the nations of the earth. And they will see the Son of Man arrive on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he will send forth his angels with the sound of a mighty trumpet blast, and they will gather together his chosen ones from the farthest ends of the earth and heaven. 32 " Now learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its buds become tender and its leaves begin to sprout, you know without being told that summer is near. 33 Just so, when you see the events I've described beginning to happen, you can know his return is very near, right at the door. 34 I assure you, this generation will not pass from the scene before all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will remain forever. 36 " However, no one knows the day or the hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows. 37 " When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah's day. 38 In those days before the Flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat. 39 People didn't realize what was going to happen until the Flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes. 40 " Two men will be working together in the field; one will be taken, the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding flour at the mill; one will be taken, the other left. 42 So be prepared, because you don't know what day your Lord is coming. 43 " Know this: A homeowner who knew exactly when a burglar was coming would stay alert and not permit the house to be broken into. 44 You also must be ready all the time. For the Son of Man will come when least expected. 45 " Who is a faithful, sensible servant, to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his household and feeding his family? 46 If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. 47 I assure you, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns. 48 But if the servant is evil and thinks, ` My master won't be back for a while,' 49 and begins oppressing the other servants, partying, and getting drunk--50well, the master will return unannounced and unexpected. 51 He will tear the servant apart and banish him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

PSALM 30:1-12
A psalm of David, sung at the dedication of the Temple.
1 I will praise you, LORD, for you have rescued me.
You refused to let my enemies triumph over me.
2 O LORD my God, I cried out to you for help,
and you restored my health.
3 You brought me up from the grave, O LORD.
You kept me from falling into the pit of death.
4 Sing to the LORD, all you godly ones!
Praise his holy name.
5 His anger lasts for a moment,
but his favor lasts a lifetime!
Weeping may go on all night,
but joy comes with the morning.
6 When I was prosperous I said,
" Nothing can stop me now!"
7 Your favor, O LORD, made me as secure as a mountain.
Then you turned away from me, and I was shattered.
8 I cried out to you, O LORD.
I begged the Lord for mercy, saying,
9 " What will you gain if I die,
if I sink down into the grave?
Can my dust praise you from the grave?
Can it tell the world of your faithfulness?
10 Hear me, LORD, and have mercy on me.
Help me, O LORD."
11 You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing.
You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy,
12 that I might sing praises to you and not be silent.
O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever!

PROVERBS 7:24-27
Listen to me, my sons, and pay attention to my words. Don't let your hearts stray away toward her [immoral woman]. Don't wander down her wayward path. For she has been the ruin of many; numerous men have been her victims. Her house is the road to the grave. Her bedroom is the den of death.

February 5 Reading through the Bible

EXODUS 21:22-23:13
MATTHEW 24:1-28
PSALM 29:1-11
PROVERBS 7:6-23

EXODUS 21:22-23:13
" Now suppose two people are fighting, and in the process, they hurt a pregnant woman so her child is born prematurely. If no further harm results, then the person responsible must pay damages in the amount the woman's husband demands and the judges approve. 23 But if any harm results, then the offender must be punished according to the injury. If the result is death, the offender must be executed. 24 If an eye is injured, injure the eye of the person who did it. If a tooth gets knocked out, knock out the tooth of the person who did it. Similarly, the payment must be hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise. 26 " If an owner hits a male or female slave in the eye and the eye is blinded, then the slave may go free because of the eye. 27 And if an owner knocks out the tooth of a male or female slave, the slave should be released in payment for the tooth. 28 " If a bull gores a man or woman to death, the bull must be stoned, and its flesh may not be eaten. In such a case, however, the owner will not be held liable. 29 Suppose, on the other hand, that the owner knew the bull had gored people in the past, yet the bull was not kept under control. If this is true and if the bull kills someone, it must be stoned, and the owner must also be killed. 30 However, the dead person's relatives may accept payment from the owner of the bull to compensate for the loss of life. The owner will have to pay whatever is demanded. 31 " The same principle applies if the bull gores a boy or a girl. 32 But if the bull gores a slave, either male or female, the slave's owner is to be given thirty silver coins in payment, and the bull must be stoned.33 " Suppose someone digs or uncovers a well and fails to cover it, and then an ox or a donkey falls into it. 34 The owner of the well must pay in full for the dead animal but then gets to keep it. 35 " If someone's bull injures a neighbor's bull and the injured bull dies, then the two owners must sell the live bull and divide the money between them. Each will also own half of the dead bull. 36 But if the bull was known from past experience to gore, yet its owner failed to keep it under control, the money will not be divided. The owner of the living bull must pay in full for the dead bull but then gets to keep it. 22:1 " A FINE must be paid by anyone who steals an ox or sheep and then kills or sells it. For oxen the fine is five oxen for each one stolen. For sheep the fine is four sheep for each one stolen. 2 " If a thief is caught in the act of breaking into a house and is killed in the process, the person who killed the thief is not guilty. 3 But if it happens in daylight, the one who killed the thief is guilty of murder. " A thief who is caught must pay in full for everything that was stolen. If payment is not made, the thief must be sold as a slave to pay the debt. 4 If someone steals an ox or a donkey or a sheep and it is recovered alive, then the thief must pay double the value. 5 " If an animal is grazing in a field or vineyard and the owner lets it stray into someone else's field to graze, then the animal's owner must pay damages in the form of high-quality grain or grapes. 6 " If a fire gets out of control and goes into another person's field, destroying the sheaves or the standing grain, then the one who started the fire must pay for the lost crops. 7 " Suppose someone entrusts money or goods to a neighbor, and they are stolen from the neighbor's house. If the thief is found, the fine is double the value of what was stolen. 8 But if the thief is not found, God will determine whether or not it was the neighbor who stole the property. 9 " Suppose there is a dispute between two people as to who owns a particular ox, donkey, sheep, article of clothing, or anything else. Both parties must come before God for a decision, and the person whom God declares guilty must pay double to the other. 10 " Now suppose someone asks a neighbor to care for a donkey, ox, sheep, or any other animal, but it dies or is injured or gets away, and there is no eyewitness to report just what happened. 11 The neighbor must then take an oath of innocence in the presence of the LORD. The owner must accept the neighbor's word, and no payment will be required. 12 But if the animal or property was stolen, payment must be made to the owner. 13 If it was attacked by a wild animal, the carcass must be shown as evidence, and no payment will be required. 14 " If someone borrows an animal from a neighbor and it is injured or killed, and if the owner was not there at the time, the person who borrowed it must pay for it. 15 But if the owner is there, no payment is required. And no payment is required if the animal was rented because this loss was covered by the rental fee. 16 " If a man seduces a virgin who is not engaged to anyone and sleeps with her, he must pay the customary dowry and accept her as his wife. 17 But if her father refuses to let her marry him, the man must still pay the money for her dowry. 18 " A sorceress must not be allowed to live. 19 " Anyone who has sexual relations with an animal must be executed. 20 " Anyone who sacrifices to any god other than the LORD must be destroyed. 21 " Do not oppress foreigners in any way. Remember, you yourselves were once foreigners in the land of Egypt. 22 " Do not exploit widows or orphans. 23 If you do and they cry out to me, then I will surely help them. 24 My anger will blaze forth against you, and I will kill you with the sword. Your wives will become widows, and your children will become fatherless. 25 " If you lend money to a fellow Hebrew in need, do not be like a money lender, charging interest. 26 If you take your neighbor's cloak as a pledge of repayment, you must return it by nightfall. 27 Your neighbor will need it to stay warm during the night. If you do not return it and your neighbor cries out to me for help, then I will hear, for I am very merciful. 28 " Do not blaspheme God or curse anyone who rules over you. 29 " Do not hold anything back when you give me the tithe of your crops and your wine. " You must make the necessary payment for redemption of your firstborn sons. 30 " You must also give me the firstborn of your cattle and sheep. Leave the newborn animal with its mother for seven days; then give it to me on the eighth day. 31 " You are my own holy people. Therefore, do not eat any animal that has been attacked and killed by a wild animal. Throw its carcass out for the dogs to eat.23:1 " DO not pass along false reports. Do not cooperate with evil people by telling lies on the witness stand. 2 " Do not join a crowd that intends to do evil. When you are on the witness stand, do not be swayed in your testimony by the opinion of the majority. 3 And do not slant your testimony in favor of a person just because that person is poor. 4 " If you come upon your enemy's ox or donkey that has strayed away, take it back to its owner. 5 If you see the donkey of someone who hates you struggling beneath a heavy load, do not walk by. Instead, stop and offer to help. 6 " Do not twist justice against people simply because they are poor. 7 " Keep far away from falsely charging anyone with evil. Never put an innocent or honest person to death. I will not allow anyone guilty of this to go free. 8 " Take no bribes, for a bribe makes you ignore something that you clearly see. A bribe always hurts the cause of the person who is in the right. 9 " Do not oppress the foreigners living among you. You know what it is like to be a foreigner. Remember your own experience in the land of Egypt. 10 " Plant and harvest your crops for six years, 11 but let the land rest and lie fallow during the seventh year. Then let the poor among you harvest any volunteer crop that may come up. Leave the rest for the animals to eat. The same applies to your vineyards and olive groves. 12 " Work for six days, and rest on the seventh. This will give your ox and your donkey a chance to rest. It will also allow the people of your household, including your slaves and visitors, to be refreshed. 13 " Be sure to obey all my instructions. And remember, never pray to or swear by any other gods. Do not even mention their names."

MATTHEW 24:1-28
As Jesus was leaving the Temple grounds, his disciples pointed out to him the various Temple buildings. 2 But he told them, " Do you see all these buildings? I assure you, they will be so completely demolished that not one stone will be left on top of another!" 3 Later, Jesus sat on the slopes of the Mount of Olives. His disciples came to him privately and asked, " When will all this take place? And will there be any sign ahead of time to signal your return and the end of the world?"4 Jesus told them, " Don't let anyone mislead you. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ` I am the Messiah.' They will lead many astray. 6 And wars will break out near and far, but don't panic. Yes, these things must come, but the end won't follow immediately. 7 The nations and kingdoms will proclaim war against each other, and there will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. 8 But all this will be only the beginning of the horrors to come. 9 " Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because of your allegiance to me. 10 And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. 11 And many false prophets will appear and will lead many people astray. 12 Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. 13 But those who endure to the end will be saved. 14 And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then, finally, the end will come. 15 " The time will come when you will see what Daniel the prophet spoke about: the sacrilegious object that causes desecration standing in the Holy Place"--reader, pay attention! 16 " Then those in Judea must flee to the hills. 17 A person outside the house must not go inside to pack. 18 A person in the field must not return even to get a coat. 19 How terrible it will be for pregnant women and for mothers nursing their babies in those days. 20 And pray that your flight will not be in winter or on the Sabbath. 21 For that will be a time of greater horror than anything the world has ever seen or will ever see again. 22 In fact, unless that time of calamity is shortened, the entire human race will be destroyed. But it will be shortened for the sake of God's chosen ones. 23 " Then if anyone tells you, ` Look, here is the Messiah,' or ` There he is,' don't pay any attention. 24 For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform great miraculous signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God's chosen ones. 25 See, I have warned you. 26 " So if someone tells you, ` Look, the Messiah is out in the desert,' don't bother to go and look. Or, ` Look, he is hiding here,' don't believe it! 27 For as the lightning lights up the entire sky, so it will be when the Son of Man comes. 28 Just as the gathering of vultures shows there is a carcass nearby, so these signs indicate that the end is near."

PSALM 29:1-11
A psalm of David.
1 Give honor to the LORD, you angels;
give honor to the LORD for his glory and strength.
2 Give honor to the LORD for the glory of his name.
Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness.
3 The voice of the LORD echoes above the sea.
The God of glory thunders.
The LORD thunders over the mighty sea.
4 The voice of the LORD is powerful;
the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.
5 The voice of the LORD splits the mighty cedars;
the LORD shatters the cedars of Lebanon.
6 He makes Lebanon's mountains skip like a calf
and Mount Hermon to leap like a young bull.
7 The voice of the LORD strikes with lightning bolts.
8 The voice of the LORD makes the desert quake;
the LORD shakes the desert of Kadesh.
9 The voice of the LORD twists mighty oaks
and strips the forests bare.
In his Temple everyone shouts, " Glory!"
10 The LORD rules over the floodwaters.
The LORD reigns as king forever.
11 The LORD gives his people strength.
The LORD blesses them with peace.

PROVERBS 7:6-23

I was looking out the window of my house one day and saw a simpleminded young man who lacked common sense. He was crossing the street near the house of an immoral woman. He was strolling down the path by her house at twilight, as the day was fading, as the dark of night set in. The woman approached him, dressed seductively and sly of heart. She was the brash, rebellious type who never stays at home. She is often seen in the streets and markets, soliciting at every corner. She threw her arms around him and kissed him, and with a brazen look she said, " I've offered my sacrifices and just finished my vows. It's you I was looking for! I came out to find you, and here you are! My bed is spread with colored sheets of finest linen imported from Egypt. I've perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. Come, let's drink our fill of love until morning. Let's enjoy each other's caresses, for my husband is not home. He's away on a long trip. He has taken a wallet full of money with him, and he won't return until later in the month." So she seduced him with her pretty speech. With her flattery she enticed him. He followed her at once, like an ox going to the slaughter or like a trapped stag, awaiting the arrow that would pierce its heart. He was like a bird flying into a snare, little knowing it would cost him his life. 

February 4 Reading through the Bible

 

EXODUS 19:16-21:21
MATTHEW 23:13-39
PSALM 28:1-9
PROVERBS 7:1-5

EXODUS 19:16-21:21
On the morning of the third day, there was a powerful thunder and lightning storm, and a dense cloud came down upon the mountain. There was a long, loud blast from a ram's horn, and all the people trembled. 17 Moses led them out from the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. 18 All Mount Sinai was covered with smoke because the LORD had descended on it in the form of fire. The smoke billowed into the sky like smoke from a furnace, and the whole mountain shook with a violent earthquake. 19 As the horn blast grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God thundered his reply for all to hear. 20 The LORD came down on the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses climbed the mountain. 21 Then the LORD told Moses, " Go back down and warn the people not to cross the boundaries. They must not come up here to see the LORD, for those who do will die. 22 Even the priests who regularly come near to the LORD must purify themselves, or I will destroy them."23 " But, LORD, the people cannot come up on the mountain!" Moses protested. " You already told them not to. You told me to set boundaries around the mountain and to declare it off limits." 24 But the LORD said, " Go down anyway and bring Aaron back with you. In the meantime, do not let the priests or the people cross the boundaries to come up here. If they do, I will punish them." 25 So Moses went down to the people and told them what the LORD had said.20:1 THEN God instructed the people as follows: 2 " I am the LORD your God, who rescued you from slavery in Egypt. 3 " Do not worship any other gods besides me. 4 " Do not make idols of any kind, whether in the shape of birds or animals or fish. 5 You must never worship or bow down to them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not share your affection with any other god! I do not leave unpunished the sins of those who hate me, but I punish the children for the sins of their parents to the third and fourth generations. 6 But I lavish my love on those who love me and obey my commands, even for a thousand generations. 7 " Do not misuse the name of the LORD your God. The LORD will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name. 8 " Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days a week are set apart for your daily duties and regular work, 10 but the seventh day is a day of rest dedicated to the LORD your God. On that day no one in your household may do any kind of work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you. 11 For in six days the LORD made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; then he rested on the seventh day. That is why the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy. 12 " Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the LORD your God will give you. 13 " Do not murder. 14 " Do not commit adultery. 15 " Do not steal. 16 " Do not testify falsely against your neighbor. 17 " Do not covet your neighbor's house. Do not covet your neighbor's wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else your neighbor owns."18 When the people heard the thunder and the loud blast of the horn, and when they saw the lightning and the smoke billowing from the mountain, they stood at a distance, trembling with fear. 19 And they said to Moses, " You tell us what God says, and we will listen. But don't let God speak directly to us. If he does, we will die!" 20 " Don't be afraid," Moses said, " for God has come in this way to show you his awesome power. From now on, let your fear of him keep you from sinning!" 21 As the people stood in the distance, Moses entered into the deep darkness where God was. 22 And the LORD said to Moses, " Say this to the people of Israel: You are witnesses that I have spoken to you from heaven. 23 Remember, you must not make or worship idols of silver or gold. 24 " The altars you make for me must be simple altars of earth. Offer on such altars your sacrifices to me--your burnt offerings and peace offerings, your sheep and goats and your cattle. Build altars in the places where I remind you who I am, and I will come and bless you there. 25 If you build altars from stone, use only uncut stones. Do not chip or shape the stones with a tool, for that would make them unfit for holy use. 26 And you may not approach my altar by steps. If you do, someone might look up under the skirts of your clothing and see your nakedness.21:1 " HERE are some other instructions you must present to Israel: 2 " If you buy a Hebrew slave, he is to serve for only six years. Set him free in the seventh year, and he will owe you nothing for his freedom. 3 If he was single when he became your slave and then married afterward, only he will go free in the seventh year. But if he was married before he became a slave, then his wife will be freed with him.4 " If his master gave him a wife while he was a slave, and they had sons or daughters, then the man will be free in the seventh year, but his wife and children will still belong to his master. 5 But the slave may plainly declare, ` I love my master, my wife, and my children. I would rather not go free.' 6 If he does this, his master must present him before God. Then his master must take him to the door and publicly pierce his ear with an awl. After that, the slave will belong to his master forever. 7 " When a man sells his daughter as a slave, she will not be freed at the end of six years as the men are. 8 If she does not please the man who bought her, he may allow her to be bought back again. But he is not allowed to sell her to foreigners, since he is the one who broke the contract with her. 9 And if the slave girl's owner arranges for her to marry his son, he may no longer treat her as a slave girl, but he must treat her as his daughter. 10 If he himself marries her and then takes another wife, he may not reduce her food or clothing or fail to sleep with her as his wife. 11 If he fails in any of these three ways, she may leave as a free woman without making any payment. 12 " Anyone who hits a person hard enough to cause death must be put to death. 13 But if it is an accident and God allows it to happen, I will appoint a place where the slayer can run for safety. 14 However, if someone deliberately attacks and kills another person, then the slayer must be dragged even from my altar and put to death. 15 " Anyone who strikes father or mother must be put to death. 16 " Kidnappers must be killed, whether they are caught in possession of their victims or have already sold them as slaves. 17 " Anyone who curses father or mother must be put to death. 18 " Now suppose two people quarrel, and one hits the other with a stone or fist, causing injury but not death. 19 If the injured person is later able to walk again, even with a crutch, the assailant will be innocent. Nonetheless, the assailant must pay for time lost because of the injury and must pay for the medical expenses. 20 " If a male or female slave is beaten and dies, the owner must be punished. 21 If the slave recovers after a couple of days, however, then the owner should not be punished, since the slave is the owner's property."

MATTHEW 23:13-39
" How terrible it will be for you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you won't let others enter the Kingdom of Heaven, and you won't go in yourselves. 15 Yes, how terrible it will be for you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. For you cross land and sea to make one convert, and then you turn him into twice the son of hell as you yourselves are. 16 " Blind guides! How terrible it will be for you! For you say that it means nothing to swear ` by God's Temple'--you can break that oath. But then you say that it is binding to swear ` by the gold in the Temple.' 17 Blind fools! Which is greater, the gold, or the Temple that makes the gold sacred? 18 And you say that to take an oath ` by the altar' can be broken, but to swear ` by the gifts on the altar' is binding! 19 How blind! For which is greater, the gift on the altar, or the altar that makes the gift sacred? 20 When you swear ` by the altar,' you are swearing by it and by everything on it. 21 And when you swear ` by the Temple,' you are swearing by it and by God, who lives in it. 22 And when you swear ` by heaven,' you are swearing by the throne of God and by God, who sits on the throne. 23 " How terrible it will be for you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest part of your income, but you ignore the important things of the law--justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but you should not leave undone the more important things. 24 Blind guides! You strain your water so you won't accidentally swallow a gnat; then you swallow a camel! 25 " How terrible it will be for you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! You are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy--full of greed and self-indulgence! 26 Blind Pharisees! First wash the inside of the cup, and then the outside will become clean, too. 27 " How terrible it will be for you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs--beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people's bones and all sorts of impurity. 28 You try to look like upright people outwardly, but inside your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness. 29 " How terrible it will be for you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you build tombs for the prophets your ancestors killed and decorate the graves of the godly people your ancestors destroyed. 30 Then you say, ` We never would have joined them in killing the prophets.' 31 " In saying that, you are accusing yourselves of being the descendants of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Go ahead. Finish what they started. 33 Snakes! Sons of vipers! How will you escape the judgment of hell? 34 I will send you prophets and wise men and teachers of religious law. You will kill some by crucifixion and whip others in your synagogues, chasing them from city to city. 35 As a result, you will become guilty of murdering all the godly people from righteous Abel to Zechariah son of Barachiah, whom you murdered in the Temple between the altar and the sanctuary. 36 I assure you, all the accumulated judgment of the centuries will break upon the heads of this very generation. 37 " O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God's messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn't let me. 38 And now look, your house is left to you, empty and desolate. 39 For I tell you this, you will never see me again until you say, ` Bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord!'"

PSALM 28:1-9
A psalm of David.
1 O LORD, you are my rock of safety.
Please help me; don't refuse to answer me.
For if you are silent,
I might as well give up and die.
2 Listen to my prayer for mercy
as I cry out to you for help,
as I lift my hands toward your holy sanctuary.
3 Don't drag me away with the wicked--
with those who do evil--
those who speak friendly words to their neighbors
while planning evil in their hearts.
4 Give them the punishment they so richly deserve!
Measure it out in proportion to their wickedness.
Pay them back for all their evil deeds!
Give them a taste of what they have done to others.
5 They care nothing for what the LORD has done
or for what his hands have made.
So he will tear them down like old buildings,
and they will never be rebuilt!
6 Praise the LORD!
For he has heard my cry for mercy.
7 The LORD is my strength, my shield from every danger.
I trust in him with all my heart.
He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.
I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.
8 The LORD protects his people
and gives victory to his anointed king.
9 Save your people!
Bless Israel, your special possession!
Lead them like a shepherd,
and carry them forever in your arms.

PROVERBS 7:1-5
Follow my advice, my son; always treasure my commands. Obey them and live! Guard my teachings as your most precious possession. Tie them on your fingers as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart.Love wisdom like a sister; make insight a beloved member of your family. Let them hold you back from an affair with an immoral woman, from listening to the flattery of an adulterous woman.

February 3 Reading through the Bible

 

EXODUS 17:8-19:15
MATTHEW 22:34-23:12
PSALM 27:7-14
PROVERBS 6:27-35

EXODUS 17:8-19:15
While the people of Israel were still at Rephidim, the warriors of Amalek came to fight against them. 9 Moses commanded Joshua, " Call the Israelites to arms, and fight the army of Amalek. Tomorrow, I will stand at the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand." 10 So Joshua did what Moses had commanded. He led his men out to fight the army of Amalek. Meanwhile Moses, Aaron, and Hur went to the top of a nearby hill. 11 As long as Moses held up the staff with his hands, the Israelites had the advantage. But whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites gained the upper hand. 12 Moses' arms finally became too tired to hold up the staff any longer. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side, holding up his hands until sunset. 13 As a result, Joshua and his troops were able to crush the army of Amalek.14 Then the LORD instructed Moses, " Write this down as a permanent record, and announce it to Joshua: I will blot out every trace of Amalek from under heaven." 15 Moses built an altar there and called it " The LORD Is My Banner." 16 He said, " They have dared to raise their fist against the LORD's throne, so now the LORD will be at war with Amalek generation after generation." 18:1 WORD soon reached Jethro, the priest of Midian and Moses' father-in-law, about all the wonderful things God had done for Moses and his people, the Israelites. He had heard about how the LORD had brought them safely out of Egypt. 2 Some time before this, Moses had sent his wife, Zipporah, and his two sons to live with Jethro, his father-in-law. 3 The name of Moses' first son was Gershom, for Moses had said when the boy was born, " I have been a stranger in a foreign land." 4 The name of his second son was Eliezer, for Moses had said at his birth, " The God of my fathers was my helper; he delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh." 5 Jethro now came to visit Moses, and he brought Moses' wife and two sons with him. They arrived while Moses and the people were camped near the mountain of God. 6 Moses was told, " Jethro, your father-in-law, has come to visit you. Your wife and your two sons are with him." 7 So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law. He bowed to him respectfully and greeted him warmly. They asked about each other's health and then went to Moses' tent to talk further. 8 Moses told his father-in-law about everything the LORD had done to rescue Israel from Pharaoh and the Egyptians. He also told him about the problems they had faced along the way and how the LORD had delivered his people from all their troubles. 9 Jethro was delighted when he heard about all that the LORD had done for Israel as he brought them out of Egypt. 10 " Praise be to the LORD," Jethro said, " for he has saved you from the Egyptians and from Pharaoh. He has rescued Israel from the power of Egypt! 11 I know now that the LORD is greater than all other gods, because his people have escaped from the proud and cruel Egyptians." 12 Then Jethro presented a burnt offering and gave sacrifices to God. As Jethro was doing this, Aaron and the leaders of Israel came out to meet him. They all joined him in a sacrificial meal in God's presence. 13 The next day, Moses sat as usual to hear the people's complaints against each other. They were lined up in front of him from morning till evening. 14 When Moses' father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, " Why are you trying to do all this alone? The people have been standing here all day to get your help." 15 Moses replied, " Well, the people come to me to seek God's guidance. 16 When an argument arises, I am the one who settles the case. I inform the people of God's decisions and teach them his laws and instructions." 17 " This is not good!" his father-in-law exclaimed. 18 " You're going to wear yourself out--and the people, too. This job is too heavy a burden for you to handle all by yourself. 19 Now let me give you a word of advice, and may God be with you. You should continue to be the people's representative before God, bringing him their questions to be decided. 20 You should tell them God's decisions, teach them God's laws and instructions, and show them how to conduct their lives. 21 But find some capable, honest men who fear God and hate bribes. Appoint them as judges over groups of one thousand, one hundred, fifty, and ten. 22 These men can serve the people, resolving all the ordinary cases. Anything that is too important or too complicated can be brought to you. But they can take care of the smaller matters themselves. They will help you carry the load, making the task easier for you. 23 If you follow this advice, and if God directs you to do so, then you will be able to endure the pressures, and all these people will go home in peace." 24 Moses listened to his father-in-law's advice and followed his suggestions. 25 He chose capable men from all over Israel and made them judges over the people. They were put in charge of groups of one thousand, one hundred, fifty, and ten. 26 These men were constantly available to administer justice. They brought the hard cases to Moses, but they judged the smaller matters themselves. 27 Soon after this, Moses said good-bye to his father-in-law, who returned to his own land.19:1 THE Israelites arrived in the wilderness of Sinai exactly two months after they left Egypt. 2 After breaking camp at Rephidim, they came to the base of Mount Sinai and set up camp there. 3 Then Moses climbed the mountain to appear before God. The LORD called out to him from the mountain and said, " Give these instructions to the descendants of Jacob, the people of Israel: 4 ` You have seen what I did to the Egyptians. You know how I brought you to myself and carried you on eagle's wings. 5 Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the nations of the earth; for all the earth belongs to me. 6 And you will be to me a kingdom of priests, my holy nation.' Give this message to the Israelites." 7 Moses returned from the mountain and called together the leaders of the people and told them what the LORD had said. 8 They all responded together, " We will certainly do everything the LORD asks of us." So Moses brought the people's answer back to the LORD. 9 Then the LORD said to Moses, " I am going to come to you in a thick cloud so the people themselves can hear me as I speak to you. Then they will always have confidence in you." Moses told the LORD what the people had said. 10 Then the LORD told Moses, " Go down and prepare the people for my visit. Purify them today and tomorrow, and have them wash their clothing. 11 Be sure they are ready on the third day, for I will come down upon Mount Sinai as all the people watch. 12 Set boundary lines that the people may not pass. Warn them, ` Be careful! Do not go up on the mountain or even touch its boundaries. Those who do will certainly die! 13 Any people or animals that cross the boundary must be stoned to death or shot with arrows. They must not be touched by human hands.' The people must stay away from the mountain until they hear one long blast from the ram's horn. Then they must gather at the foot of the mountain." 14 So Moses went down to the people. He purified them for worship and had them wash their clothing. 15 He told them, " Get ready for an important event two days from now. And until then, abstain from having sexual intercourse."

MATTHEW 22:34-23:12
But when the Pharisees heard that he [Jesus] had silenced the Sadducees with his reply, they thought up a fresh question of their own to ask him. 35 One of them, an expert in religious law, tried to trap him with this question: 36 " Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?" 37 Jesus replied, " ` You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.' 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: ` Love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 All the other commandments and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments." 41 Then, surrounded by the Pharisees, Jesus asked them a question: 42 " What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?" They replied, " He is the son of David." 43 Jesus responded, " Then why does David, speaking under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, call him Lord? For David said,44 ` The LORD said to my Lord,
Sit in honor at my right hand
until I humble your enemies beneath your feet.'
45 Since David called him Lord, how can he be his son at the same time?" 46 No one could answer him. And after that, no one dared to ask him any more questions.23:1 THEN Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 " The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the Scriptures. 3 So practice and obey whatever they say to you, but don't follow their example. For they don't practice what they teach. 4 They crush you with impossible religious demands and never lift a finger to help ease the burden. 5 " Everything they do is for show. On their arms they wear extra wide prayer boxes with Scripture verses inside, and they wear extra long tassels on their robes. 6 And how they love to sit at the head table at banquets and in the most prominent seats in the synagogue! 7 They enjoy the attention they get on the streets, and they enjoy being called ` Rabbi.' 8 Don't ever let anyone call you ` Rabbi,' for you have only one teacher, and all of you are on the same level as brothers and sisters.* 9 And don't address anyone here on earth as ` Father,' for only God in heaven is your spiritual Father. 10 And don't let anyone call you ` Master,' for there is only one master, the Messiah. 11 The greatest among you must be a servant. 12 But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."

PSALM 27:7-14
Listen to my pleading, O LORD.
Be merciful and answer me!
8 My heart has heard you say, " Come and talk with me."
And my heart responds, " LORD, I am coming."
9 Do not hide yourself from me.
Do not reject your servant in anger.
You have always been my helper.
Don't leave me now; don't abandon me,
O God of my salvation!
10 Even if my father and mother abandon me,
the LORD will hold me close.
11 Teach me how to live, O LORD.
Lead me along the path of honesty,
for my enemies are waiting for me to fall.
12 Do not let me fall into their hands.
For they accuse me of things I've never done
and breathe out violence against me.
13 Yet I am confident that I will see the LORD's goodness
while I am here in the land of the living.
14 Wait patiently for the LORD.
Be brave and courageous.
Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.

PROVERBS 6:27-35
Can a man scoop fire into his lap and not be burned? Can he walk on hot coals and not blister his feet? So it is with the man who sleeps with another man's wife. He who embraces her will not go unpunished.Excuses might be found for a thief who steals because he is starving. But if he is caught, he will be fined seven times as much as he stole, even if it means selling everything in his house to pay it back.But the man who commits adultery is an utter fool, for he destroys his own soul. Wounds and constant disgrace are his lot. His shame will never be erased. For the woman's husband will be furious in his jealousy, and he will have no mercy in his day of vengeance. There is no compensation or bribe that will satisfy him.

February 2 Reading through the Bible

EXODUS 15:19-17:7
MATTHEW 22:1-33
PSALM 27:1-6
PROVERBS 6:20-26

EXODUS 15:19-17:7
When Pharaoh's horses, chariots, and charioteers rushed into the sea, the LORD brought the water crashing down on them. But the people of Israel had walked through on dry land! 20 Then Miriam the prophet, Aaron's sister, took a tambourine and led all the women in rhythm and dance. 21 And Miriam sang this song: " I will sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously;
he has thrown both horse and rider into the sea."
22 Then Moses led the people of Israel away from the Red Sea, and they moved out into the Shur Desert. They traveled in this desert for three days without water. 23 When they came to Marah, they finally found water. But the people couldn't drink it because it was bitter. (That is why the place was called Marah, which means " bitter.") 24 Then the people turned against Moses. " What are we going to drink?" they demanded. 25 So Moses cried out to the LORD for help, and the LORD showed him a branch. Moses took the branch and threw it into the water. This made the water good to drink. It was there at Marah that the LORD laid before them the following conditions to test their faithfulness to him: 26 " If you will listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in his sight, obeying his commands and laws, then I will not make you suffer the diseases I sent on the Egyptians; for I am the LORD who heals you." 27 After leaving Marah, they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees. They camped there beside the springs.16:1 THEN they left Elim and journeyed into the Sin Desert, between Elim and Mount Sinai. They arrived there a month after leaving Egypt. 2 There, too, the whole community of Israel spoke bitterly against Moses and Aaron. 3 " Oh, that we were back in Egypt," they moaned. " It would have been better if the LORD had killed us there! At least there we had plenty to eat. But now you have brought us into this desert to starve us to death." 4 Then the LORD said to Moses, " Look, I'm going to rain down food from heaven for you. The people can go out each day and pick up as much food as they need for that day. I will test them in this to see whether they will follow my instructions. 5 Tell them to pick up twice as much as usual on the sixth day of each week." 6 Then Moses and Aaron called a meeting of all the people of Israel and told them, " In the evening you will realize that it was the LORD who brought you out of the land of Egypt. 7 In the morning you will see the glorious presence of the LORD. He has heard your complaints, which are against the LORD and not against us. 8 The LORD will give you meat to eat in the evening and bread in the morning, for he has heard all your complaints against him. Yes, your complaints are against the LORD, not against us." 9 Then Moses said to Aaron, " Say this to the entire community of Israel: ` Come into the LORD's presence, and hear his reply to your complaints.' " 10 And as Aaron spoke to the people, they looked out toward the desert. Within the guiding cloud, they could see the awesome glory of the LORD. 11 And the LORD said to Moses, 12 " I have heard the people's complaints. Now tell them, ` In the evening you will have meat to eat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God.' " 13 That evening vast numbers of quail arrived and covered the camp. The next morning the desert all around the camp was wet with dew. 14 When the dew disappeared later in the morning, thin flakes, white like frost, covered the ground. 15 The Israelites were puzzled when they saw it. " What is it?" they asked. And Moses told them, " It is the food the LORD has given you. 16 The LORD says that each household should gather as much as it needs. Pick up two quarts for each person." 17 So the people of Israel went out and gathered this food--some getting more, and some getting less. 18 By gathering two quarts for each person, everyone had just enough. Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over, and those who gathered only a little had enough. Each family had just what it needed. 19 Then Moses told them, " Do not keep any of it overnight." 20 But, of course, some of them didn't listen and kept some of it until morning. By then it was full of maggots and had a terrible smell. And Moses was very angry with them. 21 The people gathered the food morning by morning, each family according to its need. And as the sun became hot, the food they had not picked up melted and disappeared. 22 On the sixth day, there was twice as much as usual on the ground--four quarts for each person instead of two. The leaders of the people came and asked Moses why this had happened. 23 He replied, " The LORD has appointed tomorrow as a day of rest, a holy Sabbath to the LORD. On this day we will rest from our normal daily tasks. So bake or boil as much as you want today, and set aside what is left for tomorrow." 24 The next morning the leftover food was wholesome and good, without maggots or odor. 25 Moses said, " This is your food for today, for today is a Sabbath to the LORD. There will be no food on the ground today. 26 Gather the food for six days, but the seventh day is a Sabbath. There will be no food on the ground for you on that day." 27 Some of the people went out anyway to gather food, even though it was the Sabbath day. But there was none to be found. 28 " How long will these people refuse to obey my commands and instructions?" the LORD asked Moses. 29 " Do they not realize that I have given them the seventh day, the Sabbath, as a day of rest? That is why I give you twice as much food on the sixth day, so there will be enough for two days. On the Sabbath day you must stay in your places. Do not pick up food from the ground on that day." 30 So the people rested on the seventh day. 31 In time, the food became known as manna. It was white like coriander seed, and it tasted like honey cakes. 32 Then Moses gave them this command from the LORD: " Take two quarts of manna and keep it forever as a treasured memorial of the LORD's provision. By doing this, later generations will be able to see the bread that the LORD provided in the wilderness when he brought you out of Egypt."33 Moses said to Aaron, " Get a container and put two quarts of manna into it. Then store it in a sacred place as a reminder for all future generations." 34 Aaron did this, just as the LORD had commanded Moses. He eventually placed it for safekeeping in the Ark of the Covenant. 35 So the people of Israel ate manna for forty years until they arrived in the land of Canaan, where there were crops to eat. 36 (The container used to measure the manna was an omer, which held about two quarts.)17:1 AT the LORD's command, the people of Israel left the Sin Desert and moved from place to place. Eventually they came to Rephidim, but there was no water to be found there. 2 So once more the people grumbled and complained to Moses. " Give us water to drink!" they demanded. " Quiet!" Moses replied. " Why are you arguing with me? And why are you testing the LORD?" 3 But tormented by thirst, they continued to complain, " Why did you ever take us out of Egypt? Why did you bring us here? We, our children, and our livestock will all die!" 4 Then Moses pleaded with the LORD, " What should I do with these people? They are about to stone me!" 5 The LORD said to Moses, " Take your shepherd's staff, the one you used when you struck the water of the Nile. Then call some of the leaders of Israel and walk on ahead of the people. 6 I will meet you by the rock at Mount Sinai. Strike the rock, and water will come pouring out. Then the people will be able to drink." Moses did just as he was told; and as the leaders looked on, water gushed out. 7 Moses named the place Massah--" the place of testing"--and Meribah--" the place of arguing"--because the people of Israel argued with Moses and tested the LORD by saying, " Is the LORD going to take care of us or not?"

MATTHEW 22:1-33
Jesus told them [the leading priests and Pharisees] several other stories to illustrate the Kingdom. He said, 2 " The Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a king who prepared a great wedding feast for his son. 3 Many guests were invited, and when the banquet was ready, he sent his servants to notify everyone that it was time to come. But they all refused! 4 So he sent other servants to tell them, ` The feast has been prepared, and choice meats have been cooked. Everything is ready. Hurry!'5 But the guests he had invited ignored them and went about their business, one to his farm, another to his store. 6 Others seized his messengers and treated them shamefully, even killing some of them. 7 " Then the king became furious. He sent out his army to destroy the murderers and burn their city. 8 And he said to his servants, ` The wedding feast is ready, and the guests I invited aren't worthy of the honor. 9 Now go out to the street corners and invite everyone you see.' 10 " So the servants brought in everyone they could find, good and bad alike, and the banquet hall was filled with guests. 11 But when the king came in to meet the guests, he noticed a man who wasn't wearing the proper clothes for a wedding. 12 ` Friend,' he asked, ` how is it that you are here without wedding clothes?' And the man had no reply. 13 Then the king said to his aides, ` Bind him hand and foot and throw him out into the outer darkness, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.' 14 For many are called, but few are chosen." 15 Then the Pharisees met together to think of a way to trap Jesus into saying something for which they could accuse him. 16 They decided to send some of their disciples, along with the supporters of Herod, to ask him this question: " Teacher, we know how honest you are. You teach about the way of God regardless of the consequences. You are impartial and don't play favorites. 17 Now tell us what you think about this: Is it right to pay taxes to the Roman government or not?" 18 But Jesus knew their evil motives. " You hypocrites!" he said. " Whom are you trying to fool with your trick questions? 19 Here, show me the Roman coin used for the tax." When they handed him the coin, 20 he asked, " Whose picture and title are stamped on it?" 21 " Caesar's," they replied. " Well, then," he said, " give to Caesar what belongs to him. But everything that belongs to God must be given to God." 22 His reply amazed them, and they went away. 23 That same day some Sadducees stepped forward--a group of Jews who say there is no resurrection after death. They posed this question: 24 " Teacher, Moses said, ` If a man dies without children, his brother should marry the widow and have a child who will be the brother's heir.' 25 Well, there were seven brothers. The oldest married and then died without children, so the second brother married the widow. 26 This brother also died without children, and the wife was married to the next brother, and so on until she had been the wife of each of them. 27 And then she also died. 28 So tell us, whose wife will she be in the resurrection? For she was the wife of all seven of them!"29 Jesus replied, " Your problem is that you don't know the Scriptures, and you don't know the power of God. 30 For when the dead rise, they won't be married. They will be like the angels in heaven. 31 But now, as to whether there will be a resurrection of the dead--haven't you ever read about this in the Scriptures? Long after Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had died, God said, 32 ` I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.' So he is the God of the living, not the dead." 33 When the crowds heard him, they were impressed with his teaching.

PSALM 27:1-6
A psalm of David.
1 The LORD is my light and my salvation--
so why should I be afraid?
The LORD protects me from danger--
so why should I tremble?
2 When evil people come to destroy me,
when my enemies and foes attack me,
they will stumble and fall.
3 Though a mighty army surrounds me,
my heart will know no fear.
Even if they attack me,
I remain confident.
4 The one thing I ask of the LORD--
the thing I seek most--
is to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life,
delighting in the LORD's perfections
and meditating in his Temple.
5 For he will conceal me there when troubles come;
he will hide me in his sanctuary.
He will place me out of reach on a high rock.
6 Then I will hold my head high,
above my enemies who surround me.
At his Tabernacle I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy,
singing and praising the LORD with music.

PROVERBS 6:20-26

My son, obey your father's commands, and don't neglect your mother's teaching. Keep their words always in your heart. Tie them around your neck. Wherever you walk, their counsel can lead you. When you sleep, they will protect you. When you wake up in the morning, they will advise you. For these commands and this teaching are a lamp to light the way ahead of you. The correction of discipline is the way to life. These commands and this teaching will keep you from the immoral woman, from the smooth tongue of an adulterous woman. Don't lust for her beauty. Don't let her coyness seduce you. For a prostitute will bring you to poverty, and sleeping with another man's wife may cost you your very life. 

February 1 Reading through the Bible

EXODUS 13:17-15:18

MATTHEW 21:23-46

PSALM 26:1-12

PROVERBS 6:16-19

EXODUS 13:17-15:18

When Pharaoh finally let the people go, God did not lead them on the road that runs through Philistine territory, even though that was the shortest way from Egypt to the Promised Land. God said, " If the people are faced with a battle, they might change their minds and return to Egypt." 18 So God led them along a route through the wilderness toward the Red Sea, and the Israelites left Egypt like a marching army. 19 Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for Joseph had made the sons of Israel swear that they would take his bones with them when God led them out of Egypt--as he was sure God would. 20 Leaving Succoth, they camped at Etham on the edge of the wilderness. 21 The LORD guided them by a pillar of cloud during the day and a pillar of fire at night. That way they could travel whether it was day or night. 22 And the LORD did not remove the pillar of cloud or pillar of fire from their sight.14:1 THEN the LORD gave these instructions to Moses: 2 " Tell the people to march toward Pi-hahiroth between Migdol and the sea. Camp there along the shore, opposite Baal-zephon. 3 Then Pharaoh will think, ` Those Israelites are confused. They are trapped between the wilderness and the sea!' 4 And once again I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will chase after you. I have planned this so I will receive great glory at the expense of Pharaoh and his armies. After this, the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD!" So the Israelites camped there as they were told. 5 When word reached the king of Egypt that the Israelites were not planning to return to Egypt after three days, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds. " What have we done, letting all these slaves get away?" they asked. 6 So Pharaoh called out his troops and led the chase in his chariot. 7 He took with him six hundred of Egypt's best chariots, along with the rest of the chariots of Egypt, each with a commander. 8 The LORD continued to strengthen Pharaoh's resolve, and he chased after the people of Israel who had escaped so defiantly. 9 All the forces in Pharaoh's army--all his horses, chariots, and charioteers--were used in the chase. The Egyptians caught up with the people of Israel as they were camped beside the shore near Pi-hahiroth, across from Baal-zephon. 10 As Pharaoh and his army approached, the people of Israel could see them in the distance, marching toward them. The people began to panic, and they cried out to the LORD for help. 11 Then they turned against Moses and complained, " Why did you bring us out here to die in the wilderness? Weren't there enough graves for us in Egypt? Why did you make us leave? 12 Didn't we tell you to leave us alone while we were still in Egypt? Our Egyptian slavery was far better than dying out here in the wilderness!"13 But Moses told the people, " Don't be afraid. Just stand where you are and watch the LORD rescue you. The Egyptians that you see today will never be seen again. 14 The LORD himself will fight for you. You won't have to lift a finger in your defense!" 15 Then the LORD said to Moses, " Why are you crying out to me? Tell the people to get moving! 16 Use your shepherd's staff--hold it out over the water, and a path will open up before you through the sea. Then all the people of Israel will walk through on dry ground. 17 Yet I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they will follow the Israelites into the sea. Then I will receive great glory at the expense of Pharaoh and his armies, chariots, and charioteers. 18 When I am finished with Pharaoh and his army, all Egypt will know that I am the LORD!" 19 Then the angel of God, who had been leading the people of Israel, moved to a position behind them, and the pillar of cloud also moved around behind them. 20 The cloud settled between the Israelite and Egyptian camps. As night came, the pillar of cloud turned into a pillar of fire, lighting the Israelite camp. But the cloud became darkness to the Egyptians, and they couldn't find the Israelites. 21 Then Moses raised his hand over the sea, and the LORD opened up a path through the water with a strong east wind. The wind blew all that night, turning the seabed into dry land. 22 So the people of Israel walked through the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on each side! 23 Then the Egyptians--all of Pharaoh's horses, chariots, and charioteers--followed them across the bottom of the sea. 24 But early in the morning, the LORD looked down on the Egyptian army from the pillar of fire and cloud, and he threw them into confusion. 25 Their chariot wheels began to come off, making their chariots impossible to drive. " Let's get out of here!" the Egyptians shouted. " The LORD is fighting for Israel against us!"26 When all the Israelites were on the other side, the LORD said to Moses, " Raise your hand over the sea again. Then the waters will rush back over the Egyptian chariots and charioteers." 27 So as the sun began to rise, Moses raised his hand over the sea. The water roared back into its usual place, and the LORD swept the terrified Egyptians into the surging currents. 28 The waters covered all the chariots and charioteers--the entire army of Pharaoh. Of all the Egyptians who had chased the Israelites into the sea, not a single one survived. 29 The people of Israel had walked through the middle of the sea on dry land, as the water stood up like a wall on both sides. 30 This was how the LORD rescued Israel from the Egyptians that day. And the Israelites could see the bodies of the Egyptians washed up on the shore. 31 When the people of Israel saw the mighty power that the LORD had displayed against the Egyptians, they feared the LORD and put their faith in him and his servant Moses. 15:1 THEN Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the LORD: " I will sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously;

he has thrown both horse and rider into the sea.

2 The LORD is my strength and my song;

he has become my victory.

He is my God, and I will praise him;

he is my father's God, and I will exalt him!

3 The LORD is a warrior;

yes, the LORD is his name!

4 Pharaoh's chariots and armies,

he has thrown into the sea.

The very best of Pharaoh's officers

have been drowned in the Red Sea.

5 The deep waters have covered them;

they sank to the bottom like a stone.

6 " Your right hand, O LORD,

is glorious in power.

Your right hand, O LORD,

dashes the enemy to pieces.

7 In the greatness of your majesty,

you overthrew those who rose against you.

Your anger flashed forth;

it consumed them as fire burns straw.

8 At the blast of your breath, the waters piled up!

The surging waters stood straight like a wall;

in the middle of the sea the waters became hard.

9 " The enemy said, ` I will chase them,

catch up with them, and destroy them.

I will divide the plunder,

avenging myself against them.

I will unsheath my sword;

my power will destroy them.'

10 But with a blast of your breath,

the sea covered them.

They sank like lead

in the mighty waters.

11 " Who else among the gods is like you, O LORD?

Who is glorious in holiness like you--

so awesome in splendor,

performing such wonders?

12 You raised up your hand,

and the earth swallowed our enemies.

13 " With unfailing love you will lead

this people whom you have ransomed.

You will guide them in your strength

to the place where your holiness dwells.

14 The nations will hear and tremble;

anguish will grip the people of Philistia.

15 The leaders of Edom will be terrified;

the nobles of Moab will tremble.

All the people of Canaan will melt with fear;

16 terror and dread will overcome them.

Because of your great power,

they will be silent like a stone,

until your people pass by, O LORD,

until the people whom you purchased pass by.

17 You will bring them in and plant them on your own mountain--

the place you have made as your home, O LORD,

the sanctuary, O Lord, that your hands have made.

18 The LORD will reign forever and ever!"

MATTHEW 21:23-46

When Jesus returned to the Temple and began teaching, the leading priests and other leaders came up to him. They demanded, " By whose authority did you drive out the merchants from the Temple? Who gave you such authority?" 24 " I'll tell you who gave me the authority to do these things if you answer one question," Jesus replied. 25 " Did John's baptism come from heaven or was it merely human?" They talked it over among themselves. " If we say it was from heaven, he will ask why we didn't believe him. 26 But if we say it was merely human, we'll be mobbed, because the people think he was a prophet." 27 So they finally replied, " We don't know." And Jesus responded, " Then I won't answer your question either. 28 " But what do you think about this? A man with two sons told the older boy, ` Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.' 29 The son answered, ` No, I won't go,' but later he changed his mind and went anyway. 30 Then the father told the other son, ` You go,' and he said, ` Yes, sir, I will.' But he didn't go. 31 Which of the two was obeying his father?" They replied, " The first, of course." Then Jesus explained his meaning: " I assure you, corrupt tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the Kingdom of God before you do. 32 For John the Baptist came and showed you the way to life, and you didn't believe him, while tax collectors and prostitutes did. And even when you saw this happening, you refused to turn from your sins and believe him. 33 " Now listen to this story. A certain landowner planted a vineyard, built a wall around it, dug a pit for pressing out the grape juice, and built a lookout tower. Then he leased the vineyard to tenant farmers and moved to another country. 34 At the time of the grape harvest he sent his servants to collect his share of the crop. 35 But the farmers grabbed his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another. 36 So the landowner sent a larger group of his servants to collect for him, but the results were the same. 37 " Finally, the owner sent his son, thinking, ` Surely they will respect my son.' 38 " But when the farmers saw his son coming, they said to one another, ` Here comes the heir to this estate. Come on, let's kill him and get the estate for ourselves!' 39 So they grabbed him, took him out of the vineyard, and murdered him. 40 " When the owner of the vineyard returns," Jesus asked, " what do you think he will do to those farmers?" 41 The religious leaders replied, " He will put the wicked men to a horrible death and lease the vineyard to others who will give him his share of the crop after each harvest." 42 Then Jesus asked them, " Didn't you ever read this in the Scriptures? ` The stone rejected by the builders

has now become the cornerstone.

This is the Lord's doing,

and it is marvelous to see.'

43 What I mean is that the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation that will produce the proper fruit. 44 Anyone who stumbles over that stone will be broken to pieces, and it will crush anyone on whom it falls." 45 When the leading priests and Pharisees heard Jesus, they realized he was pointing at them--that they were the farmers in his story. 46 They wanted to arrest him, but they were afraid to try because the crowds considered Jesus to be a prophet.

PSALM 26:1-12

A psalm of David.

1 Declare me innocent, O LORD,

for I have acted with integrity;

I have trusted in the LORD without wavering.

2 Put me on trial, LORD, and cross-examine me.

Test my motives and affections.

3 For I am constantly aware of your unfailing love,

and I have lived according to your truth.

4 I do not spend time with liars

or go along with hypocrites.

5 I hate the gatherings of those who do evil,

and I refuse to join in with the wicked.

6 I wash my hands to declare my innocence.

I come to your altar, O LORD,

7 singing a song of thanksgiving

and telling of all your miracles.

8 I love your sanctuary, LORD,

the place where your glory shines.

9 Don't let me suffer the fate of sinners.

Don't condemn me along with murderers.

10 Their hands are dirty with wicked schemes,

and they constantly take bribes.

11 But I am not like that; I do what is right.

So in your mercy, save me.

12 I have taken a stand,

and I will publicly praise the LORD.

PROVERBS 6:16-19

There are six things the LORD hates--no, seven things he detests: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that kill the innocent, a heart that plots evil, feet that race to do wrong, a false witness who pours out lies, a person who sows discord among brothers.