chapters of the day 2/10/2010

Habakkuk 2

1 I will stand at my guard post, and station myself upon the rampart, And keep watch to see what he will say to me, and what answer he will give to my complaint.

2 Then the LORD answered me and said: Write down the vision Clearly upon the tablets, so that one can read it readily.

3 For the vision still has its time, presses on to fulfillment, and will not disappoint; If it delays, wait for it, it will surely come, it will not be late.

4 The rash man has no integrity; but the just man, because of his faith, shall live. Wealth, too, is treacherous: the proud, unstable man–

5 He who opens wide his throat like the nether world, and is insatiable as death, Who gathers to himself all the nations, and rallies to himself all the peoples–

6 Shall not all these take up a taunt against him, satire and epigrams about him, to say: Woe to him who stores up what is not his: how long can it last! he loads himself down with debts.

7 Shall not your creditors rise suddenly? Shall not they who make you tremble awake? You shall become their spoil!

8 Because you despoiled many peoples all the rest of the nations shall despoil you; Because of men’s blood shed, and violence done to the land, to the city and to all who dwell in it.

9 Woe to him who pursues evil gain for his household, setting his nest on high to escape the reach of misfortune!

10 You have devised shame for your household, cutting off many peoples, forfeiting your own life:

11 For the stone in the wall shall cry out, and the beam in the woodwork shall answer it!

12 Woe to him who builds a city by bloodshed, and establishes a town by wickedness!

13 Is not this from the LORD of hosts: peoples toil for the flames, and nations grow weary for nought!

14 But the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the LORD’S glory as water covers the sea.

15 Woe to you who give your neighbors a flood of your wrath to drink, and make them drunk, till their nakedness is seen!

16 You are filled with shame instead of glory; drink, you too, and stagger! On you shall revert the cup from the LORD’S right hand, and utter shame on your glory.

17 For the violence done to Lebanon shall cover you, and the destruction of the beasts shall terrify you; Because of men’s blood shed, and violence done to the land, to the city and to all who dwell in it.

18 Woe to him who says to wood, “Awake!” to dumb stone, “Arise!” Can such a thing give oracles? See, it is overlaid with gold and silver, but there is no life breath in it.

19 Of what avail is the carved image, that its maker should carve it? Or the molten image and lying oracle, that its very maker should trust in it, and make dumb idols?

20 But the LORD is in his holy temple; silence before him, all the earth!

1 Timothy 5

1 Do not rebuke an older man, but appeal to him as a father. Treat younger men as brothers,

2 older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters with complete purity.

3 Honor widows who are truly widows.

4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let these first learn to perform their religious duty to their own family and to make recompense to their parents, for this is pleasing to God.

5 The real widow, who is all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day.

6 But the one who is self-indulgent is dead while she lives.

7 Command this, so that they may be irreproachable.

8 And whoever does not provide for relatives and especially family members has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

9 Let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than sixty years old, married only once,

10 with a reputation for good works, namely, that she has raised children, practiced hospitality, washed the feet of the holy ones, helped those in distress, involved herself in every good work.

11 But exclude younger widows, for when their sensuality estranges them from Christ, they want to marry

12 and will incur condemnation for breaking their first pledge.

13 And furthermore, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers but gossips and busybodies as well, talking about things that ought not to be mentioned.

14 So I would like younger widows to marry, have children, and manage a home, so as to give the adversary no pretext for maligning us.

15 For some have already turned away to follow Satan.

16 If any woman believer has widowed relatives, she must assist them; the church is not to be burdened, so that it will be able to help those who are truly widows.

17 Presbyters who preside well deserve double honor, especially those who toil in preaching and teaching.

18 For the scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it is threshing,” and, “A worker deserves his pay.”

19 Do not accept an accusation against a presbyter unless it is supported by two or three witnesses.

20 Reprimand publicly those who do sin, so that the rest also will be afraid.

21 I charge you before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels to keep these rules without prejudice, doing nothing out of favoritism.

22 Do not lay hands too readily on anyone, and do not share in another’s sins. Keep yourself pure.

23 Stop drinking only water, but have a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.

24 Some people’s sins are public, preceding them to judgment; but other people are followed by their sins.

25 Similarly, good works are also public; and even those that are not cannot remain hidden.

chapters of the day 2/9/2010

Micah 3

1 And I said: Hear, you leaders of Jacob, rulers of the house of Israel! Is it not your duty to know what is right,

2 you who hate what is good, and love evil? You who tear their skin from them, and their flesh from their bones!

3 They eat the flesh of my people, and flay their skin from them, and break their bones. They chop them in pieces like flesh in a kettle, and like meat in a caldron.

4 When they cry to the LORD, he shall not answer them; Rather shall he hide his face from them at that time, because of the evil they have done.

5 Thus says the LORD regarding the prophets who lead my people astray; Who, when their teeth have something to bite, announce peace, But when one fails to put something in their mouth, proclaim war against him.

6 Therefore you shall have night, not vision, darkness, not divination; The sun shall go down upon the prophets, and the day shall be dark for them.

7 Then shall the seers be put to shame, and the diviners confounded; They shall cover their lips, all of them, because there is no answer from God.

8 But as for me, I am filled with power, with the spirit of the LORD, with authority and with might; To declare to Jacob his crimes and to Israel his sins.

9 Hear this, you leaders of the house of Jacob, you rulers of the house of Israel! You who abhor what is just, and pervert all that is right;

10 Who build up Zion with bloodshed, and Jerusalem with wickedness!

11 Her leaders render judgment for a bribe, her priests give decisions for a salary, her prophets divine for money, While they rely on the LORD, saying, “Is not the LORD in the midst of us? No evil can come upon us!”

12 Therefore, because of you, Zion shall be plowed like a field, and Jerusalem reduced to rubble, And the mount of the temple to a forest ridge.

Colossians 2

1 For I want you to know how great a struggle I am having for you and for those in Laodicea and all who have not seen me face to face,

2 that their hearts may be encouraged as they are brought together in love, to have all the richness of fully assured understanding, for the knowledge of the mystery of God, Christ,

3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

4 I say this so that no one may deceive you by specious arguments.

5 For even if I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing as I observe your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.

6 So, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in him,

7 rooted in him and built upon him and established in the faith as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

8 See to it that no one captivate you with an empty, seductive philosophy according to human tradition, according to the elemental powers of the world and not according to Christ.

9 For in him dwells the whole fullness of the deity bodily,

10 and you share in this fullness in him, who is the head of every principality and power.

11 In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not administered by hand, by stripping off the carnal body, with the circumcision of Christ.

12 You were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.

13 And even when you were dead (in) transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, he brought you to life along with him, having forgiven us all our transgressions;

14 obliterating the bond against us, with its legal claims, which was opposed to us, he also removed it from our midst, nailing it to the cross;

15 despoiling the principalities and the powers, he made a public spectacle of them, leading them away in triumph by it.

16 Let no one, then, pass judgment on you in matters of food and drink or with regard to a festival or new moon or sabbath.

17 These are shadows of things to come; the reality belongs to Christ.

18 Let no one disqualify you, delighting in self-abasement and worship of angels, taking his stand on visions, inflated without reason by his fleshly mind,

19 and not holding closely to the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and bonds, achieves the growth that comes from God.

20 If you died with Christ to the elemental powers of the world, why do you submit to regulations as if you were still living in the world?

21 “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”

22 These are all things destined to perish with use; they accord with human precepts and teachings.

23 While they have a semblance of wisdom in rigor of devotion and self-abasement (and) severity to the body, they are of no value against gratification of the flesh.

chapters of the day 2/8/2010

Habakkuk 1

1 The oracle which Habakkuk the prophet received in vision.

2 How long, O LORD? I cry for help but you do not listen! I cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not intervene.

3 Why do you let me see ruin; why must I look at misery? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and clamorous discord.

4 This is why the law is benumbed, and judgment is never rendered: Because the wicked circumvent the just; this is why judgment comes forth perverted.

5 Look over the nations and see, and be utterly amazed! For a work is being done in your days that you would not have believed, were it told.

6 For see, I am raising up Chaldea, that bitter and unruly people, That marches the breadth of the land to take dwellings not his own.

7 Terrible and dreadful is he, from himself derive his law and his majesty.

8 Swifter than leopards are his horses, and keener than wolves at evening. His horses prance, his horsemen come from afar: They fly like the eagle hastening to devour;

9 each comes for the rapine, Their combined onset is that of a stormwind that heaps up captives like sand.

10 He scoffs at kings, and princes are his laughingstock; He laughs at any fortress, heaps up a ramp, and conquers it.

11 Then he veers like the wind and is gone– this culprit who makes his own strength his god!

12 Are you not from eternity, O LORD, my holy God, immortal? O LORD you have marked him for judgment, O Rock, you have readied him for punishment!

13 Too pure are your eyes to look upon evil, and the sight of misery you cannot endure. Why, then, do you gaze on the faithless in silence while the wicked man devours one more just than himself?

14 You have made man like the fish of the sea, like creeping things without a ruler.

15 He brings them all up with his hook, he hauls them away with his net, He gathers them in his seine; and so he rejoices and exults.

16 Therefore he sacrifices to his net, and burns incense to his seine; For thanks to them his portion is generous, and his repast sumptuous.

17 Shall he, then, keep on brandishing his sword to slay peoples without mercy?

1 Corinthians 7

1 Now in regard to the matters about which you wrote: “It is a good thing for a man not to touch a woman,”

2 but because of cases of immorality every man should have his own wife, and every woman her own husband.

3 The husband should fulfill his duty toward his wife, and likewise the wife toward her husband.

4 A wife does not have authority over her own body, but rather her husband, and similarly a husband does not have authority over his own body, but rather his wife.

5 Do not deprive each other, except perhaps by mutual consent for a time, to be free for prayer, but then return to one another, so that Satan may not tempt you through your lack of self-control.

6 This I say by way of concession, however, not as a command.

7 Indeed, I wish everyone to be as I am, but each has a particular gift from God, one of one kind and one of another.

8 Now to the unmarried and to widows, I say: it is a good thing for them to remain as they are, as I do,

9 but if they cannot exercise self-control they should marry, for it is better to marry than to be on fire.

10 To the married, however, I give this instruction (not I, but the Lord): a wife should not separate from her husband

11 –and if she does separate she must either remain single or become reconciled to her husband–and a husband should not divorce his wife.

12 To the rest I say (not the Lord): if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she is willing to go on living with him, he should not divorce her;

13 and if any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he is willing to go on living with her, she should not divorce her husband.

14 For the unbelieving husband is made holy through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy through the brother. Otherwise your children would be unclean, whereas in fact they are holy.

15 If the unbeliever separates, however, let him separate. The brother or sister is not bound in such cases; God has called you to peace.

16 For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband; or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

17 Only, everyone should live as the Lord has assigned, just as God called each one. I give this order in all the churches.

18 Was someone called after he had been circumcised? He should not try to undo his circumcision. Was an uncircumcised person called? He should not be circumcised.

19 Circumcision means nothing, and uncircumcision means nothing; what matters is keeping God’s commandments.

20 Everyone should remain in the state in which he was called.

21 Were you a slave when you were called? Do not be concerned but, even if you can gain your freedom, make the most of it.

22 For the slave called in the Lord is a freed person in the Lord, just as the free person who has been called is a slave of Christ.

23 You have been purchased at a price. Do not become slaves to human beings.

24 Brothers, everyone should continue before God in the state in which he was called.

25 Now in regard to virgins, I have no commandment from the Lord, but I give my opinion as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy.

26 So this is what I think best because of the present distress: that it is a good thing for a person to remain as he is.

27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek a separation. Are you free of a wife? Then do not look for a wife.

28 If you marry, however, you do not sin, nor does an unmarried woman sin if she marries; but such people will experience affliction in their earthly life, and I would like to spare you that.

29 I tell you, brothers, the time is running out. From now on, let those having wives act as not having them,

30 those weeping as not weeping, those rejoicing as not rejoicing, those buying as not owning,

31 those using the world as not using it fully. For the world in its present form is passing away.

32 I should like you to be free of anxieties. An unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord.

33 But a married man is anxious about the things of the world, how he may please his wife,

34 and he is divided. An unmarried woman or a virgin is anxious about the things of the Lord, so that she may be holy in both body and spirit. A married woman, on the other hand, is anxious about the things of the world, how she may please her husband.

35 I am telling you this for your own benefit, not to impose a restraint upon you, but for the sake of propriety and adherence to the Lord without distraction.

36 If anyone thinks he is behaving improperly toward his virgin, and if a critical moment has come and so it has to be, let him do as he wishes. He is committing no sin; let them get married.

37 The one who stands firm in his resolve, however, who is not under compulsion but has power over his own will, and has made up his mind to keep his virgin, will be doing well.

38 So then, the one who marries his virgin does well; the one who does not marry her will do better.

39 A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whomever she wishes, provided that it be in the Lord.

40 She is more blessed, though, in my opinion, if she remains as she is, and I think that I too have the Spirit of God.

chapters of the day 2/7/2010

Exodus 11

1 Then the LORD told Moses, “One more plague will I bring upon Pharaoh and upon Egypt. After that he will let you depart. In fact, he will not merely let you go; he will drive you away.

2 Instruct your people that every man is to ask his neighbor, and every woman her neighbor, for silver and gold articles and for clothing.”

3 The LORD indeed made the Egyptians well-disposed toward the people; Moses himself was very highly regarded by Pharaoh’s servants and the people in the land of Egypt.

4 Moses then said, “Thus says the LORD: At midnight I will go forth through Egypt.

5 Every first-born in this land shall die, from the first-born of Pharaoh on the throne to the first-born of the slave-girl at the handmill, as well as all the first-born of the animals.

6 Then there shall be loud wailing throughout the land of Egypt, such as has never been, nor will ever be again.

7 But among the Israelites and their animals not even a dog shall growl, so that you may know how the LORD distinguishes between the Egyptians and the Israelites.

8 All these servants of yours shall then come down to me, and prostrate before me, they shall beg me, ‘Leave us, you and all your followers!’ Only then will I depart.” With that he left Pharaoh’s presence in hot anger.

9 The LORD said to Moses, “Pharaoh refuses to listen to you that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.”

10 Thus, although Moses and Aaron performed these various wonders in Pharaoh’s presence, the LORD made Pharaoh obstinate, and he would not let the Israelites leave his land.

Titus 3

1 Remind them to be under the control of magistrates and authorities, to be obedient, to be open to every good enterprise.

2 They are to slander no one, to be peaceable, considerate, exercising all graciousness toward everyone.

3 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, deluded, slaves to various desires and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful ourselves and hating one another.

4 But when the kindness and generous love of God our savior appeared,

5 not because of any righteous deeds we had done but because of his mercy, he saved us through the bath of rebirth and renewal by the holy Spirit,

6 whom he richly poured out on us through Jesus Christ our savior,

7 so that we might be justified by his grace and become heirs in hope of eternal life.

8 This saying is trustworthy. I want you to insist on these points, that those who have believed in God be careful to devote themselves to good works; these are excellent and beneficial to others.

9 Avoid foolish arguments, genealogies, rivalries, and quarrels about the law, for they are useless and futile.

10 After a first and second warning, break off contact with a heretic,

11 realizing that such a person is perverted and sinful and stands self-condemned.

12 When I send Artemas to you, or Tychicus, try to join me at Nicopolis, where I have decided to spend the winter.

13 Send Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey soon, and see to it that they have everything they need.

14 But let our people, too, learn to devote themselves to good works to supply urgent needs, so that they may not be unproductive.

15 All who are with me send you greetings. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with all of you.

chapters of the day 2/6/2010

Haggai 2

1 on the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai:

2 Tell this to the governor of Judah, Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, and to the high priest Joshua, son of Jehozadak, and to the remnant of the people:

3 Who is left among you that saw this house in its former glory? And how do you see it now? Does it not seem like nothing in your eyes?

4 But now take courage, Zerubbabel, says the LORD, and take courage, Joshua, high priest, son of Jehozadak, And take courage, all you people of the land, says the LORD, and work! For I am with you, says the LORD of hosts.

5 This is the pact that I made with you when you came out of Egypt, And my spirit continues in your midst; do not fear!

6 For thus says the LORD of hosts: One moment yet, a little while, and I will shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land.

7 I will shake all the nations, and the treasures of all the nations will come in, And I will fill this house with glory, says the LORD of hosts.

8 Mine is the silver and mine the gold, says the LORD of hosts.

9 Greater will be the future glory of this house than the former, says the LORD of hosts; And in this place I will give you peace, says the LORD of hosts.

10 On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of King Darius, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Haggai:

11 Thus says the LORD of hosts: Ask the priests for a decision:

12 If a man carries sanctified flesh in the fold of his garment and the fold touches bread, or pottage, or wine, or oil, or any other food, do they become sanctified? “No,” the priests answered.

13 Then Haggai said: If a person unclean from contact with a corpse touches any of these, do they become unclean? The priests answered, “They become unclean.”

14 Then Haggai continued: So is this people, and so is this nation in my sight, says the LORD: And so are all the works of their hands; and what they offer there is unclean.

15 But now, consider from this day forward. Before there was a stone laid upon a stone in the temple of the LORD,

16 how did you fare? When one went to a heap of grain for twenty measures, it would yield but ten; When another went to the vat to draw fifty measures, there would be but twenty.

17 I struck you in all the works of your hands with blight, searing wind, and hail, yet you did not return to me, says the LORD.

18 (Consider from this day forward: from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month. From the day on which the temple of the LORD was founded, consider!)

19 Indeed, the seed has not sprouted, nor have the vine, the fig, the pomegranate and the olive tree yet borne. From this day, I will bless!

20 The message of the LORD came a second time to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of the month:

21 Tell this to Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah: I will shake the heavens and the earth;

22 I will overthrow the thrones of kingdoms, destroy the power of the kingdoms of the nations. I will overthrow the chariots and their riders, and the riders with their horses shall go down by one another’s sword.

23 On that day, says the LORD of hosts, I will take you, Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, my servant, says the LORD, And I will set you as a signet ring; for I have chosen you, says the LORD of hosts.

Mark 4

1 On another occasion he began to teach by the sea. A very large crowd gathered around him so that he got into a boat on the sea and sat down. And the whole crowd was beside the sea on land.

2 And he taught them at length in parables, and in the course of his instruction he said to them,

3 “Hear this! A sower went out to sow.

4 And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and the birds came and ate it up.

5 Other seed fell on rocky ground where it had little soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep.

6 And when the sun rose, it was scorched and it withered for lack of roots.

7 Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it and it produced no grain.

8 And some seed fell on rich soil and produced fruit. It came up and grew and yielded thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.”

9 He added, “Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear.”

10 And when he was alone, those present along with the Twelve questioned him about the parables.

11 He answered them, “The mystery of the kingdom of God has been granted to you. But to those outside everything comes in parables,

12 so that ‘they may look and see but not perceive, and hear and listen but not understand, in order that they may not be converted and be forgiven.’”

13 Jesus said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? Then how will you understand any of the parables?

14 The sower sows the word.

15 These are the ones on the path where the word is sown. As soon as they hear, Satan comes at once and takes away the word sown in them.

16 And these are the ones sown on rocky ground who, when they hear the word, receive it at once with joy.

17 But they have no root; they last only for a time. Then when tribulation or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.

18 Those sown among thorns are another sort. They are the people who hear the word,

19 but worldly anxiety, the lure of riches, and the craving for other things intrude and choke the word, and it bears no fruit.

20 But those sown on rich soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.”

21 He said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be placed under a bushel basket or under a bed, and not to be placed on a lampstand?

22 For there is nothing hidden except to be made visible; nothing is secret except to come to light.

23 Anyone who has ears to hear ought to hear.”

24 He also told them, “Take care what you hear. The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you, and still more will be given to you.

25 To the one who has, more will be given; from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”

26 He said,”This is how it is with the kingdom of God; it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land

27 and would sleep and rise night and day and the seed would sprout and grow, he knows not how.

28 Of its own accord the land yields fruit, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.

29 And when the grain is ripe, he wields the sickle at once, for the harvest has come.”

30 He said, “To what shall we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable can we use for it?

31 It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth.

32 But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade.”

33 With many such parables he spoke the word to them as they were able to understand it.

34 Without parables he did not speak to them, but to his own disciples he explained everything in private.

35 On that day, as evening drew on, he said to them, “Let us cross to the other side.”

36 Leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat just as he was. And other boats were with him.

37 A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was already filling up.

38 Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. They woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”

39 He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Quiet! Be still!” The wind ceased and there was great calm.

40 Then he asked them, “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?”

41 They were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?”

chapters of the day 2/5/2010

Isaiah 63

1 Who is this that comes from Edom, in crimsoned garments, from Bozrah- This one arrayed in majesty, marching in the greatness of his strength? “It is I, I who announce vindication, I who am mighty to save.”

2 Why is your apparel red, and your garments like those of the wine presser?

3 “The wine press I have trodden alone, and of my people there was no one with me. I trod them in my anger, and trampled them down in my wrath; Their blood spurted on my garments; all my apparel I stained.

4 For the day of vengeance was in my heart, my year for redeeming was at hand.

5 I looked about, but there was no one to help, I was appalled that there was no one to lend support; So my own arm brought about the victory and my own wrath lent me its support.

6 I trampled down the peoples in my anger, I crushed them in my wrath, and I let their blood run out upon the ground.”

7 The favors of the LORD I will recall, the glorious deeds of the LORD, Because of all he has done for us; for he is good to the house of Israel, He has favored us according to his mercy and his great kindness.

8 He said: They are indeed my people, children who are not disloyal; So he became their savior

9 in their every affliction. It was not a messenger or an angel, but he himself who saved them. Because of his love and pity he redeemed them himself, Lifting them and carrying them all the days of old.

10 But they rebelled, and grieved his holy spirit; So he turned on them like an enemy, and fought against them.

11 Then they remembered the days of old and Moses, his servant; Where is he who brought up out of the sea the shepherd of his flock? Where is he who put his holy spirit in their midst;

12 Whose glorious arm was the guide at Moses’ right; Who divided the waters before them, winning for himself eternal renown;

13 Who led them without stumbling through the depths like horses in the open country,

14 Like cattle going down into the plain, the spirit of the LORD guiding them? Thus you led your people, bringing glory to your name.

15 Look down from heaven and regard us from your holy and glorious palace! Where is your zealous care and your might, your surge of pity and your mercy? O Lord, hold not back,

16 for you are our father. Were Abraham not to know us, nor Israel to acknowledge us, You, LORD, are our father, our redeemer you are named forever.

17 Why do you let us wander, O LORD, from your ways, and harden our hearts so that we fear you not? Return for the sake of your servants, the tribes of your heritage.

18 Why have the wicked invaded your holy place, why have our enemies trampled your sanctuary?

19 Too long have we been like those you do not rule, who do not bear your name. Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down, with the mountains quaking before you,

Titus 2

1 As for yourself, you must say what is consistent with sound doctrine, namely,

2 that older men should be temperate, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, love, and endurance.

3 Similarly, older women should be reverent in their behavior, not slanderers, not addicted to drink, teaching what is good,

4 so that they may train younger women to love their husbands and children,

5 to be self-controlled, chaste, good homemakers, under the control of their husbands, so that the word of God may not be discredited.

6 Urge the younger men, similarly, to control themselves,

7 showing yourself as a model of good deeds in every respect, with integrity in your teaching, dignity,

8 and sound speech that cannot be criticized, so that the opponent will be put to shame without anything bad to say about us.

9 Slaves are to be under the control of their masters in all respects, giving them satisfaction, not talking back to them

10 or stealing from them, but exhibiting complete good faith, so as to adorn the doctrine of God our savior in every way.

11 For the grace of God has appeared, saving all

12 and training us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age,

13 as we await the blessed hope, the appearance of the glory of the great God and of our savior Jesus Christ,

14 who gave himself for us to deliver us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people as his own, eager to do what is good.

15 Say these things. Exhort and correct with all authority. Let no one look down on you.

chapters of the day 2/4/2010

1 Samuel 2

1 and as she worshiped the LORD, she said: “My heart exults in the LORD, my horn is exalted in my God. I have swallowed up my enemies; I rejoice in my victory.

2 There is no Holy One like the LORD; there in no Rock like our God.

3 “Speak boastfully no longer, nor let arrogance issue from your mouths. For an all-knowing God is the LORD, a God who judges deeds.

4 The bows of the mighty are broken, while the tottering gird on strength.

5 The well-fed hire themselves out for bread, while the hungry batten on spoil. The barren wife bears seven sons, while the mother of many languishes.

6 “The LORD puts to death and gives life; he casts down to the nether world; he raises up again.

7 The LORD makes poor and makes rich, he humbles, he also exalts.

8 He raises the needy from the dust; from the ash heap he lifts up the poor, To seat them with nobles and make a glorious throne their heritage. He gives to the vower his vow, and blesses the sleep of the just. “For the pillars of the earth are the LORD’S, and he has set the world upon them.

9 He will guard the footsteps of his faithful ones, but the wicked shall perish in the darkness. For not by strength does man prevail;

10 the LORD’S foes shall be shattered. The Most High in heaven thunders; The LORD judges the ends of the earth, Now may he give strength to his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed!”

11 When Elkanah returned home to Ramah, the child remained in the service of the LORD under the priest Eli.

12 Now the sons of Eli were wicked; they had respect neither for the LORD

13 nor for the priests’ duties toward the people. When someone offered a sacrifice, the priest’s servant would come with a three-pronged fork, while the meat was still boiling,

14 and would thrust it into the basin, kettle, caldron, or pot. Whatever the fork brought up, the priest would keep. That is how all the Israelites were treated who came to the sanctuary at Shiloh.

15 In fact, even before the fat was burned, the priest’s servant would come and say to the man offering the sacrifice, “Give me some meat to roast for the priest. He will not accept boiled meat from you, only raw meat.”

16 And if the man protested to him, “Let the fat be burned first as is the custom, then take whatever you wish,” he would reply, “No, give it to me now, or else I will take it by force.”

17 Thus the young men sinned grievously in the presence of the LORD; they treated the offerings to the LORD with disdain.

18 Meanwhile the boy Samuel, girt with a linen apron, was serving in the presence of the LORD.

19 His mother used to make a little garment for him, which she would bring him each time she went up with her husband to offer the customary sacrifice.

20 And Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, as they were leaving for home. He would say, “May the LORD repay you with children from this woman for the gift she has made to the LORD!”

21 The LORD favored Hannah so that she conceived and gave birth to three more sons and two daughters, while young Samuel grew up in the service of the LORD.

22 When Eli was very old, he heard repeatedly how his sons were treating all Israel (and that they were having relations with the women serving at the entry of the meeting tent).

23 So he said to them: “Why are you doing such things?

24 No, my sons, you must not do these things! It is not a good report that I hear the people of the LORD spreading about you.

25 If a man sins against another man, one can intercede for him with the LORD; but if a man sins against the LORD, who can intercede for him?” But they disregarded their father’s warning, since the LORD had decided on their death.

26 Meanwhile, young Samuel was growing in stature and in worth in the estimation of the LORD and of men.

27 A man of God came to Eli and said to him: “This is what the LORD says: ‘I went so far as to reveal myself to your father’s family when they were in Egypt as slaves to the house of Pharaoh.

28 I chose them out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priests, to go up to my altar, to burn incense, and to wear the ephod before me; and I assigned all the oblations of the Israelites to your father’s family.

29 Why do you keep a greedy eye on my sacrifices and on the offerings which I have prescribed? And why do you honor your sons in preference to me, fattening yourselves with the choicest part of every offering of my people Israel?’

30 This, therefore, is the oracle of the LORD, the God of Israel: ‘I said in the past that your family and your father’s family should minister in my presence forever. But now,’ the LORD declares, ‘away with this! for I will honor those who honor me, but those who spurn me shall be accursed.

31 Yes, the time is coming when I will break your strength and the strength of your father’s family, so that no man in your family shall reach old age.

32 You shall witness as a disappointed rival all the benefits enjoyed by Israel, but there shall never be an old man in your family.

33 I will permit some of your family to remain at my altar, to wear out their eyes in consuming greed; but the rest of the men of your family shall die by the sword.

34 You shall have a sign in what will happen to your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas: both shall die on the same day.

35 I will choose a faithful priest who shall do what I have in heart and mind. I will establish a lasting house for him which shall function in the presence of my anointed forever.

36 Then whoever is left of your family will come to grovel before him for a piece of silver or a loaf of bread, and will say: Appoint me, I beg you, to a priestly function, that I may have a morsel of bread to eat.’”

Colossians 4

1 Masters, treat your slaves justly and fairly, realizing that you too have a Master in heaven.

2 Persevere in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving;

3 at the same time, pray for us, too, that God may open a door to us for the word, to speak of the mystery of Christ, for which I am in prison,

4 that I may make it clear, as I must speak.

5 Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity.

6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you know how you should respond to each one.

7 Tychicus, my beloved brother, trustworthy minister, and fellow slave in the Lord, will tell you all the news of me.

8 I am sending him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know about us and that he may encourage your hearts,

9 together with Onesimus, a trustworthy and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you about everything here.

10 Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, sends you greetings, as does Mark the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions; if he comes to you, receive him),

11 and Jesus, who is called Justus, who are of the circumcision; these alone are my co-workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me.

12 Epaphras sends you greetings; he is one of you, a slave of Christ (Jesus), always striving for you in his prayers so that you may be perfect and fully assured in all the will of God.

13 For I can testify that he works very hard for you and for those in Laodicea and those in Hierapolis.

14 Luke the beloved physician sends greetings, as does Demas.

15 Give greetings to the brothers in Laodicea and to Nympha and to the church in her house.

16 And when this letter is read before you, have it read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and you yourselves read the one from Laodicea.

17 And tell Archippus, “See that you fulfill the ministry that you received in the Lord.”

18 The greeting is in my own hand, Paul’s. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.

chapters of the day 2/3/2010

Zephaniah 1

1 The word of the LORD which came to Zephaniah, the son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hezekiah, in the days of Josiah, the son of Amon, king of Judah.

2 I will completely sweep away all things from the face of the earth, says the LORD.

3 I will sweep away man and beast, I will sweep away the birds of the sky, and the fishes of the sea. I will overthrow the wicked; I will destroy mankind from the face of the earth, says the LORD.

4 I will stretch out my hand against Judah, and against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; I will destroy from this place the last vestige of Baal, the very names of his priests.

5 And those who adore the host of heaven on the roofs, with those who adore the LORD but swear by Milcom;

6 And those who have fallen away from the LORD, and those who do not seek the LORD.

7 Silence in the presence of the Lord GOD! for near is the day of the LORD, Yes, the LORD has prepared a slaughter feast, he has consecrated his guests.

8 On the day of the LORD’S slaughter feast I will punish the princes, and the king’s sons, and all that dress in foreign apparel.

9 I will punish, on that day, all who leap over the threshold, Who fill the house of their master with violence and deceit.

10 On that day, says the LORD, A cry will be heard from the Fish Gate, a wail from the New Quarter, loud crashing from the hills.

11 Wail, O inhabitants of the Mortar! for all the merchants will be destroyed, all who weigh out silver, done away with.

12 At that time I will explore Jerusalem with lamps; I will punish the men who thicken on their lees, Who say in their hearts, “Neither good nor evil can the LORD do.”

13 Their wealth shall be given to pillage and their houses to devastation; They will build houses, but shall not dwell in them, plant vineyards, but not drink their wine,

14 Near is the great day of the LORD, near and very swiftly coming, Hark, the day of the LORD! bitter, then, the warrior’s cry.

15 A day of wrath is that day a day of anguish and distress, A day of destruction and desolation, a day of darkness and gloom, A day of thick black clouds,

16 a day of trumpet blasts and battle alarm Against fortified cities, against battlements on high.

17 I will hem men in till they walk like the blind, because they have sinned against the LORD; And their blood shall be poured out like dust, and their brains like dung.

18 Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to save them on the day of the LORD’S wrath, When in the fire of his jealousy all the earth shall be consumed. For he shall make an end, yes, a sudden end, of all who live on the earth.

Acts 8

1 Now Saul was consenting to his execution.On that day, there broke out a severe persecution 1 of the church in Jerusalem, and all were scattered throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

2 Devout men buried Stephen and made a loud lament over him.

3 Saul, meanwhile, was trying to destroy the church; entering house after house and dragging out men and women, he handed them over for imprisonment.

4 Now those who had been scattered went about preaching the word.

5 Thus Philip went down to (the) city of Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah to them.

6 With one accord, the crowds paid attention to what was said by Philip when they heard it and saw the signs he was doing.

7 For unclean spirits, crying out in a loud voice, came out of many possessed people, and many paralyzed and crippled people were cured.

8 There was great joy in that city.

9 A man named Simon used to practice magic in the city and astounded the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great.

10 All of them, from the least to the greatest, paid attention to him, saying, “This man is the ‘Power of God’ that is called ‘Great.’”

11 They paid attention to him because he had astounded them by his magic for a long time,

12 but once they began to believe Philip as he preached the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, men and women alike were baptized.

13 Even Simon himself believed and, after being baptized, became devoted to Philip; and when he saw the signs and mighty deeds that were occurring, he was astounded.

14 Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent them Peter and John,

15 who went down and prayed for them, that they might receive the holy Spirit,

16 for it had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

17 Then they laid hands on them and they received the holy Spirit.

18 When Simon saw that the Spirit was conferred by the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money

19 and said, “Give me this power too, so that anyone upon whom I lay my hands may receive the holy Spirit.”

20 But Peter said to him, “May your money perish with you, because you thought that you could buy the gift of God with money.

21 You have no share or lot in this matter, for your heart is not upright before God.

22 Repent of this wickedness of yours and pray to the Lord that, if possible, your intention may be forgiven.

23 For I see that you are filled with bitter gall and are in the bonds of iniquity.”

24 Simon said in reply, “Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.”

25 So when they had testified and proclaimed the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem and preached the good news to many Samaritan villages.

26 Then the angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, “Get up and head south on the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza, the desert route.”

27 So he got up and set out. Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of the Candace, that is, the queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of her entire treasury, who had come to Jerusalem to worship,

28 and was returning home. Seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah.

29 The Spirit said to Philip, “Go and join up with that chariot.”

30 Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?”

31 He replied, “How can I, unless someone instructs me?” So he invited Philip to get in and sit with him.

32 This was the scripture passage he was reading: “Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he opened not his mouth.

33 In (his) humiliation justice was denied him. Who will tell of his posterity? For his life is taken from the earth.”

34 Then the eunuch said to Philip in reply, “I beg you, about whom is the prophet saying this? About himself, or about someone else?”

35 Then Philip opened his mouth and, beginning with this scripture passage, he proclaimed Jesus to him.

36 As they traveled along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Look, there is water. What is to prevent my being baptized?”

37 Then he ordered the chariot to stop, and Philip and the eunuch both went down into the water, and he baptized him.

38 When they came out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, but continued on his way rejoicing.

40 Philip came to Azotus, and went about proclaiming the good news to all the towns until he reached Caesarea.

chapters of the day 2/2/2010

Haggai 1

1 On the first day of the sixth month in the second year of King Darius, the word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai to the governor of Judah, Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, and to the high priest Joshua, son of Jehozadak:

2 Thus says the LORD of hosts: This people says: “Not now has the time come to rebuild the house of the LORD.”

3 (Then this word of the LORD came through Haggai, the prophet:)

4 Is it time for you to dwell in your own paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins?

5 Now thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider your ways!

6 You have sown much, but have brought in little; you have eaten, but have not been satisfied; You have drunk, but have not been exhilarated; have clothed yourselves, but not been warmed; And he who earned wages earned them for a bag with holes in it.

7 Thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider your ways!

8 Go up into the hill country; bring timber, and build the house That I may take pleasure in it and receive my glory, says the LORD.

9 You expected much, but it came to little; and what you brought home, I blew away. For what cause? says the LORD of hosts. Because my house lies in ruins, while each of you hurries to his own house.

10 Therefore the heavens withheld from you their dew, and the earth her crops.

11 And I called for a drought upon the land and upon the mountains; Upon the grain, and upon the wine, and upon the oil, and upon all that the ground brings forth; Upon men and upon beasts, and upon all that is produced by hand.

12 Then Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, and the high priest Joshua, son of Jehozadak, and all the remnant of the people listened to the voice of the LORD, their God, and to the words of the prophet Haggai, because the LORD, their God, had sent him, and the people feared because of the LORD.

13 And the LORD’S messenger, Haggai, proclaimed to the people as the message of the LORD: I am with you, says the LORD.

14 Then the LORD stirred up the spirit of the governor of Judah, Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, and the spirit of the high priest Joshua, son of Jehozadak, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people, so that they came and set to work on the house of the LORD of hosts, their God,

15 on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month.

2 Corinthians 10

1 Now I myself, Paul, urge you through the gentleness and clemency of Christ, I who am humble when face to face with you, but brave toward you when absent,

2 I beg you that, when present, I may not have to be brave with that confidence with which I intend to act boldly against some who consider us as acting according to the flesh.

3 For, although we are in the flesh, we do not battle according to the flesh,

4 for the weapons of our battle are not of flesh but are enormously powerful, capable of destroying fortresses. We destroy arguments

5 and every pretension raising itself against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive in obedience to Christ,

6 and we are ready to punish every disobedience, once your obedience is complete.

7 Look at what confronts you. Whoever is confident of belonging to Christ should consider that as he belongs to Christ, so do we.

8 And even if I should boast a little too much of our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for tearing you down, I shall not be put to shame.

9 May I not seem as one frightening you through letters.

10 For someone will say, “His letters are severe and forceful, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.”

11 Such a person must understand that what we are in word through letters when absent, that we also are in action when present.

12 Not that we dare to class or compare ourselves with some of those who recommend themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.

13 But we will not boast beyond measure but will keep to the limits God has apportioned us, namely, to reach even to you.

14 For we are not overreaching ourselves, as though we did not reach you; we indeed first came to you with the gospel of Christ.

15 We are not boasting beyond measure, in other people’s labors; yet our hope is that, as your faith increases, our influence among you may be greatly enlarged, within our proper limits,

16 so that we may preach the gospel even beyond you, not boasting of work already done in another’s sphere.

17 “Whoever boasts, should boast in the Lord.”

18 For it is not the one who recommends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord recommends.

chapters of the day 2/1/2010

Job 12

1 Then Job replied and said:

2 No doubt you are the intelligent folk, and with you wisdom shall die!

3 But I have intelligence as well as you; for who does not know such things as these?

4 I have become the sport of my neighbors: “The one whom God answers when he calls upon him, The just, the perfect man,” is a laughing-stock;

5 The undisturbed esteem my downfall a disgrace such as awaits unsteady feet;

6 Yet the tents of robbers are prosperous, and those who provoke God are secure.

7 But now ask the beasts to teach you, and the birds of the air to tell you;

8 Or the reptiles on earth to instruct you, and the fish of the sea to inform you.

9 Which of all these does not know that the hand of God has done this?

10 In his hand is the soul of every living thing, and the life breath of all mankind.

11 Does not the ear judge words as the mouth tastes food?

12 So with old age is wisdom, and with length of days understanding.

13 With him are wisdom and might; his are counsel and understanding.

14 If he breaks a thing down, there is no rebuilding; if he imprisons a man, there is no release.

15 He holds back the waters and there is drought; he sends them forth and they overwhelm the land.

16 With him are strength and prudence; the misled and the misleaders are his.

17 He sends counselors away barefoot, and of judges he makes fools.

18 He loosens the bonds imposed by kings and leaves but a waistcloth to bind the king’s own loins.

19 and lets their never-failing waters flow away.

20 He silences the trusted adviser, and takes discretion from the aged.

21 He breaks down the barriers of the streams

22 The recesses of the darkness he discloses, and brings the gloom forth to the light.

23 He makes nations great and he destroys them; he spreads peoples abroad and he abandons them.

24 He takes understanding from the leaders of the land,

25 till they grope in the darkness without light; he makes them stagger like drunken men.

James 5

1 Come now, you rich, weep and wail over your impending miseries.

2 Your wealth has rotted away, your clothes have become moth-eaten,

3 your gold and silver have corroded, and that corrosion will be a testimony against you; it will devour your flesh like a fire. You have stored up treasure for the last days.

4 Behold, the wages you withheld from the workers who harvested your fields are crying aloud, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts.

5 You have lived on earth in luxury and pleasure; you have fattened your hearts for the day of slaughter.

6 You have condemned; you have murdered the righteous one; he offers you no resistance.

7 Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains.

8 You too must be patient. Make your hearts firm, because the coming of the Lord is at hand.

9 Do not complain, brothers, about one another, that you may not be judged. Behold, the Judge is standing before the gates.

10 Take as an example of hardship and patience, brothers, the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

11 Indeed we call blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of the perseverance of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, because “the Lord is compassionate and merciful.”

12 But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath, but let your “Yes” mean “Yes” and your “No” mean “No,” that you may not incur condemnation.

13 Is anyone among you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone in good spirits? He should sing praise.

14 Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the presbyters of the church, and they should pray over him and anoint (him) with oil in the name of the Lord,

15 and the prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up. If he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven.

16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The fervent prayer of a righteous person is very powerful.

17 Elijah was a human being like us; yet he prayed earnestly that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain upon the land.

18 Then he prayed again, and the sky gave rain and the earth produced its fruit.

19 My brothers, if anyone among you should stray from the truth and someone bring him back,

20 he should know that whoever brings back a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.