Robert Murray M'Cheyne's Daily Bible Readings for April - 50Webs Version.

Swanny's
Swaggy's

M'Cheyne's Daily Bible Readings for April
Read the Old Testament once and New Testament and Psalms twice a year.
Study the
Bible daily


Web Site Contents
Swanny's Swaggy     Entry page and introduction to this Web Site.
We Tell A Tale     Background information about Australian swagmen and the like.
Bogatzky's Devotions     A classic daily devotional by Henry Bogatzky
Faith's Cheque Book     Dependable guarantees from the Word of God. .
Some Basic Texts     Some important and useful bible texts to understand and remember.
One Hundred Texts     Texts of evangelical and reformed importance arranged by the Irish Church Mission.
Spurgeon's Catechism     Charles Spurgeon's Catechism with questions and answers.
Boys' and Girl's Catechism     Learning Basic Christian Beliefs Early in Life.
Comments and Reflections     Thoughts upon various topical issues from a Christian perspective..
Proposed Sections     Science and faith, and revival and other things.

Daily Readings for
Introduction January February March May June July August September October November December Bible Book Index





  APRIL Calendar for "Robert Murray M'Cheyne's Daily Bible Readings." 

O send out Thy light and Thy truth, let them lead me.

Family Readings 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Personal Readings 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

   Daily Family Readings Daily Personal Readings
Readings 1
Readings 2
APRIL
Readings 1
Readings 2

Leviticus 4
5
6
7
8

Psalm 1-2
3-4
5-6
7-8
9

Day 1
2
3
4
5

Proverbs 19
20
21
22
23

Colossians 2
3
4
1 Thessalonians 1
2
9
10
11-12
13
14
10
11-12
13-14
15-16
17
6
7
8
9
10
24
25
26
27
28
3
4
5
2 Thessalonians 1
2
15
16
17
18
19
18
19
20-21
22
23-24
11
12
13
14
15
29
30
31
Ecclesiastes 1
2
3
1 Timothy 1
2
3
4
20
21
22
23
24
25
26-27
28-29
30
31
16
17
18
19
20
3
4
5
6
7
5
6
2 Timothy 1
2
3
25
26
27
Numbers 1
2
32
33
34
35
36
21
22
23
24
25
8
9
10
11
12
4
Titus 1
2
3
Philomen 1
3
4
5
6
7
37
38
39
40-41
42-43
26
27
28
29
30
Song of Songs 1
2
3
4
5
Hebrews 1
2
3
4
5



The First Day of April - Family Reading.

Leviticus chapter 4.

Laws for Sin Offerings.

1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a soul shall sin through ignorance against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and shall do against any of them: 3 If the priest that is anointed do sin according to the sin of the people; then let him bring for his sin, which he hath sinned, a young bullock without blemish unto the LORD for a sin offering. 4 And he shall bring the bullock unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD; and shall lay his hand upon the bullock's head, and kill the bullock before the LORD. 5 And the priest that is anointed shall take of the bullock's blood, and bring it to the tabernacle of the congregation: 6 And the priest shall dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle of the blood seven times before the LORD, before the veil of the sanctuary. 7 And the priest shall put some of the blood upon the horns of the altar of sweet incense before the LORD, which is in the tabernacle of the congregation; and shall pour all the blood of the bullock at the bottom of the altar of the burnt offering, which is at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 8 And he shall take off from it all the fat of the bullock for the sin offering; the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards, 9 And the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, which is by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away, 10 As it was taken off from the bullock of the sacrifice of peace offerings: and the priest shall burn them upon the altar of the burnt offering. 11 And the skin of the bullock, and all his flesh, with his head, and with his legs, and his inwards, and his dung, 12 Even the whole bullock shall he carry forth without the camp unto a clean place, where the ashes are poured out, and burn him on the wood with fire: where the ashes are poured out shall he be burnt.
      13 And if the whole congregation of Israel sin through ignorance, and the thing be hid from the eyes of the assembly, and they have done somewhat against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which should not be done, and are guilty; 14 When the sin, which they have sinned against it, is known, then the congregation shall offer a young bullock for the sin, and bring him before the tabernacle of the congregation. 15 And the elders of the congregation shall lay their hands upon the head of the bullock before the LORD: and the bullock shall be killed before the LORD. 16 And the priest that is anointed shall bring of the bullock's blood to the tabernacle of the congregation: 17 And the priest shall dip his finger in some of the blood, and sprinkle it seven times before the LORD, even before the veil. 18 And he shall put some of the blood upon the horns of the altar which is before the LORD, that is in the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall pour out all the blood at the bottom of the altar of the burnt offering, which is at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 19 And he shall take all his fat from him, and burn it upon the altar. 20 And he shall do with the bullock as he did with the bullock for a sin offering, so shall he do with this: and the priest shall make an atonement for them, and it shall be forgiven them. 21 And he shall carry forth the bullock without the camp, and burn him as he burned the first bullock: it is a sin offering for the congregation.
      22 When a ruler hath sinned, and done somewhat through ignorance against any of the commandments of the LORD his God concerning things which should not be done, and is guilty; 23 Or if his sin, wherein he hath sinned, come to his knowledge; he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a male without blemish: 24 And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the goat, and kill it in the place where they kill the burnt offering before the LORD: it is a sin offering. 25 And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out his blood at the bottom of the altar of burnt offering. 26 And he shall burn all his fat upon the altar, as the fat of the sacrifice of peace offerings: and the priest shall make an atonement for him as concerning his sin, and it shall be forgiven him.
      27 And if any one of the common people sin through ignorance, while he doeth somewhat against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and be guilty; 28 Or if his sin, which he hath sinned, come to his knowledge: then he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a female without blemish, for his sin which he hath sinned. 29 And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the sin offering, and slay the sin offering in the place of the burnt offering. 30 And the priest shall take of the blood thereof with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out all the blood thereof at the bottom of the altar. 31 And he shall take away all the fat thereof, as the fat is taken away from off the sacrifice of peace offerings; and the priest shall burn it upon the altar for a sweet savour unto the LORD; and the priest shall make an atonement for him, and it shall be forgiven him.
        32 And if he bring a lamb for a sin offering, he shall bring it a female without blemish. 33 And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the sin offering, and slay it for a sin offering in the place where they kill the burnt offering. 34 And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out all the blood thereof at the bottom of the altar: 35 And he shall take away all the fat thereof, as the fat of the lamb is taken away from the sacrifice of the peace offerings; and the priest shall burn them upon the altar, according to the offerings made by fire unto the LORD: and the priest shall make an atonement for his sin that he hath committed, and it shall be forgiven him.

The Book of Psalms.

Introduction.

The book of Psalms is filled with the songs and prayers offered to God by the nation of Israel. Their expressions of praise, faith, sorrow, and frustration cover the range of human emotions. Some of the Psalms dwell on the treasure of wisdom and God-s Word. Others reveal the troubled heart of a mourner. Still others explode with praise to God and invite others to join in song. This diversity is unified by one element: they are centered upon the one and only living God. This Creator God is King of all the earth and a refuge to all who trust in him. Many of the Psalms are attributed to King David. The writing and collection of the Psalms into their present form spans the fifteenth to the third centuries b.c.

Psalm 1.

The Way of the Righteous and the Wicked.

1      Blessed is the man
          that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly,
	  nor standeth in the way of sinners,
	  nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2      But his delight is in the law of the Lord;
          and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

3      And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water,
        that bringeth forth his fruit in his season;
	his leaf also shall not wither;
	and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
4      The ungodly are not so:
        but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.

5      Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment,
        nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
6      For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous:
        but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Psalm 2.

The Reign of the Lord's Annointed.

2       Why do the heathen rage,
         and the people imagine a vain thing?
2       The kings of the earth set themselves,
         and the rulers take counsel together,
	 against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying,
3       Let us break their bands asunder,
         and cast away their cords from us.

4       He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh:
         the Lord shall have them in derision.
5       Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath,
         and vex them in his sore displeasure.
6       Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.

7       I will declare the decree:
         the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son;
	 this day have I begotten thee.
8       Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance,
         and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
9       Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron;
         thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.

10      Be wise now therefore, O ye kings:
         be instructed, ye judges of the earth.
11      Serve the Lord with fear,
         and rejoice with trembling.
12      Kiss the Son,
         lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way,
         when his wrath is kindled but a little.
         Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.


The First Day of April - Personal Reading.

Proverbs chapter 19.

The Proverbs of Solomon - Continued.

1          Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, 
             than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.
2          Also, that the soul be without knowledge, 
             it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.
3          The foolishness of man perverteth his way: 
             and his heart fretteth against the Lord.
4          Wealth maketh many friends; 
             but the poor is separated from his neighbour.
5          A false witness shall not be unpunished,
             and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.
6          Many will intreat the favour of the prince:
             and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts.
7          All the brethren of the poor do hate him:
             how much more do his friends go far from him?
             he pursueth them with words, yet they are wanting to him.
8          He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul:
             he that keepeth understanding shall find good.
9          A false witness shall not be unpunished,
             and he that speaketh lies shall perish.
10         Delight is not seemly for a fool;
             much less for a servant to have rule over princes.
11         The discretion of a man deferreth his anger;
             and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.
12         The king's wrath is as the roaring of a lion;
             but his favour is as dew upon the grass.
13         A foolish son is the calamity of his father:
             and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.
14         House and riches are the inheritance of fathers:
             and a prudent wife is from the Lord.
15         Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep;
             and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.
16         He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul;
             but he that despiseth his ways shall die.
17         He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord;
             and that which he hath given will he pay him again.
18         Chasten thy son while there is hope,
             and let not thy soul spare for his crying.
19         A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment:
             for if thou deliver him, yet thou must do it again.
20         Hear counsel, and receive instruction,
             that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.
21         There are many devices in a man's heart;
             nevertheless the counsel of the Lord,
             that shall stand.
22         The desire of a man is his kindness:
             and a poor man is better than a liar.
23         The fear of the Lord tendeth to life:
             and he that hath it shall abide satisfied;
	     he shall not be visited with evil.
24         A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom,
             and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.
25         Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware:
             and reprove one that hath understanding,
             and he will understand knowledge.
26         He that wasteth his father, and chaseth away his mother,
             is a son that causeth shame, and bringeth reproach.
27         Cease, my son, to hear the instruction
             that causeth to err from the words of knowledge.
28         An ungodly witness scorneth judgment:
             and the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity.
29         Judgments are prepared for scorners,
             and stripes for the back of fools.

Colossians chapter 2.

Paul's Ministry to the Church - continued.

1 For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; 2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; 3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words. 5 For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.

Alive in Christ.

6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
        8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: 11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: 12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. 13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

Let No One Disqualify You.

16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: 17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. 18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.
      20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, 21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not; 22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? 23 Which things have indeed a show of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.



The Second Day of April - Family Reading

Return to the Top.

Leviticus chapter 5

Laws for Sin Offerings - continued.

1 And if a soul sin, and hear the voice of swearing, and is a witness, whether he hath seen or known of it; if he do not utter it, then he shall bear his iniquity. 2 Or if a soul touch any unclean thing, whether it be a carcase of an unclean beast, or a carcase of unclean cattle, or the carcase of unclean creeping things, and if it be hidden from him; he also shall be unclean, and guilty. 3 Or if he touch the uncleanness of man, whatsoever uncleanness it be that a man shall be defiled withal, and it be hid from him; when he knoweth of it, then he shall be guilty. 4 Or if a soul swear, pronouncing with his lips to do evil, or to do good, whatsoever it be that a man shall pronounce with an oath, and it be hid from him; when he knoweth of it, then he shall be guilty in one of these. 5 And it shall be, when he shall be guilty in one of these things, that he shall confess that he hath sinned in that thing: 6 And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the LORD for his sin which he hath sinned, a female from the flock, a lamb or a kid of the goats, for a sin offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his sin.
      7 And if he be not able to bring a lamb, then he shall bring for his trespass, which he hath committed, two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, unto the LORD; one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering. 8 And he shall bring them unto the priest, who shall offer that which is for the sin offering first, and wring off his head from his neck, but shall not divide it asunder: 9 And he shall sprinkle of the blood of the sin offering upon the side of the altar; and the rest of the blood shall be wrung out at the bottom of the altar: it is a sin offering. 10 And he shall offer the second for a burnt offering, according to the manner: and the priest shall make an atonement for him for his sin which he hath sinned, and it shall be forgiven him.
      11 But if he be not able to bring two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, then he that sinned shall bring for his offering the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering; he shall put no oil upon it, neither shall he put any frankincense thereon: for it is a sin offering. 12 Then shall he bring it to the priest, and the priest shall take his handful of it, even a memorial thereof, and burn it on the altar, according to the offerings made by fire unto the LORD: it is a sin offering. 13 And the priest shall make an atonement for him as touching his sin that he hath sinned in one of these, and it shall be forgiven him: and the remnant shall be the priest's, as a meat offering.

Laws for Guilt Offerings.

14 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 15 If a soul commit a trespass, and sin through ignorance, in the holy things of the LORD; then he shall bring for his trespass unto the LORD a ram without blemish out of the flocks, with thy estimation by shekels of silver, after the shekel of the sanctuary, for a trespass offering: 16 And he shall make amends for the harm that he hath done in the holy thing, and shall add the fifth part thereto, and give it unto the priest: and the priest shall make an atonement for him with the ram of the trespass offering, and it shall be forgiven him.
        17 And if a soul sin, and commit any of these things which are forbidden to be done by the commandments of the LORD; though he wist it not, yet is he guilty, and shall bear his iniquity. 18 And he shall bring a ram without blemish out of the flock, with thy estimation, for a trespass offering, unto the priest: and the priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his ignorance wherein he erred and wist it not, and it shall be forgiven him. 19 It is a trespass offering: he hath certainly trespassed against the LORD.

Psalm 3.

Save Me, O My God.

  A PSALM OF DAVID, WHEN HE FLED FROM ABSALOM HIS SON
  
1 Lord, how are they increased that trouble me!
   many are they that rise up against me.
2 Many there be which say of my soul,
   There is no help for him in God. Selah.

3 But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me;
   my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.
4 I cried unto the Lord with my voice,
   and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.

5 I laid me down and slept;
   I awaked; for the Lord sustained me.
6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people,
   that have set themselves against me round about.

7 Arise, O Lord;
   save me, O my God:
 for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone;
   thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.
8 Salvation belongeth unto the Lord:
   thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah.

Psalm 4.

Answer Me When I Call.

  TO THE CHIEF MUSICIAN. WITH STRINGED INSTRUMENTS. A PSALM OF DAVID.
  
1 Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness:
   thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress;
  have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.

2 O ye sons of men,
   how long will ye turn my glory into shame?
  how long will ye love vanity,
   and seek after leasing? Selah.
3 But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself: 
   the Lord will hear when I call unto him.

4 Stand in awe, and sin not:
   commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still.
   Selah.
5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness,
   and put your trust in the Lord.

6 There be many that say,
   Who will shew us any good?
  Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.
7 Thou hast put gladness in my heart,
   more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased.
8 I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep:
   for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.


The Second Day of April - Personal Reading.

Proverbs chapter 20.

The Proverbs of Solomon - continued.

1        Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging:
             and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
2        The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion:
             whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.
3        It is an honour for a man to cease from strife:
             but every fool will be meddling.
4        The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold;
             therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.
5        Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water;
             but a man of understanding will draw it out.
6        Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness:
             but a faithful man who can find?
7        The just man walketh in his integrity:
             his children are blessed after him.
8        A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment
             scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
9        Who can say, I have made my heart clean,
             I am pure from my sin?
10       Divers weights, and divers measures,
              both of them are alike abomination to the LORD.
11       Even a child is known by his doings,
              whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
12       The hearing ear, and the seeing eye,
              the LORD hath made even both of them.
13       Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty;
              open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
14       It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer:
              but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
15       There is gold, and a multitude of rubies:
              but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
16       Take his garment that is surety for a stranger:
              and take a pledge of him for a strange woman
17       Bread of deceit is sweet to a man;
              but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
18       Every purpose is established by counsel:
              and with good advice make war.
19       He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets:
              therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.
20       Whoso curseth his father or his mother,
              his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.
21       An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning;
              but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
22       Say not thou, I will recompense evil;
              but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.
23       Divers weights are an abomination unto the LORD;
              and a false balance is not good.
24       Man's goings are of the LORD;
              how can a man then understand his own way?
25       It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy,
              and after vows to make inquiry.
26       A wise king scattereth the wicked,
              and bringeth the wheel over them.
27       The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD,
              searching all the inward parts of the belly
28       Mercy and truth preserve the king:
              and his throne is upholden by mercy.
29       The glory of young men is their strength:
              and the beauty of old men is the grey head.
30       The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil:
              so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.

Colossians chapter 3.

Put on the New Self.

1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
      5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: 7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. 8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. 9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; 10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: 11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
      12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. 14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

Rules for Christian Households.

18 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. 20 Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. 21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged. 22 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: 23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; 24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. 25 But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.



The Third Day of April - Family Reading

Return to the Top.

Leviticus chapter 6.

Laws for Guilt Offerings - continued.

1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2 If a soul sin, and commit a trespass against the LORD, and lie unto his neighbour in that which was delivered him to keep, or in fellowship, or in a thing taken away by violence, or hath deceived his neighbour; 3 Or have found that which was lost, and lieth concerning it, and sweareth falsely; in any of all these that a man doeth, sinning therein: 4 Then it shall be, because he hath sinned, and is guilty, that he shall restore that which he took violently away, or the thing which he hath deceitfully gotten, or that which was delivered him to keep, or the lost thing which he found, 5 Or all that about which he hath sworn falsely; he shall even restore it in the principal, and shall add the fifth part more thereto, and give it unto him to whom it appertaineth, in the day of his trespass offering. 6 And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the LORD, a ram without blemish out of the flock, with thy estimation, for a trespass offering, unto the priest: 7 And the priest shall make an atonement for him before the LORD: and it shall be forgiven him for any thing of all that he hath done in trespassing therein.

The Priest and the Offerings

8 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 9 Command Aaron and his sons, saying, This is the law of the burnt offering: It is the burnt offering, because of the burning upon the altar all night unto the morning, and the fire of the altar shall be burning in it. 10 And the priest shall put on his linen garment, and his linen breeches shall he put upon his flesh, and take up the ashes which the fire hath consumed with the burnt offering on the altar, and he shall put them beside the altar. 11 And he shall put off his garments, and put on other garments, and carry forth the ashes without the camp unto a clean place. 12 And the fire upon the altar shall be burning in it; it shall not be put out: and the priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and lay the burnt offering in order upon it; and he shall burn thereon the fat of the peace offerings. 13 The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out.
      14 And this is the law of the meat offering: the sons of Aaron shall offer it before the LORD, before the altar. 15 And he shall take of it his handful, of the flour of the meat offering, and of the oil thereof, and all the frankincense which is upon the meat offering, and shall burn it upon the altar for a sweet savour, even the memorial of it, unto the LORD. 16 And the remainder thereof shall Aaron and his sons eat: with unleavened bread shall it be eaten in the holy place; in the court of the tabernacle of the congregation they shall eat it. 17 It shall not be baken with leaven. I have given it unto them for their portion of my offerings made by fire; it is most holy, as is the sin offering, and as the trespass offering. 18 All the males among the children of Aaron shall eat of it. It shall be a statute for ever in your generations concerning the offerings of the LORD made by fire: every one that toucheth them shall be holy.
      19 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 20 This is the offering of Aaron and of his sons, which they shall offer unto the LORD in the day when he is anointed; the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a meat offering perpetual, half of it in the morning, and half thereof at night. 21 In a pan it shall be made with oil; and when it is baken, thou shalt bring it in: and the baken pieces of the meat offering shalt thou offer for a sweet savour unto the LORD. 22 And the priest of his sons that is anointed in his stead shall offer it: it is a statute for ever unto the LORD; it shall be wholly burnt. 23 For every meat offering for the priest shall be wholly burnt: it shall not be eaten.
      24 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 25 Speak unto Aaron and to his sons, saying, This is the law of the sin offering: In the place where the burnt offering is killed shall the sin offering be killed before the LORD: it is most holy. 26 The priest that offereth it for sin shall eat it: in the holy place shall it be eaten, in the court of the tabernacle of the congregation. 27 Whatsoever shall touch the flesh thereof shall be holy: and when there is sprinkled of the blood thereof upon any garment, thou shalt wash that whereon it was sprinkled in the holy place. 28 But the earthen vessel wherein it is sodden shall be broken: and if it be sodden in a brazen pot, it shall be both scoured, and rinsed in water. 29 All the males among the priests shall eat thereof: it is most holy. 30 And no sin offering, whereof any of the blood is brought into the tabernacle of the congregation to reconcile withal in the holy place, shall be eaten: it shall be burnt in the fire.

Psalm 5.

Lead Me in Your Righteousness.

TO THE CHIEF MUSICIAN UPON NEHILOTH, A PSALM OF DAVID 

1        Give ear to my words, O LORD,
           consider my meditation.
2        Hearken unto the voice of my cry,
           my King, and my God:
         for unto thee will I pray.
3        My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD;
           in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.

4        For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness:
           neither shall evil dwell with thee.
5        The foolish shall not stand in thy sight:
           thou hatest all workers of iniquity.
6        Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing:
           the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.

7        But as for me, I will come into thy house
           in the multitude of thy mercy:
         and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.
8        Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies;
           make thy way straight before my face.

9        For there is no faithfulness in their mouth;
           their inward part is very wickedness;
         their throat is an open sepulchre;
            they flatter with their tongue.
10       Destroy thou them, O God;
            let them fall by their own counsels;
         cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions;
            for they have rebelled against thee.

11       But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice:
            let them ever shout for joy,
         because thou defendest them:
            let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.
12       For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous;
            with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.

Psalm 6.

O Lord Deliver My Life.

 TO THE CHIEF MUSICIAN ON NEGINOTH UPON SHEMINITH, A PSALM OF DAVID 
 
1         O LORD, rebuke me not in thine anger,
            neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.
2         Have mercy upon me, O LORD; for I am weak:
            O LORD, heal me; for my bones are vexed.
3         My soul is also sore vexed:
            but thou, O LORD, how long?

4         Return, O LORD, deliver my soul:
            oh save me for thy mercies' sake.
5         For in death there is no remembrance of thee:
            in the grave who shall give thee thanks?

6         I am weary with my groaning;
            all the night make I my bed to swim;
            I water my couch with my tears.
7         Mine eye is consumed because of grief;
            it waxeth old because of all mine enemies.

8         Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity;
            for the LORD hath heard the voice of my weeping.
9         The LORD hath heard my supplication;
            the LORD will receive my prayer.
10        Let all mine enemies be ashamed and sore vexed:
            let them return and be ashamed suddenly.


The Third Day of April - Personal Reading.

Proverbs chapter 21.

The Proverbs of Solomon - continued.

1         The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD,
              as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.
2         Every way of a man is right in his own eyes:
              but the LORD pondereth the hearts.
3         To do justice and judgment
              is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
4         An high look, and a proud heart,
              and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.
5         The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness;
              but of every one that is hasty only to want.
6         The getting of treasures by a lying tongue
             is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death
7         The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them;
              because they refuse to do judgment.
8         The way of man is froward and strange:
              but as for the pure, his work is right.
9         It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop,
              than with a brawling woman in a wide house.
10       The soul of the wicked desireth evil:
              his neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes.
11       When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise:
              and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.
12       The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked:
              but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness
13       Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor,
              he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.
14       A gift in secret pacifieth anger:
              and a reward in the bosom strong wrath.
15       It is joy to the just to do judgment:
              but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.
16       The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding
              shall remain in the congregation of the dead.
17       He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man:
              he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.
18       The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous,
              and the transgressor for the upright.
19       It is better to dwell in the wilderness,
              than with a contentious and an angry woman
20       There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise;
              but a foolish man spendeth it up.
21       He that followeth after righteousness and mercy
              findeth life, righteousness, and honour.
22       A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty,
             and casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof.
23       Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue
              keepeth his soul from troubles.
24       Proud and haughty scorner is his name,
              who dealeth in proud wrath.
25       The desire of the slothful killeth him;
              for his hands refuse to labour.
26       He coveteth greedily all the day long:
              but the righteous giveth and spareth not.
27       The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination:
              how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?
28       A false witness shall perish:
              but the man that heareth speaketh constantly.
29       A wicked man hardeneth his face:
              but as for the upright, he directeth his way.
30       There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel
              against the LORD.
31       The horse is prepared against the day of battle:
              but safety is of the LORD.

Colossians chapter 4.

Rules for Christian Households - continued.

1 Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.

Further Instructions.

2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; 3 Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: 4 That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.
      5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. 6 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

Final Greetings.

7 All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord: 8 Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts; 9 With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here.
      10 Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister's son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;) 11 And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are my fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me. 12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. 13 For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea and them in Hierapolis. 14 Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you. 15 Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house. 16 And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea. 17 And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.
      18 The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen.



The Fourth Day of April - Family Reading

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Leviticus chapter 7.

The Priests and the Offerings - continued.

1 Likewise this is the law of the trespass offering: it is most holy. 2 In the place where they kill the burnt offering shall they kill the trespass offering: and the blood thereof shall he sprinkle round about upon the altar. 3 And he shall offer of it all the fat thereof; the rump, and the fat that covereth the inwards, 4 And the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is by the flanks, and the caul that is above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away: 5 And the priest shall burn them upon the altar for an offering made by fire unto the LORD: it is a trespass offering. 6 Every male among the priests shall eat thereof: it shall be eaten in the holy place: it is most holy. 7 As the sin offering is, so is the trespass offering: there is one law for them: the priest that maketh atonement therewith shall have it. 8 And the priest that offereth any man's burnt offering, even the priest shall have to himself the skin of the burnt offering which he hath offered. 9 And all the meat offering that is baken in the oven, and all that is dressed in the fryingpan, and in the pan, shall be the priest's that offereth it. 10 And every meat offering, mingled with oil, and dry, shall all the sons of Aaron have, one as much as another.
      11 And this is the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings, which he shall offer unto the LORD. 12 If he offer it for a thanksgiving, then he shall offer with the sacrifice of thanksgiving unleavened cakes mingled with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil, and cakes mingled with oil, of fine flour, fried. 13 Besides the cakes, he shall offer for his offering leavened bread with the sacrifice of thanksgiving of his peace offerings. 14 And of it he shall offer one out of the whole oblation for an heave offering unto the LORD, and it shall be the priest's that sprinkleth the blood of the peace offerings. 15 And the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving shall be eaten the same day that it is offered; he shall not leave any of it until the morning. 16 But if the sacrifice of his offering be a vow, or a voluntary offering, it shall be eaten the same day that he offereth his sacrifice: and on the morrow also the remainder of it shall be eaten: 17 But the remainder of the flesh of the sacrifice on the third day shall be burnt with fire. 18 And if any of the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings be eaten at all on the third day, it shall not be accepted, neither shall it be imputed unto him that offereth it: it shall be an abomination, and the soul that eateth of it shall bear his iniquity.
      19 And the flesh that toucheth any unclean thing shall not be eaten; it shall be burnt with fire: and as for the flesh, all that be clean shall eat thereof. 20 But the soul that eateth of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace offerings, that pertain unto the LORD, having his uncleanness upon him, even that soul shall be cut off from his people. 21 Moreover the soul that shall touch any unclean thing, as the uncleanness of man, or any unclean beast, or any abominable unclean thing, and eat of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace offerings, which pertain unto the LORD, even that soul shall be cut off from his people.
      22 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 23 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, Ye shall eat no manner of fat, of ox, or of sheep, or of goat. 24 And the fat of the beast that dieth of itself, and the fat of that which is torn with beasts, may be used in any other use: but ye shall in no wise eat of it. 25 For whosoever eateth the fat of the beast, of which men offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD, even the soul that eateth it shall be cut off from his people. 26 Moreover ye shall eat no manner of blood, whether it be of fowl or of beast, in any of your dwellings. 27 Whatsoever soul it be that eateth any manner of blood, even that soul shall be cut off from his people.
      28 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 29 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, He that offereth the sacrifice of his peace offerings unto the LORD shall bring his oblation unto the LORD of the sacrifice of his peace offerings. 30 His own hands shall bring the offerings of the LORD made by fire, the fat with the breast, it shall he bring, that the breast may be waved for a wave offering before the LORD. 31 And the priest shall burn the fat upon the altar: but the breast shall be Aaron's and his sons'. 32 And the right shoulder shall ye give unto the priest for an heave offering of the sacrifices of your peace offerings. 33 He among the sons of Aaron, that offereth the blood of the peace offerings, and the fat, shall have the right shoulder for his part. 34 For the wave breast and the heave shoulder have I taken of the children of Israel from off the sacrifices of their peace offerings, and have given them unto Aaron the priest and unto his sons by a statute for ever from among the children of Israel. 35 This is the portion of the anointing of Aaron, and of the anointing of his sons, out of the offerings of the LORD made by fire, in the day when he presented them to minister unto the LORD in the priest's office; 36 Which the LORD commanded to be given them of the children of Israel, in the day that he anointed them, by a statute for ever throughout their generations.
      37 This is the law of the burnt offering, of the meat offering, and of the sin offering, and of the trespass offering, and of the consecrations, and of the sacrifice of the peace offerings; 38 Which the LORD commanded Moses in mount Sinai, in the day that he commanded the children of Israel to offer their oblations unto the LORD, in the wilderness of Sinai.

Psalm 7.

In You Do I Take Refuge.

 SHIGGAION OF DAVID, WHICH HE SANG UNTO THE LORD, CONCERNING THE WORDS OF CUSH THE BENJAMITE 

1        O LORD my God, in thee do I put my trust:
           save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me:
2        Lest he tear my soul like a lion,
           rending it in pieces, while there is none to deliver.

3        O LORD my God, if I have done this;
           if there be iniquity in my hands;
4        If I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me;
           (yea, I have delivered him that without cause is mine enemy:)
5        Let the enemy persecute my soul, and take it; yea,
           let him tread down my life upon the earth,
	 	 and lay mine honour in the dust. Selah.

6        Arise, O LORD, in thine anger,
           lift up thyself because of the rage of mine enemies:
           and awake for me to the judgment that thou hast commanded.
7        So shall the congregation of the people compass thee about:
           for their sakes therefore return thou on high.

8        The LORD shall judge the people:
           judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness,
           and according to mine integrity that is in me.
9        Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end;
           but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins.
10       My defence is of God,
            which saveth the upright in heart.
11       God judgeth the righteous,
            and God is angry with the wicked every day.

12       If he turn not, he will whet his sword;
            he hath bent his bow, and made it ready.
13       He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death;
            he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors.
14       Behold, he travaileth with iniquity,
            and hath conceived mischief,
            and brought forth falsehood.
15       He made a pit, and digged it,
            and is fallen into the ditch which he made.
16       His mischief shall return upon his own head,
            and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate.

17       I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness:
            and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.

Psalm 8.

How Majestic is Your Name.

TO THE CHIEF MUSICIAN UPON GITTITH, A PSALM OF DAVID 

1         O LORD our Lord,
            how excellent is thy name in all the earth!
            who hast set thy glory above the heavens.
2         Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings
            hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies,
            that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.

3         When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers,
            the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
4         What is man, that thou art mindful of him?
            and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

5         For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels,
            and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
6         Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands;
            thou hast put all things under his feet:
7         All sheep and oxen,
            yea, and the beasts of the field;
8         The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea,
            and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.

9         9 O LORD our Lord,
            how excellent is thy name in all the earth!
 


The Fourth Day of April - Personal Reading.

Proverbs chapter 22.

The Proverbs of Solomon - continued.

 1         A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches,
              and loving favour rather than silver and gold.
2         The rich and poor meet together:
              the LORD is the maker of them all.
3         A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself:
              but the simple pass on, and are punished.
4         By humility and the fear of the LORD
             are riches, and honour, and life.
5         Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward:
              he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them.
6         Train up a child in the way he should go:
              and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
7         The rich ruleth over the poor,
             and the borrower is servant to the lender.
8         He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity:
              and the rod of his anger shall fail.
9         He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed;
              for he giveth of his bread to the poor.
10       Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out;
              yea, strife and reproach shall cease.
11       He that loveth pureness of heart,
              for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.
12       The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge,
              and he overthroweth the words of the transgressor.
13       The slothful man saith, There is a lion without,
              I shall be slain in the streets.
14       The mouth of strange women is a deep pit:
              he that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein.
15       Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child;
              but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
16       He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches,
              and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want. 

Words of the Wise.

 17       Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise,
              and apply thine heart unto my knowledge.
18       For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee;
              they shall withal be fitted in thy lips.
19       That thy trust may be in the LORD,
              I have made known to thee this day, even to thee.
20       Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge
21       That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth;
              that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?
22       Rob not the poor, because he is poor:
              neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:
23       For the LORD will plead their cause,
              and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.
24      Make no friendship with an angry man;
              and with a furious man thou shalt not go:
25       Lest thou learn his ways,
              and get a snare to thy soul.
26       Be not thou one of them that strike hands,
              or of them that are sureties for debts.
27       If thou hast nothing to pay,
              why should he take away thy bed from under thee?
28       Remove not the ancient landmark,
              which thy fathers have set.
29       Seest thou a man diligent in his business?
              he shall stand before kings;
              he shall not stand before mean men.

The First Epistle of Paul to the Thessalonians.

Introduction.

Paul wrote this letter to encourage new believers in their faith, to exhort them to godly living, to give them assurance about the eternal state of believers who had died, and to defend the integrity of his ministry as an apostle. Thessalonica (present-day Thessaloniki, Greece) was the capital of Roman Macedonia. It was on important trade routes. Paul, twice identified as the author (1:1; 2:18), visited Thessalonica on his second missionary journey but was forced to flee because of Jewish opposition. He sent Timothy to work with the largely Gentile church there, and Timothy brought him good news of their faith (3:6). This is one of Paul-s first letters, probably written about a.d. 50-51.

1 Thessalonians chapter 1.

Greeting.

1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ:

            Grace be unto you, and peace,
            from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Thessalonians' Faith and Example.

2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; 3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father; 4 Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. 5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. 6 And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost: 7 So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. 8 For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing. 9 For they themselves show of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; 10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.



The Fifth Day of April - Family Reading

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Leviticus chapter 8.

The Consecration of Aaron and His Sons.

1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments, and the anointing oil, and a bullock for the sin offering, and two rams, and a basket of unleavened bread; 3 And gather thou all the congregation together unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 4 And Moses did as the LORD commanded him; and the assembly was gathered together unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
      5 And Moses said unto the congregation, This is the thing which the LORD commanded to be done. 6 And Moses brought Aaron and his sons, and washed them with water. 7 And he put upon him the coat, and girded him with the girdle, and clothed him with the robe, and put the ephod upon him, and he girded him with the curious girdle of the ephod, and bound it unto him therewith. 8 And he put the breastplate upon him: also he put in the breastplate the Urim and the Thummim. 9 And he put the mitre upon his head; also upon the mitre, even upon his forefront, did he put the golden plate, the holy crown; as the LORD commanded Moses.
      10 And Moses took the anointing oil, and anointed the tabernacle and all that was therein, and sanctified them. 11 And he sprinkled thereof upon the altar seven times, and anointed the altar and all his vessels, both the laver and his foot, to sanctify them. 12 And he poured of the anointing oil upon Aaron's head, and anointed him, to sanctify him. 13 And Moses brought Aaron's sons, and put coats upon them, and girded them with girdles, and put bonnets upon them; as the LORD commanded Moses.
      14 And he brought the bullock for the sin offering: and Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon the head of the bullock for the sin offering. 15 And he slew it; and Moses took the blood, and put it upon the horns of the altar round about with his finger, and purified the altar, and poured the blood at the bottom of the altar, and sanctified it, to make reconciliation upon it. 16 And he took all the fat that was upon the inwards, and the caul above the liver, and the two kidneys, and their fat, and Moses burned it upon the altar. 17 But the bullock, and his hide, his flesh, and his dung, he burnt with fire without the camp; as the LORD commanded Moses.
      18 And he brought the ram for the burnt offering: and Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon the head of the ram. 19 And he killed it; and Moses sprinkled the blood upon the altar round about. 20 And he cut the ram into pieces; and Moses burnt the head, and the pieces, and the fat. 21 And he washed the inwards and the legs in water; and Moses burnt the whole ram upon the altar: it was a burnt sacrifice for a sweet savour, and an offering made by fire unto the LORD; as the LORD commanded Moses.
      22 And he brought the other ram, the ram of consecration: and Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon the head of the ram. 23 And he slew it; and Moses took of the blood of it, and put it upon the tip of Aaron's right ear, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot. 24 And he brought Aaron's sons, and Moses put of the blood upon the tip of their right ear, and upon the thumbs of their right hands, and upon the great toes of their right feet: and Moses sprinkled the blood upon the altar round about. 25 And he took the fat, and the rump, and all the fat that was upon the inwards, and the caul above the liver, and the two kidneys, and their fat, and the right shoulder: 26 And out of the basket of unleavened bread, that was before the LORD, he took one unleavened cake, and a cake of oiled bread, and one wafer, and put them on the fat, and upon the right shoulder: 27 And he put all upon Aaron's hands, and upon his sons' hands, and waved them for a wave offering before the LORD. 28 And Moses took them from off their hands, and burnt them on the altar upon the burnt offering: they were consecrations for a sweet savour: it is an offering made by fire unto the LORD. 29 And Moses took the breast, and waved it for a wave offering before the LORD: for of the ram of consecration it was Moses' part; as the LORD commanded Moses.
      30 And Moses took of the anointing oil, and of the blood which was upon the altar, and sprinkled it upon Aaron, and upon his garments, and upon his sons, and upon his sons' garments with him; and sanctified Aaron, and his garments, and his sons, and his sons' garments with him.
      31 And Moses said unto Aaron and to his sons, Boil the flesh at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and there eat it with the bread that is in the basket of consecrations, as I commanded, saying, Aaron and his sons shall eat it. 32 And that which remaineth of the flesh and of the bread shall ye burn with fire. 33 And ye shall not go out of the door of the tabernacle of the congregation in seven days, until the days of your consecration be at an end: for seven days shall he consecrate you. 34 As he hath done this day, so the LORD hath commanded to do, to make an atonement for you. 35 Therefore shall ye abide at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation day and night seven days, and keep the charge of the LORD, that ye die not: for so I am commanded. 36 So Aaron and his sons did all things which the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses.

Psalm 9.

I Will Recount Your Wonderful Deeds.

  TO THE CHIEF MUSICIAN UPON MUTHLABBEN, A PSALM OF DAVID 

1        I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart;
           I will show forth all thy marvellous works.
2        I will be glad and rejoice in thee:
           I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High.

3        When mine enemies are turned back,
           they shall fall and perish at thy presence.
4        For thou hast maintained my right and my cause;
           thou satest in the throne judging right.

5        Thou hast rebuked the heathen, thou hast destroyed the wicked,
           thou hast put out their name for ever and ever.
6        O thou enemy, destructions are come to a perpetual end:
           and thou hast destroyed cities;
         their memorial is perished with them.

7        But the LORD shall endure for ever:
           he hath prepared his throne for judgment.
8        And he shall judge the world in righteousness,
           he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness.

9        The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed,
           a refuge in times of trouble.
10       And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee:
            for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.

11       Sing praises to the LORD, which dwelleth in Zion:
            declare among the people his doings.
12       When he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them:
            he forgetteth not the cry of the humble.

13       Have mercy upon me, O LORD;
            consider my trouble which I suffer of them that hate me,
            thou that liftest me up from the gates of death:
14       That I may show forth all thy praise
            in the gates of the daughter of Zion:
            I will rejoice in thy salvation.

15       The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made:
            in the net which they hid is their own foot taken.
16       The LORD is known by the judgment which he executeth:
            the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah.

17       The wicked shall be turned into hell,
            and all the nations that forget God.
18      For the needy shall not alway be forgotten:
            the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever.

19       Arise, O LORD; let not man prevail:
            let the heathen be judged in thy sight.
20       Put them in fear, O LORD:
            that the nations may know themselves to be but men. Selah


The Fifth Day of April - Personal Reading.

Proverbs chapter 23.

Words of the Wise - continued.

 1        When thou sittest to eat with a ruler,
             consider diligently what is before thee:
2        And put a knife to thy throat,
             if thou be a man given to appetite.
3        Be not desirous of his dainties:
             for they are deceitful meat.
			 
4        Labour not to be rich:
             cease from thine own wisdom.
5        Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not?
             for riches certainly make themselves wings;
         they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.
		 
6        Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye,
             neither desire thou his dainty meats:
7        For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he:
             Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.
8        The morsel which thou hast eaten shalt thou vomit up,
             and lose thy sweet words.
			 
9        Speak not in the ears of a fool:
             for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.
			 
10       Remove not the old landmark;
              and enter not into the fields of the fatherless:
11       For their redeemer is mighty;
              he shall plead their cause with thee.
			  
12       Apply thine heart unto instruction,
              and thine ears to the words of knowledge.
			  
13       Withhold not correction from the child:
              for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.
14       Thou shalt beat him with the rod,
             and shalt deliver his soul from hell.
			 
15       My son, if thine heart be wise,
              my heart shall rejoice, even mine.
16       Yea, my reins shall rejoice,
              when thy lips speak right things.
			  
17       Let not thine heart envy sinners:
              but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.
18       For surely there is an end;
              and thine expectation shall not be cut off.
			  
19       Hear thou, my son, and be wise,
              and guide thine heart in the way.
20       Be not among winebibbers;
              among riotous eaters of flesh:
21       For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty:
              and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.

22       Hearken unto thy father that begat thee,
              and despise not thy mother when she is old.
			  
23       Buy the truth, and sell it not;
              also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.
			  
24       The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice:
              and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him.
25       Thy father and thy mother shall be glad,
              and she that bare thee shall rejoice.
			  
26       My son, give me thine heart,
              and let thine eyes observe my ways.
27       For a whore is a deep ditch;
              and a strange woman is a narrow pit.
28       She also lieth in wait as for a prey,
              and increaseth the transgressors among men.

29       Who hath woe?
              who hath sorrow?
         who hath contentions?
		 who hath babbling?
         who hath wounds without cause?
              who hath redness of eyes?
30       They that tarry long at the wine;
              they that go to seek mixed wine.
31       Look not thou upon the wine when it is red,
              when it giveth his colour in the cup,
	 when it moveth itself aright.
32       At the last it biteth like a serpent,
              and stingeth like an adder.
33       Thine eyes shall behold strange women,
              and thine heart shall utter perverse things.
34       Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea,
              or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast.
35       They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick;
              they have beaten me, and I felt it not:
	 when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.

1 Thessalonians chapter 2.

Paul's Ministry to the Thessalonians.

1 For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain: 2 But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention. 3 For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile: 4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts. 5 For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloak of covetousness; God is witness: 6 Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ. 7 But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children: 8 So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.
      9 For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God. 10 Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe: 11 As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, 12 That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.
      13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe. 14 For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews: 15 Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men: 16 Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.

Paul's Longing to See Them Again.

17 But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with great desire. 18 Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us. 19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? 20 For ye are our glory and joy



The Sixth Day of April - Family Reading

Return to the Top.

Leviticus chapter 9.

The Lord Accepts Aaron's Offering.

1 And it came to pass on the eighth day, that Moses called Aaron and his sons, and the elders of Israel; 2 And he said unto Aaron, Take thee a young calf for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering, without blemish, and offer them before the LORD. 3 And unto the children of Israel thou shalt speak, saying, Take ye a kid of the goats for a sin offering; and a calf and a lamb, both of the first year, without blemish, for a burnt offering; 4 Also a bullock and a ram for peace offerings, to sacrifice before the LORD; and a meat offering mingled with oil: for to day the LORD will appear unto you. 5 And they brought that which Moses commanded before the tabernacle of the congregation: and all the congregation drew near and stood before the LORD. 6 And Moses said, This is the thing which the LORD commanded that ye should do: and the glory of the LORD shall appear unto you. 7 And Moses said unto Aaron, Go unto the altar, and offer thy sin offering, and thy burnt offering, and make an atonement for thyself, and for the people: and offer the offering of the people, and make an atonement for them; as the LORD commanded.
      8 Aaron therefore went unto the altar, and slew the calf of the sin offering, which was for himself. 9 And the sons of Aaron brought the blood unto him: and he dipped his finger in the blood, and put it upon the horns of the altar, and poured out the blood at the bottom of the altar: 10 But the fat, and the kidneys, and the caul above the liver of the sin offering, he burnt upon the altar; as the LORD commanded Moses. 11 And the flesh and the hide he burnt with fire without the camp.
      12 And he slew the burnt offering; and Aaron's sons presented unto him the blood, which he sprinkled round about upon the altar. 13 And they presented the burnt offering unto him, with the pieces thereof, and the head: and he burnt them upon the altar. 14 And he did wash the inwards and the legs, and burnt them upon the burnt offering on the altar.
      15 And he brought the people's offering, and took the goat, which was the sin offering for the people, and slew it, and offered it for sin, as the first. 16 And he brought the burnt offering, and offered it according to the manner. 17 And he brought the meat offering, and took an handful thereof, and burnt it upon the altar, beside the burnt sacrifice of the morning.
      18 He slew also the bullock and the ram for a sacrifice of peace offerings, which was for the people: and Aaron's sons presented unto him the blood, which he sprinkled upon the altar round about, 19 And the fat of the bullock and of the ram, the rump, and that which covereth the inwards, and the kidneys, and the caul above the liver: 20 And they put the fat upon the breasts, and he burnt the fat upon the altar: 21 And the breasts and the right shoulder Aaron waved for a wave offering before the LORD; as Moses commanded.
      22 And Aaron lifted up his hand toward the people, and blessed them, and came down from offering of the sin offering, and the burnt offering, and peace offerings. 23 And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation, and came out, and blessed the people: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the people. 24 And there came a fire out from before the LORD, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.

Psalm 10.

Why Do You Hide Yourself?.

1         Why standest thou afar off, O LORD?
            why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?
2         The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor:
            let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.
			
3         For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire,
            and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth.
4         The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God:
            God is not in all his thoughts.
			
5         His ways are always grievous;
            thy judgments are far above out of his sight:
            as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them.
6         He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved:
            for I shall never be in adversity.
7         His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud:
            under his tongue is mischief and vanity.
			
8         He sitteth in the lurking places of the villages:
            in the secret places doth he murder the innocent:
            his eyes are privily set against the poor.
9         He lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den:
            he lieth in wait to catch the poor:
            he doth catch the poor, when he draweth him into his net.
10        He croucheth, and humbleth himself,
            that the poor may fall by his strong ones.
11        He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten:
            he hideth his face; he will never see it.

12        Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up thine hand:
            forget not the humble.
13        Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God?
            he hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require it.
			
14        Thou hast seen it: for thou beholdest mischief and spite,
            to requite it with thy hand: the poor committeth himself unto thee;
            thou art the helper of the fatherless.
15        Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil man:
            seek out his wickedness till thou find none.
			
16        The LORD is King for ever and ever:
            the heathen are perished out of his land.
17        LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble:
            thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:
18        To judge the fatherless and the oppressed,
            that the man of the earth may no more oppress.
 


The Sixth Day of April - Personal Reading.

Proverbs chapter 24.

Words of the Wise - continued.

1        Be not thou envious against evil men,
             neither desire to be with them.
2        For their heart studieth destruction,
             and their lips talk of mischief.
			  
3        Through wisdom is an house builded;
             and by understanding it is established:
4        And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled
             with all precious and pleasant riches.
			  
5        A wise man is strong;
             yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.
6        For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war:
             and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.
			  
7        Wisdom is too high for a fool:
             he openeth not his mouth in the gate.

8        He that deviseth to do evil
             shall be called a mischievous person.
9        The thought of foolishness is sin:
             and the scorner is an abomination to men.
			  
10       If thou faint in the day of adversity,
              thy strength is small.

11       If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death,
              and those that are ready to be slain;
12       If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it?
            and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it?
              and shall not he render to every man according to his works?

13       My son, eat thou honey, because it is good;
              and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste:
14       So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it,
              then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.

15       Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous;
              spoil not his resting place:
16       For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again:
              but the wicked shall fall into mischief.

17       Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth,
              and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:
18       Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him,
              and he turn away his wrath from him.

19       Fret not thyself because of evil men,
              neither be thou envious at the wicked;
20       For there shall be no reward to the evil man;
              the candle of the wicked shall be put out.

21       My son, fear thou the LORD and the king:
              and meddle not with them that are given to change:
22       For their calamity shall rise suddenly;
              and who knoweth the ruin of them both?

More Sayings of the Wise.

23       These things also belong to the wise.

             It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.
24       He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous;
              him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him:
25       But to them that rebuke him shall be delight,
              and a good blessing shall come upon them.
			  
26       Every man shall kiss his lips
             that giveth a right answer.

27       Prepare thy work without,
              and make it fit for thyself in the field;
              and afterwards build thine house.

28       Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause;
              and deceive not with thy lips.
29       Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me:
              I will render to the man according to his work.

30       I went by the field of the slothful,
              and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;
31       And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns,
              and nettles had covered the face thereof,
              and the stone wall thereof was broken down.
32       Then I saw, and considered it well:
              I looked upon it, and received instruction.
33       Yet a little sleep, a little slumber,
              a little folding of the hands to sleep:
34       So shall poverty come as one that traileth;
              and thy want as an armed man.

1 Thessalonians chapter 3

Paul's Longing to See Them Again - continued.

1 Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone; 2 And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith: 3 That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto. 4 For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know. 5 For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.

Timothy's Encouraging Report.

6 But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you: 7 Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith: 8 For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord. 9 For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God; 10 Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?
      11 Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you. 12 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: 13 To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.



The Seventh Day of April - Family Reading

Return to the Top.

Leviticus chapter 10.

The Death of Nadab and Abihu.

1 And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not. 2 And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD. 3 Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the LORD spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace.
      4 And Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Uzziel the uncle of Aaron, and said unto them, Come near, carry your brethren from before the sanctuary out of the camp. 5 So they went near, and carried them in their coats out of the camp; as Moses had said. 6 And Moses said unto Aaron, and unto Eleazar and unto Ithamar, his sons, Uncover not your heads, neither rend your clothes; lest ye die, and lest wrath come upon all the people: but let your brethren, the whole house of Israel, bewail the burning which the LORD hath kindled. 7 And ye shall not go out from the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: for the anointing oil of the LORD is upon you. And they did according to the word of Moses.
      8 And the LORD spake unto Aaron, saying, 9 Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations: 10 And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean; 11 And that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the LORD hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses.
      12 And Moses spake unto Aaron, and unto Eleazar and unto Ithamar, his sons that were left, Take the meat offering that remaineth of the offerings of the LORD made by fire, and eat it without leaven beside the altar: for it is most holy: 13 And ye shall eat it in the holy place, because it is thy due, and thy sons' due, of the sacrifices of the LORD made by fire: for so I am commanded. 14 And the wave breast and heave shoulder shall ye eat in a clean place; thou, and thy sons, and thy daughters with thee: for they be thy due, and thy sons' due, which are given out of the sacrifices of peace offerings of the children of Israel. 15 The heave shoulder and the wave breast shall they bring with the offerings made by fire of the fat, to wave it for a wave offering before the LORD; and it shall be thine, and thy sons' with thee, by a statute for ever; as the LORD hath commanded.
      16 And Moses diligently sought the goat of the sin offering, and, behold, it was burnt: and he was angry with Eleazar and Ithamar, the sons of Aaron which were left alive, saying, 17 Wherefore have ye not eaten the sin offering in the holy place, seeing it is most holy, and God hath given it you to bear the iniquity of the congregation, to make atonement for them before the LORD? 18 Behold, the blood of it was not brought in within the holy place: ye should indeed have eaten it in the holy place, as I commanded. 19 And Aaron said unto Moses, Behold, this day have they offered their sin offering and their burnt offering before the LORD; and such things have befallen me: and if I had eaten the sin offering to day, should it have been accepted in the sight of the LORD? 20 And when Moses heard that, he was content.

Psalm 11.

The Lord is in His Holy Templs.

 TO THE CHIEF MUSICIAN, A PSALM OF DAVID

1         In the LORD put I my trust:
            how say ye to my soul,
            Flee as a bird to your mountain?
2         For, lo, the wicked bend their bow,
            they make ready their arrow upon the string,
            that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart.
3         If the foundations be destroyed,
            what can the righteous do?

4         The LORD is in his holy temple,
            the LORD'S throne is in heaven:
            his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.
5         The LORD trieth the righteous:
            but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.
6         Upon the wicked he shall rain snares,
            fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest:
            this shall be the portion of their cup.
			
7         For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness;
            his countenance doth behold the upright.

Psalm 12.

The Faithful Have Vanished.

 TO THE CHIEF MUSICIAN UPON SHEMINITH, A PSALM OF DAVID

1         Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth;
            for the faithful fail from among the children of men.
2         They speak vanity every one with his neighbour:
            with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.

3         The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips,
            and the tongue that speaketh proud things:
4         Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail;
            our lips are our own: who is lord over us?

5         For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy,
            now will I arise, saith the LORD;			
            I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him.
			
6         The words of the LORD are pure words:
            as silver tried in a furnace of earth,
            purified seven times.
7         Thou shalt keep them, O LORD,
            thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
			
8         The wicked walk on every side,
            when the vilest men are exalted.


The Seventh Day of April - Personal Reading.

Proverbs chapter 25.

More Proverbs of Solomone.

1 These are also proverbs of Solomon,
            which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.

2        It is the glory of God to conceal a thing:
             but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.
			 
3        The heaven for height, and the earth for depth,
             and the heart of kings is unsearchable.
			 
4        Take away the dross from the silver,
             and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.
5        Take away the wicked from before the king,
             and his throne shall be established in righteousness.
			 
6        Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king,
             and stand not in the place of great men:
7        For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither;
             than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince
             whom thine eyes have seen.
			 
8        Go not forth hastily to strive,
             lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof,
             when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.
9        Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself;
             and discover not a secret to another:
10       Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame,
             and thine infamy turn not away.

11       A word fitly spoken
              is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.
12       12 As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold,
              so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.
			  
13       As the cold of snow in the time of harvest,
             so is a faithful messenger to them that send him:
              for he refresheth the soul of his masters.
			  
14       Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift
             is like clouds and wind without rain.

15       By long forbearing is a prince persuaded,
              and a soft tongue breaketh the bone
			  
16       Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee,
              lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.
			  
17       Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house;
              lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee.
			  
18       A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour
             is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.
			 
19       Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble
              is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.
			  
20       As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather,
              and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart.
			  
21       If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat;
              and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
22       For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head,
              and the LORD shall reward thee.
			  
23       The north wind driveth away rain:
              so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.
			  
24       It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop,
              than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.
			  
25       As cold waters to a thirsty soul,
              so is good news from a far country.
			  
26       A righteous man falling down before the wicked
             is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.
			 
27       It is not good to eat much honey:
              so for men to search their own glory is not glory.
			  
28       He that hath no rule over his own spirit
              is like a city that is broken down, and without walls. 
 

1 Thessalonians chapter 4.

A Life Pleasing to God.

1 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. 2 For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: 4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; 5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: 6 That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. 7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. 8 He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.
      9 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. 10 And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more; 11 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; 12 That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.

The Coming of the Lord.

13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.



The Eighth Day of April - Family Reading

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Leviticus chapter 11.

Clean and Unclean Animals.

1 And the LORD spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying unto them, 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, These are the beasts which ye shall eat among all the beasts that are on the earth. 3 Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is clovenfooted, and cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that shall ye eat. 4 Nevertheless these shall ye not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the hoof: as the camel, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you. 5 And the coney, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you. 6 And the hare, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you. 7 And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be clovenfooted, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you. 8 Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcase shall ye not touch; they are unclean to you.
      9 These shall ye eat of all that are in the waters: whatsoever hath fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, them shall ye eat. 10 And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you: 11 They shall be even an abomination unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, but ye shall have their carcases in abomination. 12 Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall be an abomination unto you.
      13 And these are they which ye shall have in abomination among the fowls; they shall not be eaten, they are an abomination: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the osprey, 14 And the vulture, and the kite after his kind; 15 Every raven after his kind; 16 And the owl, and the night hawk, and the cuckoo, and the hawk after his kind, 17 And the little owl, and the cormorant, and the great owl, 18 And the swan, and the pelican, and the gier eagle, 19 And the stork, the heron after her kind, and the lapwing, and the bat.
      20 All fowls that creep, going upon all four, shall be an abomination unto you. 21 Yet these may ye eat of every flying creeping thing that goeth upon all four, which have legs above their feet, to leap withal upon the earth; 22 Even these of them ye may eat; the locust after his kind, and the bald locust after his kind, and the beetle after his kind, and the grasshopper after his kind. 23 But all other flying creeping things, which have four feet, shall be an abomination unto you.
        24 And for these ye shall be unclean: whosoever toucheth the carcase of them shall be unclean until the even. 25 And whosoever beareth ought of the carcase of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even. 26 The carcases of every beast which divideth the hoof, and is not clovenfooted, nor cheweth the cud, are unclean unto you: every one that toucheth them shall be unclean. 27 And whatsoever goeth upon his paws, among all manner of beasts that go on all four, those are unclean unto you: whoso toucheth their carcase shall be unclean until the even. 28 And he that beareth the carcase of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: they are unclean unto you.
      29 These also shall be unclean unto you among the creeping things that creep upon the earth; the weasel, and the mouse, and the tortoise after his kind, 30 And the ferret, and the chameleon, and the lizard, and the snail, and the mole. 31 These are unclean to you among all that creep: whosoever doth touch them, when they be dead, shall be unclean until the even. 32 And upon whatsoever any of them, when they are dead, doth fall, it shall be unclean; whether it be any vessel of wood, or raiment, or skin, or sack, whatsoever vessel it be, wherein any work is done, it must be put into water, and it shall be unclean until the even; so it shall be cleansed. 33 And every earthen vessel, whereinto any of them falleth, whatsoever is in it shall be unclean; and ye shall break it. 34 Of all meat which may be eaten, that on which such water cometh shall be unclean: and all drink that may be drunk in every such vessel shall be unclean. 35 And every thing whereupon any part of their carcase falleth shall be unclean; whether it be oven, or ranges for pots, they shall be broken down: for they are unclean, and shall be unclean unto you. 36 Nevertheless a fountain or pit, wherein there is plenty of water, shall be clean: but that which toucheth their carcase shall be unclean. 37 And if any part of their carcase fall upon any sowing seed which is to be sown, it shall be clean. 38 But if any water be put upon the seed, and any part of their carcase fall thereon, it shall be unclean unto you.
      39 And if any beast, of which ye may eat, die; he that toucheth the carcase thereof shall be unclean until the even. 40 And he that eateth of the carcase of it shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: he also that beareth the carcase of it shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even.
      41 And every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth shall be an abomination; it shall not be eaten. 42 Whatsoever goeth upon the belly, and whatsoever goeth upon all four, or whatsoever hath more feet among all creeping things that creep upon the earth, them ye shall not eat; for they are an abomination. 43 Ye shall not make yourselves abominable with any creeping thing that creepeth, neither shall ye make yourselves unclean with them, that ye should be defiled thereby. 44 For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 45 For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.
      46 This is the law of the beasts, and of the fowl, and of every living creature that moveth in the waters, and of every creature that creepeth upon the earth: 47 To make a difference between the unclean and the clean, and between the beast that may be eaten and the beast that may not be eaten.

Leviticus chapter 12.

Purification After Childbirth.

1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child: then she shall be unclean seven days; according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean. 3 And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. 4 And she shall then continue in the blood of her purifying three and thirty days; she shall touch no hallowed thing, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying be fulfilled. 5 But if she bear a maid child, then she shall be unclean two weeks, as in her separation: and she shall continue in the blood of her purifying threescore and six days.
      6 And when the days of her purifying are fulfilled, for a son, or for a daughter, she shall bring a lamb of the first year for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon, or a turtledove, for a sin offering, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, unto the priest: 7 Who shall offer it before the LORD, and make an atonement for her; and she shall be cleansed from the issue of her blood. This is the law for her that hath born a male or a female. 8 And if she be not able to bring a lamb, then she shall bring two turtles, or two young pigeons; the one for the burnt offering, and the other for a sin offering: and the priest shall make an atonement for her, and she shall be clean.

Psalm 13.

How Long, O Lord?.

TO THE CHIEF MUSICIAN, A PSALM OF DAVID

1         How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever?
            how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?
2         How long shall I take counsel in my soul,
            having sorrow in my heart daily?
            how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?

3         Consider and hear me, O LORD my God:
            lighten mine eyes,
	  lest I sleep the sleep of death;
4         Lest mine enemy say,
            I have prevailed against him;
            and those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved.

5         But I have trusted in thy mercy;
            my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.
6         I will sing unto the LORD,
            because he hath dealt bountifully with me.  

Psalm 14.

The Fool Says, There Is No God.

TO THE CHIEF MUSICIAN, A PSALM OF DAVID

1         The fool hath said in his heart,
            There is no God.
          They are corrupt,
    	    they have done abominable works,
          there is none that doeth good.

2         The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men,
            to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.

3         They are all gone aside,
            they are all together become filthy:
          there is none that doeth good,
  	    no, not one.

4         Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge?
            who eat up my people as they eat bread,
	    and call not upon the LORD.
5         There were they in great fear:
            for God is in the generation of the righteous.
6         Ye have shamed the counsel of the poor,
            because the LORD is his refuge.

7         Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion!
            when the LORD bringeth back the captivity of his people,
            Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.


The Eighth Day of April - Personal Reading.

Proverbs chapter 26.

More Proverbs of Solomon - continued.

1        As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest,
             so honour is not seemly for a fool.
2        As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying,
             so the curse causeless shall not come.
3        A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass,
             and a rod for the fool's back.
4        Answer not a fool according to his folly,
             lest thou also be like unto him.
5        Answer a fool according to his folly,
             lest he be wise in his own conceit.
6        He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool
             cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage.
7        The legs of the lame are not equal:
             so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
8        As he that bindeth a stone in a sling,
             so is he that giveth honour to a fool.
9        As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard,
             so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
10       The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool,
              and rewardeth transgressors.
11       As a dog returneth to his vomit,
              so a fool returneth to his folly.
12       Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit?
              there is more hope of a fool than of him.
13       The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way;
              a lion is in the streets.
14       As the door turneth upon his hinges,
             so doth the slothful upon his bed.
15       The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom;
              it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth.
16       The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit
              than seven men that can render a reason.
17       He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him,
              is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.
18       As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,
19       So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith,
              Am not I in sport?
21       As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire;
              so is a contentious man to kindle strife.
22       The words of a talebearer are as wounds,
              and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
23       Burning lips and a wicked heart
              are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.
24       He that hateth dissembleth with his lips,
              and layeth up deceit within him;
25       When he speaketh fair, believe him not:
              for there are seven abominations in his heart.
26       Whose hatred is covered by deceit,
              his wickedness shall be showed before the whole congregation.
27       Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein:
              and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.
28       A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it;
              and a flattering mouth worketh ruin. 

1 Thessalonians chapter 5.

The Day of the Lord.

1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. 2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. 8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. 9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. 11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

Final Instructions and Benediction.

12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; 13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves. 14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. 15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. 16 Rejoice evermore. 17 Pray without ceasing. 18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 19 Quench not the Spirit. 20 Despise not prophesyings. 21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 22 Abstain from all appearance of evil. <
      23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.<
      25 Brethren, pray for us.
      26 Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss.
      27 I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren.
      28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.



The Ninth Day of April - Family Reading

Return to the Top.

Leviticus chapter 13.

Laws About Leprosy.

1 And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, saying, 2 When a man shall have in the skin of his flesh a rising, a scab, or bright spot, and it be in the skin of his flesh like the plague of leprosy; then he shall be brought unto Aaron the priest, or unto one of his sons the priests: 3 And the priest shall look on the plague in the skin of the flesh: and when the hair in the plague is turned white, and the plague in sight be deeper than the skin of his flesh, it is a plague of leprosy: and the priest shall look on him, and pronounce him unclean. 4 If the bright spot be white in the skin of his flesh, and in sight be not deeper than the skin, and the hair thereof be not turned white; then the priest shall shut up him that hath the plague seven days: 5 And the priest shall look on him the seventh day: and, behold, if the plague in his sight be at a stay, and the plague spread not in the skin; then the priest shall shut him up seven days more: 6 And the priest shall look on him again the seventh day: and, behold, if the plague be somewhat dark, and the plague spread not in the skin, the priest shall pronounce him clean: it is but a scab: and he shall wash his clothes, and be clean. 7 But if the scab spread much abro
      9 When the plague of leprosy is in a man, then he shall be brought unto the priest; 10 And the priest shall see him: and, behold, if the rising be white in the skin, and it have turned the hair white, and there be quick raw flesh in the rising; 11 It is an old leprosy in the skin of his flesh, and the priest shall pronounce him unclean, and shall not shut him up: for he is unclean. 12 And if a leprosy break out abroad in the skin, and the leprosy cover all the skin of him that hath the plague from his head even to his foot, wheresoever the priest looketh; 13 Then the priest shall consider: and, behold, if the leprosy have covered all his flesh, he shall pronounce him clean that hath the plague: it is all turned white: he is clean. 14 But when raw flesh appeareth in him, he shall be unclean. 15 And the priest shall see the raw flesh, and pronounce him to be unclean: for the raw flesh is unclean: it is a leprosy. 16 Or if the raw flesh turn again, and be changed unto white, he shall come unto the priest; 17 And the priest shall see him: and, behold, if the plague be turned into white; then the priest shall pronounce him clean that hath the plague: he is clean.
      18 The flesh also, in which, even in the skin thereof, was a boil, and is healed, 19 And in the place of the boil there be a white rising, or a bright spot, white, and somewhat reddish, and it be showed to the priest; 20 And if, when the priest seeth it, behold, it be in sight lower than the skin, and the hair thereof be turned white; the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is a plague of leprosy broken out of the boil. 21 But if the priest look on it, and, behold, there be no white hairs therein, and if it be not lower than the skin, but be somewhat dark; then the priest shall shut him up seven days: 22 And if it spread much abroad in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is a plague. 23 But if the bright spot stay in his place, and spread not, it is a burning boil; and the priest shall pronounce him clean.
      24 Or if there be any flesh, in the skin whereof there is a hot burning, and the quick flesh that burneth have a white bright spot, somewhat reddish, or white; 25 Then the priest shall look upon it: and, behold, if the hair in the bright spot be turned white, and it be in sight deeper than the skin; it is a leprosy broken out of the burning: wherefore the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is the plague of leprosy. 26 But if the priest look on it, and, behold, there be no white hair in the bright spot, and it be no lower than the other skin, but be somewhat dark; then the priest shall shut him up seven days: 27 And the priest shall look upon him the seventh day: and if it be spread much abroad in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is the plague of leprosy. 28 And if the bright spot stay in his place, and spread not in the skin, but it be somewhat dark; it is a rising of the burning, and the priest shall pronounce him clean: for it is an inflammation of the burning.
      29 If a man or woman have a plague upon the head or the beard; 30 Then the priest shall see the plague: and, behold, if it be in sight deeper than the skin; and there be in it a yellow thin hair; then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is a dry scall, even a leprosy on the head or beard. 31 And if the priest look on the plague of the scall, and, behold, it be not in sight deeper than the skin, and that there is no black hair in it; then the priest shall shut up him that hath the plague of the scall seven days: 32 And in the seventh day the priest shall look on the plague: and, behold, if the scall spread not, and there be in it no yellow hair, and the scall be not in sight deeper than the skin; 33 He shall be shaven, but the scall shall he not shave; and the priest shall shut up him that hath the scall seven days more: 34 And in the seventh day the priest shall look on the scall: and, behold, if the scall be not spread in the skin, nor be in sight deeper than the skin; then the priest shall pronounce him clean: and he shall wash his clothes, and be clean. 35 But if the scall spread much in the skin after his cleansing; 36 Then the priest shall look on him: and, behold, if the scall be spread in the skin, the priest shall not seek for yellow hair; he is unclean. 37 But if the scall be in his sight at a stay, and that there is black hair grown up therein; the scall is healed, he is clean: and the priest shall pronounce him clean.
      38 If a man also or a woman have in the skin of their flesh bright spots, even white bright spots; 39 Then the priest shall look: and, behold, if the bright spots in the skin of their flesh be darkish white; it is a freckled spot that groweth in the skin; he is clean.
      40 And the man whose hair is fallen off his head, he is bald; yet is he clean. 41 And he that hath his hair fallen off from the part of his head toward his face, he is forehead bald: yet is he clean. 42 And if there be in the bald head, or bald forehead, a white reddish sore; it is a leprosy sprung up in his bald head, or his bald forehead. 43 Then the priest shall look upon it: and, behold, if the rising of the sore be white reddish in his bald head, or in his bald forehead, as the leprosy appeareth in the skin of the flesh; 44 He is a leprous man, he is unclean: the priest shall pronounce him utterly unclean; his plague is in his head.
      45 And the leper in whom the plague is, his clothes shall be rent, and his head bare, and he shall put a covering upon his upper lip, and shall cry, Unclean, unclean. 46 All the days wherein the plague shall be in him he shall be defiled; he is unclean: he shall dwell alone; without the camp shall his habitation be.
      47 The garment also that the plague of leprosy is in, whether it be a woollen garment, or a linen garment; 48 Whether it be in the warp, or woof; of linen, or of woollen; whether in a skin, or in any thing made of skin; 49 And if the plague be greenish or reddish in the garment, or in the skin, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in any thing of skin; it is a plague of leprosy, and shall be showed unto the priest: 50 And the priest shall look upon the plague, and shut up it that hath the plague seven days: 51 And he shall look on the plague on the seventh day: if the plague be spread in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in a skin, or in any work that is made of skin; the plague is a fretting leprosy; it is unclean. 52 He shall therefore burn that garment, whether warp or woof, in woollen or in linen, or any thing of skin, wherein the plague is: for it is a fretting leprosy; it shall be burnt in the fire.
      53 And if the priest shall look, and, behold, the plague be not spread in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in any thing of skin; 54 Then the priest shall command that they wash the thing wherein the plague is, and he shall shut it up seven days more: 55 And the priest shall look on the plague, after that it is washed: and, behold, if the plague have not changed his colour, and the plague be not spread; it is unclean; thou shalt burn it in the fire; it is fret inward, whether it be bare within or without.
      56 And if the priest look, and, behold, the plague be somewhat dark after the washing of it; then he shall rend it out of the garment, or out of the skin, or out of the warp, or out of the woof: 57 And if it appear still in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in any thing of skin; it is a spreading plague: thou shalt burn that wherein the plague is with fire. 58 And the garment, either warp, or woof, or whatsoever thing of skin it be, which thou shalt wash, if the plague be departed from them, then it shall be washed the second time, and shall be clean.
      59 This is the law of the plague of leprosy in a garment of woollen or linen, either in the warp, or woof, or any thing of skins, to pronounce it clean, or to pronounce it unclean.

Psalm 15.

Who Shall Dwell on Your Holy Hill?.

A PSALM OF DAVID

1         LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle?
            who shall dwell in thy holy hill?

2         He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness,
            and speaketh the truth in his heart.
3         He that backbiteth not with his tongue,
            nor doeth evil to his neighbour,
            nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.
4         In whose eyes a vile person is contemned;
            but he honoureth them that fear the LORD.
            He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.
5         He that putteth not out his money to usury,
            nor taketh reward against the innocent.
			
            He that doeth these things shall never be moved.

Psalm 16.

You Will Not Abandon My Soul.

MICHTAM OF DAVID

1         Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust.
2         O my soul, thou hast said unto the LORD, Thou art my Lord:
            my goodness extendeth not to thee;

3         But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent,
            in whom is all my delight.
4         Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god:
            their drink offerings of blood will I not offer,
            nor take up their names into my lips.

5         The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup:
            thou maintainest my lot.
6         The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places;
            yea, I have a goodly heritage.

7         I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel:
            my reins also instruct me in the night seasons.
8         I have set the LORD always before me:
            because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

9         Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth:
            my flesh also shall rest in hope.
10        For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell;
            neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

11        Thou wilt show me the path of life:
            in thy presence is fulness of joy;
            at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
 


The Ninth Day of April - Personal Reading.

Proverbs chapter 27.

More Proverbs of Solomon - continued.

 1        Boast not thyself of to morrow;
             for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.
2        Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth;
             a stranger, and not thine own lips.
3        A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty;
             but a fool's wrath is heavier than them both.
4        Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous;
             but who is able to stand before envy?
5        Open rebuke is better
             than secret love.
6        Faithful are the wounds of a friend;
              but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
7        The full soul loatheth an honeycomb;
             but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.
8        As a bird that wandereth from her nest,
             so is a man that wandereth from his place.
9        Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart:
             so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel.
10       Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not;
             neither go into thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity:
             for better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.
11       My son, be wise, and make my heart glad,
              that I may answer him that reproacheth me.
12       A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself;
              but the simple pass on, and are punished.
13       Take his garment that is surety for a stranger,
              and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
14       He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice,
              rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him.
15       A continual dropping in a very rainy day
              and a contentious woman are alike.
16       Whosoever hideth her hideth the wind,
              and the ointment of his right hand, which bewrayeth itself
17       Iron sharpeneth iron;
              so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
18       Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof:
              so he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured.
19       As in water face answereth to face,
              so the heart of man to man.
20       Hell and destruction are never full;
              so the eyes of man are never satisfied.
21       As the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold;
              so is a man to his praise.
22      Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle,
              yet will not his foolishness depart from him.
			  
23       Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks,
              and look well to thy herds.
24       For riches are not for ever:
              and doth the crown endure to every generation?
25       The hay appeareth, and the tender grass showeth itself,
              and herbs of the mountains are gathered.
26       The lambs are for thy clothing,
              and the goats are the price of the field.
27       And thou shalt have goats' milk enough for thy food,
              for the food of thy household, and for the maintenance for thy maidens.  

The Second Epistle of Paul to the Thessalonians.

Introduction.

This letter from the apostle Paul was probably written shortly after his first letter to the church in Thessalonica. He had been boasting of them to other churches, telling of their faith and their love for each other in the face of persecution. Paul reminded them that God will repay their persecutors. He also addressed two recurring problems in this church. First, they were concerned that the Lord had already returned. Paul urged them not to become "shaken in mind or alarmed," fearing that "the day of the Lord" (2:2) had already come. Second, he admonished them not to be idle, commanding them that, "If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat" (3:10).

2 Thessalonians chapter 1.

Greeting.

1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
      2 Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanksgiving.

3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth; 4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:

The Judgment of Christ's Coming.

5 Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer: 6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; 7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; 10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day. 11 Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power: 12 That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.



The Tenth Day of April - Family Reading

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Leviticus chapter 14.

Laws For Cleansing Lepers.

1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2 This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing: He shall be brought unto the priest: 3 And the priest shall go forth out of the camp; and the priest shall look, and, behold, if the plague of leprosy be healed in the leper; 4 Then shall the priest command to take for him that is to be cleansed two birds alive and clean, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop: 5 And the priest shall command that one of the birds be killed in an earthen vessel over running water: 6 As for the living bird, he shall take it, and the cedar wood, and the scarlet, and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water: 7 And he shall sprinkle upon him that is to be cleansed from the leprosy seven times, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the living bird loose into the open field. 8 And he that is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes, and shave off all his hair, and wash himself in water, that he may be clean: and after that he shall come into the camp, and shall tarry abroad out of his tent seven days. 9 But it shall be on the seventh day, that he shall shave all his hair off his head and his beard and his eyebrows, even all his hair he shall shave off: and he shall wash his clothes, also he shall wash his flesh in water, and he shall be clean.
      10 And on the eighth day he shall take two he lambs without blemish, and one ewe lamb of the first year without blemish, and three tenth deals of fine flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, and one log of oil. 11 And the priest that maketh him clean shall present the man that is to be made clean, and those things, before the LORD, at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: 12 And the priest shall take one he lamb, and offer him for a trespass offering, and the log of oil, and wave them for a wave offering before the LORD: 13 And he shall slay the lamb in the place where he shall kill the sin offering and the burnt offering, in the holy place: for as the sin offering is the priest's, so is the trespass offering: it is most holy: 14 And the priest shall take some of the blood of the trespass offering, and the priest shall put it upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot: 15 And the priest shall take some of the log of oil, and pour it into the palm of his own left hand: 16 And the priest shall dip his right finger in the oil that is in his left hand, and shall sprinkle of the oil with his finger seven times before the LORD: 17 And of the rest of the oil that is in his hand shall the priest put upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot, upon the blood of the trespass offering: 18 And the remnant of the oil that is in the priest's hand he shall pour upon the head of him that is to be cleansed: and the priest shall make an atonement for him before the LORD. 19 And the priest shall offer the sin offering, and make an atonement for him that is to be cleansed from his uncleanness; and afterward he shall kill the burnt offering: 20 And the priest shall offer the burnt offering and the meat offering upon the altar: and the priest shall make an atonement for him, and he shall be clean.
      21 And if he be poor, and cannot get so much; then he shall take one lamb for a trespass offering to be waved, to make an atonement for him, and one tenth deal of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering, and a log of oil; 22 And two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, such as he is able to get; and the one shall be a sin offering, and the other a burnt offering. 23 And he shall bring them on the eighth day for his cleansing unto the priest, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, before the LORD. 24 And the priest shall take the lamb of the trespass offering, and the log of oil, and the priest shall wave them for a wave offering before the LORD: 25 And he shall kill the lamb of the trespass offering, and the priest shall take some of the blood of the trespass offering, and put it upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot: 26 And the priest shall pour of the oil into the palm of his own left hand: 27 And the priest shall sprinkle with his right finger some of the oil that is in his left hand seven times before the LORD: 28 And the priest shall put of the oil that is in his hand upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot, upon the place of the blood of the trespass offering: 29 And the rest of the oil that is in the priest's hand he shall put upon the head of him that is to be cleansed, to make an atonement for him before the LORD. 30 And he shall offer the one of the turtledoves, or of the young pigeons, such as he can get; 31 Even such as he is able to get, the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering, with the meat offering: and the priest shall make an atonement for him that is to be cleansed before the LORD. 32 This is the law of him in whom is the plague of leprosy, whose hand is not able to get that which pertaineth to his cleansing.

Laws For Cleansing Houses.

33 And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, 34 When ye be come into the land of Canaan, which I give to you for a possession, and I put the plague of leprosy in a house of the land of your possession; 35 And he that owneth the house shall come and tell the priest, saying, It seemeth to me there is as it were a plague in the house: 36 Then the priest shall command that they empty the house, before the priest go into it to see the plague, that all that is in the house be not made unclean: and afterward the priest shall go in to see the house: 37 And he shall look on the plague, and, behold, if the plague be in the walls of the house with hollow streaks, greenish or reddish, which in sight are lower than the wall; 38 Then the priest shall go out of the house to the door of the house, and shut up the house seven days: 39 And the priest shall come again the seventh day, and shall look: and, behold, if the plague be spread in the walls of the house; 40 Then the priest shall command that they take away the stones in which the plague is, and they shall cast them into an unclean place without the city: 41 And he shall cause the house to be scraped within round about, and they shall pour out the dust that they scrape off without the city into an unclean place: 42 And they shall take other stones, and put them in the place of those stones; and he shall take other mortar, and shall plaster the house.
      43 And if the plague come again, and break out in the house, after that he hath taken away the stones, and after he hath scraped the house, and after it is plastered; 44 Then the priest shall come and look, and, behold, if the plague be spread in the house, it is a fretting leprosy in the house: it is unclean. 45 And he shall break down the house, the stones of it, and the timber thereof, and all the mortar of the house; and he shall carry them forth out of the city into an unclean place. 46 Moreover he that goeth into the house all the while that it is shut up shall be unclean until the even. 47 And he that lieth in the house shall wash his clothes; and he that eateth in the house shall wash his clothes.
      48 And if the priest shall come in, and look upon it, and, behold, the plague hath not spread in the house, after the house was plastered: then the priest shall pronounce the house clean, because the plague is healed. 49 And he shall take to cleanse the house two birds, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop: 50 And he shall kill the one of the birds in an earthen vessel over running water: 51 And he shall take the cedar wood, and the hyssop, and the scarlet, and the living bird, and dip them in the blood of the slain bird, and in the running water, and sprinkle the house seven times: 52 And he shall cleanse the house with the blood of the bird, and with the running water, and with the living bird, and with the cedar wood, and with the hyssop, and with the scarlet: 53 But he shall let go the living bird out of the city into the open fields, and make an atonement for the house: and it shall be clean.
      54 This is the law for all manner of plague of leprosy, and scall, 55 And for the leprosy of a garment, and of a house, 56 And for a rising, and for a scab, and for a bright spot: 57 To teach when it is unclean, and when it is clean: this is the law of leprosy.

Psalm 17.

In the Shadow of Your Wings.

 A PRAYER OF DAVID

1         Hear the right, O LORD, attend unto my cry,
            give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips.
2         Let my sentence come forth from thy presence;
            let thine eyes behold the things that are equal.
			
3         Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night;
            thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing;
            I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.
4         Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips
            I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.
5         Hold up my goings in thy paths,
            that my footsteps slip not.

6         I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God:
            incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech.
7         Show thy marvellous lovingkindness,
            O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee
            from those that rise up against them.
8         Keep me as the apple of the eye,
            hide me under the shadow of thy wings,
9         From the wicked that oppress me,
            from my deadly enemies, who compass me about.

10        They are enclosed in their own fat:
             with their mouth they speak proudly.
11        They have now compassed us in our steps:
             they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth;
12        Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey,
             and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.

13        Arise, O LORD, disappoint him, cast him down:
             deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword:
14        From men which are thy hand, O LORD,
             from men of the world, which have their portion in this life,
             and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure:
             they are full of children,
             and leave the rest of their substance to their babes.

15        As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness:
             I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.
 


The Tenth Day of April - Personal Reading.

Proverbs chapter 28.

More Proverbs of Solomon - continued.

1        The wicked flee when no man pursueth:
             but the righteous are bold as a lion.
2        For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof:
             but by a man of understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged.
3        A poor man that oppresseth the poor
            is like a sweeping rain which leaveth no food.
4        They that forsake the law praise the wicked:
             but such as keep the law contend with them.
5        Evil men understand not judgment:
             but they that seek the LORD understand all things.
7        Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son:
             but he that is a companion of riotous men shameth his father.
8        He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance,
             he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor.
9        He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law,
             even his prayer shall be abomination.
10       Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way,
              he shall fall himself into his own pit:
              but the upright shall have good things in possession.
11       The rich man is wise in his own conceit;
              but the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out.
12       When righteous men do rejoice, there is great glory:
              but when the wicked rise, a man is hidden.
13       He that covereth his sins shall not prosper:
              but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.
14       Happy is the man that feareth alway:
              but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.
15       As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear;
              so is a wicked ruler over the poor people.
16       The prince that wanteth understanding is also a great oppressor:
              but he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days.
17       A man that doeth violence to the blood of any person
              shall flee to the pit;
              let no man stay him.
18       Whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved:
              but he that is perverse in his ways shall fall at once.
19       He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread:
              but he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough.
20       A faithful man shall abound with blessings:
              but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.
21       To have respect of persons is not good:
              for for a piece of bread that man will transgress.
22       He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye,
              and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him.
23       He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favour
             than he that flattereth with the tongue.
24       Whoso robbeth his father or his mother, and saith,
             It is no transgression; the same is the companion of a destroyer.
25       He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife:
              but he that putteth his trust in the LORD shall be made fat.
26       He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool:
              but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.
27       He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack:
              but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.
28       When the wicked rise, men hide themselves:
              but when they perish, the righteous increase.

2 Thessalonians chapter 2.

The Man of Lawlessness.

1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, 2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. 3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. 5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? 6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. 7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Stand Firm.

13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: 14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.
      16 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, 17 Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.



The Eleventh Day of April - Family Reading

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Leviticus chapter 15.

Laws About Bodily Discharges.

1 And the LORD spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying, 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When any man hath a running issue out of his flesh, because of his issue he is unclean. 3 And this shall be his uncleanness in his issue: whether his flesh run with his issue, or his flesh be stopped from his issue, it is his uncleanness. 4 Every bed, whereon he lieth that hath the issue, is unclean: and every thing, whereon he sitteth, shall be unclean. 5 And whosoever toucheth his bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. 6 And he that sitteth on any thing whereon he sat that hath the issue shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. 7 And he that toucheth the flesh of him that hath the issue shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. 8 And if he that hath the issue spit upon him that is clean; then he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. 9 And what saddle soever he rideth upon that hath the issue shall be unclean. 10 And whosoever toucheth any thing that was under him shall be unclean until the even: and he that beareth any of those things shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. 11 And whomsoever he toucheth that hath the issue, and hath not rinsed his hands in water, he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. 12 And the vessel of earth, that he toucheth which hath the issue, shall be broken: and every vessel of wood shall be rinsed in water.
      13 And when he that hath an issue is cleansed of his issue; then he shall number to himself seven days for his cleansing, and wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in running water, and shall be clean. 14 And on the eighth day he shall take to him two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, and come before the LORD unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and give them unto the priest: 15 And the priest shall offer them, the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for him before the LORD for his issue.
      16 And if any man's seed of copulation go out from him, then he shall wash all his flesh in water, and be unclean until the even. 17 And every garment, and every skin, whereon is the seed of copulation, shall be washed with water, and be unclean until the even. 18 The woman also with whom man shall lie with seed of copulation, they shall both bathe themselves in water, and be unclean until the even.
      19 And if a woman have an issue, and her issue in her flesh be blood, she shall be put apart seven days: and whosoever toucheth her shall be unclean until the even. 20 And every thing that she lieth upon in her separation shall be unclean: every thing also that she sitteth upon shall be unclean. 21 And whosoever toucheth her bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. 22 And whosoever toucheth any thing that she sat upon shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. 23 And if it be on her bed, or on any thing whereon she sitteth, when he toucheth it, he shall be unclean until the even. 24 And if any man lie with her at all, and her flowers be upon him, he shall be unclean seven days; and all the bed whereon he lieth shall be unclean.
      25 And if a woman have an issue of her blood many days out of the time of her separation, or if it run beyond the time of her separation; all the days of the issue of her uncleanness shall be as the days of her separation: she shall be unclean. 26 Every bed whereon she lieth all the days of her issue shall be unto her as the bed of her separation: and whatsoever she sitteth upon shall be unclean, as the uncleanness of her separation. 27 And whosoever toucheth those things shall be unclean, and shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. 28 But if she be cleansed of her issue, then she shall number to herself seven days, and after that she shall be clean. 29 And on the eighth day she shall take unto her two turtles, or two young pigeons, and bring them unto the priest, to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 30 And the priest shall offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for her before the LORD for the issue of her uncleanness.
      31 Thus shall ye separate the children of Israel from their uncleanness; that they die not in their uncleanness, when they defile my tabernacle that is among them.
      32 This is the law of him that hath an issue, and of him whose seed goeth from him, and is defiled therewith; 33 And of her that is sick of her flowers, and of him that hath an issue, of the man, and of the woman, and of him that lieth with her that is unclean.

Psalm 18.

The Lord is My Rock and Fortress.

 TO THE CHIEF MUSICIAN, A PSALM OF DAVID, THE SERVANT OF THE LORD,
 WHO SPAKE UNTO THE LORD THE WORDS OF THIS SONG IN THE DAY THAT THE LORD DELIVERED HIM FROM THE HAND OF ALL HIS ENEMIES,
 AND FROM THE HAND OF SAUL: AND HE SAID,

1        I will love thee, O LORD, my strength.
2        The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;
           my God, my strength, in whom I will trust;
           my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
3        I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised:
           so shall I be saved from mine enemies.

4        The sorrows of death compassed me,
           and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid.
5        The sorrows of hell compassed me about:
           the snares of death prevented me.

6        In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God:
           he heard my voice out of his temple,
           and my cry came before him, even into his ears.

7        Then the earth shook and trembled;
           the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken,
           because he was wroth.
8        There went up a smoke out of his nostrils,
           and fire out of his mouth devoured:
           coals were kindled by it.
9        He bowed the heavens also, and came down:
           and darkness was under his feet.
10       And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly:
            yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind.
11       He made darkness his secret place;
            his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.
12       At the brightness that was before him
            his thick clouds passed, hail stones and coals of fire.

13       The LORD also thundered in the heavens,
            and the Highest gave his voice;
            hail stones and coals of fire.
14       Yea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them;
            and he shot out lightnings, and discomfited them.
15       Then the channels of waters were seen,
            and the foundations of the world were discovered at thy rebuke,
            O LORD, at the blast of the breath of thy nostrils.

16       He sent from above, he took me,
            he drew me out of many waters.
17       He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me:
            for they were too strong for me.
18       They prevented me in the day of my calamity:
            but the LORD was my stay.
19      He brought me forth also into a large place;
            he delivered me, because he delighted in me.

20       The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness;
            according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.
21       For I have kept the ways of the LORD,
            and have not wickedly departed from my God.
22       For all his judgments were before me,
            and I did not put away his statutes from me.
23       I was also upright before him,
            and I kept myself from mine iniquity.
24       Therefore hath the LORD recompensed me according to my righteousness,
            according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.

25       With the merciful thou wilt show thyself merciful;
            with an upright man thou wilt show thyself upright;
26       With the pure thou wilt show thyself pure;
            and with the froward thou wilt show thyself froward.
27       For thou wilt save the afflicted people;
            but wilt bring down high looks
28       For thou wilt light my candle:
            the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness
29       For by thee I have run through a troop;
            and by my God have I leaped over a wall.
30       As for God, his way is perfect:
            the word of the LORD is tried:
            he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.

31       For who is God save the LORD?
            or who is a rock save our God?
32       It is God that girdeth me with strength,
            and maketh my way perfect.
33       He maketh my feet like hinds' feet,
            and setteth me upon my high places.
34       He teacheth my hands to war,
            so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.
35       Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation:
            and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great.
36       Thou hast enlarged my steps under me,
            that my feet did not slip.
37       I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them:
            neither did I turn again till they were consumed.
38       I have wounded them that they were not able to rise:
            they are fallen under my feet.
39       For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle:
            thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me.
40       Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies;
            that I might destroy them that hate me.
41       They cried, but there was none to save them:
            even unto the LORD, but he answered them not.
42       Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind:
            I did cast them out as the dirt in the streets.

43      Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people;
            and thou hast made me the head of the heathen:
            a people whom I have not known shall serve me.
44       As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me:
            the strangers shall submit themselves unto me.
45       The strangers shall fade away,
            and be afraid out of their close places.

46       The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock;
            and let the God of my salvation be exalted.
47       It is God that avengeth me,
            and subdueth the people under me.
48       He delivereth me from mine enemies:
            yea, thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me:
            thou hast delivered me from the violent man.

49       Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD,
            among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name
50       Great deliverance giveth he to his king;
            and showeth mercy to his anointed,
            to David, and to his seed for evermore.
 


The Eleventh Day of April - Personal Reading.

Proverbs chapter 29.

More Proverbs of Solomon - continued.

1        He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck,
             shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.
2        When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice:
             but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.
3        Whoso loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father:
             but he that keepeth company with harlots spendeth his substance.
4        The king by judgment establisheth the land:
             but he that receiveth gifts overthroweth it.
5        A man that flattereth his neighbour
            spreadeth a net for his feet.
6        In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare:
             but the righteous doth sing and rejoice.
7        The righteous considereth the cause of the poor:
             but the wicked regardeth not to know it.
8        Scornful men bring a city into a snare:
             but wise men turn away wrath.
9        If a wise man contendeth with a foolish man,
             whether he rage or laugh, there is no rest.
10       The bloodthirsty hate the upright:
              but the just seek his soul.
11       A fool uttereth all his mind:
              but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.
12       If a ruler hearken to lies,
             all his servants are wicked.
13       The poor and the deceitful man meet together:
              the LORD lighteneth both their eyes.
14       The king that faithfully judgeth the poor,
              his throne shall be established for ever.
15       The rod and reproof give wisdom:
              but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.
16       When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increaseth:
              but the righteous shall see their fall.
17       Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest;
              yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul.
18       Where there is no vision, the people perish:
              but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
19       A servant will not be corrected by words:
              for though he understand he will not answer.
20       Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words?
              there is more hope of a fool than of him.
21       He that delicately bringeth up his servant from a child
              shall have him become his son at the length.
22       An angry man stirreth up strife,
              and a furious man aboundeth in transgression.
23       A man's pride shall bring him low:
              but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.
24       Whoso is partner with a thief hateth his own soul:
              he heareth cursing, and bewrayeth it not.
25       The fear of man bringeth a snare:
              but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.
26       Many seek the ruler's favour;
              but every man's judgment cometh from the LORD.
27       An unjust man is an abomination to the just:
              and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked.
 

2 Thessalonians chapter 3.

Pray for Us.

1 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you: 2 And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil. 4 And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command you. 5 And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.

Warning Against Idleness.

6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. 7 For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you; 8 Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you: 9 Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us. 10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. 11 For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. 12 Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread. 13 But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing. 14 And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. 15 Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

Benediction.

16 Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all.
      17 The salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle: so I write. 18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.



The Twelfth Day of April - Family Reading

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Leviticus chapter 16.

The Day of Atonement.

1 And the LORD spake unto Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they offered before the LORD, and died; 2 And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the veil before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat. 3 Thus shall Aaron come into the holy place: with a young bullock for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering. 4 He shall put on the holy linen coat, and he shall have the linen breeches upon his flesh, and shall be girded with a linen girdle, and with the linen mitre shall he be attired: these are holy garments; therefore shall he wash his flesh in water, and so put them on. 5 And he shall take of the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering.
      6 And Aaron shall offer his bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make an atonement for himself, and for his house. 7 And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 8 And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat. 9 And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the LORD'S lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering. 10 But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness.
      11 And Aaron shall bring the bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and shall make an atonement for himself, and for his house, and shall kill the bullock of the sin offering which is for himself: 12 And he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before the LORD, and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within the veil: 13 And he shall put the incense upon the fire before the LORD, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is upon the testimony, that he die not: 14 And he shall take of the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it with his finger upon the mercy seat eastward; and before the mercy seat shall he sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven times.
      15 Then shall he kill the goat of the sin offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the veil, and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat: 16 And he shall make an atonement for the holy place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins: and so shall he do for the tabernacle of the congregation, that remaineth among them in the midst of their uncleanness. 17 And there shall be no man in the tabernacle of the congregation when he goeth in to make an atonement in the holy place, until he come out, and have made an atonement for himself, and for his household, and for all the congregation of Israel. 18 And he shall go out unto the altar that is before the LORD, and make an atonement for it; and shall take of the blood of the bullock, and of the blood of the goat, and put it upon the horns of the altar round about. 19 And he shall sprinkle of the blood upon it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it, and hallow it from the uncleanness of the children of Israel.
      20 And when he hath made an end of reconciling the holy place, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar, he shall bring the live goat: 21 And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness: 22 And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness.
      23 And Aaron shall come into the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall put off the linen garments, which he put on when he went into the holy place, and shall leave them there: 24 And he shall wash his flesh with water in the holy place, and put on his garments, and come forth, and offer his burnt offering, and the burnt offering of the people, and make an atonement for himself, and for the people. 25 And the fat of the sin offering shall he burn upon the altar. 26 And he that let go the goat for the scapegoat shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward come into the camp. 27 And the bullock for the sin offering, and the goat for the sin offering, whose blood was brought in to make atonement in the holy place, shall one carry forth without the camp; and they shall burn in the fire their skins, and their flesh, and their dung. 28 And he that burneth them shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp.
      29 And this shall be a statute for ever unto you: that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger that sojourneth among you: 30 For on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the LORD. 31 It shall be a sabbath of rest unto you, and ye shall afflict your souls, by a statute for ever. 32 And the priest, whom he shall anoint, and whom he shall consecrate to minister in the priest's office in his father's stead, shall make the atonement, and shall put on the linen clothes, even the holy garments: 33 And he shall make an atonement for the holy sanctuary, and he shall make an atonement for the tabernacle of the congregation, and for the altar, and he shall make an atonement for the priests, and for all the people of the congregation. 34 And this shall be an everlasting statute unto you, to make an atonement for the children of Israel for all their sins once a year. And he did as the LORD commanded Moses.

Psalm 19.

The Law of the Lord is Perfect.

TO THE CHIEF MUSICIAN, A PSALM OF DAVID

1         The heavens declare the glory of God;
            and the firmament showeth his handiwork.
2         Day unto day uttereth speech,
            and night unto night showeth knowledge.
3         There is no speech nor language,
            where their voice is not heard.
4         Their line is gone out through all the earth,
            and their words to the end of the world.
            In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,
5         Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,
            and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.
6         His going forth is from the end of the heaven,
            and his circuit unto the ends of it:
            and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.

7         The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul:
            the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
8         The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart:
            the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9         The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever:
            the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether
10        More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold:
             sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
11        Moreover by them is thy servant warned:
             and in keeping of them there is great reward.

12         Who can understand his errors?
            cleanse thou me from secret faults.
13        Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins;
             let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright,
             and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.

14        Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart,
             be acceptable in thy sight,
             O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
 


The Twelfth Day of April - Personal Reading.

Proverbs chapter 30.

The Words of Agur.

1        The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy:
             the man spake unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal,
2        Surely I am more brutish than any man,
             and have not the understanding of a man.
3        I neither learned wisdom,
             nor have the knowledge of the holy.
4        Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended?
             who hath gathered the wind in his fists?
             who hath bound the waters in a garment?
             who hath established all the ends of the earth?
             what is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell?
			 
5        Every word of God is pure:
             he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.
6        Add thou not unto his words,
             lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
			 
7        Two things have I required of thee;
             deny me them not before I die:
8        Remove far from me vanity and lies:
             give me neither poverty nor riches;
             feed me with food convenient for me:
9        Lest I be full, and deny thee,
             and say, Who is the LORD?
             or lest I be poor, and steal,
             and take the name of my God in vain.

10       Accuse not a servant unto his master,
              lest he curse thee, and thou be found guilty.

11       There is a generation that curseth their father,
              and doth not bless their mother.
12       There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes,
              and yet is not washed from their filthiness.
13       There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes!
              and their eyelids are lifted up.
14       There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives,
              to devour the poor from off the earth,
            and the needy from among men.

15       The horseleach hath two daughters, crying,
              Give, give.
              There are three things that are never satisfied,
              yea, four things say not, It is enough:
16       The grave; and the barren womb;
              the earth that is not filled with water;
              and the fire that saith not, It is enough.

17       The eye that mocketh at his father,
              and despiseth to obey his mother,
              the ravens of the valley shall pick it out,
              and the young eagles shall eat it.

18       There be three things which are too wonderful for me,
              yea, four which I know not:
19       The way of an eagle in the air;
              the way of a serpent upon a rock;
              the way of a ship in the midst of the sea;
              and the way of a man with a maid.

20       Such is the way of an adulterous woman;
              she eateth, and wipeth her mouth,
              and saith, I have done no wickedness.

21       For three things the earth is disquieted,
              and for four which it cannot bear:
22       For a servant when he reigneth;
              and a fool when he is filled with meat;
23       For an odious woman when she is married;
              and an handmaid that is heir to her mistress.
			  
24       There be four things which are little upon the earth,
             but they are exceeding wise:
25       The ants are a people not strong,
              yet they prepare their meat in the summer;
26       The conies are but a feeble folk,
              yet make they their houses in the rocks;
27       The locusts have no king,
              yet go they forth all of them by bands;
28       The spider taketh hold with her hands,
              and is in kings' palaces.

29       There be three things which go well,
              yea, four are comely in going:
30       A lion which is strongest among beasts,
              and turneth not away for any;
31       A greyhound; an he goat also;
              and a king, against whom there is no rising up.

32       If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself,
              or if thou hast thought evil,
              lay thine hand upon thy mouth.
33       Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter,
              and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood:
              so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.

The First Epistle of Paul to Timothy.

Introduction.

First Timothy is one of three pastoral letters (including 2 Timothy and Titus) that the aging apostle Paul sent to those who would continue his work. Timothy was, in every way, Paul-s spiritual son. Young but gifted, Timothy had been assigned to lead the church at Ephesus - a church needing order in worship as well as doctrinal correction, plagued as it was by false teachers. Paul's letter, likely written about a.d. 62-66, counseled the young man on matters of church leadership—from proper worship, to qualifications for overseers (elders) and deacons, to advice on confronting false teaching and how to treat various individuals within a congregation. Paul charged Timothy to live a life beyond reproach, giving believers a standard to emulate.

1 Timothy chapter 1.

Greetings.

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;
      2 Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith:
      Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.

Warnings Against False Teachers.

3 As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine, 4 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do. 5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: 6 From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling; 7 Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.
      8 But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; 9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine; 11 According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.

Christ Jesus Came to Save Sinners.

12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; 13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. 14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. 15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. 16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. 17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
      18 This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; 19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: 20 Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.



The Thirteenth Day of April - Family Reading

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Leviticus chapter 17.

The Place of Sacrifice.

1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Speak unto Aaron, and unto his sons, and unto all the children of Israel, and say unto them; This is the thing which the LORD hath commanded, saying, 3 What man soever there be of the house of Israel, that killeth an ox, or lamb, or goat, in the camp, or that killeth it out of the camp, 4 And bringeth it not unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, to offer an offering unto the LORD before the tabernacle of the LORD; blood shall be imputed unto that man; he hath shed blood; and that man shall be cut off from among his people: 5 To the end that the children of Israel may bring their sacrifices, which they offer in the open field, even that they may bring them unto the LORD, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, unto the priest, and offer them for peace offerings unto the LORD. 6 And the priest shall sprinkle the blood upon the altar of the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and burn the fat for a sweet savour unto the LORD. 7 And they shall no more offer their sacrifices unto devils, after whom they have gone a whoring. This shall be a statute for ever unto them throughout their generations.
      8 And thou shalt say unto them, Whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers which sojourn among you, that offereth a burnt offering or sacrifice, 9 And bringeth it not unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, to offer it unto the LORD; even that man shall be cut off from among his people.

Laws Against Eating Blood.

10 And whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, that eateth any manner of blood; I will even set my face against that soul that eateth blood, and will cut him off from among his people. 11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul. 12 Therefore I said unto the children of Israel, No soul of you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger that sojourneth among you eat blood.
        13 And whatsoever man there be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, which hunteth and catcheth any beast or fowl that may be eaten; he shall even pour out the blood thereof, and cover it with dust. 14 For it is the life of all flesh; the blood of it is for the life thereof: therefore I said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh: for the life of all flesh is the blood thereof: whosoever eateth it shall be cut off. 15 And every soul that eateth that which died of itself, or that which was torn with beasts, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger, he shall both wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even: then shall he be clean. 16 But if he wash them not, nor bathe his flesh; then he shall bear his iniquity.

Psalm 20.

Trust in the Name of the Lord Our God.

TO THE CHIEF MUSICIAN, A PSALM OF DAVID

1         The LORD hear thee in the day of trouble;
            the name of the God of Jacob defend thee;
2         Send thee help from the sanctuary,
            and strengthen thee out of Zion;
3         Remember all thy offerings,
            and accept thy burnt sacrifice; Selah.

4         Grant thee according to thine own heart,
            and fulfil all thy counsel.
5         We will rejoice in thy salvation,
            and in the name of our God we will set up our banners:
            the LORD fulfil all thy petitions.

6         Now know I that the LORD saveth his anointed;
            he will hear him from his holy heaven
            with the saving strength of his right hand.
7         Some trust in chariots, and some in horses:
            but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.
8         They are brought down and fallen:
            but we are risen, and stand upright.

9         Save, LORD:
            let the king hear us when we call.   

Psalm 21.

The King Rejoices in the Lord's Strength.

TO THE CHIEF MUSICIAN, A PSALM OF DAVID

1         The king shall joy in thy strength, O LORD;
            and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!
2         Thou hast given him his heart's desire,
            and hast not withholden the request of his lips. Selah.
3         For thou preventest him with the blessings of goodness:
            thou settest a crown of pure gold on his head.
4         He asked life of thee, and thou gavest it him,
            even length of days for ever and ever.
5         His glory is great in thy salvation:
            honour and majesty hast thou laid upon him.
6         For thou hast made him most blessed for ever:
            thou hast made him exceeding glad with thy countenance.
7         For the king trusteth in the LORD,
            and through the mercy of the most High he shall not be moved.

8         Thine hand shall find out all thine enemies:
            thy right hand shall find out those that hate thee.
9         Thou shalt make them as a fiery oven in the time of thine anger:
            the LORD shall swallow them up in his wrath, and the fire shall devour them.
10        Their fruit shalt thou destroy from the earth,
            and their seed from among the children of men.
11        For they intended evil against thee:
            they imagined a mischievous device, which they are not able to perform.
12        Therefore shalt thou make them turn their back,
            when thou shalt make ready thine arrows upon thy strings against the face of them.

13        Be thou exalted, LORD, in thine own strength:
            so will we sing and praise thy power.
 


The Thirteenth Day of April - Personal Reading.

Proverbs chapter 31.

The Words of King Lemuel.

1         The words of king Lemuel,
             the prophecy that his mother taught him.

2         What, my son? and what, the son of my womb?
              and what, the son of my vows?
3         Give not thy strength unto women,
              nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.
4         4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel,
              it is not for kings to drink wine;
              nor for princes strong drink:
5         Lest they drink, and forget the law,
              and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.
6         Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish,
              and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.
7         Let him drink, and forget his poverty,
              and remember his misery no more.
8         Open thy mouth for the dumb
             in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.
9         Open thy mouth, judge righteously,
              and plead the cause of the poor and needy. 

The Woman Who Fears the Lord.

10       Who can find a virtuous woman?
              for her price is far above rubies.
11      The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her,
              so that he shall have no need of spoil.
12       She will do him good and not evil
              all the days of her life.
13       She seeketh wool, and flax,
             and worketh willingly with her hands.
14       She is like the merchants' ships;
              she bringeth her food from afar.
15       She riseth also while it is yet night,
              and giveth meat to her household,
              and a portion to her maidens.
16       She considereth a field, and buyeth it:
              with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17       She girdeth her loins with strength,
              and strengtheneth her arms.
18       She perceiveth that her merchandise is good:
              her candle goeth not out by night.
19       She layeth her hands to the spindle,
              and her hands hold the distaff.
20       She stretcheth out her hand to the poor;
              yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
21       She is not afraid of the snow for her household:
              for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22       She maketh herself coverings of tapestry;
              her clothing is silk and purple.
23       Her husband is known in the gates,
              when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
24       She maketh fine linen, and selleth it;
              and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
25       Strength and honour are her clothing;
              and she shall rejoice in time to come.
26       She openeth her mouth with wisdom;
              and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
27       She looketh well to the ways of her household,
              and eateth not the bread of idleness.
28       Her children arise up, and call her blessed;
              her husband also, and he praiseth her.
29       Many daughters have done virtuously,
              but thou excellest them all.
30       Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain:
              but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
31       Give her of the fruit of her hands;
              and let her own works praise her in the gates. 
 

1 Timothy chapter 2.

Pray for All People.

1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. 7 Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.
      8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. 9 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; 10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. 11 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. 12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. 13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. 15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.



The Fourteenth Day of April - Family Reading

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Leviticus chapter 18.

Unlawful Sexual Relations.

1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, I am the LORD your God. 3 After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do: and after the doings of the land of Canaan, whither I bring you, shall ye not do: neither shall ye walk in their ordinances. 4 Ye shall do my judgments, and keep mine ordinances, to walk therein: I am the LORD your God. 5 Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the LORD.
      6 None of you shall approach to any that is near of kin to him, to uncover their nakedness: I am the LORD. 7 The nakedness of thy father, or the nakedness of thy mother, shalt thou not uncover: she is thy mother; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness. 8 The nakedness of thy father's wife shalt thou not uncover: it is thy father's nakedness. 9 The nakedness of thy sister, the daughter of thy father, or daughter of thy mother, whether she be born at home, or born abroad, even their nakedness thou shalt not uncover. 10 The nakedness of thy son's daughter, or of thy daughter's daughter, even their nakedness thou shalt not uncover: for theirs is thine own nakedness. 11 The nakedness of thy father's wife's daughter, begotten of thy father, she is thy sister, thou shalt not uncover her nakedness. 12 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father's sister: she is thy father's near kinswoman. 13 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother's sister; for she is thy mother's near kinswoman. 14 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father's brother, thou shalt not approach to his wife: she is thine aunt. 15 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy daughter in law: she is thy son's wife; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness. 16 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy brother's wife: it is thy brother's nakedness. 17 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her daughter, neither shalt thou take her son's daughter, or her daughter's daughter, to uncover her nakedness; for they are her near kinswomen: it is wickedness. 18 Neither shalt thou take a wife to her sister, to vex her, to uncover her nakedness, beside the other in her life time.
      19 Also thou shalt not approach unto a woman to uncover her nakedness, as long as she is put apart for her uncleanness. 20 Moreover thou shalt not lie carnally with thy neighbour's wife, to defile thyself with her. 21 And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD. 22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. 23 Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion.
      24 Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you: 25 And the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants. 26 Ye shall therefore keep my statutes and my judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations; neither any of your own nation, nor any stranger that sojourneth among you: 27 (For all these abominations have the men of the land done, which were before you, and the land is defiled;) 28 That the land spue not you out also, when ye defile it, as it spued out the nations that were before you. 29 For whosoever shall commit any of these abominations, even the souls that commit them shall be cut off from among their people. 30 Therefore shall ye keep mine ordinance, that ye commit not any one of these abominable customs, which were committed before you, and that ye defile not yourselves therein: I am the LORD your God.

Psalm 22.

Why Have You Forsaken Me?.

TO THE CHIEF MUSICIAN UPON AIJELETH SHAHAR, A PSALM OF DAVID

1        My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
            why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?
2        O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not;
            and in the night season, and am not silent.

3        But thou art holy,
            O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
4        Our fathers trusted in thee:
            they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.
5        They cried unto thee, and were delivered:
            they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.

6        But I am a worm, and no man;
            a reproach of men, and despised of the people.
7        All they that see me laugh me to scorn:
            they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,
8        He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him:
            let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.

9        But thou art he that took me out of the womb:
            thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother's breasts.
10       I was cast upon thee from the womb:
            thou art my God from my mother's belly.
11       Be not far from me;
            for trouble is near;
            for there is none to help.

12       Many bulls have compassed me:
            strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.
13       They gaped upon me with their mouths,
            as a ravening and a roaring lion.

14       I am poured out like water,
            and all my bones are out of joint:
            my heart is like wax;
            it is melted in the midst of my bowels.
15       My strength is dried up like a potsherd;
            and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws;
            and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.

16       For dogs have compassed me:
            the assembly of the wicked have enclosed me:
            they pierced my hands and my feet.
17       I may tell all my bones:
            they look and stare upon me.
18       They part my garments among them,
            and cast lots upon my vesture.

19       But be not thou far from me, O LORD:
            O my strength, haste thee to help me.
20       Deliver my soul from the sword;
            my darling from the power of the dog.
21       Save me from the lion's mouth:
            for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.

22       I will declare thy name unto my brethren:
            in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.
23       Ye that fear the LORD, praise him;
            all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him;
            and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.
24       For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted;
            neither hath he hid his face from him;
            but when he cried unto him, he heard.

25       My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation:
            I will pay my vows before them that fear him.
26       The meek shall eat and be satisfied:
            they shall praise the LORD that seek him:
            your heart shall live for ever.

27       All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD:
            and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.
28       For the kingdom is the LORD'S:
            and he is the governor among the nations.

29       All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship:
            all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him:
            and none can keep alive his own soul.
30       A seed shall serve him;
            it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.
31       They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born,
            that he hath done this.
 


The Fourteenth Day of April - Personal Reading.

The Book of Ecclesiastes.

Introduction.

Ecclesiastes contains reflections of an old man, the "Preacher," as he considered the question of meaning in life. He looked back and saw the futility ("vanity") of chasing after even the good things this life can offer, including wisdom, work, pleasure, and wealth. Even if such things are satisfying for a time, death is certain to end this satisfaction. In fact, God-s judgment on Adam for his sin (Gen. 3:17-19) echoes throughout the book (especially 12:7). Yet the person who lives in the fear of the Lord can enjoy God-s good gifts. Young people, especially, should remember their Creator while they still have their whole lives before them (12:1). Traditionally interpreters of Ecclesiastes have identified the "Preacher," who is also called "the son of David, king in Jerusalem" (1:1), as Solomon (tenth century b.c.).

Ecclesiastes chapter 1.

All is Vanity.

1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.

2         Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher,
              vanity of vanities; all is vanity.
3         What profit hath a man of all his labour
              which he taketh under the sun?
4         One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh:
              but the earth abideth for ever.
5         The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down,
              and hasteth to his place where he arose.
6         The wind goeth toward the south,
              and turneth about unto the north;
              it whirleth about continually,
            and the wind returneth again according to his circuits.
7         All the rivers run into the sea;
              yet the sea is not full;
              unto the place from whence the rivers come,
              thither they return again.
8         All things are full of labour;
              man cannot utter it:
              the eye is not satisfied with seeing,
              nor the ear filled with hearing.
9         The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be;
              and that which is done is that which shall be done:
              and there is no new thing under the sun.
10       Is there any thing whereof it may be said,
              See, this is new?
              it hath been already of old time,
              which was before us.
11       There is no remembrance of former things;
              neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come
              with those that shall come after.

The Vanity of Wisdom.

12 I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13 And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith. 14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

15       That which is crooked cannot be made straight:
              and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.

        16 I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge. 17 And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.

18       For in much wisdom is much grief:
              and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.

1 Timothy chapter 3.

Qualifications for Overseers.

1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. 2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; 3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; 4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; 5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) 6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Qualifications for Deacons.

8 Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; 9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. 10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. 11 Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. 12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. 13 For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

The Mystery of Godliness.

14 These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: 15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. 16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness:

            God was manifest in the flesh,
            justified in the Spirit,
            seen of angels,
            preached unto the Gentiles,
            believed on in the world,
            received up into glory



The Fifteenth Day of April - Family Reading

Return to the Top.

Leviticus chapter 19.

The Lord is Holy.

1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy. 3 Ye shall fear every man his mother, and his father, and keep my sabbaths: I am the LORD your God. 4 Turn ye not unto idols, nor make to yourselves molten gods: I am the LORD your God.
      5 And if ye offer a sacrifice of peace offerings unto the LORD, ye shall offer it at your own will. 6 It shall be eaten the same day ye offer it, and on the morrow: and if ought remain until the third day, it shall be burnt in the fire. 7 And if it be eaten at all on the third day, it is abominable; it shall not be accepted. 8 Therefore every one that eateth it shall bear his iniquity, because he hath profaned the hallowed thing of the LORD: and that soul shall be cut off from among his people.

Love Your Neighbour as Yourself.

9 And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field, neither shalt thou gather the gleanings of thy harvest. 10 And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger: I am the LORD your God.
      11 Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another. 12 And ye shall not swear by my name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD.
      13 Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbour, neither rob him: the wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all night until the morning. 14 Thou shalt not curse the deaf, nor put a stumblingblock before the blind, but shalt fear thy God: I am the LORD.
      15 Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour. 16 Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour: I am the LORD.
      17 Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him. 18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.

You Shall Keep My Statutes.

19 Ye shall keep my statutes. Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind: thou shalt not sow thy field with mingled seed: neither shall a garment mingled of linen and woollen come upon thee.
      20 And whosoever lieth carnally with a woman, that is a bondmaid, betrothed to an husband, and not at all redeemed, nor freedom given her; she shall be scourged; they shall not be put to death, because she was not free. 21 And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the LORD, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, even a ram for a trespass offering. 22 And the priest shall make an atonement for him with the ram of the trespass offering before the LORD for his sin which he hath done: and the sin which he hath done shall be forgiven him.
      23 And when ye shall come into the land, and shall have planted all manner of trees for food, then ye shall count the fruit thereof as uncircumcised: three years shall it be as uncircumcised unto you: it shall not be eaten of. 24 But in the fourth year all the fruit thereof shall be holy to praise the LORD withal. 25 And in the fifth year shall ye eat of the fruit thereof, that it may yield unto you the increase thereof: I am the LORD your God.
      26 Ye shall not eat any thing with the blood: neither shall ye use enchantment, nor observe times. 27 Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard. 28 Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD.
      29 Do not prostitute thy daughter, to cause her to be a whore; lest the land fall to whoredom, and the land become full of wickedness. 30 Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I am the LORD.
      31 Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God. 32 Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God: I am the LORD.
      33 And if a stranger sojourn with thee in your land, ye shall not vex him. 34 But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.
      35 Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, in meteyard, in weight, or in measure. 36 Just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin, shall ye have: I am the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt. 37 Therefore shall ye observe all my statutes, and all my judgments, and do them: I am the LORD.

Psalm 23.

The Lord is My Shepherd.

A PSALM OF DAVID.

1         The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2         He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
            he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3         He restoreth my soul:
            he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

4         Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
            I will fear no evil:
          for thou art with me;
            thy rod and thy staff
            they comfort me.

5         Thou preparest a table before me
           in the presence of mine enemies:
          thou anointest my head with oil;
            my cup runneth over.
6         Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
            all the days of my life:
          and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Psalm 24.

The The King of Glory.

A PSALM OF DAVID.

1         The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof;
            the world, and they that dwell therein.
2         For he hath founded it upon the seas,
            and established it upon the floods.

3         Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD?
            or who shall stand in his holy place?
4         He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart;
            who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity,
            nor sworn deceitfully.
5         He shall receive the blessing from the LORD,
            and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6         This is the generation of them that seek him,
            that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.

7         Lift up your heads, O ye gates;
            and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors;
            and the King of glory shall come in.
8         Who is this King of glory?
            The LORD strong and mighty,
            the LORD mighty in battle.
9         Lift up your heads, O ye gates;
            even lift them up, ye everlasting doors;
            and the King of glory shall come in.
10        Who is this King of glory?
            The LORD of hosts,
            he is the King of glory.    Selah.
 


The Fifteenth Day of April - Personal Reading.

Ecclesiastes chapter 2.

The Vanity of Self Indulgence.

1 I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity. 2 I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it? 3 I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life. 4 I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards: 5 I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits: 6 I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees: 7 I got me servants and maidens, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of great and small cattle above all that were in Jerusalem before me: 8 I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts.
        9 So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me. 10 And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour. 11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.

The Vanity of Living Wisely.

12 And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for what can the man do that cometh after the king? even that which hath been already done. 13 Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness. 14 The wise man's eyes are in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness: and I myself perceived also that one event happeneth to them all. 15 Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart, that this also is vanity. 16 For there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever; seeing that which now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And how dieth the wise man? as the fool. 17 Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

The Vanity of Toil.

18 Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me. 19 And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have showed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity. 20 Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun. 21 For there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil. 22 For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun? 23 For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.
        24 There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God. 25 For who can eat, or who else can hasten hereunto, more than I? 26 For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.

1 Timothy chapter 4.

Some Will Depart From the Faith.

1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; 3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. 4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: 5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

A Good Servant of Christ Jesus.

6 If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained. 7 But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. 8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. 9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation. 10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.
        11 These things command and teach. 12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. 13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. 14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. 15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. 16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.



The Sixteenth Day of April - Family Reading

Return to the Top.

Leviticus chapter 20.

Punishment for Child Sacrifice.

1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Again, thou shalt say to the children of Israel, Whosoever he be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn in Israel, that giveth any of his seed unto Molech; he shall surely be put to death: the people of the land shall stone him with stones. 3 And I will set my face against that man, and will cut him off from among his people; because he hath given of his seed unto Molech, to defile my sanctuary, and to profane my holy name. 4 And if the people of the land do any ways hide their eyes from the man, when he giveth of his seed unto Molech, and kill him not: 5 Then I will set my face against that man, and against his family, and will cut him off, and all that go a whoring after him, to commit whoredom with Molech, from among their people.
      6 And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people. 7 Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God. 8 And ye shall keep my statutes, and do them: I am the LORD which sanctify you. 9 For every one that curseth his father or his mother shall be surely put to death: he hath cursed his father or his mother; his blood shall be upon him.

Punishment for Sexual Immorality.

10 And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death. 11 And the man that lieth with his father's wife hath uncovered his father's nakedness: both of them shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them. 12 And if a man lie with his daughter in law, both of them shall surely be put to death: they have wrought confusion; their blood shall be upon them. 13 If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them. 14 And if a man take a wife and her mother, it is wickedness: they shall be burnt with fire, both he and they; that there be no wickedness among you. 15 And if a man lie with a beast, he shall surely be put to death: and ye shall slay the beast. 16 And if a woman approach unto any beast, and lie down thereto, thou shalt kill the woman, and the beast: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
      17 And if a man shall take his sister, his father's daughter, or his mother's daughter, and see her nakedness, and she see his nakedness; it is a wicked thing; and they shall be cut off in the sight of their people: he hath uncovered his sister's nakedness; he shall bear his iniquity. 18 And if a man shall lie with a woman having her sickness, and shall uncover her nakedness; he hath discovered her fountain, and she hath uncovered the fountain of her blood: and both of them shall be cut off from among their people. 19 And thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother's sister, nor of thy father's sister: for he uncovereth his near kin: they shall bear their iniquity. 20 And if a man shall lie with his uncle's wife, he hath uncovered his uncle's nakedness: they shall bear their sin; they shall die childless. 21 And if a man shall take his brother's wife, it is an unclean thing: he hath uncovered his brother's nakedness; they shall be childless.

You Shall Be Holy.

22 Ye shall therefore keep all my statutes, and all my judgments, and do them: that the land, whither I bring you to dwell therein, spue you not out. 23 And ye shall not walk in the manners of the nation, which I cast out before you: for they committed all these things, and therefore I abhorred them. 24 But I have said unto you, Ye shall inherit their land, and I will give it unto you to possess it, a land that floweth with milk and honey: I am the LORD your God, which have separated you from other people. 25 Ye shall therefore put difference between clean beasts and unclean, and between unclean fowls and clean: and ye shall not make your souls abominable by beast, or by fowl, or by any manner of living thing that creepeth on the ground, which I have separated from you as unclean. 26 And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the LORD am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine. <
      27 A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be upon them.

Psalm 25.

Teach Me Your Paths.


 A PSALM OF DAVID

1        Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul.
2        O my God, I trust in thee:
            let me not be ashamed,
            let not mine enemies triumph over me.
3        Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed:
            let them be ashamed which transgress without cause.

4        Show me thy ways, O LORD;
            teach me thy paths.
5        Lead me in thy truth, and teach me:
            for thou art the God of my salvation;
            on thee do I wait all the day

6        Remember, O LORD, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses;
            for they have been ever of old.
7        Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions:
            according to thy mercy remember thou me
           for thy goodness' sake, O LORD.

8        Good and upright is the LORD:
            therefore will he teach sinners in the way.
9        The meek will he guide in judgment:
            and the meek will he teach his way.
10       All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth
           unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.

11       For thy name's sake, O LORD,
            pardon mine iniquity; for it is great.
12       What man is he that feareth the LORD?
            him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.
13       His soul shall dwell at ease;
            and his seed shall inherit the earth.
14       The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him;
            and he will show them his covenant.
15       Mine eyes are ever toward the LORD;
            for he shall pluck my feet out of the net.

16       Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me;
            for I am desolate and afflicted.
17       The troubles of my heart are enlarged:
            O bring thou me out of my distresses.
18       Look upon mine affliction and my pain;
            and forgive all my sins.

19       Consider mine enemies; for they are many;
            and they hate me with cruel hatred.
20       O keep my soul, and deliver me:
            let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee.
21       Let integrity and uprightness preserve me;
            for I wait on thee.

22       Redeem Israel, O God,
            out of all his troubles. 


The Sixteenth Day of April - Personal Reading.

Ecclesiastes chapter 3.

A Time for Eveything.

1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

2         A time to be born, and a time to die;
              a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
3         A time to kill, and a time to heal;
              a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4         A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
              a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5         A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
              a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6         A time to get, and a time to lose;
              a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
7         A time to rend, and a time to sew;
              a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8         A time to love, and a time to hate;
              a time of war, and a time of peace. 

The God-Given Task.

9 What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth? 10 I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it. 11 He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end. 12 I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life. 13 And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.
      14 I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him. 15 That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.

From Dust to Dust.

16 And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there. 17 I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work. 18 I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts. 19 For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity. 20 All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again. 21 Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth? 22 Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?

1 Timothy chapter 5.

Instruction for the Church.

1 Rebuke not an elder, but entreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren; 2 The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.
      3 Honour widows that are widows indeed. 4 But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to show piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God. 5 Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day. 6 But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth. 7 And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless. 8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
      9 Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man, 10 Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work. 11 But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry; 12 Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith. 13 And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not. 14 I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully. 15 For some are already turned aside after Satan. 16 If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.
      17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. 18 For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward. 19 Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses. 20 Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear. 21 I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality. 22 Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure. 23 Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities. 24 Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after. 25 Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.



The Seventeenth Day of April - Family Reading

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Leviticus chapter 21.

Holiness and the Priests.

1 And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto the priests the sons of Aaron, and say unto them, There shall none be defiled for the dead among his people: 2 But for his kin, that is near unto him, that is, for his mother, and for his father, and for his son, and for his daughter, and for his brother, 3 And for his sister a virgin, that is nigh unto him, which hath had no husband; for her may he be defiled. 4 But he shall not defile himself, being a chief man among his people, to profane himself. 5 They shall not make baldness upon their head, neither shall they shave off the corner of their beard, nor make any cuttings in their flesh. 6 They shall be holy unto their God, and not profane the name of their God: for the offerings of the LORD made by fire, and the bread of their God, they do offer: therefore they shall be holy. 7 They shall not take a wife that is a whore, or profane; neither shall they take a woman put away from her husband: for he is holy unto his God. 8 Thou shalt sanctify him therefore; for he offereth the bread of thy God: he shall be holy unto thee: for I the LORD, which sanctify you, am holy. 9 And the daughter of any priest, if she profane herself by playing the whore, she profaneth her father: she shall be burnt with fire.
      10 And he that is the high priest among his brethren, upon whose head the anointing oil was poured, and that is consecrated to put on the garments, shall not uncover his head, nor rend his clothes; 11 Neither shall he go in to any dead body, nor defile himself for his father, or for his mother; 12 Neither shall he go out of the sanctuary, nor profane the sanctuary of his God; for the crown of the anointing oil of his God is upon him: I am the LORD. 13 And he shall take a wife in her virginity. 14 A widow, or a divorced woman, or profane, or an harlot, these shall he not take: but he shall take a virgin of his own people to wife. 15 Neither shall he profane his seed among his people: for I the LORD do sanctify him.
      16 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 17 Speak unto Aaron, saying, Whosoever he be of thy seed in their generations that hath any blemish, let him not approach to offer the bread of his God. 18 For whatsoever man he be that hath a blemish, he shall not approach: a blind man, or a lame, or he that hath a flat nose, or any thing superfluous, 19 Or a man that is brokenfooted, or brokenhanded, 20 Or crookbacked, or a dwarf, or that hath a blemish in his eye, or be scurvy, or scabbed, or hath his stones broken; 21 No man that hath a blemish of the seed of Aaron the priest shall come nigh to offer the offerings of the LORD made by fire: he hath a blemish; he shall not come nigh to offer the bread of his God. 22 He shall eat the bread of his God, both of the most holy, and of the holy. 23 Only he shall not go in unto the veil, nor come nigh unto the altar, because he hath a blemish; that he profane not my sanctuaries: for I the LORD do sanctify them. 24 And Moses told it unto Aaron, and to his sons, and unto all the children of Israel.

Psalm 26.

I Will Bless the Lord.


A PSALM OF DAVID

1         Judge me, O LORD;
            for I have walked in mine integrity:
            I have trusted also in the LORD; therefore I shall not slide.
2         Examine me, O LORD, and prove me;
            try my reins and my heart.
3         For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes:
            and I have walked in thy truth.

4         I have not sat with vain persons,
            neither will I go in with dissemblers.
5         I have hated the congregation of evildoers;
            and will not sit with the wicked.
6         I will wash mine hands in innocency:
            so will I compass thine altar, O LORD:
7         That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving,
            and tell of all thy wondrous works.

8         LORD, I have loved the habitation of thy house,
            and the place where thine honour dwelleth.
9         Gather not my soul with sinners,
            nor my life with bloody men:
10       In whose hands is mischief,
            and their right hand is full of bribes.

11       But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity:
            redeem me, and be merciful unto me.
12       My foot standeth in an even place:
            in the congregations will I bless the LORD. 

Psalm 27.

The Lord is My Light and My Salvation.

A PSALM OF DAVID

1         The LORD is my light and my salvation;
            whom shall I fear?
            the LORD is the strength of my life;
            of whom shall I be afraid?

2         When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes,
            came upon me to eat up my flesh,
            they stumbled and fell.
3         Though an host should encamp against me,
            my heart shall not fear:
            though war should rise against me,
            in this will I be confident.

4         One thing have I desired of the LORD,
            that will I seek after;
            that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life,
            to behold the beauty of the LORD,
            and to inquire in his temple.

5         For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion:
            in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me;
            he shall set me up upon a rock.

6         And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me:
            therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy;
            I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.

7         ear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice:
            have mercy also upon me, and answer me.
8         When thou saidst, Seek ye my face;
            my heart said unto thee,
            Thy face, LORD, will I seek.
9         Hide not thy face far from me;
            put not thy servant away in anger:
            thou hast been my help;
            leave me not, neither forsake me,
            O God of my salvation.
10       When my father and my mother forsake me,
            then the LORD will take me up.

11       Teach me thy way, O LORD,
            and lead me in a plain path,
            because of mine enemies.
12       Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies:
            for false witnesses are risen up against me,
            and such as breathe out cruelty.

13       I had fainted,
            unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD
           in the land of the living.
14       Wait on the LORD:
            be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart:
            wait, I say, on the LORD.
 


The Seventeenth Day of April - Personal Reading.

Ecclesiastes chapter 4.

Evil Under the Sun.

1 So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter. 2 Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive. 3 Yea, better is he than both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
      4 Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.
      5 The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.
      6 Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.
      7 Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun. 8 There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.
      9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. 10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. 11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? 12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
      13 Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished. 14 For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor. 15 I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead. 16 There is no end of all the people, even of all that have been before them: they also that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.

1 Timothy chapter 6.

Instructions for the Church - continued.

1 Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed. 2 And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit

False Teachers and True Contentment.

These things teach and exhort. 3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; 4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, 5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Fight the Good Fight of Faith.

11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. 13 I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; 14 That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: 15 Which in his times he shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; 16 Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.
      17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; 18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; 19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
      20 O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: 21 Which some professing have erred concerning the faith.
      Grace be with thee. Amen.



The Eighthteenth Day of April - Family Reading

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Leviticus chapter 22

Holiness and the Priests - continued.

1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Speak unto Aaron and to his sons, that they separate themselves from the holy things of the children of Israel, and that they profane not my holy name in those things which they hallow unto me: I am the LORD. 3 Say unto them, Whosoever he be of all your seed among your generations, that goeth unto the holy things, which the children of Israel hallow unto the LORD, having his uncleanness upon him, that soul shall be cut off from my presence: I am the LORD. 4 What man soever of the seed of Aaron is a leper, or hath a running issue; he shall not eat of the holy things, until he be clean. And whoso toucheth any thing that is unclean by the dead, or a man whose seed goeth from him; 5 Or whosoever toucheth any creeping thing, whereby he may be made unclean, or a man of whom he may take uncleanness, whatsoever uncleanness he hath; 6 The soul which hath touched any such shall be unclean until even, and shall not eat of the holy things, unless he wash his flesh with water. 7 And when the sun is down, he shall be clean, and shall afterward eat of the holy things; because it is his food. 8 That which dieth of itself, or is torn with beasts, he shall not eat to defile himself therewith: I am the LORD. 9 They shall therefore keep mine ordinance, lest they bear sin for it, and die therefore, if they profane it: I the LORD do sanctify them.
      10 There shall no stranger eat of the holy thing: a sojourner of the priest, or an hired servant, shall not eat of the holy thing. 11 But if the priest buy any soul with his money, he shall eat of it, and he that is born in his house: they shall eat of his meat. 12 If the priest's daughter also be married unto a stranger, she may not eat of an offering of the holy things. 13 But if the priest's daughter be a widow, or divorced, and have no child, and is returned unto her father's house, as in her youth, she shall eat of her father's meat: but there shall no stranger eat thereof. 14 And if a man eat of the holy thing unwittingly, then he shall put the fifth part thereof unto it, and shall give it unto the priest with the holy thing. 15 And they shall not profane the holy things of the children of Israel, which they offer unto the LORD; 16 Or suffer them to bear the iniquity of trespass, when they eat their holy things: for I the LORD do sanctify them.

Acceptable Offerings.

17 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 18 Speak unto Aaron, and to his sons, and unto all the children of Israel, and say unto them, Whatsoever he be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers in Israel, that will offer his oblation for all his vows, and for all his freewill offerings, which they will offer unto the LORD for a burnt offering; 19 Ye shall offer at your own will a male without blemish, of the beeves, of the sheep, or of the goats. 20 But whatsoever hath a blemish, that shall ye not offer: for it shall not be acceptable for you. 21 And whosoever offereth a sacrifice of peace offerings unto the LORD to accomplish his vow, or a freewill offering in beeves or sheep, it shall be perfect to be accepted; there shall be no blemish therein. 22 Blind, or broken, or maimed, or having a wen, or scurvy, or scabbed, ye shall not offer these unto the LORD, nor make an offering by fire of them upon the altar unto the LORD. 23 Either a bullock or a lamb that hath any thing superfluous or lacking in his parts, that mayest thou offer for a freewill offering; but for a vow it shall not be accepted. 24 Ye shall not offer unto the LORD that which is bruised, or crushed, or broken, or cut; neither shall ye make any offering thereof in your land. 25 Neither from a stranger's hand shall ye offer the bread of your God of any of these; because their corruption is in them, and blemishes be in them: they shall not be accepted for you.
      26 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 27 When a bullock, or a sheep, or a goat, is brought forth, then it shall be seven days under the dam; and from the eighth day and thenceforth it shall be accepted for an offering made by fire unto the LORD. 28 And whether it be cow or ewe, ye shall not kill it and her young both in one day. 29 And when ye will offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving unto the LORD, offer it at your own will. 30 On the same day it shall be eaten up; ye shall leave none of it until the morrow: I am the LORD.
      31 Therefore shall ye keep my commandments, and do them: I am the LORD. 32 Neither shall ye profane my holy name; but I will be hallowed among the children of Israel: I am the LORD which hallow you, 33 That brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the LORD.

Psalm 28.

The Lord is My Strength and Shield.

 A PSALM OF DAVID

1         Unto thee will I cry, O LORD my rock;
            be not silent to me: lest, if thou be silent to me,
            I become like them that go down into the pit.
2         Hear the voice of my supplications,
            when I cry unto thee,
            when I lift up my hands toward thy holy oracle.

3         Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity,
            which speak peace to their neighbours, but mischief is in their hearts.
4         Give them according to their deeds, and according to the wickedness of their endeavours:
            give them after the work of their hands;
            render to them their desert.
5         Because they regard not the works of the LORD,
            nor the operation of his hands,
            he shall destroy them, and not build them up.

6         Blessed be the LORD,
            because he hath heard the voice of my supplications.
7         The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped:
            therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth;
            and with my song will I praise him.

8         The LORD is their strength,
            and he is the saving strength of his anointed.
9         Save thy people, and bless thine inheritance:
            feed them also, and lift them up for ever.

Psalm 29.

Ascribe to the Lord Glory.

   PSALM OF DAVID

1         Give unto the LORD, O ye mighty,
            give unto the LORD glory and strength.
2         Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name;
            worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.

3         The voice of the LORD is upon the waters:
            the God of glory thundereth:
            the LORD is upon many waters.
4         The voice of the LORD is powerful;
            the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.

5         The voice of the LORD breaketh the cedars;
            yea, the LORD breaketh the cedars of Lebanon.
6         He maketh them also to skip like a calf;
            Lebanon and Sirion like a young unicorn.

7         The voice of the LORD divideth the flames of fire.
8         The voice of the LORD shaketh the wilderness;
            the LORD shaketh the wilderness of Kadesh.
5         The voice of the LORD maketh the hinds to calve,
            and discovereth the forests:
            and in his temple doth every one speak of his glory.

10        The LORD sitteth upon the flood;
            yea, the LORD sitteth King for ever.
11        The LORD will give strength unto his people;
            the LORD will bless his people with peace.


The Eighthteenth Day of April - Personal Reading.

Ecclesiastes chapter 5.

Fear God.

1 Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil. 2 Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few. 3 For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool's voice is known by multitude of words.
      4 When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. 5 Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay. 6 Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands? 7 For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear thou God.

The Vanity of Wealth and Honour.

8 If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they. 9 Moreover the profit of the earth is for all: the king himself is served by the field.
      10 He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity. 11 When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes? 12 The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.
      13 There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt. 14 But those riches perish by evil travail: and he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand. 15 As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand. 16 And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind? 17 All his days also he eateth in darkness, and he hath much sorrow and wrath with his sickness.
      18 Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion. 19 Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God. 20 For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answereth him in the joy of his heart.

The Second Epistle of Paul to Timothy.

Introduction.

Paul wrote this letter as he awaited execution. Despite all that Paul was facing-death, the end of his ministry, abandonment by most of his friends for fear of persecution-he faithfully directed his spiritual son Timothy to the hope that is in Christ. As he exhorted Timothy to boldness, endurance, and faithfulness in the face of false teaching, Paul showed his customary concern for sound doctrine. Scripture, said Paul, is "breathed out by God" and is sufficient in all things pertaining to the faith and practice of Christians (3:16-17). Older believers, therefore, should be eager to pass on their knowledge of Scripture to those who are younger in the faith (2:2). Paul probably wrote from Rome, a.d. 67 or 68.

2 Timothy chapter 1.

Greeting.

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus, 2 To Timothy, my dearly beloved son:
      Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

Guard the Deposit Entrusted to You.

3 I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day; 4 Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy; 5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also. 6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. 7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
      8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; 9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, 10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: 11 Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. 12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. 13 Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. 14 That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.
      15 This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes. 16 The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain: 17 But, when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me. 18 The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day: and in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, thou knowest very well.



The Ninteenth Day of April - Family Reading

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Leviticus chapter 23

Feasts of the Lord.

1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts.

The Sabbath.

3 Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings.

The Passover.

4 These are the feasts of the LORD, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons. 5 In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD's passover. 6 And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the LORD: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread. 7 In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. 8 But ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD seven days: in the seventh day is an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein

The Feast of Firstfruits.

9 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 10 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest: 11 And he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it. 12 And ye shall offer that day when ye wave the sheaf an he lamb without blemish of the first year for a burnt offering unto the LORD. 13 And the meat offering thereof shall be two tenth deals of fine flour mingled with oil, an offering made by fire unto the LORD for a sweet savour: and the drink offering thereof shall be of wine, the fourth part of an hin. 14 And ye shall eat neither bread, nor parched corn, nor green ears, until the selfsame day that ye have brought an offering unto your God: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.

The Feast of Weeks.

15 And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete: 16 Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the LORD. 17 Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals: they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven; they are the firstfruits unto the LORD. 18 And ye shall offer with the bread seven lambs without blemish of the first year, and one young bullock, and two rams: they shall be for a burnt offering unto the LORD, with their meat offering, and their drink offerings, even an offering made by fire, of sweet savour unto the LORD. 19 Then ye shall sacrifice one kid of the goats for a sin offering, and two lambs of the first year for a sacrifice of peace offerings. 20 And the priest shall wave them with the bread of the firstfruits for a wave offering before the LORD with the two lambs: they shall be holy to the LORD for the priest. 21 And ye shall proclaim on the selfsame day, that it may be an holy convocation unto you: ye shall do no servile work therein: it shall be a statute for ever in all your dwellings throughout your generations.
      22 And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not make clean riddance of the corners of thy field when thou reapest, neither shalt thou gather any gleaning of thy harvest: thou shalt leave them unto the poor, and to the stranger: I am the LORD your God.

The Feast of Trumpets.

23 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 24 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation. 25 Ye shall do no servile work therein: but ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.

The Day of Atonement.

26 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 27 Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD. 28 And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the LORD your God. 29 For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people. 30 And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any work in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people. 31 Ye shall do no manner of work: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. 32 It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath.

The Feast of Booths.

33 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 34 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the LORD. 35 On the first day shall be an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. 36 Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall do no servile work therein. <
      37 These are the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD, a burnt offering, and a meat offering, a sacrifice, and drink offerings, every thing upon his day: 38 Beside the sabbaths of the LORD, and beside your gifts, and beside all your vows, and beside all your freewill offerings, which ye give unto the LORD.
      39 Also in the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when ye have gathered in the fruit of the land, ye shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days: on the first day shall be a sabbath, and on the eighth day shall be a sabbath. 40 And ye shall take you on the first day the boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and ye shall rejoice before the LORD your God seven days. 41 And ye shall keep it a feast unto the LORD seven days in the year. It shall be a statute for ever in your generations: ye shall celebrate it in the seventh month. 42 Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths: 43 That your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.
      44 And Moses declared unto the children of Israel the feasts of the LORD.

Psalm 30.

Joy Comes in the Morning.

A PSALM AND SONG AT THE DEDICATION OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID

1         I will extol thee, O LORD; for thou hast lifted me up,
            and hast not made my foes to rejoice over me.
2         O LORD my God, I cried unto thee,
            and thou hast healed me.
3         O LORD, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave:
            thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.

4         Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his,
            and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.
5         For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life:
            weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

6         And in my prosperity I said,
            I shall never be moved.
7         LORD, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong:
            thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled.

8         I cried to thee, O LORD;
            and unto the LORD I made supplication.
9         What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit?
            Shall the dust praise thee? shall it declare thy truth?
10        Hear, O LORD, and have mercy upon me:
            LORD, be thou my helper.

11        Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing:
            thou hast put off my sackcloth,
            and girded me with gladness;
12        To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent.
            O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.


The Ninteenth Day of April - Personal Reading.

Ecclesiastes chapter 6.

The Vanity of Wealth and Honour - continued.

1 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men: 2 A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: this is vanity, and it is an evil disease. 3 If a man beget an hundred children, and live many years, so that the days of his years be many, and his soul be not filled with good, and also that he have no burial; I say, that an untimely birth is better than he. 4 For he cometh in with vanity, and departeth in darkness, and his name shall be covered with darkness. 5 Moreover he hath not seen the sun, nor known any thing: this hath more rest than the other. 6 Yea, though he live a thousand years twice told, yet hath he seen no good: do not all go to one place?
      7 All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled. 8 For what hath the wise more than the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living? 9 Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit.
      10 That which hath been is named already, and it is known that it is man: neither may he contend with him that is mightier than he. 11 Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what is man the better? 12 For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?

2 Timothy chapter 2.

A Good Soldier of Christ Jesus.

1 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. 3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. 5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully. 6 The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits. 7 Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.
      8 Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel: 9 Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound. 10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 11 It is a faithful saying:

            For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:
12       If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:
13       If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful:

he cannot deny himself.

A Worker Approved by God.

14 Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers. 15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. 17 And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; 18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some. 19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
      20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. 21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.
      22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. 24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.



The Twentieth Day of April - Family Reading

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Leviticus chapter 24

The Lamps.

1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Command the children of Israel, that they bring unto thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamps to burn continually. 3 Without the veil of the testimony, in the tabernacle of the congregation, shall Aaron order it from the evening unto the morning before the LORD continually: it shall be a statute for ever in your generations. 4 He shall order the lamps upon the pure candlestick before the LORD continually.

Bread for the Tabernacle.

5 And thou shalt take fine flour, and bake twelve cakes thereof: two tenth deals shall be in one cake. 6 And thou shalt set them in two rows, six on a row, upon the pure table before the LORD. 7 And thou shalt put pure frankincense upon each row, that it may be on the bread for a memorial, even an offering made by fire unto the LORD. 8 Every sabbath he shall set it in order before the LORD continually, being taken from the children of Israel by an everlasting covenant. 9 And it shall be Aaron's and his sons'; and they shall eat it in the holy place: for it is most holy unto him of the offerings of the LORD made by fire by a perpetual statute.

Punishment for Blasphemy.

10 And the son of an Israelitish woman, whose father was an Egyptian, went out among the children of Israel: and this son of the Israelitish woman and a man of Israel strove together in the camp; 11 And the Israelitish woman's son blasphemed the name of the LORD, and cursed. And they brought him unto Moses: (and his mother's name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan:) 12 And they put him in ward, that the mind of the LORD might be showed them.
      13 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 14 Bring forth him that hath cursed without the camp; and let all that heard him lay their hands upon his head, and let all the congregation stone him. 15 And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, Whosoever curseth his God shall bear his sin. 16 And he that blasphemeth the name of the LORD, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well the stranger, as he that is born in the land, when he blasphemeth the name of the LORD, shall be put to death.

An Eye for an Eye.

17 And he that killeth any man shall surely be put to death. 18 And he that killeth a beast shall make it good; beast for beast. 19 And if a man cause a blemish in his neighbour; as he hath done, so shall it be done to him; 20 Breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth: as he hath caused a blemish in a man, so shall it be done to him again. 21 And he that killeth a beast, he shall restore it: and he that killeth a man, he shall be put to death. 22 Ye shall have one manner of law, as well for the stranger, as for one of your own country: for I am the LORD your God. 23 And Moses spake to the children of Israel, that they should bring forth him that had cursed out of the camp, and stone him with stones. And the children of Israel did as the LORD commanded Moses.

Psalm 31.

Into Your Hand I Commit My Spirit.

TO THE CHIEF MUSICIAN, A PSALM OF DAVID.

1         In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust;
            let me never be ashamed:
            deliver me in thy righteousness.
2         Bow down thine ear to me;
            deliver me speedily:
            be thou my strong rock,
            for an house of defence to save me.

3         For thou art my rock and my fortress;
            therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me.
4         Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me:
            for thou art my strength.
5         Into thine hand I commit my spirit:
            thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.

6         I have hated them that regard lying vanities:
            but I trust in the LORD.
7         I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy:
            for thou hast considered my trouble;
            thou hast known my soul in adversities;
8         And hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy:
            thou hast set my feet in a large room.
			
9         Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am in trouble:
            mine eye is consumed with grief,
            yea, my soul and my belly.
10       For my life is spent with grief,
           and my years with sighing:
            my strength faileth because of mine iniquity,
            and my bones are consumed.

11       I was a reproach among all mine enemies,
            but especially among my neighbours,
            and a fear to mine acquaintance:
            they that did see me without fled from me.
12       I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind:
            I am like a broken vessel.
13       For I have heard the slander of many:
            fear was on every side:
            while they took counsel together against me,
            they devised to take away my life.

14       But I trusted in thee, O LORD:
            I said, Thou art my God.
15       My times are in thy hand:
            deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.
16       Make thy face to shine upon thy servant:
            save me for thy mercies' sake.
17       Let me not be ashamed, O LORD; for I have called upon thee:
            let the wicked be ashamed, and let them be silent in the grave.
18       Let the lying lips be put to silence;
            which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.

19       Oh how great is thy goodness,
            which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee;
            which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!
20       Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man:
            thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.

21       Blessed be the LORD:
            for he hath showed me his marvellous kindness in a strong city.
22       For I said in my haste,
            I am cut off from before thine eyes:
            nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications
           when I cried unto thee.

23       O love the LORD, all ye his saints:
            for the LORD preserveth the faithful,
            and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer.
24       Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart,
            all ye that hope in the LORD.
 


The Twentieth Day of April - Personal Reading.

Ecclesiastes chapter 7.

The Contrast of Wisdom and Folly.

1         A good name is better than precious ointment;
              and the day of death than the day of one's birth.
2         It is better to go to the house of mourning,
              than to go to the house of feasting:
              for that is the end of all men;
              and the living will lay it to his heart.
3         Sorrow is better than laughter:
              for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.
4         The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning;
              but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
5         It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise,
              than for a man to hear the song of fools.
6         For as the crackling of thorns under a pot,
              so is the laughter of the fool:
              this also is vanity.
7         Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad;
              and a gift destroyeth the heart.
8         Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof:
              and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
9         Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry:
              for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.
10        Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these?
              for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this.
11        Wisdom is good with an inheritance:
              and by it there is profit to them that see the sun.
12        For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence:
              but the excellency of knowledge is,
              that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.
13        Consider the work of God:
              for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?
 

14 In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.
      15 All things have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness. 16 Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself? 17 Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time? 18 It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from this withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all.
      19 Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city.
      20 For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
      21 Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee: 22 For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.
      23 All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me. 24 That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out?
      25 I applied mine heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason of things, and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness: 26 And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her. 27 Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher, counting one by one, to find out the account: 28 Which yet my soul seeketh, but I find not: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found. 29 Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.

2 Timothy chapter 3.

Godlessness in the Last Days.

1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. 9 But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.

All Scripture is Breathed Out by God.

10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, 11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. 12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.



The Twentyfirst Day of April - Family Reading

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Leviticus chapter 25.

The Sabbath Year.

1 And the LORD spake unto Moses in mount Sinai, saying, 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye come into the land which I give you, then shall the land keep a sabbath unto the LORD. 3 Six years thou shalt sow thy field, and six years thou shalt prune thy vineyard, and gather in the fruit thereof; 4 But in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest unto the land, a sabbath for the LORD: thou shalt neither sow thy field, nor prune thy vineyard. 5 That which groweth of its own accord of thy harvest thou shalt not reap, neither gather the grapes of thy vine undressed: for it is a year of rest unto the land. 6 And the sabbath of the land shall be meat for you; for thee, and for thy servant, and for thy maid, and for thy hired servant, and for thy stranger that sojourneth with thee, 7 And for thy cattle, and for the beast that are in thy land, shall all the increase thereof be meat.

The Year of Jubilee.

8 And thou shalt number seven sabbaths of years unto thee, seven times seven years; and the space of the seven sabbaths of years shall be unto thee forty and nine years. 9 Then shalt thou cause the trumpet of the jubilee to sound on the tenth day of the seventh month, in the day of atonement shall ye make the trumpet sound throughout all your land. 10 And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubilee unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family. 11 A jubilee shall that fiftieth year be unto you: ye shall not sow, neither reap that which groweth of itself in it, nor gather the grapes in it of thy vine undressed. 12 For it is the jubilee; it shall be holy unto you: ye shall eat the increase thereof out of the field.
      13 In the year of this jubilee ye shall return every man unto his possession. 14 And if thou sell ought unto thy neighbour, or buyest ought of thy neighbour's hand, ye shall not oppress one another: 15 According to the number of years after the jubilee thou shalt buy of thy neighbour, and according unto the number of years of the fruits he shall sell unto thee: 16 According to the multitude of years thou shalt increase the price thereof, and according to the fewness of years thou shalt diminish the price of it: for according to the number of the years of the fruits doth he sell unto thee. 17 Ye shall not therefore oppress one another; but thou shalt fear thy God: for I am the LORD your God.
      18 Wherefore ye shall do my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them; and ye shall dwell in the land in safety. 19 And the land shall yield her fruit, and ye shall eat your fill, and dwell therein in safety. 20 And if ye shall say, What shall we eat the seventh year? behold, we shall not sow, nor gather in our increase: 21 Then I will command my blessing upon you in the sixth year, and it shall bring forth fruit for three years. 22 And ye shall sow the eighth year, and eat yet of old fruit until the ninth year; until her fruits come in ye shall eat of the old store.

Redemption of Property.

23 The land shall not be sold for ever: for the land is mine; for ye are strangers and sojourners with me. 24 And in all the land of your possession ye shall grant a redemption for the land.
        25 If thy brother be waxen poor, and hath sold away some of his possession, and if any of his kin come to redeem it, then shall he redeem that which his brother sold. 26 And if the man have none to redeem it, and himself be able to redeem it; 27 Then let him count the years of the sale thereof, and restore the overplus unto the man to whom he sold it; that he may return unto his possession. 28 But if he be not able to restore it to him, then that which is sold shall remain in the hand of him that hath bought it until the year of jubilee: and in the jubilee it shall go out, and he shall return unto his possession.
      29 And if a man sell a dwelling house in a walled city, then he may redeem it within a whole year after it is sold; within a full year may he redeem it. 30 And if it be not redeemed within the space of a full year, then the house that is in the walled city shall be established for ever to him that bought it throughout his generations: it shall not go out in the jubilee. 31 But the houses of the villages which have no wall round about them shall be counted as the fields of the country: they may be redeemed, and they shall go out in the jubilee. 32 Notwithstanding the cities of the Levites, and the houses of the cities of their possession, may the Levites redeem at any time. 33 And if a man purchase of the Levites, then the house that was sold, and the city of his possession, shall go out in the year of jubilee: for the houses of the cities of the Levites are their possession among the children of Israel. 34 But the field of the suburbs of their cities may not be sold; for it is their perpetual possession.

Kindness for Poor Brothers.

35 And if thy brother be waxen poor, and fallen in decay with thee; then thou shalt relieve him: yea, though he be a stranger, or a sojourner; that he may live with thee. 36 Take thou no usury of him, or increase: but fear thy God; that thy brother may live with thee. 37 Thou shalt not give him thy money upon usury, nor lend him thy victuals for increase. 38 I am the LORD your God, which brought you forth out of the land of Egypt, to give you the land of Canaan, and to be your God.
      39 And if thy brother that dwelleth by thee be waxen poor, and be sold unto thee; thou shalt not compel him to serve as a bondservant: 40 But as an hired servant, and as a sojourner, he shall be with thee, and shall serve thee unto the year of jubilee: 41 And then shall he depart from thee, both he and his children with him, and shall return unto his own family, and unto the possession of his fathers shall he return. 42 For they are my servants, which I brought forth out of the land of Egypt: they shall not be sold as bondmen. 43 Thou shalt not rule over him with rigour; but shalt fear thy God. 44 Both thy bondmen, and thy bondmaids, which thou shalt have, shall be of the heathen that are round about you; of them shall ye buy bondmen and bondmaids. 45 Moreover of the children of the strangers that do sojourn among you, of them shall ye buy, and of their families that are with you, which they begat in your land: and they shall be your possession. 46 And ye shall take them as an inheritance for your children after you, to inherit them for a possession; they shall be your bondmen for ever: but over your brethren the children of Israel, ye shall not rule one over another with rigour.

Redeeming a Poor Man.

47 And if a sojourner or stranger wax rich by thee, and thy brother that dwelleth by him wax poor, and sell himself unto the stranger or sojourner by thee, or to the stock of the stranger's family: 48 After that he is sold he may be redeemed again; one of his brethren may redeem him: 49 Either his uncle, or his uncle's son, may redeem him, or any that is nigh of kin unto him of his family may redeem him; or if he be able, he may redeem himself. 50 And he shall reckon with him that bought him from the year that he was sold to him unto the year of jubilee: and the price of his sale shall be according unto the number of years, according to the time of an hired servant shall it be with him. 51 If there be yet many years behind, according unto them he shall give again the price of his redemption out of the money that he was bought for. 52 And if there remain but few years unto the year of jubilee, then he shall count with him, and according unto his years shall he give him again the price of his redemption. 53 And as a yearly hired servant shall he be with him: and the other shall not rule with rigour over him in thy sight. 54 And if he be not redeemed in these years, then he shall go out in the year of jubilee, both he, and his children with him. 55 For unto me the children of Israel are servants; they are my servants whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.

Psalm 32.

Blessed Are the Forgiven.

   A PSALM OF DAVID, MASCHIL

1         Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,
            whose sin is covered.
2         Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity,
            and in whose spirit there is no guile.

3         When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through
           my roaring all the day long.
4         For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me:
            my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah.

5         I acknowledged my sin unto thee,
            and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD;
            and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.

6         For this shall every one that is godly
            pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found:
            surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.
7         Thou art my hiding place;
            thou shalt preserve me from trouble;
            thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.

8         I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go:
            I will guide thee with mine eye.
9         Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding:
            whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle,
            lest they come near unto thee.

10        Many sorrows shall be to the wicked:
             but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about.
11        Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous:
             and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.


The Twentyfirst Day of April - Personal Reading.

Ecclesiastes chapter 8.

Keep the King's Command.

1         Who is as the wise man?
              and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing?
            a man's wisdom maketh his face to shine,
              and the boldness of his face shall be changed.

      2 I counsel thee to keep the king's commandment, and that in regard of the oath of God. 3 Be not hasty to go out of his sight: stand not in an evil thing; for he doeth whatsoever pleaseth him. 4 Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou? 5 Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing: and a wise man's heart discerneth both time and judgment. 6 Because to every purpose there is time and judgment, therefore the misery of man is great upon him. 7 For he knoweth not that which shall be: for who can tell him when it shall be? 8 There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it. 9 All this have I seen, and applied my heart unto every work that is done under the sun: there is a time wherein one man ruleth over another to his own hurt.

Those Who Fear God Will Do Well.

10 And so I saw the wicked buried, who had come and gone from the place of the holy, and they were forgotten in the city where they had so done: this is also vanity. 11 Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. 12 Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him: 13 But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he feareth not before God.

Man Cannot Know God's Ways.

14 There is a vanity which is done upon the earth; that there be just men, unto whom it happeneth according to the work of the wicked; again, there be wicked men, to whom it happeneth according to the work of the righteous: I said that this also is vanity. 15 Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide with him of his labour the days of his life, which God giveth him under the sun.
        16 When I applied mine heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done upon the earth: (for also there is that neither day nor night seeth sleep with his eyes:) 17 Then I beheld all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun: because though a man labour to seek it out, yet he shall not find it; yea farther; though a wise man think to know it, yet shall he not be able to find it.

2 Timothy chapter 4.

Preach the Word.

1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
      6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

Personal Instructions.

9 Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me: 10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry. 12 And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus. 13 The cloak that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments. 14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works: 15 Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words. 16 At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. 17 Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. 18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Greetings.

19 Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. 20 Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick. 21 Do thy diligence to come before winter. Eubulus greeteth thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren.
      22 The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.



The Twentysecond Day of April - Family Reading

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Leviticus chapter 26

Blessings for Obedience.

1 Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am the LORD your God. 2 Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I am the LORD.
      3 If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them; 4 Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. 5 And your threshing shall reach unto the vintage, and the vintage shall reach unto the sowing time: and ye shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely. 6 And I will give peace in the land, and ye shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid: and I will rid evil beasts out of the land, neither shall the sword go through your land. 7 And ye shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword. 8 And five of you shall chase an hundred, and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight: and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword. 9 For I will have respect unto you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, and establish my covenant with you. 10 And ye shall eat old store, and bring forth the old because of the new. 11 And I will set my tabernacle among you: and my soul shall not abhor you. 12 And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people. 13 I am the LORD your God, which brought you forth out of the land of Egypt, that ye should not be their bondmen; and I have broken the bands of your yoke, and made you go upright.

Punishment for Disobedience.

14 But if ye will not hearken unto me, and will not do all these commandments; 15 And if ye shall despise my statutes, or if your soul abhor my judgments, so that ye will not do all my commandments, but that ye break my covenant: 16 I also will do this unto you; I will even appoint over you terror, consumption, and the burning ague, that shall consume the eyes, and cause sorrow of heart: and ye shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it. 17 And I will set my face against you, and ye shall be slain before your enemies: they that hate you shall reign over you; and ye shall flee when none pursueth you. 18 And if ye will not yet for all this hearken unto me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins. 19 And I will break the pride of your power; and I will make your heaven as iron, and your earth as brass: 20 And your strength shall be spent in vain: for your land shall not yield her increase, neither shall the trees of the land yield their fruits.
      21 And if ye walk contrary unto me, and will not hearken unto me; I will bring seven times more plagues upon you according to your sins. 22 I will also send wild beasts among you, which shall rob you of your children, and destroy your cattle, and make you few in number; and your high ways shall be desolate.
      23 And if ye will not be reformed by me by these things, but will walk contrary unto me; 24 Then will I also walk contrary unto you, and will punish you yet seven times for your sins. 25 And I will bring a sword upon you, that shall avenge the quarrel of my covenant: and when ye are gathered together within your cities, I will send the pestilence among you; and ye shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy. 26 And when I have broken the staff of your bread, ten women shall bake your bread in one oven, and they shall deliver you your bread again by weight: and ye shall eat, and not be satisfied.
      27 And if ye will not for all this hearken unto me, but walk contrary unto me; 28 Then I will walk contrary unto you also in fury; and I, even I, will chastise you seven times for your sins. 29 And ye shall eat the flesh of your sons, and the flesh of your daughters shall ye eat. 30 And I will destroy your high places, and cut down your images, and cast your carcases upon the carcases of your idols, and my soul shall abhor you. 31 And I will make your cities waste, and bring your sanctuaries unto desolation, and I will not smell the savour of your sweet odours. 32 And I will bring the land into desolation: and your enemies which dwell therein shall be astonished at it. 33 And I will scatter you among the heathen, and will draw out a sword after you: and your land shall be desolate, and your cities waste.
      34 Then shall the land enjoy her sabbaths, as long as it lieth desolate, and ye be in your enemies' land; even then shall the land rest, and enjoy her sabbaths. 35 As long as it lieth desolate it shall rest; because it did not rest in your sabbaths, when ye dwelt upon it. 36 And upon them that are left alive of you I will send a faintness into their hearts in the lands of their enemies; and the sound of a shaken leaf shall chase them; and they shall flee, as fleeing from a sword; and they shall fall when none pursueth. 37 And they shall fall one upon another, as it were before a sword, when none pursueth: and ye shall have no power to stand before your enemies. 38 And ye shall perish among the heathen, and the land of your enemies shall eat you up. 39 And they that are left of you shall pine away in their iniquity in your enemies' lands; and also in the iniquities of their fathers shall they pine away with them.
      40 If they shall confess their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers, with their trespass which they trespassed against me, and that also they have walked contrary unto me; 41 And that I also have walked contrary unto them, and have brought them into the land of their enemies; if then their uncircumcised hearts be humbled, and they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity: 42 Then will I remember my covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember; and I will remember the land. 43 The land also shall be left of them, and shall enjoy her sabbaths, while she lieth desolate without them: and they shall accept of the punishment of their iniquity: because, even because they despised my judgments, and because their soul abhorred my statutes. 44 And yet for all that, when they be in the land of their enemies, I will not cast them away, neither will I abhor them, to destroy them utterly, and to break my covenant with them: for I am the LORD their God. 45 But I will for their sakes remember the covenant of their ancestors, whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the heathen, that I might be their God: I am the LORD.
      46 These are the statutes and judgments and laws, which the LORD made between him and the children of Israel in mount Sinai by the hand of Moses.

Psalm 33.

The Stedfast Love of the Lord.

 1        Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous:
            for praise is comely for the upright.
2        Praise the LORD with harp:
            sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.
3        Sing unto him a new song;
            play skilfully with a loud noise.

4        For the word of the LORD is right;
            and all his works are done in truth.
5        He loveth righteousness and judgment:
            the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.

6        By the word of the LORD were the heavens made;
            and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.
7        He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap:
            he layeth up the depth in storehouses.
			
8        Let all the earth fear the LORD:
            let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.
9        For he spake, and it was done;
            he commanded, and it stood fast.

10       The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought:
            he maketh the devices of the people of none effect.
11       The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever,
            the thoughts of his heart to all generations.
12       Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD;
            and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.

13       The LORD looketh from heaven;
            he beholdeth all the sons of men.
14       From the place of his habitation he looketh
            upon all the inhabitants of the earth.
15       He fashioneth their hearts alike;
            he considereth all their works.
16       There is no king saved by the multitude of an host:
            a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.
17       An horse is a vain thing for safety:
            neither shall he deliver any by his great strength.
			
18       Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him,
            upon them that hope in his mercy;
19       To deliver their soul from death,
            and to keep them alive in famine.

20       Our soul waiteth for the LORD:
            he is our help and our shield.
21       For our heart shall rejoice in him,
            because we have trusted in his holy name.
22       Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us,
            according as we hope in thee.
 


The Twentysecond Day of April - Personal Reading.

Ecclesiastes chapter 9.

Death Comes to All.

1 For all this I considered in my heart even to declare all this, that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God: no man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before them. 2 All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath. 3 This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead. 4 For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion. 5 For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. 6 Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.

Enjoy Love With the One You Love.

7 Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works.
      8 Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment.
      9 Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun. 10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

Wisdom Better Than Folly.

11 I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all. 12 For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them.
      13 This wisdom have I seen also under the sun, and it seemed great unto me: 14 There was a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it: 15 Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man. 16 Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.
      17 The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools. 18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.

The Epistle of Paul to Titus.

Introduction.

This pastoral letter from Paul to Titus was intended to offer encouragement and wisdom as Titus endured ongoing opposition from the ungodly and from legalists within his congregations. Paul instructed Titus to complete his assigned job of establishing overseers (elders) for the churches under his care. He described what sort of people these leaders should be, and how all believers should live in relation to each other as well as in their interactions with nonbelievers. Proper Christian behavior is based on the fact that "the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people," and therefore those who believe in Christ are to "live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives" as they await his return (2:11-13). Paul probably wrote this letter in the 60s a.d.

Titus chapter 1.

Greeting.

1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; 2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; 3 But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;
      4 To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.

Qualification for Elders.

5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: 6 If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. 7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; 8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; 9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
      10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: 11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake. 12 One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. 13 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; 14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth. 15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. 16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.



The Twentythird Day of April - Family Reading

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Leviticus chapter 27

Law of Vows.

1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When a man shall make a singular vow, the persons shall be for the LORD by thy estimation. 3 And thy estimation shall be of the male from twenty years old even unto sixty years old, even thy estimation shall be fifty shekels of silver, after the shekel of the sanctuary. 4 And if it be a female, then thy estimation shall be thirty shekels. 5 And if it be from five years old even unto twenty years old, then thy estimation shall be of the male twenty shekels, and for the female ten shekels. 6 And if it be from a month old even unto five years old, then thy estimation shall be of the male five shekels of silver, and for the female thy estimation shall be three shekels of silver. 7 And if it be from sixty years old and above; if it be a male, then thy estimation shall be fifteen shekels, and for the female ten shekels. 8 But if he be poorer than thy estimation, then he shall present himself before the priest, and the priest shall value him; according to his ability that vowed shall the priest value him.
      9 And if it be a beast, whereof men bring an offering unto the LORD, all that any man giveth of such unto the LORD shall be holy. 10 He shall not alter it, nor change it, a good for a bad, or a bad for a good: and if he shall at all change beast for beast, then it and the exchange thereof shall be holy. 11 And if it be any unclean beast, of which they do not offer a sacrifice unto the LORD, then he shall present the beast before the priest: 12 And the priest shall value it, whether it be good or bad: as thou valuest it, who art the priest, so shall it be. 13 But if he will at all redeem it, then he shall add a fifth part thereof unto thy estimation.
      14 And when a man shall sanctify his house to be holy unto the LORD, then the priest shall estimate it, whether it be good or bad: as the priest shall estimate it, so shall it stand. 15 And if he that sanctified it will redeem his house, then he shall add the fifth part of the money of thy estimation unto it, and it shall be his.
      16 And if a man shall sanctify unto the LORD some part of a field of his possession, then thy estimation shall be according to the seed thereof: an homer of barley seed shall be valued at fifty shekels of silver. 17 If he sanctify his field from the year of jubilee, according to thy estimation it shall stand. 18 But if he sanctify his field after the jubilee, then the priest shall reckon unto him the money according to the years that remain, even unto the year of the jubilee, and it shall be abated from thy estimation. 19 And if he that sanctified the field will in any wise redeem it, then he shall add the fifth part of the money of thy estimation unto it, and it shall be assured to him. 20 And if he will not redeem the field, or if he have sold the field to another man, it shall not be redeemed any more. 21 But the field, when it goeth out in the jubilee, shall be holy unto the LORD, as a field devoted; the possession thereof shall be the priest's. 22 And if a man sanctify unto the LORD a field which he hath bought, which is not of the fields of his possession; 23 Then the priest shall reckon unto him the worth of thy estimation, even unto the year of the jubilee: and he shall give thine estimation in that day, as a holy thing unto the LORD. 24 In the year of the jubilee the field shall return unto him of whom it was bought, even to him to whom the possession of the land did belong. 25 And all thy estimations shall be according to the shekel of the sanctuary: twenty gerahs shall be the shekel.
      26 Only the firstling of the beasts, which should be the LORD'S firstling, no man shall sanctify it; whether it be ox, or sheep: it is the LORD'S. 27 And if it be of an unclean beast, then he shall redeem it according to thine estimation, and shall add a fifth part of it thereto: or if it be not redeemed, then it shall be sold according to thy estimation.
      28 Notwithstanding no devoted thing, that a man shall devote unto the LORD of all that he hath, both of man and beast, and of the field of his possession, shall be sold or redeemed: every devoted thing is most holy unto the LORD. 29 None devoted, which shall be devoted of men, shall be redeemed; but shall surely be put to death.
      30 And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD'S: it is holy unto the LORD. 31 And if a man will at all redeem ought of his tithes, he shall add thereto the fifth part thereof. 32 And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the LORD. 33 He shall not search whether it be good or bad, neither shall he change it: and if he change it at all, then both it and the change thereof shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed.
      34 These are the commandments, which the LORD commanded Moses for the children of Israel in mount Sinai.

Psalm 34.

Taste and See That the Lord is Good.

 
A PSALM OF DAVID, WHEN HE CHANGED HIS BEHAVIOUR BEFORE ABIMELECH; WHO DROVE HIM AWAY, AND HE DEPARTED.

1        I will bless the LORD at all times:
             his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2        My soul shall make her boast in the LORD:
             the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.
3        O magnify the LORD with me,
             and let us exalt his name together.

4        I sought the LORD, and he heard me,
             and delivered me from all my fears.
5        They looked unto him, and were lightened:
             and their faces were not ashamed.
6        This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him,
             and saved him out of all his troubles.
7        The angel of the LORD encampeth
             round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.

8        O taste and see that the LORD is good:
             blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
9        O fear the LORD, ye his saints:
             for there is no want to them that fear him.
10       The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger:
              but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.
			  
11       Come, ye children, hearken unto me:
              I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

12       What man is he that desireth life,
              and loveth many days, that he may see good?
13       Keep thy tongue from evil,
              and thy lips from speaking guile.
14       Depart from evil, and do good;
              seek peace, and pursue it.

15       The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous,
              and his ears are open unto their cry.
16       The face of the LORD is against them that do evil,
              to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
17       The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth,
              and delivereth them out of all their troubles.
18       The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart;
              and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

19       Many are the afflictions of the righteous:
              but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.
20       He keepeth all his bones:
              not one of them is broken.
21       Evil shall slay the wicked:
              and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.
22       The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants:
              and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate. 


The Twentythird Day of April - Personal Reading.

Ecclesiastes chapter 10.

Wisdom Better Than Folly - continued.

 1        Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour:
              so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.
2         A wise man's heart is at his right hand;
              but a fool's heart at his left.
3         Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way,
              his wisdom faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool.
4         If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place;
              for yielding pacifieth great offences.

5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler: 6 Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place. 7 I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.

8         He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it;
              and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
9         Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith;
              and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby.
10       If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge,
              then must he put to more strength:
              but wisdom is profitable to direct.
11       Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment;
              and a babbler is no better.

12       The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious;
              but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
13       The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness:
              and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
14       A fool also is full of words:
              a man cannot tell what shall be;
              and what shall be after him, who can tell him?
15       The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them,
              because he knoweth not how to go to the city.

16       Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child,
              and thy princes eat in the morning!
17       Blessed art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles,
              and thy princes eat in due season,
			  for strength, and not for drunkenness!
18       By much slothfulness the building decayeth;
              and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.
19       A feast is made for laughter,
              and wine maketh merry:
              but money answereth all things.
20       Curse not the king, no not in thy thought;
              and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber:
          or a bird of the air shall carry the voice,
              and that which hath wings shall tell the matter. 

Titus chapter 2.

Teach Sound Doctrine.

1 But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: 2 That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. 3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; 4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. 6 Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded. 7 In all things showing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine showing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, 8 Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you. 9 Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; 10 Not purloining, but showing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.
      11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
      15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.



The Twentyfourth Day of April - Family Reading

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The Book of Numbers.

Introduction.

The English title "Numbers" comes from the two censuses that are central features of this book. However the Hebrew title, "In the Wilderness," is more descriptive of the book. Numbers tells how God-s people traveled from Mount Sinai to the border of the Promised Land. But when they refused to take possession of the Land, God made them wander in the wilderness for nearly forty years. Throughout the book, God is seen as a holy God who cannot ignore rebellion or unbelief, but also as the one who faithfully keeps his covenant and patiently provides for the needs of his people. Numbers ends with a new generation preparing for the conquest of Canaan. Traditionally, Jews and Christians recognize Moses as the author, writing during the final year of his life.

Numbers chapter 1

A Census of Israel's Warriors.

1 And the LORD spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tabernacle of the congregation, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt, saying, 2 Take ye the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, after their families, by the house of their fathers, with the number of their names, every male by their polls; 3 From twenty years old and upward, all that are able to go forth to war in Israel: thou and Aaron shall number them by their armies. 4 And with you there shall be a man of every tribe; every one head of the house of his fathers. 5 And these are the names of the men that shall stand with you: of the tribe of Reuben; Elizur the son of Shedeur. 6 Of Simeon; Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai. 7 Of Judah; Nahshon the son of Amminadab. 8 Of Issachar; Nethaneel the son of Zuar. 9 Of Zebulun; Eliab the son of Helon. 10 Of the children of Joseph: of Ephraim; Elishama the son of Ammihud: of Manasseh; Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur. 11 Of Benjamin; Abidan the son of Gideoni. 12 Of Dan; Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai. 13 Of Asher; Pagiel the son of Ocran. 14 Of Gad; Eliasaph the son of Deuel. 15 Of Naphtali; Ahira the son of Enan. 16 These were the renowned of the congregation, princes of the tribes of their fathers, heads of thousands in Israel.
      17 And Moses and Aaron took these men which are expressed by their names: 18 And they assembled all the congregation together on the first day of the second month, and they declared their pedigrees after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, by their polls. 19 As the LORD commanded Moses, so he numbered them in the wilderness of Sinai.
      20 And the children of Reuben, Israel's eldest son, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, by their polls, every male from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war; 21 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Reuben, were forty and six thousand and five hundred.
      22 Of the children of Simeon, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, those that were numbered of them, according to the number of the names, by their polls, every male from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war; 23 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Simeon, were fifty and nine thousand and three hundred.
      24 Of the children of Gad, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war; 25 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Gad, were forty and five thousand six hundred and fifty.
      26 Of the children of Judah, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war; 27 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Judah, were threescore and fourteen thousand and six hundred.
      28 Of the children of Issachar, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war; 29 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Issachar, were fifty and four thousand and four hundred.
      30 Of the children of Zebulun, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war; 31 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Zebulun, were fifty and seven thousand and four hundred.
      32 Of the children of Joseph, namely, of the children of Ephraim, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war; 33 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Ephraim, were forty thousand and five hundred.
      34 Of the children of Manasseh, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war; 35 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Manasseh, were thirty and two thousand and two hundred.
      36 Of the children of Benjamin, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war; 37 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Benjamin, were thirty and five thousand and four hundred.
      38 Of the children of Dan, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war; 39 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Dan, were threescore and two thousand and seven hundred.
      40 Of the children of Asher, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war; 41 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Asher, were forty and one thousand and five hundred.
      42 Of the children of Naphtali, throughout their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war; 43 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Naphtali, were fifty and three thousand and four hundred.
      44 These are those that were numbered, which Moses and Aaron numbered, and the princes of Israel, being twelve men: each one was for the house of his fathers. 45 So were all those that were numbered of the children of Israel, by the house of their fathers, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war in Israel; 46 Even all they that were numbered were six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty.

Levites Exempted.

47 But the Levites after the tribe of their fathers were not numbered among them. 48 For the LORD had spoken unto Moses, saying, 49 Only thou shalt not number the tribe of Levi, neither take the sum of them among the children of Israel: 50 But thou shalt appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of testimony, and over all the vessels thereof, and over all things that belong to it: they shall bear the tabernacle, and all the vessels thereof; and they shall minister unto it, and shall encamp round about the tabernacle. 51 And when the tabernacle setteth forward, the Levites shall take it down: and when the tabernacle is to be pitched, the Levites shall set it up: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death. 52 And the children of Israel shall pitch their tents, every man by his own camp, and every man by his own standard, throughout their hosts. 53 But the Levites shall pitch round about the tabernacle of testimony, that there be no wrath upon the congregation of the children of Israel: and the Levites shall keep the charge of the tabernacle of testimony. 54 And the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did they.

Psalm 35.

Great is the Lord.

A PSALM OF DAVID

1        Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me:
              fight against them that fight against me.
2        Take hold of shield and buckler,
              and stand up for mine help.
3        Draw out also the spear,
              and stop the way against them that persecute me:
              say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.
			  
4        Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul:
              let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt.
5        Let them be as chaff before the wind:
              and let the angel of the LORD chase them.
6        Let their way be dark and slippery:
              and let the angel of the LORD persecute them.

7        For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit,
              which without cause they have digged for my soul.
8        Let destruction come upon him at unawares;
              and let his net that he hath hid catch himself:
              into that very destruction let him fall.

9        And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD:
              it shall rejoice in his salvation.
10       All my bones shall say, LORD, who is like unto thee,
              which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him,
            yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him?

11       False witnesses did rise up;
              they laid to my charge things that I knew not.
12       They rewarded me evil for good
              to the spoiling of my soul.
13       But as for me, when they were sick,
              my clothing was sackcloth:
              I humbled my soul with fasting;
              and my prayer returned into mine own bosom.
14       I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother:
              I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother.

15       But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together:
              yea, the abjects gathered themselves together against me,
            and I knew it not; they did tear me, and ceased not:
16       With hypocritical mockers in feasts,
              they gnashed upon me with their teeth.

17       Lord, how long wilt thou look on?
              rescue my soul from their destructions,
              my darling from the lions.
18       I will give thee thanks in the great congregation:
              I will praise thee among much people.

19       Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me:
              neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause.
20       For they speak not peace:
              but they devise deceitful matters against them that are quiet in the land.
21       Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me,
              and said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it.

22       This thou hast seen, O LORD: keep not silence:
              O LORD, be not far from me.
23       Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment,
              even unto my cause, my God and my Lord.
24       Judge me, O LORD my God,
              according to thy righteousness;
              and let them not rejoice over me.
25       Let them not say in their hearts,
              Ah, so would we have it:
              let them not say, We have swallowed him up.

26       Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion
              together that rejoice at mine hurt:
            let them be clothed with shame and dishonour
              that magnify themselves against me.

27       Let them shout for joy, and be glad,
              that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually,
            Let the LORD be magnified,
              which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.
28       And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness
              and of thy praise all the day long. 


The Twentyfourth Day of April - Personal Reading.

Ecclesiastes chapter 11.

Cast Your Bread upon the Waters.

1         Cast thy bread upon the waters:
              for thou shalt find it after many days.
2         Give a portion to seven, and also to eight;
              for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.
3         If the clouds be full of rain,
              they empty themselves upon the earth:
            and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north,
              in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be.
4         He that observeth the wind shall not sow;
              and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.
 

5 As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all.
      6 In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.
      7 Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun:
      8 But if a man live many years, and rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity.

Fear God and Keep His Commandments.

9 Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.
      10 Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.

Titus chapter 3.

Be Ready for Every Good Work.

1 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, 2 To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, showing all meekness unto all men. 3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. 4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men. 9 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. 10 A man that is an heretic after the first and second admonition reject; 11 Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.

Final Instructions and Greetings.

12 When I shall send Artemas unto thee, or Tychicus, be diligent to come unto me to Nicopolis: for I have determined there to winter. 13 Bring Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey diligently, that nothing be wanting unto them. 14 And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.
      15 All that are with me salute thee. Greet them that love us in the faith.
      Grace be with you all. Amen.



The Twentyfifth Day of April - Family Reading

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Numbers chapter 2.

Arrangement of the Camp.

1 And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, 2 Every man of the children of Israel shall pitch by his own standard, with the ensign of their father's house: far off about the tabernacle of the congregation shall they pitch. 3 And on the east side toward the rising of the sun shall they of the standard of the camp of Judah pitch throughout their armies: and Nahshon the son of Amminadab shall be captain of the children of Judah. 4 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were threescore and fourteen thousand and six hundred. 5 And those that do pitch next unto him shall be the tribe of Issachar: and Nethaneel the son of Zuar shall be captain of the children of Issachar. 6 And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, were fifty and four thousand and four hundred. 7 Then the tribe of Zebulun: and Eliab the son of Helon shall be captain of the children of Zebulun. 8 And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, were fifty and seven thousand and four hundred. 9 All that were numbered in the camp of Judah were an hundred thousand and fourscore thousand and six thousand and four hundred, throughout their armies. These shall first set forth.
      10 On the south side shall be the standard of the camp of Reuben according to their armies: and the captain of the children of Reuben shall be Elizur the son of Shedeur. 11 And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, were forty and six thousand and five hundred. 12 And those which pitch by him shall be the tribe of Simeon: and the captain of the children of Simeon shall be Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai. 13 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were fifty and nine thousand and three hundred. 14 Then the tribe of Gad: and the captain of the sons of Gad shall be Eliasaph the son of Reuel. 15 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were forty and five thousand and six hundred and fifty. 16 All that were numbered in the camp of Reuben were an hundred thousand and fifty and one thousand and four hundred and fifty, throughout their armies. And they shall set forth in the second rank.
      17 Then the tabernacle of the congregation shall set forward with the camp of the Levites in the midst of the camp: as they encamp, so shall they set forward, every man in his place by their standards.
      18 On the west side shall be the standard of the camp of Ephraim according to their armies: and the captain of the sons of Ephraim shall be Elishama the son of Ammihud. 19 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were forty thousand and five hundred. 20 And by him shall be the tribe of Manasseh: and the captain of the children of Manasseh shall be Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur. 21 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were thirty and two thousand and two hundred. 22 Then the tribe of Benjamin: and the captain of the sons of Benjamin shall be Abidan the son of Gideoni. 23 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were thirty and five thousand and four hundred. 24 All that were numbered of the camp of Ephraim were an hundred thousand and eight thousand and an hundred, throughout their armies. And they shall go forward in the third rank.
      25 The standard of the camp of Dan shall be on the north side by their armies: and the captain of the children of Dan shall be Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai. 26 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were threescore and two thousand and seven hundred. 27 And those that encamp by him shall be the tribe of Asher: and the captain of the children of Asher shall be Pagiel the son of Ocran. 28 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were forty and one thousand and five hundred. 29 Then the tribe of Naphtali: and the captain of the children of Naphtali shall be Ahira the son of Enan. 30 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were fifty and three thousand and four hundred. 31 All they that were numbered in the camp of Dan were an hundred thousand and fifty and seven thousand and six hundred. They shall go hindmost with their standards.
      32 These are those which were numbered of the children of Israel by the house of their fathers: all those that were numbered of the camps throughout their hosts were six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty. 33 But the Levites were not numbered among the children of Israel; as the LORD commanded Moses.
      34 And the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses: so they pitched by their standards, and so they set forward, every one after their families, according to the house of their fathers.

Psalm 36.

How Precious is Your Steadfast Love.

 TO THE CHIEF MUSICIAN, A PSALM OF DAVID THE SERVANT OF THE LORD

1         The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart,
              that there is no fear of God before his eyes.
2         For he flattereth himself in his own eyes,
              until his iniquity be found to be hateful.
3         The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit:
              he hath left off to be wise, and to do good.
4         He deviseth mischief upon his bed;
              he setteth himself in a way that is not good;
              he abhorreth not evil.

5         Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens;
              and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.
6         Thy righteousness is like the great mountains;
              thy judgments are a great deep:
              O LORD, thou preservest man and beast.

7         How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God!
              therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.
8         They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house;
              and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.
9         For with thee is the fountain of life:
              in thy light shall we see light.

10        O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee;
              and thy righteousness to the upright in heart.
11        Let not the foot of pride come against me,
              and let not the hand of the wicked remove me.
12        There are the workers of iniquity fallen:
              they are cast down, and shall not be able to rise.


The Twentyfifth Day of April - Personal Reading.

Ecclesiastes chapter 12.

Remember our Creator in Your Youth.

1 Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; 2 While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain: 3 In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened, 4 And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of music shall be brought low; 5 Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets: 6 Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. 7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. 8 Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity.

Fear God and Keep His Commandments.

9 And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs.
      11 The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd. 12 And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
      13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

The Epistle of Paul to Philemonn.

Introduction.

Philemon is about reconciliation and relationships between Christians. Onesimus (which means "useful") was a slave of a believer named Philemon in Colossae. Apparently Onesimus had stolen from Philemon and fled. At some time while Paul was under arrest, Onesimus met him and became a Christian. Paul apparently wrote this letter at the same time as Colossians and gave it to Onesimus to carry back to Philemon (see Col. 4:9). Paul appealed to Philemon to accept Onesimus back into his household, but as a brother in the Lord rather than a slave. In Paul-s estimation, Onesimus was far more "useful" (v. 11) now that he was a Christian. Paul even promised to pay whatever debt Onesimus might owe Philemon.

Philomen chapter 1.

Greeting.

1 Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother,
      unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer, 2 And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house:
      3 Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Philomen's Love and Faith.

4 I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers, 5 Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints; 6 That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. 7 For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.

Paul's Plea for Onesimus.

8 Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient, 9 Yet for love's sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ. 10 I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds: 11 Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me: 12 Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels: 13 Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel: 14 But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly. 15 For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever; 16 Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?
      17 If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself. 18 If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account; 19 I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides. 20 Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.
      21 Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say. 22 But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.

Final Greetings.

23 There salute thee Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus; 24 Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers.
      25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.



The Twentysixth Day of April - Family Reading

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Numbers chapter 3

The Sons of Aaron.

1 These also are the generations of Aaron and Moses in the day that the LORD spake with Moses in mount Sinai. 2 And these are the names of the sons of Aaron; Nadab the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 3 These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the priests which were anointed, whom he consecrated to minister in the priest's office. 4 And Nadab and Abihu died before the LORD, when they offered strange fire before the LORD, in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children: and Eleazar and Ithamar ministered in the priest's office in the sight of Aaron their father.

Duties of the Levites.

5 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 6 Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister unto him. 7 And they shall keep his charge, and the charge of the whole congregation before the tabernacle of the congregation, to do the service of the tabernacle. 8 And they shall keep all the instruments of the tabernacle of the congregation, and the charge of the children of Israel, to do the service of the tabernacle. 9 And thou shalt give the Levites unto Aaron and to his sons: they are wholly given unto him out of the children of Israel. 10 And thou shalt appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall wait on their priest's office: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.
      11 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 12 And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn that openeth the matrix among the children of Israel: therefore the Levites shall be mine; 13 Because all the firstborn are mine; for on the day that I smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I hallowed unto me all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast: mine shall they be: I am the LORD.
      14 And the LORD spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, saying, 15 Number the children of Levi after the house of their fathers, by their families: every male from a month old and upward shalt thou number them. 16 And Moses numbered them according to the word of the LORD, as he was commanded. 17 And these were the sons of Levi by their names; Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari. 18 And these are the names of the sons of Gershon by their families; Libni, and Shimei. 19 And the sons of Kohath by their families; Amram, and Izehar, Hebron, and Uzziel. 20 And the sons of Merari by their families; Mahli, and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to the house of their fathers.
      21 Of Gershon was the family of the Libnites, and the family of the Shimites: these are the families of the Gershonites. 22 Those that were numbered of them, according to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, even those that were numbered of them were seven thousand and five hundred. 23 The families of the Gershonites shall pitch behind the tabernacle westward. 24 And the chief of the house of the father of the Gershonites shall be Eliasaph the son of Lael. 25 And the charge of the sons of Gershon in the tabernacle of the congregation shall be the tabernacle, and the tent, the covering thereof, and the hanging for the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 26 And the hangings of the court, and the curtain for the door of the court, which is by the tabernacle, and by the altar round about, and the cords of it for all the service thereof.
      27 And of Kohath was the family of the Amramites, and the family of the Izeharites, and the family of the Hebronites, and the family of the Uzzielites: these are the families of the Kohathites. 28 In the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, were eight thousand and six hundred, keeping the charge of the sanctuary. 29 The families of the sons of Kohath shall pitch on the side of the tabernacle southward. 30 And the chief of the house of the father of the families of the Kohathites shall be Elizaphan the son of Uzziel. 31 And their charge shall be the ark, and the table, and the candlestick, and the altars, and the vessels of the sanctuary wherewith they minister, and the hanging, and all the service thereof. 32 And Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest shall be chief over the chief of the Levites, and have the oversight of them that keep the charge of the sanctuary.
      33 Of Merari was the family of the Mahlites, and the family of the Mushites: these are the families of Merari. 34 And those that were numbered of them, according to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, were six thousand and two hundred. 35 And the chief of the house of the father of the families of Merari was Zuriel the son of Abihail: these shall pitch on the side of the tabernacle northward. 36 And under the custody and charge of the sons of Merari shall be the boards of the tabernacle, and the bars thereof, and the pillars thereof, and the sockets thereof, and all the vessels thereof, and all that serveth thereto, 37 And the pillars of the court round about, and their sockets, and their pins, and their cords.
      38 But those that encamp before the tabernacle toward the east, even before the tabernacle of the congregation eastward, shall be Moses, and Aaron and his sons, keeping the charge of the sanctuary for the charge of the children of Israel; and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death. 39 All that were numbered of the Levites, which Moses and Aaron numbered at the commandment of the LORD, throughout their families, all the males from a month old and upward, were twenty and two thousand.

Redemption of the Firstborn.

40 And the LORD said unto Moses, Number all the firstborn of the males of the children of Israel from a month old and upward, and take the number of their names. 41 And thou shalt take the Levites for me (I am the LORD) instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel; and the cattle of the Levites instead of all the firstlings among the cattle of the children of Israel. 42 And Moses numbered, as the LORD commanded him, all the firstborn among the children of Israel. 43 And all the firstborn males by the number of names, from a month old and upward, of those that were numbered of them, were twenty and two thousand two hundred and threescore and thirteen.
      44 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 45 Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle; and the Levites shall be mine: I am the LORD. 46 And for those that are to be redeemed of the two hundred and threescore and thirteen of the firstborn of the children of Israel, which are more than the Levites; 47 Thou shalt even take five shekels apiece by the poll, after the shekel of the sanctuary shalt thou take them: (the shekel is twenty gerahs:) 48 And thou shalt give the money, wherewith the odd number of them is to be redeemed, unto Aaron and to his sons. 49 And Moses took the redemption money of them that were over and above them that were redeemed by the Levites: 50 Of the firstborn of the children of Israel took he the money; a thousand three hundred and threescore and five shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary: 51 And Moses gave the money of them that were redeemed unto Aaron and to his sons, according to the word of the LORD, as the LORD commanded Moses.

Psalm 37.

He Will Not Forsake His Saints.

       A PSALM OF DAVID

1        Fret not thyself because of evildoers,
             neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.
2        For they shall soon be cut down like the grass,
             and wither as the green herb.

3        Trust in the LORD, and do good;
             so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
4        Delight thyself also in the LORD;
             and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

5        Commit thy way unto the LORD;
             trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
6        And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light,
             and thy judgment as the noonday.

7        Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him:
             fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way,
             because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

8         Cease from anger, and forsake wrath:
             fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.
9         For evildoers shall be cut off:
             but those that wait upon the LORD,
             they shall inherit the earth.

10       For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be:
              yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.
11       But the meek shall inherit the earth;
              and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

12       The wicked plotteth against the just,
              and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.
13       The Lord shall laugh at him:
              for he seeth that his day is coming.

14       The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow,
              to cast down the poor and needy,
              and to slay such as be of upright conversation.
15       Their sword shall enter into their own heart,
              and their bows shall be broken.

16       A little that a righteous man hath
             is better than the riches of many wicked.
17       For the arms of the wicked shall be broken:
              but the LORD upholdeth the righteous.

18       The LORD knoweth the days of the upright:
              and their inheritance shall be for ever.
19       They shall not be ashamed in the evil time:
              and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.

20       But the wicked shall perish,
              and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs:
              they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.

21       The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again:
              but the righteous showeth mercy, and giveth.
22       For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth;
              and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.

23       The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD:
              and he delighteth in his way.
24       Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down:
              for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.

25       I have been young, and now am old;
              yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken,
              nor his seed begging bread.
26       He is ever merciful, and lendeth;
              and his seed is blessed.

27       Depart from evil, and do good;
              and dwell for evermore.
28       For the LORD loveth judgment,
              and forsaketh not his saints;
              they are preserved for ever:
              but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.
29       The righteous shall inherit the land,
              and dwell therein for ever.

30       The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom,
              and his tongue talketh of judgment.
31       The law of his God is in his heart;
              none of his steps shall slide.

32       The wicked watcheth the righteous,
              and seeketh to slay him.
33       The LORD will not leave him in his hand,
              nor condemn him when he is judged.
			  
34       Wait on the LORD, and keep his way,
              and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land:
              when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.

35       I have seen the wicked in great power,
              and spreading himself like a green bay tree.
36       Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not:
              yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.

37       Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright:
              for the end of that man is peace.
38       But the transgressors shall be destroyed together:
              the end of the wicked shall be cut off.

39       But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD:
              he is their strength in the time of trouble.
40       And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them:
              he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them,
              because they trust in him.
 


The Twentysixth Day of April - Personal Reading.

The Book of the Song of Songs.

Introduction.

According to the most common interpretation, the Song of Solomon is a collection of love poems between a man and a woman, celebrating the sexual relationship God intended for marriage. God established marriage, including the physical union of a husband and wife (Gen. 2:18-25), and Israelite wisdom literature treasures this aspect of marriage as the appropriate expression of human sexuality (Prov. 5:15-20). The Song of Solomon has also been understood as an illustration of the mutual love of Christ and his church. It is possible that Solomon (tenth century b.c.) is the author (1:1). However, this verse could mean that the Song was dedicated to Solomon or was written about him, and therefore many scholars regard the book as anonymous.

Song of Songs chapter 1.

1 The song of songs, which is Solomon's.

The Bride Confesses Her Love.

                               She
2         Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth:
              for thy love is better than wine.
3         Because of the savour of thy good ointments
             thy name is as ointment poured forth,
              therefore do the virgins love thee.
4         Draw me, we will run after thee:
              the king hath brought me into his chambers:
			  
                               Others
							   
            we will be glad and rejoice in thee,
              we will remember thy love more than wine:
              the upright love thee.
			  
                               She
							   
5         I am black, but comely,
              O ye daughters of Jerusalem,
              as the tents of Kedar,
              as the curtains of Solomon.
6         Look not upon me, because I am black,
              because the sun hath looked upon me:
              my mother's children were angry with me;
            they made me the keeper of the vineyards;
              but mine own vineyard have I not kept.
7         Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth,
              where thou feedest,
              where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon:
            for why should I be as one that turneth aside
             by the flocks of thy companions?

Solomon and His Bride Delight in Each Other.

                               He
							   
8         If thou know not,
              O thou fairest among women,
              go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock,
              and feed thy kids beside the shepherds' tents.
9         I have compared thee, O my love,
              to a company of horses in Pharaoh's chariots.
10       Thy cheeks are comely with rows of jewels,
              thy neck with chains of gold.
			  
                              Others
							  
11       We will make thee borders of gold
              with studs of silver.
			  
                               She
							   
12         While the king sitteth at his table,
              my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof.
13       A bundle of myrrh is my wellbeloved unto me;
              he shall lie all night betwixt my breasts.
14       My beloved is unto me as a cluster of camphire
              in the vineyards of Engedi.
			  
                               He
							   
15       Behold, thou art fair, my love;
              behold, thou art fair;
              thou hast doves' eyes.
			  
                               She
							   
16       Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, yea, pleasant:
              also our bed is green.
17       The beams of our house are cedar,
              and our rafters of fir.  

The Epistle to the Hebrews.

Introduction.

The letter to the Hebrews was written to encourage Christians in a time of trial. It does so by focusing on the absolute supremacy and sufficiency of Jesus Christ. While God spoke in the past "many times and in many ways," he has now spoken to us "by his Son," Jesus Christ, who is the "exact imprint" of God-s nature and who "upholds the universe by the word of his power" (1:1-3). Jesus accomplished complete salvation for all who trust in him (1:1-10:18). We dare not "neglect such a great salvation" (2:3; 5:12-6:20; 10:19-39). Rather, in our faith and in our everyday living, we should imitate the example of Christ and of those on the honor roll of faith (chs. 11-13). This letter, whose author is unknown, was probably written between a.d. 60 and 70.

Hebrews chapter 1.

The Supremacy of God's Son.

1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; 4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
     

    5 For unto which of the angels said he at any time,

            Thou art my Son,
            this day have I begotten thee?

And again,

            I will be to him a Father,
            and he shall be to me a Son?

6 And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith,

        And let all the angels of God worship him.

7 And of the angels he saith,

            Who maketh his angels spirits,
            and his ministers a flame of fire.

8 But unto the Son he saith,

            Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever:
            a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.
9         Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity;
            therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee
            with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

10 And,

             Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth;
             and the heavens are the works of thine hands:
11        They shall perish; but thou remainest;
             and they all shall wax old as doth a garment;
12        And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up,
             and they shall be changed:
             but thou art the same,
             and thy years shall not fail.

13        13 But to which of the angels said he at any time,
             Sit on my right hand,
             until I make thine enemies thy footstool?

14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?


The Twentyseventh Day of April - Family Reading

Return to the Top.

Numbers chapter 4

Duties of the Kohathites.

1 And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, 2 Take the sum of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, after their families, by the house of their fathers, 3 From thirty years old and upward even until fifty years old, all that enter into the host, to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation. 4 This shall be the service of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation, about the most holy things: 5 And when the camp setteth forward, Aaron shall come, and his sons, and they shall take down the covering veil, and cover the ark of testimony with it: 6 And shall put thereon the covering of badgers' skins, and shall spread over it a cloth wholly of blue, and shall put in the staves thereof. 7 And upon the table of showbread they shall spread a cloth of blue, and put thereon the dishes, and the spoons, and the bowls, and covers to cover withal: and the continual bread shall be thereon: 8 And they shall spread upon them a cloth of scarlet, and cover the same with a covering of badgers' skins, and shall put in the staves thereof. 9 And they shall take a cloth of blue, and cover the candlestick of the light, and his lamps, and his tongs, and his snuffdishes, and all the oil vessels thereof, wherewith they minister unto it: 10 And they shall put it and all the vessels thereof within a covering of badgers' skins, and shall put it upon a bar. 11 And upon the golden altar they shall spread a cloth of blue, and cover it with a covering of badgers' skins, and shall put to the staves thereof: 12 And they shall take all the instruments of ministry, wherewith they minister in the sanctuary, and put them in a cloth of blue, and cover them with a covering of badgers' skins, and shall put them on a bar: 13 And they shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth thereon: 14 And they shall put upon it all the vessels thereof, wherewith they minister about it, even the censers, the fleshhooks, and the shovels, and the basins, all the vessels of the altar; and they shall spread upon it a covering of badgers' skins, and put to the staves of it. 15 And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as the camp is to set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it: but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die. These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation.
      16 And to the office of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest pertaineth the oil for the light, and the sweet incense, and the daily meat offering, and the anointing oil, and the oversight of all the tabernacle, and of all that therein is, in the sanctuary, and in the vessels thereof.
      17 And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, 18 Cut ye not off the tribe of the families of the Kohathites from among the Levites: 19 But thus do unto them, that they may live, and not die, when they approach unto the most holy things: Aaron and his sons shall go in, and appoint them every one to his service and to his burden: 20 But they shall not go in to see when the holy things are covered, lest they die.
      21 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 22 Take also the sum of the sons of Gershon, throughout the houses of their fathers, by their families; 23 From thirty years old and upward until fifty years old shalt thou number them; all that enter in to perform the service, to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation. 24 This is the service of the families of the Gershonites, to serve, and for burdens: 25 And they shall bear the curtains of the tabernacle, and the tabernacle of the congregation, his covering, and the covering of the badgers' skins that is above upon it, and the hanging for the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, 26 And the hangings of the court, and the hanging for the door of the gate of the court, which is by the tabernacle and by the altar round about, and their cords, and all the instruments of their service, and all that is made for them: so shall they serve. 27 At the appointment of Aaron and his sons shall be all the service of the sons of the Gershonites, in all their burdens, and in all their service: and ye shall appoint unto them in charge all their burdens. 28 This is the service of the families of the sons of Gershon in the tabernacle of the congregation: and their charge shall be under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.
      29 As for the sons of Merari, thou shalt number them after their families, by the house of their fathers; 30 From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old shalt thou number them, every one that entereth into the service, to do the work of the tabernacle of the congregation. 31 And this is the charge of their burden, according to all their service in the tabernacle of the congregation; the boards of the tabernacle, and the bars thereof, and the pillars thereof, and sockets thereof, 32 And the pillars of the court round about, and their sockets, and their pins, and their cords, with all their instruments, and with all their service: and by name ye shall reckon the instruments of the charge of their burden. 33 This is the service of the families of the sons of Merari, according to all their service, in the tabernacle of the congregation, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.
      34 And Moses and Aaron and the chief of the congregation numbered the sons of the Kohathites after their families, and after the house of their fathers, 35 From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that entereth into the service, for the work in the tabernacle of the congregation: 36 And those that were numbered of them by their families were two thousand seven hundred and fifty. 37 These were they that were numbered of the families of the Kohathites, all that might do service in the tabernacle of the congregation, which Moses and Aaron did number according to the commandment of the LORD by the hand of Moses.
      38 And those that were numbered of the sons of Gershon, throughout their families, and by the house of their fathers, 39 From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that entereth into the service, for the work in the tabernacle of the congregation, 40 Even those that were numbered of them, throughout their families, by the house of their fathers, were two thousand and six hundred and thirty. 41 These are they that were numbered of the families of the sons of Gershon, of all that might do service in the tabernacle of the congregation, whom Moses and Aaron did number according to the commandment of the LORD.
      42 And those that were numbered of the families of the sons of Merari, throughout their families, by the house of their fathers, 43 From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that entereth into the service, for the work in the tabernacle of the congregation, 44 Even those that were numbered of them after their families, were three thousand and two hundred. 45 These be those that were numbered of the families of the sons of Merari, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the word of the LORD by the hand of Moses.
      46 All those that were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron and the chief of Israel numbered, after their families, and after the house of their fathers, 47 From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that came to do the service of the ministry, and the service of the burden in the tabernacle of the congregation, 48 Even those that were numbered of them, were eight thousand and five hundred and fourscore. 49 According to the commandment of the LORD they were numbered by the hand of Moses, every one according to his service, and according to his burden: thus were they numbered of him, as the LORD commanded Moses.

Psalm 38.

Do Not Forsake Me, O Lord.

 
     A PSALM OF DAVID, TO BRING TO REMEMBRANCE

1        O LORD, rebuke me not in thy wrath:
             neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.
2        For thine arrows stick fast in me,
             and thy hand presseth me sore.

3        There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger;
             neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin.
4        For mine iniquities are gone over mine head:
             as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me.

5        My wounds stink and are corrupt
            because of my foolishness.
6        I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly;
             I go mourning all the day long.
7        For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease:
             and there is no soundness in my flesh.
8        I am feeble and sore broken:
             I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart.

9        Lord, all my desire is before thee;
             and my groaning is not hid from thee.
10       My heart panteth, my strength faileth me:
             as for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me.
11       My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; and my kinsmen stand afar off.

12       They also that seek after my life lay snares for me:
              and they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things,
              and imagine deceits all the day long.

13       But I, as a deaf man, heard not;
              and I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth.
14       Thus I was as a man that heareth not,
              and in whose mouth are no reproofs.

15       For in thee, O LORD, do I hope:
              thou wilt hear, O Lord my God.
16       For I said, Hear me, lest otherwise they should rejoice over me:
              when my foot slippeth, they magnify themselves against me.

17       For I am ready to halt,
              and my sorrow is continually before me.
18       For I will declare mine iniquity;
              I will be sorry for my sin.
19       But mine enemies are lively, and they are strong:
              and they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied.
20       They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries;
              because I follow the thing that good is.

21       Forsake me not, O LORD:
              O my God, be not far from me.
22       Make haste to help me,
              O Lord my salvation.


The Twentyseventh Day of April - Personal Reading.

Song of Songs chapter 2.

Solomon and His Bride Delight in Each Other - continued.

                            She
							
1         I am the rose of Sharon,
             and the lily of the valleys.
			  
                             He
							 
2         As the lily among thorns,
             so is my love among the daughters.
			  
                             She
							 
3         As the apple tree among the trees of the wood,
             so is my beloved among the sons.
             I sat down under his shadow with great delight,
             and his fruit was sweet to my taste.
4         He brought me to the banqueting house,
             and his banner over me was love.
5         Stay me with flagons,
             comfort me with apples:
             for I am sick of love.
6         His left hand is under my head,
             and his right hand doth embrace me.
7         I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem,
             by the roes, and by the hinds of the field,
             that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, till he please.

The Bride Adores Her Beloved.

8        The voice of my beloved!
             behold, he cometh
             leaping upon the mountains,
             skipping upon the hills.
9        My beloved is like a roe or a young hart:
             behold, he standeth behind our wall,
             he looketh forth at the windows,
             showing himself through the lattice.
10       My beloved spake, and said unto me,
              Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.
11       For, lo, the winter is past,
             the rain is over and gone;
12       The flowers appear on the earth;
             the time of the singing of birds is come,
             and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land;
13       The fig tree putteth forth her green figs,
             and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell.
             Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.
14       O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock,
             in the secret places of the stairs,
             let me see thy countenance,
             let me hear thy voice;
             for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely.
15       Take us the foxes,
             the little foxes,
             that spoil the vines:
             for our vines have tender grapes.
			 
16       My beloved is mine, and I am his:
             he feedeth among the lilies.
17       Until the day break,
             and the shadows flee away,
             turn, my beloved, and be thou like a roe or a young hart
             upon the mountains of Bether.  

Hebrews chapter 2.

Warning Against Neglecting Salvation .

1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. 2 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; 3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; 4 God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?

The Founder of Salvation.

5 For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak. 6 But one in a certain place testified, saying,

            What is man, that thou art mindful of him?
            or the son of man, that thou visitest him?
7         Thou madest him a little lower than the angels;
            thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:
8         Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet.

For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. 9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
      10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, 12 Saying,

            I will declare thy name unto my brethren,
            in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.

13 And again,

            I will put my trust in him.

And again,

        Behold I and the children which God hath given me.

      14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. 17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. 18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.



The Twentyeighth Day of April - Family Reading

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Numbers chapter 5

Unclean People.

1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Command the children of Israel, that they put out of the camp every leper, and every one that hath an issue, and whosoever is defiled by the dead: 3 Both male and female shall ye put out, without the camp shall ye put them; that they defile not their camps, in the midst whereof I dwell. 4 And the children of Israel did so, and put them out without the camp: as the LORD spake unto Moses, so did the children of Israel.

Confession and Restitution.

5 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 6 Speak unto the children of Israel, When a man or woman shall commit any sin that men commit, to do a trespass against the LORD, and that person be guilty; 7 Then they shall confess their sin which they have done: and he shall recompense his trespass with the principal thereof, and add unto it the fifth part thereof, and give it unto him against whom he hath trespassed. 8 But if the man have no kinsman to recompense the trespass unto, let the trespass be recompensed unto the LORD, even to the priest; beside the ram of the atonement, whereby an atonement shall be made for him. 9 And every offering of all the holy things of the children of Israel, which they bring unto the priest, shall be his. 10 And every man's hallowed things shall be his: whatsoever any man giveth the priest, it shall be his.

A Test for Adultery.

11 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 12 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man's wife go aside, and commit a trespass against him, 13 And a man lie with her carnally, and it be hid from the eyes of her husband, and be kept close, and she be defiled, and there be no witness against her, neither she be taken with the manner; 14 And the spirit of jealousy come upon him, and he be jealous of his wife, and she be defiled: or if the spirit of jealousy come upon him, and he be jealous of his wife, and she be not defiled: 15 Then shall the man bring his wife unto the priest, and he shall bring her offering for her, the tenth part of an ephah of barley meal; he shall pour no oil upon it, nor put frankincense thereon; for it is an offering of jealousy, an offering of memorial, bringing iniquity to remembrance.
      16 And the priest shall bring her near, and set her before the LORD: 17 And the priest shall take holy water in an earthen vessel; and of the dust that is in the floor of the tabernacle the priest shall take, and put it into the water: 18 And the priest shall set the woman before the LORD, and uncover the woman's head, and put the offering of memorial in her hands, which is the jealousy offering: and the priest shall have in his hand the bitter water that causeth the curse: 19 And the priest shall charge her by an oath, and say unto the woman, If no man have lain with thee, and if thou hast not gone aside to uncleanness with another instead of thy husband, be thou free from this bitter water that causeth the curse: 20 But if thou hast gone aside to another instead of thy husband, and if thou be defiled, and some man have lain with thee beside thine husband: 21 Then the priest shall charge the woman with an oath of cursing, and the priest shall say unto the woman, The LORD make thee a curse and an oath among thy people, when the LORD doth make thy thigh to rot, and thy belly to swell; 22 And this water that causeth the curse shall go into thy bowels, to make thy belly to swell, and thy thigh to rot: And the woman shall say, Amen, amen.
      23 And the priest shall write these curses in a book, and he shall blot them out with the bitter water: 24 And he shall cause the woman to drink the bitter water that causeth the curse: and the water that causeth the curse shall enter into her, and become bitter. 25 Then the priest shall take the jealousy offering out of the woman's hand, and shall wave the offering before the LORD, and offer it upon the altar: 26 And the priest shall take an handful of the offering, even the memorial thereof, and burn it upon the altar, and afterward shall cause the woman to drink the water. 27 And when he hath made her to drink the water, then it shall come to pass, that, if she be defiled, and have done trespass against her husband, that the water that causeth the curse shall enter into her, and become bitter, and her belly shall swell, and her thigh shall rot: and the woman shall be a curse among her people. 28 And if the woman be not defiled, but be clean; then she shall be free, and shall conceive seed.
      29 This is the law of jealousies, when a wife goeth aside to another instead of her husband, and is defiled; 30 Or when the spirit of jealousy cometh upon him, and he be jealous over his wife, and shall set the woman before the LORD, and the priest shall execute upon her all this law. 31 Then shall the man be guiltless from iniquity, and this woman shall bear her iniquity.

Psalm 39.

What is the Measure of My Days.

TO THE CHIEF MUSICIAN, EVEN TO JEDUTHUN, A PSALM OF DAVID

1         I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue:
              I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.
2         I was dumb with silence,
              I held my peace, even from good;
              and my sorrow was stirred.
3         My heart was hot within me,
              while I was musing the fire burned:
              then spake I with my tongue,

4         LORD, make me to know mine end,
              and the measure of my days, what it is;
              that I may know how frail I am.
5         Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth;
              and mine age is as nothing before thee:
            verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.
6         Surely every man walketh in a vain show:
              surely they are disquieted in vain:
              he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.

7         And now, Lord, what wait I for?
              my hope is in thee.
8         Deliver me from all my transgressions:
              make me not the reproach of the foolish.
9         I was dumb, I opened not my mouth;
              because thou didst it.
10        Remove thy stroke away from me:
              I am consumed by the blow of thine hand.
11        When thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity,
              thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth:
              surely every man is vanity. Selah.

12        Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear unto my cry;
              hold not thy peace at my tears:
            for I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were.
13        O spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go hence, and be no more.


The Twentyeighth Day of April - Personal Reading.

Song of Songs chapter 3.

The Bride's Dream.

1         By night on my bed
              I sought him whom my soul loveth:
              I sought him, but I found him not.
2         I will rise now, and go about the city in the streets,
              and in the broad ways I will seek him whom my soul loveth:
              I sought him, but I found him not.
3         The watchmen that go about the city found me:
              to whom I said, Saw ye him whom my soul loveth?
4         It was but a little that I passed from them,
              but I found him whom my soul loveth:
              I held him, and would not let him go,
          until I had brought him into my mother's house,
              and into the chamber of her that conceived me.
5         I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes,
              and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love,
              till he please.

Solomon Arrives for the Wedding.

6         Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness
              like pillars of smoke,
              perfumed with myrrh and frankincense,
              with all powders of the merchant?
7         Behold his bed, which is Solomon's;
              threescore valiant men are about it,
              of the valiant of Israel.
8         They all hold swords,
              being expert in war:
              every man hath his sword upon his thigh
              because of fear in the night.
9         King Solomon made himself a chariot
              of the wood of Lebanon.
10        He made the pillars thereof of silver,
              the bottom thereof of gold, the covering of it of purple,
          the midst thereof being paved with love,
              for the daughters of Jerusalem.
11        Go forth, O ye daughters of Zion,
              and behold king Solomon
              with the crown wherewith his mother
          crowned him in the day of his espousals,
              and in the day of the gladness of his heart. 

Hebrews chapter 3.

Jesus Greater Than Moses.

1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; 2 Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house. 3 For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house. 4 For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God. 5 And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after; 6 But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.

A Rest For the People of God.

7 Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith,

            To day if ye will hear his voice,
8         Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation,
      in the day of temptation in the wilderness:
9         When your fathers tempted me, proved me,
      and saw my works forty years.
10       Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said,
      They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.
11       So I sware in my wrath,
      They shall not enter into my rest.)

12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. 13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; 15 While it is said,

            To day if ye will hear his voice,
            harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.

16 For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. 17 But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? 19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.



The Twentynineth Day of April - Family Reading

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Numbers chapter 6.

The Nazirite Vow.

1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When either man or woman shall separate themselves to vow a vow of a Nazarite, to separate themselves unto the LORD: 3 He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink, and shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat moist grapes, or dried. 4 All the days of his separation shall he eat nothing that is made of the vine tree, from the kernels even to the husk.
      5 All the days of the vow of his separation there shall no razor come upon his head: until the days be fulfilled, in the which he separateth himself unto the LORD, he shall be holy, and shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow.
      6 All the days that he separateth himself unto the LORD he shall come at no dead body. 7 He shall not make himself unclean for his father, or for his mother, for his brother, or for his sister, when they die: because the consecration of his God is upon his head. 8 All the days of his separation he is holy unto the LORD.
      9 And if any man die very suddenly by him, and he hath defiled the head of his consecration; then he shall shave his head in the day of his cleansing, on the seventh day shall he shave it. 10 And on the eighth day he shall bring two turtles, or two young pigeons, to the priest, to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: 11 And the priest shall offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering, and make an atonement for him, for that he sinned by the dead, and shall hallow his head that same day. 12 And he shall consecrate unto the LORD the days of his separation, and shall bring a lamb of the first year for a trespass offering: but the days that were before shall be lost, because his separation was defiled.
      13 And this is the law of the Nazarite, when the days of his separation are fulfilled: he shall be brought unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: 14 And he shall offer his offering unto the LORD, one he lamb of the first year without blemish for a burnt offering, and one ewe lamb of the first year without blemish for a sin offering, and one ram without blemish for peace offerings, 15 And a basket of unleavened bread, cakes of fine flour mingled with oil, and wafers of unleavened bread anointed with oil, and their meat offering, and their drink offerings. 16 And the priest shall bring them before the LORD, and shall offer his sin offering, and his burnt offering: 17 And he shall offer the ram for a sacrifice of peace offerings unto the LORD, with the basket of unleavened bread: the priest shall offer also his meat offering, and his drink offering. 18 And the Nazarite shall shave the head of his separation at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall take the hair of the head of his separation, and put it in the fire which is under the sacrifice of the peace offerings. 19 And the priest shall take the sodden shoulder of the ram, and one unleavened cake out of the basket, and one unleavened wafer, and shall put them upon the hands of the Nazarite, after the hair of his separation is shaven: 20 And the priest shall wave them for a wave offering before the LORD: this is holy for the priest, with the wave breast and heave shoulder: and after that the Nazarite may drink wine.
      21 This is the law of the Nazarite who hath vowed, and of his offering unto the LORD for his separation, beside that that his hand shall get: according to the vow which he vowed, so he must do after the law of his separation.

Aaron's Blessing.

22 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 23 Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them,

24       The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:
25       The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
26       The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.

      27 And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them.

Psalm 40.

My Help and My Deliverer.

 TO THE CHIEF MUSICIAN, A PSALM OF DAVID

1        I waited patiently for the LORD;
              and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
2        He brought me up also out of an horrible pit,
              out of the miry clay,
              and set my feet upon a rock,
              and established my goings.
3        And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God:
              many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.

4        Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust,
              and respecteth not the proud,
              nor such as turn aside to lies.
5        Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done,
              and thy thoughts which are to us-ward:
         they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee:
              if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.

6        Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire;
              mine ears hast thou opened:
              burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.
7        Then said I, Lo, I come:
              in the volume of the book it is written of me,
8        I delight to do thy will, O my God:
              yea, thy law is within my heart.

9        I have preached righteousness in the great congregation:
              lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest.
10       I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart;
              I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation:
            I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation.

11       Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O LORD:
              let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me.
12       For innumerable evils have compassed me about:
              mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up;
            they are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me.

13       Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me:
              O LORD, make haste to help me.
14       Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it;
            let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil.
15       Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame
              that say unto me, Aha, aha.

16       Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee:
              let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified.
17       But I am poor and needy;
              yet the Lord thinketh upon me:
              thou art my help and my deliverer;
              make no tarrying, O my God.

Psalm 41.

O Lord, Be Gracious to Me.

 TO THE CHIEF MUSICIAN, A PSALM OF DAVID

1         Blessed is he that considereth the poor:
              the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.
2         The LORD will preserve him, and keep him alive;
              and he shall be blessed upon the earth:
              and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies.
3         The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing:
              thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.

4         I said, LORD, be merciful unto me:
              heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee.
5         Mine enemies speak evil of me,
             When shall he die, and his name perish?
6         And if he come to see me, he speaketh vanity:
              his heart gathereth iniquity to itself;
              when he goeth abroad, he telleth it.
7         All that hate me whisper together against me:
              against me do they devise my hurt.

8         An evil disease, say they, cleaveth fast unto him:
              and now that he lieth he shall rise up no more.
9         Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted,
              which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.
10        But thou, O LORD, be merciful unto me,
              and raise me up, that I may requite them.
			  
11        By this I know that thou favourest me,
              because mine enemy doth not triumph over me.
12        And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity,
              and settest me before thy face for ever.
			  
13        Blessed be the LORD God of Israel
              from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen.
 


The Twentyninth Day of April - Personal Reading.

Song of Songs chapter 4.

Solomon Admires His Bride's Beauty.

                              He
1         Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair;
              thou hast doves' eyes within thy locks:
            thy hair is as a flock of goats,
              that appear from mount Gilead.
2         Thy teeth are like a flock of sheep that are even shorn,
              which came up from the washing;
            whereof every one bear twins,
              and none is barren among them.
3         Thy lips are like a thread of scarlet,
              and thy speech is comely:
              thy temples are like a piece of a pomegranate
              within thy locks.
4         Thy neck is like the tower of David builded for an armoury,
              whereon there hang a thousand bucklers,
              all shields of mighty men.
5         Thy two breasts are like two young roes that are twins,
              which feed among the lilies.
6         Until the day break,
              and the shadows flee away,
              I will get me to the mountain of myrrh,
              and to the hill of frankincense.
7         Thou art all fair, my love;
              there is no spot in thee.
8         Come with me from Lebanon, my spouse,
              with me from Lebanon: look from the top of Amana,
            from the top of Shenir and Hermon,
              from the lions' dens, from the mountains of the leopards.

9         Thou hast ravished my heart, my sister, my spouse;
              thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes,
              with one chain of thy neck.
10        How fair is thy love, my sister, my spouse!
              how much better is thy love than wine!
              and the smell of thine ointments than all spices!
11        Thy lips, O my spouse, drop as the honeycomb:
              honey and milk are under thy tongue;
              and the smell of thy garments is like the smell of Lebanon.
12        A garden enclosed is my sister, my spouse;
              a spring shut up, a fountain sealed.
13        Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates,
              with pleasant fruits;
              camphire, with spikenard,
14        Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon,
              with all trees of frankincense;
              myrrh and aloes,
              with all the chief spices:
15        A fountain of gardens, a well of living waters,
              and streams from Lebanon.

16        Awake, O north wind;
              and come, thou south;
              blow upon my garden,
              that the spices thereof may flow out.

Together in the Garden of Love.

                         She
          Let my beloved come into his garden,
              and eat his pleasant fruits. 
 

Hebrews chapter 4.

A Rest For the People of God- continued.

1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. 2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. 3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said,

            As I have sworn in my wrath,
            if they shall enter into my rest:

although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works. 5 And in this place again,

            If they shall enter into my rest.

6 Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: 7 Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said,

            To day if ye will hear his voice,
            harden not your hearts.

8 For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. 9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
      11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. 12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do

Jesus the Great High Priest.

14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.



The Thirtieth Day of April - Family Reading

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Numbers chapter 7

Offerings at the Tabernacle's Consecration.

1 And it came to pass on the day that Moses had fully set up the tabernacle, and had anointed it, and sanctified it, and all the instruments thereof, both the altar and all the vessels thereof, and had anointed them, and sanctified them; 2 That the princes of Israel, heads of the house of their fathers, who were the princes of the tribes, and were over them that were numbered, offered: 3 And they brought their offering before the LORD, six covered wagons, and twelve oxen; a wagon for two of the princes, and for each one an ox: and they brought them before the tabernacle. 4 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 5 Take it of them, that they may be to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; and thou shalt give them unto the Levites, to every man according to his service. 6 And Moses took the wagons and the oxen, and gave them unto the Levites. 7 Two wagons and four oxen he gave unto the sons of Gershon, according to their service: 8 And four wagons and eight oxen he gave unto the sons of Merari, according unto their service, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest. 9 But unto the sons of Kohath he gave none: because the service of the sanctuary belonging unto them was that they should bear upon their shoulders. 10 And the princes offered for dedicating of the altar in the day that it was anointed, even the princes offered their offering before the altar. 11 And the LORD said unto Moses, They shall offer their offering, each prince on his day, for the dedicating of the altar.
      12 And he that offered his offering the first day was Nahshon the son of Amminadab, of the tribe of Judah: 13 And his offering was one silver charger, the weight thereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them were full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering: 14 One spoon of ten shekels of gold, full of incense: 15 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering: 16 One kid of the goats for a sin offering: 17 And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Nahshon the son of Amminadab.
      18 On the second day Nethaneel the son of Zuar, prince of Issachar, did offer: 19 He offered for his offering one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering: 20 One spoon of gold of ten shekels, full of incense: 21 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering: 22 One kid of the goats for a sin offering: 23 And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Nethaneel the son of Zuar.
      24 On the third day Eliab the son of Helon, prince of the children of Zebulun, did offer: 25 His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering: 26 One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense: 27 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering: 28 One kid of the goats for a sin offering: 29 And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Eliab the son of Helon.
      30 On the fourth day Elizur the son of Shedeur, prince of the children of Reuben, did offer: 31 His offering was one silver charger of the weight of an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering: 32 One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense: 33 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering: 34 One kid of the goats for a sin offering: 35 And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Elizur the son of Shedeur.
      36 On the fifth day Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai, prince of the children of Simeon, did offer: 37 His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering: 38 One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense: 39 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering: 40 One kid of the goats for a sin offering: 41 And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.
      42 On the sixth day Eliasaph the son of Deuel, prince of the children of Gad, offered: 43 His offering was one silver charger of the weight of an hundred and thirty shekels, a silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering: 44 One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense: 45 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering: 46 One kid of the goats for a sin offering: 47 And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Eliasaph the son of Deuel.
      48 On the seventh day Elishama the son of Ammihud, prince of the children of Ephraim, offered: 49 His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering: 50 One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense: 51 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering: 52 One kid of the goats for a sin offering: 53 And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Elishama the son of Ammihud.
      54 On the eighth day offered Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur, prince of the children of Manasseh: 55 His offering was one silver charger of the weight of an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering: 56 One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense: 57 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering: 58 One kid of the goats for a sin offering: 59 And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.
      60 On the ninth day Abidan the son of Gideoni, prince of the children of Benjamin, offered: 61 His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering: 62 One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense: 63 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering: 64 One kid of the goats for a sin offering: 65 And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Abidan the son of Gideoni.
      66 On the tenth day Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai, prince of the children of Dan, offered: 67 His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering: 68 One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense: 69 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering: 70 One kid of the goats for a sin offering: 71 And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.
      72 On the eleventh day Pagiel the son of Ocran, prince of the children of Asher, offered: 73 His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering: 74 One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense: 75 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering: 76 One kid of the goats for a sin offering: 77 And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Pagiel the son of Ocran.
      78 On the twelfth day Ahira the son of Enan, prince of the children of Naphtali, offered: 79 His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering: 80 One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense: 81 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering: 82 One kid of the goats for a sin offering: 83 And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Ahira the son of Enan.
      84 This was the dedication of the altar, in the day when it was anointed, by the princes of Israel: twelve chargers of silver, twelve silver bowls, twelve spoons of gold: 85 Each charger of silver weighing an hundred and thirty shekels, each bowl seventy: all the silver vessels weighed two thousand and four hundred shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary: 86 The golden spoons were twelve, full of incense, weighing ten shekels apiece, after the shekel of the sanctuary: all the gold of the spoons was an hundred and twenty shekels. 87 All the oxen for the burnt offering were twelve bullocks, the rams twelve, the lambs of the first year twelve, with their meat offering: and the kids of the goats for sin offering twelve. 88 And all the oxen for the sacrifice of the peace offerings were twenty and four bullocks, the rams sixty, the he goats sixty, the lambs of the first year sixty. This was the dedication of the altar, after that it was anointed.
      89 And when Moses was gone into the tabernacle of the congregation to speak with him, then he heard the voice of one speaking unto him from off the mercy seat that was upon the ark of testimony, from between the two cherubims: and he spake unto him.

THE PSALMS - BOOK TWO

Psalm 42.

Why Art Thou Cast Down, O My Soul?.

     TO THE CHIEF MUSICIAN, MASCHIL, FOR THE SONS OF KORAH

1         As the hart panteth after the water brooks,
              so panteth my soul after thee, O God.
2         My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God:
              when shall I come and appear before God?
3         My tears have been my meat day and night,
              while they continually say unto me,
              Where is thy God?
4         When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me:
              for I had gone with the multitude,
            I went with them to the house of God
              with the voice of joy and praise,
              with a multitude that kept holyday.

5         Why art thou cast down, O my soul?
              and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God:
              for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.

6         O my God, my soul is cast down within me:
              therefore will I remember thee
              from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar.
7         Deep calleth unto deep
              at the noise of thy waterspouts:
              all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.
8         Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime,
              and in the night his song shall be with me,
              and my prayer unto the God of my life.
9         I will say unto God my rock,
              Why hast thou forgotten me?
              why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
10        As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me;
              while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?

11        Why art thou cast down, O my soul?
              and why art thou disquieted within me?
              hope thou in God:
            for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.
 

Psalm 43.

Send Out Your Light and Truth.

 1        Judge me, O God, and plead my cause
              against an ungodly nation:
              O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man.
2         For thou art the God of my strength:
              why dost thou cast me off?
              why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?

3         O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me;
              let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles.
4         Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy:
              yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God.

5         Why art thou cast down, O my soul?
              and why art thou disquieted within me?
	  hope in God: for I shall yet praise him,
              who is the health of my countenance, and my God.


The Thirtieth Day of April - Personal Reading.

Song of Songs chapter 5.

Together in the Garden of Love- continued.

                              He
						  
1         I am come into my garden, my sister, my spouse:
              I have gathered my myrrh with my spice;
              I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey;
          I have drunk my wine with my milk:

The Bride Searches for Beloved.

                               She
							   
2         I sleep, but my heart waketh:
              it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying,
            Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled:
              for my head is filled with dew,
              and my locks with the drops of the night.
3         I have put off my coat;
              how shall I put it on?
              I have washed my feet;
              how shall I defile them?
4         My beloved put in his hand by the hole of the door,
              and my bowels were moved for him.
5         I rose up to open to my beloved;
              and my hands dropped with myrrh,
              and my fingers with sweet smelling myrrh,
              upon the handles of the lock.
6         I opened to my beloved;
              but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone:
              my soul failed when he spake:
            I sought him, but I could not find him;
              I called him, but he gave me no answer.
7         The watchmen that went about the city found me,
              they smote me, they wounded me;
              the keepers of the walls
              took away my veil from me.
8         I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem,
              if ye find my beloved,
              that ye tell him,
              that I am sick of love.
			  
                                Others
								
9         What is thy beloved more than another beloved,
              O thou fairest among women?
            what is thy beloved more than another beloved,
              that thou dost so charge us?

The Bride Praises Her Beloved.

                                 She
10      My beloved is white and ruddy,
             the chiefest among ten thousand.
11      His head is as the most fine gold,
             his locks are bushy,
             and black as a raven.
12      His eyes are as the eyes of doves
             by the rivers of waters,
             washed with milk, and fitly set.
13      His cheeks are as a bed of spices, as sweet flowers:
             his lips like lilies,
             dropping sweet smelling myrrh.
14      His hands are as gold rings
             set with the beryl:
             his belly is as bright ivory
             overlaid with sapphires.
15      His legs are as pillars of marble,
             set upon sockets of fine gold:
             his countenance is as Lebanon,
             excellent as the cedars.
16      His mouth is most sweet:
             yea, he is altogether lovely.
             This is my beloved, and this is my friend,
             O daughters of Jerusalem.
 

Hebrews chapter 5.

Jesus the Great High Priest - continued.

1 For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins: 2 Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity. 3 And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins. 4 And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron. 5 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him,

            Thou art my Son,
            to day have I begotten thee.

6 as he saith also in another place,

            Thou art a priest for ever
            after the order of Melchisedec.

        7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; 8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; 9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; 10 Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.

Warning Against Apostasy.

  11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. 12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. 13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.




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