The First Day of November - Family Reading.

2 Kings chapter 14

Amaziah Reigns in Judah

1 In the second year of Joash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel reigned Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah. 2 He was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem. 3 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, yet not like David his father: he did according to all things as Joash his father did. 4 Howbeit the high places were not taken away: as yet the people did sacrifice and burnt incense on the high places. 5 And it came to pass, as soon as the kingdom was confirmed in his hand, that he slew his servants which had slain the king his father. 6 But the children of the murderers he slew not: according unto that which is written in the book of the law of Moses, wherein the LORD commanded, saying, The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, nor the children be put to death for the fathers; but every man shall be put to death for his own sin.
      7 He slew of Edom in the valley of salt ten thousand, and took Selah by war, and called the name of it Joktheel unto this day.
      8 Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, Come, let us look one another in the face. 9 And Jehoash the king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, Give thy daughter to my son to wife: and there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon, and trode down the thistle. 10 Thou hast indeed smitten Edom, and thine heart hath lifted thee up: glory of this, and tarry at home: for why shouldest thou meddle to thy hurt, that thou shouldest fall, even thou, and Judah with thee?
      11 But Amaziah would not hear. Therefore Jehoash king of Israel went up; and he and Amaziah king of Judah looked one another in the face at Bethshemesh, which belongeth to Judah. 12 And Judah was put to the worse before Israel; and they fled every man to their tents. 13 And Jehoash king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Jehoash the son of Ahaziah, at Bethshemesh, and came to Jerusalem, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim unto the corner gate, four hundred cubits. 14 And he took all the gold and silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king's house, and hostages, and returned to Samaria.
      15 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoash which he did, and his might, and how he fought with Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 16 And Jehoash slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel; and Jeroboam his son reigned in his stead.
      17 And Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah lived after the death of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel fifteen years. 18 And the rest of the acts of Amaziah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? 19 Now they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem: and he fled to Lachish; but they sent after him to Lachish, and slew him there. 20 And they brought him on horses: and he was buried at Jerusalem with his fathers in the city of David. 21 And all the people of Judah took Azariah, which was sixteen years old, and made him king instead of his father Amaziah. 22 He built Elath, and restored it to Judah, after that the king slept with his fathers.

Jeroboam II Reigns in Israel

23 In the fifteenth year of Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel began to reign in Samaria, and reigned forty and one years. 24 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: he departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin. 25 He restored the coast of Israel from the entering of Hamath unto the sea of the plain, according to the word of the LORD God of Israel, which he spake by the hand of his servant Jonah, the son of Amittai, the prophet, which was of Gathhepher. 26 For the LORD saw the affliction of Israel, that it was very bitter: for there was not any shut up, nor any left, nor any helper for Israel. 27 And the LORD said not that he would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven: but he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash.
      28 Now the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, and all that he did, and his might, how he warred, and how he recovered Damascus, and Hamath, which belonged to Judah, for Israel, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 29 And Jeroboam slept with his fathers, even with the kings of Israel; and Zachariah his son reigned in his stead.

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 First Day of November - Personal Reading.

Hosea chapter 7

Israel and Judah Are Unrepentant - continued

1         When I would have healed Israel,
              then the iniquity of Ephraim was discovered, and the wickedness of Samaria:
            for they commit falsehood;
              and the thief cometh in,
              and the troop of robbers spoileth without.
2         And they consider not in their hearts
              that I remember all their wickedness:
              now their own doings have beset them about;
              they are before my face.
3         They make the king glad with their wickedness,
              and the princes with their lies.
4         They are all adulterers,
              as an oven heated by the baker,
              who ceaseth from raising after he hath kneaded the dough,
              until it be leavened.
5         In the day of our king the princes
              have made him sick with bottles of wine;
              he stretched out his hand with scorners.
6         For they have made ready their heart like an oven, whiles they lie in wait:
              their baker sleepeth all the night;
            in the morning it burneth as a flaming fire.
7         They are all hot as an oven,
              and have devoured their judges;
              all their kings are fallen:
              there is none among them that calleth unto me.

8         Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people;
              Ephraim is a cake not turned.
9         Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knoweth it not:
              yea, gray hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knoweth not.
10       And the pride of Israel testifieth to his face:
              and they do not return to the LORD their God,
              nor seek him for all this.

11       Ephraim also is like a silly dove without heart:
              they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria.
12       When they shall go, I will spread my net upon them;
              I will bring them down as the fowls of the heaven;
            I will chastise them, as their congregation hath heard.
13       Woe unto them! for they have fled from me:
              destruction unto them! because they have transgressed against me:
            though I have redeemed them,
              yet they have spoken lies against me.

14       And they have not cried unto me with their heart,
              when they howled upon their beds:
            they assemble themselves for corn and wine,
              and they rebel against me.
15       Though I have bound and strengthened their arms,
              yet do they imagine mischief against me.
16       They return, but not to the most High:
              they are like a deceitful bow:
            their princes shall fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue:
              this shall be their derision in the land of Egypt.

Psalm 120.

Deliver Me, O LORD.

A SONG OF DEGREES

1         In my distress I cried unto the LORD,
              and he heard me.
2         Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips,
              and from a deceitful tongue.

3         What shall be given unto thee?
              or what shall be done unto thee,
              thou false tongue?
4         Sharp arrows of the mighty,
              with coals of juniper.

5         Woe is me, that I sojourn in Mesech,
              that I dwell in the tents of Kedar!
5         My soul hath long dwelt
              with him that hateth peace.
7         I am for peace:
              but when I speak, they are for war.

Psalm 121.

My Help Comes from the LORD.

A SONG OF DEGREES

1         I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills,
              from whence cometh my help.
2         My help cometh from the LORD,
              which made heaven and earth.

3         He will not suffer thy foot to be moved:
              he that keepeth thee will not slumber.
4         Behold, he that keepeth Israel
              shall neither slumber nor sleep.

5         The LORD is thy keeper:
              the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.
6         The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.

7         The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil:
              he shall preserve thy soul.
8         The LORD shall preserve
              thy going out and thy coming in
              from this time forth, and even for evermore.

Psalm 122.

Let US Go to the House of the LORD.

A SONG OF DEGREES OF DAVID

1         I was glad when they said unto me,
              Let us go into the house of the LORD
2         Our feet shall stand within
              thy gates, O Jerusalem.

3         Jerusalem is builded as a city
              that is compact together:
4         Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD,
              unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the LORD.
5         For there are set thrones of judgment,
              the thrones of the house of David.

6         Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
              they shall prosper that love thee.
7         Peace be within thy walls,
              and prosperity within thy palaces.
8         For my brethren and companions' sakes,
              I will now say, Peace be within thee.
9         Because of the house of the LORD our God
              I will seek thy good.

The Second Day of November - Family Reading

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 Second Day of November - Personal Reading.

Hosea chapter 8

Israel Will Reap the Whirlwind

1 Set the trumpet to thy mouth. He shall come as an eagle against the house of the LORD,
            because they have transgressed my covenant,
              and trespassed against my law.
2         Israel shall cry unto me,
              My God, we know thee.
3         Israel hath cast off the thing that is good:
              the enemy shall pursue him.

4         They have set up kings, but not by me:
              they have made princes, and I knew it not:
            of their silver and their gold have they made them idols,
              that they may be cut off.
5         Thy calf, O Samaria, hath cast thee off;
              mine anger is kindled against them:
              how long will it be ere they attain to innocency?
6         6 For from Israel was it also:
              the workman made it;
              therefore it is not God:
              but the calf of Samaria
              shall be broken in pieces.

7         For they have sown the wind,
              and they shall reap the whirlwind:
              it hath no stalk:
            the bud shall yield no meal: if so be it yield,
              the strangers shall swallow it up.
8         Israel is swallowed up:
              now shall they be among the Gentiles as a vessel wherein is no pleasure.
9         For they are gone up to Assyria,
              a wild ass alone by himself:
              Ephraim hath hired lovers.
10       Yea, though they have hired among the nations,
              now will I gather them,
              and they shall sorrow a little for
              the burden of the king of princes.

11       Because Ephraim hath made many altars to sin,
              altars shall be unto him to sin.
12       I have written to him the great things of my law,
              but they were counted as a strange thing.
13       They sacrifice flesh for the sacrifices of mine offerings,
              and eat it; but the LORD accepteth them not;
            now will he remember their iniquity,
              and visit their sins: they shall return to Egypt.
14       For Israel hath forgotten his Maker, and buildeth temples;
              and Judah hath multiplied fenced cities:
            but I will send a fire upon his cities,
              and it shall devour the palaces thereof.

Psalm 123.

Our Eyes Look to the LORD Our God.

 A SONG OF DEGREES

1         Unto thee lift I up mine eyes,
              O thou that dwellest in the heavens.
2         Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters,
              and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress;
            so our eyes wait upon the LORD our God,
              until that he have mercy upon us.

3         Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us:
              for we are exceedingly filled with contempt.
4         Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease,
              and with the contempt of the proud.

Psalm 124.

Our Help Is in the Name of the LORD.

A SONG OF DEGREES OF DAVID

1         If it had not been the LORD who was on our side,
              now may Israel say;
2         If it had not been the LORD who was on our side,
              when men rose up against us:
3         Then they had swallowed us up quick,
              when their wrath was kindled against us:
4         Then the waters had overwhelmed us,
              the stream had gone over our soul:
5         Then the proud waters had gone over our soul.

6         Blessed be the LORD,
              who hath not given us
              as a prey to their teeth.
7         Our soul is escaped as a bird
              out of the snare of the fowlers:
              the snare is broken,
              and we are escaped.

8         Our help is in the name of the LORD,
              who made heaven and earth.

Psalm 125.

The LORD Surrounds Hisd People.

A SONG OF DEGREES

1         They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion,
              which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever.
2         As the mountains are round about Jerusalem,
              so the LORD is round about his people from henceforth even for ever.
3         For the rod of the wicked shall not rest
              upon the lot of the righteous;
              lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity.
4         Do good, O LORD, unto those that be good,
              and to them that are upright in their hearts.
5         As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways,
              the LORD shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity:
              but peace shall be upon Israel.

The Third Day of November - Family Reading

The Third Day of November - Personal Reading.

Hosea chapter 9

The Lord Will Punish Israel

1         Rejoice not, O Israel,
              for joy, as other people:
              for thou hast gone a whoring from thy God,
              thou hast loved a reward upon every cornfloor.
2         The floor and the winepress shall not feed them,
              and the new wine shall fail in her.
3         They shall not dwell in the LORD'S land; but Ephraim shall return to Egypt,
              and they shall eat unclean things in Assyria.

4         They shall not offer wine offerings to the LORD,
              neither shall they be pleasing unto him: their sacrifices shall be unto them
            as the bread of mourners; all that eat thereof shall be polluted:
              for their bread for their soul shall not come into the house of the LORD.

5         What will ye do in the solemn day,
              and in the day of the feast of the LORD?
6         For, lo, they are gone because of destruction:
              Egypt shall gather them up,
              Memphis shall bury them:
            the pleasant places for their silver,
              nettles shall possess them: thorns shall be in their tabernacles.

7         The days of visitation are come,
              the days of recompense are come;
              Israel shall know it:
            the prophet is a fool,
              the spiritual man is mad,
              for the multitude of thine iniquity,
              and the great hatred.
8         The watchman of Ephraim was with my God:
              but the prophet is a snare of a fowler in all his ways,
              and hatred in the house of his God.
9         They have deeply corrupted themselves, as in the days of Gibeah:
              therefore he will remember their iniquity,
              he will visit their sins.

10       I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness;
              I saw your fathers as the firstripe in the fig tree at her first time:
            but they went to Baalpeor,
              and separated themselves unto that shame;
              and their abominations were according as they loved.
11       As for Ephraim, their glory shall fly away like a bird,
              from the birth, and from the womb, and from the conception.
12       Though they bring up their children,
              yet will I bereave them, that there shall not be a man left:
              yea, woe also to them when I depart from them!
13       Ephraim, as I saw Tyrus, is planted in a pleasant place:
              but Ephraim shall bring forth his children to the murderer.
14       Give them, O LORD:
              what wilt thou give?
              give them a miscarrying womb and dry breasts.

15       All their wickedness is in Gilgal:
              for there I hated them:
              for the wickedness of their doings
            I will drive them out of mine house,
              I will love them no more:
              all their princes are revolters.

16       Ephraim is smitten,
              their root is dried up,
              they shall bear no fruit:
              yea, though they bring forth,
              yet will I slay even the beloved fruit of their womb.
17       My God will cast them away,
              because they did not hearken unto him:
              and they shall be wanderers among the nations.

Psalm 126

Restore Our Fortunes, O LORD

A SONG OF ASCENTS.

1         When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion,
              we were like them that dream.
2         Then was our mouth filled with laughter,
              and our tongue with singing:
              then said they among the heathen,
            The LORD hath done great things for them.
3         The LORD hath done great things for us;
              whereof we are glad.

4         Turn again our captivity, O LORD,
              as the streams in the south.
5         They that sow in tears
              shall reap in joy.
5         He that goeth forth and weepeth,
              bearing precious seed,
              shall doubtless come again with rejoicing,
              bringing his sheaves with him.

Psalm 127

Unless the LORD Builds the House

A SONG OF DEGREES FOR SOLOMON

1         Except the LORD build the house,
              they labour in vain that build it:
              except the LORD keep the city,
              the watchman waketh but in vain.
2         It is vain for you to rise up early,
              to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows:
              for so he giveth his beloved sleep.

3         Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD:
              and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
4         As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man;
              so are children of the youth.
5         Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them:
              they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

Psalm 128

Blessed is Everyone Who Fears the LORD

A SONG OF DEGREES

1         Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD;
              that walketh in his ways.
2         For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands:
              happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.

3         Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house:
              thy children like olive plants round about thy table.
4         Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the LORD.

5         The LORD shall bless thee out of Zion:
              and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem
              all the days of thy life.
6         Yea, thou shalt see thy children's children,
              and peace upon Israel

The Fourth Day of November - Family Reading

The Fourth Day of November - Personal Reading.

Hosea chapter 10

The Lord Will Punish Israel - continued

1 Israel is an empty vine,
              he bringeth forth fruit unto himself:
            according to the multitude of his fruit
              he hath increased the altars; according to the goodness of his land they have made goodly images.
2         Their heart is divided;
              now shall they be found faulty:
              he shall break down their altars, he shall spoil their images.

3         For now they shall say,
              We have no king,
              because we feared not the LORD;
              what then should a king do to us?
4         They have spoken words,
              swearing falsely in making a covenant:
              thus judgment springeth up as hemlock
              in the furrows of the field.
5         The inhabitants of Samaria shall fear because of the calves of Bethaven:
            for the people thereof shall mourn over it,
              and the priests thereof that rejoiced on it, for the glory thereof,
              because it is departed from it.
6         It shall be also carried unto Assyria
              for a present to king Jareb:
              Ephraim shall receive shame,
              and Israel shall be ashamed of his own counsel.

7         As for Samaria, her king is cut off
              as the foam upon the water.
8         The high places also of Aven, the sin of Israel,
              shall be destroyed:
              the thorn and the thistle
            shall come up on their altars;
              and they shall say to the mountains, Cover us;
              and to the hills, Fall on us.
9         O Israel, thou hast sinned from the days of Gibeah:
              there they stood:
            the battle in Gibeah against the children
              of iniquity did not overtake them.
10       It is in my desire that I should chastise them;
              and the people shall be gathered against them,
              when they shall bind themselves in their two furrows.

11      And Ephraim is as an heifer that is taught, and loveth to tread out the corn;
              but I passed over upon her fair neck:
            I will make Ephraim to ride; Judah shall plow,
              and Jacob shall break his clods.
12       Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy;
              break up your fallow ground:
            for it is time to seek the LORD,
              till he come and rain righteousness upon you.

13       Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity;
              ye have eaten the fruit of lies:
            because thou didst trust in thy way,
              in the multitude of thy mighty men.
14      Therefore shall a tumult arise among thy people,
              and all thy fortresses shall be spoiled,
            as Shalman spoiled Betharbel in the day of battle:
              the mother was dashed in pieces upon her children.
15       So shall Bethel do unto you because of your great wickedness:
              in a morning shall the king of Israel
              utterly be cut off. 

Psalm 129

They Have Afflicted Me from My Youth

A SONG OF DEGREES

1         Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth,
              may Israel now say:
2         Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth:
              yet they have not prevailed against me.
3         The plowers plowed upon my back:
              they made long their furrows.
4         The LORD is righteous:
              he hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked.
5         Let them all be confounded
              and turned back that hate Zion.
6         Let them be as the grass upon the housetops,
              which withereth afore it groweth up:
7         Wherewith the mower filleth not his hand;
              nor he that bindeth sheaves his bosom.
8         Neither do they which go by say,
              The blessing of the LORD be upon you:
              we bless you in the name of the LORD.

Psalm 130

My Soul Waits for the Lord

A SONG OF DEGREES

1         Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD.
2         Lord, hear my voice:
              let thine ears be attentive
              to the voice of my supplications.

3         If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities,
              O Lord, who shall stand?
4         But there is forgiveness with thee,
              that thou mayest be feared.

5         I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait,
              and in his word do I hope.
6         My soul waiteth for the Lord
              more than they that watch for the morning:
              I say, more than they that watch for the morning.

7         Let Israel hope in the LORD:
              for with the LORD there is mercy,
              and with him is plenteous redemption.
8         And he shall redeem Israel
              from all his iniquities.

Psalm 131

I Have Calmed and Quieted My Soul

A SONG OF DEGREES OF DAVID

1         LORD, my heart is not haughty,
              nor mine eyes lofty:
              neither do I exercise myself in great matters,
              or in things too high for me.
2         Surely I have behaved and quieted myself,
              as a child that is weaned of his mother:
              my soul is even as a weaned child.

3         Let Israel hope in the LORD
              from henceforth and for ever.

The Fifth Day of November - Family Reading

The Epistle of Paul to Philemon

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.

Philemon 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 Fifth Day of November - Personal Reading.

Hosea chapter 11

The Lord's Love for Israel

1         When Israel was a child, then I loved him,
              and called my son out of Egypt.
2         As they called them,
              so they went from them:
              they sacrificed unto Baalim,
              and burned incense to graven images.

3         I taught Ephraim also to go,
              taking them by their arms;
              but they knew not that I healed them.
4         I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love:
              and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws,
              and I laid meat unto them.

5         He shall not return into the land of Egypt,
              but the Assyrian shall be his king,
              because they refused to return.
6         And the sword shall abide on his cities,
              and shall consume his branches,
              and devour them, because of their own counsels.
7         And my people are bent to backsliding from me:
              though they called them to the most High,
              none at all would exalt him.

8         How shall I give thee up, Ephraim?
              how shall I deliver thee, Israel?
              how shall I make thee as Admah?
            how shall I set thee as Zeboim?
              mine heart is turned within me,
              my repentings are kindled together.
9         I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger,
              I will not return to destroy Ephraim:
            for I am God, and not man;
              the Holy One in the midst of thee:
              and I will not enter into the city.

10       They shall walk after the LORD:
              he shall roar like a lion:
              when he shall roar,
              then the children shall tremble from the west.
11       They shall tremble as a bird out of Egypt,
              and as a dove out of the land of Assyria:
              and I will place them in their houses, saith the LORD.
12       Ephraim compasseth me about with lies,
              and the house of Israel with deceit:
              but Judah yet ruleth with God,
              and is faithful with the saints.

Psalm 132

The LORD Has Chosen Zion

A SONG OF DEGREES

1         LORD, remember David,
              and all his afflictions:
2         How he sware unto the LORD,
              and vowed unto the mighty God of Jacob;
3         Surely I will not come into the tabernacle of my house,
              nor go up into my bed;
4         I will not give sleep to mine eyes,
              or slumber to mine eyelids,
5         Until I find out a place for the LORD,
              an habitation for the mighty God of Jacob.

6         Lo, we heard of it at Ephratah:
              we found it in the fields of the wood.
7         We will go into his tabernacles:
              we will worship at his footstool.
8         Arise, O LORD, into thy rest;
              thou, and the ark of thy strength.
9         Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness;
              and let thy saints shout for joy.
10       For thy servant David's sake turn not away the face of thine anointed.

11       The LORD hath sworn in truth unto David;
              he will not turn from it;
              Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne.
12       If thy children will keep my covenant
              and my testimony that I shall teach them,
              their children shall
              also sit upon thy throne for evermore.

13       For the LORD hath chosen Zion;
              he hath desired it for his habitation.
14       This is my rest for ever:
              here will I dwell; for I have desired it.
15       I will abundantly bless her provision:
              I will satisfy her poor with bread.
16       I will also clothe her priests with salvation:
              and her saints shall shout aloud for joy.
17       There will I make the horn of David to bud:
              I have ordained a lamp for mine anointed.
18       His enemies will I clothe with shame:
              but upon himself shall his crown flourish. 

Psalm 133

When Brothers Dwell in Unity

 A SONG OF MASCENTS. OF DAVID.

1         Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
              for brethren to dwell together in unity!
2         It is like the precious ointment upon the head,
              that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard:
              that went down to the skirts of his garments;
3         As the dew of Hermon,
              and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion:
              for there the LORD commanded the blessing,
            even life for evermore. 

Psalm 134

Come, Bless the LORD

A SONG OF DEGREES

1         Behold, bless ye the LORD,
              all ye servants of the LORD,
              which by night stand in the house of the LORD.
2         Lift up your hands in the sanctuary,
              and bless the LORD.

3         The LORD that made heaven and earth
              bless thee out of Zion.

The Sixth Day of November - Family Reading

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 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 Sixth Day of November - Personal Reading.

Hosea chapter 12

The Lord's Love for Israel - continued

1         Ephraim feedeth on wind,
              and followeth after the east wind:
              he daily increaseth lies and desolation;
            and they do make a covenant with the Assyrians,
              and oil is carried into Egypt.

The Lord's Indictment of Israel and Judah

2         The LORD hath also a controversy with Judah,
              and will punish Jacob according to his ways;
              according to his doings will he recompense him.
3         He took his brother by the heel in the womb,
              and by his strength he had power with God:
4         Yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed:
              he wept, and made supplication unto him:
              he found him in Bethel, and there he spake with us;
5         Even the LORD God of hosts;
              the LORD is his memorial.
6         Therefore turn thou to thy God:
              keep mercy and judgment,
              and wait on thy God continually.

7         He is a merchant, the balances of deceit are in his hand:
              he loveth to oppress.
8         And Ephraim said, Yet I am become rich,
              I have found me out substance:
              in all my labours they shall find none iniquity in me that were sin.
9         And I that am the LORD thy God
              from the land of Egypt will yet make thee to dwell in tabernacles,
              as in the days of the solemn feast.

10       I have also spoken by the prophets,
              and I have multiplied visions,
              and used similitudes, by the ministry of the prophets.
11       Is there iniquity in Gilead?
              surely they are vanity: they sacrifice bullocks in Gilgal;
              yea, their altars are as heaps in the furrows of the fields.
12       And Jacob fled into the country of Syria,
              and Israel served for a wife,
              and for a wife he kept sheep.
13       And by a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt,
              and by a prophet was he preserved.
14       Ephraim provoked him to anger most bitterly:
              therefore shall he leave his blood upon him,
              and his reproach shall his Lord return unto him.

Psalm 135

Your Name, O LORD, Endures Forever

 1         Praise ye the LORD.
              Praise ye the name of the LORD;
              praise him, O ye servants of the LORD.
2         Ye that stand in the house of the LORD,
              in the courts of the house of our God,
3         Praise the LORD; for the LORD is good:
              sing praises unto his name; for it is pleasant.
4         For the LORD hath chosen Jacob unto himself,
              and Israel for his peculiar treasure.

5         For I know that the LORD is great,
              and that our Lord is above all gods.
6         Whatsoever the LORD pleased,
              that did he in heaven, and in earth,
              in the seas, and all deep places.
7         He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth;
              he maketh lightnings for the rain;
              he bringeth the wind out of his treasuries.

8         Who smote the firstborn of Egypt,
              both of man and beast.
9         Who sent tokens and wonders into the midst of thee, O Egypt,
              upon Pharaoh, and upon all his servants.
10       Who smote great nations,
              and slew mighty kings;
11       Sihon king of the Amorites,
              and Og king of Bashan,
              and all the kingdoms of Canaan:
12       And gave their land for an heritage,
              an heritage unto Israel his people.

13       Thy name, O LORD, endureth for ever;
              and thy memorial, O LORD, throughout all generations.
14       For the LORD will judge his people,
              and he will repent himself concerning his servants.
15       The idols of the heathen are silver and gold,
              the work of men's hands.
16       They have mouths, but they speak not;
              eyes have they, but they see not;
17       They have ears, but they hear not;
              neither is there any breath in their mouths.
18       They that make them are like unto them:
              so is every one that trusteth in them.

19       Bless the LORD, O house of Israel:
              bless the LORD, O house of Aaron:
20       Bless the LORD, O house of Levi:
              ye that fear the LORD, bless the LORD.
21       Blessed be the LORD out of Zion,
              which dwelleth at Jerusalem.
              Praise ye the LORD.

Psalm 136

His Steadfast Love Endures Forever

1        O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good:
              for his mercy endureth for ever.
2        O give thanks unto the God of gods:
              for his mercy endureth for ever.
3       O give thanks to the Lord of lords:
              for his mercy endureth for ever.

4        To him who alone doeth great wonders:
              for his mercy endureth for ever.
5        To him that by wisdom made the heavens:
              for his mercy endureth for ever.
6        To him that stretched out the earth above the waters:
              for his mercy endureth for ever.
7        To him that made great lights:
              for his mercy endureth for ever:
8        The sun to rule by day:
              for his mercy endureth for ever:
9        The moon and stars to rule by night:
              for his mercy endureth for ever.

10       To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn:
              for his mercy endureth for ever:
11       And brought out Israel from among them:
              for his mercy endureth for ever:
12       With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm:
              for his mercy endureth for ever.
13       To him which divided the Red sea into parts:
              for his mercy endureth for ever:
14       And made Israel to pass through the midst of it:
              for his mercy endureth for ever:
15       But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea:
              for his mercy endureth for ever.
16       To him which led his people through the wilderness:
              for his mercy endureth for ever.

17       To him which smote great kings:
              for his mercy endureth for ever:
18       And slew famous kings:
              for his mercy endureth for ever:
19       Sihon king of the Amorites:
              for his mercy endureth for ever:
20       And Og the king of Bashan:
              for his mercy endureth for ever:
21       And gave their land for an heritage:
              for his mercy endureth for ever:
22       Even an heritage unto Israel his servant:
              for his mercy endureth for ever.

23       Who remembered us in our low estate:
              for his mercy endureth for ever:
24       And hath redeemed us from our enemies:
              for his mercy endureth for ever.
25       Who giveth food to all flesh:
              for his mercy endureth for ever.
26       O give thanks unto the God of heaven:
              for his mercy endureth for ever.

The Seventh Day of November - Family Reading

The Seventh Day of November - Personal Reading.

Hosea chapter 13

The Lord's Relentless Judgment on Israel

1         When Ephraim spake trembling,
              he exalted himself in Israel;
              but when he offended in Baal, he died.
2         And now they sin more and more,
              and have made them molten images of their silver,
            and idols according to their own understanding,
              all of it the work of the craftsmen:
              they say of them,
              Let the men that sacrifice kiss the calves.
3         Therefore they shall be as the morning cloud,
              and as the early dew that passeth away,
            as the chaff that is driven with the whirlwind out of the floor,
              and as the smoke out of the chimney.

4         Yet I am the LORD thy God
              from the land of Egypt,
              and thou shalt know no god but me:
              for there is no saviour beside me.
5         I did know thee in the wilderness,
              in the land of great drought.
6         According to their pasture, so were they filled;
              they were filled, and their heart was exalted;
              therefore have they forgotten me.
7         Therefore I will be unto them as a lion:
              as a leopard by the way will I observe them:
8         I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps,
              and will rend the caul of their heart,
            and there will I devour them like a lion:
              the wild beast shall tear them.

9         O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself;
              but in me is thine help.
10       I will be thy king:
              where is any other that may save thee in all thy cities?
              and thy judges of whom thou saidst,
              Give me a king and princes?
11       I gave thee a king in mine anger,
              and took him away in my wrath.

12       The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up;
              his sin is hid.
13       The sorrows of a travailing woman shall come upon him:
              he is an unwise son;
            for he should not stay long
              in the place of the breaking forth of children.

14       I will ransom them from the power of the grave;
              I will redeem them from death:
              O death, I will be thy plagues;
            O grave, I will be thy destruction:
              repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.

15       Though he be fruitful among his brethren,
              an east wind shall come, the wind of the LORD shall come
              up from the wilderness,
            and his spring shall become dry,
              and his fountain shall be dried up:
              he shall spoil the treasure
              of all pleasant vessels.
16       Samaria shall become desolate;
              for she hath rebelled against her God:
              they shall fall by the sword:
            their infants shall be dashed in pieces,
              and their women with child shall be ripped up.

Psalm 137

How Shall We Sing the LORD's Song

1         By the rivers of Babylon,
              there we sat down, yea, we wept,
              when we remembered Zion.
2         We hanged our harps upon the willows
              in the midst thereof.
3         For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song;
              and they that wasted us required of us mirth,
            saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion.

4         How shall we sing the LORD's song
              in a strange land?
5         If I forget thee, O Jerusalem,
              let my right hand forget her cunning.
6         If I do not remember thee,
              let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth;
              if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.

7         Remember, O LORD, the children of Edom
              in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Raze it, raze it,
              even to the foundation thereof.
8         O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed;
              happy shall he be,
              that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us.
9         Happy shall he be,
              that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.

Psalm 138

Give Thanks to the LORD

A PSALM OF DAVID

1         I will praise thee with my whole heart:
              before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.
2         I will worship toward thy holy temple,
              and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth:
            for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.
3         In the day when I cried thou answeredst me,
              and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.

4         All the kings of the earth shall praise thee,
              O LORD, when they hear the words of thy mouth.
5         Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the LORD:
              for great is the glory of the LORD.
6         Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly:
              but the proud he knoweth afar off.

7         Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me:
              thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies,
            and thy right hand shall save me.
8         The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me:
              thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever:
              forsake not the works of thine own hands.

The Eighth Day of November - Family Reading

The Eighth Day of November - Personal Reading.

Hosea chapter 14

A Plea to Return to the Lord

1         O Israel, return unto the LORD thy God;
              for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.
2         Take with you words,
              and turn to the LORD:
              say unto him,
              Take away all iniquity,
              and receive us graciously:
              so will we render the calves of our lips.
3         Asshur shall not save us;
              we will not ride upon horses:
              neither will we say any more to the work of our hands,
            Ye are our gods:
              for in thee the fatherless findeth mercy.

4         I will heal their backsliding,
              I will love them freely:
              for mine anger is turned away from him.
5         I will be as the dew unto Israel:
              he shall grow as the lily,
              and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.
6         His branches shall spread,
              and his beauty shall be as the olive tree,
              and his smell as Lebanon.
7         They that dwell under his shadow shall return;
              they shall revive as the corn,
              and grow as the vine:
            the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon.

8         Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols?
              I have heard him, and observed him:
              I am like a green fir tree.
              From me is thy fruit found.
9         Who is wise, and he shall understand these things?
              prudent, and he shall know them?
            for the ways of the LORD are right,
              and the just shall walk in them:
              but the transgressors shall fall therein.  

Psalm 139

Search Me, O God, and Know My Heart

TO THE CHIEF MUSICIAN, A PSALM OF DAVID
1         O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.
2         Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising,
              thou understandest my thought afar off.
3         Thou compassest my path and my lying down,
              and art acquainted with all my ways.
4         For there is not a word in my tongue,
              but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.
5         Thou hast beset me behind and before,
              and laid thine hand upon me.
6         Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
              it is high, I cannot attain unto it.

7         Whither shall I go from thy spirit?
              or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
8         If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there:
              if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
9         If I take the wings of the morning,
              and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
10       Even there shall thy hand lead me,
              and thy right hand shall hold me.
11       If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me;
              even the night shall be light about me.
12       Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee;
              but the night shineth as the day:
              the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.

13       For thou hast possessed my reins:
              thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.
14       I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made:
              marvellous are thy works;
              and that my soul knoweth right well.
15       My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret,
              and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
16       Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect;
              and in thy book all my members were written,
            which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

17       How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God!
              how great is the sum of them!
18       If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand:
              when I awake, I am still with thee.

19       Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God:
              depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.
20       For they speak against thee wickedly,
              and thine enemies take thy name in vain.
21       Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee?
              and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?
22       I hate them with perfect hatred:
              I count them mine enemies.

23       Search me, O God, and know my heart:
              try me, and know my thoughts:
24       And see if there be any wicked way in me,
              and lead me in the way everlasting.
 

The Nineth Day of November - Family Reading

The Ninth Day of November - Personal Reading.

The Book of Joel

Introduction

Little is known about the prophet Joel, although his concern for Judah and Jerusalem suggests that he ministered in Judah. Joel told of a locust plague that had struck Israel and which, he said, foreshadowed the "day of the Lord." The day of the Lord was a time greatly anticipated by the Israelites because they believed that God would then judge the nations and restore Israel to her former glory. Yet, said Joel, God would punish not only the nations but unfaithful Israel as well. Joel urged everyone to repent, and told of a day when God would "pour out [his] Spirit on all flesh" (2:28). That day arrived on the first Christian Pentecost (Acts 2:17). While the date of the book is uncertain (ninth to sixth century b.c.), its message is valid for all time.

Joel chapter 1

Introduction

1 The word of the LORD that came to Joel the son of Pethuel.

An Invasion of Locusts

 2         Hear this, ye old men,
              and give ear, all ye inhabitants of the land.
              Hath this been in your days, or even in the days of your fathers?
3         ell ye your children of it,
              and let your children tell their children,
              and their children another generation.

4         That which the palmerworm hath left
              hath the locust eaten;
              and that which the locust hath left
              hath the cankerworm eaten;
            and that which the cankerworm hath left
              hath the caterpillar eaten.

5         Awake, ye drunkards, and weep;
              and howl, all ye drinkers of wine,
              because of the new wine,
              for it is cut off from your mouth.
6         For a nation is come up upon my land,
              strong, and without number,
              whose teeth are the teeth of a lion,
              and he hath the cheek teeth of a great lion.
7         He hath laid my vine waste,
              and barked my fig tree:
              he hath made it clean bare, and cast it away;
              the branches thereof are made white.

8         Lament like a virgin girded with sackcloth
              for the husband of her youth.
9         The meat offering and the drink offering is cut off
              from the house of the LORD;
              the priests, the LORD'S ministers, mourn.
10       The field is wasted,
              the land mourneth;
              for the corn is wasted:
              the new wine is dried up,
              the oil languisheth.

11       Be ye ashamed, O ye husbandmen;
              howl, O ye vinedressers,
              for the wheat and for the barley;
              because the harvest of the field is perished.
12       The vine is dried up,
              and the fig tree languisheth;
              the pomegranate tree, the palm tree also,
              and the apple tree,
            even all the trees of the field, are withered:
              because joy is withered
              away from the sons of men.

A Call to Repentance

13       Gird yourselves, and lament, ye priests:
              howl, ye ministers of the altar:
              come, lie all night in sackcloth,
            ye ministers of my God:
              for the meat offering and the drink offering
              is withholden from the house of your God.

14       Sanctify ye a fast,
              call a solemn assembly,
              gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land
            into the house of the LORD your God,
              and cry unto the LORD.
15       Alas for the day!
              for the day of the LORD is at hand,
              and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come.
16       Is not the meat cut off
              before our eyes,
              yea, joy and gladness
              from the house of our God?

17       The seed is rotten under their clods,
              the garners are laid desolate,
              the barns are broken down;
              for the corn is withered.
18       How do the beasts groan!
              the herds of cattle are perplexed,
              because they have no pasture;
              yea, the flocks of sheep are made desolate.

19       O LORD, to thee will I cry:
              for the fire hath devoured
              the pastures of the wilderness,
              and the flame hath burned
              all the trees of the field.
20       The beasts of the field cry also unto thee:
              for the rivers of waters are dried up,
              and the fire hath devoured
              the pastures of the wilderness. the rivers of waters are dried up,
               and the fire hath devoured 
              the pastures of the wilderness.   

Psalm 140

Deliver Me, O LORD, from Evil Men

 TO THE CHIEF MUSICIAN, A PSALM OF DAVID

1        Deliver me, O LORD, from the evil man:
              preserve me from the violent man;
2        Which imagine mischiefs in their heart;
              continually are they gathered together for war.
3        They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent;
              adders' poison is under their lips.              Selah.
4        Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked;
              preserve me from the violent man;
              who have purposed to overthrow my goings.
5        The proud have hid a snare for me,
              and cords; they have spread a net
              by the wayside; they have set gins for me.               Selah.

6        I said unto the LORD, Thou art my God:
              hear the voice of my supplications, O LORD.
7        O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation,
              thou hast covered my head in the day of battle
8        Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked:
              further not his wicked device; lest they exalt themselves.              Selah.

9        As for the head of those that compass me about,
              let the mischief of their own lips cover them.
10       Let burning coals fall upon them:
              let them be cast into the fire;
              into deep pits, that they rise not up again.
11       Let not an evil speaker be established in the earth:
              evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him.

12       I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted,
              and the right of the poor.
13       Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name:
              the upright shall dwell in thy presence.

Psalm 141

Give Ear to My Voice

 A PSALM OF DAVID

1         LORD, I cry unto thee: make haste unto me;
              give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee.
2         Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense;
              and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.

3         Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth;
              keep the door of my lips.
4         Incline not my heart to any evil thing,
              to practice wicked works with men that work iniquity:
              and let me not eat of their dainties.

5         Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness:
              and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil,
              which shall not break my head:
              for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities.
6         When their judges are overthrown in stony places,
              they shall hear my words; for they are sweet.
7         Our bones are scattered at the grave's mouth,
              as when one cutteth and cleaveth wood upon the earth.

8         But mine eyes are unto thee, O GOD the Lord:
              in thee is my trust; leave not my soul destitute.
9         Keep me from the snares which they have laid for me,
              and the gins of the workers of iniquity.
10       Let the wicked fall into their own nets,
              whilst that I withal escape.

The Tenth Day of November - Family Reading

The Tenth Day of November - Personal Reading.

Joel chapter 2

The Day of the Lord

 1         Blow ye the trumpet in Zion,
and sound an alarm in my holy mountain:
let all the inhabitants of the land tremble:
            for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand;
2         A day of darkness and of gloominess,
              a day of clouds and of thick darkness,
              as the morning spread upon the mountains:
            a great people and a strong;
              there hath not been ever the like,
              neither shall be any more after it,
              even to the years of many generations.

3         A fire devoureth before them;
              and behind them a flame burneth:
              the land is as the garden of Eden before them,
            and behind them a desolate wilderness;
              yea, and nothing shall escape them.

4         The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses;
              and as horsemen, so shall they run.
5         Like the noise of chariots
              on the tops of mountains shall they leap,
              like the noise of a flame of fire
            that devoureth the stubble,
              as a strong people
              set in battle array.

6         Before their face the people shall be much pained:
              all faces shall gather blackness.
7         They shall run like mighty men;
              they shall climb the wall like men of war;
            and they shall march every one on his ways,
              and they shall not break their ranks:
8         Neither shall one thrust another;
              they shall walk every one in his path:
              and when they fall upon the sword,
              they shall not be wounded.
9         They shall run to and fro in the city;
              they shall run upon the wall,
              they shall climb up upon the houses;
              they shall enter in at the windows like a thief.

10       The earth shall quake before them;
              the heavens shall tremble:
              the sun and the moon shall be dark,
              and the stars shall withdraw their shining:
11       And the LORD shall utter his voice
              before his army:
              for his camp is very great:
              for he is strong that executeth his word:
            for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible;
              and who can abide it?  

Return to the Lord
12       Therefore also now, saith the LORD,
              turn ye even to me with all your heart,
              and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:
13       And rend your heart, and not your garments,
              and turn unto the LORD your God:
            for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger,
              and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.
14       Who knoweth if he will return and repent,
              and leave a blessing behind him;
              even a meat offering and a drink offering
              unto the LORD your God?

15       Blow the trumpet in Zion,
              sanctify a fast,
              call a solemn assembly:
16       Gather the people,
              sanctify the congregation,
              assemble the elders,
              gather the children,
              and those that suck the breasts:
            let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber,
              and the bride out of her closet.

17       Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD,
              weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say,
            Spare thy people, O LORD,
              and give not thine heritage to reproach,
              that the heathen should rule over them:
            wherefore should they say among the people,
              Where is their God?

The Lord Had Pity 
18       Then will the LORD be jealous for his land,
              and pity his people.
19       Yea, the LORD will answer and say unto his people,
              Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil,
            and ye shall be satisfied therewith:
              and I will no more make you
              a reproach among the heathen:

20       But I will remove far off from you the northern army,
              and will drive him into a land barren and desolate,
            with his face toward the east sea,
              and his hinder part toward the utmost sea,
              and his stink shall come up, and his ill savour shall come up,
              because he hath done great things.

21       Fear not, O land;
              be glad and rejoice:
              for the LORD will do great things.
22       Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field:
              for the pastures of the wilderness do spring,
            for the tree beareth her fruit,
              the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength.

23       Be glad then, ye children of Zion,
              and rejoice in the LORD your God:
              for he hath given you the former rain moderately,
            and he will cause to come down for you the rain,
              the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.

24       And the floors shall be full of wheat,
              and the vats shall overflow with wine and oil.
25     And I will restore to you the years
              that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm,
              my great army which I sent among you.

26       And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied,
              and praise the name of the LORD your God,
            that hath dealt wondrously with you:
              and my people shall never be ashamed.
27       And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel,
              and that I am the LORD your God, and none else:
              and my people shall never be ashamed.

The Lord Will Pour Out His Spirit

 28       And it shall come to pass afterward,
              that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh;
              and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
            your old men shall dream dreams,
              your young men shall see visions
29       And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids
              in those days will I pour out my spirit.

30 And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. 31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and
the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come. 32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name
of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD
shall call.
 

Psalm 142

You Are My Refuge

MASCHIL OF DAVID; A PRAYER WHEN HE WAS IN THE CAVE

1         I cried unto the LORD with my voice;
              with my voice unto the LORD did I make my supplication.
2         I poured out my complaint before him;
              I showed before him my trouble.

3         When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path.
              In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me.
4         I looked on my right hand, and beheld,
              but there was no man that would know me:
              refuge failed me;
              no man cared for my soul.

5         I cried unto thee, O LORD:
              I said, Thou art my refuge
              and my portion in the land of the living.
6         Attend unto my cry;
              for I am brought very low:
              deliver me from my persecutors;
              for they are stronger than I.
7         Bring my soul out of prison,
              that I may praise thy name:
              the righteous shall compass me about;
              for thou shalt deal bountifully with me.

The Eleventh Day of November - Family Reading

The Eleventh Day of November - Personal Reading.

Joel chapter 3

The Lord Judges the Nations

1 For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, 2 I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land. 3 And they have cast lots for my people; and have given a boy for an harlot, and sold a girl for wine, that they might drink.
      4 Yea, and what have ye to do with me, O Tyre, and Zidon, and all the coasts of Palestine? will ye render me a recompense? and if ye recompense me, swiftly and speedily will I return your recompense upon your own head; 5 Because ye have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried into your temples my goodly pleasant things: 6 The children also of Judah and the children of Jerusalem have ye sold unto the Grecians, that ye might remove them far from their border. 7 Behold, I will raise them out of the place whither ye have sold them, and will return your recompense upon your own head: 8 And I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the children of Judah, and they shall sell them to the Sabeans, to a people far off: for the LORD hath spoken it.

9         Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles;
              Prepare war,
              wake up the mighty men,
              let all the men of war draw near;
              let them come up:
10       Beat your plowshares into swords,
              and your pruninghooks into spears:
              let the weak say, I am strong.

11       Assemble yourselves, and come,
              all ye heathen,
              and gather yourselves together round about:
            thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O LORD.
12       Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat:
              for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about.

13       Put ye in the sickle,
              for the harvest is ripe:
              come, get you down;
              for the press is full,
              the vats overflow;
              for their wickedness is great.

14       Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision:
              for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.
15       The sun and the moon shall be darkened,
              and the stars shall withdraw their shining.

16       The LORD also shall roar out of Zion,
              and utter his voice from Jerusalem;
              and the heavens and the earth shall shake:
            but the LORD will be the hope of his people,
              and the strength of the children of Israel.
The Glorious Future of Judah 
17       So shall ye know that I am the LORD your God
              dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain:
              then shall Jerusalem be holy,
            and there shall no strangers pass through her any more.

18       And it shall come to pass in that day,
              that the mountains shall drop down new wine,
              and the hills shall flow with milk,
            and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters,
              and a fountain shall come forth of the house of the LORD,
              and shall water the valley of Shittim.

19       Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom shall be a desolate wilderness,
              for the violence against the children of Judah,
            because they have shed innocent blood in their land.
20       But Judah shall dwell for ever,
              and Jerusalem from generation to generation.
21       For I will cleanse their blood
              that I have not cleansed:
              for the LORD dwelleth in Zion. 

Psalm 143

My Soul Thirsts for You

A PSALM OF DAVID
1         Hear my prayer, O LORD,
              give ear to my supplications:
              in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness.
2         And enter not into judgment with thy servant:
              for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.

3         For the enemy hath persecuted my soul;
              he hath smitten my life down to the ground;
              he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead.
4         Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me;
              my heart within me is desolate.

5         I remember the days of old;
              I meditate on all thy works;
              I muse on the work of thy hands.
6         I stretch forth my hands unto thee:
              my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land.              Selah.

7         Hear me speedily, O LORD:
              my spirit faileth:
              hide not thy face from me,
              lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.
8         Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning;
              for in thee do I trust:
              cause me to know the way wherein I should walk;
              for I lift up my soul unto thee.

9         Deliver me, O LORD, from mine enemies:
              I flee unto thee to hide me.
10        Teach me to do thy will;
              for thou art my God:
              thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.

11        Quicken me, O LORD, for thy name's sake:
              for thy righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble.
12        And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies,
              and destroy all them that afflict my soul:
              for I am thy servant.

The Twelfth Day of November - Family Reading

The Twelfth Day of November - Personal Reading.

The Book of Amos

Introduction

Amos, possibly the first of the writing prophets, was a shepherd and farmer called to prophesy during the reigns of Uzziah (792-740 b.c.) in the southern kingdom and Jeroboam II (793-753) in the north. During this time both kingdoms enjoyed political stability, which in turn brought prosperity. It was also a time of idolatry, extravagance, and corruption. The rich and powerful were oppressing the poor. Amos denounced the people of Israel for their apostasy and social injustice and warned them that disaster would fall upon them for breaking the covenant. He urged them to leave the hypocrisy of their "solemn assemblies" (5:21) and instead to "let justice roll down like waters" (v. 24). Nevertheless, said Amos, God would remember his covenant with Israel and would restore a faithful remnant.

Amos chapter 1

Introduction

1 The words of Amos, who was among the herdmen of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel, two years before the earthquake.

Judgment on Israel's Neighbors

2 And he said

            The LORD will roar from Zion,
              and utter his voice from Jerusalem;
            and the habitations of the shepherds shall mourn,
              and the top of Carmel shall wither.

3 Thus saith the LORD;

            For three transgressions of Damascus,
              and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof;
            because they have threshed Gilead
              with threshing instruments of iron:
4         But I will send a fire into the house of Hazael,
              which shall devour the palaces of Benhadad.
5         I will break also the bar of Damascus,
              and cut off the inhabitant from the plain of Aven,
            and him that holdeth the sceptre from the house of Eden:
              and the people of Syria shall go into captivity unto Kir,
                                    saith the LORD.

6 Thus saith the LORD;

            For three transgressions of Gaza,
              and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof;
            because they carried away captive the whole captivity,
              to deliver them up to Edom:
7         But I will send a fire on the wall of Gaza,
              which shall devour the palaces thereof:
8         And I will cut off the inhabitant from Ashdod,
              and him that holdeth the sceptre from Ashkelon,
            and I will turn mine hand against Ekron:
              and the remnant of the Philistines shall perish,
                                    saith the Lord GOD.

9 Thus saith the LORD;

            For three transgressions of Tyrus,
              and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof;
            because they delivered up the whole captivity to Edom,
              and remembered not the brotherly covenant:
10       But I will send a fire on the wall of Tyrus,
              which shall devour the palaces thereof.

11 Thus saith the LORD;

            For three transgressions of Edom,
              and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof;
            because he did pursue his brother with the sword,
              and did cast off all pity,
              and his anger did tear perpetually,
              and he kept his wrath for ever:
12       But I will send a fire upon Teman,
              which shall devour the palaces of Bozrah.

13 Thus saith the LORD;

        For three transgressions of the children of Ammon,
              and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof;
            because they have ripped up the women with child of Gilead,
              that they might enlarge their border:
14       But I will kindle a fire in the wall of Rabbah,
              and it shall devour the palaces thereof,
            with shouting in the day of battle,
              with a tempest in the day of the whirlwind:
15       And their king shall go into captivity,
              he and his princes together,
                                    saith the LORD.   

Psalm 144

My Rock and My Fortress

A PSALM OF DAVID
1        Blessed be the LORD my strength,
              which teacheth my hands to war,
              and my fingers to fight:
2        My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer;
              my shield, and he in whom I trust; who subdueth my people under me.

3        LORD, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him!
              or the son of man, that thou makest account of him!
4        Man is like to vanity:
              his days are as a shadow that passeth away.

5        Bow thy heavens, O LORD, and come down:
              touch the mountains, and they shall smoke.
6        Cast forth lightning, and scatter them:
              shoot out thine arrows, and destroy them.
7        Send thine hand from above;
              rid me, and deliver me out of great waters,
              from the hand of strange children;
8        Whose mouth speaketh vanity,
              and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood.

9        I will sing a new song unto thee, O God:
              upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee.
10       It is he that giveth salvation unto kings:
              who delivereth David his servant from the hurtful sword.
11       Rid me, and deliver me from the hand of strange children,
              whose mouth speaketh vanity,
              and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood:

12       That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth;
              that our daughters may be as corner stones,
              polished after the similitude of a palace:
13       That our garners may be full, affording all manner of store:
              that our sheep may bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our streets:
14       That our oxen may be strong to labour;
              that there be no breaking in, nor going out;
              that there be no complaining in our streets.
15       Happy is that people, that is in such a case:
              yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD.

The Thirteenth Day of November - Family Reading

The First Book of Chronicles

Introduction

First and Second Chronicles, originally one book, was written sometime after Judah began to return from the Babylonian exile in 538 b.c. (1 Chron. 9:1-2; 2 Chron. 36:23). It focuses primarily on the history of Judah, the southern kingdom of divided Israel. First Chronicles begins with several genealogies, with special emphasis on David and Solomon. The "chronicler" moves next to the history of the kingdom under David, stressing David's deep interest in worship and his detailed plans for the construction of the temple-which would be built by his son Solomon. First Chronicles was probably written to reassure the returned exiles of God's faithfulness toward his people. Its author is unknown, although many have thought that Ezra was the principal writer.

1 Chronicles chapter 1

From Adam to Abraham

1 Adam, Sheth, Enosh, 2 Kenan, Mahalaleel, Jered, 3 Henoch, Methuselah, Lamech, 4 Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
      5 The sons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras. 6 And the sons of Gomer; Ashchenaz, and Riphath, and Togarmah. 7 And the sons of Javan; Elishah, and Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim.
      8 The sons of Ham; Cush, and Mizraim, Put, and Canaan. 9 And the sons of Cush; Seba, and Havilah, and Sabta, and Raamah, and Sabtecha. And the sons of Raamah; Sheba, and Dedan. 10 And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be mighty upon the earth.
      11 And Mizraim begat Ludim, and Anamim, and Lehabim, and Naphtuhim, 12 And Pathrusim, and Casluhim, (of whom came the Philistines,) and Caphthorim.
      13 And Canaan begat Zidon his firstborn, and Heth, 14 The Jebusite also, and the Amorite, and the Girgashite, 15 And the Hivite, and the Arkite, and the Sinite,
      16 And the Arvadite, and the Zemarite, and the Hamathite.
      17 The sons of Shem; Elam, and Asshur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram, and Uz, and Hul, and Gether, and Meshech. 18 And Arphaxad begat Shelah, and Shelah begat Eber. 19 And unto Eber were born two sons: the name of the one was Peleg; because in his days the earth was divided: and his brother's name was Joktan. 20 And Joktan begat Almodad, and Sheleph, and Hazarmaveth, and Jerah, 21 Hadoram also, and Uzal, and Diklah, 22 And Ebal, and Abimael, and Sheba, 23 And Ophir, and Havilah, and Jobab. All these were the sons of Joktan.
      24 Shem, Arphaxad, Shelah, 25 Eber, Peleg, Reu, 26 Serug, Nahor, Terah, 27 Abram; the same is Abraham.

From Abraham to Jacob

28 The sons of Abraham; Isaac, and Ishmael. 29 These are their generations: The firstborn of Ishmael, Nebaioth; then Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam, 30 Mishma, and Dumah, Massa, Hadad, and Tema, 31 Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. These are the sons of Ishmael. 32 Now the sons of Keturah, Abraham's concubine: she bare Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah. And the sons of Jokshan; Sheba, and Dedan. 33 And the sons of Midian; Ephah, and Epher, and Henoch, and Abida, and Eldaah. All these are the sons of Keturah.
      34 And Abraham begat Isaac. The sons of Isaac; Esau and Israel. 35 The sons of Esau; Eliphaz, Reuel, and Jeush, and Jaalam, and Korah. 36 The sons of Eliphaz; Teman, and Omar, Zephi, and Gatam, Kenaz, and Timna, and Amalek. 37 The sons of Reuel; Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah.
      38 And the sons of Seir; Lotan, and Shobal, and Zibeon, and Anah, and Dishon, and Ezar, and Dishan. 39 And the sons of Lotan; Hori, and Homam: and Timna was Lotan's sister. 40 The sons of Shobal; Alian, and Manahath, and Ebal, Shephi, and Onam. And the sons of Zibeon; Aiah, and Anah. 41 The sons of Anah; Dishon. And the sons of Dishon; Amram, and Eshban, and Ithran, and Cheran. 42 The sons of Ezer; Bilhan, and Zavan, and Jakan. The sons of Dishan; Uz, and Aran.
      43 Now these are the kings that reigned in the land of Edom before any king reigned over the children of Israel; Bela the son of Beor: and the name of his city was Dinhabah. 44 And when Bela was dead, Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah reigned in his stead. 45 And when Jobab was dead, Husham of the land of the Temanites reigned in his stead. 46 And when Husham was dead, Hadad the son of Bedad, which smote Midian in the field of Moab, reigned in his stead: and the name of his city was Avith. 47 And when Hadad was dead, Samlah of Masrekah reigned in his stead. 48 And when Samlah was dead, Shaul of Rehoboth by the river reigned in his stead. 49 And when Shaul was dead, Baalhanan the son of Achbor reigned in his stead. 50 And when Baalhanan was dead, Hadad reigned in his stead: and the name of his city was Pai; and his wife's name was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Mezahab. 51 Hadad died also.
      And the dukes of Edom were; duke Timnah, duke Aliah, duke Jetheth, 52 Duke Aholibamah, duke Elah, duke Pinon, 53 Duke Kenaz, duke Teman, duke Mibzar, 54 Duke Magdiel, duke Iram. These are the dukes of Edom.

1 Chronicles chapter 2

A Genealogy of David

1 These are the sons of Israel; Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun, 2 Dan, Joseph, and Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher. 3 The sons of Judah; Er, and Onan, and Shelah: which three were born unto him of the daughter of Shua the Canaanitess. And Er, the firstborn of Judah, was evil in the sight of the LORD; and he slew him. 4 And Tamar his daughter in law bare him Pharez and Zerah. All the sons of Judah were five.
      5 The sons of Pharez; Hezron, and Hamul. 6 And the sons of Zerah; Zimri, and Ethan, and Heman, and Calcol, and Dara: five of them in all. 7 And the sons of Carmi; Achar, the troubler of Israel, who transgressed in the thing accursed. 8 And the sons of Ethan; Azariah.
      9 The sons also of Hezron, that were born unto him; Jerahmeel, and Ram, and Chelubai. 10 And Ram begat Amminadab; and Amminadab begat Nahshon, prince of the children of Judah; 11 And Nahshon begat Salma, and Salma begat Boaz, 12 And Boaz begat Obed, and Obed begat Jesse. 13 And Jesse begat his firstborn Eliab, and Abinadab the second, and Shimma the third, 14 Nethaneel the fourth, Raddai the fifth, 15 Ozem the sixth, David the seventh: 16 Whose sisters were Zeruiah, and Abigail. And the sons of Zeruiah; Abishai, and Joab, and Asahel, three. 17 And Abigail bare Amasa: and the father of Amasa was Jether the Ishmeelite.
      18 And Caleb the son of Hezron begat children of Azubah his wife, and of Jerioth: her sons are these; Jesher, and Shobab, and Ardon. 19 And when Azubah was dead, Caleb took unto him Ephrath, which bare him Hur. 20 And Hur begat Uri, and Uri begat Bezaleel.
      21 And afterward Hezron went in to the daughter of Machir the father of Gilead, whom he married when he was threescore years old; and she bare him Segub. 22 And Segub begat Jair, who had three and twenty cities in the land of Gilead. 23 And he took Geshur, and Aram, with the towns of Jair, from them, with Kenath, and the towns thereof, even threescore cities. All these belonged to the sons of Machir, the father of Gilead. 24 And after that Hezron was dead in Calebephratah, then Abiah Hezron's wife bare him Ashur the father of Tekoa.
      25 And the sons of Jerahmeel the firstborn of Hezron were, Ram the firstborn, and Bunah, and Oren, and Ozem, and Ahijah. 26 Jerahmeel had also another wife, whose name was Atarah; she was the mother of Onam. 27 And the sons of Ram the firstborn of Jerahmeel were, Maaz, and Jamin, and Eker. 28 And the sons of Onam were, Shammai, and Jada. And the sons of Shammai; Nadab, and Abishur. 29 And the name of the wife of Abishur was Abihail, and she bare him Ahban, and Molid. 30 And the sons of Nadab; Seled, and Appaim: but Seled died without children. 31 And the sons of Appaim; Ishi. And the sons of Ishi; Sheshan. And the children of Sheshan; Ahlai. 32 And the sons of Jada the brother of Shammai; Jether, and Jonathan: and Jether died without children. 33 And the sons of Jonathan; Peleth, and Zaza. These were the sons of Jerahmeel. 34 Now Sheshan had no sons, but daughters. And Sheshan had a servant, an Egyptian, whose name was Jarha. 35 And Sheshan gave his daughter to Jarha his servant to wife; and she bare him Attai. 36 And Attai begat Nathan, and Nathan begat Zabad, 37 And Zabad begat Ephlal, and Ephlal begat Obed, 38 And Obed begat Jehu, and Jehu begat Azariah, 39 And Azariah begat Helez, and Helez begat Eleasah, 40 And Eleasah begat Sisamai, and Sisamai begat Shallum, 41 And Shallum begat Jekamiah, and Jekamiah begat Elishama.
      42 Now the sons of Caleb the brother of Jerahmeel were, Mesha his firstborn, which was the father of Ziph; and the sons of Mareshah the father of Hebron. 43 And the sons of Hebron; Korah, and Tappuah, and Rekem, and Shema. 44 And Shema begat Raham, the father of Jorkoam: and Rekem begat Shammai. 45 And the son of Shammai was Maon: and Maon was the father of Bethzur. 46 And Ephah, Caleb's concubine, bare Haran, and Moza, and Gazez: and Haran begat Gazez. 47 And the sons of Jahdai; Regem, and Jotham, and Gesham, and Pelet, and Ephah, and Shaaph. 48 Maachah, Caleb's concubine, bare Sheber, and Tirhanah.
      49 She bare also Shaaph the father of Madmannah, Sheva the father of Machbenah, and the father of Gibea: and the daughter of Caleb was Achsa. 50 These were the sons of Caleb the son of Hur,
      the firstborn of Ephratah; Shobal the father of Kirjathjearim, 51 Salma the father of Bethlehem, Hareph the father of Bethgader. 52 And Shobal the father of Kirjathjearim had sons; Haroeh, and half of the Manahethites. 53 And the families of Kirjathjearim; the Ithrites, and the Puhites, and the Shumathites, and the Mishraites; of them came the Zareathites, and the Eshtaulites. 54 The sons of Salma; Bethlehem, and the Netophathites, Ataroth, the house of Joab, and half of the Manahethites, the Zorites. 55 And the families of the scribes which dwelt at Jabez; the Tirathites, the Shimeathites, and Suchathites. These are the Kenites that came of Hemath, the father of the house of Rechab.

Hebrews chapter 8

Jesus, High Priest of a Better Covenant

1 Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; 2 A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man. 3 For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer. 4 For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law: 5 Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern showed to thee in the mount 6 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. 7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.
  8 For finding fault with them, he saith,

  Behold, the days come, saith the Lord,
              when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel
              and with the house of Judah:
              because they continued not in my covenant,
              and I regarded them not,
              saith the Lord.
9         Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers
              in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt
10       For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel
              after those days, saith the Lord;
            I will put my laws into their mind,
              and write them in their hearts:
              and I will be to them a God,
              and they shall be to me a people:
11       And they shall not teach every man his neighbour,
              and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord:
            for all shall know me,
              from the least to the greatest.
12       For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness,
              and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.

The Thirteenth Day of November - Personal Reading.

Amos chapter 2

Introduction

1 Thus saith the LORD;
            For three transgressions of Moab, and for four,
              I will not turn away the punishment thereof;
            because he burned the bones of the king of Edom into lime:
2         But I will send a fire upon Moab, and it shall devour the palaces of Kirioth:
            and Moab shall die with tumult, with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet:
3         And I will cut off the judge from the midst thereof,
              and will slay all the princes thereof with him, saith the LORD.
Judgment on Judah 
4 Thus saith the LORD;
            For three transgressions of Judah, and for four,
              I will not turn away the punishment thereof;
              because they have despised the law of the LORD,
            and have not kept his commandments,
              and their lies caused them to err,
              after the which their fathers have walked:
5         But I will send a fire upon Judah,
              and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem.
Judgment on Israel 
6 Thus saith the LORD;
            For three transgressions of Israel,
              and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof;
            because they sold the righteous for silver,
              and the poor for a pair of shoes;
7         That pant after the dust of the earth on the head of the poor,
              and turn aside the way of the meek:
            and a man and his father will go in unto the same maid,
              to profane my holy name:
8         And they lay themselves down upon
              clothes laid to pledge by every altar,
            and they drink the wine of the condemned in the house of their god.

9         Yet destroyed I the Amorite before them,
              whose height was like the height of the cedars,
            and he was strong as the oaks;
              yet I destroyed his fruit from above,
              and his roots from beneath.
10       Also I brought you up from the land of Egypt,
              and led you forty years through the wilderness,
              to possess the land of the Amorite.
11       And I raised up of your sons for prophets,
              and of your young men for Nazarites.
              Is it not even thus, O ye children of Israel?
              saith the LORD.

12       But ye gave the Nazarites wine to drink;
              and commanded the prophets, saying, Prophesy not.
13       Behold, I am pressed under you,
              as a cart is pressed that is full of sheaves.
14       Therefore the flight shall perish from the swift,
              and the strong shall not strengthen his force,
              neither shall the mighty deliver himself:
15       Neither shall he stand that handleth the bow;
              and he that is swift of foot shall not deliver himself:
            neither shall he that rideth the horse deliver himself.
16       And he that is courageous among the mighty
              shall flee away naked in that day,
              saith the LORD.

Psalm 145

Great is the LORD

DAVID'S PSALM OF PRAISE
1        I will extol thee, my God, O king;
              and I will bless thy name for ever and ever.
2        Every day will I bless thee;
              and I will praise thy name for ever and ever.
3        Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised;
              and his greatness is unsearchable.

4        One generation shall praise thy works to another,
              and shall declare thy mighty acts.
5        I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty,
              and of thy wondrous works.
6        And men shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts:
              and I will declare thy greatness.
7        They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness,
              and shall sing of thy righteousness.

8        The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion;
              slow to anger, and of great mercy.
9        The LORD is good to all:
              and his tender mercies are over all his works.

10       All thy works shall praise thee, O LORD;
              and thy saints shall bless thee.
11       They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom,
              and talk of thy power;
12       To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts,
              and the glorious majesty of his kingdom.
13       Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
              and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations.
14       The LORD upholdeth all that fall,
              and raiseth up all those that be bowed down.
15       The eyes of all wait upon thee;
              and thou givest them their meat in due season.
16       Thou openest thine hand,
              and satisfiest the desire of every living thing.
17       The LORD is righteous in all his ways,
              and holy in all his works.
18       The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him,
              to all that call upon him in truth.
18       He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him:
              he also will hear their cry, and will save them.
20       The LORD preserveth all them that love him:
              but all the wicked will he destroy.
21       My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD:
              and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever.

The Fourteenth Day of November - Family Reading

The Fourteenth Day of November - Personal Reading.

Amos chapter 3

Chapter Topic

  
1 Hear this word that the LORD hath spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying,

2         You only have I known
              of all the families of the earth:
              therefore I will punish you
              for all your iniquities.

3         Can two walk together,
              except they be agreed?
4         Will a lion roar in the forest,
              when he hath no prey?
              will a young lion cry out of his den,
              if he have taken nothing?
5         Can a bird fall in a snare upon the earth,
              where no gin is for him?
              shall one take up a snare from the earth,
              and have taken nothing at all?
6         Shall a trumpet be blown in the city,
              and the people not be afraid?
              shall there be evil in a city,
              and the LORD hath not done it?

7         Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing,
              but he revealeth his secret
              unto his servants the prophets.
8         The lion hath roared,
              who will not fear?
              the Lord GOD hath spoken,
              who can but prophesy?

9         Publish in the palaces at Ashdod,
              and in the palaces in the land of Egypt,
              and say, Assemble yourselves upon the mountains of Samaria,
            and behold the great tumults in the midst thereof,
              and the oppressed in the midst thereof.
10       For they know not to do right, saith the LORD,
              who store up violence and robbery in their palaces.

11       Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD;

        An adversary there shall be even round about the land;
              and he shall bring down thy strength from thee,
              and thy palaces shall be spoiled.

    12 Thus saith the LORD; As the shepherd taketh out of the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear; so shall the children of Israel be taken
out that dwell in Samaria in the corner of a bed, and in Damascus in a couch.

13      Hear ye, and testify in the house of Jacob,
              saith the Lord GOD, the God of hosts,
14       That in the day that I shall visit the transgressions of Israel upon him
              I will also visit the altars of Bethel:
            and the horns of the altar shall be cut off, and fall to the ground.
15       And I will smite the winter house with the summer house;
              and the houses of ivory shall perish,
            and the great houses shall have an end,
              saith the LORD.

Psalm 146

Put Not Your Trust in Princes

1         Praise ye the LORD.
              Praise the LORD, O my soul.
2         While I live will I praise the LORD:
              I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.

3         Put not your trust in princes,
              nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.
4         His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth;
              in that very day his thoughts perish.

5         Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help,
              whose hope is in the LORD his God:
6         Which made heaven, and earth,
              the sea, and all that therein is:
              which keepeth truth for ever:
7         Which executeth judgment for the oppressed:
              which giveth food to the hungry.

              The LORD looseth the prisoners:
8         The LORD openeth the eyes of the blind:
              the LORD raiseth them that are bowed down:
              the LORD loveth the righteous:
9         The LORD preserveth the strangers;
              he relieveth the fatherless and widow:
              but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down.

10        The LORD shall reign for ever,
              even thy God, O Zion, unto all generations.
              Praise ye the LORD.

Psalm 147

He Heals the Brokenhearted

1        Praise ye the LORD:
              for it is good to sing praises unto our God;
              for it is pleasant; and praise is comely.
2        The LORD doth build up Jerusalem:
              he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel.
3        He healeth the broken in heart,
              and bindeth up their wounds.
4        He telleth the number of the stars;
              he calleth them all by their names.
5        Great is our Lord, and of great power:
              his understanding is infinite.
6        The LORD lifteth up the meek:
              he casteth the wicked down to the ground.

7        Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving;
              sing praise upon the harp unto our God:
8        Who covereth the heaven with clouds,
              who prepareth rain for the earth,
              who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains.
9        He giveth to the beast his food,
              and to the young ravens which cry.
10       He delighteth not in the strength of the horse:
              he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man.
11       The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him,
              in those that hope in his mercy.

12       Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem;
              praise thy God, O Zion.
13       For he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates;
              he hath blessed thy children within thee.
14       He maketh peace in thy borders,
              and filleth thee with the finest of the wheat.
15       He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth:
              his word runneth very swiftly.
16       He giveth snow like wool:
              he scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes.
17       He casteth forth his ice like morsels:
              who can stand before his cold?
18       He sendeth out his word, and melteth them:
              he causeth his wind to blow, and the waters flow.
19       He showeth his word unto Jacob,
              his statutes and his judgments unto Israel.
20       He hath not dealt so with any nation:
              and as for his judgments, they have not known them.
              Praise ye the LORD.

The Fifteenth Day of November - Family Reading

The Fifteenth Day of November - Personal Reading.

Amos chapter 4

Israel's Guilt and Punishment - continued

1         Hear this word, ye kine of Bashan,
              that are in the mountain of Samaria, which oppress the poor,
            which crush the needy, which say to their masters, Bring, and let us drink.
2         The Lord GOD hath sworn by his holiness,
              that, lo, the days shall come upon you,
            that he will take you away with hooks,
              and your posterity with fishhooks.
3         And ye shall go out at the breaches,
              every cow at that which is before her;
              and ye shall cast them into the palace,
              saith the LORD.

4         Come to Bethel, and transgress;
              at Gilgal multiply transgression;
              and bring your sacrifices every morning,
              and your tithes after three years:
5         And offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving with leaven,
              and proclaim and publish the free offerings:
            for this liketh you, O ye children of Israel,
              saith the Lord GOD.
Israel Has Not Returned to the Lord
6         And I also have given you cleanness of teeth in all your cities,
              and want of bread in all your places:
            yet have ye not returned unto me,
              saith the LORD.

7         And also I have withholden the rain from you,
              when there were yet three months to the harvest:
              and I caused it to rain upon one city,
            and caused it not to rain upon another city:
              one piece was rained upon,
              and the piece whereupon it rained not withered.
8         So two or three cities wandered unto one city,
              to drink water; but they were not satisfied:
              yet have ye not returned unto me,
              saith the LORD.

9         I have smitten you with blasting and mildew:
              when your gardens and your vineyards and your fig trees
            and your olive trees increased, the palmerworm devoured them:
              yet have ye not returned unto me,
              saith the LORD.

10       I have sent among you the pestilence after the manner of Egypt:
              your young men I have slain with the sword,
              and taken away your horses;
            and I have made the stink of your camps to come up to your nostrils:
              yet have ye not returned unto me,
              saith the Lord.
11       I have overthrown some of you,
              as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah,
            and ye were as a firebrand plucked out of the burning:
              yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.

12       Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel:
              and because I will do this unto thee,
              prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.

13       For, lo, he that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind,
              and declareth unto man what is his thought,
              that maketh the morning darkness,
            and treadeth upon the high places of the earth,
              The LORD, The God of hosts, is his name.

Psalm 148

Praise the Name of the LORD

1         Praise ye the LORD.
              Praise ye the LORD from the heavens:
              praise him in the heights.
2         Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts.

3         Praise ye him, sun and moon:
              praise him, all ye stars of light.
4         Praise him, ye heavens of heavens,
              and ye waters that be above the heavens.

5         Let them praise the name of the LORD:
              for he commanded, and they were created.
6         He hath also stablished them for ever and ever:
              he hath made a decree which shall not pass.

7         Praise the LORD from the earth,
              ye dragons, and all deeps:
8         Fire, and hail; snow, and vapours;
              stormy wind fulfilling his word:

9         Mountains, and all hills;
              fruitful trees, and all cedars:
10       Beasts, and all cattle;
              creeping things, and flying fowl:

11       Kings of the earth, and all people;
              princes, and all judges of the earth:
12       Both young men, and maidens;
              old men, and children:

13       Let them praise the name of the LORD:
              for his name alone is excellent;
              his glory is above the earth and heaven.
14       He also exalteth the horn of his people,
              the praise of all his saints;
              even of the children of Israel, a people near unto him.
              Praise ye the LORD.

Psalm 149

Sing to the LORD a New Song

1         Praise ye the LORD.
              Sing unto the LORD a new song,
              and his praise in the congregation of saints.
2         Let Israel rejoice in him that made him:
              let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.
3         Let them praise his name in the dance:
              let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.
4         For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people:
              he will beautify the meek with salvation.
5         Let the saints be joyful in glory:
              let them sing aloud upon their beds.
6         Let the high praises of God be in their mouth,
              and a twoedged sword in their hand;
7         To execute vengeance upon the heathen,
              and punishments upon the people;
8         To bind their kings with chains,
              and their nobles with fetters of iron;
9         To execute upon them the judgment written:
              this honour have all his saints.
              Praise ye the LORD.

Psalm 150

Let Everything Praise the LORD

1         Praise ye the LORD.
              Praise God in his sanctuary:
              praise him in the firmament of his power.
2         Praise him for his mighty acts:
              praise him according to his excellent greatness.

3         Praise him with the sound of the trumpet:
              praise him with the psaltery and harp.
4         Praise him with the timbrel and dance:
              praise him with stringed instruments and organs.
5         Praise him upon the loud cymbals:
              praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.
6         Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD.
              Praise ye the LORD.

The Sixteenth Day of November - Family Reading

The Sixteenth Day of November - Personal Reading.

Amos chapter 5

Seek the Lord and Live

1 Hear ye this word which I take up against you, even a lamentation, O house of Israel.

2         The virgin of Israel is fallen;
              she shall no more rise:
              she is forsaken upon her land;
              there is none to raise her up.

3 For thus saith the Lord GOD;
            The city that went out by a thousand shall leave an hundred,
              and that which went forth by an hundred
              shall leave ten,
              to the house of Israel.

4 For thus saith the LORD unto the house of Israel,
            Seek ye me, and ye shall live:

5         But seek not Bethel,
              nor enter into Gilgal,
              and pass not to Beersheba:
              for Gilgal shall surely go into captivity,
              and Bethel shall come to nought.

6         Seek the LORD, and ye shall live;
              lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph,
              and devour it, and there be none to quench it in Bethel.
7         Ye who turn judgment to wormwood,
              and leave off righteousness in the earth,

8         Seek him that maketh the seven stars and Orion,
              and turneth the shadow of death into the morning,
            and maketh the day dark with night:
              that calleth for the waters of the sea,
              and poureth them out upon the face of the earth:
              The LORD is his name:
9         That strengtheneth the spoiled against the strong,
              so that the spoiled shall come against the fortress.

10       They hate him that rebuketh in the gate,
              and they abhor him that speaketh uprightly.
11       Forasmuch therefore as your treading is upon the poor,
              and ye take from him burdens of wheat:
            ye have built houses of hewn stone,
              but ye shall not dwell in them;
              ye have planted pleasant vineyards,
              but ye shall not drink wine of them.
12       For I know your manifold transgressions,
              and your mighty sins:
              they afflict the just, they take a bribe,
            and they turn aside the poor in the gate from their right.
13       Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time;
              for it is an evil time.

14       Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live:
              and so the LORD, the God of hosts,
              shall be with you, as ye have spoken.
15       Hate the evil, and love the good,
              and establish judgment in the gate:
            it may be that the LORD God of hosts
              will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph.

    16 Therefore the LORD, the God of hosts, the Lord, saith thus;

            Wailing shall be in all streets;
              and they shall say in all the highways,
            Alas! alas!
              and they shall call the husbandman to mourning,
              and such as are skilful of lamentation to wailing.
17       And in all vineyards shall be wailing:
              for I will pass through thee, saith the LORD.
Let Justice Roll Down 
 18       Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD!
              to what end is it for you?
              the day of the LORD is darkness, and not light.
19       As if a man did flee from a lion,
              and a bear met him;
              or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall,
              and a serpent bit him.
20       Shall not the day of the LORD be darkness,
              and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it?

21       I hate, I despise your feast days,
              and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies.
22       Though ye offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings,
              I will not accept them:
              neither will I regard
              the peace offerings of your fat beasts.
23       Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs;
              for I will not hear the melody of thy viols.
24       But let judgment run down as waters,
              and righteousness as a mighty stream.

      25 Have ye offered unto me sacrifices and offerings in the wilderness forty years, O house of Israel? 26 But ye have borne the tabernacle of your
Moloch and Chiun your images, the star of your god, which ye made to yourselves. 27 Therefore will I cause you to go into captivity beyond Damascus,
saith the LORD, whose name is The God of hosts.

The Gospel of Luke

Introduction

The Gospel of Luke is in the form of a letter to a man named Theophilus. Luke wrote after having carefully investigated all the facts about Christ (1:1-4). Luke documents Christ’s life from before his birth through his ministry, death, and resurrection. Jesus carried out his ministry in the power of the Holy Spirit, announcing the good news of salvation. He showed numerous times his compassion for the poor and the outcast. He fulfilled prophecy and carried out his purpose: to seek and save the lost. Luke gives the fullest account of Christ's birth, and only Luke records the parables of the Good Samaritan and the Prodigal Son. Luke, a physician and a colleague of Paul, probably wrote this account in the early 60s a.d. He also wrote Acts.

Luke chapter 1:1-38

Dedication to Theophilus

1 Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, 2 Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word; 3 It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, 4 That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.

Birth of John the Baptist Foretold

5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. 7 And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.
      8 And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course, 9 According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. 10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense. 11 And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. 13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. 14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. 15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb. 16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. 17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
      18 And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years. 19 And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to show thee these glad tidings. 20 And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season. 21 And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple. 22 And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless. 23 And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.
      24 And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying, 25 Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.

Birth of Jesus Foretold

26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, 27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. 28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. 29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. 30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. 31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
      34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
      35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. 36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing shall be impossible. 38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

The Seventeenth Day of November - Family Reading

The Seventeenth Day of November - Personal Reading.

Amos chapter 6

Woe to Those at Ease in Zion

1         Woe to them that are at ease in Zion,
              and trust in the mountain of Samaria,
            which are named chief of the nations,
              to whom the house of Israel came!
2         Pass ye unto Calneh, and see;
              and from thence go ye to Hamath the great:
            then go down to Gath of the Philistines:
              be they better than these kingdoms?
              or their border greater than your border?
3         Ye that put far away the evil day,
              and cause the seat of violence to come near;

4         That lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch themselves upon their couches,
            and eat the lambs out of the flock,
              and the calves out of the midst of the stall;
5         That chant to the sound of the viol,
              and invent to themselves instruments of music, like David;
6         That drink wine in bowls,
              and anoint themselves with the chief ointments:
              but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph.
7         Therefore now shall they go captive with the first that go captive,
              and the banquet of them that stretched themselves shall be removed.

    8 The Lord GOD hath sworn by himself, saith the LORD the God of hosts,

            I abhor the excellency of Jacob,
              and hate his palaces:
              therefore will I deliver up the city with all that is therein.

    9 And it shall come to pass, if there remain ten men in one house, that they shall die. 10 And a man's uncle shall take him up, and he that burneth
him, to bring out the bones out of the house, and shall say unto him that is by the sides of the house, Is there yet any with thee? and he shall say,
No. Then shall he say, Hold thy tongue: for we may not make mention of the name of the LORD.

11       For, behold, the LORD commandeth,
              and he will smite the great house with breaches,
              and the little house with clefts.
12       Shall horses run upon the rock?
              will one plow there with oxen?
              for ye have turned judgment into gall,
              and the fruit of righteousness into hemlock:
13       Ye which rejoice in a thing of nought, which say
              Have we not taken to us horns by our own strength?
14       But, behold, I will raise up against you a nation,
              O house of Israel, saith the LORD the God of hosts;
            and they shall afflict you from the entering in of Hemath
              unto the river of the wilderness.

Luke chapter 1:39-80

Mary Visits Elizabeth

39 And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda; 40 And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. 41 And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: 42 And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. 43 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. 45 And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.

Mary's Song of Praise: The Magnificat

 46 And Mary said,

                My soul doth magnify the Lord, 
47                   And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. 
  48           For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden:
                       for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. 
  49           For he that is mighty hath done to me great things;
                         and holy is his name.   
50           And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.
51           He hath showed strength with his arm;
                        he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
52          He hath put down the mighty from their seats,
                        and exalted them of low degree.
53           He hath filled the hungry with good things;
                        and the rich he hath sent empty away. 
54           He hath holpen his servant Israel,
                       in remembrance of his mercy;
55           As he spake to our fathers,
                       to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.

   56 And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house. 
 

Mary Visits Elizabeth

57 Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son. 58 And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had showed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her. 59 And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father. 60 And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John. 61 And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name. 62 And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called. 63 And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all. 64 And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God. 65 And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea. 66 And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him.

Zechariah's Prophecy

67 And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,

68            Blessed be the Lord God of Israel;;
                       for he hath visited and redeemed his people,
69           And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;
70           As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets,
                       which have been since the world began:
71          That we should be saved from our enemies,;
                       and from the hand of all that hate us;
72            To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;
73           The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,
74           That he would grant unto us,;
                       that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,
75           In holiness and righteousness before him,;
                       all the days of our life.
76           And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest:;
                       for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;
77           To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,
78           Through the tender mercy of our God;;
                       whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,
79            To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,;
                       to guide our feet into the way of peace.

      80 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his showing unto Israel.

The Eighthteenth Day of November - Family Reading

The Eighthteenth Day of November - Personal Reading.

Amos chapter 7

Warning Visions

  
1 Thus hath the Lord GOD showed unto me; and, behold, he formed grasshoppers in the beginning of the shooting up of the latter growth; and, lo,
it was the latter growth after the king's mowings. 2 And it came to pass, that when they had made an end of eating the grass of the land, then I said,

            O Lord GOD, forgive, I beseech thee:
              by whom shall Jacob arise?
              for he is small.
3         The LORD repented for this:
              It shall not be, saith the LORD.

   4 Thus hath the Lord GOD showed unto me: and, behold, the Lord GOD called to contend by fire, and it devoured the great deep, and did eat up
a part. 5 Then said I,

            O Lord GOD, cease, I beseech thee:
              by whom shall Jacob arise?
              for he is small.
6         The LORD repented for this:
              This also shall not be, saith the Lord GOD.

      7 Thus he showed me: and, behold, the Lord stood upon a wall made by a plumbline, with a plumbline in his hand. 8 And the LORD said unto
me,Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A plumbline. Then said the Lord,

            Behold, I will set a plumbline
              in the midst of my people Israel:
            nbsp; I will not again pass by them any more:
9         And the high places of Isaac shall be desolate,
              and the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste;
            and I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword.
Amos Accused 
10 Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, Amos hath conspired against thee in the midst of the house of
Israel: the land is not able to bear all his words. 11 For thus Amos saith,

            Jeroboam shall die by the sword,
              and Israel shall surely be led away captive
              out of their own land.

12 Also Amaziah said unto Amos, O thou seer, go, flee thee away into the land of Judah, and there eat bread, and prophesy there: 13 But prophesy 
not again any more at Bethel: for it is the king's chapel, and it is the king's court.
      14 Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet's son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of
sycamore fruit: 15 And the LORD took me as I followed the flock, and the LORD said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel. 16 Now therefore
hear thou the word of the LORD:

            Thou sayest, Prophesy not against Israel,
              and drop not thy word against the house of Isaac.

17 Therefore thus saith the LORD;

            Thy wife shall be an harlot in the city,
              and thy sons and thy daughters shall fall by the sword,
            and thy land shall be divided by line;
              and thou shalt die in a polluted land:
              and Israel shall surely go into captivity
              forth of his land.

Luke chapter 2

The Birth of Jesus Christ

1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. 2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. 6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

The Shepherds and the Angels

8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14       Glory to God in the highest,
            and on earth peace, good will toward men.

    15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. 18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
      21 And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

Jesus Presented at the Temple

22 And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord; 23 (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;) 24 And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons. 25 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. 26 And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27 And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, 28 Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,

29        Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace,
              according to thy word:
30        For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
31        Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;
32        A light to lighten the Gentiles,
              and the glory of thy people Israel.

33 And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him. 34 And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; 35 (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.
      36 And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; 37 And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. 38 And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

The Return to Nazareth

39 And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth. 40 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.

The Boy Jesus in The Temple

41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. 43 And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. 44 But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. 45 And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. 46 And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. 47 And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. 48 And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. 49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business? 50 And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them. 51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.
      52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

The Ninteenth Day of November - Family Reading

The Epistle of James

Introduction

Sometimes called "the Proverbs of the New Testament," the book of James practically and faithfully reminds Christians how to live. From perseverance to true faith to controlling one's tongue, submitting to God's will, and having patience, this book aids readers in living authentically and wisely for Christ. Many have claimed that James and the apostle Paul differed on the question of faith versus works, but in reality the spiritual fruit that James talks about simply demonstrates the true faith of which Paul wrote. Their writings are complementary rather than contradictory. Possibly one of the earliest of the New Testament writings (a.d. 40-50), the book is believed to have been written by Jesus' brother James (Gal. 1:19).

James chapter 1

Greetings

1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
      to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad,
      greeting.

Testing Your Faith

2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
      5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. 8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
      9 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: 10 But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. 11 For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.
      12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. 13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
      16 Do not err, my beloved brethren. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. 18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

Hearing and Doing the Word

19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: 20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. 21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
      22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
      26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. 27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

The Ninteenth Day of November - Personal Reading.

Amos chapter 8

The Coming Day of Bitter Mourning

1 Thus hath the Lord GOD showed unto me: and behold a basket of summer fruit. 2 And he said, Amos, what seest thou? 
And I said, A basket of summer fruit. Then said the LORD unto me,

            The end is come upon my people of Israel;
              I will not again pass by them any more.
3         And the songs of the temple shall be howlings in that day,
              saith the Lord GOD:
            there shall be many dead bodies in every place;
              they shall cast them forth with silence.

4         Hear this, O ye that swallow up the needy,
              even to make the poor of the land to fail,
5         Saying, When will the new moon be gone,
              that we may sell corn?
              and the sabbath,
            that we may set forth wheat,
              making the ephah small, and the shekel great,
              and falsifying the balances by deceit?
6         That we may buy the poor for silver,
              and the needy for a pair of shoes;
              yea, and sell the refuse of the wheat?

7         The LORD hath sworn by the excellency of Jacob,
              Surely I will never forget any of their works.
8         Shall not the land tremble for this,
              and every one mourn that dwelleth therein?
            and it shall rise up wholly as a flood;
              and it shall be cast out and drowned,
              as by the flood of Egypt.

9         And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord GOD,
              that I will cause the sun to go down at noon,
              and I will darken the earth in the clear day:
10       And I will turn your feasts into mourning,
              and all your songs into lamentation;
              and I will bring up sackcloth upon all loins,
            and baldness upon every head;
              and I will make it as the mourning of an only son,
              and the end thereof as a bitter day.

11       Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD,
              that I will send a famine in the land,
              not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water,
              but of hearing the words of the LORD:
12       And they shall wander from sea to sea,
              and from the north even to the east,
            they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD,
              and shall not find it.

13       In that day shall the fair virgins and young men
              faint for thirst.
14       They that swear by the sin of Samaria,
              and say, Thy god, O Dan, liveth;
            and, The manner of Beersheba liveth;
              even they shall fall, and never rise up again.

Luke chapter 3

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

1 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene, 2 Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. 3 And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins; 4 As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying,

The voice of one crying in the wilderness,
              Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
5         Every valley shall be filled,
              and every mountain and hill shall be brought low;
            and the crooked shall be made straight,
              and the rough ways shall be made smooth;
6         And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.

7 Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. 9 And now also the ax is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 10 And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then? 11 He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise. 12 Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do? 13 And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you. 14 And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.
      15 And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not; 16 John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire: 17 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.
      18 And many other things in his exhortation preached he unto the people. 19 But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother Philip's wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done, 20 Added yet this above all, that he shut up John in prison.
      21 Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, 22 And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.

The Genealogy of Jesus Christ

23 And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli, 24 Which was the son of Matthat, which was the son of Levi, which was the son of Melchi, which was the son of Janna, which was the son of Joseph, 25 Which was the son of Mattathias, which was the son of Amos, which was the son of Naum, which was the son of Esli, which was the son of Nagge, 26 Which was the son of Maath, which was the son of Mattathias, which was the son of Semei, which was the son of Joseph, which was the son of Juda, 27 Which was the son of Joanna, which was the son of Rhesa, which was the son of Zorobabel, which was the son of Salathiel, which was the son of Neri, 28 Which was the son of Melchi, which was the son of Addi, which was the son of Cosam, which was the son of Elmodam, which was the son of Er, 29 Which was the son of Jose, which was the son of Eliezer, which was the son of Jorim, which was the son of Matthat, which was the son of Levi, 30 Which was the son of Simeon, which was the son of Juda, which was the son of Joseph, which was the son of Jonan, which was the son of Eliakim, 31 Which was the son of Melea, which was the son of Menan, which was the son of Mattatha, which was the son of Nathan, which was the son of David, 32 Which was the son of Jesse, which was the son of Obed, which was the son of Booz, which was the son of Salmon, which was the son of Naasson, 33 Which was the son of Aminadab, which was the son of Aram, which was the son of Esrom, which was the son of Phares, which was the son of Juda, 34 Which was the son of Jacob, which was the son of Isaac, which was the son of Abraham, which was the son of Thara, which was the son of Nachor, 35 Which was the son of Saruch, which was the son of Ragau, which was the son of Phalec, which was the son of Heber, which was the son of Sala, 36 Which was the son of Cainan, which was the son of Arphaxad, which was the son of Sem, which was the son of Noe, which was the son of Lamech, 37 Which was the son of Mathusala, which was the son of Enoch, which was the son of Jared, which was the son of Maleleel, which was the son of Cainan, 38 Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God.

The Twentieth Day of November - Family Reading

The Twentieth Day of November - Personal Reading.

Amos chapter 9

The Destruction of Israel

1 I saw the Lord standing upon the altar: and he said,

            Smite the lintel of the door, that the posts may shake:
              and cut them in the head, all of them;
            and I will slay the last of them with the sword:
              he that fleeth of them shall not flee away,
              and he that escapeth of them shall not be delivered.

2         Though they dig into hell,
              thence shall mine hand take them;
              though they climb up to heaven,
              thence will I bring them down:
3         And though they hide themselves in the top of Carmel,
              I will search and take them out thence;
            and though they be hid from my sight in the bottom of the sea,
              thence will I command the serpent, and he shall bite them:
4         And though they go into captivity before their enemies, thence will I command the sword,
            and it shall slay them: and I will set mine eyes upon them for evil, and not for good.

5         And the Lord GOD of hosts
              is he that toucheth the land, and it shall melt,
            and all that dwell therein shall mourn:
              and it shall rise up wholly like a flood;
              and shall be drowned, as by the flood of Egypt.
6         It is he that buildeth his stories in the heaven,
              and hath founded his troop in the earth;
            he that calleth for the waters of the sea,
              and poureth them out upon the face of the earth:
              The LORD is his name.

7         Are ye not as children of the Ethiopians unto me,
              O children of Israel? saith the LORD.
            Have not I brought up Israel out of the land of Egypt?
              and the Philistines from Caphtor, and the Syrians from Kir?
8         Behold, the eyes of the Lord GOD are upon the sinful kingdom,
            and I will destroy it from off the face of the earth;
              saving that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob,
              saith the LORD.

9         For, lo, I will command,
              and I will sift the house of Israel among all nations,
            like as corn is sifted in a sieve,
              yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth.
10       All the sinners of my people shall die by the sword,
              which say, The evil shall not overtake nor prevent us. 
The Restoration of Israel
11       In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof;
            and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old:
12       That they may possess the remnant of Edom,
              and of all the heathen, which are called by my name,
              saith the LORD that doeth this.

13       Behold, the days come, saith the LORD,
              that the plowman shall overtake the reaper,
            and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed;
              and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt.
14       And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel,
              and they shall build the waste cities,
            and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof;
              they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them.

15       And I will plant them upon their land,
              and they shall no more be pulled up
              out of their land which I have given them,
              saith the LORD thy God.
 

Luke chapter 4

The Temptation of Jesus

1 And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered. 3 And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread. 4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. 5 And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, showed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. 7 If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine. 8 And Jesus answered and said unto him,

        Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written,
        Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God,
              and him only shalt thou serve.

   9 And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence: 10 For it is written,

               He shall give his angels charge over thee,
              to keep thee:
11 And
               in their hands they shall bear thee up,
              lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

12 And Jesus answering said unto him,It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. 13 And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.

Jesus Begins His Ministry

14 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about. 15 And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all.

Jesus Rejected at Nazareth

16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. 17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,

18         The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
         because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor;
         he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted,
        to preach deliverance to the captives,
         and recovering of sight to the blind,
         to set at liberty them that are bruised,
19         To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

      20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears. 22 And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph's son? 23 And he said unto them
      Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country. 24 And he said, Verily, I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country. 25 But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land; 26 But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow. 27 And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian. 28 And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, 29 And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong. 30 But he passing through the midst of them went his way,

Jesus Heals a Man with an Unclean Spirit

31 And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath days. 32 And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power. 33 And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice, 34 Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God. 35 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him, and hurt him not. 36 And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out. 37 And the fame of him went out into every place of the country round about.

Jesus Heals Many

38 And he arose out of the synagogue, and entered into Simon's house. And Simon's wife's mother was taken with a great fever; and they besought him for her. 39 And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered unto them.
      40 Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them. 41 And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God. And he rebuking them suffered them not to speak: for they knew that he was Christ.

Jesus Preaches in Synagogues

42 And when it was day, he departed and went into a desert place: and the people sought him, and came unto him, and stayed him, that he should not depart from them. 43 And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent. 44 And he preached in the synagogues of Galilee.

The Twentyfirst Day of November - Family Reading

The Book of Obadiah

Introduction

Obadiah wrote this shortest book of the Old Testament probably soon after the armies of Babylon destroyed Jerusalem (586 b.c.). During this conquest, the people of Edom helped capture fleeing Israelites and turn them over to the Babylonians. They even took up residence in some Judean villages. This angered the Lord, for the Edomites, as descendants of Esau, were related to the Israelites (Gen. 25:21-26, 30) and therefore should have helped them. Obadiah prophesied that Edom would be repaid for mistreating God's people. Obadiah also asserted that God is sovereign over the nations and that the house of Jacob would be restored because of God's covenant love for his people.

Obadiah chapter 1

Introduction

1 The vision of Obadiah.

Edom Will Be Humbled

            Thus saith the Lord GOD concerning Edom;
              We have heard a rumour from the LORD,
            and an ambassador is sent among the heathen,
              Arise ye, and let us rise up against her in battle.
2         Behold, I have made thee small among the heathen:
              thou art greatly despised.
3         The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee,
              thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock,
            whose habitation is high;
              that saith in his heart,
              Who shall bring me down to the ground?
4         Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle,
              and though thou set thy nest among the stars,
              thence will I bring thee down,
              saith the LORD.

5         If thieves came to thee,
              if robbers by night,
              (how art thou cut off!) would they not have stolen till they had enough?
            if the grapegatherers came to thee, would they not leave some grapes?
6         How are the things of Esau searched out! how are his hidden things sought up!
7         All the men of thy confederacy have brought thee even to the border: the men that were at peace with thee
            have deceived thee, and prevailed against thee;
              they that eat thy bread have laid a wound under thee:
              there is none understanding in him.

8         Shall I not in that day, saith the LORD,
              even destroy the wise men out of Edom,
              and understanding out of the mount of Esau?
9         And thy mighty men, O Teman, shall be dismayed,
              to the end that every one of the mount of Esau
              may be cut off by slaughter.
Edom's Violence Against Jacob 
10       For thy violence against thy brother Jacob
              shame shall cover thee,
              and thou shalt be cut off for ever.
11       In the day that thou stoodest on the other side,
              in the day that the strangers carried away captive his forces,
            and foreigners entered into his gates,
              and cast lots upon Jerusalem,
              even thou wast as one of them.
12       But thou shouldest not have looked on the day of thy brother
              in the day that he became a stranger;
              neither shouldest thou have rejoiced over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction;
              neither shouldest thou have spoken proudly
              in the day of distress.
13       Thou shouldest not have entered into the gate of my people
              in the day of their calamity;
              yea, thou shouldest not have looked on their affliction in the day of their calamity,
              nor have laid hands on their substance in the day of their calamity;
14       Neither shouldest thou have stood in the crossway,
              to cut off those of his that did escape;
            neither shouldest thou have delivered up those of his that did remain
              in the day of distress.
The Day of the Lord Is Near
15       For the day of the LORD is near upon all the heathen:
              as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee:
              thy reward shall return upon thine own head.
16       For as ye have drunk upon my holy mountain,
              so shall all the heathen drink continually
              , yea, they shall drink, and they shall swallow down,
              and they shall be as though they had not been.
17       But upon mount Zion shall be deliverance,
              and there shall be holiness;
              and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions.
18       And the house of Jacob shall be a fire,
              and the house of Joseph a flame,
              and the house of Esau for stubble,
            and they shall kindle in them, and devour them;
              and there shall not be any remaining of the house of Esau;
              for the LORD hath spoken it.
The Kingdom of the Lord
19       And they of the south shall possess the mount of Esau;
              and they of the plain the Philistines:
            and they shall possess the fields of Ephraim, and the fields of Samaria:
              and Benjamin shall possess Gilead.
20       And the captivity of this host of the children of Israel
              shall possess that of the Canaanites, even unto Zarephath;
              and the captivity of Jerusalem, which is in Sepharad,
              shall possess the cities of the south.
21       And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau;
              and the kingdom shall be the LORD'S.

Luke chapter 5

Jesus Calls the First Disciples

1 And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret, 2 And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. 3 And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship. 4 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. 5 And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. 6 And when they had this done, they enclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. 7 And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink. 8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. 9 For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken: 10 And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men. 11 And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him. 12 And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. 13 And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him. 14 And he charged him to tell no man: but go, and show thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them. 15 But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities. 16 And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.

Jesus Heals a Paralytic

17 And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them. 18 And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him. 19 And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus. 20 And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee. 21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone? 22 But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts? 23 Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk? 24 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house. 25 And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God. 26 And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day.

Jesus Calls Levi

27 And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me. 28 And he left all, rose up, and followed him.
      29 And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them. 30 But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners? 31 And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. 32 I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

A Question About Fasting

33 And they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink? 34 And he said unto them, Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? 35 But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days. 36 And he spake also a parable unto them; No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new agreeth not with the old. 37 And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish. 38 But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved. 39 No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.

The Twentysecond Day of November - Family Reading

The Twentysecond Day of November - Personal Reading.

The Book of Jonah

Introduction

Because it tells of a fish swallowing a man, many have dismissed the book of Jonah as fiction. But 2 Kings 14:25 mentions Jonah as living during the time of Jeroboam II (about 793-753 b.c.), and Jesus referred to Jonah as a historical person (Matt. 12:39-41). Unlike other prophetic books, Jonah focuses on the prophet himself rather than on his message. When God sent Jonah to Nineveh he rebelled, was swallowed by a fish, repented, and fulfilled his mission after all. When Nineveh repented, the reason for Jonah's rebellion became clear: he had feared that God would forgive the Ninevites; and when God did forgive them, Jonah resented it (4:1-3). The book lists no author, but only Jonah himself could have known all the facts it records.

Jonah chapter 1

Jonah Flees the Presence of the Lord

1 Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 2 Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me. 3 But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.
      4 But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken. 5 Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god, and cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it of them. But Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep. 6 So the shipmaster came to him, and said unto him, What meanest thou, O sleeper? arise, call upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not.

Jonah Is Thrown into the Sea

7 And they said every one to his fellow, Come, and let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this evil is upon us. So they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah. 8 Then said they unto him, Tell us, we pray thee, for whose cause this evil is upon us; What is thine occupation? and whence comest thou? what is thy country? and of what people art thou? 9 And he said unto them, I am an Hebrew; and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, which hath made the sea and the dry land. 10 Then were the men exceedingly afraid, and said unto him, Why hast thou done this? For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them.
      11 Then said they unto him, What shall we do unto thee, that the sea may be calm unto us? for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous. 12 And he said unto them, Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea; so shall the sea be calm unto you: for I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you. 13 Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring it to the land; but they could not: for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous against them. 14 Wherefore they cried unto the LORD, and said, We beseech thee, O LORD, we beseech thee, let us not perish for this man's life, and lay not upon us innocent blood: for thou, O LORD, hast done as it pleased thee. 15 So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging. 16 Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice unto the LORD, and made vows.

A Great Fish Swallows Jonah

17 Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

Luke chapter 6

Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath

1 And it came to pass on the second sabbath after the first, that he went through the corn fields; and his disciples plucked the ears of corn, and did eat, rubbing them in their hands. 2 And certain of the Pharisees said unto them, Why do ye that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath days? 3 And Jesus answering them said, Have ye not read so much as this, what David did, when himself was an hungered, and they which were with him; 4 How he went into the house of God, and did take and eat the showbread, and gave also to them that were with him; which it is not lawful to eat but for the priests alone? 5 And he said unto them, That the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.

A Man with a Withered Hand

6 And it came to pass also on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and taught: and there was a man whose right hand was withered. 7 And the scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath day; that they might find an accusation against him. 8 But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the withered hand, Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. And he arose and stood forth. 9 Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it? 10 And looking round about upon them all, he said unto the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he did so: and his hand was restored whole as the other. 11 And they were filled with madness; and communed one with another what they might do to Jesus.

The Twelve Apostles

12 And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. 13 And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles; 14 Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, 15 Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes, 16 And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor.

Jesus Ministers to a Great Multitude

17 And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judaea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases; 18 And they that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed. 19 And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all.

The Beatitudes

20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said,

    Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.
    21 Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.
    22 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. 23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.

Jesus Pronounces Woes

24 But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.
  25 Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.
  26 Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.

The Twentythird Day of November - Family Reading

The Twentythird Day of November - Personal Reading.

Jonah chapter 2

Jonah's Prayer

1 Then Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God out of the fish's belly, 2 And said,

            I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD,
            and he heard me;
            out of the belly of hell cried I,
            and thou heardest my voice.
3         For thou hadst cast me into the deep,
            in the midst of the seas;
            and the floods compassed me about:
            all thy billows and thy waves passed over me.
4         Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight;
            yet I will look again toward thy holy temple.
5         The waters compassed me about, even to the soul:
            the depth closed me round about,
            the weeds were wrapped about my head.
6         I went down to the bottoms of the mountains;
            the earth with her bars was about me for ever:
            yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption,
            O LORD my God.
7         When my soul fainted within me
            I remembered the LORD:
            and my prayer came in unto thee,
            into thine holy temple.
8         They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.
9         But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving;
            I will pay that that I have vowed.
            Salvation is of the LORD.

10 And the LORD spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.

Luke chapter 7

Jesus Heals a Centurion's Servant

    1 Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum. 2 And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die. 3 And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant. 4 And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this: 5 For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue. 6 Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof: 7 Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed. 8 For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. 9 When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. 10 And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick.

Jesus Raises a Widow's Son

11 And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people. 12 Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. 13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. 14 And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. 15 And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother. 16 And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people. 17 And this rumour of him went forth throughout all Judaea, and throughout all the region round about.

Messengers from John the Baptist

18 And the disciples of John showed him of all these things. 19 And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another? 20 When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another? 21 And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight. 22 Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached. 23 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.
       24 And when the messengers of John were departed, he began to speak unto the people concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken with the wind? 25 But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they which are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in kings' courts. 26 But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet. 27 This is he, of whom it is written,

         Behold, I send my messenger before thy face,
            which shall prepare thy way before thee.

28 For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he. 29 And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John. 30 But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him. 31 And the Lord said, Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation? and to what are they like? 32 They are like unto children sitting in the marketplace, and calling one to another, and saying,

         We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced;
            we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept.

33 For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil. 34 The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners! 35 But wisdom is justified of all her children.

A Sinful Woman Forgiven

36 And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat. 37 And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, 38 And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner. 40 And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.
         41 There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. 42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? 43 Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. 44 And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. 45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. 48 And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. 49 And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? 50 And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.

The Twentyfourth Day of November - Family Reading

The First Epistle of Peter

Introduction

The readers of the apostle Peter's letter were confused and discouraged by the persecution they were encountering because of their faith. Peter exhorted them to stand strong, repeatedly reminding them of Christ's example, the riches of their inheritance in him, and the hope of his returning again to take them to heaven. Peter explained how Christians should respond when they suffer because of their beliefs. Called the "apostle of hope," Peter's primary message is to trust the Lord, live obediently no matter what your circumstances, and keep your hope fixed on God's ultimate promise of deliverance. Suffering is to be expected, but it is temporary and yields great blessings for those who remain steadfast. Peter probably wrote this letter in the mid-60s a.d.

1 Peter chapter 1

Greeting

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ:
        Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

Born Again to a Living Hope

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
      10 Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: 11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. 12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

Called to Be Holy

13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: 15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. 17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: 18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
      22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: 23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 24 For

            all flesh is as grass,
            and all the glory of man as the flower of grass.
            The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:
25       But the word of the Lord endureth for ever.

And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

The Twentyfourth Day of November - Personal Reading.

Jonah chapter 3

Jonah Goes to Nineveh

1 And the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the second time, saying, 2 Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee. 3 So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days' journey. 4 And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown. 5 So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.

The People of Nineveh Repent

6 For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. 7 And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water: 8 But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands. 9 Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?
      10 And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.

Luke chapter 8

Women Accompanying Jesus

1 And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and showing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him, 2 And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils, 3 And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.

The Parable of the Sower

      4 And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable: 5 A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it. 6 And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture. 7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it. 8 And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

The Purpose of the Parables.

A Lamp Under a Jar

16 No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light. 17 For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad. 18 Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.

Jesus' Mother and Brothers

19 Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the press. 20 And it was told him by certain which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee. 21 And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.

Jesus Calms a Storm

22 Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth. 23 But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy. 24 And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm. 25 And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.

Jesus Heals a Man with a Demon

26 And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee. 27 And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs. 28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not. 29 (For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.) 30 And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him. 31 And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep. 32 And there was there an herd of many swine feeding on the mountain: and they besought him that he would suffer them to enter into them. And he suffered them. 33 Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked.
    34 When they that fed them saw what was done, they fled, and went and told it in the city and in the country. 35 Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid. 36 They also which saw it told them by what means he that was possessed of the devils was healed. 37 Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about besought him to depart from them; for they were taken with great fear: and he went up into the ship, and returned back again. 38 Now the man out of whom the devils were departed besought him that he might be with him: but Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 Return to thine own house, and show how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him.

Jesus Heals a Woman and Jairus's Daughter

40 And it came to pass, that, when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him: for they were all waiting for him. 41 And, behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue: and he fell down at Jesus' feet, and besought him that he would come into his house: 42 For he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay a dying.
      But as he went the people thronged him. 43 And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any, 44 Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched. 45 And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? 46 And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me. 47 And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately. 48 And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.
      49 While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master. 50 But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole. 51 And when he came into the house, he suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden. 52 And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth. 53 And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead. 54 And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise. 55 And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat. 56 And her parents were astonished: but he charged them that they should tell no man what was done.

The Twentyfifth Day of November - Family Reading

The Twentyfifth Day of November - Personal Reading.

Jonah chapter 4

Jonah's Anger and the Lord's Compassion

1 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry. 2 And he prayed unto the LORD, and said, I pray thee, O LORD, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil. 3 Therefore now, O LORD, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live. 4 Then said the LORD, Doest thou well to be angry?
      5 So Jonah went out of the city, and sat on the east side of the city, and there made him a booth, and sat under it in the shadow, till he might see what would become of the city. 6 And the LORD God prepared a gourd, and made it to come up over Jonah, that it might be a shadow over his head, to deliver him from his grief. So Jonah was exceeding glad of the gourd. 7 But God prepared a worm when the morning rose the next day, and it smote the gourd that it withered. 8 And it came to pass, when the sun did arise, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and wished in himself to die, and said, It is better for me to die than to live. 9 And God said to Jonah, Doest thou well to be angry for the gourd? And he said, I do well to be angry, even unto death. 10 Then said the LORD, Thou hast had pity on the gourd, for the which thou hast not laboured, neither madest it grow; which came up in a night, and perished in a night: 11 And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?

Luke chapter 9

Jesus Sends Out the Twelve Apostles

1 Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. 2 And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick. 3 And he said unto them, &Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece. 4 And whatsoever house ye enter into, there abide, and thence depart. 5 And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them. 6 And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every where.

Herod is Perplexed by Jesus

7 Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by him: and he was perplexed, because that it was said of some, that John was risen from the dead; 8 And of some, that Elias had appeared; and of others, that one of the old prophets was risen again. 9 And Herod said, John have I beheaded: but who is this, of whom I hear such things? And he desired to see him.

Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand.

10 And the apostles, when they were returned, told him all that they had done. And he took them, and went aside privately into a desert place belonging to the city called Bethsaida. 11 And the people, when they knew it, followed him: and he received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of healing. 12 And when the day began to wear away, then came the twelve, and said unto him, Send the multitude away, that they may go into the towns and country round about, and lodge, and get victuals: for we are here in a desert place. 13 But he said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they said, We have no more but five loaves and two fishes; except we should go and buy meat for all this people. 14 For they were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, Make them sit down by fifties in a company. 15 And they did so, and made them all sit down. 16 Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake, and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude. 17 And they did eat, and were all filled: and there was taken up of fragments that remained to them twelve baskets.

Peter Confesses Jesus as the Christ

18 And it came to pass, as he was alone praying, his disciples were with him: and he asked them, saying, Whom say the people that I am? 19 They answering said, John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others say, that one of the old prophets is risen again. 20 He said unto them, But whom say ye that I am? Peter answering said, The Christ of God.

Jesus Fortells His Death

21 And he straitly charged them, and commanded them to tell no man that thing; 22 Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day.

Take Up Your Cross and Follow Jesus

23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. 24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. 25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away? 26 For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels. 27 But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God.

The Transfiguration

28 And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray. 29 And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering. 30 And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias: 31 Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem. 32 But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him. 33 And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said. 34 While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud. 35 And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him. 36 And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone. And they kept it close, and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen.

Jesus Heals a Boy with an Unclean Spirit

37 And it came to pass, that on the next day, when they were come down from the hill, much people met him. 38 And, behold, a man of the company cried out, saying, Master, I beseech thee, look upon my son: for he is mine only child. 39 And, lo, a spirit taketh him, and he suddenly crieth out; and it teareth him that he foameth again, and bruising him hardly departeth from him. 40 And I besought thy disciples to cast him out; and they could not. 41 And Jesus answering said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and suffer you? Bring thy son hither. 42 And as he was yet a coming, the devil threw him down, and tare him. And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him again to his father.

Jesus Again Fortells His Death

43 And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God.
      But while they wondered every one at all things which Jesus did, he said unto his disciples, 44 Let these sayings sink down into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men. 45 But they understood not this saying, and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not: and they feared to ask him of that saying.

Who is the Greatest?

46 Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest. 47 And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child, and set him by him, 48 And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great.

Anyone Not Against Us is For Us

49 And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us. 50 And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.

A Samaritan Village Rejects Jesus

51 And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem, 52 And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him. 53 And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem. 54 And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? 55 But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. 56 For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.

The Cost of Following Jesus

57 And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. 58 And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. 59 And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. 60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. 61 And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. 62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

The Twentysixth Day of November - Family Reading

The Twentysixth Day of November - Personal Reading.

The Book of Micah

Introduction

Micah prophesied in Judah during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah (about 750-700 b.c.), at about the same time as Isaiah. It was a time of prosperity, and Micah denounced the wealthy, who were oppressing the poor, and warned of impending judgment. The northern kingdom actually fell during Micah's ministry, in 722, and Judah almost fell in 701 (2 Kings 18-20). The book contains three sections, which alternate between words of warning and messages of hope. Micah told of a day when there would be peace among all nations, who would then be able to "beat their swords into plowshares" (4:3), and of a royal deliverer who would save God's people from all her enemies. This deliverer would be born in Bethlehem (5:2).

Micah chapter 1

Introduction

1 The word of the LORD that came to Micah the Morasthite in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem.

The Coming Destruction

2         Hear, all ye people;
            hearken, O earth, and all that therein is:
            and let the Lord GOD be witness against you,
            the Lord from his holy temple.
3         For, behold, the LORD cometh forth out of his place,
            and will come down, and tread upon the high places of the earth.
4         And the mountains shall be molten under him,
            and the valleys shall be cleft,
            as wax before the fire,
            and as the waters that are poured down a steep place.
5         For the transgression of Jacob is all this,
            and for the sins of the house of Israel.
            What is the transgression of Jacob?
            is it not Samaria?
            and what are the high places of Judah?
            are they not Jerusalem?
6         Therefore I will make Samaria as an heap of the field, and as plantings of a vineyard:
            and I will pour down the stones thereof into the valley,
            and I will discover the foundations thereof.
7         And all the graven images thereof shall be beaten to pieces,
            and all the hires thereof shall be burned with the fire,
            and all the idols thereof will I lay desolate:
            for she gathered it of the hire of an harlot,
            and they shall return to the hire of an harlot.

8         Therefore I will wail and howl,
           I will go stripped and naked:
            I will make a wailing like the dragons,
            and mourning as the owls.
9         For her wound is incurable;
            for it is come unto Judah;
            he is come unto the gate of my people, even to Jerusalem.

10       Declare ye it not at Gath,
            weep ye not at all:
            in the house of Aphrah
            roll thyself in the dust.
11       Pass ye away,
            thou inhabitant of Saphir,
            having thy shame naked: the inhabitant of Zaanan
            came not forth in the mourning of Bethezel;
            he shall receive of you his standing.
12       For the inhabitant of Maroth
           waited carefully for good:
            but evil came down from the LORD
           unto the gate of Jerusalem.
13       O thou inhabitant of Lachish,
            bind the chariot to the swift beast:
            she is the beginning of the sin
           to the daughter of Zion:
            for the transgressions of Israel
            were found in thee.
14       Therefore shalt thou give presents to Moreshethgath:
            the houses of Achzib shall be a lie
           to the kings of Israel.
15       Yet will I bring an heir unto thee, O inhabitant of Mareshah:
            he shall come unto Adullam the glory of Israel.
16       Make thee bald, and poll thee for thy delicate children;
            enlarge thy baldness as the eagle;
            for they are gone into captivity from thee.  

Luke chapter 10

Jesus Sends Out the Seventy Two

1 After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come. 2 Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest. 3 Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves. 4 Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way. 5 And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house. 6 And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again. 7 And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house. 8 And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you: 9 And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. 10 But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say, 11 Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. 12 But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city.

Woe to Unrepentant Cities

13 Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which have been done in you, they had a great while ago repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14 But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment, than for you. 15 And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell. 16 He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.

The Return of the Seventy Two

17 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. 18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. 19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

Jesus Rejoices in the Father's Will

21 In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight. 22 All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him. 23 And he turned him unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see: 24 For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

The Parable of the Good Samaritan

25 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? 27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. 28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.
      29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour? 30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, 34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. 36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? 37 And he said, He that showed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

Martha and Mary

38 Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. 40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. 41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

The Twentyseventh Day of November - Family Reading

The Twentyseventh Day of November - Personal Reading.

Micah chapter 2

Woe to the Oppressors

1         Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds!
            when the morning is light, they practice it,
            because it is in the power of their hand.
2         And they covet fields, and take them by violence;
            and houses, and take them away:
            so they oppress a man and his house,
            even a man and his heritage.
3         Therefore thus saith the LORD;
            Behold, against this family do I devise an evil,
            from which ye shall not remove your necks;
            neither shall ye go haughtily:
            for this time is evil.
4         In that day shall one take up a parable against you,
            and lament with a doleful lamentation,
            and say, We be utterly spoiled:
            he hath changed the portion of my people:
            how hath he removed it from me!
            turning away he hath divided our fields.
5         Therefore thou shalt have none that shall cast a cord by lot
           in the congregation of the LORD.

6         Prophesy ye not, say they to them that prophesy:
            they shall not prophesy to them,
           that they shall not take shame.
7         O thou that art named the house of Jacob,
            is the spirit of the LORD straitened?
            are these his doings? do not my words do good
           to him that walketh uprightly?
8         Even of late my people is risen up as an enemy:
            ye pull off the robe with the garment from them that pass by securely
            as men averse from war.
9         The women of my people have ye cast out from their pleasant houses;
            from their children have ye taken away my glory for ever.
10       Arise ye, and depart;
            for this is not your rest:
            because it is polluted, it shall destroy you,
            even with a sore destruction.
11       If a man walking in the spirit and falsehood do lie,
            saying, I will prophesy unto thee of wine and of strong drink;
            he shall even be the prophet of this people.
12       I will surely assemble, O Jacob, all of thee;
            I will surely gather the remnant of Israel;
            I will put them together as the sheep of Bozrah,
            as the flock in the midst of their fold:
            they shall make great noise by reason of the multitude of men.
13       The breaker is come up before them:
            they have broken up, and have passed through the gate, and are gone out by it:
            and their king shall pass before them,
            and the LORD on the head of them. 

Luke chapter 11

The Lord's Prayer

1 And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples. 2 And he said unto them, When ye pray, say,

          Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
            Thy kingdom come.
          Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
3         Give us day by day our daily bread.
4         And forgive us our sins;
            for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us.
          And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.

The Twentyeighth Day of November - Family Reading

The Twentyeighth Day of November - Personal Reading.

Micah chapter 3

Rulers and Prophets Denounced

 1         And I said,
            Hear, I pray you, O heads of Jacob,
            and ye princes of the house of Israel;
            Is it not for you to know judgment?
2         Who hate the good, and love the evil;
            who pluck off their skin from off them,
            and their flesh from off their bones;
3         Who also eat the flesh of my people,
            and flay their skin from off them;
            and they break their bones,
            and chop them in pieces, as for the pot,
            and as flesh within the caldron.

4         Then shall they cry unto the LORD,
            but he will not hear them:
            he will even hide his face from them at that time,
            as they have behaved themselves ill in their doings.

5         Thus saith the LORD concerning the prophets
           that make my people err,
            that bite with their teeth, and cry, Peace;
            and he that putteth not into their mouths,
            they even prepare war against him.
6         Therefore night shall be unto you, that ye shall not have a vision;
            and it shall be dark unto you, that ye shall not divine;
            and the sun shall go down over the prophets,
            and the day shall be dark over them.
7         Then shall the seers be ashamed,
            and the diviners confounded:
            yea, they shall all cover their lips;
            for there is no answer of God.
8         But truly I am full of power by the spirit of the LORD,
           and of judgment, and of might,
            to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin.

9         Hear this, I pray you, ye heads of the house of Jacob,
            and princes of the house of Israel,
            that abhor judgment,
           and pervert all equity.
10       They build up Zion with blood,
            and Jerusalem with iniquity.
11       The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire,
            and the prophets thereof divine for money:
            yet will they lean upon the LORD, and say,
            Is not the LORD among us?
            none evil can come upon us.
12       Therefore shall Zion for your sake be plowed as a field,
            and Jerusalem shall become heaps,
            and the mountain of the house as the high places of the forest. 

Luke chapter 12

Beware of the Leaven of the Pharisees

1 In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. 3 Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.

Have No Fear

4 And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. 5 But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him. 6 Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? 7 But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.

8 Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God: 9 But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God. 10 And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven. 11 And when they bring you unto the synago

The Parable of the Rich Fool

13 And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me. 14 And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you? 15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. 16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: 17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? 18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. 20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? 21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

Do Not Be Anxious

22 And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. 23 The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment. 24 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls? 25 And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit? 26 If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest? 27 Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 28 If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith? 29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. 30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. 31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
    32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. 34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

The Twentyninth Day of November - Family Reading

The Second Epistle of Peter

Introduction

In this second letter, Peter describes (ch. 2) some twisted versions of Christian truth being taught. Recalling his experience of Christ's glory at the transfiguration (1:17-18), Peter explains the "more fully confirmed" truth of the gospel as an antidote to heresy. The gospel is like "a lamp shining in a dark place" (1:19). In chapter 3 Peter focuses on those who scoff at the idea of Christ's triumphant return and the final judgment. Just as God once destroyed the world with water, he will one day bring his fire to it. In light of this, we should live in "holiness and godliness" as we await his return and the salvation he has promised to all believers. Peter probably wrote this letter about a.d. 67-68, shortly before his death.

2 Peter chapter 1

Greeting

1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ,
      to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:
      2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,

Confirm Your Calling and Election

3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. 10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: 11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
      12 Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. 13 Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; 14 Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath showed me. 15 Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.

Christ's Glory and the Prophetic Word

16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. 19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

The Twentyninth Day of November - Personal Reading.

Micah chapter 4

The Mountain of the Lord

1         But in the last days it shall come to pass,
           that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains,
            and it shall be exalted above the hills;
            and people shall flow unto it.
2         And many nations shall come, and say,
            Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,
            and to the house of the God of Jacob;
            and he will teach us of his ways,
            and we will walk in his paths:
            for the law shall go forth of Zion,
            and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
3         And he shall judge among many people,
            and rebuke strong nations afar off;
            and they shall beat their swords into plowshares,
            and their spears into pruninghooks:
            nation shall not lift up a sword against nation,
            neither shall they learn war any more.
4         But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree;
            and none shall make them afraid:
            for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken it.
5         For all people will walk
            every one in the name of his god,
            and we will walk in the name of the LORD our God
           for ever and ever.
The Lord Shall Rescue Zion
6         In that day, saith the LORD,
            will I assemble her that halteth,
            and I will gather her that is driven out,
            and her that I have afflicted;
7         And I will make her that halted a remnant,
            and her that was cast far off a strong nation:
            and the LORD shall reign over them in mount Zion
           from henceforth, even for ever.

8         And thou, O tower of the flock,
            the strong hold of the daughter of Zion,
            unto thee shall it come, even the first dominion;
            the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem.

9         Now why dost thou cry out aloud?
            is there no king in thee?
            is thy counsellor perished?
            for pangs have taken thee as a woman in travail.
10       Be in pain, and labour to bring forth, O daughter of Zion,
            like a woman in travail:
            for now shalt thou go forth out of the city,
            and thou shalt dwell in the field,
            and thou shalt go even to Babylon;
            there shalt thou be delivered;
            there the LORD shall redeem thee
            from the hand of thine enemies.

11       Now also many nations
            are gathered against thee,
            that say, Let her be defiled,
            and let our eye look upon Zion.
12       But they know not
           the thoughts of the LORD,
            neither understand they his counsel:
            for he shall gather them as the sheaves into the floor.
13       Arise and thresh,
            O daughter of Zion:
            for I will make thine horn iron,
            and I will make thy hoofs brass:
            and thou shalt beat in pieces many people:
            and I will consecrate their gain unto the LORD,
            and their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth.

Luke chapter 13

Repent or Perish

1 There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? 3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree

6 He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. 7 Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? 8 And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: 9 And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.

A Woman with a Disabling Spirit

10 And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. 11 And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself. 12 And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity. 13 And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God. 14 And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day. 15 The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering? 16 And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day? 17 And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed: and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.

The Mustard Seed and the Leaven

18 Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it? 19 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it.
      20 And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God? 21 It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.

The Narrow Door

22 And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. 23 Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, 24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. 25 When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: 26 Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. 27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. 28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out. 29 And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God. 30 And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.

Lament over Jerusalem

31 The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee. 32 And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected. 33 Nevertheless I must walk to day, and to morrow, and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem. 34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not! 35 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

The Thirtieth Day of November - Family Reading

The Thirtieth Day of November - Personal Reading.

Micah chapter 5

The Ruler to Be Born in Bethlehem

1 Now gather thyself in troops, O daughter of troops:
            he hath laid siege against us:
            they shall smite the judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek.
2         But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah,
            though thou be little among the thousands of Judah,
            yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me
           that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
3         Therefore will he give them up,
            until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth:
            then the remnant of his brethren shall return
           unto the children of Israel.
4         And he shall stand and feed in the strength of the LORD,
            in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God;
            and they shall abide: for now shall he be great
           unto the ends of the earth.
5         And this man shall be the peace,

            when the Assyrian shall come into our land:
            and when he shall tread in our palaces,
            then shall we raise against him seven shepherds,
            and eight principal men.
6         And they shall waste the land of Assyria with the sword,
           and the land of Nimrod in the entrances thereof:
            thus shall he deliver us from the Assyrian,
            when he cometh into our land,
           and when he treadeth within our borders.
A Remnant Shall Be Delivered
7         And the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many people as a dew from the LORD,
            as the showers upon the grass,
            that tarrieth not for man,
           nor waiteth for the sons of men.
8         And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles
           in the midst of many people
           as a lion among the beasts of the forest,
            as a young lion among the flocks of sheep: who, if he go through,
            both treadeth down, and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver.
9         Thine hand shall be lifted up upon thine adversaries,
            and all thine enemies shall be cut off.

10       And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD,
            that I will cut off thy horses out of the midst of thee,
            and I will destroy thy chariots:
11       And I will cut off the cities of thy land,
            and throw down all thy strong holds:
12       And I will cut off witchcrafts out of thine hand;
            and thou shalt have no more soothsayers:
13       Thy graven images also will I cut off,
            and thy standing images out of the midst of thee;
            and thou shalt no more worship the work of thine hands.
14       And I will pluck up thy groves out of the midst of thee:
            so will I destroy thy cities.
15       And I will execute vengeance in anger and fury upon the heathen,
            such as they have not heard.

Luke chapter 14

Healing of a Man on the Sabbath

1 And it came to pass, as he went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the sabbath day, that they watched him. 2 And, behold, there was a certain man before him which had the dropsy. 3 And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day? 4 And they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go; 5 And answered them, saying, Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a pit, and will not straightway pull him out on the sabbath day? 6 And they could not answer him again to these things.

The Parable of the Wedding Feast

7 And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them, 8 When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him; 9 And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room. 10 But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee. 11 For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

The Parable of the Great Banquet

12 Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompense be made thee. 13 But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: 14 And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.
      15 And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God. 16 Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: 17 And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. 18 And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. 19 And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. 20 And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. 21 So that servant came, and showed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. 22 And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. 23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. 24 For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.

The Cost of Discipleship

25 And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, 26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? 29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, 30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. 31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? 32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. 33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

34 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? 35 It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.