Professor Horner’s Reading Plan

¹When he entered Capernaum again after some days, it was reported that he was at home.

²So many people gathered together that there was no more room, not even in the doorway, and he was speaking the word to them.

³They came to him bringing a paralytic, carried by four of them.

⁴Since they were not able to bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and after digging through it, they lowered the mat on which the paralytic was lying.

⁵Seeing their faith, Jesus told the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

⁶But some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts:

⁷“Why does he speak like this? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

⁸Right away Jesus perceived in his spirit that they were thinking like this within themselves and said to them, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts?

⁹Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat, and walk’?

¹⁰But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”  — he told the paralytic —

¹¹“I tell you: get up, take your mat, and go home.”

¹²Immediately he got up, took the mat, and went out in front of everyone. As a result, they were all astounded and gave glory to God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

¹³Jesus went out again beside the sea. The whole crowd was coming to him, and he was teaching them.

¹⁴Then, passing by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the toll booth, and he said to him, “Follow me,” and he got up and followed him.

¹⁵While he was reclining at the table in Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who were following him.

¹⁶When the scribes who were Pharisees saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

¹⁷When Jesus heard this, he told them, “It is not those who are well who need a doctor, but those who are sick. I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

¹⁸Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. People came and asked him, “Why do John’s disciples and the Pharisees’ disciples fast, but your disciples do not fast?”

¹⁹Jesus said to them, “The wedding guests cannot fast while the groom is with them, can they? As long as they have the groom with them, they cannot fast.

²⁰But the time will come when the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast on that day.

²¹No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. Otherwise, the new patch pulls away from the old cloth, and a worse tear is made.

²²And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost as well as the skins. No, new wine is put into fresh wineskins.”

²³On the Sabbath he was going through the grainfields, and his disciples began to make their way, picking some heads of grain.

²⁴The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?”

²⁵He said to them, “Have you never read what David and those who were with him did when he was in need and hungry  — 

²⁶how he entered the house of God in the time of Abiathar the high priest and ate the bread of the Presence  — which is not lawful for anyone to eat except the priests  — and also gave some to his companions?”

²⁷Then he told them, “The Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath.

²⁸So then, the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”

¹The LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron:

²“The Israelites are to camp under their respective banners beside the flags of their ancestral families. They are to camp around the tent of meeting at a distance from it:

³Judah’s military divisions will camp on the east side toward the sunrise under their banner. The leader of the descendants of Judah is Nahshon son of Amminadab.

⁴His military division numbers 74,600.

⁵The tribe of Issachar will camp next to it. The leader of the Issacharites is Nethanel son of Zuar.

⁶His military division numbers 54,400.

⁷The tribe of Zebulun will be next. The leader of the Zebulunites is Eliab son of Helon.

⁸His military division numbers 57,400.

⁹The total number in their military divisions who belong to Judah’s encampment is 186,400; they will move out first.

¹⁰Reuben’s military divisions will camp on the south side under their banner. The leader of the Reubenites is Elizur son of Shedeur.

¹¹His military division numbers 46,500.

¹²The tribe of Simeon will camp next to it. The leader of the Simeonites is Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai.

¹³His military division numbers 59,300.

¹⁴The tribe of Gad will be next. The leader of the Gadites is Eliasaph son of Deuel.

¹⁵His military division numbers 45,650.

¹⁶The total number in their military divisions who belong to Reuben’s encampment is 151,450; they will move out second.

¹⁷The tent of meeting is to move out with the Levites’ camp, which is in the middle of the camps. They are to move out just as they camp, each in his place, with their banners.

¹⁸Ephraim’s military divisions will camp on the west side under their banner. The leader of the Ephraimites is Elishama son of Ammihud.

¹⁹His military division numbers 40,500.

²⁰The tribe of Manasseh will be next to it. The leader of the Manassites is Gamaliel son of Pedahzur.

²¹His military division numbers 32,200.

²²The tribe of Benjamin will be next. The leader of the Benjaminites is Abidan son of Gideoni.

²³His military division numbers 35,400.

²⁴The total in their military divisions who belong to Ephraim’s encampment number 108,100; they will move out third.

²⁵Dan’s military divisions will camp on the north side under their banner. The leader of the Danites is Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai.

²⁶His military division numbers 62,700.

²⁷The tribe of Asher will camp next to it. The leader of the Asherites is Pagiel son of Ochran.

²⁸His military division numbers 41,500.

²⁹The tribe of Naphtali will be next. The leader of the Naphtalites is Ahira son of Enan.

³⁰His military division numbers 53,400.

³¹The total number who belong to Dan’s encampment is 157,600; they are to move out last, with their banners.”

³²These are the Israelites registered by their ancestral families. The total number in the camps by their military divisions is 603,550.

³³But the Levites were not registered among the Israelites, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

³⁴The Israelites did everything the LORD commanded Moses; they camped by their banners in this way and moved out the same way, each man by his clan and by his ancestral family.

¹Now concerning the ministry to the saints, it is unnecessary for me to write to you.

²For I know your eagerness, and I boast about you to the Macedonians: “Achaia has been ready since last year,” and your zeal has stirred up most of them.

³But I am sending the brothers so that our boasting about you in this matter would not prove empty, and so that you would be ready just as I said.

⁴Otherwise, if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we, not to mention you, would be put to shame in that situation.

⁵Therefore I considered it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance the generous gift you promised, so that it will be ready as a gift and not as an extortion.

⁶The point is this: The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously.

⁷Each person should do as he has decided in his heart — not reluctantly or out of compulsion, since God loves a cheerful giver.

⁸And God is able to make every grace overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you need, you may excel in every good work.

⁹As it is written: He distributed freely; he gave to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.

¹⁰Now the one who provides seed for the sower and bread for food will also provide and multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your righteousness.

¹¹You will be enriched in every way for all generosity, which produces thanksgiving to God through us.

¹²For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.

¹³Because of the proof provided by this ministry, they will glorify God for your obedient confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone.

¹⁴And as they pray on your behalf, they will have deep affection for you because of the surpassing grace of God in you.

¹⁵Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

¹Then I was given a measuring reed like a rod, with these words: “Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, and count those who worship there.

²But exclude the courtyard outside the temple. Don’t measure it, because it is given to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months.

³I will grant my two witnesses authority to prophesy for 1,260 days, dressed in sackcloth.”

⁴These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.

⁵If anyone wants to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and consumes their enemies; if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this way.

⁶They have authority to close up the sky so that it does not rain during the days of their prophecy. They also have power over the waters to turn them into blood and to strike the earth with every plague whenever they want.

⁷When they finish their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war on them, conquer them, and kill them.

⁸Their dead bodies will lie in the main street of the great city, which figuratively is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified.

⁹And some of the peoples, tribes, languages, and nations will view their bodies for three and a half days and not permit their bodies to be put into a tomb.

¹⁰Those who live on the earth will gloat over them and celebrate and send gifts to one another because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth.

¹¹But after three and a half days, the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet. Great fear fell on those who saw them.

¹²Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” They went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies watched them.

¹³At that moment a violent earthquake took place, a tenth of the city fell, and seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake. The survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.

¹⁴The second woe has passed. Take note: The third woe is coming soon!

¹⁵The seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven saying, The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign forever and ever.

¹⁶The twenty-four elders, who were seated before God on their thrones, fell facedown and worshiped God,

¹⁷saying, We give you thanks, Lord God, the Almighty, who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign.

¹⁸The nations were angry, but your wrath has come. The time has come for the dead to be judged and to give the reward to your servants the prophets, to the saints, and to those who fear your name, both small and great, and the time has come to destroy those who destroy the earth.

¹⁹Then the temple of God in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant appeared in his temple. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder, an earthquake, and severe hail.

¹In my bed at night I sought the one I love; I sought him, but did not find him.

²I will arise now and go about the city, through the streets and the plazas. I will seek the one I love. I sought him, but did not find him.

³The guards who go about the city found me. I asked them, “Have you seen the one I love?”

⁴I had just passed them when I found the one I love. I held on to him and would not let him go until I brought him to my mother’s house  — to the chamber of the one who conceived me.

⁵Young women of Jerusalem, I charge you by the gazelles and the wild does of the field, do not stir up or awaken love until the appropriate time.

⁶Who is this coming up from the wilderness like columns of smoke, scented with myrrh and frankincense from every fragrant powder of the merchant?

⁷Look! Solomon’s bed surrounded by sixty warriors from the mighty men of Israel.

⁸All of them are skilled with swords and trained in warfare. Each has his sword at his side to guard against the terror of the night.

⁹King Solomon made a carriage for himself with wood from Lebanon.

¹⁰He made its posts of silver, its back of gold, and its seat of purple. Its interior is inlaid with love by the young women of Jerusalem.

¹¹Go out, young women of Zion, and gaze at King Solomon, wearing the crown his mother placed on him on the day of his wedding  — the day of his heart’s rejoicing.

¹How happy are those whose way is blameless, who walk according to the LORD’s instruction!

²Happy are those who keep his decrees and seek him with all their heart.

³They do nothing wrong; they walk in his ways.

⁴You have commanded that your precepts be diligently kept.

⁵If only my ways were committed to keeping your statutes!

⁶Then I would not be ashamed when I think about all your commands.

⁷I will praise you with an upright heart when I learn your righteous judgments.

⁸I will keep your statutes; never abandon me.

⁹How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping your word.

¹⁰I have sought you with all my heart; don’t let me wander from your commands.

¹¹I have treasured your word in my heart so that I may not sin against you.

¹²LORD, may you be blessed; teach me your statutes.

¹³With my lips I proclaim all the judgments from your mouth.

¹⁴I rejoice in the way revealed by your decrees as much as in all riches.

¹⁵I will meditate on your precepts and think about your ways.

¹⁶I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.

¹⁷Deal generously with your servant so that I might live; then I will keep your word.

¹⁸Open my eyes so that I may contemplate wondrous things from your instruction.

¹⁹I am a resident alien on earth; do not hide your commands from me.

²⁰I am continually overcome with longing for your judgments.

²¹You rebuke the arrogant, the ones under a curse, who wander from your commands.

²²Take insult and contempt away from me, for I have kept your decrees.

²³Though princes sit together speaking against me, your servant will think about your statutes;

²⁴your decrees are my delight and my counselors.

²⁵My life is down in the dust; give me life through your word.

²⁶I told you about my life, and you answered me; teach me your statutes.

²⁷Help me understand the meaning of your precepts so that I can meditate on your wonders.

²⁸I am weary from grief; strengthen me through your word.

²⁹Keep me from the way of deceit and graciously give me your instruction.

³⁰I have chosen the way of truth; I have set your ordinances before me.

³¹I cling to your decrees; LORD, do not put me to shame.

³²I pursue the way of your commands, for you broaden my understanding.

³³Teach me, LORD, the meaning of your statutes, and I will always keep them.

³⁴Help me understand your instruction, and I will obey it and follow it with all my heart.

³⁵Help me stay on the path of your commands, for I take pleasure in it.

³⁶Turn my heart to your decrees and not to dishonest profit.

³⁷Turn my eyes from looking at what is worthless; give me life in your ways.

³⁸Confirm what you said to your servant, for it produces reverence for you.

³⁹Turn away the disgrace I dread; indeed, your judgments are good.

⁴⁰How I long for your precepts! Give me life through your righteousness.

⁴¹Let your faithful love come to me, LORD, your salvation, as you promised.

⁴²Then I can answer the one who taunts me, for I trust in your word.

⁴³Never take the word of truth from my mouth, for I hope in your judgments.

⁴⁴I will always obey your instruction, forever and ever.

⁴⁵I will walk freely in an open place because I study your precepts.

⁴⁶I will speak of your decrees before kings and not be ashamed.

⁴⁷I delight in your commands, which I love.

⁴⁸I will lift up my hands to your commands, which I love, and will meditate on your statutes.

⁴⁹Remember your word to your servant; you have given me hope through it.

⁵⁰This is my comfort in my affliction: Your promise has given me life.

⁵¹The arrogant constantly ridicule me, but I do not turn away from your instruction.

⁵²LORD, I remember your judgments from long ago and find comfort.

⁵³Rage seizes me because of the wicked who reject your instruction.

⁵⁴Your statutes are the theme of my song during my earthly life.

⁵⁵LORD, I remember your name in the night, and I obey your instruction.

⁵⁶This is my practice: I obey your precepts.

⁵⁷The LORD is my portion; I have promised to keep your words.

⁵⁸I have sought your favor with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise.

⁵⁹I thought about my ways and turned my steps back to your decrees.

⁶⁰I hurried, not hesitating to keep your commands.

⁶¹Though the ropes of the wicked were wrapped around me, I did not forget your instruction.

⁶²I rise at midnight to thank you for your righteous judgments.

⁶³I am a friend to all who fear you, to those who keep your precepts.

⁶⁴LORD, the earth is filled with your faithful love; teach me your statutes.

⁶⁵LORD, you have treated your servant well, just as you promised.

⁶⁶Teach me good judgment and discernment, for I rely on your commands.

⁶⁷Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word.

⁶⁸You are good, and you do what is good; teach me your statutes.

⁶⁹The arrogant have smeared me with lies, but I obey your precepts with all my heart.

⁷⁰Their hearts are hard and insensitive, but I delight in your instruction.

⁷¹It was good for me to be afflicted so that I could learn your statutes.

⁷²Instruction from your lips is better for me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.

⁷³Your hands made me and formed me; give me understanding so that I can learn your commands.

⁷⁴Those who fear you will see me and rejoice, for I put my hope in your word.

⁷⁵I know, LORD, that your judgments are just and that you have afflicted me fairly.

⁷⁶May your faithful love comfort me as you promised your servant.

⁷⁷May your compassion come to me so that I may live, for your instruction is my delight.

⁷⁸Let the arrogant be put to shame for slandering me with lies; I will meditate on your precepts.

⁷⁹Let those who fear you, those who know your decrees, turn to me.

⁸⁰May my heart be blameless regarding your statutes so that I will not be put to shame.

⁸¹I long for your salvation; I put my hope in your word.

⁸²My eyes grow weary looking for what you have promised; I ask, “When will you comfort me?”

⁸³Though I have become like a wineskin dried by smoke, I do not forget your statutes.

⁸⁴How many days must your servant wait? When will you execute judgment on my persecutors?

⁸⁵The arrogant have dug pits for me; they violate your instruction.

⁸⁶All your commands are true; people persecute me with lies — help me!

⁸⁷They almost ended my life on earth, but I did not abandon your precepts.

⁸⁸Give me life in accordance with your faithful love, and I will obey the decree you have spoken.

⁸⁹LORD, your word is forever; it is firmly fixed in heaven.

⁹⁰Your faithfulness is for all generations; you established the earth, and it stands firm.

⁹¹Your judgments stand firm today, for all things are your servants.

⁹²If your instruction had not been my delight, I would have died in my affliction.

⁹³I will never forget your precepts, for you have given me life through them.

⁹⁴I am yours; save me, for I have studied your precepts.

⁹⁵The wicked hope to destroy me, but I contemplate your decrees.

⁹⁶I have seen a limit to all perfection, but your command is without limit.

⁹⁷How I love your instruction! It is my meditation all day long.

⁹⁸Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are always with me.

⁹⁹I have more insight than all my teachers because your decrees are my meditation.

¹⁰⁰I understand more than the elders because I obey your precepts.

¹⁰¹I have kept my feet from every evil path to follow your word.

¹⁰²I have not turned from your judgments, for you yourself have instructed me.

¹⁰³How sweet your word is to my taste — sweeter than honey in my mouth.

¹⁰⁴I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every false way.

¹⁰⁵Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path.

¹⁰⁶I have solemnly sworn to keep your righteous judgments.

¹⁰⁷I am severely afflicted; LORD, give me life according to your word.

¹⁰⁸LORD, please accept my freewill offerings of praise, and teach me your judgments.

¹⁰⁹My life is constantly in danger, yet I do not forget your instruction.

¹¹⁰The wicked have set a trap for me, but I have not wandered from your precepts.

¹¹¹I have your decrees as a heritage forever; indeed, they are the joy of my heart.

¹¹²I am resolved to obey your statutes to the very end.

¹¹³I hate those who are double-minded, but I love your instruction.

¹¹⁴You are my shelter and my shield; I put my hope in your word.

¹¹⁵Depart from me, you evil ones, so that I may obey my God’s commands.

¹¹⁶Sustain me as you promised, and I will live; do not let me be ashamed of my hope.

¹¹⁷Sustain me so that I can be safe and always be concerned about your statutes.

¹¹⁸You reject all who stray from your statutes, for their deceit is a lie.

¹¹⁹You remove all the wicked on earth as if they were dross from metal; therefore, I love your decrees.

¹²⁰I tremble in awe of you; I fear your judgments.

¹²¹I have done what is just and right; do not leave me to my oppressors.

¹²²Guarantee your servant’s well-being; do not let the arrogant oppress me.

¹²³My eyes grow weary looking for your salvation and for your righteous promise.

¹²⁴Deal with your servant based on your faithful love; teach me your statutes.

¹²⁵I am your servant; give me understanding so that I may know your decrees.

¹²⁶It is time for the LORD to act, for they have violated your instruction.

¹²⁷Since I love your commands more than gold, even the purest gold,

¹²⁸I carefully follow all your precepts and hate every false way.

¹²⁹Your decrees are wondrous; therefore I obey them.

¹³⁰The revelation of your words brings light and gives understanding to the inexperienced.

¹³¹I open my mouth and pant because I long for your commands.

¹³²Turn to me and be gracious to me, as is your practice toward those who love your name.

¹³³Make my steps steady through your promise; don’t let any sin dominate me.

¹³⁴Redeem me from human oppression, and I will keep your precepts.

¹³⁵Make your face shine on your servant, and teach me your statutes.

¹³⁶My eyes pour out streams of tears because people do not follow your instruction.

¹³⁷You are righteous, LORD, and your judgments are just.

¹³⁸The decrees you issue are righteous and altogether trustworthy.

¹³⁹My anger overwhelms me because my foes forget your words.

¹⁴⁰Your word is completely pure, and your servant loves it.

¹⁴¹I am insignificant and despised, but I do not forget your precepts.

¹⁴²Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and your instruction is true.

¹⁴³Trouble and distress have overtaken me, but your commands are my delight.

¹⁴⁴Your decrees are righteous forever. Give me understanding, and I will live.

¹⁴⁵I call with all my heart; answer me, LORD. I will obey your statutes.

¹⁴⁶I call to you; save me, and I will keep your decrees.

¹⁴⁷I rise before dawn and cry out for help; I put my hope in your word.

¹⁴⁸I am awake through each watch of the night to meditate on your promise.

¹⁴⁹In keeping with your faithful love, hear my voice. LORD, give me life in keeping with your justice.

¹⁵⁰Those who pursue evil plans come near; they are far from your instruction.

¹⁵¹You are near, LORD, and all your commands are true.

¹⁵²Long ago I learned from your decrees that you have established them forever.

¹⁵³Consider my affliction and rescue me, for I have not forgotten your instruction.

¹⁵⁴Champion my cause and redeem me; give me life as you promised.

¹⁵⁵Salvation is far from the wicked because they do not study your statutes.

¹⁵⁶Your compassions are many, LORD; give me life according to your judgments.

¹⁵⁷My persecutors and foes are many. I have not turned from your decrees.

¹⁵⁸I have seen the disloyal and feel disgust because they do not keep your word.

¹⁵⁹Consider how I love your precepts; LORD, give me life according to your faithful love.

¹⁶⁰The entirety of your word is truth, each of your righteous judgments endures forever.

¹⁶¹Princes have persecuted me without cause, but my heart fears only your word.

¹⁶²I rejoice over your promise like one who finds vast treasure.

¹⁶³I hate and abhor falsehood, but I love your instruction.

¹⁶⁴I praise you seven times a day for your righteous judgments.

¹⁶⁵Abundant peace belongs to those who love your instruction; nothing makes them stumble.

¹⁶⁶LORD, I hope for your salvation and carry out your commands.

¹⁶⁷I obey your decrees and love them greatly.

¹⁶⁸I obey your precepts and decrees, for all my ways are before you.

¹⁶⁹Let my cry reach you, LORD; give me understanding according to your word.

¹⁷⁰Let my plea reach you; rescue me according to your promise.

¹⁷¹My lips pour out praise, for you teach me your statutes.

¹⁷²My tongue sings about your promise, for all your commands are righteous.

¹⁷³May your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts.

¹⁷⁴I long for your salvation, LORD, and your instruction is my delight.

¹⁷⁵Let me live, and I will praise you; may your judgments help me.

¹⁷⁶I wander like a lost sheep; seek your servant, for I do not forget your commands.

¹Like snow in summer and rain at harvest, honor is inappropriate for a fool.

²Like a flitting sparrow or a fluttering swallow, an undeserved curse goes nowhere.

³A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools.

⁴Don’t answer a fool according to his foolishness or you’ll be like him yourself.

⁵Answer a fool according to his foolishness or he’ll become wise in his own eyes.

⁶The one who sends a message by a fool’s hand cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.

⁷A proverb in the mouth of a fool is like lame legs that hang limp.

⁸Giving honor to a fool is like binding a stone in a sling.

⁹A proverb in the mouth of a fool is like a stick with thorns, brandished by the hand of a drunkard.

¹⁰The one who hires a fool or who hires those passing by is like an archer who wounds everyone.

¹¹As a dog returns to its vomit, so also a fool repeats his foolishness.

¹²Do you see a person who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

¹³The slacker says, “There’s a lion in the road — a lion in the public square!”

¹⁴A door turns on its hinges, and a slacker, on his bed.

¹⁵The slacker buries his hand in the bowl; he is too weary to bring it to his mouth!

¹⁶In his own eyes, a slacker is wiser than seven who can answer sensibly.

¹⁷A person who is passing by and meddles in a quarrel that’s not his is like one who grabs a dog by the ears.

¹⁸Like a madman who throws flaming darts and deadly arrows,

¹⁹so is the person who deceives his neighbor and says, “I was only joking!”

²⁰Without wood, fire goes out; without a gossip, conflict dies down.

²¹As charcoal for embers and wood for fire, so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.

²²A gossip’s words are like choice food that goes down to one’s innermost being.

²³Smooth lips with an evil heart are like glaze on an earthen vessel.

²⁴A hateful person disguises himself with his speech and harbors deceit within.

²⁵When he speaks graciously, don’t believe him, for there are seven detestable things in his heart.

²⁶Though his hatred is concealed by deception, his evil will be revealed in the assembly.

²⁷The one who digs a pit will fall into it, and whoever rolls a stone — it will come back on him.

²⁸A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a flattering mouth causes ruin.

¹In the eighteenth year of Israel’s King Jeroboam son of Nebat, Abijam became king over Judah,

²and he reigned three years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Maacah daughter of Abishalom.

³Abijam walked in all the sins his father before him had committed, and he was not wholeheartedly devoted to the LORD his God as his ancestor David had been.

⁴But for the sake of David, the LORD his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem by raising up his son after him and by preserving Jerusalem.

⁵For David did what was right in the LORD’s sight, and he did not turn aside from anything he had commanded him all the days of his life, except in the matter of Uriah the Hethite.

⁶There had been war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all the days of Rehoboam’s life.

⁷The rest of the events of Abijam’s reign, along with all his accomplishments, are written in the Historical Record of Judah’s Kings. There was also war between Abijam and Jeroboam.

⁸Abijam rested with his fathers and was buried in the city of David. His son Asa became king in his place.

⁹In the twentieth year of Israel’s King Jeroboam, Asa became king of Judah,

¹⁰and he reigned forty-one years in Jerusalem. His grandmother’s name was Maacah daughter of Abishalom.

¹¹Asa did what was right in the LORD’s sight, as his ancestor David had done.

¹²He banished the male cult prostitutes from the land and removed all of the idols that his fathers had made.

¹³He also removed his grandmother Maacah from being queen mother because she had made an obscene image of Asherah. Asa chopped down her obscene image and burned it in the Kidron Valley.

¹⁴The high places were not taken away, but Asa was wholeheartedly devoted to the LORD his entire life.

¹⁵He brought his father’s consecrated gifts and his own consecrated gifts into the LORD’s temple: silver, gold, and utensils.

¹⁶There was war between Asa and King Baasha of Israel throughout their reigns.

¹⁷Israel’s King Baasha went to war against Judah. He built Ramah in order to keep anyone from leaving or coming to King Asa of Judah.

¹⁸So Asa withdrew all the silver and gold that remained in the treasuries of the LORD’s temple and the treasuries of the royal palace and gave it to his servants. Then King Asa sent them to Ben-hadad son of Tabrimmon son of Hezion king of Aram who lived in Damascus, saying,

¹⁹“There is a treaty between me and you, between my father and your father. Look, I have sent you a gift of silver and gold. Go and break your treaty with King Baasha of Israel so that he will withdraw from me.”

²⁰Ben-hadad listened to King Asa and sent the commanders of his armies against the cities of Israel. He attacked Ijon, Dan, Abel-beth-maacah, all Chinnereth, and the whole land of Naphtali.

²¹When Baasha heard about it, he quit building Ramah and stayed in Tirzah.

²²Then King Asa gave a command to everyone without exception in Judah, and they carried away the stones of Ramah and the timbers Baasha had built it with. Then King Asa built Geba of Benjamin and Mizpah with them.

²³The rest of all the events of Asa’s reign, along with all his might, all his accomplishments, and the cities he built, are written in the Historical Record of Judah’s Kings. But in his old age he developed a disease in his feet.

²⁴Then Asa rested with his fathers and was buried in the city of his ancestor David. His son Jehoshaphat became king in his place.

²⁵Nadab son of Jeroboam became king over Israel in the second year of Judah’s King Asa; he reigned over Israel two years.

²⁶Nadab did what was evil in the LORD’s sight and walked in the ways of his father and the sin he had caused Israel to commit.

²⁷Then Baasha son of Ahijah of the house of Issachar conspired against Nadab, and Baasha struck him down at Gibbethon of the Philistines while Nadab and all Israel were besieging Gibbethon.

²⁸In the third year of Judah’s King Asa, Baasha killed Nadab and reigned in his place.

²⁹When Baasha became king, he struck down the entire house of Jeroboam. He did not leave Jeroboam any survivors but destroyed his family according to the word of the LORD he had spoken through his servant Ahijah the Shilonite.

³⁰This was because Jeroboam had angered the LORD God of Israel by the sins he had committed and had caused Israel to commit.

³¹The rest of the events of Nadab’s reign, along with all his accomplishments, are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings.

³²There was war between Asa and King Baasha of Israel throughout their reigns.

³³In the third year of Judah’s King Asa, Baasha son of Ahijah became king over all Israel, and he reigned in Tirzah twenty-four years.

³⁴He did what was evil in the LORD’s sight and walked in the ways of Jeroboam and the sin he had caused Israel to commit.

¹“Are these things true?” the high priest asked.

²“Brothers and fathers,” he replied, “listen: The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he settled in Haran,

³and said to him: Leave your country and relatives, and come to the land that I will show you.

⁴“Then he left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. From there, after his father died, God had him move to this land in which you are now living.

⁵He didn’t give him an inheritance in it — not even a foot of ground — but he promised to give it to him as a possession, and to his descendants after him, even though he was childless.

⁶God spoke in this way: His descendants would be strangers in a foreign country, and they would enslave and oppress them for four hundred years.

⁷I will judge the nation that they will serve as slaves, God said. After this, they will come out and worship me in this place.

⁸And so he gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision. After this, he fathered Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day. Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob became the father of the twelve patriarchs.

⁹“The patriarchs became jealous of Joseph and sold him into Egypt, but God was with him

¹⁰and rescued him out of all his troubles. He gave him favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who appointed him ruler over Egypt and over his whole household.

¹¹Now a famine and great suffering came over all of Egypt and Canaan, and our ancestors could find no food.

¹²When Jacob heard there was grain in Egypt, he sent our ancestors there the first time.

¹³The second time, Joseph revealed himself to his brothers, and Joseph’s family became known to Pharaoh.

¹⁴Joseph invited his father Jacob and all his relatives, seventy-five people in all,

¹⁵and Jacob went down to Egypt. He and our ancestors died there,

¹⁶were carried back to Shechem, and were placed in the tomb that Abraham had bought for a sum of silver from the sons of Hamor in Shechem.

¹⁷“As the time was approaching to fulfill the promise that God had made to Abraham, the people flourished and multiplied in Egypt

¹⁸until a different king who did not know Joseph ruled over Egypt.

¹⁹He dealt deceitfully with our race and oppressed our ancestors by making them abandon their infants outside so that they wouldn’t survive.

²⁰At this time Moses was born, and he was beautiful in God’s sight. He was cared for in his father’s home for three months.

²¹When he was put outside, Pharaoh’s daughter adopted and raised him as her own son.

²²So Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in his speech and actions.

²³“When he was forty years old, he decided to visit his own people, the Israelites.

²⁴When he saw one of them being mistreated, he came to his rescue and avenged the oppressed man by striking down the Egyptian.

²⁵He assumed his people would understand that God would give them deliverance through him, but they did not understand.

²⁶The next day he showed up while they were fighting and tried to reconcile them peacefully, saying, ‘Men, you are brothers. Why are you mistreating each other? ’

²⁷“But the one who was mistreating his neighbor pushed Moses aside, saying: Who appointed you a ruler and a judge over us?

²⁸Do you want to kill me, the same way you killed the Egyptian yesterday?

²⁹“When he heard this, Moses fled and became an exile in the land of Midian, where he became the father of two sons.

³⁰After forty years had passed, an angel appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in the flame of a burning bush.

³¹When Moses saw it, he was amazed at the sight. As he was approaching to look at it, the voice of the Lord came:

³²I am the God of your ancestors — the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob. Moses began to tremble and did not dare to look.

³³“The Lord said to him: Take off the sandals from your feet, because the place where you are standing is holy ground.

³⁴I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt; I have heard their groaning and have come down to set them free. And now, come, I will send you to Egypt.

³⁵“This Moses, whom they rejected when they said, Who appointed you a ruler and a judge?  — this one God sent as a ruler and a deliverer through the angel who appeared to him in the bush.

³⁶This man led them out and performed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, at the Red Sea, and in the wilderness for forty years.

³⁷“This is the Moses who said to the Israelites: God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers and sisters.

³⁸He is the one who was in the assembly in the wilderness, with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our ancestors. He received living oracles to give to us.

³⁹Our ancestors were unwilling to obey him. Instead, they pushed him aside, and in their hearts turned back to Egypt.

⁴⁰They told Aaron: Make us gods who will go before us. As for this Moses who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we don’t know what’s happened to him.

⁴¹They even made a calf in those days, offered sacrifice to the idol, and were celebrating what their hands had made.

⁴²God turned away and gave them up to worship the stars of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets: House of Israel, did you bring me offerings and sacrifices for forty years in the wilderness?

⁴³You took up the tent of Moloch and the star of your god Rephan, the images that you made to worship. So I will send you into exile beyond Babylon.

⁴⁴“Our ancestors had the tabernacle of the testimony in the wilderness, just as he who spoke to Moses commanded him to make it according to the pattern he had seen.

⁴⁵Our ancestors in turn received it and with Joshua brought it in when they dispossessed the nations that God drove out before them, until the days of David.

⁴⁶He found favor in God’s sight and asked that he might provide a dwelling place for the God of Jacob.

⁴⁷It was Solomon, rather, who built him a house,

⁴⁸but the Most High does not dwell in sanctuaries made with hands, as the prophet says:

⁴⁹Heaven is my throne, and the earth my footstool. What sort of house will you build for me? says the Lord, or what will be my resting place?

⁵⁰Did not my hand make all these things?

⁵¹“You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are always resisting the Holy Spirit. As your ancestors did, you do also.

⁵²Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute? They even killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become.

⁵³You received the law under the direction of angels and yet have not kept it.”

⁵⁴When they heard these things, they were enraged and gnashed their teeth at him.

⁵⁵Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven. He saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.

⁵⁶He said, “Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”

⁵⁷They yelled at the top of their voices, covered their ears, and together rushed against him.

⁵⁸They dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. And the witnesses laid their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.

⁵⁹While they were stoning Stephen, he called out: “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!”

⁶⁰He knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” And after saying this, he died.