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Bible Reading Plan
Daily Bible Reading
May 13 - Bible-in-a-Year
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Judges 16
Chapter 16
Samson's Weakness
1 Now Samson went to (C1)Gaza and saw a prostitute there, and had relations with her.2 When it was reported to the Gazites, saying, "Samson has come here," they (C1)surrounded the place and lay in wait for him all night at the gate of the city. And they kept silent all night, saying, "Let's wait until the morning light, then we will kill him."3 Now Samson lay asleep until midnight, and at midnight he got up and took hold of the doors of the city gate and the two doorposts, and pulled them up along with the bars; then he put them on his shoulders, and carried them up to the top of the mountain which is opposite Hebron.
4 After this it came about that he was in love with a woman in the Valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah.5 So the (C1)governors of the Philistines came up to her and said to her, "(C2)Entice him, and see where his great strength lies and (F1)how we can overpower him so that we may bind him to humble him. Then we will each give you 1,100 pieces of silver."6 So Delilah said to Samson, "Please tell me where your great strength lies, and (F1)how you can be bound to humble you."7 And Samson said to her, "If they bind me with seven fresh (F1)animal tendons that have not been dried, then I will become weak and be like any other man."8 Then the governors of the Philistines brought up to her seven fresh (F1)animal tendons that had not been dried, and she bound him with them.9 Now she had men prepared for an ambush in an inner room. And she said to him, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" But he tore the tendons to pieces just like a thread of flax is torn apart when it (F1)comes too close to fire. So his strength was not discovered.
10 Then Delilah said to Samson, "Behold, you have toyed with me and told me lies; now please tell me (F1)how you may be bound."11 Then he said to her, "If they bind me tightly with new ropes (F1)which have not been used, then I will become weak and be like any other man."12 So Delilah took new ropes and bound him with them and said to him, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" For the men in the ambush were waiting in the inner room. But he tore (F1)the ropes from his arms like thread.
13 Then Delilah said to Samson, "Up to now you have toyed with me and told me lies; tell me (F1)how you may be bound." And he said to her, "If you weave the seven locks of my (F2)hair with the (F3)web (F4)[and fasten it with the pin, then I will be weak like any other man."14 So while he slept, Delilah wove the seven locks of his (F1)hair with the web]. And she fastened it with the pin and said to him, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" But he awoke from his sleep and pulled out the pin of the loom and the web.
Delilah Extracts His Secret
15 Then she said to him, "(C1)How can you say, 'I love you,' when your heart is not with me? You have toyed with me these three times and have not told me where your great strength is."16 And it came about, when she pressed him daily with her words and urged him, that his soul was (F1)annoyed to death.17 So he told her all that was in his heart and said to her, "A razor has never come on my head, for I have been a (C1)Nazirite to God from my mother's womb. If I am shaved, then my strength will leave me and I will become weak and be like any other man."
18 When Delilah saw that he had told her all that was in his heart, she sent word and called the governors of the Philistines, saying, "Come up once more, for he has told me all that is in his heart." Then the governors of the Philistines came up to her and brought up the money in their hands.19 And she made him sleep on her knees, and called for a man and had him shave off the seven locks of his head. Then she began to humble him, and his strength left him.20 She said, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" And he awoke from his sleep and said, "I will go out as at other times and shake myself free." But he did not know that (C1)the LORD had departed from him.21 Then the Philistines seized him and gouged out his eyes; and they brought him down to Gaza and restrained him with bronze chains, and he became a grinder in the prison.22 However, the hair of his head began to grow again after it was shaved off.
23 Now the governors of the Philistines assembled to offer a great sacrifice to (C1)Dagon their god, and to celebrate, for they said, "Our god has handed Samson our enemy over to us."
"Our god has handed our enemy over to us,
Even the destroyer of our country,
Who has killed many of us."
Samson Is Avenged
28 (C1)Then Samson called to the LORD and said, "Lord (F1)GOD, please remember me and please strengthen me just this time, O God, that I may at once (C2)take vengeance on the Philistines for my two eyes."29 Then Samson grasped the two middle pillars on which the house rested, and braced himself against them, the one with his right hand and the other with his left.30 And Samson said, "Let (F1)me die with the Philistines!" And he pushed outwards powerfully, so that the house fell on the governors and all the people who were in it. And the dead whom he killed at his death were more than those whom he killed during his lifetime.31 Then his brothers and all his father's household came down and took him, and brought him up and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of his father Manoah. (C1)So he had judged Israel for twenty years.
Psalms 42
Chapter 42
Thirsting for God in Trouble and Exile.
1 As the deer (F1)pants for the water brooks,
So my soul (F1)(C1)pants for You, God.
2 My soul (C1)thirsts for God, for the (C2)living God;
When shall I come and (F1)(C3)appear before God?
3 My (C1)tears have been my food day and night,
While they (C2)say to me all day long, "Where is your God?"
4 I remember these things and (C1)pour out my soul within me.
For I (C2)used to go over with the multitude and walk them to the house of God,
With a voice of (C3)joy and thanksgiving, a multitude celebrating a festival.
5 (C1)Why are you (F1)(C2)in despair, my soul?
And why are you (C3)restless within me?
(C4)Wait for God, for I will (F2)again praise (F3)Him
For the (F4)(C5)help of His (F5)presence, my God.
6 My soul is (F1)in despair within me;
Therefore I (C1)remember You from (C2)the land of the Jordan
And the (F2)peaks of (C3)Hermon, from Mount Mizar.
7 Deep calls to deep at the sound of Your waterfalls;
All Your (C1)breakers and Your waves have passed over me.
8 The LORD will (C1)send His goodness in the daytime;
And His song will be with me (C2)in the night,
A prayer to (C3)the God of my life.
9 I will say to God (C1)my rock, "Why have You forgotten me?
Why do I go about (C2)mourning (F1)because of the (C3)oppression of the enemy?"
10 As a shattering of my bones, my adversaries taunt me,
While they (C1)say to me all day long, "Where is your God?"
11 (C1)Why are you (F1)in despair, my soul?
And why are you restless within me?
Wait for God, for I will again praise (F2)Him
For the (F3)help of His presence, my God.
Acts 21:1-36
Chapter 21
Paul Sails from Miletus
1 Now when (C1)we had parted from them and had set sail, we ran (C2)a straight course to Cos, and on the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara;2 and having found a ship crossing over to (C1)Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail.3 When we came in sight of (C1)Cyprus, leaving it on the left, we kept sailing to (C2)Syria and landed at (C3)Tyre; for the ship was to unload its cargo there.4 After looking up (C1)the disciples, we stayed there for seven days; and they kept telling Paul, (F1)(C2)through the Spirit, not to set foot in Jerusalem.5 When (F1)our days there were ended, we left and started on our journey, while they all, with wives and children, (C1)escorted us until we were out of the city. After (C2)kneeling down on the beach and praying, we said farewell to one another.6 Then we boarded the ship, and they returned (C1)home.
7 When we had finished the voyage from (C1)Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais, and after greeting (C2)the brothers and sisters, we stayed with them for a day.8 On the next day we left and came to (C1)Caesarea, and we entered the house of (C2)Philip the (C3)evangelist, who was (C2)one of the seven, and stayed with him.9 Now this man had four virgin daughters who were (C1)prophetesses.10 As we were staying there for some days, a prophet named (C1)Agabus came down from Judea.11 And he came to us and (C1)took Paul's belt and bound his own feet and hands, and said, "This (C2)is what the Holy Spirit says: 'In this way the Jews in Jerusalem will (C3)bind the man who owns this belt and (C4)hand him over to the Gentiles.'"12 When we had heard this, we as well as the local residents began begging him (C1)not to go up to Jerusalem.13 Then Paul replied, "What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For (C1)I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die in Jerusalem for (C2)the name of the Lord Jesus."14 And since he would not be persuaded, we became quiet, remarking, "(C1)The will of the Lord be done!"
Paul in Jerusalem
15 After these days we got ready and (C1)started on our way up to Jerusalem.16 Some of (C1)the disciples from (C2)Caesarea also came with us, taking us to Mnason of (C3)Cyprus, a (C4)disciple of long standing with whom we were to stay.
17 After we arrived in Jerusalem, (C1)the brothers and sisters received us gladly.18 And the following day Paul went in with us to (F1)(C1)James, and all (C2)the elders were present.19 After he had greeted them, he (C1)began to relate one by one the things which God had done among the Gentiles through his (C2)ministry.20 And when they heard about them, they began (C1)glorifying God; and they said to him, "You see, brother, how many (F1)thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed, and they are all (C2)zealous for the Law;21 and they have been told about you, that you are (C1)teaching all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to abandon Moses, telling them (C2)not to circumcise their children nor to (F1)walk according to (C3)the customs.22 "So what is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come.23 "Therefore, do (F1)as we tell you: we have four men who (C1)have a (F2)vow upon themselves;24 take them along and (C1)purify yourself together with them, and (F1)pay their expenses so that they may (C2)shave their (F2)heads; and then everyone will know that there is nothing to what they have been told about you, but that you yourself also conform, keeping the Law.25 "But regarding the Gentiles who have believed, we sent a letter, (C1)having decided that they should abstain from (F1)meat sacrificed to idols and from blood and what is (F2)strangled, and from sexual immorality."26 Then Paul (F1)took along the men, and the next day, after (C1)purifying himself together with them, he (C2)went into the temple giving notice of the completion of the days of purification, until the sacrifice was offered for each one of them.
Paul Seized in the Temple
27 When (C1)the seven days were almost over, (C2)the Jews from (F1)(C3)Asia, upon seeing him in the temple, began to stir up all the crowd and laid hands on him,28 crying out, "Men of Israel, help! (C1)This is the man who instructs everyone everywhere against our people and the Law and this place; and besides, he has even brought Greeks into the temple and has (C2)defiled this holy place!"29 For they had previously seen (C1)Trophimus the (C2)Ephesian in the city with him, and they thought that Paul had brought him into the temple.30 Then the whole city was provoked and (F1)the people rushed together, and taking hold of Paul they (C1)dragged him out of the temple, and immediately the doors were shut.31 While they were intent on killing him, a report came up to the commander of the (C1)Roman (F1)cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion.32 He immediately (C1)took along some soldiers and centurions and ran down to (F1)the crowd; and when they saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.33 Then the commander came up and took hold of him, and ordered that he be (C1)bound with (C2)two chains; and he began asking who he was and what he had done.34 But among the crowd, (C1)some were shouting one thing and some another, and when he could not find out the (F1)facts because of the uproar, he ordered that (F2)Paul be brought into (C2)the barracks.35 When Paul got to (C1)the stairs, it came about that he was carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the (F1)mob;36 for the multitude of people kept following them, shouting, "(C1)Away with him!"<
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