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Bible Reading Plan
Daily Bible Reading
May 18 - Old & New Testament
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Psalms 64,70
Prayer for Rescue from Secret Enemies.
1 Hear my voice, God, in (C1)my (F1)complaint;
(C2)Protect my life from dread of the enemy.
2 Hide me from the (C1)secret discussion of evildoers,
From the restlessness of (C2)the workers of injustice,
3 Who (C1)have sharpened their tongues like a sword.
They (C2)aimed bitter speech as their arrows,
4 To (C1)shoot (F1)from concealment at the innocent;
Suddenly they shoot at him, and (C2)do not fear.
5 They make firm for themselves an evil (F1)purpose;
They (F2)talk of (C1)setting snares secretly;
They say, "(C2)Who can see them?"
6 They (F1)devise injustices, saying,
"We are (F2)ready with a well-conceived plot";
For the (F3)(C1)inward thought and the heart of a person are (F4)deep.
7 But (C1)God (F1)will shoot an arrow at them;
Suddenly (F2)they will be wounded.
8 So (F1)they (F2)will (C1)make him stumble;
(C2)Their own tongue is against them;
All who see them will (C3)shake their heads.
9 Then all people (F1)will (C1)fear,
And they (F2)will (C2)declare the work of God,
And (F3)will consider (F4)what He has done.
10 The righteous person will be (C1)glad in the LORD and (C2)take refuge in Him;
And all the upright in heart will boast.
God's Abundant Favor to Earth and Mankind.
1 There will be silence (F1)before You, and praise in Zion, God,
And the (C1)vow will be fulfilled for You.
2 You who hear prayer,
To You (C1)all (F1)mankind comes.
3 (F1)(C1)Wrongdoings prevail against me;
As for our offenses, You (F2)(C2)forgive them.
4 (C1)Blessed is the one You (C2)choose and allow to approach You;
He will dwell in Your courtyards.
We will be (C3)satisfied with the goodness of Your house,
Your holy temple.
5 By (C1)awesome deeds You answer us in righteousness, (C2)God of our salvation,
You who are the trust of all the (C3)ends of the earth and the farthest (F1)(C4)sea;
6 Who (C1)establishes the mountains by His strength,
Who is (C2)encircled with might;
7 Who (C1)stills the roaring of the seas,
The roaring of their waves,
And the (C2)turmoil of the nations.
8 They who dwell at the (C1)ends of the earth stand in awe of Your signs;
You make the (F1)sunrise and the sunset shout for joy.
9 You visit the earth and (C1)cause it to overflow;
You greatly (C2)enrich it;
The (F1)(C3)stream of God is full of water;
You prepare their (C4)grain, for so You prepare (F2)the earth.
10 You water its furrows abundantly,
You (F1)settle its ridges,
You soften it (C1)with showers,
You bless its growth.
11 You have crowned the year (F1)with Your (C1)goodness,
And Your (F2)paths (C2)drip with fatness.
12 (C1)The pastures of the wilderness drip,
And the (C2)hills encircle themselves with rejoicing.
13 The meadows are (C1)clothed with flocks
And the valleys are (C2)covered with grain;
They (C3)shout for joy, yes, they sing.
Praise for God's Mighty Deeds and for His Answer to Prayer.
1 (C1)Shout joyfully to God, all the earth;
2 Sing the (C1)glory of His name;
Make His (C2)praise glorious.
3 Say to God, "How (C1)awesome are Your works!
Because of the greatness of Your power Your enemies will (C2)pretend to obey You.
4 "(C1)All the earth will worship You,
And will (C2)sing praises to You;
They will sing praises to Your name." Selah
5 (C1)Come and see the works of God,
Who is (C2)awesome in His deeds toward the sons of mankind.
6 He (C1)turned the sea into dry land;
They passed through (C2)the river on foot;
Let's (C3)rejoice there, in Him!
7 He (C1)rules by His might forever;
His (C2)eyes keep watch on the nations;
The rebellious shall not (C3)exalt themselves! Selah
8 Bless our God, you peoples,
And (F1)(C1)sound His praise abroad,
9 Who (F1)(C1)keeps us in life,
And (C2)does not allow our feet to (F2)slip.
10 For You have (C1)put us to the test, God;
You have (C2)refined us as silver is refined.
11 You (C1)brought us into the net;
You laid an oppressive burden upon (F1)us.
12 You made men (C1)ride over our heads;
We went through (C2)fire and through water.
Yet You (C3)brought us out into a place of abundance.
13 I shall (C1)come into Your house with burnt offerings;
I shall (C2)pay You my vows,
14 Which my lips uttered
And my mouth spoke when I was (C1)in distress.
15 I shall (C1)offer to You burnt offerings of fat animals,
With the smoke of (C2)rams;
I shall make an offering of (F1)bulls with male goats. Selah
16 (C1)Come and hear, all who (F1)fear God,
And I will (C2)tell of what He has done for my soul.
17 I cried to Him with my mouth,
And (F1)He was (C1)exalted with my tongue.
18 If I (F1)(C1)regard wickedness in my heart,
The (C2)Lord will not hear;
19 But (C1)God has heard;
He has given attention to the sound of my prayer.
20 (C1)Blessed be God,
Who (C2)has not turned away my prayer
Nor His favor from me.
The Nations Exhorted to Praise God.
1 God be gracious to us and (C1)bless us,
And (C2)cause His face to shine (F1)upon us— Selah
2 That (C1)Your way may be known on the earth,
(C2)Your salvation among all nations.
3 May the (C1)peoples praise You, God;
May all the peoples praise You.
4 May the (C1)nations be glad and sing for joy;
For You will (C2)judge the peoples with fairness
And (C3)guide the nations on the earth. Selah
5 May the (C1)peoples praise You, God;
May all the peoples praise You.
6 The (C1)earth has yielded its produce;
God, our God, (C2)blesses us.
7 God blesses us,
(F1)So that (C1)all the ends of the earth may fear Him.
The God of Sinai and of the Sanctuary.
1 (F1)May (C1)God arise, (F2)may His enemies be scattered,
And (F3)may those who hate Him flee from His presence.
2 As (C1)smoke is driven away, so drive them away;
As (C2)wax melts before a fire,
So the (C3)wicked will perish before God.
3 But the (C1)righteous will be joyful; they will rejoice before God;
Yes, they will rejoice with gladness.
4 Sing to God, (C1)sing praises to His name;
(F1)(C2)Exalt Him who (C3)rides through the deserts,
Whose (C4)name is (F2)the LORD, and be jubilant before Him.
5 A (C1)father of the fatherless and a (C2)judge (F1)for the widows,
Is God in His (C3)holy dwelling.
6 God (F1)(C1)makes a home for the lonely;
He (C2)leads out the prisoners into prosperity,
Only (C3)the rebellious live in parched lands.
7 God, when You (C1)went forth before Your people,
When You (C2)marched through the desert, Selah
8 The (C1)earth quaked;
The (C2)heavens also dropped rain at the presence of God;
(F1)(C3)Sinai itself quaked at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
9 You (C1)made plentiful rain fall, God;
You confirmed Your inheritance when it was (F1)parched.
10 Your creatures settled in it;
In Your kindness You (C1)provided for the poor, God.
11 The Lord gives the (F1)command;
The (C1)women who proclaim good news are a great army:
12 "(C1)Kings of armies flee, they flee,
And she who remains at home will (C2)divide the spoils!"
13 (F1)When you lie down (C1)among the sheepfolds,
You are like the wings of a dove covered with silver,
And its pinions with (F2)glistening gold.
14 When the Almighty (C1)scattered the kings (F1)there,
It was snowing in (C2)Zalmon.
15 (C1)The mountain of Bashan is a (F1)mountain of God;
The mountain of Bashan is a mountain of many peaks.
16 Why do you look with envy, you mountains of many peaks,
At the mountain God has (C1)desired as His dwelling?
Indeed, (C2)the LORD will dwell there forever.
17 The (C1)chariots of God are (F1)myriads, (C2)thousands upon thousands;
(F2)The Lord is among them as at Sinai, in holiness.
18 You have (C1)ascended on high, You have (C2)led captive Your captives;
You have received gifts among people,
Even among the rebellious as well, that (F1)the LORD God may dwell there.
19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily (C1)bears our burden,
(C2)The God who is our salvation. Selah
20 God is to us a (C1)God of salvation;
And (C2)to (F1)GOD the Lord belong ways of escape (F2)from death.
21 God certainly will (C1)shatter the heads of His enemies,
The hairy (F1)head of one who goes about in his guilt.
22 The Lord (F1)said, "(C1)I will bring them back from Bashan.
I will bring them back from the depths of the sea,
23 So that (F1)(C1)your foot may shatter them in blood,
And the tongue of your (C2)dogs may have its portion from your enemies."
24 They have seen (C1)Your procession, God,
The procession of my God, my King, (F1)(C2)into the sanctuary.
25 The (C1)singers went on, the musicians after them,
(F1)In the midst of the (C2)young women beating tambourines.
26 (C1)Bless God in the congregations,
Even the LORD, you who are of the (C2)fountain of Israel.
27 (C1)Benjamin, the (F1)youngest, is there, (F2)ruling them,
The leaders of Judah in their company,
The leaders of (C2)Zebulun, the leaders of Naphtali.
28 (F1)Your God has (C1)commanded your strength;
Show Yourself strong, God, You (C2)who acted (F2)in our behalf.
29 (F1)Because of Your temple at Jerusalem
(C1)Kings will bring gifts to You.
30 Rebuke the (C1)animals (F1)in the reeds,
The herd of (C2)bulls with the calves of the peoples,
Trampling the pieces of silver;
He has (C3)scattered the peoples who delight in war.
31 (F1)Messengers will come from (C1)Egypt;
(F2)(C2)Cush will quickly stretch out her hands to God.
32 Sing to God, you (C1)kingdoms of the earth,
(C2)Sing praises to the Lord, Selah
33 To Him who (C1)rides upon the (F1)(C2)highest heavens, which are from ancient times;
Behold, (C3)He (F2)speaks with His voice, a (C4)mighty voice.
34 (C1)Ascribe strength to God;
His majesty is over Israel,
And (C2)His strength is in the (F1)skies.
35 (F1)God, You are (C1)awesome from Your (F2)sanctuary.
The God of Israel Himself (C2)gives strength and power to the people.
(C3)Blessed be God!
A Cry of Distress and a Curse on Adversaries.
1 Save me, God,
For the (C1)waters have (F1)threatened my life.
2 I have sunk in deep (C1)mud, and there is no foothold;
I have come into deep waters, and a (F1)(C2)flood overflows me.
3 I am (C1)weary with my crying; my throat is parched;
My (C2)eyes fail while I wait for my God.
4 Those (C1)who hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head;
Those who would (F1)destroy me (C2)are powerful, those who oppose me with lies;
(C3)What I did not steal, I then have to restore.
5 God, You know (C1)my foolishness,
And (C2)my guilt is not hidden from You.
6 May those who wait for You not (C1)be ashamed because of me, Lord (F1)GOD of armies;
May those who seek You not be dishonored because of me, God of Israel,
7 Because (C1)for Your sake I have endured disgrace;
(C2)Dishonor has covered my face.
8 I have become (C1)estranged (F1)from my brothers,
And a stranger to my mother's sons.
9 For (C1)zeal for Your house has consumed me,
And (C2)the taunts of those who taunt You have fallen on me.
10 When I wept (C1)in my soul with fasting,
It became my (C2)disgrace.
11 When I made (C1)sackcloth my clothing,
I became (C2)a proverb to them.
12 Those who (C1)sit in the gate talk about me,
And (C2)songs of mockery by those habitually drunk are about me.
13 But as for me, my prayer is to You, LORD, (C1)at an acceptable time;
God, in the (C2)greatness of Your mercy,
Answer me with (F1)Your saving truth.
14 Rescue me from the (C1)mud and do not let me sink;
May I be (C2)rescued from those who hate me, and from the (C1)depths of water.
15 May the (F1)(C1)flood of water not overflow me
Nor the deep swallow me up,
Nor the (C2)pit close its mouth on me.
16 Answer me, LORD, for (C1)Your mercy is good;
(C2)According to the greatness of Your compassion, (C3)turn to me,
17 And (C1)do not hide Your face from Your servant,
For I am (C2)in distress; answer me quickly.
18 Come near to my soul and (C1)redeem it;
(C2)Ransom me because of my enemies!
19 You know my (C1)disgrace, my shame, and my dishonor;
All my enemies are (F1)known to You.
20 Disgrace has (C1)broken my heart, and I am so sick.
And (C2)I waited for sympathy, but there was none;
And for (C3)comforters, but I found none.
21 They also gave me (F1)(C1)a bitter herb in my food,
And for my thirst they (C2)gave me vinegar to drink.
22 May (C1)their table before them become a snare;
And (F1)(C2)when they are at peace, may it become a trap.
23 May their (C1)eyes grow dim so that they cannot see,
And make their (C2)hips shake continually.
24 (C1)Pour out Your indignation on them,
And may Your burning anger overtake them.
25 May their (F1)(C1)camp be desolated;
May there be none living in their tents.
26 For they have (C1)persecuted him whom (C2)You Yourself struck,
And they tell of the pain of those whom (C3)You have (F1)wounded.
27 Add (C1)guilt to their guilt,
And (C2)may they not come into (C3)Your righteousness.
28 May they be (C1)wiped out of the (C2)book of life,
And may they not be (F1)(C3)recorded with the righteous.
29 But I am (C1)afflicted and in pain;
(F1)May Your salvation, God, (C2)set me safely on high.
30 I will (C1)praise the name of God with song,
And (C2)exalt Him with (C3)thanksgiving.
31 And it will (C1)please the LORD better than an ox
Or bull with horns and hoofs.
32 The (C1)humble (F1)have seen it and are glad;
You who seek God, (C2)let your heart (F2)revive.
33 For (C1)the LORD hears the needy,
And (C2)does not despise those of His who are prisoners.
34 (C1)Heaven and earth shall praise Him,
The seas and (C2)everything that moves in them.
35 For God will (C1)save Zion and (C2)build the cities of Judah,
So that they may live there and (C3)possess it.
36 The (F1)(C1)descendants of His servants will inherit it,
And those who love His name (C2)will live in it.
Prayer for Help against Persecutors.
1 (C1)God, hurry to save me;
LORD, hurry to help me!
2 (C1)May those who seek my (F1)life
Be put to shame and humiliated;
May those who delight (F2)in my harm
Be turned back and dishonored.
3 (C1)May those who say, "Aha, aha!" be (F1)turned back
Because of their shame.
4 May all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You;
And may those who love Your salvation say continually,
"May God be exalted!"
5 But (C1)I am afflicted and needy;
(C2)Hurry to me, God!
You are my help and my savior;
LORD, do not delay.
John 6:1-21
Chapter 6
Five Thousand Men Fed
1 After these things (C1)Jesus went away to the other side of (C2)the Sea of Galilee (or (C3)Tiberias).2 A large crowd was following Him, because they were watching the (F1)(C1)signs which He was performing on those who were sick.3 But (C1)Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples.4 Now (C1)the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was near.5 So Jesus, after raising His eyes and seeing that a large crowd was coming to Him, (*)said to (C1)Philip, "Where are we to buy bread so that these people may eat?"6 But He was saying this only to (C1)test him, for He Himself knew what He intended to do.7 (C1)Philip answered Him, "(C2)Two hundred (F1)denarii worth of bread is not enough for them, for each to receive just a little!"8 One of His (C1)disciples, (C2)Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, (*)said to Him,9 "There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two (C1)fish; but what are these for so many people?"10 Jesus said, "Have the people recline to eat." Now there was (C1)plenty of grass in the place. So the men reclined, about (F1)(C2)five thousand in number.11 Jesus then took the loaves, and (C1)after giving thanks He distributed them to those who were reclining; likewise also of the (C2)fish, as much as they wanted.12 And when they had eaten their fill, He (*)said to His (C1)disciples, "Gather up the leftover pieces so that nothing will be lost."13 So they gathered them up, and filled twelve (C1)baskets with pieces from the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.14 Therefore when the people saw the (F1)sign which He had performed, they said, "This is truly the (C1)Prophet who is to come into the world."
Jesus Walks on the Water
15 So Jesus, aware that they (F1)intended to come and take Him by force (C1)to make Him king, (C2)withdrew again to (C3)the mountain by Himself, alone.
16 Now when evening came, His (C1)disciples went down to the sea,17 and after getting into a boat, they started to cross the sea (C1)to Capernaum. It had already become dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.18 In addition, the sea began getting rough, because a strong wind was blowing.19 Then, when they had rowed about (F1)twenty-five or thirty stadia, they (*)saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat; and they were frightened.20 But He (*)said to them, "It is I; (F1)(C1)do not be afraid."21 So they were willing to take Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.<
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