the Fifth Week after Easter
Click here to join the effort!
Bible Reading Plan
Daily Bible Reading
June 19 - Bible-in-a-Year
nas
2 Samuel 11-12
Chapter 11
Bathsheba, David's Great Sin
1 (C1)Then it happened (F1)(C2)in the spring, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him and all Israel, and they brought destruction on the sons of Ammon and (C3)besieged Rabbah. But David stayed in Jerusalem.
2 Now at evening time David got up from his bed and walked around on (C1)the roof of the king's house, and from the roof he saw a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful in appearance.3 So David sent servants and inquired about the woman. And someone said, "Is this not (C1)Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of (C2)Uriah the Hittite?"4 Then David sent messengers and (F1)had her brought, and when she came to him, (C1)he slept with her; (C2)and when she had purified herself from her uncleanness, she returned to her house.5 But the woman conceived; so she sent word and informed David, and said, "(C1)I am pregnant."
6 Then David sent word to Joab: "Send me Uriah the Hittite." So Joab sent Uriah to David.7 When Uriah came to him, (C1)David asked about Joab's well-being and (F1)that of the people, and the condition of the war.8 Then David said to Uriah, "Go down to your house, and (C1)wash your feet." So Uriah left the king's house, and a gift from the king (F1)was sent after him.9 But Uriah slept (C1)at the door of the king's house with all the servants of his lord, and did not go down to his house.10 Now when they informed David, saying, "Uriah did not go down to his house," David said to Uriah, "Did you not come from a journey? Why did you not go down to your house?"11 And Uriah said to David, "(C1)The ark and Israel and Judah are staying in (F1)temporary shelters, and my lord Joab and (C2)the servants of my lord are camping in the open field. Should I then go to my house to eat and drink and to sleep with my wife? By your life and the life of your soul, I will not do this thing."12 Then David said to Uriah, "(C1)Stay here today also, and tomorrow I will let you go back." So Uriah remained in Jerusalem that day and the day after.13 Now David summoned (F1)Uriah, and he ate and drank in his presence, and he (C1)made (F1)Uriah drunk; and in the evening Uriah went out to lie on his bed (C2)with his lord's servants, and he still did not go down to his house.
14 So in the morning David (C1)wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by the hand of Uriah.15 (C1)He had written in the letter (F1)the following: "(F2)Station Uriah on the front line of the (F3)fiercest battle and pull back from him, (C2)so that he may be struck and killed."16 So it was as Joab kept watch on the city, that he (F1)stationed Uriah at the place where he knew there were valiant men.17 And the men of the city went out and fought against Joab, and some of the people among David's servants fell; and (C1)Uriah the Hittite also died.18 Then Joab sent a messenger and reported to David all the events of the war.19 He ordered the messenger, saying, "When you have finished telling all the events of the war to the king,20 then it shall be that if the king's wrath rises and he says to you, 'Why did you move against the city to fight? Did you not know that they would shoot from the wall?21 'Who (C1)struck Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? Did a woman not throw an upper millstone on him from the wall so that he died at Thebez? Why did you move against the wall?'—then you shall say, 'Your servant Uriah the Hittite also died.'"
22 So the messenger departed and came and reported to David everything that Joab had sent him to tell.23 The messenger said to David, "The men prevailed against us and came out against us in the field, but we (F1)pressed them as far as the entrance of the gate.24 "Also, the archers shot at your servants from the wall; so some of the king's servants died, and your servant Uriah the Hittite also died."25 Then David said to the messenger, "This is what you shall say to Joab: 'Do not let this thing (F1)displease you, for the sword devours one as well as another; (F2)fight with determination against the city and overthrow it'; and thereby encourage him."
26 Now when Uriah's wife heard that her husband Uriah was dead, (C1)she mourned for her husband.27 When the time of mourning was over, David sent servants and (F1)had her brought to his house and (C1)she became his wife; then she bore him a son. But (C2)the thing that David had done was evil in the sight of the LORD.
Chapter 12
Nathan Rebukes David
1 Then the LORD sent (C1)Nathan to David. And he came to him and (F1)said, "There were two men in a city, the one wealthy and the other poor.
2 "The wealthy man had a great many flocks and herds.
3 "But the poor man had nothing at all except (C1)one little ewe lamb
Which he bought and nurtured;
And it grew up together with him and his children.
It would eat (F1)scraps from him and drink from his cup and lie (F2)in his lap,
And was like a daughter to him.
4 "Now a visitor came to the wealthy man,
And he could not bring himself to take any animal from his own flock or his own herd,
To prepare for the traveler who had come to him;
So he took the poor man's ewe lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him."
7 Nathan then said to David, "(C1)You yourself are the man! This is what the LORD, the God of Israel says: '(C2)It is I who anointed you as king over Israel, and it is I who rescued you from the hand of Saul.8 'I also gave you (C1)your master's house and put your master's wives (F1)into your care, and I gave you the house of Israel and Judah; and if that had been too little, I would have added to you (F2)many more things like these!9 'Why (C1)have you despised the word of the LORD, by doing evil in His sight? (C2)You have struck and killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, you (C3)have taken his wife as your wife, and you have slaughtered him with the sword of the sons of Ammon.10 'Now then, (C1)the sword shall never leave your house, because you have despised Me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.'11 "This is what the LORD says: 'Behold, I am going to raise up evil against you from your own household; (C1)I will even take your wives before your eyes and give them to your companion, and he will sleep with your wives in (F1)broad daylight.12 'Indeed, (C1)you did it secretly, but (C2)I will do this thing before all Israel, and (F1)in open daylight.'"13 Then David said to Nathan, "(C1)I have sinned against the LORD." And Nathan said to David, "The LORD also has (C2)allowed your sin to pass; you shall not die.14 "However, since by this deed you have (C1)shown utter disrespect for the (F1)LORD, the child himself who is born to you shall certainly die."
15 Then Nathan went to his house.
21 Then his servants said to him, "What is this thing that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was (F1)alive; but when the child died, you got up and ate food."22 And he said, "While the child was still alive, (C1)I fasted and wept; for I said, '(C2)Who knows, the LORD may be gracious to me, and the child may live.'23 "But now he has died; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? (C1)I am going to him, but (C2)he will not return to me."
Solomon Born
24 Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba, and went in to her and slept with her; and she gave birth to a son, and (F1)(C1)he named him Solomon. Now the LORD loved him,25 and sent word through Nathan the prophet, and he named him (F1)Jedidiah for the LORD'S sake.
War Again
26 (C1)Now Joab fought against (C2)Rabbah of the sons of Ammon, and captured the royal city.27 Then Joab sent messengers to David and said, "I have fought against Rabbah, I have even captured the city of waters.28 "Now then, gather the rest of the people and camp opposite the city and capture it, or I will capture the city myself and it will be named after me."29 So David gathered all the people and went to Rabbah, and he fought against it and captured it.30 Then (C1)he took the crown of (F1)their king from his head; and its weight was a (F2)talent of gold, and it had a precious stone; and it was placed on David's head. And he brought out the plunder of the city in great amounts.31 He also brought out the people who were in it, and (C1)put some to work at saws, iron picks, and iron axes, and made (F1)others (F2)serve at the brick (F3)works. And he did the same to all the cities of the sons of Ammon. Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.
Daniel 6
Chapter 6
Daniel Serves Darius
1 (F1)It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps over the kingdom, to be in charge of the whole kingdom,2 and over them, three commissioners (of whom (C1)Daniel was one), so that these satraps would be accountable to them, and that the king would not (F1)suffer (C2)loss.3 Then this Daniel began distinguishing himself (F1)among the commissioners and satraps because (F2)he possessed an (C1)extraordinary spirit, and the king intended to appoint him over the (C2)entire kingdom.4 Then the commissioners and satraps began (C1)trying to find a ground of accusation against Daniel regarding (F1)government affairs; but they could find (C2)no ground of accusation or evidence of corruption, because he was trustworthy, and no negligence or corruption was to be found in him.5 Then these men said, "We will not find any ground of accusation against this Daniel unless we find it against him regarding the (C1)law of his God."
6 Then these commissioners and satraps came (F1)by agreement to the king and spoke to him as follows: "King Darius, (C1)live forever!7 "All the (C1)commissioners of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the counselors and the governors, have (C2)consulted together that the king should establish a statute and enforce an injunction that anyone who offers a prayer to any god or person besides you, O king, for thirty days, shall (C3)be thrown into the lions' (F1)den.8 "Now, O king, (C1)establish the injunction and sign the document so that it will not be changed, according to the (C2)law of the Medes and Persians, which (F1)may not be revoked."9 Thereupon, King Darius (C1)signed the document, that is, the injunction.
10 Now when Daniel learned that the document was signed, he entered his house (and in his roof chamber he had windows open (C1)toward Jerusalem); and he continued (C2)kneeling on his knees three times a day, (C3)praying and (C4)offering praise before his God, just as he had been doing previously.11 Then these men came (F1)(C1)by agreement and found Daniel offering a prayer and imploring favor before his God.12 Then they approached and (C1)spoke before the king about the king's injunction: "Did you not sign an injunction that any person who offers a prayer to any god or person besides you, O king, for thirty days, is to be thrown into the lions' den?" The king replied, "The statement is true, according to the (C2)law of the Medes and Persians, which (F1)may not be revoked."13 Then they responded and spoke before the king, "(C1)Daniel, who is one of the (F1)exiles from Judah, pays (C2)no attention to you, O king, or to the injunction which you signed, but keeps offering his prayer three times a day."
14 Then, as soon as the king heard this statement, he was deeply (C1)distressed, and set his mind on rescuing Daniel; and until sunset he kept exerting himself to save him.15 Then these men came (F1)by agreement to the king and said to the king, "Recognize, O king, that it is a (C1)law of the Medes and Persians that no injunction or statute which the king establishes may be changed."
Daniel in the Lions' Den
16 Then the king gave orders, and Daniel was brought in and (C1)thrown into the lions' den. The king said to Daniel, "(F1)(C2)Your God whom you continually serve will Himself rescue you."17 And a (C1)stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signet rings of his nobles, so that nothing would be changed regarding Daniel.18 Then the king went to his palace and spent the night (C1)fasting, and no entertainment was brought before him; and his (C2)sleep fled from him.
19 Then the king got up at dawn, at the break of day, and went in a hurry to the lions' den.20 And when he had come near the den to Daniel, he cried out with a troubled voice. The king began speaking and said to Daniel, "Daniel, servant of the living God, has (C1)your God, whom you continually serve, been (C2)able to rescue you from the lions?"21 Then Daniel spoke (F1)to the king, "(C1)O king, live forever!22 "My God (C1)sent His angel and (C2)shut the lions' mouths, and they have not harmed me, since (F1)I was found innocent before Him; and also (F2)toward you, O king, I have committed no crime."23 Then the king was very glad and gave orders for Daniel to be lifted up out of the den. So Daniel was lifted up out of the den, and (C1)no injury whatever was found on him, because he had (C2)trusted in his God.24 The king then gave orders, and they brought those men who had (F1)maliciously accused Daniel, and they (C1)threw them, their (C2)children, and their wives into the lions' den; and they had not reached the bottom of the den before the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.
25 Then Darius the king wrote to all the (C1)peoples, nations, and populations of all (F1)languages who were living in all the land: "(C2)May your (F2)peace be great!26 "(F1)I (C1)issue a decree that in all the realm of my kingdom people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel; For He is the (C2)living God and (C3)enduring forever,
And (C4)His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed,
And His dominion will be (F2)forever.
27 "He rescues, saves, and performs (C1)signs and miracles
In heaven and on earth,
He who has also rescued Daniel from the (F1)power of the lions."
28 So this (C1)Daniel enjoyed success in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of (C2)Cyrus the Persian.
Mark 4:21-41
Chapter 4
21 And He was saying to them, "(C1)A lamp is not brought to be put under a (F1)basket, or under a bed, is it? Is it not brought to be put on the lampstand?22 "(C1)For nothing is hidden, except to be revealed; nor has anything been secret, but that it would come to light.23 "(C1)If anyone has ears to hear, (F1)let him hear."24 And He was saying to them, "Take care what you listen to. (F1)(C1)By your standard of measure it will be measured to you; and more will be given you besides.25 "(C1)For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him."
Parable of the Seed
26 And He was saying, "The kingdom of God is like a man who casts seed upon the soil;27 and he goes to bed at night and gets up daily, and the seed sprouts and grows—how, he himself does not know.28 "The soil produces crops by itself; first the stalk, then the head, then the mature grain in the head.29 "Now when the crop permits, he immediately (F1)(C1)puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come."
Parable of the Mustard Seed
30 (C1)And He was saying, "How shall we (F1)(C2)picture the kingdom of God, or by what parable shall we present it?31 "It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the soil, though it is the smallest of all the seeds that are upon the soil,32 yet when it is sown, it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants, and forms large branches, with the result that (C1)THE BIRDS OF THE SKY can NEST UNDER its shade."
33 And with many such parables He was speaking the word to them, so far as they were able to (F1)understand it;34 and He did not speak to them (C1)without a parable; but He was (C2)explaining everything privately to His own disciples.
Jesus Stills the Sea
35 (C1)On that day, when evening came, He (*)said to them, "Let's go over to the other side."36 After dismissing the crowd, they (*)took Him along with them (C1)in the boat, just as He was; and other boats were with Him.37 And a fierce gale of wind (*)developed, and the waves were breaking over the boat so much that the boat was already filling with water.38 And yet Jesus Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they (*)woke Him and (*)said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?"39 And He got up and (C1)rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Hush, be still." And the wind died down and (F1)it became perfectly calm.40 And He said to them, "Why are you (F1)afraid? (C1)Do you still have no faith?"41 They became very much afraid and said to one another, "Who, then, is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?"
Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995,2020 by The Lockman Foundation
