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Bible Reading Plan
Daily Bible Reading
June 29 - Old & New Testament
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Ecclesiastes 4,5,6
The Evils of Oppression
1 Then I looked again at all the acts of (C1)oppression which were being done under the sun. And behold, I saw the tears of the oppressed and that they had (C2)no one to comfort them; and power was on the side of their oppressors, but they had no one to comfort them.2 So (C1)I congratulated the dead who are already dead, more than the living who are still living.3 But (C1)better off than both of them is the one who has never existed, who has never seen the evil activity that is done under the sun.
4 I have seen that every labor and every (C1)skill which is done is the result of rivalry between a person and his neighbor. This too is (C2)futility and striving after wind.5 The fool (C1)folds his hands and (C2)consumes his own flesh.6 One hand full of rest is (C1)better than two fists full of labor and striving after wind.
7 Then I looked again at futility under the sun.8 There was a man without a (F1)dependent, having neither a son nor a brother, yet there was no end to all his labor. Indeed, (C1)his eyes were not satisfied with riches, and he never asked, "And (C2)for whom do I labor and deprive myself of pleasure?" This too is futility, and it is an (C3)unhappy task.
9 Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor;10 for if (F1)either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not (F2)another to lift him up!11 Furthermore, if two lie down together they (F1)keep warm, but (C1)how can one be warm alone?12 And if (F1)one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.
13 A (C1)poor yet wise youth is better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive (F1)instruction—14 for he has come (C1)out of prison to become king, even though he was born poor in his kingdom.15 I have seen all those living under the sun move to the side of the second youth who (F1)replaces him.16 There is no end to all the people, to all who were before them. Even the ones who will come later will not be happy with him; for this too is (C1)futility and striving after wind.
Your Attitude toward God
1 (F1)(C1)Guard your steps as you go to the house of God, and approach to listen rather than to offer the (C2)sacrifice of fools; for they do not know that they are doing evil.2 (F1)Do not be (C1)quick with your mouth or (F2)impulsive in thought to bring up a matter in the presence of God. For God is in heaven and you are on the earth; therefore let your (C2)words be few.3 For the dream comes through much (F1)effort, and the voice of a (C1)fool through many words.
4 When you (C1)make a vow to God, do not be late in paying it; for He takes no delight in fools. (C2)Pay what you vow!5 It is (C1)better that you not vow, than vow and not pay.6 Do not let your (F1)speech cause (F2)you to sin, and do not say in the presence of the messenger of God that it was a (C1)mistake. Why should God be angry on account of your voice, and destroy the work of your hands?7 For in many dreams and in many words there is futility. Rather, (F1)(C1)fear God.
8 If you see (C1)oppression of the poor and (C2)denial of justice and righteousness in the province, do not be (C3)shocked at the (F1)sight; for one (F2)official watches over another (F2)official, and there are higher (F3)officials over them.9 After all, a king who cultivates the field is beneficial to the land.
The Foolishness of Riches
10 (C1)One who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor one who loves abundance with its income. This too is futility.11 (C1)When good things increase, those who consume them increase. So what is the advantage to their owners except to (F1)look at them?12 The sleep of the laborer is (C1)sweet, whether he eats little or much; but the (F1)full stomach of the rich person does not allow him to sleep.
13 There is a sickening evil which I have seen under the sun: (C1)wealth being (F1)hoarded by its owner to his detriment.14 When that wealth was lost through bad business and he had fathered a son, then there was nothing (F1)to support him.15 (C1)As he came naked from his mother's womb, so he will return as he came. He will (C2)take nothing from the fruit of his labor that he can carry in his hand.16 This also is a sickening evil: exactly as a person (F1)is born, so will he (F2)die. (C1)What then is the advantage for him who (C2)labors for the wind?17 All his life (C1)he also eats in darkness with (C2)great irritation, sickness, and anger.
18 Here is what I have seen to be (C1)good and (F1)fitting: to eat, to drink, and (F2)enjoy oneself in all one's labor in which he labors under the sun during the few (F3)years of his life which God has given him; for this is his (F4)(C2)reward.19 Furthermore, as for every person to whom (C1)God has given riches and wealth, He has also (C2)given him the opportunity to (F1)enjoy them and to receive his (F2)reward and rejoice in his labor; this is the (C3)gift of God.20 For he will not often call to mind the (F1)years of his life, because (C1)God keeps (F2)him busy with the joy of his heart.
The Futility of Life
1 There is an (C1)evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is widespread (F1)among mankind:2 a person to whom God has (C1)given riches, wealth, and honor, so that his soul (C2)lacks nothing of all that he desires, yet God has not given him the opportunity to (F1)enjoy these things, but a foreigner (F2)enjoys them. This is futility and a severe affliction.3 If a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years, however many (F1)they may be, but his soul is not satisfied with good things and he does not even have a proper (C1)burial, then I say, "Better (C2)the miscarriage than he,4 for a miscarriage comes in futility and goes into darkness; and its name is covered in darkness.5 "It has not even seen the sun nor does it know it; yet (F1)it is better off than that man.6 "Even if the man lives a thousand years twice, but does not see good things—(C1)do not all go to one and the same place?"
7 (C1)All a person's labor is for his mouth, and yet (F1)his appetite is not (F2)satisfied.8 For (C1)what advantage does the wise person have over the fool? What does the poor person have, knowing how to walk before the living?9 What the eyes (C1)see is better than what the soul (F1)desires. This too is (C2)futility and striving after wind.
10 Whatever (C1)exists has already been named, and it is known what man is; for he (C2)cannot dispute with the (F1)one who is mightier than he is.11 For there are many words which increase futility. What then is the advantage to a person?12 For who knows what is good for a person during his lifetime, during the few (F1)years of his futile life? He will (F2)spend them like a shadow. For who can tell a person (C1)what will happen after him under the sun?
Acts 9:23-43
Chapter 9
23 When (C1)many days had elapsed, (C2)the Jews plotted together to do away with him,24 but (C1)their plot became known to Saul. (C2)They were also closely watching the gates day and night so that they might put him to death;25 but his disciples took him at night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a large basket.
26 (C1)When he came to Jerusalem, he tried repeatedly to associate with the disciples; and yet they were all afraid of him, as they did not believe that he was a disciple.27 But (C1)Barnabas took hold of him and brought him to the apostles and described to them how he had (C2)seen the Lord on the road, and that He had talked to him, and how (C3)he had (C4)spoken out boldly in the name of Jesus at Damascus.28 And he was with them, (F1)moving about freely in Jerusalem, (C1)speaking out boldly in the name of the Lord.29 And he was talking and arguing with the (F1)(C1)Hellenistic Jews; but they were attempting to put him to death.30 Now when (C1)the (F1)brothers learned of it, they brought him down to (C2)Caesarea and (C3)sent him away to (C4)Tarsus.
31 So (C1)the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria (F1)enjoyed peace, as it was being built up; and as it (F2)continued in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it kept increasing.
Peter's Ministry
32 Now as Peter was traveling through all those regions, he also came down to (C1)the (F1)saints who lived at (F2)(C2)Lydda.33 There he found a man named Aeneas who had been bedridden for eight years, (F1)because he was paralyzed.34 Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; get up and make your own bed." Immediately he got up.35 And all who lived at (F1)(C1)Lydda and (C2)Sharon saw him, and they (C3)turned to the Lord.
36 Now in (C1)Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which when translated means (F1)Dorcas); this woman was (F2)excelling in acts of kindness and charity which she did habitually.37 But it happened (F1)at that time that she became sick and died; and when they had washed her body, they laid it in an (C1)upstairs room.38 Since Lydda was near (C1)Joppa, (C2)the disciples, having heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, "Do not delay in coming to us."39 So Peter got ready and went with them. When he arrived, they brought him into the (C1)room upstairs; and all the (C2)widows stood beside him, weeping and showing all the (F1)tunics and garments that Dorcas used to make while she was with them.40 But Peter (C1)sent them all out and (C2)knelt down and prayed, and turning to the body, he said, "(C3)Tabitha, arise." And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up.41 And he gave her his hand and raised her up; and calling (C1)the (F1)saints and (C2)widows, he presented her alive.42 It became known all over (C1)Joppa, and (C2)many believed in the Lord.43 And Peter stayed in (C1)Joppa many days with (C2)a tanner named Simon.
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