the First Week of Advent
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Bible Reading Plan
Daily Bible Reading
August 9 - Old & New Testament
csb
Psalms 147,148
Psalm 147
God Restores Jerusalem
1 Hallelujah!
How good it is to sing to our God,
for praise is pleasant and lovely.(a)
2 The
Lord
rebuilds Jerusalem;(b)
He gathers Israel's exiled people.(c)
3 He heals the brokenhearted
and binds up their wounds.(d)
4 He counts the number of the stars;
He gives names to all of them.(e)
5 Our Lord is great, vast in power;
His understanding is infinite.[a](f)
6 The
Lord
helps the afflicted
but brings the wicked to the ground.(g)
7 Sing to the
Lord
with thanksgiving;
play the lyre to our God,(h)
8 who covers the sky with clouds,
prepares rain for the earth,
and causes grass to grow on the hills.(i)
9 He provides the animals with their food,
and the young ravens, what they cry for.(j)
10 He is not impressed by the strength of a horse;
He does not value the power[b] of a man.(k)
11 The
Lord
values those who fear Him,
those who put their hope in His faithful love.(l)
12 Exalt the
Lord
, Jerusalem;
praise your God, Zion!(m)
13 For He strengthens the bars of your gates
and blesses your children within you.(n)
14 He endows your territory with prosperity;[c](o)
He satisfies you with the finest wheat.(p)
15 He sends His command throughout the earth;
His word runs swiftly.(q)
16 He spreads snow like wool;
He scatters frost like ashes;(r)
17 He throws His hailstones like crumbs.
Who can withstand His cold?(s)
18 He sends His word and melts them;
He unleashes His winds,[d] and the waters flow.(t)
19 He declares His word to Jacob,
His statutes and judgments to Israel.(u)
20 He has not done this for any nation;
they do not know[e] His judgments.(v)
Hallelujah!
Psalm 148
Creation's Praise of the Lord
1 Hallelujah!
Praise the
Lord
from the heavens;
praise Him in the heights.(a)
2 Praise Him, all His angels;
praise Him, all His hosts.(b)
3 Praise Him, sun and moon;
praise Him, all you shining stars.(c)
4 Praise Him, highest heavens,
and you waters above the heavens.(d)
5 Let them praise the name of Yahweh,
for He commanded, and they were created.(e)
6 He set them in position forever and ever;
He gave an order that will never pass away.(f)
7 Praise the
Lord
from the earth,
all sea monsters and ocean depths,(g)
8 lightning[a] and hail, snow and cloud,
powerful wind that executes His command,(h)
9 mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars,(i)
10 wild animals and all cattle,
creatures that crawl and flying birds,(j)
11 kings of the earth and all peoples,
princes and all judges of the earth,(k)
12 young men as well as young women,
old and young together.(l)
13 Let them praise the name of Yahweh,
for His name alone is exalted.
His majesty covers heaven and earth.(m)
14 He has raised up a horn for His people,
resulting in praise to all His godly ones,
to the Israelites, the people close to Him.(n)
Hallelujah!
1 Corinthians 4
Chapter 4
The Faithful Manager
1 A person should consider us in this way: as servants(a) of Christ and managers(b) of God's mysteries.(c) 2 In this regard, it is expected of managers that each one of them be found faithful.(d) 3 It is of little(e) importance to me that I should be evaluated(f) by you or by any human court.[a] In fact, I don't even evaluate myself. 4 For I am not conscious of anything against myself, but I am not justified(g) by this. The One who evaluates me is the Lord. 5 Therefore don't judge(h) anything prematurely, before the Lord comes,(i) who will both bring to light what is hidden in darkness and reveal the intentions of the hearts. And then praise will come to each one from God.(j)
The Apostles' Example of Humility
6 Now, brothers,(k) I have applied these things to myself and Apollos(l) for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the saying: "Nothing beyond what is written."[b] The purpose is that none of you will be inflated with pride in favor of one person over another. 7 For who makes you so superior? What do you have that you didn't receive? If, in fact, you did receive it, why do you boast as if you hadn't received it? 8 You are already full! You are already rich! You have begun to reign as kings without us—and I wish you did reign, so that we could also reign with you! 9 For I think God has displayed us, the apostles, in last place, like men condemned to die: We have become a spectacle to the world and to angels and to men. 10 We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ!(m) We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored! 11 Up to the present hour we are both hungry and thirsty; we are poorly clothed, roughly treated, homeless; 12 we labor, working(n) with our own hands.(o) When we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; 13 when we are slandered, we respond graciously. Even now, we are like the world's garbage, like the dirt everyone scrapes off their sandals.(p)
Paul's Fatherly Care
14 I'm not writing this to shame you, but to warn you as my dear children.(q) 15 For you can have 10,000 instructors in Christ, but you can't have many fathers. For I became your father(r) in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 16 Therefore I urge you to imitate me. 17 This is why I have sent(s) Timothy to you. He is my dearly loved and faithful(t) son in the Lord. He will remind you about my ways in Christ Jesus, just as I teach everywhere in every church. 18 Now some are inflated with pride, as though I were not coming to you. 19 But I will come to you soon,(u) if the Lord wills, and I will know not the talk but the power of those who are inflated with pride. 20 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. 21 What do you want? Should I come to you with a rod,(v) or in love and a spirit of gentleness?(w)
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