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Bible Reading Plan
Daily Bible Reading
September 29 - Straight Thru the Bible
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Joel 2:18-3:21
Chapter 2
18 Then the LORD (F1)will be (C1)zealous for His land,
And (F2)will have (C2)compassion for His people.
19 The LORD (F1)will answer and say to His people,
"Behold, I am going to (C1)send you grain, new wine, and oil,
And you will be satisfied in full with (F2)them;
And I will (C2)never again make you a disgrace among the nations.
20 "But I will remove the (C1)northern army far from you,
And I will drive it into a dry and desolate land,
Its advance guard into the (C2)eastern sea,
And its rear guard into the (C3)western sea.
And its (C4)stench will ascend and its odor of decay will come up,
Because it has done great things."
21 (C1)Do not fear, land; shout for joy and rejoice,
For the LORD has done (C2)great things.
22 Do not fear, animals of the field,
For the (C1)pastures of the wilderness have turned green,
For the tree has produced its fruit,
The fig tree and the vine have yielded (F1)in full.
23 So shout for joy, you (C1)sons of Zion,
And (C2)rejoice in the LORD your God;
For He has (C3)given you (F1)the early rain for your vindication.
And He has brought down for you the rain,
The (F2)early and (F3)(C4)latter rain (F4)as before.
24 The threshing floors will be full of grain,
And the vats will (C1)overflow with the new wine and oil.
25 "Then I will compensate you for the years
That the (F1)swarming (C1)locust has eaten,
The creeping locust, the stripping locust, and the gnawing locust—
My great army which I sent among you.
26 "You will have plenty to (C1)eat and be satisfied,
And you will (C2)praise the name of the LORD your God,
Who has (C3)dealt wondrously with you;
Then My people will (C4)never be put to shame.
27 "So you will (C1)know that I am in the midst of Israel,
And that I am the LORD your God
And there is (C2)no other;
And My people will never be (C3)put to shame.
The Promise of the Spirit
28 "(F1)(C1)It will come about after this
That I will (C2)pour out My Spirit on all (F2)(C3)mankind;
And your sons and your daughters will prophesy,
Your old men will have dreams,
Your young men will see visions.
29 "And even on the (C1)male and female servants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days.
The Day of the LORD
30 "I will (F1)(C1)display wonders in the sky and on the earth,
Blood, fire, and columns of smoke.
31 "The (C1)sun will be turned into darkness,
And the moon into blood,
Before the (C2)great and awesome day of the LORD comes.
32 "And it will come about that (C1)everyone who calls on the name of the LORD
Will (F1)be saved;
For (C2)on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem
There will be those who (C3)escape,
Just as the LORD has said,
Even among the (C4)survivors whom the LORD calls.
Chapter 3
The Nations Will Be Judged
1 "(F1)For behold, (C1)in those days and at that time,
When I (C2)restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem,
2 I will (C1)gather all the nations
And bring them down to the (C2)Valley of (F1)Jehoshaphat.
Then I will (C3)enter into judgment with them there
On behalf of My people and My inheritance, Israel,
Whom they have (C4)scattered among the nations;
And they have (C5)divided up My land.
3 "They have also (C1)cast lots for My people,
(F1)(C2)Traded a boy for a prostitute,
And sold a girl for wine so that they may drink.
9 (C1)Proclaim this among the nations:
(C2)Prepare for holy war; (C3)stir up the warriors!
Have all the soldiers come forward, have them come up!
10 (C1)Beat your plowshares into swords,
And your pruning hooks into spears;
(C2)Let the weak man say, "I am a warrior."
11 (F1)(C1)Hurry and come, all you surrounding nations,
And gather yourselves there.
Bring down, LORD, Your (C2)warriors.
12 Let the nations be awakened
And come up to the (C1)Valley of (F1)Jehoshaphat,
For there I will sit to (C2)judge
All the surrounding nations.
13 (C1)Put in the sickle, for the (C2)harvest is ripe.
Come, (C3)tread the grapes, for the (C4)wine press is full;
The vats overflow, for their (C5)wickedness is great.
14 (C1)Multitudes, multitudes in the (C2)valley of (F1)decision!
For the (C3)day of the LORD is near in the valley of (F1)decision.
15 The (C1)sun and moon have become dark,
And the stars have lost their brightness.
16 The LORD (C1)roars from Zion
And (C2)utters His voice from Jerusalem,
And the (C3)heavens and the earth quake.
But the LORD is a (C4)refuge for His people,
And a (C5)stronghold for the sons of Israel.
17 Then you will (C1)know that I am the LORD your God,
Dwelling on Zion, My (C2)holy mountain.
So Jerusalem will be (C3)holy,
And (C4)strangers will no longer pass through it.
Judah Will Be Blessed
18 And on that day
The (C1)mountains will drip with (F1)sweet wine,
And the hills will (C2)flow with milk,
And all the (C3)brooks of Judah will flow with water;
And a (C4)spring will go out from the house of the LORD
And water the Valley of (F2)Shittim.
19 Egypt will become a wasteland,
And Edom will become a desolate wilderness,
Because of the (C1)violence (F1)done to the sons of Judah,
In whose land they have shed innocent blood.
20 But Judah will be (C1)inhabited forever,
And Jerusalem for all generations.
21 And I will (C1)avenge their blood which I have not avenged,
For the LORD dwells in Zion.
Amos 1-4
Chapter 1
Judgment on Neighbor Nations
1 The words of Amos, who was among the (C1)sheepherders from (C2)Tekoa, which he saw in visions concerning Israel in the days of (C3)Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of (C4)Jeroboam son of Joash, king of Israel, two years before the (C5)earthquake.
2 And he said,
"The (C1)LORD roars from Zion,
And from Jerusalem He utters His voice;
And the shepherds' (C2)pasture grounds mourn,
And the (F1)(C3)summit of Carmel dries up."
3 This is what the LORD says:
"For (C1)three offenses of (C2)Damascus, and for four,
I will not (F1)revoke its punishment,
Because they threshed Gilead with iron sledges.
4 "So I will send fire upon the house of Hazael,
And it will consume the citadels of (C1)Ben-hadad.
5 "I will also (C1)break the gate bar of Damascus,
And eliminate every inhabitant from the (F1)Valley of Aven,
As well as him who holds the scepter, from Beth-eden;
So the people of Aram will be exiled to (C2)Kir,"
Says the LORD.
6 This is what the LORD says:
"For three offenses of (C1)Gaza, and for four,
I will not revoke its punishment,
Because they led into exile an entire population
To (C2)turn them over to Edom.
7 "So I will send fire on the wall of Gaza
And it will consume her citadels.
8 "I will also eliminate every inhabitant from (C1)Ashdod,
As well as him who holds the scepter, from (C2)Ashkelon;
And I will direct My (F1)power against Ekron,
And the remnant of the (C3)Philistines will perish,"
Says the Lord (F2)GOD.
9 This is what the LORD says:
"For three offenses of (C1)Tyre, and for four,
I will not revoke its punishment,
Because they turned an entire population over to Edom
And did not remember the covenant of (F1)(C2)brotherhood.
10 "So I will (C1)send fire on the wall of Tyre,
And it will consume her citadels."
11 This is what the LORD says:
"For three offenses of (C1)Edom, and for four,
I will not revoke its punishment,
Because he (C2)pursued his brother with the sword
And stifled his compassion;
His anger also (C3)tore continually,
And he maintained his fury forever.
12 "So I will send fire upon (C1)Teman
And it will consume the citadels of Bozrah."
13 This is what the LORD says:
"For three offenses of the sons of (C1)Ammon, and for four,
I will not revoke its punishment,
Because they (C2)ripped open the pregnant women of Gilead
In order to (C3)enlarge their borders.
14 "So I will kindle a fire on the wall of (C1)Rabbah,
And it will consume her citadels
Amid (F1)(C2)war cries on the day of battle,
And amid a (C3)storm on the day of tempest.
15 "Their (C1)king will go into exile,
He and his princes together," says the LORD.
Chapter 2
Judgment on Moab
1 This is what the LORD says: "For three offenses of (C1)Moab, and for four,
I will not (F1)revoke its punishment,
Because he (C2)burned the bones of the king of Edom to lime.
2 "So I will send fire upon Moab
And it will consume the citadels of (C1)Kerioth;
And Moab will die amid the (C2)panic of battle,
Amid war cries and the sound of a trumpet.
3 "I will also eliminate the (F1)(C1)judge from her midst
And slay all her (C2)leaders with him," says the LORD.
Judgment on Judah
4 This is what the LORD says:
"For three offenses of (C1)Judah, and for four,
I will not revoke its punishment,
Because they (C2)rejected the Law of the LORD
And have not kept His statutes;
Their (F1)(C3)lies also have led them astray,
Those which their (C4)fathers followed.
5 "So I will (C1)send fire upon Judah,
And it will consume the citadels of Jerusalem."
Judgment on Israel
6 This is what the LORD says:
"For three offenses of (C1)Israel, and for four,
I will not revoke its punishment,
Because they (C2)sell the righteous for (F1)money,
And the needy for a pair of sandals.
7 "These who (F1)trample the head of the (C1)helpless to the dust of the earth
Also (C2)divert the way of the humble;
And a (C3)man and his father (F2)resort to the same (F3)girl
So as to profane My holy name.
8 "And on garments (C1)seized as pledges they stretch out beside (C2)every altar,
And in the house of their God they (C3)drink the wine of those who have been fined.
9 "Yet it was I who destroyed the (C1)Amorite before them,
(F1)Though his (C2)height was like the height of cedars
And he was as strong as the oaks;
I also destroyed his (C3)fruit above and his roots below.
10 "And it was I who (C1)brought you up from the land of Egypt,
And led you in the wilderness for (C2)forty years
So that you might take possession of the land of the (C3)Amorite.
11 "Then I (C1)raised up some of your sons to be prophets,
And some of your young men to be (C2)Nazirites.
Is this not so, you sons of Israel?" declares the LORD.
12 "But you made the Nazirites drink wine,
And you commanded the prophets, saying, 'You (C1)shall not prophesy!'
13 "Behold, I am (C1)making a rut in the ground beneath you,
Just as a wagon makes a rut when filled with sheaves.
14 "(C1)Refuge will be lost from the swift,
And the strong will not strengthen his power,
Nor the (C2)warrior save his (F1)life.
15 "The one who (C1)grasps the bow will not stand his ground,
The swift of foot will not escape,
Nor will the one who rides the (C2)horse save his (F1)life.
16 "Even the (F1)bravest among the warriors will (C1)flee naked on that day," declares the LORD.
Chapter 3
All the Tribes Are Guilty
1 Hear this word which the LORD has spoken against you, sons of Israel, against the entire (F1)(C1)family which (F2)He brought up from the land of Egypt:
2 "(C1)You only have I (F1)known among all the families of the earth;
Therefore I will (F2)(C2)punish you for all your wrongdoing."
3 Do two people walk together unless they have agreed to meet?
4 Does a (C1)lion roar in the forest when he has no prey?
Does a young lion (F1)growl from his den unless he has captured something?
5 Does a bird fall into a trap on the ground when there is no (F1)device in it?
Does a trap spring up from the earth when it captures nothing at all?
6 If a (C1)trumpet is blown in a city, will the people not tremble?
If a (C2)disaster occurs in a city, has the LORD not brought it about?
7 (F1)Certainly the Lord (F2)GOD does nothing
Unless He (C1)reveals His secret plan
To His servants the prophets.
8 A (C1)lion has roared! Who will not fear?
The (C2)Lord GOD has spoken! (C3)Who can do anything but prophesy?
9 Proclaim on the citadels in (C1)Ashdod and on the citadels in the land of Egypt and say, "Assemble yourselves on the (C2)mountains of Samaria and see the great panic within her and the (C3)oppressions in her midst.10 "But they (C1)do not know how to do what is right," declares the LORD, "these who (C2)store up (F1)violence and devastation in their citadels."
11 Therefore, this is what the Lord GOD says: "An (C1)enemy, one surrounding the land,
Will take down your fortifications from you,
And your (C2)citadels will be looted."
"Just as the shepherd (F1)(C1)snatches from the lion's mouth a couple of legs or a piece of an ear,
So will the sons of Israel living in Samaria be (F2)snatched away—
With the (C2)corner of a bed and the (F3)(C3)cover of a couch!
13 "Hear and (C1)testify against the house of Jacob,"
Declares the Lord GOD, the God of armies.
14 "For on the day that I punish Israel's offenses,
I will also punish the altars of (C1)Bethel;
The horns of the altar will be cut off,
And will fall to the ground.
15 "I will also strike the (C1)winter house together with the (C2)summer house;
The houses of (F1)(C3)ivory will also perish,
And the (C4)great houses will come to an end,"
Declares the LORD.
Chapter 4
"Yet You Have Not Returned to Me"
1 Hear this word, you (F1)cows of (C1)Bashan who are on the (C2)mountain of Samaria,
Who (C3)exploit the poor, who oppress the needy,
(F2)And say to their (F3)husbands, "Bring now, that we may (C4)drink!"
2 The Lord (F1)GOD has (C1)sworn by His (C2)holiness,
"For behold, the days are coming upon you
When (F2)they will take you away with (C3)meat hooks,
And the last of you with (C4)fish hooks.
3 "You will (C1)go out through holes in the walls,
One in front of the other,
And you (F1)will be hurled to Harmon," declares the LORD.
4 "Enter Bethel and do wrong;
In Gilgal multiply wrongdoing!
(C1)Bring your sacrifices every morning,
Your tithes every three days.
5 "(F1)Offer a (C1)thanksgiving offering also from that which is leavened,
And proclaim (C2)(F2)voluntary offerings, make them known.
For so you (C3)love to do, you sons of Israel,"
Declares the Lord GOD.
6 "But I gave you also (C1)cleanness of teeth in all your cities,
And lack of bread in all your places;
Yet you have (C2)not returned to Me," declares the LORD.
7 "Furthermore, I (C1)withheld the rain from you
While there were still three months until harvest.
Then I would send rain on one city,
But on (C2)another city I would not send rain;
One part would be rained on,
While the part not rained on would dry up.
8 "So the people of two or three cities would stagger to another city to drink (C1)water,
But would (C2)not be satisfied;
Yet you have (C3)not returned to Me," declares the LORD.
9 "I (C1)struck you with scorching wind and mildew;
The (C2)caterpillar was devouring
Your many gardens and vineyards, fig trees and olive trees;
Yet you have (C3)not returned to Me," declares the LORD.
10 "I sent a (C1)plague among you (F1)as in Egypt;
I (C2)killed your young men with the sword, along with your (C3)captured horses,
And I made the (C4)stench of your camp rise up in your nostrils;
Yet you have (C5)not returned to Me," declares the LORD.
11 "I overthrew you, as (C1)God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah,
And you were like a (C2)log snatched from a fire;
Yet you have (C3)not returned to Me," declares the LORD.
12 "Therefore so I will do to you, Israel;
Because I will do this to you,
Prepare to (C1)meet your God, Israel."
13 For behold, He who (C1)forms mountains and (C2)creates the wind,
And (C3)declares to a person what are His thoughts,
He who (C4)makes dawn into darkness
And (C5)treads on the high places of the earth,
(C6)The LORD God of armies is His name.
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