the Fourth Week after Easter
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Bible Reading Plan
Daily Bible Reading
August 4 - Old & New Testament
niv
Psalms 123,124,125
Psalm 123
A song of ascents.
1 I lift up my eyes to you,
to you who sit enthroned(a) in heaven.
2 As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master,
as the eyes of a female slave look to the hand of her mistress,
so our eyes look to the
Lord
(b) our God,
till he shows us his mercy.
3 Have mercy on us,
Lord
, have mercy on us,
for we have endured no end of contempt.
4 We have endured no end
of ridicule from the arrogant,
of contempt from the proud.
Psalm 124
A song of ascents. Of David.
1 If the
Lord
had not been on our side—
let Israel say(a)—
2 if the
Lord
had not been on our side
when people attacked us,
3 they would have swallowed us alive
when their anger flared against us;
4 the flood(b) would have engulfed us,
the torrent(c) would have swept over us,
5 the raging waters
would have swept us away.
6 Praise be to the
Lord
,
who has not let us be torn by their teeth.
7 We have escaped like a bird
from the fowler's snare;(d)
the snare has been broken,(e)
and we have escaped.
8 Our help is in the name(f) of the
Lord
,
the Maker of heaven(g) and earth.
Psalm 125
A song of ascents.
1 Those who trust in the
Lord
are like Mount Zion,(a)
which cannot be shaken(b) but endures forever.
2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem,(c)
so the
Lord
surrounds(d) his people
both now and forevermore.
3 The scepter(e) of the wicked will not remain(f)
over the land allotted to the righteous,
for then the righteous might use
their hands to do evil.(g)
4
Lord
, do good(h) to those who are good,
to those who are upright in heart.(i)
5 But those who turn(j) to crooked ways(k)
the
Lord
will banish(l) with the evildoers.
Peace be on Israel.(m)
2 Thessalonians 3
Chapter 3
Request for Prayer
1 As for other matters, brothers and sisters,(a) pray for us(b) that the message of the Lord(c) may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you.(d) 2 And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil people,(e) for not everyone has faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful,(f) and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.(g) 4 We have confidence(h) in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command. 5 May the Lord direct your hearts(i) into God's love and Christ's perseverance.
Warning Against Idleness
6 In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ,(j) we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from(k) every believer who is idle and disruptive(l) and does not live according to the teaching[a] you received from us.(m) 7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example.(n) We were not idle when we were with you, 8 nor did we eat anyone's food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked(o) night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. 9 We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help,(p) but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate.(q) 10 For even when we were with you,(r) we gave you this rule: "The one who is unwilling to work(s) shall not eat."
11 We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies.(t) 12 Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ(u) to settle down and earn the food they eat.(v) 13 And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good.(w)
14 Take special note of anyone who does not obey our instruction in this letter. Do not associate with them,(x) in order that they may feel ashamed.(y) 15 Yet do not regard them as an enemy, but warn them as you would a fellow believer.(z)
Final Greetings
16 Now may the Lord of peace(aa) himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.(ab)
17 I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand,(ac) which is the distinguishing mark in all my letters. This is how I write.
18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.(ad)
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