the Third Week after Easter
free while helping to build churches and support pastors in Uganda.
Click here to learn more!
Bible Reading Plan
Daily Bible Reading
December 13 - Old & New Testament
niv
Psalms 74,75,76
Psalm 74
A maskil[a] of Asaph.
1 O God, why have you rejected(a) us forever?(b)
Why does your anger smolder against the sheep of your pasture?(c)
2 Remember the nation you purchased(d) long ago,(e)
the people of your inheritance,(f) whom you redeemed(g)—
Mount Zion,(h) where you dwelt.(i)
3 Turn your steps toward these everlasting ruins,(j)
all this destruction the enemy has brought on the sanctuary.
4 Your foes roared(k) in the place where you met with us;
they set up their standards(l) as signs.
5 They behaved like men wielding axes
to cut through a thicket of trees.(m)
6 They smashed all the carved(n) paneling
with their axes and hatchets.
7 They burned your sanctuary to the ground;
they defiled(o) the dwelling place(p) of your Name.(q)
8 They said in their hearts, "We will crush(r) them completely!"
They burned(s) every place where God was worshiped in the land.
9 We are given no signs from God;(t)
no prophets(u) are left,
and none of us knows how long this will be.
10 How long(v) will the enemy mock(w) you, God?
Will the foe revile(x) your name forever?
11 Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand?(y)
Take it from the folds of your garment(z) and destroy them!
12 But God is my King(aa) from long ago;
he brings salvation(ab) on the earth.
13 It was you who split open the sea(ac) by your power;
you broke the heads of the monster(ad) in the waters.
14 It was you who crushed the heads of Leviathan(ae)
and gave it as food to the creatures of the desert.(af)
15 It was you who opened up springs(ag) and streams;
you dried up(ah) the ever-flowing rivers.
16 The day is yours, and yours also the night;
you established the sun and moon.(ai)
17 It was you who set all the boundaries(aj) of the earth;
you made both summer and winter.(ak)
18 Remember how the enemy has mocked you,
Lord
,
how foolish people(al) have reviled your name.
19 Do not hand over the life of your dove(am) to wild beasts;
do not forget the lives of your afflicted(an) people forever.
20 Have regard for your covenant,(ao)
because haunts of violence fill the dark places(ap) of the land.
21 Do not let the oppressed(aq) retreat in disgrace;
may the poor and needy(ar) praise your name.
22 Rise up,(as) O God, and defend your cause;
remember how fools(at) mock you all day long.
23 Do not ignore the clamor(au) of your adversaries,(av)
the uproar(aw) of your enemies,(ax) which rises continually.
Psalm 75[a]
For the director of music. To the tune of "Do Not Destroy." A psalm of Asaph. A song.
1 We praise you, God,
we praise you, for your Name is near;(a)
people tell of your wonderful deeds.(b)
2 You say, "I choose the appointed time;(c)
it is I who judge with equity.(d)
3 When the earth and all its people quake,(e)
it is I who hold its pillars(f) firm.[b]
4 To the arrogant(g) I say, ‘Boast no more,'(h)
and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up your horns.[c](i)
5 Do not lift your horns against heaven;
do not speak so defiantly.(j)'"
6 No one from the east or the west
or from the desert can exalt themselves.
7 It is God who judges:(k)
He brings one down, he exalts another.(l)
8 In the hand of the
Lord
is a cup
full of foaming wine mixed(m) with spices;
he pours it out, and all the wicked of the earth
drink it down to its very dregs.(n)
9 As for me, I will declare(o) this forever;
I will sing(p) praise to the God of Jacob,(q)
10 who says, "I will cut off the horns of all the wicked,
but the horns of the righteous will be lifted up."(r)
Psalm 76[a]
For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm of Asaph. A song.
1 God is renowned in Judah;
in Israel his name is great.(a)
2 His tent is in Salem,(b)
his dwelling place in Zion.(c)
3 There he broke the flashing arrows,(d)
the shields and the swords, the weapons of war.[b](e)
4 You are radiant with light,(f)
more majestic than mountains rich with game.
5 The valiant(g) lie plundered,
they sleep their last sleep;(h)
not one of the warriors
can lift his hands.
6 At your rebuke,(i) God of Jacob,
both horse and chariot(j) lie still.
7 It is you alone who are to be feared.(k)
Who can stand(l) before you when you are angry?(m)
8 From heaven you pronounced judgment,
and the land feared(n) and was quiet—
9 when you, God, rose up to judge,(o)
to save all the afflicted(p) of the land.
10 Surely your wrath against mankind brings you praise,(q)
and the survivors of your wrath are restrained.[c]
11 Make vows to the
Lord
your God and fulfill them;(r)
let all the neighboring lands
bring gifts(s) to the One to be feared.
12 He breaks the spirit of rulers;
he is feared by the kings of the earth.
Revelation 5
Chapter 5
The Scroll and the Lamb
1 Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne(a) a scroll with writing on both sides(b) and sealed(c) with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel(d) proclaiming in a loud voice, "Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?" 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. 4 I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep! See, the Lion(e) of the tribe of Judah,(f) the Root of David,(g) has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals."
6 Then I saw a Lamb,(h) looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures(i) and the elders.(j) The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes,(k) which are the seven spirits[a](l) of God sent out into all the earth. 7 He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne.(m) 8 And when he had taken it, the four living creatures(n) and the twenty-four elders(o) fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp(p) and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers(q) of God's people. 9 And they sang a new song, saying:(r)
"You are worthy(s) to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
and with your blood(t) you purchased(u) for God
persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.(v)
10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests(w) to serve our God,
and they will reign[b] on the earth."(x)
11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand.(y) They encircled the throne and the living creatures(z) and the elders.(aa) 12 In a loud voice they were saying:
"Worthy is the Lamb,(ab) who was slain,(ac)
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and praise!"(ad)
13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth(ae) and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:
"To him who sits on the throne(af) and to the Lamb(ag)
be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!"(ah)
14 The four living creatures(ai) said, "Amen,"(aj) and the elders(ak) fell down and worshiped.(al)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
