Day 194 of 365

2 Kgs 14:1–29

1 In the second year of Joash son of Joahaz king of Israel began Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah to reign.

2 He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem: and his mother's name was Jehoaddin of Jerusalem.

3 He did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord, yet not like David his father: he did according to all that Joash his father had done.

4 However the high places were not taken away: the people still sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places.

5 It happened, as soon as the kingdom was established in his hand, that he killed his servants who had slain the king his father:

6 but the children of the murderers he did not put to death; according to that which is written in the book of the law of Moses, as the Lord commanded, saying, "The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, nor the children be put to death for the fathers; but every man shall die for his own sin."

7 He killed of Edom in the Valley of Salt ten thousand, and took Sela by war, and called its name Joktheel, to this day.

8 Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, "Come, let us look one another in the face."

9 Jehoash the king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, "The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, 'Give your daughter to my son as wife. Then a wild animal that was in Lebanon passed by, and trampled down the thistle.

10 You have indeed struck Edom, and your heart has lifted you up. Enjoy the glory of it, and stay at home; for why should you meddle to your harm, that you should fall, even you, and Judah with you?'"

11 But Amaziah would not listen. So Jehoash king of Israel went up; and he and Amaziah king of Judah looked one another in the face at Beth Shemesh, which belongs to Judah.

12 Judah was defeated by Israel; and they fled every man to his tent.

13 Jehoash king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Jehoash the son of Ahaziah, at Beth Shemesh, and came to Jerusalem, and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim to the corner gate, four hundred cubits.

14 He took all the gold and silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of the Lord, and in the treasures of the king's house, the hostages also, and returned to Samaria.

15 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoash which he did, and his might, and how he fought with Amaziah king of Judah, aren't they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

16 Jehoash slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel; and Jeroboam his son reigned in his place.

17 Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah lived after the death of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel fifteen years.

18 Now the rest of the acts of Amaziah, aren't they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

19 They made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem; and he fled to Lachish: but they sent after him to Lachish, and killed him there.

20 They brought him on horses; and he was buried at Jerusalem with his fathers in the city of David.

21 All the people of Judah took Azariah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in the place of his father Amaziah.

22 He built Elath, and restored it to Judah, after that the king slept with his fathers.

23 In the fifteenth year of Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah, Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel began to reign in Samaria for forty-one years.

24 He did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord: he did not depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin.

25 He restored the border of Israel from the entrance of Hamath to the sea of the Arabah, according to the word of the Lord, the God of Israel, which he spoke by his servant Jonah the son of Amittai, the prophet, who was of Gath Hepher.

26 For the Lord saw the affliction of Israel, that it was very bitter; for there was none shut up nor left at large, neither was there any helper for Israel.

27 The Lord did not say that he would blot out the name of Israel from under the sky; but he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash.

28 Now the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, and all that he did, and his might, how he warred, and how he recovered Damascus, and Hamath, which had belonged to Judah, for Israel, aren't they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

29 Jeroboam slept with his fathers, even with the kings of Israel; and Zechariah his son reigned in his place.

Acts 16:15–40

15 When she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and stay." So she persuaded us.

16 It happened, as we were going to prayer, that a certain girl having a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much gain by fortune telling.

17 She followed Paul and us, shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation!"

18 She was doing this for many days. But Paul, becoming greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!" It came out that very hour.

19 But when her masters saw that the hope of their gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas, and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers.

20 When they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, "These men, being Jews, are agitating our city,

21 and set forth customs which it is not lawful for us to accept or to observe, being Romans."

22 The multitude rose up together against them, and the magistrates tore their clothes off of them, and commanded them to be beaten with rods.

23 When they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely,

24 who, having received such a command, threw them into the inner prison, and secured their feet in the stocks.

25 But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.

26 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were loosened.

27 The jailer, being roused out of sleep and seeing the prison doors open, drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped.

28 But Paul shouted loudly, saying, "Do not harm yourself, for we are all here!"

29 He called for lights and sprang in, and, fell down trembling before Paul and Silas,

30 and brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"

31 They said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household."

32 They spoke the word of the Lord to him, and to all who were in his house.

33 He took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes, and was immediately baptized, he and all his household.

34 He brought them up into his house, and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, with all his household, having believed in God.

35 But when it was day, the magistrates sent the sergeants, saying, "Let those men go."

36 The jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, "The magistrates have sent to let you go; now therefore come out, and go in peace."

37 But Paul said to them, "They have beaten us publicly, without a trial, men who are Romans, and have cast us into prison! Do they now release us secretly? No indeed! Let them come themselves and bring us out!"

38 The sergeants reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Romans,

39 and they came and begged them. When they had brought them out, they asked them to depart from the city.

40 They went out of the prison, and entered into Lydia's house. When they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them, and departed.

Ps 83:1–18

1 God, do not keep silent. Do not keep silent, and do not be still, God.

2 For, behold, your enemies are stirred up. Those who hate you have lifted up their heads.

3 They conspire with cunning against your people. They plot against your cherished ones.

4 "Come," they say, "and let's destroy them as a nation, that the name of Israel may be remembered no more."

5 For they have conspired together with one mind. They form an alliance against you.

6 The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites; Moab, and the Hagrites;

7 Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek; Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre;

8 Assyria also is joined with them. They have helped the children of Lot. Selah.

9 Do to them as you did to Midian, as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the river Kishon;

10 who perished at Endor, who became as dung for the earth.

11 Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb; yes, all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna;

12 who said, "Let us take possession of God's pasturelands."

13 My God, make them like tumbleweed; like chaff before the wind.

14 As the fire that burns the forest, as the flame that sets the mountains on fire,

15 so pursue them with your tempest, and terrify them with your storm.

16 Fill their faces with confusion, that they may seek your name, Lord.

17 Let them be disappointed and dismayed forever. Yes, let them be confounded and perish;

18 that they may know that you alone, whose name is the Lord, are the Most High over all the earth.