Day 284 of 365

Jer 10:1–11:23

10:1 Hear the word which the Lord speaks to you, house of Israel!

10:2 Thus says the Lord, "Do not learn the way of the nations, and do not be dismayed at the signs of the sky; for the nations are dismayed at them.

10:3 For the customs of the peoples are vanity; for one cuts a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman with the axe.

10:4 They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it not move.

10:5 They are like a palm tree, of turned work, and do not speak: they must be carried, because they can't go. Do not be afraid of them; for they can't do evil, neither is it in them to do good."

10:6 "There is none like you, Lord; you are great, and your name is great in might.

10:7 Who should not fear you, King of the nations? For it appertains to you; because among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their royal estate, there is none like you.

10:8 But they are together brutish and foolish: the instruction of idols! it is but a stock.

10:9 There is silver beaten into plates, which is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the work of the artificer and of the hands of the goldsmith; blue and purple for their clothing; they are all the work of skillful men.

10:10 But the Lord is the true God; he is the living God, and an everlasting King: at his wrath the earth trembles, and the nations are not able to withstand his indignation.

10:11 You shall say this to them: 'The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, these shall perish from the earth, and from under the heavens.'

10:12 He has made the earth by his power, he has established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding has he stretched out the heavens:

10:13 when he utters his voice, there is a tumult of waters in the heavens, and he causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth; he makes lightnings for the rain, and brings forth the wind out of his treasuries.

10:14 Every man has become brutish and without knowledge; every goldsmith is disappointed by his engraved image; for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them.

10:15 They are vanity, a work of delusion: in the time of their visitation they shall perish.

10:16 The portion of Jacob is not like these; for he is the former of all things; and Israel is the tribe of his inheritance; the Lord of hosts is his name."

10:17 'Gather up your wares out of the land, you who live under siege.

10:18 For thus says the Lord, 'Behold, I will sling out the inhabitants of the land at this time, and will distress them, that they may feel it.'

10:19 Woe is me because of my hurt! My wound is grievous: but I said, 'Truly this is my grief, and I must bear it.'

10:20 My tent is destroyed, and all my cords are broken: my children are gone forth from me, and they are no more: there is none to spread my tent any more, and to set up my curtains.

10:21 For the shepherds are become brutish, and have not inquired of the Lord: therefore they have not prospered, and all their flocks are scattered.

10:22 The voice of news, behold, it comes, and a great commotion out of the north country, to make the cities of Judah a desolation, a dwelling place of jackals.

10:23 Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man who walks to direct his steps.

10:24 Lord, correct me, but in measure: not in your anger, lest you bring me to nothing.

10:25 Pour out your wrath on the nations that do not know you, and on the families that do not call on your name: for they have devoured Jacob, yes, they have devoured him and consumed him, and have laid waste his habitation."

11:1 The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying,

11:2 "Hear the words of this covenant, and speak to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem;

11:3 and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: "Cursed is the man who doesn't hear the words of this covenant,

11:4 which I commanded your fathers in the day that I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, out of the iron furnace, saying, "Obey my voice, and do them, according to all which I command you: so you shall be my people, and I will be your God;

11:5 that I may establish the oath which I swore to your fathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey," as at this day.'" Then I answered, and said, "Amen, Lord."

11:6 The Lord said to me, "Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying, 'Hear the words of this covenant, and do them.

11:7 For I earnestly protested to your fathers in the day that I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, even to this day, rising early and protesting, saying, Obey my voice.

11:8 Yet they did not obey, nor turn their ear, but walked everyone in the stubbornness of their evil heart: therefore I brought on them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do, but they did not do them.'"

11:9 The Lord said to me, "A conspiracy is found among the men of Judah, and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

11:10 They are turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers, who refused to hear my words; and they are gone after other gods to serve them: the house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken my covenant which I made with their fathers.

11:11 Therefore thus says the Lord, 'Behold, I will bring disaster on them, which they shall not be able to escape; and they shall cry to me, but I will not listen to them.

11:12 Then shall the cities of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem go and cry to the gods to which they offer incense: but they will not save them at all in the time of their trouble.

11:13 For according to the number of your cities are your gods, Judah; and according to the number of the streets of Jerusalem have you set up altars to the shameful thing, even altars to burn incense to Baal.'

11:14 Therefore do not pray for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them; for I will not hear them in the time that they cry to me because of their trouble."

11:15 "What has my beloved to do in my house, since she has worked lewdness with many, and the holy flesh is passed from you? When you do evil, then you rejoice.

11:16 The Lord called your name, "A green olive tree, beautiful with goodly fruit." With the noise of a great tumult he has kindled fire on it, and its branches are broken.

11:17 For the Lord of hosts, who planted you, has pronounced evil against you, because of the evil of the house of Israel and of the house of Judah, which they have worked for themselves in provoking me to anger by offering incense to Baal."

11:18 The Lord gave me knowledge of it, and I knew it: then you showed me their doings.

11:19 But I was like a gentle lamb that is led to the slaughter; and I did not know that they had devised devices against me, saying, "Let us destroy the tree with its fruit, and let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name may be no more remembered."

11:20 "But, the Lord of hosts, who judges righteously, who tests the heart and the mind, I shall see your vengeance on them; for to you have I revealed my cause."

11:21 Therefore thus says the Lord concerning the men of Anathoth, who seek your life, saying, "You shall not prophesy in the name of the Lord, that you not die by our hand;"

11:22 therefore thus says the Lord of hosts, "Behold, I will punish them: the young men shall die by the sword; their sons and their daughters shall die by famine;

11:23 and there shall be no remnant to them: for I will bring disaster on the men of Anathoth, even the year of their visitation."

2 Cor 10:1–18

1 Now I Paul, myself, entreat you by the humility and gentleness of Christ; I who in your presence am lowly among you, but being absent am of good courage toward you.

2 Yes, I beg you that I may not, when present, show courage with the confidence with which I intend to be bold against some, who consider us to be walking according to the flesh.

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh;

4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the throwing down of strongholds,

5 throwing down imaginations and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ;

6 and being in readiness to avenge all disobedience, when your obedience will be made full.

7 Do you look at things only as they appear in front of your face? If anyone trusts in himself that he is Christ's, let him consider this again with himself, that, even as he is Christ's, so also we are Christ's.

8 For though I should boast somewhat abundantly concerning our authority, (which the Lord gave for building you up, and not for casting you down) I will not be disappointed,

9 that I may not seem as if I desire to terrify you by my letters.

10 For, "His letters," they say, "are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech is despised."

11 Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such are we also in deed when we are present.

12 For we are not bold to number or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves. But they themselves, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, are without understanding.

13 But we will not boast beyond proper limits, but within the boundaries with which God appointed to us, which reach even to you.

14 For we do not stretch ourselves too much, as though we did not reach to you. For we came even as far as to you with the Good News of Christ,

15 not boasting beyond proper limits in other men's labors, but having hope that as your faith grows, we will be abundantly enlarged by you in our sphere of influence,

16 so as to proclaim the Good News even to the parts beyond you, not to boast in what someone else has already done.

17 But "he who boasts, let him boast in the Lord."

18 For it is not he who commends himself who is approved, but whom the Lord commends.

Ps 119:81–128

81 My soul faints for your salvation. I hope in your word.

82 My eyes fail for your word. I say, "When will you comfort me?"

83 For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke. I do not forget your statutes.

84 How many are the days of your servant? When will you execute judgment on those who persecute me?

85 The proud have dug pits for me, contrary to your Law.

86 All of your commandments are faithful. They persecute me wrongfully. Help me!

87 They had almost wiped me from the earth, but I did not forsake your precepts.

88 Preserve my life according to your loving kindness, so I will obey the statutes of your mouth.

89 Lord, your word is settled in heaven forever.

90 Your faithfulness is to all generations. You have established the earth, and it remains.

91 Your laws remain to this day, for all things serve you.

92 Unless your Law had been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.

93 I will never forget your precepts, for with them, you have revived me.

94 I am yours. Save me, for I have sought your precepts.

95 The wicked have waited for me, to destroy me. I will consider your statutes.

96 I have seen a limit to all perfection, but your commands are boundless.

97 How I love your Law! It is my meditation all day.

98 Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, for your commandments are always with me.

99 I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation.

100 I understand more than the aged, because I have kept your precepts.

101 I have kept my feet from every evil way, that I might observe your word.

102 I have not turned aside from your ordinances, for you have taught me.

103 How sweet are your promises to my taste, more than honey to my mouth!

104 Through your precepts, I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.

105 Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light for my path.

106 I have sworn, and have confirmed it, that I will obey your righteous ordinances.

107 I am afflicted very much. Revive me, Lord, according to your word.

108 Accept, I beg you, the willing offerings of my mouth. Lord, teach me your ordinances.

109 My soul is continually in my hand, yet I won't forget your Law.

110 The wicked have laid a snare for me, yet I haven't gone astray from your precepts.

111 I have taken your testimonies as a heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart.

112 I have set my heart to perform your statutes forever, even to the end.

113 I hate double-minded men, but I love your Law.

114 You are my hiding place and my shield. I hope in your word.

115 Depart from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commandments of my God.

116 Uphold me according to your word, that I may live. Let me not be ashamed of my hope.

117 Hold me up, and I will be safe, and will have respect for your statutes continually.

118 You reject all those who stray from your statutes, for their deceit is in vain.

119 You put away all the wicked of the earth like dross. Therefore I love your testimonies.

120 My flesh trembles for fear of you. I am afraid of your judgments.

121 I have done what is just and righteous. Do not leave me to my oppressors.

122 Ensure your servant's well-being. Do not let the proud oppress me.

123 My eyes fail looking for your salvation, for your righteous word.

124 Deal with your servant according to your loving kindness. Teach me your statutes.

125 I am your servant. Give me understanding, that I may know your testimonies.

126 It is time to act, Lord, for they break your Law.

127 Therefore I love your commandments more than gold, yes, more than pure gold.

128 Therefore I consider all of your precepts to be right. I hate every false way.