Bible Reading Plan

1 Samuel 25

Chapter 25

Samuel's Death

^1 (C1)Then Samuel died; and all Israel assembled and ^(C2)mourned for him, and they ^(C3)buried him at his house in Ramah. And David set out and went down to the ^(C4)wilderness of Paran.

Nabal and Abigail

² Now there was a man in ^(C1)Maon whose business was in ^(C2)Carmel; and the man was very ^(F1)rich, and he had three thousand sheep and a thousand goats. And it came about while ^(C3)he was shearing his sheep in Carmel³ (now the man's name was Nabal, and his ^(C1)wife's name was Abigail. And the woman was ^(F1)intelligent and beautiful in appearance, but the man was harsh and evil in his dealings, and he was ^(C2)a Calebite),⁴ that David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep.⁵ So David sent ten young men; and David said to the young men, "Go up to Carmel and ^(F1)visit Nabal, and greet him in my name;⁶ and this is what you shall say: '^(F1)Have a long life, ^(C1)peace to you, and peace to your house, and peace to all that you have!⁷ 'Now then, I have heard ^(C1)that you have shearers. Now, your shepherds have been with us; we have not harmed them, ^(C2)nor has anything of theirs gone missing all the days they were in Carmel.⁸ 'Ask your young men and they will tell you. Therefore let my young men find favor in your eyes, for we have come on ^(C1)a ^(F1)festive day. Please give whatever you find at hand to your servants and to your son David.'"

⁹ When David's young men came, they spoke to Nabal in accordance with all these words in David's name; then they waited.¹⁰ But Nabal answered David's servants and said, "^(C1)Who is David? And who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants today who are each breaking away from his master.¹¹ "Shall I then ^(C1)take my bread and my water and my meat that I have slaughtered for my shearers, and give it to men ^(F1)whose origin I do not know?"¹² So David's young men made their way back and returned; and they came and informed him in accordance with all these words.¹³ Then David said to his men, "Each of you strap on his sword." So each man strapped on his sword. And David also strapped on his sword, and about ^(C1)four hundred men went up behind David, while two hundred ^(C2)stayed with the baggage.

¹⁴ Now one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal's wife, saying, "Behold, David sent messengers from the wilderness to ^(F1)(C1)greet our master, and he spoke to them in anger.¹⁵ "Yet the men were very good to us, and we were not ^(C1)harmed, nor did anything go missing ^(F1)as long as we went with them, while we were in the fields.¹⁶ "^(C1)They were a wall to us both by night and by day, all the time we were with them tending the sheep.¹⁷ "Now then, be aware and ^(F1)consider what you should do, because harm is plotted against our master and against all his household; and he is such a ^(F2)worthless man that no one can speak to him."

Abigail Intercedes

¹⁸ Then Abigail hurried and ^(C1)took two hundred loaves of bread and two jugs of wine, and five sheep already prepared and five measures of roasted grain, and a hundred cakes of raisins and two hundred cakes of figs, and she loaded them on donkeys.¹⁹ Then she said to her young men, "^(C1)Go on ahead of me; behold, I am coming after you." But she did not tell her husband Nabal.²⁰ And it happened as she was riding on her donkey and coming down by the hidden part of the mountain, that behold, David and his men were coming down toward her; so she met them.²¹ Now David had said, "It is certainly for nothing that I have guarded everything that this man has in the wilderness, so that nothing has gone missing of all that belonged to him! For he has ^(C1)returned me evil for good.²² "^(C1)May God do so to the enemies of David, and more so, ^(C2)if by morning I leave alive as much as one ^(F1)male of any who belong to him."

²³ When Abigail saw David, she hurried and dismounted from her donkey, and fell on her face in front of David ^(C1)and bowed herself to the ground.²⁴ She fell at his feet and said, "On me ^(F1)alone, my lord, be the blame. And please let your slave speak ^(F2)to you, and listen to the words of your slave.²⁵ "Please do not let my lord ^(F1)pay attention to this ^(F2)worthless man, Nabal, for as his name is, so is he. ^(F3)Nabal is his name, and stupidity is with him; but I your slave did not see the young men of my lord whom you sent.

²⁶ "Now then, my lord, as the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, since the LORD has restrained you from ^(F1)shedding blood, and ^(C1)from ^(F2)avenging yourself by your own hand, now then, ^(C2)may your enemies and those who seek evil against my lord, be like Nabal.²⁷ "And now let ^(C1)this ^(F1)gift which your servant has brought to my lord be given to the young men who ^(F2)accompany my lord.²⁸ "Please forgive ^(C1)the offense of your slave; for ^(C2)the LORD will certainly make for my lord an ^(F1)enduring house, because my lord is ^(C3)fighting the battles of the LORD, and ^(C4)evil will not be found in you all your days.²⁹ "Should anyone rise up to pursue you and to seek your ^(F1)life, then the ^(F1)life of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of the living with the LORD your God; but the ^(F1)lives of your enemies ^(C1)He will sling out ^(F2)as from the hollow of a sling.³⁰ "And when the LORD does for my lord in accordance with all the good that He has spoken concerning you, and ^(C1)appoints you ruler over Israel,³¹ this will not become an obstacle to you, or a ^(F1)troubled heart to my lord, both by having shed blood without cause and by my lord's having ^(F2)avenged himself. ^(C1)When the LORD deals well with my lord, then remember your slave."

³² Then David said to Abigail, "^(C1)Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me,³³ and blessed be your discernment, and blessed be you, ^(C1)who have kept me this day from ^(F1)bloodshed and from ^(F2)avenging myself by my own hand.³⁴ "Nevertheless, as the LORD God of Israel lives, ^(C1)who has restrained me from harming you, if you had not come quickly to meet me, there certainly would not have been left to Nabal until the morning light as much as one ^(F1)male."³⁵ So David accepted from her hand what she had brought him, and said to her, "^(C1)Go up to your house in peace. See, I have listened to ^(F1)you and ^(F2)(C2)granted your request."

³⁶ Then Abigail came to Nabal, and behold, he was having ^(C1)a feast in his house, like the feast of a king. And Nabal's heart was cheerful within him, ^(C2)for he was very drunk; so ^(C3)she did not tell him anything ^(F1)at all until the morning light.³⁷ But in the morning, when the wine had gone out of Nabal, his wife told him these things, and his heart died within him so that he became like a stone.³⁸ About ten days later, ^(C1)the LORD struck Nabal and he died.

David Marries Abigail

³⁹ When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, "Blessed be the LORD, who has ^(C1)pleaded the cause of the shame inflicted on me by the hand of Nabal, and ^(C2)has kept back His servant from evil. The LORD has also returned the evildoing of Nabal on his own head." Then David sent ^(F1)(C3)a proposal to Abigail, to take her as his wife.⁴⁰ When the servants of David came to Abigail at Carmel, they spoke to her, saying, "David has sent us to you to take you to him as his wife."⁴¹ And she got up ^(C1)and bowed with her face to the ground, and said, "Behold, your slave is a servant ^(C2)to wash the feet of my lord's servants."⁴² Then ^(C1)Abigail got up quickly, and rode on a donkey, with her five female attendants who ^(F1)accompanied her; and she followed the messengers of David and became his wife.

⁴³ David had also taken Ahinoam of ^(C1)Jezreel, and ^(C2)they both became his wives.

⁴⁴ But Saul had given his daughter ^(C1)Michal, David's wife, to Palti the son of Laish, who was from ^(C2)Gallim.

Psalms 68

Chapter 68

The God of Sinai and of the Sanctuary.

^1 (F1)May ^(C1)God arise, ^(F2)may His enemies be scattered,
And ^(F3)may those who hate Him flee from His presence.

² As ^(C1)smoke is driven away, so drive them away;
As ^(C2)wax melts before a fire,
So the ^(C3)wicked will perish before God.

³ But the ^(C1)righteous will be joyful; they will rejoice before God;
Yes, they will rejoice with gladness.

⁴ Sing to God, ^(C1)sing praises to His name;
^(F1)(C2)Exalt Him who ^(C3)rides through the deserts,
Whose ^(C4)name is ^(F2)the LORD, and be jubilant before Him.

⁵ A ^(C1)father of the fatherless and a ^(C2)judge ^(F1)for the widows,
Is God in His ^(C3)holy dwelling.

⁶ God ^(F1)(C1)makes a home for the lonely;
He ^(C2)leads out the prisoners into prosperity,
Only ^(C3)the rebellious live in parched lands.

⁷ God, when You ^(C1)went forth before Your people,
When You ^(C2)marched through the desert, Selah

⁸ The ^(C1)earth quaked;
The ^(C2)heavens also dropped rain at the presence of God;
^(F1)(C3)Sinai itself quaked at the presence of God, the God of Israel.

⁹ You ^(C1)made plentiful rain fall, God;
You confirmed Your inheritance when it was ^(F1)parched.

¹⁰ Your creatures settled in it;
In Your kindness You ^(C1)provided for the poor, God.

¹¹ The Lord gives the ^(F1)command;
The ^(C1)women who proclaim good news are a great army:

¹² "^(C1)Kings of armies flee, they flee,
And she who remains at home will ^(C2)divide the spoils!"

^13 (F1)When you lie down ^(C1)among the sheepfolds,
You are like the wings of a dove covered with silver,
And its pinions with ^(F2)glistening gold.

¹⁴ When the Almighty ^(C1)scattered the kings ^(F1)there,
It was snowing in ^(C2)Zalmon.

^15 (C1)The mountain of Bashan is a ^(F1)mountain of God;
The mountain of Bashan is a mountain of many peaks.

¹⁶ Why do you look with envy, you mountains of many peaks,
At the mountain God has ^(C1)desired as His dwelling?
Indeed, ^(C2)the LORD will dwell there forever.

¹⁷ The ^(C1)chariots of God are ^(F1)myriads, ^(C2)thousands upon thousands;
^(F2)The Lord is among them as at Sinai, in holiness.

¹⁸ You have ^(C1)ascended on high, You have ^(C2)led captive Your captives;
You have received gifts among people,
Even among the rebellious as well, that ^(F1)the LORD God may dwell there.

¹⁹ Blessed be the Lord, who daily ^(C1)bears our burden,
^(C2)The God who is our salvation. Selah

²⁰ God is to us a ^(C1)God of salvation;
And ^(C2)to ^(F1)GOD the Lord belong ways of escape ^(F2)from death.

²¹ God certainly will ^(C1)shatter the heads of His enemies,
The hairy ^(F1)head of one who goes about in his guilt.

²² The Lord ^(F1)said, "^(C1)I will bring them back from Bashan.
I will bring them back from the depths of the sea,

²³ So that ^(F1)(C1)your foot may shatter them in blood,
And the tongue of your ^(C2)dogs may have its portion from your enemies."

²⁴ They have seen ^(C1)Your procession, God,
The procession of my God, my King, ^(F1)(C2)into the sanctuary.

²⁵ The ^(C1)singers went on, the musicians after them,
^(F1)In the midst of the ^(C2)young women beating tambourines.

^26 (C1)Bless God in the congregations,
Even the LORD, you who are of the ^(C2)fountain of Israel.

^27 (C1)Benjamin, the ^(F1)youngest, is there, ^(F2)ruling them,
The leaders of Judah in their company,
The leaders of ^(C2)Zebulun, the leaders of Naphtali.

^28 (F1)Your God has ^(C1)commanded your strength;
Show Yourself strong, God, You ^(C2)who acted ^(F2)in our behalf.

^29 (F1)Because of Your temple at Jerusalem
^(C1)Kings will bring gifts to You.

³⁰ Rebuke the ^(C1)animals ^(F1)in the reeds,
The herd of ^(C2)bulls with the calves of the peoples,
Trampling the pieces of silver;
He has ^(C3)scattered the peoples who delight in war.

^31 (F1)Messengers will come from ^(C1)Egypt;
^(F2)(C2)Cush will quickly stretch out her hands to God.

³² Sing to God, you ^(C1)kingdoms of the earth,
^(C2)Sing praises to the Lord, Selah

³³ To Him who ^(C1)rides upon the ^(F1)(C2)highest heavens, which are from ancient times;
Behold, ^(C3)He ^(F2)speaks with His voice, a ^(C4)mighty voice.

^34 (C1)Ascribe strength to God;
His majesty is over Israel,
And ^(C2)His strength is in the ^(F1)skies.

^35 (F1)God, You are ^(C1)awesome from Your ^(F2)sanctuary.
The God of Israel Himself ^(C2)gives strength and power to the people.
^(C3)Blessed be God!

Romans 13

Chapter 13

Be Subject to Government

¹ Every ^(F1)(C1)person is to be ^(C2)subject to the governing authorities. For ^(C3)there is no authority except ^(F2)from God, and those which exist are established by God.² Therefore ^(F1)whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.³ For ^(C1)rulers are not a cause of fear for ^(F1)good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same;⁴ for it is a servant of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a servant of God, an ^(C1)avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.⁵ Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also ^(C1)for the sake of conscience.⁶ For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing.^7 (C1)Pay to all what is due them: ^(C2)tax to whom tax is due; ^(C3)custom to whom custom; ^(F1)respect to whom ^(F1)respect; honor to whom honor.

⁸ Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for ^(C1)the one who loves ^(F1)his neighbor has fulfilled the Law.⁹ For this, "^(C1)YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, YOU SHALL NOT MURDER, YOU SHALL NOT STEAL, YOU SHALL NOT COVET," and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, "^(C2)YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF."¹⁰ Love ^(F1)does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore ^(C1)love is the fulfillment of the Law.

¹¹ Do this, knowing the time, that it is ^(C1)already the hour for you to ^(C2)awaken from sleep; for now ^(F1)salvation is nearer to us than when we first believed.^12 (C1)The night is almost gone, and ^(C2)the day is near. Therefore let's rid ourselves of ^(C3)the deeds of darkness and put on ^(C4)the armor of light.¹³ Let's ^(F1)(C1)behave properly as in the day, ^(C2)not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and debauchery, not in strife and jealousy.¹⁴ But ^(C1)put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh ^(C2)in regard to its lusts.