the Fourth Week after Easter
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Bible Reading Plan
Daily Bible Reading
July 1 - Old & New Testament
niv
Ecclesiastes 10,11,12
1 As dead flies give perfume a bad smell,
so a little folly(a) outweighs wisdom and honor.
2 The heart of the wise inclines to the right,
but the heart of the fool to the left.
3 Even as fools walk along the road,
they lack sense
and show everyone(b) how stupid they are.
4 If a ruler's anger rises against you,
do not leave your post;(c)
calmness can lay great offenses to rest.(d)
5 There is an evil I have seen under the sun,
the sort of error that arises from a ruler:
6 Fools are put in many high positions,(e)
while the rich occupy the low ones.
7 I have seen slaves on horseback,
while princes go on foot like slaves.(f)
8 Whoever digs a pit may fall into it;(g)
whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.(h)
9 Whoever quarries stones may be injured by them;
whoever splits logs may be endangered by them.(i)
10 If the ax is dull
and its edge unsharpened,
more strength is needed,
but skill will bring success.
11 If a snake bites before it is charmed,
the charmer receives no fee.(j)
12 Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious,(k)
but fools are consumed by their own lips.(l)
13 At the beginning their words are folly;
at the end they are wicked madness—
14
and fools multiply words.(m)
No one knows what is coming—
who can tell someone else what will happen after them?(n)
15 The toil of fools wearies them;
they do not know the way to town.
16 Woe to the land whose king was a servant[a](o)
and whose princes feast in the morning.
17 Blessed is the land whose king is of noble birth
and whose princes eat at a proper time—
for strength and not for drunkenness.(p)
18 Through laziness, the rafters sag;
because of idle hands, the house leaks.(q)
19 A feast is made for laughter,
wine(r) makes life merry,
and money is the answer for everything.
20 Do not revile the king(s) even in your thoughts,
or curse the rich in your bedroom,
because a bird in the sky may carry your words,
and a bird on the wing may report what you say.
Invest in Many Ventures
1 Ship(a) your grain across the sea;
after many days you may receive a return.(b)
2 Invest in seven ventures, yes, in eight;
you do not know what disaster may come upon the land.
3 If clouds are full of water,
they pour rain on the earth.
Whether a tree falls to the south or to the north,
in the place where it falls, there it will lie.
4 Whoever watches the wind will not plant;
whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.
5 As you do not know the path of the wind,(c)
or how the body is formed[a] in a mother's womb,(d)
so you cannot understand the work of God,
the Maker of all things.
6 Sow your seed in the morning,
and at evening let your hands not be idle,(e)
for you do not know which will succeed,
whether this or that,
or whether both will do equally well.
Remember Your Creator While Young
7 Light is sweet,
and it pleases the eyes to see the sun.(f)
8 However many years anyone may live,
let them enjoy them all.
But let them remember(g) the days of darkness,
for there will be many.
Everything to come is meaningless.
9 You who are young, be happy while you are young,
and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth.
Follow the ways of your heart
and whatever your eyes see,
but know that for all these things
God will bring you into judgment.(h)
10 So then, banish anxiety(i) from your heart
and cast off the troubles of your body,
for youth and vigor are meaningless.(j)
1 Remember(a) your Creator
in the days of your youth,
before the days of trouble(b) come
and the years approach when you will say,
"I find no pleasure in them"—
2 before the sun and the light
and the moon and the stars grow dark,
and the clouds return after the rain;
3 when the keepers of the house tremble,
and the strong men stoop,
when the grinders cease because they are few,
and those looking through the windows grow dim;
4 when the doors to the street are closed
and the sound of grinding fades;
when people rise up at the sound of birds,
but all their songs grow faint;(c)
5 when people are afraid of heights
and of dangers in the streets;
when the almond tree blossoms
and the grasshopper drags itself along
and desire no longer is stirred.
Then people go to their eternal home(d)
and mourners(e) go about the streets.
6 Remember him—before the silver cord is severed,
and the golden bowl is broken;
before the pitcher is shattered at the spring,
and the wheel broken at the well,
7 and the dust returns(f) to the ground it came from,
and the spirit returns to God(g) who gave it.(h)
8 "Meaningless! Meaningless!" says the Teacher.[a](i)
"Everything is meaningless!(j)"
The Conclusion of the Matter
9 Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also imparted knowledge to the people. He pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs.(k) 10 The Teacher(l) searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true.(m)
11 The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails(n)—given by one shepherd.[b] 12 Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them.
Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body.(o)
13 Now all has been heard;
here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God(p) and keep his commandments,(q)
for this is the duty of all mankind.(r)
14 For God will bring every deed into judgment,(s)
including every hidden thing,(t)
whether it is good or evil.
Acts 10:24-48
Chapter 10
24 The following day he arrived in Caesarea.(aa) Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. 26 But Peter made him get up. "Stand up," he said, "I am only a man myself."(ab)
27 While talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people.(ac) 28 He said to them: "You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile.(ad) But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean.(ae) 29 So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?"
30 Cornelius answered: "Three days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes(af) stood before me 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. 32 Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.' 33 So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us."
34 Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism(ag) 35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.(ah) 36 You know the message(ai) God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news(aj) of peace(ak) through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.(al) 37 You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— 38 how God anointed(am) Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing(an) all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.(ao)
39 "We are witnesses(ap) of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross,(aq) 40 but God raised him from the dead(ar) on the third day and caused him to be seen. 41 He was not seen by all the people,(as) but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate(at) and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people(au) and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead.(av) 43 All the prophets testify about him(aw) that everyone(ax) who believes(ay) in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."(az)
44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on(ba) all who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter(bb) were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out(bc) even on Gentiles.(bd) 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues[b](be) and praising God.
Then Peter said, 47 "Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water.(bf) They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have."(bg) 48 So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.(bh) Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
