Saturday, September 13

22You have kept what You promised Your servant David my father; You have both spoken with Your mouth, and fulfilled it with Your hand, as today.

23Now, O Lord God of Israel, keep what You promised Your servant David my father, saying, 'You shall not fail to have a man sit before Me on the throne of Israel, so long as your people guard and keep their ways to walk before Me, as you walked before Me.'

24So now, O Lord God of Israel, let the word be confirmed You spoke to Your servant David my father.

25'But will God indeed dwell with men on earth? If the heaven and the heaven of heaven will not be sufficient for You, how much less even this temple I built in Your name?

26Yet, O Lord God of Israel, regard my prayer, which Your servant is praying before You today,

27that Your eyes may be open toward this temple day and night, toward the place of which You said, 'My name shall be there,' to hear the prayer Your servant prays in this place day and night.

28You will hear the supplication of Your servant and of Your people Israel when they pray toward this place. You will hear in Your dwelling place in heaven, and You will be merciful.

29'When anyone sins against his neighbor, or if he takes up an oath that he should swear, and comes and redeems himself before Your altar in this temple,

30You will hear in heaven, and act, and judge Your people Israel; condemning the wicked, bringing his way on his own head, and justifying the righteous by giving to him according to his righteousness.

19Her ways are good ways, And all her paths are in peace.

20She is a tree of life for all who cleave to her, And she is security for those who lean upon her as upon the Lord.

21God by wisdom founded the earth And prepared the heavens with discernment.

22With perception the depths were broken up, And the clouds flowed with dew.

23My son, do not be careless, But keep my counsel and thinking,

24That your soul may live, And grace may be around your neck.

25And there will be healing for your flesh And care for your bones,

26That you may walk confidently in peace in all your ways, And your foot may not stumble.

27For if you sit down, you will be without fear, And if you lie down, your sleep will be pleasant.

28And do not be afraid of intimidation when it comes upon you, Nor of the attack of the ungodly when it comes at you;

29For the Lord will be over all your ways, And He will plant your feet firmly, that you may not be shaken.

30Do not withhold doing good to the needy, When you may give a helping hand;

31Do not say, when you are able to do good, "Come back tomorrow, and I will give you something"; For you do not know what the next day will bring forth.

32Do not devise evil things against your friend Who dwells beside you and trusts in you.

33Do not be ready to quarrel with a man in vain, Lest he do you some harm.

34Do not incur the reproach of evil men, Neither seek their ways;

1Wisdom built her house, And she supported it with seven pillars.

2She offered her sacrifices; She mixed her wine in a bowl And prepared her table.

3She sent her servants, Inviting people to the bowl with a lofty proclamation, saying,

4"He who is without discernment, Let him turn aside to me"; And to those in need of discernment, she says,

5"Come, eat my bread And drink the wine I mixed for you;

6Forsake lack of discernment, and you shall live; Seek discernment so you may live, And keep straight your understanding with knowledge."

7He who chastises evil men shall receive dishonor to himself, And he who reproves the ungodly man shall be blamed himself.

8Do not reprove evil men, so they may not hate you; Reprove a wise man, and he will love you.

9Give the opportunity to a wise man, and he will be wiser; Instruct a righteous man, and he shall continue to receive it.

10The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the counsel of saints is understanding; For to know the law is characteristic of a good mind.

11For in this manner you will live a long time, And the years of your life shall be increased.

6However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.

7But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory,

8which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

9'Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.'

1Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.

2Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.

3But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself.

4For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord.

5Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one's praise will come from God.

1Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus,

2who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was faithful in all His house.

3For this One has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as He who built the house has more honor than the house.

4For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God.

37He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.

38And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.

39He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.

40'He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.

41He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.

42And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.'

1Now it came to pass, when Jesus finished commanding His twelve disciples, that He departed from there to teach and to preach in their cities.

1Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples,

2saying: 'The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat.

3Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do.

4For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.

5But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments.

6They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues,

7greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, 'Rabbi, Rabbi.'

8But you, do not be called 'Rabbi'; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren.

9Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven.

10And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ.

11But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant.

12And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.

13When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, 'Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?'

14So they said, 'Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.'

15He said to them, 'But who do you say that I am?'

16Simon Peter answered and said, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.'

17Jesus answered and said to him, 'Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.

18And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.