Saturday

Micah 7:11-20

[11] A day for the building of your walls!
In that day the boundary shall be far extended.
[12] In that day they will come to you,
from Assyria to Egypt,
and from Egypt to the River,
from sea to sea and from mountain to mountain.
[13] But the earth will be desolate
because of its inhabitants,
for the fruit of their doings.
[14] Shepherd thy people with thy staff,
the flock of thy inheritance,
who dwell alone in a forest
in the midst of a garden land;
let them feed in Bashan and Gilead
as in the days of old.
[15] As in the days when you came out of the land of Egypt
I will show them marvelous things.
[16] The nations shall see and be ashamed
of all their might;
they shall lay their hands on their mouths;
their ears shall be deaf;
[17] they shall lick the dust like a serpent,
like the crawling things of the earth;
they shall come trembling out of their strongholds,
they shall turn in dread to the LORD our God,
and they shall fear because of thee.
[18] Who is a God like thee, pardoning iniquity
and passing over transgression
for the remnant of his inheritance?
He does not retain his anger for ever
because he delights in steadfast love.
[19] He will again have compassion upon us,
he will tread our iniquities under foot.
Thou wilt cast all our sins
into the depths of the sea.
[20] Thou wilt show faithfulness to Jacob
and steadfast love to Abraham,
as thou hast sworn to our fathers
from the days of old.

1 Peter 4:7-19

[7]

The end of all things is at hand; therefore keep sane and sober for your
prayers.

[8] Above all hold unfailing your love for one another, since love covers
a multitude of sins.
[9] Practice hospitality ungrudgingly to one another.
[10] As each has received a gift, employ it for one another, as good
stewards of God's varied grace:
[11] whoever speaks, as one who utters oracles of God; whoever renders
service, as one who renders it by the strength which God supplies; in
order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him
belong glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
[12]

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal which comes upon you to
prove you, as though something strange were happening to you.

[13] But rejoice in so far as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may
also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.
[14] If you are reproached for the name of Christ, you are blessed,
because the spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.
[15] But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or a wrongdoer,
or a mischief-maker;
[16] yet if one suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but under
that name let him glorify God.
[17] For the time has come for judgment to begin with the household of
God; and if it begins with us, what will be the end of those who do not
obey the gospel of God?
[18] And "If the righteous man is scarcely saved,
where will the impious and sinner appear?"
[19] Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will do right and
entrust their souls to a faithful Creator.

Matthew 20:29-34

[29]

And as they went out of Jericho, a great crowd followed him.

[30] And behold, two blind men sitting by the roadside, when they heard
that Jesus was passing by, cried out, "Have mercy on us, Son of David!"
[31] The crowd rebuked them, telling them to be silent; but they cried out
the more, "Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!"
[32] And Jesus stopped and called them, saying, "What do you want me to do
for you?"
[33] They said to him, "Lord, let our eyes be opened."
[34] And Jesus in pity touched their eyes, and immediately they received
their sight and followed him.

Friday

Isaiah 24:14-23

[14] They lift up their voices, they sing for joy;
over the majesty of the LORD they shout from the west.
[15] Therefore in the east give glory to the LORD;
in the coastlands of the sea, to the name of the LORD, the God of
Israel.
[16] From the ends of the earth we hear songs of praise,
of glory to the Righteous One.
But I say, "I pine away,
I pine away. Woe is me!
For the treacherous deal treacherously,
the treacherous deal very treacherously."
[17] Terror, and the pit, and the snare
are upon you, O inhabitant of the earth!
[18] He who flees at the sound of the terror
shall fall into the pit;
and he who climbs out of the pit
shall be caught in the snare.
For the windows of heaven are opened,
and the foundations of the earth tremble.
[19] The earth is utterly broken,
the earth is rent asunder,
the earth is violently shaken.
[20] The earth staggers like a drunken man,
it sways like a hut;
its transgression lies heavy upon it,
and it falls, and will not rise again.
[21] On that day the LORD will punish
the host of heaven, in heaven,
and the kings of the earth, on the earth.
[22] They will be gathered together
as prisoners in a pit;
they will be shut up in a prison,
and after many days they will be punished.
[23] Then the moon will be confounded,
and the sun ashamed;
for the LORD of hosts will reign
on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem
and before his elders he will manifest his glory.

1 Peter 3:13-4:6

[13]

Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is right?

[14] But even if you do suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be
blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled,
[15] but in your hearts reverence Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to
make a defense to any one who calls you to account for the hope that is in
you, yet do it with gentleness and reverence;
[16] and keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are abused, those
who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.
[17] For it is better to suffer for doing right, if that should be God's
will, than for doing wrong.
[18] For Christ also died for sins once for all, the righteous for the
unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the
flesh but made alive in the spirit;
[19] in which he went and preached to the spirits in prison,
[20] who formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of
Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight
persons, were saved through water.
[21] Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal
of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a clear conscience,
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
[22] who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with
angels, authorities, and powers subject to him.
1Pet.4
[1]

Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same
thought, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,

[2] so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer by human
passions but by the will of God.
[3] Let the time that is past suffice for doing what the Gentiles like to
do, living in licentiousness, passions, drunkenness, revels, carousing,
and lawless idolatry.
[4] They are surprised that you do not now join them in the same wild
profligacy, and they abuse you;
[5] but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and
the dead.
[6] For this is why the gospel was preached even to the dead, that though
judged in the flesh like men, they might live in the spirit like God.

Matthew 20:17-28

[17]

And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples
aside, and on the way he said to them,

[18] "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man will be
delivered to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to
death,
[19] and deliver him to the Gentiles to be mocked and scourged and
crucified, and he will be raised on the third day."
[20]

Then the mother of the sons of Zeb'edee came up to him, with her sons, and
kneeling before him she asked him for something.

[21] And he said to her, "What do you want?" She said to him, "Command
that these two sons of mine may sit, one at your right hand and one at
your left, in your kingdom."
[22] But Jesus answered, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you
able to drink the cup that I am to drink?" They said to him, "We are
able."
[23] He said to them, "You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand
and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has
been prepared by my Father."
[24] And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers.
[25] But Jesus called them to him and said, "You know that the rulers of
the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority
over them.
[26] It shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you
must be your servant,
[27] and whoever would be first among you must be your slave;
[28] even as the Son of man came not to be served but to serve, and to
give his life as a ransom for many."

Thursday

Zephaniah 3:1-13

[1]

Woe to her that is rebellious and defiled,
the oppressing city!
[2] She listens to no voice,
she accepts no correction.
She does not trust in the LORD,
she does not draw near to her God.
[3] Her officials within her
are roaring lions;
her judges are evening wolves
that leave nothing till the morning.
[4] Her prophets are wanton,
faithless men;
her priests profane what is sacred,
they do violence to the law.
[5] The LORD within her is righteous,
he does no wrong;
every morning he shows forth his justice,
each dawn he does not fail;
but the unjust knows no shame.
[6] "I have cut off nations;
their battlements are in ruins;
I have laid waste their streets
so that none walks in them;
their cities have been made desolate,
without a man, without an inhabitant.
[7] I said, `Surely she will fear me,
she will accept correction;
she will not lose sight
of all that I have enjoined upon her.'
But all the more they were eager
to make all their deeds corrupt."
[8] "Therefore wait for me," says the LORD,
"for the day when I arise as a witness.
For my decision is to gather nations,
to assemble kingdoms,
to pour out upon them my indignation,
all the heat of my anger;
for in the fire of my jealous wrath
all the earth shall be consumed.
[9] "Yea, at that time I will change the speech of the peoples
to a pure speech,
that all of them may call on the name of the LORD
and serve him with one accord.
[10] From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia
my suppliants, the daughter of my dispersed ones,
shall bring my offering.
[11] "On that day you shall not be put to shame
because of the deeds by which you have rebelled against me;
for then I will remove from your midst
your proudly exultant ones,
and you shall no longer be haughty
in my holy mountain.
[12] For I will leave in the midst of you
a people humble and lowly.
They shall seek refuge in the name of the LORD,
[13] those who are left in Israel;
they shall do no wrong
and utter no lies,
nor shall there be found in their mouth
a deceitful tongue.
For they shall pasture and lie down,
and none shall make them afraid."

1 Peter 2:11-25

[11]

Beloved, I beseech you as aliens and exiles to abstain from the passions
of the flesh that wage war against your soul.

[12] Maintain good conduct among the Gentiles, so that in case they speak
against you as wrongdoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on
the day of visitation.
[13]

Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be
to the emperor as supreme,

[14] or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to
praise those who do right.
[15] For it is God's will that by doing right you should put to silence
the ignorance of foolish men.
[16] Live as free men, yet without using your freedom as a pretext for
evil; but live as servants of God.
[17] Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.
[18]

Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to the
kind and gentle but also to the overbearing.

[19] For one is approved if, mindful of God, he endures pain while
suffering unjustly.
[20] For what credit is it, if when you do wrong and are beaten for it you
take it patiently? But if when you do right and suffer for it you take it
patiently, you have God's approval.
[21] For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for
you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
[22] He committed no sin; no guile was found on his lips.
[23] When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered,
he did not threaten; but he trusted to him who judges justly.
[24] He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die
to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
[25] For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the
Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.

Matthew 20:1-16

[1]

"For the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who went out early in the
morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.

[2] After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them
into his vineyard.
[3] And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the
market place;
[4] and to them he said, `You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is
right I will give you.' So they went.
[5] Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the
same.
[6] And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing; and
he said to them, `Why do you stand here idle all day?'
[7] They said to him, `Because no one has hired us.' He said to them, `You
go into the vineyard too.'
[8] And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward,
`Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up
to the first.'
[9] And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them
received a denarius.
[10] Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but
each of them also received a denarius.
[11] And on receiving it they grumbled at the householder,
[12] saying, `These last worked only one hour, and you have made them
equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.'
[13] But he replied to one of them, `Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did
you not agree with me for a denarius?
[14] Take what belongs to you, and go; I choose to give to this last as I
give to you.
[15] Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do
you begrudge my generosity?'
[16] So the last will be first, and the first last."

Wednesday

Obadiah 15-21

[15] For the day of the LORD is near upon all the nations.
As you have done, it shall be done to you,
your deeds shall return on your own head.
[16] For as you have drunk upon my holy mountain,
all the nations round about shall drink;
they shall drink, and stagger,
and shall be as though they had not been.
[17] But in Mount Zion there shall be those that escape,
and it shall be holy;
and the house of Jacob shall possess their own possessions.
[18] The house of Jacob shall be a fire,
and the house of Joseph a flame,
and the house of Esau stubble;
they shall burn them and consume them,
and there shall be no survivor to the house of Esau;
for the LORD has spoken.
[19] Those of the Negeb shall possess Mount Esau,
and those of the Shephe'lah the land of the Philistines;
they shall possess the land of E'phraim and the land of Sama'ria
and Benjamin shall possess Gilead.
[20] The exiles in Halah who are of the people of Israel
shall possess Phoenicia as far as Zar'ephath;
and the exiles of Jerusalem who are in Sephar'ad
shall possess the cities of the Negeb.
[21] Saviors shall go up to Mount Zion
to rule Mount Esau;
and the kingdom shall be the LORD's.

1 Peter 2:1-10

[1]

So put away all malice and all guile and insincerity and envy and all
slander.

[2] Like newborn babes, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you
may grow up to salvation;
[3] for you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.
[4]

Come to him, to that living stone, rejected by men but in God's sight
chosen and precious;

[5] and like living stones be yourselves built into a spiritual house, to
be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God
through Jesus Christ.
[6] For it stands in scripture: "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a
cornerstone chosen and
precious,
and he who believes in him will not be put to shame."
[7] To you therefore who believe, he is precious, but for those who do not
believe, "The very stone which the builders rejected
has become the head of the corner,"
[8] and "A stone that will make men stumble,
a rock that will make them fall";
for they stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to
do.
[9]

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own
people, that you may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called you out
of darkness into his marvelous light.

[10] Once you were no people but now you are God's people; once you had
not received mercy but now you have received mercy.

Matthew 19:23-30

[23]

And Jesus said to his disciples, "Truly, I say to you, it will be hard for
a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.

[24] Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a
needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
[25] When the disciples heard this they were greatly astonished, saying,
"Who then can be saved?"
[26] But Jesus looked at them and said to them, "With men this is
impossible, but with God all things are possible."
[27] Then Peter said in reply, "Lo, we have left everything and followed
you. What then shall we have?"
[28] Jesus said to them, "Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the
Son of man shall sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will
also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
[29] And every one who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or
mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a
hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.
[30] But many that are first will be last, and the last first.

Tuesday

Nahum 1:1-13

[1] An oracle concerning Nin'eveh. The book of the vision of Nahum of
Elkosh.
[2] The LORD is a jealous God and avenging,
the LORD is avenging and wrathful;
the LORD takes vengeance on his adversaries
and keeps wrath for his enemies.
[3] The LORD is slow to anger and of great might,
and the LORD will by no means clear the guilty.
His way is in whirlwind and storm,
and the clouds are the dust of his feet.
[4] He rebukes the sea and makes it dry,
he dries up all the rivers;
Bashan and Carmel wither,
the bloom of Lebanon fades.
[5] The mountains quake before him,
the hills melt;
the earth is laid waste before him,
the world and all that dwell therein.
[6] Who can stand before his indignation?
Who can endure the heat of his anger?
His wrath is poured out like fire,
and the rocks are broken asunder by him.
[7] The LORD is good,
a stronghold in the day of trouble;
he knows those who take refuge in him.
[8] But with an overflowing flood
he will make a full end of his adversaries,
and will pursue his enemies into darkness.
[9] What do you plot against the LORD?
He will make a full end;
he will not take vengeance twice on his foes.
[10] Like entangled thorns they are consumed,
like dry stubble.
[11] Did one not come out from you,
who plotted evil against the LORD,
and counseled villainy?
[12] Thus says the LORD,
"Though they be strong and many,
they will be cut off and pass away.
Though I have afflicted you,
I will afflict you no more.
[13] And now I will break his yoke from off you
and will burst your bonds asunder."

1 Peter 1:13-25

[13]

Therefore gird up your minds, be sober, set your hope fully upon the grace
that is coming to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

[14] As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your
former ignorance,
[15] but as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all your
conduct;
[16] since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy."
[17] And if you invoke as Father him who judges each one impartially
according to his deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time
of your exile.
[18] You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from
your fathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold,
[19] but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without
blemish or spot.
[20] He was destined before the foundation of the world but was made
manifest at the end of the times for your sake.
[21] Through him you have confidence in God, who raised him from the dead
and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
[22]

Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere
love of the brethren, love one another earnestly from the heart.

[23] You have been born anew, not of perishable seed but of imperishable,
through the living and abiding word of God;
[24] for "All flesh is like grass
and all its glory like the flower of grass.
The grass withers, and the flower falls,
[25] but the word of the Lord abides for ever."
That word is the good news which was preached to you.

Matthew 19:13-22

[13]

Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and
pray. The disciples rebuked the people;

[14] but Jesus said, "Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them;
for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven."
[15] And he laid his hands on them and went away.
[16]

And behold, one came up to him, saying, "Teacher, what good deed must I
do, to have eternal life?"

[17] And he said to him, "Why do you ask me about what is good? One there
is who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments."
[18] He said to him, "Which?" And Jesus said, "You shall not kill, You
shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false
witness,
[19] Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as
yourself."
[20] The young man said to him, "All these I have observed; what do I
still lack?"
[21] Jesus said to him, "If you would be perfect, go, sell what you
possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and
come, follow me."
[22] When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful; for he had
great possessions.

Monday and a note

Hello Everyone,

This week will mark a full third cycle (six years) of sending out the
daily office. I have to say I really never thought it would go on this
long. Hopefully, many, if not all of us were able to read pieces of all
the different books of the bible. Perhaps, our views and understanding of
this book, nay library, have evolved. For me, I am increasingly aware of
the number of people who site the bible but appear not to have read it or
at least have only read it selectively.

Anyway, I want to thank you for being such good partners and participants.

May the lord bless you and keep you safe.

In faith,

Michael

Joel 3:1-2, 9-17

[1]

"For behold, in those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes
of Judah and Jerusalem,

[2] I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the valley of
Jehosh'aphat, and I will enter into judgment with them there, on account
of my people and my heritage Israel, because they have scattered them
among the nations, and have divided up my land,
[3] and have cast lots for my people, and have given a boy for a harlot,
and have sold a girl for wine, and have drunk it.
[4]

"What are you to me, O Tyre and Sidon, and all the regions of Philistia?
Are you paying me back for something? If you are paying me back, I will
requite your deed upon your own head swiftly and speedily.

[5] For you have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried my rich
treasures into your temples.
[6] You have sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks,
removing them far from their own border.
[7] But now I will stir them up from the place to which you have sold
them, and I will requite your deed upon your own head.
[8] I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the sons of
Judah, and they will sell them to the Sabe'ans, to a nation far off; for
the LORD has spoken."
[9] Proclaim this among the nations:
Prepare war,
stir up the mighty men.
Let all the men of war draw near,
let them come up.
[10] Beat your plowshares into swords,
and your pruning hooks into spears;
let the weak say, "I am a warrior."
[11] Hasten and come,
all you nations round about,
gather yourselves there.
Bring down thy warriors, O LORD.
[12] Let the nations bestir themselves,
and come up to the valley of Jehosh'aphat;
for there I will sit to judge
all the nations round about.
[13] Put in the sickle,
for the harvest is ripe.
Go in, tread,
for the wine press is full.
The vats overflow,
for their wickedness is great.
[14] Multitudes, multitudes,
in the valley of decision!
For the day of the LORD is near
in the valley of decision.
[15] The sun and the moon are darkened,
and the stars withdraw their shining.
[16] And the LORD roars from Zion,
and utters his voice from Jerusalem,
and the heavens and the earth shake.
But the LORD is a refuge to his people,
a stronghold to the people of Israel.
[17] "So you shall know that I am the LORD your God,
who dwell in Zion, my holy mountain.
And Jerusalem shall be holy
and strangers shall never again pass through it.

1 Peter 1:1-12

[1] Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the exiles of the Dispersion in
Pontus, Galatia, Cappado'cia, Asia, and Bithyn'ia,
[2] chosen and destined by God the Father and sanctified by the Spirit for
obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and
peace be multiplied to you.
[3]

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy
we have been born anew to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus
Christ from the dead,

[4] and to an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading,
kept in heaven for you,
[5] who by God's power are guarded through faith for a salvation ready to
be revealed in the last time.
[6] In this you rejoice, though now for a little while you may have to
suffer various trials,
[7] so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold which
though perishable is tested by fire, may redound to praise and glory and
honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
[8] Without having seen him you love him; though you do not now see him
you believe in him and rejoice with unutterable and exalted joy.
[9] As the outcome of your faith you obtain the salvation of your souls.
[10]

The prophets who prophesied of the grace that was to be yours searched and
inquired about this salvation;

[11] they inquired what person or time was indicated by the Spirit of
Christ within them when predicting the sufferings of Christ and the
subsequent glory.
[12] It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but
you, in the things which have now been announced to you by those who
preached the good news to you through the Holy Spirit sent from heaven,
things into which angels long to look.

Matthew 19:1-12

[1]

Now when Jesus had finished these sayings, he went away from Galilee and
entered the region of Judea beyond the Jordan;

[2] and large crowds followed him, and he healed them there.
[3]

And Pharisees came up to him and tested him by asking, "Is it lawful to
divorce one's wife for any cause?"

[4] He answered, "Have you not read that he who made them from the
beginning made them male and female,
[5] and said, `For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and
be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'?
[6] So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined
together, let not man put asunder."
[7] They said to him, "Why then did Moses command one to give a
certificate of divorce, and to put her away?"
[8] He said to them, "For your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to
divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so.
[9] And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for unchastity,
and marries another, commits adultery."
[10]

The disciples said to him, "If such is the case of a man with his wife, it
is not expedient to marry."

[11] But he said to them, "Not all men can receive this saying, but only
those to whom it is given.
[12] For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are
eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have
made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. He who is
able to receive this, let him receive it."

Saturday

Isaiah 65:17-25

[17] "For behold, I create new heavens
and a new earth;
and the former things shall not be remembered
or come into mind.
[18] But be glad and rejoice for ever
in that which I create;
for behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing,
and her people a joy.
[19] I will rejoice in Jerusalem,
and be glad in my people;
no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping
and the cry of distress.
[20] No more shall there be in it
an infant that lives but a few days,
or an old man who does not fill out his days,
for the child shall die a hundred years old,
and the sinner a hundred years old shall be accursed.
[21] They shall build houses and inhabit them;
they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
[22] They shall not build and another inhabit;
they shall not plant and another eat;
for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be,
and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
[23] They shall not labor in vain,
or bear children for calamity;
for they shall be the offspring of the blessed of the LORD,
and their children with them.
[24] Before they call I will answer,
while they are yet speaking I will hear.
[25] The wolf and the lamb shall feed together,
the lion shall eat straw like the ox;
and dust shall be the serpent's food.
They shall not hurt or destroy
in all my holy mountain, says the LORD."

Revelation 22:14-21

[14]

Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to
the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates.

[15] Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and fornicators and murderers and
idolaters, and every one who loves and practices falsehood.
[16]

"I Jesus have sent my angel to you with this testimony for the churches. I
am the root and the offspring of David, the bright morning star."

[17]

The Spirit and the Bride say, "Come." And let him who hears say, "Come."
And let him who is thirsty come, let him who desires take the water of
life without price.

[18]

I warn every one who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if any
one adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book,

[19] and if any one takes away from the words of the book of this
prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy
city, which are described in this book.
[20]

He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming soon." Amen.
Come, Lord Jesus!

[21]

Matthew 18:21-35

[21]

Then Peter came up and said to him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin
against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?"

[22] Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy
times seven.
[23]

"Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to
settle accounts with his servants.

[24] When he began the reckoning, one was brought to him who owed him ten
thousand talents;
[25] and as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, with his
wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made.
[26] So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, `Lord, have patience
with me, and I will pay you everything.'
[27] And out of pity for him the lord of that servant released him and
forgave him the debt.
[28] But that same servant, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow
servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat he
said, `Pay what you owe.'
[29] So his fellow servant fell down and besought him, `Have patience with
me, and I will pay you.'
[30] He refused and went and put him in prison till he should pay the
debt.
[31] When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly
distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken
place.
[32] Then his lord summoned him and said to him, `You wicked servant! I
forgave you all that debt because you besought me;
[33] and should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had
mercy on you?'
[34] And in anger his lord delivered him to the jailers, till he should
pay all his debt.
[35] So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not
forgive your brother from your heart."