Bible Reading - Day 3

Remember: Jesus loves you John 3:16: 

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 GENESIS: CHAPTER 3

The Man and Woman Sin

1 The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?”

2 “Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” the woman replied. 3 “It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’”

4 “You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. 5 “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.”

6 The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. 7 At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.

8 When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man* and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the Lord God among the trees. 9 Then the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”

10 He replied, “I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.”

11 “Who told you that you were naked?” the Lord God asked. “Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat?”

12 The man replied, “It was the woman you gave me who gave me the fruit, and I ate it.”

13 Then the Lord God asked the woman, “What have you done?”

“The serpent deceived me,” she replied. “That’s why I ate it.”

14 Then the Lord God said to the serpent,

“Because you have done this, you are cursed

more than all animals, domestic and wild.

You will crawl on your belly,

groveling in the dust as long as you live.

15  And I will cause hostility between you and the woman,

and between your offspring and her offspring.

He will strike* your head,

and you will strike his heel.”

16 Then he said to the woman,

“I will sharpen the pain of your pregnancy,

and in pain you will give birth.

And you will desire to control your husband,

but he will rule over you.*”

17 And to the man he said,

“Since you listened to your wife and ate from the tree

whose fruit I commanded you not to eat,

the ground is cursed because of you.

All your life you will struggle to scratch a living from it.

18  It will grow thorns and thistles for you,

though you will eat of its grains.

19  By the sweat of your brow

will you have food to eat

until you return to the ground

from which you were made.

For you were made from dust,

and to dust you will return.”

Paradise Lost: God’s Judgment

20 Then the man—Adam—named his wife Eve, because she would be the mother of all who live.* 21 And the Lord God made clothing from animal skins for Adam and his wife.

22 Then the Lord God said, “Look, the human beings* have become like us, knowing both good and evil. What if they reach out, take fruit from the tree of life, and eat it? Then they will live forever!” 23 So the Lord God banished them from the Garden of Eden, and he sent Adam out to cultivate the ground from which he had been made. 24 After sending them out, the Lord God stationed mighty cherubim to the east of the Garden of Eden. And he placed a flaming sword that flashed back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.

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PROVERBS: CHAPTER 10

The Proverbs of Solomon

1 The proverbs of Solomon:

A wise child* brings joy to a father;

a foolish child brings grief to a mother.

2  Tainted wealth has no lasting value,

but right living can save your life.

3  The Lord will not let the godly go hungry,

but he refuses to satisfy the craving of the wicked.

4  Lazy people are soon poor;

hard workers get rich.

5  A wise youth harvests in the summer,

but one who sleeps during harvest is a disgrace.

6  The godly are showered with blessings;

the words of the wicked conceal violent intentions.

7  We have happy memories of the godly,

but the name of a wicked person rots away.

8  The wise are glad to be instructed,

but babbling fools fall flat on their faces.

9  People with integrity walk safely,

but those who follow crooked paths will slip and fall.

10  People who wink at wrong cause trouble,

but a bold reproof promotes peace.*

11  The words of the godly are a life-giving fountain;

the words of the wicked conceal violent intentions.

12  Hatred stirs up quarrels,

but love makes up for all offenses.

13  Wise words come from the lips of people with understanding,

but those lacking sense will be beaten with a rod.

14  Wise people treasure knowledge,

but the babbling of a fool invites disaster.

15  The wealth of the rich is their fortress;

the poverty of the poor is their destruction.

16  The earnings of the godly enhance their lives,

but evil people squander their money on sin.

17  People who accept discipline are on the pathway to life,

but those who ignore correction will go astray.

18  Hiding hatred makes you a liar;

slandering others makes you a fool.

19  Too much talk leads to sin.

Be sensible and keep your mouth shut.

20  The words of the godly are like sterling silver;

the heart of a fool is worthless.

21  The words of the godly encourage many,

but fools are destroyed by their lack of common sense.

22  The blessing of the Lord makes a person rich,

and he adds no sorrow with it.

23  Doing wrong is fun for a fool,

but living wisely brings pleasure to the sensible.

24  The fears of the wicked will be fulfilled;

the hopes of the godly will be granted.

25  When the storms of life come, the wicked are whirled away,

but the godly have a lasting foundation.

26  Lazy people irritate their employers,

like vinegar to the teeth or smoke in the eyes.

27  Fear of the Lord lengthens one’s life,

but the years of the wicked are cut short.

28  The hopes of the godly result in happiness,

but the expectations of the wicked come to nothing.

29  The way of the Lord is a stronghold to those with integrity,

but it destroys the wicked.

30  The godly will never be disturbed,

but the wicked will be removed from the land.

31  The mouth of the godly person gives wise advice,

but the tongue that deceives will be cut off.

32  The lips of the godly speak helpful words,

but the mouth of the wicked speaks perverse words.

 

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PSALM 3

A psalm of David, regarding the time David fled from his son Absalom.

1  O Lord, I have so many enemies;

so many are against me.

2  So many are saying,

“God will never rescue him!”

Interlude*

3  But you, O Lord, are a shield around me;

you are my glory, the one who holds my head high.

4  I cried out to the Lord,

and he answered me from his holy mountain.

Interlude

5  I lay down and slept,

yet I woke up in safety,

for the Lord was watching over me.

6  I am not afraid of ten thousand enemies

who surround me on every side.

7  Arise, O Lord!

Rescue me, my God!

Slap all my enemies in the face!

Shatter the teeth of the wicked!

8  Victory comes from you, O Lord.

May you bless your people.

Interlude

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MATTHEW: CHAPTER 3

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

1 In those days John the Baptist came to the Judean wilderness and began preaching. His message was, 2 “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.*” 3 The prophet Isaiah was speaking about John when he said,

“He is a voice shouting in the wilderness,

‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming!

Clear the road for him!’”*

4 John’s clothes were woven from coarse camel hair, and he wore a leather belt around his waist. For food he ate locusts and wild honey. 5 People from Jerusalem and from all of Judea and all over the Jordan Valley went out to see and hear John. 6 And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River.

7 But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to watch him baptize,* he denounced them. “You brood of snakes!” he exclaimed. “Who warned you to flee God’s coming wrath? 8 Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. 9 Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones. 10 Even now the ax of God’s judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire.

11 “I baptize with* water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.* 12 He is ready to separate the chaff from the wheat with his winnowing fork. Then he will clean up the threshing area, gathering the wheat into his barn but burning the chaff with never-ending fire.”

The Baptism of Jesus

13 Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to talk him out of it. “I am the one who needs to be baptized by you,” he said, “so why are you coming to me?”

15 But Jesus said, “It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.*” So John agreed to baptize him.

16 After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened* and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”

Recommended Reading List - Day Two

Gen. Chapter. 2
CHAPTER 2
The Benefits of Wisdom
1  My child,* listen to what I say,
and treasure my commands.
2  Tune your ears to wisdom,
and concentrate on understanding.
3  Cry out for insight,
and ask for understanding.
4  Search for them as you would for silver;
seek them like hidden treasures.
5  Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord,
and you will gain knowledge of God.
6  For the Lord grants wisdom!
From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
7  He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest.
He is a shield to those who walk with integrity.
8  He guards the paths of the just
and protects those who are faithful to him.
9  Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair,
and you will find the right way to go.
10  For wisdom will enter your heart,
and knowledge will fill you with joy.
11  Wise choices will watch over you.
Understanding will keep you safe.
12  Wisdom will save you from evil people,
from those whose words are twisted.
13  These men turn from the right way
to walk down dark paths.
14  They take pleasure in doing wrong,
and they enjoy the twisted ways of evil.
15  Their actions are crooked,
and their ways are wrong.
16  Wisdom will save you from the immoral woman,
from the seductive words of the promiscuous woman.
17  She has abandoned her husband
and ignores the covenant she made before God.
18  Entering her house leads to death;
it is the road to the grave.*
19  The man who visits her is doomed.
He will never reach the paths of life.
20  Follow the steps of good men instead,
and stay on the paths of the righteous.
21  For only the godly will live in the land,
and those with integrity will remain in it.
22  But the wicked will be removed from the land,
and the treacherous will be uprooted.

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PROVERBS CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 2
The Benefits of Wisdom
1  My child,* listen to what I say,
and treasure my commands.
2  Tune your ears to wisdom,
and concentrate on understanding.
3  Cry out for insight,
and ask for understanding.
4  Search for them as you would for silver;
seek them like hidden treasures.
5  Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord,
and you will gain knowledge of God.
6  For the Lord grants wisdom!
From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
7  He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest.
He is a shield to those who walk with integrity.
8  He guards the paths of the just
and protects those who are faithful to him.
9  Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair,
and you will find the right way to go.
10  For wisdom will enter your heart,
and knowledge will fill you with joy.
11  Wise choices will watch over you.
Understanding will keep you safe.
12  Wisdom will save you from evil people,
from those whose words are twisted.
13  These men turn from the right way
to walk down dark paths.
14  They take pleasure in doing wrong,
and they enjoy the twisted ways of evil.
15  Their actions are crooked,
and their ways are wrong.
16  Wisdom will save you from the immoral woman,
from the seductive words of the promiscuous woman.
17  She has abandoned her husband
and ignores the covenant she made before God.
18  Entering her house leads to death;
it is the road to the grave.*
19  The man who visits her is doomed.
He will never reach the paths of life.
20  Follow the steps of good men instead,
and stay on the paths of the righteous.
21  For only the godly will live in the land,
and those with integrity will remain in it.
22  But the wicked will be removed from the land,
and the treacherous will be uprooted.

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PSALM 2
1  Why are the nations so angry?
Why do they waste their time with futile plans?
2  The kings of the earth prepare for battle;
the rulers plot together
against the Lord
and against his anointed one.
3  “Let us break their chains,” they cry,
“and free ourselves from slavery to God.”
4  But the one who rules in heaven laughs.
The Lord scoffs at them.
5  Then in anger he rebukes them,
terrifying them with his fierce fury.
6  For the Lord declares, “I have placed my chosen king on the throne
in Jerusalem,* on my holy mountain.”
7  The king proclaims the Lord’s decree:
“The Lord said to me, ‘You are my son.*
Today I have become your Father.*
8  Only ask, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance,
the whole earth as your possession.
9  You will break* them with an iron rod
and smash them like clay pots.’”
10  Now then, you kings, act wisely!
Be warned, you rulers of the earth!
11  Serve the Lord with reverent fear,
and rejoice with trembling.
12  Submit to God’s royal son,* or he will become angry,
and you will be destroyed in the midst of all your activities—
for his anger flares up in an instant.
But what joy for all who take refuge in him!


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Matthew 2

CHAPTER 2
Visitors from the East
1 Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men* from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, 2 “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose,* and we have come to worship him.”
3 King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem. 4 He called a meeting of the leading priests and teachers of religious law and asked, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?”
5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they said, “for this is what the prophet wrote:
6  ‘And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judah,
are not least among the ruling cities* of Judah,
for a ruler will come from you
who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.’*”
7 Then Herod called for a private meeting with the wise men, and he learned from them the time when the star first appeared. 8 Then he told them, “Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. And when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship him, too!”
9 After this interview the wise men went their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! 11 They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
12 When it was time to leave, they returned to their own country by another route, for God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod.
The Escape to Egypt
13 After the wise men were gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up! Flee to Egypt with the child and his mother,” the angel said. “Stay there until I tell you to return, because Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”
14 That night Joseph left for Egypt with the child and Mary, his mother, 15 and they stayed there until Herod’s death. This fulfilled what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: “I called my Son out of Egypt.”*
16 Herod was furious when he realized that the wise men had outwitted him. He sent soldiers to kill all the boys in and around Bethlehem who were two years old and under, based on the wise men’s report of the star’s first appearance. 17 Herod’s brutal action fulfilled what God had spoken through the prophet Jeremiah:
18  “A cry was heard in Ramah—
weeping and great mourning.
Rachel weeps for her children,
refusing to be comforted,
for they are dead.”*
The Return to Nazareth
19 When Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt. 20 “Get up!” the angel said. “Take the child and his mother back to the land of Israel, because those who were trying to kill the child are dead.”
21 So Joseph got up and returned to the land of Israel with Jesus and his mother. 22 But when he learned that the new ruler of Judea was Herod’s son Archelaus, he was afraid to go there. Then, after being warned in a dream, he left for the region of Galilee. 23 So the family went and lived in a town called Nazareth. This fulfilled what the prophets had said: “He will be called a Nazarene.”

All quotations are from the New Living Translation Bible

Book of the day: please click here

Recommended Bible and other Books Readings for Today

DAY ONE

Gen. Chapt. 1

CHAPTER 1
The Account of Creation
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.* 2 The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.
3 Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 And God saw that the light was good. Then he separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light “day” and the darkness “night.”
And evening passed and morning came, marking the first day.
6 Then God said, “Let there be a space between the waters, to separate the waters of the heavens from the waters of the earth.” 7 And that is what happened. God made this space to separate the waters of the earth from the waters of the heavens. 8 God called the space “sky.”
And evening passed and morning came, marking the second day.
9 Then God said, “Let the waters beneath the sky flow together into one place, so dry ground may appear.” And that is what happened. 10 God called the dry ground “land” and the waters “seas.” And God saw that it was good. 11 Then God said, “Let the land sprout with vegetation—every sort of seed-bearing plant, and trees that grow seed-bearing fruit. These seeds will then produce the kinds of plants and trees from which they came.” And that is what happened. 12 The land produced vegetation—all sorts of seed-bearing plants, and trees with seed-bearing fruit. Their seeds produced plants and trees of the same kind. And God saw that it was good.
13 And evening passed and morning came, marking the third day.
14 Then God said, “Let great lights appear in the sky to separate the day from the night. Let them mark off the seasons, days, and years. 15 Let these lights in the sky shine down on the earth.” And that is what happened. 16 God made two great lights, the sun and the moon—the larger one to govern the day, and the smaller one to govern the night. He also made the stars. 17 God set these lights in the sky to light the earth, 18 to govern the day and night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good.
19 And evening passed and morning came, marking the fourth day.
20 Then God said, “Let the waters swarm with fish and other life. Let the skies be filled with birds of every kind.” 21 So God created great sea creatures and every living thing that scurries and swarms in the water, and every sort of bird—each producing offspring of the same kind. And God saw that it was good. 22 Then God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply. Let the fish fill the seas, and let the birds multiply on the earth.”
23 And evening passed and morning came, marking the fifth day.
24 Then God said, “Let the earth produce every sort of animal, each producing offspring of the same kind—livestock, small animals that scurry along the ground, and wild animals.” And that is what happened. 25 God made all sorts of wild animals, livestock, and small animals, each able to produce offspring of the same kind. And God saw that it was good.
26 Then God said, “Let us make human beings* in our image, to be like ourselves. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.”
27  So God created human beings* in his own image.
In the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.
28 Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.”
29 Then God said, “Look! I have given you every seed-bearing plant throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food. 30 And I have given every green plant as food for all the wild animals, the birds in the sky, and the small animals that scurry along the ground—everything that has life.” And that is what happened.
31 Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good!
And evening passed and morning came, marking the sixth day.
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PROVERBS CHAPTER 9
1  Wisdom has built her house;
she has carved its seven columns.
2  She has prepared a great banquet,
mixed the wines, and set the table.
3  She has sent her servants to invite everyone to come.
She calls out from the heights overlooking the city.
4  “Come in with me,” she urges the simple.
To those who lack good judgment, she says,
5  “Come, eat my food,
and drink the wine I have mixed.
6  Leave your simple ways behind, and begin to live;
learn to use good judgment.”
7  Anyone who rebukes a mocker will get an insult in return.
Anyone who corrects the wicked will get hurt.
8  So don’t bother correcting mockers;
they will only hate you.
But correct the wise,
and they will love you.
9  Instruct the wise,
and they will be even wiser.
Teach the righteous,
and they will learn even more.
10  Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom.
Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.
11  Wisdom will multiply your days
and add years to your life.
12  If you become wise, you will be the one to benefit.
If you scorn wisdom, you will be the one to suffer.
Folly Calls for a Hearing
13  The woman named Folly is brash.
She is ignorant and doesn’t know it.
14  She sits in her doorway
on the heights overlooking the city.
15  She calls out to men going by
who are minding their own business.
16  “Come in with me,” she urges the simple.
To those who lack good judgment, she says,
17  “Stolen water is refreshing;
food eaten in secret tastes the best!”
18  But little do they know that the dead are there.
Her guests are in the depths of the grave.*
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Psalms 1

PSALM 1
1  Oh, the joys of those who do not
follow the advice of the wicked,
or stand around with sinners,
or join in with mockers.
2  But they delight in the law of the Lord,
meditating on it day and night.
3  They are like trees planted along the riverbank,
bearing fruit each season.
Their leaves never wither,
and they prosper in all they do.
4  But not the wicked!
They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind.
5  They will be condemned at the time of judgment.
Sinners will have no place among the godly.
6  For the Lord watches over the path of the godly,
but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.
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Matthew CHAPTER 1

The Ancestors of Jesus the Messiah
1 This is a record of the ancestors of Jesus the Messiah, a descendant of David* and of Abraham:
2  Abraham was the father of Isaac.
Isaac was the father of Jacob.
Jacob was the father of Judah and his brothers.
3  Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah (whose mother was Tamar).
Perez was the father of Hezron.
Hezron was the father of Ram.*
4  Ram was the father of Amminadab.
Amminadab was the father of Nahshon.
Nahshon was the father of Salmon.
5  Salmon was the father of Boaz (whose mother was Rahab).
Boaz was the father of Obed (whose mother was Ruth).
Obed was the father of Jesse.
6  Jesse was the father of King David.
David was the father of Solomon (whose mother was Bathsheba, the widow of Uriah).
7  Solomon was the father of Rehoboam.
Rehoboam was the father of Abijah.
Abijah was the father of Asa.*
8  Asa was the father of Jehoshaphat.
Jehoshaphat was the father of Jehoram.*
Jehoram was the father* of Uzziah.
9  Uzziah was the father of Jotham.
Jotham was the father of Ahaz.
Ahaz was the father of Hezekiah.
10  Hezekiah was the father of Manasseh.
Manasseh was the father of Amon.*
Amon was the father of Josiah.
11  Josiah was the father of Jehoiachin* and his brothers (born at the time of the exile to Babylon).
12  After the Babylonian exile:
Jehoiachin was the father of Shealtiel.
Shealtiel was the father of Zerubbabel.
13  Zerubbabel was the father of Abiud.
Abiud was the father of Eliakim.
Eliakim was the father of Azor.
14  Azor was the father of Zadok.
Zadok was the father of Akim.
Akim was the father of Eliud.
15  Eliud was the father of Eleazar.
Eleazar was the father of Matthan.
Matthan was the father of Jacob.
16  Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary.
Mary gave birth to Jesus, who is called the Messiah.
17 All those listed above include fourteen generations from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the Babylonian exile, and fourteen from the Babylonian exile to the Messiah.
The Birth of Jesus the Messiah
18 This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. 19 Joseph, her fiancé, was a good man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement* quietly.
20 As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus,* for he will save his people from their sins.”
22 All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet:
23  “Look! The virgin will conceive a child!
She will give birth to a son,
and they will call him Immanuel,*
which means ‘God is with us.’”
24 When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. 25 But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.