Saturday, 14 December

1.   In the thirty–sixth year of the reign of Asa, Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah and built Ramah, that he might let none go out or come in to Asa king of Judah. 2.   Then Asa brought silver and gold from the treasuries of the house of the LORD and of the king’s house, and sent to Ben–Hadad king of Syria, who dwelt in Damascus, saying, 3.   " Let there be a treaty between you and me, as there was between my father and your father. Here, I have sent you silver and gold; come, break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel, so that he will withdraw from me." 4.   So Ben–Hadad heeded King Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel. They attacked Ijon, Dan, Abel Maim, and all the storage cities of Naphtali. 5.   Now it happened, when Baasha heard it , that he stopped building Ramah and ceased his work. 6.   Then King Asa took all Judah, and they carried away the stones and timber of Ramah, which Baasha had used for building; and with them he built Geba and Mizpah. 7.   And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said to him: "Because you have relied on the king of Syria, and have not relied on the LORD your God, therefore the army of the king of Syria has escaped from your hand. 8.   "Were the Ethiopians and the Lubim not a huge army with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet, because you relied on the LORD, He delivered them into your hand. 9.   "For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars." 10.   Then Asa was angry with the seer, and put him in prison, for he was enraged at him because of this. And Asa oppressed some of the people at that time. 11.   Note that the acts of Asa, first and last, are indeed written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. 12.   And in the thirty–ninth year of his reign, Asa became diseased in his feet, and his malady was severe; yet in his disease he did not seek the LORD, but the physicians. 13.   So Asa rested with his fathers; he died in the forty–first year of his reign. 14.   They buried him in his own tomb, which he had made for himself in the City of David; and they laid him in the bed which was filled with spices and various ingredients prepared in a mixture of ointments. They made a very great burning for him.

1.   Then Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his place, and strengthened himself against Israel. 2.   And he placed troops in all the fortified cities of Judah, and set garrisons in the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim which Asa his father had taken. 3.   Now the LORD was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the former ways of his father David; he did not seek the Baals, 4.   but sought the God of his father, and walked in His commandments and not according to the acts of Israel. 5.   Therefore the LORD established the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah gave presents to Jehoshaphat, and he had riches and honor in abundance. 6.   And his heart took delight in the ways of the LORD; moreover he removed the high places and wooden images from Judah. 7.   Also in the third year of his reign he sent his leaders, Ben–Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Michaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah. 8.   And with them he sent Levites: Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tobadonijah––the Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram, the priests. 9.   So they taught in Judah, and had the Book of the Law of the LORD with them; they went throughout all the cities of Judah and taught the people. 10.   And the fear of the LORD fell on all the kingdoms of the lands that were around Judah, so that they did not make war against Jehoshaphat. 11.   Also some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents and silver as tribute; and the Arabians brought him flocks, seven thousand seven hundred rams and seven thousand seven hundred male goats. 12.   So Jehoshaphat became increasingly powerful, and he built fortresses and storage cities in Judah. 13.   He had much property in the cities of Judah; and the men of war, mighty men of valor, were in Jerusalem. 14.   These are their numbers, according to their fathers’ houses. Of Judah, the captains of thousands: Adnah the captain, and with him three hundred thousand mighty men of valor; 15.   and next to him was Jehohanan the captain, and with him two hundred and eighty thousand; 16.   and next to him was Amasiah the son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself to the LORD, and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valor. 17.   Of Benjamin: Eliada a mighty man of valor, and with him two hundred thousand men armed with bow and shield; 18.   and next to him was Jehozabad, and with him one hundred and eighty thousand prepared for war. 19.   These served the king, besides those the king put in the fortified cities throughout all Judah.

1.   The burden against Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite. 2.   God is jealous, and the LORD avenges; The LORD avenges and is furious. The LORD will take vengeance on His adversaries, And He reserves wrath for His enemies; 3.   The LORD is slow to anger and great in power, And will not at all acquit the wicked . The LORD has His way In the whirlwind and in the storm, And the clouds are the dust of His feet. 4.   He rebukes the sea and makes it dry, And dries up all the rivers. Bashan and Carmel wither, And the flower of Lebanon wilts. 5.   The mountains quake before Him, The hills melt, And the earth heaves at His presence, Yes, the world and all who dwell in it. 6.   Who can stand before His indignation? And who can endure the fierceness of His anger? His fury is poured out like fire, And the rocks are thrown down by Him. 7.   The LORD is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble; And He knows those who trust in Him. 8.   But with an overflowing flood He will make an utter end of its place, And darkness will pursue His enemies. 9.   What do you conspire against the LORD? He will make an utter end of it . Affliction will not rise up a second time. 10.   For while tangled like thorns, And while drunken like drunkards, They shall be devoured like stubble fully dried. 11.   From you comes forth one Who plots evil against the LORD, A wicked counselor. 12.   Thus says the LORD: "Though they are safe, and likewise many, Yet in this manner they will be cut down When he passes through. Though I have afflicted you, I will afflict you no more; 13.   For now I will break off his yoke from you, And burst your bonds apart." 14.   The LORD has given a command concerning you: "Your name shall be perpetuated no longer. Out of the house of your gods I will cut off the carved image and the molded image. I will dig your grave, For you are vile." 15.   Behold, on the mountains The feet of him who brings good tidings, Who proclaims peace! O Judah, keep your appointed feasts, Perform your vows. For the wicked one shall no more pass through you; He is utterly cut off.

1.   He who scatters has come up before your face. Man the fort! Watch the road! Strengthen your flanks! Fortify your power mightily. 2.   For the LORD will restore the excellence of Jacob Like the excellence of Israel, For the emptiers have emptied them out And ruined their vine branches. 3.   The shields of his mighty men are made red, The valiant men are in scarlet. The chariots come with flaming torches In the day of his preparation, And the spears are brandished. 4.   The chariots rage in the streets, They jostle one another in the broad roads; They seem like torches, They run like lightning. 5.   He remembers his nobles; They stumble in their walk; They make haste to her walls, And the defense is prepared. 6.   The gates of the rivers are opened, And the palace is dissolved. 7.   It is decreed: She shall be led away captive, She shall be brought up; And her maidservants shall lead her as with the voice of doves, Beating their breasts. 8.   Though Nineveh of old was like a pool of water, Now they flee away. "Halt! Halt!" they cry ; But no one turns back. 9.   Take spoil of silver! Take spoil of gold! There is no end of treasure, Or wealth of every desirable prize. 10.   She is empty, desolate, and waste! The heart melts, and the knees shake; Much pain is in every side, And all their faces are drained of color. 11.   Where is the dwelling of the lions, And the feeding place of the young lions, Where the lion walked, the lioness and lion’s cub, And no one made them afraid? 12.   The lion tore in pieces enough for his cubs, Killed for his lionesses, Filled his caves with prey, And his dens with flesh. 13.   "Behold, I am against you," says the LORD of hosts, "I will burn your chariots in smoke, and the sword shall devour your young lions; I will cut off your prey from the earth, and the voice of your messengers shall be heard no more."

1.   And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. 2.   Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?" 3.   And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it. 4.   So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it. 5.   But one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals." 6.   And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7.   Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. 8.   Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty–four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9.   And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, 10.   And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth." 11.   Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, 12.   saying with a loud voice: "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!" 13.   And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: "Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!" 14.   Then the four living creatures said, "Amen!" And the twenty–four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.