Friday, July 5, 2013

Proverbs 5 (New International Version)





Proverbs 5

Warning Against Adultery

1 My son, pay attention to my wisdom, listen well to my words of insight,
2 that you may maintain discretion and your lips may preserve knowledge.

3 For the lips of an adulteress drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil;

4 but in the end she is bitter as gall, sharp as a double-edged sword.

5 Her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to the grave. [a]

6 She gives no thought to the way of life; her paths are crooked, but she knows it not.

7 Now then, my sons, listen to me; do not turn aside from what I say.

8 Keep to a path far from her, do not go near the door of her house,

9 lest you give your best strength to others and your years to one who is cruel,

10 lest strangers feast on your wealth and your toil enrich another man's house.

11 At the end of your life you will groan, when your flesh and body are spent.

12 You will say, "How I hated discipline! How my heart spurned correction!

13 I would not obey my teachers or listen to my instructors.

14 I have come to the brink of utter ruin in the midst of the whole assembly."

15 Drink water from your own cistern, running water from your own well.

16 Should your springs overflow in the streets, your streams of water in the public squares?

17 Let them be yours alone, never to be shared with strangers.

18 May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth.

19 A loving doe, a graceful deer— may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be captivated by her love.

20 Why be captivated, my son, by an adulteress? Why embrace the bosom of another man's wife?

21 For a man's ways are in full view of the LORD, and he examines all his paths.

22 The evil deeds of a wicked man ensnare him; the cords of his sin hold him fast.

23 He will die for lack of discipline, led astray by his own great folly.

Psalm 38 (New International Version)





Psalm 38

A psalm of David. A petition.

1 O LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath.
2 For your arrows have pierced me, and your hand has come down upon me.

3 Because of your wrath there is no health in my body; my bones have no soundness because of my sin.

4 My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy to bear.

5 My wounds fester and are loathsome because of my sinful folly.

6 I am bowed down and brought very low; all day long I go about mourning.

7 My back is filled with searing pain; there is no health in my body.

8 I am feeble and utterly crushed; I groan in anguish of heart.

9 All my longings lie open before you, O Lord; my sighing is not hidden from you.

10 My heart pounds, my strength fails me; even the light has gone from my eyes.

11 My friends and companions avoid me because of my wounds; my neighbors stay far away.

12 Those who seek my life set their traps, those who would harm me talk of my ruin; all day long they plot deception.

13 I am like a deaf man, who cannot hear, like a mute, who cannot open his mouth;

14 I have become like a man who does not hear, whose mouth can offer no reply.

15 I wait for you, O LORD; you will answer, O Lord my God.

16 For I said, "Do not let them gloat or exalt themselves over me when my foot slips."

17 For I am about to fall, and my pain is ever with me.

18 I confess my iniquity; I am troubled by my sin.

19 Many are those who are my vigorous enemies; those who hate me without reason are numerous.

20 Those who repay my good with evil slander me when I pursue what is good.

21 O LORD, do not forsake me; be not far from me, O my God.

22 Come quickly to help me, O Lord my Savior.

Thursday, July 4, 2013

AFWIS Joins Operation World in Prayer for India - The Seven Union Territories

Jul 04: India, The Seven Union Territories

Isaiah 21 (New International Version)





Isaiah 21

A Prophecy Against Babylon

1 An oracle concerning the Desert by the Sea: Like whirlwinds sweeping through the southland, an invader comes from the desert, from a land of terror.
2 A dire vision has been shown to me: The traitor betrays, the looter takes loot. Elam, attack! Media, lay siege! I will bring to an end all the groaning she caused.

3 At this my body is racked with pain, pangs seize me, like those of a woman in labor; I am staggered by what I hear, I am bewildered by what I see.

4 My heart falters, fear makes me tremble; the twilight I longed for has become a horror to me.

5 They set the tables, they spread the rugs, they eat, they drink! Get up, you officers, oil the shields!

6 This is what the Lord says to me: "Go, post a lookout and have him report what he sees.

7 When he sees chariots with teams of horses, riders on donkeys or riders on camels, let him be alert, fully alert."

8 And the lookout [a] shouted, "Day after day, my lord, I stand on the watchtower; every night I stay at my post.

9 Look, here comes a man in a chariot with a team of horses. And he gives back the answer: 'Babylon has fallen, has fallen! All the images of its gods lie shattered on the ground!' "

10 O my people, crushed on the threshing floor, I tell you what I have heard from the LORD Almighty, from the God of Israel.

A Prophecy Against Edom

11 An oracle concerning Dumah [b] : Someone calls to me from Seir, "Watchman, what is left of the night? Watchman, what is left of the night?"
12 The watchman replies, "Morning is coming, but also the night. If you would ask, then ask; and come back yet again."

A Prophecy Against Arabia

13 An oracle concerning Arabia: You caravans of Dedanites, who camp in the thickets of Arabia,
14 bring water for the thirsty; you who live in Tema, bring food for the fugitives.

15 They flee from the sword, from the drawn sword, from the bent bow and from the heat of battle.

16 This is what the Lord says to me: "Within one year, as a servant bound by contract would count it, all the pomp of Kedar will come to an end. 17 The survivors of the bowmen, the warriors of Kedar, will be few." The LORD, the God of Israel, has spoken.

Proverbs 4 (New International Version)





Proverbs 4

Wisdom Is Supreme

1 Listen, my sons, to a father's instruction; pay attention and gain understanding.
2 I give you sound learning, so do not forsake my teaching.

3 When I was a boy in my father's house, still tender, and an only child of my mother,

4 he taught me and said, "Lay hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands and you will live.

5 Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or swerve from them.

6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you.

7 Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, [a] get understanding.

8 Esteem her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you.

9 She will set a garland of grace on your head and present you with a crown of splendor."

10 Listen, my son, accept what I say, and the years of your life will be many.

11 I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths.

12 When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble.

13 Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life.

14 Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evil men.

15 Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way.

16 For they cannot sleep till they do evil; they are robbed of slumber till they make someone fall.

17 They eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.

18 The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.

19 But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.

20 My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words.

21 Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart;

22 for they are life to those who find them and health to a man's whole body.

23 Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.

24 Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips.

25 Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you.

26 Make level [b] paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm.

27 Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.

Psalm 37 (New International Version)





Psalm 37

Of David.

1 [a] Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong;
2 for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away.

3 Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

4 Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.

5 Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this:

6 He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.

8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil.

9 For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.

10 A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found.

11 But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace.

12 The wicked plot against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them;

13 but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he knows their day is coming.

14 The wicked draw the sword and bend the bow to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose ways are upright.

15 But their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken.

16 Better the little that the righteous have than the wealth of many wicked;

17 for the power of the wicked will be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous.

18 The days of the blameless are known to the LORD, and their inheritance will endure forever.

19 In times of disaster they will not wither; in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.

20 But the wicked will perish: The LORD's enemies will be like the beauty of the fields, they will vanish—vanish like smoke.

21 The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously;

22 those the LORD blesses will inherit the land, but those he curses will be cut off.

23 If the LORD delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm;

24 though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand.

25 I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.

26 They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be blessed.

27 Turn from evil and do good; then you will dwell in the land forever.

28 For the LORD loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones. They will be protected forever, but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off;

29 the righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever.

30 The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks what is just.

31 The law of his God is in his heart; his feet do not slip.

32 The wicked lie in wait for the righteous, seeking their very lives;

33 but the LORD will not leave them in their power or let them be condemned when brought to trial.

34 Wait for the LORD and keep his way. He will exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are cut off, you will see it.

35 I have seen a wicked and ruthless man flourishing like a green tree in its native soil,

36 but he soon passed away and was no more; though I looked for him, he could not be found.

37 Consider the blameless, observe the upright; there is a future [b] for the man of peace.

38 But all sinners will be destroyed; the future [c] of the wicked will be cut off.

39 The salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD; he is their stronghold in time of trouble.

40 The LORD helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him.

    Wednesday, July 3, 2013

    AFWIS Joins Operation World in Prayer for India - Uttarakhand, West Bengal

    Jul 03: India, Uttarakhand, West Bengal

    Isaiah 20 (New International Version)





    Isaiah 20

    A Prophecy Against Egypt and Cush

    1 In the year that the supreme commander, sent by Sargon king of Assyria, came to Ashdod and attacked and captured it- 2 at that time the LORD spoke through Isaiah son of Amoz. He said to him, "Take off the sackcloth from your body and the sandals from your feet." And he did so, going around stripped and barefoot.
    3 Then the LORD said, "Just as my servant Isaiah has gone stripped and barefoot for three years, as a sign and portent against Egypt and Cush, [a] 4 so the king of Assyria will lead away stripped and barefoot the Egyptian captives and Cushite exiles, young and old, with buttocks bared—to Egypt's shame. 5 Those who trusted in Cush and boasted in Egypt will be afraid and put to shame. 6 In that day the people who live on this coast will say, 'See what has happened to those we relied on, those we fled to for help and deliverance from the king of Assyria! How then can we escape?' "

    Proverbs 3 (New International Version)



    Proverbs 3 (New International Version)

    Proverbs 3

    Further Benefits of Wisdom

    1 My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart,
    2 for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity.

    3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.

    4 Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.

    5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

    6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. [a]

    7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.

    8 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.

    9 Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops;

    10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.

    11 My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline and do not resent his rebuke,

    12 because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father [b] the son he delights in.

    13 Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding,

    14 for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.

    15 She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.

    16 Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.

    17 Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace.

    18 She is a tree of life to those who embrace her; those who lay hold of her will be blessed.

    19 By wisdom the LORD laid the earth's foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place;

    20 by his knowledge the deeps were divided, and the clouds let drop the dew.

    21 My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment, do not let them out of your sight;

    22 they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck.

    23 Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble;

    24 when you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.

    25 Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,

    26 for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared.

    27 Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act.

    28 Do not say to your neighbor, "Come back later; I'll give it tomorrow"— when you now have it with you.

    29 Do not plot harm against your neighbor, who lives trustfully near you.

    30 Do not accuse a man for no reason— when he has done you no harm.

    31 Do not envy a violent man or choose any of his ways,

    32 for the LORD detests a perverse man but takes the upright into his confidence.

    33 The LORD's curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous.

    34 He mocks proud mockers but gives grace to the humble.

    35 The wise inherit honor, but fools he holds up to shame.

    Psalm 36 (New International Version)




    Psalm 36

    For the director of music. Of David the servant of the LORD.

    1 An oracle is within my heart concerning the sinfulness of the wicked: [a] There is no fear of God before his eyes.
    2 For in his own eyes he flatters himself too much to detect or hate his sin.

    3 The words of his mouth are wicked and deceitful; he has ceased to be wise and to do good.

    4 Even on his bed he plots evil; he commits himself to a sinful course and does not reject what is wrong.

    5 Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.

    6 Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the great deep. O LORD, you preserve both man and beast.

    7 How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find [b] refuge in the shadow of your wings.

    8 They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights.

    9 For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.

    10 Continue your love to those who know you, your righteousness to the upright in heart.

    11 May the foot of the proud not come against me, nor the hand of the wicked drive me away.

    12 See how the evildoers lie fallen— thrown down, not able to rise!

    Tuesday, July 2, 2013

    AFWIS Joins Operation World in Prayer for India -Tripura, Uttar Pradesh

    Jul 02: India, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh

    Isaiah 19 (New International Version)




    Isaiah 19

    A Prophecy About Egypt

    1 An oracle concerning Egypt: See, the LORD rides on a swift cloud and is coming to Egypt. The idols of Egypt tremble before him, and the hearts of the Egyptians melt within them.
    2 "I will stir up Egyptian against Egyptian— brother will fight against brother, neighbor against neighbor, city against city, kingdom against kingdom.

    3 The Egyptians will lose heart, and I will bring their plans to nothing; they will consult the idols and the spirits of the dead, the mediums and the spiritists.

    4 I will hand the Egyptians over to the power of a cruel master, and a fierce king will rule over them," declares the Lord, the LORD Almighty.

    5 The waters of the river will dry up, and the riverbed will be parched and dry.

    6 The canals will stink; the streams of Egypt will dwindle and dry up. The reeds and rushes will wither,

    7 also the plants along the Nile, at the mouth of the river. Every sown field along the Nile will become parched, will blow away and be no more.

    8 The fishermen will groan and lament, all who cast hooks into the Nile; those who throw nets on the water will pine away.

    9 Those who work with combed flax will despair, the weavers of fine linen will lose hope.

    10 The workers in cloth will be dejected, and all the wage earners will be sick at heart.

    11 The officials of Zoan are nothing but fools; the wise counselors of Pharaoh give senseless advice. How can you say to Pharaoh, "I am one of the wise men, a disciple of the ancient kings"?

    12 Where are your wise men now? Let them show you and make known what the LORD Almighty has planned against Egypt.

    13 The officials of Zoan have become fools, the leaders of Memphis [a] are deceived; the cornerstones of her peoples have led Egypt astray.

    14 The LORD has poured into them a spirit of dizziness; they make Egypt stagger in all that she does, as a drunkard staggers around in his vomit.

    15 There is nothing Egypt can do— head or tail, palm branch or reed.

    16 In that day the Egyptians will be like women. They will shudder with fear at the uplifted hand that the LORD Almighty raises against them. 17 And the land of Judah will bring terror to the Egyptians; everyone to whom Judah is mentioned will be terrified, because of what the LORD Almighty is planning against them.

    18 In that day five cities in Egypt will speak the language of Canaan and swear allegiance to the LORD Almighty. One of them will be called the City of Destruction. [b]

    19 In that day there will be an altar to the LORD in the heart of Egypt, and a monument to the LORD at its border. 20 It will be a sign and witness to the LORD Almighty in the land of Egypt. When they cry out to the LORD because of their oppressors, he will send them a savior and defender, and he will rescue them. 21 So the LORD will make himself known to the Egyptians, and in that day they will acknowledge the LORD. They will worship with sacrifices and grain offerings; they will make vows to the LORD and keep them. 22 The LORD will strike Egypt with a plague; he will strike them and heal them. They will turn to the LORD, and he will respond to their pleas and heal them.

    23 In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria. The Assyrians will go to Egypt and the Egyptians to Assyria. The Egyptians and Assyrians will worship together. 24 In that day Israel will be the third, along with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing on the earth. 25 The LORD Almighty will bless them, saying, "Blessed be Egypt my people, Assyria my handiwork, and Israel my inheritance."

    Proverbs 2 (New International Version



    )

    Proverbs 2

    Moral Benefits of Wisdom

    1 My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you,
    2 turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding,

    3 and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding,

    4 and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure,

    5 then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.

    6 For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

    7 He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,

    8 for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones.

    9 Then you will understand what is right and just and fair—every good path.

    10 For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.

    11 Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you.

    12 Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perverse,

    13 who leave the straight paths to walk in dark ways,

    14 who delight in doing wrong and rejoice in the perverseness of evil,

    15 whose paths are crooked and who are devious in their ways.

    16 It will save you also from the adulteress, from the wayward wife with her seductive words,

    17 who has left the partner of her youth and ignored the covenant she made before God. [a]

    18 For her house leads down to death and her paths to the spirits of the dead.

    19 None who go to her return or attain the paths of life.

    20 Thus you will walk in the ways of good men and keep to the paths of the righteous.

    21 For the upright will live in the land, and the blameless will remain in it;

    22 but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the unfaithful will be torn from it.

      Psalm 35 (New International Version)



      Psalm 35 (New International Version)

      Psalm 35

      Of David.

      1 Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me.
      2 Take up shield and buckler; arise and come to my aid.

      3 Brandish spear and javelin [a] against those who pursue me. Say to my soul, "I am your salvation."

      4 May those who seek my life be disgraced and put to shame; may those who plot my ruin be turned back in dismay.

      5 May they be like chaff before the wind, with the angel of the LORD driving them away;

      6 may their path be dark and slippery, with the angel of the LORD pursuing them.

      7 Since they hid their net for me without cause and without cause dug a pit for me,

      8 may ruin overtake them by surprise— may the net they hid entangle them, may they fall into the pit, to their ruin.

      9 Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD and delight in his salvation.

      10 My whole being will exclaim, "Who is like you, O LORD ? You rescue the poor from those too strong for them, the poor and needy from those who rob them."

      11 Ruthless witnesses come forward; they question me on things I know nothing about.

      12 They repay me evil for good and leave my soul forlorn.

      13 Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth and humbled myself with fasting. When my prayers returned to me unanswered,

      14 I went about mourning as though for my friend or brother. I bowed my head in grief as though weeping for my mother.

      15 But when I stumbled, they gathered in glee; attackers gathered against me when I was unaware. They slandered me without ceasing.

      16 Like the ungodly they maliciously mocked [b] ; they gnashed their teeth at me.

      17 O Lord, how long will you look on? Rescue my life from their ravages, my precious life from these lions.

      18 I will give you thanks in the great assembly; among throngs of people I will praise you.

      19 Let not those gloat over me who are my enemies without cause; let not those who hate me without reason maliciously wink the eye.

      20 They do not speak peaceably, but devise false accusations against those who live quietly in the land.

      21 They gape at me and say, "Aha! Aha! With our own eyes we have seen it."

      22 O LORD, you have seen this; be not silent. Do not be far from me, O Lord.

      23 Awake, and rise to my defense! Contend for me, my God and Lord.

      24 Vindicate me in your righteousness, O LORD my God; do not let them gloat over me.

      25 Do not let them think, "Aha, just what we wanted!" or say, "We have swallowed him up."

      26 May all who gloat over my distress be put to shame and confusion; may all who exalt themselves over me be clothed with shame and disgrace.

      27 May those who delight in my vindication shout for joy and gladness; may they always say, "The LORD be exalted, who delights in the well-being of his servant."

      28 My tongue will speak of your righteousness and of your praises all day long.

      Monday, July 1, 2013

      AFWIS Joins Operation World in Prayer for India - Sikkim, Tamil Nadu

      Jul 01: India, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu

      Isaiah 19 (New International Version)





      Isaiah 19

      A Prophecy About Egypt

      1 An oracle concerning Egypt: See, the LORD rides on a swift cloud and is coming to Egypt. The idols of Egypt tremble before him, and the hearts of the Egyptians melt within them.
      2 "I will stir up Egyptian against Egyptian— brother will fight against brother, neighbor against neighbor, city against city, kingdom against kingdom.

      3 The Egyptians will lose heart, and I will bring their plans to nothing; they will consult the idols and the spirits of the dead, the mediums and the spiritists.

      4 I will hand the Egyptians over to the power of a cruel master, and a fierce king will rule over them," declares the Lord, the LORD Almighty.

      5 The waters of the river will dry up, and the riverbed will be parched and dry.

      6 The canals will stink; the streams of Egypt will dwindle and dry up. The reeds and rushes will wither,

      7 also the plants along the Nile, at the mouth of the river. Every sown field along the Nile will become parched, will blow away and be no more.

      8 The fishermen will groan and lament, all who cast hooks into the Nile; those who throw nets on the water will pine away.

      9 Those who work with combed flax will despair, the weavers of fine linen will lose hope.

      10 The workers in cloth will be dejected, and all the wage earners will be sick at heart.

      11 The officials of Zoan are nothing but fools; the wise counselors of Pharaoh give senseless advice. How can you say to Pharaoh, "I am one of the wise men, a disciple of the ancient kings"?

      12 Where are your wise men now? Let them show you and make known what the LORD Almighty has planned against Egypt.

      13 The officials of Zoan have become fools, the leaders of Memphis [a] are deceived; the cornerstones of her peoples have led Egypt astray.

      14 The LORD has poured into them a spirit of dizziness; they make Egypt stagger in all that she does, as a drunkard staggers around in his vomit.

      15 There is nothing Egypt can do— head or tail, palm branch or reed.

      16 In that day the Egyptians will be like women. They will shudder with fear at the uplifted hand that the LORD Almighty raises against them. 17 And the land of Judah will bring terror to the Egyptians; everyone to whom Judah is mentioned will be terrified, because of what the LORD Almighty is planning against them.

      18 In that day five cities in Egypt will speak the language of Canaan and swear allegiance to the LORD Almighty. One of them will be called the City of Destruction. [b]

      19 In that day there will be an altar to the LORD in the heart of Egypt, and a monument to the LORD at its border. 20 It will be a sign and witness to the LORD Almighty in the land of Egypt. When they cry out to the LORD because of their oppressors, he will send them a savior and defender, and he will rescue them. 21 So the LORD will make himself known to the Egyptians, and in that day they will acknowledge the LORD. They will worship with sacrifices and grain offerings; they will make vows to the LORD and keep them. 22 The LORD will strike Egypt with a plague; he will strike them and heal them. They will turn to the LORD, and he will respond to their pleas and heal them.

      23 In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria. The Assyrians will go to Egypt and the Egyptians to Assyria. The Egyptians and Assyrians will worship together. 24 In that day Israel will be the third, along with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing on the earth. 25 The LORD Almighty will bless them, saying, "Blessed be Egypt my people, Assyria my handiwork, and Israel my inheritance."

      Psalm 34 (New International Version)



      Psalm 34 (New International Version)

      Psalm 34

      Of David. When he pretended to be insane before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he left.

      1 [a] I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.
      2 My soul will boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice.

      3 Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together.

      4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.

      5 Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.

      6 This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles.

      7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.

      8 Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.

      9 Fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing.

      10 The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.

      11 Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

      12 Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days,

      13 keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies.

      14 Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

      15 The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry;

      16 the face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.

      17 The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.

      18 The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

      19 A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all;

      20 he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken.

      21 Evil will slay the wicked; the foes of the righteous will be condemned.

      22 The LORD redeems his servants; no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him.