Bible Readings for Monday January 31th, 2011 – The 4th Week of Epiphany

*Click on each bible passage to expand the text.

Psalm 37:1-17

1. [Of David.] Do not fret because of the wicked; do not be envious of wrongdoers,

2. for they will soon fade like the grass, and wither like the green herb.

3. Trust in the LORD, and do good; so you will live in the land, and enjoy security.

4. Take delight 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 act.

6. He will make your vindication shine like the light, and the justice of your cause like the noonday.

7. Be still before the LORD, and wait patiently for him; do not fret over those who prosper in their way, over those who carry out evil devices.

8. Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath. Do not fret– it leads only to evil.

9. For the wicked shall be cut off, but those who wait for the LORD shall inherit the land.

10. Yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look diligently for their place, they will not be there.

11. But the meek shall inherit the land, and delight themselves in abundant prosperity.

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

13. but the LORD laughs at the wicked, for he sees that their day is coming.

14. The wicked draw the sword and bend their bows to bring down the poor and needy, to kill those who walk uprightly;

15. their sword shall enter their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.

16. Better is a little that the righteous person has than the abundance of many wicked.

17. For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous.

Ruth 1:1-18

1. In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land, and a certain man of Bethlehem in Judah went to live in the country of Moab, he and his wife and two sons.

2. The name of the man was Elimelech and the name of his wife Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion; they were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They went into the country of Moab and remained there.

3. But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons.

4. These took Moabite wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. When they had lived there about ten years,

5. both Mahlon and Chilion also died, so that the woman was left without her two sons and her husband.

6. Then she started to return with her daughters-in-law from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the country of Moab that the LORD had considered his people and given them food.

7. So she set out from the place where she had been living, she and her two daughters-in-law, and they went on their way to go back to the land of Judah.

8. But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back each of you to your mother’s house. May the LORD deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me.

9. The LORD grant that you may find security, each of you in the house of your husband.” Then she kissed them, and they wept aloud.

10. They said to her, “No, we will return with you to your people.”

11. But Naomi said, “Turn back, my daughters, why will you go with me? Do I still have sons in my womb that they may become your husbands?

12. Turn back, my daughters, go your way, for I am too old to have a husband. Even if I thought there was hope for me, even if I should have a husband tonight and bear sons,

13. would you then wait until they were grown? Would you then refrain from marrying? No, my daughters, it has been far more bitter for me than for you, because the hand of the LORD has turned against me.”

14. Then they wept aloud again. Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.

15. So she said, “See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.”

16. But Ruth said, “Do not press me to leave you or to turn back from following you! Where you go, I will go; where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God.

17. Where you die, I will die– there will I be buried. May the LORD do thus and so to me, and more as well, if even death parts me from you!”

18. When Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more to her.

Philemon 1-25

1. Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our dear friend and co-worker,

2. to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:

3. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

4. When I remember you in my prayers, I always thank my God

5. because I hear of your love for all the saints and your faith toward the Lord Jesus.

6. I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective when you perceive all the good that we may do for Christ.

7. I have indeed received much joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, my brother.

8. For this reason, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do your duty,

9. yet I would rather appeal to you on the basis of love– and I, Paul, do this as an old man, and now also as a prisoner of Christ Jesus.

10. I am appealing to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I have become during my imprisonment.

11. Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful both to you and to me.

12. I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you.

13. I wanted to keep him with me, so that he might be of service to me in your place during my imprisonment for the gospel;

14. but I preferred to do nothing without your consent, in order that your good deed might be voluntary and not something forced.

15. Perhaps this is the reason he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back forever,

16. no longer as a slave but more than a slave, a beloved brother– especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

17. So if you consider me your partner, welcome him as you would welcome me.

18. If he has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything, charge that to my account.

19. I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand: I will repay it. I say nothing about your owing me even your own self.

20. Yes, brother, let me have this benefit from you in the Lord! Refresh my heart in Christ.

21. Confident of your obedience, I am writing to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.

22. One thing more– prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping through your prayers to be restored to you.

23. Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you,

24. and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.

25. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.