Morning Readings
Darkness and Light
Exodus 10:21-26
21 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand toward the sky so that darkness will spread over Egypt—darkness that can be felt." 22 So Moses stretched out his hand toward the sky, and total darkness covered all Egypt for three days. 23 No one could see anyone else or leave his place for three days. Yet all the Israelites had light in the places where they lived.
24 Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and said, "Go, worship the LORD. Even your women and children may go with you; only leave your flocks and herds behind."
25 But Moses said, "You must allow us to have sacrifices and burnt offerings to present to the LORD our God. 26 Our livestock too must go with us; not a hoof is to be left behind. We have to use some of them in worshiping the LORD our God, and until we get there we will not know what we are to use to worship the LORD."
Exodus 11:1-7
1 Now the LORD had said to Moses, "I will bring one more plague on Pharaoh and on Egypt. After that, he will let you go from here, and when he does, he will drive you out completely. 2 Tell the people that men and women alike are to ask their neighbors for articles of silver and gold." 3 (The LORD made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward the people, and Moses himself was highly regarded in Egypt by Pharaoh's officials and by the people.)
4 So Moses said, "This is what the LORD says: 'About midnight I will go throughout Egypt. 5 Every firstborn son in Egypt will die, from the firstborn son of Pharaoh, who sits on the throne, to the firstborn son of the female slave, who is at her hand mill, and all the firstborn of the cattle as well. 6 There will be loud wailing throughout Egypt—worse than there has ever been or ever will be again. 7 But among the Israelites not a dog will bark at any person or animal.' Then you will know that the LORD makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel.
Evening Readings
The A, B, C of Wisdom
Proverbs 1:1
1 The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:
Proverbs 1:7
7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,
but fools [a] despise wisdom and instruction.
Footnotes:
- Proverbs 1:7 The Hebrew words rendered fool in Proverbs, and often elsewhere in the Old Testament, denote a person who is morally deficient.
Proverbs 1:10
10 My son, if sinful men entice you,
do not give in to them.
Proverbs 1:24-28
24 But since you refuse to listen when I call
and no one pays attention when I stretch out my hand,
25 since you disregard all my advice
and do not accept my rebuke,
26 I in turn will laugh when disaster strikes you;
I will mock when calamity overtakes you—
27 when calamity overtakes you like a storm,
when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind,
when distress and trouble overwhelm you.
28 "Then they will call to me but I will not answer;
they will look for me but will not find me,
Proverbs 2:6
6 For the LORD gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
Proverbs 3:5-6
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight. [a]
Footnotes:
- Proverbs 3:6 Or will direct your paths
Proverbs 3:11-12
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 the son he delights in. [a]
Footnotes:
- Proverbs 3:12 Hebrew; Septuagint / and he chastens everyone he accepts as his child
Proverbs 3:25-27
25 Have no fear of sudden disaster
or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
26 for the LORD will be at your side
and will keep your foot from being snared.
27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
when it is in your power to act.
Proverbs 3:33
33 The LORD's curse is on the house of the wicked,
but he blesses the home of the righteous.
Proverbs 4:14-15
14 Do not set foot on the path of the wicked
or walk in the way of evildoers.
15 Avoid it, do not travel on it;
turn from it and go on your way.
Proverbs 4:18
18 The path of the righteous is like the morning sun,
shining ever brighter till the full light of day.
Proverbs 5:21
21 For your ways are in full view of the LORD,
and he examines all your paths.
Leaves for Plucking
2 Timothy 3:15
15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
Hebrews 2:18
18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
"A glory gilds the sacred page,
Majestic like the sun;
It gives a light to every age;
It gives, but borrows none."
