Leviticus 23:23-44
The LORD spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to the people of Israel, saying: In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall observe a day of complete rest, a holy convocation commemorated with trumpet blasts. You shall not work at your occupations; and you shall present the LORD's offering by fire. The LORD spoke to Moses, saying: Now, the tenth day of this seventh month is the day of atonement; it shall be a holy convocation for you: you shall deny yourselves and present the LORD's offering by fire; and you shall do no work during that entire day; for it is a day of atonement, to make atonement on your behalf before the LORD your God. For anyone who does not practice self-denial during that entire day shall be cut off from the people. And anyone who does any work during that entire day, such a one I will destroy from the midst of the people. You shall do no work: it is a statute forever throughout your generations in all your settlements. It shall be to you a sabbath of complete rest, and you shall deny yourselves; on the ninth day of the month at evening, from evening to evening you shall keep your sabbath. The LORD spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to the people of Israel, saying: On the fifteenth day of this seventh month, and lasting seven days, there shall be the festival of booths to the LORD. The first day shall be a holy convocation; you shall not work at your occupations. Seven days you shall present the LORD's offerings by fire; on the eighth day you shall observe a holy convocation and present the LORD's offerings by fire; it is a solemn assembly; you shall not work at your occupations. These are the appointed festivals of the LORD, which you shall celebrate as times of holy convocation, for presenting to the LORD offerings by fire-- burnt offerings and grain offerings, sacrifices and drink offerings, each on its proper day-- apart from the sabbaths of the LORD, and apart from your gifts, and apart from all your votive offerings, and apart from all your freewill offerings, which you give to the LORD. Now, the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the produce of the land, you shall keep the festival of the LORD, lasting seven days; a complete rest on the first day, and a complete rest on the eighth day. On the first day you shall take the fruit of majestic trees, branches of palm trees, boughs of leafy trees, and willows of the brook; and you shall rejoice before the LORD your God for seven days. You shall keep it as a festival to the LORD seven days in the year; you shall keep it in the seventh month as a statute forever throughout your generations. You shall live in booths for seven days; all that are citizens in Israel shall live in booths, so that your generations may know that I made the people of Israel live in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God. Thus Moses declared to the people of Israel the appointed festivals of the LORD.
2 Thessalonians 3:1-18
Finally, brothers and sisters, pray for us, so that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be glorified everywhere, just as it is among you, and that we may be rescued from wicked and evil people; for not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one. And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you are doing and will go on doing the things that we command. May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ. Now we command you, beloved, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from believers who are living in idleness and not according to the tradition that they received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us; we were not idle when we were with you, and we did not eat anyone's bread without paying for it; but with toil and labor we worked night and day, so that we might not burden any of you. This was not because we do not have that right, but in order to give you an example to imitate. For even when we were with you, we gave you this command: Anyone unwilling to work should not eat. For we hear that some of you are living in idleness, mere busybodies, not doing any work. Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living. Brothers and sisters, do not be weary in doing what is right. Take note of those who do not obey what we say in this letter; have nothing to do with them, so that they may be ashamed. Do not regard them as enemies, but warn them as believers. Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways. The Lord be with all of you. I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. This is the mark in every letter of mine; it is the way I write. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you.
Matthew 7:13-21
"Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it. "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will know them by their fruits. "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.
Morning Psalms
Psalm 75
1 We give you thanks, O God, we give you thanks, calling upon your Name and declaring all your wonderful deeds.
2 I will appoint a time, says God; I will judge with equity.
3 Though the earth and all its inhabitants are quaking, I will make its pillars fast.
4 I will say to the boasters, 'Boast no more, ' and to the wicked, 'Do not toss your horns;
5 Do not toss your horns so high, nor speak with a proud neck.'"
6 For judgment is neither from the east nor from the west, nor yet from the wilderness or the mountains.
7 It is God who judges; he puts down one and lifts up another.
8 For in the LORD'S hand there is a cup, full of spiced and foaming wine, which he pours out, and all the wicked of the earth shall drink and drain the dregs.
9 But I will rejoice for ever; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.
10 He shall break off all the horns of the wicked; but the horns of the righteous shall be exalted.
Psalm 76
1 In Judah is God known; his Name is great in Israel.
2 At Salem is his tabernacle, and his dwelling is in Zion.
3 There he broke the flashing arrows, the shield, the sword, and the weapons of battle.
4 How glorious you are! more splendid than the everlasting mountains!
5 The strong of heart have been despoiled; they sink into sleep; none of the warriors can lift a hand.
6 At your rebuke, O God of Jacob, both horse and rider lie stunned.
7 What terror you inspire! who can stand before you when you are angry?
8 From heaven you pronounced judgment; the earth was afraid and was still;
9 When God rose up to judgment and to save all the oppressed of the earth.
10 Truly, wrathful Edom will give you thanks, and the remnant of Hamath will keep your feasts.
11 Make a vow to the LORD your God and keep it; let all around him bring gifts to him who is worthy to be feared.
12 He breaks the spirit of princes, and strikes terror in the kings of the earth.
Evening Psalms
Psalm 23
1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not be in want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures and leads me beside still waters.
3 He revives my soul and guides me along right pathways for his Name's sake.
4 Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
5 You spread a table before me in the presence of those who trouble me; you have anointed my head with oil, and my cup is running over.
6 Surely your goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
Psalm 27
1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom then shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom then shall I be afraid?
2 When evildoers came upon me to eat up my flesh, it was they, my foes and my adversaries, who stumbled and fell.
3 Though an army should encamp against me, yet my heart shall not be afraid;
4 And though war should rise up against me, yet will I put my trust in him.
5 One thing have I asked of the LORD; one thing I seek; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life;
6 To behold the fair beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.
7 For in the day of trouble he shall keep me safe in his shelter; he shall hide me in the secrecy of his dwelling and set me high upon a rock.
8 Even now he lifts up my head above my enemies round about me.
9 Therefore I will offer in his dwelling an oblation with sounds of great gladness; I will sing and make music to the LORD.
10 Hearken to my voice, O LORD, when I call; have mercy on me and answer me.
11 You speak in my heart and say, "Seek my face." Your face, LORD, will I seek.
12 Hide not your face from me, nor turn away your servant in displeasure.
13 You have been my helper; cast me not away; do not forsake me, O God of my salvation.
14 Though my father and my mother forsake me, the LORD will sustain me.
15 Show me your way, O LORD; lead me on a level path, because of my enemies.
16 Deliver me not into the hand of my adversaries, for false witnesses have risen up against me, and also those who speak malice.
17 What if I had not believed that I should see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living!
18 O tarry and await the LORD'S pleasure; be strong, and he shall comfort your heart; wait patiently for the LORD.
