Joshua 23:1-16
A long time afterward, when the LORD had given rest to Israel from all their enemies all around, and Joshua was old and well advanced in years, Joshua summoned all Israel, their elders and heads, their judges and officers, and said to them, "I am now old and well advanced in years; and you have seen all that the LORD your God has done to all these nations for your sake, for it is the LORD your God who has fought for you. I have allotted to you as an inheritance for your tribes those nations that remain, along with all the nations that I have already cut off, from the Jordan to the Great Sea in the west. The LORD your God will push them back before you, and drive them out of your sight; and you shall possess their land, as the LORD your God promised you. Therefore be very steadfast to observe and do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, turning aside from it neither to the right nor to the left, so that you may not be mixed with these nations left here among you, or make mention of the names of their gods, or swear by them, or serve them, or bow yourselves down to them, but hold fast to the LORD your God, as you have done to this day. For the LORD has driven out before you great and strong nations; and as for you, no one has been able to withstand you to this day. One of you puts to flight a thousand, since it is the LORD your God who fights for you, as he promised you. Be very careful, therefore, to love the LORD your God. For if you turn back, and join the survivors of these nations left here among you, and intermarry with them, so that you marry their women and they yours, know assuredly that the LORD your God will not continue to drive out these nations before you; but they shall be a snare and a trap for you, a scourge on your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land that the LORD your God has given you. "And now I am about to go the way of all the earth, and you know in your hearts and souls, all of you, that not one thing has failed of all the good things that the LORD your God promised concerning you; all have come to pass for you, not one of them has failed. But just as all the good things that the LORD your God promised concerning you have been fulfilled for you, so the LORD will bring upon you all the bad things, until he has destroyed you from this good land that the LORD your God has given you. If you transgress the covenant of the LORD your God, which he enjoined on you, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them, then the anger of the LORD will be kindled against you, and you shall perish quickly from the good land that he has given to you."
Romans 15:25-33
At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem in a ministry to the saints; for Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to share their resources with the poor among the saints at Jerusalem. They were pleased to do this, and indeed they owe it to them; for if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material things. So, when I have completed this, and have delivered to them what has been collected, I will set out by way of you to Spain; and I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ. I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in earnest prayer to God on my behalf, that I may be rescued from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my ministry to Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, so that by God's will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company. The God of peace be with all of you. Amen.
Matthew 27:11-23
Now Jesus stood before the governor; and the governor asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus said, "You say so." But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he did not answer. Then Pilate said to him, "Do you not hear how many accusations they make against you?" But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed. Now at the festival the governor was accustomed to release a prisoner for the crowd, anyone whom they wanted. At that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Jesus Barabbas. So after they had gathered, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to release for you, Jesus Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Messiah?" For he realized that it was out of jealousy that they had handed him over. While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, "Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for today I have suffered a great deal because of a dream about him." Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus killed. The governor again said to them, "Which of the two do you want me to release for you?" And they said, "Barabbas." Pilate said to them, "Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?" All of them said, "Let him be crucified!" Then he asked, "Why, what evil has he done?" But they shouted all the more, "Let him be crucified!"
Morning Psalms
Psalm 55 Exaudi, Deus
1 Hear my prayer, O God; do not hide yourself from my petition.
2 Listen to me and answer me; I have no peace, because of my cares.
3 I am shaken by the noise of the enemy and by the pressure of the wicked;
4 For they have cast an evil spell upon me and are set against me in fury.
5 My heart quakes within me, and the terrors of death have fallen upon me.
6 Fear and trembling have come over me, and horror overwhelms me.
7 And I said, "Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.
8 I would flee to a far-off place and make my lodging in the wilderness.
9 I would hasten to escape from the stormy wind and tempest."
10 Swallow them up, O Lord; confound their speech; for I have seen violence and strife in the city.
11 Day and night the watchmen make their rounds upon her walls, but trouble and misery are in the midst of her.
12 There is corruption at her heart; her streets are never free of oppression and deceit.
13 For had it been an adversary who taunted me, then I could have borne it; or had it been an enemy who vaunted himself against me, then I could have hidden from him.
14 But it was you, a man after my own heart, my companion, my own familiar friend.
15 We took sweet counsel together, and walked with the throng in the house of God.
16 Let death come upon them suddenly; let them go down alive to the grave; for wickedness is in their dwellings, in their very midst.
17 But I will call upon God, and the LORD will deliver me.
18 In the evening, in the morning, and at noonday, I will complain and lament, and he will hear my voice.
19 He will bring me safely back from the battle waged against me; for there are many who fight me.
20 God, who is enthroned of old, will hear me and bring them down; they never change; they do not fear God.
21 My companion stretched forth his hand against his comrade; he has broken his covenant.
22 His speech is softer than butter, but war is in his heart.
23 His words are smoother than oil, but they are drawn swords.
24 Cast your burden upon the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous stumble.
25 For you will bring the bloodthirsty and deceitful down to the pit of destruction, O God.
26 They shall not live out half their days, but I will put my trust in you.
Evening Psalms
Psalm 138 Confitebor tibi
1 I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with my whole heart; before the gods I will sing your praise.
2 I will bow down toward your holy temple and praise your Name, because of your love and faithfulness;
3 For you have glorified your Name and your word above all things.
4 When I called, you answered me; you increased my strength within me.
5 All the kings of the earth will praise you, O LORD, when they have heard the words of your mouth.
6 They will sing of the ways of the LORD, that great is the glory of the LORD.
7 Though the LORD be high, he cares for the lowly; he perceives the haughty from afar.
8 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you keep me safe; you stretch forth your hand against the fury of my enemies; your right hand shall save me.
9 The LORD will make good his purpose for me; O LORD, your love endures for ever; do not abandon the works of your hands.
Psalm 139 Domine, probasti
1 LORD, you have searched me out and known me; you know my sitting down and my rising up; you discern my thoughts from afar.
2 You trace my journeys and my resting-places and are acquainted with all my ways.
3 Indeed, there is not a word on my lips, but you, O LORD, know it altogether.
4 You press upon me behind and before and lay your hand upon me.
5 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is so high that I cannot attain to it.
6 Where can I go then from your Spirit? where can I flee from your presence?
7 If I climb up to heaven, you are there; if I make the grave my bed, you are there also.
8 If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
9 Even there your hand will lead me and your right hand hold me fast.
10 If I say, "Surely the darkness will cover me, and the light around me turn to night, "
11 Darkness is not dark to you; the night is as bright as the day; darkness and light to you are both alike.
12 For you yourself created my inmost parts; you knit me together in my mother's womb.
13 I will thank you because I am marvelously made; your works are wonderful, and I know it well.
14 My body was not hidden from you, while I was being made in secret and woven in the depths of the earth.
15 Your eyes beheld my limbs, yet unfinished in the womb; all of them were written in your book; they were fashioned day by day, when as yet there was none of them.
16 How deep I find your thoughts, O God! how great is the sum of them!
17 If I were to count them, they would be more in number than the sand; to count them all, my life span would need to be like yours.
18 Oh, that you would slay the wicked, O God! You that thirst for blood, depart from me.
19 They speak despitefully against you; your enemies take your Name in vain.
20 Do I not hate those, O LORD, who hate you? and do I not loathe those who rise up against you?
21 I hate them with a perfect hatred; they have become my own enemies.
22 Search me out, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my restless thoughts.
23 Look well whether there be any wickedness in me and lead me in the way that is everlasting.
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