Bible Readings for May 27, 2019

Today our passages are 2 Samuel 12:1–31; John 16:1-33; Psalm 119:65-80; and Proverbs 16:4-5. The readings are from the Contemporary English Version. If you find these readings helpful, please consider sending an offering directly to Cove Presbyterian Church, 3404 Main Street, Weirton, West Virginia or through PayPal by using the link below. 

---

2 Samuel 12:1-31 (Contemporary English Version)

2 Samuel 12

The LORD's Message for David

 ¹and he sent Nathan the prophet to tell this story to David:    A rich man and a poor man lived in the same town. ²The rich man owned a lot of sheep and cattle, ³but the poor man had only one little lamb that he had bought and raised. The lamb became a pet for him and his children. He even let it eat from his plate and drink from his cup and sleep on his lap. The lamb was like one of his own children.
    ⁴One day someone came to visit the rich man, but the rich man didn't want to kill any of his own sheep or cattle and serve it to the visitor. So he stole the poor man's little lamb and served it instead.
    ⁵David was furious with the rich man and said to Nathan, "I swear by the living LORD that the man who did this deserves to die! ⁶And because he didn't have any pity on the poor man, he will have to pay four times what the lamb was worth."
    ⁷Then Nathan told David:
   You are that rich man! Now listen to what the LORD God of Israel says to you: "I chose you to be the king of Israel. I kept you safe from Saul ⁸and even gave you his house and his wives. I let you rule Israel and Judah, and if that had not been enough, I would have given you much more. ⁹Why did you disobey me and do such a horrible thing? You murdered Uriah the Hittite by having the Ammonites kill him, so you could take his wife.
    ¹⁰"Because you wouldn't obey me and took Uriah's wife for yourself, your family will never live in peace. ¹¹Someone from your own family will cause you a lot of trouble, and I will take your wives and give them to another man before your very eyes. He will go to bed with them while everyone looks on. ¹²What you did was in secret, but I will do this in the open for everyone in Israel to see."
    ^13-14David said, "I have disobeyed the LORD."
   "Yes, you have!" Nathan answered. "You showed you didn't care what the LORD wanted. ^[a] He has forgiven you, and you won't die. But your newborn son will." ¹⁵Then Nathan went back home. The LORD made David's young son very sick.     

David's Young Son Dies

 ¹⁶So David went without eating to show his sorrow, and he begged God to make the boy well. David would not sleep on his bed, but spent each night lying on the floor. ¹⁷His officials stood beside him and tried to talk him into getting up. But he would not get up or eat with them.     ¹⁸After the child had been sick for seven days, he died, but the officials were afraid to tell David. They said to each other, "Even when the boy was alive, David wouldn't listen to us. How can we tell him his son is dead? He might do something terrible!"
    ¹⁹David noticed his servants whispering, and he knew the boy was dead. "Did my son die?" he asked his servants.
   "Yes, he did," they answered.
    ²⁰David got up off the floor; he took a bath, combed his hair, and dressed. He went into the LORD's tent and worshiped, then he went back home. David asked for something to eat, and when his servants brought him some food, he ate it.
    ²¹His officials said, "What are you doing? You went without eating and cried for your son while he was alive! But now that he's dead, you're up and eating."
    ²²David answered:
   While he was still alive, I went without food and cried because there was still hope. I said to myself, "Who knows? Maybe the LORD will have pity on me and let the child live." ²³But now that he's dead, why should I go without eating? I can't bring him back! Someday I will join him in death, but he can't return to me.     

Solomon Is Born

 ²⁴David comforted his wife Bathsheba and slept with her. Later on, she gave birth to another son and named him Solomon. The LORD loved Solomon ²⁵and sent Nathan the prophet to tell David, "The LORD will call him Jedidiah." ^[b]

The End of the War with Ammon

(1 Chronicles 20.1b-3)

 ²⁶Meanwhile, Joab had been in the country of Ammon, attacking the city of Rabbah. He captured the royal fortress ²⁷and sent a messenger to tell David:    I have attacked Rabbah and captured the fortress guarding the city water supply. ²⁸Call the rest of the army together. Then surround the city, and capture it yourself. If you don't, everyone will remember that I captured the city.
    ²⁹David called the rest of the army together and attacked Rabbah. He captured the city ³⁰and took the crown from the statue of their god Milcom. ^[c] The crown was made of seventy-five pounds of gold, and there was a valuable jewel on it. David put the jewel on his own crown. ^[d] He also carried off everything else of value. ³¹David made the people of Rabbah tear down the city walls ^[e] with iron picks and axes, and then he put them to work making bricks. He did the same thing with all the other Ammonite cities. David went back to Jerusalem, and the people of Israel returned to their homes.
    

Footnotes:

1. 2 Samuel 12:13 what. . . wanted: One manuscript of one ancient translation; one Hebrew manuscript "what the LORD had said"; most Hebrew manuscripts "what the enemies of the LORD would think."
2. 2 Samuel 12:25 Jedidiah: In Hebrew this name means "Loved by the LORD."
3. 2 Samuel 12:30 the statue of their god Milcom: Or "their king."
4. 2 Samuel 12:30 David. . . crown: Or "and David wore the crown."
5. 2 Samuel 12:31 tear. . . walls: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.

---

John 16:1-33 (Contemporary English Version)

John 16

 ¹I am telling you this to keep you from being afraid. ²You will be chased out of the Jewish meeting places. And the time will come when people will kill you and think they are doing God a favor. ³They will do these things because they don't know either the Father or me. ⁴I am saying this to you now, so that when the time comes, you will remember what I have said.    I was with you at the first, and so I didn't tell you these things. 

The Work of the Holy Spirit

 ⁵But now I am going back to the Father who sent me, and none of you asks me where I am going. ⁶You are very sad from hearing all of this. ⁷But I tell you that I am going to do what is best for you. That is why I am going away. The Holy Spirit cannot come to help you until I leave. But after I am gone, I will send the Spirit to you.     ⁸The Spirit will come and show the people of this world the truth about sin and God's justice and the judgment. ⁹The Spirit will show them that they are wrong about sin, because they didn't have faith in me. ¹⁰They are wrong about God's justice, because I am going to the Father, and you won't see me again. ¹¹And they are wrong about the judgment, because God has already judged the ruler of this world.
    ¹²I have much more to say to you, but right now it would be more than you could understand. ¹³The Spirit shows what is true and will come and guide you into the full truth. The Spirit doesn't speak on his own. He will tell you only what he has heard from me, and he will let you know what is going to happen. ¹⁴The Spirit will bring glory to me by taking my message and telling it to you. ¹⁵Everything that the Father has is mine. That is why I have said that the Spirit takes my message and tells it to you.     

Sorrow Will Turn into Joy

 ¹⁶Jesus told his disciples, "For a little while you won't see me, but after a while you will see me. "     ¹⁷They said to each other, "What does Jesus mean by saying that for a little while we won't see him, but after a while we will see him? What does he mean by saying that he is going to the Father? ¹⁸What is this `little while' that he is talking about? We don't know what he means."
    ¹⁹Jesus knew that they had some questions, so he said:
   You are wondering what I meant when I said that for a little while you won't see me, but after a while you will see me. ²⁰I tell you for certain that you will cry and be sad, but the world will be happy. You will be sad, but later you will be happy.
    ²¹When a woman is about to give birth, she is in great pain. But after it is all over, she forgets the pain and is happy, because she has brought a child into the world. ²²You are now very sad. But later I will see you, and you will be so happy that no one will be able to change the way you feel. ²³When that time comes, you won't have to ask me about anything. I tell you for certain that the Father will give you whatever you ask for in my name. ²⁴You have not asked for anything in this way before, but now you must ask in my name. ^[a] Then it will be given to you, so that you will be completely happy. ²⁵I have used examples to explain to you what I have been talking about. But the time will come when I will speak to you plainly about the Father and will no longer use examples like these. ²⁶You will ask the Father in my name, ^[b] and I won't have to ask him for you. ²⁷God the Father loves you because you love me, and you believe that I have come from him. ²⁸I came from the Father into the world, but I am leaving the world and returning to the Father. ²⁹The disciples said, "Now you are speaking plainly to us! You are not using examples. ³⁰At last we know that you understand everything, and we don't have any more questions. Now we believe that you truly have come from God."
    ³¹Jesus replied:
   Do you really believe me? ³²The time will come and is already here when all of you will be scattered. Each of you will go back home and leave me by myself. But the Father will be with me, and I won't be alone. ³³I have told you this, so that you might have peace in your hearts because of me. While you are in the world, you will have to suffer. But cheer up! I have defeated the world. ^[c] 

Footnotes:

1. John 16:24 in my name. . . in my name: Or " as my disciples. . . as my disciples."
2. John 16:26 in my name: Or " because you are my followers."
3. John 16:33 world: See the note at 12.31.

---

Psalm 119:65-80 (Contemporary English Version)

⁶⁵I am your servant, LORD,
   and you have kept your promise
   to treat me with kindness.
    ⁶⁶Give me wisdom and good sense.
   I trust your commands.
    ⁶⁷Once you corrected me
   for not obeying you,
   but now I obey.
    ⁶⁸You are kindhearted,
   and you do good things,
   so teach me your laws.
    ⁶⁹My reputation is being ruined
   by conceited liars,
   but with all my heart
   I follow your teachings.
    ⁷⁰Those liars have no sense,
   but I find happiness
   in your Law.
    ⁷¹When you corrected me,
   it did me good
   because it taught me
   to study your laws.
    ⁷²I would rather obey you
   than to have a thousand pieces
   of silver and gold.
    ⁷³You created me
   and put me together.
   Make me wise enough to learn
   what you have commanded.
    ⁷⁴Your worshipers will see me,
   and they will be glad
   that I trust your word.
    ⁷⁵Your decisions are correct,
   and you were right
   to punish me.
    ⁷⁶I serve you, LORD.
   Comfort me with your love,
   just as you have promised.
    ⁷⁷I love to obey your Law!
   Have mercy and let me live.
    ⁷⁸Put down those proud people
   who hurt me with their lies,
   because I have chosen
   to study your teachings.
    ⁷⁹Let your worshipers come to me,
   so they will learn
   to obey your rules.
    ⁸⁰Let me truly respect your laws,
   so I won't be ashamed. 

---

Proverbs 16:4-5 (Contemporary English Version)

⁴The LORD has a reason
   for everything he does,
   and he lets evil people live
   only to be punished.
    ⁵The LORD doesn't like
   anyone who is conceited--
   you can be sure
   they will be punished.

---

Verse of the Day

“But I don't care what happens to me, as long as I finish the work that the Lord Jesus gave me to do. And that work is to tell the good news about God's great kindness.” - Acts 20:24 

Today's passage is from the Contemporary English Version.

---

 

Thought for the Day

American politician and soldier who served as the first President of the United States from 1789 to 1797 and was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, George Washington wrote, “Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism.”

 

---

 

A Joke for Today

 

Three police officers were standing in line at the Pearly Gates.Saint Peter asked the first officer, “What did you do with your life?”“I was a police officer,” he responded.“What kind of police officer?” Saint Peter asked.“I was a vice officer. I kept drugs off the streets and out of the hands of kids.”“Welcome to heaven. You may end the gates.”He asked the second man what he did as a police officer.“I was a traffic officer,” said the man. “I kept the roads and highways safe.”“Welcome to heaven. You may enter the gates.”He asked the third man what he did as a police officer.“I was a military policeman, sir,” replied the man.“Wonderful! I’ve been waiting for you all day!” replied Saint Peter. “I need to take a break! Watch the gate, will you?”

Bible Readings for July 23, 2017

Today our passages are 2 Chronicles 8:11–10:19; Romans 8:9-21; Psalm 18:16-36; and Proverbs 19:26. The readings are from the Contemporary English Version. If you find these readings helpful, please consider sending an offering directly to Cove Presbyterian Church, 3404 Main Steet, Weirton, West Virginia or through PayPal by using the link below.

---

2 Chronicles 8:11-10:19 (Contemporary English Version)

¹¹Solomon's wife, the daughter of the king of Egypt, moved from the part of Jerusalem called David's City to her new palace that Solomon had built. The sacred chest had been kept in David's City, which made his palace sacred, and so Solomon's wife could no longer live there.
   ¹²Solomon offered sacrifices to the LORD on the altar he had built in front of the temple.
   ¹³He followed the requirements that Moses had given for sacrifices offered on the Sabbath, on the first day of each month, the Festival of Thin Bread, the Harvest Festival, and the Festival of Shelters.
   ¹⁴Solomon then assigned the priests and the Levites their duties at the temple, and he followed the instructions that his father David had given him. Some of the Levites were to lead music and help the priests in their duties, and others were to guard the temple gates
   ¹⁵and the storage rooms. The priests and Levites followed these instructions exactly.
   ¹⁶Everything Solomon had planned to do was now finished--from the laying of the temple's foundation to its completion.
   ¹⁷Solomon went to Ezion-Geber and Eloth, two Edomite towns on the Red Sea. ^[a]
   ¹⁸Hiram sent him ships and some of his experienced sailors. They went with Solomon's own sailors to the country of Ophir ^[b] and brought back about seventeen tons of gold for Solomon.
   

2 Chronicles 9

The Queen of Sheba Visits Solomon

(1 Kings 10.1-13)

 ¹The Queen of Sheba heard how famous Solomon was, so she went to Jerusalem to test him with difficult questions. She took along several of her officials, and she loaded her camels with gifts of spices, jewels, and gold. When she arrived, she and Solomon talked about everything she could think of.    ²He answered every question, no matter how difficult it was.
   ^3-4The Queen was amazed at Solomon's wisdom. She was breathless when she saw his palace, ^[c] the food on his table, his officials, all his servants in their uniforms, and the sacrifices he offered at the LORD's temple.
   ⁵She said: Solomon, in my own country I had heard about your wisdom and all you've done.
   ⁶But I didn't believe it until I saw it with my own eyes! And there's so much I didn't hear about. You are greater than I was told.
   ⁷Your people and officials are lucky to be here where they can listen to the wise things you say.
   ⁸I praise the LORD your God. He is pleased with you and has made you king of Israel. God loves the people of this country and will never desert them, so he has given them a king who will rule fairly and honestly.
   ⁹The Queen of Sheba gave Solomon almost five tons of gold, a large amount of jewels, and the best spices anyone had ever seen.
   ^10-12In return, Solomon gave her everything she wanted--even more than she had given him. Then she and her officials went back to their own country.
   Hiram's and Solomon's sailors brought gold, juniper wood, and jewels from the country of Ophir. Solomon used the wood to make steps ^[d] for the temple and palace, and harps and other stringed instruments for the musicians. Nothing like these had ever been made in Judah.
   

Solomon's Wealth

(1 Kings 10.14-29)

 ¹³Solomon received about twenty-five tons of gold each year,    ¹⁴not counting what the merchants and traders brought him. The kings of Arabia and the leaders of Israel also gave him gold and silver.
   ¹⁵Solomon made two hundred gold shields that weighed about seven and a half pounds each.
   ¹⁶He also made three hundred smaller gold shields that weighed almost four pounds, and he put these shields in his palace in Forest Hall.
   ¹⁷His throne was made of ivory and covered with pure gold.
   ¹⁸It had a gold footstool attached to it and armrests on each side. There was a statue of a lion on each side of the throne,
   ¹⁹and there were two lion statues on each of the six steps leading up to the throne. No other throne in the world was like Solomon's.
   ²⁰Solomon's cups and dishes in Forest Hall were made of pure gold, because silver was almost worthless in those days.
   ²¹Solomon had a lot of seagoing ships. ^[e] Every three years he sent them out with Hiram's ships to bring back gold, silver, and ivory, as well as monkeys and peacocks. ^[f]
   ²²Solomon was the richest and wisest king in the world.
   ^23-24Year after year, other kings came to hear the wisdom God had given him. And they brought gifts of silver and gold, as well as clothes, weapons, spices, horses, and mules.
   ²⁵Solomon had four thousand stalls for his horses and chariots, and he owned twelve thousand horses that he kept in Jerusalem and other towns.
   ²⁶He ruled all the nations from the Euphrates River in the north to the land of Philistia in the south, as far as the border of Egypt.
   ²⁷While Solomon was king, there was silver everywhere in Jerusalem, and cedar was as common as the sycamore trees in the western foothills.
   ²⁸Solomon's horses were brought in from other countries, including Musri. ^[g]
   

Solomon Dies

(1 Kings 11.41-43)

 ²⁹Everything else Solomon did while he was king is written in the records of Nathan the prophet, Ahijah the prophet from Shiloh, and Iddo the prophet who wrote about Jeroboam son of Nebat.    ³⁰After Solomon had ruled forty years from Jerusalem,
   ³¹he died and was buried in the city of his father David. His son Rehoboam then became king.
   

2 Chronicles 10

Some of the People Rebel against Rehoboam

(1 Kings 12.1-20)

 ¹Rehoboam went to Shechem where everyone was waiting to crown him king.    ²Jeroboam son of Nebat heard what was happening, and he returned from Egypt, where he had gone to hide from Solomon.
   ³The people from the northern tribes of Israel sent for him. Then together they went to Rehoboam and said,
   ⁴"Your father Solomon forced us to work very hard. But if you make our work easier, we will serve you and do whatever you ask."
   ⁵Rehoboam replied, "Come back in three days for my answer." So the people left.
   ⁶Rehoboam went to some leaders who had been his father's senior officials, and he asked them, "What should I tell these people?"
   ⁷They answered, "If you want them to serve and obey you, then you should be kind and promise to make their work easier."
   ⁸But Rehoboam refused their advice and went to the younger men who had grown up with him and were now his officials.
   ⁹He asked, "What do you think I should say to these people who asked me to make their work easier?"
   ¹⁰His younger advisors said:
   Here's what we think you should say to them: "Compared to me, my father was weak. ^[h]
   ¹¹He made you work hard, but I'll make you work even harder. He punished you with whips, but I'll use whips with pieces of sharp metal!"
   ¹²Three days later, Jeroboam and the others came back.
   ¹³Rehoboam ignored the advice of the older advisors. He spoke bluntly
   ¹⁴and told them exactly what his own advisors had suggested. He said: "My father made you work hard, but I'll make you work even harder. He punished you with whips, but I'll use whips with pieces of sharp metal!"
   ^15-19When the people realized that Rehoboam would not listen to them, they shouted: "We don't have to be loyal to David's family. We can do what we want. Come on, people of Israel, let's go home! Rehoboam can rule his own people."
   Adoniram ^[i] was in charge of the work force, and Rehoboam sent him to talk to the people. But they stoned him to death. Then Rehoboam ran to his chariot and hurried back to Jerusalem. Everyone from Israel's northern tribes went home, leaving Rehoboam to rule only the people from Judah. And since that day, the people of Israel have been opposed to David's descendants in Judah. ^[j] All of this happened just as Ahijah the LORD's prophet from Shiloh had told Jeroboam.
   

Footnotes:

1. 2 Chronicles 8:17 Red Sea: Hebrew yam suph, here referring to the Gulf of Aqaba, since the term is extended to include the northeastern arm of the Red Sea (see also the note at Exodus 13.18).
2. 2 Chronicles 8:18 Ophir: The location of this place is not known.
3. 2 Chronicles 9:3 his palace: Or "the temple."
4. 2 Chronicles 9:10 steps: Or "stools" or "railings."
5. 2 Chronicles 9:21 seagoing ships: The Hebrew text has "ships of Tarshish," which may have been a Phoenician city in Spain. "Ships of Tarshish" probably means large, seagoing ships.
6. 2 Chronicles 9:21 peacocks: Or "baboons."
7. 2 Chronicles 9:28 Musri: See the note at 1.16,17.
8. 2 Chronicles 10:10 Compared. . . weak: Hebrew "My little finger is bigger than my father's waist."
9. 2 Chronicles 10:15 Adoniram: The Hebrew text has "Hadoram," another spelling of the name.
10. 2 Chronicles 10:15 the people of Israel have been opposed. . . Judah: From this time on, "Israel" usually refers only to the northern kingdom. The southern kingdom is called "Judah."

---

Romans 8:9-21 (Contemporary English Version)

⁹You are no longer ruled by your desires, but by God's Spirit, who lives in you. People who don't have the Spirit of Christ in them don't belong to him. ¹⁰But Christ lives in you. So you are alive because God has accepted you, even though your bodies must die because of your sins. ¹¹Yet God raised Jesus to life! God's Spirit now lives in you, and he will raise you to life by his Spirit.
    ¹²My dear friends, we must not live to satisfy our desires. ¹³If you do, you will die. But you will live, if by the help of God's Spirit you say "No" to your desires. ¹⁴Only those people who are led by God's Spirit are his children. ¹⁵God's Spirit doesn't make us slaves who are afraid of him. Instead, we become his children and call him our Father. ^[a] ¹⁶God's Spirit makes us sure that we are his children. ¹⁷His Spirit lets us know that together with Christ we will be given what God has promised. We will also share in the glory of Christ, because we have suffered with him.

A Wonderful Future for God's People

 ¹⁸I am sure that what we are suffering now cannot compare with the glory that will be shown to us. ¹⁹In fact, all creation is eagerly waiting for God to show who his children are. ²⁰Meanwhile, creation is confused, but not because it wants to be confused. God made it this way in the hope ²¹that creation would be set free from decay and would share in the glorious freedom of his children.

Footnotes:

1. Romans 8:15 our Father: The Greek text uses the Aramaic word " Abba" (meaning " father" ), which shows the close relation between the children and their father.

---

Psalm 18:16-36 (Contemporary English Version)

¹⁶You reached down from heaven,
   and you lifted me
   from deep in the ocean.
    ¹⁷You rescued me from enemies,
   who were hateful
   and too powerful for me.
    ¹⁸On the day disaster struck,
   they came and attacked,
   but you defended me.
    ¹⁹When I was fenced in,
   you freed and rescued me
   because you love me.
    ²⁰You are good to me, LORD,
   because I do right,
   and you reward me
   because I am innocent.
    ²¹I do what you want
   and never turn to do evil.
    ²²I keep your laws in mind
   and never look away
   from your teachings.
    ²³I obey you completely
   and guard against sin.
    ²⁴You have been good to me
   because I do right;
   you have rewarded me
   for being innocent
   by your standards.
    ²⁵You are always loyal
   to your loyal people,
   and you are faithful
   to the faithful.
    ²⁶With all who are sincere,
   you are sincere,
   but you treat the unfaithful
   as their deeds deserve.
    ²⁷You rescue the humble,
   but you put down all
   who are proud.
    ²⁸You, the LORD God,
   keep my lamp burning
   and turn darkness to light.
    ²⁹You help me defeat armies
   and capture cities.
    ³⁰Your way is perfect, LORD,
   and your word is correct.
   You are a shield for those
   who run to you for help.
    ³¹You alone are God!
   Only you are a mighty rock. ^[a] ³²You give me strength
   and guide me right.
    ³³You make my feet run as fast
   as those of a deer,
   and you help me stand
   on the mountains.
    ³⁴You teach my hands to fight
   and my arms to use
   a bow of bronze.
    ³⁵You alone are my shield.
   Your right hand supports me,
   and by coming to help me,
   you have made me famous.
    ³⁶You clear the way for me,
   and now I won't stumble.
   

Footnotes:

1. Psalm 18:31 mighty rock: See the note at 18.2.

---

Proverbs 19:26 (Contemporary English Version)

²⁶Children who bring disgrace
   rob their father
   and chase their mother away.

---

Verse of the Day

“But Jesus said, "Let the children come to me, and don't try to stop them! People who are like these children belong to God's kingdom.” - Matthew 19:14

Today's passage is from the Contemporary English Version.

---

Thought for the Day

The first President of the United States (1789–97), the Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, George Washington wrote, “Few men have virtue to withstand the highest bidder.”

Bible Readings for May 27, 2017

Today our passages are 2 Samuel 12:1–31; John 16:1-33; Psalm 119:65-80; and Proverbs 16:4-5. The readings are from the Contemporary English Version. If you find these readings helpful, please consider sending an offering directly to Cove Presbyterian Church, 3404 Main Street, Weirton, West Virginia or through PayPal by using the link below.

 

 

---

2 Samuel 12:1-31 (Contemporary English Version)

2 Samuel 12

The LORD's Message for David

 ¹and he sent Nathan the prophet to tell this story to David:    A rich man and a poor man lived in the same town. ²The rich man owned a lot of sheep and cattle, ³but the poor man had only one little lamb that he had bought and raised. The lamb became a pet for him and his children. He even let it eat from his plate and drink from his cup and sleep on his lap. The lamb was like one of his own children.
    ⁴One day someone came to visit the rich man, but the rich man didn't want to kill any of his own sheep or cattle and serve it to the visitor. So he stole the poor man's little lamb and served it instead.
    ⁵David was furious with the rich man and said to Nathan, "I swear by the living LORD that the man who did this deserves to die! ⁶And because he didn't have any pity on the poor man, he will have to pay four times what the lamb was worth."
    ⁷Then Nathan told David:
   You are that rich man! Now listen to what the LORD God of Israel says to you: "I chose you to be the king of Israel. I kept you safe from Saul ⁸and even gave you his house and his wives. I let you rule Israel and Judah, and if that had not been enough, I would have given you much more. ⁹Why did you disobey me and do such a horrible thing? You murdered Uriah the Hittite by having the Ammonites kill him, so you could take his wife.
    ¹⁰"Because you wouldn't obey me and took Uriah's wife for yourself, your family will never live in peace. ¹¹Someone from your own family will cause you a lot of trouble, and I will take your wives and give them to another man before your very eyes. He will go to bed with them while everyone looks on. ¹²What you did was in secret, but I will do this in the open for everyone in Israel to see."
    ^13-14David said, "I have disobeyed the LORD."
   "Yes, you have!" Nathan answered. "You showed you didn't care what the LORD wanted. ^[a] He has forgiven you, and you won't die. But your newborn son will." ¹⁵Then Nathan went back home. The LORD made David's young son very sick.
   

David's Young Son Dies

 ¹⁶So David went without eating to show his sorrow, and he begged God to make the boy well. David would not sleep on his bed, but spent each night lying on the floor. ¹⁷His officials stood beside him and tried to talk him into getting up. But he would not get up or eat with them.     ¹⁸After the child had been sick for seven days, he died, but the officials were afraid to tell David. They said to each other, "Even when the boy was alive, David wouldn't listen to us. How can we tell him his son is dead? He might do something terrible!"
    ¹⁹David noticed his servants whispering, and he knew the boy was dead. "Did my son die?" he asked his servants.
   "Yes, he did," they answered.
    ²⁰David got up off the floor; he took a bath, combed his hair, and dressed. He went into the LORD's tent and worshiped, then he went back home. David asked for something to eat, and when his servants brought him some food, he ate it.
    ²¹His officials said, "What are you doing? You went without eating and cried for your son while he was alive! But now that he's dead, you're up and eating."
    ²²David answered:
   While he was still alive, I went without food and cried because there was still hope. I said to myself, "Who knows? Maybe the LORD will have pity on me and let the child live." ²³But now that he's dead, why should I go without eating? I can't bring him back! Someday I will join him in death, but he can't return to me.
   

Solomon Is Born

 ²⁴David comforted his wife Bathsheba and slept with her. Later on, she gave birth to another son and named him Solomon. The LORD loved Solomon ²⁵and sent Nathan the prophet to tell David, "The LORD will call him Jedidiah." ^[b]

The End of the War with Ammon

(1 Chronicles 20.1b-3)

 ²⁶Meanwhile, Joab had been in the country of Ammon, attacking the city of Rabbah. He captured the royal fortress ²⁷and sent a messenger to tell David:    I have attacked Rabbah and captured the fortress guarding the city water supply. ²⁸Call the rest of the army together. Then surround the city, and capture it yourself. If you don't, everyone will remember that I captured the city.
    ²⁹David called the rest of the army together and attacked Rabbah. He captured the city ³⁰and took the crown from the statue of their god Milcom. ^[c] The crown was made of seventy-five pounds of gold, and there was a valuable jewel on it. David put the jewel on his own crown. ^[d] He also carried off everything else of value. ³¹David made the people of Rabbah tear down the city walls ^[e] with iron picks and axes, and then he put them to work making bricks. He did the same thing with all the other Ammonite cities. David went back to Jerusalem, and the people of Israel returned to their homes.
   

Footnotes:

1. 2 Samuel 12:13 what. . . wanted: One manuscript of one ancient translation; one Hebrew manuscript "what the LORD had said"; most Hebrew manuscripts "what the enemies of the LORD would think."
2. 2 Samuel 12:25 Jedidiah: In Hebrew this name means "Loved by the LORD."
3. 2 Samuel 12:30 the statue of their god Milcom: Or "their king."
4. 2 Samuel 12:30 David. . . crown: Or "and David wore the crown."
5. 2 Samuel 12:31 tear. . . walls: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.

---

John 16:1-33 (Contemporary English Version)

John 16

 ¹I am telling you this to keep you from being afraid. ²You will be chased out of the Jewish meeting places. And the time will come when people will kill you and think they are doing God a favor. ³They will do these things because they don't know either the Father or me. ⁴I am saying this to you now, so that when the time comes, you will remember what I have said.    I was with you at the first, and so I didn't tell you these things.

The Work of the Holy Spirit

 ⁵But now I am going back to the Father who sent me, and none of you asks me where I am going. ⁶You are very sad from hearing all of this. ⁷But I tell you that I am going to do what is best for you. That is why I am going away. The Holy Spirit cannot come to help you until I leave. But after I am gone, I will send the Spirit to you.     ⁸The Spirit will come and show the people of this world the truth about sin and God's justice and the judgment. ⁹The Spirit will show them that they are wrong about sin, because they didn't have faith in me. ¹⁰They are wrong about God's justice, because I am going to the Father, and you won't see me again. ¹¹And they are wrong about the judgment, because God has already judged the ruler of this world.
    ¹²I have much more to say to you, but right now it would be more than you could understand. ¹³The Spirit shows what is true and will come and guide you into the full truth. The Spirit doesn't speak on his own. He will tell you only what he has heard from me, and he will let you know what is going to happen. ¹⁴The Spirit will bring glory to me by taking my message and telling it to you. ¹⁵Everything that the Father has is mine. That is why I have said that the Spirit takes my message and tells it to you.
   

Sorrow Will Turn into Joy

 ¹⁶Jesus told his disciples, "For a little while you won't see me, but after a while you will see me. "     ¹⁷They said to each other, "What does Jesus mean by saying that for a little while we won't see him, but after a while we will see him? What does he mean by saying that he is going to the Father? ¹⁸What is this `little while' that he is talking about? We don't know what he means."
    ¹⁹Jesus knew that they had some questions, so he said:
   You are wondering what I meant when I said that for a little while you won't see me, but after a while you will see me. ²⁰I tell you for certain that you will cry and be sad, but the world will be happy. You will be sad, but later you will be happy.
    ²¹When a woman is about to give birth, she is in great pain. But after it is all over, she forgets the pain and is happy, because she has brought a child into the world. ²²You are now very sad. But later I will see you, and you will be so happy that no one will be able to change the way you feel. ²³When that time comes, you won't have to ask me about anything. I tell you for certain that the Father will give you whatever you ask for in my name. ²⁴You have not asked for anything in this way before, but now you must ask in my name. ^[a] Then it will be given to you, so that you will be completely happy. ²⁵I have used examples to explain to you what I have been talking about. But the time will come when I will speak to you plainly about the Father and will no longer use examples like these. ²⁶You will ask the Father in my name, ^[b] and I won't have to ask him for you. ²⁷God the Father loves you because you love me, and you believe that I have come from him. ²⁸I came from the Father into the world, but I am leaving the world and returning to the Father. ²⁹The disciples said, "Now you are speaking plainly to us! You are not using examples. ³⁰At last we know that you understand everything, and we don't have any more questions. Now we believe that you truly have come from God."
    ³¹Jesus replied:
   Do you really believe me? ³²The time will come and is already here when all of you will be scattered. Each of you will go back home and leave me by myself. But the Father will be with me, and I won't be alone. ³³I have told you this, so that you might have peace in your hearts because of me. While you are in the world, you will have to suffer. But cheer up! I have defeated the world. ^[c]

Footnotes:

1. John 16:24 in my name. . . in my name: Or " as my disciples. . . as my disciples."
2. John 16:26 in my name: Or " because you are my followers."
3. John 16:33 world: See the note at 12.31.

---

Psalm 119:65-80 (Contemporary English Version)

⁶⁵I am your servant, LORD,
   and you have kept your promise
   to treat me with kindness.
    ⁶⁶Give me wisdom and good sense.
   I trust your commands.
    ⁶⁷Once you corrected me
   for not obeying you,
   but now I obey.
    ⁶⁸You are kindhearted,
   and you do good things,
   so teach me your laws.
    ⁶⁹My reputation is being ruined
   by conceited liars,
   but with all my heart
   I follow your teachings.
    ⁷⁰Those liars have no sense,
   but I find happiness
   in your Law.
    ⁷¹When you corrected me,
   it did me good
   because it taught me
   to study your laws.
    ⁷²I would rather obey you
   than to have a thousand pieces
   of silver and gold.
    ⁷³You created me
   and put me together.
   Make me wise enough to learn
   what you have commanded.
    ⁷⁴Your worshipers will see me,
   and they will be glad
   that I trust your word.
    ⁷⁵Your decisions are correct,
   and you were right
   to punish me.
    ⁷⁶I serve you, LORD.
   Comfort me with your love,
   just as you have promised.
    ⁷⁷I love to obey your Law!
   Have mercy and let me live.
    ⁷⁸Put down those proud people
   who hurt me with their lies,
   because I have chosen
   to study your teachings.
    ⁷⁹Let your worshipers come to me,
   so they will learn
   to obey your rules.
    ⁸⁰Let me truly respect your laws,
   so I won't be ashamed.

---

Proverbs 16:4-5 (Contemporary English Version)

⁴The LORD has a reason
   for everything he does,
   and he lets evil people live
   only to be punished.
    ⁵The LORD doesn't like
   anyone who is conceited--
   you can be sure
   they will be punished.

---

Verse of the Day

“But I don't care what happens to me, as long as I finish the work that the Lord Jesus gave me to do. And that work is to tell the good news about God's great kindness.” - Acts 20:24

Today's passage is from the Contemporary English Version.

---

 

Thought for the Day

American politician and soldier who served as the first President of the United States from 1789 to 1797 and was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, George Washington wrote, “Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism.”

 

---

 

A Joke for Today

 

Three police officers were standing in line at the Pearly Gates.Saint Peter asked the first officer, “What did you do with your life?”“I was a police officer,” he responded.“What kind of police officer?” Saint Peter asked.“I was a vice officer. I kept drugs off the streets and out of the hands of kids.”“Welcome to heaven. You may end the gates.”He asked the second man what he did as a police officer.“I was a traffic officer,” said the man. “I kept the roads and highways safe.”“Welcome to heaven. You may enter the gates.”He asked the third man what he did as a police officer.“I was a military policeman, sir,” replied the man.“Wonderful! I’ve been waiting for you all day!” replied Saint Peter. “I need to take a break! Watch the gate, will you?”