Luke 18:9-17
[9]
He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they
were righteous, and treated others with contempt: [10] “Two men went up
into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
[11] The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you
that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even
like this tax collector. [12] I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all
that I get.’ [13] But the tax collector, standing far off, would not
even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be
merciful to me, a sinner!’ [14] I tell you, this man went down to his
house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself
will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
[15]
Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them.
And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. [16] But Jesus called
them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder
them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. [17] Truly, I say to you,
whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter
it.”
2 Timothy 3:10-17
[10]
You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my
faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, [11] my persecutions and
sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at
Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued
me. [12] Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus
will be persecuted, [13] while evil people and impostors will go on from
bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. [14] But as for you,
continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from
whom you learned it [15] and how from childhood you have been
acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for
salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. [16] All Scripture is breathed
out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction,
and for training in righteousness, [17] that the man of God may be
complete, equipped for every good work.
Proverbs 13:1-12
[1] A wise son hears his father’s instruction,
but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.
[2]
From the fruit of his mouth a man eats what is good,
but the desire of the treacherous is for violence.
[3]
Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life;
he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.
[4]
The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing,
while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.
[5]
The righteous hates falsehood,
but the wicked brings shame and disgrace.
[6]
Righteousness guards him whose way is blameless,
but sin overthrows the wicked.
[7]
One pretends to be rich, yet has nothing;
another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.
[8]
The ransom of a man’s life is his wealth,
but a poor man hears no threat.
[9]
The light of the righteous rejoices,
but the lamp of the wicked will be put out.
[10]
By insolence comes nothing but strife,
but with those who take advice is wisdom.
[11]
Wealth gained hastily will dwindle,
but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.
[12]
Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.
Nehemiah 10
[1]
“On the seals are the names of Nehemiah the governor, the son of
Hacaliah, Zedekiah, [2] Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah, [3] Pashhur,
Amariah, Malchijah, [4] Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch, [5] Harim,
Meremoth, Obadiah, [6] Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch, [7] Meshullam, Abijah,
Mijamin, [8] Maaziah, Bilgai, Shemaiah; these are the priests. [9] And
the Levites: Jeshua the son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad,
Kadmiel; [10] and their brothers, Shebaniah, Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah,
Hanan, [11] Mica, Rehob, Hashabiah, [12] Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah,
[13] Hodiah, Bani, Beninu. [14] The chiefs of the people: Parosh,
Pahath-moab, Elam, Zattu, Bani, [15] Bunni, Azgad, Bebai, [16] Adonijah,
Bigvai, Adin, [17] Ater, Hezekiah, Azzur, [18] Hodiah, Hashum, Bezai,
[19] Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai, [20] Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir, [21]
Meshezabel, Zadok, Jaddua, [22] Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah, [23] Hoshea,
Hananiah, Hasshub, [24] Hallohesh, Pilha, Shobek, [25] Rehum, Hashabnah,
Maaseiah, [26] Ahiah, Hanan, Anan, [27] Malluch, Harim, Baanah.
[28]
“The rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the
singers, the temple servants, and all who have separated themselves
from the peoples of the lands to the Law of God, their wives, their
sons, their daughters, all who have knowledge and understanding, [29]
join with their brothers, their nobles, and enter into a curse and an
oath to walk in God’s Law that was given by Moses the servant of God,
and to observe and do all the commandments of the LORD our Lord and his
rules and his statutes. [30] We will not give our daughters to the
peoples of the land or take their daughters for our sons. [31] And if
the peoples of the land bring in goods or any grain on the Sabbath day
to sell, we will not buy from them on the Sabbath or on a holy day. And
we will forego the crops of the seventh year and the exaction of every
debt.
[32]
“We also take on ourselves the obligation to give yearly a third part
of a shekel for the service of the house of our God: [33] for the
showbread, the regular grain offering, the regular burnt offering, the
Sabbaths, the new moons, the appointed feasts, the holy things, and the
sin offerings to make atonement for Israel, and for all the work of the
house of our God. [34] We, the priests, the Levites, and the people,
have likewise cast lots for the wood offering, to bring it into the
house of our God, according to our fathers’ houses, at times appointed,
year by year, to burn on the altar of the LORD our God, as it is written
in the Law. [35] We obligate ourselves to bring the firstfruits of our
ground and the firstfruits of all fruit of every tree, year by year, to
the house of the LORD; [36] also to bring to the house of our God, to
the priests who minister in the house of our God, the firstborn of our
sons and of our cattle, as it is written in the Law, and the firstborn
of our herds and of our flocks; [37] and to bring the first of our
dough, and our contributions, the fruit of every tree, the wine and the
oil, to the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; and to
bring to the Levites the tithes from our ground, for it is the Levites
who collect the tithes in all our towns where we labor. [38] And the
priest, the son of Aaron, shall be with the Levites when the Levites
receive the tithes. And the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the
tithes to the house of our God, to the chambers of the storehouse. [39]
For the people of Israel and the sons of Levi shall bring the
contribution of grain, wine, and oil to the chambers, where the vessels
of the sanctuary are, as well as the priests who minister, and the
gatekeepers and the singers. We will not neglect the house of our God.”