Formation Journal Reading Plan

12:1 Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come, and the years draw near, when you will say, “I have no pleasure in them;”

12:2 Before the sun, the light, the moon, and the stars are darkened, and the clouds return after the rain;

12:3 in the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those who look out of the windows are darkened,

12:4 and the doors shall be shut in the street; when the sound of the grinding is low, and one shall rise up at the voice of a bird, and all the daughters of music shall be brought low;

12:5 yes, they shall be afraid of heights, and terrors will be in the way; and the almond tree shall blossom, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail; because man goes to his everlasting home, and the mourners go about the streets:

12:6 before the silver cord is severed, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is broken at the spring, or the wheel broken at the cistern,

12:7 and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

12:8 “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher. “All is vanity!”

12:9 Further, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge. Yes, he pondered, sought out, and set in order many proverbs.

12:10 The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words, and that which was written blamelessly, words of truth.

12:11 The words of the wise are like goads; and like nails well fastened are words from the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.

12:12 Furthermore, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

12:13 This is the end of the matter. All has been heard. Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.

12:14 For God will bring every work into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether it is good, or whether it is evil.

1:1 The Song of songs, which is Solomon’s.

1:2 Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth; for your love is better than wine.

1:3 Your oils have a pleasing fragrance. Your name is oil poured forth, therefore the virgins love you.

1:4 Take me away with you. Let us hurry. The king has brought me into his rooms. We will be glad and rejoice in you. We will praise your love more than wine! They are right to love you.

1:5 I am dark, but lovely, you daughters of Jerusalem, like Kedar’s tents, like Solomon’s curtains.

1:6 Don’t stare at me because I am dark, because the sun has scorched me. My mother’s sons were angry with me. They made me keeper of the vineyards. I haven’t kept my own vineyard.

1:7 Tell me, you whom my soul loves, where you graze your flock, where you rest them at noon; For why should I be as one who is veiled beside the flocks of your companions?

1:8 If you don’t know, most beautiful among women, follow the tracks of the sheep. Graze your young goats beside the shepherds’ tents.

1:9 I have compared you, my love, to a steed in Pharaoh’s chariots.

1:10 Your cheeks are beautiful with earrings, your neck with strings of jewels.

1:11 We will make you earrings of gold, with studs of silver.

1:12 While the king sat at his table, my perfume spread its fragrance.

1:13 My beloved is to me a sachet of myrrh, that lies between my breasts.

1:14 My beloved is to me a cluster of henna blossoms from the vineyards of En Gedi.

1:15 Behold, you are beautiful, my love. Behold, you are beautiful. Your eyes are doves.

1:16 Behold, you are beautiful, my beloved, yes, pleasant; and our couch is verdant.

1:17 The beams of our house are cedars. Our rafters are firs.

72:1 By Solomon. God, give the king your justice; your righteousness to the royal son.

72:2 He will judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice.

72:3 The mountains shall bring prosperity to the people. The hills bring the fruit of righteousness.

72:4 He will judge the poor of the people. He will save the children of the needy, and will break the oppressor in pieces.

72:5 They shall fear you while the sun endures; and as long as the moon, throughout all generations.

72:6 He will come down like rain on the mown grass, as showers that water the earth.

72:7 In his days, the righteous shall flourish, and abundance of peace, until the moon is no more.

72:8 He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, from the River to the ends of the earth.

72:9 Those who dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him. His enemies shall lick the dust.

72:10 The kings of Tarshish and of the islands will bring tribute. The kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.

72:11 Yes, all kings shall fall down before him. All nations shall serve him.

6:14 Don’t be unequally yoked with unbelievers, for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?

6:15 What agreement has Christ with Belial? Or what portion has a believer with an unbeliever?

6:16 What agreement has a temple of God with idols? For you are a temple of the living God. Even as God said, “I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they will be my people.”

6:17 Therefore, “‘Come out from among them, and be separate,’ says the Lord. ‘Touch no unclean thing. I will receive you.

6:18 I will be to you a Father. You will be to me sons and daughters,’ says the Lord Almighty.”

7:1 Having therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.