Formation Journal Reading Plan

9:1 But there shall be no more gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time, he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali; but in the latter time he has made it glorious, by the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.

9:2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. Those who lived in the land of the shadow of death, on them the light has shined.

9:3 You have multiplied the nation. You have increased their joy. They rejoice before you according to the joy in harvest, as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.

9:4 For the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as in the day of Midian.

9:5 For all the armor of the armed man in the noisy battle, and the garments rolled in blood, will be for burning, fuel for the fire.

9:6 For to us a child is born. To us a son is given; and the government will be on his shoulders. His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

9:7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there shall be no end, on the throne of David, and on his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from that time on, even forever. The zeal of Yahweh of Armies will perform this.

9:8 The Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it falls on Israel.

9:9 All the people will know, including Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria, who say in pride and in arrogance of heart,

9:10 “The bricks have fallen, but we will build with cut stone. The sycamore fig trees have been cut down, but we will put cedars in their place.”

9:11 Therefore Yahweh will set up on high against him the adversaries of Rezin, and will stir up his enemies,

9:12 The Syrians in front, and the Philistines behind; and they will devour Israel with open mouth. For all this, his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.

9:13 Yet the people have not turned to him who struck them, neither have they sought Yahweh of Armies.

9:14 Therefore Yahweh will cut off from Israel head and tail, palm branch and reed, in one day.

9:15 The elder and the honorable man is the head, and the prophet who teaches lies is the tail.

9:16 For those who lead this people lead them astray; and those who are led by them are destroyed.

9:17 Therefore the Lord will not rejoice over their young men, neither will he have compassion on their fatherless and widows; for everyone is profane and an evildoer, and every mouth speaks folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.

9:18 For wickedness burns like a fire. It devours the briers and thorns; yes, it kindles in the thickets of the forest, and they roll upward in a column of smoke.

9:19 Through the wrath of Yahweh of Armies, the land is burnt up; and the people are the fuel for the fire. No one spares his brother.

9:20 One will devour on the right hand, and be hungry; and he will eat on the left hand, and they will not be satisfied. Everyone will eat the flesh of his own arm:

9:21 Manasseh, Ephraim; and Ephraim, Manasseh; and they together shall be against Judah. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.

78:1 A contemplation by Asaph. Hear my teaching, my people. Turn your ears to the words of my mouth.

78:2 I will open my mouth in a parable. I will utter dark sayings of old,

78:3 Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.

78:4 We will not hide them from their children, telling to the generation to come the praises of Yahweh, his strength, and his wondrous works that he has done.

78:5 For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a teaching in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children;

78:6 that the generation to come might know, even the children who should be born; who should arise and tell their children,

78:7 that they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments,

78:8 and might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation that didn’t make their hearts loyal, whose spirit was not steadfast with God.

78:9 The children of Ephraim, being armed and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle.

78:10 They didn’t keep God’s covenant, and refused to walk in his law.

78:11 They forgot his doings, his wondrous works that he had shown them.

78:12 He did marvelous things in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.

78:13 He split the sea, and caused them to pass through. He made the waters stand as a heap.

78:14 In the daytime he also led them with a cloud, and all night with a light of fire.

78:15 He split rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink abundantly as out of the depths.

78:16 He brought streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers.

78:17 Yet they still went on to sin against him, to rebel against the Most High in the desert.

78:18 They tempted God in their heart by asking food according to their desire.

78:19 Yes, they spoke against God. They said, “Can God prepare a table in the wilderness?

78:20 Behold, he struck the rock, so that waters gushed out, and streams overflowed. Can he give bread also? Will he provide flesh for his people?”

78:21 Therefore Yahweh heard, and was angry. A fire was kindled against Jacob, anger also went up against Israel,

78:22 because they didn’t believe in God, and didn’t trust in his salvation.

78:23 Yet he commanded the skies above, and opened the doors of heaven.

78:24 He rained down manna on them to eat, and gave them food from the sky.

78:25 Man ate the bread of angels. He sent them food to the full.

78:26 He caused the east wind to blow in the sky. By his power he guided the south wind.

78:27 He rained also flesh on them as the dust; winged birds as the sand of the seas.

78:28 He let them fall in the midst of their camp, around their habitations.

78:29 So they ate, and were well filled. He gave them their own desire.

78:30 They didn’t turn from their cravings. Their food was yet in their mouths,

78:31 when the anger of God went up against them, killed some of their fattest, and struck down the young men of Israel.

12:11 I have become foolish in boasting. You compelled me, for I ought to have been commended by you, for in nothing was I inferior to the very best apostles, though I am nothing.

12:12 Truly the signs of an apostle were worked among you in all patience, in signs and wonders and mighty works.

12:13 For what is there in which you were made inferior to the rest of the assemblies, unless it is that I myself was not a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong.

12:14 Behold, this is the third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you; for I seek not your possessions, but you. For the children ought not to save up for the parents, but the parents for the children.

12:15 I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more abundantly, am I loved the less?

12:16 But be it so, I did not myself burden you. But, being crafty, I caught you with deception.

12:17 Did I take advantage of you by anyone of them whom I have sent to you?

12:18 I exhorted Titus, and I sent the brother with him. Did Titus take any advantage of you? Didn’t we walk in the same spirit? Didn’t we walk in the same steps?

12:19 Again, do you think that we are excusing ourselves to you? In the sight of God we speak in Christ. But all things, beloved, are for your edifying.

12:20 For I am afraid that by any means, when I come, I might find you not the way I want to, and that I might be found by you as you don’t desire; that by any means there would be strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, whisperings, proud thoughts, riots;

12:21 that again when I come my God would humble me before you, and I would mourn for many of those who have sinned before now, and not repented of the uncleanness and sexual immorality and lustfulness which they committed.