Formation Journal Reading Plan

3:1 Woe to her who is rebellious and polluted, the oppressing city!

3:2 She didn’t obey the voice. She didn’t receive correction. She didn’t trust in Yahweh. She didn’t draw near to her God.

3:3 Her princes in the midst of her are roaring lions. Her judges are evening wolves. They leave nothing until the next day.

3:4 Her prophets are arrogant and treacherous people. Her priests have profaned the sanctuary. They have done violence to the law.

3:5 Yahweh, in the midst of her, is righteous. He will do no wrong. Every morning he brings his justice to light. He doesn’t fail, but the unjust know no shame.

3:6 I have cut off nations. Their battlements are desolate. I have made their streets waste, so that no one passes by. Their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, so that there is no inhabitant.

3:7 I said, “Just fear me. Receive correction, so that her dwelling won’t be cut off, according to all that I have appointed concerning her.” But they rose early and corrupted all their doings.

3:8 “Therefore wait for me,” says Yahweh, “until the day that I rise up to the prey, for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour on them my indignation, even all my fierce anger, for all the earth will be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.

3:9 For then I will purify the lips of the peoples, that they may all call on the name of Yahweh, to serve him shoulder to shoulder.

3:10 From beyond the rivers of Cush, my worshipers, even the daughter of my dispersed people, will bring my offering.

3:11 In that day you will not be disappointed for all your doings, in which you have transgressed against me; for then I will take away out of the midst of you your proudly exulting ones, and you will no more be haughty in my holy mountain.

3:12 But I will leave in the midst of you an afflicted and poor people, and they will take refuge in the name of Yahweh.

3:13 The remnant of Israel will not do iniquity, nor speak lies, neither will a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth, for they will feed and lie down, and no one will make them afraid.”

3:14 Sing, daughter of Zion! Shout, Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, daughter of Jerusalem.

3:15 Yahweh has taken away your judgments. He has thrown out your enemy. The King of Israel, Yahweh, is in the midst of you. You will not be afraid of evil any more.

3:16 In that day, it will be said to Jerusalem, “Don’t be afraid, Zion. Don’t let your hands be weak.”

3:17 Yahweh, your God, is in the midst of you, a mighty one who will save. He will rejoice over you with joy. He will calm you in his love. He will rejoice over you with singing.

3:18 I will remove those who grieve about the appointed feasts from you. They are a burden and a reproach to you.

3:19 Behold, at that time I will deal with all those who afflict you, and I will save those who are lame, and gather those who were driven away. I will give them praise and honor, whose shame has been in all the earth.

3:20 At that time will I bring you in, and at that time will I gather you; for I will give you honor and praise among all the peoples of the earth, when I restore your fortunes before your eyes, says Yahweh.

25:1 These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.

25:2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.

25:3 As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.

25:4 Take away the dross from the silver, and material comes out for the refiner;

25:5 Take away the wicked from the king’s presence, and his throne will be established in righteousness.

25:6 Don’t exalt yourself in the presence of the king, or claim a place among great men;

25:7 for it is better that it be said to you, “Come up here,” than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince, whom your eyes have seen.

25:8 Don’t be hasty in bringing charges to court. What will you do in the end when your neighbor shames you?

25:9 Debate your case with your neighbor, and don’t betray the confidence of another;

25:10 lest one who hears it put you to shame, and your bad reputation never depart.

25:11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.

25:12 As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover to an obedient ear.

25:13 As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to those who send him; for he refreshes the soul of his masters.

25:14 As clouds and wind without rain, so is he who boasts of gifts deceptively.

25:15 By patience a ruler is persuaded. A soft tongue breaks the bone.

25:16 Have you found honey? Eat as much as is sufficient for you, lest you eat too much, and vomit it.

25:17 Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor’s house, lest he be weary of you, and hate you.

25:18 A man who gives false testimony against his neighbor is like a club, a sword, or a sharp arrow.

25:19 Confidence in someone unfaithful in time of trouble is like a bad tooth, or a lame foot.

25:20 As one who takes away a garment in cold weather, or vinegar on soda, so is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.

25:21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat. If he is thirsty, give him water to drink:

25:22 for you will heap coals of fire on his head, and Yahweh will reward you.

25:23 The north wind brings forth rain: so a backbiting tongue brings an angry face.

25:24 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than to share a house with a contentious woman.

25:25 Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.

25:26 Like a muddied spring, and a polluted well, so is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.

25:27 It is not good to eat much honey; nor is it honorable to seek one’s own honor.

25:28 Like a city that is broken down and without walls is a man whose spirit is without restraint.

14:1 I saw, and behold, the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him a number, one hundred forty-four thousand, having his name, and the name of his Father, written on their foreheads.

14:2 I heard a sound from heaven, like the sound of many waters, and like the sound of a great thunder. The sound which I heard was like that of harpists playing on their harps.

14:3 They sing a new song before the throne, and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the one hundred forty-four thousand, those who had been redeemed out of the earth.

14:4 These are those who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are those who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These were redeemed by Jesus from among men, the first fruits to God and to the Lamb.

14:5 In their mouth was found no lie, for they are blameless.

14:6 I saw an angel flying in mid heaven, having an eternal Good News to proclaim to those who dwell on the earth, and to every nation, tribe, language, and people.

14:7 He said with a loud voice, “Fear the Lord, and give him glory; for the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and the springs of waters!”

14:8 Another, a second angel, followed, saying, “Babylon the great has fallen, which has made all the nations to drink of the wine of the wrath of her sexual immorality.”

14:9 Another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a great voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead, or on his hand,

14:10 he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is prepared unmixed in the cup of his anger. He will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb.

14:11 The smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever. They have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.

14:12 Here is the patience of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”

14:13 I heard the voice from heaven saying, “Write, ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors; for their works follow with them.”