Formation Journal Reading Plan

6:1 Again I lifted up my eyes, and saw, and behold, four chariots came out from between two mountains; and the mountains were mountains of brass.

6:2 In the first chariot were red horses; in the second chariot black horses;

6:3 in the third chariot white horses; and in the fourth chariot dappled horses, all of them powerful.

6:4 Then I asked the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?”

6:5 The angel answered me, “These are the four winds of the sky, which go forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth.

6:6 The one with the black horses goes out toward the north country; and the white went out after them; and the dappled went forth toward the south country.”

6:7 The strong went out, and sought to go that they might walk back and forth through the earth: and he said, “Go around and through the earth!” So they walked back and forth through the earth.

6:8 Then he called to me, and spoke to me, saying, “Behold, those who go toward the north country have quieted my spirit in the north country.”

6:9 The word of Yahweh came to me, saying,

6:10 “Take of them of the captivity, even of Heldai, of Tobijah, and of Jedaiah; and come the same day, and go into the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah, where they have come from Babylon.

6:11 Yes, take silver and gold, and make crowns, and set them on the head of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest;

6:12 and speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says Yahweh of Armies, “Behold, the man whose name is the Branch: and he shall grow up out of his place; and he shall build the temple of Yahweh;

6:13 even he shall build the temple of Yahweh; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule on his throne; and he shall be a priest on his throne; and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.

6:14 The crowns shall be to Helem, and to Tobijah, and to Jedaiah, and to Hen the son of Zephaniah, for a memorial in the temple of Yahweh.

6:15 Those who are far off shall come and build in the temple of Yahweh; and you shall know that Yahweh of Armies has sent me to you. This will happen, if you will diligently obey the voice of Yahweh your God.”’”

28:1 The wicked flee when no one pursues; but the righteous are as bold as a lion.

28:2 In rebellion, a land has many rulers, but order is maintained by a man of understanding and knowledge.

28:3 A needy man who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain which leaves no crops.

28:4 Those who forsake the law praise the wicked; but those who keep the law contend with them.

28:5 Evil men don’t understand justice; but those who seek Yahweh understand it fully.

28:6 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity, than he who is perverse in his ways, and he is rich.

28:7 Whoever keeps the law is a wise son; but he who is a companion of gluttons shames his father.

28:8 He who increases his wealth by excessive interest gathers it for one who has pity on the poor.

28:9 He who turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination.

28:10 Whoever causes the upright to go astray in an evil way, he will fall into his own trap; but the blameless will inherit good.

28:11 The rich man is wise in his own eyes; but the poor who has understanding sees through him.

28:12 When the righteous triumph, there is great glory; but when the wicked rise, men hide themselves.

28:13 He who conceals his sins doesn’t prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.

28:14 Blessed is the man who always fears; but one who hardens his heart falls into trouble.

18:1 After these things, I saw another angel coming down out of the sky, having great authority. The earth was illuminated with his glory.

18:2 He cried with a mighty voice, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, and she has become a habitation of demons, a prison of every unclean spirit, and a prison of every unclean and hateful bird!

18:3 For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her sexual immorality, the kings of the earth committed sexual immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth grew rich from the abundance of her luxury.”

18:4 I heard another voice from heaven, saying, “Come out of her, my people, that you have no participation in her sins, and that you don’t receive of her plagues,

18:5 for her sins have reached to the sky, and God has remembered her iniquities.

18:6 Return to her just as she returned, and repay her double as she did, and according to her works. In the cup which she mixed, mix to her double.

18:7 However much she glorified herself, and grew wanton, so much give her of torment and mourning. For she says in her heart, ‘I sit a queen, and am no widow, and will in no way see mourning.’

18:8 Therefore in one day her plagues will come: death, mourning, and famine; and she will be utterly burned with fire; for the Lord God who has judged her is strong.

18:9 The kings of the earth, who committed sexual immorality and lived wantonly with her, will weep and wail over her, when they look at the smoke of her burning,

18:10 standing far away for the fear of her torment, saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city! For your judgment has come in one hour.’

18:11 The merchants of the earth weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their merchandise any more;

18:12 merchandise of gold, silver, precious stones, pearls, fine linen, purple, silk, scarlet, all expensive wood, every vessel of ivory, every vessel made of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble;

18:13 and cinnamon, incense, perfume, frankincense, wine, olive oil, fine flour, wheat, sheep, horses, chariots, and people’s bodies and souls.

18:14 The fruits which your soul lusted after have been lost to you, and all things that were dainty and sumptuous have perished from you, and you will find them no more at all.

18:15 The merchants of these things, who were made rich by her, will stand far away for the fear of her torment, weeping and mourning;

18:16 saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, she who was dressed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls!

18:17 For in an hour such great riches are made desolate.’ Every shipmaster, and everyone who sails anywhere, and mariners, and as many as gain their living by sea, stood far away,

18:18 and cried out as they looked at the smoke of her burning, saying, ‘What is like the great city?’

18:19 They cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and mourning, saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, in which all who had their ships in the sea were made rich by reason of her great wealth!’ For in one hour is she made desolate.

18:20 “Rejoice over her, O heaven, you saints, apostles, and prophets; for God has judged your judgment on her.”

18:21 A mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and cast it into the sea, saying, “Thus with violence will Babylon, the great city, be thrown down, and will be found no more at all.

18:22 The voice of harpists, minstrels, flute players, and trumpeters will be heard no more at all in you. No craftsman, of whatever craft, will be found any more at all in you. The sound of a mill will be heard no more at all in you.

18:23 The light of a lamp will shine no more at all in you. The voice of the bridegroom and of the bride will be heard no more at all in you; for your merchants were the princes of the earth; for with your sorcery all the nations were deceived.

18:24 In her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all who have been slain on the earth.”