Today's Scripture & Prayer

Daily Bible Reading & Praying with the Church

Scroll Down to
Read Content

Today's Scripture & Prayer

Daily Bible Reading & Praying with the Church


The congregation of Countryside is encouraged to not only read ahead in the texts we will be sharing and studying together during our services, but also to personally read the Scriptures together as a congregation. Here you will find Scripture for the day (a Psalm for each morning (always at least the first Psalm) and night, and selections from the Old Testament, New Testament and Gospels), as well as weekly and daily prayers. Together we read through the New Testament once a year, and the Old Testament every two years. The Scripture selections, and the prayers, are from common sources used by most Christians throughout the world.

The historic church found expression in the same rhythms of worship and devotion that were evident in the early church, and among the Hebrews, God's people, before that.  Our hope is that the regular reminder will be of encouragement to us all to join the people of God in reading the Scriptures and praying. Both are meant to go together with our daily prayer and communion service.

Reading for Thu, Dec 18

Psalm 50

Psalm 50

A psalm of Asaph.

1 The Mighty One, God, the Lord,(A)
speaks and summons the earth
from the rising of the sun to where it sets.(B)
2 From Zion,(C) perfect in beauty,(D)
God shines forth.(E)
3 Our God comes(F)
and will not be silent;(G)
a fire devours(H) before him,(I)
and around him a tempest(J) rages.
4 He summons the heavens above,
and the earth,(K) that he may judge his people:(L)
5 “Gather to me this consecrated people,(M)
who made a covenant(N) with me by sacrifice.”
6 And the heavens proclaim(O) his righteousness,
for he is a God of justice.[a][b](P)

7 “Listen, my people, and I will speak;
I will testify(Q) against you, Israel:
I am God, your God.(R)
8 I bring no charges(S) against you concerning your sacrifices
or concerning your burnt offerings,(T) which are ever before me.
9 I have no need of a bull(U) from your stall
or of goats(V) from your pens,(W)
10 for every animal of the forest(X) is mine,
and the cattle on a thousand hills.(Y)
11 I know every bird(Z) in the mountains,
and the insects in the fields(AA) are mine.
12 If I were hungry I would not tell you,
for the world(AB) is mine, and all that is in it.(AC)
13 Do I eat the flesh of bulls
or drink the blood of goats?

14 “Sacrifice thank offerings(AD) to God,
fulfill your vows(AE) to the Most High,(AF)
15 and call(AG) on me in the day of trouble;(AH)
I will deliver(AI) you, and you will honor(AJ) me.”

16 But to the wicked person, God says:

“What right have you to recite my laws
or take my covenant(AK) on your lips?(AL)
17 You hate(AM) my instruction
and cast my words behind(AN) you.
18 When you see a thief, you join(AO) with him;
you throw in your lot with adulterers.(AP)
19 You use your mouth for evil
and harness your tongue to deceit.(AQ)
20 You sit and testify against your brother(AR)
and slander your own mother’s son.
21 When you did these things and I kept silent,(AS)
you thought I was exactly[c] like you.
But I now arraign(AT) you
and set my accusations(AU) before you.

22 “Consider this, you who forget God,(AV)
or I will tear you to pieces, with no one to rescue you:(AW)
23 Those who sacrifice thank offerings honor me,
and to the blameless[d] I will show my salvation.(AX)”

Footnotes:

  1. Psalm 50:6 With a different word division of the Hebrew; Masoretic Text for God himself is judge
  2. Psalm 50:6 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
  3. Psalm 50:21 Or thought the ‘I am’ was
  4. Psalm 50:23 Probable reading of the original Hebrew text; the meaning of the Masoretic Text for this phrase is uncertain.

Cross references:

  1. Psalm 50:1 : Jos 22:22
  2. Psalm 50:1 : Ps 113:3
  3. Psalm 50:2 : Ps 2:6
  4. Psalm 50:2 : S Ps 48:2; S La 2:15
  5. Psalm 50:2 : S Dt 33:2
  6. Psalm 50:3 : Ps 96:13
  7. Psalm 50:3 : ver 21; Isa 42:14; 64:12; 65:6
  8. Psalm 50:3 : S Lev 10:2
  9. Psalm 50:3 : S Ps 18:8
  10. Psalm 50:3 : Job 37:9; Ps 83:15; 107:25; 147:18; Isa 29:6; 30:28; Jnh 1:4; Na 1:3
  11. Psalm 50:4 : Dt 4:26; 31:28; Isa 1:2
  12. Psalm 50:4 : Heb 10:30
  13. Psalm 50:5 : S Dt 7:6; S Ps 18:25
  14. Psalm 50:5 : Ex 24:7; S 2Ch 6:11
  15. Psalm 50:6 : S Ps 19:1
  16. Psalm 50:6 : S Ge 16:5; S Job 9:15
  17. Psalm 50:7 : Heb 2:4
  18. Psalm 50:7 : Ex 20:2; Ps 48:14
  19. Psalm 50:8 : S 2Sa 22:16
  20. Psalm 50:8 : S Ps 40:6
  21. Psalm 50:9 : S Lev 1:5
  22. Psalm 50:9 : S Lev 16:5
  23. Psalm 50:9 : S Nu 32:16
  24. Psalm 50:10 : Ps 104:20; Isa 56:9; Mic 5:8
  25. Psalm 50:10 : Ps 104:24
  26. Psalm 50:11 : Mt 6:26
  27. Psalm 50:11 : Ps 8:7; 80:13
  28. Psalm 50:12 : Ex 19:5
  29. Psalm 50:12 : Dt 10:14; S Jos 3:11; Ps 24:1; 1Co 10:26
  30. Psalm 50:14 : S Ezr 1:4; S Ps 27:6
  31. Psalm 50:14 : S Nu 30:2; S Ps 66:13; 76:11
  32. Psalm 50:14 : Ps 7:8
  33. Psalm 50:15 : Ps 4:1; 81:7; Isa 55:6; 58:9; Zec 13:9
  34. Psalm 50:15 : Ps 69:17; 86:7; 107:6; 142:2; Jas 5:13
  35. Psalm 50:15 : Ps 3:7
  36. Psalm 50:15 : S Ps 22:23
  37. Psalm 50:16 : Ps 25:10
  38. Psalm 50:16 : Isa 29:13
  39. Psalm 50:17 : Pr 1:22
  40. Psalm 50:17 : S 1Ki 14:9
  41. Psalm 50:18 : Ro 1:32; 1Ti 5:22
  42. Psalm 50:18 : S Job 22:15
  43. Psalm 50:19 : Ps 10:7; 36:3; 52:2; 101:7
  44. Psalm 50:20 : Mt 10:21
  45. Psalm 50:21 : Isa 42:14; 57:11; 62:1; 64:12
  46. Psalm 50:21 : Ps 6:1; S 18:15; 76:6; 104:7; Isa 50:2
  47. Psalm 50:21 : Ps 85:5; Isa 57:16
  48. Psalm 50:22 : S Job 8:13; S Isa 17:10
  49. Psalm 50:22 : S Dt 32:39; Mic 5:8
  50. Psalm 50:23 : S Ps 9:14; 91:16; 98:3; Isa 52:10
New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Psalm 59-60

Psalm 59[a]

For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam.[b] When Saul had sent men to watch David’s house(A) in order to kill him.

1 Deliver me from my enemies, O God;(B)
be my fortress against those who are attacking me.(C)
2 Deliver me from evildoers(D)
and save me from those who are after my blood.(E)

3 See how they lie in wait for me!
Fierce men conspire(F) against me
for no offense or sin of mine, Lord.
4 I have done no wrong,(G) yet they are ready to attack me.(H)
Arise to help me; look on my plight!(I)
5 You, Lord God Almighty,
you who are the God of Israel,(J)
rouse yourself(K) to punish all the nations;(L)
show no mercy to wicked traitors.[c](M)

6 They return at evening,
snarling like dogs,(N)
and prowl about the city.
7 See what they spew from their mouths(O)—
the words from their lips are sharp as swords,(P)
and they think, “Who can hear us?”(Q)
8 But you laugh at them, Lord;(R)
you scoff at all those nations.(S)

9 You are my strength,(T) I watch for you;
you, God, are my fortress,(U)
10 my God on whom I can rely.

God will go before me
and will let me gloat over those who slander me.
11 But do not kill them, Lord our shield,[d](V)
or my people will forget.(W)
In your might uproot them
and bring them down.(X)
12 For the sins of their mouths,(Y)
for the words of their lips,(Z)
let them be caught in their pride.(AA)
For the curses and lies they utter,
13 consume them in your wrath,
consume them till they are no more.(AB)
Then it will be known to the ends of the earth
that God rules over Jacob.(AC)

14 They return at evening,
snarling like dogs,
and prowl about the city.
15 They wander about for food(AD)
and howl if not satisfied.
16 But I will sing(AE) of your strength,(AF)
in the morning(AG) I will sing of your love;(AH)
for you are my fortress,(AI)
my refuge in times of trouble.(AJ)

17 You are my strength, I sing praise to you;
you, God, are my fortress,
my God on whom I can rely.(AK)

Psalm 60[e](AL)

For the director of music. To the tune of “The Lily of the Covenant.” A miktam[f] of David. For teaching. When he fought Aram Naharaim[g] and Aram Zobah,[h] and when Joab returned and struck down twelve thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.(AM)

1 You have rejected us,(AN) God, and burst upon us;
you have been angry(AO)—now restore us!(AP)
2 You have shaken the land(AQ) and torn it open;
mend its fractures,(AR) for it is quaking.
3 You have shown your people desperate times;(AS)
you have given us wine that makes us stagger.(AT)
4 But for those who fear you, you have raised a banner(AU)
to be unfurled against the bow.[i]

5 Save us and help us with your right hand,(AV)
that those you love(AW) may be delivered.
6 God has spoken from his sanctuary:
“In triumph I will parcel out Shechem(AX)
and measure off the Valley of Sukkoth.(AY)
7 Gilead(AZ) is mine, and Manasseh is mine;
Ephraim(BA) is my helmet,
Judah(BB) is my scepter.(BC)
8 Moab is my washbasin,
on Edom I toss my sandal;
over Philistia I shout in triumph.(BD)”

9 Who will bring me to the fortified city?
Who will lead me to Edom?
10 Is it not you, God, you who have now rejected us
and no longer go out with our armies?(BE)
11 Give us aid against the enemy,
for human help is worthless.(BF)
12 With God we will gain the victory,
and he will trample down our enemies.(BG)

Footnotes:

  1. Psalm 59:1 In Hebrew texts 59:1-17 is numbered 59:2-18.
  2. Psalm 59:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
  3. Psalm 59:5 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 13.
  4. Psalm 59:11 Or sovereign
  5. Psalm 60:1 In Hebrew texts 60:1-12 is numbered 60:3-14.
  6. Psalm 60:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
  7. Psalm 60:1 Title: That is, Arameans of Northwest Mesopotamia
  8. Psalm 60:1 Title: That is, Arameans of central Syria
  9. Psalm 60:4 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.

Cross references:

  1. Psalm 59:1 : 1Sa 19:11
  2. Psalm 59:1 : Ps 143:9
  3. Psalm 59:1 : S Ps 20:1
  4. Psalm 59:2 : Ps 14:4; 36:12; 53:4; 92:7; 94:16
  5. Psalm 59:2 : S Ps 26:9; 139:19; Pr 29:10
  6. Psalm 59:3 : S Ps 56:6
  7. Psalm 59:4 : Ps 119:3
  8. Psalm 59:4 : Mt 5:11
  9. Psalm 59:4 : S Ps 13:3
  10. Psalm 59:5 : Ps 69:6; 80:4; 84:8
  11. Psalm 59:5 : S Ps 44:23
  12. Psalm 59:5 : S Ps 9:5; S Isa 10:3
  13. Psalm 59:5 : Jer 18:23
  14. Psalm 59:6 : ver 14; Ps 22:16
  15. Psalm 59:7 : Ps 94:4; Pr 10:32; 12:23; 15:2, 28
  16. Psalm 59:7 : S Ps 55:21
  17. Psalm 59:7 : S Job 22:13
  18. Psalm 59:8 : Ps 37:13; Pr 1:26
  19. Psalm 59:8 : Ps 2:4
  20. Psalm 59:9 : S Ps 18:1
  21. Psalm 59:9 : Ps 9:9; 18:2; 62:2; 71:3
  22. Psalm 59:11 : Ps 3:3; 84:9
  23. Psalm 59:11 : Dt 4:9; 6:12
  24. Psalm 59:11 : Ps 89:10; 106:27; 144:6; Isa 33:3
  25. Psalm 59:12 : Ps 10:7
  26. Psalm 59:12 : Ps 64:8; Pr 10:14; 12:13
  27. Psalm 59:12 : Isa 2:12; 5:15; Zep 3:11
  28. Psalm 59:13 : Ps 104:35
  29. Psalm 59:13 : Ps 83:18
  30. Psalm 59:15 : Job 15:23
  31. Psalm 59:16 : Ps 108:1
  32. Psalm 59:16 : S 1Sa 2:10
  33. Psalm 59:16 : Ps 5:3; 88:13
  34. Psalm 59:16 : Ps 101:1
  35. Psalm 59:16 : S 2Sa 22:3
  36. Psalm 59:16 : S Dt 4:30
  37. Psalm 59:17 : ver 10
  38. Psalm 60:1 : 60:5-12pp — Ps 108:6-13
  39. Psalm 60:1 : 2Sa 8:13
  40. Psalm 60:1 : 2Sa 5:20; Ps 44:9
  41. Psalm 60:1 : Ps 79:5
  42. Psalm 60:1 : Ps 80:3
  43. Psalm 60:2 : Ps 18:7
  44. Psalm 60:2 : S 2Ch 7:14
  45. Psalm 60:3 : Ps 71:20
  46. Psalm 60:3 : Ps 75:8; Isa 29:9; 51:17; 63:6; Jer 25:16; Zec 12:2; Rev 14:10
  47. Psalm 60:4 : Isa 5:26; 11:10, 12; 18:3
  48. Psalm 60:5 : S Job 40:14
  49. Psalm 60:5 : S Dt 33:12
  50. Psalm 60:6 : S Ge 12:6
  51. Psalm 60:6 : S Ge 33:17
  52. Psalm 60:7 : Jos 13:31
  53. Psalm 60:7 : S Ge 41:52
  54. Psalm 60:7 : S Nu 34:19
  55. Psalm 60:7 : S Ge 49:10
  56. Psalm 60:8 : S 2Sa 8:1
  57. Psalm 60:10 : S Jos 7:12
  58. Psalm 60:11 : Ps 146:3; Pr 3:5
  59. Psalm 60:12 : S Job 40:12; Ps 44:5
New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Psalm 33

Psalm 33

1 Sing joyfully(A) to the Lord, you righteous;
it is fitting(B) for the upright(C) to praise him.
2 Praise the Lord with the harp;(D)
make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre.(E)
3 Sing to him a new song;(F)
play skillfully, and shout for joy.(G)

4 For the word of the Lord is right(H) and true;(I)
he is faithful(J) in all he does.
5 The Lord loves righteousness and justice;(K)
the earth is full of his unfailing love.(L)

6 By the word(M) of the Lord the heavens were made,(N)
their starry host(O) by the breath of his mouth.
7 He gathers the waters(P) of the sea into jars[a];(Q)
he puts the deep into storehouses.
8 Let all the earth fear the Lord;(R)
let all the people of the world(S) revere him.(T)
9 For he spoke, and it came to be;
he commanded,(U) and it stood firm.

10 The Lord foils(V) the plans(W) of the nations;(X)
he thwarts the purposes of the peoples.
11 But the plans of the Lord stand firm(Y) forever,
the purposes(Z) of his heart through all generations.

12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,(AA)
the people he chose(AB) for his inheritance.(AC)
13 From heaven the Lord looks down(AD)
and sees all mankind;(AE)
14 from his dwelling place(AF) he watches
all who live on earth—
15 he who forms(AG) the hearts of all,
who considers everything they do.(AH)

16 No king is saved by the size of his army;(AI)
no warrior escapes by his great strength.
17 A horse(AJ) is a vain hope for deliverance;
despite all its great strength it cannot save.
18 But the eyes(AK) of the Lord are on those who fear him,
on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,(AL)
19 to deliver them from death(AM)
and keep them alive in famine.(AN)

20 We wait(AO) in hope for the Lord;
he is our help and our shield.
21 In him our hearts rejoice,(AP)
for we trust in his holy name.(AQ)
22 May your unfailing love(AR) be with us, Lord,
even as we put our hope in you.

Footnotes:

  1. Psalm 33:7 Or sea as into a heap

Cross references:

  1. Psalm 33:1 : S Ps 5:11; S 101:1
  2. Psalm 33:1 : Ps 147:1
  3. Psalm 33:1 : Ps 11:7
  4. Psalm 33:2 : S Ge 4:21; 1Co 14:7; Rev 5:8
  5. Psalm 33:2 : Ps 92:3; 144:9
  6. Psalm 33:3 : Ps 40:3; Isa 42:10; S Rev 5:9
  7. Psalm 33:3 : S Job 3:7; Ps 35:27; 47:1
  8. Psalm 33:4 : S Ps 19:8
  9. Psalm 33:4 : Ps 119:142; Rev 19:9; 22:6
  10. Psalm 33:4 : Ps 18:25; 25:10
  11. Psalm 33:5 : Ps 11:7
  12. Psalm 33:5 : Ps 6:4
  13. Psalm 33:6 : S Ge 1:3; Heb 11:3
  14. Psalm 33:6 : S Ex 8:19; S 2Ch 2:12
  15. Psalm 33:6 : S Ge 1:16
  16. Psalm 33:7 : S Ge 1:10
  17. Psalm 33:7 : S Jos 3:16
  18. Psalm 33:8 : S Dt 6:13; Ps 2:11
  19. Psalm 33:8 : Ps 49:1; Isa 18:3; Mic 1:2
  20. Psalm 33:8 : S Dt 14:23
  21. Psalm 33:9 : Ps 148:5
  22. Psalm 33:10 : Isa 44:25
  23. Psalm 33:10 : S Job 5:12
  24. Psalm 33:10 : Ps 2:1
  25. Psalm 33:11 : S Nu 23:19
  26. Psalm 33:11 : Jer 51:12, 29
  27. Psalm 33:12 : Ps 144:15
  28. Psalm 33:12 : S Ex 8:22; Dt 7:6; Ps 4:3; 65:4; 84:4
  29. Psalm 33:12 : S Ex 34:9
  30. Psalm 33:13 : Ps 53:2; 102:19
  31. Psalm 33:13 : Job 28:24; Ps 11:4; 14:2; S Heb 4:13
  32. Psalm 33:14 : S Lev 15:31; 1Ki 8:39
  33. Psalm 33:15 : Job 10:8; Ps 119:73
  34. Psalm 33:15 : S Job 10:4; Jer 32:19
  35. Psalm 33:16 : 1Sa 14:6
  36. Psalm 33:17 : S Ps 20:7
  37. Psalm 33:18 : S Ex 3:16; S Ps 11:4; 1Pe 3:12
  38. Psalm 33:18 : S Ps 6:4
  39. Psalm 33:19 : Ps 56:13; Ac 12:11
  40. Psalm 33:19 : S Job 5:20
  41. Psalm 33:20 : S Ps 27:14
  42. Psalm 33:21 : S 1Sa 2:1; S Joel 2:23
  43. Psalm 33:21 : S Ps 30:4; S 99:3
  44. Psalm 33:22 : Ps 6:4
New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Zechariah 4

The Gold Lampstand and the Two Olive Trees

4 Then the angel who talked with me returned and woke(A) me up, like someone awakened from sleep.(B) 2 He asked me, “What do you see?”(C)

I answered, “I see a solid gold lampstand(D) with a bowl at the top and seven lamps(E) on it, with seven channels to the lamps. 3 Also there are two olive trees(F) by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.”

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

5 He answered, “Do you not know what these are?”

“No, my lord,” I replied.(G)

6 So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel:(H) ‘Not(I) by might nor by power,(J) but by my Spirit,’(K) says the Lord Almighty.

7 “What are you, mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground.(L) Then he will bring out the capstone(M) to shouts(N) of ‘God bless it! God bless it!’”

8 Then the word of the Lord came to me: 9 “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation(O) of this temple; his hands will also complete it.(P) Then you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me(Q) to you.

10 “Who dares despise the day(R) of small things,(S) since the seven eyes(T) of the Lord that range throughout the earth will rejoice when they see the chosen capstone[a] in the hand of Zerubbabel?”(U)

11 Then I asked the angel, “What are these two olive trees(V) on the right and the left of the lampstand?”

12 Again I asked him, “What are these two olive branches beside the two gold pipes that pour out golden oil?”

13 He replied, “Do you not know what these are?”

“No, my lord,” I said.

14 So he said, “These are the two who are anointed(W) to[b] serve the Lord of all the earth.”

Footnotes:

  1. Zechariah 4:10 Or the plumb line
  2. Zechariah 4:14 Or two who bring oil and

Cross references:

  1. Zechariah 4:1 : S Da 8:18
  2. Zechariah 4:1 : Jer 31:26
  3. Zechariah 4:2 : S Jer 1:13
  4. Zechariah 4:2 : S Ex 25:31; Rev 1:12
  5. Zechariah 4:2 : Rev 4:5
  6. Zechariah 4:3 : ver 11; S Ps 1:3; S Rev 11:4
  7. Zechariah 4:5 : S Zec 1:9
  8. Zechariah 4:6 : S 1Ch 3:19; S Ezr 5:2
  9. Zechariah 4:6 : S 1Sa 13:22; S 1Ki 19:12
  10. Zechariah 4:6 : S 1Sa 2:9
  11. Zechariah 4:6 : S Ne 9:20; Isa 11:2-4; S Da 2:34; Hos 1:7
  12. Zechariah 4:7 : S Ps 26:12; Jer 51:25
  13. Zechariah 4:7 : S Ps 118:22
  14. Zechariah 4:7 : S 1Ch 15:28
  15. Zechariah 4:9 : S Ezr 3:11
  16. Zechariah 4:9 : Ezr 3:8; S 6:15; Zec 6:12
  17. Zechariah 4:9 : S Zec 2:9
  18. Zechariah 4:10 : S Hag 2:23
  19. Zechariah 4:10 : Hag 2:3
  20. Zechariah 4:10 : S 2Ch 16:9; Rev 5:6
  21. Zechariah 4:10 : S Ezr 5:1; S Ne 12:1; S Job 38:5
  22. Zechariah 4:11 : S ver 3; S Rev 11:4
  23. Zechariah 4:14 : Ex 29:7; 40:15; S Ps 45:7; S Isa 20:3; S Da 9:24-26
New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Revelation 4:9-5:5

9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne(A) and who lives for ever and ever,(B) 10 the twenty-four elders(C) fall down before him(D) who sits on the throne(E) and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:

11 “You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,(F)
for you created all things,
and by your will they were created
and have their being.”(G)

The Scroll and the Lamb

5 Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne(H) a scroll with writing on both sides(I) and sealed(J) with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel(K) proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. 4 I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion(L) of the tribe of Judah,(M) the Root of David,(N) has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

Cross references:

  1. Revelation 4:9 : ver 2; Ps 47:8; S Rev 5:1
  2. Revelation 4:9 : S Rev 1:18
  3. Revelation 4:10 : S ver 4
  4. Revelation 4:10 : Dt 33:3; Rev 5:8, 14; 7:11; 11:16
  5. Revelation 4:10 : S ver 2
  6. Revelation 4:11 : Rev 1:6; 5:12
  7. Revelation 4:11 : Ac 14:15; Rev 10:6
  8. Revelation 5:1 : ver 7, 13; Rev 4:2, 9; 6:16
  9. Revelation 5:1 : Eze 2:9, 10
  10. Revelation 5:1 : Isa 29:11; Da 12:4
  11. Revelation 5:2 : Rev 10:1
  12. Revelation 5:5 : Ge 49:9
  13. Revelation 5:5 : S Heb 7:14
  14. Revelation 5:5 : Isa 11:1, 10; Ro 15:12; Rev 22:16
New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Matthew 25:1-13

The Parable of the Ten Virgins

25 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like(A) ten virgins who took their lamps(B) and went out to meet the bridegroom.(C) 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise.(D) 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.(E)

6 “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’

7 “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’(F)

9 “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’

10 “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet.(G) And the door was shut.

11 “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’

12 “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’(H)

13 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.(I)

Cross references:

  1. Matthew 25:1 : S Mt 13:24
  2. Matthew 25:1 : Lk 12:35-38; Ac 20:8; Rev 4:5
  3. Matthew 25:1 : Rev 19:7; 21:2
  4. Matthew 25:2 : Mt 24:45
  5. Matthew 25:5 : 1Th 5:6
  6. Matthew 25:8 : Lk 12:35
  7. Matthew 25:10 : Rev 19:9
  8. Matthew 25:12 : ver 41; S Mt 7:23
  9. Matthew 25:13 : Mt 24:42, 44; Mk 13:35; Lk 12:40
New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.