Day 397 of 730

¹At that time, Herod the tetrarch heard the report concerning Jesus,

²and said to his servants, "This is John the Baptist. He is risen from the dead. That is why these powers work in him."

³For Herod had arrested John, and bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife.

⁴For John said to him, "It is not lawful for you to have her."

⁵And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.

⁶But when Herod's birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced among them and pleased Herod.

⁷Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatever she should ask.

⁸And she, being prompted by her mother, said, "Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist."

⁹And the king was grieved, but for the sake of his oaths, and of those who sat at the table with him, he commanded it to be given,

¹⁰and he sent and beheaded John in the prison.

¹¹And his head was brought on a platter, and given to the young lady: and she brought it to her mother.

¹²Then his disciples came, and took the body, and buried it; and they went and told Jesus.

¹³Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat, to a secluded place to be alone. When the multitudes heard it, they followed him on foot from the cities.

¹⁴And he went out, and he saw a great multitude, and he had compassion on them, and healed their sick.

¹⁵Now when evening had come, the disciples came to him, saying, "This place is desolate, and the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves food."

¹⁶But he said to them, "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat."

¹⁷And they told him, "We only have here five loaves and two fish."

¹⁸So he said, "Bring them here to me."

¹⁹Then he commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass; and he took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, broke and gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples gave to the multitudes.

²⁰And they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of that which remained left over from the broken pieces.

²¹Now those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

²²And immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and to go ahead of him to the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.

²³And after he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into the mountain by himself to pray. When evening had come, he was there alone.

²⁴But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, distressed by the waves, for the wind was against it.

²⁵And in the fourth watch of the night, he came to them, walking on the sea.

²⁶And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, "It's a ghost!" and they screamed with fear.

²⁷But immediately he spoke to them, saying "Cheer up! It is I! Do not be afraid."

²⁸Peter answered him and said, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the waters."

²⁹He said, "Come!" Peter stepped down from the boat, and walked on the waters to come to Jesus.

³⁰But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, he yelled, saying, "Lord, save me!"

³¹Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand, took hold of him, and said to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?"

³²When they got up into the boat, the wind ceased.

³³Those who were in the boat came and worshiped him, saying, "You are truly the Son of God!"

³⁴When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret.

³⁵When the people of that place recognized him, they sent into all that surrounding region, and brought to him all who were sick,

³⁶and they begged him that they might just touch the fringe of his garment. As many as touched it were made whole.

¹The Lord reigns! Let the earth rejoice! Let the multitude of islands be glad!

²Clouds and darkness are around him. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.

³A fire goes before him, and burns up his adversaries on every side.

⁴His lightning lights up the world. The earth sees, and trembles.

⁵The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.

⁶The heavens declare his righteousness. All the peoples have seen his glory.

⁷Let all them be shamed who serve engraved images, who boast in their idols. Worship him, all you gods!

⁸Zion heard and was glad. The daughters of Judah rejoiced, because of your judgments, Lord.

⁹For you, Lord, are most high above all the earth. You are exalted far above all gods.

¹⁰You who love the Lord, hate evil. He preserves the souls of his holy ones. He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked.

¹¹Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.

¹²Be glad in the Lord, you righteous people! Give thanks to his holy Name.

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

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

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

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

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

⁶Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king, or claim a place among great men;

⁷for 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.

⁸Do not be hasty in bringing charges to court. What will you do in the end when your neighbor shames you?

⁹Debate your case with your neighbor, and do not betray the confidence of another;

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

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

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

¹³As 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

²²for you will heap coals of fire on his head, and the Lord will reward you.

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

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

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

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

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

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