To Me every knee shall bow

OT

 

7th Cycle.

  

NT

 

14th Cycle.

  

Sat 13Sep2026

Fri 04Sep2026

Psalm 84:1 - 89:52 (119 verses) WEB

Psalms Book IV:

Psalm 90:1 - 106:48 (333 verses) WEB

Psalms Book V:

Psalm 107:1 - 109:31 (87 verses) WEB

John 16:1 - 21:25 (197 verses) NIV

Sat 05Sep2026

Psalm 110:1 - 118:29 (112 verses) ESV

Psalm 119:1 - 176 (176 verses) WEB

Psalm 120:1 - 138:8 (165 verses) WEB

Acts 1:1 - 5:42 (178 verses) ESV

Sun 06Sep2026

Psalm 139:1 - 150:6 (161 verses) WEB

Proverbs 1:1 - 10:32 (288 verses) NIV

Acts 6:1 - 10:48 (206 verses) ESV

Mon 07Sep2026

Proverbs 11:1 - 21:31 (327 verses) NIV

Acts 11:1 - 20:38 (357 verses) ESV

Wed 09Sep2026

Ecclesiastes 1:1 - 12:14 (222 verses) JND

Song of Solomon 1:1 - 8:14 (117 verses) NWB

Romans 1:1 - 9:33 (257 verses) NET

Thu 10Sep2026

Isaiah 1:1 - 17:14 (344 verses) WEB

Romans 10:1 - 16:27 (176 verses) ESV

Fri 11Sep2026

Isaiah 18:1 - 34:17 (323 verses) BBE

1 Corinthians 1:1 - 6:20 (124 verses) NET

1 Corinthians 7:1 - 16:24 (313 verses) WEB

Sat 12Sep2026

Isaiah 35:1 - 51:23 (376 verses) WEB

2 Corinthians 1:1 - 13:14 (257 verses) ESV

Sun 13Sep2026

Isaiah 52:1 - 66:24 (249 verses) WEB

Galatians 1:1 - 6:18 (149 verses) ESV

Ephesians 1:1 - 6:24 (155 verses) ESV

ESV — English Standard Version
NET — New English Translation
BBE — Bible in Basic English
NWB — Noah Webster Bible
JND — JN Darby's Translation
WEB — World English Bible

Overall Progress : 2026-09-13	OT	NT
Total No. of Verses	23,145	7,958
Finished reading	Isaiah	Ephesians
Finished No. of Verses	18,947	6,217
Completion	81.9 %	78.1 %

I have spent nine days of intensive readings of both the Old and New Testaments. At last, I am gradually catching up with lost time after several months of slow readings.

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Passage for Today

By myself I have sworn; from my mouth has gone out in righteousness a word that shall not return:
‘To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance.’

Isaiah 45:23

 

English Standard Version

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Whom have I in heaven but Thee?

OT

 

7th Cycle.

  

NT

 

14th Cycle.

  

Thu 03Sep2026

Tue 01Sep2026

Psalm 43:1 - 50:23 (125 verses) RSV

Psalm 51:1 - 55:23 (64 verses) KJV

John 6:1 - 71 (71 verses) CUB

John 7:1 - 8:59 (112 verses) WEB

Wed 02Sep2026

Psalm 56:1 - 72:20 (285 verses) RSV

John 9:1 - 11:57 (140 verses) BBE

Thu 03Sep2026

Book III Psalm 73:1 - 83:18 (239 verses) RSV

John 12:1 - 15:27 (146 verses) BBE

RSV — Revised Standard Version
KJV — King James Version
BBE — Bible in Basic English
CUB — Chinese Union Bible
WEB — World English Bible

Overall Progress
OT = 15,138 / 23,145 verses (65.4 %)
NT = 3,581 / 7,957 verses (45.0 %)

I am picking up the pace of daily readings again after a few months of hardly making any progress. In the last two days, I have finished reading Book II of Psalms (Ps 43 - 72) and proceeded with a good portion of Book III (Ps 73 - 83). Meanwhile, I continue to move forward in my New Testament reading of the Gospel according to John, covering chapters 6 to 15 in two days.

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Passage for Today

Whom have I in heaven but thee? And there is nothing upon earth that I desire besides thee.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever.

Psalm 73:25 - 26

 

Revised Standard Version

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Five months of intermittent readings

OT

 

7th Cycle.

  

NT

 

14th Cycle.

  

Sun 30Aug2026

Mon 30Mar2026

Job 1:1 - 10:22 (239 verses) NIV

Luke 1:1 - 4:44 (214 verses) NIV

Tue 31Mar2026

Job 11:1 - 20:29 (247 verses) NIV

Luke 5:1 - 8:56 (194 verses) NIV

Fri 03Apr2026

Luke 9:1 - 11:53 (157 verses) NIV

Sat 04Apr2026

Job 21:1 - 30:31 (232 verses) NIV

Sun 05Apr2026

Job 31:1 - 42:17 (351 verses) NIV

Luke 12:1 - 15:32 (161 verses) NIV

Sun 19Apr2026

Book I Psalm 1:1 - 5:10 (44 verses) NIV

Mon 20Apr2026

Book I Psalm 6:1 - 15:5 (107 verses) RBV

Luke 16:1 - 20:47 (206 verses) RBV

Sun 17May2026

Book I Psalm 16:1 - 22:31 (143 verses) NIV

Luke 21:1 - 22:71 (109 verses) NIV

Wed 27May2026

Book I Psalm 23:1 - 25:22 (38 verses) KJV

Sun 14Jun2026

Book I Psalm 26:1 - 32:11 (93 verses) RBV

Luke 23:1 - 24:53 (109 verses) RBV

Sat 27Jun2026

Book I Psalm 33:1 - 34:32 (44 verses) RBV

Sun 05Jul2026

Psalm 35:1 - 38:22 (102 verses) RBV

Sun 27Jul2026

John 1:1 - 5:47 (213 verses) WEB

Sun 30Aug2026

Psalm 39:1 - 41:13 (43 verses) NIV

Book II Psalm 42:1 - 11 (11 verses) NIV

RBV — Revised Berkeley Version
WEB — World English Bible
NIV — New International Version

Overall Progress
OT = 14,425 / 23,145 verses (62.3 %)
NT = 3,112 / 7,957 verses (39.1 %)

The past five months' readings continue to be interrupted by travelling and family commitments. Between the month of March and now at the end of August, I have finished reading Job, the Gospel according to Luke, the Psalms Book I (Psalm 1 to 41) and a few chapters of the Gospel of John.

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Passage for Today

8 For this cause therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill him, because he not only broke the Sabbath, but also called God his own Father, making himself equal with God. 19 Jesus therefore answered them, “Most certainly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father doing. For whatever things he does, these the Son also does likewise. 20 For the Father has affection for the Son, and shows him all things that he himself does. He will show him greater works than these, that you may marvel. 21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom he desires. 22 For the Father judges no one, but he has given all judgement to the Son, 23 that all may honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He who doesn’t honour the Son doesn’t honour the Father who sent him.

24 “Most certainly I tell you, he who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and doesn’t come into judgement, but has passed out of death into life. 25 Most certainly I tell you, the hour comes, and now is, when the dead will hear the Son of God’s voice; and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, even so he gave to the Son also to have life in himself. 27 He also gave him authority to execute judgement, because he is a son of man. 28 Don’t marvel at this, for the hour comes in which all who are in the tombs will hear his voice 29 and will come out; those who have done good, to the resurrection of life; and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgement. 30 I can of myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and my judgement is righteous, because I don’t seek my own will, but the will of my Father who sent me.

John 5:18 - 30

 

World English Bible

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My thoughts for today —

A brief look into the accusations by the Jews against the Lord Jesus and our Lord's reply and explanation recorded in John 5:18 - 30 WEB :

• v18 the Jews sought to kill Jesus not only because he broke the sabbath, but also because he called God his Father, making himself equal with God.
• v19 - 30 Jesus took pains to explain to the Jews that calling God his Father did NOT make him equal with God. (v19 Jesus THEREFORE answered them . . .)
• v19, 30 the Son can do nothing of himself
• v20 the Father shows him all things that He does
• v21 as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom he will
• v22,27 the Father has given authority to execute judgment to the Son
• v26 as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave the Son to have life in himself
• v30 the Son can do nothing by himself, does not seek his own will but the will of the Father who sent him
• Also in v36,37, the Father has given the Son works to accomplish, the works testify that the Father has sent him
• v43 Jesus came in the Father's Name

Wash you, make you clean, cease to do evil, learn to do well

OT  6th Cycle.   NT  11th Cycle.   Day Date

Thu 26Sep24

Psalm 120:1 – 150:6 (326 verses) WEB

Proverbs 1:1 – 31:31 (915 verses) WEB

Fri 27Sep24

Ecclesiastes 1:1 – 12:14 (222 verses) WEB

Sat 28Sep24

Song of Solomon 1:1 – 8:14 (117 verses) WEB

Isaiah 1:1 – 30:33 (596 verses) WEB

Sun 29Sep24

Isaiah 31:1 – 55:13 (503 verses) NIV

Isaiah 56:1 – 66:24 (193 verses) WEB

Mon 30Sep24

Jeremiah 1:1 – 17:27 (438 verses) WEB

WEB — World English Bible
NIV — New International Version

Overall Progress
OT = 18,853 / 23,145 verses (81.46 %)
NT = 7,957 / 7,957 verses (100.00 %)

Since my last update on this Bible Reading log five days ago, I have finished reading the final portion of Book V of the Psalms, followed by the books of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, Isaiah and seventeen chapters of Jeremiah.

Doing so has required me to spend most of my afternoons and evenings on Bible Readings, mainly from the World English Bible, with a portion of Isaiah from the New International Version.

By today, the last day of September, I have managed to cover just a little over 80 % of the Old Testament (6th Cycle) and 100 % of the New Testament (11th Cycle). Tomorrow I will begin my 12th round of New Testament, aiming to cover about a hundred verses a day so that I can finish the entire 12th round by mid-December.

Meanwhile, I will continue with my 6th Cycle of Old Testament readings, having only about 4,300 more verses to go, by reading about 130 verses a day so that I can finish the 6th Cycle shortly into November.

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Passage for Today

11 What are the multitude of your sacrifices to me?, says Yahweh. I have had enough of the burnt offerings of rams, And the fat of fed animals. I don't delight in the blood of bulls, Or of lambs, Or of male goats.
12 When you come to appear before me, Who has required this at your hand, to trample my courts?
13 Bring no more vain offerings. Incense is an abomination to me; New moons, Sabbaths, and convocations: I can't bear with evil assemblies.
14 My soul hates your New Moons and your appointed feasts; they are a trouble to me; I am weary of bearing them.
15 When you spread forth your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; yes, when you make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.
16 Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before my eyes; cease to do evil;
17 learn to do well; seek justice, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.
18 Come now, and let us reason together, says Yahweh: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
Isaiah 1:11 – 18  World English Bible

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My thoughts for today can be found in the link below —

• The Paradox of the Torah Keeping sinners (Sep2014)

The life of the body is a heart at peace

OT  6th Cycle.   NT  11th Cycle.   Thursday 26Sep24

Thu 26Sep24

Psalm 120:1 – 150:6 (326 verses) WEB

Proverbs 1:1 – 31:31 (915 verses) WEB

WEB — World English Bible

Overall Progress
OT = 16,784 / 23,145 verses (72.52 %)
NT = 7,957 / 7,957 verses (100.00 %)

Today has been another day of long readings, taking up part of my morning and almost the entire afternoon. After finishing the remainder of Book V of the Psalms, I went on to read all the 31 chapters of Proverbs, using only the World English Bible instead of switching between different versions to save time.

I have now completed about 72 percent of my 6th Cycle of Old Testament Readings.

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Passage for Today

He who is slow to anger has great understanding, But he who has a quick temper displays folly.
The life of the body is a heart at peace, But envy rots the bones.
Proverbs 14:29 – 30  World English Bible

Reading the Books of the Psalms

OT  6th Cycle.   NT  11th Cycle.   Wednesday 25Sep24

Tue 24Sep24

Psalm 42:1 – 72:20 (465 verses) WEB

Psalm 73:1 – 89:52 (358 verses) WEB

Wed 25Sep24

Psalm 90:1 – 106:48 (321 verses) WEB

Psalm 107:1 – 119:176 (375 verses) WEB

WEB — World English Bible

Overall Progress
OT = 15,869 / 23,145 verses (68.56 %)
NT = 7,957 / 7,957 verses (100.00 %)

Yesterday I read through Book II and Book III of the Psalms, comprising

Book II

Psalm 42 to 72

Book III

Psalm 73 to 89

Today I continued with reading through Book IV and part of Book V, as follows:

Book IV

Psalm 90 to 108

Book V

Psalm 107 to 119 (to be continued)

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Passage for Today

The LORD says to my Lord:
“Sit at My right hand
Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”
Psalm 110:1  New American Standard Bible

The LORD said to my Lord,
Sit thou on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
Psalm 110:1  LXX

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My thoughts for today can be found in the links below —

• Questions for Critics of Iesous the Anointed (Feb2014)
• Peter explains how David understood his prophecy (Feb2014)

The Alpha and Omega, The Beginning and End

OT  6th Cycle.   NT  11th Cycle.   Mon 23Sep24

Wed 18Sep24

2 Chronicles 1:1 – 20:37 (430 verses) WEB

Thu 19Sep24

2 Chronicles 21: 1 – 36:23 (392 verses) WEB

Ezra 1:1 – 2:70 (82 verses) WEB

Fri 20Sep24

Ezra 3:1 – 10:44 (199 verses) WEB

Nehemiah 1:1 – 7:73 (197 verses) WEB

Revelation 1:1 – 12:17 (211 verses) WEB

Sat 21Sep24

Nehemiah 8:1 – 13:31 (209 verses) WEB

Esther 1:1 – 10:3 (167 verses) WEB

Revelation 13:1 – 22:21 (193 verses) WEB

Sun 22Sep24

Job 1:1 – 42:17 (1,070 verses) WEB

Mon 23Sep24

Psalm 1:1 – 41:13 (616 verses) WEB

WEB — World English Bible

Overall Progress
OT = 14,350 / 23,145 verses (62.00 %)
NT = 7,957 / 7,957 verses (100.00 %)

During a quiet retreat away from home over the past four days, I have managed to complete some long readings covering 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, and the Book of Revelation, the final book in the New Testament. Today, I went on to read Book I of Psalms (Psalm 1 to 41).

My overall reading progress has reached 62 percent of the Old Testament, with slightly more than three months left before the year ends for me to cover the remaining 38 percent of this Sixth Round of the OT. Meanwhile, I have finished reading my Eleventh Round of the NT.

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Passage for Today

Revelation 21:5 – 6 World English Bible

5 He who sits on the throne said, 'Behold, I make all things new.' He said, 'Write, for these words are faithful and true.'
6 He said to me, 'It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give freely to him who is thirsty from the spring of the water of life.

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My thoughts for today come from my readings of the Book of Revelation. They can be found in the links below —

• I am Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End (Dec2021)
• Amen, Faithful, True Witness, Head of God's Creation (Nov2020)
• Titles of God, Titles of Iesous (Nov2020)
• Worship Him who sits on the Throne (Aug2014)
• The Lamb took the scroll from the Right Hand of God (Sep2021)
• Keep the commandments of God and the Faith of Iesous (Dec2021)
• To him that overcometh (Mar2022)

Then you will understand the fear of the LORD

OT  5th Cycle.   NT  10th Cycle.

Fri 16Jun23
Psalm 141:1 – 147:20 (95 verses) KJV
Mark 1:1 – 45 (45 verses) GNB

Sat 17Jun23
Psalm 148:1 – 150:6 (29 verses) KJV
Proverbs 1:1 – 3:35 (90 verses) ESV
Mark 2:1 – 3:35 (63 verses) GNB

KJV — King James Version
GNB — Good News Bible
ESV — English Standard Version

Today I finish reading the final Book V of the Psalms along with the first three chapters of Proverbs

In the New Testament, I read the first three chapters of the Gospel according to Mark.

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Passage of the Day

1My son, if you receive my words
and treasure up my commandments with you,
2making your ear attentive to wisdom
and inclining your heart to understanding;
3yes, if you call out for insight
and raise your voice for understanding,
4if you seek it like silver
and search for it as for hidden treasures,
5then you will understand the fear of the LORD
and find the knowledge of God.
Proverbs 2:1 – 5  Good News Bible

I have often heard people quote the verse that says, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom . . ." (Proverbs 9:10). This verse makes me ask myself what the fear of the LORD means in my life.

This morning's passage answers my question by telling another side of this truth about the fear of the LORD — that if I seek wisdom from God, seeking it like silver, searching for it like for hidden treasures, virtually calling out and raising my voice for insight and for understanding, then I will understand the fear of the LORD.

Brothers and Sisters in Iesus the Anointed One, do you want to understand the fear of the LORD? Do you wish to find the knowledge of God? I urge you to seek wisdom and understanding from God. Seek wisdom. Search for it as for hidden treasure. Then you will understand the fear of the LORD.

Is thine eye evil?

OT  5th Cycle.   NT  10th Cycle.

Sun 11Jun23
Psalm 107:1 - 111:10 (104 verses)NET
Matthew 20:1 - 21:46 (80 verses) GNB

Mon 12Jun23
Psalm 112:1 - 118:29 (95 verses)WEB
Matthew 22:1 - 23:39 (85 verses) WEB

Tue 13Jun23
Psalm 119:1 - 176 (176 verses) KJV
Matthew 24:1 - 51 (51 verses) NIV

Wed 14Jun23
Psalm 120:1 - 134:3 (101 verses) ASV
Matthew 25:1 - 26:75 (121 verses) NWB

Thu 15Jun23
Psalm 135:1 - 140:13 (101 verses) WEB
Matthew 27:1 - 28:20 (86 verses) WEB

NET — New English Translation
GNB — Good News Bible
WEB — World English Bible
KJV — King James Version
NIV — New International Version
ASV — American Standard Version
NWB — Noah Webster Bible

I started reading Book V of the Psalms (Ps 107 – 150) on 11Jun23. In the New Testament, I finished reading the Gospel of Matthew today.

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Passage of the Day

15 Don't I have the right to do as I wish with my own money? Or are you jealous because I am generous?
Matthew 20:15  Good News Bible

15 Am I not permitted to do what I want with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?
Matthew 20:15  New English Translationre

15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?
Matthew 20:15  King James Version

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I wrote my observations about the Hebrew meaning of the expression "good eyes" and "evil eyes" in my devotional blog in January last year, link below —

• Is thine eye evil because I am good?

In the spirit and power of Elijah

OT  5th Cycle.   NT  10th Cycle.

Sat 03Jun23
Psalm 36:1 - 41:13 (117 verses) NIV
Psalm 42:1 - 11 (11 verses) ESV
Matthew 6:1 - 7:29 (63 verses) KJV

Sun 04Jun23
Psalm 43:1 - 49:20 (102 verses) ESV
Matthew 8:1 - 9:38 (72 verses) KJV

Mon 05Jun23
Psalm 50:1 - 58:11 (122 verses) RSV
Matthew 10:1 - 11:30 (72 verses) KJV

Tue 06Jun23
Psalm 59:1 - 72:20 (230 verses) WEB
Matthew 12:1 - 50 (50 verses) WEB

Wed 07Jun23
Psalm 73:1 - 78:72 (165 verses) NRSV
Matthew 13:1 - 58 (58 verses) NKJV

Thu 08Jun23
Psalm 79:1 - 89:52 (193 verses) NET
Matthew 14:1 - 15:39 (75 verses) NKJV

Fri 09Jun23
Psalm 90:1 - 96:13 (100 verses) WEB
Matthew 16:1 - 17:27 (55 verses) WEB

Sat 10Jun23
Psalm 97:1 - 106:48 (221 verses) WEB
Matthew 18:1 - 19:30 (65 verses) WEB

NIV — New International Version
ESV — English Standard Version
KJV — King James Version
RSV — Revised Standard Version
WEB — World English Bible
NRSV — New Revised Standard Version
NKJV — New King James Version
NET — New English Translation

Over the past week I reached the end of Book I of Psalms (Ps 41) on 03Jun23, followed by Book II (Ps 72) on 06Jun23, Book III (Ps 89) on 08Jun23, and Book IV (Ps 106) on 10Jun23.

In the New Testament, I read chapters 6 to 19 of the Gospel according to Matthew.

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Passage of the Day

13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.
14 And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.
Matthew 11:13 – 14  King James Version

10 And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come?
11 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.
12 But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.
13 Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.
Matthew 17:10 – 13  King James Version

And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias,
to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,
and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just;
to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
Luke 1:17  King James Version

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I wrote my observations on the similarities between John the Baptist and Elijah on my devotional blog in February last year, link below:

• Garment of hair, Belt of leather

Understanding the Counsel of God

OT  5th Cycle.   NT  10th Cycle.

Fri 02Jun23
Psalm 28:1 - 35:28 (139 verses) NIV
Matthew 3:1 - 5:48 (90 verses) KJV

NIV — New International Version
KJV — King James Version

Today, I continue with my readings from Book I of the Psalms, and from the Gospel according to Matthew.

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Passage of the Day

8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
9 Do not be like the horse or the mule,
which have no understanding
but must be controlled by bit and bridle
or they will not come to you.
Psalm 32:8 – 9  New Internatinal Version

Brothers and Sisters in the Anointed Iesus, let us pay attention to the instruction and counsel of our Heavenly Father. Let us receive His counsel with understanding.

Walking in integrity, Trusting in the LORD

OT  5th Cycle.   NT  10th Cycle.

Thu 01Jun23
Psalm 21:1 - 27:14 (108 verses) RSV
Matthew 1:1 - 2:23 (48 verses) KJV

RSV — Revised Standard Version
KJV — King James Version

I continue reading Book I of Psalms today, covering Psalm 21 to 27, reading a total of 108 Old Testament verses.

In the New Testament, I embark on a new cyle of reading, the 10th Cycle of NT, by reading the first two chapters of the Gospel according to Matthew.

I will continue reading about 64 verses a day from the Old Testament, and about 44 verses a day from the New Testament in order to finish reading my 5th Cycle of OT and 10th Cycle of NT by the end of the year.

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Passage of the Day

1Vindicate me, O LORD,
for I have walked in my integrity,
and I have trusted in the LORD without wavering.
2Prove me, O LORD, and try me;
test my heart and my mind.
3For thy steadfast love is before my eyes,
and I walk in faithfulness to thee.
Psalm 26:1 – 3  Revised Standard Version

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable in thy sight,
O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
Psalm 19:14  Revised STandard Version

Brothers and Sisters in the Lord Iesus, let us walk in our integrity while we trust in the LORD without wavering.

Mid-point of OT 5th Cycle

OT  5th Cycle.   NT  10th Cycle.

Wed 31May23
Psalm 1:1 – 20:9 (251 verses) RSV

RSV — Revised Standard Version

With my ongoing plan of completing this 5th Cycle of Old Testament readings in 12 months, I am approaching the mid-point of this cycle today, the last day of May.

I am comfortably ahead of schedule, embarking on my reading of the first twenty Psalms today. I expect to finish all five Books of Psalms by the end of June.

Tomorrow, 01Jun23, I will begin my journey on the next milestone of New Testament readings — the 10th NT Cycle, which I plan to complete in six months by the end of this year.

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Passage of the Day

9The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed,
a stronghold in times of trouble.
10And those who know thy name put their trust in thee,
for thou, O LORD, hast not forsaken those who seek thee.
Psalm 9:9 – 10  Revised Standard Version

7I bless the LORD who gives me counsel;
in the night also my heart instructs me.
8I keep the LORD always before me;
because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
Psalm 16:7 – 8  Revised Standard Version

Brothers and Sisters in Iesus the Anointed One, let us put our trust in the LORD our God. He will not forsake those who seek Him. Let us keep the LORD always before us.

He who descended out of heaven, the Son of Man

OT  4th Cycle.   NT  8th Cycle.

Wednesday 16Nov22
Psalm 120:1 - 150:9 WEB (315 verses)
John 1:1 - 4:54 WEB (166 verses)

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This afternoon, for my Old Testament reading, I finished the remainder of Book V of the Psalms (Psalm 107 - 150), bringing me to the end of the entire collection of Psalms.

In the New Testament, I begin reading the Gospel of John, a book which I should have finished two weeks ago had I not been badly delayed. I covered the first four chapters of this Gospel.

Passage of the day

No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended out of heaven, the Son of Man, who is in heaven.
John 3:13  World English Bible

He who comes from above is above all. He who is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all.
John 3:31  World English Bible

Are you with the Lord or against him?

OT  4th Cycle.   NT  8th Cycle.

Tuesday 15Nov22
Psalm 119:1 - 176 WEB (176 verses)
Luke 11:1 - 24:53 WEB (638 verses)

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Today I finished reading the entire Psalm 119, a long Psalm of a hundred and seventy-six verses. In the New Testament, I read the remaining half of the Gospel of Luke, from chapter 11 to chapter 24.

Passage of the day

In response to some people who, after seeing the Lord Iesus cast out an evil spirit from a dumb man, accused the Lord of using the power of Beelzebul (Luke 11:15), the Lord rebuked them with a discourse on the kingdom of Satan being overcome by "one who is stronger" (Luke 11:22), ending with these words:

He who is not with me is against me . . .

Full text of the passage in Luke 11;17ff

17 Every kingdom in which there is division is made waste; and a house in which there is division comes to destruction.
18 If, then, Satan is at war with himself, how will he keep his kingdom? because you say that I send evil spirits out of men by the help of Beelzebul.
19 And if I, by Beelzebul, send out evil spirits, by whose help do your sons send them out? so let them be your judges.
20 But if I, by the finger of God, send out evil spirits, then the kingdom of God has overtaken you.
21 When the strong man armed keeps watch over his house, then his goods are safe:
22 But when one who is stronger makes an attack on him and overcomes him, he takes away his instruments of war, in which he had put his faith, and makes division of his goods.
23 He who is not with me is against me, and he who will not give me help in getting people together is driving them away.
Luke 11:17 - 23  Bible in Basic English

A parallel passage is found in Matthew chapter 12:

25 Every kingdom having division in itself is made waste, and every town or house having division in itself will come to destruction.
26 And if Satan sends out Satan, he makes war against himself; how then will he keep his kingdom?
27 And if I by Beelzebub send evil spirits out of men, by whom do your sons send them out? So let them be your judges.
28 But if I by the Spirit of God send out evil spirits, then is the kingdom of God come on you.
29 Or how may one go into a strong man's house and take his goods, if he does not first put cords round the strong man? and then he may take his goods.
30 Whoever is not with me is against me; and he who does not take part with me in getting people together, is driving them away.
Matthew 12:25 - 30  Bible in Basic English

When we compare the above passages to earlier accounts of the Lord Iesus' reply to his disciples in Luke 9 and Mark 9, we see that the converse is also true - that he who is not against the Lord is for the Lord:

49 And John, answering, said, Master, we saw a man driving out evil spirits in your name, and we did not let him do it, because he was not one of us.
50 But Jesus said to him, Let him do it, for he who is not against you is for you.
Luke 9:49 - 50  Bible in Basic English

38 John said to him, Master, we saw one driving out evil spirits in your name: and we said that he might not, because he is not one of us.
39 But Jesus said, Say not so: for there is no man who will do a great work in my name, and be able at the same time to say evil of me.
40 He who is not against us is for us.
Mark 9:38 - 40  Bible in Basic English

The LORD said to my Lord

OT  4th Cycle.   NT  8th Cycle.

Tuesday 08Nov22
Psalm 90:1 - 106:48 WEB (321 verses)
Mark 1:1 - 16:20 WEB (678 verses)

Thursday 10Nov22
Luke 1:1 - 10:42 WEB (502 verses)

Monday 14Nov22
Psalm 107:1 - 118:29 KJV (199 verses)
Luke 11:1 - WEB ( verses)

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Over the past week, I have covered Book III of the Psalms (Psalm 90 to 106) and went on to read Book IV (Psalm 107 to 150), going up to Psalm 118 today in my Old Testament reading.

Meanwhile in the New Testament, I finished reading the entire Gospel of Mark in one day and embarked on the Gospel of Luke, covering the first ten chapters so far.

Passage of the day

1 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
2 The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.
3 Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth.
4 The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.
5 The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath.
6 He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill the places with the dead bodies; he shall wound the heads over many countries.
7 He shall drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall he lift up the head.
Psalm 110:1 - 7  King James Version

1 A Psalm of David.
The Lord said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
2 The Lord shall send out a rod of power for thee out of Sion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.
3 With thee is dominion in the day of thy power, in the splendours of thy saints (or holiness): I have begotten thee from the womb before the morning.
4 The Lord sware, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchisedec.
5 The Lord at thy right hand has dashed in pieces kings in the day of his wrath.
6 He shall judge among the nations, he shall fill up the number of corpses, he shall crush the heads of many on the earth.
7 He shall drink of the brook in the way; therefore shall he lift up the head.
Psalm 109:1 - 7  LXX Brenton

While the two versions appear mostly similar in general, verse 3 in the LXX differs significantly from verse 3 in KJV, particularly in the second half of the verse.

The KJV renders v3b rather vaguely as,

"in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth."

In contrast, the LXX puts David's prophecy more clearly as

"in the splendours of thy saints (or holiness): I have begotten thee from the womb before the morning . . ."

Eight years ago in February 2014, I wrote my observations in two consecutive posts on this prophecy about the everlasting reign of the Seed of David, links below:

• Questions for Critics of Yeshua the Messiah (03Feb14)
• Peter explains how David understood his prophecy (06Feb14)

One alone is your Teacher, your Father, your Master

OT  4th Cycle.   NT  8th Cycle.

Saturday 29Oct22
Matthew 21:1 - 22:46 WEB (92 verses)

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Sunday 06Nov22
Psalm 61:1 - 72:20 NWB (201 verses)

Monday 07Nov22
Psalm 73:1 - 89:52 WEB (358 verses)
Matthew 23:1 - 28:20 WNT (287 verses)

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I was away from my daily Bible readings for a week from Sun 30Oct22 until Sat 05Nov22.

Yesterday I resumed my readings but after several breaks from my readings throughout the month of October, I am now badly behind time in my ongoing 4th round of Old Testament and 8th round of New Testament readings, both of which I planned to finish by the end of the year.

The coming weeks of November will see me trying to catch up with my daily readings as much as I can, probably reading several hundred verses a day from each of OT and NT

Yesterday I managed to arrive at the end of Book II of the Psalms (Psalm 72) and today I ran a short sprint through Book III (Psalm 73 - 89). Tomorrow I will proceed with, and hopefully also finish reading Book IV (Psalm 90 - 106).

From the New Testament, I have finished reading the Gospel according to Matthew this morning and will continue with the Gospel of Luke tomorrow.

Passage of the day

8 As for you, do not accept the title of 'Rabbi,'
for one alone is your Teacher, and you are all brothers.
9 And call no one on earth your Father,
for One alone is your Father--the Heavenly Father.
10 And do not accept the name of 'leader,'
for your Leader is one alone--the Christ.
11 He who is the greatest among you shall be your servant;
12 and one who exalts himself shall be abased, while one who abases himself shall be exalted.
Matthew 23:8 - 12  Weymouth New Testament

Do not take your Holy Spirit from me

OT  4th Cycle.   NT  8th Cycle.

Friday 28Oct22
Psalm 51:1 - 60:12 NIV (128 verses)
Matthew 21:1 - WNT ( verses)

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Passage of the day

Psalm 51:10 - 12  New International Version

10

Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

11

Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.

12

Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

Only by prayer and fasting

OT  4th Cycle.   NT  8th Cycle.

Tuesday 18Oct22
Psalm 42:1 - 50:23 KJV (136 verses)
Matthew 15:1 - 20:34 WNT (193 verses)

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Today I begin reading Book II of the Psalms (comprising Psalms 42 to 72). I have finished reading the first nine psalms in this book.

For my New Testament reading, I covered chapters 15 to 20 of the Gospel according to Matthew.

Passage of the day

18 Then Jesus reprimanded the demon, and it came out and left him; and the boy was cured from that moment.
19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and asked Him, 'Why could not we expel the demon?'
20 'Because your faith is so small,' He replied; 'for I solemnly declare to you that if you have faith like a mustard-seed, you shall say to this mountain, 'Remove from this place to that,' and it will remove; and nothing shall be impossible to you.
21 But an evil spirit of this kind is only driven out by prayer and fasting.'
Matthew 17:18 - 21  Weymouth New Testament

The Lord Iesus drives out demons by the Spirit of God

OT  4th Cycle.   NT  8th Cycle.

Wednesday 05Oct22
Psalm 31:1 - 24 WEB (24 verses)
Matthew 5:1 - 48 WEB (48 verses)

Friday 07Oct22
Matthew 6:1 - 34 WEB (34 verses)

Wednesday 12Oct22
Psalm 32:1 - 11 WEB (11 verses)
Matthew 7:1 - 29 WEB (29 verses)

Thursday 13Oct22
Psalm 33:1 - 34:22 KJV (44 verses)

Friday 14Oct22
Psalm 35:1 - 28 WEB (28 verses)
Matthew 8:1 - 9:38 WEB (72 verses)

Saturday 15Oct22
Matthew 10:1 - 11:30 NIV (72 verses)

Saturday 16Oct22
Psalm 36:1 - 41:13 ESV (115 verses)
Matthew 12:1 - 14:36 NIV (144 verses)

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I have been occupied by many pressing tasks over the last two weeks. As a result, my bible reading has been slow and somewhat sporadic. Since 05Oct22 until today, I have managed only to read ten chapters from the Gospel of Matthew and eleven Psalms, bringing me to the end of Book I of the Psalms.

I'm looking forward to a less busy week ahead and to catch up gradually with my daily bible readings, hopefully to finish my ongoing 4th round of the OT and 8th round of the NT by the end of the year.

Passage of the day

This afternoon, I am reminded from my reading of Matthew chapter 12 that our Lord Iesus performed miracles, including casting out demons, by the power of the Spirit of God.

But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
Matthew 12:28  New International Version

Similarly, when Peter spoke to the crowd gathered around him and the disciples on the Day of Pentecost, he told them that the miracles, signs and wonders that Iesus performed among them were done by God working through the Lord Iesus,

“Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know
Acts 2:22  New International Version

Later, in Acts chapter 10, Peter told the Gentile household of Cornelius the Centurion in Caesarea that God anointed Iesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power.

37 You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached—
38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.
Acts 10:37 - 38  New International Version

Nine years ago, I wrote my observations on this fact - that God worked miracles through Iesus by His Spirit - in my devotional blog, link below:

• The Unpardonable Sin Revisited (May2013)