JD Fortress BibleAbout

Family Readings

Deuteronomy 29 · NKJV

1These are the words of the covenant which the Lᴏʀᴅ commanded Moses to make with the children of Israel in the land of Moab, besides the covenant which He made with them in Horeb. 2Now Moses called all Israel and said to them: “You have seen all that the Lᴏʀᴅ did before your eyes in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land— 3the great trials which your eyes have seen, the signs, and those great wonders. 4Yet the Lᴏʀᴅ has not given you a heart to perceive and eyes to see and ears to hear, to this very day. 5And I have led you forty years in the wilderness. Your clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandals have not worn out on your feet. 6You have not eaten bread, nor have you drunk wine or similar drink, that you may know that I am the Lᴏʀᴅ your God. 7And when you came to this place, Sihon king of Heshbon and Og king of Bashan came out against us to battle, and we conquered them. 8We took their land and gave it as an inheritance to the Reubenites, to the Gadites, and to half the tribe of Manasseh. 9Therefore keep the words of this covenant, and do them, that you may prosper in all that you do. 10“All of you stand today before the Lᴏʀᴅ your God: your leaders and your tribes and your elders and your officers, all the men of Israel, 11your little ones and your wives—also the stranger who is in your camp, from the one who cuts your wood to the one who draws your water— 12that you may enter into covenant with the Lᴏʀᴅ your God, and into His oath, which the Lᴏʀᴅ your God makes with you today, 13that He may establish you today as a people for Himself, and that He may be God to you, just as He has spoken to you, and just as He has sworn to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 14“I make this covenant and this oath, not with you alone, 15but with him who stands here with us today before the Lᴏʀᴅ our God, as well as with him who is not here with us today 16(for you know that we dwelt in the land of Egypt and that we came through the nations which you passed by, 17and you saw their abominations and their idols which were among them—wood and stone and silver and gold); 18so that there may not be among you man or woman or family or tribe, whose heart turns away today from the Lᴏʀᴅ our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations, and that there may not be among you a root bearing bitterness or wormwood; 19and so it may not happen, when he hears the words of this curse, that he blesses himself in his heart, saying, ‘I shall have peace, even though I follow the dictates of my heart’—as though the drunkard could be included with the sober. 20The Lᴏʀᴅ would not spare him; for then the anger of the Lᴏʀᴅ and His jealousy would burn against that man, and every curse that is written in this book would settle on him, and the Lᴏʀᴅ would blot out his name from under heaven. 21And the Lᴏʀᴅ would separate him from all the tribes of Israel for adversity, according to all the curses of the covenant that are written in this Book of the Law, 22so that the coming generation of your children who rise up after you, and the foreigner who comes from a far land, would say, when they see the plagues of that land and the sicknesses which the Lᴏʀᴅ has laid on it: 23‘The whole land is brimstone, salt, and burning; it is not sown, nor does it bear, nor does any grass grow there, like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboim, which the Lᴏʀᴅ overthrew in His anger and His wrath.’ 24All nations would say, ‘Why has the Lᴏʀᴅ done so to this land? What does the heat of this great anger mean?’ 25Then people would say: ‘Because they have forsaken the covenant of the Lᴏʀᴅ God of their fathers, which He made with them when He brought them out of the land of Egypt; 26for they went and served other gods and worshiped them, gods that they did not know and that He had not given to them. 27Then the anger of the Lᴏʀᴅ was aroused against this land, to bring on it every curse that is written in this book. 28And the Lᴏʀᴅ uprooted them from their land in anger, in wrath, and in great indignation, and cast them into another land, as it is this day.’ 29The secret things belong to the Lᴏʀᴅ our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.

Psalm 119 · NKJV

1Blessed are the undefiled in the way, Who walk in the law of the Lᴏʀᴅ! 2Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, Who seek Him with the whole heart! 3They also do no iniquity; They walk in His ways. 4You have commanded us To keep Your precepts diligently. 5Oh, that my ways were directed To keep Your statutes! 6Then I would not be ashamed, When I look into all Your commandments. 7I will praise You with uprightness of heart, When I learn Your righteous judgments. 8I will keep Your statutes; Oh, do not forsake me utterly! 9How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. 10With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! 11Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You! 12Blessed are You, O Lᴏʀᴅ! Teach me Your statutes! 13With my lips I have declared All the judgments of Your mouth. 14I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, As much as in all riches. 15I will meditate on Your precepts, And contemplate Your ways. 16I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word. 17Deal bountifully with Your servant, That I may live and keep Your word. 18Open my eyes, that I may see Wondrous things from Your law. 19I am a stranger in the earth; Do not hide Your commandments from me. 20My soul breaks with longing For Your judgments at all times. 21You rebuke the proud—the cursed, Who stray from Your commandments. 22Remove from me reproach and contempt, For I have kept Your testimonies. 23Princes also sit and speak against me, But Your servant meditates on Your statutes. 24Your testimonies also are my delight And my counselors. 25My soul clings to the dust; Revive me according to Your word. 26I have declared my ways, and You answered me; Teach me Your statutes. 27Make me understand the way of Your precepts; So shall I meditate on Your wondrous works. 28My soul melts from heaviness; Strengthen me according to Your word. 29Remove from me the way of lying, And grant me Your law graciously. 30I have chosen the way of truth; Your judgments I have laid before me. 31I cling to Your testimonies; O Lᴏʀᴅ, do not put me to shame! 32I will run the course of Your commandments, For You shall enlarge my heart. 33Teach me, O Lᴏʀᴅ, the way of Your statutes, And I shall keep it to the end. 34Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your law; Indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart. 35Make me walk in the path of Your commandments, For I delight in it. 36Incline my heart to Your testimonies, And not to covetousness. 37Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, And revive me in Your way. 38Establish Your word to Your servant, Who is devoted to fearing You. 39Turn away my reproach which I dread, For Your judgments are good. 40Behold, I long for Your precepts; Revive me in Your righteousness. 41Let Your mercies come also to me, O Lᴏʀᴅ— Your salvation according to Your word. 42So shall I have an answer for him who reproaches me, For I trust in Your word. 43And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, For I have hoped in Your ordinances. 44So shall I keep Your law continually, Forever and ever. 45And I will walk at liberty, For I seek Your precepts. 46I will speak of Your testimonies also before kings, And will not be ashamed. 47And I will delight myself in Your commandments, Which I love. 48My hands also I will lift up to Your commandments, Which I love, And I will meditate on Your statutes. 49Remember the word to Your servant, Upon which You have caused me to hope. 50This is my comfort in my affliction, For Your word has given me life. 51The proud have me in great derision, Yet I do not turn aside from Your law. 52I remembered Your judgments of old, O Lᴏʀᴅ, And have comforted myself. 53Indignation has taken hold of me Because of the wicked, who forsake Your law. 54Your statutes have been my songs In the house of my pilgrimage. 55I remember Your name in the night, O Lᴏʀᴅ, And I keep Your law. 56This has become mine, Because I kept Your precepts. 57You are my portion, O Lᴏʀᴅ; I have said that I would keep Your words. 58I entreated Your favor with my whole heart; Be merciful to me according to Your word. 59I thought about my ways, And turned my feet to Your testimonies. 60I made haste, and did not delay To keep Your commandments. 61The cords of the wicked have bound me, But I have not forgotten Your law. 62At midnight I will rise to give thanks to You, Because of Your righteous judgments. 63I am a companion of all who fear You, And of those who keep Your precepts. 64The earth, O Lᴏʀᴅ, is full of Your mercy; Teach me Your statutes. 65You have dealt well with Your servant, O Lᴏʀᴅ, according to Your word. 66Teach me good judgment and knowledge, For I believe Your commandments. 67Before I was afflicted I went astray, But now I keep Your word. 68You are good, and do good; Teach me Your statutes. 69The proud have forged a lie against me, But I will keep Your precepts with my whole heart. 70Their heart is as fat as grease, But I delight in Your law. 71It is good for me that I have been afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes. 72The law of Your mouth is better to me Than thousands of coins of gold and silver. 73Your hands have made me and fashioned me; Give me understanding, that I may learn Your commandments. 74Those who fear You will be glad when they see me, Because I have hoped in Your word. 75I know, O Lᴏʀᴅ, that Your judgments are right, And that in faithfulness You have afflicted me. 76Let, I pray, Your merciful kindness be for my comfort, According to Your word to Your servant. 77Let Your tender mercies come to me, that I may live; For Your law is my delight. 78Let the proud be ashamed, For they treated me wrongfully with falsehood; But I will meditate on Your precepts. 79Let those who fear You turn to me, Those who know Your testimonies. 80Let my heart be blameless regarding Your statutes, That I may not be ashamed. 81My soul faints for Your salvation, But I hope in Your word. 82My eyes fail from searching Your word, Saying, “When will You comfort me?” 83For I have become like a wineskin in smoke, Yet I do not forget Your statutes. 84How many are the days of Your servant? When will You execute judgment on those who persecute me? 85The proud have dug pits for me, Which is not according to Your law. 86All Your commandments are faithful; They persecute me wrongfully; Help me! 87They almost made an end of me on earth, But I did not forsake Your precepts. 88Revive me according to Your lovingkindness, So that I may keep the testimony of Your mouth. 89Forever, O Lᴏʀᴅ, Your word is settled in heaven. 90Your faithfulness endures to all generations; You established the earth, and it abides. 91They continue this day according to Your ordinances, For all are Your servants. 92Unless Your law had been my delight, I would then have perished in my affliction. 93I will never forget Your precepts, For by them You have given me life. 94I am Yours, save me; For I have sought Your precepts. 95The wicked wait for me to destroy me, But I will consider Your testimonies. 96I have seen the consummation of all perfection, But Your commandment is exceedingly broad. 97Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. 98You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies; For they are ever with me. 99I have more understanding than all my teachers, For Your testimonies are my meditation. 100I understand more than the ancients, Because I keep Your precepts. 101I have restrained my feet from every evil way, That I may keep Your word. 102I have not departed from Your judgments, For You Yourself have taught me. 103How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth! 104Through Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way. 105Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path. 106I have sworn and confirmed That I will keep Your righteous judgments. 107I am afflicted very much; Revive me, O Lᴏʀᴅ, according to Your word. 108Accept, I pray, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O Lᴏʀᴅ, And teach me Your judgments. 109My life is continually in my hand, Yet I do not forget Your law. 110The wicked have laid a snare for me, Yet I have not strayed from Your precepts. 111Your testimonies I have taken as a heritage forever, For they are the rejoicing of my heart. 112I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes Forever, to the very end. 113I hate the double-minded, But I love Your law. 114You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Your word. 115Depart from me, you evildoers, For I will keep the commandments of my God! 116Uphold me according to Your word, that I may live; And do not let me be ashamed of my hope. 117Hold me up, and I shall be safe, And I shall observe Your statutes continually. 118You reject all those who stray from Your statutes, For their deceit is falsehood. 119You put away all the wicked of the earth like dross; Therefore I love Your testimonies. 120My flesh trembles for fear of You, And I am afraid of Your judgments. 121I have done justice and righteousness; Do not leave me to my oppressors. 122Be surety for Your servant for good; Do not let the proud oppress me. 123My eyes fail from seeking Your salvation And Your righteous word. 124Deal with Your servant according to Your mercy, And teach me Your statutes. 125I am Your servant; Give me understanding, That I may know Your testimonies. 126It is time for You to act, O Lᴏʀᴅ, For they have regarded Your law as void. 127Therefore I love Your commandments More than gold, yes, than fine gold! 128Therefore all Your precepts concerning all things I consider to be right; I hate every false way. 129Your testimonies are wonderful; Therefore my soul keeps them. 130The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple. 131I opened my mouth and panted, For I longed for Your commandments. 132Look upon me and be merciful to me, As Your custom is toward those who love Your name. 133Direct my steps by Your word, And let no iniquity have dominion over me. 134Redeem me from the oppression of man, That I may keep Your precepts. 135Make Your face shine upon Your servant, And teach me Your statutes. 136Rivers of water run down from my eyes, Because men do not keep Your law. 137Righteous are You, O Lᴏʀᴅ, And upright are Your judgments. 138Your testimonies, which You have commanded, Are righteous and very faithful. 139My zeal has consumed me, Because my enemies have forgotten Your words. 140Your word is very pure; Therefore Your servant loves it. 141I am small and despised, Yet I do not forget Your precepts. 142Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, And Your law is truth. 143Trouble and anguish have overtaken me, Yet Your commandments are my delights. 144The righteousness of Your testimonies is everlasting; Give me understanding, and I shall live. 145I cry out with my whole heart; Hear me, O Lᴏʀᴅ! I will keep Your statutes. 146I cry out to You; Save me, and I will keep Your testimonies. 147I rise before the dawning of the morning, And cry for help; I hope in Your word. 148My eyes are awake through the night watches, That I may meditate on Your word. 149Hear my voice according to Your lovingkindness; O Lᴏʀᴅ, revive me according to Your justice. 150They draw near who follow after wickedness; They are far from Your law. 151You are near, O Lᴏʀᴅ, And all Your commandments are truth. 152Concerning Your testimonies, I have known of old that You have founded them forever. 153Consider my affliction and deliver me, For I do not forget Your law. 154Plead my cause and redeem me; Revive me according to Your word. 155Salvation is far from the wicked, For they do not seek Your statutes. 156Great are Your tender mercies, O Lᴏʀᴅ; Revive me according to Your judgments. 157Many are my persecutors and my enemies, Yet I do not turn from Your testimonies. 158I see the treacherous, and am disgusted, Because they do not keep Your word. 159Consider how I love Your precepts; Revive me, O Lᴏʀᴅ, according to Your lovingkindness. 160The entirety of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever. 161Princes persecute me without a cause, But my heart stands in awe of Your word. 162I rejoice at Your word As one who finds great treasure. 163I hate and abhor lying, But I love Your law. 164Seven times a day I praise You, Because of Your righteous judgments. 165Great peace have those who love Your law, And nothing causes them to stumble. 166Lord, I hope for Your salvation, And I do Your commandments. 167My soul keeps Your testimonies, And I love them exceedingly. 168I keep Your precepts and Your testimonies, For all my ways are before You. 169Let my cry come before You, O Lᴏʀᴅ; Give me understanding according to Your word. 170Let my supplication come before You; Deliver me according to Your word. 171My lips shall utter praise, For You teach me Your statutes. 172My tongue shall speak of Your word, For all Your commandments are righteousness. 173Let Your hand become my help, For I have chosen Your precepts. 174I long for Your salvation, O Lᴏʀᴅ, And Your law is my delight. 175Let my soul live, and it shall praise You; And let Your judgments help me. 176I have gone astray like a lost sheep; Seek Your servant, For I do not forget Your commandments.

Personal Readings

Isaiah 56 · NKJV

1Thus says the Lᴏʀᴅ: “Keep justice, and do righteousness, For My salvation is about to come, And My righteousness to be revealed. 2Blessed is the man who does this, And the son of man who lays hold on it; Who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, And keeps his hand from doing any evil.” 3Do not let the son of the foreigner Who has joined himself to the Lᴏʀᴅ Speak, saying, “The Lᴏʀᴅ has utterly separated me from His people”; Nor let the eunuch say, “Here I am, a dry tree.” 4For thus says the Lᴏʀᴅ: “To the eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths, And choose what pleases Me, And hold fast My covenant, 5Even to them I will give in My house And within My walls a place and a name Better than that of sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name That shall not be cut off. 6“Also the sons of the foreigner Who join themselves to the Lᴏʀᴅ, to serve Him, And to love the name of the Lᴏʀᴅ, to be His servants— Everyone who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, And holds fast My covenant— 7Even them I will bring to My holy mountain, And make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices Will be accepted on My altar; For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.” 8The Lᴏʀᴅ God, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, says, “Yet I will gather to him Others besides those who are gathered to him.” 9All you beasts of the field, come to devour, All you beasts in the forest. 10His watchmen are blind, They are all ignorant; They are all dumb dogs, They cannot bark; Sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. 11Yes, they are greedy dogs Which never have enough. And they are shepherds Who cannot understand; They all look to their own way, Every one for his own gain, From his own territory. 12“Come,” one says, “I will bring wine, And we will fill ourselves with intoxicating drink; Tomorrow will be as today, And much more abundant.”

Matthew 4 · NKJV

1Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. 3Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” 4But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ” 5Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’ ” 7Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’ ” 8Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.” 10Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ” 11Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him. 12Now when Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, He departed to Galilee. 13And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: 15“The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles: 16The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned.” 17From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 18And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 19Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20They immediately left their nets and followed Him. 21Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them, 22and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him. 23And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. 24Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them. 25Great multitudes followed Him—from Galilee, and from Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan.