JD Fortress BibleAbout

Family Readings

Deuteronomy 31 · NKJV

1Then Moses went and spoke these words to all Israel. 2And he said to them: “I am one hundred and twenty years old today. I can no longer go out and come in. Also the Lᴏʀᴅ has said to me, ‘You shall not cross over this Jordan.’ 3The Lᴏʀᴅ your God Himself crosses over before you; He will destroy these nations from before you, and you shall dispossess them. Joshua himself crosses over before you, just as the Lᴏʀᴅ has said. 4And the Lᴏʀᴅ will do to them as He did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites and their land, when He destroyed them. 5The Lᴏʀᴅ will give them over to you, that you may do to them according to every commandment which I have commanded you. 6Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lᴏʀᴅ your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.” 7Then Moses called Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and of good courage, for you must go with this people to the land which the Lᴏʀᴅ has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall cause them to inherit it. 8And the Lᴏʀᴅ, He is the one who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.” 9So Moses wrote this law and delivered it to the priests, the sons of Levi, who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lᴏʀᴅ, and to all the elders of Israel. 10And Moses commanded them, saying: “At the end of every seven years, at the appointed time in the year of release, at the Feast of Tabernacles, 11when all Israel comes to appear before the Lᴏʀᴅ your God in the place which He chooses, you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing. 12Gather the people together, men and women and little ones, and the stranger who is within your gates, that they may hear and that they may learn to fear the Lᴏʀᴅ your God and carefully observe all the words of this law, 13and that their children, who have not known it, may hear and learn to fear the Lᴏʀᴅ your God as long as you live in the land which you cross the Jordan to possess.” 14Then the Lᴏʀᴅ said to Moses, “Behold, the days approach when you must die; call Joshua, and present yourselves in the tabernacle of meeting, that I may inaugurate him.” So Moses and Joshua went and presented themselves in the tabernacle of meeting. 15Now the Lᴏʀᴅ appeared at the tabernacle in a pillar of cloud, and the pillar of cloud stood above the door of the tabernacle. 16And the Lᴏʀᴅ said to Moses: “Behold, you will rest with your fathers; and this people will rise and play the harlot with the gods of the foreigners of the land, where they go to be among them, and they will forsake Me and break My covenant which I have made with them. 17Then My anger shall be aroused against them in that day, and I will forsake them, and I will hide My face from them, and they shall be devoured. And many evils and troubles shall befall them, so that they will say in that day, ‘Have not these evils come upon us because our God is not among us?’ 18And I will surely hide My face in that day because of all the evil which they have done, in that they have turned to other gods. 19Now therefore, write down this song for yourselves, and teach it to the children of Israel; put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for Me against the children of Israel. 20When I have brought them to the land flowing with milk and honey, of which I swore to their fathers, and they have eaten and filled themselves and grown fat, then they will turn to other gods and serve them; and they will provoke Me and break My covenant. 21Then it shall be, when many evils and troubles have come upon them, that this song will testify against them as a witness; for it will not be forgotten in the mouths of their descendants, for I know the inclination of their behavior today, even before I have brought them to the land of which I swore to give them.” 22Therefore Moses wrote this song the same day, and taught it to the children of Israel. 23Then He inaugurated Joshua the son of Nun, and said, “Be strong and of good courage; for you shall bring the children of Israel into the land of which I swore to them, and I will be with you.” 24So it was, when Moses had completed writing the words of this law in a book, when they were finished, 25that Moses commanded the Levites, who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lᴏʀᴅ, saying: 26“Take this Book of the Law, and put it beside the ark of the covenant of the Lᴏʀᴅ your God, that it may be there as a witness against you; 27for I know your rebellion and your stiff neck. If today, while I am yet alive with you, you have been rebellious against the Lᴏʀᴅ, then how much more after my death? 28Gather to me all the elders of your tribes, and your officers, that I may speak these words in their hearing and call heaven and earth to witness against them. 29For I know that after my death you will become utterly corrupt, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will befall you in the latter days, because you will do evil in the sight of the Lᴏʀᴅ, to provoke Him to anger through the work of your hands.” 30Then Moses spoke in the hearing of all the assembly of Israel the words of this song until they were ended:

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 58 · NKJV

1“Cry aloud, spare not; Lift up your voice like a trumpet; Tell My people their transgression, And the house of Jacob their sins. 2Yet they seek Me daily, And delight to know My ways, As a nation that did righteousness, And did not forsake the ordinance of their God. They ask of Me the ordinances of justice; They take delight in approaching God. 3‘Why have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and You have not seen? Why have we afflicted our souls, and You take no notice?’ “In fact, in the day of your fast you find pleasure, And exploit all your laborers. 4Indeed you fast for strife and debate, And to strike with the fist of wickedness. You will not fast as you do this day, To make your voice heard on high. 5Is it a fast that I have chosen, A day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head like a bulrush, And to spread out sackcloth and ashes? Would you call this a fast, And an acceptable day to the Lᴏʀᴅ? 6“Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke? 7Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; When you see the naked, that you cover him, And not hide yourself from your own flesh? 8Then your light shall break forth like the morning, Your healing shall spring forth speedily, And your righteousness shall go before you; The glory of the Lᴏʀᴅ shall be your rear guard. 9Then you shall call, and the Lᴏʀᴅ will answer; You shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’ “If you take away the yoke from your midst, The pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, 10If you extend your soul to the hungry And satisfy the afflicted soul, Then your light shall dawn in the darkness, And your darkness shall be as the noonday. 11The Lᴏʀᴅ will guide you continually, And satisfy your soul in drought, And strengthen your bones; You shall be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. 12Those from among you Shall build the old waste places; You shall raise up the foundations of many generations; And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In. 13“If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath, From doing your pleasure on My holy day, And call the Sabbath a delight, The holy day of the Lᴏʀᴅ honorable, And shall honor Him, not doing your own ways, Nor finding your own pleasure, Nor speaking your own words, 14Then you shall delight yourself in the Lᴏʀᴅ; And I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth, And feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father. The mouth of the Lᴏʀᴅ has spoken.”

Matthew 6 · NKJV

1“Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 3But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly. 5“And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 6But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. 7And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. 9In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. 11Give us this day our daily bread. 12And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. 13And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. 14“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. 16“Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 17But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. 19“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 22“The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. 23But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness! 24“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. 25“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? 28So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.