[20220114] Daily Bible Reading — Day 165

14
Jan

Mark 1:21-45; 2 Samuel 3:2-39; Daniel 2:1-23

Mark 1:21-45

Listen to Mark 1

21 And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught. 
22 And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes. 
23 And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, 
24 Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God. 
25 And Jesus rebuked him, saying,Hold thy peace, and come out of him. 
26 And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him. 
27 And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him. 
28 And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee. 
29 And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 
30 But Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her. 
31 And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them. 
32 And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils. 
33 And all the city was gathered together at the door. 
34 And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him. 
35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. 
36 And Simon and they that were with him followed after him. 
37 And when they had found him, they said unto him, All men seek for thee. 
38 And he said unto them,Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth. 
39 And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils. 
40 And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. 
41 And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him,I will; be thou clean. 
42 And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed. 
43 And he straitly charged him, and forthwith sent him away; 
44 And saith unto him,See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them. 
45 But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter.

2 Samuel 3:2-39

Listen to 2 Samuel 3

2 And unto David were sons born in Hebron: and his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; 
3 And his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur; 
4 And the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital; 
5 And the sixth, Ithream, by Eglah David’s wife. These were born to David in Hebron. 
6 And it came to pass, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner made himself strong for the house of Saul. 
7 And Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and Ishbosheth said to Abner, Wherefore hast thou gone in unto my father’s concubine? 
8 Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ishbosheth, and said, Am I a dog’s head, which against Judah do shew kindness this day unto the house of Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered thee into the hand of David, that thou chargest me to day with a fault concerning this woman? 
9 So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as the LORD hath sworn to David, even so I do to him; 
10 To translate the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beersheba. 
11 And he could not answer Abner a word again, because he feared him. 
12 And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, Whose is the land? saying also, Make thy league with me, and, behold, my hand shall be with thee, to bring about all Israel unto thee. 
13 And he said, Well; I will make a league with thee: but one thing I require of thee, that is, Thou shalt not see my face, except thou first bring Michal Saul’s daughter, when thou comest to see my face. 
14 And David sent messengers to Ishbosheth Saul’s son, saying, Deliver me my wife Michal, which I espoused to me for an hundred foreskins of the Philistines. 
15 And Ishbosheth sent, and took her from her husband, even from Phaltiel the son of Laish. 
16 And her husband went with her along weeping behind her to Bahurim. Then said Abner unto him, Go, return. And he returned. 
17 And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, Ye sought for David in times past to be king over you: 
18 Now then do it: for the LORD hath spoken of David, saying, By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies. 
19 And Abner also spake in the ears of Benjamin: and Abner went also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel, and that seemed good to the whole house of Benjamin. 
20 So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. And David made Abner and the men that were with him a feast. 
21 And Abner said unto David, I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel unto my lord the king, that they may make a league with thee, and that thou mayest reign over all that thine heart desireth. And David sent Abner away; and he went in peace. 
22 And, behold, the servants of David and Joab came from pursuing a troop, and brought in a great spoil with them: but Abner was not with David in Hebron; for he had sent him away, and he was gone in peace. 
23 When Joab and all the host that was with him were come, they told Joab, saying, Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he hath sent him away, and he is gone in peace. 
24 Then Joab came to the king, and said, What hast thou done? behold, Abner came unto thee; why is it that thou hast sent him away, and he is quite gone? 
25 Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive thee, and to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou doest. 
26 And when Joab was come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, which brought him again from the well of Sirah: but David knew it not. 
27 And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there under the fifth rib, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother. 
28 And afterward when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before the LORD for ever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner: 
29 Let it rest on the head of Joab, and on all his father’s house; and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that hath an issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a staff, or that falleth on the sword, or that lacketh bread. 
30 So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle. 
31 And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David himself followed the bier. 
32 And they buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept. 
33 And the king lamented over Abner, and said, Died Abner as a fool dieth? 
34 Thy hands were not bound, nor thy feet put into fetters: as a man falleth before wicked men, so fellest thou. And all the people wept again over him. 
35 And when all the people came to cause David to eat meat while it was yet day, David sware, saying, So do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or ought else, till the sun be down. 
36 And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them: as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people. 
37 For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner. 
38 And the king said unto his servants, Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel? 
39 And I am this day weak, though anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah be too hard for me: the LORD shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness.

Daniel 2:1-23

Listen to Daniel 2

1 And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him. 
2 Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to shew the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king. 
3 And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream. 
4 Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in Syriack, O king, live for ever: tell thy servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation. 
5 The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: if ye will not make known unto me the dream, with the interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill. 
6 But if ye shew the dream, and the interpretation thereof, ye shall receive of me gifts and rewards and great honour: therefore shew me the dream, and the interpretation thereof. 
7 They answered again and said, Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation of it. 
8 The king answered and said, I know of certainty that ye would gain the time, because ye see the thing is gone from me. 
9 But if ye will not make known unto me the dream, there is but one decree for you: for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that ye can shew me the interpretation thereof. 
10 The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king’s matter: therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean. 
11 And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can shew it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh. 
12 For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon. 
13 And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain. 
14 Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch the captain of the king’s guard, which was gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon: 
15 He answered and said to Arioch the king’s captain, Why is the decree so hasty from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel. 
16 Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would shew the king the interpretation. 
17 Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions: 
18 That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. 
19 Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven. 
20 Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: 
21 And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: 
22 He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him. 
23 I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast now made known unto us the king’s matter.