Isaiah 38
1 In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death. Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, went to him and said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live.’ ”†
2 Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed to the Lord,
3 and said, “Remember now, O Lord, I pray, how I have walked before You in truth and with a true heart, and did what is pleasing in Your sight.” So Hezekiah wept loudly.
4 Then the word of the Lord came to Isaiah, saying,
5 “Go and tell Hezekiah, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: “I heard your prayer, I see your tears. Behold, I will add fifteen years to your life.
6 I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of the Assyrians, and I will protect this city.
7 Now this shall be the sign to you from the Lord, that God will do this thing:†
8 I will turn back the shadow on the ten steps of your father’s house—the steps on which the sun goes down.” ’ ” So the sun’s shadow that went down on the ten steps turned back.
9 The prayer of Hezekiah king of Judah when he was sick and recovered from his sickness:
10 “I said at the end of my days near the gates of Hades, ‘I shall leave behind the remainder of my years.’
11 I said, ‘I shall no longer see the salvation of my God upon the earth; I shall no longer see a man among my kindred.’
12 I left behind what remained of my life. It went away and departed from me like one who takes down a tent. My breath became in me like the web of a weaver when she draws near to cut it.
13 On that day I was given as to a lion until morning. So He broke my bones, for from day until night I was given over.
14 Like a swallow, so shall I cry; I will mourn like a dove. My eyes fail from looking to the height of heaven toward the Lord, who delivered me
15 and removed the pain of my soul.
16 O Lord, it was told You concerning this, and You revived my breath; and I was comforted and lived.
17 For You chose my soul that it should not perish, and You cast all my sins behind me.
18 For those in Hades shall not praise You, neither will the dead bless You; nor shall those in Hades hope for Your mercy.
19 The living shall praise You as I do. For from this day forward, I shall cause children to declare Your righteousness, O Lord of my salvation,
20 and I shall not cease to bless You with the psaltery all the days of my life before the house of God.”
21 Now Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Take a cake of figs, mash them, and apply them as a plaster, and you shall recover.”
22 Then Hezekiah said, “This is the sign that I shall go up to the house of the Lord God.”
Psalms 83
1 For the End, concerning the winepresses; a psalm for the sons of Korah. †
2 How beloved are Your dwellings, O Lord of hosts.
3 My soul longs and faints for the courts of the Lord; My heart and my flesh greatly rejoice in the living God.
4 For even the sparrow found a house for herself, And the turtledove a nest for herself, where she will lay her young, Your altars, O Lord of hosts, My King and my God.
5 Blessed are those who dwell in Your house; They shall praise You unto ages of ages. (Pause)
6 Blessed is the man whose help is from You, O Lord; He purposed ascents in his heart
7 In the valley of weeping, into the place he appointed; For there the lawgiver shall give blessings.
8 They shall go from strength to strength; The God of gods shall be seen in Zion.
9 O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer; Give ear, O God of Jacob. (Pause)
10 O God, our protector, behold, And look upon the face of Your anointed.
11 For one day in Your courts is better than a thousand; I chose to be an outcast in the house of my God, Rather than to dwell in the tents of sinners.
12 For the Lord God loves mercy and truth; He will give grace and glory; The Lord’s hand will not remove good things from those who walk in innocence.
13 O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man who hopes in You.
Proverbs of Solomon 17
21 He who loves sin rejoices in quarrels, And the hard-hearted man does not assemble with good men.
22 A changeable man will fall into evils with his tongue, And a heart without discernment is grief to the one possessing it.†
23 A father does not delight in an uninstructed son; But a son with discernment gladdens his mother.
24 A cheerful heart makes a man healthy, But the bones of a sorrowful man dry him up.
25 The ways of a man who receives gifts unrighteously do not prosper, And the ungodly man shuns the ways of righteousness.
Philippians 4
Exhortation for Daily Living
2 I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord.†
3 And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.†
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.†
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
Gratitude for Assistance
10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity.
11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:†
12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
14 Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress.
15 Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only.
16 For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities.
17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account.
18 Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God.
19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
20 Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Greetings and Benediction
21 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren who are with me greet you.
22 All the saints greet you, but especially those who are of Caesar’s household.
23 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.