Thursday, December 3, 2020

The Holy Fathers of Egypt: Paul the Hermit, Paul the Simple, Macarius the Great, Evagrius Ponticus, John of the Pit, John the Dwarf, Nilus of Sinai, Arsenius the Great, Sisianus the Great, Daniel of Scetis, Serapion, Macarius the Elder, Poimen, and others.

Proverbs 21:15-24
Isaiah 19:19-21
Hebrews 11:32-40
Matthew 10:37-42

Proverbs 21:15-24

[15] When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous,
but dismay to evildoers.
[16] A man who wanders from the way of understanding
will rest in the assembly of the dead.
[17] He who loves pleasure will be a poor man;
he who loves wine and oil will not be rich.
[18] The wicked is a ransom for the righteous,
and the faithless for the upright.
[19] It is better to live in a desert land
than with a contentious and fretful woman.
[20] Precious treasure remains in a wise man’s dwelling,
but a foolish man devours it.
[21] He who pursues righteousness and kindness
will find life and honor.
[22] A wise man scales the city of the mighty
and brings down the stronghold in which they trust.
[23] He who keeps his mouth and his tongue
keeps himself out of trouble.
[24] “Scoffer” is the name of the proud, haughty man
who acts with arrogant pride.

Isaiah 19:19-21

[19] In that day there will be an altar to the LORD in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to the LORD at its border.
[20] It will be a sign and a witness to the LORD of hosts in the land of Egypt; when they cry to the LORD because of oppressors he will send them a savior, and will defend and deliver them.
[21] And the LORD will make himself known to the Egyptians; and the Egyptians will know the LORD in that day and worship with sacrifice and burnt offering, and they will make vows to the LORD and perform them.

Hebrews 11:32-40

[32] And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets —
[33] who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, received promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
[34] quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.
[35] Women received their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, that they might rise again to a better life.
[36] Others suffered mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment.
[37] They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, ill-treated —
[38] of whom the world was not worthy — wandering over deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
[39] And all these, though well attested by their faith, did not receive what was promised,
[40] since God had foreseen something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

Matthew 10:37-42

[37] He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;
[38] and he who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
[39] He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake will find it.
[40] “He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives him who sent me.
[41] He who receives a prophet because he is a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward, and he who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.
[42] And whoever gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he shall not lose his reward.”

The Revised Standard Version of the Bible is copyright © National Council of Churches of Christ in America