Bible Reading October 20 (WEB)
Ecclesiastes
1-4
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1:1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem:
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1:2 "Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher; "Vanity
of vanities, all is vanity."
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1:3 What does man gain from all his labor in which he labors under
the sun?
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1:4 One generation goes, and another generation comes; but the earth
remains forever.
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1:5 The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, and hurries to its
place where it rises.
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1:6 The wind goes toward the south, and turns around to the north.
It turns around continually as it goes, and the wind returns again to
its courses.
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1:7 All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full. To the
place where the rivers flow, there they flow again.
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1:8 All things are full of weariness beyond uttering. The eye is not
satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
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1:9 That which has been is that which shall be; and that which has
been done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing
under the sun.
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1:10 Is there a thing of which it may be said, "Behold, this is
new?" It has been long ago, in the ages which were before us.
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1:11 There is no memory of the former; neither shall there be any
memory of the latter that are to come, among those that shall come
after.
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1:12 I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
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1:13 I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom
concerning all that is done under the sky. It is a heavy burden that
God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with.
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1:14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and
behold, all is vanity and a chasing after wind.
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1:15 That which is crooked can't be made straight; and that which is
lacking can't be counted.
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1:16 I said to myself, "Behold, I have obtained for myself
great wisdom above all who were before me in Jerusalem. Yes, my heart
has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge."
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1:17 I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and
folly. I perceived that this also was a chasing after wind.
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1:18 For in much wisdom is much grief; and he who increases
knowledge increases sorrow.
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2:1 I said in my heart, "Come now, I will test you with mirth:
therefore enjoy pleasure;" and behold, this also was vanity.
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2:2 I said of laughter, "It is foolishness;" and of mirth,
"What does it accomplish?"
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2:3 I searched in my heart how to cheer my flesh with wine, my heart
yet guiding me with wisdom, and how to lay hold of folly, until I
might see what it was good for the sons of men that they should do
under heaven all the days of their lives.
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2:4 I made myself great works. I built myself houses. I planted
myself vineyards.
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2:5 I made myself gardens and parks, and I planted trees in them of
all kinds of fruit.
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2:6 I made myself pools of water, to water from it the forest where
trees were reared.
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2:7 I bought male servants and female servants, and had servants
born in my house. I also had great possessions of herds and flocks,
above all who were before me in Jerusalem;
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2:8 I also gathered silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of
kings and of the provinces. I got myself male and female singers, and
the delights of the sons of men--musical instruments, and that of all
sorts.
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2:9 So I was great, and increased more than all who were before me
in Jerusalem. My wisdom also remained with me.
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2:10 Whatever my eyes desired, I didn't keep from them. I didn't
withhold my heart from any joy, for my heart rejoiced because of all
my labor, and this was my portion from all my labor.
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2:11 Then I looked at all the works that my hands had worked, and at
the labor that I had labored to do; and behold, all was vanity and a
chasing after wind, and there was no profit under the sun.
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2:12 I turned myself to consider wisdom, madness, and folly: for
what can the king's successor do? Just that which has been done long
ago.
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2:13 Then I saw that wisdom excels folly, as far as light excels
darkness.
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2:14 The wise man's eyes are in his head, and the fool walks in
darkness--and yet I perceived that one event happens to them all.
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2:15 Then said I in my heart, "As it happens to the fool, so
will it happen even to me; and why was I then more wise?" Then
said I in my heart that this also is vanity.
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2:16 For of the wise man, even as of the fool, there is no memory
for ever, seeing that in the days to come all will have been long
forgotten. Indeed, the wise man must die just like the fool!
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2:17 So I hated life, because the work that is worked under the sun
was grievous to me; for all is vanity and a chasing after wind.
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2:18 I hated all my labor in which I labored under the sun, seeing
that I must leave it to the man who comes after me.
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2:19 Who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will
have rule over all of my labor in which I have labored, and in which
I have shown myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity.
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2:20 Therefore I began to cause my heart to despair concerning all
the labor in which I had labored under the sun.
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2:21 For there is a man whose labor is with wisdom, with knowledge,
and with skillfulness; yet he shall leave it for his portion to a man
who has not labored for it. This also is vanity and a great evil.
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2:22 For what has a man of all his labor, and of the striving of his
heart, in which he labors under the sun?
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2:23 For all his days are sorrows, and his travail is grief; yes,
even in the night his heart takes no rest. This also is vanity.
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2:24 There is nothing better for a man than that he should eat and
drink, and make his soul enjoy good in his labor. This also I saw,
that it is from the hand of God.
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2:25 For who can eat, or who can have enjoyment, more than I?
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2:26 For to the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge,
and joy; but to the sinner he gives travail, to gather and to heap
up, that he may give to him who pleases God. This also is vanity and
a chasing after wind.
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3:1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose
under heaven:
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3:2 a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a
time to pluck up that which is planted;
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3:3 a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a
time to build up;
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3:4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time
to dance;
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3:5 a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones
together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
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3:6 a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time
to cast away;
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3:7 a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a
time to speak;
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3:8 a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time
for peace.
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3:9 What profit has he who works in that in which he labors?
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3:10 I have seen the burden which God has given to the sons of men
to be afflicted with.
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3:11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set
eternity in their hearts, yet so that man can't find out the work
that God has done from the beginning even to the end.
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3:12 I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice,
and to do good as long as they live.
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3:13 Also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy good in all
his labor, is the gift of God.
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3:14 I know that whatever God does, it shall be forever. Nothing can
be added to it, nor anything taken from it; and God has done it, that
men should fear before him.
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3:15 That which is has been long ago, and that which is to be has
been long ago: and God seeks again that which is passed away.
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3:16 Moreover I saw under the sun, in the place of justice, that
wickedness was there; and in the place of righteousness, that
wickedness was there.
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3:17 I said in my heart, "God will judge the righteous and the
wicked; for there is a time there for every purpose and for every
work."
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3:18 I said in my heart, "As for the sons of men, God tests
them, so that they may see that they themselves are like animals.
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3:19 For that which happens to the sons of men happens to animals.
Even one thing happens to them. As the one dies, so the other dies.
Yes, they have all one breath; and man has no advantage over the
animals: for all is vanity.
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3:20 All go to one place. All are from the dust, and all turn to
dust again.
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3:21 Who knows the spirit of man, whether it goes upward, and the
spirit of the animal, whether it goes downward to the earth?"
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3:22 Therefore I saw that there is nothing better, than that a man
should rejoice in his works; for that is his portion: for who can
bring him to see what will be after him?
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4:1 Then I returned and saw all the oppressions that are done under
the sun: and behold, the tears of those who were oppressed, and they
had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was
power; but they had no comforter.
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4:2 Therefore I praised the dead who have been long dead more than
the living who are yet alive.
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4:3 Yes, better than them both is him who has not yet been, who has
not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
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4:4 Then I saw all the labor and achievement that is the envy of a
man's neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.
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4:5 The fool folds his hands together and ruins himself.
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4:6 Better is a handful, with quietness, than two handfuls with
labor and chasing after wind.
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4:7 Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun.
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4:8 There is one who is alone, and he has neither son nor brother.
There is no end to all of his labor, neither are his eyes satisfied
with wealth. For whom then, do I labor, and deprive my soul of
enjoyment? This also is vanity, yes, it is a miserable business.
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4:9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for
their labor.
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4:10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to
him who is alone when he falls, and doesn't have another to lift him
up.
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4:11 Again, if two lie together, then they have warmth; but how can
one keep warm alone?
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4:12 If a man prevails against one who is alone, two shall withstand
him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
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4:13 Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king
who doesn't know how to receive admonition any more.
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4:14 For out of prison he came forth to be king; yes, even in his
kingdom he was born poor.
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4:15 I saw all the living who walk under the sun, that they were
with the youth, the other, who succeeded him.
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4:16 There was no end of all the people, even of all them over whom
he was--yet those who come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely
this also is vanity and a chasing after wind.
Colossians
1
Col 1:1
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy
our brother,
Col 1:2
to the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to
you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Col 1:3
We give thanks to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying
always for you,
Col 1:4
having heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which you
have toward all the saints,
Col 1:5
because of the hope which is laid up for you in the heavens, of which
you heard before in the word of the truth of the Good News,
Col 1:6
which has come to you; even as it is in all the world and is bearing
fruit and growing, as it does in you also, since the day you heard
and knew the grace of God in truth;
Col 1:7
even as you learned of Epaphras our beloved fellow servant, who is a
faithful servant of Christ on our behalf,
Col 1:8
who also declared to us your love in the Spirit.
Col 1:9
For this cause, we also, since the day we heard this, don't cease
praying and making requests for you, that you may be filled with the
knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
Col 1:10
that you may walk worthily of the Lord, to please him in all
respects, bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing in the
knowledge of God;
Col 1:11
strengthened with all power, according to the might of his glory, for
all endurance and perseverance with joy;
Col 1:12
giving thanks to the Father, who made us fit to be partakers of the
inheritance of the saints in light;
Col 1:13
who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into
the Kingdom of the Son of his love;
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in whom we have our redemption, the forgiveness of our sins;
Col 1:15
who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
Col 1:16
For by him all things were created, in the heavens and on the earth,
things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or
principalities or powers; all things have been created through him,
and for him.
Col 1:17
He is before all things, and in him all things are held together.
Col 1:18
He is the head of the body, the assembly, who is the beginning, the
firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the
preeminence.
Col 1:19
For all the fullness was pleased to dwell in him;
Col 1:20
and through him to reconcile all things to himself, by him, whether
things on the earth, or things in the heavens, having made peace
through the blood of his cross.
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You, being in past times alienated and enemies in your mind in your
evil works,
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yet now he has reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to
present you holy and without blemish and blameless before him,
Col 1:23
if it is so that you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast,
and not moved away from the hope of the Good News which you heard,
which is being proclaimed in all creation under heaven; of which I,
Paul, was made a servant.
Col 1:24
Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and fill up on my part
that which is lacking of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for
his body's sake, which is the assembly;
Col 1:25
of which I was made a servant, according to the stewardship of God
which was given me toward you, to fulfill the word of God,
Col 1:26
the mystery which has been hidden for ages and generations. But now
it has been revealed to his saints,
Col 1:27
to whom God was pleased to make known what are the riches of the
glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the
hope of glory;
Col 1:28
whom we proclaim, admonishing every man and teaching every man in all
wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus;
Col 1:29
for which I also labor, striving according to his working, which
works in me mightily.
