Scripture Reading for the
Common Calendar Year
(beginning January 1st)

 December 15 

Text taken from the
Third Millennium Bible^® (TMB^®)
(New Authorized Version^TM NAV^TM)

The Lectionary According to the Common Calendar

Psalm 136

1 O give thanks unto the LORD, for He is good,
for His mercy endureth for ever.
2 O give thanks unto the God of gods,
for His mercy endureth for ever.
3 O give thanks to the Lord of lords,
for His mercy endureth for ever;
4 to Him who alone doeth great wonders,
for His mercy endureth for ever;
5 to Him that by wisdom made the heavens,
for His mercy endureth for ever;
6 to Him that stretched out the earth above the waters,
for His mercy endureth for ever;
7 to Him that made great lights,
for His mercy endureth for ever;
8 the sun to rule by day,
for His mercy endureth for ever;
9 the moon and stars to rule by night,
for His mercy endureth for ever;
10 to Him that smote Egypt in their firstborn,
for His mercy endureth for ever;
11 and brought out Israel from among them,
for His mercy endureth for ever;
12 with a strong hand and with a stretched out arm,
for His mercy endureth for ever;
13 to Him who divided the Red Sea into parts,
for His mercy endureth for ever;
14 and made Israel to pass through the midst of it,
for His mercy endureth for ever;
15 but overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea,
for His mercy endureth for ever;
16 to Him who led His people through the wilderness,
for His mercy endureth for ever;
17 to Him who smote great kings,
for His mercy endureth for ever;
18 and slew famous kings,
for His mercy endureth for ever;
19 Sihon king of the Amorites,
for His mercy endureth for ever;
20 and Og the king of Bashan,
for His mercy endureth for ever;
21 and gave their land as a heritage,
for His mercy endureth for ever;
22 even a heritage unto Israel His servant,
for His mercy endureth for ever;
23 who remembered us in our low estate,
for His mercy endureth for ever;
24 and hath redeemed us from our enemies,
for His mercy endureth for ever;
25 who giveth food to all flesh,
for His mercy endureth for ever:
26 O give thanks unto the God of heaven,
for His mercy endureth for ever!

John 18:6-14

6 As soon then as He had said unto them, "I am He," they went backward and fell to the ground. 7 Then asked He them again,

"Whom seek ye?"

And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth." 8 Jesus answered,

"I have told you that I am He. If therefore ye seek Me, let these go their way,"

9 that the saying might be fulfilled which He spoke, "Of those that Thou gavest Me, have I lost none." 10 Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and smote the high priest's servant and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus. 11 Then said Jesus unto Peter,

"Put up thy sword into the sheath. The cup which My Father hath given Me, shall I not drink it?"

12 Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus and bound Him, 13 and led Him away to Annas first, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was the high priest that same year. 14 Now it was Caiaphas who gave counsel to the Jews that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.

Revelation 12

1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars. 2 And she, being with child, cried, travailing in birth and in pain to be delivered. 3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. 4 And his tail drew a third part of the stars of heaven, and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to be delivered to devour her child as soon as it was born. 5 And she brought forth a manchild, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron; and her child was caught up unto God and to His throne. 6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.

7 And there was war in Heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 8 and prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in Heaven. 9 And the great dragon was cast out -- that serpent of old called the Devil and Satan, who deceiveth the whole world. He was cast out onto the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 10 And I heard a loud voice saying in Heaven,

"Now have come salvation and strength, and the Kingdom of our God,
and the power of His Christ;
for the accuser of our brethren is cast down,
who accused them before our God day and night.
11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony,
and they loved not their lives unto the death.
12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens,
and ye that dwell in them!
Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and of the sea! For the devil has come down unto you, having great wrath,
because he knoweth that he hath but a short time."

13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman who brought forth the manchild. 14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the face of the serpent. 15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood. 16 And the earth helped the woman; and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. 17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and he went to make war with the remnant of her seed, who keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Wisdom of Solomon 7:7-16, 22-30

7 Therefore I prayed, and understanding was given me; I called upon God, and the spirit of wisdom came to me. 8 I preferred her before scepters and thrones, and esteemed riches as nothing in comparison to her; 9 neither compared I unto her any precious stone, because all gold with respect to her is as a little sand, and silver shall be counted as clay before her. 10 I loved her above health and beauty, and chose to have her instead of light; for the light that cometh from her never goeth out.

11 All good things together came to me with her, and innumerable riches in her hands. 12 And I rejoiced in them all, because wisdom goeth before them; and I knew not that she was the mother of them. 13 I learned diligently and do communicate her liberally; I do not hide her riches. 14 For she is a treasure unto men that never faileth, which those who use become the friends of God, being commended for the gifts that come from learning. 15 God hath granted me to speak as I would, and to conceive as is meet for the things that are given me, because it is He that leadeth unto wisdom and directeth the wise. 16 For in His hand are both we and our words, all wisdom also and knowledge of workmanship.

22 For wisdom, which is the worker of all things, taught me. For in her is an understanding spirit, holy, one only, manifold, subtle, lively, clear, undefiled, plain, not subject to hurt, loving the thing that is good, quick, which cannot be hindered, ready to do good, 23 kind to man, steadfast, sure, free from care, having all power, overseeing all things, and going through all understanding, pure and most subtle spirit.

24 For wisdom is more moving than any motion; she passeth and goeth through all things by reason of her pureness. 25 For she is the breath of the power of God and a pure effluence flowing from the glory of the Almighty; therefore can no defiled thing fall into her. 26 For she is the brightness of the everlasting light, the unspotted mirror of the power of God, and the image of His goodness. 27 And, being but one, she can do all things; and, remaining in herself, she maketh all things new; and in all ages, entering into holy souls, she maketh them friends of God, and prophets. 28 For God loveth none but him that dwelleth with wisdom. 29 For she is more beautiful than the sun, and above all the order of stars; being compared with the light, she is found before it. 30 For after this cometh night, but vice shall not prevail against wisdom.

Words of Wisdom - Proverbs 28:14

Happy is the man that feareth God always,
but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into evil.