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

January 2  

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

The Lectionary According to the Common Calendar

Psalm 2

1 Why do the heathen rage,
and the people devise a vain thing?
2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together,
against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying,
3 "Let us break Their bonds asunder,
and cast away Their cords from us."
4 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh;
the LORD shall hold them in derision.
5 Then shall He speak unto them in His wrath,
and vex them in His sore displeasure:
6 "Yet have I set My King
upon My holy hill of Zion."
7 "I will declare the decree:
The LORD hath said unto Me, 'Thou art My Son; this day have I begotten Thee.
8 Ask of Me, and I shall give Thee the heathen for Thine inheritance,
and the uttermost parts of the earth for Thy possession.
9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; Thou shalt dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel.'"

10 Be wise now therefore, O ye kings;
be instructed, ye judges of the earth.
11 Serve the LORD with fear
and rejoice with trembling.
12 Kiss the Son,
lest He be angry and ye perish from the way,
when His wrath is kindled but a little.
Blessed are all they that put their trust in Him.

Matthew 1:18-25

18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was in this way: When His mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. 19 And Joseph her husband, being a just man and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. 20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21 And she shall bring forth a Son, and thou shalt call His name JESUS, for He shall save His people from their sins."

22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23 "Behold, a virgin shall be with child and shall bring forth a Son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel" (which being interpreted is, "God with us").

24 Then Joseph, being raised from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife, 25 and knew her not until she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name JESUS.

Acts 1:15-26

15 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples (the number of names altogether were about a hundred and twenty) and said, 16 "Men and brethren, it was necessary that this Scripture be fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spoke before concerning Judas, who was the guide to those who took Jesus. 17 For he was numbered with us, and had obtained a part of this ministry. 18 Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the middle, and all his bowels gushed out. 19 And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem, insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Akel Dama, that is to say, the Field of Blood. 20 For it is written in the book of Psalms:

`Let his habitation be desolate,
and let no man dwell therein';

and,

`His bishopric let another take.'

21 Therefore from these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John until that same day that He was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of His resurrection." 23 And they appointed two: Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. 24 And they prayed and said, "Thou, Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, show us which of these two Thou hast chosen, 25 that he may take part of this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place." 26 And they cast their lots, and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

Genesis 1:20-25

20 And God said, "Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in theopen firmament of heaven." 21 And God created great whales and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind; and God saw that it was good. 22 And God blessed them, saying, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply on the earth." 23 And the evening and the morning were the fifth day.

24 And God said, "Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind: cattle and creeping thing and beast of the earth after his kind"; and it was so. 25 And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind; and God saw that it was good.

Words of Wisdom - Ecclesiasticus 1:12

12 The fear of the Lord maketh a merry heart,
and giveth joy and gladness and a long life.