Bible in a Year.

On day 362, Revelation 12-14 presents us with the struggle between good and evil, with divine protection over God's people. Hebrews 1-4 emphasizes the supremacy of Christ and His redemptive work. Proverbs 31:19-22 shows how wisdom manifests itself in diligent and generous action, inspiring us to live with integrity and effectiveness.

Chapter 12

1. And a great sign appeared in heaven: A woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars:

2. And being with child, she cried travailing in birth, and was in pain to be delivered.

3. And there was seen another sign in heaven: and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads, and ten horns: and on his head seven diadems:

4. And his tail drew the 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; that, when she should be delivered, he might devour her son.

5. And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with an iron rod: and her son was taken up to God, and to his throne.

6. And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she had a place prepared by God, that there they should feed her a thousand two hundred sixty days.

7. And there was a great battle in heaven, Michael and his angels fought with the dragon, and the dragon fought and his angels:

8. And they prevailed not, neither was their place found any more in heaven.

9. And that great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, who seduceth the whole world; and he was cast unto the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

10. And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying: Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: because the accuser of our brethren is cast forth, 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 the testimony, and they loved not their lives unto death.

12. Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you that dwell therein. Woe to the earth, and to the sea, because the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, knowing 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 man child:

14. And there were given to the woman two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the desert unto 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 after the woman, water as it were a river; that he might cause her to be carried away by the river.

16. And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the river, which the dragon cast out of his mouth.

17. And the dragon was angry against the woman: and went to make war with the rest of her seed, who keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

18. And he stood upon the sand of the sea.

Chapter 13

1. And I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten diadems, and upon his heads names of blasphemy.

2. And the beast, which I saw, was like to a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him his own strength, and great power.

3. And I saw one of his heads as it were slain to death: and his death's wound was healed. And all the earth was in admiration after the beast.

4. And they adored the dragon, which gave power to the beast: and they adored the beast, saying: Who is like to the beast? and who shall be able to fight with him?

5. And there was given to him a mouth speaking great things, and blasphemies: and power was given to him to do two and forty months.

6. And he opened his mouth unto blasphemies against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.

7. And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them. And power was given him over every tribe, and people, and tongue, and nation.

8. And all the dwell upon the earth adored him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb, which was slain from the beginning of the world.

9. If any man have an ear, let him hear.

10. He that shall lead into captivity, shall go into captivity: he that shall kill by the sword, must be killed by the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

11. And I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns, like a lamb, and he spoke as a dragon.

12. And he executed all the power of the former beast in his sight; and he caused the earth, and them that dwell therein, to adore the first beast, whose wound to death was healed.

13. And he did great signs, so that he made also fire to come down from heaven unto the earth in the sight of men.

14. And he seduced them that dwell on the earth, for the signs, which were given him to do in the sight of the beast, saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make the image of the beast, which had the wound by the sword, and lived.

15. And it was given him to give life to the image of the beast, and that the image of the beast should speak; and should cause, that whosoever will not adore the image of the beast, should be slain.

16. And he shall make all, both little and great, rich and poor, freemen and bondmen, to have a character in their right hand, or on their foreheads.

17. And that no man might buy or sell, but he that hath the character, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

18. Here is wisdom. He that hath understanding, let him count the number of the beast. For it is the number of a man: and the number of him is six hundred sixty-six.

Chapter 14

1. And I beheld, and lo a lamb stood upon mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty-four thousand, having his name, and the name of his Father, written on their foreheads.

2. And I heard a voice from heaven, as the noise of many waters, and as the voice of great thunder; and the voice which I heard, was as the voice of harpers, harping on their harps.

3. And they sung as it were a new canticle, before the throne, and before the four living creatures, and the ancients; and no man could say the canticle, but those hundred forty-four thousand, who were purchased from the earth.

4. These are they who were not defiled with women: for they are virgins. These follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were purchased from among men, the firstfruits to God and to the Lamb:

5. And in their mouth there was found no lie; for they are without spot before the throne of God.

6. And I saw another angel flying through the midst of heaven, having the eternal gospel, to preach unto them that sit upon the earth, and over every nation, and tribe, and tongue, and people:

7. Saying with a loud voice: Fear the Lord, and give him honour, because the hour of his judgment is come; and adore ye him, that made heaven and earth, the sea, and the fountains of waters.

8. And another angel followed, saying: That great Babylon is fallen, is fallen; which made all nations to drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.

9. And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice: If any man shall adore the beast and his image, and receive his character in his forehead, or in his hand;

10. He also shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mingled with pure wine in the cup of his wrath, and shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the sight of the holy angels, and in the sight of the Lamb.

11. And the smoke of their torments shall ascend up for ever and ever: neither have they rest day nor night, who have adored the beast, and his image, and whoever receiveth the character of his name.

12. Here is the patience of the saints, who keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

13. And I heard a voice from heaven, saying to me: Write: Blessed are the dead, who die in the Lord. From henceforth now, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; for their works follow them.

14. And I saw, and behold a white cloud; and upon the cloud one sitting like to the Son of man, having on his head a crown of gold, and in his hand a sharp sickle.

15. And another angel came out from the temple crying with a loud voice to him that sat upon the cloud: Thrust in thy sickle, and reap, because the hour is come to reap: for the harvest of the earth is ripe.

16. And he that sat on the cloud thrust his sickle into the earth, and the earth was reaped.

17. And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.

18. And another angel came out from the altar, who had power over fire; and he cried with a loud voice to him that had the sharp sickle, saying: Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vineyard of the earth; because the grapes thereof are ripe.

19. And the angel thrust in his sharp sickle into the earth, and gathered the vineyard of the earth, and cast it into the great press of the wrath of God:

20. And the press was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the press, up to the horses' bridles, for a thousand and six hundred furlongs.

Chapter 1

1. God, who, at sundry times and in divers manners, spoke in times past to the fathers by the prophets, last of all,

2. In these days hath spoken to us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the world.

3. Who being the brightness of his glory, and the figure of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, making purgation of sins, sitteth on the right hand of the majesty on high.

4. Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath inherited a more excellent name than they.

5. For to which of the angels hath he said at any time, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?

6. And again, when he bringeth in the first begotten into the world, he saith: And let all the angels of God adore him.

7. And to the angels indeed he saith: He that maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.

8. But to the Son: Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of justice is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

9. Thou hast loved justice, and hated iniquity: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

10. And: Thou in the beginning, O Lord, didst found the earth: and the works of thy hands are the heavens.

11. They shall perish, but thou shalt continue: and they shall all grow old as a garment.

12. And as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed: but thou art the selfsame, and thy years shall not fail.

13. But to which of the angels said he at any time: Sit on my right hand, until I make thy enemies thy footstool?

14. Are they not all ministering spirits, sent to minister for them, who shall receive the inheritance of salvation?

Chapter 2

1. Therefore ought we more diligently to observe the things which we have heard, lest perhaps we should let them slip.

2. For if the word, spoken by angels, became steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward:

3. How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation? which having begun to be declared by the Lord, was confirmed unto us by them that heard him.

4. God also bearing them witness by signs, and wonders, and divers miracles, and distributions of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will.

5. For God hath not subjected unto angels the world to come, whereof we speak.

6. But one in a certain place hath testified, saying: What is man, that thou art mindful of him: or the son of man, that thou visitest him?

7. Thou hast made him a little lower than the angels: thou hast crowned him with glory and honour, and hast set him over the works of thy hands:

8. Thou hast subjected all things under his feet. For in that he hath subjected all things to him, he left nothing not subject to him. But now we see not as yet all things subject to him.

9. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour: that, through the grace of God, he might taste death for all.

10. For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, who had brought many children into glory, to perfect the author of their salvation, by his passion.

11. For both he that sanctifieth, and they who are sanctified, are all of one. For which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying:

12. I will declare thy name to my brethren; in the midst of the church will I praise thee.

13. And again: I will put my trust in him. And again: Behold I and my children, whom God hath given me.

14. Therefore because the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself in like manner hath been partaker of the same: that, through death, he might destroy him who had the empire of death, that is to say, the devil:

15. And might deliver them, who through the fear of death were all their lifetime subject to servitude.

16. For no where doth he take hold of the angels: but of the seed of Abraham he taketh hold.

17. Wherefore it behoved him in all things to be made like unto his brethren, that he might become a merciful and faithful priest before God, that he might be a propitiation for the sins of the people.

18. For in that, wherein he himself hath suffered and been tempted, he is able to succour them also that are tempted.

Chapter 3

1. Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly vocation, consider the apostle and high priest of our confession, Jesus:

2. Who is faithful to him that made him, as was also Moses in all his house.

3. For this man was counted worthy of greater glory than Moses, by so much as he that hath built the house, hath greater honour than the house.

4. For every house is built by some man: but he that created all things, is God.

5. And Moses indeed was faithful in all his house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be said:

6. But Christ as the Son in his own house: which house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and glory of hope unto the end.

7. Wherefore, as the Holy Ghost saith: To day if you shall hear his voice,

8. Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation; in the day of temptation in the desert,

9. Where your fathers tempted me, proved and saw my works,

10. Forty years: for which cause I was offended with this generation, and I said: They always err in heart. And they have not known my ways,

11. As I have sworn in my wrath: If they shall enter into my rest.

12. Take heed, brethren, lest perhaps there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, to depart from the living God.

13. But exhort one another every day, whilst it is called to day, that none of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

14. For we are made partakers of Christ: yet so, if we hold the beginning of his substance firm unto the end.

15. While it is said, To day if you shall hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in that provocation.

16. For some who heard did provoke: but not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.

17. And with whom was he offended forty years? Was it not with them that sinned, whose carcasses were overthrown in the desert?

18. And to whom did he swear, that they should not enter into his rest: but to them that were incredulous?

19. And we see that they could not enter in, because of unbelief.

Chapter 4

1. Let us fear therefore lest the promise being left of entering into his rest, any of you should be thought to be wanting.

2. For unto us also it hath been declared, in like manner as unto them. But the word of hearing did not profit them, not being mixed with faith of those things they heard.

3. For we, who have believed, shall enter into rest; as he said: As I have sworn in my wrath; If they shall enter into my rest; and this indeed when the works from the foundation of the world were finished.

4. For in a certain place he spoke of the seventh day thus: And God rested the seventh day from all his works.

5. And in this place again: If they shall enter into my rest.

6. Seeing then it remaineth that some are to enter into it, and they, to whom it was first preached, did not enter because of unbelief:

7. Again he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time, as it is above said: To day if you shall hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

8. For if Jesus had given them rest, he would never have afterwards spoken of another day.

9. There remaineth therefore a day of rest for the people of God.

10. For he that is entered into his rest, the same also hath rested from his works, as God did from his.

11. Let us hasten therefore to enter into that rest; lest any man fall into the same example of unbelief.

12. For the word of God is living and effectual, and more piercing than any two edged sword; and reaching unto the division of the soul and the spirit, of the joints also and the marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

13. Neither is there any creature invisible in his sight: but all things are naked and open to his eyes, to whom our speech is.

14. Having therefore a great high priest that hath passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God: let us hold fast our confession.

15. For we have not a high priest, who can not have compassion on our infirmities: but one tempted in all things like as we are, without sin.

16. Let us go therefore with confidence to the throne of grace: that we may obtain mercy, and find grace in seasonable aid.

19. She hath put out her hand to strong things, and her fingers have taken hold of the spindle.

20. She hath opened her hand to the needy, and stretched out her hands to the poor.

21. She shall not fear for her house in the cold of snow: for dl her domestics are clothed with double garments.

22. She hath made for herself clothing of tapestry: fine linen, and purple is her covering.