Shakers use the New English Translation (NET) of the Bible.
You can click here to search the Bible passage.

We also recommend watching Brother Arnold’s weekly Sunday Bible Reading videos here.

Thursday, June 1
Proverbs 10:1-5

Matthew 16:21-28

Friday, June 2
Proverbs 10:6-10

Matthew 17:1-13

Saturday, June 3
Proverbs 10:11-14

Matthew 17:14-20

Sunday, June 4 [Pentecost 1]
Psalm 95:1-7
Exodus 19:1-6
1 Peter 2:1-10
John 15:1-5

Monday, June 5
Proverbs 10:15-20

Matthew 17:22-27

Tuesday, June 6
Proverbs 10:21-26

Matthew 18:1-7

Wednesday, June 7
Proverbs 10:27-32

Matthew 18:8-14

Thursday, June 8
Proverbs 11:1-6

Matthew 18:15-22

Friday, June 9
Proverbs 11:7-13

Matthew 18:23-35

Saturday, June 10
Proverbs 11:14-18

Matthew 19:1-12

Sunday, June 11 [Pentecost 2]
Psalm 135:1-6
2 Samuel 7:4-16
Acts 2:37-47
Luke 14:15-24

Monday, June 12
Proverbs 11:19-28

Matthew 19:13-26

Tuesday, June 13
Proverbs 11:29-31
Matthew 19:27-30

Wednesday, June 14
Proverbs 12:1-6
Matthew 20:1-16

Thursday, June 15
Proverbs 12:7-12

Matthew 20:17-28

Friday, June 16
Proverbs 12:13-19

Matthew 20:29-34

Saturday, June 17
Proverbs 12:20-24
Matthew 21:1-11

Sunday, June 18 [Pentecost 3] Psalm 150
Deuteronomy 6:17-25
Romans 6:3-11
John 15:5-11

Monday. June 19
Proverbs 12:25-28
Matthew 21:12-17

Tuesday, June 20
Proverbs 13:1-6
Matthew 21:18-22

Wednesday, June 21
Proverbs 13:7-18

Matthew 21:23-27

Thursday, June 22
Proverbs 13:19-25
Matthew 21:28-32

Friday, June 23
Proverbs 14:1-6
Matthew 21:33-46

Saturday, June 24
Proverbs 14:7-10

Matthew 22:1-14

Sunday, June 25 [Pentecost 4]
Psalm 63:1-9
Deuteronomy 7:6-11
Galatians 3:23 – 4:7

John 15:12-17

Monday, June 26
Proverbs 14:11-17

Matthew 22:15-22

Tuesday, June 27
Proverbs 14:18-25

Matthew 22:23-33

Wednesday, June 28
Proverbs 14:26-35
Matthew 22:34-46

Thursday, June 29
Proverbs 15:1-6

Matthew 23:1-12

Friday, June 30
Proverbs 15:7-15

Matthew 23:13-22

Thursday, June 1
Psalms 23, 148

Friday, June 2
Psalms 8, 149

Saturday, June 3
Psalms 98, 150

Monday, June 5
Psalms 122, 145

Tuesday, June 6
Psalms 84, 146

Wednesday, June 7
Psalm 113, 147

Thursday, June 8
Psalms 1, 148

Friday, June 9
Psalms 121, 149

Saturday, June 10
Psalms 87, 150

Monday, June 12
Psalms 20, 145

Tuesday, June 13
Psalms 124, 146

Wednesday, June 14
Psalms 100, 147

Thursday, June 15
Psalms 93, 148

Friday, June 16
Psalms 24, 149

Saturday, June 17
Psalms 114, 150

Monday, June 19
Psalms 67, 145

Tuesday, June 20
Psalms 123, 146

Wednesday, June 21
Psalms 4, 147

Thursday, June 22
Psalms 47, 148

Friday, June 23
Psalms 99, 149

Saturday, June 24
Psalms 29, 150

Monday, June 26
Psalms 95, 145

Tuesday, June 27
Psalms 91, 146

Wednesday, June 28
Psalms 131, 147

Thursday, June 29
Psalms 127, 148

Friday, June 30
Psalms 133, 149

June 1

At a certain time, on taking leave of some who had been at the Church, and were about to return home, Mother addressed them as follows: ” Go home and put your hands to work, and your hearts to God; for if you are not faithful in the unrighteous mammon, how can you expect the true riches? Mankind have fallen below the order of nature; even the beasts of the field might teach them knowledge. Many will come to the Church and receive the gifts of God, then go away, be careless and idle, and lose them. This is not right, you ought to be faithful, that when you come again, you may bring strength and not weakness.”

June 2

In the time of harvest, while some of the Brethren were reaping their wheat, Mother Ann sent Elder James into the field to teach them. He went, and spoke to them as follows: “Cut your grain clean; God has caused it to grow, and you ought to be careful to save it; for you cannot make one kernel grow, if you know you must starve for the want of it. In this country you abound in good things, therefore you are lavish and wasteful.”

June 3

Lucy Bishop was once scrubbing a room, and Mother Ann came in and said, “Clean your room well; for good spirits will not live where there is dirt. There is no dirt in heaven.” At another time she spoke to some Sisters who had been washing the floor, saying, “You ought to be neat, and clean; for there is no slovens nor sluts in heaven.”

June 4

Phebe Spencer, being on a visit to the Church, at Watervliet, asked Mother’s counsel concerning some superfluities which she and her family had gathered, such as gold beads, jewels, silver buckles, and other ornaments of the kind. Mother Ann answered, “You may let the moles and bats have them; that is, the children of this world; for they set their hearts upon such things; but, the people of God do not want them.”

June 5

She also said, ” You ought to dress yourself in modest apparel, as becomes the people of God, and teach your family to do likewise. You ought to be industrious and prudent, and not live a sumptuous and gluttonous life; but labor for a meek and quiet spirit, and see that your family is kept decent, and regular, in all their going forth, that others may see your good works.”

June 6

Addressing Phebe Spencer and a number of others, Mother said, “You must remember the poor and needy, the widow and the fatherless; and deal out your bread to the hungry, and your clothes to the naked. Your natures will say, ‘They may work and get these things for themselves.’ But Christ said, ‘Give to him that asketh, and of him that would borrow of thee, turn not thou away.’ If I had but two mouthfuls of bread, I would give to him that needed; and, if I had but two coats, I would give to him who had none. You must put away your covetousness, your lust, and your filth, and be prepared for the increase of the gospel; for the time will come when this gospel will be preached’ to all nations, and many will flock to Zion to hear the word of the Lord.”

June 7

Soon after the opening of the gospel at Enfield, N. H., some of the Believers in that place, having more zeal than wisdom and understanding, imbibed a notion that they were not to continue in this world but a few years, and concluded that they need not make any further provisions for a living, in consequence of which they made a very undue use of their property, by squandering it away in a profuse manner, which brought great trials upon some others of their Brethren, particularly upon Jacob Heath. Jacob, soon after, in company with Cornelius Goodale, went to see the Church, which was then at Ashfield, and opened his trials to some of the Elders respecting the matter. On Mother hearing of it, she called Jacob and Cornelius, and after instructing them concerning these things, she bade them go home and set out apple trees, and raise calves, and make provisions as though they were to live a thousand years, and gather something to do good with.

June 8

Soon after this, Jacob Hunt, Ezekiel Stephens, and a number of other Believers, visited the Church at Ashfield. Just before their departure, Mother Ann spoke to them, and gave them instructions concerning their temporal economy, saying, ” Go home, and take good care of what you have. Provide places for your things, so that you may know where to find them, at any time, by day or by night; and learn to be neat and clean, prudent and saving, and see that nothing is lost; and be kind to the poor and needy.”

June 9

To the Sisters she said, ” Do not omit your washing till the latter end of the week; but do it on Monday; and set a good example before the world.”

June 10

While Jacob Heath, and a number of others were eating their dinner, Mother Ann came to the table, and taking a bone from the platter, gave it to one who sat near her, saying, “Take this bone and pick it clean, and learn to be prudent.”

June 11

Cornelius Goodale, being at the Church at Watervliet, in January 1784, and being, at that time, under some embarrassments, in his temporal circumstances, asked Mother Ann if it would not be better for him to sell his farm, and buy a less one, and so pay his debts. Mother Ann answered, “You better not. The people of God do not sell their farms to pay their debts; but they put their hands to work, and gather something by their industry, to pay their debts with, and keep their farms.”

June 12

While Mother Ann was at Petersham, in the summer of 1783, she took an opportunity to instruct some of the heads of families, who were there, concerning their temporal economy; and admonished them against some of their costly and extravagant furniture, saying, ” Never put on silver spoons, nor table cloths for me; but let your tables be clean enough to eat from without cloths, and if you do not know what to do with them, give them to the poor.”

June 13

In the last year of Mother’s ministry, a number of Brethren and Sisters being assembled together at Watervliet, Mother spoke very largely concerning the great loss of the American people in many things, and particularly, concerning their involving themselves in debt. She directed her discourse on this subject mostly, to one who was very deeply involved and not able to clear himself. She said, “You will go and run into debt, and not only bring yourself into bondage, but your family also, and bring distress on your creditors; such evil management will forever be a loss to the soul till the creditors are paid, and the soul finds repentance.”

June 14

After instructing and reproving the people a long time, she sat in silence a while, and then spoke in a very gentle and solemn manner, which caused great fear of God, and said, “Kneel ye down and pray to God, that He will continue you in this world till you have repented of all your sins.” Mother kneeled down with them and prayed for them, which caused their hearts to flow with sorrow and repentance.

June 15

Anna Cogswell, being at Watervliet, after Mother’s return from the eastward, spoke to her concerning a poor woman who had applied to her for help. Mother answered, “Remember the cries of those who are in need and trouble, that when you are in trouble, God may hear your cries.”

June 16

At Watervliet, Mother spoke to a number of Believers as follows, ”You ought to fear God, in all you do, for God’s eyes are upon you. You ought to go in and out in the fear of God, and open and shut doors carefully, and make no unnecessary noise. You must be faithful with your hands, that you may have something to give to the poor; and walk ye uprightly like men of God.”

June 17

To some women who were rich, Mother Ann said, “As soon as some who are rich get their wool sheared off the sheep, they will lay out so much for such a piece of cloth; and so much for such a piece, but will not lay out one lock to give the poor! Nay, they would be as much afraid of seeing a poor person come to their houses, as they would a thief.”

June 18

Sometime in February 1782, while Mother Ann was at Harvard, there was a great collection of people from different parts, some of whom were greatly bound to their temporal interests and were very covetous. Mother came forth with a powerful gift of God, and spoke, particularly, of giving alms to the poor, and doing good to all people, but especially to the household of faith. She said that if she had but one loaf of bread, she would freely impart one-half to the needy, trusting in God.

June 19

Again, in teaching the people concerning prudence and economy, Mother said, “I am as prudent and saving of every temporal blessing which I receive, as though I had labored for it with my own hands; and you ought to be so too.”

June 20

While Mother Ann and the Elders were at Elijah Wild’s, in Shirley, in June 1783, and many people being assembled from various parts, and the weather very warm, Mother warned the people to be temperate and careful in drinking cold water, and keep their health and strength to serve God with.

June 21

At Nathan Goodrich’s, in Hancock, Mother Ann spoke to the people concerning charity to the poor, and said, “If I owned the whole world I would turn it all into joyfulness; I would not say to the poor, ‘Be ye warmed, and be ye clothed,’ without giving them wherewithal to do it.”

June 22

In the early part of the year 1784, a number of the Believers, among whom was a widow (Mercy Bishop), with a number of her small children, had been on a visit to the Church at Watervliet, and being about to return home, Mother Ann, in a farewell address, commended the widow for the zeal which she had manifested in bringing her family to the Church; then, directing her discourse to those who were heads of families, and people of property, among whom were Jabez Spencer, Senr., Jabez Spencer, Junr., David Shapley, Senr., and others, she spoke much to them of their duty in giving alms, and being kind and charitable to the poor, particularly to such widows and fatherless children who were among them. After speaking lengthily, and very feelingly on this subject, she requested Elder James to read a passage of Scripture in the Epistle of James, 1st Chap., 22d v. Elder James took the Bible and read as follows: “Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For, if any man be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like a man beholding his natural face in a glass; for he beholdeth himself and goeth his way, and straitway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he, being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the word, this man shall be blessed in his deed. If any man among you seems to be religious and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain. Pure religion, and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” The solemn gift of God which accompanied Mother’s previous discourse, together with the impressive feeling with which Elder James read this passage, had a powerful effect on the minds of the hearers.

June 23

Mother Ann often renewed the promises of God and of the Lord Jesus, to those who were faithful to take up their crosses against all sin, and to keep the way of God, come life or death; and often said, “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Heavenly Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Not long after her return from Poughkeepsie Jail in speaking to the Brethren and Sisters, she renewed the promise of Christ in the following words: ” If you are faithful to take up your crosses against the world, the flesh, and all evil, and follow Christ in the regeneration, you shall receive a hundredfold, now, in this time, houses, and Brethren and Sisters, and mothers and children, and lands, and in the world to come, eternal life. You shall be blessed in your going out, and in your coming in; in your basket, and in your store.”

June 24

While Mother Ann was at the house of Nathan Kendall, Sr., at Woburn, in laboring with the people, she said, “If you will be faithful, you will be helps to your natural generations; yea, you may be helps to a hundred generations.”

June 25

At Ashfield, Mother spoke to some Believers from Enfield, N. H., who were about to depart, saying, “If you are faithful, you will go out and come in with the power of God, and your souls will be as a watered garden; but, if you turn back, your souls will sink deep into hell.”

June 26

At Watervliet, before Mother Ann went her eastern journey, she spoke to Hannah Cogswell, Joanna Hamlin, and some other young Sisters who had been living with her, saying, “You ought to love one another, and never have one hard feeling toward each other, but live together every day as though it was the last day you had to live in this world; and never forget one another; and never forget the privilege you have had in living together with me.”

June 27

Shortly after Mehetabel Farrington embraced the gospel, she visited the Church in company with some other young people and tarried several days. Before they took their leave, Mother Ann addressed them as follows, “When you return home, you must be diligent with your hands; for godliness does not lead to idleness. The devil tempts others, but, an idle person tempts the devil. When you are at work, doing your duty in the gift of God, the devil can have no power over you, because then there is no room for temptations.”

June 28

She also said, “You must obey your parents; children should obey their parents, for this is right; and the younger should submit to the elder. You must come up to the requirement of the law. Christ did not come to destroy the law, but to fulfill it; and you must do the same. Arm yourselves with meekness and patience. If you improve in one talent, God will give you more. Go home, and be obedient, this is the way I have found salvation, by being obedient.”

June 29

Near the close of Mother’s labors, Mehetabel Farrington and a number of others being at Watervliet, Mother addressed them as follows, ”I have taught you the way of God, you must keep it, I am but one; I do my work, you must do yours. When I have done my work, I can help you no more. I wish you knew your day and your privilege; you have a privilege that many souls have desired and could not obtain. You are young, and you have a privilege to take up your crosses in the prime of your activity. If you take up your cross against the lust of the flesh while you have power to please yourselves, you offer to God the first fruits; and there is a glorious crown for all who take up their cross against the flesh in this world; such souls will receive that honor and crown of glory, which no other souls can ever obtain. But all souls will have a privilege in this gospel, either in this world, or in the world of spirits; but those who have the offer of the gospel in this world, if they finally reject it, they will never have another day.”

June 30

Mother spoke much on this subject, showing the great difference between voluntary cross-bearers, or those who take up their crosses in this world, while they possess freedom, and power to please themselves, in every gratification, and those who are deprived of this power to act, being bound down in prisons of darkness, in a world of spirits. Mother Ann and the Elders always manifested great care and feeling for youth and children, and oftentimes counseled and instructed their parents concerning children; and frequently took great delight in speaking to the children of Believers and teaching them how to be good children and to be obedient to their parents.