Exodus 28

• 1. "Have Aaron your brother brought to you from among the Israelites, along with his sons Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, so they may serve me as priests.
• 2. Make sacred garments for your brother Aaron, to give him dignity and honor.
• 3. Tell all the skilled men to whom I have given wisdom in such matters that they are to make garments for Aaron, for his consecration, so he may serve me as priest.
• 4. These are the garments they are to make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a woven tunic, a turban and a sash. They are to make these sacred garments for your brother Aaron and his sons, so they may serve me as priests.
• 5. Have them use gold, and blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and fine linen.
• 6. "Make the ephod of gold, and of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted linen-the work of a skilled craftsman.
• 7. It is to have two shoulder pieces attached to two of its corners, so it can be fastened.
• 8. Its skillfully woven waistband is to be like it-of one piece with the ephod and made with gold, and with blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and with finely twisted linen.
• 9. "Take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel
• 10. in the order of their birth-six names on one stone and the remaining six on the other.
• 11. Engrave the names of the sons of Israel on the two stones the way a gem cutter engraves a seal. Then mount the stones in gold filigree settings
• 12. and fasten them on the shoulder pieces of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of Israel. Aaron is to bear the names on his shoulders as a memorial before the LORD.
• 13. Make gold filigree settings
• 14. and two braided chains of pure gold, like a rope, and attach the chains to the settings.
• 15. "Fashion a breastpiece for making decisions-the work of a skilled craftsman. Make it like the ephod: of gold, and of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted linen.
• 16. It is to be square-a span long and a span wide-and folded double.
• 17. Then mount four rows of precious stones on it. In the first row there shall be a ruby, a topaz and a beryl;
• 18. in the second row a turquoise, a sapphire and an emerald;
• 19. in the third row a jacinth, an agate and an amethyst;
• 20. in the fourth row a chrysolite, an onyx and a jasper. Mount them in gold filigree settings.
• 21. There are to be twelve stones, one for each of the names of the sons of Israel, each engraved like a seal with the name of one of the twelve tribes.
• 22. "For the breastpiece make braided chains of pure gold, like a rope.
• 23. Make two gold rings for it and fasten them to two corners of the breastpiece.
• 24. Fasten the two gold chains to the rings at the corners of the breastpiece,
• 25. and the other ends of the chains to the two settings, attaching them to the shoulder pieces of the ephod at the front.
• 26. Make two gold rings and attach them to the other two corners of the breastpiece on the inside edge next to the ephod.
• 27. Make two more gold rings and attach them to the bottom of the shoulder pieces on the front of the ephod, close to the seam just above the waistband of the ephod.
• 28. The rings of the breastpiece are to be tied to the rings of the ephod with blue cord, connecting it to the waistband, so that the breastpiece will not swing out from the ephod.
• 29. "Whenever Aaron enters the Holy Place, he will bear the names of the sons of Israel over his heart on the breastpiece of decision as a continuing memorial before the LORD.
• 30. Also put the Urim and the Thummim in the breastpiece, so they may be over Aaron's heart whenever he enters the presence of the LORD. Thus Aaron will always bear the means of making decisions for the Israelites over his heart before the LORD.
• 31. "Make the robe of the ephod entirely of blue cloth,
• 32. with an opening for the head in its center. There shall be a woven edge like a collar around this opening, so that it will not tear.
• 33. Make pomegranates of blue, purple and scarlet yarn around the hem of the robe, with gold bells between them.
• 34. The gold bells and the pomegranates are to alternate around the hem of the robe.
• 35. Aaron must wear it when he ministers. The sound of the bells will be heard when he enters the Holy Place before the LORD and when he comes out, so that he will not die.
• 36. "Make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it as on a seal:HOLY TO THE LORD.
• 37. Fasten a blue cord to it to attach it to the turban; it is to be on the front of the turban.
• 38. It will be on Aaron's forehead, and he will bear the guilt involved in the sacred gifts the Israelites consecrate, whatever their gifts may be. It will be on Aaron's forehead continually so that they will be acceptable to the LORD.
• 39. "Weave the tunic of fine linen and make the turban of fine linen. The sash is to be the work of an embroiderer.
• 40. Make tunics, sashes and headbands for Aaron's sons, to give them dignity and honor.
• 41. After you put these clothes on your brother Aaron and his sons, anoint and ordain them. Consecrate them so they may serve me as priests.
• 42. "Make linen undergarments as a covering for the body, reaching from the waist to the thigh.
• 43. Aaron and his sons must wear them whenever they enter the Tent of Meeting or approach the altar to minister in the Holy Place, so that they will not incur guilt and die. "This is to be a lasting ordinance for Aaron and his descendants.

John 8

• 1. But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.
• 2. At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them.
• 3. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group
• 4. and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery.
• 5. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?"
• 6. They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.
• 7. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her."
• 8. Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
• 9. At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there.
• 10. Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"
• 11. "No one, sir," she said. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."
• 12. When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
• 13. The Pharisees challenged him, "Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid."
• 14. Jesus answered, "Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going.
• 15. You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one.
• 16. But if I do judge, my decisions are right, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me.
• 17. In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two men is valid.
• 18. I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me."
• 19. Then they asked him, "Where is your father?"
• 20. "You do not know me or my Father," Jesus replied. "If you knew me, you would know my Father also." He spoke these words while teaching in the temple area near the place where the offerings were put. Yet no one seized him, because his time had not yet come.
• 21. Once more Jesus said to them, "I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come."
• 22. This made the Jews ask, "Will he kill himself? Is that why he says, 'Where I go, you cannot come'?"
• 23. But he continued, "You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.
• 24. I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins."
• 25. "Who are you?" they asked.
• 26. "Just what I have been claiming all along," Jesus replied. "I have much to say in judgment of you. But he who sent me is reliable, and what I have heard from him I tell the world."
• 27. They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father.
• 28. So Jesus said, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am the one I claim to be and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me.
• 29. The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him."
• 30. Even as he spoke, many put their faith in him.
• 31. To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.
• 32. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
• 33. They answered him, "We are Abraham's descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?"
• 34. Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.
• 35. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever.
• 36. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
• 37. I know you are Abraham's descendants. Yet you are ready to kill me, because you have no room for my word.
• 38. I am telling you what I have seen in the Father's presence, and you do what you have heard from your father. "
• 39. "Abraham is our father," they answered. "If you were Abraham's children," said Jesus, "then you would
• 40. do the things Abraham did. As it is, you are determined to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things.
• 41. You are doing the things your own father does.We are not illegitimate children," they protested. "The only Father we have is God himself."
• 42. Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but he sent me.
• 43. Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say.
• 44. You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
• 45. Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me!
• 46. Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don't you believe me?
• 47. He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God."
• 48. The Jews answered him, "Aren't we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?"
• 49. "I am not possessed by a demon," said Jesus, "but I honor my Father and you dishonor me.
• 50. I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge.
• 51. I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death."
• 52. At this the Jews exclaimed, "Now we know that you are demon-possessed! Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that if anyone keeps your word, he will never taste death.
• 53. Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?"
• 54. Jesus replied, "If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me.
• 55. Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and keep his word.
• 56. Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad."
• 57. "You are not yet fifty years old," the Jews said to him, "and you have seen Abraham!"
• 58. "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!"
• 59. At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.

Proverbs 5

• 1. My son, pay attention to my wisdom, listen well to my words of insight,
• 2. that you may maintain discretion and your lips may preserve knowledge.
• 3. For the lips of an adulteress drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil;
• 4. but in the end she is bitter as gall, sharp as a double-edged sword.
• 5. Her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to the grave.
• 6. She gives no thought to the way of life; her paths are crooked, but she knows it not.
• 7. Now then, my sons, listen to me; do not turn aside from what I say.
• 8. Keep to a path far from her, do not go near the door of her house,
• 9. lest you give your best strength to others and your years to one who is cruel,
• 10. lest strangers feast on your wealth and your toil enrich another man's house.
• 11. At the end of your life you will groan, when your flesh and body are spent.
• 12. You will say, "How I hated discipline! How my heart spurned correction!
• 13. I would not obey my teachers or listen to my instructors.
• 14. I have come to the brink of utter ruin in the midst of the whole assembly."
• 15. Drink water from your own cistern, running water from your own well.
• 16. Should your springs overflow in the streets, your streams of water in the public squares?
• 17. Let them be yours alone, never to be shared with strangers.
• 18. May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth.
• 19. A loving doe, a graceful deer- may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be captivated by her love.
• 20. Why be captivated, my son, by an adulteress? Why embrace the bosom of another man's wife?
• 21. For a man's ways are in full view of the LORD, and he examines all his paths.
• 22. The evil deeds of a wicked man ensnare him; the cords of his sin hold him fast.
• 23. He will die for lack of discipline, led astray by his own great folly.

New International Version

72 | 73 | 74 | 75 | 76 | Day 77 | 78 | 79 | 80 | 81 | 82 |