Numbers 6

• 1. Then the LORD said to Moses, "Speak to the people of Israel and give them these instructions:
• 2. If some of the people, either men or women, take the special vow of a Nazirite, setting themselves apart to the LORD in a special way,
• 3. they must give up wine and other alcoholic drinks. They must not use vinegar made from wine, they must not drink other fermented drinks or fresh grape juice, and they must not eat grapes or raisins.
• 4. As long as they are bound by their Nazirite vow, they are not allowed to eat or drink anything that comes from a grapevine, not even the grape seeds or skins.
• 5. "They must never cut their hair throughout the time of their vow, for they are holy and set apart to the LORD. That is why they must let their hair grow long.
• 6. And they may not go near a dead body during the entire period of their vow to the LORD,
• 7. even if their own father, mother, brother, or sister has died. They must not defile the hair on their head, because it is the symbol of their separation to God.
• 8. This applies as long as they are set apart to the LORD.
• 9. "If their hair is defiled because someone suddenly falls dead beside them, they must wait for seven days and then shave their heads. Then they will be cleansed from their defilement.
• 10. On the eighth day they must bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons to the priest at the entrance of the Tabernacle.
• 11. The priest will offer one of the birds for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering. In this way, he will make atonement for the guilt they incurred from the dead body. Then they must renew their vow that day and let their hair begin to grow again.
• 12. The days of their vow that were completed before their defilement no longer count. They must rededicate themselves to the LORD for the full term of their vow, and each must bring a one-year-old male lamb for a guilt offering.
• 13. "This is the ritual law of the Nazirites. At the conclusion of their time of separation as Nazirites, they must each go to the entrance of the Tabernacle
• 14. and offer these sacrifices to the LORD: a one-year-old male lamb without defect for a burnt offering, a one-year-old female lamb without defect for a sin offering, a ram without defect for a peace offering,
• 15. a basket of bread made without yeast--cakes of choice flour mixed with olive oil and wafers spread with olive oil--along with their prescribed grain offerings and drink offerings.
• 16. The priest will present these offerings before the LORD: first the sin offering and the burnt offering;
• 17. then the ram for a peace offering, along with the basket of bread made without yeast. The priest must also make the prescribed grain offering and drink offering.
• 18. "Then the Nazirites will shave their hair at the entrance of the Tabernacle and put it on the fire beneath the peace-offering sacrifice.
• 19. After each Nazirite's head has been shaved, the priest will take for each of them the boiled shoulder of the ram, one cake made without yeast, and one wafer made without yeast, and put them all into the Nazirite's hands.
• 20. The priest will then lift the gifts up before the LORD in a gesture of offering. These are holy portions for the priest, along with the breast and thigh pieces that were lifted up before the LORD. After this ceremony the Nazirites may again drink wine.
• 21. "This is the ritual law of the Nazirites. If any Nazirites have vowed to give the LORD anything else beyond what is required by their normal Nazirite vow, they must fulfill their special vow exactly as they have promised."
• 22. Then the LORD said to Moses,
• 23. "Instruct Aaron and his sons to bless the people of Israel with this special blessing:
• 24. `May the LORD bless you and protect you.
• 25. May the LORD smile on you and be gracious to you.
• 26. May the LORD show you his favor and give you his peace.'
• 27. This is how Aaron and his sons will designate the Israelites as my people, and I myself will bless them."

Psalms 40

• 1. I waited patiently for the LORD to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry.
• 2. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along.
• 3. He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be astounded. They will put their trust in the LORD.
• 4. Oh, the joys of those who trust the LORD, who have no confidence in the proud, or in those who worship idols.
• 5. O LORD my God, you have done many miracles for us. Your plans for us are too numerous to list. If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds, I would never come to the end of them.
• 6. You take no delight in sacrifices or offerings. Now that you have made me listen, I finally understand--you don't require burnt offerings or sin offerings.
• 7. Then I said, "Look, I have come. And this has been written about me in your scroll:
• 8. I take joy in doing your will, my God, for your law is written on my heart."
• 9. I have told all your people about your justice. I have not been afraid to speak out, as you, O LORD, well know.
• 10. I have not kept this good news hidden in my heart; I have talked about your faithfulness and saving power. I have told everyone in the great assembly of your unfailing love and faithfulness.
• 11. LORD, don't hold back your tender mercies from me. My only hope is in your unfailing love and faithfulness.
• 12. For troubles surround me--too many to count! They pile up so high I can't see my way out. They are more numerous than the hairs on my head. I have lost all my courage.
• 13. Please, LORD, rescue me! Come quickly, LORD, and help me.
• 14. May those who try to destroy me be humiliated and put to shame. May those who take delight in my trouble be turned back in disgrace.
• 15. Let them be horrified by their shame, for they said, "Aha! We've got him now!"
• 16. But may all who search for you be filled with joy and gladness. May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, "The LORD is great!"
• 17. As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord is thinking about me right now. You are my helper and my savior. Do not delay, O my God.

Psalms 41

• 1. Oh, the joys of those who are kind to the poor. The LORD rescues them in times of trouble.
• 2. The LORD protects them and keeps them alive. He gives them prosperity and rescues them from their enemies.
• 3. The LORD nurses them when they are sick and eases their pain and discomfort.
• 4. "O LORD," I prayed, "have mercy on me. Heal me, for I have sinned against you."
• 5. But my enemies say nothing but evil about me. "How soon will he die and be forgotten?" they ask.
• 6. They visit me as if they are my friends, but all the while they gather gossip, and when they leave, they spread it everywhere.
• 7. All who hate me whisper about me, imagining the worst for me.
• 8. "Whatever he has, it is fatal," they say. "He will never get out of that bed!"
• 9. Even my best friend, the one I trusted completely, the one who shared my food, has turned against me.
• 10. LORD, have mercy on me. Make me well again, so I can pay them back!
• 11. I know that you are pleased with me, for you have not let my enemy triumph over me.
• 12. You have preserved my life because I am innocent; you have brought me into your presence forever.
• 13. Bless the LORD, the God of Israel, who lives forever from eternal ages past. Amen and amen!

Song of Songs 4

• 1. How beautiful you are, my beloved, how beautiful! Your eyes behind your veil are like doves. Your hair falls in waves, like a flock of goats frisking down the slopes of Gilead.
• 2. Your teeth are as white as sheep, newly shorn and washed. They are perfectly matched; not one is missing.
• 3. Your lips are like a ribbon of scarlet. Oh, how beautiful your mouth! Your cheeks behind your veil are like pomegranate halves--lovely and delicious.
• 4. Your neck is as stately as the tower of David, jeweled with the shields of a thousand heroes.
• 5. Your breasts are like twin fawns of a gazelle, feeding among the lilies.
• 6. Before the dawn comes and the shadows flee away, I will go to the mountain of myrrh and to the hill of frankincense.
• 7. You are so beautiful, my beloved, so perfect in every part.
• 8. "Come with me from Lebanon, my bride. Come down from the top of Mount Amana, from Mount Senir and Mount Hermon, where lions have their dens and panthers prowl.
• 9. You have ravished my heart, my treasure, my bride. I am overcome by one glance of your eyes, by a single bead of your necklace.
• 10. How sweet is your love, my treasure, my bride! How much better it is than wine! Your perfume is more fragrant than the richest of spices.
• 11. Your lips, my bride, are as sweet as honey. Yes, honey and cream are under your tongue. The scent of your clothing is like that of the mountains and the cedars of Lebanon.
• 12. "You are like a private garden, my treasure, my bride! You are like a spring that no one else can drink from, a fountain of my own.
• 13. You are like a lovely orchard bearing precious fruit, with the rarest of perfumes:
• 14. nard and saffron, calamus and cinnamon, myrrh and aloes, perfume from every incense tree, and every other lovely spice.
• 15. You are a garden fountain, a well of living water, as refreshing as the streams from the Lebanon mountains."
• 16. Awake, north wind! Come, south wind! Blow on my garden and waft its lovely perfume to my lover. Let him come into his garden and eat its choicest fruits.

New Living Translation: 119 of 365 days.