Numbers 24

• 1. By now Balaam realized that the LORD intended to bless Israel, so he did not resort to divination as he often did. Instead, he turned and looked out toward the wilderness,
• 2. where he saw the people of Israel camped, tribe by tribe. Then the Spirit of God came upon him,
• 3. and this is the prophecy he delivered: "This is the prophecy of Balaam son of Beor, the prophecy of the man whose eyes see clearly,
• 4. who hears the words of God, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who falls down with eyes wide open:
• 5. How beautiful are your tents, O Jacob; how lovely are your homes, O Israel!
• 6. They spread before me like groves of palms, like fruitful gardens by the riverside. They are like aloes planted by the LORD, like cedars beside the waters.
• 7. Water will gush out in buckets; their offspring are supplied with all they need. Their king will be greater than Agag; their kingdom will be exalted.
• 8. God brought them up from Egypt, drawing them along like a wild ox. He devours all the nations that oppose him, breaking their bones in pieces, shooting them with arrows.
• 9. Like a lion, Israel crouches and lies down; like a lioness, who dares to arouse her? Blessed is everyone who blesses you, O Israel, and cursed is everyone who curses you."
• 10. King Balak flew into a rage against Balaam. He angrily clapped his hands and shouted, "I called you to curse my enemies! Instead, you have blessed them three times.
• 11. Now get out of here! Go back home! I had planned to reward you richly, but the LORD has kept you from your reward."
• 12. Balaam told Balak, "Don't you remember what I told your messengers? I said,
• 13. `Even if Balak were to give me a palace filled with silver and gold, I am powerless to do anything against the will of the LORD.' I told you that I could say only what the LORD says!
• 14. Now I am returning to my own people. But first let me tell you what the Israelites will do to your people in the future."
• 15. This is the prophecy Balaam delivered: "This is the message of Balaam son of Beor, the prophecy of the man whose eyes see clearly,
• 16. who hears the words of God, who has knowledge from the Most High, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who falls down with eyes wide open:
• 17. I see him, but not in the present time. I perceive him, but far in the distant future. A star will rise from Jacob; a scepter will emerge from Israel. It will crush the foreheads of Moab's people, cracking the skulls of the people of Sheth.
• 18. Edom will be taken over, and Seir, its enemy, will be conquered, while Israel continues on in triumph.
• 19. A ruler will rise in Jacob who will destroy the survivors of Ir."
• 20. Then Balaam looked over at the people of Amalek and delivered this prophecy: "Amalek was the greatest of nations, but its destiny is destruction!"
• 21. Then he looked over at the Kenites and prophesied: "You are strongly situated; your nest is set in the rocks.
• 22. But the Kenites will be destroyed when Assyria takes you captive."
• 23. Balaam concluded his prophecies by saying: "Alas, who can survive when God does this?
• 24. Ships will come from the coasts of Cyprus; they will oppress both Assyria and Eber, but they, too, will be utterly destroyed."
• 25. Then Balaam and Balak returned to their homes.

Psalms 66

• 1. Shout joyful praises to God, all the earth!
• 2. Sing about the glory of his name! Tell the world how glorious he is.
• 3. Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds! Your enemies cringe before your mighty power.
• 4. Everything on earth will worship you; they will sing your praises, shouting your name in glorious songs."
• 5. Come and see what our God has done, what awesome miracles he does for his people!
• 6. He made a dry path through the Red Sea, and his people went across on foot. Come, let us rejoice in who he is.
• 7. For by his great power he rules forever. He watches every movement of the nations; let no rebel rise in defiance.
• 8. Let the whole world bless our God and sing aloud his praises.
• 9. Our lives are in his hands, and he keeps our feet from stumbling.
• 10. You have tested us, O God; you have purified us like silver melted in a crucible.
• 11. You captured us in your net and laid the burden of slavery on our backs.
• 12. You sent troops to ride across our broken bodies. We went through fire and flood. But you brought us to a place of great abundance.
• 13. Now I come to your Temple with burnt offerings to fulfill the vows I made to you--
• 14. yes, the sacred vows you heard me make when I was in deep trouble.
• 15. That is why I am sacrificing burnt offerings to you--the best of my rams as a pleasing aroma. And I will sacrifice bulls and goats.
• 16. Come and listen, all you who fear God, and I will tell you what he did for me.
• 17. For I cried out to him for help, praising him as I spoke.
• 18. If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, my Lord would not have listened.
• 19. But God did listen! He paid attention to my prayer.
• 20. Praise God, who did not ignore my prayer and did not withdraw his unfailing love from me.

Psalms 67

• 1. May God be merciful and bless us. May his face shine with favor upon us.
• 2. May your ways be known throughout the earth, your saving power among people everywhere.
• 3. May the nations praise you, O God. Yes, may all the nations praise you.
• 4. How glad the nations will be, singing for joy, because you govern them with justice and direct the actions of the whole world.
• 5. May the nations praise you, O God. Yes, may all the nations praise you.
• 6. Then the earth will yield its harvests, and God, our God, will richly bless us.
• 7. Yes, God will bless us, and people all over the world will fear him.

Isaiah 14

• 1. But the LORD will have mercy on the descendants of Jacob. Israel will be his special people once again. He will bring them back to settle once again in their own land. And people from many different nations will come and join them there and become a part of the people of Israel.
• 2. The nations of the world will help the LORD's people to return, and those who come to live in their land will serve them. Those who captured Israel will be captured, and Israel will rule over its enemies.
• 3. In that wonderful day when the LORD gives his people rest from sorrow and fear, from slavery and chains,
• 4. you will taunt the king of Babylon. You will say, "The mighty man has been destroyed. Yes, your insolence is ended.
• 5. For the LORD has crushed your wicked power and broken your evil rule.
• 6. You persecuted the people with unceasing blows of rage and held the nations in your angry grip. Your tyranny was unrestrained.
• 7. But at last the land is at rest and is quiet. Finally it can sing again!
• 8. Even the trees of the forest--the cypress trees and the cedars of Lebanon--sing out this joyous song: `Your power is broken! No one will come to cut us down now!'
• 9. "In the place of the dead there is excitement over your arrival. World leaders and mighty kings long dead are there to see you.
• 10. With one voice they all cry out, `Now you are as weak as we are!
• 11. Your might and power are gone; they were buried with you. All the pleasant music in your palace has ceased. Now maggots are your sheet and worms your blanket.'
• 12. "How you are fallen from heaven, O shining star, son of the morning! You have been thrown down to the earth, you who destroyed the nations of the world.
• 13. For you said to yourself, `I will ascend to heaven and set my throne above God's stars. I will preside on the mountain of the gods far away in the north.
• 14. I will climb to the highest heavens and be like the Most High.'
• 15. But instead, you will be brought down to the place of the dead, down to its lowest depths.
• 16. Everyone there will stare at you and ask, `Can this be the one who shook the earth and the kingdoms of the world?
• 17. Is this the one who destroyed the world and made it into a wilderness? Is this the king who demolished the world's greatest cities and had no mercy on his prisoners?'
• 18. "The kings of the nations lie in stately glory in their tombs,
• 19. but you will be thrown out of your grave like a worthless branch. Like a corpse trampled underfoot, you will be dumped into a mass grave with those killed in battle. You will descend to the pit.
• 20. You will not be given a proper burial, for you have destroyed your nation and slaughtered your people. Your son will not succeed you as king.
• 21. Kill the children of this sinner! Do not let them rise and conquer the land or rebuild the cities of the world."
• 22. This is what the LORD Almighty says: "I, myself, have risen against him! I will destroy his children and his children's children, so they will never sit on his throne.
• 23. I will make Babylon into a desolate land, a place of porcupines, filled with swamps and marshes. I will sweep the land with the broom of destruction. I, the LORD Almighty, have spoken!"
• 24. The LORD Almighty has sworn this oath: "It will all happen as I have planned. It will come about according to my purposes.
• 25. I will break the Assyrians when they are in Israel; I will trample them on my mountains. My people will no longer be their slaves.
• 26. I have a plan for the whole earth, for my mighty power reaches throughout the world.
• 27. The LORD Almighty has spoken--who can change his plans? When his hand moves, who can stop him?"
• 28. This message came to me the year King Ahaz died:
• 29. Do not rejoice, you Philistines, that the king who attacked you is dead. For even though that whip is broken, his son will be worse than his father ever was. From that snake a poisonous snake will be born, a fiery serpent to destroy you!
• 30. I will feed the poor in my pasture; the needy will lie down in peace. But as for you, I will wipe you out with famine. I will destroy the few who remain.
• 31. Weep, you Philistine cities, for you are doomed! Melt in fear, for everyone will be destroyed. A powerful army is coming out of the north. Each soldier rushes forward ready to fight.
• 32. What should we tell the enemy messengers? Tell them that the LORD has built Jerusalem, and that the poor of his people will find refuge in its walls.

New Living Translation: 135 of 365 days.