Deuteronomy 5

• 1. Moses called all the people of Israel together and said, "Listen carefully to all the laws and regulations I am giving you today. Learn them and be sure to obey them!
• 2. "While we were at Mount Sinai, the LORD our God made a covenant with us.
• 3. The LORD did not make this covenant long ago with our ancestors, but with all of us who are alive today.
• 4. The LORD spoke to you face to face from the heart of the fire on the mountain.
• 5. I stood as an intermediary between you and the LORD, for you were afraid of the fire and did not climb the mountain. He spoke to me, and I passed his words on to you. This is what he said:
• 6. " `I am the LORD your God, who rescued you from slavery in Egypt.
• 7. " `Do not worship any other gods besides me.
• 8. " `Do not make idols of any kind, whether in the shape of birds or animals or fish.
• 9. You must never worship or bow down to them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not share your affection with any other god! I do not leave unpunished the sins of those who hate me, but I punish the children for the sins of their parents to the third and fourth generations.
• 10. But I lavish my love on those who love me and obey my commands, even for a thousand generations.
• 11. " `Do not misuse the name of the LORD your God. The LORD will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name.
• 12. " `Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the LORD your God has commanded you.
• 13. Six days a week are set apart for your daily duties and regular work,
• 14. but the seventh day is a day of rest dedicated to the LORD your God. On that day no one in your household may do any kind of work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your oxen and donkeys and other livestock, and any foreigners living among you. All your male and female servants must rest as you do.
• 15. Remember that you were once slaves in Egypt and that the LORD your God brought you out with amazing power and mighty deeds. That is why the LORD your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day.
• 16. " `Honor your father and mother, as the LORD your God commanded you. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the LORD your God will give you.
• 17. " `Do not murder.
• 18. " `Do not commit adultery.
• 19. " `Do not steal.
• 20. " `Do not testify falsely against your neighbor.
• 21. " `Do not covet your neighbor's wife. Do not covet your neighbor's house or land, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else your neighbor owns.'
• 22. "The LORD spoke these words with a loud voice to all of you from the heart of the fire, surrounded by clouds and deep darkness. This was all he said at that time, and he wrote his words on two stone tablets and gave them to me.
• 23. But when you heard the voice from the darkness, while the mountain was blazing with fire, all your tribal leaders came to me.
• 24. They said, `The LORD our God has shown us his glory and greatness, and we have heard his voice from the heart of the fire. Today we have seen God speaking to humans, and yet we live!
• 25. But now, why should we die? If the LORD our God speaks to us again, we will certainly die and be consumed by this awesome fire.
• 26. Can any living thing hear the voice of the living God from the heart of the fire and yet survive?
• 27. You go and listen to what the LORD our God says. Then come and tell us everything he tells you, and we will listen and obey.'
• 28. "The LORD heard your request and said to me, `I have heard what the people have said to you, and they are right.
• 29. Oh, that they would always have hearts like this, that they might fear me and obey all my commands! If they did, they and their descendants would prosper forever.
• 30. Go and tell them to return to their tents.
• 31. But you stay here with me so I can give you all my commands, laws, and regulations. You will teach them to the people so they can obey them in the land I am giving to them as their inheritance.'"
• 32. So Moses told the people, "You must obey all the commands of the LORD your God, following his instructions in every detail.
• 33. Stay on the path that the LORD your God has commanded you to follow. Then you will live long and prosperous lives in the land you are about to enter and occupy.

Psalms 88

• 1. O LORD, God of my salvation, I have cried out to you day and night.
• 2. Now hear my prayer; listen to my cry.
• 3. For my life is full of troubles, and death draws near.
• 4. I have been dismissed as one who is dead, like a strong man with no strength left.
• 5. They have abandoned me to death, and I am as good as dead. I am forgotten, cut off from your care.
• 6. You have thrust me down to the lowest pit, into the darkest depths.
• 7. Your anger lies heavy on me; wave after wave engulfs me.
• 8. You have caused my friends to loathe me; you have sent them all away. I am in a trap with no way of escape.
• 9. My eyes are blinded by my tears. Each day I beg for your help, O LORD; I lift my pleading hands to you for mercy.
• 10. Of what use to the dead are your miracles? Do the dead get up and praise you?
• 11. Can those in the grave declare your unfailing love? In the place of destruction, can they proclaim your faithfulness?
• 12. Can the darkness speak of your miracles? Can anyone in the land of forgetfulness talk about your righteousness?
• 13. O LORD, I cry out to you. I will keep on pleading day by day.
• 14. O LORD, why do you reject me? Why do you turn your face away from me?
• 15. I have been sickly and close to death since my youth. I stand helpless and desperate before your terrors.
• 16. Your fierce anger has overwhelmed me. Your terrors have cut me off.
• 17. They swirl around me like floodwaters all day long. They have encircled me completely.
• 18. You have taken away my companions and loved ones; only darkness remains.

Isaiah 33

• 1. Destruction is certain for you Assyrians, who have destroyed everything around you but have never felt destruction yourselves. You expect others to respect their promises to you, while you betray your promises to them. Now you, too, will be betrayed and destroyed!
• 2. But LORD, be merciful to us, for we have waited for you. Be our strength each day and our salvation in times of trouble.
• 3. The enemy runs at the sound of your voice. When you stand up, the nations flee!
• 4. Just as locusts strip the fields and vines, so Jerusalem will strip the fallen army of Assyria!
• 5. Though the LORD is very great and lives in heaven, he will make Jerusalem his home of justice and righteousness.
• 6. In that day he will be your sure foundation, providing a rich store of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge. The fear of the LORD is the key to this treasure.
• 7. But now your ambassadors weep in bitter disappointment, for Assyria has refused their petition for peace.
• 8. Your roads are deserted; no one travels them anymore. The Assyrians have broken their peace pact and care nothing for the promises they made before witnesses. They have no respect for anyone.
• 9. All the land of Israel is in trouble. Lebanon has been destroyed. The plain of Sharon is now a wilderness. Bashan and Carmel have been plundered.
• 10. But the LORD says: "I will stand up and show my power and might.
• 11. You Assyrians will gain nothing by all your efforts. Your own breath will turn to fire and kill you.
• 12. Your people will be burned up completely, like thorns cut down and tossed in a fire.
• 13. Listen to what I have done, you nations far away! And you that are near, acknowledge my might!"
• 14. The sinners in Jerusalem shake with fear. "Which one of us," they cry, "can live here in the presence of this all-consuming fire?"
• 15. The ones who can live here are those who are honest and fair, who reject making a profit by fraud, who stay far away from bribes, who refuse to listen to those who plot murder, who shut their eyes to all enticement to do wrong.
• 16. These are the ones who will dwell on high. The rocks of the mountains will be their fortress of safety. Food will be supplied to them, and they will have water in abundance.
• 17. Your eyes will see the king in all his splendor, and you will see a land that stretches into the distance.
• 18. You will think back to this time of terror when the Assyrian officers outside your walls counted your towers and estimated how much plunder they would get from your fallen city.
• 19. But soon they will all be gone. These fierce, violent people with a strange, unknown language will disappear.
• 20. Instead, you will see Zion as a place of worship and celebration. You will see Jerusalem, a city quiet and secure.
• 21. The LORD will be our Mighty One. He will be like a wide river of protection that no enemy can cross.
• 22. For the LORD is our judge, our lawgiver, and our king. He will care for us and save us.
• 23. The enemies' sails hang loose on broken masts with useless tackle. Their treasure will be divided by the people of God. Even the lame will win their share!
• 24. The people of Israel will no longer say, "We are sick and helpless," for the LORD will forgive their sins.

New Living Translation: 152 of 365 days.