Deuteronomy 23

• 1. "If a man's testicles are crushed or his penis is cut off, he may not be included in the assembly of the LORD.
• 2. "Those of illegitimate birth and their descendants for ten generations may not be included in the assembly of the LORD.
• 3. "No Ammonites or Moabites, or any of their descendants for ten generations, may be included in the assembly of the LORD.
• 4. These nations did not welcome you with food and water when you came out of Egypt. Instead, they tried to hire Balaam son of Beor from Pethor in Aram-naharaim to curse you.
• 5. (But the LORD your God would not listen to Balaam. He turned the intended curse into a blessing because the LORD your God loves you.)
• 6. You must never, as long as you live, try to help the Ammonites or the Moabites in any way.
• 7. "Do not detest the Edomites or the Egyptians, because the Edomites are your relatives, and you lived as foreigners among the Egyptians.
• 8. The third generation of Egyptians who came with you from Egypt may enter the assembly of the LORD.
• 9. "When you go to war against your enemies, stay away from everything impure.
• 10. "Any man who becomes ceremonially defiled because of a nocturnal emission must leave the camp and stay away all day.
• 11. Toward evening he must bathe himself, and at sunset he may return to the camp.
• 12. "Mark off an area outside the camp for a latrine.
• 13. Each of you must have a spade as part of your equipment. Whenever you relieve yourself, you must dig a hole with the spade and cover the excrement.
• 14. The camp must be holy, for the LORD your God moves around in your camp to protect you and to defeat your enemies. He must not see any shameful thing among you, or he might turn away from you.
• 15. "If slaves should escape from their masters and take refuge with you, do not force them to return.
• 16. Let them live among you in whatever town they choose, and do not oppress them.
• 17. "No Israelite man or woman may ever become a temple prostitute.
• 18. Do not bring to the house of the LORD your God any offering from the earnings of a prostitute, whether a man or a woman, for both are detestable to the LORD your God.
• 19. "Do not charge interest on the loans you make to a fellow Israelite, whether it is money, food, or anything else that may be loaned with interest.
• 20. You may charge interest to foreigners, but not to Israelites, so the LORD your God may bless you in everything you do in the land you are about to enter and occupy.
• 21. "When you make a vow to the LORD your God, be prompt in doing whatever you promised him. For the LORD your God demands that you promptly fulfill all your vows. If you don't, you will be guilty of sin.
• 22. However, it is not a sin to refrain from making a vow.
• 23. But once you have voluntarily made a vow, be careful to do as you have said, for you have made a vow to the LORD your God.
• 24. "You may eat your fill of grapes from your neighbor's vineyard, but do not take any away in a basket.
• 25. And you may pluck a few heads of your neighbor's grain by hand, but you may not harvest it with a sickle.

Psalms 112

• 1. Praise the LORD! Happy are those who fear the LORD. Yes, happy are those who delight in doing what he commands.
• 2. Their children will be successful everywhere; an entire generation of godly people will be blessed.
• 3. They themselves will be wealthy, and their good deeds will never be forgotten.
• 4. When darkness overtakes the godly, light will come bursting in. They are generous, compassionate, and righteous.
• 5. All goes well for those who are generous, who lend freely and conduct their business fairly.
• 6. Such people will not be overcome by evil circumstances. Those who are righteous will be long remembered.
• 7. They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the LORD to care for them.
• 8. They are confident and fearless and can face their foes triumphantly.
• 9. They give generously to those in need. Their good deeds will never be forgotten. They will have influence and honor.
• 10. The wicked will be infuriated when they see this. They will grind their teeth in anger; they will slink away, their hopes thwarted.

Psalms 113

• 1. Praise the LORD! Yes, give praise, O servants of the LORD. Praise the name of the LORD!
• 2. Blessed be the name of the LORD forever and ever.
• 3. Everywhere--from east to west--praise the name of the LORD.
• 4. For the LORD is high above the nations; his glory is far greater than the heavens.
• 5. Who can be compared with the LORD our God, who is enthroned on high?
• 6. Far below him are the heavens and the earth. He stoops to look,
• 7. and he lifts the poor from the dirt and the needy from the garbage dump.
• 8. He sets them among princes, even the princes of his own people!
• 9. He gives the barren woman a home, so that she becomes a happy mother. Praise the LORD!

Isaiah 50

• 1. The LORD asks, "Did I sell you as slaves to my creditors? Is that why you are not here? Is your mother gone because I divorced her and sent her away? No, you went away as captives because of your sins. And your mother, too, was taken because of your sins.
• 2. Was I too weak to save you? Is that why the house is silent and empty when I come home? Is it because I have no power to rescue? No, that is not the reason! For I can speak to the sea and make it dry! I can turn rivers into deserts covered with dying fish.
• 3. I am the one who sends darkness out across the skies, bringing it to a state of mourning."
• 4. The Sovereign LORD has given me his words of wisdom, so that I know what to say to all these weary ones. Morning by morning he wakens me and opens my understanding to his will.
• 5. The Sovereign LORD has spoken to me, and I have listened. I do not rebel or turn away.
• 6. I give my back to those who beat me and my cheeks to those who pull out my beard. I do not hide from shame, for they mock me and spit in my face.
• 7. Because the Sovereign LORD helps me, I will not be dismayed. Therefore, I have set my face like a stone, determined to do his will. And I know that I will triumph.
• 8. He who gives me justice is near. Who will dare to oppose me now? Where are my enemies? Let them appear!
• 9. See, the Sovereign LORD is on my side! Who will declare me guilty? All my enemies will be destroyed like old clothes that have been eaten by moths!
• 10. Who among you fears the LORD and obeys his servant? If you are walking in darkness, without a ray of light, trust in the LORD and rely on your God.
• 11. But watch out, you who live in your own light and warm yourselves by your own fires. This is the reward you will receive from me: You will soon lie down in great torment.

New Living Translation: 169 of 365 days.