Joshua 7

• 1. But Israel was unfaithful concerning the things set apart for the LORD. A man named Achan had stolen some of these things, so the LORD was very angry with the Israelites. Achan was the son of Carmi, of the family of Zimri, of the clan of Zerah, and of the tribe of Judah.
• 2. Joshua sent some of his men from Jericho to spy out the city of Ai, east of Bethel, near Beth-aven.
• 3. When they returned, they told Joshua, "It's a small town, and it won't take more than two or three thousand of us to destroy it. There's no need for all of us to go there."
• 4. So approximately three thousand warriors were sent, but they were soundly defeated. The men of Ai
• 5. chased the Israelites from the city gate as far as the quarries, and they killed about thirty-six who were retreating down the slope. The Israelites were paralyzed with fear at this turn of events, and their courage melted away.
• 6. Joshua and the leaders of Israel tore their clothing in dismay, threw dust on their heads, and bowed down facing the Ark of the LORD until evening.
• 7. Then Joshua cried out, "Sovereign LORD, why did you bring us across the Jordan River if you are going to let the Amorites kill us? If only we had been content to stay on the other side!
• 8. Lord, what am I to say, now that Israel has fled from its enemies?
• 9. For when the Canaanites and all the other people living in the land hear about it, they will surround us and wipe us off the face of the earth. And then what will happen to the honor of your great name?"
• 10. But the LORD said to Joshua, "Get up! Why are you lying on your face like this?
• 11. Israel has sinned and broken my covenant! They have stolen the things that I commanded to be set apart for me. And they have not only stolen them; they have also lied about it and hidden the things among their belongings.
• 12. That is why the Israelites are running from their enemies in defeat. For now Israel has been set apart for destruction. I will not remain with you any longer unless you destroy the things among you that were set apart for destruction.
• 13. "Get up! Command the people to purify themselves in preparation for tomorrow. For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: Hidden among you, O Israel, are things set apart for the LORD. You will never defeat your enemies until you remove these things.
• 14. In the morning you must present yourselves by tribes, and the LORD will point out the tribe to which the guilty man belongs. That tribe must come forward with its clans, and the LORD will point out the guilty clan. That clan will then come forward, and the LORD will point out the guilty family. Finally, each member of the guilty family must come one by one.
• 15. The one who has stolen what was set apart for destruction will himself be burned with fire, along with everything he has, for he has broken the covenant of the LORD and has done a horrible thing in Israel."
• 16. Early the next morning Joshua brought the tribes of Israel before the LORD, and the tribe of Judah was singled out.
• 17. Then the clans of Judah came forward, and the clan of Zerah was singled out. Then the families of Zerah came before the LORD, and the family of Zimri was singled out.
• 18. Every member of Zimri's family was brought forward person by person, and Achan was singled out.
• 19. Then Joshua said to Achan, "My son, give glory to the LORD, the God of Israel, by telling the truth. Make your confession and tell me what you have done. Don't hide it from me."
• 20. Achan replied, "I have sinned against the LORD, the God of Israel.
• 21. For I saw a beautiful robe imported from Babylon, two hundred silver coins, and a bar of gold weighing more than a pound. I wanted them so much that I took them. They are hidden in the ground beneath my tent, with the silver buried deeper than the rest."
• 22. So Joshua sent some men to make a search. They ran to the tent and found the stolen goods hidden there, just as Achan had said, with the silver buried beneath the rest.
• 23. They took the things from the tent and brought them to Joshua and all the Israelites. Then they laid them on the ground in the presence of the LORD.
• 24. Then Joshua and all the Israelites took Achan, the silver, the robe, the bar of gold, his sons, daughters, cattle, donkeys, sheep, tent, and everything he had, and they brought them to the valley of Achor.
• 25. Then Joshua said to Achan, "Why have you brought trouble on us? The LORD will now bring trouble on you." And all the Israelites stoned Achan and his family and burned their bodies.
• 26. They piled a great heap of stones over Achan, which remains to this day. That is why the place has been called the Valley of Trouble ever since. So the LORD was no longer angry.

Psalms 137

• 1. Beside the rivers of Babylon, we sat and wept as we thought of Jerusalem.
• 2. We put away our lyres, hanging them on the branches of the willow trees.
• 3. For there our captors demanded a song of us. Our tormentors requested a joyful hymn: "Sing us one of those songs of Jerusalem!"
• 4. But how can we sing the songs of the LORD while in a foreign land?
• 5. If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its skill upon the harp.
• 6. May my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth if I fail to remember you, if I don't make Jerusalem my highest joy.
• 7. O LORD, remember what the Edomites did on the day the armies of Babylon captured Jerusalem. "Destroy it!" they yelled. "Level it to the ground!"
• 8. O Babylon, you will be destroyed. Happy is the one who pays you back for what you have done to us.
• 9. Happy is the one who takes your babies and smashes them against the rocks!

Psalms 138

• 1. I give you thanks, O LORD, with all my heart; I will sing your praises before the gods.
• 2. I bow before your holy Temple as I worship. I will give thanks to your name for your unfailing love and faithfulness, because your promises are backed by all the honor of your name.
• 3. When I pray, you answer me; you encourage me by giving me the strength I need.
• 4. Every king in all the earth will give you thanks, O LORD, for all of them will hear your words.
• 5. Yes, they will sing about the LORD's ways, for the glory of the LORD is very great.
• 6. Though the LORD is great, he cares for the humble, but he keeps his distance from the proud.
• 7. Though I am surrounded by troubles, you will preserve me against the anger of my enemies. You will clench your fist against my angry enemies! Your power will save me.
• 8. The LORD will work out his plans for my life--for your faithful love, O LORD, endures forever. Don't abandon me, for you made me.

Jeremiah 1

• 1. These are the words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, one of the priests from Anathoth, a town in the land of Benjamin.
• 2. The LORD first gave messages to Jeremiah during the thirteenth year of King Josiah's reign in Judah.
• 3. He continued to give messages throughout the reign of Josiah's son, King Jehoiakim, until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah's reign in Judah. In August of that year, the people of Jerusalem were taken away as captives.
• 4. The LORD gave me a message. He said,
• 5. "I knew you before I formed you in your mother's womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my spokesman to the world."
• 6. "O Sovereign LORD," I said, "I can't speak for you! I'm too young!"
• 7. "Don't say that," the LORD replied, "for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you.
• 8. And don't be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and take care of you. I, the LORD, have spoken!"
• 9. Then the LORD touched my mouth and said, "See, I have put my words in your mouth!
• 10. Today I appoint you to stand up against nations and kingdoms. You are to uproot some and tear them down, to destroy and overthrow them. You are to build others up and plant them."
• 11. Then the LORD said to me, "Look, Jeremiah! What do you see?" And I replied, "I see a branch from an almond tree."
• 12. And the LORD said, "That's right, and it means that I am watching, and I will surely carry out my threats of punishment."
• 13. Then the LORD spoke to me again and asked, "What do you see now?" And I replied, "I see a pot of boiling water, tipping from the north."
• 14. "Yes," the LORD said, "for terror from the north will boil out on the people of this land.
• 15. Listen! I am calling the armies of the kingdoms of the north to come to Jerusalem. They will set their thrones at the gates of the city. They will attack its walls and all the other towns of Judah.
• 16. I will pronounce judgment on my people for all their evil--for deserting me and worshiping other gods. Yes, they worship idols that they themselves have made!
• 17. "Get up and get dressed. Go out, and tell them whatever I tell you to say. Do not be afraid of them, or I will make you look foolish in front of them.
• 18. For see, today I have made you immune to their attacks. You are strong like a fortified city that cannot be captured, like an iron pillar or a bronze wall. None of the kings, officials, priests, or people of Judah will be able to stand against you.
• 19. They will try, but they will fail. For I am with you, and I will take care of you. I, the LORD, have spoken!"

New Living Translation: 186 of 365 days.