Joshua 10

• 1. Now Adoni-zedek, king of Jerusalem, heard that Joshua had captured and completely destroyed Ai and killed its king, just as he had destroyed the city of Jericho and killed its king. He also learned that the Gibeonites had made peace with Israel and were now their allies.
• 2. He and his people became very afraid when they heard all this because Gibeon was a large city--as large as the royal cities and larger than Ai. And the Gibeonite men were mighty warriors.
• 3. So King Adoni-zedek of Jerusalem sent messengers to several other kings: Hoham of Hebron, Piram of Jarmuth, Japhia of Lachish, and Debir of Eglon.
• 4. "Come and help me destroy Gibeon," he urged them, "for they have made peace with Joshua and the people of Israel."
• 5. So these five Amorite kings combined their armies for a united attack. They moved all their troops into place and attacked Gibeon.
• 6. The men of Gibeon quickly sent messengers to Joshua at Gilgal, "Don't abandon your servants now!" they pleaded. "Come quickly and save us! For all the Amorite kings who live in the hill country have come out against us with their armies."
• 7. So Joshua and the entire Israelite army left Gilgal and set out to rescue Gibeon.
• 8. "Do not be afraid of them," the LORD said to Joshua, "for I will give you victory over them. Not a single one of them will be able to stand up to you."
• 9. Joshua traveled all night from Gilgal and took the Amorite armies by surprise.
• 10. The LORD threw them into a panic, and the Israelites slaughtered them in great numbers at Gibeon. Then the Israelites chased the enemy along the road to Beth-horon and attacked them at Azekah and Makkedah, killing them along the way.
• 11. As the Amorites retreated down the road from Beth-horon, the LORD destroyed them with a terrible hailstorm that continued until they reached Azekah. The hail killed more of the enemy than the Israelites killed with the sword.
• 12. On the day the LORD gave the Israelites victory over the Amorites, Joshua prayed to the LORD in front of all the people of Israel. He said, "Let the sun stand still over Gibeon, and the moon over the valley of Aijalon."
• 13. So the sun and moon stood still until the Israelites had defeated their enemies. Is this event not recorded in The Book of Jashar? The sun stopped in the middle of the sky, and it did not set as on a normal day.
• 14. The LORD fought for Israel that day. Never before or since has there been a day like that one, when the LORD answered such a request from a human being.
• 15. Then Joshua and the Israelite army returned to their camp at Gilgal.
• 16. During the battle, the five kings escaped and hid in a cave at Makkedah.
• 17. When Joshua heard that they had been found,
• 18. he issued this command: "Cover the opening of the cave with large rocks and place guards at the entrance to keep the kings inside.
• 19. The rest of you continue chasing the enemy and cut them down from the rear. Don't let them get back to their cities, for the LORD your God has given you victory over them."
• 20. So Joshua and the Israelite army continued the slaughter and wiped out the five armies except for a tiny remnant that managed to reach their fortified cities.
• 21. Then the Israelites returned safely to their camp at Makkedah. After that, no one dared to speak a word against Israel.
• 22. Then Joshua said, "Remove the rocks covering the opening of the cave and bring the five kings to me."
• 23. So they brought the five kings out of the cave--the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon.
• 24. Joshua told the captains of his army, "Come and put your feet on the kings' necks." And they did as they were told.
• 25. "Don't ever be afraid or discouraged," Joshua told his men. "Be strong and courageous, for the LORD is going to do this to all of your enemies."
• 26. Then Joshua killed each of the five kings and hung them on five trees until evening.
• 27. As the sun was going down, Joshua gave instructions for the bodies of the kings to be taken down from the trees and thrown into the cave where they had been hiding. Then they covered the opening of the cave with a large pile of stones, which remains to this very day.
• 28. That same day Joshua completely destroyed the city of Makkedah, killing everyone in it, including the king. Not one person in the city was left alive. He killed the king of Makkedah as he had killed the king of Jericho.
• 29. Then Joshua and the Israelites went to Libnah and attacked it.
• 30. There, too, the LORD gave them the city and its king. They slaughtered everyone in the city and left no survivors. Then Joshua killed the king of Libnah just as he had killed the king of Jericho.
• 31. From Libnah, Joshua and the Israelites went to Lachish and attacked it.
• 32. And the LORD gave it to them on the second day. Here, too, the entire population was slaughtered, just as at Libnah.
• 33. During the attack on Lachish, King Horam of Gezer had arrived with his army to help defend the city. But Joshua's men killed him and destroyed his entire army.
• 34. Then Joshua and the Israelite army went to Eglon and attacked it.
• 35. They captured it in one day, and as at Lachish, they completely destroyed everyone in the city.
• 36. After leaving Eglon, they attacked Hebron,
• 37. capturing it and all of its surrounding towns. And just as they had done at Eglon, they completely destroyed the entire population. Not one person was left alive.
• 38. Then they turned back and attacked Debir.
• 39. They captured the city, its king, and all of its surrounding villages. And they killed everyone in it, leaving no survivors. They completely destroyed Debir just as they had destroyed Libnah and Hebron.
• 40. So Joshua conquered the whole region--the kings and people of the hill country, the Negev, the western foothills, and the mountain slopes. He completely destroyed everyone in the land, leaving no survivors, just as the LORD, the God of Israel, had commanded.
• 41. Joshua slaughtered them from Kadesh-barnea to Gaza and from Goshen to Gibeon.
• 42. In a single campaign Joshua conquered all these kings and their land, for the LORD, the God of Israel, was fighting for his people.
• 43. Then Joshua and the Israelite army returned to their camp at Gilgal.

Psalms 142

• 1. I cry out to the LORD; I plead for the LORD's mercy.
• 2. I pour out my complaints before him and tell him all my troubles.
• 3. For I am overwhelmed, and you alone know the way I should turn. Wherever I go, my enemies have set traps for me.
• 4. I look for someone to come and help me, but no one gives me a passing thought! No one will help me; no one cares a bit what happens to me.
• 5. Then I pray to you, O LORD. I say, "You are my place of refuge. You are all I really want in life.
• 6. Hear my cry, for I am very low. Rescue me from my persecutors, for they are too strong for me.
• 7. Bring me out of prison so I can thank you. The godly will crowd around me, for you treat me kindly."

Psalms 143

• 1. Hear my prayer, O LORD; listen to my plea! Answer me because you are faithful and righteous.
• 2. Don't bring your servant to trial! Compared to you, no one is perfect.
• 3. My enemy has chased me. He has knocked me to the ground. He forces me to live in darkness like those in the grave.
• 4. I am losing all hope; I am paralyzed with fear.
• 5. I remember the days of old. I ponder all your great works. I think about what you have done.
• 6. I reach out for you. I thirst for you as parched land thirsts for rain.
• 7. Come quickly, LORD, and answer me, for my depression deepens. Don't turn away from me, or I will die.
• 8. Let me hear of your unfailing love to me in the morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I have come to you in prayer.
• 9. Save me from my enemies, LORD; I run to you to hide me.
• 10. Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing.
• 11. For the glory of your name, O LORD, save me. In your righteousness, bring me out of this distress.
• 12. In your unfailing love, cut off all my enemies and destroy all my foes, for I am your servant.

Jeremiah 4

• 1. "O Israel, come back to me," says the LORD. "If you will throw away your detestable idols and go astray no more,
• 2. and if you will swear by my name alone, and begin to live good, honest lives and uphold justice, then you will be a blessing to the nations of the world, and all people will come and praise my name."
• 3. This is what the LORD says to the people of Judah and Jerusalem: "Plow up the hard ground of your hearts! Do not waste your good seed among thorns.
• 4. Cleanse your minds and hearts before the LORD, or my anger will burn like an unquenchable fire because of all your sins.
• 5. "Shout to Jerusalem and to all Judah! Tell them to sound the alarm throughout the land: `Run for your lives! Flee to the fortified cities!'
• 6. Send a signal toward Jerusalem: `Flee now! Do not delay!' For I am bringing terrible destruction upon you from the north."
• 7. A lion stalks from its den, a destroyer of nations. And it is headed for your land! Your towns will lie in ruins, empty of people.
• 8. So put on clothes of mourning and weep with broken hearts, for the fierce anger of the LORD is still upon us.
• 9. "In that day," says the LORD, "the king and the officials will tremble in fear. The priests and the prophets will be struck with horror."
• 10. Then I said, "O Sovereign LORD, the people have been deceived by what you said, for you promised peace for Jerusalem. Yet the sword is even now poised to strike them dead!"
• 11. The time is coming when the LORD will say to the people of Jerusalem, "A burning wind is blowing in from the desert. It is not a gentle breeze useful for winnowing grain.
• 12. It is a roaring blast sent by me! Now I will pronounce your destruction!"
• 13. Our enemy rushes down on us like a storm wind! His chariots are like whirlwinds; his horses are swifter than eagles. How terrible it will be! Our destruction is sure!
• 14. O Jerusalem, cleanse your hearts that you may be saved. How long will you harbor your evil thoughts?
• 15. From Dan and the hill country of Ephraim, your destruction has been announced.
• 16. "Warn the surrounding nations and announce to Jerusalem: `The enemy is coming from a distant land, raising a battle cry against the towns of Judah.
• 17. They surround Jerusalem like watchmen surrounding a field, for my people have rebelled against me,'" says the LORD.
• 18. "Your own actions have brought this upon you. This punishment is a bitter dose of your own medicine. It has pierced you to the heart!"
• 19. My heart, my heart--I writhe in pain! My heart pounds within me! I cannot be still. For I have heard the blast of enemy trumpets and the roar of their battle cries.
• 20. Waves of destruction roll over the land, until it lies in complete desolation. Suddenly, every tent is destroyed; in a moment, every shelter is crushed.
• 21. How long must this go on? How long must I be surrounded by war and death?
• 22. "My people are foolish and do not know me," says the LORD. "They are senseless children who have no understanding. They are clever enough at doing wrong, but they have no talent at all for doing right!"
• 23. I looked at the earth, and it was empty and formless. I looked at the heavens, and there was no light.
• 24. I looked at the mountains and hills, and they trembled and shook.
• 25. I looked, and all the people were gone. All the birds of the sky had flown away.
• 26. I looked, and the fertile fields had become a wilderness. The cities lay in ruins, crushed by the LORD's fierce anger.
• 27. This is what the LORD says: "The whole land will be ruined, but I will not destroy it completely.
• 28. The earth will mourn, the heavens will be draped in black, because of my decree against my people. I have made up my mind and will not change it."
• 29. At the noise of marching armies, the people flee in terror from the cities. They hide in the bushes and run for the mountains. All the cities have been abandoned--not a person remains!
• 30. What are you doing, you who have been plundered? Why do you dress up in your most beautiful clothing and jewelry? Why do you brighten your eyes with mascara? It will do you no good! Your allies despise you and will kill you.
• 31. I hear a great cry, like that of a woman giving birth to her first child. It is the cry of Jerusalem's people gasping for breath, pleading for help, prostrate before their murderers.

New Living Translation: 189 of 365 days.