Joshua 14

• 1. The remaining tribes of Israel inherited land in Canaan as allotted by Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the tribal leaders.
• 2. These nine and a half tribes received their inheritance by means of sacred lots, in accordance with the LORD's command through Moses.
• 3. Moses had already given an inheritance of land to the two and a half tribes on the east side of the Jordan River.
• 4. The tribe of Joseph had become two separate tribes--Manasseh and Ephraim. And the Levites were given no land at all, only towns to live in and the surrounding pasturelands for their flocks and herds.
• 5. So the distribution of the land was in strict accordance with the LORD's instructions to Moses.
• 6. A delegation from the tribe of Judah, led by Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite, came to Joshua at Gilgal. Caleb said to Joshua, "Remember what the LORD said to Moses, the man of God, about you and me when we were at Kadesh-barnea.
• 7. I was forty years old when Moses, the servant of the LORD, sent me from Kadesh-barnea to explore the land of Canaan. I returned and gave from my heart a good report,
• 8. but my brothers who went with me frightened the people and discouraged them from entering the Promised Land. For my part, I followed the LORD my God completely.
• 9. So that day Moses promised me, `The land of Canaan on which you were just walking will be your special possession and that of your descendants forever, because you wholeheartedly followed the LORD my God.'
• 10. "Now, as you can see, the LORD has kept me alive and well as he promised for all these forty-five years since Moses made this promise--even while Israel wandered in the wilderness. Today I am eighty-five years old.
• 11. I am as strong now as I was when Moses sent me on that journey, and I can still travel and fight as well as I could then.
• 12. So I'm asking you to give me the hill country that the LORD promised me. You will remember that as scouts we found the Anakites living there in great, walled cities. But if the LORD is with me, I will drive them out of the land, just as the LORD said."
• 13. So Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneh and gave Hebron to him as an inheritance.
• 14. Hebron still belongs to the descendants of Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite because he wholeheartedly followed the LORD, the God of Israel.
• 15. (Previously Hebron had been called Kiriath-arba. It had been named after Arba, a great hero of the Anakites.) And the land had rest from war.

Joshua 15

• 1. The land assigned to the families of the tribe of Judah reached southward to the border of Edom, with the wilderness of Zin being its southernmost point.
• 2. The southern boundary began at the south bay of the Dead Sea,
• 3. ran south of Scorpion Pass into the wilderness of Zin and went south of Kadesh-barnea to Hezron. Then it went up to Addar, where it turned toward Karka.
• 4. From there it passed to Azmon, until it finally reached the brook of Egypt, which it followed to the Mediterranean Sea. This was their southern boundary.
• 5. The eastern boundary extended along the Dead Sea to the mouth of the Jordan River. The northern boundary began at the bay where the Jordan River empties into the Dead Sea,
• 6. crossed to Beth-hoglah, then proceeded north of Beth-arabah to the stone of Bohan. (Bohan was Reuben's son.)
• 7. From that point it went through the valley of Achor to Debir, turning north toward Gilgal, which is across from the slopes of Adummim on the south side of the valley. From there the border extended to the springs at En-shemesh and on to En-rogel.
• 8. The boundary then passed through the valley of the son of Hinnom, along the southern slopes of the Jebusites, where the city of Jerusalem is located. Then it went west to the top of the mountain above the valley of Hinnom, and on up to the northern end of the valley of Rephaim.
• 9. From there the border extended from the top of the mountain to the spring at the waters of Nephtoah, and from there to the towns on Mount Ephron. Then it turned toward Baalah (that is, Kiriath-jearim).
• 10. The border circled west of Baalah to Mount Seir, passed along to the town of Kesalon on the northern slope of Mount Jearim, and went down to Beth-shemesh and on to Timnah.
• 11. The boundary line then proceeded to the slope of the hill north of Ekron, where it turned toward Shikkeron and Mount Baalah. It passed Jabneel and ended at the Mediterranean Sea.
• 12. The western boundary was the shoreline of the Mediterranean Sea. These are the boundaries for the families of the tribe of Judah.
• 13. The LORD instructed Joshua to assign some of Judah's territory to Caleb son of Jephunneh. So Caleb was given the city of Arba (that is, Hebron), which had been named after Anak's ancestor.
• 14. Caleb drove out the three Anakites--Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai--descendants of Anak.
• 15. Then he fought against the people living in the town of Debir (formerly called Kiriath-sepher).
• 16. Caleb said, "I will give my daughter Acsah in marriage to the one who attacks and captures Kiriath-sepher."
• 17. Othniel, the son of Caleb's brother Kenaz, was the one who conquered it, so Acsah became Othniel's wife.
• 18. When Acsah married Othniel, she urged him to ask her father for an additional field. As she got down off her donkey, Caleb asked her, "What is it? What can I do for you?"
• 19. She said, "Give me a further blessing. You have been kind enough to give me land in the Negev; please give me springs as well." So Caleb gave her the upper and lower springs.
• 20. This was the inheritance given to the families of the tribe of Judah.
• 21. The towns of Judah situated along the borders of Edom in the extreme south are Kabzeel, Eder, Jagur,
• 22. Kinah, Dimonah, Adadah,
• 23. Kedesh, Hazor, Ithnan,
• 24. Ziph, Telem, Bealoth,
• 25. Hazor-hadattah, Kerioth-hezron (that is, Hazor),
• 26. Amam, Shema, Moladah,
• 27. Hazar-gaddah, Heshmon, Beth-pelet,
• 28. Hazar-shual, Beersheba, Biziothiah,
• 29. Baalah, Iim, Ezem,
• 30. Eltolad, Kesil, Hormah,
• 31. Ziklag, Madmannah, Sansannah,
• 32. Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain, and Rimmon. In all, there were twenty-nine of these towns with their surrounding villages.
• 33. The following towns situated in the western foothills were also given to Judah: Eshtaol, Zorah, Ashnah,
• 34. Zanoah, En-gannim, Tappuah, Enam,
• 35. Jarmuth, Adullam, Socoh, Azekah,
• 36. Shaaraim, Adithaim, Gederah, and Gederothaim. In all, there were fourteen towns with their surrounding villages.
• 37. Also included were Zenan, Hadashah, Migdal-gad,
• 38. Dilean, Mizpeh, Joktheel,
• 39. Lachish, Bozkath, Eglon,
• 40. Cabbon, Lahmam, Kitlish,
• 41. Gederoth, Beth-dagon, Naamah, and Makkedah--sixteen towns with their surrounding villages.
• 42. Besides these, there were Libnah, Ether, Ashan,
• 43. Iphtah, Ashnah, Nezib,
• 44. Keilah, Aczib, and Mareshah--nine towns with their surrounding villages.
• 45. The territory of the tribe of Judah also included all the towns and villages of Ekron.
• 46. From Ekron the boundary extended west and included the towns near Ashdod with their surrounding villages.
• 47. It also included Ashdod with its towns and villages and Gaza with its towns and villages, as far as the brook of Egypt and along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea.
• 48. Judah also received the following towns in the hill country: Shamir, Jattir, Socoh,
• 49. Dannah, Kiriath-sannah (that is, Debir),
• 50. Anab, Eshtemoh, Anim,
• 51. Goshen, Holon, and Giloh--eleven towns with their surrounding villages.
• 52. Also included were the towns of Arab, Dumah, Eshan,
• 53. Janim, Beth-tappuah, Aphekah,
• 54. Humtah, Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), and Zior--nine towns with their surrounding villages.
• 55. Besides these, there were Maon, Carmel, Ziph, Juttah,
• 56. Jezreel, Jokdeam, Zanoah,
• 57. Kain, Gibeah, and Timnah--ten towns with their surrounding villages.
• 58. In addition, there were Halhul, Beth-zur, Gedor,
• 59. Maarath, Beth-anoth, and Eltekon--six towns with their surrounding villages.
• 60. There were also Kiriath-baal (that is, Kiriath-jearim) and Rabbah--two towns with their surrounding villages.
• 61. In the wilderness there were the towns of Beth-arabah, Middin, Secacah,
• 62. Nibshan, the City of Salt, and En-gedi--six towns with their surrounding villages.
• 63. But the tribe of Judah could not drive out the Jebusites, who lived in the city of Jerusalem, so the Jebusites live there among the people of Judah to this day.

Psalms 146

• 1. Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, I tell myself.
• 2. I will praise the LORD as long as I live. I will sing praises to my God even with my dying breath.
• 3. Don't put your confidence in powerful people; there is no help for you there.
• 4. When their breathing stops, they return to the earth, and in a moment all their plans come to an end.
• 5. But happy are those who have the God of Israel as their helper, whose hope is in the LORD their God.
• 6. He is the one who made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. He is the one who keeps every promise forever,
• 7. who gives justice to the oppressed and food to the hungry. The LORD frees the prisoners.
• 8. The LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD lifts the burdens of those bent beneath their loads. The LORD loves the righteous.
• 9. The LORD protects the foreigners among us. He cares for the orphans and widows, but he frustrates the plans of the wicked.
• 10. The LORD will reign forever. O Jerusalem, your God is King in every generation! Praise the LORD!

Psalms 147

• 1. Praise the LORD! How good it is to sing praises to our God! How delightful and how right!
• 2. The LORD is rebuilding Jerusalem and bringing the exiles back to Israel.
• 3. He heals the brokenhearted, binding up their wounds.
• 4. He counts the stars and calls them all by name.
• 5. How great is our Lord! His power is absolute! His understanding is beyond comprehension!
• 6. The LORD supports the humble, but he brings the wicked down into the dust.
• 7. Sing out your thanks to the LORD; sing praises to our God, accompanied by harps.
• 8. He covers the heavens with clouds, provides rain for the earth, and makes the green grass grow in mountain pastures.
• 9. He feeds the wild animals, and the young ravens cry to him for food.
• 10. The strength of a horse does not impress him; how puny in his sight is the strength of a man.
• 11. Rather, the LORD's delight is in those who honor him, those who put their hope in his unfailing love.
• 12. Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O Zion!
• 13. For he has fortified the bars of your gates and blessed your children within you.
• 14. He sends peace across your nation and satisfies you with plenty of the finest wheat.
• 15. He sends his orders to the world--how swiftly his word flies!
• 16. He sends the snow like white wool; he scatters frost upon the ground like ashes.
• 17. He hurls the hail like stones. Who can stand against his freezing cold?
• 18. Then, at his command, it all melts. He sends his winds, and the ice thaws.
• 19. He has revealed his words to Jacob, his principles and laws to Israel.
• 20. He has not done this with any other nation; they do not know his laws. Praise the LORD!

Jeremiah 7

• 1. The LORD gave another message to Jeremiah. He said,
• 2. "Go to the entrance of the LORD's Temple, and give this message to the people: `O Judah, listen to this message from the LORD! Listen to it, all of you who worship here!
• 3. The LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Even now, if you quit your evil ways, I will let you stay in your own land.
• 4. But do not be fooled by those who repeatedly promise your safety because the Temple of the LORD is here.
• 5. I will be merciful only if you stop your wicked thoughts and deeds and are fair to others;
• 6. and if you stop exploiting foreigners, orphans, and widows; and if you stop your murdering; and if you stop worshiping idols as you now do to your own harm.
• 7. Then I will let you stay in this land that I gave to your ancestors to keep forever.
• 8. " `Do you think that because the Temple is here you will never suffer? Don't fool yourselves!
• 9. Do you really think you can steal, murder, commit adultery, lie, and worship Baal and all those other new gods of yours,
• 10. and then come here and stand before me in my Temple and chant, "We are safe!"--only to go right back to all those evils again?
• 11. Do you think this Temple, which honors my name, is a den of thieves? I see all the evil going on there, says the LORD.
• 12. " `Go to the place at Shiloh where I once put the Tabernacle to honor my name. See what I did there because of all the wickedness of my people, the Israelites.
• 13. While you were doing these wicked things, says the LORD, I spoke to you about it repeatedly, but you would not listen. I called out to you, but you refused to answer.
• 14. So just as I destroyed Shiloh, I will now destroy this Temple that was built to honor my name, this Temple that you trust for help, this place that I gave to you and your ancestors.
• 15. And I will send you into exile, just as I did your relatives, the people of Israel. '
• 16. "Pray no more for these people, Jeremiah. Do not weep or pray for them, and don't beg me to help them, for I will not listen to you.
• 17. Do you not see what they are doing throughout the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem?
• 18. No wonder I am so angry! Watch how the children gather wood and the fathers build sacrificial fires. See how the women knead dough and make cakes to offer to the Queen of Heaven. And they give drink offerings to their other idol gods!
• 19. Am I the one they are hurting?" asks the LORD. "Most of all, they hurt themselves, to their own shame."
• 20. So the Sovereign LORD says: "I will pour out my terrible fury on this place. Its people, animals, trees, and crops will be consumed by the unquenchable fire of my anger."
• 21. This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: "Away with your burnt offerings and sacrifices! Eat them yourselves!
• 22. When I led your ancestors out of Egypt, it was not burnt offerings and sacrifices I wanted from them.
• 23. This is what I told them: `Obey me, and I will be your God, and you will be my people. Only do as I say, and all will be well!'
• 24. "But my people would not listen to me. They kept on doing whatever they wanted, following the stubborn desires of their evil hearts. They went backward instead of forward.
• 25. From the day your ancestors left Egypt until now, I have continued to send my prophets--day in and day out.
• 26. But my people have not listened to me or even tried to hear. They have been stubborn and sinful--even worse than their ancestors.
• 27. "Tell them all this, but do not expect them to listen. Shout out your warnings, but do not expect them to respond.
• 28. Say to them, `This is the nation whose people will not obey the LORD their God and who refuse to be taught. Truth has vanished from among them; it is no longer heard on their lips.
• 29. O Jerusalem, shave your head in mourning, and weep alone on the mountains. For the LORD has rejected and forsaken this generation that has provoked his fury.'
• 30. "The people of Judah have sinned before my very eyes," says the LORD. "They have set up their abominable idols right in my own Temple, defiling it.
• 31. They have built the pagan shrines of Topheth in the valley of the son of Hinnom, where they sacrifice their little sons and daughters in the fire. I have never commanded such a horrible deed; it never even crossed my mind to command such a thing!
• 32. So beware, for the time is coming," says the LORD, "when that place will no longer be called Topheth or the valley of the son of Hinnom, but the Valley of Slaughter. They will bury so many bodies in Topheth that there won't be room for all the graves.
• 33. The corpses of my people will be food for the vultures and wild animals, and no one will be left to scare them away.
• 34. I will put an end to the happy singing and laughter in the streets of Jerusalem. The joyful voices of bridegrooms and brides will no longer be heard in the towns of Judah. The land will lie in complete desolation.

New Living Translation: 192 of 365 days.