Judges 2

• 1. The angel of the LORD went up from Gilgal to Bokim with a message for the Israelites. He told them, "I brought you out of Egypt into this land that I swore to give your ancestors, and I said I would never break my covenant with you.
• 2. For your part, you were not to make any covenants with the people living in this land; instead, you were to destroy their altars. Why, then, have you disobeyed my command?
• 3. Since you have done this, I will no longer drive out the people living in your land. They will be thorns in your sides, and their gods will be a constant temptation to you."
• 4. When the angel of the LORD finished speaking, the Israelites wept loudly.
• 5. So they called the place "Weeping," and they offered sacrifices to the LORD.
• 6. After Joshua sent the people away, each of the tribes left to take possession of the land allotted to them.
• 7. And the Israelites served the LORD throughout the lifetime of Joshua and the leaders who outlived him--those who had seen all the great things the LORD had done for Israel.
• 8. Then Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died at the age of 110.
• 9. They buried him in the land he had inherited, at Timnath-serah in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash.
• 10. After that generation died, another generation grew up who did not acknowledge the LORD or remember the mighty things he had done for Israel.
• 11. Then the Israelites did what was evil in the LORD's sight and worshiped the images of Baal.
• 12. They abandoned the LORD, the God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of Egypt. They chased after other gods, worshiping the gods of the people around them. And they angered the LORD.
• 13. They abandoned the LORD to serve Baal and the images of Ashtoreth.
• 14. This made the LORD burn with anger against Israel, so he handed them over to marauders who stole their possessions. He sold them to their enemies all around, and they were no longer able to resist them.
• 15. Every time Israel went out to battle, the LORD fought against them, bringing them defeat, just as he promised. And the people were very distressed.
• 16. Then the LORD raised up judges to rescue the Israelites from their enemies.
• 17. Yet Israel did not listen to the judges but prostituted themselves to other gods, bowing down to them. How quickly they turned away from the path of their ancestors, who had walked in obedience to the LORD's commands.
• 18. Whenever the LORD placed a judge over Israel, he was with that judge and rescued the people from their enemies throughout the judge's lifetime. For the LORD took pity on his people, who were burdened by oppression and suffering.
• 19. But when the judge died, the people returned to their corrupt ways, behaving worse than those who had lived before them. They followed other gods, worshiping and bowing down to them. And they refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn ways.
• 20. So the LORD burned with anger against Israel. He said, "Because these people have violated the covenant I made with their ancestors and have ignored my commands,
• 21. I will no longer drive out the nations that Joshua left unconquered when he died.
• 22. I did this to test Israel--to see whether or not they would obey the LORD as their ancestors did."
• 23. That is why the LORD did not quickly drive the nations out or allow Joshua to conquer them all.

Acts 6

• 1. But as the believers rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent. Those who spoke Greek complained against those who spoke Hebrew, saying that their widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food.
• 2. So the Twelve called a meeting of all the believers. "We apostles should spend our time preaching and teaching the word of God, not administering a food program," they said.
• 3. "Now look around among yourselves, brothers, and select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom. We will put them in charge of this business.
• 4. Then we can spend our time in prayer and preaching and teaching the word."
• 5. This idea pleased the whole group, and they chose the following: Stephen (a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit), Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas of Antioch (a Gentile convert to the Jewish faith, who had now become a Christian).
• 6. These seven were presented to the apostles, who prayed for them as they laid their hands on them.
• 7. God's message was preached in ever-widening circles. The number of believers greatly increased in Jerusalem, and many of the Jewish priests were converted, too.
• 8. Stephen, a man full of God's grace and power, performed amazing miracles and signs among the people.
• 9. But one day some men from the Synagogue of Freed Slaves, as it was called, started to debate with him. They were Jews from Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia, and the province of Asia.
• 10. None of them was able to stand against the wisdom and Spirit by which Stephen spoke.
• 11. So they persuaded some men to lie about Stephen, saying, "We heard him blaspheme Moses, and even God."
• 12. Naturally, this roused the crowds, the elders, and the teachers of religious law. So they arrested Stephen and brought him before the high council.
• 13. The lying witnesses said, "This man is always speaking against the Temple and against the law of Moses.
• 14. We have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy the Temple and change the customs Moses handed down to us."
• 15. At this point everyone in the council stared at Stephen because his face became as bright as an angel's.

Jeremiah 15

• 1. Then the LORD said to me, "Even if Moses and Samuel stood before me pleading for these people, I wouldn't help them. Away with them! Get them out of my sight!
• 2. And if they say to you, `But where can we go?' tell them, `This is what the LORD says: Those who are destined for death, to death; those who are destined for war, to war; those who are destined for famine, to famine; those who are destined for captivity, to captivity.'
• 3. "I will send four kinds of destroyers against them," says the LORD. "I will send the sword to kill, the dogs to drag away, the vultures to devour, and the wild animals to finish up what is left.
• 4. Because of the wicked things Manasseh son of Hezekiah, king of Judah, did in Jerusalem, I will make my people an object of horror to all the kingdoms of the earth.
• 5. "Who will feel sorry for you, Jerusalem? Who will weep for you? Who will even bother to ask how you are?
• 6. You have forsaken me and turned your back on me," says the LORD. "Therefore, I will raise my clenched fists to destroy you. I am tired of always giving you another chance.
• 7. I will winnow you like grain at the gates of your cities and take away everything you hold dear. I will destroy my own people, because they refuse to turn back to me from all their evil ways.
• 8. "There will be more widows than the grains of sand along the seashore. At noontime I will bring a destroyer against the mothers of young men. I will cause anguish and terror to come upon them suddenly.
• 9. The mother of seven grows faint and gasps for breath; her sun has gone down while it is yet day. She sits childless now, disgraced and humiliated. And those who are left, I will hand over to the enemy to be killed," says the LORD.
• 10. Then I said, "What sadness is mine, my mother. Oh, that I had died at birth! I am hated everywhere I go. I am neither a lender who has threatened to foreclose nor a borrower who refuses to pay--yet they all curse me."
• 11. The LORD replied, "All will be well with you, Jeremiah. Your enemies will ask you to plead on their behalf in times of trouble and distress.
• 12. Can a man break a bar of iron from the north, or a bar of bronze?
• 13. Because of all my people's sins against me, I will hand over their wealth and treasures as plunder to the enemy.
• 14. I will tell their enemies to take them as captives to a foreign land. For my anger blazes forth like fire, and it will consume them."
• 15. Then I said, "LORD, you know I am suffering for your sake. Punish my persecutors! Don't let them kill me! Be merciful to me and give them what they deserve!
• 16. Your words are what sustain me. They bring me great joy and are my heart's delight, for I bear your name, O LORD God Almighty.
• 17. I never joined the people in their merry feasts. I sat alone because your hand was on me. I burst with indignation at their sins.
• 18. Why then does my suffering continue? Why is my wound so incurable? Your help seems as uncertain as a seasonal brook. It is like a spring that has gone dry."
• 19. The LORD replied, "If you return to me, I will restore you so you can continue to serve me. If you speak words that are worthy, you will be my spokesman. You are to influence them; do not let them influence you!
• 20. They will fight against you like an attacking army, but I will make you as secure as a fortified wall. They will not conquer you, for I will protect and deliver you. I, the LORD, have spoken!
• 21. Yes, I will certainly keep you safe from these wicked men. I will rescue you from their cruel hands."

New Living Translation: 200 of 365 days.