1 Samuel 14

• 1. One day Jonathan said to the young man who carried his armor, "Come on, let's go over to where the Philistines have their outpost." But Jonathan did not tell his father what he was doing.
• 2. Meanwhile, Saul and his six hundred men were camped on the outskirts of Gibeah, around the pomegranate tree at Migron.
• 3. (Among Saul's men was Ahijah the priest, who was wearing the linen ephod. Ahijah was the son of Ahitub, Ichabod's brother. Ahitub was the son of Phinehas and the grandson of Eli, the priest of the LORD who had served at Shiloh.) No one realized that Jonathan had left the Israelite camp.
• 4. To reach the Philistine outpost, Jonathan had to go down between two rocky cliffs that were called Bozez and Seneh.
• 5. The cliff on the north was in front of Micmash, and the one on the south was in front of Geba.
• 6. "Let's go across to see those pagans," Jonathan said to his armor bearer. "Perhaps the LORD will help us, for nothing can hinder the LORD. He can win a battle whether he has many warriors or only a few!"
• 7. "Do what you think is best," the youth replied. "I'm with you completely, whatever you decide."
• 8. "All right then," Jonathan told him. "We will cross over and let them see us.
• 9. If they say to us, `Stay where you are or we'll kill you,' then we will stop and not go up to them.
• 10. But if they say, `Come on up and fight,' then we will go up. That will be the LORD's sign that he will help us defeat them."
• 11. When the Philistines saw them coming, they shouted, "Look! The Hebrews are crawling out of their holes!"
• 12. Then they shouted to Jonathan, "Come on up here, and we'll teach you a lesson!Come on, climb right behind me," Jonathan said to his armor bearer, "for the LORD will help us defeat them!"
• 13. So they climbed up using both hands and feet, and the Philistines fell back as Jonathan and his armor bearer killed them right and left.
• 14. They killed about twenty men in all, and their bodies were scattered over about half an acre.
• 15. Suddenly, panic broke out in the Philistine army, both in the camp and in the field, including even the outposts and raiding parties. And just then an earthquake struck, and everyone was terrified.
• 16. Saul's lookouts in Gibeah saw a strange sight--the vast army of Philistines began to melt away in every direction.
• 17. "Find out who isn't here," Saul ordered. And when they checked, they found that Jonathan and his armor bearer were gone.
• 18. Then Saul shouted to Ahijah, "Bring the ephod here!" For at that time Ahijah was wearing the ephod in front of the Israelites.
• 19. But while Saul was talking to the priest, the shouting and confusion in the Philistine camp grew louder and louder. So Saul said to Ahijah, "Never mind; let's get going!"
• 20. Then Saul and his six hundred men rushed out to the battle and found the Philistines killing each other. There was terrible confusion everywhere.
• 21. Even the Hebrews who had gone over to the Philistine army revolted and joined in with Saul, Jonathan, and the rest of the Israelites.
• 22. Likewise, the men who were hiding in the hills joined the chase when they saw the Philistines running away.
• 23. So the LORD saved Israel that day, and the battle continued to rage even out beyond Beth-aven.
• 24. Now the men of Israel were worn out that day, because Saul had made them take an oath, saying, "Let a curse fall on anyone who eats before evening--before I have full revenge on my enemies." So no one ate a thing all day,
• 25. even though they found honeycomb on the ground in the forest.
• 26. They didn't even touch the honey because they all feared the oath they had taken.
• 27. But Jonathan had not heard his father's command, and he dipped a stick into a piece of honeycomb and ate the honey. After he had eaten it, he felt much better.
• 28. But one of the men saw him and said, "Your father made the army take a strict oath that anyone who eats food today will be cursed. That is why everyone is weary and faint."
• 29. "My father has made trouble for us all!" Jonathan exclaimed. "A command like that only hurts us. See how much better I feel now that I have eaten this little bit of honey.
• 30. If the men had been allowed to eat freely from the food they found among our enemies, think how many more we could have killed!"
• 31. But hungry as they were, they chased and killed the Philistines all day from Micmash to Aijalon, growing more and more faint.
• 32. That evening they flew upon the battle plunder and butchered the sheep, cattle, and calves, but they ate them without draining the blood.
• 33. Someone reported to Saul, "Look, the men are sinning against the LORD by eating meat that still has blood in it.That is very wrong," Saul said. "Find a large stone and roll it over here.
• 34. Then go out among the troops and tell them, `Bring the cattle and sheep here to kill them and drain the blood. Do not sin against the LORD by eating meat with the blood still in it.'" So that night all the troops brought their animals and slaughtered them there.
• 35. And Saul built an altar to the LORD, the first one he had ever built.
• 36. Then Saul said, "Let's chase the Philistines all night and destroy every last one of them." His men replied, "We'll do whatever you think is best." But the priest said, "Let's ask God first."
• 37. So Saul asked God, "Should we go after the Philistines? Will you help us defeat them?" But God made no reply that day.
• 38. Then Saul said to the leaders, "Something's wrong! I want all my army commanders to come here. We must find out what sin was committed today.
• 39. I vow by the name of the LORD who rescued Israel that the sinner will surely die, even if it is my own son Jonathan!" But no one would tell him what the trouble was.
• 40. Then Saul said, "Jonathan and I will stand over here, and all of you stand over there." And the people agreed.
• 41. Then Saul prayed, "O LORD, God of Israel, please show us who is guilty and who is innocent. Are Jonathan and I guilty, or is the sin among the others?" And Jonathan and Saul were chosen as the guilty ones, and the people were declared innocent.
• 42. Then Saul said, "Now choose between me and Jonathan." And Jonathan was shown to be the guilty one.
• 43. "Tell me what you have done," Saul demanded of Jonathan. "I tasted a little honey," Jonathan admitted. "It was only a little bit on the end of a stick. Does that deserve death?"
• 44. "Yes, Jonathan," Saul said, "you must die! May God strike me dead if you are not executed for this."
• 45. But the people broke in and said to Saul, "Should Jonathan, who saved Israel today, die? Far from it! As surely as the LORD lives, not one hair on his head will be touched, for he has been used of God to do a mighty miracle today." So the people rescued Jonathan, and he was not put to death.
• 46. Then Saul called back the army from chasing the Philistines, and the Philistines returned home.
• 47. Now when Saul had secured his grasp on Israel's throne, he fought against his enemies in every direction--against Moab, Ammon, Edom, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. And wherever he turned, he was victorious.
• 48. He did great deeds and conquered the Amalekites, saving Israel from all those who had plundered them.
• 49. Saul's sons included Jonathan, Ishbosheth, and Malkishua. He also had two daughters: Merab, who was older, and Michal.
• 50. Saul's wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz. The commander of Saul's army was his cousin Abner, his uncle Ner's son.
• 51. Abner's father, Ner, and Saul's father, Kish, were brothers; both were sons of Abiel.
• 52. The Israelites fought constantly with the Philistines throughout Saul's lifetime. So whenever Saul saw a young man who was brave and strong, he drafted him into his army.

Romans 12

• 1. And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice--the kind he will accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask?
• 2. Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is.
• 3. As God's messenger, I give each of you this warning: Be honest in your estimate of yourselves, measuring your value by how much faith God has given you.
• 4. Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function,
• 5. so it is with Christ's body. We are all parts of his one body, and each of us has different work to do. And since we are all one body in Christ, we belong to each other, and each of us needs all the others.
• 6. God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out when you have faith that God is speaking through you.
• 7. If your gift is that of serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, do a good job of teaching.
• 8. If your gift is to encourage others, do it! If you have money, share it generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.
• 9. Don't just pretend that you love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Stand on the side of the good.
• 10. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.
• 11. Never be lazy in your work, but serve the Lord enthusiastically.
• 12. Be glad for all God is planning for you. Be patient in trouble, and always be prayerful.
• 13. When God's children are in need, be the one to help them out. And get into the habit of inviting guests home for dinner or, if they need lodging, for the night.
• 14. If people persecute you because you are a Christian, don't curse them; pray that God will bless them.
• 15. When others are happy, be happy with them. If they are sad, share their sorrow.
• 16. Live in harmony with each other. Don't try to act important, but enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don't think you know it all!
• 17. Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable.
• 18. Do your part to live in peace with everyone, as much as possible.
• 19. Dear friends, never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God. For it is written, "I will take vengeance; I will repay those who deserve it," says the Lord.
• 20. Instead, do what the Scriptures say: "If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink, and they will be ashamed of what they have done to you."
• 21. Don't let evil get the best of you, but conquer evil by doing good.

Jeremiah 51

• 1. This is what the LORD says: "I will stir up a destroyer against Babylon and the people of Babylonia.
• 2. Foreigners will come and winnow her, blowing her away as chaff. They will come from every side to rise against her in her day of trouble.
• 3. Don't let the archers put on their armor or draw their bows. No one will be spared! Young and old alike will be completely destroyed.
• 4. They will fall dead in the land of the Babylonians, slashed to death in her streets.
• 5. For the LORD Almighty has not forsaken Israel and Judah. He is still their God, even though their land was filled with sin against the Holy One of Israel."
• 6. Flee from Babylon! Save yourselves! Don't get trapped in her punishment! It is the LORD's time for vengeance; he will fully repay her.
• 7. Babylon has been like a golden cup in the LORD's hands, a cup from which he made the whole earth drink and go mad.
• 8. But now suddenly, Babylon, too, has fallen. Weep for her, and give her medicine. Perhaps she can yet be healed.
• 9. We would have helped her if we could, but nothing can save her now. Let her go; abandon her. Return now to your own land, for her judgment will be so great it cannot be measured.
• 10. The LORD has vindicated us. Come, let us announce in Jerusalem everything the LORD our God has done.
• 11. Sharpen the arrows! Lift up the shields! For the LORD has stirred up the spirit of the kings of the Medes to march against Babylon and destroy her. This is his vengeance against those who desecrated his Temple.
• 12. Raise the battle flag against Babylon! Reinforce the guard and station the watchmen. Prepare an ambush, for the LORD will fulfill all his plans against Babylon.
• 13. You are a city rich with water, a great center of commerce, but your end has come. The thread of your life is cut.
• 14. The LORD Almighty has taken this vow and has sworn to it by his own name: "Your cities will be filled with enemies, like fields filled with locusts, and they will lift their shouts of triumph over you."
• 15. He made the earth by his power, and he preserves it by his wisdom. He has stretched out the heavens by his understanding.
• 16. When he speaks, there is thunder in the heavens. He causes the clouds to rise over the earth. He sends the lightning with the rain and releases the wind from his storehouses.
• 17. Compared to him, all people are foolish and have no knowledge at all! They make idols, but the idols will disgrace their makers, for they are frauds. They have no life or power in them.
• 18. Idols are worthless; they are lies! The time is coming when they will all be destroyed.
• 19. But the God of Israel is no idol! He is the Creator of everything that exists, including his people, his own special possession. The LORD Almighty is his name!
• 20. "You are my battle-ax and sword," says the LORD. "With you I will shatter nations and destroy many kingdoms.
• 21. With you I will shatter armies, destroying the horse and rider, the chariot and charioteer.
• 22. With you I will shatter men and women, old people and children, young men and maidens.
• 23. With you I will shatter shepherds and flocks, farmers and oxen, captains and rulers.
• 24. "As you watch, I will repay Babylon and the people of Babylonia for all the wrong they have done to my people in Jerusalem," says the LORD.
• 25. "Look, O mighty mountain, destroyer of the earth! I am your enemy," says the LORD. "I will raise my fist against you, to roll you down from the heights. When I am finished, you will be nothing but a heap of rubble.
• 26. You will be desolate forever. Even your stones will never again be used for building. You will be completely wiped out," says the LORD.
• 27. Signal many nations to mobilize for war against Babylon. Sound the battle cry! Bring out the armies of Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz. Appoint a leader, and bring a multitude of horses!
• 28. Bring against her the armies of the kings of the Medes and their generals, and the armies of all the countries they rule.
• 29. Babylon trembles and writhes in pain, for everything the LORD has planned against her stands unchanged. Babylon will be left desolate without a single inhabitant.
• 30. Her mightiest warriors no longer fight. They stay in their barracks. Their courage is gone. They have become as fearful as women. The invaders have burned the houses and broken down the city gates.
• 31. Messengers from every side come running to the king to tell him all is lost!
• 32. All the escape routes are blocked. The fortifications are burning, and the army is in panic.
• 33. For the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: "Babylon is like wheat on a threshing floor, about to be trampled. In just a little while her harvest will begin."
• 34. "King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon has eaten and crushed us and emptied out our strength. He has swallowed us like a great monster and filled his belly with our riches. He has thrown us out of our own country.
• 35. May Babylon be repaid for all the violence she did to us," say the people of Jerusalem. "May the people of Babylonia be paid in full for all the blood they spilled," says Jerusalem.
• 36. The LORD says to Jerusalem, "I will be your lawyer to plead your case, and I will avenge you. I will dry up her river, her water supply,
• 37. and Babylon will become a heap of rubble, haunted by jackals. It will be an object of horror and contempt, without a single person living there.
• 38. "In their drunken feasts, the people of Babylon roar like lions.
• 39. And while they lie inflamed with all their wine, I will prepare a different kind of feast for them. I will make them drink until they fall asleep, never again to waken," says the LORD.
• 40. "I will bring them like lambs to the slaughter, like rams and goats to be sacrificed.
• 41. "How Babylon is fallen--great Babylon, praised throughout the earth! The world can scarcely believe its eyes at her fall!
• 42. The sea has risen over Babylon; she is covered by its waves.
• 43. Her cities now lie in ruins; she is a dry wilderness where no one lives or even passes by.
• 44. And I will punish Bel, the god of Babylon, and pull from his mouth what he has taken. The nations will no longer come and worship him. The wall of Babylon has fallen.
• 45. "Listen, my people, flee from Babylon. Save yourselves! Run from the LORD's fierce anger.
• 46. But do not panic when you hear the first rumor of approaching forces. For rumors will keep coming year by year. Then there will be a time of violence as the leaders fight against each other.
• 47. For the time is surely coming when I will punish this great city and all her idols. Her whole land will be disgraced, and her dead will lie in the streets.
• 48. The heavens and earth will rejoice, for out of the north will come destroying armies against Babylon," says the LORD.
• 49. "Just as Babylon killed the people of Israel and others throughout the world, so must her people be killed.
• 50. Go, you who escaped the sword! Do not stand and watch--flee while you can! Remember the LORD, even though you are in a far-off land, and think about your home in Jerusalem."
• 51. "We are ashamed," the people say. "We are insulted and disgraced because the LORD's Temple has been defiled by foreigners."
• 52. "Yes," says the LORD, "but the time is coming when Babylon's idols will be destroyed. The groans of her wounded people will be heard throughout the land.
• 53. Though Babylon reaches as high as the heavens, and though she increases her strength immeasurably, I will send enemies to plunder her," says the LORD.
• 54. Listen! Hear the cry of Babylon, the sound of great destruction from the land of the Babylonians.
• 55. For the LORD is destroying Babylon. He will silence her. Waves of enemies pound against her; the noise of battle rings through the city.
• 56. Destroying armies come against Babylon. Her mighty men are captured, and their weapons break in their hands. For the LORD is a God who gives just punishment, and he is giving Babylon all she deserves.
• 57. "I will make drunk her officials, wise men, rulers, captains, and warriors," says the King, whose name is the LORD Almighty. "They will fall asleep and never wake up again!"
• 58. This is what the LORD Almighty says: "The wide walls of Babylon will be leveled to the ground, and her high gates will be burned. The builders from many lands have worked in vain, for their work will be destroyed by fire!"
• 59. The prophet Jeremiah gave this message to Zedekiah's staff officer, Seraiah son of Neriah and grandson of Mahseiah, when he went to Babylon with King Zedekiah of Judah. This was during the fourth year of Zedekiah's reign.
• 60. Jeremiah had recorded on a scroll all the terrible disasters that would soon come upon Babylon.
• 61. He said to Seraiah, "When you get to Babylon, read aloud everything on this scroll.
• 62. Then say, `LORD, you have said that you will destroy Babylon so that neither people nor animals will remain here. She will lie empty and abandoned forever.'
• 63. Then, when you have finished reading the scroll, tie it to a stone, and throw it into the Euphrates River.
• 64. Then say, `In this same way Babylon and her people will sink, never again to rise, because of the disasters I will bring upon her.'" This is the end of Jeremiah's messages.

New Living Translation: 234 of 365 days.