1 Samuel 18

• 1. After David had finished talking with Saul, he met Jonathan, the king's son. There was an immediate bond of love between them, and they became the best of friends.
• 2. From that day on Saul kept David with him at the palace and wouldn't let him return home.
• 3. And Jonathan made a special vow to be David's friend,
• 4. and he sealed the pact by giving him his robe, tunic, sword, bow, and belt.
• 5. Whatever Saul asked David to do, David did it successfully. So Saul made him a commander in his army, an appointment that was applauded by the fighting men and officers alike.
• 6. But something happened when the victorious Israelite army was returning home after David had killed Goliath. Women came out from all the towns along the way to celebrate and to cheer for King Saul, and they sang and danced for joy with tambourines and cymbals.
• 7. This was their song: "Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands!"
• 8. This made Saul very angry. "What's this?" he said. "They credit David with ten thousands and me with only thousands. Next they'll be making him their king!"
• 9. So from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David.
• 10. The very next day, in fact, a tormenting spirit from God overwhelmed Saul, and he began to rave like a madman. David began to play the harp, as he did whenever this happened. But Saul, who had a spear in his hand,
• 11. suddenly hurled it at David, intending to pin him to the wall. But David jumped aside and escaped. This happened another time, too,
• 12. for Saul was afraid of him, and he was jealous because the LORD had left him and was now with David.
• 13. Finally, Saul banned him from his presence and appointed him commander over only a thousand men, but David faithfully led his troops into battle.
• 14. David continued to succeed in everything he did, for the LORD was with him.
• 15. When Saul recognized this, he became even more afraid of him.
• 16. But all Israel and Judah loved David because he was so successful at leading his troops into battle.
• 17. One day Saul said to David, "I am ready to give you my older daughter, Merab, as your wife. But first you must prove yourself to be a real warrior by fighting the LORD's battles." For Saul thought to himself, "I'll send him out against the Philistines and let them kill him rather than doing it myself."
• 18. "Who am I, and what is my family in Israel that I should be the king's son-in-law?" David exclaimed. "My father's family is nothing!"
• 19. So when the time came for the wedding, Saul gave Merab in marriage to Adriel, a man from Meholah.
• 20. In the meantime, Saul's daughter Michal had fallen in love with David, and Saul was delighted when he heard about it.
• 21. "Here's another chance to see him killed by the Philistines!" Saul said to himself. But to David he said, "I have a way for you to become my son-in-law after all!"
• 22. Then Saul told his men to say confidentially to David, "The king really likes you, and so do we. Why don't you accept the king's offer and become his son-in-law?"
• 23. When Saul's men said these things to David, he replied, "How can a poor man from a humble family afford the bride price for the daughter of a king?"
• 24. When Saul's men reported this back to the king,
• 25. he told them, "Tell David that all I want for the bride price is one hundred Philistine foreskins! Vengeance on my enemies is all I really want." But what Saul had in mind was that David would be killed in the fight.
• 26. David was delighted to accept the offer. So before the time limit expired,
• 27. he and his men went out and killed two hundred Philistines and presented all their foreskins to the king. So Saul gave Michal to David to be his wife.
• 28. When the king realized how much the LORD was with David and how much Michal loved him,
• 29. he became even more afraid of him, and he remained David's enemy for the rest of his life.
• 30. Whenever the Philistine army attacked, David was more successful against them than all the rest of Saul's officers. So David's name became very famous throughout the land.

Romans 16

• 1. Our sister Phoebe, a deacon in the church in Cenchrea, will be coming to see you soon.
• 2. Receive her in the Lord, as one who is worthy of high honor. Help her in every way you can, for she has helped many in their needs, including me.
• 3. Greet Priscilla and Aquila. They have been co-workers in my ministry for Christ Jesus.
• 4. In fact, they risked their lives for me. I am not the only one who is thankful to them; so are all the Gentile churches.
• 5. Please give my greetings to the church that meets in their home. Greet my dear friend Epenetus. He was the very first person to become a Christian in the province of Asia.
• 6. Give my greetings to Mary, who has worked so hard for your benefit.
• 7. Then there are Andronicus and Junia, my relatives, who were in prison with me. They are respected among the apostles and became Christians before I did. Please give them my greetings.
• 8. Say hello to Ampliatus, whom I love as one of the Lord's own children,
• 9. and Urbanus, our co-worker in Christ, and beloved Stachys.
• 10. Give my greetings to Apelles, a good man whom Christ approves. And give my best regards to the members of the household of Aristobulus.
• 11. Greet Herodion, my relative. Greet the Christians in the household of Narcissus.
• 12. Say hello to Tryphena and Tryphosa, the Lord's workers, and to dear Persis, who has worked so hard for the Lord.
• 13. Greet Rufus, whom the Lord picked out to be his very own; and also his dear mother, who has been a mother to me.
• 14. And please give my greetings to Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers and sisters who are with them.
• 15. Give my greetings to Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and to Olympas and all the other believers who are with them.
• 16. Greet each other in Christian love. All the churches of Christ send you their greetings.
• 17. And now I make one more appeal, my dear brothers and sisters. Watch out for people who cause divisions and upset people's faith by teaching things that are contrary to what you have been taught. Stay away from them.
• 18. Such people are not serving Christ our Lord; they are serving their own personal interests. By smooth talk and glowing words they deceive innocent people.
• 19. But everyone knows that you are obedient to the Lord. This makes me very happy. I want you to see clearly what is right and to stay innocent of any wrong.
• 20. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
• 21. Timothy, my fellow worker, and Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my relatives, send you their good wishes.
• 22. I, Tertius, the one who is writing this letter for Paul, send my greetings, too, as a Christian brother.
• 23. Gaius says hello to you. I am his guest, and the church meets here in his home. Erastus, the city treasurer, sends you his greetings, and so does Quartus, a Christian brother.
• 24. See Footnote
• 25. God is able to make you strong, just as the Good News says. It is the message about Jesus Christ and his plan for you Gentiles, a plan kept secret from the beginning of time.
• 26. But now as the prophets foretold and as the eternal God has commanded, this message is made known to all Gentiles everywhere, so that they might believe and obey Christ.
• 27. To God, who alone is wise, be the glory forever through Jesus Christ. Amen.

Lamentations 3

• 1. I am the one who has seen the afflictions that come from the rod of the LORD's anger.
• 2. He has brought me into deep darkness, shutting out all light.
• 3. He has turned against me. Day and night his hand is heavy upon me.
• 4. He has made my skin and flesh grow old. He has broken my bones.
• 5. He has attacked me and surrounded me with anguish and distress.
• 6. He has buried me in a dark place, like a person long dead.
• 7. He has walled me in, and I cannot escape. He has bound me in heavy chains.
• 8. And though I cry and shout, he shuts out my prayers.
• 9. He has blocked my path with a high stone wall. He has twisted the road before me with many detours.
• 10. He hid like a bear or a lion, waiting to attack me.
• 11. He dragged me off the path and tore me with his claws, leaving me helpless and desolate.
• 12. He bent his bow and aimed it squarely at me.
• 13. He shot his arrows deep into my heart.
• 14. My own people laugh at me. All day long they sing their mocking songs.
• 15. He has filled me with bitterness. He has given me a cup of deep sorrow to drink.
• 16. He has made me grind my teeth on gravel. He has rolled me in the dust.
• 17. Peace has been stripped away, and I have forgotten what prosperity is.
• 18. I cry out, "My splendor is gone! Everything I had hoped for from the LORD is lost!"
• 19. The thought of my suffering and homelessness is bitter beyond words.
• 20. I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss.
• 21. Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this:
• 22. The unfailing love of the LORD never ends! By his mercies we have been kept from complete destruction.
• 23. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each day.
• 24. I say to myself, "The LORD is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!"
• 25. The LORD is wonderfully good to those who wait for him and seek him.
• 26. So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the LORD.
• 27. And it is good for the young to submit to the yoke of his discipline.
• 28. Let them sit alone in silence beneath the LORD's demands.
• 29. Let them lie face down in the dust; then at last there is hope for them.
• 30. Let them turn the other cheek to those who strike them. Let them accept the insults of their enemies.
• 31. For the Lord does not abandon anyone forever.
• 32. Though he brings grief, he also shows compassion according to the greatness of his unfailing love.
• 33. For he does not enjoy hurting people or causing them sorrow.
• 34. But the leaders of his people trampled prisoners underfoot.
• 35. They deprived people of their God-given rights in defiance of the Most High.
• 36. They perverted justice in the courts. Do they think the Lord didn't see it?
• 37. Can anything happen without the Lord's permission?
• 38. Is it not the Most High who helps one and harms another?
• 39. Then why should we, mere humans, complain when we are punished for our sins?
• 40. Instead, let us test and examine our ways. Let us turn again in repentance to the LORD.
• 41. Let us lift our hearts and hands to God in heaven and say,
• 42. "We have sinned and rebelled, and you have not forgiven us.
• 43. "You have engulfed us with your anger, chased us down, and slaughtered us without mercy.
• 44. You have hidden yourself in a cloud so our prayers cannot reach you.
• 45. You have discarded us as refuse and garbage among the nations.
• 46. "All our enemies have spoken out against us.
• 47. We are filled with fear, for we are trapped, desolate, and ruined."
• 48. Streams of tears flow from my eyes because of the destruction of my people!
• 49. My tears flow down endlessly. They will not stop
• 50. until the LORD looks down from heaven and sees.
• 51. My heart is breaking over the fate of all the women of Jerusalem.
• 52. My enemies, whom I have never harmed, chased me like a bird.
• 53. They threw me into a pit and dropped stones on me.
• 54. The water flowed above my head, and I cried out, "This is the end!"
• 55. But I called on your name, LORD, from deep within the well,
• 56. and you heard me! You listened to my pleading; you heard my weeping!
• 57. Yes, you came at my despairing cry and told me, "Do not fear."
• 58. Lord, you are my lawyer! Plead my case! For you have redeemed my life.
• 59. You have seen the wrong they have done to me, LORD. Be my judge, and prove me right.
• 60. You have seen the plots my enemies have laid against me.
• 61. LORD, you have heard the vile names they call me. You know all about the plans they have made--
• 62. the plots my enemies whisper and mutter against me all day long.
• 63. Look at them! In all their activities, they constantly mock me with their songs.
• 64. Pay them back, LORD, for all the evil they have done.
• 65. Give them hard and stubborn hearts, and then let your curse fall upon them!
• 66. Chase them down in your anger, destroying them from beneath the LORD's heavens.

New Living Translation: 238 of 365 days.