2 Samuel 14

• 1. Joab realized how much the king longed to see Absalom.
• 2. So he sent for a woman from Tekoa who had a reputation for great wisdom. He said to her, "Pretend you are in mourning; wear mourning clothes and don't bathe or wear any perfume. Act like a woman who has been in deep sorrow for a long time.
• 3. Then go to the king and tell him the story I am about to tell you." Then Joab told her what to say.
• 4. When the woman approached the king, she fell with her face down to the floor in front of him and cried out, "O king! Help me!"
• 5. "What's the trouble?" the king asked. "I am a widow," she replied.
• 6. "My two sons had a fight out in the field. And since no one was there to stop it, one of them was killed.
• 7. Now the rest of the family is demanding, `Let us have your son. We will execute him for murdering his brother. He doesn't deserve to inherit his family's property.' But if I do that, I will have no one left, and my husband's name and family will disappear from the face of the earth."
• 8. "Leave it to me," the king told her. "Go home, and I'll see to it that no one touches him."
• 9. "Oh, thank you, my lord," she replied. "And I'll take the responsibility if you are criticized for helping me like this."
• 10. "Don't worry about that!" the king said. "If anyone objects, bring them to me. I can assure you they will never complain again!"
• 11. Then she said, "Please swear to me by the LORD your God that you won't let anyone take vengeance against my son. I want no more bloodshed.As surely as the LORD lives," he replied, "not a hair on your son's head will be disturbed!"
• 12. "Please let me ask one more thing of you!" she said. "Go ahead," he urged. "Speak!"
• 13. She replied, "Why don't you do as much for all the people of God as you have promised to do for me? You have convicted yourself in making this decision, because you have refused to bring home your own banished son.
• 14. All of us must die eventually. Our lives are like water spilled out on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. That is why God tries to bring us back when we have been separated from him. He does not sweep away the lives of those he cares about--and neither should you!
• 15. "But I have come to plead with you for my son because my life and my son's life have been threatened. I said to myself, `Perhaps the king will listen to me
• 16. and rescue us from those who would cut us off from God's people.
• 17. Yes, the king will give us peace of mind again.' I know that you are like an angel of God and can discern good from evil. May the LORD your God be with you."
• 18. "I want to know one thing," the king replied. "Yes, my lord?" she asked.
• 19. "Did Joab send you here?" And the woman replied, "My lord the king, how can I deny it? Nobody can hide anything from you. Yes, Joab sent me and told me what to say.
• 20. He did it to place the matter before you in a different light. But you are as wise as an angel of God, and you understand everything that happens among us!"
• 21. So the king sent for Joab and told him, "All right, go and bring back the young man Absalom."
• 22. Joab fell to the ground before the king and blessed him and said, "At last I know that I have gained your approval, for you have granted me this request!"
• 23. Then Joab went to Geshur and brought Absalom back to Jerusalem.
• 24. But the king gave this order: "Absalom may go to his own house, but he must never come into my presence." So Absalom did not see the king.
• 25. Now no one in Israel was as handsome as Absalom. From head to foot, he was the perfect specimen of a man.
• 26. He cut his hair only once a year, and then only because it was too heavy to carry around. When he weighed it out, it came to five pounds!
• 27. He had three sons and one daughter. His daughter's name was Tamar, and she was very beautiful.
• 28. Absalom lived in Jerusalem for two years without getting to see the king.
• 29. Then Absalom sent for Joab to ask him to intercede for him, but Joab refused to come. Absalom sent for him a second time, but again Joab refused to come.
• 30. So Absalom said to his servants, "Go and set fire to Joab's barley field, the field next to mine." So they set his field on fire, as Absalom had commanded.
• 31. Then Joab came to Absalom and demanded, "Why did your servants set my field on fire?"
• 32. And Absalom replied, "Because I wanted you to ask the king why he brought me back from Geshur if he didn't intend to see me. I might as well have stayed there. Let me see the king; if he finds me guilty of anything, then let him execute me."
• 33. So Joab told the king what Absalom had said. Then at last David summoned his estranged son, and Absalom came and bowed low before the king, and David kissed him.

2 Corinthians 7

• 1. Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete purity because we fear God.
• 2. Please open your hearts to us. We have not done wrong to anyone. We have not led anyone astray. We have not taken advantage of anyone.
• 3. I'm not saying this to condemn you, for I said before that you are in our hearts forever. We live or die together with you.
• 4. I have the highest confidence in you, and my pride in you is great. You have greatly encouraged me; you have made me happy despite all our troubles.
• 5. When we arrived in Macedonia there was no rest for us. Outside there was conflict from every direction, and inside there was fear.
• 6. But God, who encourages those who are discouraged, encouraged us by the arrival of Titus.
• 7. His presence was a joy, but so was the news he brought of the encouragement he received from you. When he told me how much you were looking forward to my visit, and how sorry you were about what had happened, and how loyal your love is for me, I was filled with joy!
• 8. I am no longer sorry that I sent that letter to you, though I was sorry for a time, for I know that it was painful to you for a little while.
• 9. Now I am glad I sent it, not because it hurt you, but because the pain caused you to have remorse and change your ways. It was the kind of sorrow God wants his people to have, so you were not harmed by us in any way.
• 10. For God can use sorrow in our lives to help us turn away from sin and seek salvation. We will never regret that kind of sorrow. But sorrow without repentance is the kind that results in death.
• 11. Just see what this godly sorrow produced in you! Such earnestness, such concern to clear yourselves, such indignation, such alarm, such longing to see me, such zeal, and such a readiness to punish the wrongdoer. You showed that you have done everything you could to make things right.
• 12. My purpose was not to write about who did the wrong or who was wronged. I wrote to you so that in the sight of God you could show how much you really do care for us.
• 13. We have been encouraged by this. In addition to our own encouragement, we were especially delighted to see how happy Titus was at the way you welcomed him and set his mind at ease.
• 14. I had told him how proud I was of you--and you didn't disappoint me. I have always told you the truth, and now my boasting to Titus has also proved true!
• 15. Now he cares for you more than ever when he remembers the way you listened to him and welcomed him with such respect and deep concern.
• 16. I am very happy now because I have complete confidence in you.

Ezekiel 21

• 1. Then this message came to me from the LORD:
• 2. "Son of man, look toward Jerusalem and prophesy against Israel and her sanctuaries.
• 3. Give her this message from the LORD: I am your enemy, O Israel, and I am about to unsheath my sword to destroy your people--the righteous and the wicked alike.
• 4. Yes, I will not spare even the righteous! I will make a clean sweep throughout the land from south to north.
• 5. All the world will know that I am the LORD. My sword is in my hand, and it will not return to its sheath until its work is finished.
• 6. "Son of man, groan before the people! Groan before them with bitter anguish and a broken heart.
• 7. When they ask you why, tell them, `I groan because of the terrifying news I have heard. When it comes true, the boldest heart will melt with fear; all strength will disappear. Every spirit will faint; strong knees will tremble and become as weak as water. And the Sovereign LORD says: It is coming! It's on its way!'"
• 8. Then the LORD said to me,
• 9. "Son of man, give the people this message from the LORD: A sword is being sharpened and polished.
• 10. It is being prepared for terrible slaughter; it will flash like lightning! Now will you laugh? Those far stronger than you have fallen beneath its power!
• 11. Yes, the sword is now being sharpened and polished; it is being prepared for the executioner!
• 12. "Son of man, cry out and wail; pound your thighs in anguish, for that sword will slaughter my people and their leaders--everyone will die!
• 13. It will put them all to the test! So now the Sovereign LORD asks: What chance do they have?
• 14. "Son of man, prophesy to them and clap your hands vigorously. Then take the sword and brandish it twice, even three times, to symbolize the great massacre they will face!
• 15. Let their hearts melt with terror, for the sword glitters at every gate. It flashes like lightning; it is polished for slaughter!
• 16. O sword, slash to the right, and slash to the left, wherever you will, wherever you want.
• 17. I, too, will clap my hands, and I will satisfy my fury. I, the LORD, have spoken!"
• 18. Then this message came to me from the LORD:
• 19. "Son of man, make a map and trace two routes on it for the sword of Babylon's king to follow. Put a signpost on the road that comes out of Babylon where the road forks into two--
• 20. one road going to Ammon and its capital, Rabbah, and the other to Judah and fortified Jerusalem.
• 21. The king of Babylon now stands at the fork, uncertain whether to attack Jerusalem or Rabbah. He will call his magicians to use divination. They will cast lots by shaking arrows from the quiver. They will inspect the livers of their animal sacrifices.
• 22. Then they will decide to turn toward Jerusalem! With battering rams they will go against the gates, shouting for the kill. They will put up siege towers and build ramps against the walls to reach the top.
• 23. The people of Jerusalem will think it is a mistake, because of their treaty with the Babylonians. But the king of Babylon will remind the people of their rebellion. Then he will attack and capture them.
• 24. "Therefore, this is what the Sovereign LORD says: Again and again your guilt cries out against you, for you are not ashamed of your sin. You don't even try to hide it! Wherever you go, whatever you do, all your actions are filled with sin. So now the time of your punishment has come!
• 25. "O you corrupt and wicked prince of Israel, your final day of reckoning is here!
• 26. Take off your jeweled crown, says the Sovereign LORD. The old order changes--now the lowly are exalted, and the mighty are brought low.
• 27. Destruction! Destruction! I will surely destroy the kingdom. And it will not be restored until the one appears who has the right to judge it. Then I will hand it over to him.
• 28. "And now, son of man, prophesy concerning the Ammonites and their mockery. Give them this message from the Sovereign LORD: My sword is drawn for your slaughter; it is sharpened to destroy, flashing like lightning!
• 29. Your magicians and false prophets have given false visions and told lies about the sword. And now it will fall with even greater force on the wicked for whom the day of final reckoning has come.
• 30. Should I return my sword to its sheath before I deal with you? No, I will destroy you in your own country, the land of your birth.
• 31. I will pour out my fury on you and blow on you with the fire of my anger. I will hand you over to cruel men who are skilled in destruction.
• 32. You are fuel for the fire, and your blood will be spilled in your own land. You will be utterly wiped out, your memory lost to history. I, the LORD, have spoken!"

New Living Translation: 261 of 365 days.