2 Samuel 20

• 1. Then a troublemaker named Sheba son of Bicri, a man from the tribe of Benjamin, blew a trumpet and shouted, "We have nothing to do with David. We want no part of this son of Jesse. Come on, you men of Israel, let's all go home!"
• 2. So the men of Israel deserted David and followed Sheba. But the men of Judah stayed with their king and escorted him from the Jordan River to Jerusalem.
• 3. When the king arrived at his palace in Jerusalem, he instructed that the ten concubines he had left to keep house should be placed in seclusion. Their needs were to be cared for, he said, but he would no longer sleep with them. So each of them lived like a widow until she died.
• 4. Then the king instructed Amasa to mobilize the army of Judah within three days and to report back at that time.
• 5. So Amasa went out to notify the troops, but it took him longer than the three days he had been given.
• 6. Then David said to Abishai, "That troublemaker Sheba is going to hurt us more than Absalom did. Quick, take my troops and chase after him before he gets into a fortified city where we can't reach him."
• 7. So Abishai and Joab set out after Sheba with an elite guard from Joab's army and the king's own bodyguard.
• 8. As they arrived at the great stone in Gibeon, Amasa met them, coming from the opposite direction. Joab was wearing his uniform with a dagger strapped to his belt. As he stepped forward to greet Amasa, he secretly slipped the dagger from its sheath.
• 9. "How are you, my cousin?" Joab said and took him by the beard with his right hand as though to kiss him.
• 10. Amasa didn't notice the dagger in his left hand, and Joab stabbed him in the stomach with it so that his insides gushed out onto the ground. Joab did not need to strike again, and Amasa soon died. Joab and his brother Abishai left him lying there and continued after Sheba.
• 11. One of Joab's young officers shouted to Amasa's troops, "If you are for Joab and David, come and follow Joab."
• 12. But Amasa lay in his blood in the middle of the road, and Joab's officer saw that a crowd was gathering around to stare at him. So he pulled him off the road into a field and threw a cloak over him.
• 13. With Amasa's body out of the way, everyone went on with Joab to capture Sheba.
• 14. Meanwhile, Sheba had traveled across Israel to mobilize his own clan of Bicri at the city of Abel-beth-maacah.
• 15. When Joab's forces arrived, they attacked Abel-beth-maacah and built a ramp against the city wall and began battering it down.
• 16. But a wise woman in the city called out to Joab, "Listen to me, Joab. Come over here so I can talk to you."
• 17. As he approached, the woman asked, "Are you Joab?I am," he replied. So she said, "Listen carefully to your servant.I'm listening," he said.
• 18. Then she continued, "There used to be a saying, `If you want to settle an argument, ask advice at the city of Abel.'
• 19. I am one who is peace loving and faithful in Israel. But you are destroying a loyal city. Why do you want to destroy what belongs to the LORD?"
• 20. And Joab replied, "Believe me, I don't want to destroy your city!
• 21. All I want is a man named Sheba son of Bicri from the hill country of Ephraim, who has revolted against King David. If you hand him over to me, we will leave the city in peace.All right," the woman replied, "we will throw his head over the wall to you."
• 22. Then the woman went to the people with her wise advice, and they cut off Sheba's head and threw it out to Joab. So he blew the trumpet and called his troops back from the attack, and they all returned to their homes. Joab returned to the king at Jerusalem.
• 23. Joab once again became the commander of David's army. Benaiah son of Jehoiada was commander of the king's bodyguard.
• 24. Adoniram was in charge of the labor force. Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the royal historian.
• 25. Sheva was the court secretary. Zadok and Abiathar were the priests.
• 26. Ira the Jairite was David's personal priest.

2 Corinthians 13

• 1. This is the third time I am coming to visit you. As the Scriptures say, "The facts of every case must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses."
• 2. I have already warned those who had been sinning when I was there on my second visit. Now I again warn them and all others, just as I did before, that this next time I will not spare them.
• 3. I will give you all the proof you want that Christ speaks through me. Christ is not weak in his dealings with you; he is a mighty power among you.
• 4. Although he died on the cross in weakness, he now lives by the mighty power of God. We, too, are weak, but we live in him and have God's power--the power we use in dealing with you.
• 5. Examine yourselves to see if your faith is really genuine. Test yourselves. If you cannot tell that Jesus Christ is among you, it means you have failed the test.
• 6. I hope you recognize that we have passed the test and are approved by God.
• 7. We pray to God that you will not do anything wrong. We pray this, not to show that our ministry to you has been successful, but because we want you to do right even if we ourselves seem to have failed.
• 8. Our responsibility is never to oppose the truth, but to stand for the truth at all times.
• 9. We are glad to be weak, if you are really strong. What we pray for is your restoration to maturity.
• 10. I am writing this to you before I come, hoping that I won't need to deal harshly with you when I do come. For I want to use the authority the Lord has given me to build you up, not to tear you down.
• 11. Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Rejoice. Change your ways. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.
• 12. Greet each other in Christian love. All the Christians here send you their greetings.
• 13. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
• 14.

Ezekiel 27

• 1. Then this message came to me from the LORD:
• 2. "Son of man, sing a funeral song for Tyre,
• 3. that mighty gateway to the sea, the trading center of the world. Give Tyre this message from the Sovereign LORD: You claimed, O Tyre, to be perfect in beauty.
• 4. You extended your boundaries into the sea. Your builders made you glorious!
• 5. You were like a great ship built of the finest cypress from Senir. They took a cedar from Lebanon to make a mast for you.
• 6. They carved oars for you from the oaks of Bashan. They made your deck of pine wood, brought from the southern coasts of Cyprus. Then they inlaid it with ivory.
• 7. Your sails were made of Egypt's finest linen, and they flew as a banner above you. You stood beneath blue and purple awnings made bright with dyes from the coasts of Elishah.
• 8. "Your oarsmen came from Sidon and Arvad; your helmsmen were skilled men from Tyre itself.
• 9. Wise old craftsmen from Gebal did all the caulking. Ships came with goods from every land to barter for your trade.
• 10. Men from distant Persia, Lydia, and Libya served in your great army. They hung their shields and helmets on your walls, giving you great honor.
• 11. Men from Arvad and from Helech stood on your walls as sentinels. Your towers were manned by men from Gammad. Their shields hung on your walls, perfecting your splendor.
• 12. "Tarshish was your agent, trading your wares in exchange for silver, iron, tin, and lead.
• 13. Merchants from Greece, Tubal, and Meshech brought slaves and bronze dishes.
• 14. From Togarmah came riding horses, chariot horses, and mules. All these things were exchanged for your manufactured goods.
• 15. Merchants came to you from Dedan. Numerous coastlands were your captive markets; they brought payment in ivory tusks and ebony wood.
• 16. "Aram sent merchants to buy your wares. They traded turquoise, purple dyes, embroidery, fine linen, and jewelry of coral and rubies.
• 17. Judah and Israel traded for your wares, offering wheat from Minnith, early figs, honey, oil, and balm.
• 18. Damascus traded for your rich variety of goods, bringing wine from Helbon and white wool from Zahar.
• 19. Greeks from Uzal came to trade for your merchandise. Wrought iron, cassia, and calamus were bartered for your wares.
• 20. Dedan traded their expensive saddle blankets with you.
• 21. "The Arabians and the princes of Kedar brought lambs and rams and goats in trade for your goods.
• 22. The merchants of Sheba and Raamah came with all kinds of spices, jewels, and gold in exchange for your wares.
• 23. Haran, Canneh, Eden, Sheba, Asshur, and Kilmad came with their merchandise, too.
• 24. They brought choice fabrics to trade--blue cloth, embroidery, and many-colored carpets bound with cords and made secure.
• 25. The ships of Tarshish were your ocean caravans. Your island warehouse was filled to the brim!
• 26. "But look! Your oarsmen are rowing your ship of state into a hurricane! Your mighty vessel flounders in the heavy eastern gale. You are shipwrecked in the heart of the sea!
• 27. Everything is lost--your riches and wares, your sailors and helmsmen, your ship builders, merchants, and warriors. On that day of vast ruin, everyone on board sinks into the depths of the sea.
• 28. "Your cities by the sea tremble as your helmsmen cry out in terror.
• 29. All the oarsmen abandon their ships; the sailors and helmsmen come to stand on the shore.
• 30. They weep bitterly as they throw dust on their heads and roll in ashes.
• 31. They shave their heads in grief because of you and dress themselves in sackcloth. They weep for you with bitter anguish and deep mourning.
• 32. As they wail and mourn, they sing this sad funeral song: `Was there ever such a city as Tyre, now silent at the bottom of the sea?
• 33. The merchandise you traded satisfied the needs of many nations. Kings at the ends of the earth were enriched by your trade.
• 34. Now you are a wrecked ship, broken at the bottom of the sea. All your merchandise and your crew have passed away with you.
• 35. All who live along the coastlands are appalled at your terrible fate. Their kings are filled with horror and look on with twisted faces.
• 36. The merchants of the nations shake their heads at the sight of you, for you have come to a horrible end and will be no more.'"

New Living Translation: 267 of 365 days.