2 Kings 13

• 1. Jehoahaz son of Jehu began to rule over Israel in the twenty-third year of King Joash's reign in Judah. He reigned in Samaria seventeen years.
• 2. But he did what was evil in the LORD's sight. He followed the example of Jeroboam son of Nebat, continuing the sins of idolatry that Jeroboam son of Nebat had led Israel to commit.
• 3. So the LORD was very angry with Israel, and he allowed King Hazael of Aram and his son Ben-hadad to defeat them time after time.
• 4. Then Jehoahaz prayed for the LORD's help, and the LORD heard his prayer. The LORD could see how terribly the king of Aram was oppressing Israel.
• 5. So the LORD raised up a deliverer to rescue the Israelites from the tyranny of the Arameans. Then Israel lived in safety again as they had in former days.
• 6. But they continued to sin, following the evil example of Jeroboam. They even set up an Asherah pole in Samaria.
• 7. Finally, Jehoahaz's army was reduced to fifty mounted troops, ten chariots, and ten thousand foot soldiers. The king of Aram had killed the others like they were dust under his feet.
• 8. The rest of the events in Jehoahaz's reign and all his deeds, including the extent of his power, are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Israel.
• 9. When Jehoahaz died, he was buried in Samaria with his ancestors. Then his son Jehoash became the next king.
• 10. Jehoash son of Jehoahaz began to rule over Israel in the thirty-seventh year of King Joash's reign in Judah. He reigned in Samaria sixteen years.
• 11. But he did what was evil in the LORD's sight. He refused to turn from the sins of idolatry that Jeroboam son of Nebat had led Israel to commit.
• 12. The rest of the events in Jehoash's reign and all his deeds, including the extent of his power and his war with King Amaziah of Judah, are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Israel.
• 13. When Jehoash died, he was buried with his ancestors in Samaria. Then his son Jeroboam II became the next king.
• 14. When Elisha was in his last illness, King Jehoash of Israel visited him and wept over him. "My father! My father! The chariots and charioteers of Israel!" he cried.
• 15. Elisha told him, "Get a bow and some arrows." And the king did as he was told.
• 16. Then Elisha told the king of Israel to put his hand on the bow, and Elisha laid his own hands on the king's hands.
• 17. Then he commanded, "Open that eastern window," and he opened it. Then he said, "Shoot!" So he did. Then Elisha proclaimed, "This is the LORD's arrow, full of victory over Aram, for you will completely conquer the Arameans at Aphek.
• 18. Now pick up the other arrows and strike them against the ground." So the king picked them up and struck the ground three times.
• 19. But the man of God was angry with him. "You should have struck the ground five or six times!" he exclaimed. "Then you would have beaten Aram until they were entirely destroyed. Now you will be victorious only three times."
• 20. Then Elisha died and was buried. Groups of Moabite raiders used to invade the land each spring.
• 21. Once when some Israelites were burying a man, they spied a band of these raiders. So they hastily threw the body they were burying into the tomb of Elisha. But as soon as the body touched Elisha's bones, the dead man revived and jumped to his feet!
• 22. King Hazael of Aram had oppressed Israel during the entire reign of King Jehoahaz.
• 23. But the LORD was gracious to the people of Israel, and they were not totally destroyed. He pitied them because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And to this day he still has not completely destroyed them or banished them from his presence.
• 24. King Hazael of Aram died, and his son Ben-hadad became the next king.
• 25. Then Jehoash son of Jehoahaz recaptured from Ben-hadad son of Hazael the towns that Hazael had taken from Jehoash's father, Jehoahaz. Jehoash defeated Ben-hadad on three occasions, and so recovered the Israelite towns.

2 Timothy 3

• 1. You should also know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times.
• 2. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred.
• 3. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control; they will be cruel and have no interest in what is good.
• 4. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God.
• 5. They will act as if they are religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. You must stay away from people like that.
• 6. They are the kind who work their way into people's homes and win the confidence of vulnerable women who are burdened with the guilt of sin and controlled by many desires.
• 7. Such women are forever following new teachings, but they never understand the truth.
• 8. And these teachers fight the truth just as Jannes and Jambres fought against Moses. Their minds are depraved, and their faith is counterfeit.
• 9. But they won't get away with this for long. Someday everyone will recognize what fools they are, just as happened with Jannes and Jambres.
• 10. But you know what I teach, Timothy, and how I live, and what my purpose in life is. You know my faith and how long I have suffered. You know my love and my patient endurance.
• 11. You know how much persecution and suffering I have endured. You know all about how I was persecuted in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra--but the Lord delivered me from all of it.
• 12. Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
• 13. But evil people and impostors will flourish. They will go on deceiving others, and they themselves will be deceived.
• 14. But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you.
• 15. You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus.
• 16. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right.
• 17. It is God's way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do.

Hosea 5

• 1. "Hear this, you priests and all of Israel's leaders! Listen, all you men of the royal family! These words of judgment are for you: You are doomed! For you have led the people into a snare by worshiping the idols at Mizpah and Tabor.
• 2. You have dug a deep pit to trap them at Acacia. But never forget--I will settle with all of you for what you have done.
• 3. I know what you are like, O Israel! You have left me as a prostitute leaves her husband; you are utterly defiled.
• 4. Your deeds won't let you return to your God. You are a prostitute through and through, and you cannot know the LORD.
• 5. "The arrogance of Israel testifies against her; she will stumble under her load of guilt. Judah, too, will fall with her.
• 6. Then at last, they will come with their flocks and herds to offer sacrifices to the LORD. But it will be too late! They will not find him, because he has withdrawn from them, and they are now alone.
• 7. For they have betrayed the honor of the LORD, bearing children that aren't his. Now their false religion will devour them, along with their wealth.
• 8. "Blow the ram's horn in Gibeah! Sound the alarm in Ramah! Raise the battle cry in Beth-aven! Lead on into battle, O warriors of Benjamin!
• 9. One thing is certain, Israel: When your day of punishment comes, you will become a heap of rubble.
• 10. "The leaders of Judah have become as bad as thieves. So I will pour my anger down on them like a waterfall.
• 11. The people of Israel will be crushed and broken by my judgment because they are determined to worship idols.
• 12. I will destroy Israel as a moth consumes wool. I will sap Judah's strength as dry rot weakens wood.
• 13. "When Israel and Judah saw how sick they were, Israel turned to Assyria, to the great king there, but he could neither help nor cure them.
• 14. I will tear at Israel and Judah as a lion rips apart its prey. I will carry them off, and there will be no one left to rescue them.
• 15. Then I will return to my place until they admit their guilt and look to me for help. For as soon as trouble comes, they will search for me."

Hosea 6

• 1. "Come, let us return to the LORD! He has torn us in pieces; now he will heal us. He has injured us; now he will bandage our wounds.
• 2. In just a short time, he will restore us so we can live in his presence.
• 3. Oh, that we might know the LORD! Let us press on to know him! Then he will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of rains in early spring."
• 4. "O Israel and Judah, what should I do with you?" asks the LORD. "For your love vanishes like the morning mist and disappears like dew in the sunlight.
• 5. I sent my prophets to cut you to pieces. I have slaughtered you with my words, threatening you with death. My judgment will strike you as surely as day follows night.
• 6. I want you to be merciful; I don't want your sacrifices. I want you to know God; that's more important than burnt offerings.
• 7. "But like Adam, you broke my covenant and rebelled against me.
• 8. Gilead is a city of sinners, tracked with footprints of blood.
• 9. Its citizens are bands of robbers, lying in ambush for their victims. Gangs of priests murder travelers along the road to Shechem and practice every kind of sin.
• 10. Yes, I have seen a horrible thing in Israel: My people have defiled themselves by chasing after other gods!
• 11. "O Judah, a harvest of punishment is also waiting for you, though I wanted so much to restore the fortunes of my people!

New Living Translation: 304 of 365 days.