2 Kings 14

• 1. Amaziah son of Joash began to rule over Judah in the second year of the reign of King Jehoash of Israel.
• 2. Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother was Jehoaddin, from Jerusalem.
• 3. Amaziah did what was pleasing in the LORD's sight, but not like his ancestor David. Instead, he followed the example of his father, Joash.
• 4. Amaziah did not destroy the pagan shrines, where the people offered sacrifices and burned incense.
• 5. When Amaziah was well established as king, he executed the men who had assassinated his father.
• 6. However, he did not kill the children of the assassins, for he obeyed the command of the LORD written in the Book of the Law of Moses: "Parents must not be put to death for the sins of their children, nor the children for the sins of their parents. Those worthy of death must be executed for their own crimes."
• 7. It was Amaziah who killed ten thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt. He also conquered Sela and changed its name to Joktheel, as it is called to this day.
• 8. One day Amaziah sent this challenge to Israel's king Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz and grandson of Jehu: "Come and meet me in battle!"
• 9. But King Jehoash of Israel replied to King Amaziah of Judah with this story: "Out in the Lebanon mountains a thistle sent a message to a mighty cedar tree: `Give your daughter in marriage to my son.' But just then a wild animal came by and stepped on the thistle, crushing it!
• 10. You have indeed destroyed Edom and are very proud about it. Be content with your victory and stay at home! Why stir up trouble that will bring disaster on you and the people of Judah?"
• 11. But Amaziah refused to listen, so King Jehoash of Israel mobilized his army against King Amaziah of Judah. The two armies drew up their battle lines at Beth-shemesh in Judah.
• 12. Judah was routed by the army of Israel, and its army scattered and fled for home.
• 13. King Jehoash of Israel captured King Amaziah of Judah at Beth-shemesh and marched on to Jerusalem. Then Jehoash ordered his army to demolish six hundred feet of Jerusalem's wall, from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate.
• 14. He carried off all the gold and silver and all the utensils from the Temple of the LORD, as well as from the palace treasury. He also took hostages and returned to Samaria.
• 15. The rest of the events in Jehoash's reign, 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.
• 16. When Jehoash died, he was buried with his ancestors in Samaria. Then his son Jeroboam II became the next king.
• 17. King Amaziah of Judah lived on for fifteen years after the death of King Jehoash of Israel.
• 18. The rest of the events in Amaziah's reign are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Judah.
• 19. There was a conspiracy against Amaziah's life in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish. But his enemies sent assassins after him, and they killed him there.
• 20. They brought him back to Jerusalem on a horse, and he was buried with his ancestors in the City of David.
• 21. The people of Judah then crowned Amaziah's sixteen-year-old son, Uzziah, as their next king.
• 22. After his father's death, Uzziah rebuilt the town of Elath and restored it to Judah.
• 23. Jeroboam II, the son of Jehoash, began to rule over Israel in the fifteenth year of King Amaziah's reign in Judah. Jeroboam reigned in Samaria forty-one years.
• 24. 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.
• 25. Jeroboam II recovered the territories of Israel between Lebo-hamath and the Dead Sea, just as the LORD, the God of Israel, had promised through Jonah son of Amittai, the prophet from Gath-hepher.
• 26. For the LORD saw the bitter suffering of everyone in Israel, and how they had absolutely no one to help them.
• 27. And because the LORD had not said he would blot out the name of Israel completely, he used Jeroboam II, the son of Jehoash, to save them.
• 28. The rest of the events in the reign of Jeroboam II and all his deeds, including the extent of his power, his wars, and how he recovered for Israel both Damascus and Hamath, which had belonged to Judah, are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Israel.
• 29. When Jeroboam II died, he was buried with his ancestors, the kings of Israel. Then his son Zechariah became the next king.

2 Timothy 4

• 1. And so I solemnly urge you before God and before Christ Jesus--who will someday judge the living and the dead when he appears to set up his Kingdom:
• 2. Preach the word of God. Be persistent, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.
• 3. For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to right teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever they want to hear.
• 4. They will reject the truth and follow strange myths.
• 5. But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don't be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at bringing others to Christ. Complete the ministry God has given you.
• 6. As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near.
• 7. I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.
• 8. And now the prize awaits me--the crown of righteousness that the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that great day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his glorious return.
• 9. Please come as soon as you can.
• 10. Demas has deserted me because he loves the things of this life and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus has gone to Dalmatia.
• 11. Only Luke is with me. Bring Mark with you when you come, for he will be helpful to me.
• 12. I sent Tychicus to Ephesus.
• 13. When you come, be sure to bring the coat I left with Carpus at Troas. Also bring my books, and especially my papers.
• 14. Alexander the coppersmith has done me much harm, but the Lord will judge him for what he has done.
• 15. Be careful of him, for he fought against everything we said.
• 16. The first time I was brought before the judge, no one was with me. Everyone had abandoned me. I hope it will not be counted against them.
• 17. But the Lord stood with me and gave me strength, that I might preach the Good News in all its fullness for all the Gentiles to hear. And he saved me from certain death.
• 18. Yes, and the Lord will deliver me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly Kingdom. To God be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
• 19. Give my greetings to Priscilla and Aquila and those living at the household of Onesiphorus.
• 20. Erastus stayed at Corinth, and I left Trophimus sick at Miletus.
• 21. Hurry so you can get here before winter. Eubulus sends you greetings, and so do Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers and sisters.
• 22. May the Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you all.

Hosea 7

• 1. "I wanted to heal Israel, but its sins were far too great. Samaria is filled with liars, thieves, and bandits!
• 2. Its people don't realize I am watching them. Their sinful deeds are all around them; I see them all!
• 3. The people make the king glad with their wickedness. The princes laugh about the people's many lies.
• 4. They are all adulterers, always aflame with lust. They are like an oven that is kept hot even while the baker is still kneading the dough.
• 5. "On royal holidays, the princes get drunk. The king makes a fool of himself and drinks with those who are making fun of him.
• 6. Their hearts blaze like a furnace with intrigue. Their plot smolders through the night, and in the morning it flames forth like a raging fire.
• 7. They kill their kings one after another, and no one cries out to me for help.
• 8. "My people of Israel mingle with godless foreigners, picking up their evil ways. Now they have become as worthless as a half-baked cake!
• 9. Worshiping foreign gods has sapped their strength, but they don't even know it. Israel is like an old man with graying hair, unaware of how weak and old he has become.
• 10. His arrogance testifies against him, yet he doesn't return to the LORD his God or even try to find him.
• 11. "The people of Israel have become like silly, witless doves, first calling to Egypt, then flying to Assyria.
• 12. But as they fly about, I will throw my net over them and bring them down like a bird from the sky. I will punish them for all their evil ways.
• 13. "How terrible it will be for my people who have deserted me! Let them die, for they have rebelled against me. I wanted to redeem them, but they have only spoken lies about me.
• 14. They do not cry out to me with sincere hearts. Instead, they sit on their couches and wail. They cut themselves, begging foreign gods for crops and prosperity.
• 15. "I trained them and made them strong, yet now they plot evil against me.
• 16. They look everywhere except to heaven, to the Most High. They are like a crooked bow that always misses its target. Their leaders will be killed by their enemies because of their insolence toward me. Then the people of Egypt will laugh at them.

New Living Translation: 305 of 365 days.