Exodus 17

• 1. At the LORD's command, the people of Israel left the Sin Desert and moved from place to place. Eventually they came to Rephidim, but there was no water to be found there.
• 2. So once more the people grumbled and complained to Moses. "Give us water to drink!" they demanded. "Quiet!" Moses replied. "Why are you arguing with me? And why are you testing the LORD?"
• 3. But tormented by thirst, they continued to complain, "Why did you ever take us out of Egypt? Why did you bring us here? We, our children, and our livestock will all die!"
• 4. Then Moses pleaded with the LORD, "What should I do with these people? They are about to stone me!"
• 5. The LORD said to Moses, "Take your shepherd's staff, the one you used when you struck the water of the Nile. Then call some of the leaders of Israel and walk on ahead of the people.
• 6. I will meet you by the rock at Mount Sinai. Strike the rock, and water will come pouring out. Then the people will be able to drink." Moses did just as he was told; and as the leaders looked on, water gushed out.
• 7. Moses named the place Massah--"the place of testing"--and Meribah--"the place of arguing"--because the people of Israel argued with Moses and tested the LORD by saying, "Is the LORD going to take care of us or not?"
• 8. While the people of Israel were still at Rephidim, the warriors of Amalek came to fight against them.
• 9. Moses commanded Joshua, "Call the Israelites to arms, and fight the army of Amalek. Tomorrow, I will stand at the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand."
• 10. So Joshua did what Moses had commanded. He led his men out to fight the army of Amalek. Meanwhile Moses, Aaron, and Hur went to the top of a nearby hill.
• 11. As long as Moses held up the staff with his hands, the Israelites had the advantage. But whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites gained the upper hand.
• 12. Moses' arms finally became too tired to hold up the staff any longer. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side, holding up his hands until sunset.
• 13. As a result, Joshua and his troops were able to crush the army of Amalek.
• 14. Then the LORD instructed Moses, "Write this down as a permanent record, and announce it to Joshua: I will blot out every trace of Amalek from under heaven."
• 15. Moses built an altar there and called it "The LORD Is My Banner."
• 16. He said, "They have dared to raise their fist against the LORD's throne, so now the LORD will be at war with Amalek generation after generation."

Luke 21

• 1. While Jesus was in the Temple, he watched the rich people putting their gifts into the collection box.
• 2. Then a poor widow came by and dropped in two pennies.
• 3. "I assure you," he said, "this poor widow has given more than all the rest of them.
• 4. For they have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has."
• 5. Some of his disciples began talking about the beautiful stonework of the Temple and the memorial decorations on the walls. But Jesus said,
• 6. "The time is coming when all these things will be so completely demolished that not one stone will be left on top of another."
• 7. "Teacher," they asked, "when will all this take place? And will there be any sign ahead of time?"
• 8. He replied, "Don't let anyone mislead you. For many will come in my name, claiming to be the Messiah and saying, 'The time has come!' But don't believe them.
• 9. And when you hear of wars and insurrections, don't panic. Yes, these things must come, but the end won't follow immediately."
• 10. Then he added, "Nations and kingdoms will proclaim war against each other.
• 11. There will be great earthquakes, and there will be famines and epidemics in many lands, and there will be terrifying things and great miraculous signs in the heavens.
• 12. "But before all this occurs, there will be a time of great persecution. You will be dragged into synagogues and prisons, and you will be accused before kings and governors of being my followers.
• 13. This will be your opportunity to tell them about me.
• 14. So don't worry about how to answer the charges against you,
• 15. for I will give you the right words and such wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to reply!
• 16. Even those closest to you--your parents, brothers, relatives, and friends--will betray you. And some of you will be killed.
• 17. And everyone will hate you because of your allegiance to me.
• 18. But not a hair of your head will perish!
• 19. By standing firm, you will win your souls.
• 20. "And when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then you will know that the time of its destruction has arrived.
• 21. Then those in Judea must flee to the hills. Let those in Jerusalem escape, and those outside the city should not enter it for shelter.
• 22. For those will be days of God's vengeance, and the prophetic words of the Scriptures will be fulfilled.
• 23. How terrible it will be for pregnant women and for mothers nursing their babies. For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people.
• 24. They will be brutally killed by the sword or sent away as captives to all the nations of the world. And Jerusalem will be conquered and trampled down by the Gentiles until the age of the Gentiles comes to an end.
• 25. "And there will be strange events in the skies--signs in the sun, moon, and stars. And down here on earth the nations will be in turmoil, perplexed by the roaring seas and strange tides.
• 26. The courage of many people will falter because of the fearful fate they see coming upon the earth, because the stability of the very heavens will be broken up.
• 27. Then everyone will see the Son of Man arrive on the clouds with power and great glory.
• 28. So when all these things begin to happen, stand straight and look up, for your salvation is near!"
• 29. Then he gave them this illustration: "Notice the fig tree, or any other tree.
• 30. When the leaves come out, you know without being told that summer is near.
• 31. Just so, when you see the events I've described taking place, you can be sure that the Kingdom of God is near.
• 32. I assure you, this generation will not pass from the scene until all these events have taken place.
• 33. Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will remain forever.
• 34. "Watch out! Don't let me find you living in careless ease and drunkenness, and filled with the worries of this life. Don't let that day catch you unaware,
• 35. as in a trap. For that day will come upon everyone living on the earth.
• 36. Keep a constant watch. And pray that, if possible, you may escape these horrors and stand before the Son of Man."
• 37. Every day Jesus went to the Temple to teach, and each evening he returned to spend the night on the Mount of Olives.
• 38. The crowds gathered early each morning to hear him.

Job 36

• 1. Elihu continued speaking:
• 2. "Let me go on, and I will show you the truth of what I am saying. For I have not finished defending God!
• 3. I will give you many illustrations of the righteousness of my Creator.
• 4. I am telling you the honest truth, for I am a man of well-rounded knowledge.
• 5. "God is mighty, yet he does not despise anyone! He is mighty in both power and understanding.
• 6. He does not let the wicked live but gives justice to the afflicted.
• 7. His eyes never leave the innocent, but he establishes and exalts them with kings forever.
• 8. If troubles come upon them and they are enslaved and afflicted,
• 9. he takes the trouble to show them the reason. He shows them their sins, for they have behaved proudly.
• 10. He gets their attention and says they must turn away from evil.
• 11. "If they listen and obey God, then they will be blessed with prosperity throughout their lives. All their years will be pleasant.
• 12. But if they refuse to listen to him, they will perish in battle and die from lack of understanding.
• 13. For the godless are full of resentment. Even when he punishes them, they refuse to cry out to him for help.
• 14. They die young after wasting their lives in immoral living.
• 15. But by means of their suffering, he rescues those who suffer. For he gets their attention through adversity.
• 16. "God has led you away from danger, giving you freedom. You have prospered in a wide and pleasant valley.
• 17. But you are too obsessed with judgment on the godless. Don't worry, justice will be upheld.
• 18. But watch out, or you may be seduced with wealth. Don't let yourself be bribed into sin.
• 19. Could all your wealth and mighty efforts keep you from distress?
• 20. Do not long for the cover of night, for that is when people will be destroyed.
• 21. Be on guard! Turn back from evil, for it was to prevent you from getting into a life of evil that God sent this suffering.
• 22. "Look, God is all-powerful. Who is a teacher like him?
• 23. No one can tell him what to do. No one can say to him, `You have done wrong.'
• 24. Instead, glorify his mighty works, singing songs of praise.
• 25. Everyone has seen these things, but only from a distance.
• 26. "Look, God is exalted beyond what we can understand. His years are without number.
• 27. He draws up the water vapor and then distills it into rain.
• 28. The rain pours down from the clouds, and everyone benefits from it.
• 29. Can anyone really understand the spreading of the clouds and the thunder that rolls forth from heaven?
• 30. See how he spreads the lightning around him and how it lights up the depths of the sea.
• 31. By his mighty acts he governs the people, giving them food in abundance.
• 32. He fills his hands with lightning bolts. He hurls each at its target.
• 33. The thunder announces his presence; the storm announces his indignant anger.

New Living Translation: 66 of 365 days.