Exodus 27

• 1. "Using acacia wood, make a square altar 7 1/2 feet wide, 7 1/2 feet long, and 4 1/2 feet high.
• 2. Make a horn at each of the four corners of the altar so the horns and altar are all one piece. Overlay the altar and its horns with bronze.
• 3. The ash buckets, shovels, basins, meat hooks, and firepans will all be made of bronze.
• 4. Make a bronze grating, with a metal ring at each corner.
• 5. Fit the grating halfway down into the firebox, resting it on the ledge built there.
• 6. For moving the altar, make poles from acacia wood, and overlay them with bronze.
• 7. To carry it, put the poles into the rings at two sides of the altar.
• 8. The altar must be hollow, made from planks. Be careful to build it just as you were shown on the mountain.
• 9. "Then make a courtyard for the Tabernacle, enclosed with curtains made from fine linen. On the south side the curtains will stretch for 150 feet.
• 10. They will be held up by twenty bronze posts that fit into twenty bronze bases. The curtains will be held up with silver hooks attached to the silver rods that are attached to the posts.
• 11. It will be the same on the north side of the courtyard--150 feet of curtains held up by twenty posts fitted into bronze bases, with silver hooks and rods.
• 12. The curtains on the west end of the courtyard will be 75 feet long, supported by ten posts set into ten bases.
• 13. The east end will also be 75 feet long.
• 14. The courtyard entrance will be on the east end, flanked by two curtains. The curtain on the right side will be 22 1/2 feet long, supported by three posts set into three bases.
• 15. The curtain on the left side will also be 22 1/2 feet long, supported by three posts set into three bases.
• 16. "For the entrance to the courtyard, make a curtain that is 30 feet long. Fashion it from fine linen, and decorate it with beautiful embroidery in blue, purple, and scarlet yarn. It will be attached to four posts that fit into four bases.
• 17. All the posts around the courtyard must be connected by silver rods, using silver hooks. The posts are to be set in solid bronze bases.
• 18. So the entire courtyard will be 150 feet long and 75 feet wide, with curtain walls 7 1/2 feet high, made from fine linen. The bases supporting its walls will be made of bronze.
• 19. "All the articles used in the work of the Tabernacle, including all the tent pegs used to support the Tabernacle and the courtyard curtains, must be made of bronze.
• 20. "Tell the people of Israel to bring you pure olive oil for the lampstand, so it can be kept burning continually.
• 21. The lampstand will be placed outside the inner curtain of the Most Holy Place in the Tabernacle. Aaron and his sons will keep the lamps burning in the LORD's presence day and night. This is a permanent law for the people of Israel, and it must be kept by all future generations.

John 7

• 1. After this, Jesus stayed in Galilee, going from village to village. He wanted to stay out of Judea where the Jewish leaders were plotting his death.
• 2. But soon it was time for the Festival of Shelters,
• 3. and Jesus' brothers urged him to go to Judea for the celebration. "Go where your followers can see your miracles!" they scoffed.
• 4. "You can't become a public figure if you hide like this! If you can do such wonderful things, prove it to the world!"
• 5. For even his brothers didn't believe in him.
• 6. Jesus replied, "Now is not the right time for me to go. But you can go anytime, and it will make no difference.
• 7. The world can't hate you, but it does hate me because I accuse it of sin and evil.
• 8. You go on. I am not yet ready to go to this festival, because my time has not yet come."
• 9. So Jesus remained in Galilee.
• 10. But after his brothers had left for the festival, Jesus also went, though secretly, staying out of public view.
• 11. The Jewish leaders tried to find him at the festival and kept asking if anyone had seen him.
• 12. There was a lot of discussion about him among the crowds. Some said, "He's a wonderful man," while others said, "He's nothing but a fraud, deceiving the people."
• 13. But no one had the courage to speak favorably about him in public, for they were afraid of getting in trouble with the Jewish leaders.
• 14. Then, midway through the festival, Jesus went up to the Temple and began to teach.
• 15. The Jewish leaders were surprised when they heard him. "How does he know so much when he hasn't studied everything we've studied?" they asked.
• 16. So Jesus told them, "I'm not teaching my own ideas, but those of God who sent me.
• 17. Anyone who wants to do the will of God will know whether my teaching is from God or is merely my own.
• 18. Those who present their own ideas are looking for praise for themselves, but those who seek to honor the one who sent them are good and genuine.
• 19. None of you obeys the law of Moses! In fact, you are trying to kill me."
• 20. The crowd replied, "You're demon possessed! Who's trying to kill you?"
• 21. Jesus replied, "I worked on the Sabbath by healing a man, and you were offended.
• 22. But you work on the Sabbath, too, when you obey Moses' law of circumcision. (Actually, this tradition of circumcision is older than the law of Moses; it goes back to Abraham.)
• 23. For if the correct time for circumcising your son falls on the Sabbath, you go ahead and do it, so as not to break the law of Moses. So why should I be condemned for making a man completely well on the Sabbath?
• 24. Think this through and you will see that I am right."
• 25. Some of the people who lived there in Jerusalem said among themselves, "Isn't this the man they are trying to kill?
• 26. But here he is, speaking in public, and they say nothing to him. Can it be that our leaders know that he really is the Messiah?
• 27. But how could he be? For we know where this man comes from. When the Messiah comes, he will simply appear; no one will know where he comes from."
• 28. While Jesus was teaching in the Temple, he called out, "Yes, you know me, and you know where I come from. But I represent one you don't know, and he is true.
• 29. I know him because I have come from him, and he sent me to you."
• 30. Then the leaders tried to arrest him; but no one laid a hand on him, because his time had not yet come.
• 31. Many among the crowds at the Temple believed in him. "After all," they said, "would you expect the Messiah to do more miraculous signs than this man has done?"
• 32. When the Pharisees heard that the crowds were murmuring such things, they and the leading priests sent Temple guards to arrest Jesus.
• 33. But Jesus told them, "I will be here a little longer. Then I will return to the one who sent me.
• 34. You will search for me but not find me. And you won't be able to come where I am."
• 35. The Jewish leaders were puzzled by this statement. "Where is he planning to go?" they asked. "Maybe he is thinking of leaving the country and going to the Jews in other lands, or maybe even to the Gentiles!
• 36. What does he mean when he says, 'You will search for me but not find me,' and 'You won't be able to come where I am'?"
• 37. On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, "If you are thirsty, come to me!
• 38. If you believe in me, come and drink! For the Scriptures declare that rivers of living water will flow out from within."
• 39. (When he said "living water," he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.)
• 40. When the crowds heard him say this, some of them declared, "This man surely is the Prophet."
• 41. Others said, "He is the Messiah." Still others said, "But he can't be! Will the Messiah come from Galilee?
• 42. For the Scriptures clearly state that the Messiah will be born of the royal line of David, in Bethlehem, the village where King David was born."
• 43. So the crowd was divided in their opinion about him.
• 44. And some wanted him arrested, but no one touched him.
• 45. The Temple guards who had been sent to arrest him returned to the leading priests and Pharisees. "Why didn't you bring him in?" they demanded.
• 46. "We have never heard anyone talk like this!" the guards responded.
• 47. "Have you been led astray, too?" the Pharisees mocked.
• 48. "Is there a single one of us rulers or Pharisees who believes in him?
• 49. These ignorant crowds do, but what do they know about it? A curse on them anyway!"
• 50. Nicodemus, the leader who had met with Jesus earlier, then spoke up.
• 51. "Is it legal to convict a man before he is given a hearing?" he asked.
• 52. They replied, "Are you from Galilee, too? Search the Scriptures and see for yourself--no prophet ever comes from Galilee!"
• 53. Then the meeting broke up and everybody went home.

Proverbs 4

• 1. My children, listen to me. Listen to your father's instruction. Pay attention and grow wise,
• 2. for I am giving you good guidance. Don't turn away from my teaching.
• 3. For I, too, was once my father's son, tenderly loved by my mother as an only child.
• 4. My father told me, "Take my words to heart. Follow my instructions and you will live.
• 5. Learn to be wise, and develop good judgment. Don't forget or turn away from my words.
• 6. Don't turn your back on wisdom, for she will protect you. Love her, and she will guard you.
• 7. Getting wisdom is the most important thing you can do! And whatever else you do, get good judgment.
• 8. If you prize wisdom, she will exalt you. Embrace her and she will honor you.
• 9. She will place a lovely wreath on your head; she will present you with a beautiful crown."
• 10. My child, listen to me and do as I say, and you will have a long, good life.
• 11. I will teach you wisdom's ways and lead you in straight paths.
• 12. If you live a life guided by wisdom, you won't limp or stumble as you run.
• 13. Carry out my instructions; don't forsake them. Guard them, for they will lead you to a fulfilled life.
• 14. Do not do as the wicked do or follow the path of evildoers.
• 15. Avoid their haunts. Turn away and go somewhere else,
• 16. for evil people cannot sleep until they have done their evil deed for the day. They cannot rest unless they have caused someone to stumble.
• 17. They eat wickedness and drink violence!
• 18. The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, which shines ever brighter until the full light of day.
• 19. But the way of the wicked is like complete darkness. Those who follow it have no idea what they are stumbling over.
• 20. Pay attention, my child, to what I say. Listen carefully.
• 21. Don't lose sight of my words. Let them penetrate deep within your heart,
• 22. for they bring life and radiant health to anyone who discovers their meaning.
• 23. Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do.
• 24. Avoid all perverse talk; stay far from corrupt speech.
• 25. Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you.
• 26. Mark out a straight path for your feet; then stick to the path and stay safe.
• 27. Don't get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil.

New Living Translation: 76 of 365 days.