Exodus 37

• 1. Next Bezalel made the Ark out of acacia wood. It was 3 3/4 feet long, 2 1/4 feet wide, and 2 1/4 feet high.
• 2. It was overlaid with pure gold inside and out, and it had a molding of gold all the way around.
• 3. Four gold rings were fastened to its four feet, two rings at each side.
• 4. Then he made poles from acacia wood and overlaid them with gold.
• 5. He put the poles into the rings at the sides of the Ark to carry it.
• 6. Then, from pure gold, he made the Ark's cover--the place of atonement. It was 3 3/4 feet long and 2 1/4 feet wide.
• 7. He made two figures of cherubim out of hammered gold and placed them at the two ends of the atonement cover.
• 8. They were made so they were actually a part of the atonement cover--it was all one piece.
• 9. The cherubim faced each other as they looked down on the atonement cover, and their wings were stretched out above the atonement cover to protect it.
• 10. Then he made a table out of acacia wood, 3 feet long, 1 1/2 feet wide, and 2 1/4 feet high.
• 11. It was overlaid with pure gold, with a gold molding all around the edge.
• 12. A rim about 3 inches wide was attached along the edges of the table, and a gold molding ran around the rim.
• 13. Then he cast four rings of gold and attached them to the four table legs
• 14. next to the rim. These were made to hold the carrying poles in place.
• 15. He made the carrying poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold.
• 16. Next, using pure gold, he made the plates, dishes, bowls, and pitchers to be placed on the table. These utensils were to be used in pouring out drink offerings.
• 17. Then he made the lampstand, again using pure, hammered gold. Its base, center stem, lamp cups, blossoms, and buds were all of one piece.
• 18. The lampstand had six branches, three going out from each side of the center stem.
• 19. Each of the six branches held a cup shaped like an almond blossom, complete with buds and petals.
• 20. The center stem of the lampstand was also decorated with four almond blossoms.
• 21. One blossom was set beneath each pair of branches, where they extended from the center stem.
• 22. The decorations and branches were all one piece with the stem, and they were hammered from pure gold.
• 23. He also made the seven lamps, the lamp snuffers, and the trays, all of pure gold.
• 24. The entire lampstand, along with its accessories, was made from seventy-five pounds of pure gold.
• 25. The incense altar was made of acacia wood. It was eighteen inches square and three feet high, with its corner horns made from the same piece of wood as the altar itself.
• 26. He overlaid the top, sides, and horns of the altar with pure gold and ran a gold molding around the edge.
• 27. Two gold rings were placed on opposite sides, beneath the molding, to hold the carrying poles.
• 28. The carrying poles were made of acacia wood and were overlaid with gold.
• 29. Then he made the sacred oil, for anointing the priests, and the fragrant incense, using the techniques of the most skilled incense maker.

John 17

• 1. When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he looked up to heaven and said, "Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son so he can give glory back to you.
• 2. For you have given him authority over everyone in all the earth. He gives eternal life to each one you have given him.
• 3. And this is the way to have eternal life--to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth.
• 4. I brought glory to you here on earth by doing everything you told me to do.
• 5. And now, Father, bring me into the glory we shared before the world began.
• 6. "I have told these men about you. They were in the world, but then you gave them to me. Actually, they were always yours, and you gave them to me; and they have kept your word.
• 7. Now they know that everything I have is a gift from you,
• 8. for I have passed on to them the words you gave me; and they accepted them and know that I came from you, and they believe you sent me.
• 9. "My prayer is not for the world, but for those you have given me, because they belong to you.
• 10. And all of them, since they are mine, belong to you; and you have given them back to me, so they are my glory!
• 11. Now I am departing the world; I am leaving them behind and coming to you. Holy Father, keep them and care for them--all those you have given me--so that they will be united just as we are.
• 12. During my time here, I have kept them safe. I guarded them so that not one was lost, except the one headed for destruction, as the Scriptures foretold.
• 13. "And now I am coming to you. I have told them many things while I was with them so they would be filled with my joy.
• 14. I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not.
• 15. I'm not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one.
• 16. They are not part of this world any more than I am.
• 17. Make them pure and holy by teaching them your words of truth.
• 18. As you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world.
• 19. And I give myself entirely to you so they also might be entirely yours.
• 20. "I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me because of their testimony.
• 21. My prayer for all of them is that they will be one, just as you and I are one, Father--that just as you are in me and I am in you, so they will be in us, and the world will believe you sent me.
• 22. "I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are--
• 23. I in them and you in me, all being perfected into one. Then the world will know that you sent me and will understand that you love them as much as you love me.
• 24. Father, I want these whom you've given me to be with me, so they can see my glory. You gave me the glory because you loved me even before the world began!
• 25. "O righteous Father, the world doesn't know you, but I do; and these disciples know you sent me.
• 26. And I have revealed you to them and will keep on revealing you. I will do this so that your love for me may be in them and I in them."

Proverbs 14

• 1. A wise woman builds her house; a foolish woman tears hers down with her own hands.
• 2. Those who follow the right path fear the LORD; those who take the wrong path despise him.
• 3. The talk of fools is a rod for their backs, but the words of the wise keep them out of trouble.
• 4. An empty stable stays clean, but no income comes from an empty stable.
• 5. A truthful witness does not lie; a false witness breathes lies.
• 6. A mocker seeks wisdom and never finds it, but knowledge comes easily to those with understanding.
• 7. Stay away from fools, for you won't find knowledge there.
• 8. The wise look ahead to see what is coming, but fools deceive themselves.
• 9. Fools make fun of guilt, but the godly acknowledge it and seek reconciliation.
• 10. Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can fully share its joy.
• 11. The house of the wicked will perish, but the tent of the godly will flourish.
• 12. There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death.
• 13. Laughter can conceal a heavy heart; when the laughter ends, the grief remains.
• 14. Backsliders get what they deserve; good people receive their reward.
• 15. Only simpletons believe everything they are told! The prudent carefully consider their steps.
• 16. The wise are cautious and avoid danger; fools plunge ahead with great confidence.
• 17. Those who are short-tempered do foolish things, and schemers are hated.
• 18. The simpleton is clothed with folly, but the wise person is crowned with knowledge.
• 19. Evil people will bow before good people; the wicked will bow at the gates of the godly.
• 20. The poor are despised even by their neighbors, while the rich have many "friends."
• 21. It is sin to despise one's neighbors; blessed are those who help the poor.
• 22. If you plot evil, you will be lost; but if you plan good, you will be granted unfailing love and faithfulness.
• 23. Work brings profit, but mere talk leads to poverty!
• 24. Wealth is a crown for the wise; the effort of fools yields only folly.
• 25. A truthful witness saves lives, but a false witness is a traitor.
• 26. Those who fear the LORD are secure; he will be a place of refuge for their children.
• 27. Fear of the LORD is a life-giving fountain; it offers escape from the snares of death.
• 28. A growing population is a king's glory; a dwindling nation is his doom.
• 29. Those who control their anger have great understanding; those with a hasty temper will make mistakes.
• 30. A relaxed attitude lengthens life; jealousy rots it away.
• 31. Those who oppress the poor insult their Maker, but those who help the poor honor him.
• 32. The wicked are crushed by their sins, but the godly have a refuge when they die.
• 33. Wisdom is enshrined in an understanding heart; wisdom is not found among fools.
• 34. Godliness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.
• 35. A king rejoices in servants who know what they are doing; he is angry with those who cause trouble.

New Living Translation: 86 of 365 days.