Leviticus 11

• 1. Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron,
• 2. "Give the following instructions to the Israelites: The animals you may use for food
• 3. include those that have completely divided hooves and chew the cud.
• 4. You may not, however, eat the animals named here because they either have split hooves or chew the cud, but not both. The camel may not be eaten, for though it chews the cud, it does not have split hooves.
• 5. The same is true of the rock badger
• 6. and the hare, so they also may never be eaten.
• 7. And the pig may not be eaten, for though it has split hooves, it does not chew the cud.
• 8. You may not eat the meat of these animals or touch their dead bodies. They are ceremonially unclean for you.
• 9. "As for marine animals, you may eat whatever has both fins and scales, whether taken from fresh water or salt water.
• 10. You may not, however, eat marine animals that do not have both fins and scales. You are to detest them,
• 11. and they will always be forbidden to you. You must never eat their meat or even touch their dead bodies.
• 12. I repeat, any marine animal that does not have both fins and scales is strictly forbidden to you.
• 13. "These are the birds you must never eat because they are detestable for you: the eagle, the vulture, the osprey,
• 14. the buzzard, kites of all kinds,
• 15. ravens of all kinds,
• 16. the ostrich, the nighthawk, the seagull, hawks of all kinds,
• 17. the little owl, the cormorant, the great owl,
• 18. the white owl, the pelican, the carrion vulture,
• 19. the stork, herons of all kinds, the hoopoe, and the bat.
• 20. "You are to consider detestable all swarming insects that walk along the ground.
• 21. However, there are some exceptions that you may eat. These include insects that jump with their hind legs:
• 22. locusts of all varieties, crickets, bald locusts, and grasshoppers. All these may be eaten.
• 23. But you are to consider detestable all other swarming insects that walk or crawl.
• 24. "The following creatures make you ceremonially unclean. If you touch any of their dead bodies, you will be defiled until evening.
• 25. If you move the dead body of an unclean animal, you must immediately wash your clothes, and you will remain defiled until evening.
• 26. "Any animal that has divided but unsplit hooves or that does not chew the cud is unclean for you. If you touch the dead body of such an animal, you will be defiled until evening.
• 27. Of the animals that walk on all fours, those that have paws are unclean for you. If you touch the dead body of such an animal, you will be defiled until evening.
• 28. If you pick up and move its carcass, you must immediately wash your clothes, and you will remain defiled until evening.
• 29. "Of the small animals that scurry or creep on the ground, these are unclean for you: the mole, the mouse, the great lizard of all varieties,
• 30. the gecko, the monitor lizard, the common lizard, the sand lizard, and the chameleon.
• 31. All these small animals are unclean for you. If you touch the dead body of such an animal, you will be defiled until evening.
• 32. If such an animal dies and falls on something, that object, whatever its use, will be unclean. This is true whether the object is made of wood, cloth, leather, or sackcloth. It must be put into water, and it will remain defiled until evening. After that, it will be ceremonially clean and may be used again.
• 33. "If such an animal dies and falls into a clay pot, everything in the pot will be defiled, and the pot must be smashed.
• 34. If the water used to cleanse an unclean object touches any food, all of that food will be defiled. And any beverage that is in such an unclean container will be defiled.
• 35. Any object on which the dead body of such an animal falls will be defiled. If it is a clay oven or cooking pot, it must be smashed to pieces. It has become defiled, and it will remain that way.
• 36. "However, if the dead body of such an animal falls into a spring or a cistern, the water will still be clean. But anyone who removes the dead body will be defiled.
• 37. If the dead body falls on seed grain to be planted in the field, the seed will still be considered clean.
• 38. But if the seed is wet when the dead body falls on it, the seed will be defiled.
• 39. "If an animal that is permitted for eating dies and you touch its carcass, you will be defiled until evening.
• 40. If you eat any of its meat or carry away its carcass, you must wash your clothes. Then you will remain defiled until evening.
• 41. "Consider detestable any animal that scurries along the ground; such animals may never be eaten.
• 42. This includes all animals that slither along on their bellies, as well as those with four legs and those with many feet. All such animals are to be considered detestable.
• 43. Never defile yourselves by touching such animals.
• 44. After all, I, the LORD, am your God. You must be holy because I am holy. So do not defile yourselves by touching any of these animals that scurry along the ground.
• 45. I, the LORD, am the one who brought you up from the land of Egypt to be your God. You must therefore be holy because I am holy.
• 46. "These are the instructions regarding the land animals, the birds, and all the living things that move through the water or swarm over the earth,
• 47. so you can distinguish between what is unclean and may not be eaten and what is clean and may be eaten."

Leviticus 12

• 1. The LORD said to Moses, "Give these instructions to the Israelites:
• 2. When a woman becomes pregnant and gives birth to a son, she will be ceremonially unclean for seven days, just as she is defiled during her menstrual period.
• 3. On the eighth day, the boy must be circumcised.
• 4. Then the woman must wait for thirty-three days until the time of her purification from the blood of childbirth is completed. During this time of purification, she must not touch anything that is holy. And she must not go to the sanctuary until her time of purification is over.
• 5. If a woman gives birth to a daughter, she will be ceremonially defiled for two weeks, just as she is defiled during her menstrual period. She must then wait another sixty-six days to be purified from the blood of childbirth.
• 6. "When the time of purification is completed for either a son or a daughter, the woman must bring a year-old lamb for a whole burnt offering and a young pigeon or turtledove for a purification offering. She must take her offerings to the priest at the entrance of the Tabernacle.
• 7. The priest will then present them to the LORD and make atonement for her. Then she will be ceremonially clean again after her bleeding at childbirth. These are the instructions to be followed after the birth of a son or a daughter.
• 8. "If a woman cannot afford to bring a sheep, she must bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons. One will be for the whole burnt offering and the other for the purification offering. The priest will sacrifice them, thus making atonement for her, and she will be ceremonially clean."

Psalms 13

• 1. O LORD, how long will you forget me? Forever? How long will you look the other way?
• 2. How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day? How long will my enemy have the upper hand?
• 3. Turn and answer me, O LORD my God! Restore the light to my eyes, or I will die.
• 4. Don't let my enemies gloat, saying, "We have defeated him!" Don't let them rejoice at my downfall.
• 5. But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me.
• 6. I will sing to the LORD because he has been so good to me.

Psalms 14

• 1. Only fools say in their hearts, "There is no God." They are corrupt, and their actions are evil; no one does good!
• 2. The LORD looks down from heaven on the entire human race; he looks to see if there is even one with real understanding, one who seeks for God.
• 3. But no, all have turned away from God; all have become corrupt. No one does good, not even one!
• 4. Will those who do evil never learn? They eat up my people like bread; they wouldn't think of praying to the LORD.
• 5. Terror will grip them, for God is with those who obey him.
• 6. The wicked frustrate the plans of the oppressed, but the LORD will protect his people.
• 7. Oh, that salvation would come from Mount Zion to rescue Israel! For when the LORD restores his people, Jacob will shout with joy, and Israel will rejoice.

Proverbs 26

• 1. Honor doesn't go with fools any more than snow with summer or rain with harvest.
• 2. Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an unfair curse will not land on its intended victim.
• 3. Guide a horse with a whip, a donkey with a bridle, and a fool with a rod to his back!
• 4. When arguing with fools, don't answer their foolish arguments, or you will become as foolish as they are.
• 5. When arguing with fools, be sure to answer their foolish arguments, or they will become wise in their own estimation.
• 6. Trusting a fool to convey a message is as foolish as cutting off one's feet or drinking poison!
• 7. In the mouth of a fool, a proverb becomes as limp as a paralyzed leg.
• 8. Honoring a fool is as foolish as tying a stone to a slingshot.
• 9. A proverb in a fool's mouth is as dangerous as a thornbush brandished by a drunkard.
• 10. An employer who hires a fool or a bystander is like an archer who shoots recklessly.
• 11. As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.
• 12. There is more hope for fools than for people who think they are wise.
• 13. The lazy person is full of excuses, saying, "I can't go outside because there might be a lion on the road! Yes, I'm sure there's a lion out there!"
• 14. As a door turns back and forth on its hinges, so the lazy person turns over in bed.
• 15. Some people are so lazy that they won't lift a finger to feed themselves.
• 16. Lazy people consider themselves smarter than seven wise counselors.
• 17. Yanking a dog's ears is as foolish as interfering in someone else's argument.
• 18. Just as damaging as a mad man shooting a lethal weapon
• 19. is someone who lies to a friend and then says, "I was only joking."
• 20. Fire goes out for lack of fuel, and quarrels disappear when gossip stops.
• 21. A quarrelsome person starts fights as easily as hot embers light charcoal or fire lights wood.
• 22. What dainty morsels rumors are--but they sink deep into one's heart.
• 23. Smooth words may hide a wicked heart, just as a pretty glaze covers a common clay pot.
• 24. People with hate in their hearts may sound pleasant enough, but don't believe them.
• 25. Though they pretend to be kind, their hearts are full of all kinds of evil.
• 26. While their hatred may be concealed by trickery, it will finally come to light for all to see.
• 27. If you set a trap for others, you will get caught in it yourself. If you roll a boulder down on others, it will roll back and crush you.
• 28. A lying tongue hates its victims, and flattery causes ruin.

New Living Translation: 98 of 365 days.