March 7 Reading through the Bible Day 67

NUMBERS 8:1-9:23
MARK 13:14-37
PSALM 50:1-23
PROVERBS 10:29-30

NUMBERS 8:1-9:23
The LORD said to Moses, 2 " Tell Aaron that when he sets up the seven lamps in the lampstand, he is to place them so their light shines forward." 3 So Aaron did this. He set up the seven lamps so they reflected their light forward, just as the LORD had commanded Moses. 4 The entire lampstand, from its base to its decorative blossoms, was made of beaten gold. It was built according to the exact design the LORD had shown Moses. 5 Then the LORD said to Moses, 6 " Now set the Levites apart from the rest of the people of Israel and make them ceremonially clean. 7 Do this by sprinkling them with the water of purification. And have them shave their entire body and wash their clothing. Then they will be ceremonially clean. 8 Have them bring a young bull and a grain offering of choice flour mixed with olive oil, along with a second young bull for a sin offering. 9 Then assemble the whole community of Israel and present the Levites at the entrance of the Tabernacle. 10 When you bring the Levites before the LORD, the people of Israel must lay their hands on them. 11 Aaron must present the Levites to the LORD as a special offering from the people of Israel, thus dedicating them to the LORD's service.12 " Next the Levites will lay their hands on the heads of the young bulls and present them to the LORD. One will be for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering, to make atonement for the Levites. 13 Then have the Levites stand in front of Aaron and his sons, and present them as a special offering to the LORD. 14 In this way, you will set the Levites apart from the rest of the people of Israel, and the Levites will belong to me. 15 After this, they may go in and out of the Tabernacle to do their work, because you have purified them and presented them as a special offering. 16 " Of all the people of Israel, the Levites are reserved for me. I have claimed them for myself in place of all the firstborn sons of the Israelites; I have taken the Levites as their substitutes. 17 For all the firstborn males among the people of Israel are mine, both people and animals. I set them apart for myself on the night I killed all the firstborn sons of the Egyptians. 18 Yes, I claim the Levites in place of all the firstborn sons of Israel. 19 And of all the Israelites, I have assigned the Levites to Aaron and his sons. They will serve in the Tabernacle on behalf of the Israelites and make atonement for them so no plague will strike them when they approach the sanctuary." 20 So Moses, Aaron, and the whole community of Israel dedicated the Levites, carefully following all the LORD's instructions to Moses. 21 The Levites purified themselves and washed their clothes, and Aaron presented them to the LORD as a special offering. He then performed the rite of atonement over them to purify them. 22 From then on the Levites went into the Tabernacle to perform their duties, helping Aaron and his sons. So they carried out all the commands that the LORD gave Moses concerning the Levites.23 The LORD also instructed Moses, 24 " This is the rule the Levites must follow: They must begin serving in the Tabernacle at the age of twenty-five, 25 and they must retire at the age of fifty. 26 After retirement they may assist their fellow Levites by performing guard duty at the Tabernacle, but they may not officiate in the service. This is how you will assign duties to the Levites." 9:1 THE LORD gave these instructions to Moses in early spring, during the second year after Israel's departure from Egypt, while he and the rest of the Israelites were in the wilderness of Sinai: 2 " Tell the Israelites to celebrate the Passover at the proper time, 3 at twilight on the appointed day in early spring. Be sure to follow all my laws and regulations concerning this celebration." 4 So Moses told the people to celebrate the Passover 5 in the wilderness of Sinai as twilight fell on the appointed day. And they celebrated the festival there, just as the LORD had commanded Moses. 6 But some of the men had been ceremonially defiled by touching a dead person, so they could not offer their Passover lambs that day. So they came to Moses and Aaron that day 7 and said, " We have become ceremonially unclean by touching a dead person. But why should we be excluded from presenting the LORD's offering at the proper time with the rest of the Israelites?" 8 Moses answered, " Wait here until I have received instructions for you from the LORD." 9 This was the LORD's reply: 10 " Say to the Israelites: ` If any of the people now or in future generations are ceremonially unclean at Passover time because of touching a dead body, or if they are on a journey and cannot be present at the ceremony, they may still celebrate the LORD's Passover. 11 They must offer the Passover sacrifice one month later, at twilight on the appointed day. They must eat the lamb at that time with bitter herbs and bread made without yeast. 12 They must not leave any of the lamb until the next morning, and they must not break any of its bones. They must follow all the normal regulations concerning the Passover. 13 " ` But those who are ceremonially clean and not away on a trip, yet still refuse to celebrate the Passover at the regular time, will be cut off from the community of Israel for failing to present the LORD's offering at the proper time. They will suffer the consequences of their guilt. 14 And if foreigners living among you want to celebrate the Passover to the LORD, they must follow these same laws and regulations. The same laws apply both to you and to the foreigners living among you.' " 15 The Tabernacle was set up, and on that day the cloud covered it. Then from evening until morning the cloud over the Tabernacle appeared to be a pillar of fire. 16 This was the regular pattern--at night the cloud changed to the appearance of fire. 17 When the cloud lifted from over the sacred tent, the people of Israel followed it. And wherever the cloud settled, the people of Israel camped. 18 In this way, they traveled at the LORD's command and stopped wherever he told them to. Then they remained where they were as long as the cloud stayed over the Tabernacle. 19 If the cloud remained over the Tabernacle for a long time, the Israelites stayed for a long time, just as the LORD commanded. 20 Sometimes the cloud would stay over the Tabernacle for only a few days, so the people would stay for only a few days. Then at the LORD's command they would break camp. 21 Sometimes the cloud stayed only overnight and moved on the next morning. But day or night, when the cloud lifted, the people broke camp and followed. 22 Whether the cloud stayed above the Tabernacle for two days, a month, or a year, the people of Israel stayed in camp and did not move on. But as soon as it lifted, they broke camp and moved on. 23 So they camped or traveled at the LORD's command, and they did whatever the LORD told them through Moses.

MARK 13:14-37
" The time will come when you will see the sacrilegious object that causes desecration standing where it should not be"--reader, pay attention! " Then those in Judea must flee to the hills. 15 A person outside the house must not go back into the house to pack. 16 A person in the field must not return even to get a coat. 17 How terrible it will be for pregnant women and for mothers nursing their babies in those days. 18 And pray that your flight will not be in winter. 19 For those will be days of greater horror than at any time since God created the world. And it will never happen again. 20 In fact, unless the Lord shortens that time of calamity, the entire human race will be destroyed. But for the sake of his chosen ones he has shortened those days. 21 " And then if anyone tells you, ` Look, here is the Messiah,' or, ` There he is,' don't pay any attention. 22 For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform miraculous signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God's chosen ones. 23 Watch out! I have warned you! 24 " At that time, after those horrible days end, the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give light, 25 the stars will fall from the sky,
and the powers of heaven will be shaken. 26 Then everyone will see the Son of Man arrive on the clouds with great power and glory. 27 And he will send forth his angels to gather together his chosen ones from all over the world--from the farthest ends of the earth and heaven. 28 " Now, learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its buds become tender and its leaves begin to sprout, you know without being told that summer is near. 29 Just so, when you see the events I've described beginning to happen, you can be sure that his return is very near, right at the door. 30 I assure you, this generation will not pass from the scene until all these events have taken place. 31 Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will remain forever. 32 " However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows. 33 And since you don't know when they will happen, stay alert and keep watch. 34 " The coming of the Son of Man can be compared with that of a man who left home to go on a trip. He gave each of his employees instructions about the work they were to do, and he told the gatekeeper to watch for his return. 35 So keep a sharp lookout! For you do not know when the homeowner will return--at evening, midnight, early dawn, or late daybreak. 36 Don't let him find you sleeping when he arrives without warning. 37 What I say to you I say to everyone: Watch for his return!"

PSALM 50:1-23
A psalm of Asaph.
1 The mighty God, the LORD, has spoken;
he has summoned all humanity from east to west!
2 From Mount Zion, the perfection of beauty,
God shines in glorious radiance.
3 Our God approaches with the noise of thunder.
Fire devours everything in his way,
and a great storm rages around him.
4 Heaven and earth will be his witnesses
as he judges his people:
5 " Bring my faithful people to me--
those who made a covenant with me by giving sacrifices."
6 Then let the heavens proclaim his justice,
for God himself will be the judge.
Interlude7 " O my people, listen as I speak.
Here are my charges against you, O Israel:
I am God, your God!
8 I have no complaint about your sacrifices
or the burnt offerings you constantly bring to my altar.
9 But I want no more bulls from your barns;
I want no more goats from your pens.
10 For all the animals of the forest are mine,
and I own the cattle on a thousand hills.
11 Every bird of the mountains
and all the animals of the field belong to me.
12 If I were hungry, I would not mention it to you,
for all the world is mine and everything in it.
13 I don't need the bulls you sacrifice;
I don't need the blood of goats.
14 What I want instead is your true thanks to God;
I want you to fulfill your vows to the Most High.
15 Trust me in your times of trouble,
and I will rescue you,
and you will give me glory."
16 But God says to the wicked:
" Recite my laws no longer,
and don't pretend that you obey me.
17 For you refuse my discipline
and treat my laws like trash.
18 When you see a thief, you help him,
and you spend your time with adulterers.
19 Your mouths are filled with wickedness,
and your tongues are full of lies.
20 You sit around and slander a brother--
your own mother's son.
21 While you did all this, I remained silent,
and you thought I didn't care.
But now I will rebuke you,
listing all my charges against you.
22 Repent, all of you who ignore me,
or I will tear you apart,
and no one will help you.
23 But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me.
If you keep to my path,
I will reveal to you the salvation of God."

PROVERBS 10:29-30
The LORD protects the upright but destroys the wicked. The godly will never be disturbed, but the wicked will be removed from the land.

March 6 Reading through the Bible Day 66

NUMBERS 6:1-7:89
MARK 12:38-13:13
PSALM 49:1-20
PROVERBS 10:27-28

NUMBERS 6:1-7:89
Then the LORD said to Moses, " Speak to the people of Israel and give them these instructions: 2 If some of the people, either men or women, take the special vow of a Nazirite, setting themselves apart to the LORD in a special way, 3 they must give up wine and other alcoholic drinks. They must not use vinegar made from wine, they must not drink other fermented drinks or fresh grape juice, and they must not eat grapes or raisins. 4 As long as they are bound by their Nazirite vow, they are not allowed to eat or drink anything that comes from a grapevine, not even the grape seeds or skins. 5 " They must never cut their hair throughout the time of their vow, for they are holy and set apart to the LORD. That is why they must let their hair grow long. 6 And they may not go near a dead body during the entire period of their vow to the LORD, 7 even if their own father, mother, brother, or sister has died. They must not defile the hair on their head, because it is the symbol of their separation to God. 8 This applies as long as they are set apart to the LORD. 9 " If their hair is defiled because someone suddenly falls dead beside them, they must wait for seven days and then shave their heads. Then they will be cleansed from their defilement. 10 On the eighth day they must bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons to the priest at the entrance of the Tabernacle. 11 The priest will offer one of the birds for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering. In this way, he will make atonement for the guilt they incurred from the dead body. Then they must renew their vow that day and let their hair begin to grow again. 12 The days of their vow that were completed before their defilement no longer count. They must rededicate themselves to the LORD for the full term of their vow, and each must bring a one-year-old male lamb for a guilt offering. 13 " This is the ritual law of the Nazirites. At the conclusion of their time of separation as Nazirites, they must each go to the entrance of the Tabernacle 14 and offer these sacrifices to the LORD: a one-year-old male lamb without defect for a burnt offering, a one-year-old female lamb without defect for a sin offering, a ram without defect for a peace offering, 15 a basket of bread made without yeast--cakes of choice flour mixed with olive oil and wafers spread with olive oil--along with their prescribed grain offerings and drink offerings. 16 The priest will present these offerings before the LORD: first the sin offering and the burnt offering; 17 then the ram for a peace offering, along with the basket of bread made without yeast. The priest must also make the prescribed grain offering and drink offering. 18 " Then the Nazirites will shave their hair at the entrance of the Tabernacle and put it on the fire beneath the peace-offering sacrifice. 19 After each Nazirite's head has been shaved, the priest will take for each of them the boiled shoulder of the ram, one cake made without yeast, and one wafer made without yeast, and put them all into the Nazirite's hands. 20 The priest will then lift the gifts up before the LORD in a gesture of offering. These are holy portions for the priest, along with the breast and thigh pieces that were lifted up before the LORD. After this ceremony the Nazirites may again drink wine. 21 " This is the ritual law of the Nazirites. If any Nazirites have vowed to give the LORD anything else beyond what is required by their normal Nazirite vow, they must fulfill their special vow exactly as they have promised." 22 Then the LORD said to Moses, 23 " Instruct Aaron and his sons to bless the people of Israel with this special blessing:24 ` May the LORD bless you
and protect you.
25 May the LORD smile on you
and be gracious to you.
26 May the LORD show you his favor
and give you his peace.'
27 This is how Aaron and his sons will designate the Israelites as my people, and I myself will bless them." 7:1 ON the day Moses set up the Tabernacle, he anointed it and set it apart as holy, along with all its furnishings and the altar with its utensils. 2 Then the leaders of Israel--the tribal leaders who had organized the census--came and brought their offerings. 3 Together they brought six carts and twelve oxen. There was a cart for every two leaders and an ox for each leader. They presented these to the LORD in front of the Tabernacle. 4 Then the LORD said to Moses, 5 " Receive their gifts and use these oxen and carts for the work of the Tabernacle. Distribute them among the Levites according to the work they have to do." 6 So Moses presented the carts and oxen to the Levites. 7 He gave two carts and four oxen to the Gershonite division for their work, 8 and four carts and eight oxen to the Merarite division for their work. All their work was done under the leadership of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest. 9 But he gave none of the carts or oxen to the Kohathite division, since they were required to carry the sacred objects of the Tabernacle on their shoulders. 10 The leaders also presented dedication gifts for the altar at the time it was anointed. They each placed their gifts before the altar. 11 The LORD said to Moses, " Let each leader bring his gift on a different day for the dedication of the altar."12 On the first day Nahshon son of Amminadab, leader of the tribe of Judah, presented his offering. 13 The offering consisted of a silver platter weighing about 3 pounds and a silver basin of about 1 pounds. These were both filled with grain offerings of choice flour mixed with olive oil. 14 He also brought a gold container weighing about four ounces, which was filled with incense. 15 He brought a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering; 16 a male goat for a sin offering; 17 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs for a peace offering. This was the offering brought by Nahshon son of Amminadab.18 On the second day Nethanel son of Zuar, leader of the tribe of Issachar, presented his offering. 19 The offering consisted of a silver platter weighing about 3 pounds and a silver basin of about 1 pounds. These were both filled with grain offerings of choice flour mixed with olive oil. 20 He also brought a gold container weighing about four ounces, which was filled with incense. 21 He brought a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering; 22 a male goat for a sin offering; 23 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs for a peace offering. This was the offering brought by Nethanel son of Zuar.24 On the third day Eliab son of Helon, leader of the tribe of Zebulun, presented his offering. 25 The offering consisted of a silver platter weighing about 3 pounds and a silver basin of about 1 pounds. These were both filled with grain offerings of choice flour mixed with olive oil. 26 He also brought a gold container weighing about four ounces, which was filled with incense. 27 He brought a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering; 28 a male goat for a sin offering; 29 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs for a peace offering. This was the offering brought by Eliab son of Helon.30 On the fourth day Elizur son of Shedeur, leader of the tribe of Reuben, presented his offering. 31 The offering consisted of a silver platter weighing about 3 pounds and a silver basin of about 1 pounds. These were both filled with grain offerings of choice flour mixed with olive oil. 32 He also brought a gold container weighing about four ounces, which was filled with incense. 33 He brought a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering; 34 a male goat for a sin offering; 35 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs for a peace offering. This was the offering brought by Elizur son of Shedeur.36 On the fifth day Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai, leader of the tribe of Simeon, presented his offering. 37 The offering consisted of a silver platter weighing about 3 pounds and a silver basin of about 1 pounds. These were both filled with grain offerings of choice flour mixed with olive oil. 38 He also brought a gold container weighing about four ounces, which was filled with incense. 39 He brought a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering; 40 a male goat for a sin offering; 41 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs for a peace offering. This was the offering brought by Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai.42 On the sixth day Eliasaph son of Deuel, leader of the tribe of Gad, presented his offering. 43 The offering consisted of a silver platter weighing about 3 pounds and a silver basin of about 1 pounds. These were both filled with grain offerings of choice flour mixed with olive oil. 44 He also brought a gold container weighing about four ounces, which was filled with incense. 45 He brought a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering; 46 a male goat for a sin offering; 47 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs for a peace offering. This was the offering brought by Eliasaph son of Deuel.48 On the seventh day Elishama son of Ammihud, leader of the tribe of Ephraim, presented his offering. 49 The offering consisted of a silver platter weighing about 3 pounds and a silver basin of about 1 pounds. These were both filled with grain offerings of choice flour mixed with olive oil. 50 He also brought a gold container weighing about four ounces, which was filled with incense. 51 He brought a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering; 52 a male goat for a sin offering; 53 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs for a peace offering. This was the offering brought by Elishama son of Ammihud.54 On the eighth day Gamaliel son of Pedahzur, leader of the tribe of Manasseh, presented his offering. 55 The offering consisted of a silver platter weighing about 3 pounds and a silver basin of about 1 pounds. These were both filled with grain offerings of choice flour mixed with olive oil. 56 He also brought a gold container weighing about four ounces, which was filled with incense. 57 He brought a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering; 58 a male goat for a sin offering; 59 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs for a peace offering. This was the offering brought by Gamaliel son of Pedahzur.60 On the ninth day Abidan son of Gideoni, leader of the tribe of Benjamin, presented his offering. 61 The offering consisted of a silver platter weighing about 3 pounds and a silver basin of about 1 pounds. These were both filled with grain offerings of choice flour mixed with olive oil. 62 He also brought a gold container weighing about four ounces, which was filled with incense. 63 He brought a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering; 64 a male goat for a sin offering; 65 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs for a peace offering. This was the offering brought by Abidan son of Gideoni.66 On the tenth day Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai, leader of the tribe of Dan, presented his offering. 67 The offering consisted of a silver platter weighing about 3 pounds and a silver basin of about 1 pounds. These were both filled with grain offerings of choice flour mixed with olive oil. 68 He also brought a gold container weighing about four ounces, which was filled with incense. 69 He brought a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering; 70 a male goat for a sin offering; 71 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs for a peace offering. This was the offering brought by Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai.72 On the eleventh day Pagiel son of Ocran, leader of the tribe of Asher, presented his offering. 73 The offering consisted of a silver platter weighing about 3 pounds and a silver basin of about 1 pounds. These were both filled with grain offerings of choice flour mixed with olive oil. 74 He also brought a gold container weighing about four ounces, which was filled with incense. 75 He brought a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering; 76 a male goat for a sin offering; 77 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs for a peace offering. This was the offering brought by Pagiel son of Ocran.78 On the twelfth day Ahira son of Enan, leader of the tribe of Naphtali, presented his offering. 79 The offering consisted of a silver platter weighing about 3 pounds and a silver basin of about 1 pounds. These were both filled with grain offerings of choice flour mixed with olive oil. 80 He also brought a gold container weighing about four ounces, which was filled with incense. 81 He brought a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering; 82 a male goat for a sin offering; 83 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs for a peace offering. This was the offering brought by Ahira son of Enan.84 So this was the dedication offering for the altar, brought by the leaders of Israel at the time it was anointed: twelve silver platters, twelve silver basins, and twelve gold incense containers. 85 In all, the silver objects weighed about 60 pounds, about 3 pounds for each platter and 1 pounds for each basin. 86 The weight of the donated gold came to about three pounds, about four ounces for each of the gold containers that were filled with incense. 87 Twelve bulls, twelve rams, and twelve one-year-old male lambs were donated for the burnt offerings, along with their prescribed grain offerings. Twelve male goats were brought for the sin offerings. 88 Twenty-four young bulls, sixty rams, sixty male goats, and sixty one-year-old male lambs were donated for the peace offerings. This was the dedication offering for the altar after it was anointed. 89 Whenever Moses went into the Tabernacle to speak with the LORD, he heard the voice speaking to him from between the two cherubim above the Ark's cover--the place of atonement--that rests on the Ark of the Covenant. The LORD spoke to him from there.

MARK 12:38-13:13
Here are some of the other things he [Jesus] taught them at this time: " Beware of these teachers of religious law! For they love to parade in flowing robes and to have everyone bow to them as they walk in the marketplaces. 39 And how they love the seats of honor in the synagogues and at banquets. 40 But they shamelessly cheat widows out of their property, and then, to cover up the kind of people they really are, they make long prayers in public. Because of this, their punishment will be the greater." 41 Jesus went over to the collection box in the Temple and sat and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. Many rich people put in large amounts. 42 Then a poor widow came and dropped in two pennies. 43 He called his disciples to him and said, " I assure you, this poor widow has given more than all the others have given. 44 For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has."13:1 AS Jesus was leaving the Temple that day, one of his disciples said, " Teacher, look at these tremendous buildings! Look at the massive stones in the walls!" 2 Jesus replied, " These magnificent buildings will be so completely demolished that not one stone will be left on top of another." 3 Later, Jesus sat on the slopes of the Mount of Olives across the valley from the Temple. Peter, James, John, and Andrew came to him privately and asked him, 4 " When will all this take place? And will there be any sign ahead of time to show us when all this will be fulfilled?" 5 Jesus replied, " Don't let anyone mislead you, 6 because many will come in my name, claiming to be the Messiah. They will lead many astray. 7 And wars will break out near and far, but don't panic. Yes, these things must come, but the end won't follow immediately. 8 Nations and kingdoms will proclaim war against each other, and there will be earthquakes in many parts of the world, and famines. But all this will be only the beginning of the horrors to come. 9 But when these things begin to happen, watch out! You will be handed over to the courts and beaten in the synagogues. You will be accused before governors and kings of being my followers. This will be your opportunity to tell them about me. 10 And the Good News must first be preached to every nation. 11 But when you are arrested and stand trial, don't worry about what to say in your defense. Just say what God tells you to. Then it is not you who will be speaking, but the Holy Spirit.12 " Brother will betray brother to death, fathers will betray their own children, and children will rise against their parents and cause them to be killed. 13 And everyone will hate you because of your allegiance to me. But those who endure to the end will be saved."

PSALM 49:1-20
For the choir director: A psalm of the descendants of Korah.
1 Listen to this, all you people!
Pay attention, everyone in the world!
2 High and low,
rich and poor--listen!
3 For my words are wise,
and my thoughts are filled with insight.
4 I listen carefully to many proverbs
and solve riddles with inspiration from a harp.
5 There is no need to fear when times of trouble come,
when enemies are surrounding me.
6 They trust in their wealth
and boast of great riches.
7 Yet they cannot redeem themselves from death
by paying a ransom to God.
8 Redemption does not come so easily,
for no one can ever pay enough
9 to live forever
and never see the grave.
10 Those who are wise must finally die,
just like the foolish and senseless,
leaving all their wealth behind.
11 The grave is their eternal home,
where they will stay forever.
They may name their estates after themselves,
but they leave their wealth to others.
12 They will not last long despite their riches--
they will die like the animals.
13 This is the fate of fools,
though they will be remembered as being so wise.
Interlude14 Like sheep, they are led to the grave,
where death will be their shepherd.
In the morning the godly will rule over them.
Their bodies will rot in the grave,
far from their grand estates.
15 But as for me, God will redeem my life.
He will snatch me from the power of death.
Interlude16 So don't be dismayed when the wicked grow rich,
and their homes become ever more splendid.
17 For when they die, they carry nothing with them.
Their wealth will not follow them into the grave.
18 In this life they consider themselves fortunate,
and the world loudly applauds their success.
19 But they will die like all others before them
and never again see the light of day.
20 People who boast of their wealth don't understand
that they will die like the animals.

PROVERBS 10:27-28
Fear of the LORD lengthens one's life, but the years of the wicked are cut short. The hopes of the godly result in happiness, but the expectations of the wicked are all in vain.

March 5 Reading through the Bible Day 65

NUMBERS 4:1-5:31
MARK 12:18-37
PSALM 48:1-14
PROVERBS 10:26

NUMBERS 4:1-5:31
Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, 2 " Take a census of the clans and families of the Kohathite division of the Levite tribe. 3 Count all the men between the ages of thirty and fifty who qualify to work in the Tabernacle. 4 " The duties of the Kohathites at the Tabernacle will relate to the most sacred objects. 5 When the camp moves, Aaron and his sons must enter the Tabernacle first to take down the inner curtain and cover the Ark of the Covenant with it. 6 Then they must cover the inner curtain with fine goatskin leather, and the goatskin leather with a dark blue cloth. Finally, they must put the carrying poles of the Ark in place. 7 " Next they must spread a blue cloth over the table, where the Bread of the Presence is displayed, and place the dishes, spoons, bowls, cups, and the special bread on the cloth. 8 They must spread a scarlet cloth over that, and finally a covering of fine goatskin leather on top of the scarlet cloth. Then they must insert the carrying poles into the table. 9 " Next they must cover the lampstand with a dark blue cloth, along with its lamps, lamp snuffers, trays, and special jars of olive oil. 10 The lampstand with its utensils must then be covered with fine goatskin leather, and the bundle must be placed on a carrying frame. 11 " Aaron and his sons must also spread a dark blue cloth over the gold altar and cover this cloth with a covering of fine goatskin leather. Then they are to attach the carrying poles to the altar. 12 All the remaining utensils of the sanctuary must be wrapped in a dark blue cloth, covered with fine goatskin leather, and placed on the carrying frame. 13 " The ashes must be removed from the altar, and the altar must then be covered with a purple cloth. 14 All the altar utensils--the firepans, hooks, shovels, basins, and all the containers--are to be placed on the cloth, and a covering of fine goatskin leather must be spread over them. Finally, the carrying poles must be put in place. 15 When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sanctuary and all the sacred utensils, the Kohathites will come and carry these things to the next destination. But they must not touch the sacred objects, or they will die. So these are the objects of the Tabernacle that the Kohathites must carry. 16 " Eleazar son of Aaron the priest will be responsible for the oil of the lampstand, the fragrant incense, the daily grain offering, and the anointing oil. In fact, the supervision of the entire Tabernacle and everything in it will be Eleazar's responsibility." 17 Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, 18 " Don't let the Kohathite clans be destroyed from among the Levites! 19 This is what you must do so they will live and not die when they approach the most sacred objects. Aaron and his sons must always go in with them and assign a specific duty or load to each person. 20 Otherwise they must not approach the sanctuary and look at the sacred objects for even a moment, or they will die." 21 And the LORD said to Moses, 22 " Take a census of the clans and families of the Gershonite division of the tribe of Levi. 23 Count all the men between the ages of thirty and fifty who are eligible to serve in the Tabernacle. 24 " The duties of the Gershonites will be in the areas of general service and carrying loads. 25 They must carry the curtains of the Tabernacle, the Tabernacle itself with its coverings, the outer covering of fine goatskin leather, and the curtain for the Tabernacle entrance. 26 They are also to carry the curtains for the courtyard walls that surround the Tabernacle and altar, the curtain across the courtyard entrance, the necessary cords, and all the altar's accessories. The Gershonites are responsible for transporting all these items. 27 Aaron and his sons will direct the Gershonites regarding their duties, whether it involves moving or doing other work. They must assign the Gershonites the loads they are to carry. 28 So these are the duties assigned to the Gershonites at the Tabernacle. They will be directly responsible to Ithamar son of Aaron the priest. 29 " Now take a census of the clans and families of the Merarite division of the Levite tribe. 30 Count all the men between the ages of thirty and fifty who are eligible to serve in the Tabernacle. 31 " Their duties at the Tabernacle will consist of carrying loads. They will be required to carry the frames of the Tabernacle, the crossbars, the pillars with their bases, 32 the posts for the courtyard walls with their bases, pegs, cords, accessories, and everything else related to their use. You must assign the various loads to each man by name. 33 So these are the duties of the Merarites at the Tabernacle. They are directly responsible to Ithamar son of Aaron the priest." 34 So Moses, Aaron, and the other leaders of the community counted the Kohathite division by its clans and families. 35 The count included all the men between thirty and fifty years of age who were eligible for service in the Tabernacle, 36 and the total number came to 2,750. 37 So this was the total of all those from the Kohathite clans who were eligible to serve at the Tabernacle. Moses and Aaron counted them, just as the LORD had commanded through Moses. 38 The Gershonite division was also counted by its clans and families. 39 The count included all the men between thirty and fifty years of age who were eligible for service in the Tabernacle, 40 and the total number came to 2,630. 41 So this was the total of all those from the Gershonite clans who were eligible to serve at the Tabernacle. Moses and Aaron counted them, just as the LORD had commanded. 42 The Merarite division was also counted by its clans and families. 43 The count included all the men between thirty and fifty years of age who were eligible for service in the Tabernacle, 44 and the total number came to 3,200. 45 So this was the total of all those from the Merarite clans who were eligible for service. Moses and Aaron counted them, just as the LORD had commanded through Moses. 46 So Moses, Aaron, and the leaders of Israel counted all the Levites by their clans and families. 47 All the men between thirty and fifty years of age who were eligible for service in the Tabernacle and for its transportation 48 numbered 8,580. 49 Each man was assigned his task and told what to carry, just as the LORD had commanded through Moses. And so the census was completed, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.5:1 THE LORD gave these instructions to Moses: 2 " Command the people of Israel to remove anyone from the camp who has a contagious skin disease or a discharge, or who has been defiled by touching a dead person. 3 This applies to men and women alike. Remove them so they will not defile the camp, where I live among you." 4 So the Israelites did just as the LORD had commanded Moses and removed such people from the camp. 5 Then the LORD said to Moses, 6 " Give these instructions to the people of Israel: If any of the people--men or women--betray the LORD by doing wrong to another person, they are guilty. 7 They must confess their sin and make full restitution for what they have done, adding a penalty of 20 percent and returning it to the person who was wronged. 8 But if the person who was wronged is dead, and there are no near relatives to whom restitution can be made, it belongs to the LORD and must be given to the priest, along with a ram for atonement. 9 All the sacred gifts that the Israelites bring to a priest will belong to him. 10 Each priest may keep the sacred donations that he receives." 11 And the LORD said to Moses, 12 " Say to the people of Israel: ` Suppose a man's wife goes astray and is unfaithful to her husband. 13 Suppose she sleeps with another man, but there is no witness since she was not caught in the act. 14 If her husband becomes jealous and suspicious of his wife, even if she has not defiled herself, 15 the husband must bring his wife to the priest with an offering of two quarts of barley flour to be presented on her behalf. Do not mix it with olive oil or frankincense, for it is a jealousy offering--an offering of inquiry to find out if she is guilty. 16 " ` The priest must then present her before the LORD. 17 He must take some holy water in a clay jar and mix it with dust from the Tabernacle floor. 18 When he has presented her before the LORD, he must unbind her hair and place the offering of inquiry--the jealousy offering--in her hands to determine whether or not her husband's suspicions are justified. The priest will stand before her, holding the jar of bitter water that brings a curse to those who are guilty. 19 The priest will put the woman under oath and say to her, " If no other man has slept with you, and you have not defiled yourself by being unfaithful, may you be immune from the effects of this bitter water that causes the curse. 20 But if you have gone astray while under your husband's authority and defiled yourself by sleeping with another man"--21 at this point the priest must put the woman under this oath--" then may the people see that the LORD's curse is upon you when he makes you infertile. 22 Now may this water that brings the curse enter your body and make you infertile." And the woman will be required to say, " Yes, let it be so." 23 Then the priest will write these curses on a piece of leather and wash them off into the bitter water. 24 He will then make the woman drink the bitter water, so it may bring on the curse and cause bitter suffering in cases of guilt. 25 " ` Then the priest will take the jealousy offering from the woman's hand, lift it up before the LORD, and carry it to the altar. 26 He will take a handful as a token portion and burn it on the altar. Then he will require the woman to drink the water. 27 If she has defiled herself by being unfaithful to her husband, the water that brings the curse will cause bitter suffering. She will become infertile, and her name will become a curse word among her people. 28 But if she has not defiled herself and is pure, she will be unharmed and will still be able to have children.29 " ` This is the ritual law for dealing with jealousy. If a woman defiles herself by being unfaithful to her husband, 30 or if a man is overcome with jealousy and suspicion that his wife has been unfaithful, the husband must present his wife before the LORD, and the priest will apply this entire ritual law to her. 31 The husband will be innocent of any guilt in this matter, but his wife will be held accountable for her sin.' "

MARK 12:18-37
Then the Sadducees stepped forward--a group of Jews who say there is no resurrection after death. They posed this question: 19 " Teacher, Moses gave us a law that if a man dies, leaving a wife without children, his brother should marry the widow and have a child who will be the brother's heir.* 20 Well, there were seven brothers. The oldest of them married and then died without children. 21 So the second brother married the widow, but soon he too died and left no children. Then the next brother married her and died without children. 22 This continued until all the brothers had married her and died, and still there were no children. Last of all, the woman died, too. 23 So tell us, whose wife will she be in the resurrection? For all seven were married to her." 24 Jesus replied, " Your problem is that you don't know the Scriptures, and you don't know the power of God. 25 For when the dead rise, they won't be married. They will be like the angels in heaven. 26 But now, as to whether the dead will be raised--haven't you ever read about this in the writings of Moses, in the story of the burning bush? Long after Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had died, God said to Moses, ` I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.' 27 So he is the God of the living, not the dead. You have made a serious error." 28 One of the teachers of religious law was standing there listening to the discussion. He realized that Jesus had answered well, so he asked, " Of all the commandments, which is the most important?" 29 Jesus replied, " The most important commandment is this: ` Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. 30 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.' 31 The second is equally important: ` Love your neighbor as yourself.' No other commandment is greater than these." 32 The teacher of religious law replied, " Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth by saying that there is only one God and no other. 33 And I know it is important to love him with all my heart and all my understanding and all my strength, and to love my neighbors as myself. This is more important than to offer all of the burnt offerings and sacrifices required in the law."34 Realizing this man's understanding, Jesus said to him, " You are not far from the Kingdom of God." And after that, no one dared to ask him any more questions. 35 Later, as Jesus was teaching the people in the Temple, he asked, " Why do the teachers of religious law claim that the Messiah will be the son of David? 36 For David himself, speaking under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, said, ` The LORD said to my Lord,
Sit in honor at my right hand
until I humble your enemies beneath your feet.'
37 Since David himself called him Lord, how can he be his son at the same time?" And the crowd listened to him with great interest.

PSALM 48:1-14
A psalm of the descendants of Korah.A song.
1 How great is the LORD,
and how much we should praise him
in the city of our God,
which is on his holy mountain!
2 It is magnificent in elevation--
the whole earth rejoices to see it!
Mount Zion, the holy mountain,
is the city of the great King!
3 God himself is in Jerusalem's towers.
He reveals himself as her defender.
4 The kings of the earth joined forces
and advanced against the city.
5 But when they saw it, they were stunned;
they were terrified and ran away.
6 They were gripped with terror,
like a woman writhing in the pain of childbirth
7 or like the mighty ships of Tarshish
being shattered by a powerful east wind.
8 We had heard of the city's glory,
but now we have seen it ourselves--
the city of the LORD Almighty.
It is the city of our God;
he will make it safe forever.
Interlude9 O God, we meditate on your unfailing love
as we worship in your Temple.
10 As your name deserves, O God,
you will be praised to the ends of the earth.
Your strong right hand is filled with victory.
11 Let the people on Mount Zion rejoice.
Let the towns of Judah be glad,
for your judgments are just.
12 Go, inspect the city of Jerusalem.
Walk around and count the many towers.
13 Take note of the fortified walls,
and tour all the citadels,
that you may describe them
to future generations.
14 For that is what God is like.
He is our God forever and ever,
and he will be our guide until we die.

PROVERBS 10:26
Lazy people are a pain to their employer. They are like smoke in the eyes or vinegar that sets the teeth on edge.

March 4 Reading through the Bible Day 64

NUMBERS 2:1-3:51
MARK 11:27-12:17
PSALM 47:1-9
PROVERBS 10:24-25

NUMBERS 2:1-3:51
Then the LORD gave these instructions to Moses and Aaron: 2 " Each tribe will be assigned its own area in the camp, and the various groups will camp beneath their family banners. The Tabernacle will be located at the center of these tribal compounds. 3-4 " The divisions of Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun are to camp toward the sunrise on the east side of the Tabernacle, beneath their family banners. These are the names of the tribes, their leaders, and the number of their available troops: Tribe Leader Number Judah Nahshon son of Amminadab 74,600 5-6 Issachar Nethanel son of Zuar 54,400 7-8 Zebulun Eliab son of Helon 57,4009 So the total of all the troops on Judah's side of the camp is 186,400. These three tribes are to lead the way whenever the Israelites travel to a new campsite. 10-11 " The divisions of Reuben, Simeon, and Gad are to camp on the south side of the Tabernacle, beneath their family banners. These are the names of the tribes, their leaders, and the number of their available troops: Tribe Leader Number Reuben Elizur son of Shedeur 46,500 12-13 Simeon Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai 59,300 14-15 Gad Eliasaph son of Deuel 45,65016 So the total of all the troops on Reuben's side of the camp is 151,450. These three tribes will be second in line whenever the Israelites travel. 17 " Then the Levites will set out from the middle of the camp with the Tabernacle. All the tribes are to travel in the same order that they camp, each in position under the appropriate family banner. 18-19 " The divisions of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin are to camp on the west side of the Tabernacle, beneath their family banners. These are the names of the tribes, their leaders, and the number of their available troops: Tribe Leader Number Ephraim Elishama son of Ammihud 40,500 20-21 Manasseh Gamaliel son of Pedahzur 32,200 22-23 Benjamin Abidan son of Gideoni 35,40024 So the total of all the troops on Ephraim's side of the camp is 108,100, and they will follow the Levites in the line of march. 25-26 " The divisions of Dan, Asher, and Naphtali are to camp on the north side of the Tabernacle, beneath their family banners. These are the names of the tribes, their leaders, and the number of their available troops: Tribe Leader Number Dan Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai 62,700 27-28 Asher Pagiel son of Ocran 41,500 29-30 Naphtali Ahira son of Enan 53,40031 So the total of all the troops on Dan's side of the camp is 157,600. They are to bring up the rear whenever the Israelites move to a new campsite." 32 In summary, the troops of Israel listed by their families totaled 603,550. 33 The Levites were exempted from this census by the LORD's command to Moses. 34 So the people of Israel did everything just as the LORD had commanded Moses. Each clan and family set up camp and marched under their banners exactly as the LORD had instructed them.3:1 THIS is the family line of Aaron and Moses as it was recorded when the LORD spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai: 2 Aaron's sons were Nadab (the firstborn), Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 3 They were anointed and set apart to minister as priests. 4 But Nadab and Abihu died in the LORD's presence in the wilderness of Sinai when they burned before the LORD a different kind of fire than he had commanded. Since they had no sons, this left only Eleazar and Ithamar to serve as priests with their father, Aaron. 5 Then the LORD said to Moses, 6 " Call forward the tribe of Levi and present them to Aaron the priest as his assistants. 7 They will serve Aaron and the whole community, performing their sacred duties in and around the Tabernacle. 8 They will also maintain all the furnishings of the sacred tent, serving in the Tabernacle on behalf of all the Israelites. 9 Assign the Levites to Aaron and his sons as their assistants. 10 Appoint Aaron and his sons to carry out the duties of the priesthood. Anyone else who comes too near the sanctuary must be executed!" 11 And the LORD said to Moses, 12 " I have chosen the Levites from among the Israelites as substitutes for all the firstborn sons of the people of Israel. The Levites are mine 13 because all the firstborn sons are mine. From the day I killed all the firstborn sons of the Egyptians, I set apart for myself all the firstborn in Israel of both men and animals. They are mine; I am the LORD." 14 The LORD spoke again to Moses, there in the wilderness of Sinai. He said, 15 " Take a census of the tribe of Levi by its families and clans. Count every male who is one month old or older." 16 So Moses counted them, just as the LORD had commanded. 17 Levi had three sons, who were named Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. 18 The clans descended from Gershon were named for two of his descendants, Libni and Shimei. 19 The clans descended from Kohath were named for four of his descendants, Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. 20 The clans descended from Merari were named for two of his descendants, Mahli and Mushi.These were the Levite clans, listed according to their family groups. 21 The descendants of Gershon were composed of the clans descended from Libni and Shimei. 22 There were 7,500 males one month old or older among these Gershonite clans. 23 They were assigned the area to the west of the Tabernacle for their camp. 24 The leader of the Gershonite clans was Eliasaph son of Lael. 25 These two clans were responsible to care for the tent of the Tabernacle with its layers of coverings, its entry curtains, 26 the curtains of the courtyard that surrounded the Tabernacle and altar, the curtain at the courtyard entrance, the cords, and all the equipment related to their use. 27 The descendants of Kohath were composed of the clans descended from Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. 28 There were 8,600 males one month old or older among these Kohathite clans. They were responsible for the care of the sanctuary. 29 They were assigned the area south of the Tabernacle for their camp. 30 The leader of the Kohathite clans was Elizaphan son of Uzziel. 31 These four clans were responsible for the care of the Ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, the various utensils used in the sanctuary, the inner curtain, and all the equipment related to their use. 32 Eleazar the priest, Aaron's son, was the chief administrator over all the Levites, with special responsibility for the oversight of the sanctuary. 33 The descendants of Merari were composed of the clans descended from Mahli and Mushi. 34 There were 6,200 males one month old or older among these Merarite clans. 35 They were assigned the area north of the Tabernacle for their camp. The leader of the Merarite clans was Zuriel son of Abihail. 36 These two clans were responsible for the care of the frames supporting the Tabernacle, the crossbars, the pillars, the bases, and all the equipment related to their use. 37 They were also responsible for the posts of the courtyard and all their bases, pegs, and cords. 38 The area in front of the Tabernacle in the east toward the sunrise was reserved for the tents of Moses and of Aaron and his sons, who had the final responsibility for the sanctuary on behalf of the people of Israel. Anyone other than a priest or Levite who came too near the sanctuary was to be executed. 39 So among the Levite clans counted by Moses and Aaron at the LORD's command, there were 22,000 males one month old or older. 40 Then the LORD said to Moses, " Now count all the firstborn sons in Israel who are one month old or older, and register each name. 41 The Levites will be reserved for me as substitutes for the firstborn sons of Israel; I am the LORD. And the Levites' livestock are mine as substitutes for the firstborn livestock of the whole nation of Israel." 42 So Moses counted the firstborn sons of the people of Israel, just as the LORD had commanded. 43 The total number of firstborn sons who were one month old or older was 22,273. 44 Now the LORD said to Moses, 45 " Take the Levites in place of the firstborn sons of the people of Israel. And take the livestock of the Levites as substitutes for the firstborn livestock of the people of Israel. The Levites will be mine; I am the LORD. 46 To redeem the 273 firstborn sons of Israel who are in excess of the number of Levites, 47 collect five pieces of silver for each person, each piece weighing the same as the standard sanctuary shekel. 48 Give the silver to Aaron and his sons as the redemption price for the extra firstborn sons." 49 So Moses collected redemption money for the firstborn sons of Israel who exceeded the number of Levites. 50 The silver collected on behalf of these firstborn sons of Israel came to about thirty-four pounds in weight. 51 And Moses gave the redemption money to Aaron and his sons as the LORD had commanded.

MARK 11:27-12:17
By this time they [Jesus and his disciples] had arrived in Jerusalem again. As Jesus was walking through the Temple area, the leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the other leaders came up to him. They demanded, 28 " By whose authority did you drive out the merchants from the Temple? Who gave you such authority?" 29 " I'll tell who gave me authority to do these things if you answer one question," Jesus replied. 30 " Did John's baptism come from heaven or was it merely human? Answer me!" 31 They talked it over among themselves. " If we say it was from heaven, he will ask why we didn't believe him. 32 But do we dare say it was merely human?" For they were afraid that the people would start a riot, since everyone thought that John was a prophet. 33 So they finally replied, " We don't know." And Jesus responded, " Then I won't answer your question either."12:1 THEN Jesus began telling them stories: " A man planted a vineyard, built a wall around it, dug a pit for pressing out the grape juice, and built a lookout tower. Then he leased the vineyard to tenant farmers and moved to another country. 2 At grape-picking time he sent one of his servants to collect his share of the crop. 3 But the farmers grabbed the servant, beat him up, and sent him back empty-handed. 4 " The owner then sent another servant, but they beat him over the head and treated him shamefully. 5 The next servant he sent was killed. Others who were sent were either beaten or killed, 6 until there was only one left--his son whom he loved dearly. The owner finally sent him, thinking, ` Surely they will respect my son.' 7 " But the farmers said to one another, ` Here comes the heir to this estate. Let's kill him and get the estate for ourselves!' 8 So they grabbed him and murdered him and threw his body out of the vineyard.9 " What do you suppose the owner of the vineyard will do?" Jesus asked. " I'll tell you--he will come and kill them all and lease the vineyard to others. 10 Didn't you ever read this in the Scriptures? ` The stone rejected by the builders
has now become the cornerstone.
11 This is the Lord's doing,
and it is marvelous to see.'"
12 The Jewish leaders wanted to arrest him for using this illustration because they realized he was pointing at them--they were the wicked farmers in his story. But they were afraid to touch him because of the crowds. So they left him and went away. 13 The leaders sent some Pharisees and supporters of Herod to try to trap Jesus into saying something for which he could be arrested. 14 " Teacher," these men said, " we know how honest you are. You are impartial and don't play favorites. You sincerely teach the ways of God. Now tell us--is it right to pay taxes to the Roman government or not? 15 Should we pay them, or should we not?" Jesus saw through their hypocrisy and said, " Whom are you trying to fool with your trick questions? Show me a Roman coin, and I'll tell you." 16 When they handed it to him, he asked, " Whose picture and title are stamped on it?" " Caesar's," they replied. 17 " Well, then," Jesus said, " give to Caesar what belongs to him. But everything that belongs to God must be given to God." This reply completely amazed them.

PSALM 47:1-9
For the choir director: A psalm of the descendants of Korah.
1 Come, everyone, and clap your hands for joy!
Shout to God with joyful praise!
2 For the LORD Most High is awesome.
He is the great King of all the earth.
3 He subdues the nations before us,
putting our enemies beneath our feet.
4 He chose the Promised Land as our inheritance,
the proud possession of Jacob's descendants, whom he loves.
Interlude5 God has ascended with a mighty shout.
The LORD has ascended with trumpets blaring.
6 Sing praise to God, sing praises;
sing praise to our King, sing praises!
7 For God is the King over all the earth.
Praise him with a psalm!
8 God reigns above the nations,
sitting on his holy throne.
9 The rulers of the world have gathered together.
They join us in praising the God of Abraham.
For all the kings of the earth belong to God.
He is highly honored everywhere.

PROVERBS 10:24-25
The fears of the wicked will all come true; so will the hopes of the godly. Disaster strikes like a cyclone, whirling the wicked away, but the godly have a lasting foundation.

March 3 Reading through the Bible Day 63

LEVITICUS 27:14--NUMBERS 1:54
MARK 11:1-26
PSALM 46:1-11
PROVERBS 10:23

LEVITICUS 27:14--NUMBERS 1:54
" If you dedicate a house to the LORD, the priest must come to assess its value. The priest's assessment will be final. 15 If you wish to redeem the house, you must pay the value set by the priest, plus 20 percent. Then the house will again belong to you. 16 " If you dedicate to the LORD a piece of your ancestral property, its value will be assessed by the amount of seed required to plant it--fifty pieces of silver for an area that produces five bushels of barley seed. 17 If the field is dedicated to the LORD in the Year of Jubilee, then the entire assessment will apply. 18 But if the field is dedicated after the Year of Jubilee, the priest must assess the land's value in proportion to the years left until the next Year of Jubilee. 19 If you decide to redeem the dedicated field, you must pay the land's value as assessed by the priest, plus 20 percent. Then the field will again belong to you. 20 But if you decide not to redeem the field, or if the field is sold to someone else by the priests, it can never be redeemed. 21 When the field is released in the Year of Jubilee, it will be holy, a field specially set apart for the LORD. It will become the property of the priests. 22 " If you dedicate to the LORD a field that you have purchased but which is not part of your ancestral property, 23 the priest must assess its value based on the years until the next Year of Jubilee. You must then give the assessed value of the land as a sacred donation to the LORD. 24 In the Year of Jubilee the field will be released to the original owner from whom you purchased it. 25 All the value assessments must be measured in terms of the standard sanctuary shekel.26 " You may not dedicate to the LORD the firstborn of your cattle or sheep because the firstborn of these animals already belong to him. 27 However, if it is the firstborn of a ceremonially unclean animal, you may redeem it by paying the priest's assessment of its worth, plus 20 percent. If you do not redeem it, the priest may sell it to someone else for its assessed value. 28 " However, anything specially set apart by the LORD--whether a person, an animal, or an inherited field--must never be sold or redeemed. Anything devoted in this way has been set apart for the LORD as holy. 29 A person specially set apart by the LORD for destruction cannot be redeemed. Such a person must be put to death.30 " A tenth of the produce of the land, whether grain or fruit, belongs to the LORD and must be set apart to him as holy. 31 If you want to redeem the LORD's tenth of the fruit or grain, you must pay its value, plus 20 percent. 32 The LORD also owns every tenth animal counted off from your herds and flocks. They are set apart to him as holy. 33 The tenth animal must not be selected on the basis of whether it is good or bad, and no substitutions will be allowed. If any exchange is in fact made, then both the original animal and the substituted one will be considered holy and cannot be redeemed." 34 These are the commands that the LORD gave to the Israelites through Moses on Mount Sinai.1:1 ONE day in midspring, during the second year after Israel's departure from Egypt, the LORD spoke to Moses in the Tabernacle in the wilderness of Sinai. He said, 2 " Take a census of the whole community of Israel by their clans and families. List the names of all the men 3 twenty years old or older who are able to go to war. You and Aaron are to direct the project, 4 assisted by one family leader from each tribe." 5 These are the tribes and the names of the leaders chosen for the task: Tribe Leader Reuben Elizur son of Shedeur 6 Simeon Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai 7 Judah Nahshon son of Amminadab 8 Issachar Nethanel son of Zuar 9 Zebulun Eliab son of Helon 10 Ephraim son of Joseph Elishama son of Ammihud Manasseh son of Joseph Gamaliel son of Pedahzur 11 Benjamin Abidan son of Gideoni 12 Dan Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai 13 Asher Pagiel son of Ocran 14 Gad Eliasaph son of Deuel 15 Naphtali Ahira son of Enan16 These tribal leaders, heads of their own families, were chosen from among all the people. 17 Now Moses and Aaron and the chosen leaders 18 called together the whole community of Israel on that very day. All the people were registered according to their ancestry by their clans and families. The men of Israel twenty years old or older were registered, one by one, 19 just as the LORD had commanded Moses. So Moses counted the people there in the wilderness of Sinai. 20-21 This is the number of men twenty years old or older who were able to go to war, each listed according to his own clan and family: Tribe Number Reuben (Jacob's oldest son) 46,500 22-23 Simeon 59,300 24-25 Gad 45,650 26-27 Judah 74,600 28-29 Issachar 54,400 30-31 Zebulun 57,400 32-33 Ephraim son of Joseph 40,500 34-35 Manasseh son of Joseph 32,200 36-37 Benjamin 35,400 38-39 Dan 62,700 40-41 Asher 41,500 42-43 Naphtali 53,40044 These were the men counted by Moses and Aaron and the twelve leaders of Israel, all listed according to their ancestral descent. 45 They were counted by families--all the men of Israel who were twenty years old or older and able to go to war. 46 The total number was 603,550. 47 But this total did not include the Levites. 48 For the LORD had said to Moses, 49 " Exempt the tribe of Levi from the census; do not include them when you count the rest of the Israelites. 50 You must put the Levites in charge of the Tabernacle of the Covenant, along with its furnishings and equipment. They must carry the Tabernacle and its equipment as you travel, and they must care for it and camp around it. 51 Whenever the Tabernacle is moved, the Levites will take it down and set it up again. Anyone else who goes too near the Tabernacle will be executed. 52 Each tribe of Israel will have a designated camping area with its own family banner. 53 But the Levites will camp around the Tabernacle of the Covenant to offer the people of Israel protection from the LORD's fierce anger. The Levites are responsible to stand guard around the Tabernacle." 54 So the Israelites did everything just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

MARK 11:1-26
As Jesus and his disciples approached Jerusalem, they came to the towns of Bethphage and Bethany, on the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent two of them on ahead. 2 " Go into that village over there," he told them, " and as soon as you enter it, you will see a colt tied there that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 3 If anyone asks what you are doing, just say, ` The Lord needs it and will return it soon.' " 4 The two disciples left and found the colt standing in the street, tied outside a house. 5 As they were untying it, some bystanders demanded, " What are you doing, untying that colt?" 6 They said what Jesus had told them to say, and they were permitted to take it. 7 Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their garments over it, and he sat on it. 8 Many in the crowd spread their coats on the road ahead of Jesus, and others cut leafy branches in the fields and spread them along the way. 9 He was in the center of the procession, and the crowds all around him were shouting, " Praise God!
Bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
10 Bless the coming kingdom of our ancestor David!
Praise God in highest heaven!"
11 So Jesus came to Jerusalem and went into the Temple. He looked around carefully at everything, and then he left because it was late in the afternoon. Then he went out to Bethany with the twelve disciples. 12 The next morning as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus felt hungry. 13 He noticed a fig tree a little way off that was in full leaf, so he went over to see if he could find any figs on it. But there were only leaves because it was too early in the season for fruit. 14 Then Jesus said to the tree, " May no one ever eat your fruit again!" And the disciples heard him say it.15 When they arrived back in Jerusalem, Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out the merchants and their customers. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the stalls of those selling doves, 16 and he stopped everyone from bringing in merchandise. 17 He taught them, " The Scriptures declare, ` My Temple will be called a place of prayer for all nations,' but you have turned it into a den of thieves." 18 When the leading priests and teachers of religious law heard what Jesus had done, they began planning how to kill him. But they were afraid of him because the people were so enthusiastic about Jesus' teaching. 19 That evening Jesus and the disciples left the city. 20 The next morning as they passed by the fig tree he had cursed, the disciples noticed it was withered from the roots. 21 Peter remembered what Jesus had said to the tree on the previous day and exclaimed, " Look, Teacher! The fig tree you cursed has withered!" 22 Then Jesus said to the disciples, " Have faith in God. 23 I assure you that you can say to this mountain, ` May God lift you up and throw you into the sea,' and your command will be obeyed. All that's required is that you really believe and do not doubt in your heart. 24 Listen to me! You can pray for anything, and if you believe, you will have it. 25 But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too."

PSALM 46:1-11
For the choir director: A psalm of the descendants of Korah, to be sung by soprano voices. A song.
1 God is our refuge and strength,
always ready to help in times of trouble.
2 So we will not fear, even if earthquakes come
and the mountains crumble into the sea.
3 Let the oceans roar and foam.
Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!
Interlude4 A river brings joy to the city of our God,
the sacred home of the Most High.
5 God himself lives in that city; it cannot be destroyed.
God will protect it at the break of day.
6 The nations are in an uproar,
and kingdoms crumble!
God thunders,
and the earth melts!
7 The LORD Almighty is here among us;
the God of Israel is our fortress.
Interlude8 Come, see the glorious works of the LORD:
See how he brings destruction upon the world
9 and causes wars to end throughout the earth.
He breaks the bow and snaps the spear in two;
he burns the shields with fire.
10 " Be silent, and know that I am God!
I will be honored by every nation.
I will be honored throughout the world."
11 The LORD Almighty is here among us;
the God of Israel is our fortress.
Interlude

PROVERBS 10:23
Doing wrong is fun for a fool, while wise conduct is a pleasure to the wise.

March 2 Reading through the Bible Day 62

LEVITICUS 25:47-27:13
MARK 10:32-52
PSALM 45:1-17
PROVERBS 10:22

LEVITICUS 25:47-27:13
" If a resident foreigner becomes rich, and if some of your Israelite relatives go bankrupt and sell themselves to such a foreigner, 48 they still retain the right of redemption. They may be bought back by a close relative--49 an uncle, a nephew, or anyone else who is closely related. They may also redeem themselves if they can get the money. 50 The price of their freedom will be based on the number of years left until the next Year of Jubilee--whatever it would cost to hire a servant for that number of years. 51 If many years still remain, they will repay most of what they received when they sold themselves. 52 If only a few years remain until the Year of Jubilee, then they will repay a relatively small amount for their redemption. 53 The foreigner must treat them as servants hired on a yearly basis. You must not allow a resident foreigner to treat any of your Israelite relatives ruthlessly. 54 If any Israelites have not been redeemed by the time the Year of Jubilee arrives, then they and their children must be set free at that time. 55 For the people of Israel are my servants, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt. I, the LORD, am your God. 26:1 " DO not make idols or set up carved images, sacred pillars, or shaped stones to be worshiped in your land. I, the LORD, am your God. 2 You must keep my Sabbath days of rest and show reverence for my sanctuary. I am the LORD. 3 " If you keep my laws and are careful to obey my commands, 4 I will send the seasonal rains. The land will then yield its crops, and the trees will produce their fruit. 5 Your threshing season will extend until the grape harvest, and your grape harvest will extend until it is time to plant grain again. You will eat your fill and live securely in your land. 6 " I will give you peace in the land, and you will be able to sleep without fear. I will remove the wild animals from your land and protect you from your enemies. 7 In fact, you will chase down all your enemies and slaughter them with your swords. 8 Five of you will chase a hundred, and a hundred of you will chase ten thousand! All your enemies will fall beneath the blows of your weapons.9 " I will look favorably upon you and multiply your people and fulfill my covenant with you. 10 You will have such a surplus of crops that you will need to get rid of the leftovers from the previous year to make room for each new harvest. 11 I will live among you, and I will not despise you. 12 I will walk among you; I will be your God, and you will be my people. 13 I, the LORD, am your God, who brought you from the land of Egypt so you would no longer be slaves. I have lifted the yoke of slavery from your neck so you can walk free with your heads held high. 14 " However, if you do not listen to me or obey my commands, 15 and if you break my covenant by rejecting my laws and treating my regulations with contempt, 16 I will punish you. You will suffer from sudden terrors, with wasting diseases, and with burning fevers, causing your eyes to fail and your life to ebb away. You will plant your crops in vain because your enemies will eat them. 17 I will turn against you, and you will be defeated by all your enemies. They will rule over you, and you will run even when no one is chasing you! 18 " And if, in spite of this, you still disobey me, I will punish you for your sins seven times over. 19 I will break down your arrogant spirit by making the skies above as unyielding as iron and the earth beneath as hard as bronze. 20 All your work will be for nothing, for your land will yield no crops, and your trees will bear no fruit. 21 " If even then you remain hostile toward me and refuse to obey, I will inflict you with seven more disasters for your sins. 22 I will release wild animals that will kill your children and destroy your cattle, so your numbers will dwindle and your roads will be deserted. 23 " And if you fail to learn a lesson from this and continue your hostility toward me, 24 then I myself will be hostile toward you, and I will personally strike you seven times over for your sins. 25 I will send armies against you to carry out these covenant threats. If you flee to your cities, I will send a plague to destroy you there, and you will be conquered by your enemies. 26 I will completely destroy your food supply, so the bread from one oven will have to be stretched to feed ten families. They will ration your food by weight, and even if you have food to eat, you will not be satisfied. 27 " If after this you still refuse to listen and still remain hostile toward me, 28 then I will give full vent to my hostility. I will punish you seven times over for your sins. 29 You will eat the flesh of your own sons and daughters. 30 I will destroy your pagan shrines and cut down your incense altars. I will leave your corpses piled up beside your lifeless idols, and I will despise you. 31 I will make your cities desolate and destroy your places of worship, and I will take no pleasure in your offerings of incense. 32 Yes, I myself will devastate your land. Your enemies who come to occupy it will be utterly shocked at the destruction they see. 33 I will scatter you among the nations and attack you with my own weapons. Your land will become desolate, and your cities will lie in ruins. 34 Then at last the land will make up for its missed Sabbath years as it lies desolate during your years of exile in the land of your enemies. Then the land will finally rest and enjoy its Sabbaths. 35 As the land lies in ruins, it will take the rest you never allowed it to take every seventh year while you lived in it. 36 " And for those of you who survive, I will demoralize you in the land of your enemies far away. You will live there in such constant fear that the sound of a leaf driven by the wind will send you fleeing. You will run as though chased by a warrior with a sword, and you will fall even when no one is pursuing you. 37 Yes, though no one is chasing you, you will stumble over each other in flight, as though fleeing in battle. You will have no power to stand before your enemies. 38 You will die among the foreign nations and be devoured in the land of your enemies. 39 Those still left alive will rot away in enemy lands because of their sins and the sins of their ancestors. 40 " But at last my people will confess their sins and the sins of their ancestors for betraying me and being hostile toward me. 41 Finally, when I have given full expression to my hostility and have brought them to the land of their enemies, then at last their disobedient hearts will be humbled, and they will pay for their sins. 42 Then I will remember my covenant with Jacob, with Isaac, and with Abraham, and I will remember the land. 43 And the land will enjoy its years of Sabbath rest as it lies deserted. At last the people will receive the due punishment for their sins, for they rejected my regulations and despised my laws. 44 " But despite all this, I will not utterly reject or despise them while they are in exile in the land of their enemies. I will not cancel my covenant with them by wiping them out. I, the LORD, am their God. 45 I will remember my ancient covenant with their ancestors, whom I brought out of Egypt while all the nations watched. I, the LORD, am their God." 46 These are the laws, regulations, and instructions that the LORD gave to the Israelites through Moses on Mount Sinai.27:1 THE LORD said to Moses, 2 " Give the following instructions to the Israelites: If you make a special vow to dedicate someone to the LORD by paying the value of that person, 3 here is the scale of values to be used. A man between the ages of twenty and sixty is valued at fifty pieces of silver; 4 a woman of that age is valued at thirty pieces of silver. 5 A boy between five and twenty is valued at twenty pieces of silver; a girl of that age is valued at ten pieces of silver. 6 A boy between the ages of one month and five years is valued at five pieces of silver; a girl of that age is valued at three pieces of silver. 7 A man older than sixty is valued at fifteen pieces of silver; a woman older than sixty is valued at ten pieces of silver. 8 If you desire to make such a vow but cannot afford to pay the prescribed amount, go to the priest and he will evaluate your ability to pay. You will then pay the amount decided by the priest. 9 " If your vow involves giving a clean animal--one that is acceptable as an offering to the LORD--then your gift to the LORD will be considered holy. 10 The animal should never be exchanged or substituted for another--neither a good animal for a bad one nor a bad animal for a good one. But if such an exchange is in fact made, then both the original animal and the substitute will be considered holy. 11 But if your vow involves an unclean animal--one that is not acceptable as an offering to the LORD--then you must bring the animal to the priest. 12 He will assess its value, and his assessment will be final. 13 If you want to redeem the animal, you must pay the value set by the priest, plus 20 percent."

MARK 10:32-52
They [the disciples] were now on the way to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. The disciples were filled with dread and the people following behind were overwhelmed with fear. Taking the twelve disciples aside, Jesus once more began to describe everything that was about to happen to him in Jerusalem. 33 " When we get to Jerusalem," he told them, " the Son of Man will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence him to die and hand him over to the Romans. 34 They will mock him, spit on him, beat him with their whips, and kill him, but after three days he will rise again." 35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came over and spoke to him. " Teacher," they said, " we want you to do us a favor." 36 " What is it?" he asked. 37 " In your glorious Kingdom, we want to sit in places of honor next to you," they said, " one at your right and the other at your left." 38 But Jesus answered, " You don't know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of sorrow I am about to drink? Are you able to be baptized with the baptism of suffering I must be baptized with?" 39 " Oh yes," they said, " we are able!" And Jesus said, " You will indeed drink from my cup and be baptized with my baptism, 40 but I have no right to say who will sit on the thrones next to mine. God has prepared those places for the ones he has chosen." 41 When the ten other disciples discovered what James and John had asked, they were indignant. 42 So Jesus called them together and said, " You know that in this world kings are tyrants, and officials lord it over the people beneath them. 43 But among you it should be quite different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be the slave of all. 45 For even I, the Son of Man, came here not to be served but to serve others, and to give my life as a ransom for many." 46 And so they reached Jericho. Later, as Jesus and his disciples left town, a great crowd was following. A blind beggar named Bartimaeus (son of Timaeus) was sitting beside the road as Jesus was going by. 47 When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus from Nazareth was nearby, he began to shout out, " Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" 48 " Be quiet!" some of the people yelled at him. But he only shouted louder, " Son of David, have mercy on me!" 49 When Jesus heard him, he stopped and said, " Tell him to come here." So they called the blind man. " Cheer up," they said. " Come on, he's calling you!" 50 Bartimaeus threw aside his coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus. 51 " What do you want me to do for you?" Jesus asked. " Teacher," the blind man said, " I want to see!" 52 And Jesus said to him, " Go your way. Your faith has healed you." And instantly the blind man could see! Then he followed Jesus down the road.

PSALM 45:1-17
For the choir director: A psalm of the descendants of Korah, to be sung to the tune " Lilies." A love song.
1 My heart overflows with a beautiful thought!
I will recite a lovely poem to the king,
for my tongue is like the pen of a skillful poet.
2 You are the most handsome of all.
Gracious words stream from your lips.
God himself has blessed you forever.
3 Put on your sword, O mighty warrior!
You are so glorious, so majestic!
4 In your majesty, ride out to victory,
defending truth, humility, and justice.
Go forth to perform awe-inspiring deeds!
5 Your arrows are sharp,
piercing your enemies' hearts.
The nations fall before you,
lying down beneath your feet.
6 Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever.
Your royal power is expressed in justice.
7 You love what is right and hate what is wrong.
Therefore God, your God, has anointed you,
pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else.
8 Your robes are perfumed with myrrh, aloes, and cassia.
In palaces decorated with ivory,
you are entertained by the music of harps.
9 Kings' daughters are among your concubines.
At your right side stands the queen,
wearing jewelry of finest gold from Ophir!
10 Listen to me, O royal daughter; take to heart what I say.
Forget your people and your homeland far away.
11 For your royal husband delights in your beauty;
honor him, for he is your lord.
12 The princes of Tyre will shower you with gifts.
People of great wealth will entreat your favor.
13 The bride, a princess, waits within her chamber,
dressed in a gown woven with gold.
14 In her beautiful robes, she is led to the king,
accompanied by her bridesmaids.
15 What a joyful, enthusiastic procession
as they enter the king's palace!
16 Your sons will become kings like their father.
You will make them rulers over many lands.
17 I will bring honor to your name in every generation.
Therefore, the nations will praise you forever and ever.

PROVERBS 10:22
The blessing of the LORD makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.

March 1 Reading through the Bible Day 61

LEVITICUS 24:1-25:46
MARK 10:13-31
PSALM 44:9-26
PROVERBS 10:20-21

LEVITICUS 24:1-25:46
The LORD said to Moses, 2 " Command the people of Israel to provide you with pure olive oil for the lampstand, so it can be kept burning continually. 3 Aaron will set it up outside the inner curtain of the Most Holy Place in the Tabernacle and must arrange to have the lamps tended continually, from evening until morning, before the LORD. This is a permanent law for you, and it must be kept by all future generations. 4 The lamps on the pure gold lampstand must be tended continually in the LORD's presence. 5 " You must bake twelve loaves of bread from choice flour, using three quarts of flour for each loaf. 6 Place the bread in the LORD's presence on the pure gold table, and arrange the loaves in two rows, with six in each row. 7 Sprinkle some pure frankincense near each row. It will serve as a token offering, to be burned in place of the bread as an offering given to the LORD by fire. 8 Every Sabbath day this bread must be laid out before the LORD on behalf of the Israelites as a continual part of the covenant. 9 The loaves of bread belong to Aaron and his male descendants, who must eat them in a sacred place, for they represent a most holy portion of the offerings given to the LORD by fire." 10 One day a man who had an Israelite mother and an Egyptian father got into a fight with one of the Israelite men. 11 During the fight, this son of an Israelite woman blasphemed the LORD's name. So the man was brought to Moses for judgment. His mother's name was Shelomith. She was the daughter of Dibri of the tribe of Dan. 12 They put the man in custody until the LORD's will in the matter should become clear. 13 Then the LORD said to Moses, 14 " Take the blasphemer outside the camp, and tell all those who heard him to lay their hands on his head. Then let the entire community stone him to death. 15 Say to the people of Israel: Those who blaspheme God will suffer the consequences of their guilt and be punished. 16 Anyone who blasphemes the LORD's name must be stoned to death by the whole community of Israel. Any Israelite or foreigner among you who blasphemes the LORD's name will surely die. 17 " Anyone who takes another person's life must be put to death. 18 " Anyone who kills another person's animal must pay it back in full--a live animal for the animal that was killed. 19 " Anyone who injures another person must be dealt with according to the injury inflicted--20 fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth. Whatever anyone does to hurt another person must be paid back in kind. 21 " Whoever kills an animal must make full restitution, but whoever kills another person must be put to death. 22 " These same regulations apply to Israelites by birth and foreigners who live among you. I, the LORD, am your God." 23 After Moses gave all these instructions to the Israelites, they led the blasphemer outside the camp and stoned him to death, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.25:1 WHILE Moses was on Mount Sinai, the LORD said to him, 2 " Give these instructions to the Israelites: When you have entered the land I am giving you as an inheritance, the land itself must observe a Sabbath to the LORD every seventh year. 3 For six years you may plant your fields and prune your vineyards and harvest your crops, 4 but during the seventh year the land will enjoy a Sabbath year of rest to the LORD. Do not plant your crops or prune your vineyards during that entire year. 5 And don't store away the crops that grow naturally or process the grapes that grow on your unpruned vines. The land is to have a year of total rest. 6 But you, your male and female slaves, your hired servants, and any foreigners who live with you may eat the produce that grows naturally during the Sabbath year. 7 And your livestock and the wild animals will also be allowed to eat of the land's bounty. 8 " In addition, you must count off seven Sabbath years, seven years times seven, adding up to forty-nine years in all. 9 Then on the Day of Atonement of the fiftieth year, blow the trumpets loud and long throughout the land. 10 This year will be set apart as holy, a time to proclaim release for all who live there. It will be a jubilee year for you, when each of you returns to the lands that belonged to your ancestors and rejoins your clan. 11 Yes, the fiftieth year will be a jubilee for you. During that year, do not plant any seeds or store away any of the crops that grow naturally, and do not process the grapes that grow on your unpruned vines. 12 It will be a jubilee year for you, and you must observe it as a special and holy time. You may, however, eat the produce that grows naturally in the fields that year. 13 In the Year of Jubilee each of you must return to the lands that belonged to your ancestors. 14 " When you make an agreement with a neighbor to buy or sell property, you must never take advantage of each other. 15 When you buy land from your neighbor, the price of the land should be based on the number of years since the last jubilee. The seller will charge you only for the crop years left until the next Year of Jubilee. 16 The more the years, the higher the price; the fewer the years, the lower the price. After all, the person selling the land is actually selling you a certain number of harvests. 17 Show your fear of God by not taking advantage of each other. I, the LORD, am your God. 18 " If you want to live securely in the land, keep my laws and obey my regulations. 19 Then the land will yield bumper crops, and you will eat your fill and live securely in it. 20 But you might ask, ` What will we eat during the seventh year, since we are not allowed to plant or harvest crops that year?' 21 The answer is, ` I will order my blessing for you in the sixth year, so the land will produce a bumper crop, enough to support you for three years. 22 As you plant the seed in the eighth year, you will still be eating the produce of the previous year. In fact, you will eat from the old crop until the new harvest comes in the ninth year.' 23 And remember, the land must never be sold on a permanent basis because it really belongs to me. You are only foreigners and tenants living with me. 24 " With every sale of land there must be a stipulation that the land can be redeemed at any time. 25 If any of your Israelite relatives go bankrupt and are forced to sell some inherited land, then a close relative, a kinsman redeemer, may buy it back for them. 26 If there is no one to redeem the land but the person who sold it manages to get enough money to buy it back, 27 then that person has the right to redeem it from the one who bought it. The price of the land will be based on the number of years until the next Year of Jubilee. After buying it back, the original owner may then return to the land. 28 But if the original owner cannot afford to redeem it, then it will belong to the new owner until the next Year of Jubilee. In the jubilee year, the land will be returned to the original owner. 29 " Anyone who sells a house inside a walled city has the right to redeem it for a full year after its sale. During that time, the seller retains the right to buy it back. 30 But if it is not redeemed within a year, then the house within the walled city will become the permanent property of the buyer. It will not be returned to the original owner in the Year of Jubilee. 31 But a house in a village--a settlement without fortified walls--will be treated like property in the open fields. Such a house may be redeemed at any time and must be returned to the original owner in the Year of Jubilee. 32 " The Levites always have the right to redeem any house they have sold within the cities belonging to them. 33 And any property that can be redeemed by the Levites--all houses within the Levitical cities--must be returned in the Year of Jubilee. After all, the cities reserved for the Levites are the only property they own in all Israel. 34 The strip of pastureland around each of the Levitical cities may never be sold. It is their permanent ancestral property. 35 " If any of your Israelite relatives fall into poverty and cannot support themselves, support them as you would a resident foreigner and allow them to live with you. 36 Do not demand an advance or charge interest on the money you lend them. Instead, show your fear of God by letting them live with you as your relatives. 37 Remember, do not charge your relatives interest on anything you lend them, whether money or food. 38 I, the LORD, am your God, who brought you out of Egypt to give you the land of Canaan and to be your God. 39 " If any of your Israelite relatives go bankrupt and sell themselves to you, do not treat them as slaves. 40 Treat them instead as hired servants or as resident foreigners who live with you, and they will serve you only until the Year of Jubilee. 41 At that time they and their children will no longer be obligated to you, and they will return to their clan and ancestral property. 42 The people of Israel are my servants, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt, so they must never be sold as slaves. 43 Show your fear of God by treating them well; never exercise your power over them in a ruthless way. 44 " However, you may purchase male or female slaves from among the foreigners who live among you. 45 You may also purchase the children of such resident foreigners, including those who have been born in your land. You may treat them as your property, 46 passing them on to your children as a permanent inheritance. You may treat your slaves like this, but the people of Israel, your relatives, must never be treated this way."

MARK 10:13-31
One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could touch them and bless them, but the disciples told them not to bother him. 14 But when Jesus saw what was happening, he was very displeased with his disciples. He said to them, " Let the children come to me. Don't stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 I assure you, anyone who doesn't have their kind of faith will never get into the Kingdom of God." 16 Then he took the children into his arms and placed his hands on their heads and blessed them. 17 As he was starting out on a trip, a man came running up to Jesus, knelt down, and asked, " Good Teacher, what should I do to get eternal life?" 18 " Why do you call me good?" Jesus asked. " Only God is truly good. 19 But as for your question, you know the commandments: ` Do not murder. Do not commit adultery. Do not steal. Do not testify falsely. Do not cheat. Honor your father and mother.'" 20 " Teacher," the man replied, " I've obeyed all these commandments since I was a child." 21 Jesus felt genuine love for this man as he looked at him. " You lack only one thing," he told him. " Go and sell all you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." 22 At this, the man's face fell, and he went sadly away because he had many possessions. 23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, " How hard it is for rich people to get into the Kingdom of God!" 24 This amazed them. But Jesus said again, " Dear children, it is very hard to get into the Kingdom of God. 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!" 26 The disciples were astounded. " Then who in the world can be saved?" they asked. 27 Jesus looked at them intently and said, " Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God." 28 Then Peter began to mention all that he and the other disciples had left behind. " We've given up everything to follow you," he said. 29 And Jesus replied, " I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good News, 30 will receive now in return, a hundred times over, houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property--with persecutions. And in the world to come they will have eternal life. 31 But many who seem to be important now will be the least important then, and those who are considered least here will be the greatest then."

PSALM 44:9-26
But now you have tossed us aside in dishonor.
You no longer lead our armies to battle.
10 You make us retreat from our enemies
and allow them to plunder our land.
11 You have treated us like sheep waiting to be slaughtered;
you have scattered us among the nations.
12 You sold us--your precious people--for a pittance.
You valued us at nothing at all.
13 You have caused all our neighbors to mock us.
We are an object of scorn and derision to the nations around us.
14 You have made us the butt of their jokes;
we are scorned by the whole world.
15 We can't escape the constant humiliation;
shame is written across our faces.
16 All we hear are the taunts of our mockers.
All we see are our vengeful enemies.
17 All this has happened despite our loyalty to you.
We have not violated your covenant.
18 Our hearts have not deserted you.
We have not strayed from your path.
19 Yet you have crushed us in the desert.
You have covered us with darkness and death.
20 If we had turned away from worshiping our God
or spread our hands in prayer to foreign gods,
21 God would surely have known it,
for he knows the secrets of every heart.
22 For your sake we are killed every day;
we are being slaughtered like sheep.
23 Wake up, O Lord! Why do you sleep?
Get up! Do not reject us forever.
24 Why do you look the other way?
Why do you ignore our suffering and oppression?
25 We collapse in the dust,
lying face down in the dirt.
26 Rise up! Come and help us!
Save us because of your unfailing love.

PROVERBS 10:20-21
The words of the godly are like sterling silver; the heart of a fool is worthless. The godly give good advice, but fools are destroyed by their lack of common sense.

February 29 Reading through the Bible Day 60

No reading today as we break it up into 365 readings, not 366.

But what you can do is a little study on 3:16....go through the New Testament and read all the 3:16's it is interesting