February 4 Reading through the Bible Day 35

EXODUS 19:16-21:21
MATTHEW 23:13-39
PSALM 28:1-9
PROVERBS 7:1-5

EXODUS 19:16-21:21
On the morning of the third day, there was a powerful thunder and lightning storm, and a dense cloud came down upon the mountain. There was a long, loud blast from a ram's horn, and all the people trembled. 17 Moses led them out from the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. 18 All Mount Sinai was covered with smoke because the LORD had descended on it in the form of fire. The smoke billowed into the sky like smoke from a furnace, and the whole mountain shook with a violent earthquake. 19 As the horn blast grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God thundered his reply for all to hear. 20 The LORD came down on the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses climbed the mountain. 21 Then the LORD told Moses, " Go back down and warn the people not to cross the boundaries. They must not come up here to see the LORD, for those who do will die. 22 Even the priests who regularly come near to the LORD must purify themselves, or I will destroy them."23 " But, LORD, the people cannot come up on the mountain!" Moses protested. " You already told them not to. You told me to set boundaries around the mountain and to declare it off limits." 24 But the LORD said, " Go down anyway and bring Aaron back with you. In the meantime, do not let the priests or the people cross the boundaries to come up here. If they do, I will punish them." 25 So Moses went down to the people and told them what the LORD had said.20:1 THEN God instructed the people as follows: 2 " I am the LORD your God, who rescued you from slavery in Egypt. 3 " Do not worship any other gods besides me. 4 " Do not make idols of any kind, whether in the shape of birds or animals or fish. 5 You must never worship or bow down to them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not share your affection with any other god! I do not leave unpunished the sins of those who hate me, but I punish the children for the sins of their parents to the third and fourth generations. 6 But I lavish my love on those who love me and obey my commands, even for a thousand generations. 7 " Do not misuse the name of the LORD your God. The LORD will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name. 8 " Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days a week are set apart for your daily duties and regular work, 10 but the seventh day is a day of rest dedicated to the LORD your God. On that day no one in your household may do any kind of work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you. 11 For in six days the LORD made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; then he rested on the seventh day. That is why the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy. 12 " Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the LORD your God will give you. 13 " Do not murder. 14 " Do not commit adultery. 15 " Do not steal. 16 " Do not testify falsely against your neighbor. 17 " Do not covet your neighbor's house. Do not covet your neighbor's wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else your neighbor owns."18 When the people heard the thunder and the loud blast of the horn, and when they saw the lightning and the smoke billowing from the mountain, they stood at a distance, trembling with fear. 19 And they said to Moses, " You tell us what God says, and we will listen. But don't let God speak directly to us. If he does, we will die!" 20 " Don't be afraid," Moses said, " for God has come in this way to show you his awesome power. From now on, let your fear of him keep you from sinning!" 21 As the people stood in the distance, Moses entered into the deep darkness where God was. 22 And the LORD said to Moses, " Say this to the people of Israel: You are witnesses that I have spoken to you from heaven. 23 Remember, you must not make or worship idols of silver or gold. 24 " The altars you make for me must be simple altars of earth. Offer on such altars your sacrifices to me--your burnt offerings and peace offerings, your sheep and goats and your cattle. Build altars in the places where I remind you who I am, and I will come and bless you there. 25 If you build altars from stone, use only uncut stones. Do not chip or shape the stones with a tool, for that would make them unfit for holy use. 26 And you may not approach my altar by steps. If you do, someone might look up under the skirts of your clothing and see your nakedness.21:1 " HERE are some other instructions you must present to Israel: 2 " If you buy a Hebrew slave, he is to serve for only six years. Set him free in the seventh year, and he will owe you nothing for his freedom. 3 If he was single when he became your slave and then married afterward, only he will go free in the seventh year. But if he was married before he became a slave, then his wife will be freed with him.4 " If his master gave him a wife while he was a slave, and they had sons or daughters, then the man will be free in the seventh year, but his wife and children will still belong to his master. 5 But the slave may plainly declare, ` I love my master, my wife, and my children. I would rather not go free.' 6 If he does this, his master must present him before God. Then his master must take him to the door and publicly pierce his ear with an awl. After that, the slave will belong to his master forever. 7 " When a man sells his daughter as a slave, she will not be freed at the end of six years as the men are. 8 If she does not please the man who bought her, he may allow her to be bought back again. But he is not allowed to sell her to foreigners, since he is the one who broke the contract with her. 9 And if the slave girl's owner arranges for her to marry his son, he may no longer treat her as a slave girl, but he must treat her as his daughter. 10 If he himself marries her and then takes another wife, he may not reduce her food or clothing or fail to sleep with her as his wife. 11 If he fails in any of these three ways, she may leave as a free woman without making any payment. 12 " Anyone who hits a person hard enough to cause death must be put to death. 13 But if it is an accident and God allows it to happen, I will appoint a place where the slayer can run for safety. 14 However, if someone deliberately attacks and kills another person, then the slayer must be dragged even from my altar and put to death. 15 " Anyone who strikes father or mother must be put to death. 16 " Kidnappers must be killed, whether they are caught in possession of their victims or have already sold them as slaves. 17 " Anyone who curses father or mother must be put to death. 18 " Now suppose two people quarrel, and one hits the other with a stone or fist, causing injury but not death. 19 If the injured person is later able to walk again, even with a crutch, the assailant will be innocent. Nonetheless, the assailant must pay for time lost because of the injury and must pay for the medical expenses. 20 " If a male or female slave is beaten and dies, the owner must be punished. 21 If the slave recovers after a couple of days, however, then the owner should not be punished, since the slave is the owner's property."

MATTHEW 23:13-39
" How terrible it will be for you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you won't let others enter the Kingdom of Heaven, and you won't go in yourselves. 15 Yes, how terrible it will be for you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. For you cross land and sea to make one convert, and then you turn him into twice the son of hell as you yourselves are. 16 " Blind guides! How terrible it will be for you! For you say that it means nothing to swear ` by God's Temple'--you can break that oath. But then you say that it is binding to swear ` by the gold in the Temple.' 17 Blind fools! Which is greater, the gold, or the Temple that makes the gold sacred? 18 And you say that to take an oath ` by the altar' can be broken, but to swear ` by the gifts on the altar' is binding! 19 How blind! For which is greater, the gift on the altar, or the altar that makes the gift sacred? 20 When you swear ` by the altar,' you are swearing by it and by everything on it. 21 And when you swear ` by the Temple,' you are swearing by it and by God, who lives in it. 22 And when you swear ` by heaven,' you are swearing by the throne of God and by God, who sits on the throne. 23 " How terrible it will be for you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest part of your income, but you ignore the important things of the law--justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but you should not leave undone the more important things. 24 Blind guides! You strain your water so you won't accidentally swallow a gnat; then you swallow a camel! 25 " How terrible it will be for you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! You are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy--full of greed and self-indulgence! 26 Blind Pharisees! First wash the inside of the cup, and then the outside will become clean, too. 27 " How terrible it will be for you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs--beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people's bones and all sorts of impurity. 28 You try to look like upright people outwardly, but inside your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness. 29 " How terrible it will be for you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you build tombs for the prophets your ancestors killed and decorate the graves of the godly people your ancestors destroyed. 30 Then you say, ` We never would have joined them in killing the prophets.' 31 " In saying that, you are accusing yourselves of being the descendants of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Go ahead. Finish what they started. 33 Snakes! Sons of vipers! How will you escape the judgment of hell? 34 I will send you prophets and wise men and teachers of religious law. You will kill some by crucifixion and whip others in your synagogues, chasing them from city to city. 35 As a result, you will become guilty of murdering all the godly people from righteous Abel to Zechariah son of Barachiah, whom you murdered in the Temple between the altar and the sanctuary. 36 I assure you, all the accumulated judgment of the centuries will break upon the heads of this very generation. 37 " O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God's messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn't let me. 38 And now look, your house is left to you, empty and desolate. 39 For I tell you this, you will never see me again until you say, ` Bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord!'"

PSALM 28:1-9
A psalm of David.
1 O LORD, you are my rock of safety.
Please help me; don't refuse to answer me.
For if you are silent,
I might as well give up and die.
2 Listen to my prayer for mercy
as I cry out to you for help,
as I lift my hands toward your holy sanctuary.
3 Don't drag me away with the wicked--
with those who do evil--
those who speak friendly words to their neighbors
while planning evil in their hearts.
4 Give them the punishment they so richly deserve!
Measure it out in proportion to their wickedness.
Pay them back for all their evil deeds!
Give them a taste of what they have done to others.
5 They care nothing for what the LORD has done
or for what his hands have made.
So he will tear them down like old buildings,
and they will never be rebuilt!
6 Praise the LORD!
For he has heard my cry for mercy.
7 The LORD is my strength, my shield from every danger.
I trust in him with all my heart.
He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.
I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.
8 The LORD protects his people
and gives victory to his anointed king.
9 Save your people!
Bless Israel, your special possession!
Lead them like a shepherd,
and carry them forever in your arms.

PROVERBS 7:1-5
Follow my advice, my son; always treasure my commands. Obey them and live! Guard my teachings as your most precious possession. Tie them on your fingers as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart.Love wisdom like a sister; make insight a beloved member of your family. Let them hold you back from an affair with an immoral woman, from listening to the flattery of an adulterous woman.

February 3 Reading through the Bible Day 34

EXODUS 17:8-19:15
MATTHEW 22:34-23:12
PSALM 27:7-14
PROVERBS 6:27-35

EXODUS 17:8-19:15
While the people of Israel were still at Rephidim, the warriors of Amalek came to fight against them. 9 Moses commanded Joshua, " Call the Israelites to arms, and fight the army of Amalek. Tomorrow, I will stand at the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand." 10 So Joshua did what Moses had commanded. He led his men out to fight the army of Amalek. Meanwhile Moses, Aaron, and Hur went to the top of a nearby hill. 11 As long as Moses held up the staff with his hands, the Israelites had the advantage. But whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites gained the upper hand. 12 Moses' arms finally became too tired to hold up the staff any longer. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side, holding up his hands until sunset. 13 As a result, Joshua and his troops were able to crush the army of Amalek.14 Then the LORD instructed Moses, " Write this down as a permanent record, and announce it to Joshua: I will blot out every trace of Amalek from under heaven." 15 Moses built an altar there and called it " The LORD Is My Banner." 16 He said, " They have dared to raise their fist against the LORD's throne, so now the LORD will be at war with Amalek generation after generation." 18:1 WORD soon reached Jethro, the priest of Midian and Moses' father-in-law, about all the wonderful things God had done for Moses and his people, the Israelites. He had heard about how the LORD had brought them safely out of Egypt. 2 Some time before this, Moses had sent his wife, Zipporah, and his two sons to live with Jethro, his father-in-law. 3 The name of Moses' first son was Gershom, for Moses had said when the boy was born, " I have been a stranger in a foreign land." 4 The name of his second son was Eliezer, for Moses had said at his birth, " The God of my fathers was my helper; he delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh." 5 Jethro now came to visit Moses, and he brought Moses' wife and two sons with him. They arrived while Moses and the people were camped near the mountain of God. 6 Moses was told, " Jethro, your father-in-law, has come to visit you. Your wife and your two sons are with him." 7 So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law. He bowed to him respectfully and greeted him warmly. They asked about each other's health and then went to Moses' tent to talk further. 8 Moses told his father-in-law about everything the LORD had done to rescue Israel from Pharaoh and the Egyptians. He also told him about the problems they had faced along the way and how the LORD had delivered his people from all their troubles. 9 Jethro was delighted when he heard about all that the LORD had done for Israel as he brought them out of Egypt. 10 " Praise be to the LORD," Jethro said, " for he has saved you from the Egyptians and from Pharaoh. He has rescued Israel from the power of Egypt! 11 I know now that the LORD is greater than all other gods, because his people have escaped from the proud and cruel Egyptians." 12 Then Jethro presented a burnt offering and gave sacrifices to God. As Jethro was doing this, Aaron and the leaders of Israel came out to meet him. They all joined him in a sacrificial meal in God's presence. 13 The next day, Moses sat as usual to hear the people's complaints against each other. They were lined up in front of him from morning till evening. 14 When Moses' father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, " Why are you trying to do all this alone? The people have been standing here all day to get your help." 15 Moses replied, " Well, the people come to me to seek God's guidance. 16 When an argument arises, I am the one who settles the case. I inform the people of God's decisions and teach them his laws and instructions." 17 " This is not good!" his father-in-law exclaimed. 18 " You're going to wear yourself out--and the people, too. This job is too heavy a burden for you to handle all by yourself. 19 Now let me give you a word of advice, and may God be with you. You should continue to be the people's representative before God, bringing him their questions to be decided. 20 You should tell them God's decisions, teach them God's laws and instructions, and show them how to conduct their lives. 21 But find some capable, honest men who fear God and hate bribes. Appoint them as judges over groups of one thousand, one hundred, fifty, and ten. 22 These men can serve the people, resolving all the ordinary cases. Anything that is too important or too complicated can be brought to you. But they can take care of the smaller matters themselves. They will help you carry the load, making the task easier for you. 23 If you follow this advice, and if God directs you to do so, then you will be able to endure the pressures, and all these people will go home in peace." 24 Moses listened to his father-in-law's advice and followed his suggestions. 25 He chose capable men from all over Israel and made them judges over the people. They were put in charge of groups of one thousand, one hundred, fifty, and ten. 26 These men were constantly available to administer justice. They brought the hard cases to Moses, but they judged the smaller matters themselves. 27 Soon after this, Moses said good-bye to his father-in-law, who returned to his own land.19:1 THE Israelites arrived in the wilderness of Sinai exactly two months after they left Egypt. 2 After breaking camp at Rephidim, they came to the base of Mount Sinai and set up camp there. 3 Then Moses climbed the mountain to appear before God. The LORD called out to him from the mountain and said, " Give these instructions to the descendants of Jacob, the people of Israel: 4 ` You have seen what I did to the Egyptians. You know how I brought you to myself and carried you on eagle's wings. 5 Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the nations of the earth; for all the earth belongs to me. 6 And you will be to me a kingdom of priests, my holy nation.' Give this message to the Israelites." 7 Moses returned from the mountain and called together the leaders of the people and told them what the LORD had said. 8 They all responded together, " We will certainly do everything the LORD asks of us." So Moses brought the people's answer back to the LORD. 9 Then the LORD said to Moses, " I am going to come to you in a thick cloud so the people themselves can hear me as I speak to you. Then they will always have confidence in you." Moses told the LORD what the people had said. 10 Then the LORD told Moses, " Go down and prepare the people for my visit. Purify them today and tomorrow, and have them wash their clothing. 11 Be sure they are ready on the third day, for I will come down upon Mount Sinai as all the people watch. 12 Set boundary lines that the people may not pass. Warn them, ` Be careful! Do not go up on the mountain or even touch its boundaries. Those who do will certainly die! 13 Any people or animals that cross the boundary must be stoned to death or shot with arrows. They must not be touched by human hands.' The people must stay away from the mountain until they hear one long blast from the ram's horn. Then they must gather at the foot of the mountain." 14 So Moses went down to the people. He purified them for worship and had them wash their clothing. 15 He told them, " Get ready for an important event two days from now. And until then, abstain from having sexual intercourse."

MATTHEW 22:34-23:12
But when the Pharisees heard that he [Jesus] had silenced the Sadducees with his reply, they thought up a fresh question of their own to ask him. 35 One of them, an expert in religious law, tried to trap him with this question: 36 " Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?" 37 Jesus replied, " ` You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.' 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: ` Love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 All the other commandments and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments." 41 Then, surrounded by the Pharisees, Jesus asked them a question: 42 " What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?" They replied, " He is the son of David." 43 Jesus responded, " Then why does David, speaking under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, call him Lord? For David said,44 ` The LORD said to my Lord,
Sit in honor at my right hand
until I humble your enemies beneath your feet.'
45 Since David called him Lord, how can he be his son at the same time?" 46 No one could answer him. And after that, no one dared to ask him any more questions.23:1 THEN Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 " The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the Scriptures. 3 So practice and obey whatever they say to you, but don't follow their example. For they don't practice what they teach. 4 They crush you with impossible religious demands and never lift a finger to help ease the burden. 5 " Everything they do is for show. On their arms they wear extra wide prayer boxes with Scripture verses inside, and they wear extra long tassels on their robes. 6 And how they love to sit at the head table at banquets and in the most prominent seats in the synagogue! 7 They enjoy the attention they get on the streets, and they enjoy being called ` Rabbi.' 8 Don't ever let anyone call you ` Rabbi,' for you have only one teacher, and all of you are on the same level as brothers and sisters.* 9 And don't address anyone here on earth as ` Father,' for only God in heaven is your spiritual Father. 10 And don't let anyone call you ` Master,' for there is only one master, the Messiah. 11 The greatest among you must be a servant. 12 But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."

PSALM 27:7-14
Listen to my pleading, O LORD.
Be merciful and answer me!
8 My heart has heard you say, " Come and talk with me."
And my heart responds, " LORD, I am coming."
9 Do not hide yourself from me.
Do not reject your servant in anger.
You have always been my helper.
Don't leave me now; don't abandon me,
O God of my salvation!
10 Even if my father and mother abandon me,
the LORD will hold me close.
11 Teach me how to live, O LORD.
Lead me along the path of honesty,
for my enemies are waiting for me to fall.
12 Do not let me fall into their hands.
For they accuse me of things I've never done
and breathe out violence against me.
13 Yet I am confident that I will see the LORD's goodness
while I am here in the land of the living.
14 Wait patiently for the LORD.
Be brave and courageous.
Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.

PROVERBS 6:27-35
Can a man scoop fire into his lap and not be burned? Can he walk on hot coals and not blister his feet? So it is with the man who sleeps with another man's wife. He who embraces her will not go unpunished.Excuses might be found for a thief who steals because he is starving. But if he is caught, he will be fined seven times as much as he stole, even if it means selling everything in his house to pay it back.But the man who commits adultery is an utter fool, for he destroys his own soul. Wounds and constant disgrace are his lot. His shame will never be erased. For the woman's husband will be furious in his jealousy, and he will have no mercy in his day of vengeance. There is no compensation or bribe that will satisfy him.

February 2 Reading through the Bible Day 33

EXODUS 15:19-17:7
MATTHEW 22:1-33
PSALM 27:1-6
PROVERBS 6:20-26

EXODUS 15:19-17:7
When Pharaoh's horses, chariots, and charioteers rushed into the sea, the LORD brought the water crashing down on them. But the people of Israel had walked through on dry land! 20 Then Miriam the prophet, Aaron's sister, took a tambourine and led all the women in rhythm and dance. 21 And Miriam sang this song: " I will sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously;
he has thrown both horse and rider into the sea."
22 Then Moses led the people of Israel away from the Red Sea, and they moved out into the Shur Desert. They traveled in this desert for three days without water. 23 When they came to Marah, they finally found water. But the people couldn't drink it because it was bitter. (That is why the place was called Marah, which means " bitter.") 24 Then the people turned against Moses. " What are we going to drink?" they demanded. 25 So Moses cried out to the LORD for help, and the LORD showed him a branch. Moses took the branch and threw it into the water. This made the water good to drink. It was there at Marah that the LORD laid before them the following conditions to test their faithfulness to him: 26 " If you will listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in his sight, obeying his commands and laws, then I will not make you suffer the diseases I sent on the Egyptians; for I am the LORD who heals you." 27 After leaving Marah, they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees. They camped there beside the springs.16:1 THEN they left Elim and journeyed into the Sin Desert, between Elim and Mount Sinai. They arrived there a month after leaving Egypt. 2 There, too, the whole community of Israel spoke bitterly against Moses and Aaron. 3 " Oh, that we were back in Egypt," they moaned. " It would have been better if the LORD had killed us there! At least there we had plenty to eat. But now you have brought us into this desert to starve us to death." 4 Then the LORD said to Moses, " Look, I'm going to rain down food from heaven for you. The people can go out each day and pick up as much food as they need for that day. I will test them in this to see whether they will follow my instructions. 5 Tell them to pick up twice as much as usual on the sixth day of each week." 6 Then Moses and Aaron called a meeting of all the people of Israel and told them, " In the evening you will realize that it was the LORD who brought you out of the land of Egypt. 7 In the morning you will see the glorious presence of the LORD. He has heard your complaints, which are against the LORD and not against us. 8 The LORD will give you meat to eat in the evening and bread in the morning, for he has heard all your complaints against him. Yes, your complaints are against the LORD, not against us." 9 Then Moses said to Aaron, " Say this to the entire community of Israel: ` Come into the LORD's presence, and hear his reply to your complaints.' " 10 And as Aaron spoke to the people, they looked out toward the desert. Within the guiding cloud, they could see the awesome glory of the LORD. 11 And the LORD said to Moses, 12 " I have heard the people's complaints. Now tell them, ` In the evening you will have meat to eat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God.' " 13 That evening vast numbers of quail arrived and covered the camp. The next morning the desert all around the camp was wet with dew. 14 When the dew disappeared later in the morning, thin flakes, white like frost, covered the ground. 15 The Israelites were puzzled when they saw it. " What is it?" they asked. And Moses told them, " It is the food the LORD has given you. 16 The LORD says that each household should gather as much as it needs. Pick up two quarts for each person." 17 So the people of Israel went out and gathered this food--some getting more, and some getting less. 18 By gathering two quarts for each person, everyone had just enough. Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over, and those who gathered only a little had enough. Each family had just what it needed. 19 Then Moses told them, " Do not keep any of it overnight." 20 But, of course, some of them didn't listen and kept some of it until morning. By then it was full of maggots and had a terrible smell. And Moses was very angry with them. 21 The people gathered the food morning by morning, each family according to its need. And as the sun became hot, the food they had not picked up melted and disappeared. 22 On the sixth day, there was twice as much as usual on the ground--four quarts for each person instead of two. The leaders of the people came and asked Moses why this had happened. 23 He replied, " The LORD has appointed tomorrow as a day of rest, a holy Sabbath to the LORD. On this day we will rest from our normal daily tasks. So bake or boil as much as you want today, and set aside what is left for tomorrow." 24 The next morning the leftover food was wholesome and good, without maggots or odor. 25 Moses said, " This is your food for today, for today is a Sabbath to the LORD. There will be no food on the ground today. 26 Gather the food for six days, but the seventh day is a Sabbath. There will be no food on the ground for you on that day." 27 Some of the people went out anyway to gather food, even though it was the Sabbath day. But there was none to be found. 28 " How long will these people refuse to obey my commands and instructions?" the LORD asked Moses. 29 " Do they not realize that I have given them the seventh day, the Sabbath, as a day of rest? That is why I give you twice as much food on the sixth day, so there will be enough for two days. On the Sabbath day you must stay in your places. Do not pick up food from the ground on that day." 30 So the people rested on the seventh day. 31 In time, the food became known as manna. It was white like coriander seed, and it tasted like honey cakes. 32 Then Moses gave them this command from the LORD: " Take two quarts of manna and keep it forever as a treasured memorial of the LORD's provision. By doing this, later generations will be able to see the bread that the LORD provided in the wilderness when he brought you out of Egypt."33 Moses said to Aaron, " Get a container and put two quarts of manna into it. Then store it in a sacred place as a reminder for all future generations." 34 Aaron did this, just as the LORD had commanded Moses. He eventually placed it for safekeeping in the Ark of the Covenant. 35 So the people of Israel ate manna for forty years until they arrived in the land of Canaan, where there were crops to eat. 36 (The container used to measure the manna was an omer, which held about two quarts.)17:1 AT the LORD's command, the people of Israel left the Sin Desert and moved from place to place. Eventually they came to Rephidim, but there was no water to be found there. 2 So once more the people grumbled and complained to Moses. " Give us water to drink!" they demanded. " Quiet!" Moses replied. " Why are you arguing with me? And why are you testing the LORD?" 3 But tormented by thirst, they continued to complain, " Why did you ever take us out of Egypt? Why did you bring us here? We, our children, and our livestock will all die!" 4 Then Moses pleaded with the LORD, " What should I do with these people? They are about to stone me!" 5 The LORD said to Moses, " Take your shepherd's staff, the one you used when you struck the water of the Nile. Then call some of the leaders of Israel and walk on ahead of the people. 6 I will meet you by the rock at Mount Sinai. Strike the rock, and water will come pouring out. Then the people will be able to drink." Moses did just as he was told; and as the leaders looked on, water gushed out. 7 Moses named the place Massah--" the place of testing"--and Meribah--" the place of arguing"--because the people of Israel argued with Moses and tested the LORD by saying, " Is the LORD going to take care of us or not?"

MATTHEW 22:1-33
Jesus told them [the leading priests and Pharisees] several other stories to illustrate the Kingdom. He said, 2 " The Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a king who prepared a great wedding feast for his son. 3 Many guests were invited, and when the banquet was ready, he sent his servants to notify everyone that it was time to come. But they all refused! 4 So he sent other servants to tell them, ` The feast has been prepared, and choice meats have been cooked. Everything is ready. Hurry!'5 But the guests he had invited ignored them and went about their business, one to his farm, another to his store. 6 Others seized his messengers and treated them shamefully, even killing some of them. 7 " Then the king became furious. He sent out his army to destroy the murderers and burn their city. 8 And he said to his servants, ` The wedding feast is ready, and the guests I invited aren't worthy of the honor. 9 Now go out to the street corners and invite everyone you see.' 10 " So the servants brought in everyone they could find, good and bad alike, and the banquet hall was filled with guests. 11 But when the king came in to meet the guests, he noticed a man who wasn't wearing the proper clothes for a wedding. 12 ` Friend,' he asked, ` how is it that you are here without wedding clothes?' And the man had no reply. 13 Then the king said to his aides, ` Bind him hand and foot and throw him out into the outer darkness, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.' 14 For many are called, but few are chosen." 15 Then the Pharisees met together to think of a way to trap Jesus into saying something for which they could accuse him. 16 They decided to send some of their disciples, along with the supporters of Herod, to ask him this question: " Teacher, we know how honest you are. You teach about the way of God regardless of the consequences. You are impartial and don't play favorites. 17 Now tell us what you think about this: Is it right to pay taxes to the Roman government or not?" 18 But Jesus knew their evil motives. " You hypocrites!" he said. " Whom are you trying to fool with your trick questions? 19 Here, show me the Roman coin used for the tax." When they handed him the coin, 20 he asked, " Whose picture and title are stamped on it?" 21 " Caesar's," they replied. " Well, then," he said, " give to Caesar what belongs to him. But everything that belongs to God must be given to God." 22 His reply amazed them, and they went away. 23 That same day some Sadducees stepped forward--a group of Jews who say there is no resurrection after death. They posed this question: 24 " Teacher, Moses said, ` If a man dies without children, his brother should marry the widow and have a child who will be the brother's heir.' 25 Well, there were seven brothers. The oldest married and then died without children, so the second brother married the widow. 26 This brother also died without children, and the wife was married to the next brother, and so on until she had been the wife of each of them. 27 And then she also died. 28 So tell us, whose wife will she be in the resurrection? For she was the wife of all seven of them!"29 Jesus replied, " Your problem is that you don't know the Scriptures, and you don't know the power of God. 30 For when the dead rise, they won't be married. They will be like the angels in heaven. 31 But now, as to whether there will be a resurrection of the dead--haven't you ever read about this in the Scriptures? Long after Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had died, God said, 32 ` I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.' So he is the God of the living, not the dead." 33 When the crowds heard him, they were impressed with his teaching.

PSALM 27:1-6
A psalm of David.
1 The LORD is my light and my salvation--
so why should I be afraid?
The LORD protects me from danger--
so why should I tremble?
2 When evil people come to destroy me,
when my enemies and foes attack me,
they will stumble and fall.
3 Though a mighty army surrounds me,
my heart will know no fear.
Even if they attack me,
I remain confident.
4 The one thing I ask of the LORD--
the thing I seek most--
is to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life,
delighting in the LORD's perfections
and meditating in his Temple.
5 For he will conceal me there when troubles come;
he will hide me in his sanctuary.
He will place me out of reach on a high rock.
6 Then I will hold my head high,
above my enemies who surround me.
At his Tabernacle I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy,
singing and praising the LORD with music.

PROVERBS 6:20-26
My son, obey your father's commands, and don't neglect your mother's teaching. Keep their words always in your heart. Tie them around your neck. Wherever you walk, their counsel can lead you. When you sleep, they will protect you. When you wake up in the morning, they will advise you. For these commands and this teaching are a lamp to light the way ahead of you. The correction of discipline is the way to life. These commands and this teaching will keep you from the immoral woman, from the smooth tongue of an adulterous woman. Don't lust for her beauty. Don't let her coyness seduce you. For a prostitute will bring you to poverty, and sleeping with another man's wife may cost you your very life.

February 1 Reading through the Bible Day 32

EXODUS 13:17-15:18

MATTHEW 21:23-46

PSALM 26:1-12

PROVERBS 6:16-19

EXODUS 13:17-15:18

When Pharaoh finally let the people go, God did not lead them on the road that runs through Philistine territory, even though that was the shortest way from Egypt to the Promised Land. God said, " If the people are faced with a battle, they might change their minds and return to Egypt." 18 So God led them along a route through the wilderness toward the Red Sea, and the Israelites left Egypt like a marching army. 19 Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for Joseph had made the sons of Israel swear that they would take his bones with them when God led them out of Egypt--as he was sure God would. 20 Leaving Succoth, they camped at Etham on the edge of the wilderness. 21 The LORD guided them by a pillar of cloud during the day and a pillar of fire at night. That way they could travel whether it was day or night. 22 And the LORD did not remove the pillar of cloud or pillar of fire from their sight.14:1 THEN the LORD gave these instructions to Moses: 2 " Tell the people to march toward Pi-hahiroth between Migdol and the sea. Camp there along the shore, opposite Baal-zephon. 3 Then Pharaoh will think, ` Those Israelites are confused. They are trapped between the wilderness and the sea!' 4 And once again I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will chase after you. I have planned this so I will receive great glory at the expense of Pharaoh and his armies. After this, the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD!" So the Israelites camped there as they were told. 5 When word reached the king of Egypt that the Israelites were not planning to return to Egypt after three days, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds. " What have we done, letting all these slaves get away?" they asked. 6 So Pharaoh called out his troops and led the chase in his chariot. 7 He took with him six hundred of Egypt's best chariots, along with the rest of the chariots of Egypt, each with a commander. 8 The LORD continued to strengthen Pharaoh's resolve, and he chased after the people of Israel who had escaped so defiantly. 9 All the forces in Pharaoh's army--all his horses, chariots, and charioteers--were used in the chase. The Egyptians caught up with the people of Israel as they were camped beside the shore near Pi-hahiroth, across from Baal-zephon. 10 As Pharaoh and his army approached, the people of Israel could see them in the distance, marching toward them. The people began to panic, and they cried out to the LORD for help. 11 Then they turned against Moses and complained, " Why did you bring us out here to die in the wilderness? Weren't there enough graves for us in Egypt? Why did you make us leave? 12 Didn't we tell you to leave us alone while we were still in Egypt? Our Egyptian slavery was far better than dying out here in the wilderness!"13 But Moses told the people, " Don't be afraid. Just stand where you are and watch the LORD rescue you. The Egyptians that you see today will never be seen again. 14 The LORD himself will fight for you. You won't have to lift a finger in your defense!" 15 Then the LORD said to Moses, " Why are you crying out to me? Tell the people to get moving! 16 Use your shepherd's staff--hold it out over the water, and a path will open up before you through the sea. Then all the people of Israel will walk through on dry ground. 17 Yet I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they will follow the Israelites into the sea. Then I will receive great glory at the expense of Pharaoh and his armies, chariots, and charioteers. 18 When I am finished with Pharaoh and his army, all Egypt will know that I am the LORD!" 19 Then the angel of God, who had been leading the people of Israel, moved to a position behind them, and the pillar of cloud also moved around behind them. 20 The cloud settled between the Israelite and Egyptian camps. As night came, the pillar of cloud turned into a pillar of fire, lighting the Israelite camp. But the cloud became darkness to the Egyptians, and they couldn't find the Israelites. 21 Then Moses raised his hand over the sea, and the LORD opened up a path through the water with a strong east wind. The wind blew all that night, turning the seabed into dry land. 22 So the people of Israel walked through the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on each side! 23 Then the Egyptians--all of Pharaoh's horses, chariots, and charioteers--followed them across the bottom of the sea. 24 But early in the morning, the LORD looked down on the Egyptian army from the pillar of fire and cloud, and he threw them into confusion. 25 Their chariot wheels began to come off, making their chariots impossible to drive. " Let's get out of here!" the Egyptians shouted. " The LORD is fighting for Israel against us!"26 When all the Israelites were on the other side, the LORD said to Moses, " Raise your hand over the sea again. Then the waters will rush back over the Egyptian chariots and charioteers." 27 So as the sun began to rise, Moses raised his hand over the sea. The water roared back into its usual place, and the LORD swept the terrified Egyptians into the surging currents. 28 The waters covered all the chariots and charioteers--the entire army of Pharaoh. Of all the Egyptians who had chased the Israelites into the sea, not a single one survived. 29 The people of Israel had walked through the middle of the sea on dry land, as the water stood up like a wall on both sides. 30 This was how the LORD rescued Israel from the Egyptians that day. And the Israelites could see the bodies of the Egyptians washed up on the shore. 31 When the people of Israel saw the mighty power that the LORD had displayed against the Egyptians, they feared the LORD and put their faith in him and his servant Moses. 15:1 THEN Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the LORD: " I will sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously;

he has thrown both horse and rider into the sea.

2 The LORD is my strength and my song;

he has become my victory.

He is my God, and I will praise him;

he is my father's God, and I will exalt him!

3 The LORD is a warrior;

yes, the LORD is his name!

4 Pharaoh's chariots and armies,

he has thrown into the sea.

The very best of Pharaoh's officers

have been drowned in the Red Sea.

5 The deep waters have covered them;

they sank to the bottom like a stone.

6 " Your right hand, O LORD,

is glorious in power.

Your right hand, O LORD,

dashes the enemy to pieces.

7 In the greatness of your majesty,

you overthrew those who rose against you.

Your anger flashed forth;

it consumed them as fire burns straw.

8 At the blast of your breath, the waters piled up!

The surging waters stood straight like a wall;

in the middle of the sea the waters became hard.

9 " The enemy said, ` I will chase them,

catch up with them, and destroy them.

I will divide the plunder,

avenging myself against them.

I will unsheath my sword;

my power will destroy them.'

10 But with a blast of your breath,

the sea covered them.

They sank like lead

in the mighty waters.

11 " Who else among the gods is like you, O LORD?

Who is glorious in holiness like you--

so awesome in splendor,

performing such wonders?

12 You raised up your hand,

and the earth swallowed our enemies.

13 " With unfailing love you will lead

this people whom you have ransomed.

You will guide them in your strength

to the place where your holiness dwells.

14 The nations will hear and tremble;

anguish will grip the people of Philistia.

15 The leaders of Edom will be terrified;

the nobles of Moab will tremble.

All the people of Canaan will melt with fear;

16 terror and dread will overcome them.

Because of your great power,

they will be silent like a stone,

until your people pass by, O LORD,

until the people whom you purchased pass by.

17 You will bring them in and plant them on your own mountain--

the place you have made as your home, O LORD,

the sanctuary, O Lord, that your hands have made.

18 The LORD will reign forever and ever!"

MATTHEW 21:23-46

When Jesus returned to the Temple and began teaching, the leading priests and other leaders came up to him. They demanded, " By whose authority did you drive out the merchants from the Temple? Who gave you such authority?" 24 " I'll tell you who gave me the authority to do these things if you answer one question," Jesus replied. 25 " Did John's baptism come from heaven or was it merely human?" They talked it over among themselves. " If we say it was from heaven, he will ask why we didn't believe him. 26 But if we say it was merely human, we'll be mobbed, because the people think he was a prophet." 27 So they finally replied, " We don't know." And Jesus responded, " Then I won't answer your question either. 28 " But what do you think about this? A man with two sons told the older boy, ` Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.' 29 The son answered, ` No, I won't go,' but later he changed his mind and went anyway. 30 Then the father told the other son, ` You go,' and he said, ` Yes, sir, I will.' But he didn't go. 31 Which of the two was obeying his father?" They replied, " The first, of course." Then Jesus explained his meaning: " I assure you, corrupt tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the Kingdom of God before you do. 32 For John the Baptist came and showed you the way to life, and you didn't believe him, while tax collectors and prostitutes did. And even when you saw this happening, you refused to turn from your sins and believe him. 33 " Now listen to this story. A certain landowner 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. 34 At the time of the grape harvest he sent his servants to collect his share of the crop. 35 But the farmers grabbed his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another. 36 So the landowner sent a larger group of his servants to collect for him, but the results were the same. 37 " Finally, the owner sent his son, thinking, ` Surely they will respect my son.' 38 " But when the farmers saw his son coming, they said to one another, ` Here comes the heir to this estate. Come on, let's kill him and get the estate for ourselves!' 39 So they grabbed him, took him out of the vineyard, and murdered him. 40 " When the owner of the vineyard returns," Jesus asked, " what do you think he will do to those farmers?" 41 The religious leaders replied, " He will put the wicked men to a horrible death and lease the vineyard to others who will give him his share of the crop after each harvest." 42 Then Jesus asked them, " Didn't you ever read this in the Scriptures? ` The stone rejected by the builders

has now become the cornerstone.

This is the Lord's doing,

and it is marvelous to see.'

43 What I mean is that the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation that will produce the proper fruit. 44 Anyone who stumbles over that stone will be broken to pieces, and it will crush anyone on whom it falls." 45 When the leading priests and Pharisees heard Jesus, they realized he was pointing at them--that they were the farmers in his story. 46 They wanted to arrest him, but they were afraid to try because the crowds considered Jesus to be a prophet.

PSALM 26:1-12

A psalm of David.

1 Declare me innocent, O LORD,

for I have acted with integrity;

I have trusted in the LORD without wavering.

2 Put me on trial, LORD, and cross-examine me.

Test my motives and affections.

3 For I am constantly aware of your unfailing love,

and I have lived according to your truth.

4 I do not spend time with liars

or go along with hypocrites.

5 I hate the gatherings of those who do evil,

and I refuse to join in with the wicked.

6 I wash my hands to declare my innocence.

I come to your altar, O LORD,

7 singing a song of thanksgiving

and telling of all your miracles.

8 I love your sanctuary, LORD,

the place where your glory shines.

9 Don't let me suffer the fate of sinners.

Don't condemn me along with murderers.

10 Their hands are dirty with wicked schemes,

and they constantly take bribes.

11 But I am not like that; I do what is right.

So in your mercy, save me.

12 I have taken a stand,

and I will publicly praise the LORD.

PROVERBS 6:16-19

There are six things the LORD hates--no, seven things he detests: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that kill the innocent, a heart that plots evil, feet that race to do wrong, a false witness who pours out lies, a person who sows discord among brothers.

January 31 Reading through the Bible Day 31

EXODUS 12:14-13:16
MATTHEW 20:29-21:22
PSALM 25:16-22
PROVERBS 6:12-15


" You must remember this day forever. Each year you will celebrate it as a special festival to the LORD. 15 For seven days, you may eat only bread made without yeast. On the very first day you must remove every trace of yeast from your homes. Anyone who eats bread made with yeast at any time during the seven days of the festival will be cut off from the community of Israel. 16 On the first day of the festival, and again on the seventh day, all the people must gather for a time of special worship. No work of any kind may be done on these days except in the preparation of food. 17 " Celebrate this Festival of Unleavened Bread, for it will remind you that I brought your forces out of the land of Egypt on this very day. This festival will be a permanent regulation for you, to be kept from generation to generation. 18 Only bread without yeast may be eaten from the evening of the fourteenth day of the month until the evening of the twenty-first day of the month. 19 During those seven days, there must be no trace of yeast in your homes. Anyone who eats anything made with yeast during this week will be cut off from the community of Israel. These same regulations apply to the foreigners living with you, as if they had been born among you. 20 I repeat, during those days you must not eat anything made with yeast. Wherever you live, eat only bread that has no yeast in it." 21 Then Moses called for the leaders of Israel and said, " Tell each of your families to slaughter the lamb they have set apart for the Passover. 22 Drain each lamb's blood into a basin. Then take a cluster of hyssop branches and dip it into the lamb's blood. Strike the hyssop against the top and sides of the doorframe, staining it with the blood. And remember, no one is allowed to leave the house until morning. 23 For the LORD will pass through the land and strike down the Egyptians. But when he sees the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe, the LORD will pass over your home. He will not permit the Destroyer to enter and strike down your firstborn. 24 " Remember, these instructions are permanent and must be observed by you and your descendants forever. 25 When you arrive in the land the LORD has promised to give you, you will continue to celebrate this festival. 26 Then your children will ask, ` What does all this mean? What is this ceremony about?' 27 And you will reply, ` It is the celebration of the LORD's Passover, for he passed over the homes of the Israelites in Egypt. And though he killed the Egyptians, he spared our families and did not destroy us.' " Then all the people bowed their heads and worshiped. 28 So the people of Israel did just as the LORD had commanded through Moses and Aaron. 29 And at midnight the LORD killed all the firstborn sons in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn son of Pharaoh, who sat on the throne, to the firstborn son of the captive in the dungeon. Even the firstborn of their livestock were killed. 30 Pharaoh and his officials and all the people of Egypt woke up during the night, and loud wailing was heard throughout the land of Egypt. There was not a single house where someone had not died. 31 Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron during the night. " Leave us!" he cried. " Go away, all of you! Go and serve the LORD as you have requested. 32 Take your flocks and herds, and be gone. Go, but give me a blessing as you leave." 33 All the Egyptians urged the people of Israel to get out of the land as quickly as possible, for they thought, " We will all die!" 34 The Israelites took with them their bread dough made without yeast. They wrapped their kneading bowls in their spare clothing and carried them on their shoulders. 35 And the people of Israel did as Moses had instructed and asked the Egyptians for clothing and articles of silver and gold. 36 The LORD caused the Egyptians to look favorably on the Israelites, and they gave the Israelites whatever they asked for. So, like a victorious army, they plundered the Egyptians! 37 That night the people of Israel left Rameses and started for Succoth. There were about 600,000 men, plus all the women and children. And they were all traveling on foot. 38 Many people who were not Israelites went with them, along with the many flocks and herds. 39 Whenever they stopped to eat, they baked bread from the yeastless dough they had brought from Egypt. It was made without yeast because the people were rushed out of Egypt and had no time to wait for bread to rise. 40 The people of Israel had lived in Egypt for 430 years. 41 In fact, it was on the last day of the 430th year that all the LORD's forces left the land. 42 This night had been reserved by the LORD to bring his people out from the land of Egypt, so this same night now belongs to him. It must be celebrated every year, from generation to generation, to remember the LORD's deliverance. 43 Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, " These are the regulations for the festival of Passover. No foreigners are allowed to eat the Passover lamb. 44 But any slave who has been purchased may eat it if he has been circumcised. 45 Hired servants and visiting foreigners may not eat it. 46 All who eat the lamb must eat it together in one house. You must not carry any of its meat outside, and you may not break any of its bones. 47 The whole community of Israel must celebrate this festival at the same time. 48 " If there are foreigners living among you who want to celebrate the LORD's Passover, let all the males be circumcised. Then they may come and celebrate the Passover with you. They will be treated just as if they had been born among you. But an uncircumcised male may never eat of the Passover lamb. 49 This law applies to everyone, whether a native-born Israelite or a foreigner who has settled among you." 50 So the people of Israel followed all the LORD's instructions to Moses and Aaron. 51 And that very day the LORD began to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt, division by division.13:1 THEN the LORD said to Moses, 2 " Dedicate to me all the firstborn sons of Israel and every firstborn male animal. They are mine." 3 So Moses said to the people, " This is a day to remember forever--the day you left Egypt, the place of your slavery. For the LORD has brought you out by his mighty power. (Remember, you are not to use any yeast.) 4 This day in early spring will be the anniversary of your exodus. 5 You must celebrate this day when the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Hivites, and Jebusites. This is the land he swore to give your ancestors--a land flowing with milk and honey. 6 For seven days you will eat only bread without yeast. Then on the seventh day, you will celebrate a great feast to the LORD. 7 Eat only bread without yeast during those seven days. In fact, there must be no yeast in your homes or anywhere within the borders of your land during this time. 8 " During these festival days each year, you must explain to your children why you are celebrating. Say to them, ` This is a celebration of what the LORD did for us when we left Egypt.' 9 This annual festival will be a visible reminder to you, like a mark branded on your hands or your forehead. Let it remind you always to keep the LORD's instructions in your minds and on your lips. After all, it was the LORD who rescued you from Egypt with great power.10 " So celebrate this festival at the appointed time each year. 11 And remember these instructions when the LORD brings you into the land he swore to give your ancestors long ago, the land where the Canaanites are now living. 12 All firstborn sons and firstborn male animals must be presented to the LORD. 13 A firstborn male donkey may be redeemed from the LORD by presenting a lamb in its place. But if you decide not to make the exchange, the donkey must be killed by breaking its neck. However, you must redeem every firstborn son. 14 " And in the future, your children will ask you, ` What does all this mean?' Then you will tell them, ` With mighty power the LORD brought us out of Egypt from our slavery. 15 Pharaoh refused to let us go, so the LORD killed all the firstborn males throughout the land of Egypt, both people and animals. That is why we now offer all the firstborn males to the LORD--except that the firstborn sons are always redeemed.' 16 Again I say, this ceremony will be like a mark branded on your hands or your forehead. It is a visible reminder that it was the LORD who brought you out of Egypt with great power."

MATTHEW 20:29-21:22
As Jesus and the disciples left the city of Jericho, a huge crowd followed behind. 30 Two blind men were sitting beside the road. When they heard that Jesus was coming that way, they began shouting, " Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!" 31 The crowd told them to be quiet, but they only shouted louder, " Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!" 32 Jesus stopped in the road and called, " What do you want me to do for you?" 33 " Lord," they said, " we want to see!" 34 Jesus felt sorry for them and touched their eyes. Instantly they could see! Then they followed him.21:1 AS Jesus and the disciples approached Jerusalem, they came to the town of Bethphage on the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent two of them on ahead. 2 " Go into the village over there," he said, " and you will see a donkey tied there, with its colt beside it. Untie them and bring them here. 3 If anyone asks what you are doing, just say, ` The Lord needs them,' and he will immediately send them." 4 This was done to fulfill the prophecy, 5 " Tell the people of Israel,
` Look, your King is coming to you.
He is humble, riding on a donkey--
even on a donkey's colt.' "
6 The two disciples did as Jesus said. 7 They brought the animals to him and threw their garments over the colt, and he sat on it. 8 Most of the crowd spread their coats on the road ahead of Jesus, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 He was in the center of the procession, and the crowds all around him were shouting, " Praise God for the Son of David!
Bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Praise God in highest heaven!"
10 The entire city of Jerusalem was stirred as he entered. " Who is this?" they asked. 11 And the crowds replied, " It's Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee." 12 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. 13 He said, " The Scriptures declare, ` My Temple will be called a place of prayer,' but you have turned it into a den of thieves!" 14 The blind and the lame came to him, and he healed them there in the Temple. 15 The leading priests and the teachers of religious law saw these wonderful miracles and heard even the little children in the Temple shouting, " Praise God for the Son of David." But they were indignant 16 and asked Jesus, " Do you hear what these children are saying?" " Yes," Jesus replied. " Haven't you ever read the Scriptures? For they say, ` You have taught children and infants to give you praise.'" 17 Then he returned to Bethany, where he stayed overnight. 18 In the morning, as Jesus was returning to Jerusalem, he was hungry, 19 and he noticed a fig tree beside the road. He went over to see if there were any figs on it, but there were only leaves. Then he said to it, " May you never bear fruit again!" And immediately the fig tree withered up. 20 The disciples were amazed when they saw this and asked, " How did the fig tree wither so quickly?" 21 Then Jesus told them, " I assure you, if you have faith and don't doubt, you can do things like this and much more. You can even say to this mountain, ` May God lift you up and throw you into the sea,' and it will happen. 22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."

PSALM 25:16-22
Turn to me and have mercy on me,
for I am alone and in deep distress.
17 My problems go from bad to worse.
Oh, save me from them all!
18 Feel my pain and see my trouble.
Forgive all my sins.
19 See how many enemies I have,
and how viciously they hate me!
20 Protect me! Rescue my life from them!
Do not let me be disgraced, for I trust in you.
21 May integrity and honesty protect me,
for I put my hope in you.
22 O God, ransom Israel
from all its troubles.

PROVERBS 6:12-15
Here is a description of worthless and wicked people: They are constant liars, signaling their true intentions to their friends by making signs with their eyes and feet and fingers. Their perverted hearts plot evil. They stir up trouble constantly. But they will be destroyed suddenly, broken beyond all hope of healing.

January 30 Reading through the Bible Day 30

EXODUS 10:1- 12:13
MATTHEW 20:1- 28
PSALM 25:1- 15
PROVERBS 6:6- 11


Then the LORD said to Moses, "Return to Pharaoh and again make your demands. I have made him and his officials stubborn so I can continue to display my power by performing miraculous signs among them. 2 You will be able to tell wonderful stories to your children and grandchildren about the marvelous things I am doing among the Egyptians to prove that I am the LORD." 3 So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, "This is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says:How long will you refuse to submit to me? Let my people go, so they can worship me. 4 If you refuse, watch out! For tomorrow I will cover the whole country with locusts. 5 There will be so many that you won't be able to see the ground. They will devour everything that escaped the hailstorm, including all the trees in the fields. 6 They will overrun your palaces and the homes of your officials and all the houses of Egypt. Never in the history of Egypt has there been a plague like this one!" And with that, Moses turned and walked out. 7 The court officials now came to Pharaoh and appealed to him. "How long will you let these disasters go on? Please let the Israelites go to serve the LORD their God! Don't you realize that Egypt lies in ruins?" 8 So Moses and Aaron were brought back to Pharaoh. "All right, go and serve the LORD your God," he said. "But tell me, just whom do you want to take along?" 9 "Young and old, all of us will go," Moses replied. "We will take our sons and daughters and our flocks and herds. We must all join together in a festival to the LORD." 10 Pharaoh retorted, "The LORD will certainly need to be with you if you try to take your little ones along! I can see through your wicked intentions. 11 Never! Only the men may go and serve the LORD, for that is what you requested." And Pharaoh threw them out of the palace. 12 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Raise your hand over the land of Egypt to bring on the locusts. Let them cover the land and eat all the crops still left after the hailstorm." 13 So Moses raised his staff, and the LORD caused an east wind to blow all that day and through the night. When morning arrived, the east wind had brought the locusts. 14 And the locusts swarmed over the land of Egypt from border to border. It was the worst locust plague in Egyptian history, and there has never again been one like it. 15 For the locusts covered the surface of the whole country, making the ground look black. They ate all the plants and all the fruit on the trees that had survived the hailstorm. Not one green thing remained, neither tree nor plant, throughout the land of Egypt. 16 Pharaoh quickly sent for Moses and Aaron. "I confess my sin against the LORD your God and against you," he said to them. 17 "Forgive my sin only this once, and plead with the LORD your God to take away this terrible plague." 18 So Moses left Pharaoh and pleaded with the LORD. 19 The LORD responded by sending a strong west wind that blew the locusts out into the Red Sea. Not a single locust remained in all the land of Egypt. 20 But the LORD made Pharaoh stubborn once again, and he did not let the people go. 21 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Lift your hand toward heaven, and a deep and terrifying darkness will descend on the land of Egypt." 22 So Moses lifted his hand toward heaven, and there was deep darkness over the entire land for three days. 23 During all that time the people scarcely moved, for they could not see. But there was light as usual where the people of Israel lived. 24 Then Pharaoh called for Moses. "Go and worship the LORD," he said. "But let your flocks and herds stay here. You can even take your children with you." 25 "No," Moses said, "we must take our flocks and herds for sacrifices and burnt offerings to the LORD our God. 26 All our property must go with us; not a hoof can be left behind. We will have to choose our sacrifices for the LORD our God from among these animals. And we won't know which sacrifices he will require until we get there." 27 So the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart once more, and he would not let them go. 28 "Get out of here!" Pharaoh shouted at Moses. "Don't ever let me see you again! The day you do, you will die!" 29 "Very well," Moses replied. "I will never see you again." 11:1 THEN the LORD said to Moses, "I will send just one more disaster on Pharaoh and the land of Egypt. After that, Pharaoh will let you go. In fact, he will be so anxious to get rid of you that he will practically force you to leave the country. 2 Tell all the Israelite men and women to ask their Egyptian neighbors for articles of silver and gold." 3 (Now the LORD had caused the Egyptians to look favorably on the people of Israel, and Moses was considered a very great man in the land of Egypt. He was respected by Pharaoh's officials and the Egyptian people alike.) 4 So Moses announced to Pharaoh, "This is what the LORD says:About midnight I will pass through Egypt. 5 All the firstborn sons will die in every family in Egypt, from the oldest son of Pharaoh, who sits on the throne, to the oldest son of his lowliest slave. Even the firstborn of the animals will die. 6 Then a loud wail will be heard throughout the land of Egypt; there has never been such wailing before, and there never will be again. 7 But among the Israelites it will be so peaceful that not even a dog will bark. Then you will know that the LORD makes a distinction between the Egyptians and the Israelites. 8 All the officials of Egypt will come running to me, bowing low. `Please leave! 'they will beg. `Hurry! And take all your followers with you.' Only then will I go!" Then, burning with anger, Moses left Pharaoh's presence. 9 Now the LORD had told Moses, "Pharaoh will not listen to you. But this will give me the opportunity to do even more mighty miracles in the land of Egypt." 10 Although Moses and Aaron did these miracles in Pharaoh's presence, the LORD hardened his heart so he wouldn't let the Israelites leave the country. 12:1 NOW the LORD gave the following instructions to Moses and Aaron while they were still in the land of Egypt:2 "From now on, this month will be the first month of the year for you. 3 Announce to the whole community that on the tenth day of this month each family must choose a lamb or a young goat for a sacrifice. 4 If a family is too small to eat an entire lamb, let them share the lamb with another family in the neighborhood. Whether or not they share in this way depends on the size of each family and how much they can eat. 5 This animal must be a one- year- old male, either a sheep or a goat, with no physical defects. 6" Take special care of these lambs until the evening of the fourteenth day of this first month. Then each family in the community must slaughter its lamb. 7 They are to take some of the lamb's blood and smear it on the top and sides of the doorframe of the house where the lamb will be eaten. 8 That evening everyone must eat roast lamb with bitter herbs and bread made without yeast. 9 The meat must never be eaten raw or boiled; roast it all, including the head, legs, and internal organs. 10 Do not leave any of it until the next day. Whatever is not eaten that night must be burned before morning. 11 "Wear your traveling clothes as you eat this meal, as though prepared for a long journey. Wear your sandals, and carry your walking sticks in your hands. Eat the food quickly, for this is the LORD's Passover. 12 On that night I will pass through the land of Egypt and kill all the firstborn sons and firstborn male animals in the land of Egypt. I will execute judgment against all the gods of Egypt, for I am the LORD! 13 The blood you have smeared on your doorposts will serve as a sign. When I see the blood, I will pass over you. This plague of death will not touch you when I strike the land of Egypt."


"For the Kingdom of Heaven is like the owner of an estate who went out early one morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 He agreed to pay the normal daily wage and sent them out to work. 3" At nine o'clock in the morning he was passing through the marketplace and saw some people standing around doing nothing. 4 So he hired them, telling them he would pay them whatever was right at the end of the day. 5 At noon and again around three o'clock he did the same thing. 6 At five o'clock that evening he was in town again and saw some more people standing around. He asked them, `Why haven't you been working today? '7 "They replied, `Because no one hired us.'" The owner of the estate told them, `Then go on out and join the others in my vineyard. '8 "That evening he told the foreman to call the workers in and pay them, beginning with the last workers first. 9 When those hired at five o'clock were paid, each received a full day's wage. 10 When those hired earlier came to get their pay, they assumed they would receive more. But they, too, were paid a day's wage. 11 When they received their pay, they protested, 12 `Those people worked only one hour, and yet you've paid them just as much as you paid us who worked all day in the scorching heat.' 13" He answered one of them, `Friend, I haven't been unfair! Didn't you agree to work all day for the usual wage? 14 Take it and go. I wanted to pay this last worker the same as you. 15 Is it against the law for me to do what I want with my money? Should you be angry because I am kind? '16 "And so it is, that many who are first now will be last then; and those who are last now will be first then." 17 As Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside privately and told them what was going to happen to him. 18 "When we get to Jerusalem," he said, "the Son of Man will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence him to die. 19 Then they will hand him over to the Romans to be mocked, whipped, and crucified. But on the third day he will be raised from the dead." 20 Then the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus with her sons. She knelt respectfully to ask a favor. 21 "What is your request?" he asked. She replied, "In your Kingdom, will you let my two sons sit in places of honor next to you, one at your right and the other at your left?" 22 But Jesus told them, "You don't know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of sorrow I am about to drink?" "Oh yes," they replied, "we are able!" 23 "You will indeed drink from it," he told them. "But I have no right to say who will sit on the thrones next to mine. My Father has prepared those places for the ones he has chosen." 24 When the ten other disciples heard what James and John had asked, they were indignant. 25 But Jesus called them together and said, "You know that in this world kings are tyrants, and officials lord it over the people beneath them. 26 But among you it should be quite different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must become your slave. 28 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."


A psalm of David.
1 To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul.
2 I trust in you, my God!
Do not let me be disgraced,
or let my enemies rejoice in my defeat.
3 No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced,
but disgrace comes to those who try to deceive others.
4 Show me the path where I should walk, O LORD;
point out the right road for me to follow.
5 Lead me by your truth and teach me,
for you are the God who saves me.
All day long I put my hope in you.
6 Remember, O LORD, your unfailing love and compassion,
which you have shown from long ages past.
7 Forgive the rebellious sins of my youth;
look instead through the eyes of your unfailing love,
for you are merciful, O LORD.
8 The LORD is good and does what is right;
he shows the proper path to those who go astray.
9 He leads the humble in what is right,
teaching them his way.
10 The LORD leads with unfailing love and faithfulness
all those who keep his covenant and obey his decrees.
11 For the honor of your name, O LORD,
forgive my many, many sins.
12 Who are those who fear the LORD?
He will show them the path they should choose.
13 They will live in prosperity,
and their children will inherit the Promised Land.
14 Friendship with the LORD is reserved for those who fear him.
With them he shares the secrets of his covenant.
15 My eyes are always looking to the LORD for help,
for he alone can rescue me from the traps of my enemies.


Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and be wise! Even though they have no prince, governor, or ruler to make them work, they labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter. But you, lazybones, how long will you sleep? When will you wake up? I want you to learn this lesson:A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest-- and poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber

January 29 Reading through the Bible Day 29

EXODUS 8:1- 9:35
MATTHEW 19:13- 30
PSALM 24:1- 10
PROVERBS 6:1- 5


Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go to Pharaoh once again and tell him, `This is what the LORD says:Let my people go, so they can worship me. 2 If you refuse, then listen carefully to this:I will send vast hordes of frogs across your entire land from one border to the other. 3 The Nile River will swarm with them. They will come up out of the river and into your houses, even into your bedrooms and onto your beds! Every home in Egypt will be filled with them. They will fill even your ovens and your kneading bowls. 4 You and your people will be overwhelmed by frogs! '" 5 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Tell Aaron to point his shepherd's staff toward all the rivers, canals, and marshes of Egypt so there will be frogs in every corner of the land." 6 Aaron did so, and frogs covered the whole land of Egypt! 7 But the magicians were able to do the same thing with their secret arts. They, too, caused frogs to come up on the land. 8 Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and begged, "Plead with the LORD to take the frogs away from me and my people. I will let the people go, so they can offer sacrifices to the LORD." 9 "You set the time!" Moses replied. "Tell me when you want me to pray for you, your officials, and your people. I will pray that you and your houses will be rid of the frogs. Then only the frogs in the Nile River will remain alive." 10 "Do it tomorrow," Pharaoh said. "All right," Moses replied, "it will be as you have said. Then you will know that no one is as powerful as the LORD our God. 11 All the frogs will be destroyed, except those in the river." 12 So Moses and Aaron left Pharaoh, and Moses pleaded with the LORD about the frogs he had sent. 13 And the LORD did as Moses had promised. The frogs in the houses, the courtyards, and the fields all died. 14 They were piled into great heaps, and a terrible stench filled the land. 15 But when Pharaoh saw that the frogs were gone, he hardened his heart. He refused to listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the LORD had predicted. 16 So the LORD said to Moses, "Tell Aaron to strike the dust with his staff. The dust will turn into swarms of gnats throughout the land of Egypt." 17 So Moses and Aaron did just as the LORD had commanded them. Suddenly, gnats infested the entire land, covering the Egyptians and their animals. All the dust in the land of Egypt turned into gnats. 18 Pharaoh's magicians tried to do the same thing with their secret arts, but this time they failed. And the gnats covered all the people and animals. 19 "This is the finger of God!" the magicians exclaimed to Pharaoh. But Pharaoh's heart remained hard and stubborn. He wouldn't listen to them, just as the LORD had predicted. 20 Next the LORD told Moses, "Get up early in the morning and meet Pharaoh as he goes down to the river. Say to him, `This is what the LORD says:Let my people go, so they can worship me. 21 If you refuse, I will send swarms of flies throughout Egypt. Your homes will be filled with them, and the ground will be covered with them. 22 But it will be very different in the land of Goshen, where the Israelites live. No flies will be found there. Then you will know that I am the LORD and that I have power even in the heart of your land. 23 I will make a clear distinction between your people and my people. This miraculous sign will happen tomorrow.'" 24 And the LORD did just as he had said. There were terrible swarms of flies in Pharaoh's palace and in every home in Egypt. The whole country was thrown into chaos by the flies. 25 Pharaoh hastily called for Moses and Aaron. "All right! Go ahead and offer sacrifices to your God," he said. "But do it here in this land. Don't go out into the wilderness." 26 But Moses replied, "That won't do! The Egyptians would detest the sacrifices that we offer to the LORD our God. If we offer them here where they can see us, they will be sure to stone us. 27 We must take a three- day trip into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to the LORD our God, just as he has commanded us." 28 "All right, go ahead," Pharaoh replied. "I will let you go to offer sacrifices to the LORD your God in the wilderness. But don't go too far away. Now hurry, and pray for me." 29 "As soon as I go," Moses said, "I will ask the LORD to cause the swarms of flies to disappear from you and all your people. But I am warning you, don't change your mind again and refuse to let the people go to sacrifice to the LORD." 30 So Moses left Pharaoh and asked the LORD to remove all the flies. 31 And the LORD did as Moses asked and caused the swarms to disappear. Not a single fly remained in the land! 32 But Pharaoh hardened his heart again and refused to let the people go. 9:1 "GO back to Pharaoh," the LORD commanded Moses. "Tell him, `This is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says: Let my people go, so they can worship me. 2 If you continue to oppress them and refuse to let them go, 3 the LORD will send a deadly plague to destroy your horses, donkeys, camels, cattle, and sheep. 4 But the LORD will again make a distinction between the property of the Israelites and that of the Egyptians. Not a single one of Israel's livestock will die! '" 5 The LORD announced that he would send the plague the very next day, 6 and he did it, just as he had said. The next morning all the livestock of the Egyptians began to die, but the Israelites didn't lose a single animal from their flocks and herds. 7 Pharaoh sent officials to see whether it was true that none of the Israelites' animals were dead. But even after he found it to be true, his heart remained stubborn. He still refused to let the people go. 8 Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Take soot from a furnace, and have Moses toss it into the sky while Pharaoh watches. 9 It will spread like fine dust over the whole land of Egypt, causing boils to break out on people and animals alike." 10 So they gathered soot from a furnace and went to see Pharaoh. As Pharaoh watched, Moses tossed the soot into the air, and terrible boils broke out on the people and animals throughout Egypt. 11 Even the magicians were unable to stand before Moses, because the boils had broken out on them, too. 12 But the LORD made Pharaoh even more stubborn, and he refused to listen, just as the LORD had predicted. 13 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Get up early in the morning. Go to Pharaoh and tell him, `The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says: Let my people go, so they can worship me. 14 If you don't, I will send a plague that will really speak to you and your officials and all the Egyptian people. I will prove to you that there is no other God like me in all the earth. 15 I could have killed you all by now. I could have attacked you with a plague that would have wiped you from the face of the earth. 16 But I have let you live for this reason-- that you might see my power and that my fame might spread throughout the earth. 17 But you are still lording it over my people, and you refuse to let them go. 18 So tomorrow at this time I will send a hailstorm worse than any in all of Egypt's history. 19 Quick! Order your livestock and servants to come in from the fields. Every person or animal left outside will die beneath the hail. '" 20 Some of Pharaoh's officials believed what the LORD said. They immediately brought their livestock and servants in from the fields. 21 But those who had no respect for the word of the LORD left them out in the open. 22 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Lift your hand toward the sky, and cause the hail to fall throughout Egypt, on the people, the animals, and the crops." 23 So Moses lifted his staff toward the sky, and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and lightning struck the earth. The LORD sent a tremendous hailstorm against all the land of Egypt. 24 Never in all the history of Egypt had there been a storm like that, with such severe hail and continuous lightning. 25 It left all of Egypt in ruins. Everything left in the fields was destroyed-- people, animals, and crops alike. Even all the trees were destroyed. 26 The only spot in all Egypt without hail that day was the land of Goshen, where the people of Israel lived. 27 Then Pharaoh urgently sent for Moses and Aaron. "I finally admit my fault," he confessed. "The LORD is right, and my people and I are wrong. 28 Please beg the LORD to end this terrifying thunder and hail. I will let you go at once." 29 "All right," Moses replied. "As soon as I leave the city, I will lift my hands and pray to the LORD. Then the thunder and hail will stop. This will prove to you that the earth belongs to the LORD. 30 But as for you and your officials, I know that you still do not fear the LORD God as you should." 31 All the flax and barley were destroyed because the barley was ripe and the flax was in bloom. 32 But the wheat and the spelt were not destroyed because they had not yet sprouted from the ground. 33 So Moses left Pharaoh and went out of the city. As he lifted his hands to the LORD, all at once the thunder and hail stopped, and the downpour ceased. 34 When Pharaoh saw this, he and his officials sinned yet again by stubbornly refusing to do as they had promised. 35 Pharaoh refused to let the people leave, just as the LORD had predicted.


Some children were brought to Jesus so he could lay his hands on them and pray for them. The disciples told them not to bother him. 14 But Jesus said, "Let the children come to me. Don't stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these." 15 And he put his hands on their heads and blessed them before he left. 16 Someone came to Jesus with this question:"Teacher, what good things must I do to have eternal life?" 17 "Why ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "Only God is good. But to answer your question, you can receive eternal life if you keep the commandments." 18 "Which ones?" the man asked. And Jesus replied:"`Do not murder. Do not commit adultery. Do not steal. Do not testify falsely. 19 Honor your father and mother. Love your neighbor as yourself.'" 20 "I've obeyed all these commandments," the young man replied. "What else must I do?" 21 Jesus told him, "If you want to be perfect, 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 But when the young man heard this, he went sadly away because he had many possessions. 23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is very hard for a rich person to get into the Kingdom of Heaven. 24 I say it again-- 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!" 25 The disciples were astounded. "Then who in the world can be saved?" they asked. 26 Jesus looked at them intently and said, "Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible." 27 Then Peter said to him, "We've given up everything to follow you. What will we get out of it?" 28 And Jesus replied, "I assure you that when I, the Son of Man, sit upon my glorious throne in the Kingdom, you who have been my followers will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for my sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return and will have eternal life. 30 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."


A psalm of David.
1 The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it.
The world and all its people belong to him.
2 For he laid the earth's foundation on the seas
and built it on the ocean depths.
3 Who may climb the mountain of the LORD?
Who may stand in his holy place?
4 Only those whose hands and hearts are pure,
who do not worship idols
and never tell lies.
5 They will receive the LORD's blessing
and have right standing with God their savior.
6 They alone may enter God's presence
and worship the God of Israel.
Interlude7 Open up, ancient gates!
Open up, ancient doors,
and let the King of glory enter.
8 Who is the King of glory?
The LORD, strong and mighty,
the LORD, invincible in battle.
9 Open up, ancient gates!
Open up, ancient doors,
and let the King of glory enter.
10 Who is the King of glory?
The LORD Almighty--
he is the King of glory.
Interlude



My child, if you co- sign a loan for a friend or guarantee the debt of someone you hardly know-- if you have trapped yourself by your agreement and are caught by what you said-- quick, get out of it if you possibly can! You have placed yourself at your friend's mercy. Now swallow your pride; go and beg to have your name erased. Don't put it off. Do it now! Don't rest until you do. Save yourself like a deer escaping from a hunter, like a bird fleeing from a net