Day 124 of 365

Judg 5:1–31

1 Then Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam sang on that day, saying,

2 "Because the leaders took the lead in Israel, because the people offered themselves willingly, be blessed, Lord!

3 "Hear, you kings! Give ear, you princes! I, even I, will sing to the Lord. I will sing praise to the Lord, the God of Israel.

4 "Lord, when you went forth out of Seir, when you marched out of the field of Edom, the earth trembled, the sky also dropped. Yes, the clouds dropped water.

5 The mountains quaked at the presence of the Lord, even Sinai, at the presence of the Lord, the God of Israel.

6 "In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied. The travelers walked through byways.

7 The rulers ceased in Israel. They ceased until I, Deborah, arose; Until I arose a mother in Israel.

8 They chose new gods. Then war was in the gates. Was there a shield or spear seen among forty thousand in Israel?

9 My heart is toward the leaders of Israel, who offered themselves willingly among the people. Bless the Lord!

10 "Speak, you who ride on white donkeys, you who sit on rich carpets, and you who walk by the way.

11 Far from the noise of archers, in the places of drawing water, there they will rehearse the righteous acts of the Lord, the righteous acts of his rule in Israel. "Then the people of the Lord went down to the gates.

12 'Awake, awake, Deborah! Awake, awake, utter a song! Arise, Barak, and lead away your captives, you son of Abinoam.'

13 "Then a remnant of the nobles and the people came down. The Lord came down for me against the warriors.

14 Those whose root is in Amalek came out of Ephraim, after you, Benjamin, among your peoples; out of Machir leaders came down, and out of Zebulun those that handle the staff of office.

15 And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah. As was Issachar, so was Barak. They rushed into the valley at his feet. By the watercourses of Reuben, there were great resolves of heart.

16 Why did you sit among the sheepfolds, to hear the whistling for the flocks? At the watercourses of Reuben There were great searchings of heart.

17 Gilead lived beyond the Jordan. Why did Dan remain in ships? Asher sat still at the haven of the sea, and lived by his harbors.

18 Zebulun was a people that risked their lives even to death; Naphtali also, on the high places of the field.

19 The kings came and fought, then the kings of Canaan fought at Taanach by the waters of Megiddo. They took no plunder of silver.

20 From the sky the stars fought. From their courses, they fought against Sisera.

21 The river Kishon swept them away, that ancient river, the river Kishon. My soul, march on with strength.

22 Then the horse hoofs stamped because of the prancings, the prancings of their strong ones.

23 Curse Meroz, said the angel of the Lord. Curse bitterly its inhabitants, because they did not come to help the Lord, to help the Lord against the mighty.

24 Jael shall be blessed above women, the wife of Heber the Kenite; blessed shall she be above women in the tent.

25 He asked for water. She gave him milk. She brought him butter in a princely bowl.

26 She put her hand to the tent peg, and her right hand to the workmen's hammer. With the hammer she struck Sisera. She struck through his head. Yes, she pierced and struck through his temple.

27 At her feet he collapsed, he fell, he lay. At her feet he collapsed, he fell. Where he collapsed, there he fell down dead.

28 Through the window she looked out, and cried: Sisera's mother looked through the lattice. Why is his chariot so long in coming? Why are the hoofbeats of his chariots delayed?

29 Her wise ladies answered her; indeed, she answers herself,

30 'Have they not found, have they not divided the spoil? A lady, two ladies to every man; to Sisera a spoil of dyed garments, A spoil of dyed garments embroidered, Of dyed garments embroidered on both sides, for the neck of the plunderer?'

31 "So let all your enemies perish, Lord, but let those who love him be as the sun when it rises forth in its strength." And the land had rest forty years.

Luke 23:1–23

1 The whole company of them rose up and brought him before Pilate.

2 They began to accuse him, saying, "We found this man perverting our nation, forbidding paying taxes to Caesar, and saying that he himself is the Messiah, a king."

3 Pilate asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" He answered him, "So you say."

4 Pilate said to the chief priests and the multitudes, "I find no basis for a charge against this man."

5 But they insisted, saying, "He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee even to this place."

6 But when Pilate heard it, he asked if the man was a Galilean.

7 When he found out that he was in Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem during those days.

8 Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad, for he had wanted to see him for a long time, because he had heard concerning him. He hoped to see some miracle done by him.

9 He questioned him with many words, but he gave no answers.

10 The chief priests and the scribes stood, vehemently accusing him.

11 Herod with his soldiers humiliated him and mocked him. Dressing him in luxurious clothing, they sent him back to Pilate.

12 Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before that they were enemies with each other.

13 Pilate called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people,

14 and said to them, "You brought this man to me as one that perverts the people, and see, I have examined him before you, and found no basis for a charge against this man concerning those things of which you accuse him.

15 Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us, and see, nothing worthy of death has been done by him.

16 I will therefore chastise him and release him."

18 But they all shouted out together, saying, "Away with this man! Release to us Barabbas!"-

19 one who was thrown into prison for a certain revolt in the city, and for murder.

20 Then Pilate spoke to them again, wanting to release Jesus,

21 but they shouted, saying, "Crucify! Crucify him!"

22 He said to them the third time, "Why? What evil has this man done? I have found no capital crime in him. I will therefore chastise him and release him."

23 But they were urgent with loud voices, asking that he might be crucified. And their voices prevailed.

Prov 28:12–20

12 When the righteous triumph, there is great glory; but when the wicked rise, men hide themselves.

13 He who conceals his sins doesn't prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.

14 Blessed is the man who always fears; but one who hardens his heart falls into trouble.

15 As a roaring lion or a charging bear, so is a wicked ruler over helpless people.

16 A tyrannical ruler lacks judgment. One who hates ill-gotten gain will have long days.

17 A man who is tormented by life blood will be a fugitive until death; no one will support him.

18 Whoever walks blamelessly is kept safe; but one with perverse ways will fall suddenly.

19 One who works his land will have an abundance of food; but one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.

20 A faithful man is rich with blessings; but one who is eager to be rich will not go unpunished.