Day 160 of 365

2 Sam 13:1–39

1 It happened after this, that Absalom the son of David had a beautiful sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her.

2 Amnon was so troubled that he fell sick because of his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and it seemed hard to Amnon to do anything to her.

3 But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David's brother; and Jonadab was a very subtle man.

4 He said to him, "Why, son of the king, are you so sad from day to day? Won't you tell me?" Amnon said to him, "I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister."

5 Jonadab said to him, "Lie down on your bed, and pretend to be sick. When your father comes to see you, tell him, 'Please let my sister Tamar come and give me bread to eat, and dress the food in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it from her hand.'"

6 So Amnon lay down and faked being sick. When the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, "Please let my sister Tamar come, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat from her hand."

7 Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, "Go now to your brother Amnon's house, and prepare food for him."

8 So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house; and he was laid down. She took dough, and kneaded it, and made cakes in his sight, and baked the cakes.

9 She took the pan, and poured them out before him; but he refused to eat. Amnon said, "Have all men leave me." Every man went out from him.

10 Amnon said to Tamar, "Bring the food into the room, that I may eat from your hand." Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought them into the room to Amnon her brother.

11 When she had brought them near to him to eat, he took hold of her, and said to her, "Come, lie with me, my sister!"

12 She answered him, "No, my brother, do not force me! For no such thing ought to be done in Israel. Do not do this folly.

13 I, where would I carry my shame? And as for you, you will be as one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, please speak to the king; for he will not withhold me from you."

14 However he would not listen to her voice; but being stronger than she, he forced her, and lay with her.

15 Then Amnon hated her with exceeding great hatred; for the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her. Amnon said to her, "Arise, be gone!"

16 She said to him, "Not so, because this great wrong in sending me away is worse than the other that you did to me!" But he would not listen to her.

17 Then he called his servant who ministered to him, and said, "Put now this woman out from me, and bolt the door after her."

18 She had a garment of various colors on her; for with such robes were the king's daughters who were virgins dressed. Then his servant brought her out, and bolted the door after her.

19 Tamar put ashes on her head, and tore her garment of various colors that was on her; and she laid her hand on her head, and went her way, crying aloud as she went.

20 Absalom her brother said to her, "Has Amnon your brother been with you? But now hold your peace, my sister. He is your brother. Do not take this thing to heart." So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom's house.

21 But when king David heard of all these things, he was very angry.

22 Absalom spoke to Amnon neither good nor bad; for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.

23 It happened after two full years, that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baal Hazor, which is beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king's sons.

24 Absalom came to the king, and said, "See now, your servant has sheepshearers. Please let the king and his servants go with your servant."

25 The king said to Absalom, "No, my son, let us not all go, lest we be burdensome to you." He pressed him; however he would not go, but blessed him.

26 Then Absalom said, "If not, please let my brother Amnon go with us." The king said to him, "Why should he go with you?"

27 But Absalom pressed him, and he let Amnon and all the king's sons go with him.

28 Absalom commanded his servants, saying, "Mark now, when Amnon's heart is merry with wine; and when I tell you, 'Strike Amnon,' then kill him. Do not be afraid. Haven't I commanded you? Be courageous, and be valiant!"

29 The servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king's sons arose, and every man got up on his mule, and fled.

30 It happened, while they were in the way, that the news came to David, saying, "Absalom has slain all the king's sons, and there is not one of them left!"

31 Then the king arose, and tore his garments, and lay on the ground; and all his servants stood by with their clothes torn.

32 Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David's brother, answered, "Do not let my lord suppose that they have killed all the young men the king's sons; for Amnon only is dead; for by the appointment of Absalom this has been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar.

33 Now therefore do not let my lord the king take the thing to his heart, to think that all the king's sons are dead; for Amnon only is dead."

34 But Absalom fled. The young man who kept the watch lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold, many people were coming by way of the hillside behind him.

35 Jonadab said to the king, "Behold, the king's sons are coming! It is as your servant said."

36 It happened, as soon as he had finished speaking, that behold, the king's sons came, and lifted up their voice, and wept. The king also and all his servants wept bitterly.

37 But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai the son of Ammihur, king of Geshur. David mourned for his son every day.

38 So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years.

39 King David longed to go forth to Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, since he was dead.

John 18:1–30

1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples over the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, into which he and his disciples entered.

2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples.

3 Judas then, having taken a detachment of soldiers and officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons.

4 Jesus therefore, knowing all the things that were happening to him, went forth, and said to them, "Who are you looking for?"

5 They answered him, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus said to them, "I AM." Judas also, who betrayed him, was standing with them.

6 When therefore he said to them, "I AM," they went backward, and fell to the ground.

7 Again therefore he asked them, "Who are you looking for?" They said, "Jesus of Nazareth."

8 Jesus answered, "I told you that I AM. If therefore you seek me, let these go their way,"

9 that the word might be fulfilled which he spoke, "Of those whom you have given me, I have lost none."

10 Simon Peter therefore, having a sword, drew it, and struck the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus.

11 Jesus therefore said to Peter, "Put the sword into its sheath. The cup which the Father has given me, shall I not surely drink it?"

12 So the detachment, the commanding officer, and the officers of the Jewish leaders, seized Jesus and bound him,

13 and led him to Annas first, for he was father-in-law to Caiaphas, who was high priest that year.

14 Now it was Caiaphas who advised the Jewish leaders that it was expedient that one man should perish for the people.

15 Simon Peter followed Jesus, as did another disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and entered in with Jesus into the court of the high priest;

16 but Peter was standing at the door outside. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to her who kept the door, and brought in Peter.

17 Then the maid who kept the door said to Peter, "Are you also one of this man's disciples?" He said, "I am not."

18 Now the servants and the officers were standing there, having made a fire of coals, for it was cold. They were warming themselves. Peter was with them, standing and warming himself.

19 The high priest therefore asked Jesus about his disciples, and about his teaching.

20 Jesus answered him, "I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues, and in the temple, where all the Jewish people come together. I said nothing in secret.

21 Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them. Behold, these know the things which I said."

22 When he had said this, one of the officers standing by slapped Jesus with his hand, saying, "Do you answer the high priest like that?"

23 Jesus answered him, "If I have spoken evil, testify of the evil; but if well, why do you beat me?"

24 Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas, the high priest.

25 Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They said therefore to him, "You are not also one of his disciples, are you?" He denied it, and said, "I am not."

26 One of the servants of the high priest, being a relative of him whose ear Peter had cut off, said, "Did not I see you in the garden with him?"

27 Peter therefore denied it again, and immediately the rooster crowed.

28 They led Jesus therefore from Caiaphas into the Praetorium. It was early, and they themselves did not enter into the Praetorium, that they might not be defiled, but might eat the Passover.

29 Pilate therefore went out to them, and said, "What accusation do you bring against this man?"

30 They answered him, "If this man weren't an evildoer, we would not have delivered him up to you."

Ps 69:1–36

1 Save me, God, for the waters have come up to my neck!

2 I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold. I have come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.

3 I am weary with my crying. My throat is dry. My eyes fail, looking for my God.

4 Those who hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head. Those who want to cut me off, being my enemies wrongfully, are mighty. I have to restore what I did not take away.

5 God, you know my foolishness. My sins aren't hidden from you.

6 Do not let those who wait for you be shamed through me, Lord God of Hosts. Do not let those who seek you be brought to dishonor through me, God of Israel.

7 Because for your sake, I have borne reproach. Shame has covered my face.

8 I have become a stranger to my brothers, a foreigner to my mother's children.

9 For the zeal of your house consumes me. The reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me.

10 When I wept and I fasted, that was to my reproach.

11 When I made sackcloth my clothing, I became a byword to them.

12 Those who sit in the gate talk about me. I am the song of the drunkards.

13 But as for me, my prayer is to you, Lord, in an acceptable time. God, in the abundance of your loving kindness, answer me in the truth of your salvation.

14 Deliver me out of the mire, and do not let me sink. Let me be delivered from those who hate me, and out of the deep waters.

15 Do not let the flood waters overwhelm me, neither let the deep swallow me up. Do not let the pit shut its mouth on me.

16 Answer me, Lord, for your loving kindness is good. According to the multitude of your tender mercies, turn to me.

17 Do not hide your face from your servant, for I am in distress. Answer me speedily!

18 Draw near to my soul, and redeem it. Ransom me because of my enemies.

19 You know my reproach, my shame, and my dishonor. My adversaries are all before you.

20 Reproach has broken my heart, and I am full of heaviness. I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; for comforters, but I found none.

21 They also gave me gall for my food. In my thirst, they gave me vinegar to drink.

22 Let their table before them become a snare. May it become a retribution and a trap.

23 Let their eyes be darkened, so that they can't see. Let their backs be continually bent.

24 Pour out your indignation on them. Let the fierceness of your anger overtake them.

25 Let their habitation be desolate. Let no one dwell in their tents.

26 For they persecute him whom you have wounded. They tell of the sorrow of those whom you have hurt.

27 Charge them with crime upon crime. Do not let them come into your righteousness.

28 Let them be blotted out of the book of life, and not be written with the righteous.

29 But I am in pain and distress. Let your salvation, God, protect me.

30 I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.

31 It will please the Lord better than an ox, or a bull that has horns and hoofs.

32 The humble have seen it, and are glad. You who seek after God, let your heart live.

33 For the Lord hears the needy, and doesn't despise his captive people.

34 Let heaven and earth praise him; the seas, and everything that moves therein!

35 For God will save Zion, and build the cities of Judah. They shall settle there, and own it.

36 The children also of his servants shall inherit it. Those who love his name shall dwell therein.