13th March

Morning Readings

Bread from Heaven

Exodus 16:14-35

¹ The whole community of Israel started out from Elim. They came to the Desert of Sin. It was between Elim and Sinai. They arrived there on the 15th day of the second month after they had come out of Egypt.

² In the desert the whole community told Moses and Aaron they weren't happy with them. ³ The Israelites said to them, "We wish the Lord had put us to death in Egypt. There we sat around pots of meat. We ate all of the food we wanted. But you have brought us out into this desert. You must want this entire community to die of hunger."

⁴ Then the Lord spoke to Moses. He said, "I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people must go out each day. Have them gather enough bread for that day. Here is how I will put them to the test. I will see if they will follow my directions.

⁵ "On the sixth day they must prepare what they bring in. On that day they must gather twice as much as on the other days."

⁶ So Moses and Aaron spoke to all of the people of Israel. They said, "In the evening you will know that the Lord brought you out of Egypt. ⁷ And in the morning you will see the glory of the Lord. He has heard you say you aren't happy with him. Who are we? Why are you telling us you aren't happy with us?"

⁸ Moses also said, "You will know that the Lord has heard you speak against him. He will give you meat to eat in the evening. He'll give you all of the bread you want in the morning. But who are we? You aren't speaking against us. You are speaking against the Lord."

⁹ Then Moses told Aaron, "Talk to the whole community of Israel. Say to them, 'Come to the Lord. He has heard you speak against him.' "

¹⁰ While Aaron was talking to the whole community of Israel, they looked toward the desert. There was the glory of the Lord appearing in the cloud!

¹¹ The Lord said to Moses, ¹² "I have heard the people of Israel talking about how unhappy they are. Tell them, 'When the sun goes down, you will eat meat. In the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.' "

¹³ That evening quail came and covered the camp. In the morning the ground around the camp was covered with dew. ¹⁴ When the dew was gone, thin flakes appeared on the desert floor. They looked like frost on the ground. ¹⁵ The people of Israel saw the flakes. They asked each other, "What's that?" They didn't know what it was.

Moses said to them, "It's the bread the Lord has given you to eat. ¹⁶ Here is what the Lord has commanded. He has said, 'Each one of you should gather as much as you need. Take two quarts for each person who lives in your tent.' "

¹⁷ The people of Israel did as they were told. Some gathered a lot, and some gathered a little. ¹⁸ When they measured it out, those who gathered a lot didn't have too much. And those who gathered a little had enough. All of them gathered only what they needed.

¹⁹ Then Moses said to them, "Don't keep any of it until morning."

²⁰ Some of them didn't pay any attention to Moses. They kept part of it until morning. But it was full of maggots and began to stink. So Moses became angry with them.

²¹ Each morning all of them gathered as much as they needed. But by the hottest time of the day, the thin flakes had melted away.

²² On the sixth day, the people gathered twice as much. It amounted to four quarts for each person. The leaders of the community came and reported that to Moses. ²³ He said to them, "Here is what the Lord commanded. He said, 'Tomorrow will be a day of rest. It will be a holy Sabbath day. It will be set apart for the Lord. So bake what you want to bake. Boil what you want to boil. Save what is left. Keep it until morning.' "

²⁴ So they saved it until morning, just as Moses commanded. It didn't stink or get maggots in it.

²⁵ "Eat it today," Moses said. "Today is a Sabbath day in the Lord's honour. You won't find any flakes on the ground today. ²⁶ Gather them for six days. But on the seventh day there won't be any. It's the Sabbath."

²⁷ In spite of what Moses said, some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather the flakes. But they didn't find any.

²⁸ Then the Lord spoke to Moses. He said, "How long will all of you refuse to obey my commands and my teachings? ²⁹ Keep in mind that I have given you the Sabbath day. That is why on the sixth day I give you bread for two days. All of you must stay where you are on the seventh day. No one can go out." ³⁰ So the people rested on the seventh day.

³¹ The people of Israel called the bread manna. It was white like coriander seeds. It tasted like wafers that were made with honey.

³² Moses said, "Here is what the Lord has commanded. He has said, 'Get two quarts of manna. Keep it for all time to come. Then those who live after you will see the bread I gave you to eat in the desert. I gave it to you when I brought you out of Egypt.' "

³³ So Moses said to Aaron, "Get a jar. Put two quarts of manna in it. Then place it in front of the Lord. Keep it there for all time to come."

³⁴ Aaron did exactly as the Lord had commanded Moses. He put the manna in front of the tablets of the covenant. He put it there so it would be kept for all time to come.

³⁵ The people of Israel ate manna for 40 years. They ate it until they came to a land that was settled. They ate it until they reached the border of Canaan.

³⁶ The jar had an omer of manna in it. An omer was two quarts.

Genesis 2:3

³ Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.

Evening Readings

Be Faithful!

Proverbs 26:20

²⁰ Without wood a fire goes out;
without a gossip a quarrel dies down.

Proverbs 27:1-10

¹ Do not boast about tomorrow,
for you do not know what a day may bring.

² Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth;
an outsider, and not your own lips.

³ Stone is heavy and sand a burden,
but a fool's provocation is heavier than both.

⁴ Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming,
but who can stand before jealousy?

⁵ Better is open rebuke
than hidden love.

⁶ Wounds from a friend can be trusted,
but an enemy multiplies kisses.

⁷ One who is full loathes honey from the comb,
but to the hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet.

⁸ Like a bird that flees its nest
is anyone who flees from home.

⁹ Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart,
and the pleasantness of a friend
springs from their heartfelt advice.

¹⁰ Do not forsake your friend or a friend of your family,
and do not go to your relative's house when disaster strikes you—
better a neighbour nearby than a relative far away.

Proverbs 27:17-23

¹⁷ As iron sharpens iron,
so one person sharpens another.

¹⁸ Those who guard a fig tree will eat its fruit,
and those who protect their masters will be honoured.

¹⁹ As water reflects the face,
so one's life reflects the heart. ^[a]

²⁰ Death and Destruction ^[b] are never satisfied,
and neither are human eyes.

²¹ The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold,
but people are tested by their praise.

²² Though you grind fools in a mortar,
grinding them like grain with a pestle,
you will not remove their folly from them.

²³ Be sure you know the condition of your flocks,
give careful attention to your herds;

Footnotes:

1. Proverbs 27:19 Or so others reflect your heart back to you
   
2. Proverbs 27:20 Hebrew Abaddon
   

Proverbs 28:1

¹ The wicked flee though no one pursues,
but the righteous are as bold as a lion.

Proverbs 28:6

⁶ Better the poor whose walk is blameless
than the rich whose ways are perverse.

Proverbs 28:13-14

¹³ Those who conceal their sins do not prosper,
but those who confess and renounce them find mercy.

¹⁴ Blessed are those who always tremble before God,
but those who harden their hearts fall into trouble.

Proverbs 28:20-21

²⁰ A faithful person will be richly blessed,
but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.

²¹ To show partiality is not good—
yet a person will do wrong for a piece of bread.

Proverbs 29:1

¹ Whoever remains stiff-necked after many rebukes
will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy.

Proverbs 29:20

²⁰ Do you see someone who speaks in haste?
There is more hope for a fool than for them.

Proverbs 29:25

²⁵ To fear anyone will prove to be a snare,
but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.

Proverbs 30:5-6

⁵ "Every word of God is flawless;
he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.

⁶ Do not add to his words,
or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.

Leaves for Plucking

Psalm 85:8

⁸ I will listen to what God the LORD says;
he promises peace to his people, his faithful servants—
but let them not turn to folly.

Isaiah 43:10

¹⁰ "You are my witnesses," declares the LORD,
"and my servant whom I have chosen,
so that you may know and believe me
and understand that I am he.
Before me no god was formed,
nor will there be one after me.

Matthew 5:13-14

¹³ "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

¹⁴ "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.

12th March

Morning Readings

A Nation of Complainers

Exodus 15:20-27

²⁰ Then Miriam the prophet, Aaron's sister, took a timbrel in her hand, and all the women followed her, with timbrels and dancing. ²¹ Miriam sang to them:
"Sing to the LORD,
for he is highly exalted.
Both horse and driver
he has hurled into the sea."

²² Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the Desert of Shur. For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water. ²³ When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah. ^[a]) ²⁴ So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, "What are we to drink?"

²⁵ Then Moses cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became sweet.

There the LORD issued a ruling and instruction for them and put them to the test. ²⁶ He said, "If you listen carefully to the LORD your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, who heals you."

²⁷ Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped there near the water.

Footnotes:

1. Exodus 15:23 Marah means bitter.
   

Exodus 16:2-13

² In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. ³ The Israelites said to them, "If only we had died by the LORD's hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death."

⁴ Then the LORD said to Moses, "I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions. ⁵ On the sixth day they are to prepare what they bring in, and that is to be twice as much as they gather on the other days."

⁶ So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, "In the evening you will know that it was the LORD who brought you out of Egypt, ⁷ and in the morning you will see the glory of the LORD, because he has heard your grumbling against him. Who are we, that you should grumble against us?" ⁸ Moses also said, "You will know that it was the LORD when he gives you meat to eat in the evening and all the bread you want in the morning, because he has heard your grumbling against him. Who are we? You are not grumbling against us, but against the LORD."

⁹ Then Moses told Aaron, "Say to the entire Israelite community, 'Come before the LORD, for he has heard your grumbling.' "

¹⁰ While Aaron was speaking to the whole Israelite community, they looked toward the desert, and there was the glory of the LORD appearing in the cloud.

¹¹ The LORD said to Moses, ¹² "I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, 'At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God.' "

¹³ That evening quail came and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp.

Evening Readings

Giant Sloth and his End

Proverbs 24:17-18

¹⁷ Do not gloat when your enemies fall;
when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice,

¹⁸ or the LORD will see and disapprove
and turn his wrath away from them.

Proverbs 24:28-34

²⁸ Do not testify against your neighbour without cause—
would you use your lips to mislead?

²⁹ Do not say, "I'll do to them as they have done to me;
I'll pay them back for what they did."

³⁰ I went past the field of a sluggard,
past the vineyard of someone who has no sense;

³¹ thorns had come up everywhere,
the ground was covered with weeds,
and the stone wall was in ruins.

³² I applied my heart to what I observed
and learned a lesson from what I saw:

³³ A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest—

³⁴ and poverty will come on you like a thief
and scarcity like an armed man.

Proverbs 25:17-28

¹⁷ Seldom set foot in your neighbour's house—
too much of you, and you will be hated.

¹⁸ Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow
is one who gives false testimony against a neighbour.

¹⁹ Like a broken tooth or a lame foot
is reliance on the unfaithful in a time of trouble.

²⁰ Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day,
or like vinegar poured on a wound,
is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.

²¹ If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;
if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.

²² In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head,
and the LORD will reward you.

²³ Like a north wind that brings unexpected rain
is a sly tongue—which provokes a horrified look.

²⁴ Better to live on a corner of the roof
than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.

²⁵ Like cold water to a weary soul
is good news from a distant land.

²⁶ Like a muddied spring or a polluted well
are the righteous who give way to the wicked.

²⁷ It is not good to eat too much honey,
nor is it honourable to search out matters that are too deep.

²⁸ Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control.

Proverbs 26:12-16

¹² Do you see people who are wise in their own eyes?
There is more hope for fools than for them.

¹³ A sluggard says, "There's a lion in the road,
a fierce lion roaming the streets!"

¹⁴ As a door turns on its hinges,
so a sluggard turns on the bed.

¹⁵ Sluggards bury their hands in the dish
and are too lazy to bring them back to their mouths.

¹⁶ Sluggards are wiser in their own eyes
than seven people who answer discreetly.

Proverbs 24:9

⁹ The schemes of folly are sin,
and people detest a mocker.

Leaves for Plucking

Luke 8:15

¹⁵ But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.

Luke 12:35-36

³⁵ "Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, ³⁶ like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him.

11th March

Morning Readings

The Song of Victory

Exodus 15:1-19

¹ Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD :
"I will sing to the LORD,
for he is highly exalted.
The horse and its rider
he has hurled into the sea.

² The LORD is my strength and my song;
he has become my salvation.
He is my God, and I will praise him,
my father's God, and I will exalt him.

³ The LORD is a warrior;
the LORD is his name.

⁴ Pharaoh's chariots and his army
he has hurled into the sea.
The best of Pharaoh's officers
are drowned in the Red Sea. ^[a]

⁵ The deep waters have covered them;
they sank to the depths like a stone.

⁶ "Your right hand, O LORD,
was majestic in power.
Your right hand, O LORD,
shattered the enemy.

⁷ In the greatness of your majesty
you threw down those who opposed you.
You unleashed your burning anger;
it consumed them like stubble.

⁸ By the blast of your nostrils
the waters piled up.
The surging waters stood firm like a wall;
the deep waters congealed in the heart of the sea.

⁹ "The enemy boasted,
'I will pursue, I will overtake them.
I will divide the spoils;
I will gorge myself on them.
I will draw my sword
and my hand will destroy them.'

¹⁰ But you blew with your breath,
and the sea covered them.
They sank like lead
in the mighty waters.

¹¹ "Who among the gods is like you, O LORD
Who is like you—
majestic in holiness,
awesome in glory,
working wonders?

¹² You stretched out your right hand
and the earth swallowed them.

¹³ "In your unfailing love you will lead
the people you have redeemed.
In your strength you will guide them
to your holy dwelling.

¹⁴ The nations will hear and tremble;
anguish will grip the people of Philistia.

¹⁵ The chiefs of Edom will be terrified,
the leaders of Moab will be seized with trembling,
the people ^[b] of Canaan will melt away;

¹⁶ terror and dread will fall upon them.
By the power of your arm
they will be as still as a stone—
until your people pass by, O LORD,
until the people you bought ^[c] pass by.

¹⁷ You will bring them in and plant them
on the mountain of your inheritance—
the place, O LORD, you made for your dwelling,
the sanctuary, O Lord, your hands established.

¹⁸ The LORD will reign
for ever and ever."

¹⁹ When Pharaoh's horses, chariots and horsemen ^[d] went into the sea, the LORD brought the waters of the sea back over them, but the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground.

Footnotes:

1. Exodus 15:4 Hebrew Yam Suph; that is, Sea of Reeds; also in verse 22
   
2. Exodus 15:15 Or rulers
   
3. Exodus 15:16 Or created
   
4. Exodus 15:19 Or charioteers
   

Evening Readings

A Deadly Foe

Proverbs 20:1

¹ Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler;
whoever is led astray by them is not wise.

Proverbs 23:20-21

²⁰ Do not join those who drink too much wine
or gorge themselves on meat,

²¹ for drunkards and gluttons become poor,
and drowsiness clothes them in rags.

Proverbs 23:29-32

²⁹ Who has woe? Who has sorrow?
Who has strife? Who has complaints?
Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?

³⁰ Those who linger over wine,
who go to sample bowls of mixed wine.

³¹ Do not gaze at wine when it is red,
when it sparkles in the cup,
when it goes down smoothly!

³² In the end it bites like a snake
and poisons like a viper.

Proverbs 20:7

⁷ The righteous lead blameless lives;
blessed are their children after them.

Proverbs 20:10-11

¹⁰ Differing weights and differing measures—
the LORD detests them both.

¹¹ Even small children are known by their actions,
so is their conduct really pure and upright?

Proverbs 23:17

¹⁷ Do not let your heart envy sinners,
but always be zealous for the fear of the LORD.

Proverbs 20:20

Proverbs 21:2

²⁰ If you curse your father or mother,
your lamp will be snuffed out in pitch darkness.

Proverbs 21:17

¹⁷ Whoever loves pleasure will become poor;
whoever loves wine and oil will never be rich.

Proverbs 22:1

¹ A good name is more desirable than great riches;
to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.

Proverbs 24:9

⁹ The schemes of folly are sin,
and people detest a mocker.

Leaves for Plucking

Psalm 33:1

¹ Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous;
it is fitting for the upright to praise him.

Psalm 33:18

¹⁸ But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him,
on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,

Psalm 40:3

³ He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear the LORD
and put their trust in him.

10th March

Morning Readings

Wonderful Deliverance

Exodus 14:19-31

¹⁹ Then the angel of God, who had been travelling in front of Israel's army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them, ²⁰ coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other side; so neither went near the other all night long.

²¹ Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, ²² and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left.

²³ The Egyptians pursued them, and all Pharaoh's horses and chariots and horsemen followed them into the sea. ²⁴ During the last watch of the night the LORD looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud at the Egyptian army and threw it into confusion. ²⁵ He jammed ^[a] the wheels of their chariots so that they had difficulty driving. And the Egyptians said, "Let's get away from the Israelites! The LORD is fighting for them against Egypt."

²⁶ Then the LORD said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may flow back over the Egyptians and their chariots and horsemen." ²⁷ Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea went back to its place. The Egyptians were fleeing toward ^[b] it, and the LORD swept them into the sea. ²⁸ The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen—the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them survived.

²⁹ But the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left. ³⁰ That day the LORD saved Israel from the hands of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the shore. ³¹ And when the Israelites saw the great power the LORD displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the LORD and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant.

Footnotes:

1. Exodus 14:25 See Samaritan Pentateuch, Septuagint and Syriac; Masoretic Text removed
   
2. Exodus 14:27 Or from
   

Stop the Leak!

Proverbs 16:1

¹ To human beings belong the plans of the heart,
but from the LORD comes the proper answer of the tongue.

Proverbs 16:3

³ Commit to the LORD whatever you do,
and he will establish your plans.

Proverbs 16:8-9

⁸ Better a little with righteousness
than much gain with injustice.

⁹ In their hearts human beings plan their course,
but the LORD establishes their steps.

Proverbs 16:18

¹⁸ Pride goes before destruction,
a haughty spirit before a fall.

Proverbs 16:31-32

³¹ Gray hair is a crown of splendour;
it is attained in the way of righteousness.

³² Better a patient person than a warrior,
those with self-control than those who take a city.

Proverbs 17:9

⁹ Whoever would foster love covers over an offense,
but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.

Proverbs 17:13-14

¹³ Evil will never leave the house
of one who pays back evil for good.

¹⁴ Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam;
so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.

Proverbs 17:17

¹⁷ A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for a time of adversity.

Proverbs 18:8-10

⁸ The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;
they go down to the inmost parts.

⁹ One who is slack in his work
is a close relative of one who destroys.

¹⁰ The name of the LORD is a fortified tower;
the righteous run to it and are safe.

Proverbs 18:14

¹⁴ The human spirit can endure in sickness,
but a crushed spirit who can bear?

Proverbs 18:21

²¹ The tongue has the power of life and death,
and those who love it will eat its fruit.

Proverbs 18:24

²⁴ One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin,

but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Proverbs 19:9

⁹ A false witness will not go unpunished,
and whoever pours out lies will perish.

Proverbs 19:17

¹⁷ Those who are kind to the poor lend to the LORD,
and he will reward them for what they have done.

Leaves for Plucking

Jeremiah 2:17

¹⁷ Have you not brought this on yourselves
by forsaking the LORD your God
when he led you in the way?

1 John 1:9

⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

"Just as I am, Thy love unknown.

Hath broken every barrier down;

Now, to be Thine, yea, Thine alone,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come"

9th March

Morning Readings

Go Forward

Exodus 14:5-18

⁵ When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds about them and said, "What have we done? We have let the Israelites go and have lost their services!" ⁶ So he had his chariot made ready and took his army with him. ⁷ He took six hundred of the best chariots, along with all the other chariots of Egypt, with officers over all of them. ⁸ The LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, so that he pursued the Israelites, who were marching out boldly. ⁹ The Egyptians—all Pharaoh's horses and chariots, horsemen ^[a] and troops—pursued the Israelites and overtook them as they camped by the sea near Pi Hahiroth, opposite Baal Zephon.

¹⁰ As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the LORD. ¹¹ They said to Moses, "Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? ¹² Didn't we say to you in Egypt, 'Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians'? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!"

¹³ Moses answered the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. ¹⁴ The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still."

¹⁵ Then the LORD said to Moses, "Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. ¹⁶ Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground. ¹⁷ I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them. And I will gain glory through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen. ¹⁸ The Egyptians will know that I am the LORD when I gain glory through Pharaoh, his chariots and his horsemen."

Footnotes:

1. Exodus 14:9 Or charioteers; also in verses 17, 18, 23, 26 and 28
   

Evening Readings

Answer Gently

Proverbs 12:21-22

²¹ No harm overtakes the righteous,
but the wicked have their fill of trouble.

²² The LORD detests lying lips,
but he delights in people who are trustworthy.

Proverbs 12:25

²⁵ Anxiety weighs down the heart,
but a kind word cheers it up.

Proverbs 12:28

²⁸ In the way of righteousness there is life;

along that path is immortality.

Proverbs 13:12

¹² Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.

Proverbs 14:5

⁵ An honest witness does not deceive,
but a false witness pours out lies.

Proverbs 14:10

¹⁰ Each heart knows its own bitterness,
and no one else can share its joy.

Proverbs 14:13-14

¹³ Even in laughter the heart may ache,
and rejoicing may end in grief.

¹⁴ The faithless will be fully repaid for their ways,
and the good rewarded for theirs.

Proverbs 14:26-27

²⁶ Those who fear the LORD have a secure fortress,
and for their children it will be a refuge.

²⁷ The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life,
turning a person from the snares of death.

Proverbs 14:34

³⁴ Righteousness exalts a nation,
but sin condemns any people.

Proverbs 15:1

¹ A gentle answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Proverbs 15:3

³ The eyes of the LORD are everywhere,
keeping watch on the wicked and the good.

Proverbs 15:9

⁹ The LORD detests the way of the wicked,
but he loves those who pursue righteousness.

Proverbs 15:11

¹¹ Death and Destruction ^[a] lie open before the LORD—
how much more do human hearts!

Footnotes:

1. Proverbs 15:11 Hebrew Abaddon
   

Proverbs 15:13

¹³ A happy heart makes the face cheerful,
but heartache crushes the spirit.

Proverbs 15:17-18

¹⁷ Better a small serving of vegetables with love
than a fattened calf with hatred.

¹⁸ The hot-tempered stir up dissension,
but those who are patient calm a quarrel.

Proverbs 15:25-26

²⁵ The LORD tears down the house of the proud,
but he sets the widow's boundary stones in place.

²⁶ The LORD detests the thoughts of the wicked,
but gracious words are pure in his sight.

Leaves for Plucking

Luke 22:42

⁴² "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done."

Luke 21:19

¹⁹ Stand firm, and you will win life.

"Christ leads me through no darker rooms

Than he went through before;

And he that in God's kingdom comes

Must enter by this door."

8th March

Morning Readings

The Firstborn Slain

Exodus 12:29-42

²⁹ At midnight the LORD struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh, who sat on the throne, to the firstborn of the prisoner, who was in the dungeon, and the firstborn of all the livestock as well. ³⁰ Pharaoh and all his officials and all the Egyptians got up during the night, and there was loud wailing in Egypt, for there was not a house without someone dead.

³¹ During the night Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, "Up! Leave my people, you and the Israelites! Go, worship the LORD as you have requested. ³² Take your flocks and herds, as you have said, and go. And also bless me."

³³ The Egyptians urged the people to hurry and leave the country. "For otherwise," they said, "we will all die!" ³⁴ So the people took their dough before the yeast was added, and carried it on their shoulders in kneading troughs wrapped in clothing. ³⁵ The Israelites did as Moses instructed and asked the Egyptians for articles of silver and gold and for clothing. ³⁶ The LORD had made the Egyptians favourably disposed toward the people, and they gave them what they asked for; so they plundered the Egyptians.

³⁷ The Israelites journeyed from Rameses to Sukkoth. There were about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides women and children. ³⁸ Many other people went up with them, and also large droves of livestock, both flocks and herds. ³⁹ With the dough the Israelites had brought from Egypt, they baked loaves of unleavened bread. The dough was without yeast because they had been driven out of Egypt and did not have time to prepare food for themselves.

⁴⁰ Now the length of time the Israelite people lived in Egypt ^[a] was 430 years. ⁴¹ At the end of the 430 years, to the very day, all the LORD's divisions left Egypt. ⁴² Because the LORD kept vigil that night to bring them out of Egypt, on this night all the Israelites are to keep vigil to honour the LORD for the generations to come.

Footnotes:

1. Exodus 12:40 Masoretic Text; Samaritan Pentateuch and Septuagint Egypt and Canaan
   

Evening Readings

Lies Don't Last

Proverbs 10:9

⁹ Whoever walks in integrity walks securely,
but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.

Proverbs 10:12

¹² Hatred stirs up dissension,
but love covers over all wrongs.

Proverbs 10:19-22

¹⁹ Sin is not ended by multiplying words,
but the prudent hold their tongues.

²⁰ The tongue of the righteous is choice silver,
but the heart of the wicked is of little value.

²¹ The lips of the righteous nourish many,
but fools die for lack of sense.

²² The blessing of the LORD brings wealth,
without painful toil for it.

Proverbs 11:1

¹ The LORD detests dishonest scales,
but accurate weights find favour with him.

Proverbs 11:15

¹⁵ Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer,
but whoever refuses to shake hands in pledge is safe.

Proverbs 11:18

¹⁸ The wicked earn deceptive wages,
but those who sow righteousness reap a sure reward.

Proverbs 11:24-25

²⁴ One person gives freely, yet gains even more;
another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.

²⁵ A generous person will prosper;
whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.

Proverbs 11:30

³⁰ The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
and those who win souls are wise.

Proverbs 12:3-5

³ No one can be established through wickedness,
but the righteous cannot be uprooted.

⁴ A wife of noble character is her husband's crown,
but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones.

⁵ The plans of the righteous are just,
but the advice of the wicked is deceitful.

Proverbs 12:10

¹⁰ The righteous care for the needs of their animals,
but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.

Proverbs 12:18-19

¹⁸ The words of the reckless pierce like swords,
but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

¹⁹ Truthful lips endure forever,
but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.

Leaves for Plucking

Romans 12:16-18

¹⁶Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.^[a] Do not be conceited. ¹⁷Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. ¹⁸If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

Footnotes:

1. Romans 12:16 Or willing to do menial work
   

7th March

Morning Readings

The Lord's Passover

Exodus 12:1-15

¹ The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt, ² "This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year. ³ Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb ^[a] for his family, one for each household. ⁴ If any household is too small for a whole lamb, they must share one with their nearest neighbor, having taken into account the number of people there are. You are to determine the amount of lamb needed in accordance with what each person will eat. ⁵ The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats. ⁶ Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the members of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight. ⁷ Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs. ⁸ That same night they are to eat the meat roasted over the fire, along with bitter herbs, and bread made without yeast. ⁹ Do not eat the meat raw or boiled in water, but roast it over a fire—with the head, legs and internal organs. ¹⁰ Do not leave any of it till morning; if some is left till morning, you must burn it. ¹¹ This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the LORD's Passover.

¹² "On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn of both people and animals, and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD. ¹³ The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.

¹⁴ "This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the LORD—a lasting ordinance. ¹⁵ For seven days you are to eat bread made without yeast. On the first day remove the yeast from your houses, for whoever eats anything with yeast in it from the first day through the seventh must be cut off from Israel.

Footnotes:

1. Exodus 12:3 The Hebrew word can mean lamb or kid; also in verse 4.
   

Exodus 12:46

Evening Readings

Seven Things God Hates

Proverbs 5:22

²² The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare them;
the cords of their sins hold them fast.

Proverbs 6:6-8

⁶ Go to the ant, you sluggard;
consider its ways and be wise!

⁷ It has no commander,
no overseer or ruler,

⁸ yet it stores its provisions in summer
and gathers its food at harvest.

Proverbs 6:16-19

¹⁶ There are six things the LORD hates,
seven that are detestable to him:

¹⁷ haughty eyes,
a lying tongue,
hands that shed innocent blood,

¹⁸ a heart that devises wicked schemes,
feet that are quick to rush into evil,

¹⁹ a false witness who pours out lies
and a person who stirs up dissension in the community.

Proverbs 6:27-28

²⁷ Can a man scoop fire into his lap
without his clothes being burned?

²⁸ Can a man walk on hot coals
without his feet being scorched?

Proverbs 7:2-27

² Keep my commands and you will live;
guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.

³ Bind them on your fingers;
write them on the tablet of your heart.

⁴ Say to wisdom, "You are my sister,"
and call understanding your kinsman;

⁵ they will keep you from the adulteress,
from the wayward wife with her seductive words.

⁶ At the window of my house
I looked out through the lattice.

⁷ I saw among the simple,
I noticed among the young men,
a youth who lacked judgment.

⁸ He was going down the street near her corner,
walking along in the direction of her house

⁹ at twilight, as the day was fading,
as the dark of night set in.

¹⁰ Then out came a woman to meet him,
dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent.

¹¹ (She is loud and defiant,
her feet never stay at home;

¹² now in the street, now in the squares,
at every corner she lurks.)

¹³ She took hold of him and kissed him
and with a brazen face she said:

¹⁴ "I have fellowship offerings ^[a] at home;
today I fulfilled my vows.

¹⁵ So I came out to meet you;
I looked for you and have found you!

¹⁶ I have covered my bed
with coloured linens from Egypt.

¹⁷ I have perfumed my bed
with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon.

¹⁸ Come, let's drink deep of love till morning;
let's enjoy ourselves with love!

¹⁹ My husband is not at home;
he has gone on a long journey.

²⁰ He took his purse filled with money
and will not be home till full moon."

²¹ With persuasive words she led him astray;
she seduced him with her smooth talk.

²² All at once he followed her
like an ox going to the slaughter,
like a deer ^[b] stepping into a noose ^[c]

²³ till an arrow pierces his liver,
like a bird darting into a snare,
little knowing it will cost him his life.

²⁴ Now then, my sons, listen to me;
pay attention to what I say.

²⁵ Do not let your heart turn to her ways
or stray into her paths.

²⁶ Many are the victims she has brought down;
her slain are a mighty throng.

²⁷ Her house is a highway to the grave, ^[d]

leading down to the chambers of death.

Footnotes:

1. Proverbs 7:14 Traditionally peace offerings
   
2. Proverbs 7:22 Syriac (see also Septuagint Hebrew fool
   
3. Proverbs 7:22 The meaning of the Hebrew for this line is uncertain.
   
4. Proverbs 7:27 Hebrew Sheol
   

Proverbs 10:2

Proverbs 10:7

Leaves for Plucking

Ezekiel 47:12

¹² Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing."

My Christ He is the Tree of Life,

"Which in God's garden grows;
Whose fruits do feed, whose leaves do heal;
My Christ is Sharon's Rose."

6th March

Morning Readings

Darkness and Light

Exodus 10:21-26

21 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand toward the sky so that darkness will spread over Egypt—darkness that can be felt." 22 So Moses stretched out his hand toward the sky, and total darkness covered all Egypt for three days. 23 No one could see anyone else or leave his place for three days. Yet all the Israelites had light in the places where they lived.
24 Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and said, "Go, worship the LORD. Even your women and children may go with you; only leave your flocks and herds behind."
25 But Moses said, "You must allow us to have sacrifices and burnt offerings to present to the LORD our God. 26 Our livestock too must go with us; not a hoof is to be left behind. We have to use some of them in worshiping the LORD our God, and until we get there we will not know what we are to use to worship the LORD."

Exodus 11:1-7

1 Now the LORD had said to Moses, "I will bring one more plague on Pharaoh and on Egypt. After that, he will let you go from here, and when he does, he will drive you out completely. 2 Tell the people that men and women alike are to ask their neighbors for articles of silver and gold." 3 (The LORD made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward the people, and Moses himself was highly regarded in Egypt by Pharaoh's officials and by the people.)
4 So Moses said, "This is what the LORD says: 'About midnight I will go throughout Egypt. 5 Every firstborn son in Egypt will die, from the firstborn son of Pharaoh, who sits on the throne, to the firstborn son of the female slave, who is at her hand mill, and all the firstborn of the cattle as well. 6 There will be loud wailing throughout Egypt—worse than there has ever been or ever will be again. 7 But among the Israelites not a dog will bark at any person or animal.' Then you will know that the LORD makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel.

Evening Readings

The A, B, C of Wisdom

Proverbs 1:1

¹ The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:

Proverbs 1:7

⁷ The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,
but fools ^[a] despise wisdom and instruction.

Footnotes:

1. Proverbs 1:7 The Hebrew words rendered fool in Proverbs, and often elsewhere in the Old Testament, denote a person who is morally deficient.
   

Proverbs 1:10

¹⁰ My son, if sinful men entice you,
do not give in to them.

Proverbs 1:24-28

²⁴ But since you refuse to listen when I call
and no one pays attention when I stretch out my hand,

²⁵ since you disregard all my advice
and do not accept my rebuke,

²⁶ I in turn will laugh when disaster strikes you;
I will mock when calamity overtakes you—

²⁷ when calamity overtakes you like a storm,
when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind,
when distress and trouble overwhelm you.

²⁸ "Then they will call to me but I will not answer;
they will look for me but will not find me,

Proverbs 2:6

⁶ For the LORD gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

Proverbs 3:5-6

⁵ Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;

⁶ in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight. ^[a]

Footnotes:

1. Proverbs 3:6 Or will direct your paths
   

Proverbs 3:11-12

¹¹ My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline,
and do not resent his rebuke,

¹² because the LORD disciplines those he loves,
as a father the son he delights in. ^[a]

Footnotes:

1. Proverbs 3:12 Hebrew; Septuagint / and he chastens everyone he accepts as his child
   

Proverbs 3:25-27

²⁵ Have no fear of sudden disaster
or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,

²⁶ for the LORD will be at your side
and will keep your foot from being snared.

²⁷ Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
when it is in your power to act.

Proverbs 3:33

³³ The LORD's curse is on the house of the wicked,
but he blesses the home of the righteous.

Proverbs 4:14-15

¹⁴ Do not set foot on the path of the wicked
or walk in the way of evildoers.

¹⁵ Avoid it, do not travel on it;
turn from it and go on your way.

Proverbs 4:18

¹⁸ The path of the righteous is like the morning sun,
shining ever brighter till the full light of day.

Proverbs 5:21

²¹ For your ways are in full view of the LORD,
and he examines all your paths.

Leaves for Plucking

2 Timothy 3:15

¹⁵ and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

Hebrews 2:18

¹⁸ Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

"A glory gilds the sacred page,
Majestic like the sun;
It gives a light to every age;
It gives, but borrows none."

5th March

Morning Readings

The Locusts

Exodus 10:3-16

³ So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said to him, "This is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says: 'How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me? Let my people go, so that they may worship me. ⁴ If you refuse to let them go, I will bring locusts into your country tomorrow. ⁵ They will cover the face of the ground so that it cannot be seen. They will devour what little you have left after the hail, including every tree that is growing in your fields. ⁶ They will fill your houses and those of all your officials and all the Egyptians—something neither your parents nor your ancestors have ever seen from the day they settled in this land till now.' " Then Moses turned and left Pharaoh.

⁷ Pharaoh's officials said to him, "How long will this man be a snare to us? Let the people go, so that they may worship the LORD their God. Do you not yet realize that Egypt is ruined?"

⁸ Then Moses and Aaron were brought back to Pharaoh. "Go, worship the LORD your God," he said. "But tell me who will be going."

⁹ Moses answered, "We will go with our young and our old, with our sons and our daughters, and with our flocks and herds, because we are to celebrate a festival to the LORD."

¹⁰ Pharaoh said, "The LORD be with you—if I let you go, along with your women and children! Clearly you are bent on evil. ^[a]
11 No! Have only the men go and worship the LORD, since that's what you have been asking for." Then Moses and Aaron were driven out of Pharaoh's presence.

¹² And the LORD said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand over Egypt so that locusts swarm over the land and devour everything growing in the fields, everything left by the hail."

¹³ So Moses stretched out his staff over Egypt, and the LORD made an east wind blow across the land all that day and all that night. By morning the wind had brought the locusts; ¹⁴ they invaded all Egypt and settled down in every area of the country in great numbers. Never before had there been such a plague of locusts, nor will there ever be again. ¹⁵ They covered all the ground until it was black. They devoured all that was left after the hail—everything growing in the fields and the fruit on the trees. Nothing green remained on tree or plant in all the land of Egypt.

¹⁶ Pharaoh quickly summoned Moses and Aaron and said, "I have sinned against the LORD your God and against you.

Footnotes:

1. Exodus 10:10 Or Be careful, trouble is in store for you!
   

Evening Readings

Beloved of God

Daniel 10:1-12

¹ In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia, a revelation was given to Daniel (who was called Belteshazzar). Its message was true and it concerned a great war. ^[a] The understanding of the message came to him in a vision.

² At that time I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks. ³ I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over.

⁴ On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river, the Tigris, ⁵ I looked up and there before me was a man dressed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist. ⁶ His body was like topaz, his face like lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude.

⁷ I, Daniel, was the only one who saw the vision; those who were with me did not see it, but such terror overwhelmed them that they fled and hid themselves. ⁸ So I was left alone, gazing at this great vision; I had no strength left, my face turned deathly pale and I was helpless. ⁹ Then I heard him speaking, and as I listened to him, I fell into a deep sleep, my face to the ground.

¹⁰ A hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. ¹¹ He said, "Daniel, you who are highly esteemed, consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you, and stand up, for I have now been sent to you." And when he said this to me, I stood up trembling.

¹² Then he continued, "Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them.

Footnotes:

1. Daniel 10:1 Or true and burdensome
   

Daniel 10:18-19

¹⁸ Again the one who looked like a man touched me and gave me strength. ¹⁹ "Do not be afraid, you who are highly esteemed," he said. "Peace! Be strong now; be strong."
When he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, "Speak, my lord, since you have given me strength."

Daniel 11:40

⁴⁰ "At the time of the end the king of the South will engage him in battle, and the king of the North will storm out against him with chariots and cavalry and a great fleet of ships. He will invade many countries and sweep through them like a flood.

Daniel 12:2-4

² Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. ³ Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. ⁴ But you, Daniel, close up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge."

Daniel 12:9-13

⁹ He replied, "Go your way, Daniel, because the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end. ¹⁰ Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.

¹¹ "From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. ¹² Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days.

¹³ "As for you, go your way till the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance."

Leaves for Plucking

Zechariah 4:6

⁶ So he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty.

Luke 1:37

³⁷ For no word from God will ever fail."

"Plenteous of grace, descend from high

Rich in Thy sevenfold energy;

Make us eternal truths receive

And practice all that we believe;

Give us Thyself that we may see

The Father and the Son by Thee."