Bible in a Year.

On day 191, we follow the tragic end of the kingdom of Judah. ​​2 Kings 25 and 2 Chronicles 36 recount the destruction of Jerusalem and the beginning of the Babylonian exile, showing the consequences of turning away from God. Proverbs 9:1-6 introduces us to practical wisdom, inviting the reader to seek understanding and discernment even in times of trial.

1. And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, the tenth day of the month, that Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon came, he and all his army against Jerusalem: and they surrounded it: end raised works round about it.

2. And the city was shut up and besieged till the eleventh year of king Sedecias,

3. The ninth day of the month: and a famine prevailed in the city, and there was no bread for the people of the land.

4. And a breach was made into the city: and all the men of war fled in the night between the two walls by the king's garden, (now the Chaldees besieged the city round about,) and Sedecias fled by the way that leadeth to the plains of the wilderness.

5. And the army of the Chaldees pursued after the king, and overtook him in the plains of Jericho: and all the warriors that were with him were scattered, and left him:

6. So they took the king, and brought him to the king of Babylon to Reblatha, and he gave judgment upon him.

7. And he slew the sons of Sedecias before his face, and he put out his eyes, and bound him with chains, and brought him to Babylon.

8. In the fifth month, the seventh day of the month, that is, the nineteenth year of the king of Babylon, came Nabuzardan commander of the army, a servant of the king of Babylon, into Jerusalem.

9. And he burnt the house of the Lord, and the king's house, and the houses of Jerusalem, and every house he burnt with fire.

10. And all the army of the Chaldees, which was with the commander of the troops, broke down the walls of Jerusalem round about.

11. And Nabuzardan the commander of the army, carried away the rest of the people that remained in the city, and the fugitives that had gone over to the king of Babylon, and the remnant of the common people.

12. But of the poor of the land he left some dressers of vines and husbandmen.

13. And the pillars of brass that were in the temple of the Lord, and the bases, and the sea of brass which was in the house of the Lord, the Chaldees broke in pieces, and carried all the brass of them to Babylon.

14. They took away also the pots of brass, and the mazers, and the forks, and the cups, and the mortars, and all the vessels of brass with which they ministered.

15. Moreover also the censers, and the bowls, such as were of gold in gold, and such as were of silver in silver, the general of the army took away.

16. That is, two pillars, one sea, and the bases which Solomon had made in the temple of the Lord: the brass of all these vessels was without weight.

17. One pillar was eighteen cubits high, and the chapiter of brass which was upon it was three cubits high: and the network, and the pomegranates that were upon the chapiter of the pillar, were all of brass: and the second pillar had the like adorning.

18. And the general of the army took Seraias the chief priest, and Sophonias the second priest, and three doorkeepers.

19. And out of the city one eunuch, who was captain over the men of war: and five men of them that had stood before the king, whom he found in the city, and Sopher the captain of the army who exercised the young soldiers of the people of the land: and threescore men of the common people, who were found in the city.

20. These Nabuzardan the general of the army took away, and carried them to the king of Babylon to Reblatha.

21. And the king of Babylon smote them, and slew them at Reblatha in the land of Emath: so Juda was carried away out of their land.

22. But over the people that remained in the land of Juda, which Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon had left, he gave the government to Godolias the son of Ahicam the son of Saphan.

23. And when all the captains of the soldiers had heard this, they and the men that were with them, to wit, that the king of Babylon had made Godolias governor, they came to Godolias to Maspha, Ismael the son of Nathanias, and Johanan the son of Caree, and Saraia the son of Thanehumeth the Netophathite, and Jezonias the son of Maachathi, they and their men.

24. And Godolias swore to them and to their men, saying : Be not afraid to serve the Chaldees: stay in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you.

25. But it came to pass in the seventh month, that Ismael the son of Nathanias, the son of Elisama of the seed royal came, and ten men with him: and smote Godolias so that he died: and also the Jews and the Chaldees that were with him in Maspha.

26. And all the people both little and great, and the captains of the soldiers, rising up went to Egypt, fearing the Chaldees.

27. And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Joachin king of Juda, in the twelfth month the seven and twentieth day of the month: Evilmerodach king of Babylon, in the year that he began to reign, lifted up the head of Joachin king of Juda out of prison.

28. And he spoke kindly to him: and he set his throne above the throne of the kings that were with him in Babylon.

29. And he changed his garments which he had in prison, and he ate bread always before him, all the days of his life.

30. And he appointed him a continual allowance, which was also given him by the king day by day, all the days of his life.

1. Then the people of the land took Joachaz the son of Josias, and made him king instead of his father in Jerusalem.

2. Joachaz was three and twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem.

3. And the king of Egypt came to Jerusalem, and deposed him, and condemned the land in a hundred talents of silver, and a talent of gold.

4. And he made Eliakim his brother king in his stead, over Juda and Jerusalem: and he turned his name to Joakim: but he took Joachaz with him, and carried him away into Egypt.

5. Joakim was five and twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem: and he did evil before the Lord his God.

6. Against him came up Nabuchodonosor king of the Chaldeans, and led him bound in chains into Babylon.

7. And he carried also thither the vessels of the Lord, and put them in his temple.

8. But the rest of the acts of Joakim, and his abominations, which he wrought, and the things that were found in him, are contained in the book of the kings of Juda and Israel. And Joachin his son reigned in his stead.

9. Joachin was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem, and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.

10. And at the return of the year, king Nabuchodonosor sent, and brought him to Babylon, carrying away at the same time the most precious vessels of the house of the Lord: and he made Sedecias his uncle king over Juda and Jerusalem.

11. Sedecias was one and twenty years old when he began to reign: and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem.

12. And he did evil in the eyes of the Lord his God, and did not reverence the face of Jeremias the prophet speaking to him from the mouth of the Lord.

13. Re also revolted from king Nabuchodonosor, who had made him swear by God: and he hardened his neck and his heart, from returning to the Lord the God of Israel.

14. Moreover all the chief of the priests, and the people wickedly transgressed according to all the abominations of the Gentiles: and they defiled the house of the Lord, which he had sanctified to himself in Jerusalem.

15. And the Lord the God of their fathers sent to them, by the hand of his messengers, rising early, and daily admonishing them: because he spared his people and his dwelling place.

16. But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused the prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people, and there was no remedy.

17. For he brought upon them the king of the Chaldeans, and he slew their young men with the sword in the house of his sanctuary, he had no compassion on young man, or maiden, old man or even him that stooped for age, but he delivered them all into his hands.

18. And all the vessels of the house of the Lord, great and small, and the treasures of the temple and of the king, and of the princes he carried away to Babylon.

19. And the enemies set fire to the house of God, and broke down the wall of Jerusalem, burnt all the towers, and whatsoever was precious they destroyed.

20. Whosoever escaped the sword, was led into Babylon, and there served the king and his sons till the reign of the king of Persia.

21. That the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremias might be fulfilled, and the land might keep her sabbaths: for all the days of the desolation she kept a sabbath, till the seventy years were expired.

22. But in the first year d of Cyrus king of the Persians, to fulfil the word of the Lord, which he had spoken by the mouth of Jeremias, the Lord stirred up the heart of Cyrus king of the Persians who commanded it to be proclaimed through all his kingdom, and by writing also, saying:

23. Thus saith Cyrus king of the Persians: All the kingdoms of the earth hath the Lord the God of heaven given to me, and he hath charged me to build him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judea: who is there among you of all his people? The Lord his God be with him, and let him go up.

1. Wisdom hath built herself a house, she hath hewn her out seven pillars.

2. She hath slain her victims, mingled her wine, and set forth her table.

3. She hath sent her maids to invite to the tower, and to the walls of the city:

4. Whosoever is a little one, let him come to me. And to the unwise she said:

5. Come, eat my bread, and drink the wine which I have mingled for you.

6. Forsake childishness, and live, and walk by the ways of prudence.