Day 246 of 365

Neh 12:1–13:31

12:1 Now these are the priests and the Levites who went up with Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,

12:2 Amariah, Malluch, Hattush,

12:3 Shecaniah, Rehum, Meremoth,

12:4 Iddo, Ginnethoi, Abijah,

12:5 Mijamin, Maadiah, Bilgah,

12:6 Shemaiah, and Joiarib, Jedaiah.

12:7 Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, Jedaiah. These were the chiefs of the priests and of their brothers in the days of Jeshua.

12:8 Moreover the Levites: Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah, who was over the thanksgiving, he and his brothers.

12:9 Also Bakbukiah and Unno, their brothers, were over against them according to their offices.

12:10 Jeshua became the father of Joiakim, and Joiakim became the father of Eliashib, and Eliashib became the father of Joiada,

12:11 and Joiada became the father of Jonathan, and Jonathan became the father of Jaddua.

12:12 In the days of Joiakim were priests, heads of fathers' households: of Seraiah, Meraiah; of Jeremiah, Hananiah;

12:13 of Ezra, Meshullam; of Amariah, Jehohanan;

12:14 of Malluchi, Jonathan; of Shebaniah, Joseph;

12:15 of Harim, Adna; of Meraioth, Helkai;

12:16 of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Meshullam;

12:17 of Abijah, Zichri; of Miniamin, of Moadiah, Piltai;

12:18 of Bilgah, Shammua; of Shemaiah, Jehonathan;

12:19 and of Joiarib, Mattenai; of Jedaiah, Uzzi;

12:20 of Sallai, Kallai; of Amok, Eber;

12:21 of Hilkiah, Hashabiah; of Jedaiah, Nethanel.

12:22 As for the Levites, in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, and Johanan, and Jaddua, there were recorded the heads of fathers' households; also the priests, in the reign of Darius the Persian.

12:23 The sons of Levi, heads of fathers' households, were written in the book of the chronicles, even until the days of Johanan the son of Eliashib.

12:24 The chiefs of the Levites: Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel, with their brothers over against them, to praise and give thanks, according to the commandment of David the man of God, watch next to watch.

12:25 Mattaniah, and Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, Akkub, were porters keeping the watch at the storehouses of the gates.

12:26 These were in the days of Joiakim the son of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor, and of Ezra the priest the scribe.

12:27 At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites out of all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem, to keep the dedication with gladness, both with giving thanks, and with singing, with cymbals, stringed instruments, and with harps.

12:28 The sons of the singers gathered themselves together, both out of the plain around Jerusalem, and from the villages of the Netophathites;

12:29 also from Beth Gilgal, and out of the fields of Geba and Azmaveth: for the singers had built them villages around Jerusalem.

12:30 The priests and the Levites purified themselves; and they purified the people, and the gates, and the wall.

12:31 Then I brought up the princes of Judah on the wall, and appointed two great companies who gave thanks and went in procession. One went on the right hand on the wall toward the dung gate;

12:32 and after them went Hoshaiah, and half of the princes of Judah,

12:33 and Azariah, Ezra, and Meshullam,

12:34 Judah, and Benjamin, and Shemaiah, and Jeremiah,

12:35 and certain of the priests' sons with trumpets: Zechariah the son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micaiah, the son of Zaccur, the son of Asaph;

12:36 and his brothers, Shemaiah, and Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, and Judah, Hanani, with the musical instruments of David the man of God; and Ezra the scribe was before them.

12:37 By the spring gate, and straight before them, they went up by the stairs of the city of David, at the ascent of the wall, above the house of David, even to the water gate eastward.

12:38 The other company of those who gave thanks went to meet them, and I after them, with the half of the people, on the wall, above the tower of the furnaces, even to the broad wall,

12:39 and above the gate of Ephraim, and by the old gate, and by the fish gate, and the tower of Hananel, and the tower of Hammeah, even to the sheep gate: and they stood still in the gate of the guard.

12:40 So stood the two companies of those who gave thanks in God's house, and I, and the half of the rulers with me;

12:41 and the priests, Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, with trumpets;

12:42 and Maaseiah, and Shemaiah, and Eleazar, and Uzzi, and Jehohanan, and Malchijah, and Elam, and Ezer. The singers sang loud, with Jezrahiah their overseer.

12:43 They offered great sacrifices that day, and rejoiced; for God had made them rejoice with great joy; and the women also and the children rejoiced: so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off.

12:44 On that day were men appointed over the rooms for the treasures, for the wave offerings, for the first fruits, and for the tithes, to gather into them, according to the fields of the cities, the portions appointed by the law for the priests and Levites: for Judah rejoiced for the priests and for the Levites who waited.

12:45 They performed the duty of their God, and the duty of the purification, and so did the singers and the porters, according to the commandment of David, and of Solomon his son.

12:46 For in the days of David and Asaph of old there was a chief of the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving to God.

12:47 All Israel in the days of Zerubbabel, and in the days of Nehemiah, gave the portions of the singers and the porters, as every day required: and they set apart that which was for the Levites; and the Levites set apart that which was for the sons of Aaron.

13:1 On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; and therein was found written, that an Ammonite and a Moabite should not enter into the assembly of God forever,

13:2 because they did not meet the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, to curse them: however our God turned the curse into a blessing.

13:3 It came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.

13:4 Now before this, Eliashib the priest, who was appointed over the rooms of the house of our God, being allied to Tobiah,

13:5 had prepared for him a great room, where before they laid the meal offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the grain, the new wine, and the oil, which were given by commandment to the Levites, and the singers, and the porters; and the wave offerings for the priests.

13:6 But in all this, I was not at Jerusalem; for in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I went to the king: and after certain days asked I leave of the king,

13:7 and I came to Jerusalem, and understood the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, in preparing him a room in the courts of God's house.

13:8 It grieved me severely: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the room.

13:9 Then I commanded, and they cleansed the rooms: and there brought I again the vessels of God's house, with the meal offerings and the frankincense.

13:10 I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them; so that the Levites and the singers, who did the work, had fled everyone to his field.

13:11 Then I contended with the rulers, and said, "Why is God's house forsaken?" I gathered them together, and set them in their place.

13:12 Then brought all Judah the tithe of the grain and the new wine and the oil to the treasuries.

13:13 I made treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah: and next to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah; for they were counted faithful, and their business was to distribute to their brothers.

13:14 Remember me, my God, concerning this, and do not wipe out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for its observances.

13:15 In those days I saw in Judah some men treading winepresses on the Sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and loading donkeys; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all kinds of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day: and I testified against them in the day in which they sold food.

13:16 There lived men of Tyre also therein, who brought in fish, and all kinds of wares, and sold on the Sabbath to the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem.

13:17 Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said to them, "What evil thing is this that you do, and profane the Sabbath day?

13:18 Did not your fathers do thus, and did not our God bring all this disaster on us, and on this city? Yet you bring more wrath on Israel by profaning the Sabbath."

13:19 It came to pass that, when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the Sabbath, I commanded that the doors should be shut, and commanded that they should not be opened until after the Sabbath. I set some of my servants over the gates, that no burden should be brought in on the Sabbath day.

13:20 So the merchants and sellers of all kinds of wares lodged outside of Jerusalem once or twice.

13:21 Then I testified against them, and said to them, "Why do you stay around the wall? If you do so again, I will lay hands on you." From that time on, they did not come on the Sabbath.

13:22 I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the Sabbath day. Remember to me, my God, this also, and spare me according to the greatness of your loving kindness.

13:23 In those days also saw I the Jews who had married women of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab:

13:24 and their children spoke half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews' language, but according to the language of each people.

13:25 I contended with them, and cursed them, and struck certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, "You shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor take their daughters for your sons, or for yourselves.

13:26 Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? Yet among many nations was there no king like him, and he was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel. Nevertheless foreign women caused even him to sin.

13:27 Shall we then listen to you to do all this great evil, to trespass against our God in marrying foreign women?"

13:28 One of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite: therefore I chased him from me.

13:29 Remember them, my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites.

13:30 Thus I cleansed them from all foreigners, and appointed duties for the priests and for the Levites, everyone in his work;

13:31 and for the wood offering, at times appointed, and for the first fruits. Remember me, my God, for good.

Rom 8:1–21

1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.

2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made you free from the law of sin and of death.

3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God did, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh;

4 that the ordinance of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.

6 For the mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace;

7 because the mind of the flesh is hostile towards God; for it is not subject to God's law, neither indeed can it be.

8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if it is so that the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if any man does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not his.

10 If Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the spirit is alive because of righteousness.

11 But if the Spirit of him who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.

13 For if you live after the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are children of God.

15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!"

16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God;

17 and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if indeed we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified with him.

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which will be revealed toward us.

19 For the creation waits with eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.

20 For the creation was subjected to vanity, not of its own will, but because of him who subjected it, in hope

21 that the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of decay into the liberty of the glory of the children of God.

Ps 105:1–45

1 Give thanks to the Lord! Call on his name! Make his doings known among the peoples.

2 Sing to him, sing praises to him! Tell of all his marvelous works.

3 Glory in his holy name. Let the heart of those who seek the Lord rejoice.

4 Seek the Lord and his strength. Seek his face forever more.

5 Remember his marvelous works that he has done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth,

6 you seed of Abraham, his servant, you children of Jacob, his chosen ones.

7 He is the Lord, our God. His judgments are in all the earth.

8 He has remembered his covenant forever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations,

9 the covenant which he made with Abraham, his oath to Isaac,

10 and confirmed the same to Jacob for a statute; to Israel for an everlasting covenant,

11 saying, "To you I will give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance;"

12 when they were but a few men in number, yes, very few, and foreigners in it.

13 They went about from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another people.

14 He allowed no one to do them wrong. Yes, he reproved kings for their sakes,

15 "Do not touch my anointed ones! Do my prophets no harm!"

16 He called for a famine on the land. He destroyed the food supplies.

17 He sent a man before them. Joseph was sold for a slave.

18 They bruised his feet with shackles. His neck was locked in irons,

19 until the time that his word happened, and the Lord's word proved him true.

20 The king sent and freed him; even the ruler of peoples, and let him go free.

21 He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all of his possessions;

22 to discipline his princes at his pleasure, and to teach his elders wisdom.

23 Israel also came into Egypt. Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham.

24 He increased his people greatly, and made them stronger than their adversaries.

25 He turned their heart to hate his people, to conspire against his servants.

26 He sent Moses, his servant, and Aaron, whom he had chosen.

27 They performed miracles among them, and wonders in the land of Ham.

28 He sent darkness, and made it dark. They did not rebel against his words.

29 He turned their waters into blood, and killed their fish.

30 Their land swarmed with frogs, even in the chambers of their kings.

31 He spoke, and swarms of flies came, and lice in all their borders.

32 He gave them hail for rain, with lightning in their land.

33 He struck their vines and also their fig trees, and shattered the trees of their country.

34 He spoke, and the locusts came, and the grasshoppers, without number,

35 ate up every plant in their land; and ate up the fruit of their ground.

36 He struck also all the firstborn in their land, the first fruits of all their manhood.

37 He brought them forth with silver and gold. There was not one feeble person among his tribes.

38 Egypt was glad when they departed, for the fear of them had fallen on them.

39 He spread a cloud for a covering, fire to give light in the night.

40 They asked, and he brought quails, and satisfied them with the bread of the sky.

41 He opened the rock, and waters gushed out. They ran as a river in the dry places.

42 For he remembered his holy word, and Abraham, his servant.

43 He brought forth his people with joy, his chosen with singing.

44 He gave them the lands of the nations. They took the labor of the peoples in possession,

45 that they might keep his statutes, and observe his laws. Praise the Lord!