1 Chronicles 23

• 1. When David was old and full of years, he made his son Solomon king over Israel.
• 2. He also gathered together all the leaders of Israel, as well as the priests and Levites.
• 3. The Levites thirty years old or more were counted, and the total number of men was thirty-eight thousand.
• 4. David said, "Of these, twenty-four thousand are to supervise the work of the temple of the LORD and six thousand are to be officials and judges.
• 5. Four thousand are to be gatekeepers and four thousand are to praise the LORD with the musical instruments I have provided for that purpose."
• 6. David divided the Levites into groups corresponding to the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath and Merari.
• 7. Belonging to the Gershonites: Ladan and Shimei.
• 8. The sons of Ladan: Jehiel the first, Zetham and Joel-three in all.
• 9. The sons of Shimei: Shelomoth, Haziel and Haran-three in all. These were the heads of the families of Ladan.
• 10. And the sons of Shimei: Jahath, Ziza, Jeush and Beriah. These were the sons of Shimei-four in all.
• 11. Jahath was the first and Ziza the second, but Jeush and Beriah did not have many sons; so they were counted as one family with one assignment.
• 12. The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel-four in all.
• 13. The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses. Aaron was set apart, he and his descendants forever, to consecrate the most holy things, to offer sacrifices before the LORD, to minister before him and to pronounce blessings in his name forever.
• 14. The sons of Moses the man of God were counted as part of the tribe of Levi.
• 15. The sons of Moses: Gershom and Eliezer.
• 16. The descendants of Gershom: Shubael was the first.
• 17. The descendants of Eliezer: Rehabiah was the first. Eliezer had no other sons, but the sons of Rehabiah were very numerous.
• 18. The sons of Izhar: Shelomith was the first.
• 19. The sons of Hebron: Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third and Jekameam the fourth.
• 20. The sons of Uzziel: Micah the first and Isshiah the second.
• 21. The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Mahli: Eleazar and Kish.
• 22. Eleazar died without having sons: he had only daughters. Their cousins, the sons of Kish, married them.
• 23. The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder and Jerimoth-three in all.
• 24. These were the descendants of Levi by their families-the heads of families as they were registered under their names and counted individually, that is, the workers twenty years old or more who served in the temple of the LORD.
• 25. For David had said, "Since the LORD, the God of Israel, has granted rest to his people and has come to dwell in Jerusalem forever,
• 26. the Levites no longer need to carry the tabernacle or any of the articles used in its service."
• 27. According to the last instructions of David, the Levites were counted from those twenty years old or more.
• 28. The duty of the Levites was to help Aaron's descendants in the service of the temple of the LORD: to be in charge of the courtyards, the side rooms, the purification of all sacred things and the performance of other duties at the house of God.
• 29. They were in charge of the bread set out on the table, the flour for the grain offerings, the unleavened wafers, the baking and the mixing, and all measurements of quantity and size.
• 30. They were also to stand every morning to thank and praise the LORD. They were to do the same in the evening
• 31. and whenever burnt offerings were presented to the LORD on Sabbaths and at New Moon festivals and at appointed feasts. They were to serve before the LORD regularly in the proper number and in the way prescribed for them.
• 32. And so the Levites carried out their responsibilities for the Tent of Meeting, for the Holy Place and, under their brothers the descendants of Aaron, for the service of the temple of the LORD.

1 Chronicles 24

• 1. These were the divisions of the sons of Aaron: The sons of Aaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.
• 2. But Nadab and Abihu died before their father did, and they had no sons; so Eleazar and Ithamar served as the priests.
• 3. With the help of Zadok a descendant of Eleazar and Ahimelech a descendant of Ithamar, David separated them into divisions for their appointed order of ministering.
• 4. A larger number of leaders were found among Eleazar's descendants than among Ithamar's, and they were divided accordingly: sixteen heads of families from Eleazar's descendants and eight heads of families from Ithamar's descendants.
• 5. They divided them impartially by drawing lots, for there were officials of the sanctuary and officials of God among the descendants of both Eleazar and Ithamar.
• 6. The scribe Shemaiah son of Nethanel, a Levite, recorded their names in the presence of the king and of the officials: Zadok the priest, Ahimelech son of Abiathar and the heads of families of the priests and of the Levites-one family being taken from Eleazar and then one from Ithamar.
• 7. The first lot fell to Jehoiarib, the second to Jedaiah,
• 8. the third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim,
• 9. the fifth to Malkijah, the sixth to Mijamin,
• 10. the seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah,
• 11. the ninth to Jeshua, the tenth to Shecaniah,
• 12. the eleventh to Eliashib, the twelfth to Jakim,
• 13. the thirteenth to Huppah, the fourteenth to Jeshebeab,
• 14. the fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer,
• 15. the seventeenth to Hezir, the eighteenth to Happizzez,
• 16. the nineteenth to Pethahiah, the twentieth to Jehezkel,
• 17. the twenty-first to Jakin, the twenty-second to Gamul,
• 18. the twenty-third to Delaiah and the twenty-fourth to Maaziah.
• 19. This was their appointed order of ministering when they entered the temple of the LORD, according to the regulations prescribed for them by their forefather Aaron, as the LORD, the God of Israel, had commanded him.
• 20. As for the rest of the descendants of Levi: from the sons of Amram: Shubael; from the sons of Shubael: Jehdeiah.
• 21. As for Rehabiah, from his sons: Isshiah was the first.
• 22. From the Izharites: Shelomoth; from the sons of Shelomoth: Jahath.
• 23. The sons of Hebron: Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third and Jekameam the fourth.
• 24. The son of Uzziel: Micah; from the sons of Micah: Shamir.
• 25. The brother of Micah: Isshiah; from the sons of Isshiah: Zechariah.
• 26. The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The son of Jaaziah: Beno.
• 27. The sons of Merari: from Jaaziah: Beno, Shoham, Zaccur and Ibri.
• 28. From Mahli: Eleazar, who had no sons.
• 29. From Kish: the son of Kish: Jerahmeel.
• 30. And the sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder and Jerimoth. These were the Levites, according to their families.
• 31. They also cast lots, just as their brothers the descendants of Aaron did, in the presence of King David and of Zadok, Ahimelech, and the heads of families of the priests and of the Levites. The families of the oldest brother were treated the same as those of the youngest.

1 Peter 4

• 1. Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin.
• 2. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.
• 3. For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do--living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry.
• 4. They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you.
• 5. But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
• 6. For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to men in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.
• 7. The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.
• 8. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
• 9. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.
• 10. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.
• 11. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
• 12. Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.
• 13. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.
• 14. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.
• 15. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler.
• 16. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.
• 17. For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?
• 18. And, "If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?"
• 19. So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

Micah 2

• 1. Woe to those who plan iniquity, to those who plot evil on their beds! At morning's light they carry it out because it is in their power to do it.
• 2. They covet fields and seize them, and houses, and take them. They defraud a man of his home, a fellowman of his inheritance.
• 3. Therefore, the LORD says: "I am planning disaster against this people, from which you cannot save yourselves. You will no longer walk proudly, for it will be a time of calamity.
• 4. In that day men will ridicule you; they will taunt you with this mournful song: 'We are utterly ruined; my people's possession is divided up. He takes it from me! He assigns our fields to traitors.'"
• 5. Therefore you will have no one in the assembly of the LORD to divide the land by lot.
• 6. "Do not prophesy," their prophets say. "Do not prophesy about these things; disgrace will not overtake us."
• 7. Should it be said, O house of Jacob: "Is the Spirit of the LORD angry? Does he do such things?Do not my words do good to him whose ways are upright?
• 8. Lately my people have risen up like an enemy. You strip off the rich robe from those who pass by without a care, like men returning from battle.
• 9. You drive the women of my people from their pleasant homes. You take away my blessing from their children forever.
• 10. Get up, go away! For this is not your resting place, because it is defiled, it is ruined, beyond all remedy.
• 11. If a liar and deceiver comes and says, 'I will prophesy for you plenty of wine and beer,' he would be just the prophet for this people!
• 12. "I will surely gather all of you, O Jacob; I will surely bring together the remnant of Israel. I will bring them together like sheep in a pen, like a flock in its pasture; the place will throng with people.
• 13. One who breaks open the way will go up before them; they will break through the gate and go out. Their king will pass through before them, the LORD at their head."

New International Version

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