1 Chronicles 15 Cross References - NSB

¹ David constructed buildings for himself in the City of David. Then he prepared a place for God’s Ark and pitched a tent for it. ² David insisted that only the Levites carry God’s Ark because Jehovah had chosen them to carry his Ark and to serve him from generation to generation. ³ David called together all Israel at Jerusalem to bring Jehovah’s Ark to the place he had prepared for it. ⁴ David also called together Aaron’s descendants and the Levites. ⁵ Leading Kohath’s descendants were Uriel, who came with one hundred and twenty of his relatives. ⁶ Leading Merari’s descendants were Asaiah, who came with two hundred and twenty of his relatives. ⁷ Leading Gershom’s descendants were Joel, who came with one hundred and thirty of his relatives. ⁸ Leading Elizaphan’s descendants were Shemaiah, who came with two hundred of his relatives. ⁹ Leading Hebron’s descendants were Eliel, who came with eighty of his relatives. ¹⁰ Leading Uzziel’s descendants were Amminadab, who came with one hundred and twelve of his relatives. ¹¹ David called for the priests Zadok and Abiathar and for the Levites Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab. ¹² He said to them: »You are the heads of the Levite families. You and your brothers must perform the ceremonies to make yourselves holy. Then bring the Ark of Jehovah the God of Israel to the place I prepared for it. ¹³ »Because you Levites were not there the first time, Jehovah our God struck us. We had not dedicated our lives to serving him in the way he designated.« ¹⁴ So the priests and the Levites made themselves holy in order to move the Ark of Jehovah the God of Israel. ¹⁵ The Levites carried God’s Ark on their shoulders. They used poles as Moses had commanded according to Jehovah’s instructions. ¹⁶ David told the Levite leaders to appoint some of their brothers to serve as musicians. They were expected to play music on harps, lyres, and cymbals to produce joyful music for singing. ¹⁷ So the Levites appointed Heman son of Joel, and from his relatives they appointed Asaph Berechiah’s son. From their own relatives, Merari’s descendants, they appointed Ethan son of Kushaiah. ¹⁸ In addition, they appointed their relatives from the second division: Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, and Mikneiah. Obed Edom and Jeiel were appointed gatekeepers. ¹⁹ The musicians Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were appointed to play bronze cymbals. ²⁰ Zechariah, Jaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah were appointed to play harps tuned according to alamoth. ²¹ Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed Edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah were appointed to play lyres and to conduct the eighth. ²² Chenaniah, a Levite leader, instructed others how to sing prophetic songs because he was skilled at it. ²³ Berechiah and Elkanah were gatekeepers for the ark. ²⁴ The priests Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer blew trumpets in front of God’s Ark. Obed Edom and Jehiah were doorkeepers for the ark. ²⁵ Thus David, the leaders of Israel, and the army’s commanders joyfully went to get the Ark of Jehovah’s Covenant from Obed Edom’s house. ²⁶ Because God helped the Levites who carried the Ark of the Jehovah’s Covenant, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams. ²⁷ David was dressed in a fine linen robe, as were all the Levites who carried the Ark, the Levites who were singers, and Chenaniah, the leader of the musicians’ prophetic songs. David also wore a linen ephod. ²⁸ All Israel brought the Ark of Jehovah’s Covenant with shouts of joy and the sounding of rams’ horns, trumpets, cymbals, harps, and lyres. ²⁹ When the Ark of Jehovah’s Covenant came to the City of David, Saul’s daughter Michal looked out of a window and saw King David dancing and celebrating, so she despised him.

¹⁶ These are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations: Gershon and Kohath and Merari. Levi lived one hundred and thirty-seven years. ¹⁷ The sons of Gershon: Libni and Shimei, according to their families. ¹⁸ The sons of Kohath: Amram and Izhar and Hebron and Uzziel. Kohath lived one hundred and thirty-three years.

¹⁸ The sons of Kohath: Amram and Izhar and Hebron and Uzziel. Kohath lived one hundred and thirty-three years. ¹⁹ The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to their generations. ²⁰ Amram married his father’s sister Jochebed, and she bore him Aaron and Moses. Amram lived one hundred and thirty-seven years. ²¹ The sons of Izhar: Korah and Nepheg and Zichri. ²² The sons of Uzziel: Mishael and Elzaphan and Sithri.

²² The sons of Uzziel: Mishael and Elzaphan and Sithri.

²⁰ The prophet Miriam, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand. All the women, danced with tambourines, and followed her.

¹⁴ Moses went down from the mountain to the people. He consecrated the people, and they washed their garments. ¹⁵ He said to the people: »Get ready for the third day. Do not go near a woman for sexual intercourse.«

¹² »Make four carrying rings of gold for it and attach them to its four legs, with two rings on each side. ¹³ »Make two poles of acacia wood. Cover them with gold. ¹⁴ »Put them through the rings. Poles can be used to carry the chest. ¹⁵ »Do not ever remove the poles from the rings.

⁴ Nadab and Abihu died in Jehovah’s presence because they offered unauthorized fire in his presence in the Desert of Sinai. They had no children. So only Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests during the lifetime of their father Aaron.

² »Take a census of the Levites who are descended from Kohath. List them by families and households. ³ »Register all the men between the ages of thirty and fifty who are qualified to work at the tent of meeting. ⁴ »This is the work the Kohathites will do in the tent of meeting: They will take care of the most holy things. ⁵ »When the camp is to move, Aaron and his sons will go in and take down the canopy that hangs over the Ark containing the words of God’s Covenant. First they will cover the Ark with the canopy.

⁵ »When the camp is to move, Aaron and his sons will go in and take down the canopy that hangs over the Ark containing the words of God’s Covenant. First they will cover the Ark with the canopy. ⁶ »Over this they will put a covering of fine leather. On top of that they will spread a cloth made entirely of violet material. Then they will put the poles in place.

⁶ »Over this they will put a covering of fine leather. On top of that they will spread a cloth made entirely of violet material. Then they will put the poles in place. ⁷ »They will spread a violet cloth over the table of the presence and put on it the plates, dishes, bowls, and pitchers for the wine offerings. The bread that is always in Jehovah’s presence will also be on it. ⁸ »They will spread a bright red cloth over everything on the table. They will then cover all this with fine leather. Then they will put the poles in place. ⁹ »They will use a violet cloth to cover the lamp stand, as well as the lamps, snuffers, trays, and all the containers for the olive oil used in the lamps. ¹⁰ »Then they will put the lamp stand and all its utensils under a covering of fine leather and put them on a frame to carry them. ¹¹ »They will spread a violet cloth over the gold altar and cover the cloth with fine leather. Then they will put the poles in place. ¹² »They will take all the articles that are used in the holy place and put them in a violet cloth. Then they will cover that with fine leather, and put them on a frame to carry them. ¹³ »After they take the ashes away, they will spread a purple cloth over the altar. ¹⁴ »They will put all the accessories used at the altar on it. These are the trays, forks, shovels, and bowls-all the altar’s accessories. They will spread a covering of fine leather (sealskin) over all this. Then they will put the poles in place. ¹⁵ »When Aaron and his sons finished covering the holy things and the camp is ready to move, the Kohathites will come to carry all the holy articles. They must never touch the holy things, or they will die. The Kohathites will carry all the things from the tent of meeting.

¹⁵ »When Aaron and his sons finished covering the holy things and the camp is ready to move, the Kohathites will come to carry all the holy articles. They must never touch the holy things, or they will die. The Kohathites will carry all the things from the tent of meeting.

¹⁹ »This is what you must do so that they will not die when they come near the most holy things: Aaron and his sons will go into the holy place and tell each man what he will do and what he will carry. ²⁰ »However the Kohathites must not go in to look at the holy things, even for a moment, or they will die.«

³ He cast four gold rings for its four feet, two rings on each side. ⁴ The carrying poles he made with acacia wood. He covered them with gold. ⁵ Then he put them through the rings that were on each side of the Ark.

²⁰ He took the words of God’s promise (covenant) and put them in the ark. He put the poles on the ark and placed the throne of mercy on top of the ark.

³ Moses said to Aaron: »This is what Jehovah was speaking about when he said: ‘All who serve me must respect my holiness. I will reveal my glory to my people.’« But Aaron remained silent.

⁹ However Moses gave none of these gifts to the Kohathites, because they took care of the holy things. They had to carry the holy things on their own shoulders.

¹³ »Make the Levites stand in front of Aaron and his sons, and present them as an offering to Jehovah. ¹⁴ »In this way you will separate the Levites from the other Israelites. The Levites will be mine.

²⁴ »From the age of twenty-five each Levite shall perform his duties in the tent of my presence, ²⁵ »They must retire from active service when they are fifty years old. ²⁶ »They may assist the other Levites in their duties at the tent of meeting. But they may not do any regular work. This is how you will handle the Levites’ duties.«

⁸ »Aaron’s sons the priests are to blow the trumpets. The following rule is to be observed for all time to come.

³³ The people left Sinai, the holy mountain. They traveled three days. Jehovah’s Ark of the Covenant always went ahead of them to find a place for them to camp.

¹ He said to Balak: »Build seven altars here for me. Then bring me seven bulls and seven rams.« ² Balak did as he was told. He and Balaam offered a bull and a ram on each altar. ³ Then Balaam said to Balak: »Stand here by your burnt offering. I will go to see whether or not Jehovah will meet me. I will tell you what he reveals to me.« So he went alone to the top of a hill. ⁴ God met him and Balaam said to God: »I have built the seven altars and offered a bull and a ram on each.«

³² »‘On the seventh day bring seven bulls, two rams, and fourteen one-year-old lambs that have no defects.

¹⁴ Moses was angry with the officers of the army, the commanders of the companies and battalions, who were returning from battle.

¹⁵ »So I took the chief of your tribes, wise men and known, and made them rulers over you. I made them captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, and captains over fifties, and captains over tens, and officers among your tribes.

¹ Jehovah said to Aaron: »You, your sons, and your family will be responsible for any sins against the holy place. You and your sons will also be responsible for any sins you commit when you work as priests. ² »Bring the other Levites from your ancestor’s tribe to join you and help you and your sons serve in front of the tent of the words of my promise. ³ »They are to fulfill their duties to you and their responsibilities for the tent. However they must not have any contact with sacred objects in the Holy Place or with the altar. If they do, both they and you will be put to death. ⁴ »They are to work with you and fulfill their responsibilities for all the service in the tent. No unqualified person may work with you. ⁵ »You and your sons alone must fulfill the responsibilities for the Holy Place and the altar. That way my anger will not again break out against the people of Israel. ⁶ »I chose the other Levites from among the Israelites to help you. They are a gift given to Jehovah to do the necessary work at the tent of meeting. ⁷ »Only you and your sons may do the work of priests, everything done at the altar and under the canopy. This is my gift to you: You may serve me as priests. Anyone else who comes near the holy place to do this work must die.« ⁸ Jehovah said to Aaron: »I have placed you in charge of all the contributions given to me. I have given you and your descendants all the holy gifts from the Israelites as your share. These contributions will be yours from generation to generation.

²⁹ Balaam said to him: »Build seven altars for me here and bring me seven bulls and seven rams.«

⁵⁸ These were the families of Levi: the Libnite family, the Hebronite family, the Mahlite family, the Mushite family, and the Korahite family. Kohath was the ancestor of Amram.

⁸ Jehovah then set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the Ark of the covenant of Jehovah. They were to stand before Jehovah to serve and pronounce blessings in his name until this day.

⁷ »You and your households should eat there before Jehovah your God, and rejoice in all your undertakings that Jehovah your God has blessed.

¹⁸ »You and your sons and daughters, male and female slaves, and the Levites who live in your cities must eat these in the presence of Jehovah your God at the place he will choose. There in the presence of Jehovah your God enjoy everything for which you have worked.

¹¹ »Enjoy yourselves in the presence of Jehovah your God along with your sons, daughters, male and female slaves, the Levites who live in your cities, the foreigners, orphans, and widows who live among you. Enjoy yourselves at the place Jehovah your God will choose as a dwelling for his name.

¹⁵ »For seven days you will celebrate this festival dedicated to Jehovah your God in the place he will choose. You will enjoy yourselves, because Jehovah your God will bless all your harvest and all your work.

⁹ Moses wrote this Law and gave it to the priests, the sons of Levi who carried the Ark of the Covenant of Jehovah, and to all the elders of Israel.

²⁶ »Take this Book of the Law, and put it next to the Ark of the Covenant of Jehovah your God, where it will be a witness against you.

³ They commanded the people, saying: »When you see the Ark of the Covenant of Jehovah your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, you should leave here and follow it.

⁷ »You will answer them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the Ark of the Covenant of Jehovah. When it passed over Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones will be for a memorial to the children of Israel for as long as they live.«

⁶ Joshua the son of Nun called the priests, and said to them: »Take up the Ark of the Covenant. Seven priests should carry seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the Ark of Jehovah.«

²⁷ The Ark of the Covenant was there at Bethel in those days. Phinehas, the son of Eleazar and grandson of Aaron, was in charge of it.

¹² Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He said: »Jehovah helped us all the way.« He named it: »Stone of Help.«

² The name of his firstborn son was Joel. He named his second son Abijah. They were judges in Beersheba.

¹² »He will appoint them to be his officers over one thousand or over fifty soldiers. He will have them plow his ground and harvest his crops. He will require them to make weapons and equipment for his chariots.

⁵ »After that you will come to Gibeah, the hill of God, where an armed force of the Philistines is stationed. When you come to the town, you will see a band of prophets coming down from the high place with instruments of music before them. They will be acting like prophets:

¹⁸ Samuel served before Jehovah as a child girded with a linen ephod.

³ The army of Israel retreated to their camp. The leaders of Israel asked: »Why has Jehovah used the Philistines to defeat us today? Let us get the Ark of Jehovah’s Covenant from Shiloh so that he may be with us and save us from our enemies.«

¹⁹ »‘You have rejected your God, who saves you from all your troubles and distresses. You said to him: »No! Place a king over us. Now then, stand in front of Jehovah by your tribes and family groups.«’«

¹¹ Saul sent messengers to watch David’s house and kill him in the morning. Michal, David’s wife advised him: »If you do not save yourself tonight, you will be dead tomorrow!« ¹² Michal lowered David through a window. He ran away to escape. ¹³ Then Michal took some idols, laid them in the bed, put a goat-hair blanket at its head, and covered the idols with a garment. ¹⁴ Saul sent messengers to get David. Michal said: »He is sick.« ¹⁵ Then Saul sent messengers to see David. They said: »Bring him up to me on his bed. I will put him to death.« ¹⁶ The messengers entered. There, on the bed was the household idol with the quilt of goats’ hair at its head. ¹⁷ Saul said to Michal: »Why have you deceived me like this? You let my enemy go. He has escaped!« Michal said to Saul: »He said to me: ‘Let me go! Why should I kill you?’«

⁴⁴ Meanwhile, Saul arranged for Michal to marry Palti the son of Laish, who came from the town of Gallim.

⁹ David lived in the fortress and called it the City of David. He built the city of Jerusalem around it from the stronghold (citadel) to the palace.

³ They took it from Abinadab’s home on the hill and placed it on a new cart. Uzzah and Ahio, sons of Abinadab, were guiding the cart.

⁷ At once Jehovah God became angry with Uzzah. He killed him because of his irreverence. Uzzah died there beside the Ark of the Covenant. ⁸ Because of that the place has been called Perez Uzzah (breakthrough of Uzzah) ever since. David was furious because Jehovah punished Uzzah in anger.

¹² King David was told: »Jehovah has blessed Obed Edom’s home and everything he owns because of the Ark of God.« Then David joyfully went to get the Ark of God from Obed Edom’s house and bring it to the City of David.

¹² King David was told: »Jehovah has blessed Obed Edom’s home and everything he owns because of the Ark of God.« Then David joyfully went to get the Ark of God from Obed Edom’s house and bring it to the City of David. ¹³ When those who carried the Ark of Jehovah walked six steps, David sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf.

¹³ When those who carried the Ark of Jehovah walked six steps, David sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf. ¹⁴ Wearing a linen ephod, David danced in Jehovah’s presence with all his might.

¹⁴ Wearing a linen ephod, David danced in Jehovah’s presence with all his might. ¹⁵ He and the entire nation of Israel brought the Ark of Jehovah with shouts of joy and the sounding of rams’ horns.

¹⁵ He and the entire nation of Israel brought the Ark of Jehovah with shouts of joy and the sounding of rams’ horns. ¹⁶ When the Ark of Jehovah came to the City of David, Saul’s daughter Michal looked out of a window and saw King David leaping and dancing in Jehovah’s presence. She despised him in her heart.

¹⁶ When the Ark of Jehovah came to the City of David, Saul’s daughter Michal looked out of a window and saw King David leaping and dancing in Jehovah’s presence. She despised him in her heart.

²⁷ David and his men killed two hundred Philistines. He took their foreskins to the king and counted them all out to him. This was so he might become his son-in-law. So Saul had to give his daughter Michal in marriage to David. ²⁸ Saul knew she loved David. He also realized that Jehovah was helping David.

⁷ He said to his officials: »Listen to me men of Benjamin! Will Jesse’s son give every one of you fields and vineyards? Will he make you all officers over a regiment or a battalion of soldiers?

²⁰ Ahimelech, Ahitub’s son had one son who escaped. His name was Abiathar. He fled to David. ²¹ Abiathar told David that Saul killed Jehovah’s priests. ²² David told Abiathar: »I knew that day when Doeg from Edom was there that he would be certain to tell Saul. I am the one responsible for all the lives of your family. ²³ »Stay with me. Do not be afraid. The one who is seeking my life is also seeking your life. You will be under my protection.«

¹³ »Good!« David answered. »I will make an agreement with you. But there is one condition: You may not come to see me unless you bring Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come.« ¹⁴ David sent messengers to Ishbosheth to give him this message: »Give me back my wife Michal! I bought her for the price of a hundred Philistine foreskins.«

¹⁷ The men carrying the Ark set it in its place inside the tent David put up for it. David sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings in Jehovah’s presence.

¹⁷ The men carrying the Ark set it in its place inside the tent David put up for it. David sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings in Jehovah’s presence. ¹⁸ David finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and the fellowship offerings. Then he blessed the people in the name of Jehovah of Hosts. ¹⁹ He also distributed to all the people, to the whole crowd of Israelites, men and women, one loaf of bread, one date cake, and one raisin cake. Then all the people went home. ²⁰ David went home so he could ask Jehovah to bless his family. But Saul’s daughter Michal went out and started yelling at him: »You were really great today!« She said. »You acted like a dirty old man. You danced around half-naked in front of your servants’ slave-girls.« ²¹ David answered: »I danced to honor Jehovah. He chose me to be king instead of your father and his family. He made me the leader of his people Israel. I will continue to dance and honor Jehovah. ²² »I will disgrace myself even more. You may think I am nothing, but those women think highly of me!« ²³ Michal, Saul’s daughter, never had any children.

¹⁷ Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Abiathar the son of Ahimelech, were the priests. Seraiah was the secretary.

²⁴ The king said: »Absalom should return to his own house. Do not let him see me.« So Absalom returned to his house. He did not see the king.

²⁴ Zadok the priest was there. He had Levites there carrying the sacred Ark of God. They set it down and did not pick it up again until all the people left the city. The priest Abiathar was there too. ²⁵ The king said to Zadok: »Take the Ark of the Covenant back to the city. If Jehovah is pleased with me he will let me come back to see it and the place where it stays. ²⁶ »Let him do to me what he wishes if he is not pleased with me.« ²⁷ He also said to Zadok: »You are a seer, are you? Take your son Ahimaaz and Abiathar’s son Jonathan and go back to the city in peace. ²⁸ »I will wait at the river crossings in the wilderness until you send news.« ²⁹ Zadok and Abiathar took the Ark of the Covenant back into Jerusalem and stayed there.

³⁵ »Zadok and Abiathar the priests will be there with you. You can tell them everything you hear in the palace.

⁷ David sent word to Tamar at the palace: »Go to Amnon’s house and fix him some food.« ⁸ She went there and found him in bed. She prepared dough and made some cakes there where he could see her. Then she baked the cakes.

²⁵ Sheva was the court secretary. Zadok and Abiathar were the priests.

²⁶ The king spoke to Abiathar the priest: »Go to your fields at Anathoth. You deserve death. But I will not put you to death now, because you carried the Ark of Jehovah God before David my father. You were with him in all his troubles.«

³⁵ The king made Benaiah commander of the army in Joab's place and put Zadok the priest in Abiathar's place.

¹ King Solomon summoned all the leaders of the tribes and clans of Israel to come to him in Jerusalem. They were to take Jehovah’s Ark of the Covenant from Zion, David's City, to the Temple.

⁸ The ends of the poles could be seen by anyone standing directly in front of the Most Holy Place, but from nowhere else.

⁴ »Go to Hilkiah the high priest. Let him count the money brought into the Temple of Jehovah that the keepers of the door gathered from the people.

¹⁸ The captain of the guard took the high priest Seraiah, the second priest Zephaniah, and the three doorkeepers.

² The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel.

¹⁶ The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath and Merari. ¹⁷ These are the names of the sons of Gershon: Libni and Shimei. ¹⁸ The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel.

¹⁸ The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel. ¹⁹ The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. These are the clans of the Levites listed according to their fathers: ²⁰ Of Gershon: Libni his son, Jehath his son, Zimmah his son, ²¹ Joah his son, Iddo his son, Zerah his son and Jeatherai his son. ²² The descendants of Kohath: Amminadab his son, Korah his son, Assir his son,

²² The descendants of Kohath: Amminadab his son, Korah his son, Assir his son,

²² The descendants of Kohath: Amminadab his son, Korah his son, Assir his son, ²³ Elkanah his son, Ebiasaph his son, Assir his son,

²³ Elkanah his son, Ebiasaph his son, Assir his son, ²⁴ Tahath his son, Uriel his son, Uzziah his son and Shaul his son.

²⁴ Tahath his son, Uriel his son, Uzziah his son and Shaul his son. ²⁵ The descendants of Elkanah: Amasai, Ahimoth, ²⁶ Elkanah his son, Zophai his son, Nahath his son, ²⁷ Eliab his son, Jeroham his son, Elkanah his son and Samuel his son. ²⁸ The sons of Samuel: Joel the firstborn and Abijah the second son. ²⁹ The descendants of Merari: Mahli, Libni his son, Shimei his son, Uzzah his son, ³⁰ Shimea his son, Haggiah his son and Asaiah his son. ³¹ These are the men David put in charge of the music in the house of Jehovah after the ark came to rest there. ³² They ministered with music before the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting, until Solomon built the temple of Jehovah in Jerusalem. They performed their duties according to the regulations laid down for them. ³³ Here are the men who served, together with their sons: From the Kohathites: Heman, the musician, the son of Joel, the son of Samuel,

³³ Here are the men who served, together with their sons: From the Kohathites: Heman, the musician, the son of Joel, the son of Samuel, ³⁴ the son of Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Eliel, the son of Toah, ³⁵ the son of Zuph, the son of Elkanah, the son of Mahath, the son of Amasai, ³⁶ the son of Elkanah, the son of Joel, the son of Azariah, the son of Zephaniah, ³⁷ the son of Tahath, the son of Assir, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, ³⁸ the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, the son of Israel; ³⁹ and Heman’s associate Asaph, who served at his right hand: Asaph son of Berekiah, the son of Shimea,

⁴⁴ and from their associates, the Merarites, at his left hand: Ethan son of Kishi, the son of Abdi, the son of Malluch,

⁴⁹ But Aaron and his descendants were the ones who presented offerings on the altar of burnt offering and on the altar of incense in connection with all that was done in the Most Holy Place, making atonement for Israel, in accordance with all that Moses the servant of God had commanded. ⁵⁰ These were the descendants of Aaron: Eleazar his son, Phinehas his son, Abishua his son,

²¹ Zechariah son of Meshelemiah was the gatekeeper at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. ²² Altogether, those chosen to be gatekeepers at the thresholds numbered two hundred and twelve. They were registered by genealogy in their villages. David and Samuel the seer had assigned the gatekeepers to their positions of trust. ²³ They and their descendants were in charge of guarding the gates of the house of Jehovah, the house called the tent.

³⁴ All these were heads of Levite families, chiefs as listed in their genealogy, and they lived in Jerusalem.

²⁶ From the tribe of Levi, there were four thousand six hundred troops. ²⁷ This included Jehoiada, leader of the family of Aaron, who had three thousand seven hundred under his command. ²⁸ This also included Zadok, a young warrior, with twenty-two members of his family who were all officers.

²⁸ This also included Zadok, a young warrior, with twenty-two members of his family who were all officers.

⁵ David assembled all the Israelites, from the Shihor River in Egypt to Lebo to the entrance to Hamath, to bring the Ark of God from Kiriath Jearim.

⁷ They moved the Ark of God from Abinadab’s house on a new cart. Uzzah and Ahio guided it. ⁸ David and all the people of Israel celebrated with all their might before God. They did it with songs and with harps, lyres, tambourines, cymbals and trumpets.

⁸ David and all the people of Israel celebrated with all their might before God. They did it with songs and with harps, lyres, tambourines, cymbals and trumpets. ⁹ When they came to the threshing floor of Kidon, Uzzah reached out his hand to steady the Ark, because the bulls stumbled. ¹⁰ Jehovah’s anger burned against Uzzah. He struck him down because he had put his hand on the Ark. So he died there before God. ¹¹ David was angry because Jehovah’s wrath had broken out against Uzzah. To this day that place is called Perez Uzzah. (Outbreak against Uzzah)

¹¹ David was angry because Jehovah’s wrath had broken out against Uzzah. To this day that place is called Perez Uzzah. (Outbreak against Uzzah) ¹² David was afraid of God that day and asked: »How can I ever bring the Ark of God to me?« ¹³ He did not take the Ark to be with him in the City of David. Instead, he took it aside to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. ¹⁴ The Ark of God remained with the family of Obed-Edom in his house for three months. Jehovah blessed his household and everything he had.

¹⁴ The Ark of God remained with the family of Obed-Edom in his house for three months. Jehovah blessed his household and everything he had.

¹ David constructed buildings for himself in the City of David. Then he prepared a place for God’s Ark and pitched a tent for it. ² David insisted that only the Levites carry God’s Ark because Jehovah had chosen them to carry his Ark and to serve him from generation to generation. ³ David called together all Israel at Jerusalem to bring Jehovah’s Ark to the place he had prepared for it.

¹¹ David called for the priests Zadok and Abiathar and for the Levites Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab. ¹² He said to them: »You are the heads of the Levite families. You and your brothers must perform the ceremonies to make yourselves holy. Then bring the Ark of Jehovah the God of Israel to the place I prepared for it.

¹⁴ So the priests and the Levites made themselves holy in order to move the Ark of Jehovah the God of Israel.

¹⁶ David told the Levite leaders to appoint some of their brothers to serve as musicians. They were expected to play music on harps, lyres, and cymbals to produce joyful music for singing.

¹⁸ In addition, they appointed their relatives from the second division: Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, and Mikneiah. Obed Edom and Jeiel were appointed gatekeepers. ¹⁹ The musicians Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were appointed to play bronze cymbals.

²³ Berechiah and Elkanah were gatekeepers for the ark.

²⁷ David was dressed in a fine linen robe, as were all the Levites who carried the Ark, the Levites who were singers, and Chenaniah, the leader of the musicians’ prophetic songs. David also wore a linen ephod.

²⁷ David was dressed in a fine linen robe, as were all the Levites who carried the Ark, the Levites who were singers, and Chenaniah, the leader of the musicians’ prophetic songs. David also wore a linen ephod. ²⁸ All Israel brought the Ark of Jehovah’s Covenant with shouts of joy and the sounding of rams’ horns, trumpets, cymbals, harps, and lyres.

²⁸ All Israel brought the Ark of Jehovah’s Covenant with shouts of joy and the sounding of rams’ horns, trumpets, cymbals, harps, and lyres.

¹ The men carrying the ark set it inside the tent David had put up for it. They presented burnt offerings and fellowship offerings in God’s presence.

⁵ Asaph was the head. Zechariah was second, then Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed Edom, and Jeiel with harps and lyres. Asaph played the cymbals.

⁵ Asaph was the head. Zechariah was second, then Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed Edom, and Jeiel with harps and lyres. Asaph played the cymbals. ⁶ The priests Benaiah and Jahaziel played trumpets all the time in front of the Ark of God’s covenant.

⁶ The priests Benaiah and Jahaziel played trumpets all the time in front of the Ark of God’s covenant.

⁹ Now the first lot came out for Asaph to Joseph, the second for Gedaliah, he with his relatives and sons were twelve. ¹⁰ the third to Zaccur, his sons and his relatives, twelve; ¹¹ the fourth to Izri, his sons and his relatives, twelve; ¹² the fifth to Nethaniah, his sons and his relatives, twelve; ¹³ the sixth to Bukkiah, his sons and his relatives, twelve; ¹⁴ the seventh to Jesharelah, his sons and his relatives, twelve; ¹⁵ the eighth to Jeshaiah, his sons and his relatives, twelve; ¹⁶ the ninth to Mattaniah, his sons and his relatives, twelve; ¹⁷ the tenth to Shimei, his sons and his relatives, twelve; ¹⁸ the eleventh to Azarel, his sons and his relatives, twelve; ¹⁹ the twelfth to Hashabiah, his sons and his relatives, twelve; ²⁰ for the thirteenth, Shubael, his sons and his relatives, twelve; ²¹ for the fourteenth, Mattithiah, his sons and his relatives, twelve; ²² for the fifteenth to Jeremoth, his sons and his relatives, twelve; ²³ for the sixteenth to Hananiah, his sons and his relatives, twelve; ²⁴ for the seventeenth to Joshbekashah, his sons and his relatives, twelve; ²⁵ for the eighteenth to Hanani, his sons and his relatives, twelve; ²⁶ for the nineteenth to Mallothi, his sons and his relatives, twelve; ²⁷ for the twentieth to Eliathah, his sons and his relatives, twelve; ²⁸ for the twenty-first to Hothir, his sons and his relatives, twelve; ²⁹ for the twenty-second to Giddalti, his sons and his relatives, twelve; ³⁰ for the twenty-third to Mahazioth, his sons and his relatives, twelve; ³¹ for the twenty-fourth to Romamti-ezer, his sons and his relatives, twelve.

⁴ Obed-Edom also had sons: Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, Sacar the fourth, Nethanel the fifth,

⁸ All these were descendants of Obed-Edom; they and their sons and their relatives were capable men with the strength to do the work, descendants of Obed-Edom, sixty-two in all.

¹⁵ The lot for the South Gate fell to Obed-Edom, and the lot for the storehouse fell to his sons.

²³ From the Amramites, the Izharites, the Hebronites and the Uzzielites:

³⁰ From the Hebronites: Hashabiah and his relatives, seventeen hundred able men, were responsible in Israel west of the Jordan for all the work of Jehovah and for the king’s service. ³¹ As for the Hebronites, Jeriah was their chief according to the genealogical records of their families. In the fortieth year of David’s reign a search was made in the records, and capable men among the Hebronites were found at Jazer in Gilead.

³⁸ David also left Obed Edom and sixty-eight of his relatives to serve there. Obed Edom Jeduthun’s son and Hosah were to be gatekeepers.

⁴² Also, Heman and Jeduthun played trumpets, cymbals, and the other musical instruments that accompany sacred songs. Jeduthun’s sons were stationed at the gate.

¹ David settled in his palace. He said to Nathan the prophet: »Here I am, living in a palace of cedar, while the Ark of the Covenant of Jehovah is under a tent.«

¹ David settled in his palace. He said to Nathan the prophet: »Here I am, living in a palace of cedar, while the Ark of the Covenant of Jehovah is under a tent.« ² Nathan replied to David: »Do what you have in mind, for God is with you.« ³ That night God spoke to Nathan. He said: ⁴ »Go tell my servant David, This is what Jehovah says: ‘You are not the one to build me a house to dwell in. ⁵ »I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought Israel up out of Egypt to this day. I have moved from one tent site to another, from one dwelling place to another.

¹⁶ Ahitub’s son Zadok and Abiathar’s son Abimelech were priests. Shavsha was the royal scribe.

⁵ Four thousand are to be gatekeepers and four thousand are to praise Jehovah with musical instruments I have provided for that purpose.

⁸ The sons of Ladan: Jehiel the first, Zetham and Joel, three in all.

¹² The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel, four in all.

¹⁹ The sons of Hebron: Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third and Jekameam the fourth.

³¹ They drew lots as their relatives, Aaron’s descendants, had done. They drew them in front of King David, Zadok, Ahimelech, and the leaders of the families of the priests and Levites. The families of the oldest brother were treated the same way as those of the youngest.

¹ David and the commanders of the army set apart for the service some of the sons of Asaph and of Heman and of Jeduthun, who were to prophesy with lyres, harps and cymbals; and the number of those who performed their service was:

¹ David and the commanders of the army set apart for the service some of the sons of Asaph and of Heman and of Jeduthun, who were to prophesy with lyres, harps and cymbals; and the number of those who performed their service was:

¹ David and the commanders of the army set apart for the service some of the sons of Asaph and of Heman and of Jeduthun, who were to prophesy with lyres, harps and cymbals; and the number of those who performed their service was: ² Of the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah and Asharelah the sons of Asaph under the direction of Asaph, who prophesied under the direction of the king.

² Of the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah and Asharelah the sons of Asaph under the direction of Asaph, who prophesied under the direction of the king. ³ Of Jeduthun, the sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah and Mattithiah, six, under the direction of their father Jeduthun with the harp, who prophesied in giving thanks and praising Jehovah.

³ Of Jeduthun, the sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah and Mattithiah, six, under the direction of their father Jeduthun with the harp, who prophesied in giving thanks and praising Jehovah. ⁴ Of Heman, the sons of Heman: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti and Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, Mahazioth.

⁴ Of Heman, the sons of Heman: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti and Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, Mahazioth. ⁵ All these the sons of Heman the king’s seer to exalt him according to the words of God, for God gave fourteen sons and three daughters to Heman.

⁵ All these the sons of Heman the king’s seer to exalt him according to the words of God, for God gave fourteen sons and three daughters to Heman. ⁶ All these were under the direction of their father to sing in the house of Jehovah, with cymbals, harps and lyres, for the service of the house of God. Asaph, Jeduthun and Heman under the direction of the king.

⁶ All these were under the direction of their father to sing in the house of Jehovah, with cymbals, harps and lyres, for the service of the house of God. Asaph, Jeduthun and Heman under the direction of the king.

⁶ All these were under the direction of their father to sing in the house of Jehovah, with cymbals, harps and lyres, for the service of the house of God. Asaph, Jeduthun and Heman under the direction of the king. ⁷ Their number who were trained in singing to Jehovah, with their relatives, all who were skillful, two hundred eighty-eight.

⁷ Their number who were trained in singing to Jehovah, with their relatives, all who were skillful, two hundred eighty-eight. ⁸ They cast lots for their duties, all alike, the small as well as the great, the teacher as well as the pupil.

¹⁴ »Yet my people and I cannot really give you anything. This is because everything is a gift from you, and we have only given back what is yours already.

⁹ The poles were so long that their ends could be seen in the holy place by anyone standing in front of the inner room. However they could not be seen outside. They are still there today.

¹¹ All the priests who were present had performed the ceremonies to make themselves holy to God without regard to staying in their divisions. ¹² All the Levites who were musicians: Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, their sons, and their relatives were dressed in fine linen and stood east of the altar with cymbals, harps, and lyres. With the musicians were one hundred and twenty priests blowing trumpets. When the priests left the holy place, ¹³ the trumpeters and singers praised and thanked Jehovah in unison. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and other musical instruments, they sang in praise to Jehovah: »He is good; his mercy (lovingkindness) endures forever.« Then Jehovah’s Temple was filled with a cloud.

¹³ the trumpeters and singers praised and thanked Jehovah in unison. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and other musical instruments, they sang in praise to Jehovah: »He is good; his mercy (lovingkindness) endures forever.« Then Jehovah’s Temple was filled with a cloud.

²⁷ All the men of Judah and Jerusalem returned to Jerusalem. They rejoiced while Jehoshaphat led them. Jehovah gave them a reason to rejoice about what had happened to their enemies. ²⁸ They brought harps, lyres, and trumpets to Jehovah’s Temple in Jerusalem.

⁴ He assembled the priests and Levites in the square on the east side of the temple. ⁵ He said: »Listen to me, Levites. Perform the ceremonies to make the temple of Jehovah the God of your ancestors holy. Remove anything that has been corrupted from the holy place.

¹⁵ These men gathered their relatives and performed the ceremonies to make themselves holy. They obeyed the king’s order from Jehovah’s word and entered the Temple to make it clean.

²⁸ Everyone there joined in worship. The singing and the rest of the music continued until all the sacrifices were burned. ²⁹ King Hezekiah and all the people knelt down and worshiped God. ³⁰ The king and the leaders of the nation told the Levites to sing to Jehovah the songs of praise that were written by David and by Asaph the prophet. So everyone sang with great joy as they knelt and worshiped God.

³⁴ Since there were not enough priests to kill all these animals, the Levites helped them until the work was finished. By then more priests had made themselves ritually clean. The Levites were more faithful in keeping ritually clean than the priests were.

¹² The hand of God was also on Judah to give them one heart to do what the king and the princes commanded by the word of Jehovah.

¹⁵ They slaughtered the Passover lambs on the fourteenth of the second month. The priests and Levites were ashamed of themselves. They consecrated themselves and brought burnt offerings to the house of Jehovah.

¹⁷ Many people in the assembly had not made themselves holy. So the Levites had to kill the Passover lambs for all who were not clean and could not make their lambs holy for Jehovah. ¹⁸ Many people from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun had not made themselves clean. So they ate the Passover, but not in the way the written instructions said they should. Hezekiah prayed for them: »May Jehovah forgive everyone ¹⁹ who have their hearts set on dedicating their lives to serve God. May Jehovah the God of their ancestors do this for those who are not clean as required for the holy place.« ²⁰ Jehovah listened to Hezekiah and healed the people.

³ He told the Levites, who instructed all Israel and performed ceremonies to make themselves holy to Jehovah: Put the Holy Ark in the Temple that Solomon, son of David and king of Israel, built. It should not be carried on your shoulders any longer. Serve Jehovah your God and his people Israel.

⁶ »When the people bring you their Passover lamb, you must slaughter it and prepare it to be sacrificed to Jehovah. Make sure the people celebrate according to the instructions Jehovah gave Moses. Do not do anything to become unclean and unacceptable.«

¹⁰ When the builders laid the foundation of the Temple of Jehovah, the priests, dressed in their robes, took their places with horns, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with brass instruments, to give praise to Jehovah in the way ordered by David, king of Israel. ¹¹ They praised Jehovah and thanked him, saying: »He is good; his loving kindness to Israel is for all generations.« All the people gave a joyful cry. They praised Jehovah because the foundation of Jehovah’s house was in place.

¹⁶ The children of Israel, the priests and the Levites, and the rest of those who had come back, kept the feast of the opening of this house of God with joy.

²⁴ »In addition, we make it clear to you, that it will be against the law to put any tax or payment in goods or forced payment on any of the priests or Levites, the music-makers, doorkeepers, Nethinim, or any servants of this house of God. ²⁵ »And you, Ezra, by the wisdom of your God which is in you, are to put rulers and judges to have authority over all the people across the river who have knowledge of the laws of your God. You are to teach any who have no knowledge of them. ²⁶ »If anyone does not keep the law of your God and the law of the king, take care that punishment is given to him. This is by death or by driving him from his country or by taking away his goods or by putting him in prison.« ²⁷ Praise be to Jehovah, the God of our fathers, who has put such a thing into the heart of the king, to make fair the house of Jehovah that is in Jerusalem. ²⁸ He has given mercy to me before the king and his government and before all the king's great captains. I was made strong by the hand of Jehovah my God which was on me, and I got together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.

³⁶ His brothers, Shemaiah, and Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel and Judah, Hanani, with the music-instruments of David, the man of God; and Ezra the scribe was at their head;

⁴³ On that day they made great offerings and were glad. God made them glad with great joy. The women and the children were glad with them. The joy of Jerusalem came to the ears of those who were far off.

⁴⁶ For in the days of David and Asaph in the past, there was a master of the music, and songs of blessing and praise to God.

⁸ »So now take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and sacrifice a burnt offering for yourselves. My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer and not deal with you according to your folly. You did not speak correctly about me, as my servant Job has.«

¹ ([Psalm of David]) Save me O Jehovah for no godly person is left. Faithful people have vanished from among the sons of men.

¹ ([Psalm of David]) O Jehovah, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath. ² Be merciful to me, Jehovah, for I am faint. O Jehovah, heal me, for my bones are in agony. ³ I am in anguish. How long, O Jehovah, how long? ⁴ Return, O Jehovah, and deliver me. Save me because of your unfailing love. ⁵ No one remembers you when he is dead. Who praises you from the grave? ⁶ I am worn out from groaning. All night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears. ⁷ My eyes grow weak with sorrow. I am weak because of all my foes. ⁸ Depart from me, all you who do evil. Jehovah hears my weeping. ⁹ Jehovah hears my supplication for mercy. Jehovah receives my prayer! ¹⁰ All my enemies will be ashamed and dismayed. They will turn back in sudden disgrace.

¹¹ You turned my mourning into dancing. You loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness.

² Give thanks to Jehovah with the harp. Sing praises to him with a harp of ten strings.

¹ ([Sons of Korah]) God is our refuge and strength, a ready help in times of trouble. ² Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change and though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea. ³ Though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains quake at its arrogance. ⁴ There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, The holy dwelling places of the Most High. ⁵ God is at the center of her and she will not be moved. God will help her when morning appears. ⁶ The nations made uproar and the kingdoms tumbled. He raised his voice and the earth dissolved. ⁷ Jehovah of Hosts is with us. The God of Jacob is our stronghold. ⁸ Come and behold the works of Jehovah. He has brought destruction in the earth. ⁹ He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth! He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two. He burns the chariots (instruments of destruction) with fire. ¹⁰ Cease your endeavors and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations! I will be glorified in the earth! ¹¹ Jehovah of Hosts is with us! The God of Jacob is our stronghold.

¹ ([Sons of Korah]) O clap your hands, all you people. Shout to God with the voice of joy. ² For Jehovah the Most High is to be respected. He is a great King over all the earth. ³ He subdues peoples under us and nations under our feet. ⁴ He chooses our inheritance for us, the grandeur (excellency) (glory) of Jacob whom he loves. ⁵ God has ascended with a shout, Jehovah with the sound of a trumpet.

¹³ I will come into your temple with burnt offerings. I will keep my vows to you, ¹⁴ the vows made by my lips and spoken by my own mouth when I was in trouble. ¹⁵ I will offer you a sacrifice of fattened livestock for burnt offerings with the smoke from rams. I will offer cattle and goats.

²⁵ The singers are in front. The musicians are behind them. The young women beating tambourines are between them.

⁷ Because for your sake, I have borne reproach. Shame has covered my face. ⁸ I have become a stranger to my brothers, an alien to my mother's children. ⁹ Zeal for your house consumes me. The reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me.

¹ ([Psalm of Asaph]) God is truly good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.

⁷ Then those who sing as well as those who play the flutes will say: »All my springs of joy are in you.«

¹ It is good to give thanks to Jehovah, to sing praises to your name, O Most High. ² It is good to declare your loving kindness in the morning and your faithfulness at night. ³ To do this on a ten-stringed instrument with a melody on a harp.

³ To do this on a ten-stringed instrument with a melody on a harp.

¹ Oh come, let us sing to Jehovah. Let us make a joyful noise to the Rock of our salvation.

¹ Oh come, let us sing to Jehovah. Let us make a joyful noise to the Rock of our salvation. ² Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise to him with psalms.

¹ ([Psalm of Asaph]) Sing for joy to God our strength. Shout joyfully to the God of Jacob.

¹ ([Psalm of Asaph]) Sing for joy to God our strength. Shout joyfully to the God of Jacob. ² Sing a song and strike the tambourine. Play the sweet sounding lyre with the harp.

¹³ »Oh that my people would listen to me, that Israel would walk in my ways!

¹ O God, do not keep silent. Do not keep silent and do not be still, O God.

¹⁰ One day in your courtyards is better than a thousand anywhere else. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.

⁴ Shout joyfully to Jehovah all the earth. Break out into joyful singing, and make music. ⁵ Make music to Jehovah with a lyre and with the melody of a psalm. ⁶ Make music with trumpets and the playing of a ram's horn. Shout happily in the presence of the king, Jehovah.

¹ Make a joyful noise (sound) (shout) to Jehovah, all you lands!

¹ Make a joyful noise (sound) (shout) to Jehovah, all you lands! ² Serve Jehovah with gladness and come before his presence with a joyful song.

⁵ until I find a place for Jehovah, a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob.«

³ Let them praise his name with dancing. Let them make music to him with tambourines and lyres.

³ Praise him with sounds from horns. Praise him with harps and stringed instruments.

³ Praise him with sounds from horns. Praise him with harps and stringed instruments.

³ Praise him with sounds from horns. Praise him with harps and stringed instruments. ⁴ Praise him with tambourines and dancing. Praise him with stringed instruments and flutes.

⁴ Praise him with tambourines and dancing. Praise him with stringed instruments and flutes.

⁴ Praise him with tambourines and dancing. Praise him with stringed instruments and flutes. ⁵ Praise him with loud cymbals. Praise him with crashing cymbals.

⁵ Praise him with loud cymbals. Praise him with crashing cymbals.

¹³ The man who covers his sins will not be blessed; but whoever confesses and leaves them will have mercy.

⁴ a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

²³ »Kings will be your guardians. Their princesses will be your nurses. They will bow down to you with their faces to the earth. They will lick the dust of your feet. Then you will know that I am Jehovah. Those who hopefully wait for me will not be put to shame.

²¹ »I will make some of them priests and Levites, declares Jehovah.

¹⁶ »In those days you will be fertile, and your population will increase in the land, says Jehovah. Men will no longer talk about the Ark of the Covenant of Jehovah. It will no longer come to mind. They will not remember it, miss it, or make another one.

¹⁹ »The people who live there will sing songs of praise. The sound of laughter will be heard from there. I will make them numerous, and their number will not decrease. I will bring them honor, and they will not be considered unimportant.

¹¹ »Yes, you will hear the sounds of joy and happiness and the sounds of brides and grooms. You will hear those who bring thank offerings to Jehovah’s Temple.«’ »‘They will say: Give thanks to Jehovah of Hosts because Jehovah is good, because his mercy endures forever. I will restore the prosperity of the land to what they were before,«’ says Jehovah.

¹⁷ »I Jehovah promise that there will always be a descendant of David to be king of Israel ¹⁸ and that there will always be priests from the tribe of Levi to serve me and to offer burnt offerings, grain offerings, and sacrifices.’« ¹⁹ Jehovah continued to speak to me: ²⁰ »If you break my covenant of the day and my covenant of the night, so that day and night will not be at their appointed time, ²¹ then my covenant may also be broken with David my servant so that he will not have a son to reign on his throne, with the Levitical priests as my ministers. ²² »‘I will increase the descendants of my servant David and the Levites who serve me in the same way as the stars of heaven that cannot be counted and the sand on the seashore that cannot be measured.’«

¹¹ »This land that has been set apart will belong to the priests who are descendants of Zadok. They took care of my holy place. They did not wander away with the Israelites as the Levites did.

²³ »‘Every day during the seven days of the festival, he must prepare burnt offerings for Jehovah: seven young bulls that have no defects, seven rams that have no defects, and one male goat as an offering for sin.

¹ Blow the trumpet in Zion! Sound an alarm in my holy mountain. Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble for the day of Jehovah comes. It is near!

¹⁵ »Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast and call a solemn assembly. ¹⁶ »Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts. Let the bridegroom go forth from his chamber, and the bride out of her closet. ¹⁷ »Let the priests and the ministers of Jehovah weep between the Temple porch and the altar! Let them say: Spare your people, O Jehovah, and do not give reproach to your heritage. That the nations should rule over them and say among the peoples, ‘where is their God?«’

² »You Bethlehem Ephrathah who are little to be among the thousands of Judah. Out of you one will come to me who is to be ruler in Israel! His origin is from of old, from everlasting (days of antiquity) (ancient times).

¹⁷ »Sanctify them by your truth. Your word is truth.

¹³ Others mockingly said: »These men are full of new wine.«

⁴⁶ »Who found favor before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob.

²³ When they had ordained elders in every congregation they prayed with fasting. They commended them to God, on whom they believed.

²² »Having obtained help from God, I continue to this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those that the prophets and Moses said should come.

¹ I request (urge) (implore) you brothers, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. ² Do not be conformed to this world (religious, social, political, and economic arrangement). But be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Prove what is the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God.

¹⁴ But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God. They are foolishness to him! He cannot know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

⁴⁰ Let all things be done decently and in order.

¹⁶ To the one an aroma of death leading to death and to the other an aroma from life to life. And who is sufficient for these things?

⁵ We are not adequate by ourselves to account for anything. Our adequacy is from God.

¹³ For if we are beside ourselves (crazy) (insane) it is to God. If we are of sound mind, it is to you.

² Now I praise you, brothers, because you remember me in all things, and carefully follow the teachings (precepts) (doctrine) just as I delivered them to you.

³ We are those with true circumcision who worship by the Spirit of God. We glory in Christ Jesus, and put no confidence in the flesh.

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice!

² What you have heard from me through many witnesses entrust to faithful people who will be able to teach others as well.

¹ Faithful is the saying: If a man seeks the office of overseer, he desires a good work. ² The overseer therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate in habits, sound in mind, orderly, hospitable, qualified to teach; ³ not addicted to wine, not quarrelsome; but gentle, not contentious, no lover of money; ⁴ one who manages well his own house, having his children in subjection with all seriousness; ⁵ if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the congregation of God? ⁶ He should not be a new believer, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation of the Devil. ⁷ He must have a good reputation with those outside the congregation, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the Devil. ⁸ Ministerial servants should likewise be men of dignity, not double-tongued, or addicted to much wine or fond of sordid gain. ⁹ They should maintain the secret of the faith with a clear conscience. ¹⁰ Let these be tested first. Then let them serve as servants, if they are blameless. ¹¹ Women in like manner must be serious, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things. ¹² Let servants be husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. ¹³ For they that have served well as servants gain to themselves a good standing and great confidence (boldness of speech) in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. ¹⁴ I write these things to you, hoping to come to you shortly, ¹⁵ though if I am delayed, so that you may know how men ought to behave themselves in the household of God, which is the congregation of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.

⁵ I left you in Crete for this purpose, that you should correct the things that were defective, and appoint elders in every city, as I gave you orders.

⁴ It had a golden incense burner. The Ark of the Covenant was completely covered with gold. It contained the golden pot that had the manna, and the rod of Aaron that had sprouted, and the tables of the covenant.

⁸ If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰ If we say we have not sinned we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

⁹ They sing a new song, saying: »You are worthy to take the book, and to open the seals, for you were slaughtered and by your blood you bought persons for God out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation. ¹⁰ »You made them kings and priests to our God. They will reign as kings over the earth.«