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Numbers 8:5-26
English Standard Version
Numbers 8:5-26
English Standard Version
Cleansing of the Levites
5 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 6 “Take the Levites from among the people of Israel and cleanse them. 7 Thus you shall do to them to cleanse them: sprinkle the (A)water of purification upon them, and (B)let them go with a razor over all their body, and wash their clothes and cleanse themselves. 8 Then let them take a bull from the herd and (C)its grain offering of fine flour mixed with oil, (D)and you shall take another bull from the herd for a sin offering. 9 (E)And you shall bring the Levites before the tent of meeting (F)and assemble the whole congregation of the people of Israel. 10 When you bring the Levites before the Lord, the people of Israel (G)shall lay their hands on the Levites, 11 and Aaron shall offer the Levites before the Lord as a wave offering from the people of Israel, that they may do the service of the Lord. 12 Then the Levites (H)shall lay their hands on the heads of the bulls, and you shall offer (I)the one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering to the Lord to make atonement for the Levites. 13 And you shall set the Levites before Aaron and his sons, and shall offer them as (J)a wave offering to the Lord.
14 “Thus you shall separate the Levites from among the people of Israel, and (K)the Levites shall be mine. 15 And after that the Levites shall go in to serve at the tent of meeting, when you have cleansed them and offered them as a (L)wave offering. 16 For they are (M)wholly given to me from among the people of Israel. (N)Instead of all who open the womb, the firstborn of all the people of Israel, I have taken them for myself. 17 (O)For all the firstborn among the people of Israel are mine, both of man and of beast. On the day that I struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I consecrated them for myself, 18 and I have taken the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the people of Israel. 19 (P)And I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and his sons from among the people of Israel, to do the service for the people of Israel at the tent of meeting and (Q)to make atonement for the people of Israel, (R)that there may be no plague among the people of Israel when the people of Israel come near the sanctuary.”
20 Thus did Moses and Aaron and all the congregation of the people of Israel to the Levites. According to all that the Lord commanded Moses concerning the Levites, the people of Israel did to them. 21 And (S)the Levites purified themselves from sin and washed their clothes, and (T)Aaron offered them as a wave offering before the Lord, and Aaron made atonement for them to cleanse them. 22 And after that the Levites went in to do their service in the tent of meeting before Aaron and his sons; as the Lord had commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so they did to them.
Retirement of the Levites
23 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 24 “This applies to the Levites: (U)from twenty-five years old and upward they[a] shall come to do duty in the service of the tent of meeting. 25 And from the age of fifty years they shall withdraw from the duty of the service and serve no more. 26 They minister[b] to their brothers in the tent of meeting (V)by keeping guard, but they shall do no service. Thus shall you do to the Levites in assigning their duties.”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Numbers 8:24 Hebrew he; also verses 25, 26
- Numbers 8:26 Hebrew He ministers
Numbers 8:5-26
New International Version
Numbers 8:5-26
New International Version
The Setting Apart of the Levites
5 The Lord said to Moses: 6 “Take the Levites from among all the Israelites and make them ceremonially clean.(A) 7 To purify them, do this: Sprinkle the water of cleansing(B) on them; then have them shave their whole bodies(C) and wash their clothes.(D) And so they will purify themselves.(E) 8 Have them take a young bull with its grain offering of the finest flour mixed with olive oil;(F) then you are to take a second young bull for a sin offering.[a](G) 9 Bring the Levites to the front of the tent of meeting(H) and assemble the whole Israelite community.(I) 10 You are to bring the Levites before the Lord, and the Israelites are to lay their hands on them.(J) 11 Aaron is to present the Levites before the Lord as a wave offering(K) from the Israelites, so that they may be ready to do the work of the Lord.
12 “Then the Levites are to lay their hands on the heads of the bulls,(L) using one for a sin offering(M) to the Lord and the other for a burnt offering,(N) to make atonement(O) for the Levites. 13 Have the Levites stand in front of Aaron and his sons and then present them as a wave offering(P) to the Lord. 14 In this way you are to set the Levites apart from the other Israelites, and the Levites will be mine.(Q)
15 “After you have purified the Levites and presented them as a wave offering,(R) they are to come to do their work at the tent of meeting.(S) 16 They are the Israelites who are to be given wholly to me. I have taken them as my own in place of the firstborn,(T) the first male offspring(U) from every Israelite woman. 17 Every firstborn male in Israel, whether human or animal,(V) is mine. When I struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, I set them apart for myself.(W) 18 And I have taken the Levites in place of all the firstborn sons in Israel.(X) 19 From among all the Israelites, I have given the Levites as gifts to Aaron and his sons(Y) to do the work at the tent of meeting on behalf of the Israelites(Z) and to make atonement for them(AA) so that no plague will strike the Israelites when they go near the sanctuary.”
20 Moses, Aaron and the whole Israelite community did with the Levites just as the Lord commanded Moses. 21 The Levites purified themselves and washed their clothes.(AB) Then Aaron presented them as a wave offering before the Lord and made atonement(AC) for them to purify them.(AD) 22 After that, the Levites came to do their work(AE) at the tent of meeting under the supervision of Aaron and his sons. They did with the Levites just as the Lord commanded Moses.
23 The Lord said to Moses, 24 “This applies to the Levites: Men twenty-five years old or more(AF) shall come to take part in the work at the tent of meeting,(AG) 25 but at the age of fifty,(AH) they must retire from their regular service and work no longer. 26 They may assist their brothers in performing their duties at the tent of meeting, but they themselves must not do the work.(AI) This, then, is how you are to assign the responsibilities of the Levites.”
Footnotes
- Numbers 8:8 Or purification offering; also in verse 12
1 Chronicles 8:15-9:2
English Standard Version
1 Chronicles 8:15-9:2
English Standard Version
15 Zebadiah, Arad, Eder, 16 Michael, Ishpah, and Joha were sons of Beriah. 17 Zebadiah, Meshullam, Hizki, Heber, 18 Ishmerai, Izliah, and Jobab were the sons of Elpaal. 19 Jakim, Zichri, Zabdi, 20 Elienai, Zillethai, Eliel, 21 Adaiah, Beraiah, and Shimrath were the sons of Shimei. 22 Ishpan, Eber, Eliel, 23 Abdon, Zichri, Hanan, 24 Hananiah, Elam, Anthothijah, 25 Iphdeiah, and Penuel were the sons of Shashak. 26 Shamsherai, Shehariah, Athaliah, 27 Jaareshiah, Elijah, and Zichri were the sons of Jeroham. 28 These were the heads of fathers' houses, according to their generations, chief men. These lived in Jerusalem.
29 (A)(B)Jeiel[a] the father of Gibeon lived in Gibeon, and the name of his wife was Maacah. 30 His firstborn son: Abdon, then Zur, Kish, Baal, Nadab, 31 Gedor, Ahio, Zecher, 32 and Mikloth (he fathered Shimeah). Now these also lived opposite their kinsmen in Jerusalem, with their kinsmen. 33 (C)Ner was the father of Kish, Kish of Saul, Saul of (D)Jonathan, Malchi-shua, Abinadab and Eshbaal; 34 and the son of Jonathan was Merib-baal; and Merib-baal was the father of (E)Micah. 35 The sons of Micah: Pithon, Melech, Tarea, and Ahaz. 36 Ahaz fathered Jehoaddah, and Jehoaddah fathered Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri. Zimri fathered Moza. 37 Moza fathered Binea; Raphah was his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son. 38 Azel had six sons, and these are their names: Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan. All these were the sons of Azel. 39 The sons of Eshek his brother: Ulam his firstborn, Jeush the second, and Eliphelet the third. 40 The sons of Ulam were men who were mighty warriors, bowmen, having many sons and grandsons, 150. All these were Benjaminites.
A Genealogy of the Returned Exiles
9 So all Israel was recorded in genealogies, and these are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel. And (F)Judah was taken into exile in Babylon because of their breach of faith. 2 (G)Now the first to (H)dwell again in their possessions in their cities were Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the (I)temple servants.
Footnotes
- 1 Chronicles 8:29 Compare 9:35; Hebrew lacks Jeiel
1 Chronicles 8:15-9:2
New International Version
1 Chronicles 8:15-9:2
New International Version
15 Zebadiah, Arad, Eder, 16 Michael, Ishpah and Joha were the sons of Beriah.
17 Zebadiah, Meshullam, Hizki, Heber, 18 Ishmerai, Izliah and Jobab were the sons of Elpaal.
19 Jakim, Zikri, Zabdi, 20 Elienai, Zillethai, Eliel, 21 Adaiah, Beraiah and Shimrath were the sons of Shimei.
22 Ishpan, Eber, Eliel, 23 Abdon, Zikri, Hanan, 24 Hananiah, Elam, Anthothijah, 25 Iphdeiah and Penuel were the sons of Shashak.
26 Shamsherai, Shehariah, Athaliah, 27 Jaareshiah, Elijah and Zikri were the sons of Jeroham.
28 All these were heads of families, chiefs as listed in their genealogy, and they lived in Jerusalem.
29 Jeiel[a] the father[b] of Gibeon lived in Gibeon.(A)
His wife’s name was Maakah, 30 and his firstborn son was Abdon, followed by Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner,[c] Nadab, 31 Gedor, Ahio, Zeker 32 and Mikloth, who was the father of Shimeah. They too lived near their relatives in Jerusalem.
33 Ner(B) was the father of Kish,(C) Kish the father of Saul(D), and Saul the father of Jonathan, Malki-Shua, Abinadab and Esh-Baal.[d](E)
34 The son of Jonathan:(F)
Merib-Baal,[e](G) who was the father of Micah.
35 The sons of Micah:
Pithon, Melek, Tarea and Ahaz.
36 Ahaz was the father of Jehoaddah, Jehoaddah was the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth and Zimri, and Zimri was the father of Moza. 37 Moza was the father of Binea; Raphah was his son, Eleasah his son and Azel his son.
38 Azel had six sons, and these were their names:
Azrikam, Bokeru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah and Hanan. All these were the sons of Azel.
39 The sons of his brother Eshek:
Ulam his firstborn, Jeush the second son and Eliphelet the third. 40 The sons of Ulam were brave warriors who could handle the bow. They had many sons and grandsons—150 in all.
All these were the descendants of Benjamin.(H)
9 All Israel(I) was listed in the genealogies recorded in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah. They were taken captive to Babylon(J) because of their unfaithfulness.(K)
The People in Jerusalem(L)
2 Now the first to resettle on their own property in their own towns(M) were some Israelites, priests, Levites and temple servants.(N)
Footnotes
- 1 Chronicles 8:29 Some Septuagint manuscripts (see also 9:35); Hebrew does not have Jeiel.
- 1 Chronicles 8:29 Father may mean civic leader or military leader.
- 1 Chronicles 8:30 Some Septuagint manuscripts (see also 9:36); Hebrew does not have Ner.
- 1 Chronicles 8:33 Also known as Ish-Bosheth
- 1 Chronicles 8:34 Also known as Mephibosheth
Ezekiel 36:1-15
English Standard Version
Ezekiel 36:1-15
English Standard Version
Prophecy to the Mountains of Israel
36 “And you, (A)son of man, prophesy to (B)the mountains of Israel, and say, O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord. 2 Thus says the Lord God: Because (C)the enemy said of you, (D)‘Aha!’ and, ‘The ancient (E)heights have become our possession,’ 3 therefore prophesy, and say, Thus says the Lord God: Precisely because (F)they made you desolate and crushed you from all sides, so that you became the possession of the rest of the nations, and (G)you became the talk and evil gossip of the people, 4 therefore, O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord God: Thus says the Lord God to (H)the mountains and the hills, the ravines and the valleys, (I)the desolate wastes and the deserted cities, which have become (J)a prey and derision to the rest of the nations all around, 5 therefore thus says the Lord God: Surely I have spoken in (K)my hot jealousy against the rest of the nations and (L)against all Edom, who (M)gave my land to themselves as a possession (N)with wholehearted joy and (O)utter contempt, that they might make its pasturelands a prey. 6 Therefore prophesy concerning the land of Israel, and say to (P)the mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys, Thus says the Lord God: (Q)Behold, I have spoken in my jealous wrath, because you have suffered (R)the reproach of the nations. 7 Therefore thus says the Lord God: (S)I swear that the nations that are all around you (T)shall themselves suffer reproach.
8 “But you, O mountains of Israel, (U)shall shoot forth your branches and yield your fruit to my people Israel, for (V)they will soon come home. 9 For (W)behold, I am for you, and I will turn to you, and (X)you shall be tilled and sown. 10 And (Y)I will multiply people on you, the whole house of Israel, all of it. (Z)The cities shall be inhabited and the waste places rebuilt. 11 And I will multiply on you (AA)man and beast, and (AB)they shall multiply and be fruitful. And I will cause you to be inhabited as in (AC)your former times, and (AD)will do more good to you than ever before. (AE)Then you will know that I am the Lord. 12 I will let people walk on you, even my people Israel. (AF)And they shall possess you, and you shall be their inheritance, and you shall no longer (AG)bereave them of children. 13 Thus says the Lord God: Because they say to you, (AH)‘You devour people, and you bereave your nation of children,’ 14 therefore you shall no longer devour people and no longer bereave your nation of children, declares the Lord God. 15 And I will not let you hear anymore (AI)the reproach of the nations, and you shall no longer bear the disgrace of the peoples and no longer cause your nation to stumble, declares the Lord God.”
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Ezekiel 36:1-15
New International Version
Ezekiel 36:1-15
New International Version
Hope for the Mountains of Israel
36 “Son of man, prophesy to the mountains of Israel(A) and say, ‘Mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord. 2 This is what the Sovereign Lord says:(B) The enemy said of you, “Aha!(C) The ancient heights(D) have become our possession.(E)”’ 3 Therefore prophesy and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because they ravaged(F) and crushed you from every side so that you became the possession of the rest of the nations and the object of people’s malicious talk and slander,(G) 4 therefore, mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Sovereign Lord: This is what the Sovereign Lord says to the mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys,(H) to the desolate ruins(I) and the deserted(J) towns that have been plundered and ridiculed(K) by the rest of the nations around you(L)— 5 this is what the Sovereign Lord says: In my burning(M) zeal I have spoken against the rest of the nations, and against all Edom, for with glee and with malice in their hearts they made my land their own possession so that they might plunder its pastureland.’(N) 6 Therefore prophesy concerning the land of Israel and say to the mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I speak in my jealous wrath because you have suffered the scorn of the nations.(O) 7 Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I swear with uplifted hand(P) that the nations around you will also suffer scorn.(Q)
8 “‘But you, mountains of Israel, will produce branches and fruit(R) for my people Israel, for they will soon come home. 9 I am concerned for you and will look on you with favor; you will be plowed and sown,(S) 10 and I will cause many people to live on you—yes, all of Israel. The towns will be inhabited and the ruins(T) rebuilt.(U) 11 I will increase the number of people and animals living on you, and they will be fruitful(V) and become numerous. I will settle people(W) on you as in the past(X) and will make you prosper more than before.(Y) Then you will know that I am the Lord. 12 I will cause people, my people Israel, to live on you. They will possess you, and you will be their inheritance;(Z) you will never again deprive them of their children.
13 “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because some say to you, “You devour people(AA) and deprive your nation of its children,” 14 therefore you will no longer devour people or make your nation childless, declares the Sovereign Lord. 15 No longer will I make you hear the taunts of the nations, and no longer will you suffer the scorn of the peoples or cause your nation to fall, declares the Sovereign Lord.(AB)’”
Psalm 122-123
English Standard Version
Psalm 122-123
English Standard Version
Let Us Go to the House of the Lord
A Song of (A)Ascents. Of David.
122 I was glad when they said to me,
(B)“Let us go to the house of the Lord!”
2 Our feet have been standing
within your gates, O Jerusalem!
3 Jerusalem—(C)built as a city
that is (D)bound firmly together,
4 to which the tribes (E)go up,
the tribes of the Lord,
as was (F)decreed for[a] Israel,
to give thanks to the name of the Lord.
5 There (G)thrones for judgment were set,
the thrones of the house of David.
6 (H)Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!
“May they be secure who love you!
7 Peace be within your (I)walls
and security within your (J)towers!”
8 For my brothers and companions' sake
I will say, (K)“Peace be within you!”
9 For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,
I will (L)seek your good.
Our Eyes Look to the Lord Our God
A Song of (M)Ascents.
123 To you I (N)lift up my eyes,
O you who are (O)enthroned in the heavens!
2 Behold, as the eyes of servants
look to the hand of their master,
as the eyes of a maidservant
to the hand of her mistress,
so our eyes look to the Lord our God,
till he has mercy upon us.
3 (P)Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us,
for we have had more than enough of (Q)contempt.
4 Our soul has had more than enough
of (R)the scorn of (S)those who are at ease,
of the contempt of (T)the proud.
Footnotes
- Psalm 122:4 Or as a testimony for
Psalm 122-123
New International Version
Psalm 122-123
New International Version
Psalm 122
A song of ascents. Of David.
1 I rejoiced with those who said to me,
“Let us go to the house of the Lord.”
2 Our feet are standing
in your gates, Jerusalem.
3 Jerusalem is built like a city
that is closely compacted together.
4 That is where the tribes go up—
the tribes of the Lord—
to praise the name of the Lord
according to the statute given to Israel.
5 There stand the thrones for judgment,
the thrones of the house of David.
6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
“May those who love(A) you be secure.
7 May there be peace(B) within your walls
and security within your citadels.(C)”
8 For the sake of my family and friends,
I will say, “Peace be within you.”
9 For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,
I will seek your prosperity.(D)
Psalm 123
A song of ascents.
1 I lift up my eyes to you,
to you who sit enthroned(E) in heaven.
2 As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master,
as the eyes of a female slave look to the hand of her mistress,
so our eyes look to the Lord(F) our God,
till he shows us his mercy.
3 Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us,
for we have endured no end of contempt.
4 We have endured no end
of ridicule from the arrogant,
of contempt from the proud.
Luke 18:18-30
English Standard Version
Luke 18:18-30
English Standard Version
The Rich Ruler
18 (A)And a ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to (B)inherit eternal life?” 19 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. 20 You know the commandments: (C)‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.’” 21 And he said, (D)“All these I have kept from my youth.” 22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. (E)Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have (F)treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 23 (G)But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. 24 Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, (H)“How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter (I)the kingdom of God! 25 For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter (J)the kingdom of God.” 26 Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” 27 But he said, (K)“What is impossible with man is possible with God.” 28 And Peter said, “See, (L)we have left our homes and followed you.” 29 And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, (M)there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers[a] or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, 30 who will not receive (N)many times more (O)in this time, and in (P)the age to come eternal life.”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Luke 18:29 Or wife or brothers and sisters
Luke 18:18-30
New International Version
Luke 18:18-30
New International Version
The Rich and the Kingdom of God(A)
18 A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”(B)
19 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 20 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’[a]”(C)
21 “All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said.
22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor,(D) and you will have treasure in heaven.(E) Then come, follow me.”
23 When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy. 24 Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!(F) 25 Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
26 Those who heard this asked, “Who then can be saved?”
27 Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”(G)
28 Peter said to him, “We have left all we had to follow you!”(H)
29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God 30 will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come(I) eternal life.”(J)
Footnotes
- Luke 18:20 Exodus 20:12-16; Deut. 5:16-20
Ephesians 5:23
English Standard Version
Ephesians 5:23
English Standard Version
23 For (A)the husband is the head of the wife even as (B)Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is (C)himself its Savior.
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Ephesians 5:23
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Ephesians 5:23
New International Version
23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church,(A) his body, of which he is the Savior.
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