22 Then David said, “This is the house of the Lord God, and this is the altar of burnt offering for Israel.”(A)

David’s Preparations for the Temple

So David gave orders to gather the foreigners that were in the land of Israel,(B) and he appointed stonecutters to cut finished stones for building God’s house.(C) David supplied a great deal of iron to make the nails for the doors of the gateways and for the fittings, together with an immeasurable quantity of bronze,(D) and innumerable cedar logs because the Sidonians and Tyrians had brought a large quantity of cedar logs to David.(E) David said, “My son Solomon is young and inexperienced, and the house that is to be built for the Lord must be exceedingly great and famous and glorious in all the lands.(F) Therefore, I must make provision for it.” So David made lavish preparations for it before his death.

Then he summoned his son Solomon and instructed him to build a house for the Lord God of Israel. “My son,” David said to Solomon, “It was in my heart to build a house for the name of Yahweh my God,(G) but the word of the Lord came to me: ‘You have shed much blood and waged great wars. You are not to build a house for My name because you have shed so much blood on the ground before Me.(H) But a son will be born to you; he will be a man of rest. I will give him rest from all his surrounding enemies,(I) for his name will be Solomon,[a](J) and I will give peace and quiet to Israel during his reign.(K) 10 He is the one who will build a house for My name. He will be My son, and I will be his father. I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.’(L)

11 “Now, my son, may the Lord be with you,(M) and may you succeed in building the house of the Lord your God, as He said about you. 12 Above all, may the Lord give you insight and understanding when He puts you in charge of Israel so that you may keep the law of the Lord your God.(N) 13 Then you will succeed if you carefully follow the statutes and ordinances the Lord commanded Moses for Israel.(O) Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid or discouraged.(P)

14 “Notice I have taken great pains to provide for the house of the Lord—3,775 tons of gold, 37,750 tons of silver,[b](Q) and bronze and iron that can’t be weighed because there is so much of it. I have also provided timber and stone, but you will need to add more to them. 15 You also have many workers: stonecutters, masons, carpenters, and people skilled in every kind of work 16 in gold, silver, bronze, and iron—beyond number. Now begin the work, and may the Lord be with you.”(R)

17 Then David ordered all the leaders of Israel to help his son Solomon: 18 “The Lord your God is with you, isn’t He? And hasn’t He given you rest on every side?(S) For He has handed the land’s inhabitants over to me, and the land has been subdued before the Lord and His people. 19 Now determine in your mind and heart to seek the Lord your God.(T) Get started building the Lord God’s sanctuary so that you may bring the ark of the Lord’s covenant and the holy articles of God to the temple that is to be built(U) for the name of Yahweh.”(V)

The Divisions of the Levites

23 When David was old and full of days,(W) he installed his son Solomon as king over Israel.(X) Then he gathered all the leaders of Israel, the priests, and the Levites. The Levites 30 years old or more were counted;(Y) the total number of men was 38,000 by headcount.(Z) “Of these,” David said, “24,000 are to be in charge of the work on the Lord’s temple,(AA) 6,000 are to be officers and judges,(AB) 4,000 are to be gatekeepers, and 4,000 are to praise the Lord with the instruments that I have made for worship.”(AC)

Then David divided them into divisions according to Levi’s sons:(AD) Gershom,[c] Kohath, and Merari.

The Gershonites: Ladan and Shimei.
Ladan’s sons: Jehiel was the first, then Zetham, and Joel—three.
Shimei’s sons: Shelomoth, Haziel, and Haran—three. Those were the heads of the families of Ladan.
10 Shimei’s sons: Jahath, Zizah,[d] Jeush, and Beriah. Those were Shimei’s sons—four. 11 Jahath was the first and Zizah was the second; however, Jeush and Beriah did not have many sons, so they became an ancestral house and received a single assignment.
12 Kohath’s sons: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel—four.
13 Amram’s sons:(AE) Aaron and Moses.

Aaron, along with his descendants,(AF) was set apart forever to consecrate the most holy things, to burn incense in the presence of Yahweh,(AG) to minister to Him, and to pronounce blessings in His name forever. 14 As for Moses the man of God,(AH) his sons were named among the tribe of Levi.

15 Moses’ sons: Gershom and Eliezer.
16 Gershom’s sons: Shebuel was first.
17 Eliezer’s sons were Rehabiah, first; Eliezer did not have any other sons, but Rehabiah’s sons were very numerous.
18 Izhar’s sons: Shelomith was first.
19 Hebron’s sons: Jeriah was first, Amariah second, Jahaziel third, and Jekameam fourth.
20 Uzziel’s sons: Micah was first, and Isshiah second.
21 Merari’s sons: Mahli and Mushi.
Mahli’s sons: Eleazar and Kish.
22 Eleazar died having no sons, only daughters. Their cousins, the sons of Kish, married them.
23 Mushi’s sons: Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth—three.

24 These were the sons of Levi by their ancestral houses—the heads of families, according to their registration by name in the headcount—20 years old or more, who worked in the service of the Lord’s temple.(AI) 25 For David said, “The Lord God of Israel has given rest to His people,(AJ) and He has come to stay in Jerusalem forever. 26 Also, the Levites no longer need to carry the tabernacle or any of the equipment for its service”(AK) 27 for according to the last words of David, the Levites 20 years old or more were to be counted— 28 “but their duty will be to assist the sons of Aaron with the service of the Lord’s temple, being responsible for the courts and the chambers, the purification of all the holy things, and the work of the service of God’s temple— 29 as well as the rows of the bread of the Presence,(AL) the fine flour for the grain offering,(AM) the wafers of unleavened bread, the baking,[e](AN) the mixing,(AO) and all measurements of volume and length.(AP) 30 They are also to stand every morning to give thanks and praise to the Lord, and likewise in the evening. 31 Whenever burnt offerings are offered to the Lord on the Sabbaths, New Moons,(AQ) and appointed festivals, they are to do so regularly in the Lord’s presence according to the number prescribed for them.(AR) 32 They are to carry out their responsibilities for the tent of meeting, for the holy place,(AS) and for their relatives, the sons of Aaron,(AT) in the service of the Lord’s temple.”

Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 22:9 In Hb, the name Solomon sounds like “peace.”
  2. 1 Chronicles 22:14 Lit 100,000 talents of gold and 1,000,000 talents of silver
  3. 1 Chronicles 23:6 Lit Gershon
  4. 1 Chronicles 23:10 LXX, Vg; MT reads Zina
  5. 1 Chronicles 23:29 Lit the griddle

22 Then David said, “The house of the Lord God(A) is to be here, and also the altar of burnt offering for Israel.”

Preparations for the Temple

So David gave orders to assemble the foreigners(B) residing in Israel, and from among them he appointed stonecutters(C) to prepare dressed stone for building the house of God. He provided a large amount of iron to make nails for the doors of the gateways and for the fittings, and more bronze than could be weighed.(D) He also provided more cedar logs(E) than could be counted, for the Sidonians and Tyrians had brought large numbers of them to David.

David said, “My son Solomon is young(F) and inexperienced, and the house to be built for the Lord should be of great magnificence and fame and splendor(G) in the sight of all the nations. Therefore I will make preparations for it.” So David made extensive preparations before his death.

Then he called for his son Solomon and charged him to build(H) a house for the Lord, the God of Israel. David said to Solomon: “My son, I had it in my heart(I) to build(J) a house for the Name(K) of the Lord my God. But this word of the Lord came to me: ‘You have shed much blood and have fought many wars.(L) You are not to build a house for my Name,(M) because you have shed much blood on the earth in my sight. But you will have a son who will be a man of peace(N) and rest,(O) and I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side. His name will be Solomon,[a](P) and I will grant Israel peace and quiet(Q) during his reign. 10 He is the one who will build a house for my Name.(R) He will be my son,(S) and I will be his father. And I will establish(T) the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.’(U)

11 “Now, my son, the Lord be with(V) you, and may you have success and build the house of the Lord your God, as he said you would. 12 May the Lord give you discretion and understanding(W) when he puts you in command over Israel, so that you may keep the law of the Lord your God. 13 Then you will have success(X) if you are careful to observe the decrees and laws(Y) that the Lord gave Moses for Israel. Be strong and courageous.(Z) Do not be afraid or discouraged.

14 “I have taken great pains to provide for the temple of the Lord a hundred thousand talents[b] of gold, a million talents[c] of silver, quantities of bronze and iron too great to be weighed, and wood and stone. And you may add to them.(AA) 15 You have many workers: stonecutters, masons and carpenters,(AB) as well as those skilled in every kind of work 16 in gold and silver, bronze and iron—craftsmen(AC) beyond number. Now begin the work, and the Lord be with you.”

17 Then David ordered(AD) all the leaders of Israel to help his son Solomon. 18 He said to them, “Is not the Lord your God with you? And has he not granted you rest(AE) on every side?(AF) For he has given the inhabitants of the land into my hands, and the land is subject to the Lord and to his people. 19 Now devote your heart and soul to seeking the Lord your God.(AG) Begin to build the sanctuary of the Lord God, so that you may bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord and the sacred articles belonging to God into the temple that will be built for the Name of the Lord.”

The Levites

23 When David was old and full of years, he made his son Solomon(AH) king over Israel.(AI)

He also gathered together all the leaders of Israel, as well as the priests and Levites. The Levites thirty years old or more(AJ) were counted,(AK) and the total number of men was thirty-eight thousand.(AL) David said, “Of these, twenty-four thousand are to be in charge(AM) of the work(AN) of the temple of the Lord and six thousand are to be officials and judges.(AO) Four thousand are to be gatekeepers and four thousand are to praise the Lord with the musical instruments(AP) I have provided for that purpose.”(AQ)

David separated(AR) the Levites into divisions corresponding to the sons of Levi:(AS) Gershon, Kohath and Merari.

Gershonites

Belonging to the Gershonites:(AT)

Ladan and Shimei.

The sons of Ladan:

Jehiel the first, Zetham and Joel—three in all.

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,[d] 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.

Kohathites

12 The sons of Kohath:(AU)

Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel—four in all.

13 The sons of Amram:(AV)

Aaron and Moses.

Aaron was set apart,(AW) he and his descendants forever, to consecrate the most holy things, to offer sacrifices before the Lord, to minister(AX) before him and to pronounce blessings(AY) in his name forever. 14 The sons of Moses the man(AZ) of God were counted as part of the tribe of Levi.

15 The sons of Moses:

Gershom and Eliezer.(BA)

16 The descendants of Gershom:(BB)

Shubael was the first.

17 The descendants of Eliezer:

Rehabiah(BC) was the first.

Eliezer had no other sons, but the sons of Rehabiah were very numerous.

18 The sons of Izhar:

Shelomith(BD) was the first.

19 The sons of Hebron:(BE)

Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third and Jekameam the fourth.

20 The sons of Uzziel:

Micah the first and Ishiah the second.

Merarites

21 The sons of Merari:(BF)

Mahli and Mushi.(BG)

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.(BH)

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(BI) who served in the temple of the Lord. 25 For David had said, “Since the Lord, the God of Israel, has granted rest(BJ) 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.”(BK) 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(BL) 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,(BM) the special flour for the grain offerings,(BN) the thin loaves made without yeast, the baking and the mixing, and all measurements of quantity and size.(BO) 30 They were also to stand every morning to thank and praise the Lord. They were to do the same in the evening(BP) 31 and whenever burnt offerings were presented to the Lord on the Sabbaths, at the New Moon(BQ) feasts and at the appointed festivals.(BR) They were to serve before the Lord regularly in the proper number and in the way prescribed for them.

32 And so the Levites(BS) carried out their responsibilities for the tent of meeting,(BT) for the Holy Place and, under their relatives the descendants of Aaron, for the service of the temple of the Lord.(BU)

Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 22:9 Solomon sounds like and may be derived from the Hebrew for peace.
  2. 1 Chronicles 22:14 That is, about 3,750 tons or about 3,400 metric tons
  3. 1 Chronicles 22:14 That is, about 37,500 tons or about 34,000 metric tons
  4. 1 Chronicles 23:10 One Hebrew manuscript, Septuagint and Vulgate (see also verse 11); most Hebrew manuscripts Zina

The Whole World Guilty before God

What then? Are we any better?[a] Not at all! For we have previously charged that both Jews(A) and Gentiles[b](B) are all under sin,[c](C) 10 as it is written:[d]

There is no one righteous, not even one.
11 There is no one who understands;
there is no one who seeks God.
12 All have turned away;
all alike have become useless.
There is no one who does what is good,
not even one.(D)[e]
13 Their throat is an open grave;
they deceive with their tongues.(E)[f]
Vipers’ venom is under their lips.(F)[g]
14 Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.(G)[h]
15 Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16 ruin and wretchedness are in their paths,
17 and the path of peace they have not known.(H)[i]
18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.(I)[j]

19 Now we know that whatever the law says(J) speaks to those who are subject to the law,[k](K) so that every mouth may be shut and the whole world may become subject to God’s judgment.[l](L) 20 For no one will be justified[m] in His sight by the works of the law,(M) because the knowledge of sin comes through the law.(N)

God’s Righteousness through Faith

21 But now, apart from the law, God’s righteousness has been revealed(O)—attested by the Law and the Prophets[n](P) 22 —that is, God’s righteousness through faith(Q) in Jesus Christ,[o](R) to all who believe,(S) since there is no distinction.(T) 23 For all have sinned(U) and fall short of the[p] glory of God. 24 They are justified freely by His grace(V) through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.(W) 25 God presented Him as a propitiation[q](X) through faith in His blood,(Y) to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His restraint God(Z) passed over the sins previously committed.(AA) 26 God presented Him to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be righteous and declare righteous[r] the one who has faith in Jesus.

Boasting Excluded

27 Where then is boasting?(AB) It is excluded. By what kind of law?[s](AC) By one of works? No, on the contrary, by a law[t] of faith. 28 For we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.(AD) 29 Or is God for Jews only?(AE) Is He not also for Gentiles? Yes, for Gentiles too, 30 since there is one God(AF) who will justify the circumcised by faith(AG) and the uncircumcised through faith. 31 Do we then cancel the law through faith? Absolutely not!(AH) On the contrary, we uphold the law.(AI)

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 3:9 Are we Jews any better than the Gentiles?
  2. Romans 3:9 Lit Greeks
  3. Romans 3:9 Under sin’s power or dominion
  4. Romans 3:10 Paul constructs this charge from a chain of OT quotations, mainly from the Psalms.
  5. Romans 3:12 Ps 14:1-3; 53:1-3; Ec 7:20
  6. Romans 3:13 Ps 5:9
  7. Romans 3:13 Ps 140:3
  8. Romans 3:14 Ps 10:7
  9. Romans 3:17 Is 59:7-8
  10. Romans 3:18 Ps 36:1
  11. Romans 3:19 Lit those in the law
  12. Romans 3:19 Or become guilty before God, or may be accountable to God
  13. Romans 3:20 Or will be declared righteous, or will be acquitted
  14. Romans 3:21 When capitalized, the Law and the Prophets = OT
  15. Romans 3:22 Or through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ
  16. Romans 3:23 Or and lack the
  17. Romans 3:25 Or as a propitiatory sacrifice, or as an offering of atonement, or as a mercy seat; 2Co 5:21; Heb 9:5
  18. Romans 3:26 Or and justify, or and acquit
  19. Romans 3:27 Or what principle?
  20. Romans 3:27 Or a principle

No One Is Righteous

What shall we conclude then? Do we have any advantage?(A) Not at all! For we have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin.(B) 10 As it is written:

“There is no one righteous, not even one;
11     there is no one who understands;
    there is no one who seeks God.
12 All have turned away,
    they have together become worthless;
there is no one who does good,
    not even one.”[a](C)
13 “Their throats are open graves;
    their tongues practice deceit.”[b](D)
“The poison of vipers is on their lips.”[c](E)
14     “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”[d](F)
15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16     ruin and misery mark their ways,
17 and the way of peace they do not know.”[e](G)
18     “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”[f](H)

19 Now we know that whatever the law says,(I) it says to those who are under the law,(J) so that every mouth may be silenced(K) and the whole world held accountable to God.(L) 20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law;(M) rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.(N)

Righteousness Through Faith

21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God(O) has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.(P) 22 This righteousness(Q) is given through faith(R) in[g] Jesus Christ(S) to all who believe.(T) There is no difference between Jew and Gentile,(U) 23 for all have sinned(V) and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified(W) freely by his grace(X) through the redemption(Y) that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement,[h](Z) through the shedding of his blood(AA)—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished(AB) 26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

27 Where, then, is boasting?(AC) It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith. 28 For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.(AD) 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too,(AE) 30 since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith.(AF) 31 Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 3:12 Psalms 14:1-3; 53:1-3; Eccles. 7:20
  2. Romans 3:13 Psalm 5:9
  3. Romans 3:13 Psalm 140:3
  4. Romans 3:14 Psalm 10:7 (see Septuagint)
  5. Romans 3:17 Isaiah 59:7,8
  6. Romans 3:18 Psalm 36:1
  7. Romans 3:22 Or through the faithfulness of
  8. Romans 3:25 The Greek for sacrifice of atonement refers to the atonement cover on the ark of the covenant (see Lev. 16:15,16).

Psalm 12

Oppression by the Wicked

For the choir director: according to Sheminith.(A) A Davidic psalm.

Help, Lord, for no faithful one remains;
the loyal have disappeared from the human race.(B)
They lie to one another;
they speak with flattering lips and deceptive hearts.(C)
May the Lord cut off all flattering lips
and the tongue that speaks boastfully.(D)
They say, “Through our tongues we have power;[a]
our lips are our own—who can be our master?”(E)

“Because of the oppression of the afflicted
and the groaning of the poor,
I will now rise up,” says the Lord.
“I will put the one who longs for it in a safe place.”(F)

The words of the Lord are pure words,
like silver refined in an earthen furnace,
purified seven times.(G)

You, Lord, will guard us;[b]
You will protect us[c] from this generation forever.(H)
The wicked wander[d] everywhere,
and what is worthless is exalted by the human race.(I)

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 12:4 Lit That say, “By our tongues we are strengthened
  2. Psalm 12:7 Some Hb mss, LXX, Jer; other Hb mss read them
  3. Psalm 12:7 Some Hb mss, LXX; other Hb mss read him
  4. Psalm 12:8 Lit walk about

Psalm 12[a]

For the director of music. According to sheminith.[b] A psalm of David.

Help, Lord, for no one is faithful anymore;(A)
    those who are loyal have vanished from the human race.
Everyone lies(B) to their neighbor;
    they flatter with their lips
    but harbor deception in their hearts.(C)

May the Lord silence all flattering lips(D)
    and every boastful tongue—(E)
those who say,
    “By our tongues we will prevail;(F)
    our own lips will defend us—who is lord over us?”

“Because the poor are plundered(G) and the needy groan,(H)
    I will now arise,(I)” says the Lord.
    “I will protect them(J) from those who malign them.”
And the words of the Lord are flawless,(K)
    like silver purified(L) in a crucible,(M)
    like gold[c] refined seven times.

You, Lord, will keep the needy safe(N)
    and will protect us forever from the wicked,(O)
who freely strut(P) about
    when what is vile is honored by the human race.

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 12:1 In Hebrew texts 12:1-8 is numbered 12:2-9.
  2. Psalm 12:1 Title: Probably a musical term
  3. Psalm 12:6 Probable reading of the original Hebrew text; Masoretic Text earth

13 A foolish son is his father’s ruin,(A)
and a wife’s nagging is an endless dripping.(B)

14 A house and wealth are inherited from fathers,(C)
but a sensible wife is from the Lord.

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13 A foolish child is a father’s ruin,(A)
    and a quarrelsome wife is like
    the constant dripping of a leaky roof.(B)

14 Houses and wealth are inherited from parents,(C)
    but a prudent wife is from the Lord.(D)

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