Numbers 3-4

New International Version

The Levites

3 This is the account of the family of Aaron and Moses^(A) at the time the Lord spoke to Moses at Mount Sinai.^(B)

²The names of the sons of Aaron were Nadab the firstborn^(C) and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.^(D) ³Those were the names of Aaron’s sons, the anointed priests,^(E) who were ordained to serve as priests. ⁴Nadab and Abihu, however, died before the Lord^(F) when they made an offering with unauthorized fire before him in the Desert of Sinai.^(G) They had no sons, so Eleazar and Ithamar^(H) served as priests during the lifetime of their father Aaron.^(I)

⁵The Lord said to Moses, ⁶“Bring the tribe of Levi^(J) and present them to Aaron the priest to assist him.^(K) ⁷They are to perform duties for him and for the whole community^(L) at the tent of meeting by doing the work^(M) of the tabernacle. ⁸They are to take care of all the furnishings of the tent of meeting, fulfilling the obligations of the Israelites by doing the work of the tabernacle. ⁹Give the Levites to Aaron and his sons;^(N) they are the Israelites who are to be given wholly to him.^[a] ¹⁰Appoint Aaron^(O) and his sons to serve as priests;^(P) anyone else who approaches the sanctuary is to be put to death.”^(Q)

¹¹The Lord also said to Moses, ¹²“I have taken the Levites^(R) from among the Israelites in place of the first male offspring^(S) of every Israelite woman. The Levites are mine,^(T) ¹³for all the firstborn are mine.^(U) When I struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, I set apart for myself every firstborn in Israel, whether human or animal. They are to be mine. I am the Lord.”^(V)

¹⁴The Lord said to Moses in the Desert of Sinai,^(W) ¹⁵“Count^(X) the Levites by their families and clans. Count every male a month old or more.”^(Y) ¹⁶So Moses counted them, as he was commanded by the word of the Lord.

¹⁷These were the names of the sons of Levi:^(Z)

Gershon,^(AA) Kohath^(AB) and Merari.^(AC)

¹⁸These were the names of the Gershonite clans:

Libni and Shimei.^(AD)

¹⁹The Kohathite clans:

Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel.^(AE)

²⁰The Merarite clans:^(AF)

Mahli and Mushi.^(AG)

These were the Levite clans, according to their families.

²¹To Gershon^(AH) belonged the clans of the Libnites and Shimeites;^(AI) these were the Gershonite clans. ²²The number of all the males a month old or more who were counted was 7,500. ²³The Gershonite clans were to camp on the west, behind the tabernacle.^(AJ) ²⁴The leader of the families of the Gershonites was Eliasaph son of Lael. ²⁵At the tent of meeting the Gershonites were responsible for the care of the tabernacle^(AK) and tent, its coverings,^(AL) the curtain at the entrance^(AM) to the tent of meeting,^(AN) ²⁶the curtains of the courtyard^(AO), the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard surrounding the tabernacle and altar,^(AP) and the ropes^(AQ)—and everything^(AR) related to their use.

²⁷To Kohath^(AS) belonged the clans of the Amramites, Izharites, Hebronites and Uzzielites;^(AT) these were the Kohathite^(AU) clans. ²⁸The number of all the males a month old or more^(AV) was 8,600.^[b] The Kohathites were responsible^(AW) for the care of the sanctuary.^(AX) ²⁹The Kohathite clans were to camp on the south side^(AY) of the tabernacle. ³⁰The leader of the families of the Kohathite clans was Elizaphan^(AZ) son of Uzziel. ³¹They were responsible for the care of the ark,^(BA) the table,^(BB) the lampstand,^(BC) the altars,^(BD) the articles^(BE) of the sanctuary used in ministering, the curtain,^(BF) and everything related to their use.^(BG) ³²The chief leader of the Levites was Eleazar^(BH) son of Aaron, the priest. He was appointed over those who were responsible^(BI) for the care of the sanctuary.^(BJ)

³³To Merari belonged the clans of the Mahlites and the Mushites;^(BK) these were the Merarite clans.^(BL) ³⁴The number of all the males a month old or more^(BM) who were counted was 6,200. ³⁵The leader of the families of the Merarite clans was Zuriel son of Abihail; they were to camp on the north side of the tabernacle.^(BN) ³⁶The Merarites were appointed^(BO) to take care of the frames of the tabernacle,^(BP) its crossbars,^(BQ) posts,^(BR) bases, all its equipment, and everything related to their use,^(BS) ³⁷as well as the posts of the surrounding courtyard^(BT) with their bases, tent pegs^(BU) and ropes.

³⁸Moses and Aaron and his sons were to camp to the east^(BV) of the tabernacle, toward the sunrise, in front of the tent of meeting.^(BW) They were responsible for the care of the sanctuary^(BX) on behalf of the Israelites. Anyone else who approached the sanctuary was to be put to death.^(BY)

³⁹The total number of Levites counted^(BZ) at the Lord’s command by Moses and Aaron according to their clans, including every male a month old or more, was 22,000.^(CA)

⁴⁰The Lord said to Moses, “Count all the firstborn Israelite males who are a month old or more^(CB) and make a list of their names.^(CC) ⁴¹Take the Levites for me in place of all the firstborn of the Israelites,^(CD) and the livestock of the Levites in place of all the firstborn of the livestock of the Israelites. I am the Lord.”^(CE)

⁴²So Moses counted all the firstborn of the Israelites, as the Lord commanded him. ⁴³The total number of firstborn males a month old or more,^(CF) listed by name, was 22,273.^(CG)

⁴⁴The Lord also said to Moses, ⁴⁵“Take the Levites in place of all the firstborn of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites in place of their livestock. The Levites are to be mine.^(CH) I am the Lord.^(CI) ⁴⁶To redeem^(CJ) the 273 firstborn Israelites who exceed the number of the Levites, ⁴⁷collect five shekels^[c]^(CK) for each one, according to the sanctuary shekel,^(CL) which weighs twenty gerahs.^(CM) ⁴⁸Give the money for the redemption^(CN) of the additional Israelites to Aaron and his sons.”^(CO)

⁴⁹So Moses collected the redemption money^(CP) from those who exceeded the number redeemed by the Levites. ⁵⁰From the firstborn of the Israelites^(CQ) he collected silver weighing 1,365 shekels,^[d]^(CR) according to the sanctuary shekel. ⁵¹Moses gave the redemption money to Aaron and his sons, as he was commanded by the word of the Lord.

The Kohathites

4 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron: ²“Take a census^(CS) of the Kohathite branch of the Levites by their clans and families. ³Count^(CT) all the men from thirty to fifty years of age^(CU) who come to serve in the work at the tent of meeting.

⁴“This is the work^(CV) of the Kohathites^(CW) at the tent of meeting: the care of the most holy things.^(CX) ⁵When the camp is to move,^(CY) Aaron and his sons are to go in and take down the shielding curtain^(CZ) and put it over the ark of the covenant law.^(DA) ⁶Then they are to cover the curtain with a durable leather,^[e]^(DB) spread a cloth of solid blue over that and put the poles^(DC) in place.

⁷“Over the table of the Presence^(DD) they are to spread a blue cloth and put on it the plates, dishes and bowls, and the jars for drink offerings;^(DE) the bread that is continually there^(DF) is to remain on it. ⁸They are to spread a scarlet cloth over them, cover that with the durable leather and put the poles^(DG) in place.

⁹“They are to take a blue cloth and cover the lampstand that is for light, together with its lamps, its wick trimmers and trays,^(DH) and all its jars for the olive oil used to supply it. ¹⁰Then they are to wrap it and all its accessories in a covering of the durable leather and put it on a carrying frame.^(DI)

¹¹“Over the gold altar^(DJ) they are to spread a blue cloth and cover that with the durable leather and put the poles^(DK) in place.

¹²“They are to take all the articles^(DL) used for ministering in the sanctuary, wrap them in a blue cloth, cover that with the durable leather and put them on a carrying frame.^(DM)

¹³“They are to remove the ashes^(DN) from the bronze altar^(DO) and spread a purple cloth over it. ¹⁴Then they are to place on it all the utensils^(DP) used for ministering at the altar, including the firepans,^(DQ) meat forks,^(DR) shovels^(DS) and sprinkling bowls.^(DT) Over it they are to spread a covering of the durable leather and put the poles^(DU) in place.

¹⁵“After Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy furnishings and all the holy articles, and when the camp is ready to move,^(DV) only then are the Kohathites^(DW) to come and do the carrying.^(DX) But they must not touch the holy things^(DY) or they will die.^(DZ) The Kohathites are to carry those things that are in the tent of meeting.

¹⁶“Eleazar^(EA) son of Aaron, the priest, is to have charge of the oil for the light,^(EB) the fragrant incense,^(EC) the regular grain offering^(ED) and the anointing oil. He is to be in charge of the entire tabernacle and everything in it, including its holy furnishings and articles.”

¹⁷The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, ¹⁸“See that the Kohathite tribal clans are not destroyed from among the Levites. ¹⁹So that they may live and not die when they come near the most holy things,^(EE) do this for them: Aaron and his sons^(EF) are to go into the sanctuary and assign to each man his work and what he is to carry.^(EG) ²⁰But the Kohathites must not go in to look^(EH) at the holy things, even for a moment, or they will die.”

The Gershonites

²¹The Lord said to Moses, ²²“Take a census also of the Gershonites by their families and clans. ²³Count all the men from thirty to fifty years of age^(EI) who come to serve in the work at the tent of meeting.

²⁴“This is the service of the Gershonite clans in their carrying and their other work: ²⁵They are to carry the curtains of the tabernacle,^(EJ) that is, the tent of meeting,^(EK) its covering^(EL) and its outer covering of durable leather, the curtains for the entrance to the tent of meeting, ²⁶the curtains of the courtyard surrounding the tabernacle and altar,^(EM) the curtain for the entrance to the courtyard,^(EN) the ropes and all the equipment^(EO) used in the service of the tent. The Gershonites are to do all that needs to be done with these things. ²⁷All their service, whether carrying or doing other work, is to be done under the direction of Aaron and his sons.^(EP) You shall assign to them as their responsibility^(EQ) all they are to carry. ²⁸This is the service of the Gershonite clans^(ER) at the tent of meeting. Their duties are to be under the direction of Ithamar^(ES) son of Aaron, the priest.

The Merarites

²⁹“Count^(ET) the Merarites by their clans and families.^(EU) ³⁰Count all the men from thirty to fifty years of age who come to serve in the work at the tent of meeting. ³¹As part of all their service at the tent, they are to carry the frames of the tabernacle, its crossbars, posts and bases,^(EV) ³²as well as the posts of the surrounding courtyard with their bases, tent pegs, ropes,^(EW) all their equipment and everything related to their use. Assign to each man the specific things he is to carry. ³³This is the service of the Merarite clans as they work at the tent of meeting under the direction of Ithamar^(EX) son of Aaron, the priest.”

The Numbering of the Levite Clans

³⁴Moses, Aaron and the leaders of the community counted the Kohathites^(EY) by their clans and families. ³⁵All the men from thirty to fifty years of age^(EZ) who came to serve in the work at the tent of meeting, ³⁶counted by clans, were 2,750. ³⁷This was the total of all those in the Kohathite clans^(FA) who served at the tent of meeting. Moses and Aaron counted them according to the Lord’s command through Moses.

³⁸The Gershonites^(FB) were counted by their clans and families. ³⁹All the men from thirty to fifty years of age who came to serve in the work at the tent of meeting, ⁴⁰counted by their clans and families, were 2,630. ⁴¹This was the total of those in the Gershonite clans who served at the tent of meeting. Moses and Aaron counted them according to the Lord’s command.

⁴²The Merarites were counted by their clans and families. ⁴³All the men from thirty to fifty years of age^(FC) who came to serve in the work at the tent of meeting, ⁴⁴counted by their clans, were 3,200. ⁴⁵This was the total of those in the Merarite clans.^(FD) Moses and Aaron counted them according to the Lord’s command through Moses.

⁴⁶So Moses, Aaron and the leaders of Israel counted^(FE) all the Levites by their clans and families. ⁴⁷All the men from thirty to fifty years of age^(FF) who came to do the work of serving and carrying the tent of meeting ⁴⁸numbered 8,580.^(FG) ⁴⁹At the Lord’s command through Moses, each was assigned his work and told what to carry.

Thus they were counted,^(FH) as the Lord commanded Moses.

Footnotes

Numbers 3:9 Most manuscripts of the Masoretic Text; some manuscripts of the Masoretic Text, Samaritan Pentateuch and Septuagint (see also 8:16) to me
Numbers 3:28 Hebrew; some Septuagint manuscripts 8,300
Numbers 3:47 That is, about 2 ounces or about 58 grams
Numbers 3:50 That is, about 35 pounds or about 16 kilograms
Numbers 4:6 Possibly the hides of large aquatic mammals; also in verses 8, 10, 11, 12, 14 and 25

Psalm 71

New International Version

Psalm 71^(A)

¹In you, Lord, I have taken refuge;^(B)
    let me never be put to shame.^(C)
²In your righteousness, rescue me and deliver me;
    turn your ear^(D) to me and save me.
³Be my rock of refuge,
    to which I can always go;
give the command to save me,
    for you are my rock and my fortress.^(E)
⁴Deliver^(F) me, my God, from the hand of the wicked,^(G)
    from the grasp of those who are evil and cruel.^(H)

⁵For you have been my hope,^(I) Sovereign Lord,
    my confidence^(J) since my youth.
⁶From birth^(K) I have relied on you;
    you brought me forth from my mother’s womb.^(L)
    I will ever praise^(M) you.
⁷I have become a sign^(N) to many;
    you are my strong refuge.^(O)
⁸My mouth^(P) is filled with your praise,
    declaring your splendor^(Q) all day long.

⁹Do not cast^(R) me away when I am old;^(S)
    do not forsake^(T) me when my strength is gone.
¹⁰For my enemies^(U) speak against me;
    those who wait to kill^(V) me conspire^(W) together.
¹¹They say, “God has forsaken^(X) him;
    pursue him and seize him,
    for no one will rescue^(Y) him.”
¹²Do not be far^(Z) from me, my God;
    come quickly, God, to help^(AA) me.
¹³May my accusers^(AB) perish in shame;^(AC)
    may those who want to harm me
    be covered with scorn and disgrace.^(AD)

¹⁴As for me, I will always have hope;^(AE)
I will praise you more and more.

¹⁵My mouth will tell^(AF) of your righteous deeds,^(AG)
    of your saving acts all day long—
    though I know not how to relate them all.
¹⁶I will come and proclaim your mighty acts,^(AH) Sovereign Lord;
    I will proclaim your righteous deeds, yours alone.
¹⁷Since my youth, God, you have taught^(AI) me,
    and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.^(AJ)
¹⁸Even when I am old and gray,^(AK)
    do not forsake me, my God,
till I declare your power^(AL) to the next generation,
    your mighty acts to all who are to come.^(AM)

¹⁹Your righteousness, God, reaches to the heavens,^(AN)
    you who have done great things.^(AO)
    Who is like you, God?^(AP)
²⁰Though you have made me see troubles,^(AQ)
    many and bitter,
    you will restore^(AR) my life again;
from the depths of the earth^(AS)
    you will again bring me up.
²¹You will increase my honor^(AT)
    and comfort^(AU) me once more.

²²I will praise you with the harp^(AV)
    for your faithfulness, my God;
I will sing praise to you with the lyre,^(AW)
    Holy One of Israel.^(AX)
²³My lips will shout for joy^(AY)
    when I sing praise to you—
    I whom you have delivered.^(AZ)
²⁴My tongue will tell of your righteous acts
    all day long,^(BA)
for those who wanted to harm me^(BB)
    have been put to shame and confusion.^(BC)

Acts 9:1-22

New International Version

Saul’s Conversion^(A)

9 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples.^(B) He went to the high priest ²and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus,^(C) so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way,^(D) whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. ³As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.^(E) ⁴He fell to the ground and heard a voice^(F) say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

⁵“Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.

“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. ⁶“Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”^(G)

⁷The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound^(H) but did not see anyone.^(I) ⁸Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing.^(J) So they led him by the hand into Damascus. ⁹For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.

¹⁰In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision,^(K) “Ananias!”

“Yes, Lord,” he answered.

¹¹The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus^(L) named Saul, for he is praying. ¹²In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on^(M) him to restore his sight.”

¹³“Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people^(N) in Jerusalem.^(O) ¹⁴And he has come here with authority from the chief priests^(P) to arrest all who call on your name.”^(Q)

¹⁵But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument^(R) to proclaim my name to the Gentiles^(S) and their kings^(T) and to the people of Israel. ¹⁶I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”^(U)

¹⁷Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on^(V) Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”^(W) ¹⁸Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized,^(X) ¹⁹and after taking some food, he regained his strength.

Saul in Damascus and Jerusalem

Saul spent several days with the disciples^(Y) in Damascus.^(Z) ²⁰At once he began to preach in the synagogues^(AA) that Jesus is the Son of God.^(AB) ²¹All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name?^(AC) And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?”^(AD) ²²Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.^(AE)