Numbers 2

New International Version

The Arrangement of the Tribal Camps

2 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron: ²“The Israelites are to camp around the tent of meeting some distance from it, each of them under their standard^(A) and holding the banners of their family.”

³On the east, toward the sunrise, the divisions of the camp of Judah are to encamp under their standard. The leader of the people of Judah is Nahshon son of Amminadab.^(B) ⁴His division numbers 74,600.

⁵The tribe of Issachar^(C) will camp next to them. The leader of the people of Issachar is Nethanel son of Zuar.^(D) ⁶His division numbers 54,400.

⁷The tribe of Zebulun will be next. The leader of the people of Zebulun is Eliab son of Helon.^(E) ⁸His division numbers 57,400.

⁹All the men assigned to the camp of Judah, according to their divisions, number 186,400. They will set out first.^(F)

¹⁰On the south^(G) will be the divisions of the camp of Reuben under their standard. The leader of the people of Reuben is Elizur son of Shedeur.^(H) ¹¹His division numbers 46,500.

¹²The tribe of Simeon^(I) will camp next to them. The leader of the people of Simeon is Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai.^(J) ¹³His division numbers 59,300.

¹⁴The tribe of Gad^(K) will be next. The leader of the people of Gad is Eliasaph son of Deuel.^[a]^(L) ¹⁵His division numbers 45,650.

¹⁶All the men assigned to the camp of Reuben,^(M) according to their divisions, number 151,450. They will set out second.

¹⁷Then the tent of meeting and the camp of the Levites^(N) will set out in the middle of the camps. They will set out in the same order as they encamp, each in their own place under their standard.

¹⁸On the west^(O) will be the divisions of the camp of Ephraim^(P) under their standard. The leader of the people of Ephraim is Elishama son of Ammihud.^(Q) ¹⁹His division numbers 40,500.

²⁰The tribe of Manasseh^(R) will be next to them. The leader of the people of Manasseh is Gamaliel son of Pedahzur.^(S) ²¹His division numbers 32,200.

²²The tribe of Benjamin^(T) will be next. The leader of the people of Benjamin is Abidan son of Gideoni.^(U) ²³His division numbers 35,400.

²⁴All the men assigned to the camp of Ephraim,^(V) according to their divisions, number 108,100. They will set out third.^(W)

²⁵On the north^(X) will be the divisions of the camp of Dan under their standard.^(Y) The leader of the people of Dan is Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai.^(Z) ²⁶His division numbers 62,700.

²⁷The tribe of Asher will camp next to them. The leader of the people of Asher is Pagiel son of Okran.^(AA) ²⁸His division numbers 41,500.

²⁹The tribe of Naphtali^(AB) will be next. The leader of the people of Naphtali is Ahira son of Enan.^(AC) ³⁰His division numbers 53,400.

³¹All the men assigned to the camp of Dan number 157,600. They will set out last,^(AD) under their standards.

³²These are the Israelites, counted according to their families.^(AE) All the men in the camps, by their divisions, number 603,550.^(AF) ³³The Levites, however, were not counted^(AG) along with the other Israelites, as the Lord commanded Moses.

³⁴So the Israelites did everything the Lord commanded Moses; that is the way they encamped under their standards, and that is the way they set out, each of them with their clan and family.

Footnotes

Numbers 2:14 Many manuscripts of the Masoretic Text, Samaritan Pentateuch and Vulgate (see also 1:14); most manuscripts of the Masoretic Text Reuel

Ecclesiastes 12

New International Version

12 Remember^(A) your Creator
    in the days of your youth,
before the days of trouble^(B) come
    and the years approach when you will say,
    “I find no pleasure in them”—
²before the sun and the light
    and the moon and the stars grow dark,
    and the clouds return after the rain;
³when the keepers of the house tremble,
    and the strong men stoop,
when the grinders cease because they are few,
    and those looking through the windows grow dim;
⁴when the doors to the street are closed
    and the sound of grinding fades;
when people rise up at the sound of birds,
    but all their songs grow faint;^(C)
⁵when people are afraid of heights
    and of dangers in the streets;
when the almond tree blossoms
    and the grasshopper drags itself along
    and desire no longer is stirred.
Then people go to their eternal home^(D)
    and mourners^(E) go about the streets.

⁶Remember him—before the silver cord is severed,
    and the golden bowl is broken;
before the pitcher is shattered at the spring,
    and the wheel broken at the well,
⁷and the dust returns^(F) to the ground it came from,
    and the spirit returns to God^(G) who gave it.^(H)

⁸“Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher.^[a]^(I)
“Everything is meaningless!^(J)”

The Conclusion of the Matter

⁹Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also imparted knowledge to the people. He pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs.^(K) ¹⁰The Teacher^(L) searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true.^(M)

¹¹The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails^(N)—given by one shepherd.^[b] ¹²Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them.

Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body.^(O)

¹³Now all has been heard;
    here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God^(P) and keep his commandments,^(Q)
    for this is the duty of all mankind.^(R)
¹⁴For God will bring every deed into judgment,^(S)
    including every hidden thing,^(T)
    whether it is good or evil.

Footnotes

Ecclesiastes 12:8 Or the leader of the assembly; also in verses 9 and 10
Ecclesiastes 12:11 Or Shepherd

Psalm 115

New International Version

Psalm 115^(A)

¹Not to us, Lord, not to us
but to your name be the glory,^(B)
because of your love and faithfulness.^(C)

²Why do the nations say,
    “Where is their God?”^(D)
³Our God is in heaven;^(E)
    he does whatever pleases him.^(F)
⁴But their idols are silver and gold,^(G)
    made by human hands.^(H)
⁵They have mouths, but cannot speak,^(I)
    eyes, but cannot see.
⁶They have ears, but cannot hear,
    noses, but cannot smell.
⁷They have hands, but cannot feel,
    feet, but cannot walk,
    nor can they utter a sound with their throats.
⁸Those who make them will be like them,
    and so will all who trust in them.

⁹All you Israelites, trust^(J) in the Lord—
    he is their help and shield.
¹⁰House of Aaron,^(K) trust in the Lord—
    he is their help and shield.
¹¹You who fear him,^(L) trust in the Lord—
    he is their help and shield.

¹²The Lord remembers^(M) us and will bless us:^(N)
    He will bless his people Israel,
    he will bless the house of Aaron,
¹³he will bless those who fear^(O) the Lord—
    small and great alike.

¹⁴May the Lord cause you to flourish,^(P)
both you and your children.
¹⁵May you be blessed by the Lord,
the Maker of heaven^(Q) and earth.

¹⁶The highest heavens belong to the Lord,^(R)
    but the earth he has given^(S) to mankind.
¹⁷It is not the dead^(T) who praise the Lord,
    those who go down to the place of silence;
¹⁸it is we who extol the Lord,^(U)
    both now and forevermore.^(V)