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Resettling Jerusalem
11 Now the leaders of the people stayed in Jerusalem,(A) and the rest of the people cast lots(B) for one out of ten to come and live in Jerusalem, the holy city,(C) while the other nine-tenths remained in their towns.(D) 2 The people praised all the men who volunteered(E) to live in Jerusalem.
3 These are the heads of the province who stayed in Jerusalem(F) (but in the villages of Judah each lived on his own property in their towns(G)—the Israelites, priests, Levites, temple servants, and descendants of Solomon’s servants(H)— 4 while some of the descendants of Judah and Benjamin settled in Jerusalem):
Judah’s(I) descendants:
Athaiah son of Uzziah, son of Zechariah, son of Amariah, son of Shephatiah, son of Mahalalel, of Perez’s descendants; 5 and Maaseiah son of Baruch, son of Col-hozeh, son of Hazaiah, son of Adaiah, son of Joiarib, son of Zechariah, a descendant of the Shilonite. 6 The total number of Perez’s descendants, who settled in Jerusalem, was 468 capable men.
7 These were Benjamin’s descendants:
Sallu son of Meshullam, son of Joed, son of Pedaiah, son of Kolaiah, son of Maaseiah, son of Ithiel, son of Jeshaiah, 8 and after him Gabbai and Sallai: 928. 9 Joel son of Zichri was the officer over them, and Judah son of Hassenuah was second in command over the city.
10 The priests:
Jedaiah son of Joiarib, Jachin, and 11 Seraiah son of Hilkiah, son of Meshullam, son of Zadok, son of Meraioth, son of Ahitub, the chief official of God’s temple, 12 and their relatives who did the work at the temple: 822. Adaiah son of Jeroham, son of Pelaliah, son of Amzi, son of Zechariah, son of Pashhur, son of Malchijah 13 and his relatives, the leaders of families: 242. Amashsai son of Azarel, son of Ahzai, son of Meshillemoth, son of Immer, 14 and their relatives, capable men: 128. Zabdiel son of Haggedolim, was their chief.
15 The Levites:
Shemaiah son of Hasshub, son of Azrikam, son of Hashabiah, son of Bunni; 16 and Shabbethai and Jozabad, from the leaders of the Levites, who supervised the work outside the house of God; 17 Mattaniah son of Mica, son of Zabdi, son of Asaph, the leader who began the thanksgiving in prayer;(J) Bakbukiah, second among his relatives; and Abda son of Shammua, son of Galal, son of Jeduthun.(K) 18 All the Levites in the holy city:(L) 284.
19 The gatekeepers:
Akkub, Talmon, and their relatives, who guarded the gates: 172.
20 The rest of Israel, the priests, and the Levites were in all the villages of Judah, each on his own inherited property.(M) 21 The temple servants lived on Ophel;[a](N) Ziha and Gishpa supervised the temple servants.
The Levites and Priests
22 The leader of the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi son of Bani, son of Hashabiah, son of Mattaniah, son of Mica, of the descendants of Asaph, who were singers for the service of God’s house. 23 There was, in fact, a command of the king regarding them, and an ordinance regulating[b] the singers’(O) daily tasks. 24 Pethahiah son of Meshezabel, of the descendants of Zerah(P) son of Judah, was the king’s(Q) agent[c] in every matter concerning the people.
25 As for the farming settlements with their fields:
Some of Judah’s descendants lived in Kiriath-arba(R) and its villages,
Dibon(S) and its villages, and Jekabzeel and its villages;
26 in Jeshua, Moladah,(T) Beth-pelet,
27 Hazar-shual, and Beer-sheba(U) and its villages;
28 in Ziklag(V) and Meconah and its villages;
29 in En-rimmon, Zorah,(W) Jarmuth,(X) and
30 Zanoah(Y) and Adullam with their villages;
in Lachish(Z) with its fields and Azekah(AA) and its villages.
So they settled from Beer-sheba(AB) to the Valley of Hinnom.(AC)
31 Benjamin’s descendants:
from Geba,[d](AD) Michmash,(AE) Aija,
and Bethel(AF)—and its villages,
32 Anathoth,(AG) Nob,(AH) Ananiah,
33 Hazor,(AI) Ramah,(AJ) Gittaim,(AK)
34 Hadid, Zeboim,(AL) Neballat,
35 Lod, and Ono,(AM) the Valley of Craftsmen.
36 Some of the Judean divisions of Levites were in Benjamin.
12 These(AN) are the priests and Levites(AO) who went up with Zerubbabel(AP) son of Shealtiel and with Jeshua:
Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,
2 Amariah, Malluch, Hattush,
3 Shecaniah, Rehum, Meremoth,
4 Iddo,(AQ) Ginnethoi, Abijah,(AR)
5 Mijamin, Maadiah, Bilgah,
6 Shemaiah, Joiarib, Jedaiah,(AS)
7 Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, Jedaiah.
These were the leaders of the priests and their relatives in the days of Jeshua.(AT)
8 The Levites:
Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel,
Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah(AU)—
he and his relatives were in charge of the praise songs.
9 Bakbukiah, Unni,[e] and their relatives stood opposite them in the services.
10 Jeshua fathered Joiakim,
Joiakim fathered Eliashib,
Eliashib(AV) fathered Joiada,
11 Joiada fathered Jonathan,
and Jonathan fathered Jaddua.[f]
12 In the days of Joiakim, the leaders of the priestly families were:
| Meraiah | of Seraiah, |
| Hananiah | of Jeremiah, |
| 13 Meshullam | of Ezra, |
| Jehohanan | of Amariah, |
| 14 Jonathan | of Malluchi, |
| Joseph | of Shebaniah, |
| 15 Adna | of Harim, |
| Helkai | of Meraioth, |
| 16 Zechariah | of Iddo, |
| Meshullam | of Ginnethon, |
| 17 Zichri | of Abijah, |
| Piltai | of Moadiah, of Miniamin, |
| 18 Shammua | of Bilgah, |
| Jehonathan | of Shemaiah, |
| 19 Mattenai | of Joiarib, |
| Uzzi | of Jedaiah, |
| 20 Kallai | of Sallai, |
| Eber | of Amok, |
| 21 Hashabiah | of Hilkiah, |
| and Nethanel | of Jedaiah. |
22 In the days of Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan, and Jaddua, the leaders of the families of the Levites and priests were recorded while Darius the Persian ruled. 23 Levi’s descendants, the leaders of families, were recorded in the Book of the Historical Records(AW) during the days of Johanan son of Eliashib. 24 The leaders of the Levites—Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua son of Kadmiel, along with their relatives opposite them—gave praise and thanks, division by division, as David the man of God had prescribed.(AX) 25 This included Mattaniah,(AY) Bakbukiah, and Obadiah. Meshullam, Talmon, and Akkub were gatekeepers who guarded the storerooms at the gates.(AZ) 26 These served in the days of Joiakim son of Jeshua, son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor(BA) and Ezra the priest and scribe.(BB)
Warning against Idolatry
14 Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry. 15 I am speaking as to wise people. Judge for yourselves what I say. 16 The cup(A) of blessing(B) that we give thanks for, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ? The bread(C) that we break, is it not a sharing in the body of Christ? 17 Because there is one bread, we who are many are one(D) body, for all of us share that one bread. 18 Look at the people of Israel.[a] Do not those who eat the sacrifices participate in what is offered on the altar?(E) 19 What am I saying then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 No, but I do say that what they[b] sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God. I do not want you to participate with demons! 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot share in the Lord’s table and the table of demons. 22 Or are we provoking the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?(F)
Christian Liberty
23 “Everything is permissible,”[c][d] but not everything is helpful. “Everything is permissible,”[e] but not everything builds up. 24 No one should seek his own good, but the good of the other person.(G)
25 Eat everything that is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience’ sake, 26 for the earth is the Lord’s,(H) and all that is in it.(I)[f] 27 If one of the unbelievers invites you over and you want to go, eat everything that is set before you, without raising questions of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, “This is food offered to an idol,” do not eat it,(J) out of consideration for the one who told you, and for conscience’ sake.[g] 29 I do not mean your own conscience, but the other person’s. For why is my freedom judged(K) by another person’s conscience? 30 If I partake with thanks,(L) why am I slandered because of something I give thanks for?
31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for God’s glory.(M) 32 Give no offense(N) to the Jews or the Greeks or the church of God, 33 just as I also try to please all people in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many,(O) so that they may be saved.
11 Come, children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.(A)
12 Who is the man who delights in life,
loving a long life to enjoy what is good?(B)
13 Keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from deceitful speech.(C)
14 Turn away from evil and do what is good;(D)
seek peace and pursue it.(E)
15 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and His ears are open to their cry for help.(F)
16 The face of the Lord is set
against those who do what is evil,(G)
to erase[a] all memory of them from the earth.(H)
17 The righteous[b] cry out, and the Lord hears,
and delivers them from all their troubles.(I)
18 The Lord is near the brokenhearted;
He saves those crushed in spirit.(J)
19 Many adversities come to the one who is righteous,
but the Lord delivers him from them all.(K)
20 He protects all his bones;
not one of them is broken.(L)
21 Evil brings death to the wicked,
and those who hate the righteous will be punished.(M)
22 The Lord redeems the life of His servants,
and all who take refuge in Him will not be punished.(N)
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