August 20

Luke 19:11-27

The Parable of the Ten Minas

[11] As they heard these things, he proceeded to tell a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately. [12] He said therefore, “A nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return. [13] Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Engage in business until I come.’ [14] But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’ [15] When he returned, having received the kingdom, he ordered these servants to whom he had given the money to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by doing business. [16] The first came before him, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has made ten minas more.’ [17] And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.’ [18] And the second came, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has made five minas.’ [19] And he said to him, ‘And you are to be over five cities.’ [20] Then another came, saying, ‘Lord, here is your mina, which I kept laid away in a handkerchief; [21] for I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man. You take what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’ [22] He said to him, ‘I will condemn you with your own words, you wicked servant! You knew that I was a severe man, taking what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow? [23] Why then did you not put my money in the bank, and at my coming I might have collected it with interest?’ [24] And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to the one who has the ten minas.’ [25] And they said to him, ‘Lord, he has ten minas!’ [26] ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. [27] But as for these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slaughter them before me.’”

Titus 2:1-10

Teach Sound Doctrine

[1] But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. [2] Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. [3] Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, [4] and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, [5] to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. [6] Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. [7] Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, [8] and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us. [9] Bondservants are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, [10] not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.

Proverbs 15:1-17

    [1] A soft answer turns away wrath,

        but a harsh word stirs up anger. 

    [2] 

    The tongue of the wise commends knowledge,

        but the mouths of fools pour out folly. 

    [3] 

    The eyes of the LORD are in every place,

        keeping watch on the evil and the good. 

    [4] 

    A gentle tongue is a tree of life,

        but perverseness in it breaks the spirit. 

    [5] 

    A fool despises his father’s instruction,

        but whoever heeds reproof is prudent. 

    [6] 

    In the house of the righteous there is much treasure,

        but trouble befalls the income of the wicked. 

    [7] 

    The lips of the wise spread knowledge;

        not so the hearts of fools. 

    [8] 

    The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD,

        but the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him. 

    [9] 

    The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD,

        but he loves him who pursues righteousness. 

    [10] 

    There is severe discipline for him who forsakes the way;

        whoever hates reproof will die. 

    [11] 

    Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the LORD;

        how much more the hearts of the children of man! 

    [12] 

    A scoffer does not like to be reproved;

        he will not go to the wise. 

    [13] 

    A glad heart makes a cheerful face,

        but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed. 

    [14] 

    The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge,

        but the mouths of fools feed on folly. 

    [15] 

    All the days of the afflicted are evil,

        but the cheerful of heart has a continual feast. 

    [16] 

    Better is a little with the fear of the LORD

        than great treasure and trouble with it. 

    [17] 

    Better is a dinner of herbs where love is

        than a fattened ox and hatred with it.

Esther 1

The King’s Banquets

[1] Now in the days of Ahasuerus, the Ahasuerus who reigned from India to Ethiopia over 127 provinces, [2] in those days when King Ahasuerus sat on his royal throne in Susa, the citadel, [3] in the third year of his reign he gave a feast for all his officials and servants. The army of Persia and Media and the nobles and governors of the provinces were before him, [4] while he showed the riches of his royal glory and the splendor and pomp of his greatness for many days, 180 days. [5] And when these days were completed, the king gave for all the people present in Susa the citadel, both great and small, a feast lasting for seven days in the court of the garden of the king’s palace. [6] There were white cotton curtains and violet hangings fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rods and marble pillars, and also couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and precious stones. [7] Drinks were served in golden vessels, vessels of different kinds, and the royal wine was lavished according to the bounty of the king. [8] And drinking was according to this edict: “There is no compulsion.” For the king had given orders to all the staff of his palace to do as each man desired. [9] Queen Vashti also gave a feast for the women in the palace that belonged to King Ahasuerus.

Queen Vashti’s Refusal

[10] On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha and Abagtha, Zethar and Carkas, the seven eunuchs who served in the presence of King Ahasuerus, [11] to bring Queen Vashti before the king with her royal crown, in order to show the peoples and the princes her beauty, for she was lovely to look at. [12] But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s command delivered by the eunuchs. At this the king became enraged, and his anger burned within him.

[13] Then the king said to the wise men who knew the times (for this was the king’s procedure toward all who were versed in law and judgment, [14] the men next to him being Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, who saw the king’s face, and sat first in the kingdom): [15] “According to the law, what is to be done to Queen Vashti, because she has not performed the command of King Ahasuerus delivered by the eunuchs?” [16] Then Memucan said in the presence of the king and the officials, “Not only against the king has Queen Vashti done wrong, but also against all the officials and all the peoples who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus. [17] For the queen’s behavior will be made known to all women, causing them to look at their husbands with contempt, since they will say, ‘King Ahasuerus commanded Queen Vashti to be brought before him, and she did not come.’ [18] This very day the noble women of Persia and Media who have heard of the queen’s behavior will say the same to all the king’s officials, and there will be contempt and wrath in plenty. [19] If it please the king, let a royal order go out from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes so that it may not be repealed, that Vashti is never again to come before King Ahasuerus. And let the king give her royal position to another who is better than she. [20] So when the decree made by the king is proclaimed throughout all his kingdom, for it is vast, all women will give honor to their husbands, high and low alike.” [21] This advice pleased the king and the princes, and the king did as Memucan proposed. [22] He sent letters to all the royal provinces, to every province in its own script and to every people in its own language, that every man be master in his own household and speak according to the language of his people.

Do You Share Jesus with Others?

PRAY OVER THIS

“For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything. For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.”

1 Thessalonians 1:8-10

 

PONDER THIS

I heard about a woman who took a course in first aid and later told the class, “I’m so glad I took this course. Out in front of my house there was a horrible car accident. The car was demolished, the man was thrown out on the street, his bones were fractured, and he was in a state of shock.” She was the first one on the scene, and she said, “I remembered from my first aid training, if I would put my head between my knees, I wouldn’t faint. I am so glad I did.”

That’s the kind of Christianity a lot of people have. They’re living in a world that is broken, battered, and blind. We’re saying, give me something, make me feel better. Give me something, help me to live a little more victoriously. I don’t want to faint as I go through this wicked world. I’m glad you won’t faint because you’re not going to do much good in first aid if you’ve passed out. But there’s more to it than that. We’re to rescue the perishing and care for the dying. We’re to lift the fallen and weep over the erring one. Are you doing that? In our own spheres, with our own giftedness, our own ability, and our own opportunity, every one of us is called by God and will be equipped of God to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. That’s a life of evangelism.

Who has been an example of lifestyle evangelism to you?

How would your life change if you were to embrace living this way?

PRACTICE THIS

Put into practice one new habit to move toward a life of evangelism.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

What the Resurrection Means for Us

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9)

What does it mean to “believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead”? Satan believes that God raised Jesus from the dead. He saw it happen. To answer this question, we need to ponder what the resurrection means for God’s people.

The meaning of the resurrection is that God is for us. He aims to close ranks with us. He aims to overcome all our sense of abandonment and alienation.

The resurrection of Jesus is God’s declaration to Israel and to the world that we cannot work our way to glory, but that he intends to do the impossible to get us there.

The resurrection is the promise of God that all who trust Jesus will be the beneficiaries of God’s power to lead us in paths of righteousness and through the valley of death.

Therefore, believing in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead is much more than accepting a fact. It means being confident that God is for you, that he has closed ranks with you, that he is transforming your life, and that he will save you for eternal joy.

Believing in the resurrection means trusting in all the promises of life and hope and righteousness for which it stands.

It means being so confident of God’s power and love that no fear of worldly loss or greed for worldly gain will lure us to disobey his will.

That’s the difference between Satan and the saints. Oh, might God circumcise our hearts to love him (Deuteronomy 30:6) and to rest in the resurrection of his Son.

John Piper 

August 19

Luke 19:1-10

Jesus and Zacchaeus

[1] He entered Jericho and was passing through. [2] And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. [3] And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. [4] So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. [5] And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” [6] So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. [7] And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” [8] And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” [9] And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. [10] For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Titus 1:10-16

[10] For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. [11] They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach. [12] One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” [13] This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, [14] not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth. [15] To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. [16] They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.

Proverbs 14:19-35

    [19] 

    The evil bow down before the good,

        the wicked at the gates of the righteous. 

    [20] 

    The poor is disliked even by his neighbor,

        but the rich has many friends. 

    [21] 

    Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner,

        but blessed is he who is generous to the poor. 

    [22] 

    Do they not go astray who devise evil?

        Those who devise good meet steadfast love and faithfulness. 

    [23] 

    In all toil there is profit,

        but mere talk tends only to poverty. 

    [24] 

    The crown of the wise is their wealth,

        but the folly of fools brings folly. 

    [25] 

    A truthful witness saves lives,

        but one who breathes out lies is deceitful. 

    [26] 

    In the fear of the LORD one has strong confidence,

        and his children will have a refuge. 

    [27] 

    The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life,

        that one may turn away from the snares of death. 

    [28] 

    In a multitude of people is the glory of a king,

        but without people a prince is ruined. 

    [29] 

    Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding,

        but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly. 

    [30] 

    A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh,

        but envy makes the bones rot. 

    [31] 

    Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker,

        but he who is generous to the needy honors him. 

    [32] 

    The wicked is overthrown through his evildoing,

        but the righteous finds refuge in his death. 

    [33] 

    Wisdom rests in the heart of a man of understanding,

        but it makes itself known even in the midst of fools. 

    [34] 

    Righteousness exalts a nation,

        but sin is a reproach to any people. 

    [35] 

    A servant who deals wisely has the king’s favor,

        but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully.

Nehemiah 13

Nehemiah’s Final Reforms

[1] On that day they read from the Book of Moses in the hearing of the people. And in it was found written that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever enter the assembly of God, [2] for they did not meet the people of Israel with bread and water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them—yet our God turned the curse into a blessing. [3] As soon as the people heard the law, they separated from Israel all those of foreign descent.

[4] Now before this, Eliashib the priest, who was appointed over the chambers of the house of our God, and who was related to Tobiah, [5] prepared for Tobiah a large chamber where they had previously put the grain offering, the frankincense, the vessels, and the tithes of grain, wine, and oil, which were given by commandment to the Levites, singers, and gatekeepers, and the contributions for the priests. [6] While this was taking place, I was not in Jerusalem, for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I went to the king. And after some time I asked leave of the king [7] and came to Jerusalem, and I then discovered the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, preparing for him a chamber in the courts of the house of God. [8] And I was very angry, and I threw all the household furniture of Tobiah out of the chamber. [9] Then I gave orders, and they cleansed the chambers, and I brought back there the vessels of the house of God, with the grain offering and the frankincense.

[10] I also found out that the portions of the Levites had not been given to them, so that the Levites and the singers, who did the work, had fled each to his field. [11] So I confronted the officials and said, “Why is the house of God forsaken?” And I gathered them together and set them in their stations. [12] Then all Judah brought the tithe of the grain, wine, and oil into the storehouses. [13] And I appointed as treasurers over the storehouses Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and Pedaiah of the Levites, and as their assistant Hanan the son of Zaccur, son of Mattaniah, for they were considered reliable, and their duty was to distribute to their brothers. [14] Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and do not wipe out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God and for his service.

[15] In those days I saw in Judah people treading winepresses on the Sabbath, and bringing in heaps of grain and loading them on donkeys, and also wine, grapes, figs, and all kinds of loads, which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. And I warned them on the day when they sold food. [16] Tyrians also, who lived in the city, brought in fish and all kinds of goods and sold them on the Sabbath to the people of Judah, in Jerusalem itself! [17] Then I confronted the nobles of Judah and said to them, “What is this evil thing that you are doing, profaning the Sabbath day? [18] Did not your fathers act in this way, and did not our God bring all this disaster on us and on this city? Now you are bringing more wrath on Israel by profaning the Sabbath.”

[19] As soon as it began to grow dark at the gates of Jerusalem before the Sabbath, I commanded that the doors should be shut and gave orders that they should not be opened until after the Sabbath. And I stationed some of my servants at the gates, that no load might be brought in on the Sabbath day. [20] Then the merchants and sellers of all kinds of wares lodged outside Jerusalem once or twice. [21] But I warned them and said to them, “Why do you lodge outside the wall? If you do so again, I will lay hands on you.” From that time on they did not come on the Sabbath. [22] Then I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves and come and guard the gates, to keep the Sabbath day holy. Remember this also in my favor, O my God, and spare me according to the greatness of your steadfast love.

[23] In those days also I saw the Jews who had married women of Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab. [24] And half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod, and they could not speak the language of Judah, but only the language of each people. [25] And I confronted them and cursed them and beat some of them and pulled out their hair. And I made them take an oath in the name of God, saying, “You shall not give your daughters to their sons, or take their daughters for your sons or for yourselves. [26] Did not Solomon king of Israel sin on account of such women? Among the many nations there was no king like him, and he was beloved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel. Nevertheless, foreign women made even him to sin. [27] Shall we then listen to you and do all this great evil and act treacherously against our God by marrying foreign women?”

[28] And one of the sons of Jehoiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was the son-in-law of Sanballat the Horonite. Therefore I chased him from me. [29] Remember them, O my God, because they have desecrated the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites.

[30] Thus I cleansed them from everything foreign, and I established the duties of the priests and Levites, each in his work; [31] and I provided for the wood offering at appointed times, and for the firstfruits. 

Remember me, O my God, for good.

Are You Lying to God?

PRAY OVER THIS

“Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?”

Psalm 139:7

 

PONDER THIS

It’s serious to tell a lie to a friend; it’s more serious to tell a lie to a judge. If you’re in a courtroom and you’ve sworn to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, and then you lie to a judge, you’re in trouble and arrested for perjury.

Even as serious as that is, it is unspeakably serious to lie to the Holy Spirit as we saw in Acts 5. You’re not going to fool Him. I read about a man who stole an alarm clock. He put it in his coat and tried to walk out but it went off before he got outside the door, and he was arrested because the alarm clock was ringing right in his chest. The enemy doesn’t want you to know God’s alarm clock is right there in your chest. How foolish to think that you can escape detection from the Holy Spirit of God. It was so serious and foolish for Ananias and Saphira to try to lie to God, who knows all things. It is serious for us as well. He convicts our hearts through the Holy Spirit, and He will expose our wickedness when we resist confessing our sin to Him.

What are some ways we might try and lie to the Holy Spirit?

When have you felt conviction in your heart for something you had done against God?

PRACTICE THIS

Confess before God any ways you have lied to yourself and to Him.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Hope to Obey Hard Commands

“Whoever desires to love life and see good days . . . let him turn away from evil and do good.” (1 Peter 3:10–11)

There is only one basic reason why we disobey the commands of Jesus: it’s because we don’t have heartfelt confidence that obeying will bring more blessing than disobeying. We do not hope fully in God’s promise.

What did he promise? Peter passes on the teachings of Jesus like this:

Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days . . . let him turn away from evil and do good.” (1 Peter 3:9–11)

Peter, following Jesus, is not ashamed to motivate obedience to hard commands — like not returning evil for evil — with the promise of greater joy. “Bless those who revile you . . . that you may obtain a blessing!” Do you want to enjoy everlasting life? Turn away from evil! Joy for all eternity awaits you! Is that not reward enough to avoid the pleasures of vengeance now?

You will always be better off to obey than to disobey Jesus, even if that obedience costs you your life. Jesus said,

Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time . . . with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. (Mark 10:29–30)

The only way to have the power to follow Christ in the costly way of love is to be filled with hope, with strong confidence that, if we lose our life doing his will, we will find it again and be richly rewarded forever.

John Piper 

August 18

Luke 18:31-43

Jesus Foretells His Death a Third Time

[31] And taking the twelve, he said to them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. [32] For he will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon. [33] And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise.” [34] But they understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said.

Jesus Heals a Blind Beggar

[35] As he drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. [36] And hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what this meant. [37] They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” [38] And he cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” [39] And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” [40] And Jesus stopped and commanded him to be brought to him. And when he came near, he asked him, [41] “What do you want me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, let me recover my sight.” [42] And Jesus said to him, “Recover your sight; your faith has made you well.” [43] And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.

Titus 1:1-9

Greeting

[1] Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, [2] in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began [3] and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior;

[4] To Titus, my true child in a common faith: 

Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior. 

Qualifications for Elders

[5] This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you—[6] if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. [7] For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, [8] but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. [9] He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.

Proverbs 14:1-18

    [1] The wisest of women builds her house,

        but folly with her own hands tears it down. 

    [2] 

    Whoever walks in uprightness fears the LORD,

        but he who is devious in his ways despises him. 

    [3] 

    By the mouth of a fool comes a rod for his back,

        but the lips of the wise will preserve them. 

    [4] 

    Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean,

        but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox. 

    [5] 

    A faithful witness does not lie,

        but a false witness breathes out lies. 

    [6] 

    A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain,

        but knowledge is easy for a man of understanding. 

    [7] 

    Leave the presence of a fool,

        for there you do not meet words of knowledge. 

    [8] 

    The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way,

        but the folly of fools is deceiving. 

    [9] 

    Fools mock at the guilt offering,

        but the upright enjoy acceptance. 

    [10] 

    The heart knows its own bitterness,

        and no stranger shares its joy. 

    [11] 

    The house of the wicked will be destroyed,

        but the tent of the upright will flourish. 

    [12] 

    There is a way that seems right to a man,

        but its end is the way to death. 

    [13] 

    Even in laughter the heart may ache,

        and the end of joy may be grief. 

    [14] 

    The backslider in heart will be filled with the fruit of his ways,

        and a good man will be filled with the fruit of his ways. 

    [15] 

    The simple believes everything,

        but the prudent gives thought to his steps. 

    [16] 

    One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil,

        but a fool is reckless and careless. 

    [17] 

    A man of quick temper acts foolishly,

        and a man of evil devices is hated. 

    [18] 

    The simple inherit folly,

        but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

Nehemiah 12

Priests and Levites

[1] These are the priests and the Levites who came up with Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra, [2] Amariah, Malluch, Hattush, [3] Shecaniah, Rehum, Meremoth, [4] Iddo, Ginnethoi, Abijah, [5] Mijamin, Maadiah, Bilgah, [6] Shemaiah, Joiarib, Jedaiah, [7] Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, Jedaiah. These were the chiefs of the priests and of their brothers in the days of Jeshua.

[8] And the Levites: Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah, who with his brothers was in charge of the songs of thanksgiving. [9] And Bakbukiah and Unni and their brothers stood opposite them in the service. [10] And Jeshua was the father of Joiakim, Joiakim the father of Eliashib, Eliashib the father of Joiada, [11] Joiada the father of Jonathan, and Jonathan the father of Jaddua.

[12] And in the days of Joiakim were priests, heads of fathers’ houses: of Seraiah, Meraiah; of Jeremiah, Hananiah; [13] of Ezra, Meshullam; of Amariah, Jehohanan; [14] of Malluchi, Jonathan; of Shebaniah, Joseph; [15] of Harim, Adna; of Meraioth, Helkai; [16] of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Meshullam; [17] of Abijah, Zichri; of Miniamin, of Moadiah, Piltai; [18] of Bilgah, Shammua; of Shemaiah, Jehonathan; [19] of Joiarib, Mattenai; of Jedaiah, Uzzi; [20] of Sallai, Kallai; of Amok, Eber; [21] of Hilkiah, Hashabiah; of Jedaiah, Nethanel.

[22] In the days of Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan, and Jaddua, the Levites were recorded as heads of fathers’ houses; so too were the priests in the reign of Darius the Persian. [23] As for the sons of Levi, their heads of fathers’ houses were written in the Book of the Chronicles until the days of Johanan the son of Eliashib. [24] And the chiefs of the Levites: Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel, with their brothers who stood opposite them, to praise and to give thanks, according to the commandment of David the man of God, watch by watch. [25] Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, and Akkub were gatekeepers standing guard at the storehouses of the gates. [26] These were in the days of Joiakim the son of Jeshua son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor and of Ezra, the priest and scribe.

Dedication of the Wall

[27] And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites in all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem to celebrate the dedication with gladness, with thanksgivings and with singing, with cymbals, harps, and lyres. [28] And the sons of the singers gathered together from the district surrounding Jerusalem and from the villages of the Netophathites; [29] also from Beth-gilgal and from the region of Geba and Azmaveth, for the singers had built for themselves villages around Jerusalem. [30] And the priests and the Levites purified themselves, and they purified the people and the gates and the wall.

[31] Then I brought the leaders of Judah up onto the wall and appointed two great choirs that gave thanks. One went to the south on the wall to the Dung Gate. [32] And after them went Hoshaiah and half of the leaders of Judah, [33] and Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam, [34] Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah, and Jeremiah, [35] and certain of the priests’ sons with trumpets: Zechariah the son of Jonathan, son of Shemaiah, son of Mattaniah, son of Micaiah, son of Zaccur, son of Asaph; [36] and his relatives, Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah, and Hanani, with the musical instruments of David the man of God. And Ezra the scribe went before them. [37] At the Fountain Gate they went up straight before them by the stairs of the city of David, at the ascent of the wall, above the house of David, to the Water Gate on the east.

[38] The other choir of those who gave thanks went to the north, and I followed them with half of the people, on the wall, above the Tower of the Ovens, to the Broad Wall, [39] and above the Gate of Ephraim, and by the Gate of Yeshanah, and by the Fish Gate and the Tower of Hananel and the Tower of the Hundred, to the Sheep Gate; and they came to a halt at the Gate of the Guard. [40] So both choirs of those who gave thanks stood in the house of God, and I and half of the officials with me; [41] and the priests Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, with trumpets; [42] and Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malchijah, Elam, and Ezer. And the singers sang with Jezrahiah as their leader. [43] And they offered great sacrifices that day and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and children also rejoiced. And the joy of Jerusalem was heard far away.

Service at the Temple

[44] On that day men were appointed over the storerooms, the contributions, the firstfruits, and the tithes, to gather into them the portions required by the Law for the priests and for the Levites according to the fields of the towns, for Judah rejoiced over the priests and the Levites who ministered. [45] And they performed the service of their God and the service of purification, as did the singers and the gatekeepers, according to the command of David and his son Solomon. [46] For long ago in the days of David and Asaph there were directors of the singers, and there were songs of praise and thanksgiving to God. [47] And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel and in the days of Nehemiah gave the daily portions for the singers and the gatekeepers; and they set apart that which was for the Levites; and the Levites set apart that which was for the sons of Aaron.