The Daily Audio Bible
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Population of the City Increased
11 Now the leaders of the people lived in Jerusalem; and the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of ten to live in Jerusalem the holy city, while nine tenths remained in the other towns. 2 And the people blessed all the men who willingly offered to live in Jerusalem.
3 These are the chiefs of the province who lived in Jerusalem; but in the towns of Judah every one lived on his property in their towns: Israel, the priests, the Levites, the temple servants, and the descendants of Solomon’s servants. 4 And in Jerusalem lived certain of the sons of Judah and of the sons of Benjamin. Of the sons of Judah: Athai′ah the son of Uzzi′ah, son of Zechari′ah, son of Amari′ah, son of Shephati′ah, son of Mahal′alel, of the sons of Perez; 5 and Ma-asei′ah the son of Baruch, son of Col-ho′zeh, son of Hazai′ah, son of Adai′ah, son of Joi′arib, son of Zechari′ah, son of the Shilo′nite. 6 All the sons of Perez who lived in Jerusalem were four hundred and sixty-eight valiant men.
7 And these are the sons of Benjamin: Sallu the son of Meshul′lam, son of Jo′ed, son of Pedai′ah, son of Kolai′ah, son of Ma-asei′ah, son of Ith′i-el, son of Jeshai′ah. 8 And after him Gabba′i, Sal′lai, nine hundred and twenty-eight. 9 Jo′el the son of Zichri was their overseer; and Judah the son of Hassenu′ah was second over the city.
10 Of the priests: Jedai′ah the son of Joi′arib, Jachin, 11 Serai′ah the son of Hilki′ah, son of Meshul′lam, son of Zadok, son of Merai′oth, son of Ahi′tub, ruler of the house of God, 12 and their brethren who did the work of the house, eight hundred and twenty-two; and Adai′ah the son of Jero′ham, son of Pelali′ah, son of Amzi, son of Zechari′ah, son of Pashhur, son of Malchi′jah, 13 and his brethren, heads of fathers’ houses, two hundred and forty-two; and Amash′sai, the son of Az′arel, son of Ah′zai, son of Meshil′lemoth, son of Immer, 14 and their brethren, mighty men of valor, a hundred and twenty-eight; their overseer was Zab′diel the son of Haggedo′lim.
15 And of the Levites: Shemai′ah the son of Hasshub, son of Azri′kam, son of Hashabi′ah, son of Bunni; 16 and Shab′bethai and Jo′zabad, of the chiefs of the Levites, who were over the outside work of the house of God; 17 and Mattani′ah the son of Mica, son of Zabdi, son of Asaph, who was the leader to begin the thanksgiving in prayer, and Bakbuki′ah, the second among his brethren; and Abda the son of Sham′mua, son of Galal, son of Jedu′thun. 18 All the Levites in the holy city were two hundred and eighty-four.
19 The gatekeepers, Akkub, Talmon and their brethren, who kept watch at the gates, were a hundred and seventy-two. 20 And the rest of Israel, and of the priests and the Levites, were in all the towns of Judah, every one in his inheritance. 21 But the temple servants lived on Ophel; and Ziha and Gishpa were over the temple servants.
22 The overseer of the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi the son of Bani, son of Hashabi′ah, son of Mattani′ah, son of Mica, of the sons of Asaph, the singers, over the work of the house of God. 23 For there was a command from the king concerning them, and a settled provision for the singers, as every day required. 24 And Pethahi′ah the son of Meshez′abel, of the sons of Zerah the son of Judah, was at the king’s hand in all matters concerning the people.
Villages outside Jerusalem
25 And as for the villages, with their fields, some of the people of Judah lived in Kir′iath-ar′ba and its villages, and in Dibon and its villages, and in Jekab′zeel and its villages, 26 and in Jeshua and in Mola′dah and Beth-pe′let, 27 in Ha′zar-shu′al, in Beer-sheba and its villages, 28 in Ziklag, in Meco′nah and its villages, 29 in En-rim′mon, in Zorah, in Jarmuth, 30 Zano′ah, Adullam, and their villages, Lachish and its fields, and Aze′kah and its villages. So they encamped from Beer-sheba to the valley of Hinnom. 31 The people of Benjamin also lived from Geba onward, at Michmash, Ai′ja, Bethel and its villages, 32 An′athoth, Nob, Anani′ah, 33 Hazor, Ramah, Git′taim, 34 Hadid, Zebo′im, Nebal′lat, 35 Lod, and Ono, the valley of craftsmen. 36 And certain divisions of the Levites in Judah were joined to Benjamin.
A List of Priests and Levites
12 These are the priests and the Levites who came up with Zerub′babel the son of She-al′ti-el, and Jeshua: Serai′ah, Jeremiah, Ezra, 2 Amari′ah, Malluch, Hattush, 3 Shecani′ah, Rehum, Mer′emoth, 4 Iddo, Gin′nethoi, Abi′jah, 5 Mi′jamin, Ma-adi′ah, Bilgah, 6 Shemai′ah, Joi′arib, Jedai′ah, 7 Sallu, Amok, Hilki′ah, Jedai′ah. These were the chiefs of the priests and of their brethren in the days of Jeshua.
8 And the Levites: Jeshua, Bin′nui, Kad′mi-el, Sherebi′ah, Judah, and Mattani′ah, who with his brethren was in charge of the songs of thanksgiving. 9 And Bakbuki′ah and Unno their brethren stood opposite them in the service. 10 And Jeshua was the father of Joi′akim, Joi′akim the father of Eli′ashib, Eli′ashib the father of Joi′ada, 11 Joi′ada the father of Jonathan, and Jonathan the father of Jad′du-a.
12 And in the days of Joi′akim were priests, heads of fathers’ houses: of Serai′ah, Merai′ah; of Jeremiah, Hanani′ah; 13 of Ezra, Meshul′lam; of Amari′ah, Jehoha′nan; 14 of Mal′luchi, Jonathan; of Shebani′ah, Joseph; 15 of Harim, Adna; of Merai′oth, Hel′kai; 16 of Iddo, Zechari′ah; of Gin′nethon, Meshul′lam; 17 of Abi′jah, Zichri; of Mini′amin, of Moadi′ah, Pil′tai; 18 of Bilgah, Sham′mu-a; of Shemai′ah, Jehon′athan; 19 of Joi′arib, Matte′nai; of Jedai′ah, Uzzi; 20 of Sal′lai, Kal′lai; of Amok, Eber; 21 of Hilki′ah, Hashabi′ah; of Jedai′ah, Nethan′el.
22 As for the Levites, in the days of Eli′ashib, Joi′ada, Joha′nan, and Jad′du-a, there were recorded the heads of fathers’ houses; also the priests until the reign of Darius the Persian. 23 The sons of Levi, heads of fathers’ houses, were written in the Book of the Chronicles until the days of Joha′nan the son of Eli′ashib. 24 And the chiefs of the Levites: Hashabi′ah, Sherebi′ah, and Jeshua the son of Kad′mi-el, with their brethren over against them, to praise and to give thanks, according to the commandment of David the man of God, watch corresponding to watch. 25 Mattani′ah, Bakbuki′ah, Obadi′ah, Meshul′lam, Talmon, and Akkub were gatekeepers standing guard at the storehouses of the gates. 26 These were in the days of Joi′akim the son of Jeshua son of Jo′zadak, and in the days of Nehemi′ah the governor and of Ezra the priest the scribe.
14 Therefore, my beloved, shun the worship of idols. 15 I speak as to sensible men; judge for yourselves what I say. 16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a participation[a] in the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a participation[b] in the body of Christ? 17 Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. 18 Consider the people of Israel;[c] are not those who eat the sacrifices partners in the altar? 19 What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be partners with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. 22 Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?
Do All to the Glory of God
23 “All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. 24 Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. 25 Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 26 For “the earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.” 27 If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 28 (But if some one says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then out of consideration for the man who informed you, and for conscience’ sake— 29 I mean his conscience, not yours—do not eat it.) For why should my liberty be determined by another man’s scruples? 30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks?
31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, 33 just as I try to please all men in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.
11 Come, O sons, listen to me,
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
12 What man is there who desires life,
and covets many days, that he may enjoy good?
13 Keep your tongue from evil,
and your lips from speaking deceit.
14 Depart from evil, and do good;
seek peace, and pursue it.
15 The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous,
and his ears toward their cry.
16 The face of the Lord is against evildoers,
to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
17 When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears,
and delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted,
and saves the crushed in spirit.
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous;
but the Lord delivers him out of them all.
20 He keeps all his bones;
not one of them is broken.
21 Evil shall slay the wicked;
and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
22 The Lord redeems the life of his servants;
none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.
14 A gift in secret averts anger;
and a bribe in the bosom, strong wrath.
15 When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous,
but dismay to evildoers.
16 A man who wanders from the way of understanding
will rest in the assembly of the dead.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.