Sunday, 19 May

1.   The sons of Issachar were Tola, Puah, Jashub, and Shimron––four in all . 2.   The sons of Tola were Uzzi, Rephaiah, Jeriel, Jahmai, Jibsam, and Shemuel, heads of their father’s house. The sons of Tola were mighty men of valor in their generations; their number in the days of David was twenty–two thousand six hundred. 3.   The son of Uzzi was Izrahiah, and the sons of Izrahiah were Michael, Obadiah, Joel, and Ishiah. All five of them were chief men. 4.   And with them, by their generations, according to their fathers’ houses, were thirty–six thousand troops ready for war; for they had many wives and sons. 5.   Now their brethren among all the families of Issachar were mighty men of valor, listed by their genealogies, eighty–seven thousand in all. 6.   The sons of Benjamin were Bela, Becher, and Jediael––three in all . 7.   The sons of Bela were Ezbon, Uzzi, Uzziel, Jerimoth, and Iri––five in all . They were heads of their fathers’ houses, and they were listed by their genealogies, twenty–two thousand and thirty–four mighty men of valor. 8.   The sons of Becher were Zemirah, Joash, Eliezer, Elioenai, Omri, Jerimoth, Abijah, Anathoth, and Alemeth. All these are the sons of Becher. 9.   And they were recorded by genealogy according to their generations, heads of their fathers’ houses, twenty thousand two hundred mighty men of valor. 10.   The son of Jediael was Bilhan, and the sons of Bilhan were Jeush, Benjamin, Ehud, Chenaanah, Zethan, Tharshish, and Ahishahar. 11.   All these sons of Jediael were heads of their fathers’ houses; there were seventeen thousand two hundred mighty men of valor fit to go out for war and battle. 12.   Shuppim and Huppim were the sons of Ir, and Hushim was the son of Aher. 13.   The sons of Naphtali were Jahziel, Guni, Jezer, and Shallum, the sons of Bilhah. 14.   The descendants of Manasseh: his Syrian concubine bore him Machir the father of Gilead, the father of Asriel. 15.   Machir took as his wife the sister of Huppim and Shuppim, whose name was Maachah. The name of Gilead’s grandson was Zelophehad, but Zelophehad begot only daughters. 16.   (Maachah the wife of Machir bore a son, and she called his name Peresh. The name of his brother was Sheresh, and his sons were Ulam and Rakem. 17.   The son of Ulam was Bedan.) These were the descendants of Gilead the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh. 18.   His sister Hammoleketh bore Ishhod, Abiezer, and Mahlah. 19.   And the sons of Shemida were Ahian, Shechem, Likhi, and Aniam. 20.   The sons of Ephraim were Shuthelah, Bered his son, Tahath his son, Eladah his son, Tahath his son, 21.   Zabad his son, Shuthelah his son, and Ezer and Elead. The men of Gath who were born in that land killed them because they came down to take away their cattle. 22.   Then Ephraim their father mourned many days, and his brethren came to comfort him. 23.   And when he went in to his wife, she conceived and bore a son; and he called his name Beriah, because tragedy had come upon his house. 24.   Now his daughter was Sheerah, who built Lower and Upper Beth Horon and Uzzen Sheerah; 25.   and Rephah was his son, as well as Resheph, and Telah his son, Tahan his son, 26.   Laadan his son, Ammihud his son, Elishama his son, 27.   Nun his son, and Joshua his son. 28.   Now their possessions and dwelling places were Bethel and its towns: to the east Naaran, to the west Gezer and its towns, and Shechem and its towns, as far as Ayyah and its towns; 29.   and by the borders of the children of Manasseh were Beth Shean and its towns, Taanach and its towns, Megiddo and its towns, Dor and its towns. In these dwelt the children of Joseph, the son of Israel. 30.   The sons of Asher were Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, Beriah, and their sister Serah. 31.   The sons of Beriah were Heber and Malchiel, who was the father of Birzaith. 32.   And Heber begot Japhlet, Shomer, Hotham, and their sister Shua. 33.   The sons of Japhlet were Pasach, Bimhal, and Ashvath. These were the children of Japhlet. 34.   The sons of Shemer were Ahi, Rohgah, Jehubbah, and Aram. 35.   And the sons of his brother Helem were Zophah, Imna, Shelesh, and Amal. 36.   The sons of Zophah were Suah, Harnepher, Shual, Beri, Imrah, 37.   Bezer, Hod, Shamma, Shilshah, Jithran, and Beera. 38.   The sons of Jether were Jephunneh, Pispah, and Ara. 39.   The sons of Ulla were Arah, Haniel, and Rizia. 40.   All these were the children of Asher, heads of their fathers’ houses, choice men, mighty men of valor, chief leaders. And they were recorded by genealogies among the army fit for battle; their number was twenty–six thousand.

1.   Now Benjamin begot Bela his firstborn, Ashbel the second, Aharah the third, 2.   Nohah the fourth, and Rapha the fifth. 3.   The sons of Bela were Addar, Gera, Abihud, 4.   Abishua, Naaman, Ahoah, 5.   Gera, Shephuphan, and Huram. 6.   These are the sons of Ehud, who were the heads of the fathers’ houses of the inhabitants of Geba, and who forced them to move to Manahath: 7.   Naaman, Ahijah, and Gera who forced them to move. He begot Uzza and Ahihud. 8.   And Shaharaim had children in the country of Moab, after he had sent away Hushim and Baara his wives. 9.   By Hodesh his wife he begot Jobab, Zibia, Mesha, Malcam, 10.   Jeuz, Sachiah, and Mirmah. These were his sons, heads of their fathers’ houses . 11.   And by Hushim he begot Abitub and Elpaal. 12.   The sons of Elpaal were Eber, Misham, and Shemed, who built Ono and Lod with its towns; 13.   and Beriah and Shema, who were heads of their fathers’ houses of the inhabitants of Aijalon, who drove out the inhabitants of Gath. 14.   Ahio, Shashak, Jeremoth, 15.   Zebadiah, Arad, Eder, 16.   Michael, Ispah, and Joha were the sons of Beriah. 17.   Zebadiah, Meshullam, Hizki, Heber, 18.   Ishmerai, Jizliah, and Jobab were the sons of Elpaal. 19.   Jakim, Zichri, Zabdi, 20.   Elienai, Zillethai, Eliel, 21.   Adaiah, Beraiah, and Shimrath were the sons of Shimei. 22.   Ishpan, Eber, Eliel, 23.   Abdon, Zichri, Hanan, 24.   Hananiah, Elam, Antothijah, 25.   Iphdeiah, and Penuel were the sons of Shashak. 26.   Shamsherai, Shehariah, Athaliah, 27.   Jaareshiah, Elijah, and Zichri were the sons of Jeroham. 28.   These were heads of the fathers’ houses by their generations, chief men. These dwelt in Jerusalem. 29.   Now the father of Gibeon, whose wife’s name was Maacah, dwelt at Gibeon. 30.   And his firstborn son was Abdon, then Zur, Kish, Baal, Nadab, 31.   Gedor, Ahio, Zecher, 32.   and Mikloth, who begot Shimeah. They also dwelt alongside their relatives in Jerusalem, with their brethren. 33.   Ner begot Kish, Kish begot Saul, and Saul begot Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Esh–Baal. 34.   The son of Jonathan was Merib–Baal, and Merib–Baal begot Micah. 35.   The sons of Micah were Pithon, Melech, Tarea, and Ahaz. 36.   And Ahaz begot Jehoaddah; Jehoaddah begot Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri; and Zimri begot Moza. 37.   Moza begot Binea, Raphah his son, Eleasah his son, and Azel his son. 38.   Azel had six sons whose names were these: Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan. All these were the sons of Azel. 39.   And the sons of Eshek his brother were Ulam his firstborn, Jeush the second, and Eliphelet the third. 40.   The sons of Ulam were mighty men of valor––archers. They had many sons and grandsons, one hundred and fifty in all . These were all sons of Benjamin.

1.   So all Israel was recorded by genealogies, and indeed, they were inscribed in the book of the kings of Israel. But Judah was carried away captive to Babylon because of their unfaithfulness. 2.   And the first inhabitants who dwelt in their possessions in their cities were Israelites, priests, Levites, and the Nethinim. 3.   Now in Jerusalem the children of Judah dwelt, and some of the children of Benjamin, and of the children of Ephraim and Manasseh: 4.   Uthai the son of Ammihud, the son of Omri, the son of Imri, the son of Bani, of the descendants of Perez, the son of Judah. 5.   Of the Shilonites: Asaiah the firstborn and his sons. 6.   Of the sons of Zerah: Jeuel, and their brethren––six hundred and ninety. 7.   Of the sons of Benjamin: Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son of Hodaviah, the son of Hassenuah; 8.   Ibneiah the son of Jeroham; Elah the son of Uzzi, the son of Michri; Meshullam the son of Shephatiah, the son of Reuel, the son of Ibnijah; 9.   and their brethren, according to their generations––nine hundred and fifty–six. All these men were heads of a father’s house in their fathers’ houses. 10.   Of the priests: Jedaiah, Jehoiarib, and Jachin; 11.   Azariah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the officer over the house of God; 12.   Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pashur, the son of Malchijah; Maasai the son of Adiel, the son of Jahzerah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Meshillemith, the son of Immer; 13.   and their brethren, heads of their fathers’ houses––one thousand seven hundred and sixty. They were very able men for the work of the service of the house of God. 14.   Of the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, of the sons of Merari; 15.   Bakbakkar, Heresh, Galal, and Mattaniah the son of Micah, the son of Zichri, the son of Asaph; 16.   Obadiah the son of Shemaiah, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun; and Berechiah the son of Asa, the son of Elkanah, who lived in the villages of the Netophathites. 17.   And the gatekeepers were Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman, and their brethren. Shallum was the chief. 18.   Until then they had been gatekeepers for the camps of the children of Levi at the King’s Gate on the east. 19.   Shallum the son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his brethren, from his father’s house, the Korahites, were in charge of the work of the service, gatekeepers of the tabernacle. Their fathers had been keepers of the entrance to the camp of the LORD. 20.   And Phinehas the son of Eleazar had been the officer over them in time past; the LORD was with him. 21.   Zechariah the son of Meshelemiah was keeper of the door of the tabernacle of meeting. 22.   All those chosen as gatekeepers were two hundred and twelve. They were recorded by their genealogy, in their villages. David and Samuel the seer had appointed them to their trusted office. 23.   So they and their children were in charge of the gates of the house of the LORD, the house of the tabernacle, by assignment. 24.   The gatekeepers were assigned to the four directions: the east, west, north, and south. 25.   And their brethren in their villages had to come with them from time to time for seven days. 26.   For in this trusted office were four chief gatekeepers; they were Levites. And they had charge over the chambers and treasuries of the house of God. 27.   And they lodged all around the house of God because they had the responsibility, and they were in charge of opening it every morning. 28.   Now some of them were in charge of the serving vessels, for they brought them in and took them out by count. 29.   Some of them were appointed over the furnishings and over all the implements of the sanctuary, and over the fine flour and the wine and the oil and the incense and the spices. 30.   And some of the sons of the priests made the ointment of the spices. 31.   Mattithiah of the Levites, the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite, had the trusted office over the things that were baked in the pans. 32.   And some of their brethren of the sons of the Kohathites were in charge of preparing the showbread for every Sabbath. 33.   These are the singers, heads of the fathers’ houses of the Levites, who lodged in the chambers, and were free from other duties ; for they were employed in that work day and night. 34.   These heads of the fathers’ houses of the Levites were heads throughout their generations. They dwelt at Jerusalem. 35.   Jeiel the father of Gibeon, whose wife’s name was Maacah, dwelt at Gibeon. 36.   His firstborn son was Abdon, then Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab, 37.   Gedor, Ahio, Zechariah, and Mikloth. 38.   And Mikloth begot Shimeam. They also dwelt alongside their relatives in Jerusalem, with their brethren. 39.   Ner begot Kish, Kish begot Saul, and Saul begot Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Esh–Baal. 40.   The son of Jonathan was Merib–Baal, and Merib–Baal begot Micah. 41.   The sons of Micah were Pithon, Melech, Tahrea, and Ahaz . 42.   And Ahaz begot Jarah; Jarah begot Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri; and Zimri begot Moza; 43.   Moza begot Binea, Rephaiah his son, Eleasah his son, and Azel his son. 44.   And Azel had six sons whose names were these: Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan; these were the sons of Azel.

1.   We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2.   For He says: "In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 3.   We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed. 4.   But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, 5.   in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings; 6.   by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, 7.   by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, 8.   by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; 9.   as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed; 10.   as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. 11.   O Corinthians! We have spoken openly to you, our heart is wide open. 12.   You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections. 13.   Now in return for the same (I speak as to children), you also be open. 14.   Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15.   And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 16.   And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them And walk among them . I will be their God, And they shall be My people." 17.   Therefore "Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you." 18.   "I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the LORD Almighty."