Wednesday, 13 November

1.   Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel––he was indeed the firstborn, but because he defiled his father’s bed, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph, the son of Israel, so that the genealogy is not listed according to the birthright; 2.   yet Judah prevailed over his brothers, and from him came a ruler, although the birthright was Joseph’s–– 3.   the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel were Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi. 4.   The sons of Joel were Shemaiah his son, Gog his son, Shimei his son, 5.   Micah his son, Reaiah his son, Baal his son, 6.   and Beerah his son, whom Tiglath–Pileser king of Assyria carried into captivity. He was leader of the Reubenites. 7.   And his brethren by their families, when the genealogy of their generations was registered: the chief, Jeiel, and Zechariah, 8.   and Bela the son of Azaz, the son of Shema, the son of Joel, who dwelt in Aroer, as far as Nebo and Baal Meon. 9.   Eastward they settled as far as the entrance of the wilderness this side of the River Euphrates, because their cattle had multiplied in the land of Gilead. 10.   Now in the days of Saul they made war with the Hagrites, who fell by their hand; and they dwelt in their tents throughout the entire area east of Gilead. 11.   And the children of Gad dwelt next to them in the land of Bashan as far as Salcah: 12.   Joel was the chief, Shapham the next, then Jaanai and Shaphat in Bashan, 13.   and their brethren of their father’s house: Michael, Meshullam, Sheba, Jorai, Jachan, Zia, and Eber––seven in all . 14.   These were the children of Abihail the son of Huri, the son of Jaroah, the son of Gilead, the son of Michael, the son of Jeshishai, the son of Jahdo, the son of Buz; 15.   Ahi the son of Abdiel, the son of Guni, was chief of their father’s house. 16.   And the Gadites dwelt in Gilead, in Bashan and in its villages, and in all the common–lands of Sharon within their borders. 17.   All these were registered by genealogies in the days of Jotham king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam king of Israel. 18.   The sons of Reuben, the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh had forty–four thousand seven hundred and sixty valiant men, men able to bear shield and sword, to shoot with the bow, and skillful in war, who went to war. 19.   They made war with the Hagrites, Jetur, Naphish, and Nodab. 20.   And they were helped against them, and the Hagrites were delivered into their hand, and all who were with them, for they cried out to God in the battle. He heeded their prayer, because they put their trust in Him. 21.   Then they took away their livestock––fifty thousand of their camels, two hundred and fifty thousand of their sheep, and two thousand of their donkeys––also one hundred thousand of their men; 22.   for many fell dead, because the war was God’s. And they dwelt in their place until the captivity. 23.   So the children of the half–tribe of Manasseh dwelt in the land. Their numbers increased from Bashan to Baal Hermon, that is, to Senir, or Mount Hermon. 24.   These were the heads of their fathers’ houses: Epher, Ishi, Eliel, Azriel, Jeremiah, Hodaviah, and Jahdiel. They were mighty men of valor, famous men, and heads of their fathers’ houses. 25.   And they were unfaithful to the God of their fathers, and played the harlot after the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God had destroyed before them. 26.   So the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria, that is, Tiglath–Pileser king of Assyria. He carried the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half–tribe of Manasseh into captivity. He took them to Halah, Habor, Hara, and the river of Gozan to this day.

1.   It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred and twenty satraps, to be over the whole kingdom; 2.   and over these, three governors, of whom Daniel was one, that the satraps might give account to them, so that the king would suffer no loss. 3.   Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm. 4.   So the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him. 5.   Then these men said, "We shall not find any charge against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God." 6.   So these governors and satraps thronged before the king, and said thus to him: "King Darius, live forever! 7.   "All the governors of the kingdom, the administrators and satraps, the counselors and advisors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute and to make a firm decree, that whoever petitions any god or man for thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions. 8.   "Now, O king, establish the decree and sign the writing, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter." 9.   Therefore King Darius signed the written decree. 10.   Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days. 11.   Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. 12.   And they went before the king, and spoke concerning the king’s decree: "Have you not signed a decree that every man who petitions any god or man within thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?" The king answered and said, "The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter." 13.   So they answered and said before the king, "That Daniel, who is one of the captives from Judah, does not show due regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day." 14.   And the king, when he heard these words, was greatly displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored till the going down of the sun to deliver him. 15.   Then these men approached the king, and said to the king, "Know, O king, that it is the law of the Medes and Persians that no decree or statute which the king establishes may be changed." 16.   So the king gave the command, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions. But the king spoke, saying to Daniel, "Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you." 17.   Then a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signets of his lords, that the purpose concerning Daniel might not be changed. 18.   Now the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; and no musicians were brought before him. Also his sleep went from him. 19.   Then the king arose very early in the morning and went in haste to the den of lions. 20.   And when he came to the den, he cried out with a lamenting voice to Daniel. The king spoke, saying to Daniel, "Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?" 21.   Then Daniel said to the king, "O king, live forever! 22.   "My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you." 23.   Then the king was exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no injury whatever was found on him, because he believed in his God. 24.   And the king gave the command, and they brought those men who had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions––them, their children, and their wives; and the lions overpowered them, and broke all their bones in pieces before they ever came to the bottom of the den. 25.   Then King Darius wrote: To all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you. 26.   I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. For He is the living God, And steadfast forever; His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed, And His dominion shall endure to the end. 27.   He delivers and rescues, And He works signs and wonders In heaven and on earth, Who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions. 28.   So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

24.   So they again called the man who was blind, and said to him, "Give God the glory! We know that this Man is a sinner." 25.   He answered and said, "Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see." 26.   Then they said to him again, "What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?" 27.   He answered them, "I told you already, and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become His disciples?" 28.   Then they reviled him and said, "You are His disciple, but we are Moses’ disciples. 29.   "We know that God spoke to Moses; as for this fellow , we do not know where He is from." 30.   The man answered and said to them, "Why, this is a marvelous thing, that you do not know where He is from; yet He has opened my eyes! 31.   "Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him. 32.   "Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind. 33.   "If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing." 34.   They answered and said to him, "You were completely born in sins, and are you teaching us?" And they cast him out. 35.   Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said to him, "Do you believe in the Son of God?" 36.   He answered and said, "Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?" 37.   And Jesus said to him, "You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you." 38.   Then he said, "Lord, I believe!" And he worshiped Him. 39.   And Jesus said, "For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind." 40.   Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, "Are we blind also?" 41.   Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains.