Day 147 - 1 Chronicles 26-29; Psalm 127

1 Chronicles 26

The Gatekeepers

¹ The divisions of the gatekeepers:
From the Korahites: Meshelemiah son of Kore, one of the sons of Asaph.

² Meshelemiah had sons:
Zechariah the firstborn,
Jediael the second,
Zebadiah the third,
Jathniel the fourth,

³ Elam the fifth,
Jehohanan the sixth
and Eliehoenai the seventh.

⁴ Obed-Edom also had sons:
Shemaiah the firstborn,
Jehozabad the second,
Joah the third,
Sacar the fourth,
Nethanel the fifth,

⁵ Ammiel the sixth,
Issachar the seventh
and Peullethai the eighth.
(For God had blessed Obed-Edom.)

⁶ His son Shemaiah also had sons, who were leaders in their father's family because they were very capable men. ⁷ The sons of Shemaiah: Othni, Rephael, Obed and Elzabad; his relatives Elihu and Semakiah were also able men. ⁸ All these were descendants of Obed-Edom; they and their sons and their relatives were capable men with the strength to do the work—descendants of Obed-Edom, 62 in all.

⁹ Meshelemiah had sons and relatives, who were able men—18 in all.

¹⁰ Hosah the Merarite had sons: Shimri the first (although he was not the firstborn, his father had appointed him the first), ¹¹ Hilkiah the second, Tabaliah the third and Zechariah the fourth. The sons and relatives of Hosah were 13 in all.

¹² These divisions of the gatekeepers, through their chief men, had duties for ministering in the temple of the LORD, just as their relatives had. ¹³ Lots were cast for each gate, according to their families, young and old alike.

¹⁴ The lot for the East Gate fell to Shelemiah. ^a]">[a] Then lots were cast for his son Zechariah, a wise counselor, and the lot for the North Gate fell to him. ¹⁵ The lot for the South Gate fell to Obed-Edom, and the lot for the storehouse fell to his sons. ¹⁶ The lots for the West Gate and the Shalleketh Gate on the upper road fell to Shuppim and Hosah.
Guard was alongside of guard: ¹⁷ There were six Levites a day on the east, four a day on the north, four a day on the south and two at a time at the storehouse. ¹⁸ As for the court to the west, there were four at the road and two at the court itself.

¹⁹ These were the divisions of the gatekeepers who were descendants of Korah and Merari.

The Treasurers and Other Officials

²⁰ Their fellow Levites were ^b]">[b] in charge of the treasuries of the house of God and the treasuries for the dedicated things.

²¹ The descendants of Ladan, who were Gershonites through Ladan and who were heads of families belonging to Ladan the Gershonite, were Jehieli, ²² the sons of Jehieli, Zetham and his brother Joel. They were in charge of the treasuries of the temple of the LORD.

²³ From the Amramites, the Izharites, the Hebronites and the Uzzielites:

²⁴ Shubael, a descendant of Gershom son of Moses, was the officer in charge of the treasuries. ²⁵ His relatives through Eliezer: Rehabiah his son, Jeshaiah his son, Joram his son, Zicri his son and Shelomith his son. ²⁶ Shelomith and his relatives were in charge of all the treasuries for the things dedicated by King David, by the heads of families who were the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and by the other army commanders. ²⁷ Some of the plunder taken in battle they dedicated for the repair of the temple of the LORD. ²⁸ And everything dedicated by Samuel the seer and by Saul son of Kish, Abner son of Ner and Joab son of Zeruiah, and all the other dedicated things were in the care of Shelomith and his relatives.

²⁹ From the Izharites: Kenaniah and his sons were assigned duties away from the temple, as officials and judges over Israel.

³⁰ From the Hebronites: Hashabiah and his relatives—seventeen hundred able men—were responsible in Israel west of the Jordan for all the work of the LORD and for the king's service. ³¹ As for the Hebronites, Jeriah was their chief according to the genealogical records of their families. In the fortieth year of David's reign a search was made in the records, and capable men among the Hebronites were found at Jazer in Gilead. ³² Jeriah had twenty-seven hundred relatives, who were able men and heads of families, and King David put them in charge of the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh for every matter pertaining to God and for the affairs of the king.

1 Chronicles 27

Army Divisions

¹ This is the list of the Israelites—heads of families, commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and their officers, who served the king in all that concerned the army divisions that were on duty month by month throughout the year. Each division consisted of 24,000 men.

² In charge of the first division, for the first month, was Jashobeam son of Zabdiel. There were 24,000 men in his division. ³ He was a descendant of Perez and chief of all the army officers for the first month.

⁴ In charge of the division for the second month was Dodai the Ahohite; Mikloth was the leader of his division. There were 24,000 men in his division.

⁵ The third army commander, for the third month, was Benaiah son of Jehoiada the priest. He was chief and there were 24,000 men in his division. ⁶ This was the Benaiah who was a mighty man among the Thirty and was over the Thirty. His son Ammizabad was in charge of his division.

⁷ The fourth, for the fourth month, was Asahel the brother of Joab; his son Zebadiah was his successor. There were 24,000 men in his division.

⁸ The fifth, for the fifth month, was the commander Shamhuth the Izrahite. There were 24,000 men in his division.

⁹ The sixth, for the sixth month, was Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite. There were 24,000 men in his division.

¹⁰ The seventh, for the seventh month, was Helez the Pelonite, an Ephraimite. There were 24,000 men in his division.

¹¹ The eighth, for the eighth month, was Sibbecai the Hushathite, a Zerahite. There were 24,000 men in his division.

¹² The ninth, for the ninth month, was Abiezer the Anathothite, a Benjamite. There were 24,000 men in his division.

¹³ The tenth, for the tenth month, was Maharai the Netophathite, a Zerahite. There were 24,000 men in his division.

¹⁴ The eleventh, for the eleventh month, was Benaiah the Pirathonite, an Ephraimite. There were 24,000 men in his division.

¹⁵ The twelfth, for the twelfth month, was Heldai the Netophathite, from the family of Othniel. There were 24,000 men in his division.

Officers of the Tribes

¹⁶ The officers over the tribes of Israel:
over the Reubenites: Eliezer son of Zicri;
over the Simeonites: Shephatiah son of Maacah;

¹⁷ over Levi: Hashabiah son of Kemuel;
over Aaron: Zadok;

¹⁸ over Judah: Elihu, a brother of David;
over Issachar: Omri son of Michael;

¹⁹ over Zebulun: Ishmaiah son of Obadiah;
over Naphtali: Jerimoth son of Azriel;

²⁰ over the Ephraimites: Hoshea son of Azaziah;
over half the tribe of Manasseh: Joel son of Pedaiah;

²¹ over the half-tribe of Manasseh in Gilead: Iddo son of Zechariah;
over Benjamin: Jaasiel son of Abner;

²² over Dan: Azarel son of Jeroham.
These were the officers over the tribes of Israel.

²³ David did not take the number of the men twenty years old or less, because the LORD had promised to make Israel as numerous as the stars in the sky. ²⁴ Joab son of Zeruiah began to count the men but did not finish. Wrath came on Israel on account of this numbering, and the number was not entered in the book ^c]">[c] of the annals of King David.

The King's Overseers

²⁵ Azmaveth son of Adiel was in charge of the royal storehouses.
Jonathan son of Uzziah was in charge of the storehouses in the outlying districts, in the towns, the villages and the watchtowers.

²⁶ Ezri son of Kelub was in charge of the field workers who farmed the land.

²⁷ Shimei the Ramathite was in charge of the vineyards.
Zabdi the Shiphmite was in charge of the produce of the vineyards for the wine vats.

²⁸ Baal-Hanan the Gederite was in charge of the olive and sycamore-fig trees in the western foothills.
Joash was in charge of the supplies of olive oil.

²⁹ Shitrai the Sharonite was in charge of the herds grazing in Sharon.
Shaphat son of Adlai was in charge of the herds in the valleys.

³⁰ Obil the Ishmaelite was in charge of the camels.
Jehdeiah the Meronothite was in charge of the donkeys.

³¹ Jaziz the Hagrite was in charge of the flocks.
All these were the officials in charge of King David's property.

³² Jonathan, David's uncle, was a counselor, a man of insight and a scribe. Jehiel son of Hacmoni took care of the king's sons.

³³ Ahithophel was the king's counselor.
Hushai the Arkite was the king's friend. ³⁴ Ahithophel was succeeded by Jehoiada son of Benaiah and by Abiathar.
Joab was the commander of the royal army.

1 Chronicles 28

David's Plans for the Temple

¹ David summoned all the officials of Israel to assemble at Jerusalem: the officers over the tribes, the commanders of the divisions in the service of the king, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and the officials in charge of all the property and livestock belonging to the king and his sons, together with the palace officials, the mighty men and all the brave warriors.

² King David rose to his feet and said: "Listen to me, my brothers and my people. I had it in my heart to build a house as a place of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, for the footstool of our God, and I made plans to build it. ³ But God said to me, 'You are not to build a house for my Name, because you are a warrior and have shed blood.'

⁴ "Yet the LORD, the God of Israel, chose me from my whole family to be king over Israel forever. He chose Judah as leader, and from the house of Judah he chose my family, and from my father's sons he was pleased to make me king over all Israel. ⁵ Of all my sons—and the LORD has given me many—he has chosen my son Solomon to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel. ⁶ He said to me: 'Solomon your son is the one who will build my house and my courts, for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father. ⁷ I will establish his kingdom forever if he is unswerving in carrying out my commands and laws, as is being done at this time.'

⁸ "So now I charge you in the sight of all Israel and of the assembly of the LORD, and in the hearing of our God: Be careful to follow all the commands of the LORD your God, that you may possess this good land and pass it on as an inheritance to your descendants forever.

⁹ "And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever. ¹⁰ Consider now, for the LORD has chosen you to build a temple as a sanctuary. Be strong and do the work."

¹¹ Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for the portico of the temple, its buildings, its storerooms, its upper parts, its inner rooms and the place of atonement. ¹² He gave him the plans of all that the Spirit had put in his mind for the courts of the temple of the LORD and all the surrounding rooms, for the treasuries of the temple of God and for the treasuries for the dedicated things. ¹³ He gave him instructions for the divisions of the priests and Levites, and for all the work of serving in the temple of the LORD, as well as for all the articles to be used in its service. ¹⁴ He designated the weight of gold for all the gold articles to be used in various kinds of service, and the weight of silver for all the silver articles to be used in various kinds of service: ¹⁵ the weight of gold for the gold lampstands and their lamps, with the weight for each lampstand and its lamps; and the weight of silver for each silver lampstand and its lamps, according to the use of each lampstand; ¹⁶ the weight of gold for each table for consecrated bread; the weight of silver for the silver tables; ¹⁷ the weight of pure gold for the forks, sprinkling bowls and pitchers; the weight of gold for each gold dish; the weight of silver for each silver dish; ¹⁸ and the weight of the refined gold for the altar of incense. He also gave him the plan for the chariot, that is, the cherubim of gold that spread their wings and shelter the ark of the covenant of the LORD.

¹⁹ "All this," David said, "I have in writing from the hand of the LORD upon me, and he gave me understanding in all the details of the plan."

²⁰ David also said to Solomon his son, "Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the LORD is finished. ²¹ The divisions of the priests and Levites are ready for all the work on the temple of God, and every willing man skilled in any craft will help you in all the work. The officials and all the people will obey your every command."

1 Chronicles 29

Gifts for Building the Temple

¹ Then King David said to the whole assembly: "My son Solomon, the one whom God has chosen, is young and inexperienced. The task is great, because this palatial structure is not for man but for the LORD God. ² With all my resources I have provided for the temple of my God—gold for the gold work, silver for the silver, bronze for the bronze, iron for the iron and wood for the wood, as well as onyx for the settings, turquoise, ^d]">[d] stones of various colors, and all kinds of fine stone and marble—all of these in large quantities. ³ Besides, in my devotion to the temple of my God I now give my personal treasures of gold and silver for the temple of my God, over and above everything I have provided for this holy temple: ⁴ three thousand talents ^e]">[e] of gold (gold of Ophir) and seven thousand talents ^f]">[f] of refined silver, for the overlaying of the walls of the buildings, ⁵ for the gold work and the silver work, and for all the work to be done by the craftsmen. Now, who is willing to consecrate himself today to the LORD ?"

⁶ Then the leaders of families, the officers of the tribes of Israel, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and the officials in charge of the king's work gave willingly. ⁷ They gave toward the work on the temple of God five thousand talents ^g]">[g] and ten thousand darics ^h]">[h] of gold, ten thousand talents ^i]">[i] of silver, eighteen thousand talents ^j]">[j] of bronze and a hundred thousand talents ^k]">[k] of iron. ⁸ Any who had precious stones gave them to the treasury of the temple of the LORD in the custody of Jehiel the Gershonite. ⁹ The people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the LORD. David the king also rejoiced greatly.

David's Prayer

¹⁰ David praised the LORD in the presence of the whole assembly, saying,
"Praise be to you, O LORD,
God of our father Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting.

¹¹ Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power
and the glory and the majesty and the splendor,
for everything in heaven and earth is yours.
Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom;
you are exalted as head over all.

¹² Wealth and honor come from you;
you are the ruler of all things.
In your hands are strength and power
to exalt and give strength to all.

¹³ Now, our God, we give you thanks,
and praise your glorious name.

¹⁴ "But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand. ¹⁵ We are aliens and strangers in your sight, as were all our forefathers. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope. ¹⁶ O LORD our God, as for all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name, it comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you. ¹⁷ I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things have I given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you. ¹⁸ O LORD, God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Israel, keep this desire in the hearts of your people forever, and keep their hearts loyal to you. ¹⁹ And give my son Solomon the wholehearted devotion to keep your commands, requirements and decrees and to do everything to build the palatial structure for which I have provided."

²⁰ Then David said to the whole assembly, "Praise the LORD your God." So they all praised the LORD, the God of their fathers; they bowed low and fell prostrate before the LORD and the king.

Solomon Acknowledged as King

²¹ The next day they made sacrifices to the LORD and presented burnt offerings to him: a thousand bulls, a thousand rams and a thousand male lambs, together with their drink offerings, and other sacrifices in abundance for all Israel. ²² They ate and drank with great joy in the presence of the LORD that day.
Then they acknowledged Solomon son of David as king a second time, anointing him before the LORD to be ruler and Zadok to be priest. ²³ So Solomon sat on the throne of the LORD as king in place of his father David. He prospered and all Israel obeyed him. ²⁴ All the officers and mighty men, as well as all of King David's sons, pledged their submission to King Solomon.

²⁵ The LORD highly exalted Solomon in the sight of all Israel and bestowed on him royal splendor such as no king over Israel ever had before.

The Death of David

²⁶ David son of Jesse was king over all Israel. ²⁷ He ruled over Israel forty years—seven in Hebron and thirty-three in Jerusalem. ²⁸ He died at a good old age, having enjoyed long life, wealth and honor. His son Solomon succeeded him as king.

²⁹ As for the events of King David's reign, from beginning to end, they are written in the records of Samuel the seer, the records of Nathan the prophet and the records of Gad the seer, ³⁰ together with the details of his reign and power, and the circumstances that surrounded him and Israel and the kingdoms of all the other lands.

Footnotes:

1. 1 Chronicles 26:14 A variant of Meshelemiah
2. 1 Chronicles 26:20 Septuagint; Hebrew As for the Levites, Ahijah was
3. 1 Chronicles 27:24 Septuagint; Hebrew number
4. 1 Chronicles 29:2 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
5. 1 Chronicles 29:4 That is, about 110 tons (about 100 metric tons)
6. 1 Chronicles 29:4 That is, about 260 tons (about 240 metric tons)
7. 1 Chronicles 29:7 That is, about 190 tons (about 170 metric tons)
8. 1 Chronicles 29:7 That is, about 185 pounds (about 84 kilograms)
9. 1 Chronicles 29:7 That is, about 375 tons (about 345 metric tons)
10. 1 Chronicles 29:7 That is, about 675 tons (about 610 metric tons)
11. 1 Chronicles 29:7 That is, about 3,750 tons (about 3,450 metric tons)

Psalm 127

A song of ascents. Of Solomon.

¹ Unless the LORD builds the house,
its builders labor in vain.
Unless the LORD watches over the city,
the watchmen stand guard in vain.

² In vain you rise early
and stay up late,
toiling for food to eat—
for he grants sleep to ^a]">[a] those he loves.

³ Sons are a heritage from the LORD,
children a reward from him.

⁴ Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
are sons born in one's youth.

⁵ Blessed is the man
whose quiver is full of them.
They will not be put to shame
when they contend with their enemies in the gate.

Footnotes:

1. Psalm 127:2 Or eat—/ for while they sleep he provides for

Day 146 - Psalm 131; Psalm 138-139; Psalm 143-145

Psalm 131

A song of ascents. Of David.

¹ My heart is not proud, O LORD,
my eyes are not haughty;
I do not concern myself with great matters
or things too wonderful for me.

² But I have stilled and quieted my soul;
like a weaned child with its mother,
like a weaned child is my soul within me.

³ O Israel, put your hope in the LORD
both now and forevermore.

Psalm 138

Of David.

¹ I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart;
before the "gods" I will sing your praise.

² I will bow down toward your holy temple
and will praise your name
for your love and your faithfulness,
for you have exalted above all things
your name and your word.

³ When I called, you answered me;
you made me bold and stouthearted.

⁴ May all the kings of the earth praise you, O LORD,
when they hear the words of your mouth.

⁵ May they sing of the ways of the LORD,
for the glory of the LORD is great.

⁶ Though the LORD is on high, he looks upon the lowly,
but the proud he knows from afar.

⁷ Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
you preserve my life;
you stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes,
with your right hand you save me.

⁸ The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me;
your love, O LORD, endures forever—
do not abandon the works of your hands.

Psalm 139

For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.

¹ O LORD, you have searched me
and you know me.

² You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.

³ You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.

⁴ Before a word is on my tongue
you know it completely, O LORD.

⁵ You hem me in—behind and before;
you have laid your hand upon me.

⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.

⁷ Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?

⁸ If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, ^a]">[a] you are there.

⁹ If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,

¹⁰ even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.

¹¹ If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,"

¹² even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.

¹³ For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.

¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.

¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

¹⁶ your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.

¹⁷ How precious to ^b]">[b] me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!

¹⁸ Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand.
When I awake,
I am still with you.

¹⁹ If only you would slay the wicked, O God!
Away from me, you bloodthirsty men!

²⁰ They speak of you with evil intent;
your adversaries misuse your name.

²¹ Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD,
and abhor those who rise up against you?

²² I have nothing but hatred for them;
I count them my enemies.

²³ Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.

²⁴ See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.

Footnotes:

1. Psalm 139:8 Hebrew Sheol
2. Psalm 139:17 Or concerning

Psalm 143

A psalm of David.

¹ O LORD, hear my prayer,
listen to my cry for mercy;
in your faithfulness and righteousness
come to my relief.

² Do not bring your servant into judgment,
for no one living is righteous before you.

³ The enemy pursues me,
he crushes me to the ground;
he makes me dwell in darkness
like those long dead.

⁴ So my spirit grows faint within me;
my heart within me is dismayed.

⁵ I remember the days of long ago;
I meditate on all your works
and consider what your hands have done.

⁶ I spread out my hands to you;
my soul thirsts for you like a parched land.
Selah

⁷ Answer me quickly, O LORD;
my spirit fails.
Do not hide your face from me
or I will be like those who go down to the pit.

⁸ Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,
for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go,
for to you I lift up my soul.

⁹ Rescue me from my enemies, O LORD,
for I hide myself in you.

¹⁰ Teach me to do your will,
for you are my God;
may your good Spirit
lead me on level ground.

¹¹ For your name's sake, O LORD, preserve my life;
in your righteousness, bring me out of trouble.

¹² In your unfailing love, silence my enemies;
destroy all my foes,
for I am your servant.

Psalm 144

Of David.

¹ Praise be to the LORD my Rock,
who trains my hands for war,
my fingers for battle.

² He is my loving God and my fortress,
my stronghold and my deliverer,
my shield, in whom I take refuge,
who subdues peoples ^a]">[a] under me.

³ O LORD, what is man that you care for him,
the son of man that you think of him?

⁴ Man is like a breath;
his days are like a fleeting shadow.

⁵ Part your heavens, O LORD, and come down;
touch the mountains, so that they smoke.

⁶ Send forth lightning and scatter {the enemies};
shoot your arrows and rout them.

⁷ Reach down your hand from on high;
deliver me and rescue me
from the mighty waters,
from the hands of foreigners

⁸ whose mouths are full of lies,
whose right hands are deceitful.

⁹ I will sing a new song to you, O God;
on the ten-stringed lyre I will make music to you,

¹⁰ to the One who gives victory to kings,
who delivers his servant David from the deadly sword.

¹¹ Deliver me and rescue me
from the hands of foreigners
whose mouths are full of lies,
whose right hands are deceitful.

¹² Then our sons in their youth
will be like well-nurtured plants,
and our daughters will be like pillars
carved to adorn a palace.

¹³ Our barns will be filled
with every kind of provision.
Our sheep will increase by thousands,
by tens of thousands in our fields;

¹⁴ our oxen will draw heavy loads. ^b]">[b]
There will be no breaching of walls,
no going into captivity,
no cry of distress in our streets.

¹⁵ Blessed are the people of whom this is true;
blessed are the people whose God is the LORD.

Psalm 145

A psalm of praise. Of David.

¹ ^c]">[c] I will exalt you, my God the King;
I will praise your name for ever and ever.

² Every day I will praise you
and extol your name for ever and ever.

³ Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;
his greatness no one can fathom.

⁴ One generation will commend your works to another;
they will tell of your mighty acts.

⁵ They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty,
and I will meditate on your wonderful works. ^d]">[d]

⁶ They will tell of the power of your awesome works,
and I will proclaim your great deeds.

⁷ They will celebrate your abundant goodness
and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

⁸ The LORD is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and rich in love.

⁹ The LORD is good to all;
he has compassion on all he has made.

¹⁰ All you have made will praise you, O LORD;
your saints will extol you.

¹¹ They will tell of the glory of your kingdom
and speak of your might,

¹² so that all men may know of your mighty acts
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.

¹³ Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and your dominion endures through all generations.
The LORD is faithful to all his promises
and loving toward all he has made. ^e]">[e]

¹⁴ The LORD upholds all those who fall
and lifts up all who are bowed down.

¹⁵ The eyes of all look to you,
and you give them their food at the proper time.

¹⁶ You open your hand
and satisfy the desires of every living thing.

¹⁷ The LORD is righteous in all his ways
and loving toward all he has made.

¹⁸ The LORD is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.

¹⁹ He fulfills the desires of those who fear him;
he hears their cry and saves them.

²⁰ The LORD watches over all who love him,
but all the wicked he will destroy.

²¹ My mouth will speak in praise of the LORD.
Let every creature praise his holy name
for ever and ever.

Footnotes:

1. Psalm 144:2 Many manuscripts of the Masoretic Text, Dead Sea Scrolls, Aquila, Jerome and Syriac; most manuscripts of the Masoretic Text subdues my people
2. Psalm 144:14 Or our chieftains will be firmly established
3. Psalm 145:1 Chapter 145 This psalm is an acrostic poem, the verses of which (including verse 13b) begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
4. Psalm 145:5 Dead Sea Scrolls and Syriac (see also Septuagint Masoretic Text On the glorious splendor of your majesty / and on your wonderful works I will meditate
5. Psalm 145:13 One manuscript of the Masoretic Text, Dead Sea Scrolls and Syriac (see also Septuagint most manuscripts of the Masoretic Text do not have the last two lines of verse 13.

Day 145 - 1 Chronicles 23-25

1 Chronicles 23

The Levites

¹ When David was old and full of years, he made his son Solomon king over Israel.

² He also gathered together all the leaders of Israel, as well as the priests and Levites. ³ The Levites thirty years old or more were counted, and the total number of men was thirty-eight thousand. ⁴ David said, "Of these, twenty-four thousand are to supervise the work of the temple of the LORD and six thousand are to be officials and judges. ⁵ Four thousand are to be gatekeepers and four thousand are to praise the LORD with the musical instruments I have provided for that purpose."

⁶ David divided the Levites into groups corresponding to the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath and Merari.

Gershonites

⁷ Belonging to the Gershonites:
Ladan and Shimei.

⁸ The sons of Ladan:
Jehiel the first, Zetham and Joel—three in all.

⁹ The sons of Shimei:
Shelomoth, Haziel and Haran—three in all.
These were the heads of the families of Ladan.

¹⁰ And the sons of Shimei:
Jahath, Ziza, ^a]">[a] Jeush and Beriah.
These were the sons of Shimei—four in all.

¹¹ Jahath was the first and Ziza the second, but Jeush and Beriah did not have many sons; so they were counted as one family with one assignment.

Kohathites

¹² The sons of Kohath:
Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel—four in all.

¹³ The sons of Amram:
Aaron and Moses.
Aaron was set apart, he and his descendants forever, to consecrate the most holy things, to offer sacrifices before the LORD, to minister before him and to pronounce blessings in his name forever. ¹⁴ The sons of Moses the man of God were counted as part of the tribe of Levi.

¹⁵ The sons of Moses:
Gershom and Eliezer.

¹⁶ The descendants of Gershom:
Shubael was the first.

¹⁷ The descendants of Eliezer:
Rehabiah was the first.
Eliezer had no other sons, but the sons of Rehabiah were very numerous.

¹⁸ The sons of Izhar:
Shelomith was the first.

¹⁹ The sons of Hebron:
Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third and Jekameam the fourth.

²⁰ The sons of Uzziel:
Micah the first and Isshiah the second.

Merarites

²¹ The sons of Merari:
Mahli and Mushi.
The sons of Mahli:
Eleazar and Kish.

²² Eleazar died without having sons: he had only daughters. Their cousins, the sons of Kish, married them.

²³ The sons of Mushi:
Mahli, Eder and Jerimoth—three in all.

²⁴ These were the descendants of Levi by their families—the heads of families as they were registered under their names and counted individually, that is, the workers twenty years old or more who served in the temple of the LORD. ²⁵ For David had said, "Since the LORD, the God of Israel, has granted rest to his people and has come to dwell in Jerusalem forever, ²⁶ the Levites no longer need to carry the tabernacle or any of the articles used in its service." ²⁷ According to the last instructions of David, the Levites were counted from those twenty years old or more.

²⁸ The duty of the Levites was to help Aaron's descendants in the service of the temple of the LORD : to be in charge of the courtyards, the side rooms, the purification of all sacred things and the performance of other duties at the house of God. ²⁹ They were in charge of the bread set out on the table, the flour for the grain offerings, the unleavened wafers, the baking and the mixing, and all measurements of quantity and size. ³⁰ They were also to stand every morning to thank and praise the LORD. They were to do the same in the evening ³¹ and whenever burnt offerings were presented to the LORD on Sabbaths and at New Moon festivals and at appointed feasts. They were to serve before the LORD regularly in the proper number and in the way prescribed for them.

³² And so the Levites carried out their responsibilities for the Tent of Meeting, for the Holy Place and, under their brothers the descendants of Aaron, for the service of the temple of the LORD.

1 Chronicles 24

The Divisions of Priests

¹ These were the divisions of the sons of Aaron:
The sons of Aaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. ² But Nadab and Abihu died before their father did, and they had no sons; so Eleazar and Ithamar served as the priests. ³ With the help of Zadok a descendant of Eleazar and Ahimelech a descendant of Ithamar, David separated them into divisions for their appointed order of ministering. ⁴ A larger number of leaders were found among Eleazar's descendants than among Ithamar's, and they were divided accordingly: sixteen heads of families from Eleazar's descendants and eight heads of families from Ithamar's descendants. ⁵ They divided them impartially by drawing lots, for there were officials of the sanctuary and officials of God among the descendants of both Eleazar and Ithamar.

⁶ The scribe Shemaiah son of Nethanel, a Levite, recorded their names in the presence of the king and of the officials: Zadok the priest, Ahimelech son of Abiathar and the heads of families of the priests and of the Levites—one family being taken from Eleazar and then one from Ithamar.

⁷ The first lot fell to Jehoiarib,
the second to Jedaiah,

⁸ the third to Harim,
the fourth to Seorim,

⁹ the fifth to Malkijah,
the sixth to Mijamin,

¹⁰ the seventh to Hakkoz,
the eighth to Abijah,

¹¹ the ninth to Jeshua,
the tenth to Shecaniah,

¹² the eleventh to Eliashib,
the twelfth to Jakim,

¹³ the thirteenth to Huppah,
the fourteenth to Jeshebeab,

¹⁴ the fifteenth to Bilgah,
the sixteenth to Immer,

¹⁵ the seventeenth to Hezir,
the eighteenth to Happizzez,

¹⁶ the nineteenth to Pethahiah,
the twentieth to Jehezkel,

¹⁷ the twenty-first to Jakin,
the twenty-second to Gamul,

¹⁸ the twenty-third to Delaiah
and the twenty-fourth to Maaziah.

¹⁹ This was their appointed order of ministering when they entered the temple of the LORD, according to the regulations prescribed for them by their forefather Aaron, as the LORD, the God of Israel, had commanded him.

The Rest of the Levites

²⁰ As for the rest of the descendants of Levi:
from the sons of Amram: Shubael;
from the sons of Shubael: Jehdeiah.

²¹ As for Rehabiah, from his sons:
Isshiah was the first.

²² From the Izharites: Shelomoth;
from the sons of Shelomoth: Jahath.

²³ The sons of Hebron: Jeriah the first, ^b]">[b] Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third and Jekameam the fourth.

²⁴ The son of Uzziel: Micah;
from the sons of Micah: Shamir.

²⁵ The brother of Micah: Isshiah;
from the sons of Isshiah: Zechariah.

²⁶ The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi.
The son of Jaaziah: Beno.

²⁷ The sons of Merari:
from Jaaziah: Beno, Shoham, Zaccur and Ibri.

²⁸ From Mahli: Eleazar, who had no sons.

²⁹ From Kish: the son of Kish:
Jerahmeel.

³⁰ And the sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder and Jerimoth.
These were the Levites, according to their families. ³¹ They also cast lots, just as their brothers the descendants of Aaron did, in the presence of King David and of Zadok, Ahimelech, and the heads of families of the priests and of the Levites. The families of the oldest brother were treated the same as those of the youngest.

1 Chronicles 25

The Singers

¹ David, together with the commanders of the army, set apart some of the sons of Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun for the ministry of prophesying, accompanied by harps, lyres and cymbals. Here is the list of the men who performed this service:

² From the sons of Asaph:
Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah and Asarelah. The sons of Asaph were under the supervision of Asaph, who prophesied under the king's supervision.

³ As for Jeduthun, from his sons:
Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, ^c]">[c] Hashabiah and Mattithiah, six in all, under the supervision of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied, using the harp in thanking and praising the LORD.

⁴ As for Heman, from his sons:
Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shubael and Jerimoth; Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti and Romamti-Ezer; Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir and Mahazioth. ⁵ All these were sons of Heman the king's seer. They were given him through the promises of God to exalt him. ^d]">[d] God gave Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.

⁶ All these men were under the supervision of their fathers for the music of the temple of the LORD, with cymbals, lyres and harps, for the ministry at the house of God. Asaph, Jeduthun and Heman were under the supervision of the king. ⁷ Along with their relatives—all of them trained and skilled in music for the LORD -they numbered 288. ⁸ Young and old alike, teacher as well as student, cast lots for their duties.

⁹ The first lot, which was for Asaph, fell to Joseph,
his sons and relatives, ^e]">[e] 12 ^f]">[f]
the second to Gedaliah,
he and his relatives and sons, 12

¹⁰ the third to Zaccur,
his sons and relatives, 12

¹¹ the fourth to Izri, ^g]">[g]
his sons and relatives, 12

¹² the fifth to Nethaniah,
his sons and relatives, 12

¹³ the sixth to Bukkiah,
his sons and relatives, 12

¹⁴ the seventh to Jesarelah, ^h]">[h]
his sons and relatives, 12

¹⁵ the eighth to Jeshaiah,
his sons and relatives, 12

¹⁶ the ninth to Mattaniah,
his sons and relatives, 12

¹⁷ the tenth to Shimei,
his sons and relatives, 12

¹⁸ the eleventh to Azarel, ^i]">[i]
his sons and relatives, 12

¹⁹ the twelfth to Hashabiah,
his sons and relatives, 12

²⁰ the thirteenth to Shubael,
his sons and relatives, 12

²¹ the fourteenth to Mattithiah,
his sons and relatives, 12

²² the fifteenth to Jerimoth,
his sons and relatives, 12

²³ the sixteenth to Hananiah,
his sons and relatives, 12

²⁴ the seventeenth to Joshbekashah,
his sons and relatives, 12

²⁵ the eighteenth to Hanani,
his sons and relatives, 12

²⁶ the nineteenth to Mallothi,
his sons and relatives, 12

²⁷ the twentieth to Eliathah,
his sons and relatives, 12

²⁸ the twenty-first to Hothir,
his sons and relatives, 12

²⁹ the twenty-second to Giddalti,
his sons and relatives, 12

³⁰ the twenty-third to Mahazioth,
his sons and relatives, 12

³¹ the twenty-fourth to Romamti-Ezer,
his sons and relatives, 12

Footnotes:

1. 1 Chronicles 23:10 One Hebrew manuscript, Septuagint and Vulgate (see also verse 11 most Hebrew manuscripts Zina
2. 1 Chronicles 24:23 Two Hebrew manuscripts and some Septuagint manuscripts (see also 1 Chron. 23:19 most Hebrew manuscripts The sons of Jeriah:
3. 1 Chronicles 25:3 One Hebrew manuscript and some Septuagint manuscripts (see also verse 17 most Hebrew manuscripts do not have Shimei .
4. 1 Chronicles 25:5 Hebrew exalt the horn
5. 1 Chronicles 25:9 See Septuagint; Hebrew does not have his sons and relatives .
6. 1 Chronicles 25:9 See the total in verse 7; Hebrew does not have twelve .
7. 1 Chronicles 25:11 A variant of Zeri
8. 1 Chronicles 25:14 A variant of Asarelah
9. 1 Chronicles 25:18 A variant of Uzziel

Day 144 - Psalm 108-110

Psalm 108

A song. A psalm of David.

¹ My heart is steadfast, O God;
I will sing and make music with all my soul.

² Awake, harp and lyre!
I will awaken the dawn.

³ I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations;
I will sing of you among the peoples.

⁴ For great is your love, higher than the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

⁵ Be exalted, O God, above the heavens,
and let your glory be over all the earth.

⁶ Save us and help us with your right hand,
that those you love may be delivered.

⁷ God has spoken from his sanctuary:
"In triumph I will parcel out Shechem
and measure off the Valley of Succoth.

⁸ Gilead is mine, Manasseh is mine;
Ephraim is my helmet,
Judah my scepter.

⁹ Moab is my washbasin,
upon Edom I toss my sandal;
over Philistia I shout in triumph."

¹⁰ Who will bring me to the fortified city?
Who will lead me to Edom?

¹¹ Is it not you, O God, you who have rejected us
and no longer go out with our armies?

¹² Give us aid against the enemy,
for the help of man is worthless.

¹³ With God we will gain the victory,
and he will trample down our enemies.

Psalm 109

For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.

¹ O God, whom I praise,
do not remain silent,

² for wicked and deceitful men
have opened their mouths against me;
they have spoken against me with lying tongues.

³ With words of hatred they surround me;
they attack me without cause.

⁴ In return for my friendship they accuse me,
but I am a man of prayer.

⁵ They repay me evil for good,
and hatred for my friendship.

⁶ Appoint ^a]">[a] an evil man ^b]">[b] to oppose him;
let an accuser ^c]">[c] stand at his right hand.

⁷ When he is tried, let him be found guilty,
and may his prayers condemn him.

⁸ May his days be few;
may another take his place of leadership.

⁹ May his children be fatherless
and his wife a widow.

¹⁰ May his children be wandering beggars;
may they be driven ^d]">[d] from their ruined homes.

¹¹ May a creditor seize all he has;
may strangers plunder the fruits of his labor.

¹² May no one extend kindness to him
or take pity on his fatherless children.

¹³ May his descendants be cut off,
their names blotted out from the next generation.

¹⁴ May the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before the LORD;
may the sin of his mother never be blotted out.

¹⁵ May their sins always remain before the LORD,
that he may cut off the memory of them from the earth.

¹⁶ For he never thought of doing a kindness,
but hounded to death the poor
and the needy and the brokenhearted.

¹⁷ He loved to pronounce a curse—
may it ^e]">[e] come on him;
he found no pleasure in blessing—
may it be ^f]">[f] far from him.

¹⁸ He wore cursing as his garment;
it entered into his body like water,
into his bones like oil.

¹⁹ May it be like a cloak wrapped about him,
like a belt tied forever around him.

²⁰ May this be the LORD's payment to my accusers,
to those who speak evil of me.

²¹ But you, O Sovereign LORD,
deal well with me for your name's sake;
out of the goodness of your love, deliver me.

²² For I am poor and needy,
and my heart is wounded within me.

²³ I fade away like an evening shadow;
I am shaken off like a locust.

²⁴ My knees give way from fasting;
my body is thin and gaunt.

²⁵ I am an object of scorn to my accusers;
when they see me, they shake their heads.

²⁶ Help me, O LORD my God;
save me in accordance with your love.

²⁷ Let them know that it is your hand,
that you, O LORD, have done it.

²⁸ They may curse, but you will bless;
when they attack they will be put to shame,
but your servant will rejoice.

²⁹ My accusers will be clothed with disgrace
and wrapped in shame as in a cloak.

³⁰ With my mouth I will greatly extol the LORD;
in the great throng I will praise him.

³¹ For he stands at the right hand of the needy one,
to save his life from those who condemn him.

Psalm 110

Of David. A psalm.

¹ The LORD says to my Lord:
"Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies
a footstool for your feet."

² The LORD will extend your mighty scepter from Zion;
you will rule in the midst of your enemies.

³ Your troops will be willing
on your day of battle.
Arrayed in holy majesty,
from the womb of the dawn
you will receive the dew of your youth. ^g]">[g]

⁴ The LORD has sworn
and will not change his mind:
"You are a priest forever,
in the order of Melchizedek."

⁵ The Lord is at your right hand;
he will crush kings on the day of his wrath.

⁶ He will judge the nations, heaping up the dead
and crushing the rulers of the whole earth.

⁷ He will drink from a brook beside the way ^h]">[h] ;
therefore he will lift up his head.

Footnotes:

1. Psalm 109:6 Or They say: "Appoint (with quotation marks at the end of verse 19)
2. Psalm 109:6 Or the Evil One
3. Psalm 109:6 Or let Satan
4. Psalm 109:10 Septuagint; Hebrew sought
5. Psalm 109:17 Or curse, / and it has
6. Psalm 109:17 Or blessing, / and it is
7. Psalm 110:3 Or / your young men will come to you like the dew
8. Psalm 110:7 Or / The One who grants succession will set him in authority

Day 143 - 2 Samuel 24; 1 Chronicles 21-22; Psalm 30

2 Samuel 24

David Counts the Fighting Men

¹ Again the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, "Go and take a census of Israel and Judah."

² So the king said to Joab and the army commanders ^a]">[a] with him, "Go throughout the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beersheba and enroll the fighting men, so that I may know how many there are."

³ But Joab replied to the king, "May the LORD your God multiply the troops a hundred times over, and may the eyes of my lord the king see it. But why does my lord the king want to do such a thing?"

⁴ The king's word, however, overruled Joab and the army commanders; so they left the presence of the king to enroll the fighting men of Israel.

⁵ After crossing the Jordan, they camped near Aroer, south of the town in the gorge, and then went through Gad and on to Jazer. ⁶ They went to Gilead and the region of Tahtim Hodshi, and on to Dan Jaan and around toward Sidon. ⁷ Then they went toward the fortress of Tyre and all the towns of the Hivites and Canaanites. Finally, they went on to Beersheba in the Negev of Judah.

⁸ After they had gone through the entire land, they came back to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days.

⁹ Joab reported the number of the fighting men to the king: In Israel there were eight hundred thousand able-bodied men who could handle a sword, and in Judah five hundred thousand.

¹⁰ David was conscience-stricken after he had counted the fighting men, and he said to the LORD, "I have sinned greatly in what I have done. Now, O LORD, I beg you, take away the guilt of your servant. I have done a very foolish thing."

¹¹ Before David got up the next morning, the word of the LORD had come to Gad the prophet, David's seer: ¹² "Go and tell David, 'This is what the LORD says: I am giving you three options. Choose one of them for me to carry out against you.' "

¹³ So Gad went to David and said to him, "Shall there come upon you three ^b]">[b] years of famine in your land? Or three months of fleeing from your enemies while they pursue you? Or three days of plague in your land? Now then, think it over and decide how I should answer the one who sent me."

¹⁴ David said to Gad, "I am in deep distress. Let us fall into the hands of the LORD, for his mercy is great; but do not let me fall into the hands of men."

¹⁵ So the LORD sent a plague on Israel from that morning until the end of the time designated, and seventy thousand of the people from Dan to Beersheba died. ¹⁶ When the angel stretched out his hand to destroy Jerusalem, the LORD was grieved because of the calamity and said to the angel who was afflicting the people, "Enough! Withdraw your hand." The angel of the LORD was then at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.

¹⁷ When David saw the angel who was striking down the people, he said to the LORD, "I am the one who has sinned and done wrong. These are but sheep. What have they done? Let your hand fall upon me and my family."

David Builds an Altar

¹⁸ On that day Gad went to David and said to him, "Go up and build an altar to the LORD on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite." ¹⁹ So David went up, as the LORD had commanded through Gad. ²⁰ When Araunah looked and saw the king and his men coming toward him, he went out and bowed down before the king with his face to the ground.

²¹ Araunah said, "Why has my lord the king come to his servant?"
"To buy your threshing floor," David answered, "so I can build an altar to the LORD, that the plague on the people may be stopped."

²² Araunah said to David, "Let my lord the king take whatever pleases him and offer it up. Here are oxen for the burnt offering, and here are threshing sledges and ox yokes for the wood. ²³ O king, Araunah gives all this to the king." Araunah also said to him, "May the LORD your God accept you."

²⁴ But the king replied to Araunah, "No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing."
So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen and paid fifty shekels ^c]">[c] of silver for them. ²⁵ David built an altar to the LORD there and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. ^d]">[d] Then the LORD answered prayer in behalf of the land, and the plague on Israel was stopped.

Footnotes:

1. 2 Samuel 24:2 Septuagint (see also verse 4 and 1 Chron. 21:2 Hebrew Joab the army commander
2. 2 Samuel 24:13 Septuagint (see also 1 Chron. 21:12 Hebrew seven
3. 2 Samuel 24:24 That is, about 1 1/4 pounds (about 0.6 kilogram)
4. 2 Samuel 24:25 Traditionally peace offerings

1 Chronicles 21

David Numbers the Fighting Men

¹ Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel. ² So David said to Joab and the commanders of the troops, "Go and count the Israelites from Beersheba to Dan. Then report back to me so that I may know how many there are."

³ But Joab replied, "May the LORD multiply his troops a hundred times over. My lord the king, are they not all my lord's subjects? Why does my lord want to do this? Why should he bring guilt on Israel?"

⁴ The king's word, however, overruled Joab; so Joab left and went throughout Israel and then came back to Jerusalem. ⁵ Joab reported the number of the fighting men to David: In all Israel there were one million one hundred thousand men who could handle a sword, including four hundred and seventy thousand in Judah.

⁶ But Joab did not include Levi and Benjamin in the numbering, because the king's command was repulsive to him. ⁷ This command was also evil in the sight of God; so he punished Israel.

⁸ Then David said to God, "I have sinned greatly by doing this. Now, I beg you, take away the guilt of your servant. I have done a very foolish thing."

⁹ The LORD said to Gad, David's seer, ¹⁰ "Go and tell David, 'This is what the LORD says: I am giving you three options. Choose one of them for me to carry out against you.' "

¹¹ So Gad went to David and said to him, "This is what the LORD says: 'Take your choice: ¹² three years of famine, three months of being swept away ^a]">[a] before your enemies, with their swords overtaking you, or three days of the sword of the LORD -days of plague in the land, with the angel of the LORD ravaging every part of Israel.' Now then, decide how I should answer the one who sent me."

¹³ David said to Gad, "I am in deep distress. Let me fall into the hands of the LORD, for his mercy is very great; but do not let me fall into the hands of men."

¹⁴ So the LORD sent a plague on Israel, and seventy thousand men of Israel fell dead. ¹⁵ And God sent an angel to destroy Jerusalem. But as the angel was doing so, the LORD saw it and was grieved because of the calamity and said to the angel who was destroying the people, "Enough! Withdraw your hand." The angel of the LORD was then standing at the threshing floor of Araunah ^b]">[b] the Jebusite.

¹⁶ David looked up and saw the angel of the LORD standing between heaven and earth, with a drawn sword in his hand extended over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell facedown.

¹⁷ David said to God, "Was it not I who ordered the fighting men to be counted? I am the one who has sinned and done wrong. These are but sheep. What have they done? O LORD my God, let your hand fall upon me and my family, but do not let this plague remain on your people."

¹⁸ Then the angel of the LORD ordered Gad to tell David to go up and build an altar to the LORD on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. ¹⁹ So David went up in obedience to the word that Gad had spoken in the name of the LORD.

²⁰ While Araunah was threshing wheat, he turned and saw the angel; his four sons who were with him hid themselves. ²¹ Then David approached, and when Araunah looked and saw him, he left the threshing floor and bowed down before David with his face to the ground.

²² David said to him, "Let me have the site of your threshing floor so I can build an altar to the LORD, that the plague on the people may be stopped. Sell it to me at the full price."

²³ Araunah said to David, "Take it! Let my lord the king do whatever pleases him. Look, I will give the oxen for the burnt offerings, the threshing sledges for the wood, and the wheat for the grain offering. I will give all this."

²⁴ But King David replied to Araunah, "No, I insist on paying the full price. I will not take for the LORD what is yours, or sacrifice a burnt offering that costs me nothing."

²⁵ So David paid Araunah six hundred shekels ^c]">[c] of gold for the site. ²⁶ David built an altar to the LORD there and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. ^d]">[d] He called on the LORD, and the LORD answered him with fire from heaven on the altar of burnt offering.

²⁷ Then the LORD spoke to the angel, and he put his sword back into its sheath. ²⁸ At that time, when David saw that the LORD had answered him on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite, he offered sacrifices there. ²⁹ The tabernacle of the LORD, which Moses had made in the desert, and the altar of burnt offering were at that time on the high place at Gibeon. ³⁰ But David could not go before it to inquire of God, because he was afraid of the sword of the angel of the LORD.

1 Chronicles 22

¹ Then David said, "The house of the LORD God is to be here, and also the altar of burnt offering for Israel."

Preparations for the Temple

² So David gave orders to assemble the aliens living in Israel, and from among them he appointed stonecutters to prepare dressed stone for building the house of God. ³ He provided a large amount of iron to make nails for the doors of the gateways and for the fittings, and more bronze than could be weighed. ⁴ He also provided more cedar logs than could be counted, for the Sidonians and Tyrians had brought large numbers of them to David.

⁵ David said, "My son Solomon is young and inexperienced, and the house to be built for the LORD should be of great magnificence and fame and splendor in the sight of all the nations. Therefore I will make preparations for it." So David made extensive preparations before his death.

⁶ Then he called for his son Solomon and charged him to build a house for the LORD, the God of Israel. ⁷ David said to Solomon: "My son, I had it in my heart to build a house for the Name of the LORD my God. ⁸ But this word of the LORD came to me: 'You have shed much blood and have fought many wars. You are not to build a house for my Name, because you have shed much blood on the earth in my sight. ⁹ But you will have a son who will be a man of peace and rest, and I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side. His name will be Solomon, ^e]">[e] and I will grant Israel peace and quiet during his reign. ¹⁰ He is the one who will build a house for my Name. He will be my son, and I will be his father. And I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.'

¹¹ "Now, my son, the LORD be with you, and may you have success and build the house of the LORD your God, as he said you would. ¹² May the LORD give you discretion and understanding when he puts you in command over Israel, so that you may keep the law of the LORD your God. ¹³ Then you will have success if you are careful to observe the decrees and laws that the LORD gave Moses for Israel. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged.

¹⁴ "I have taken great pains to provide for the temple of the LORD a hundred thousand talents ^f]">[f] of gold, a million talents ^g]">[g] of silver, quantities of bronze and iron too great to be weighed, and wood and stone. And you may add to them. ¹⁵ You have many workmen: stonecutters, masons and carpenters, as well as men skilled in every kind of work ¹⁶ in gold and silver, bronze and iron—craftsmen beyond number. Now begin the work, and the LORD be with you."

¹⁷ Then David ordered all the leaders of Israel to help his son Solomon. ¹⁸ He said to them, "Is not the LORD your God with you? And has he not granted you rest on every side? For he has handed the inhabitants of the land over to me, and the land is subject to the LORD and to his people. ¹⁹ Now devote your heart and soul to seeking the LORD your God. Begin to build the sanctuary of the LORD God, so that you may bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD and the sacred articles belonging to God into the temple that will be built for the Name of the LORD."

Footnotes:

1. 1 Chronicles 21:12 Hebrew; Septuagint and Vulgate (see also 2 Samuel 24:13) of fleeing
2. 1 Chronicles 21:15 Hebrew Ornan , a variant of Araunah ; also in verses 18-28
3. 1 Chronicles 21:25 That is, about 15 pounds (about 7 kilograms)
4. 1 Chronicles 21:26 Traditionally peace offerings
5. 1 Chronicles 22:9 Solomon sounds like and may be derived from the Hebrew for peace .
6. 1 Chronicles 22:14 That is, about 3,750 tons (about 3,450 metric tons)
7. 1 Chronicles 22:14 That is, about 37,500 tons (about 34,500 metric tons)

Psalm 30

A psalm. A song. For the dedication of the temple. Of David. ^a]">[a]

¹ I will exalt you, O LORD,
for you lifted me out of the depths
and did not let my enemies gloat over me.

² O LORD my God, I called to you for help
and you healed me.

³ O LORD, you brought me up from the grave ^b]">[b] ;
you spared me from going down into the pit.

⁴ Sing to the LORD, you saints of his;
praise his holy name.

⁵ For his anger lasts only a moment,
but his favor lasts a lifetime;
weeping may remain for a night,
but rejoicing comes in the morning.

⁶ When I felt secure, I said,
"I will never be shaken."

⁷ O LORD, when you favored me,
you made my mountain ^c]">[c] stand firm;
but when you hid your face,
I was dismayed.

⁸ To you, O LORD, I called;
to the Lord I cried for mercy:

⁹ "What gain is there in my destruction, ^d]">[d]
in my going down into the pit?
Will the dust praise you?
Will it proclaim your faithfulness?

¹⁰ Hear, O LORD, and be merciful to me;
O LORD, be my help."

¹¹ You turned my wailing into dancing;
you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,

¹² that my heart may sing to you and not be silent.
O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever.

Footnotes:

1. Psalm 30:1 Title: Or palace
2. Psalm 30:3 Hebrew Sheol
3. Psalm 30:7 Or hill country
4. Psalm 30:9 Or there if I am silenced