Nehemiah 7:4-8:18
4 Now the city was large and spacious, but the people in it were few, and the houses were not rebuilt. 5 Then my God put it into my heart to gather the nobles, the rulers, and the people that they might be registered by genealogy. And I found a register of the genealogy of those who had come up in the first return and found written in it:
6 These are the people of the province who came back from the captivity, of those who had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away, and who returned to Jerusalem and Judah, everyone to his city. 7 Those with Zerubbabel, not only Jeshua, but also Nehemiah, Azariah, Raaemia, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Ezra, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah, and Masphar, men of the people of Israel; 8 the children of Parosh, two thousand one hundred and seventy-two; 9 the children of Shephatiah, three hundred and seventy-two; 10 the children of Arah, six hundred and fifty-two; 11 the children of Pahath-Moab, of the sons of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand eight hundred and eighteen; 12 the children of Elam, one thousand two hundred and fifty-four; 13 the children of Zattu, eight hundred and forty-five; 14 the children of Zaccai, seven hundred and sixty; 15 the children of Binnui, six hundred and forty-eight; 16 the sons of Bebai, six hundred and twenty-eight; 17 the children of Azgad, two thousand three hundred and twenty-two; 18 the children of Adonikam, six hundred and sixty-seven; 19 the children of Bigvai, two thousand and sixty-seven; 20 the children of Adin, six hundred and fifty-five; 21 the children of Ater of Hezekiah, ninety-eight; 22 the children of Hashum, three hundred and twenty-eight; 23 the children of Bezai, three hundred and twenty-four; 24 the children of Hariph, one hundred and twelve; 25 the sons of Gibeon, ninety-five; 26 the children of Bethlehem, one hundred and twenty-three, and Netophah, fifty-six; 27 the children of Anathoth, one hundred and twenty-eight; 28 the children of Beth Azmaveth, forty-two; 29 the children of Kirjath Jearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred and forty-three; 30 the men of Ramah and Geba, six hundred and twenty-one; 31 the men of Michmas, one hundred and twenty-two; 32 the men of Bethel and Ai, one hundred and twenty-three; 33 the men of Nebo, fifty-two; 34 the sons of Elam, one thousand two hundred and fifty-four; 35 the children of Harim, three hundred and twenty; 36 the sons of Jericho, three hundred and forty-five; 37 the children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred and twenty-one; 38 the children of Senaah, three thousand nine hundred and thirty.
39 The priests: the sons of Jedaiah of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred and seventy-three; 40 the sons of Immer, one thousand and fifty-two; 41 the sons of Pashhur, one thousand two hundred and forty-seven; 42 the sons of Harim were one thousand and seventeen.
43 The Levites: the sons of Jeshua, of the house of Kadmiel, and of the sons of Hodevah, seventy-four. 44 The singers: the children of Asaph, one hundred and forty-eight. 45 The gatekeepers: the children of Shallum, the sons of Ater, the children of Talmon, the sons of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the sons of Shobai, one hundred and thirty-eight.
46 The Nethinim: the children of Ziha, the sons of Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth, 47 the children of Keros, the sons of Sia, the children of Padon, 48 the children of Lebana, the sons of Hagaba, the children of Salmai, 49 the children of Hanan, the sons of Giddel, the children of Gahar, 50 the children of Reaiah, the children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda, 51 the children of Gazzam, the children of Uzza, the children of Paseah, 52 the children of Besai, the sons of Meunim, the children of Nephishesim, 53 the children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur, 54 the children of Bazlith, the children of Mehida, the children of Harhur, 55 the children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Tamah, 56 the children of Neziah, and the children of Hatipha.
57 The children of Solomon’s servants: the children of Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Perida, 58 the children of Jaala, the children of Darkon, the children of Giddel, 59 the children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth of Zebaim, and the children of Amon. 60 All the Nethinim and the children of Solomon’s servants were three hundred ninety-two.
61 And these were the ones who came up from Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer, but they could not identify their father’s house nor their lineage, whether they were of Israel: 62 the sons of Delaiah, the sons of Tobiah, the sons of Nekoda, six hundred forty-two.
63 And of the priests: the sons of Habaiah, the sons of Koz, the sons of Barzillai, who took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called by their name. 64 These sought their listing among those who were registered by genealogy, but it was not found; therefore they were excluded from the priesthood as defiled. 65 And the governor said to them that they should not eat of the most holy things until a priest could consult with the Urim and Thummim.
66 Altogether the whole assembly was forty-two thousand three hundred and sixty, 67 besides their male and female servants, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred and thirty-seven; and they had two hundred and forty-five men and women singers. 68 Their horses were seven hundred and thirty-six, their mules two hundred and forty-five, 69 their camels four hundred and thirty-five, and donkeys six thousand seven hundred and twenty.
70 Some of the heads of the fathers’ houses gave to the work of Nehemiah for the treasury one thousand gold drachmas, fifty basins, and thirty priestly garments. 71 Some of the heads of the fathers’ houses gave to the treasury of the work twenty thousand gold drachmas and two thousand two hundred silver minas. 72 And that which the rest of the people gave was twenty thousand gold drachmas, two thousand two hundred silver minas, and sixty-seven priestly garments.
73 So the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, some of the people, the Nethinim, and all Israel dwelt in their cities. When the seventh month came, the sons of Israel were in their cities.
The People Hear the Law
1 Now all the people gathered together as one man in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate; and they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded Israel. 2 So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men and women and all who could hear with understanding on the first day of the seventh month. 3 Then he read from it in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate from morning until midday, before the men and women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law.
4 So Ezra the scribe stood on a platform of wood which they had made for the purpose; and beside him, at his right hand, stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Urijah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah; and at his left hand Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam. 5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. 6 And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God. Then all the people answered, “Amen, amen!” while lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. 7 Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites helped the people to understand the Law; and the people stood in their place. 8 So they read distinctly from the book in the Law of God; and they gave the sense and helped them to understand the reading.
9 Then Nehemiah, who was the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn nor weep.” For all the people wept when they heard the words of the Law. 10 So he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” 11 Thus the Levites quieted all the people, saying, “Be still, for the day is holy; do not be grieved.” 12 And all the people went their way to eat and drink, to send portions and rejoice greatly, because they understood the words that were declared to them.
Feast of Booths Restored
13 Now on the second day the heads of the fathers’ houses of all the people, with the priests and Levites, were gathered to Ezra the scribe in order to understand the words of the Law. 14 And they found written in the Law which the Lord had commanded by Moses that the sons of Israel should dwell in booths during the feast of the seventh month, 15 and that they should announce and proclaim in all their cities and in Jerusalem. And Ezra said, “Go out to the mountain and bring olive branches, branches of oil trees, myrtle branches, palm branches, and branches of leafy trees to make booths, as it is written.”
16 Then the people went out and brought them and made themselves booths, each one on the roof of his house, or in their courtyards or the courts of the house of God, and in the open square of the Water Gate and in the open square of the Gate of Ephraim. 17 So the whole assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and sat under the booths; for since the days of Joshua the son of Nun until that day the sons of Israel had not done so. And there was very great gladness. 18 Also day by day, from the first day until the last day, he read from the Book of the Law of God. And they kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day there was a sacred assembly, according to the prescribed manner.
Psalms 142
1 A psalm by David, when his son persecuted him. O Lord, hear my prayer; Give ear to my supplication in Your truth; Answer me in Your righteousness;
2 Do not enter into judgment with Your servant, For no one living shall become righteous in Your sight.
3 For the enemy persecuted my soul; He humbled my life to the ground; He caused me to dwell in dark places as one long dead,
4 And my spirit was in anguish within me; My heart was troubled within me.
5 I remembered the days of old, And I meditated on all Your works; I meditated on the works of Your hands.
6 I spread out my hands to You; My soul thirsts for You like a waterless land. (Pause)
7 Hear me speedily, O Lord; My spirit faints within me; Turn not Your face from me, Lest I become like those who go down into the pit.
8 Cause me to hear Your mercy in the morning, For I hope in You; Make me know, O Lord, the way wherein I should walk, For I lift up my soul to You.
9 Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord, For to You I flee for refuge.
10 Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; Your good Spirit shall guide me in the land of uprightness.
11 For Your name’s sake, O Lord, give me life; In Your righteousness You shall bring my soul out of affliction.
12 In Your mercy You shall destroy my enemies; You shall utterly destroy all who afflict my soul, For I am Your servant.
Proverbs of Solomon 30
22 Such is the way of an adulterous woman, Who, when she commits adultery, washes herself and says she did nothing wrong.
23 The earth is shaken by three things, And is unable to bear a fourth:
24 If a servant reigns, Or a man without discernment is satiated with food,
25 Or if a maidservant casts out her own mistress, Or a hateful woman marries a good man.
Acts 6
Deacons Ordained
1 Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution.
2 Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables.
3 Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business;
4 but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch,
6 whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them.
7 Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.
Evangelism by the Deacons
8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.
9 Then there arose some from what is called the Synagogue of the Freedmen (Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and those from Cilicia and Asia), disputing with Stephen.
10 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.
11 Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.”
12 And they stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes; and they came upon him, seized him, and brought him to the council.
13 They also set up false witnesses who said, “This man does not cease to speak blasphemous words against this holy place and the law;
14 for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs which Moses delivered to us.”
15 And all who sat in the council, looking steadfastly at him, saw his face as the face of an angel.