Today's Reading

¹In his days Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim became his servant three years: then he turned and rebelled against him.

²The Lord sent against him bands of the Chaldeans, and bands of the Syrians, and bands of the Moabites, and bands of the children of Ammon, and sent them against Judah to destroy it, according to the word of the Lord, which he spoke by his servants the prophets.

³Surely at the commandment of the Lord came this on Judah, to remove them out of his sight, for the sins of Manasseh, according to all that he did,

⁴and also for the innocent blood that he shed; for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood: and the Lord would not pardon.

⁵Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and all that he did, aren't they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

⁶So Jehoiakim slept with his fathers; and Jehoiachin his son reigned in his place.

⁷The king of Egypt did not come again out of his land any more; for the king of Babylon had taken, from the brook of Egypt to the river Euphrates, all that pertained to the king of Egypt.

⁸Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he began to reign; and he reigned in Jerusalem three months: and his mother's name was Nehushta the daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem.

⁹He did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father had done.

¹⁰At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up to Jerusalem, and the city was besieged.

¹¹Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to the city, while his servants were besieging it;

¹²and Jehoiachin the king of Judah went out to the king of Babylon, he, and his mother, and his servants, and his princes, and his officers: and the king of Babylon took him in the eighth year of his reign.

¹³He carried out there all the treasures of the house of the Lord, and the treasures of the king's house, and cut in pieces all the vessels of gold, which Solomon king of Israel had made in the Lord's temple, as the Lord had said.

¹⁴He carried away all Jerusalem, and all the princes, and all the mighty men of valor, even ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and the smiths; none remained, except the poorest sort of the people of the land.

¹⁵He carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon; and the king's mother, and the king's wives, and his officers, and the chief men of the land, carried he into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon.

¹⁶All the men of might, even seven thousand, and the craftsmen and the smiths one thousand, all of them strong and apt for war, even them the king of Babylon brought captive to Babylon.

¹⁷The king of Babylon made Mattaniah, Jehoiachin's father's brother, king is his place, and changed his name to Zedekiah.

¹⁸Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he began to reign; and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem: and his mother's name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.

¹⁹He did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, according to all that Jehoiakim had done.

²⁰For through the anger of the Lord, it happened in Jerusalem and Judah, until he had cast them out from his presence. Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.

¹It happened in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, he and all his army, against Jerusalem, and encamped against it; and they built forts against it around it.

²So the city was besieged to the eleventh year of king Zedekiah.

³On the ninth day of the fourth month the famine was severe in the city, so that there was no bread for the people of the land.

⁴Then a breach was made in the city, and all the men of war fled by night by the way of the gate between the two walls, which was by the king's garden (now the Chaldeans were against the city around it); and the king went by the way of the Arabah.

⁵But the army of the Chaldeans pursued after the king, and overtook him in the plains of Jericho; and all his army was scattered from him.

⁶Then they took the king, and carried him up to the king of Babylon to Riblah; and they gave judgment on him.

⁷They killed the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and put out the eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him in fetters, and carried him to Babylon.

⁸Now in the fifth month, on the seventh day of the month, which was the nineteenth year of king Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, came Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, to Jerusalem.

⁹He burnt the house of the Lord, and the king's house; and all the houses of Jerusalem, even every great house, burnt he with fire.

¹⁰All the army of the Chaldeans, who were with the captain of the guard, broke down the walls around Jerusalem.

¹¹Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive the residue of the people who were left in the city, and those who fell away, who fell to the king of Babylon, and the residue of the multitude.

¹²But the captain of the guard left some of the poorest of the land to work the vineyards and fields.

¹³The Chaldeans broke up the pillars of brass that were in the house of the Lord and the bases and the bronze sea that were in the house of the Lord, and carried the brass pieces to Babylon.

¹⁴They took away the pots, the shovels, the snuffers, the spoons, and all the vessels of brass with which they ministered.

¹⁵The captain of the guard took away the fire pans, the basins, that which was of gold, in gold, and that which was of silver, in silver.

¹⁶The two pillars, the one sea, and the bases, which Solomon had made for the house of the Lord, the brass of all these vessels was without weight.

¹⁷The height of the one pillar was eighteen cubits, and a capital of brass was on it; and the height of the capital was three cubits, with network and pomegranates on the capital around it, all of brass: and like to these had the second pillar with network.

¹⁸The captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, and Zephaniah the second priest, and the three keepers of the threshold:

¹⁹and out of the city he took an officer who was set over the men of war; and five men of those who saw the king's face, who were found in the city; and the scribe, the captain of the army, who mustered the people of the land; and sixty men of the people of the land, who were found in the city.

²⁰Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard took them, and brought them to the king of Babylon to Riblah.

²¹The king of Babylon struck them, and put them to death at Riblah in the land of Hamath. So Judah was carried away captive out of his land.

²²As for the people who were left in the land of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had left, even over them he made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, governor.

²³Now when all the captains of the forces, they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah governor, they came to Gedaliah to Mizpah, even Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, and Jaazaniah the son of the Maacathite, they and their men.

²⁴Gedaliah swore to them and to their men, and said to them, "Do not be afraid because of the servants of the Chaldeans. Dwell in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you."

²⁵But it happened in the seventh month, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, of the royal family came, and ten men with him, and struck Gedaliah, so that he died, and the Jews and the Chaldeans that were with him at Mizpah.

²⁶All the people, both small and great, and the captains of the forces, arose, and came to Egypt; for they were afraid of the Chaldeans.

²⁷It happened in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, that Evilmerodach king of Babylon, in the year that he began to reign, lifted up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah out of prison;

²⁸and he spoke kindly to him, and set his throne above the throne of the kings who were with him in Babylon,

²⁹and changed his prison garments. Jehoiachin ate bread before him continually all the days of his life:

³⁰and for his allowance, there was a continual allowance given him of the king, every day a portion, all the days of his life.

¹Adam, Seth, Enosh,

²Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared,

³Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech,

⁴Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

⁵The sons of Japheth: Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras.

⁶The sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, and Diphath, and Togarmah.

⁷The sons of Javan: Elishah, and Tarshish, Kittim, and Rodanim.

⁸The sons of Ham: Cush, and Mizraim, Put, and Canaan.

⁹The sons of Cush: Seba, and Havilah, and Sabta, and Raama, and Sabteca. The sons of Raamah: Sheba, and Dedan.

¹⁰Cush became the father of Nimrod; he began to be a mighty one in the earth.

¹¹Mizraim became the father of Ludim, and Anamim, and Lehabim, and Naphtuhim,

¹²and Pathrusim, and Casluhim (from whence came the Philistines), and Caphtorim.

¹³Canaan became the father of Sidon his firstborn, and Heth,

¹⁴and the Jebusite, and the Amorite, and the Girgashite,

¹⁵and the Hivite, and the Arkite, and the Sinite,

¹⁶and the Arvadite, and the Zemarite, and the Hamathite.

¹⁷The sons of Shem: Elam, and Asshur, and Arpachshad, and Lud, and Aram, and Uz, and Hul, and Gether, and Meshech.

¹⁸Arpachshad became the father of Shelah, and Shelah became the father of Eber.

¹⁹To Eber were born two sons: the name of the one was Peleg; for in his days the earth was divided; and his brother's name was Joktan.

²⁰Joktan became the father of Almodad, and Sheleph, and Hazarmaveth, and Jerah,

²¹and Hadoram, and Uzal, and Diklah,

²²and Ebal, and Abimael, and Sheba,

²³and Ophir, and Havilah, and Jobab. All these were the sons of Joktan.

²⁴Shem, Arpachshad, Shelah,

²⁵Eber, Peleg, Reu,

²⁶Serug, Nahor, Terah,

²⁷Abram (the same is Abraham).

²⁸The sons of Abraham: Isaac, and Ishmael.

²⁹These are their generations: the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebaioth; then Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam,

³⁰Mishma, and Dumah, Massa, Hadad, and Tema,

³¹Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. These are the sons of Ishmael.

³²The sons of Keturah, Abraham's concubine: she bore Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah. The sons of Jokshan: Sheba, and Dedan.

³³The sons of Midian: Ephah, and Epher, and Hanoch, and Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the sons of Keturah.

³⁴Abraham became the father of Isaac. The sons of Isaac: Esau, and Israel.

³⁵The sons of Esau: Eliphaz, Reuel, and Jeush, and Jalam, and Korah.

³⁶The sons of Eliphaz: Teman, and Omar, Zephi, and Gatam, Kenaz, and Timna, and Amalek.

³⁷The sons of Reuel: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah.

³⁸The sons of Seir: Lotan, and Shobal, and Zibeon, and Anah, and Dishon, and Ezer, and Dishan.

³⁹The sons of Lotan: Hori, and Homam; and Timna was Lotan's sister.

⁴⁰The sons of Shobal: Alian, and Manahath, and Ebal, Shephi, and Onam. The sons of Zibeon: Aiah, and Anah.

⁴¹The sons of Anah: Dishon. The sons of Dishon: Hamran, and Eshban, and Ithran, and Cheran.

⁴²The sons of Ezer: Bilhan, and Zaavan, Jaakan. The sons of Dishan: Uz, and Aran.

⁴³Now these are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom, before there reigned any king over the children of Israel: Bela the son of Beor; and the name of his city was Dinhabah.

⁴⁴Bela died, and Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah reigned in his place.

⁴⁵Jobab died, and Husham of the land of the Temanites reigned in his place.

⁴⁶Husham died, and Hadad the son of Bedad, who struck Midian in the field of Moab, reigned in his place; and the name of his city was Avith.

⁴⁷Hadad died, and Samlah of Masrekah reigned in his place.

⁴⁸Samlah died, and Shaul of Rehoboth by the River reigned in his place.

⁴⁹Shaul died, and Baal Hanan the son of Achbor reigned in his place.

⁵⁰Baal Hanan died, and Hadad reigned in his place; and the name of his city was Pai: and his wife's name was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Mezahab.

⁵¹Hadad died. The chiefs of Edom were: chief Timna, chief Aliah, chief Jetheth,

⁵²chief Oholibamah, chief Elah, chief Pinon,

⁵³chief Kenaz, chief Teman, chief Mibzar,

⁵⁴chief Magdiel, chief Iram. These are the chiefs of Edom.

¹After five days, the high priest, Ananias, came down with certain elders and an orator, one Tertullus. They informed the governor against Paul.

²When he was called, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, "Seeing that by you we enjoy much peace, and that by your foresight reforms are coming to this nation,

³we accept it in all ways and in all places, most excellent Felix, with all thankfulness.

⁴But, that I do not delay you, I entreat you to bear with us and hear a few words.

⁵For we have found this man to be a plague, an instigator of insurrections among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.

⁶He even tried to profane the temple, and we arrested him.

⁷

⁸By examining him yourself you may ascertain all these things of which we accuse him."

⁹The Judeans also joined in the attack, affirming that these things were so.

¹⁰When the governor had beckoned to him to speak, Paul answered, "Because I know that you have been a judge of this nation for many years, I cheerfully make my defense,

¹¹seeing that you can recognize that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship at Jerusalem.

¹²In the temple they did not find me disputing with anyone or stirring up a crowd, either in the synagogues, or in the city.

¹³Nor can they prove to you the things of which they now accuse me.

¹⁴But this I confess to you, that after the Way, which they call a sect, so I serve the God of our fathers, believing all things which are according to the Law, and which are written in the Prophets;

¹⁵having hope toward God, which these also themselves look for, that there will be a resurrection, both of the just and unjust.

¹⁶Herein I also practice always having a conscience void of offense toward God and men.

¹⁷Now after some years, I came to bring gifts for the needy to my nation, and offerings;

¹⁸amid which certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, not with a mob, nor with turmoil.

¹⁹They ought to have been here before you, and to make accusation, if they had anything against me.

²⁰Or else let these men themselves say what injustice they found in me when I stood before the council,

²¹unless it is for this one thing that I shouted out standing among them, 'Concerning the resurrection of the dead I am being judged before you today!'"

²²But Felix, having more exact knowledge concerning the Way, deferred them, saying, "When Lysias, the commanding officer, comes down, I will decide your case."

²³He ordered the centurion that he should be kept in custody, and should have some privileges, and not to forbid any of his friends to serve him or to visit him.

²⁴But after some days, Felix came with Drusilla, his wife, who was a Jewess, and sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ Jesus.

²⁵As he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was terrified, and answered, "Go your way for this time, and when it is convenient for me, I will summon you."

²⁶Meanwhile, he also hoped that money would be given to him by Paul. Therefore also he sent for him more often, and talked with him.

²⁷But when two years were fulfilled, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, and desiring to gain favor with the Judeans, Felix left Paul in bonds.

¹Praise Yah! Praise, you servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord.

²Blessed be the name of the Lord, from this time forth and forevermore.

³From the rising of the sun to the going down of the same, The Lord's name is to be praised.

⁴The Lord is high above all nations, his glory above the heavens.

⁵Who is like the Lord, our God, who has his seat on high,

⁶Who stoops down to see in heaven and in the earth?

⁷He raises up the poor out of the dust. Lifts up the needy from the ash heap;

⁸that he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people.

⁹He settles the barren woman in her home, as a joyful mother of children. Praise Yah!

¹Wine is a mocker, and beer is a brawler. Whoever is led astray by them is not wise.

²The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion. He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.

³It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife; but every fool will be quarreling.

⁴The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter; therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.

⁵Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.

⁶Many men claim to be men of unfailing love, but who can find a faithful man?

⁷A righteous man walks in integrity. Blessed are his children after him.

⁸A king who sits on the throne of judgment scatters away all evil with his eyes.

⁹Who can say, "I have made my heart pure. I am clean and without sin?"

¹⁰Differing weights and differing measures, both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord.

¹¹Even a child makes himself known by his doings, whether his work is pure, and whether it is right.

¹²The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, The Lord has made even both of them.

¹³Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty. Open your eyes, and you shall be satisfied with bread.

¹⁴"It's no good, it's no good," says the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then he boasts.

¹⁵There is gold and abundance of rubies; but the lips of knowledge are a rare jewel.

¹⁶Take the garment of one who puts up collateral for a stranger; and hold him in pledge for a wayward woman.

¹⁷Fraudulent food is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.

¹⁸Plans are established by advice; by wise guidance you wage war!

¹⁹He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets; therefore do not keep company with him who opens wide his lips.

²⁰Whoever curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.

²¹An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning, won't be blessed in the end.

²²Do not say, "I will pay back evil." Wait for the Lord, and he will save you.

²³The Lord detests differing weights, and dishonest scales are not pleasing.

²⁴A man's steps are from the Lord; how then can man understand his way?

²⁵It is a snare to a man to make a rash dedication, then later to consider his vows.

²⁶A wise king winnows out the wicked, and drives the threshing wheel over them.

²⁷The spirit of man is the Lord's lamp, searching all his innermost parts.

²⁸Love and faithfulness keep the king safe. His throne is sustained by love.

²⁹The glory of young men is their strength. The splendor of old men is their gray hair.

³⁰Wounding blows cleanse away evil, and beatings purge the innermost parts.