Day 178: Psalms 144 - 150

Chapter 144  

My Rock and My Fortress
Of David

1: Blessed be the LORD, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle;
2: he is my steadfast love and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield and he in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me.
3: O LORD, what is man that you regard him, or the son of man that you think of him?
4: Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow.
5: Bow your heavens, O LORD, and come down! Touch the mountains so that they smoke!
6: Flash forth the lightning and scatter them; send out your arrows and rout them!
7: Stretch out your hand from on high; rescue me and deliver me from the many waters,
from the hand of foreigners,
8: whose mouths speak lies and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.
9: I will sing a new song to you, O God; upon a ten-stringed harp I will play to you,
10: who gives victory to king, who rescue David his servant from the cruel sword.
11: Rescue me and deliver me, from the hand of foreigners, whose mouths speak lies
and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.
12: May our sons in their youth be like plants full grown, our daughters like corner pillars
cut for the structure of a palace;
13: may our granaries be full, providing all kinds of produce; may our sheep bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our fields;
14: may our cattle be heavy with young, suffering no mishap or failure in bearing; may there be no cry of distress in our streets!
15: Blessed are the people to whom such blessings fall! Blessed are the people whose God is the LORD!

Chapter 145  

Great Is the LORD
A Song of Praise. Of David

1: I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever.
2: Every day I will bless you, and praise your name forever and ever.
3: Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable.
4: One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.
5: On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.
6: They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds, and I will declare your greatness.
7: They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.
8: The LORD is gracious and merciful; slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
9: The LORD is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made.
10: All your works shall give thanks to you, O LORD, and all your saints shall bless you!
11: They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom and tell of your power,
12: to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds, and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
13: Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations. [The LORD is faithful in all his words,and kind in all his works.]
14: The LORD upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down.
15: The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season.
16: You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing.
17: The LORD is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works.
18: The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.
19: He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them.
20: The LORD preserves all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.
21: My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD, and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.

Chapter 146  

Put Not Your Trust in Princes

1: Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, O my soul!
2: I will praise the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.
3: Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation.
4: When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish.
5: Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God,
6: who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever;
7: who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets the prisoners free;
8: the LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous.
9: The LORD watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.
10: The LORD will reign forever, your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the LORD!

Chapter 147  

He Heals the Brokenhearted

1: Praise the LORD! For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting.
2: The LORD builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the outcasts of Israel.
3: He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
4: He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names.
5: Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure.
6: The LORD lifts up the humble; he casts the wicked to the ground.
7: Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; make melody to our God on the lyre!
8: He covers the heavens with clouds; he prepares rain for the earth; he makes grass grow on the hills.
9: He gives to the beasts their food, and to the young ravens that cry.
10: His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the legs of a man,
11: but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.
12: Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O Zion!
13: For he strengthens the bars of your gates; he blesses your children within you.
14: He makes peace in your borders; he fills you with the finest of the wheat.
15: He sends out his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly.
16: He gives snow like wool; he scatters frost like ashes.
17: He hurls down his crystals of ice like crumbs; who can stand before his cold?
18: He sends out his word, and melts them; he makes his wind blow and the waters flow.
19: He declares his word to Jacob, his statutes and rules to Israel.
20: He has not dealt thus with any other nation; they do not know his rules. Praise the LORD!

Chapter 148  

Praise the Name of the LORD

1: Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD from the heavens; praise him in the heights!
2: Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his hosts!
3: Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars!
4: Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens!
5: Let them praise the name of the LORD! For he commanded and they were created.
6: And he established them forever and ever; he gave a decree, and it shall not pass away.
7: Praise the LORD from the earth, you great sea creatures and all deeps,
8: fire and hail, snow and mist, stormy wind fulfilling his word!
9: Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars!
10: Beasts and all livestock, creeping things and flying birds!
11: Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth!
12: Young men and maidens together, old men and children!
13: Let them praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted; his majesty is above earth and heaven.
14: He has raised up a horn for his people, praise for all his saints, for the people of Israel who are near to him. Praise the LORD!

Chapter 149  

Sing to the LORD a New Song

1: Praise the LORD! Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise in the assembly of the godly!
2: Let Israel be glad in his Maker; let the children of Zion rejoice in their King!
3: Let them praise his name with dancing, making melody to him with tambourine and lyre!
4: For the LORD takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with salvation.
5: Let the godly exult in glory; let them sing for joy on their beds.
6: Let the high praises of God be in their throats and two-edged swords in their hands,
7: to execute vengeance on the nations and punishments on the peoples,
8: to bind their kings with chains and their nobles with fetters of iron,
9: to execute on them the judgment written! This is honor for all his godly ones. Praise the LORD!

Chapter 150  

Let Everything Praise the LORD

1: Praise the LORD! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens!
2: Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness!
3: Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp!
4: Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe!
5: Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals!
6: Let everything that has breath praise the LORD! Praise the LORD!

Day 138:1 Maccabaeus 1 - 2

Chapter 1



1 After Alexander son of Philip, the Macedonian, who came from the land of Kittim, had defeated King Darius of the Persians and the Medes, he succeeded him as king. (He had previously become king of Greece.)
2 He fought many battles, conquered strongholds, and put to death the kings of the earth.
3 He advanced to the ends of the earth, and plundered many nations. When the earth became quiet before him, he was exalted, and his heart was lifted up.
4 He gathered a very strong army and ruled over countries, nations, and princes, and they became tributary to him.
5 After this he fell sick and perceived that he was dying.
6 So he summoned his most honored officers, who had been brought up with him from youth, and divided his kingdom among them while he was still alive.
7 And after Alexander had reigned twelve years, he died.
8 Then his officers began to rule, each in his own place.
9 They all put on crowns after his death, and so did their descendants after them for many years; and they caused many evils on the earth.
10 From them came forth a sinful root, Antiochus Epiphanes, son of King Antiochus; he had been a hostage in Rome. He began to reign in the one hundred thirty-seventh year of the kingdom of the Greeks.
11 In those days certain renegades came out from Israel and misled many, saying, "Let us go and make a covenant with the Gentiles around us, for since we separated from them many disasters have come upon us."
12 This proposal pleased them,
13 and some of the people eagerly went to the king, who authorized them to observe the ordinances of the Gentiles.
14 So they built a gymnasium in Jerusalem, according to Gentile custom,
15 and removed the marks of circumcision, and abandoned the holy covenant. They joined with the Gentiles and sold themselves to do evil.
16 When Antiochus saw that his kingdom was established, he determined to become king of the land of Egypt, in order that he might reign over both kingdoms.
17 So he invaded Egypt with a strong force, with chariots and elephants and cavalry and with a large fleet.
18 He engaged King Ptolemy of Egypt in battle, and Ptolemy turned and fled before him, and many were wounded and fell.
19 They captured the fortified cities in the land of Egypt, and he plundered the land of Egypt.
20 After subduing Egypt, Antiochus returned in the one hundred forty-third year. He went up against Israel and came to Jerusalem with a strong force.
21 He arrogantly entered the sanctuary and took the golden altar, the lampstand for the light, and all its utensils.
22 He took also the table for the bread of the Presence, the cups for drink offerings, the bowls, the golden censers, the curtain, the crowns, and the gold decoration on the front of the temple; he stripped it all off.
23 He took the silver and the gold, and the costly vessels; he took also the hidden treasures that he found.
24 Taking them all, he went into his own land. He shed much blood, and spoke with great arrogance.
25 Israel mourned deeply in every community,
26 rulers and elders groaned, young women and young men became faint, the beauty of the women faded.
27 Every bridegroom took up the lament; she who sat in the bridal chamber was mourning.
28 Even the land trembled for its inhabitants, and all the house of Jacob was clothed with shame.
29 Two years later the king sent to the cities of Judah a chief collector of tribute, and he came to Jerusalem with a large force.
30 Deceitfully he spoke peaceable words to them, and they believed him; but he suddenly fell upon the city, dealt it a severe blow, and destroyed many people of Israel.
31 He plundered the city, burned it with fire, and tore down its houses and its surrounding walls.
32 They took captive the women and children, and seized the livestock.
33 Then they fortified the city of David with a great strong wall and strong towers, and it became their citadel.
34 They stationed there a sinful people, men who were renegades. These strengthened their position;
35 they stored up arms and food, and collecting the spoils of Jerusalem they stored them there, and became a great menace,
36 for the citadel became an ambush against the sanctuary, an evil adversary of Israel at all times.
37 On every side of the sanctuary they shed innocent blood; they even defiled the sanctuary.
38 Because of them the residents of Jerusalem fled; she became a dwelling of strangers; she became strange to her offspring, and her children forsook her.
39 Her sanctuary became desolate like a desert; her feasts were turned into mourning, her sabbaths into a reproach, her honor into contempt.
40 Her dishonor now grew as great as her glory; her exaltation was turned into mourning.
41 Then the king wrote to his whole kingdom that all should be one people,
42 and that all should give up their particular customs.
43 All the Gentiles accepted the command of the king. Many even from Israel gladly adopted his religion; they sacrificed to idols and profaned the sabbath.
44 And the king sent letters by messengers to Jerusalem and the towns of Judah; he directed them to follow customs strange to the land,
45 to forbid burnt offerings and sacrifices and drink offerings in the sanctuary, to profane sabbaths and festivals,
46 to defile the sanctuary and the priests,
47 to build altars and sacred precincts and shrines for idols, to sacrifice swine and other unclean animals,
48 and to leave their sons uncircumcised. They were to make themselves abominable by everything unclean and profane,
49 so that they would forget the law and change all the ordinances.
50 He added, "And whoever does not obey the command of the king shall die."
51 In such words he wrote to his whole kingdom. He appointed inspectors over all the people and commanded the towns of Judah to offer sacrifice, town by town.
52 Many of the people, everyone who forsook the law, joined them, and they did evil in the land;
53 they drove Israel into hiding in every place of refuge they had.
54 Now on the fifteenth day of Chislev, in the one hundred forty-fifth year, they erected a desolating sacrilege on the altar of burnt offering. They also built altars in the surrounding towns of Judah,
55 and offered incense at the doors of the houses and in the streets.
56 The books of the law that they found they tore to pieces and burned with fire.
57 Anyone found possessing the book of the covenant, or anyone who adhered to the law, was condemned to death by decree of the king.
58 They kept using violence against Israel, against those who were found month after month in the towns.
59 On the twenty-fifth day of the month they offered sacrifice on the altar that was on top of the altar of burnt offering.
60 According to the decree, they put to death the women who had their children circumcised,
61 and their families and those who circumcised them; and they hung the infants from their mothers' necks.
62 But many in Israel stood firm and were resolved in their hearts not to eat unclean food.
63 They chose to die rather than to be defiled by food or to profane the holy covenant; and they did die.
64: Very great wrath came upon Israel.

Chapter 2



1: In those days Mattathias son of John son of Simeon, a priest of the family of Joarib, moved from Jerusalem and settled in Modein.
2: He had five sons, John surnamed Gaddi,
3: Simon called Thassi,
4: Judas called Maccabeus,
5: Eleazar called Avaran, and Jonathan called Apphus.
6: He saw the blasphemies being committed in Judah and Jerusalem,
7: and said, "Alas! Why was I born to see this, the ruin of my people, the ruin of the holy city, and to live there when it was given over to the enemy, the sanctuary given over to aliens?
8: Her temple has become like a person without honor;
9: her glorious vessels have been carried into exile. Her infants have been killed in her streets, her youths by the sword of the foe.
10: What nation has not inherited her palaces and has not seized her spoils?
11: All her adornment has been taken away; no longer free, she has become a slave.
12: And see, our holy place, our beauty, and our glory have been laid waste; the Gentiles have profaned them.
13: Why should we live any longer?"
14: Then Mattathias and his sons tore their clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourned greatly.
15: The king's officers who were enforcing the apostasy came to the town of Modein to make them offer sacrifice.
16 Many from Israel came to them; and Mattathias and his sons were assembled.
17 Then the king's officers spoke to Mattathias as follows: "You are a leader, honored and great in this town, and supported by sons and brothers.
18 Now be the first to come and do what the king commands, as all the Gentiles and the people of Judah and those that are left in Jerusalem have done. Then you and your sons will be numbered among the Friends of the king, and you and your sons will be honored with silver and gold and many gifts."
19 But Mattathias answered and said in a loud voice: "Even if all the nations that live under the rule of the king obey him, and have chosen to obey his commandments, everyone of them abandoning the religion of their ancestors,
20 I and my sons and my brothers will continue to live by the covenant of our ancestors.
21 Far be it from us to desert the law and the ordinances.
22 We will not obey the king's words by turning aside from our religion to the right hand or to the left."
23 When he had finished speaking these words, a Jew came forward in the sight of all to offer sacrifice on the altar in Modein, according to the king's command.
24 When Mattathias saw it, he burned with zeal and his heart was stirred. He gave vent to righteous anger; he ran and killed him on the altar.
25 At the same time he killed the king's officer who was forcing them to sacrifice, and he tore down the altar.
26 Thus he burned with zeal for the law, just as Phinehas did against Zimri son of Salu.
27 Then Mattathias cried out in the town with a loud voice, saying: "Let every one who is zealous for the law and supports the covenant come out with me!"
28 Then he and his sons fled to the hills and left all that they had in the town.
29 At that time many who were seeking righteousness and justice went down to the wilderness to live there,
30 they, their sons, their wives, and their livestock, because troubles pressed heavily upon them.
31 And it was reported to the king's officers, and to the troops in Jerusalem the city of David, that those who had rejected the king's command had gone down to the hiding places in the wilderness.
32 Many pursued them, and overtook them; they encamped opposite them and prepared for battle against them on the sabbath day.
33 They said to them, "Enough of this! Come out and do what the king commands, and you will live."
34 But they said, "We will not come out, nor will we do what the king commands and so profane the sabbath day."
35 Then the enemy quickly attacked them.
36 But they did not answer them or hurl a stone at them or block up their hiding places,
37 for they said, "Let us all die in our innocence; heaven and earth testify for us that you are killing us unjustly."
38 So they attacked them on the sabbath, and they died, with their wives and children and livestock, to the number of a thousand persons.
39 When Mattathias and his friends learned of it, they mourned for them deeply.
40 And all said to their neighbors: "If we all do as our kindred have done and refuse to fight with the Gentiles for our lives and for our ordinances, they will quickly destroy us from the earth."
41 So they made this decision that day: "Let us fight against anyone who comes to attack us on the sabbath day; let us not all die as our kindred died in their hiding places."
42 Then there united with them a company of Hasideans, mighty warriors of Israel, all who offered themselves willingly for the law.
43 And all who became fugitives to escape their troubles joined them and reinforced them.
44 They organized an army, and struck down sinners in their anger and renegades in their wrath; the survivors fled to the Gentiles for safety.
45 And Mattathias and his friends went around and tore down the altars;
46 they forcibly circumcised all the uncircumcised boys that they found within the borders of Israel.
47 They hunted down the arrogant, and the work prospered in their hands.
48 They rescued the law out of the hands of the Gentiles and kings, and they never let the sinner gain the upper hand.
49 Now the days drew near for Mattathias to die, and he said to his sons: "Arrogance and scorn have now become strong; it is a time of ruin and furious anger.
50 Now, my children, show zeal for the law, and give your lives for the covenant of our ancestors.
51 "Remember the deeds of the ancestors, which they did in their generations; and you will receive great honor and an everlasting name.
52 Was not Abraham found faithful when tested, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness?
53 Joseph in the time of his distress kept the commandment, and became lord of Egypt.
54 Phinehas our ancestor, because he was deeply zealous, received the covenant of everlasting priesthood.
55 Joshua, because he fulfilled the command, became a judge in Israel.
56 Caleb, because he testified in the assembly, received an inheritance in the land.
57 David, because he was merciful, inherited the throne of the kingdom forever.
58 Elijah, because of great zeal for the law, was taken up into heaven.
59 Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael believed and were saved from the flame.
60 Daniel, because of his innocence, was delivered from the mouth of the lions.
61 "And so observe, from generation to generation, that none of those who put their trust in him will lack strength.
62 Do not fear the words of sinners, for their splendor will turn into dung and worms.
63 Today they will be exalted, but tomorrow they will not be found, because they will have returned to the dust, and their plans will have perished.
64 My children, be courageous and grow strong in the law, for by it you will gain honor.
65 "Here is your brother Simeon who, I know, is wise in counsel; always listen to him; he shall be your father.
66 Judas Maccabeus has been a mighty warrior from his youth; he shall command the army for you and fight the battle against the peoples.
67 You shall rally around you all who observe the law, and avenge the wrong done to your people.
68 Pay back the Gentiles in full, and obey the commands of the law."
69 Then he blessed them, and was gathered to his ancestors.
70 He died in the one hundred forty-sixth year and was buried in the tomb of his ancestors at Modein. And all Israel mourned for him with great lamentation.

Day 136: Esther - Part 2

 

Chapter 4



1 When Mordecai learned all that had been done, Mordecai tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes, and went through the city, wailing with a loud and bitter cry;
2 he went up to the entrance of the king's gate, for no one might enter the king's gate clothed with sackcloth.
3 In every province, wherever the king's command and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting and weeping and lamenting, and most of them lay in sackcloth and ashes.
4 When Esther's maids and her eunuchs came and told her, the queen was deeply distressed; she sent garments to clothe Mordecai, so that he might take off his sackcloth; but he would not accept them.
5 Then Esther called for Hathach, one of the king's eunuchs, who had been appointed to attend her, and ordered him to go to Mordecai to learn what was happening and why.
6 Hathach went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king's gate,
7 and Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, and the exact sum of money that Haman had promised to pay into the king's treasuries for the destruction of the Jews.
8 Mordecai also gave him a copy of the written decree issued in Susa for their destruction, that he might show it to Esther, explain it to her, and charge her to go to the king to make supplication to him and entreat him for her people.
9 Hathach went and told Esther what Mordecai had said.
10 Then Esther spoke to Hathach and gave him a message for Mordecai, saying,
11 "All the king's servants and the people of the king's provinces know that if any man or woman goes to the king inside the inner court without being called, there is but one law—all alike are to be put to death. Only if the king holds out the golden scepter to someone, may that person live. I myself have not been called to come in to the king for thirty days."
12 When they told Mordecai what Esther had said,
13 Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, "Do not think that in the king's palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews.
14 For if you keep silence at such a time as this, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another quarter, but you and your father's family will perish. Who knows? Perhaps you have come to royal dignity for just such a time as this."
15 Then Esther said in reply to Mordecai,
16 "Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will also fast as you do. After that I will go to the king, though it is against the law; and if I perish, I perish."
17 Mordecai then went away and did everything as Esther had ordered him.


ADDITION C

Chapter 13



8 Then Mordecai prayed to the Lord, calling to remembrance all the works of the Lord.
9 He said, "O Lord, Lord, you rule as King over all things, for the universe is in your power and there is no one who can oppose you when it is your will to save Israel,
10 for you have made heaven and earth and every wonderful thing under heaven.
11 You are Lord of all, and there is no one who can resist you, the Lord.
12 You know all things; you know, O Lord, that it was not in insolence or pride or for any love of glory that I did this, and refused to bow down to this proud Haman;
13 for I would have been willing to kiss the soles of his feet to save Israel!
14 But I did this so that I might not set human glory above the glory of God, and I will not bow down to anyone but you, who are my Lord; and I will not do these things in pride.
15 And now, O Lord God and King, God of Abraham, spare your people; for the eyes of our foes are upon us to annihilate us, and they desire to destroy the inheritance that has been yours from the beginning.
16 Do not neglect your portion, which you redeemed for yourself out of the land of Egypt.
17 Hear my prayer, and have mercy upon your inheritance; turn our mourning into feasting that we may live and sing praise to your name, O Lord; do not destroy the lips of those who praise you."
18 And all Israel cried out mightily, for their death was before their eyes.

Chapter 14



1 Then Queen Esther, seized with deadly anxiety, fled to the Lord.
2 She took off her splendid apparel and put on the garments of distress and mourning, and instead of costly perfumes she covered her head with ashes and dung, and she utterly humbled her body; every part that she loved to adorn she covered with her tangled hair.
3 She prayed to the Lord God of Israel, and said: "O my Lord, you only are our king; help me, who am alone and have no helper but you,
4 for my danger is in my hand.
5 Ever since I was born I have heard in the tribe of my family that you, O Lord, took Israel out of all the nations, and our ancestors from among all their forebears, for an everlasting inheritance, and that you did for them all that you promised.
6 And now we have sinned before you, and you have handed us over to our enemies
7 because we glorified their gods. You are righteous, O Lord!
8 And now they are not satisfied that we are in bitter slavery, but they have covenanted with their idols
9 to abolish what your mouth has ordained, and to destroy your inheritance, to stop the mouths of those who praise you and to quench your altar and the glory of your house,
10 to open the mouths of the nations for the praise of vain idols, and to magnify forever a mortal king.
11 "O Lord, do not surrender your scepter to what has no being; and do not let them laugh at our downfall; but turn their plan against them, and make an example of him who began this against us.
12 Remember, O Lord; make yourself known in this time of our affliction, and give me courage, O King of the gods and Master of all dominion!
13 Put eloquent speech in my mouth before the lion, and turn his heart to hate the man who is fighting against us, so that there may be an end of him and those who agree with him.
14 But save us by your hand, and help me, who am alone and have no helper but you, O Lord.
15 You have knowledge of all things, and you know that I hate the splendor of the wicked and abhor the bed of the uncircumcised and of any alien.
16 You know my necessity—that I abhor the sign of my proud position, which is upon my head on days when I appear in public. I abhor it like a filthy rag, and I do not wear it on the days when I am at leisure.
17 And your servant has not eaten at Haman's table, and I have not honored the king's feast or drunk the wine of libations.
18 Your servant has had no joy since the day that I was brought here until now, except in you, O Lord God of Abraham.
19 O God, whose might is over all, hear the voice of the despairing, and save us from the hands of evildoers. And save me from my fear!"
END OF ADDITION C

Chapter 5



1 On the third day, Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king's palace, opposite the king's hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne inside the palace opposite the entrance to the palace.
2 As soon as the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she won his favor and he held out to her the golden scepter that was in his hand. Then Esther approached and touched the top of the scepter.

ADDITION D

Chapter 15



1 On the third day, when she ended her prayer, she took off the garments in which she had worshiped, and arrayed herself in splendid attire.
2 Then, majestically adorned, after invoking the aid of the all-seeing God and Savior, she took two maids with her;

3 on one she leaned gently for support,
4 while the other followed, carrying her train.
5 She was radiant with perfect beauty, and she looked happy, as if beloved, but her heart was frozen with fear.
6 When she had gone through all the doors, she stood before the king. He was seated on his royal throne, clothed in the full array of his majesty, all covered with gold and precious stones. He was most terrifying.
7 Lifting his face, flushed with splendor, he looked at her in fierce anger. The queen faltered, and turned pale and faint, and collapsed on the head of the maid who went in front of her.
8 Then God changed the spirit of the king to gentleness, and in alarm he sprang from his throne and took her in his arms until she came to herself. He comforted her with soothing words, and said to her,
9 "What is it, Esther? I am your husband. Take courage;
10 You shall not die, for our law applies only to our subjects. Come near."
11 Then he raised the golden scepter and touched her neck with it;
12 he embraced her, and said, "Speak to me."
13 She said to him, "I saw you, my lord, like an angel of God, and my heart was shaken with fear at your glory.
14 For you are wonderful, my lord, and your countenance is full of grace."
15 And while she was speaking, she fainted and fell.
16 Then the king was agitated, and all his servants tried to comfort her.
END OF ADDITION D

Chapter 5



3 The king said to her, "What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given you, even to the half of my kingdom."
4 Then Esther said, "If it pleases the king, let the king and Haman come today to a banquet that I have prepared for the king."
5 Then the king said, "Bring Haman quickly, so that we may do as Esther desires." So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared.
6 While they were drinking wine, the king said to Esther, "What is your petition? It shall be granted you. And what is your request? Even to the half of my kingdom, it shall be fulfilled."
7 Then Esther said, "This is my petition and request:
8 If I have won the king's favor, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and fulfill my request, let the king and Haman come tomorrow to the banquet that I will prepare for them, and then I will do as the king has said."
9 Haman went out that day happy and in good spirits. But when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, and observed that he neither rose nor trembled before him, he was infuriated with Mordecai;
10 nevertheless Haman restrained himself and went home. Then he sent and called for his friends and his wife Zeresh,
11 and Haman recounted to them the splendor of his riches, the number of his sons, all the promotions with which the king had honored him, and how he had advanced him above the officials and the ministers of the king.
12 Haman added, "Even Queen Esther let no one but myself come with the king to the banquet that she prepared. Tomorrow also I am invited by her, together with the king.
13 Yet all this does me no good so long as I see the Jew Mordecai sitting at the king's gate."
14 Then his wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, "Let a gallows fifty cubits high be made, and in the morning tell the king to have Mordecai hanged on it; then go with the king to the banquet in good spirits." This advice pleased Haman, and he had the gallows made.

Chapter 6



1 On that night the king could not sleep, and he gave orders to bring the book of records, the annals, and they were read to the king.
2 It was found written how Mordecai had told about Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's eunuchs, who guarded the threshold, and who had conspired to assassinate King Ahasuerus.
3 Then the king said, "What honor or distinction has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?" The king's servants who attended him said, "Nothing has been done for him."
4 The king said, "Who is in the court?" Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the king's palace to speak to the king about having Mordecai hanged on the gallows that he had prepared for him.
5 So the king's servants told him, "Haman is there, standing in the court." The king said, "Let him come in."
6 So Haman came in, and the king said to him, "What shall be done for the man whom the king wishes to honor?" Haman said to himself, "Whom would the king wish to honor more than me?"
7 So Haman said to the king, "For the man whom the king wishes to honor,
8 let royal robes be brought, which the king has worn, and a horse that the king has ridden, with a royal crown on its head.
9 Let the robes and the horse be handed over to one of the king's most noble officials; let him robe the man whom the king wishes to honor, and let him conduct the man on horseback through the open square of the city, proclaiming before him: "Thus shall it be done for the man whom the king wishes to honor.' "
10 Then the king said to Haman, "Quickly, take the robes and the horse, as you have said, and do so to the Jew Mordecai who sits at the king's gate. Leave out nothing that you have mentioned."
11 So Haman took the robes and the horse and robed Mordecai and led him riding through the open square of the city, proclaiming, "Thus shall it be done for the man whom the king wishes to honor."
12 Then Mordecai returned to the king's gate, but Haman hurried to his house, mourning and with his head covered.
13 When Haman told his wife Zeresh and all his friends everything that had happened to him, his advisers and his wife Zeresh said to him, "If Mordecai, before whom your downfall has begun, is of the Jewish people, you will not prevail against him, but will surely fall before him."
14 While they were still talking with him, the king's eunuchs arrived and hurried Haman off to the banquet that Esther had prepared.

Chapter 7



1 So the king and Haman went in to feast with Queen Esther.
2 On the second day, as they were drinking wine, the king again said to Esther, "What is your petition, Queen Esther? It shall be granted you. And what is your request? Even to the half of my kingdom, it shall be fulfilled."
3 Then Queen Esther answered, "If I have won your favor, O king, and if it pleases the king, let my life be given me—that is my petition—and the lives of my people—that is my request.
4 For we have been sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be killed, and to be annihilated. If we had been sold merely as slaves, men and women, I would have held my peace; but no enemy can compensate for this damage to the king."
5 Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther, "Who is he, and where is he, who has presumed to do this?"
6 Esther said, "A foe and enemy, this wicked Haman!" Then Haman was terrified before the king and the queen.
7 The king rose from the feast in wrath and went into the palace garden, but Haman stayed to beg his life from Queen Esther, for he saw that the king had determined to destroy him.
8 When the king returned from the palace garden to the banquet hall, Haman had thrown himself on the couch where Esther was reclining; and the king said, "Will he even assault the queen in my presence, in my own house?" As the words left the mouth of the king, they covered Haman's face.
9 Then Harbona, one of the eunuchs in attendance on the king, said, "Look, the very gallows that Haman has prepared for Mordecai, whose word saved the king, stands at Haman's house, fifty cubits high." And the king said, "Hang him on that."
10 So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the anger of the king abated.

Day 110: 1 Chronicles 27 - 29

CHAPTER – 27

1 This is the list of the people of Israel, the heads of families, the commanders of the thousands and the hundreds, and their officers who served the king in all matters concerning the divisions that came and went, month after month throughout the year, each division numbering twenty-four thousand: 
2 Jashobeam son of Zabdiel was in charge of the first division in the first month; in his division were twenty-four thousand. 
3 He was a descendant of Perez, and was chief of all the commanders of the army for the first month. 
4 Dodai the Ahohite was in charge of the division of the second month; Mikloth was the chief officer of his division. In his division were twenty-four thousand. 
5 The third commander, for the third month, was Benaiah son of the priest Jehoiada, as chief; in his division were twenty-four thousand. 
6 This is the Benaiah who was a mighty man of the Thirty and in command of the Thirty; his son Ammizabad was in charge of his division. 
7 Asahel brother of Joab was fourth, for the fourth month, and his son Zebadiah after him; in his division were twenty-four thousand. 
8 The fifth commander, for the fifth month, was Shamhuth, the Izrahite; in his division were twenty-four thousand. 
9 Sixth, for the sixth month, was Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite; in his division were twenty-four thousand. 
10 Seventh, for the seventh month, was Helez the Pelonite, of the Ephraimites; in his division were twenty-four thousand. 
11 Eighth, for the eighth month, was Sibbecai the Hushathite, of the Zerahites; in his division were twenty-four thousand. 
12 Ninth, for the ninth month, was Abiezer of Anathoth, a Benjaminite; in his division were twenty-four thousand. 
13 Tenth, for the tenth month, was Maharai of Netophah, of the Zerahites; in his division were twenty-four thousand. 
14 Eleventh, for the eleventh month, was Benaiah of Pirathon, of the Ephraimites; in his division were twenty-four thousand. 
15 Twelfth, for the twelfth month, was Heldai the Netophathite, of Othniel; in his division were twenty-four thousand. 
16 Over the tribes of Israel, for the Reubenites, Eliezer son of Zichri was chief officer; for the Simeonites, Shephatiah son of Maacah; 
17 for Levi, Hashabiah son of Kemuel; for Aaron, Zadok; 
18 for Judah, Elihu, one of David's brothers; for Issachar, Omri son of Michael; 
19 for Zebulun, Ishmaiah son of Obadiah; for Naphtali, Jerimoth son of Azriel; 
20 for the Ephraimites, Hoshea son of Azaziah; for the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joel son of Pedaiah; 
21 for the half-tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo son of Zechariah; for Benjamin, Jaasiel son of Abner; 
22 for Dan, Azarel son of Jeroham. These were the leaders of the tribes of Israel. 
23 David did not count those below twenty years of age, for the Lord had promised to make Israel as numerous as the stars of heaven. 
24 Joab son of Zeruiah began to count them, but did not finish; yet wrath came upon Israel for this, and the number was not entered into the account of the Annals of King David. 
25 Over the king's treasuries was Azmaveth son of Adiel. Over the treasuries in the country, in the cities, in the villages and in the towers, was Jonathan son of Uzziah. 
26 Over those who did the work of the field, tilling the soil, was Ezri son of Chelub. 
27 Over the vineyards was Shimei the Ramathite. Over the produce of the vineyards for the wine cellars was Zabdi the Shiphmite. 
28 Over the olive and sycamore trees in the Shephelah was Baal-hanan the Gederite. Over the stores of oil was Joash. 
29 Over the herds that pastured in Sharon was Shitrai the Sharonite. Over the herds in the valleys was Shaphat son of Adlai. 
30 Over the camels was Obil the Ishmaelite. Over the donkeys was Jehdeiah the Meronothite. Over the flocks was Jaziz the Hagrite. 
31 All these were stewards of King David's property. 
32 Jonathan, David's uncle, was a counselor, being a man of understanding and a scribe; Jehiel son of Hachmoni attended the king's sons. 
33 Ahithophel was the king's counselor, and Hushai the Archite was the king's friend. 
34 After Ahithophel came Jehoiada son of Benaiah, and Abiathar. Joab was commander of the king's army. 

CHAPTER – 28

1 David assembled at Jerusalem all the officials of Israel, the officials of the tribes, the officers of the divisions that served the king, the commanders of the thousands, the commanders of the hundreds, the stewards of all the property and cattle of the king and his sons, together with the palace officials, the mighty warriors, and all the warriors. 
2 Then King David rose to his feet and said: "Hear me, my brothers and my people. I had planned to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord, for the footstool of our God; and I made preparations for building. 
3 But God said to me, "You shall not build a house for my name, for you are a warrior and have shed blood.' 
4 Yet the Lord God of Israel chose me from all my ancestral house to be king over Israel forever; for he chose Judah as leader, and in the house of Judah my father's house, and among my father's sons he took delight in making me king over all Israel. 
5 And of all my sons, for the Lord has given me many, he has chosen my son Solomon to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel. 
6 He said to me, "It is your son Solomon who shall build my house and my courts, for I have chosen him to be a son to me, and I will be a father to him. 
7 I will establish his kingdom forever if he continues resolute in keeping my commandments and my ordinances, as he is today.' 
8 Now therefore in the sight of all Israel, the assembly of the Lord, and in the hearing of our God, observe and search out all the commandments of the Lord your God; that you may possess this good land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children after you forever. 
9 "And you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve him with single mind and willing heart; for the Lord searches every mind, and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will abandon you forever. 
10 Take heed now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house as the sanctuary; be strong, and act." 
11 Then David gave his son Solomon the plan of the vestibule of the temple, and of its houses, its treasuries, its upper rooms, and its inner chambers, and of the room for the mercy seat; 
12 and the plan of all that he had in mind: for the courts of the house of the Lord, all the surrounding chambers, the treasuries of the house of God, and the treasuries for dedicated gifts; 
13 for the divisions of the priests and of the Levites, and all the work of the service in the house of the Lord; for all the vessels for the service in the house of the Lord, 
14 the weight of gold for all golden vessels for each service, the weight of silver vessels for each service, 
15 the weight of the golden lampstands and their lamps, the weight of gold for each lampstand and its lamps, the weight of silver for a lampstand and its lamps, according to the use of each in the service, 
16 the weight of gold for each table for the rows of bread, the silver for the silver tables, 
17 and pure gold for the forks, the basins, and the cups; for the golden bowls and the weight of each; for the silver bowls and the weight of each; 
18 for the altar of incense made of refined gold, and its weight; also his plan for the golden chariot of the cherubim that spread their wings and covered the ark of the covenant of the Lord. 
19 "All this, in writing at the Lord's direction, he made clear to me—the plan of all the works." 
20 David said further to his son Solomon, "Be strong and of good courage, and act. Do not be afraid or dismayed; 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 house of the Lord is finished. 
21 Here are the divisions of the priests and the Levites for all the service of the house of God; and with you in all the work will be every volunteer who has skill for any kind of service; also the officers and all the people will be wholly at your command."

CHAPTER – 29

1 King David said to the whole assembly, "My son Solomon, whom alone God has chosen, is young and inexperienced, and the work is great; for the temple will not be for mortals but for the Lord God. 
2 So I have provided for the house of my God, so far as I was able, the gold for the things of gold, the silver for the things of silver, and the bronze for the things of bronze, the iron for the things of iron, and wood for the things of wood, besides great quantities of onyx and stones for setting, antimony, colored stones, all sorts of precious stones, and marble in abundance. 
3 Moreover, in addition to all that I have provided for the holy house, I have a treasure of my own of gold and silver, and because of my devotion to the house of my God I give it to the house of my God: 
4 three thousand talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, for overlaying the walls of the house, 
5 and for all the work to be done by artisans, gold for the things of gold and silver for the things of silver. Who then will offer willingly, consecrating themselves today to the Lord?" 
6 Then the leaders of ancestral houses made their freewill offerings, as did also the leaders of the tribes, the commanders of the thousands and of the hundreds, and the officers over the king's work. 
7 They gave for the service of the house of God five thousand talents and ten thousand darics of gold, ten thousand talents of silver, eighteen thousand talents of bronze, and one hundred thousand talents of iron. 
8 Whoever had precious stones gave them to the treasury of the house of the Lord, into the care of Jehiel the Gershonite. 
9 Then the people rejoiced because these had given willingly, for with single mind they had offered freely to the Lord; King David also rejoiced greatly. 
10 Then David blessed the Lord in the presence of all the assembly; David said: "Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our ancestor Israel, forever and ever. 
11 Yours, O Lord, are the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty; for all that is in the heavens and on the earth is yours; yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. 
12 Riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might; and it is in your hand to make great and to give strength to all. 
13 And now, our God, we give thanks to you and praise your glorious name. 
14 "But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to make this freewill offering? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you. 
15 For we are aliens and transients before you, as were all our ancestors; our days on the earth are like a shadow, and there is no hope. 
16 O Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a house for your holy name comes from your hand and is all your own. 
17 I know, my God, that you search the heart, and take pleasure in uprightness; in the uprightness of my heart I have freely offered all these things, and now I have seen your people, who are present here, offering freely and joyously to you. 
18 O Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our ancestors, keep forever such purposes and thoughts in the hearts of your people, and direct their hearts toward you. 
19 Grant to my son Solomon that with single mind he may keep your commandments, your decrees, and your statutes, performing all of them, and that he may build the temple for which I have made provision." 
20 Then David said to the whole assembly, "Bless the Lord your God." And all the assembly blessed the Lord, the God of their ancestors, and bowed their heads and prostrated themselves before the Lord and the king. 
21 On the next day they offered sacrifices and burnt offerings to the Lord, a thousand bulls, a thousand rams, and a thousand lambs, with their libations, and sacrifices in abundance for all Israel; 
22 and they ate and drank before the Lord on that day with great joy. They made David's son Solomon king a second time; they anointed him as the Lord's prince, and Zadok as priest. 
23 Then Solomon sat on the throne of the Lord, succeeding his father David as king; he prospered, and all Israel obeyed him. 
24 All the leaders and the mighty warriors, and also all the sons of King David, pledged their allegiance to King Solomon. 
25 The Lord highly exalted Solomon in the sight of all Israel, and bestowed upon him such royal majesty as had not been on any king before him in Israel. 
26 Thus David son of Jesse reigned over all Israel. 
27 The period that he reigned over Israel was forty years; he reigned seven years in Hebron, and thirty-three years in Jerusalem. 
28 He died in a good old age, full of days, riches, and honor; and his son Solomon succeeded him. 
29 Now the acts of King David, from first to last, are written in the records of the seer Samuel, and in the records of the prophet Nathan, and in the records of the seer Gad, 
30 with accounts of all his rule and his might and of the events that befell him and Israel and all the kingdoms of the earth.

Day 108: 1 Chronicles 18 - 22

CHAPTER – 18

1 Some time afterward, David attacked the Philistines and subdued them; he took Gath and its villages from the Philistines. 
2 He defeated Moab, and the Moabites became subject to David and brought tribute. 
3 David also struck down King Hadadezer of Zobah, toward Hamath, as he went to set up a monument at the river Euphrates. 
4 David took from him one thousand chariots, seven thousand cavalry, and twenty thousand foot soldiers. David hamstrung all the chariot horses, but left one hundred of them. 
5 When the Arameans of Damascus came to help King Hadadezer of Zobah, David killed twenty-two thousand Arameans. 
6 Then David put garrisons in Aram of Damascus; and the Arameans became subject to David, and brought tribute. The Lord gave victory to David wherever he went. 
7 David took the gold shields that were carried by the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem. 
8 From Tibhath and from Cun, cities of Hadadezer, David took a vast quantity of bronze; with it Solomon made the bronze sea and the pillars and the vessels of bronze. 
9 When King Tou of Hamath heard that David had defeated the whole army of King Hadadezer of Zobah, 
10 he sent his son Hadoram to King David, to greet him and to congratulate him, because he had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him. Now Hadadezer had often been at war with Tou. He sent all sorts of articles of gold, of silver, and of bronze; 
11 these also King David dedicated to the Lord, together with the silver and gold that he had carried off from all the nations, from Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, and Amalek. 
12 Abishai son of Zeruiah killed eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt. 
13 He put garrisons in Edom; and all the Edomites became subject to David. And the Lord gave victory to David wherever he went. 
14 So David reigned over all Israel; and he administered justice and equity to all his people. 
15 Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder; 
16 Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were priests; Shavsha was secretary; 
17 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David's sons were the chief officials in the service of the king. 

CHAPTER – 19

1 Some time afterward, King Nahash of the Ammonites died, and his son succeeded him. 
2 David said, "I will deal loyally with Hanun son of Nahash, for his father dealt loyally with me." So David sent messengers to console him concerning his father. When David's servants came to Hanun in the land of the Ammonites, to console him, 
3 the officials of the Ammonites said to Hanun, "Do you think, because David has sent consolers to you, that he is honoring your father? Have not his servants come to you to search and to overthrow and to spy out the land?" 
4 So Hanun seized David's servants, shaved them, cut off their garments in the middle at their hips, and sent them away; 
5 and they departed. When David was told about the men, he sent messengers to them, for they felt greatly humiliated. The king said, "Remain at Jericho until your beards have grown, and then return." 
6 When the Ammonites saw that they had made themselves odious to David, Hanun and the Ammonites sent a thousand talents of silver to hire chariots and cavalry from Mesopotamia, from Aram-maacah and from Zobah. 
7 They hired thirty-two thousand chariots and the king of Maacah with his army, who came and camped before Medeba. And the Ammonites were mustered from their cities and came to battle. 
8 When David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the army of the warriors. 
9 The Ammonites came out and drew up in battle array at the entrance of the city, and the kings who had come were by themselves in the open country. 
10 When Joab saw that the line of battle was set against him both in front and in the rear, he chose some of the picked men of Israel and arrayed them against the Arameans; 
11 the rest of his troops he put in the charge of his brother Abishai, and they were arrayed against the Ammonites. 
12 He said, "If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will help you. 
13 Be strong, and let us be courageous for our people and for the cities of our God; and may the Lord do what seems good to him." 
14 So Joab and the troops who were with him advanced toward the Arameans for battle; and they fled before him. 
15 When the Ammonites saw that the Arameans fled, they likewise fled before Abishai, Joab's brother, and entered the city. Then Joab came to Jerusalem. 
16 But when the Arameans saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they sent messengers and brought out the Arameans who were beyond the Euphrates, with Shophach the commander of the army of Hadadezer at their head. 
17 When David was informed, he gathered all Israel together, crossed the Jordan, came to them, and drew up his forces against them. When David set the battle in array against the Arameans, they fought with him. 
18 The Arameans fled before Israel; and David killed seven thousand Aramean charioteers and forty thousand foot soldiers, and also killed Shophach the commander of their army. 
19 When the servants of Hadadezer saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with David, and became subject to him. So the Arameans were not willing to help the Ammonites any more.

CHAPTER – 20

1 In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, Joab led out the army, ravaged the country of the Ammonites, and came and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem. Joab attacked Rabbah, and overthrew it. 
2 David took the crown of Milcom from his head; he found that it weighed a talent of gold, and in it was a precious stone; and it was placed on David's head. He also brought out the booty of the city, a very great amount. 
3 He brought out the people who were in it, and set them to work with saws and iron picks and axes. Thus David did to all the cities of the Ammonites. Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem. 
4 After this, war broke out with the Philistines at Gezer; then Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Sippai, who was one of the descendants of the giants; and the Philistines were subdued. 
5 Again there was war with the Philistines; and Elhanan son of Jair killed Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver's beam. 
6 Again there was war at Gath, where there was a man of great size, who had six fingers on each hand, and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in number; he also was descended from the giants. 
7 When he taunted Israel, Jonathan son of Shimea, David's brother, killed him. 
8 These were descended from the giants in Gath; they fell by the hand of David and his servants. 

CHAPTER – 21

1 Satan stood up against Israel, and incited David to count the people of Israel. 
2 So David said to Joab and the commanders of the army, "Go, number Israel, from Beer-sheba to Dan, and bring me a report, so that I may know their number." 
3 But Joab said, "May the Lord increase the number of his people a hundredfold! Are they not, my lord the king, all of them my lord's servants? Why then should my lord require this? Why should he bring guilt on Israel?" 
4 But the king's word prevailed against Joab. So Joab departed and went throughout all Israel, and came back to Jerusalem. 
5 Joab gave the total count of the people to David. In all Israel there were one million one hundred thousand men who drew the sword, and in Judah four hundred seventy thousand who drew the sword. 
6 But he did not include Levi and Benjamin in the numbering, for the king's command was abhorrent to Joab. 
7 But God was displeased with this thing, and he struck Israel. 
8 David said to God, "I have sinned greatly in that I have done this thing. But now, I pray you, take away the guilt of your servant; for I have done very foolishly." 
9 The Lord spoke to Gad, David's seer, saying, 
10 "Go and say to David, "Thus says the Lord: Three things I offer you; choose one of them, so that I may do it to you.' " 
11 So Gad came to David and said to him, "Thus says the Lord, "Take your choice: 
12 either three years of famine; or three months of devastation by your foes, while the sword of your enemies overtakes you; or three days of the sword of the Lord, pestilence on the land, and the angel of the Lord destroying throughout all the territory of Israel.' Now decide what answer I shall return to the one who sent me." 
13 Then David said to Gad, "I am in great distress; let me fall into the hand of the Lord, for his mercy is very great; but let me not fall into human hands." 
14 So the Lord sent a pestilence on Israel; and seventy thousand persons fell in Israel. 
15 And God sent an angel to Jerusalem to destroy it; but when he was about to destroy it, the Lord took note and relented concerning the calamity; he said to the destroying angel, "Enough! Stay your hand." The angel of the Lord was then standing by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. 
16 David looked up and saw the angel of the Lord standing between earth and heaven, and in his hand a drawn sword stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell on their faces. 
17 And David said to God, "Was it not I who gave the command to count the people? It is I who have sinned and done very wickedly. But these sheep, what have they done? Let your hand, I pray, O Lord my God, be against me and against my father's house; but do not let your people be plagued!" 
18 Then the angel of the Lord commanded Gad to tell David that he should go up and erect an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. 
19 So David went up following Gad's instructions, which he had spoken in the name of the Lord. 
20 Ornan turned and saw the angel; and while his four sons who were with him hid themselves, Ornan continued to thresh wheat. 
21 As David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David; he went out from the threshing floor, and did obeisance to David with his face to the ground. 
22 David said to Ornan, "Give me the site of the threshing floor that I may build on it an altar to the Lord—give it to me at its full price—so that the plague may be averted from the people." 
23 Then Ornan said to David, "Take it; and let my lord the king do what seems good to him; see, I present the oxen for burnt offerings, and the threshing sledges for the wood, and the wheat for a grain offering. I give it all." 
24 But King David said to Ornan, "No; I will buy them for the full price. I will not take for the Lord what is yours, nor offer burnt offerings that cost me nothing." 
25 So David paid Ornan six hundred shekels of gold by weight for the site. 
26 David built there an altar to the Lord and presented burnt offerings and offerings of well-being. He called upon the Lord, and he answered him with fire from heaven on the altar of burnt offering. 
27 Then the Lord commanded the angel, and he put his sword back into its sheath. 
28 At that time, when David saw that the Lord had answered him at the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, he made his sacrifices there. 
29 For the tabernacle of the Lord, which Moses had made in the wilderness, and the altar of burnt offering were at that time in the high place at Gibeon; 
30 but David could not go before it to inquire of God, for he was afraid of the sword of the angel of the Lord.

CHAPTER – 22

1 Then David said, "Here shall be the house of the Lord God and here the altar of burnt offering for Israel." 
2 David gave orders to gather together the aliens who were residing in the land of Israel, and he set stonecutters to prepare dressed stones for building the house of God. 
3 David also provided great stores of iron for nails for the doors of the gates and for clamps, as well as bronze in quantities beyond weighing, 
4 and cedar logs without number—for the Sidonians and Tyrians brought great quantities of cedar to David. 
5 For David said, "My son Solomon is young and inexperienced, and the house that is to be built for the Lord must be exceedingly magnificent, famous and glorified throughout all lands; I will therefore make preparation for it." So David provided materials in great quantity 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 planned to build a house to the name of the Lord my God. 
8 But the word of the Lord came to me, saying, "You have shed much blood and have waged great wars; you shall not build a house to my name, because you have shed so much blood in my sight on the earth. 
9 See, a son shall be born to you; he shall be a man of peace. I will give him peace from all his enemies on every side; for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quiet to Israel in his days. 
10 He shall build a house for my name. He shall be a son to me, and I will be a father to him, and I will establish his royal throne in Israel forever.' 
11 Now, my son, the Lord be with you, so that you may succeed in building the house of the Lord your God, as he has spoken concerning you. 
12 Only, may the Lord grant you discretion and understanding, so that when he gives you charge over Israel you may keep the law of the Lord your God. 
13 Then you will prosper if you are careful to observe the statutes and the ordinances that the Lord commanded Moses for Israel. Be strong and of good courage. Do not be afraid or dismayed. 
14 With great pains I have provided for the house of the Lord one hundred thousand talents of gold, one million talents of silver, and bronze and iron beyond weighing, for there is so much of it; timber and stone too I have provided. To these you must add more. 
15 You have an abundance of workers: stonecutters, masons, carpenters, and all kinds of artisans without number, skilled in working 
16 gold, silver, bronze, and iron. Now begin the work, and the Lord be with you." 
17 David also commanded all the leaders of Israel to help his son Solomon, saying, 
18 "Is not the Lord your God with you? Has he not given you peace on every side? For he has delivered the inhabitants of the land into my hand; and the land is subdued before the Lord and his people. 
19 Now set your mind and heart to seek the Lord your God. Go and build the sanctuary of the Lord God so that the ark of the covenant of the Lord and the holy vessels of God may be brought into a house built for the name of the Lord." 

Day 107: 1 Chronicles 15 - 17

 CHAPTER – 15

1 David built houses for himself in the city of David, and he prepared a place for the ark of God and pitched a tent for it. 
2 Then David commanded that no one but the Levites were to carry the ark of God, for the Lord had chosen them to carry the ark of the Lord and to minister to him forever. 
3 David assembled all Israel in Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the Lord to its place, which he had prepared for it. 
4 Then David gathered together the descendants of Aaron and the Levites: 
5 of the sons of Kohath, Uriel the chief, with one hundred twenty of his kindred; 
6 of the sons of Merari, Asaiah the chief, with two hundred twenty of his kindred; 
7 of the sons of Gershom, Joel the chief, with one hundred thirty of his kindred; 
8 of the sons of Elizaphan, Shemaiah the chief, with two hundred of his kindred; 
9 of the sons of Hebron, Eliel the chief, with eighty of his kindred; 
10 of the sons of Uzziel, Amminadab the chief, with one hundred twelve of his kindred. 
11 David summoned the priests Zadok and Abiathar, and the Levites Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab. 
12 He said to them, "You are the heads of families of the Levites; sanctify yourselves, you and your kindred, so that you may bring up the ark of the Lord, the God of Israel, to the place that I have prepared for it. 
13 Because you did not carry it the first time, the Lord our God burst out against us, because we did not give it proper care." 
14 So the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of the Lord, the God of Israel. 
15 And the Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles, as Moses had commanded according to the word of the Lord. 
16 David also commanded the chiefs of the Levites to appoint their kindred as the singers to play on musical instruments, on harps and lyres and cymbals, to raise loud sounds of joy. 
17 So the Levites appointed Heman son of Joel; and of his kindred Asaph son of Berechiah; and of the sons of Merari, their kindred, Ethan son of Kushaiah; 
18 and with them their kindred of the second order, Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, and Mikneiah, and the gatekeepers Obed-edom and Jeiel. 
19 The singers Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were to sound bronze cymbals; 
20 Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah were to play harps according to Alamoth; 
21 but Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah were to lead with lyres according to the Sheminith. 
22Chenaniah, leader of the Levites in music, was to direct the music, for he understood it. 
23 Berechiah and Elkanah were to be gatekeepers for the ark. 
24 Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, were to blow the trumpets before the ark of God. Obed-edom and Jehiah also were to be gatekeepers for the ark. 
25 So David and the elders of Israel, and the commanders of the thousands, went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord from the house of Obed-edom with rejoicing. 
26 And because God helped the Levites who were carrying the ark of the covenant of the Lord, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams. 
27 David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, as also were all the Levites who were carrying the ark, and the singers, and Chenaniah the leader of the music of the singers; and David wore a linen ephod. 
28 So all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the Lord with shouting, to the sound of the horn, trumpets, and cymbals, and made loud music on harps and lyres. 
29 As the ark of the covenant of the Lord came to the city of David, Michal daughter of Saul looked out of the window, and saw King David leaping and dancing; and she despised him in her heart. 

CHAPTER – 16

1 They brought in the ark of God, and set it inside the tent that David had pitched for it; and they offered burnt offerings and offerings of well-being before God. 
2 When David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the offerings of well-being, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord; 
3 and he distributed to every person in Israel—man and woman alike—to each a loaf of bread, a portion of meat, and a cake of raisins. 
4 He appointed certain of the Levites as ministers before the ark of the Lord, to invoke, to thank, and to praise the Lord, the God of Israel. 
5 Asaph was the chief, and second to him Zechariah, Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel, with harps and lyres; Asaph was to sound the cymbals, 
6 and the priests Benaiah and Jahaziel were to blow trumpets regularly, before the ark of the covenant of God. 
7 Then on that day David first appointed the singing of praises to the Lord by Asaph and his kindred. 
8 O give thanks to the Lord, call on his name, make known his deeds among the peoples. 
9 Sing to him, sing praises to him, tell of all his wonderful works. 
10 Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. 
11 Seek the Lord and his strength, seek his presence continually. 
12 Remember the wonderful works he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he uttered, 
13 O offspring of his servant Israel, children of Jacob, his chosen ones. 
14 He is the Lord our God; his judgments are in all the earth. 
15 Remember his covenant forever, the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations, 
16 the covenant that he made with Abraham, his sworn promise to Isaac, 
17 which he confirmed to Jacob as a statute, to Israel as an everlasting covenant, 
18 saying, "To you I will give the land of Canaan as your portion for an inheritance." 
19 When they were few in number, of little account, and strangers in the land, 
20 wandering from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another people, 
21 he allowed no one to oppress them; he rebuked kings on their account, 
22 saying, "Do not touch my anointed ones; do my prophets no harm." 
23 Sing to the Lord, all the earth. Tell of his salvation from day to day. 
24 Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples. 
25 For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; he is to be revered above all gods. 
26 For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the Lord made the heavens. 
27 Honor and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in his place. 
28 Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. 
29 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering, and come before him. Worship the Lord in holy splendor; 
30 tremble before him, all the earth. The world is firmly established; it shall never be moved. 
31 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice, and let them say among the nations, "The Lord is king!" 
32 Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it. 
33 Then shall the trees of the forest sing for joy before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth. 
34 O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever. 
35 Say also: "Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather and rescue us from among the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name, and glory in your praise. 
36 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting." Then all the people said "Amen!" and praised the Lord. 
37 David left Asaph and his kinsfolk there before the ark of the covenant of the Lord to minister regularly before the ark as each day required, 
38 and also Obed-edom and his sixty-eight kinsfolk; while Obed-edom son of Jeduthun and Hosah were to be gatekeepers. 
39 And he left the priest Zadok and his kindred the priests before the tabernacle of the Lord in the high place that was at Gibeon, 
40 to offer burnt offerings to the Lord on the altar of burnt offering regularly, morning and evening, according to all that is written in the law of the Lord that he commanded Israel. 
41 With them were Heman and Jeduthun, and the rest of those chosen and expressly named to render thanks to the Lord, for his steadfast love endures forever. 
42 Heman and Jeduthun had with them trumpets and cymbals for the music, and instruments for sacred song. The sons of Jeduthun were appointed to the gate. 
43 Then all the people departed to their homes, and David went home to bless his household. 

CHAPTER – 17

1 Now when David settled in his house, David said to the prophet Nathan, "I am living in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of the Lord is under a tent." 
2 Nathan said to David, "Do all that you have in mind, for God is with you." 
3 But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying: 
4 Go and tell my servant David: Thus says the Lord: You shall not build me a house to live in. 
5 For I have not lived in a house since the day I brought out Israel to this very day, but I have lived in a tent and a tabernacle. 
6 Wherever I have moved about among all Israel, did I ever speak a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people, saying, Why have you not built me a house of cedar? 
7 Now therefore thus you shall say to my servant David: Thus says the Lord of hosts: I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people Israel; 
8 and I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies before you; and I will make for you a name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. 
9 I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, so that they may live in their own place, and be disturbed no more; and evildoers shall wear them down no more, as they did formerly, 
10 from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel; and I will subdue all your enemies. Moreover I declare to you that the Lord will build you a house. 
11 When your days are fulfilled to go to be with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring after you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. 
12 He shall build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever. 
13 I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me. I will not take my steadfast love from him, as I took it from him who was before you, 
14 but I will confirm him in my house and in my kingdom forever, and his throne shall be established forever. 
15 In accordance with all these words and all this vision, Nathan spoke to David. 
16 Then King David went in and sat before the Lord, and said, "Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far? 
17 And even this was a small thing in your sight, O God; you have also spoken of your servant's house for a great while to come. You regard me as someone of high rank, O Lord God! 
18 And what more can David say to you for honoring your servant? You know your servant. 
19 For your servant's sake, O Lord, and according to your own heart, you have done all these great deeds, making known all these great things. 
20 There is no one like you, O Lord, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears. 
21 Who is like your people Israel, one nation on the earth whom God went to redeem to be his people, making for yourself a name for great and terrible things, in driving out nations before your people whom you redeemed from Egypt? 
22 And you made your people Israel to be your people forever; and you, O Lord, became their God. 
23 "And now, O Lord, as for the word that you have spoken concerning your servant and concerning his house, let it be established forever, and do as you have promised. 
24 Thus your name will be established and magnified forever in the saying, "The Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, is Israel's God'; and the house of your servant David will be established in your presence. 
25 For you, my God, have revealed to your servant that you will build a house for him; therefore your servant has found it possible to pray before you. 
26 And now, O Lord, you are God, and you have promised this good thing to your servant; 
27 therefore may it please you to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever before you. For you, O Lord, have blessed and are blessed forever."