Let's read the Bible together in the next year. Today our passages are Nehemiah 7:61–9:21; 1 Corinthians 9:1-18; Psalm 33:12-22; and Proverbs 21:11-12. The readings are the Contemporary English Version.
Nehemiah 7:61-9:21 (Contemporary English Version)
61-62There were 642 who returned from the families of Delaiah, Tobiah, and Nekoda, though they could not prove they were Israelites. They had lived in the Babylonian towns of Tel-Melah, Tel-Harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer. 63-64The families of Hobaiah, Hakkoz, and Barzillai could not prove they were priests. The ancestor of the family of Barzillai had married the daughter of Barzillai from Gilead and had taken his wife's family name. But the records of these three families could not be found, and none of them were allowed to serve as priests. 65In fact, the governor told them, " You cannot eat the food offered to God until he lets us know if you really are priests." a<="" value="[a]" >[] 66-69There were 42,360 who returned, in addition to 7,337 servants, and 245 musicians. Altogether, they brought with them 736 horses, 245 mules, [b<="">] 435 camels, and 6,720 donkeys. 70-72Many people gave gifts to help pay for the materials to rebuild the temple. The governor himself gave 17 pounds of gold, 50 bowls to be used in the temple, and 530 robes for the priests. Family leaders gave 337 pounds of gold and 3,215 pounds of silver. The rest of the people gave 337 pounds of gold, 2,923 pounds of silver, and 67 robes for the priests. 73And so, by the seventh month, [c<="">] priests, Levites, temple guards, musicians, workers, and many of the ordinary people had settled in the towns of Judah.
61-62There were 642 who returned from the families of Delaiah, Tobiah, and Nekoda, though they could not prove they were Israelites. They had lived in the Babylonian towns of Tel-Melah, Tel-Harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer.
63-64The families of Hobaiah, Hakkoz, and Barzillai could not prove they were priests. The ancestor of the family of Barzillai had married the daughter of Barzillai from Gilead and had taken his wife's family name. But the records of these three families could not be found, and none of them were allowed to serve as priests. 65In fact, the governor told them, " You cannot eat the food offered to God until he lets us know if you really are priests." a<="" value="[a]" >[] 66-69There were 42,360 who returned, in addition to 7,337 servants, and 245 musicians. Altogether, they brought with them 736 horses, 245 mules, [b<="">] 435 camels, and 6,720 donkeys. 70-72Many people gave gifts to help pay for the materials to rebuild the temple. The governor himself gave 17 pounds of gold, 50 bowls to be used in the temple, and 530 robes for the priests. Family leaders gave 337 pounds of gold and 3,215 pounds of silver. The rest of the people gave 337 pounds of gold, 2,923 pounds of silver, and 67 robes for the priests.
73And so, by the seventh month, [c<="">] priests, Levites, temple guards, musicians, workers, and many of the ordinary people had settled in the towns of Judah.
Nehemiah 8
Ezra Reads God's Law to the People
1-2On the first day of the seventh month, [d<="" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">]the people came together in the open area in front of the Water Gate. Then they asked Ezra, who was a teacher of the Law of Moses, to read to them from this Law that the LORD had given his people. Ezra the priest came with the Law and stood before the crowd of men, women, and the children who were old enough to understand. 3From early morning till noon, he read the Law of Moses to them, and they listened carefully. 4Ezra stood on a high wooden platform that had been built for this occasion. Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah were standing to his right, while Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hash Baddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam were standing to his left. 5Ezra was up on the high platform, where he could be seen by everyone, and when he opened the book, they all stood up. 6Ezra praised the great LORD God, and the people shouted, " Amen! Amen!" Then they bowed with their faces to the ground and worshiped the LORD. 7-8After this, the Levites Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah went among the people, explaining the meaning of what Ezra had read. 9The people started crying when God's Law was read to them. Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and teacher, and the Levites who had been teaching the people all said, " This is a special day for the LORD your God. So don't be sad and don't cry!" 10Nehemiah told the people, " Enjoy your good food and wine and share some with those who didn't have anything to bring. Don't be sad! This is a special day for the LORD, and he will make you happy and strong." 11The Levites encouraged the people by saying, " This is a sacred day, so don't worry or mourn!" 12When the people returned to their homes, they celebrated by eating and drinking and by sharing their food with those in need, because they had understood what had been read to them.
5Ezra was up on the high platform, where he could be seen by everyone, and when he opened the book, they all stood up. 6Ezra praised the great LORD God, and the people shouted, " Amen! Amen!" Then they bowed with their faces to the ground and worshiped the LORD.
7-8After this, the Levites Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah went among the people, explaining the meaning of what Ezra had read.
9The people started crying when God's Law was read to them. Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and teacher, and the Levites who had been teaching the people all said, " This is a special day for the LORD your God. So don't be sad and don't cry!"
10Nehemiah told the people, " Enjoy your good food and wine and share some with those who didn't have anything to bring. Don't be sad! This is a special day for the LORD, and he will make you happy and strong."
11The Levites encouraged the people by saying, " This is a sacred day, so don't worry or mourn!" 12When the people returned to their homes, they celebrated by eating and drinking and by sharing their food with those in need, because they had understood what had been read to them.
Celebrating the Festival of Shelters
13On the second day of the seventh month, [e<="" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">] the leaders of all the family groups came together with the priests and the Levites, so Ezra could teach them the Law 14that the LORD had given to Moses. They learned from the Law that the people of Israel were to live in shelters when they celebrated the festival in the seventh month of the year. 15They also learned that they were to go into the woods and gather branches of leafy trees such as olives, myrtles, and palms for making these shelters. 16So the people gathered branches and made shelters on the flat roofs of their houses, in their yards, in the courtyard of the temple, and in the open areas around the Water Gate and Ephraim Gate. 17Everyone who had returned from Babylonia built shelters. They lived in them and joyfully celebrated the Festival of Shelters for the first time since the days of Joshua son of Nun. 18On each of the first seven days of the festival, Ezra read to the people from God's Law. Then on the eighth day, everyone gathered for worship, just as the Law had said they must.
Nehemiah 9
The People Confess Their Sins
1On the twenty-fourth day of the seventh month, [f<="" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">] the people of Israel went without eating, and they dressed in sackcloth and threw dirt on their heads to show their sorrow. 2They refused to let foreigners join them, as they met to confess their sins and the sins of their ancestors. 3For three hours they stood and listened to the Law of the LORD their God, and then for the next three hours they confessed their sins and worshiped the LORD. 4Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani stood on the special platform for the Levites and prayed aloud to the LORD their God. 5Then the Levites Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah said: " Stand and shout praises to your LORD, the eternal God! Praise his wonderful name, though he is greater than words can express."
4Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani stood on the special platform for the Levites and prayed aloud to the LORD their God. 5Then the Levites Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah said:
" Stand and shout praises
to your LORD,
the eternal God!
Praise his wonderful name,
though he is greater
than words can express."
The People Pray
6You alone are the LORD, Creator of the heavens and all the stars, Creator of the earth and those who live on it, Creator of the ocean and all its creatures. You are the source of life, praised by the stars that fill the heavens. 7You are the LORD our God, the one who chose Abram-- you brought him from Ur in Babylonia and named him Abraham. 8Because he was faithful, you made an agreement to give his descendants the land of the Canaanites and Hittites, of the Amorites and Perizzites, and of the Jebusites and Girgashites. Now you have kept your promise, just as you always do. 9When our ancestors were in Egypt, you saw their suffering; when they were at the Red Sea, [g<="">] you heard their cry for help. 10You knew that the King of Egypt and his officials and his nation had mistreated your people. So you worked fearsome miracles against the Egyptians and earned a reputation that still remains. 11You divided the deep sea, and your people walked through on dry land. But you tossed their enemies in, and they sank down like a heavy stone. 12Each day you led your people with a thick cloud, and at night you showed the way with a flaming fire. 13At Sinai you came down from heaven, and you gave your people good laws and teachings that are fair and honest. 14You commanded them to respect your holy Sabbath, and you instructed your servant Moses to teach them your laws. 15When they were hungry, you sent bread from heaven, and when they were thirsty, you let water flow from a rock. Then you commanded them to capture the land that you had solemnly promised. 16Our stubborn ancestors refused to obey-- they forgot about the miracles you had worked for them, and they were determined to return to Egypt and become slaves again. 17But, our God, you are merciful and quick to forgive; you are loving, kind, and very patient. So you never turned away from them-- 18not even when they made an idol shaped like a calf and insulted you by claiming, " This is the god who rescued us from Egypt." 19Because of your great mercy, you never abandoned them in the desert. And you always guided them with a cloud by day and a fire at night. 20Your gentle Spirit 21You took good care of them, and for forty years they never lacked a thing. Their shoes didn't wear out, and their feet were never swollen. Footnotes:- Nehemiah 7:65 until. . . priests: The Hebrew text has " until a priest comes with the urim and thummim," sacred objects which were used in some way to receive answers from God.
- Nehemiah 7:66 736 horses, 245 mules: A few Hebrew manuscripts; this is not found in most Hebrew manuscripts of verse 68.
- Nehemiah 7:73 seventh month: Tishri(also called Ethanim,) the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar, from about mid-September to mid-October.
- Nehemiah 8:1 e
- Nehemiah 8:13 seventh month: Hebrew " same month."
- Nehemiah 9:1 shout. . . God: Or " shout eternal praises to the LORD your God."
- Nehemiah 9:9 Red Sea: Hebrew yam suph " Sea of Reeds," one of the marshes of fresh water lakes near the eastern part of the Nile Delta. This identification is based on Exodus 13.17--14.9, which lists the towns on the route of the Israelites before crossing the sea. In the Greek translation of the Scriptures made about 200 B.C., the " Sea of Reeds" was named " Red Sea."
- Nehemiah 9:20 Your gentle Spirit instructed them: Or " You gently instructed them."
- Nehemiah 9:20 manna: This was something like a thin wafer (see Exodus 16.1-36).
Creator of the heavens
and all the stars,
Creator of the earth
and those who live on it,
Creator of the ocean
and all its creatures.
You are the source of life,
praised by the stars
that fill the heavens.
7You are the LORD our God,
the one who chose Abram--
you brought him from Ur
in Babylonia
and named him Abraham.
8Because he was faithful,
you made an agreement
to give his descendants
the land of the Canaanites
and Hittites,
of the Amorites and Perizzites,
and of the Jebusites
and Girgashites.
Now you have kept your promise,
just as you always do.
9When our ancestors
were in Egypt,
you saw their suffering;
when they were at the Red Sea, [g<="">] you heard their cry for help.
10You knew that the King of Egypt
and his officials and his nation
had mistreated your people.
So you worked fearsome miracles
against the Egyptians
and earned a reputation
that still remains.
11You divided the deep sea,
and your people walked through
on dry land.
But you tossed their enemies in,
and they sank down
like a heavy stone.
12Each day you led your people
with a thick cloud,
and at night you showed the way
with a flaming fire.
13At Sinai you came down
from heaven,
and you gave your people
good laws and teachings
that are fair and honest.
14You commanded them to respect
your holy Sabbath,
and you instructed
your servant Moses
to teach them your laws.
15When they were hungry,
you sent bread from heaven,
and when they were thirsty,
you let water flow
from a rock.
Then you commanded them
to capture the land
that you had solemnly promised.
16Our stubborn ancestors
refused to obey--
they forgot about the miracles
you had worked for them,
and they were determined
to return to Egypt
and become slaves again.
17But, our God, you are merciful
and quick to forgive;
you are loving, kind,
and very patient.
So you never turned away
from them--
18not even when they made
an idol shaped like a calf
and insulted you by claiming,
" This is the god who rescued us
from Egypt."
19Because of your great mercy,
you never abandoned them
in the desert.
And you always guided them
with a cloud by day
and a fire at night.
20Your gentle Spirit
21You took good care of them,
and for forty years
they never lacked a thing.
Their shoes didn't wear out,
and their feet were never swollen.
Footnotes:
- Nehemiah 7:65 until. . . priests: The Hebrew text has " until a priest comes with the urim and thummim," sacred objects which were used in some way to receive answers from God.
- Nehemiah 7:66 736 horses, 245 mules: A few Hebrew manuscripts; this is not found in most Hebrew manuscripts of verse 68.
- Nehemiah 7:73 seventh month: Tishri(also called Ethanim,) the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar, from about mid-September to mid-October.
- Nehemiah 8:1 e
- Nehemiah 8:13 seventh month: Hebrew " same month."
- Nehemiah 9:1 shout. . . God: Or " shout eternal praises to the LORD your God."
- Nehemiah 9:9 Red Sea: Hebrew yam suph " Sea of Reeds," one of the marshes of fresh water lakes near the eastern part of the Nile Delta. This identification is based on Exodus 13.17--14.9, which lists the towns on the route of the Israelites before crossing the sea. In the Greek translation of the Scriptures made about 200 B.C., the " Sea of Reeds" was named " Red Sea."
- Nehemiah 9:20 Your gentle Spirit instructed them: Or " You gently instructed them."
- Nehemiah 9:20 manna: This was something like a thin wafer (see Exodus 16.1-36).
1 Corinthians 9:1-18 (Contemporary English Version)
1 Corinthians 9
The Rights of an Apostle
1I am free. I am an apostle. I have seen the Lord Jesus and have led you to have faith in him. 2Others may think that I am not an apostle, but you are proof that I am an apostle to you. 3When people question me, I tell them 4that Barnabas and I have the right to our food and drink. 5We each have the right to marry one of the Lord's followers and to take her along with us, just as the other apostles and the Lord's brothers and Peter a<="" value="[a]" >[] do. 6Are we the only ones who have to support ourselves by working at another job? 7Do soldiers pay their own salaries? Don't people who raise grapes eat some of what they grow? Don't shepherds get milk from their own goats? 8-9I am not saying this on my own authority. The Law of Moses tells us not to muzzle an ox when it is grinding grain. But was God concerned only about an ox? 10No, he wasn't! He was talking about us. This was written in the Scriptures so that all who plow and all who grind the grain will look forward to sharing in the harvest. 11When we told the message to you, it was like planting spiritual seed. So we have the right to accept material things as our harvest from you. 12If others have the right to do this, we have an even greater right. But we haven't used this right of ours. We are willing to put up with anything to keep from causing trouble for the message about Christ. 13Don't you know that people who work in the temple make their living from what is brought to the temple? Don't you know that a person who serves at the altar is given part of what is offered? 14In the same way, the Lord wants everyone who preaches the good news to make a living from preaching this message. 15But I have never used these privileges of mine, and I am not writing this because I want to start now. I would rather die than have someone rob me of the right to take pride in this. 16I don't have any reason to brag about preaching the good news. Preaching is something God told me to do, and if I don't do it, I am doomed. 17If I preach because I want to, I will be paid. But even if I don't want to, it is still something God has sent me to do. 18What pay am I given? It is the chance to preach the good news free of charge and not to use the privileges that are mine because I am a preacher. Footnotes:- 1 Corinthians 9:5 Peter: See the note at 1.12.
3When people question me, I tell them 4that Barnabas and I have the right to our food and drink. 5We each have the right to marry one of the Lord's followers and to take her along with us, just as the other apostles and the Lord's brothers and Peter a<="" value="[a]" >[] do. 6Are we the only ones who have to support ourselves by working at another job? 7Do soldiers pay their own salaries? Don't people who raise grapes eat some of what they grow? Don't shepherds get milk from their own goats? 8-9I am not saying this on my own authority. The Law of Moses tells us not to muzzle an ox when it is grinding grain. But was God concerned only about an ox? 10No, he wasn't! He was talking about us. This was written in the Scriptures so that all who plow and all who grind the grain will look forward to sharing in the harvest.
11When we told the message to you, it was like planting spiritual seed. So we have the right to accept material things as our harvest from you. 12If others have the right to do this, we have an even greater right. But we haven't used this right of ours. We are willing to put up with anything to keep from causing trouble for the message about Christ.
13Don't you know that people who work in the temple make their living from what is brought to the temple? Don't you know that a person who serves at the altar is given part of what is offered? 14In the same way, the Lord wants everyone who preaches the good news to make a living from preaching this message.
15But I have never used these privileges of mine, and I am not writing this because I want to start now. I would rather die than have someone rob me of the right to take pride in this. 16I don't have any reason to brag about preaching the good news. Preaching is something God told me to do, and if I don't do it, I am doomed. 17If I preach because I want to, I will be paid. But even if I don't want to, it is still something God has sent me to do. 18What pay am I given? It is the chance to preach the good news free of charge and not to use the privileges that are mine because I am a preacher.
Footnotes:
- 1 Corinthians 9:5 Peter: See the note at 1.12.
Psalm 33:12-22 (Contemporary English Version)
12The LORD blesses each nation that worships only him. He blesses his chosen ones. 13The LORD looks at the world 14from his throne in heaven, and he watches us all. 15The LORD gave us each a mind, and nothing we do can be hidden from him. 16Mighty armies alone cannot win wars for a king; great strength by itself cannot keep a soldier safe. 17In war the strength of a horse cannot be trusted to take you to safety. 18But the LORD watches over all who honor him and trust his kindness. 19He protects them from death and starvation. 20We depend on you, LORD, to help and protect us. 21You make our hearts glad because we trust you, the only God. 22Be kind and bless us! We depend on you.
12The LORD blesses each nation
that worships only him.
He blesses his chosen ones.
13The LORD looks at the world
14from his throne in heaven,
and he watches us all.
15The LORD gave us each a mind,
and nothing we do
can be hidden from him.
16Mighty armies alone
cannot win wars for a king;
great strength by itself
cannot keep a soldier safe.
17In war the strength of a horse
cannot be trusted
to take you to safety.
18But the LORD watches over
all
who honor him
and trust his kindness.
19He protects them from death
and starvation.
20We depend on you, LORD,
to help and protect us.
21You make our hearts glad
because we trust you,
the only God.
22Be kind and bless us!
We depend on you.
Proverbs 21:11-12 (Contemporary English Version)
11An ignorant fool learns by seeing others punished; a sensible person learns by being instructed. 12God is always fair! He knows what the wicked do and will punish them.
11An ignorant fool learns
by seeing others punished;
a sensible person learns
by being instructed.
12God is always fair!
He knows what the wicked do
and will punish them.
Thought for the Day
“This is what you must write to the angel of the church in Laodicea: I am the one called Amen! I am the faithful and true witness and the source of God’s creation. Listen to what I say. Listen! I am standing and knocking at your door. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and we will eat together.” (Revelation 3:14,20 - Contemporary English Version) Jesus is always present, ready to give us peace as we live in the present and hope as we look toward the future. And to enjoy his company, all we need to do is open the door and invite him in.
Quote for the Day
American journalist, narrator, writer of Pulitzer Prize-winning satirical commentary and self-critical prose, and author of Pulitzer Prize-winning autobiography Growing Up (1983), Russell Baker wrote, “Inanimate objects can be classified scientifically into three major categories; those that don't work, those that break down and those that get lost.”
A Joke for Today
"You should meet my husband. He makes a living with his pen."
"Oh, so he's a writer?"
"No, he raises pigs."
A Prayer Request
As Christians, we can offer specific daily prayers for our community, nation and world. Below is the need that we're laying before God today.
That nations work to secure and enhance international peace.
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