•   Verse by verse
  •   Verse numbers
  •   Section headings
  •   Red letters

Nehemiah 7 - 8

Census of First Returned Exiles

Now it happened when the wall was rebuilt and I had made the doors to stand, and the gatekeepers and the singers and the Levites were appointed,
2 that I commanded Hanani my brother and Hananiah the commander of the fortress, to be over Jerusalem, for he was a faithful man and feared God more than many. 3 Then I said to them, “The gates of Jerusalem must not be opened until the sun is hot; and until they are there standing guard, they must shut and bolt the doors. Also have guards from the inhabitants of Jerusalem stand, each at his post, and each in front of his own house.” 4 Now the city was large and spacious, but the people in it were few and the houses were not rebuilt. 5 Then my God put it into my heart, and I gathered the nobles, the officials, and the people to be recorded by genealogies. Then I found the book of the genealogy of those who came up first, and in it I found written: 6 These are the people of the province who came up out of the captivity of the exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had taken away into exile, and who returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his city, 7 who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah. The number of men of the people of Israel: 8
the sons of Parosh, 2,172;
9
the sons of Shephatiah, 372;
10
the sons of Arah, 652;
11
the sons of Pahath-moab of the sons of Jeshua and Joab, 2,818;
12
the sons of Elam, 1,254;
13
the sons of Zattu, 845;
14
the sons of Zaccai, 760;
15
the sons of Binnui, 648;
16
the sons of Bebai, 628;
17
the sons of Azgad, 2,322;
18
the sons of Adonikam, 667;
19
the sons of Bigvai, 2,067;
20
the sons of Adin, 655;
21
the sons of Ater, of Hezekiah, 98;
22
the sons of Hashum, 328;
23
the sons of Bezai, 324;
24
the sons of Hariph, 112;
25
the sons of Gibeon, 95;
26
the men of Bethlehem and Netophah, 188;
27
the men of Anathoth, 128;
28
the men of Beth-azmaveth, 42;
29
the men of Kiriath-jearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, 743;
30
the men of Ramah and Geba, 621;
31
the men of Michmas, 122;
32
the men of Bethel and Ai, 123;
33
the men of the other Nebo, 52;
34
the sons of the other Elam, 1,254;
35
the sons of Harim, 320;
36
the men of Jericho, 345;
37
the sons of Lod, Hadid and Ono, 721;
38
the sons of Senaah, 3,930.
39 The priests:
the sons of Jedaiah of the house of Jeshua, 973;
40
the sons of Immer, 1,052;
41
the sons of Pashhur, 1,247;
42
the sons of Harim, 1,017.
43 The Levites:
the sons of Jeshua, of Kadmiel, of the sons of Hodevah, 74.
44 The singers:
the sons of Asaph, 148.
45 The gatekeepers:
the sons of Shallum, the sons of Ater, the sons of Talmon, the sons of Akkub, the sons of Hatita, the sons of Shobai, 138.
46 The temple servants:
the sons of Ziha, the sons of Hasupha, the sons of Tabbaoth,
47
the sons of Keros, the sons of Sia, the sons of Padon,
48
the sons of Lebana, the sons of Hagaba, the sons of Shalmai,
49
the sons of Hanan, the sons of Giddel, the sons of Gahar,
50
the sons of Reaiah, the sons of Rezin, the sons of Nekoda,
51
the sons of Gazzam, the sons of Uzza, the sons of Paseah,
52
the sons of Besai, the sons of Meunim, the sons of Nephushesim,
53
the sons of Bakbuk, the sons of Hakupha, the sons of Harhur,
54
the sons of Bazlith, the sons of Mehida, the sons of Harsha,
55
the sons of Barkos, the sons of Sisera, the sons of Temah,
56
the sons of Neziah, the sons of Hatipha.
57 The sons of Solomon’s servants:
the sons of Sotai, the sons of Sophereth, the sons of Perida,
58
the sons of Jaala, the sons of Darkon, the sons of Giddel,
59
the sons of Shephatiah, the sons of Hattil, the sons of Pochereth-hazzebaim, the sons of Amon.
60 All the temple servants and the sons of Solomon’s servants were 392. 61 Now these were those who came up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer; but they were not able to declare their fathers’ houses or their fathers’ seed, whether they were of Israel: 62
the sons of Delaiah, the sons of Tobiah, the sons of Nekoda, 642.
63 Of the priests:
the sons of Hobaiah, the sons of Hakkoz, the sons of Barzillai, who took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai, the Gileadite, and he was called by their name.
64 These searched in their genealogical records, but it could not be found; therefore they were considered unclean and excluded from the priesthood. 65 And the governor said to them that they should not eat from the most holy things until a priest stood with Urim and Thummim.

The Assembly and Their Gifts

66
The whole assembly together was 42,360,
67
besides their male and their female slaves, of whom there were 7,337;
and they had 245 male and female singers.
68
Their horses were 736; their mules, 245;
69
their camels, 435; their donkeys, 6,720.
70 Some from among the heads of fathers’ households gave to the work. The governor gave to the treasury 1,000 gold drachmas, 50 bowls, 530 priests’ tunics. 71 Some of the heads of fathers’ households gave into the treasury of the work 20,000 gold drachmas and 2,200 silver minas. 72 That which the rest of the people gave was 20,000 gold drachmas and 2,000 silver minas and 67 priests’ tunics. 73 So the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, some of the people, the temple servants, and all Israel lived in their cities. Then the seventh month came, and the sons of Israel were in their cities.

Ezra Reads the Book of the Law

And all the people gathered as one man at the square which was in front of the Water Gate, and they said to Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses which Yahweh had commanded to Israel.
2 Then Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly of men, women, and all who could understand when listening, on the first day of the seventh month. 3 And he read from it before the square which was in front of the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of men and women, those who could understand; and all the ears of the people were attentive to the book of the law. 4 Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden podium which they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand; and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left hand. 5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people for he was above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. 6 Then Ezra blessed Yahweh the great God. And all the people answered, “Amen, Amen!” while lifting up their hands; then they bowed low and worshiped Yahweh with their faces to the ground. 7 Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, were providing understanding of the law to the people while the people stood in their place. 8 They read from the book, from the law of God, explaining and giving insight, and they provided understanding of the reading.

This Day Is Holy

9 Then Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites, who provided the people with understanding, said to all the people, “This day is holy to Yahweh your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people were weeping when they heard the words of the law.
10 Then he said to them, “Go, eat of the fat, drink of the sweet, and send portions to him who has nothing prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of Yahweh is your strength.” 11 So the Levites quieted all the people, saying, “Be still, for the day is holy; do not be grieved.” 12 Then all the people went away to eat, to drink, to send portions, and to celebrate with great gladness, because they understood the words which had been made known to them.

Feast of Booths Restored

13 Then on the second day the heads of fathers’ households of all the people, the priests and the Levites were gathered to Ezra the scribe that they might gain insight into the words of the law.
14 They found written in the law how Yahweh had commanded by the hand of Moses that the sons of Israel should live in booths during the feast of the seventh month, 15 and that they should make the report heard and make a proclamation of it pass throughout all their cities and in Jerusalem, saying, “Go out to the hills, and bring olive branches and wild olive branches, myrtle branches, palm branches, and branches of other leafy trees, to make booths, as it is written.” 16 So the people went out and brought them and made booths for themselves, each on his roof, and in their courts and in the courts of the house of God, and in the square at the Water Gate and in the square at the Gate of Ephraim. 17 The entire assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and lived in the booths. The sons of Israel had indeed not done so from the days of Joshua the son of Nun to that day. And there was exceedingly great gladness. 18 And he read from the book of the law of God daily, from the first day to the last day. And they celebrated the feast seven days, and on the eighth day there was a solemn assembly according to the legal judgment.

Revelation 4 - 5

The Throne in Heaven

After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things.”
2 Immediately I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne was standing in heaven, and One sitting on the throne. 3 And He who was sitting was like a jasper stone and a sardius in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald in appearance. 4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and upon those thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white garments, and golden crowns on their heads. 5 And out from the throne come flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder. And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. 6 And before the throne there was something like a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the center and around the throne, four living creatures full of eyes in front and behind. 7 And the first creature was like a lion, and the second creature like a calf, and the third creature had a face like that of a man, and the fourth creature was like a flying eagle. 8 And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within, and day and night they do not cease to say,
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come.”
9 And when the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11
“Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.”

The Scroll and the Lamb

Then I saw in the right hand of Him who sits on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed up with seven seals.
2 Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to break its seals?” 3 And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it. 4 Then I was crying greatly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. 5 And one of the elders *said to me, “Stop crying! Behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the scroll and its seven seals.” 6 Then I saw in the midst of the throne and the four living creatures and in the midst of the elders a Lamb standing, as if slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth. 7 And He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sits on the throne. 8 And when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one having a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they *sang a new song, saying,
“Worthy are You to take the scroll and to open its seals, because You were slain and purchased for God with Your blood people from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.
10
And You made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God, and they will reign upon the earth.”

Angels Worship the Lamb

11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands,
12 saying with a loud voice,
“Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing.”
13 And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying,
“To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be the blessing and the honor and the glory and the might forever and ever.”
14 And the four living creatures kept saying, “Amen.” And the elders fell down and worshiped.

Ecclesiastes 5

Fear God

Guard your steps as you go to the house of God and draw near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools; for they do not know they are doing evil.
2 Do not be hasty with your mouth or impulsive in your heart to bring up a matter in the presence of God. For God is in heaven but you are on the earth; therefore let your words be few. 3 For the dream comes through abundant endeavor and the voice of a fool through abundant words. 4 When you make a vow to God, do not be late in paying it; for He takes no delight in fools. Pay what you vow! 5 It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. 6 Do not allow your mouth to cause your flesh to sin, and do not say in the presence of the messenger of God that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry on account of your voice and wreak destruction on the work of your hands? 7 For in many dreams and vanities are many words. Rather, fear God.

The Vanity of Riches

8 If you see oppression of the poor and robbery of justice and righteousness in the province, do not be astonished over the matter; for a lofty one keeps watch over another lofty one, and there are loftier ones over them.
9 But the advantage of the land in everything is this—a king committed to a cultivated field. 10 He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves abundance with its produce. This too is vanity. 11 When good things increase, those who consume them increase. So what is the success to their masters except to look on with their eyes? 12 The sleep of the laboring man is sweet, whether he eats little or much; but the satisfaction of the rich man does not allow him to sleep. 13 There is a sickening evil which I have seen under the sun: riches being hoarded by their master to his own evil demise. 14 And those riches were lost through a bad endeavor; and he became the father of a son, but there was nothing in his hand for him. 15 As he had come naked from his mother’s womb, so will he return as he came. He will carry nothing from the fruit of his labor that he can bring in his hand. 16 This also is a sickening evil—exactly as a man came, so will he go. So what is the advantage to him who labors for the wind? 17 Also, all his days he eats in darkness with much vexation, and his sickness and anger. 18 Here is what I have seen to be good, which is beautiful: to eat, to drink, and to see good in all one’s labor in which he labors under the sun during the few days of his life which God has given him; for this is his portion. 19 Furthermore, as for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, He has also empowered him to eat from them and to take up his portion and be glad in his labor; this is the gift of God. 20 For he will not remember much the days of his life because God allows him to occupy himself with the gladness of his heart.