24 And the courses of the sons of Aaron were these. The sons of Aaron: Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. ² But Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and had no children: therefore Eleazar and Ithamar executed the priest’s office. ³ And David with Zadok of the sons of Eleazar, and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, divided them according to their ordering in their service. ⁴ And there were more chief men found of the sons of Eleazar than of the sons of Ithamar; and thus were they divided: of the sons of Eleazar there were sixteen, heads of fathers’ houses; and of the sons of Ithamar, according to their fathers’ houses, eight. ⁵ Thus were they divided by lot, one sort with another; for there were princes of the sanctuary, and princes of God, both of the sons of Eleazar, and of the sons of Ithamar. ⁶ And Shemaiah the son of Nethanel the scribe, who was of the Levites, wrote them in the presence of the king, and the princes, and Zadok the priest, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, and the heads of the fathers’ houses of the priests and of the Levites; one fathers’ house being taken for Eleazar, and one taken for Ithamar.

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⁷ Now the first lot came forth to Jehoiarib, the second to Jedaiah, ⁸ the third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim, ⁹ the fifth to Malchijah, the sixth to Mijamin, ¹⁰ the seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah, ¹¹ the ninth to Jeshua, the tenth to Shecaniah, ¹² the eleventh to Eliashib, the twelfth to Jakim, ¹³ the thirteenth to Huppah, the fourteenth to Jeshebeab, ¹⁴ the fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer, ¹⁵ the seventeenth to Hezir, the eighteenth to Happizzez, ¹⁶ the nineteenth to Pethahiah, the twentieth to Jehezkel, ¹⁷ the one and twentieth to Jachin, the two and twentieth to Gamul, ¹⁸ the three and twentieth to Delaiah, the four and twentieth to Maaziah. ¹⁹ This was the ordering of them in their service, to come into the house of Jehovah according to the ordinance given unto them by Aaron their father, as Jehovah, the God of Israel, had commanded him.

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²⁰ And of the rest of the sons of Levi: of the sons of Amram, ^‍Shubael; of the sons of Shubael, Jehdeiah. ²¹ Of Rehabiah: of the sons of Rehabiah, Isshiah the chief. ²² Of the Izharites, Shelomoth; of the sons of Shelomoth, Jahath. ²³ And the sons of Hebron: Jeriah the chief, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, Jekameam the fourth. ²⁴ The sons of Uzziel, Micah; of the sons of Micah, Shamir. ²⁵ The brother of Micah, Isshiah; of the sons of Isshiah, Zechariah. ²⁶ The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi; the sons of Jaaziah: Beno. ²⁷ The sons of Merari: of Jaaziah, Beno, and Shoham, and Zaccur, and Ibri. ²⁸ Of Mahli: Eleazar, who had no sons. ²⁹ Of Kish; the sons of Kish: Jerahmeel. ³⁰ And the sons of Mushi: Mahli, and Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the sons of the Levites after their fathers’ houses. ³¹ These likewise cast lots even as their brethren the sons of Aaron in the presence of David the king, and Zadok, and Ahimelech, and the heads of the fathers’ houses of the priests and of the Levites; the fathers’ houses of the chief even as those of his younger brother.

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25 Moreover David and the captains of the host set apart for the service certain of the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals: and the number of them that did the work according to their service was: ² of the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, and Joseph, and Nethaniah, and Asharelah, the sons of Asaph, under the hand of Asaph, who prophesied ^‍after the order of the king. ³ Of Jeduthun; the sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, and Zeri, and Jeshaiah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, ^‍six, under the hands of their father Jeduthun with the harp, who prophesied in giving thanks and praising Jehovah. ⁴ Of Heman; the sons of Heman: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, ^‍Shebuel, and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, and Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, Mahazioth. ⁵ All these were the sons of Heman the king’s seer in the words of God, to lift up the horn. And God gave to Heman fourteen sons and three daughters. ⁶ All these were under the hands of their father for song in the house of Jehovah, with cymbals, psalteries, and harps, for the service of the house of God; Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman being under the order of the king. ⁷ And the number of them, with their brethren that were instructed in singing unto Jehovah, even all that were skilful, was two hundred fourscore and eight. ⁸ And they cast lots for their offices, all alike, as well the small as the great, the teacher as the scholar.

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⁹ Now the first lot came forth for Asaph to Joseph: the second to Gedaliah; he and his brethren and sons were twelve: ¹⁰ the third to Zaccur, his sons and his brethren, twelve: ¹¹ the fourth to Izri, his sons and his brethren, twelve: ¹² the fifth to Nethaniah, his sons and his brethren, twelve: ¹³ the sixth to Bukkiah, his sons and his brethren, twelve: ¹⁴ the seventh to Jesharelah, his sons and his brethren, twelve: ¹⁵ the eighth to Jeshaiah, his sons and his brethren, twelve: ¹⁶ the ninth to Mattaniah, his sons and his brethren, twelve: ¹⁷ the tenth to Shimei, his sons and his brethren, twelve: ¹⁸ the eleventh to Azarel, his sons and his brethren, twelve: ¹⁹ the twelfth to Hashabiah, his sons and his brethren, twelve: ²⁰ for the thirteenth, Shubael, his sons and his brethren, twelve: ²¹ for the fourteenth, Mattithiah, his sons and his brethren, twelve: ²² for the fifteenth to Jeremoth, his sons and his brethren, twelve: ²³ for the sixteenth to Hananiah, his sons and his brethren, twelve: ²⁴ for the seventeenth to Joshbekashah, his sons and his brethren, twelve: ²⁵ for the eighteenth to Hanani, his sons and his brethren, twelve: ²⁶ for the nineteenth to Mallothi, his sons and his brethren, twelve: ²⁷ for the twentieth to Eliathah, his sons and his brethren, twelve: ²⁸ for the one and twentieth to Hothir, his sons and his brethren, twelve: ²⁹ for the two and twentieth to Giddalti, his sons and his brethren, twelve: ³⁰ for the three and twentieth to Mahazioth, his sons and his brethren, twelve: ³¹ for the four and twentieth to Romamtiezer, his sons and his brethren, twelve.

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26 For the courses of the doorkeepers: of the Korahites, Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph. ² And Meshelemiah had sons: Zechariah the first-born, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth, ³ Elam the fifth, Jehohanan the sixth, Eliehoenai the seventh. ⁴ And Obed-edom had sons: Shemaiah the first-born, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, and Sacar the fourth, and Nethanel the fifth, ⁵ Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, Peullethai the eighth; for God blessed him. ⁶ Also unto Shemaiah his son were sons born, that ruled over the house of their father; for they were mighty men of valor. ⁷ The sons of Shemaiah: Othni, and Rephael, and Obed, Elzabad, whose brethren were valiant men, Elihu, and Semachiah. ⁸ All these were of the sons of Obed-edom: they and their sons and their brethren, able men in strength for the service; threescore and two of Obed-edom. ⁹ And Meshelemiah had sons and brethren, valiant men, eighteen. ¹⁰ Also Hosah, of the children of Merari, had sons: Shimri the chief (for though he was not the first-born, yet his father made him chief), ¹¹ Hilkiah the second, Tebaliah the third, Zechariah the fourth: all the sons and brethren of Hosah were thirteen.

4 What then shall we say that Abraham, ^‍our forefather, hath found according to the flesh? ² For if Abraham was justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not toward God. ³ For what saith the scripture? ^‍And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness. ⁴ Now to him that worketh, the reward is not reckoned as of grace, but as of debt. ⁵ But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is reckoned for righteousness. ⁶ Even as David also pronounceth blessing upon the man, unto whom God reckoneth righteousness apart from works, ⁷ saying,

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^‍Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven,
And whose sins are covered.
⁸ Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not reckon sin.

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⁹ Is this blessing then pronounced upon the circumcision, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say, To Abraham his faith was reckoned for righteousness. ¹⁰ How then was it reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision: ¹¹ and he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while he was in uncircumcision: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be in uncircumcision, that righteousness might be reckoned unto them; ¹² and the father of circumcision to them who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham which he had in uncircumcision.

Prayer for help in affliction.

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For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

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13 How long, O Jehovah? wilt thou forget me for ever?
How long wilt thou hide thy face from me?
² How long shall I take counsel in my soul,
Having sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?
³ Consider and answer me, O Jehovah my God:
Lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death;
⁴ Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him;
Lest mine adversaries rejoice when I am moved.
⁵ But I have trusted in thy lovingkindness;
My heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.
⁶ I will sing unto Jehovah,
Because he hath dealt bountifully with me.

¹⁵ Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep;
And the idle soul shall suffer hunger.
¹⁶ He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his soul;
But he that ^‍is careless of his ways shall die.