The One Year Bible TLB (146 page)
Read The One Year Bible TLB Online
Authors: Tyndale
O God, you have declared me perfect in your eyes;
*
you have always cared for me in my distress; now hear me as I call again. Have mercy on me. Hear my prayer.
2
The Lord God asks, “Sons of men, will you forever turn my glory into shame by worshiping these silly idols, when every claim that’s made for them is false?”
3
Mark this well: The Lord has set apart the redeemed for himself. Therefore he will listen to me and answer when I call to him.
4
Stand before the Lord in awe,
*
and do not sin against him. Lie quietly upon your bed in silent meditation.
5
Put your trust in the Lord, and offer him pleasing sacrifices.
6
Many say that God will never help us. Prove them wrong,
*
O Lord, by letting the light of your face shine down upon us.
7
Yes, the gladness you have given me is far greater than their joys at harvest time as they gaze at their bountiful crops.
8
I will lie down in peace and sleep, for though I am alone, O Lord, you will keep me safe.
A gift does wonders; it will bring you before men of importance!
17
Any story sounds true until someone tells the other side and sets the record straight.
18
A coin toss
*
ends arguments and settles disputes between powerful opponents.
July 7Ashhur, the father of Tekoa, had two wives—
Helah
and
Naarah.
6
Naarah
bore him Ahuzzam, Hepher, Temeni, and Haahashtari;
7
and
Helah
bore him Zereth, Izhar, and Ethnan.
8
Koz was the father of Anub and Zobebah; he was also the ancestor of the clan named after Aharhel, the son of Harum.
9
Jabez was more distinguished than any of his brothers. His mother named him Jabez because she had such a hard time at his birth (Jabez means
*
“Distress”).
10
He was the one who prayed to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would wonderfully bless me and help me in my work; please be with me in all that I do, and keep me from all evil and disaster!” And God granted him his request.
11-12
The descendants of Recah were:
Chelub (the brother of Shuhah), whose son was Mahir, the father of
Eshton;
Eshton
was the father of Bethrapha, Paseah, and
Tehinnah;
Tehinnah
was the father of Irnahash.
13
The sons of Kenaz were
Othniel
and
Seraiah.
Othniel’s
sons were Hathath and
Meonothai;
14
Meonothai
was the father of Ophrah;
Seraiah
was the father of Joab, the ancestor of the inhabitants of Craftsman Valley (called that because many craftsmen lived there).
15
The sons of Caleb (the son of Jephunneh): Iru,
Elah,
Naam.
The sons of
Elah
included Kenaz.
16
Jehallelel’s sons were: Ziph, Ziphah, Tiria, Asarel.
17
Ezrah’s sons were: Jether,
Mered,
Epher, Jalon.
Mered
married Bithiah, an Egyptian princess. She was the mother of Miriam, Shammai, and Ishbah—an ancestor of
Eshtemoa.
18
Eshtemoa’s
wife was a Jewess; she was the mother of Jered, Heber, and Jekuthiel, who were, respectively, the ancestors of the Gedorites, Socoites, and Zanoahites.
19
Hodiah’s wife was the sister of Naham. One of her sons was the father of Keilah the Garmite, and another was the father of Eshtemoa the Maacathite.
20
The sons of Shimon: Amnon, Rinnah, Ben-hanan, Tilon.
The sons of Ishi: Zoheth, Ben-zoheth.
21-22
The sons of Shelah (the son of Judah):
Er (the father of Lecah),
Laadah (the father of Mareshah),
The families of the linen workers who worked at Beth-ashbea,
Jokim,
The clans of Cozeba,
Joash,
Saraph (who was a ruler in Moab before he returned to Lehem).
These names all come from very ancient records.
23
These clans were noted for their pottery, gardening, and planting; they all worked for the king.
24
The sons of Simeon: Nemuel, Jamin, Jarib, Zerah,
Shaul.
25
Shaul’s
son was Shallum, his grandson was Mibsam, and his great-grandson was
Mishma.
26
Mishma’s
sons included Hammuel (the father of Zaccur and grandfather of
Shimei
).
27
Shimei
had sixteen sons and six daughters, but none of his brothers had large families—they all had fewer children than was normal in Judah.
28
They lived at Beersheba, Moladah, Hazar-shual,
29
Bilhah, Ezem, Tolad,
30
Bethuel, Hormah, Ziklag,
31
Beth-marcaboth, Hazar-susim, Beth-biri, and Shaaraim. These cities were under their control until the time of David.
32-33
Their descendants also lived in or near Etam, Ain, Rimmon, Tochen, and Ashan; some were as far away as Baal. (These facts are recorded in their genealogies.)
34-39
These are the names of some of the princes of wealthy clans who traveled to the east side of Gedor Valley in search of pasture for their flocks: Meshobab, Jamlech, Joshah, Joel, Jehu, Elioenai, Jaakobah, Jeshohaiah, Asaiah, Adiel, Jesimiel, Benaiah, Ziza (the son of Shiphi, son of Allon, son of Jedaiah, son of Shimri, son of Shemaiah).
40-41
They found good pastures, and everything was quiet and peaceful; but the land belonged to the descendants of Ham.
So during the reign of King Hezekiah of Judah these princes invaded the land and struck down the tents and houses of the descendants of Ham; they killed the inhabitants of the land and took possession of it for themselves.
42
Later, five hundred of these invaders from the tribe of Simeon went to Mount Seir. (Their leaders were Pelatiah, Neariah, Rephaiah, and Uzziel—all sons of Ishi.)
43
There they destroyed the few surviving members of the tribe of Amalek. And they have lived there ever since.
5:
1
The oldest son of Israel was Reuben, but since he dishonored his father by sleeping with one of his father’s wives, his birthright was given to his half brother, Joseph. So the official genealogy doesn’t name Reuben as the oldest son.
2
Although Joseph received the birthright, yet Judah was a powerful and influential tribe in Israel, and from Judah came a prince.
3
The sons of Reuben, Israel’s son, were: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, Carmi.
4
Joel’s descendants were his son Shemaiah, his grandson Gog, and his great-grandson
Shimei.
5
Shimei’s
son was Micah; his grandson was Reaiah; and his great-grandson was
Baal.
6
Baal’s
son was Beerah. He was a prince of the tribe of Reuben and was taken into captivity by King Tilgath-pilneser of Assyria.
7-8
His relatives became heads of clans and were included in the official genealogy: Jeiel, Zechariah, Bela (the son of Azaz, grandson of Shema, and great-grandson of
Joel
).
These Reubenites
*
lived in Aroer and as far distant as Mount Nebo and Baal-meon.
9
Joel
was a cattleman, and he pastured his animals eastward to the edge of the desert and to the Euphrates River, for there were many cattle in the land of Gilead.
10
During the reign of King Saul, the men of Reuben defeated the Hagrites in war and moved into their tents on the eastern edge of Gilead.
11
Across from them, in the land of Bashan, lived the descendants of Gad, who were spread as far as Salecah.
12
Joel
was the greatest and was followed by Shapham, also Janai and Shaphat.
13
Their relatives, the heads of the seven clans, were Michael, Meshullam, Sheba, Jorai, Jacan, Zia, and Eber.
14
The descendants of Buz, in the order of their generations, were: Jahdo, Jeshishai, Michael, Gilead, Jaroah, Huri, Abihail.
15
Ahi, the son of Abdiel and grandson of Guni, was the leader of the clan.
16
The clan lived in and around Gilead (in the land of Bashan) and throughout the entire pasture country of Sharon.
17
All were included in the official genealogy at the time of King Jotham of Judah and King Jeroboam of Israel.
Three days after Festus arrived in Caesarea to take over his new responsibilities, he left for Jerusalem,
2
where the chief priests and other Jewish leaders got hold of him and gave him their story about Paul.
3
They begged him to bring Paul to Jerusalem at once. (Their plan was to waylay and kill him.)
4
But Festus replied that since Paul was at Caesarea and he himself was returning there soon,
5
those with authority in this affair should return with him for the trial.
6
Eight or ten days later he returned to Caesarea and the following day opened Paul’s trial.
7
On Paul’s arrival in court the Jews from Jerusalem gathered around, hurling many serious accusations which they couldn’t prove.
8
Paul denied the charges: “I am not guilty,” he said. “I have not opposed the Jewish laws or desecrated the Temple or rebelled against the Roman government.”
9
Then Festus, anxious to please the Jews, asked him, “Are you willing to go to Jerusalem and stand trial before me?”
10-11
But Paul replied, “No! I demand my privilege of a hearing before the emperor himself. You know very well I am not guilty. If I have done something worthy of death, I don’t refuse to die! But if I am innocent, neither you nor anyone else has a right to turn me over to these men to kill me.
I appeal to Caesar.”
12
Festus conferred with his advisors and then replied, “Very well! You have appealed to Caesar, and to Caesar you shall go!”
13
A few days later King Agrippa arrived with Bernice
*
for a visit with Festus.
14
During their stay of several days Festus discussed Paul’s case with the king. “There is a prisoner here,” he told him, “whose case was left for me by Felix.
15
When I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and other Jewish leaders gave me their side of the story and asked me to have him killed.
16
Of course I quickly pointed out to them that Roman law does not convict a man before he is tried. He is given an opportunity to defend himself face-to-face with his accusers.
17
“When they came here for the trial, I called the case the very next day and ordered Paul brought in.
18
But the accusations made against him weren’t at all what I supposed they would be.
19
It was something about their religion and about someone called Jesus who died, but Paul insists is alive!
20
I was perplexed as to how to decide a case of this kind and asked him whether he would be willing to stand trial on these charges in Jerusalem.
21
But Paul appealed to Caesar! So I ordered him back to jail until I could arrange to get him to the emperor.”
22
“I’d like to hear the man myself,” Agrippa said.
And Festus replied, “You shall—tomorrow!”
23
So the next day, after the king and Bernice had arrived at the courtroom with great pomp, accompanied by military officers and prominent men of the city, Festus ordered Paul brought in.
24
Then Festus addressed the audience: “King Agrippa and all present,” he said, “this is the man whose death is demanded both by the local Jews and by those in Jerusalem!
25
But in my opinion he has done nothing worthy of death. However, he appealed his case to Caesar, and I have no alternative but to send him.
26
But what shall I write the emperor? For there is no real charge against him! So I have brought him before you all, and especially you, King Agrippa, to examine him and then tell me what to write.
27
For it doesn’t seem reasonable to send a prisoner to the emperor without any charges against him!”
O Lord, hear me praying; listen to my plea, O God my King, for I will never pray to anyone but you.
3
Each morning I will look to you in heaven and lay my requests before you, praying earnestly.
4
I know you get no pleasure from wickedness and cannot tolerate the slightest sin.
5
Therefore, proud sinners will not survive your searching gaze, for how you hate their evil deeds.
6
You will destroy them for their lies; how you abhor all murder and deception.
7
But as for me, I will come into your Temple protected by your mercy and your love; I will worship you with deepest awe.
8
Lord, lead me as you promised me you would; otherwise my enemies will conquer me. Tell me clearly what to do, which way to turn.
9
For they cannot speak one truthful word. Their hearts are filled to the brim with wickedness. Their suggestions are full of the stench of sin and death. Their tongues are filled with flatteries to gain their wicked ends.
10
O God, hold them responsible. Catch them in their own traps; let them fall beneath the weight of their own transgressions, for they rebel against you.
11
But make everyone rejoice who puts his trust in you. Keep them shouting for joy because you are defending them. Fill all who love you with your happiness.
12
For you bless the godly man, O Lord; you protect him with your shield of love.