Numbers 1, Psalm 35, Ecclesiastes 11, Titus 3

Numbers 1,

1 The LORD spoke to Moses in the Tent of Meeting in the Desert of Sinai on the first day of the second month of the second year after the Israelites came out of Egypt. He said:
 
2 "Take a census of the whole Israelite community by their clans and families, listing every man by name, one by one.
 
3 You and Aaron are to number by their divisions all the men in Israel twenty years old or more who are able to serve in the army.
 
4 One man from each tribe, each the head of his family, is to help you.
 
5 These are the names of the men who are to assist you: from Reuben, Elizur son of Shedeur;
 
6 from Simeon, Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai;
 
7 from Judah, Nahshon son of Amminadab;
 
8 from Issachar, Nethanel son of Zuar;
 
9 from Zebulun, Eliab son of Helon;
 
10 from the sons of Joseph: from Ephraim, Elishama son of Ammihud; from Manasseh, Gamaliel son of Pedahzur;
 
11 from Benjamin, Abidan son of Gideoni;
 
12 from Dan, Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai;
 
13 from Asher, Pagiel son of Ocran;
 
14 from Gad, Eliasaph son of Deuel;
 
15 from Naphtali, Ahira son of Enan."
 
16 These were the men appointed from the community, the leaders of their ancestral tribes. They were the heads of the clans of Israel.
 
17 Moses and Aaron took these men whose names had been given,
 
18 and they called the whole community together on the first day of the second month. The people indicated their ancestry by their clans and families, and the men twenty years old or more were listed by name, one by one,
 
19 as the LORD commanded Moses. And so he counted them in the Desert of Sinai:
 
20 From the descendants of Reuben the firstborn son of Israel: All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, one by one, according to the records of their clans and families.
 
21 The number from the tribe of Reuben was 46,500.
 
22 From the descendants of Simeon: All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were counted and listed by name, one by one, according to the records of their clans and families.
 
23 The number from the tribe of Simeon was 59,300.
 
24 From the descendants of Gad: All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families.
 
25 The number from the tribe of Gad was 45,650.
 
26 From the descendants of Judah: All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families.
 
27 The number from the tribe of Judah was 74,600.
 
28 From the descendants of Issachar: All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families.
 
29 The number from the tribe of Issachar was 54,400.
 
30 From the descendants of Zebulun: All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families.
 
31 The number from the tribe of Zebulun was 57,400.
 
32 From the sons of Joseph: From the descendants of Ephraim: All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families.
 
33 The number from the tribe of Ephraim was 40,500.
 
34 From the descendants of Manasseh: All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families.
 
35 The number from the tribe of Manasseh was 32,200.
 
36 From the descendants of Benjamin: All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families.
 
37 The number from the tribe of Benjamin was 35,400.
 
38 From the descendants of Dan: All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families.
 
39 The number from the tribe of Dan was 62,700.
 
40 From the descendants of Asher: All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families.
 
41 The number from the tribe of Asher was 41,500.
 
42 From the descendants of Naphtali: All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families.
 
43 The number from the tribe of Naphtali was 53,400.
 
44 These were the men counted by Moses and Aaron and the twelve leaders of Israel, each one representing his family.
 
45 All the Israelites twenty years old or more who were able to serve in Israel's army were counted according to their families.
 
46 The total number was 603,550.
 
47 The families of the tribe of Levi, however, were not counted along with the others.
 
48 The LORD had said to Moses:
 
49 "You must not count the tribe of Levi or include them in the census of the other Israelites.
 
50 Instead, appoint the Levites to be in charge of the tabernacle of the Testimony-over all its furnishings and everything belonging to it. They are to carry the tabernacle and all its furnishings; they are to take care of it and encamp around it.
 
51 Whenever the tabernacle is to move, the Levites are to take it down, and whenever the tabernacle is to be set up, the Levites shall do it. Anyone else who goes near it shall be put to death.
 
52 The Israelites are to set up their tents by divisions, each man in his own camp under his own standard.
 
53 The Levites, however, are to set up their tents around the tabernacle of the Testimony so that wrath will not fall on the Israelite community. The Levites are to be responsible for the care of the tabernacle of the Testimony."
 
54 The Israelites did all this just as the LORD commanded Moses.

Psalm 35,

1 Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me.
 
2 Take up shield and buckler; arise and come to my aid.
 
3 Brandish spear and javelin against those who pursue me. Say to my soul, "I am your salvation."
 
4 May those who seek my life be disgraced and put to shame; may those who plot my ruin be turned back in dismay.
 
5 May they be like chaff before the wind, with the angel of the LORD driving them away;
 
6 may their path be dark and slippery, with the angel of the LORD pursuing them.
 
7 Since they hid their net for me without cause and without cause dug a pit for me,
 
8 may ruin overtake them by surprise-may the net they hid entangle them, may they fall into the pit, to their ruin.
 
9 Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD and delight in his salvation.
 
10 My whole being will exclaim, "Who is like you, O LORD? You rescue the poor from those too strong for them, the poor and needy from those who rob them."
 
11 Ruthless witnesses come forward; they question me on things I know nothing about.
 
12 They repay me evil for good and leave my soul forlorn.
 
13 Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth and humbled myself with fasting. When my prayers returned to me unanswered,
 
14 I went about mourning as though for my friend or brother. I bowed my head in grief as though weeping for my mother.
 
15 But when I stumbled, they gathered in glee; attackers gathered against me when I was unaware. They slandered me without ceasing.
 
16 Like the ungodly they maliciously mocked; they gnashed their teeth at me.
 
17 O Lord, how long will you look on? Rescue my life from their ravages, my precious life from these lions.
 
18 I will give you thanks in the great assembly; among throngs of people I will praise you.
 
19 Let not those gloat over me who are my enemies without cause; let not those who hate me without reason maliciously wink the eye.
 
20 They do not speak peaceably, but devise false accusations against those who live quietly in the land.
 
21 They gape at me and say, "Aha! Aha! With our own eyes we have seen it."
 
22 O LORD, you have seen this; be not silent. Do not be far from me, O Lord.
 
23 Awake, and rise to my defense! Contend for me, my God and Lord.
 
24 Vindicate me in your righteousness, O LORD my God; do not let them gloat over me.
 
25 Do not let them think, "Aha, just what we wanted!" or say, "We have swallowed him up."
 
26 May all who gloat over my distress be put to shame and confusion; may all who exalt themselves over me be clothed with shame and disgrace.
 
27 May those who delight in my vindication shout for joy and gladness; may they always say, "The LORD be exalted, who delights in the well-being of his servant."
 
28 My tongue will speak of your righteousness and of your praises all day long.

Ecclesiastes 11,

1 Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it again.
 
2 Give portions to seven, yes to eight, for you do not know what disaster may come upon the land.
 
3 If clouds are full of water, they pour rain upon the earth. Whether a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where it falls, there will it lie.
 
4 Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.
 
5 As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother's womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.
 
6 Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let not your hands be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well.
 
7 Light is sweet, and it pleases the eyes to see the sun.
 
8 However many years a man may live, let him enjoy them all. But let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many.Everything to come is meaningless.
 
9 Be happy, young man, while you are young, and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth. Follow the ways of your heart and whatever your eyes see, but know that for all these things God will bring you to judgment.
 
10 So then, banish anxiety from your heart and cast off the troubles of your body, for youth and vigor are meaningless.

Titus 3

1 Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good,
 
2 to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.
 
3 At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.
 
4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared,
 
5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,
 
6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior,
 
7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
 
8 This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.
 
9 But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless.
 
10 Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him.
 
11 You may be sure that such a man is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.
 
12 As soon as I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, because I have decided to winter there.
 
13 Do everything you can to help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way and see that they have everything they need.
 
14 Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order that they may provide for daily necessities and not live unproductive lives.
 
15 Everyone with me sends you greetings. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all.