1 Chronicles, Chapter 23

(1) So when David was old and full of days, he made Solomon his son king over Israel. (2) And he gathered together all the princes of Israel, with the priests and the Levites. (3) Now the Levites were numbered from the age of thirty years and upward: and their number by their polls, man by man, was thirty and eight thousand. (4) Of which, twenty and four thousand were to set forward the work of the house of the LORD; and six thousand were officers and judges: (5) Moreover four thousand were porters; and four thousand praised the LORD with the instruments which I made, said David, to praise therewith. (6) And David divided them into courses among the sons of Levi, namely, Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. (7) Of the Gershonites were, Laadan, and Shimei. (8) The sons of Laadan; the chief was Jehiel, and Zetham, and Joel, three. (9) The sons of Shimei; Shelomith, and Haziel, and Haran, three. These were the chief of the fathers of Laadan. (10) And the sons of Shimei were, Jahath, Zina, and Jeush, and Beriah. These four were the sons of Shimei. (11) And Jahath was the chief, and Zizah the second: but Jeush and Beriah had not many sons; therefore they were in one reckoning, according to their father's house. (12) The sons of Kohath; Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, four. (13) The sons of Amram; Aaron and Moses: and Aaron was separated, that he should sanctify the most holy things, he and his sons for ever, to burn incense before the LORD, to minister unto him, and to bless in his name for ever. (14) Now concerning Moses the man of God, his sons were named of the tribe of Levi. (15) The sons of Moses were, Gershom, and Eliezer. (16) Of the sons of Gershom, Shebuel was the chief. (17) And the sons of Eliezer were, Rehabiah the chief. And Eliezer had none other sons; but the sons of Rehabiah were very many. (18) Of the sons of Izhar; Shelomith the chief. (19) Of the sons of Hebron; Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth. (20) Of the sons of Uzziel; Micah the first, and Jesiah the second. (21) The sons of Merari; Mahli, and Mushi. The sons of Mahli; Eleazar, and Kish. (22) And Eleazar died, and had no sons, but daughters: and their brethren the sons of Kish took them. (23) The sons of Mushi; Mahli, and Eder, and Jeremoth, three. (24) These were the sons of Levi after the house of their fathers; even the chief of the fathers, as they were counted by number of names by their polls, that did the work for the service of the house of the LORD, from the age of twenty years and upward. (25) For David said, The LORD God of Israel hath given rest unto his people, that they may dwell in Jerusalem for ever: (26) And also unto the Levites; they shall no more carry the tabernacle, nor any vessels of it for the service thereof. (27) For by the last words of David the Levites were numbered from twenty years old and above: (28) Because their office was to wait on the sons of Aaron for the service of the house of the LORD, in the courts, and in the chambers, and in the purifying of all holy things, and the work of the service of the house of God; (29) Both for the shewbread, and for the fine flour for meat offering, and for the unleavened cakes, and for that which is baked in the pan, and for that which is fried, and for all manner of measure and size; (30) And to stand every morning to thank and praise the LORD, and likewise at even; (31) And to offer all burnt sacrifices unto the LORD in the sabbaths, in the new moons, and on the set feasts, by number, according to the order commanded unto them, continually before the LORD: (32) And that they should keep the charge of the tabernacle of the congregation, and the charge of the holy place, and the charge of the sons of Aaron their brethren, in the service of the house of the LORD.

A Random Prayer...

Psalm for the Sick

O Lord, in your anger punish me not; in your wrath chastise me not. For your arrows have sunk deep in me; your hand has come down upon me. There is no health in my flesh because of your indignation; there is no wholeness in my bones because of my sin. For my iniquities have overwhelmed me; they are like a heavy burden, beyond my strength. Noisome and festering are my sores, because of my folly. I am stooped and bowed down profoundly; all the day I go in mourning. For my loins are filled with burning pains; there is no health in my flesh. I am numbed and severely crushed; I roar with anguish of heart. O Lord, all my desire is before you; from you my groaning is not hid. My heart throbs, my strength forsakes me; the very light of my eyes has failed me. For I am very near to falling; and my grief is with me always. Indeed, I acknowledge my guilt; I grieve over my sins. Forsake me not, O Lord,; my God be not far from me! Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation. Let me know, O Lord, my end and what is the number of my days, that I may learn how frail I am. A short span you have made my days, and my life is as nought before you; only a breath is any human existence. Hear my prayer, O Lord, to my cry give ear; to my weeping be not deaf! For I am but a wayfarer before you, a pilgrim like all my fathers. Turn you gaze from me that I may find respite, ere I depart and be no more. Taken from Psalms 37 and 38

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