July 7 Reading through the Bible

1 CHRONICLES 4:5-5:17
ACTS 25:1-27
PSALM 5:1-12
PROVERBS 18:19

1 CHRONICLES 4:5-5:17
Ashhur (the father of Tekoa) had two wives, named Helah and Naarah. 6 Naarah gave birth to Ahuzzam, Hepher, Temeni, and Haahashtari. 7 Helah gave birth to Zereth, Izhar, Ethnan, 8 and Koz, who became the ancestor of Anub, Zobebah, and all the families of Aharhel son of Harum. 9 There was a man named Jabez who was more distinguished than any of his brothers. His mother named him Jabez because his birth had been so painful. 10 He was the one who prayed to the God of Israel, " Oh, that you would bless me and extend my lands! Please be with me in all that I do, and keep me from all trouble and pain!" And God granted him his request. 11 Kelub (the brother of Shuhah) was the father of Mehir. Mehir was the father of Eshton. 12 Eshton was the father of Beth-rapha, Paseah, and Tehinnah. Tehinnah was the father of Ir-nahash. These were the descendants of Recah. 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 founder of the Valley of Craftsmen, so called because many craftsmen lived there. 15 The sons of Caleb son of Jephunneh were Iru, Elah, and Naam. The son of Elah was Kenaz. 16 The sons of Jehallelel were Ziph, Ziphah, Tiria, and Asarel. 17 The sons of Ezrah were Jether, Mered, Epher, and Jalon. Mered married an Egyptian woman, who became the mother of Miriam, Shammai, and Ishbah (the father of Eshtemoa). 18 Mered also married a woman of Judah, who became the mother of Jered (the father of Gedor), Heber (the father of Soco), and Jekuthiel (the father of Zanoah). Mered's Egyptian wife was named Bithiah, and she was an Egyptian princess. 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 were Amnon, Rinnah, Ben-hanan, and Tilon. The descendants of Ishi were Zoheth and Ben-zoheth. 21 Shelah was one of Judah's sons. The descendants of Shelah were Er (the father of Lecah), Laadah (the father of Mareshah), the families of linen workers at Beth-ashbea, 22 Jokim, the people of Cozeba, Joash, and Saraph, who ruled over Moab and Jashubi-lehem. These names all come from ancient records. 23 They were the potters who lived in Netaim and Gederah. They all worked for the king. 24 The sons of Simeon were Nemuel, Jamin, Jarib, Zerah, and Shaul. 25 The descendants of Shaul were Shallum, Mibsam, and Mishma. 26 The descendants of Mishma were Hammuel, Zaccur, and Shimei. 27 Shimei had sixteen sons and six daughters, but none of his brothers had large families. So Simeon's tribe never became as large as the tribe of Judah. 28 They lived in Beersheba, Moladah, Hazar-shual, 29 Bilhah, Ezem, Tolad, 30 Bethuel, Hormah, Ziklag, 31 Beth-marcaboth, Hazar-susim, Beth-biri, and Shaaraim. These towns were under their control until the time of King David. 32 Their descendants also lived in Etam, Ain, Rimmon, Token, and Ashan--five towns 33 and their surrounding villages as far away as Baalath. This was their territory, and these names are recorded in their family genealogy. 34 Other descendants of Simeon included Meshobab, Jamlech, Joshah son of Amaziah, 35 Joel, Jehu son of Joshibiah, son of Seraiah, son of Asiel, 36 Elioenai, Jaakobah, Jeshohaiah, Asaiah, Adiel, Jesimiel, Benaiah, 37 and Ziza son of Shiphi, son of Allon, son of Jedaiah, son of Shimri, son of Shemaiah.38 These were the names of some of the leaders of Simeon's wealthy clans, 39 who traveled to the region of Gedor, in the east part of the valley, seeking pastureland for their flocks. 40 They found lush pastures there, and the land was quiet and peaceful. Some of Ham's descendants had been living in the region of Gedor. 41 But during the reign of King Hezekiah of Judah, the leaders of Simeon invaded it and completely destroyed the homes of the descendants of Ham and of the Meunites. They killed everyone who lived there and took the land for themselves, because they wanted its good pastureland for their flocks. 42 Five hundred of these invaders from the tribe of Simeon went to Mount Seir, led by Pelatiah, Neariah, Rephaiah, and Uzziel--all sons of Ishi. 43 They destroyed the few Amalekites who had survived, 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 concubines, his birthright was given to the sons of his brother Joseph. For this reason, Reuben is not listed in the genealogy as the firstborn son. 2 It was the descendants of Judah that became the most powerful tribe and provided a ruler for the nation, but the birthright belonged to Joseph. 3 The sons of Reuben, the oldest son of Israel, were Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi. 4 The descendants of Joel were Shemaiah, Gog, Shimei, 5 Micah, Reaiah, Baal, 6 and Beerah. Beerah was the leader of the Reubenites when they were taken into captivity by King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria. 7 Beerah's relatives are listed in their genealogy by their clans: Jeiel (the leader), Zechariah, 8 and Bela son of Azaz, son of Shema, son of Joel. These Reubenites lived in the area that stretches from Aroer to Nebo and Baal-meon. 9 And since they had so many cattle in the land of Gilead, they spread eastward toward the edge of the desert that stretches to the Euphrates River. 10 During the reign of Saul, the Reubenites defeated the Hagrites in battle. Then they moved into the Hagrite settlements all along the eastern edge of Gilead. 11 Across from the Reubenites in the land of Bashan lived the descendants of Gad, who were spread as far east as Salecah. 12 Joel was the leader in the land of Bashan, and Shapham was second-in-command, along with Janai and Shaphat. 13 Their relatives, the leaders of seven other clans, were Michael, Meshullam, Sheba, Jorai, Jacan, Zia, and Eber. 14 These were all descendants of Abihail son of Huri, son of Jaroah, son of Gilead, son of Michael, son of Jeshishai, son of Jahdo, son of Buz. 15 Ahi son of Abdiel, son of Guni, was the leader of their clans.16 The Gadites lived in the land of Gilead, in Bashan and its villages, and throughout the Sharon Plain. 17 All of these were listed in the genealogical records during the days of King Jotham of Judah and King Jeroboam of Israel.

ACTS 25:1-27
Three days after Festus arrived in Caesarea to take over his new responsibilities, he left for Jerusalem, 2 where the leading priests and other Jewish leaders met with him and made their accusations against Paul. 3 They asked Festus as a favor to transfer Paul to Jerusalem. (Their plan was to waylay and kill him.) 4 But Festus replied that Paul was at Caesarea and he himself would be returning there soon. 5 So he said, " Those of you in authority can return with me. If Paul has done anything wrong, you can make your accusations." 6 Eight or ten days later he returned to Caesarea, and on the following day Paul's trial began. 7 On Paul's arrival in court, the Jewish leaders from Jerusalem gathered around and made many serious accusations they couldn't prove. 8 Paul denied the charges. " I am not guilty," he said. " I have committed no crime against the Jewish laws or the Temple or the Roman government." 9 Then Festus, wanting to please the Jews, asked him, " Are you willing to go to Jerusalem and stand trial before me there?" 10 But Paul replied, " No! This is the official Roman court, so I ought to be tried right here. You know very well I am not guilty. 11 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 advisers 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 his sister, Bernice, to pay their respects to 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 leading priests and other Jewish leaders pressed charges against him and asked me to sentence him. 16 Of course, I quickly pointed out to them that Roman law does not convict people without a trial. They are given an opportunity to defend themselves face to face with their 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 expected. 19 It was something about their religion and about someone called Jesus who died, but whom Paul insists is alive. 20 I was perplexed as to how to conduct an investigation of this kind, and I asked him whether he would be willing to stand trial on these charges in Jerusalem. 21 But Paul appealed to the emperor. So I ordered him back to jail until I could arrange to send him to Caesar." 22 " I'd like to hear the man myself," Agrippa said. And Festus replied, " You shall--tomorrow!" 23 So the next day Agrippa and Bernice arrived at the auditorium with great pomp, accompanied by military officers and prominent men of the city. Festus ordered that Paul be brought in. 24 Then Festus said, " King Agrippa and all present, 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 the emperor, and I decided 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 all of you, and especially you, King Agrippa, so that after we examine him, I might have something to write. 27 For it doesn't seem reasonable to send a prisoner to the emperor without specifying the charges against him!"

PSALM 5:1-12
For the choir director: A psalm of David, to be accompanied by the flute.
1 O LORD, hear me as I pray;
pay attention to my groaning.
2 Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God,
for I will never pray to anyone but you.
3 Listen to my voice in the morning, LORD.
Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly.
4 O God, you take no pleasure in wickedness;
you cannot tolerate the slightest sin.
5 Therefore, the proud will not be allowed to stand in your presence,
for you hate all who do evil.
6 You will destroy those who tell lies.
The LORD detests murderers and deceivers.
7 Because of your unfailing love, I can enter your house;
with deepest awe I will worship at your Temple.
8 Lead me in the right path, O LORD,
or my enemies will conquer me.
Tell me clearly what to do,
and show me which way to turn.
9 My enemies cannot speak one truthful word.
Their deepest desire is to destroy others.
Their talk is foul, like the stench from an open grave.
Their speech is filled with flattery.
10 O God, declare them guilty.
Let them be caught in their own traps.
Drive them away because of their many sins,
for they rebel against you.
11 But let all who take refuge in you rejoice;
let them sing joyful praises forever.
Protect them,
so all who love your name may be filled with joy.
12 For you bless the godly, O LORD,
surrounding them with your shield of love.

PROVERBS 18:19
It's harder to make amends with an offended friend than to capture a fortified city. Arguments separate friends like a gate locked with iron bars.