Genealogies, Diligence, and Growing Faith

1. Of the sons of Issachar: Tola, and Puah, Jashub, and Shimron, four. 2. The sons of Tola: Uzzi, Rephaiah, Jeriel, Jahmai, Ibsam, and Shemuel, heads of their fathers’ houses, of Tola; mighty men of valor in their generations. Their number in the days of David was twenty-two thousand six hundred. 3. The son of Uzzi: Izrahiah. The sons of Izrahiah: Michael, Obadiah, Joel, and Isshiah, five; all of them chief men. 4. With them, by their generations, after their fathers’ houses, were bands of the army for war, thirty-six thousand; for they had many wives and sons. 5. Their brothers among all the families of Issachar, mighty men of valor, listed in all by genealogy, were eighty-seven thousand. 6. The sons of Benjamin: Bela, Becher, and Jediael, three. 7. The sons of Bela: Ezbon, Uzzi, Uzziel, Jerimoth, and Iri, five; heads of fathers’ houses, mighty men of valor; and they were listed by genealogy twenty-two thousand thirty-four. 8. The sons of Becher: Zemirah, Joash, Eliezer, Elioenai, Omri, Jeremoth, Abijah, Anathoth, and Alemeth. All these were the sons of Becher. 9. They were listed by genealogy, after their generations, heads of their fathers’ houses, mighty men of valor, twenty thousand two hundred. 10. The son of Jediael: Bilhan. The sons of Bilhan: Jeush, Benjamin, Ehud, Chenaanah, Zethan, Tarshish, and Ahishahar. 11. All these were sons of Jediael, according to the heads of their fathers’ households, mighty men of valor, seventeen thousand two hundred, who were able to go out in the army for war. 12. So were Shuppim, Huppim, the sons of Ir, Hushim, and the sons of Aher. 13. The sons of Naphtali: Jahziel, Guni, Jezer, Shallum, and the sons of Bilhah. 14. The sons of Manasseh: Asriel, whom his concubine the Aramitess bore. She bore Machir the father of Gilead. 15. Machir took a wife of Huppim and Shuppim, whose sister’s name was Maacah. The name of the second was Zelophehad; and Zelophehad had daughters. 16. Maacah the wife of Machir bore a son, and she named him Peresh. The name of his brother was Sheresh; and his sons were Ulam and Rakem. 17. The sons of Ulam: Bedan. These were the sons of Gilead the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh. 18. His sister Hammolecheth bore Ishhod, Abiezer, and Mahlah. 19. The sons of Shemida were Ahian, Shechem, Likhi, and Aniam. 20. The sons of Ephraim: Shuthelah, Bered his son, Tahath his son, Eleadah his son, Tahath his son, 21. Zabad his son, Shuthelah his son, Ezer, and Elead, whom the men of Gath who were born in the land killed, because they came down to take away their livestock. 22. Ephraim their father mourned many days, and his brothers came to comfort him. 23. He went in to his wife, and she conceived, and bore a son, and he named him Beriah, because there was trouble with his house. 24. His daughter was Sheerah, who built Beth Horon the lower and the upper, and Uzzen Sheerah. 25. Rephah was his son, and Resheph, and Telah his son, Tahan his son, 26. Ladan his son, Ammihud his son, Elishama his son, 27. Nun his son, and Joshua his son. 28. Their possessions and settlements were Bethel and its towns, and eastward Naaran, and westward Gezer, with its towns; Shechem also and its towns, to Azzah and its towns; 29. and by the borders of the children of Manasseh, Beth Shean and its towns, Taanach and its towns, Megiddo and its towns, and Dor and its towns. The children of Joseph the son of Israel lived in these. 30. The sons of Asher: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, and Beriah. Serah was their sister. 31. The sons of Beriah: Heber and Malchiel, who was the father of Birzaith. 32. Heber became the father of Japhlet, Shomer, Hotham, and Shua their sister. 33. The sons of Japhlet: Pasach, Bimhal, and Ashvath. These are the children of Japhlet. 34. The sons of Shemer: Ahi, Rohgah, Jehubbah, and Aram. 35. The sons of Helem his brother: Zophah, Imna, Shelesh, and Amal. 36. The sons of Zophah: Suah, Harnepher, Shual, Beri, Imrah, 37. Bezer, Hod, Shamma, Shilshah, Ithran, and Beera. 38. The sons of Jether: Jephunneh, Pispa, and Ara. 39. The sons of Ulla: Arah, Hanniel, and Rizia. 40. All these were the children of Asher, heads of the fathers’ houses, choice and mighty men of valor, chief of the princes. The number of them listed by genealogy for service in war was twenty-six thousand men. 1. Benjamin became the father of Bela his firstborn, Ashbel the second, Aharah the third, 2. Nohah the fourth, and Rapha the fifth. 3. Bela had sons: Addar, Gera, Abihud, 4. Abishua, Naaman, Ahoah, 5. Gera, Shephuphan, and Huram. 6. These are the sons of Ehud. These are the heads of fathers’ households of the inhabitants of Geba, who were carried captive to Manahath: 7. Naaman, Ahijah, and Gera, who carried them captive; and he became the father of Uzza and Ahihud. 8. Shaharaim became the father of children in the field of Moab, after he had sent them away. Hushim and Baara were his wives. 9. By Hodesh his wife, he became the father of Jobab, Zibia, Mesha, Malcam, 10. Jeuz, Shachia, and Mirmah. These were his sons, heads of fathers’ households. 11. By Hushim, he became the father of Abitub and Elpaal. 12. The sons of Elpaal: Eber, Misham, and Shemed, who built Ono and Lod, with its towns; 13. and Beriah, and Shema, who were heads of fathers’ households of the inhabitants of Aijalon, who put to flight the inhabitants of Gath; 14. and Ahio, Shashak, Jeremoth, 15. Zebadiah, Arad, Eder, 16. Michael, Ishpah, Joha, the sons of Beriah, 17. Zebadiah, Meshullam, Hizki, Heber, 18. Ishmerai, Izliah, Jobab, the sons of Elpaal, 19. Jakim, Zichri, Zabdi, 20. Elienai, Zillethai, Eliel, 21. Adaiah, Beraiah, Shimrath, the sons of Shimei, 22. Ishpan, Eber, Eliel, 23. Abdon, Zichri, Hanan, 24. Hananiah, Elam, Anthothijah, 25. Iphdeiah, Penuel, the sons of Shashak, 26. Shamsherai, Shehariah, Athaliah, 27. Jaareshiah, Elijah, Zichri, and the sons of Jeroham. 28. These were heads of fathers’ households throughout their generations, chief men. These lived in Jerusalem. 29. The father of Gibeon, whose wife’s name was Maacah, lived in Gibeon, 30. with his firstborn son Abdon, Zur, Kish, Baal, Nadab, 31. Gedor, Ahio, and Zecher. 32. Mikloth became the father of Shimeah. They also lived with their brothers in Jerusalem, near their brothers. 33. Ner became the father of Kish. Kish became the father of Saul. Saul became the father of Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Eshbaal. 34. The son of Jonathan was Merib Baal. Merib Baal became the father of Micah. 35. The sons of Micah: Pithon, Melech, Tarea, and Ahaz. 36. Ahaz became the father of Jehoaddah. Jehoaddah became the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri. Zimri became the father of Moza. 37. Moza became the father of Binea. Raphah was his son, Eleasah his son, and Azel his son. 38. Azel had six sons, whose names are these: Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan. All these were the sons of Azel. 39. The sons of Eshek his brother: Ulam his firstborn, Jeush the second, and Eliphelet the third. 40. The sons of Ulam were mighty men of valor, archers, and had many sons, and sons’ sons, one hundred fifty. All these were of the sons of Benjamin. 1. So all Israel were listed by genealogies; and behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel. Judah was carried away captive to Babylon for their disobedience. 2. Now the first inhabitants who lived in their possessions in their cities were Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the temple servants. 3. In Jerusalem lived of the children of Judah, of the children of Benjamin, and of the children of Ephraim and Manasseh: 4. Uthai the son of Ammihud, the son of Omri, the son of Imri, the son of Bani, of the children of Perez the son of Judah. 5. Of the Shilonites: Asaiah the firstborn, and his sons. 6. Of the sons of Zerah: Jeuel and their brothers, six hundred ninety. 7. Of the sons of Benjamin: Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son of Hodaviah, the son of Hassenuah, 8. and Ibneiah the son of Jeroham, and Elah the son of Uzzi, the son of Michri, and Meshullam the son of Shephatiah, the son of Reuel, the son of Ibnijah; 9. and their brothers, according to their generations, nine hundred fifty-six. All these men were heads of fathers’ households by their fathers’ houses. 10. Of the priests: Jedaiah, Jehoiarib, Jachin, 11. and Azariah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the ruler of God’s house; 12. and Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pashhur, the son of Malchijah, and Maasai the son of Adiel, the son of Jahzerah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Meshillemith, the son of Immer; 13. and their brothers, heads of their fathers’ houses, one thousand seven hundred sixty; very able men for the work of the service of God’s house. 14. Of the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, of the sons of Merari; 15. and Bakbakkar, Heresh, Galal, and Mattaniah the son of Mica, the son of Zichri, the son of Asaph, 16. and Obadiah the son of Shemaiah, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun, and Berechiah the son of Asa, the son of Elkanah, who lived in the villages of the Netophathites. 17. The gatekeepers: Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman, and their brothers (Shallum was the chief), 18. who previously served in the king’s gate eastward. They were the gatekeepers for the camp of the children of Levi. 19. Shallum the son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his brothers, of his father’s house, the Korahites, were over the work of the service, keepers of the thresholds of the tent. Their fathers had been over Yahweh’s camp, keepers of the entry. 20. Phinehas the son of Eleazar was ruler over them in time past, and Yahweh was with him. 21. Zechariah the son of Meshelemiah was gatekeeper of the door of the Tent of Meeting. 22. All these who were chosen to be gatekeepers in the thresholds were two hundred twelve. These were listed by genealogy in their villages, whom David and Samuel the seer ordained in their office of trust. 23. So they and their children had the oversight of the gates of Yahweh’s house, even the house of the tent, by wards. 24. On the four sides were the gatekeepers, toward the east, west, north, and south. 25. Their brothers, in their villages, were to come in every seven days from time to time to be with them: 26. for the four chief gatekeepers, who were Levites, were in an office of trust, and were over the rooms and over the treasuries in God’s house. 27. They stayed around God’s house, because that duty was on them; and to their duty was its opening morning by morning. 28. Certain of them were in charge of the vessels of service; for these were brought in by count, and these were taken out by count. 29. Some of them also were appointed over the furniture, and over all the vessels of the sanctuary, over the fine flour, the wine, the oil, the frankincense, and the spices. 30. Some of the sons of the priests prepared the mixing of the spices. 31. Mattithiah, one of the Levites, who was the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite, had the office of trust over the things that were baked in pans. 32. Some of their brothers, of the sons of the Kohathites, were over the show bread, to prepare it every Sabbath. 33. These are the singers, heads of fathers’ households of the Levites, who lived in the rooms and were free from other service; for they were employed in their work day and night. 34. These were heads of fathers’ households of the Levites, throughout their generations, chief men. These lived at Jerusalem. 35. Jeiel the father of Gibeon, whose wife’s name was Maacah, lived in Gibeon with 36. his firstborn son Abdon, Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab, 37. Gedor, Ahio, Zechariah, and Mikloth. 38. Mikloth became the father of Shimeam. They also lived with their brothers in Jerusalem, near their brothers. 39. Ner became the father of Kish. Kish became the father of Saul. Saul became the father of Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Eshbaal. 40. The son of Jonathan was Merib Baal. Merib Baal became the father of Micah. 41. The sons of Micah: Pithon, Melech, Tahrea, and Ahaz. 42. Ahaz became the father of Jarah. Jarah became the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri. Zimri became the father of Moza. 43. Moza became the father of Binea; and Rephaiah his son, Eleasah his son, and Azel his son. 44. Azel had six sons, whose names are these: Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan. These were the sons of Azel.

1. Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained a like precious faith with us in the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ: 2. Grace to you and peace be multiplied in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3. seeing that his divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and virtue; 4. by which he has granted to us his precious and exceedingly great promises; that through these you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world by lust. 5. Yes, and for this very cause adding on your part all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence; and in moral excellence, knowledge; 6. and in knowledge, self-control; and in self-control perseverance; and in perseverance godliness; 7. and in godliness brotherly affection; and in brotherly affection, love. 8. For if these things are yours and abound, they make you to be not idle or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9. For he who lacks these things is blind, seeing only what is near, having forgotten the cleansing from his old sins. 10. Therefore, brothers, be more diligent to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never stumble. 11. For thus you will be richly supplied with the entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 12. Therefore I will not be negligent to remind you of these things, though you know them, and are established in the present truth. 13. I think it right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you; 14. knowing that the putting off of my tent comes swiftly, even as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. 15. Yes, I will make every effort that you may always be able to remember these things even after my departure. 16. For we did not follow cunningly devised fables, when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17. For he received from God the Father honor and glory, when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” 18. We heard this voice come out of heaven when we were with him on the holy mountain. 19. We have the more sure word of prophecy; and you do well that you heed it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns, and the morning star arises in your hearts: 20. knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of private interpretation. 21. For no prophecy ever came by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke, being moved by the Holy Spirit. 1. But false prophets also arose among the people, as false teachers will also be among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, denying even the Master who bought them, bringing on themselves swift destruction. 2. Many will follow their immoral ways, and as a result, the way of the truth will be maligned. 3. In covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words: whose sentence now from of old doesn’t linger, and their destruction will not slumber. 4. For if God didn’t spare angels when they sinned, but cast them down to Tartarus, and committed them to pits of darkness, to be reserved for judgment; 5. and didn’t spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah with seven others, a preacher of righteousness, when he brought a flood on the world of the ungodly; 6. and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, having made them an example to those who would live in an ungodly way; 7. and delivered righteous Lot, who was very distressed by the lustful life of the wicked 8. (for that righteous man dwelling among them, was tormented in his righteous soul from day to day with seeing and hearing lawless deeds): 9. the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptation and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment; 10. but chiefly those who walk after the flesh in the lust of defilement, and despise authority. Daring, self-willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries; 11. whereas angels, though greater in might and power, don’t bring a railing judgment against them before the Lord. 12. But these, as unreasoning creatures, born natural animals to be taken and destroyed, speaking evil in matters about which they are ignorant, will in their destroying surely be destroyed, 13. receiving the wages of unrighteousness; people who count it pleasure to revel in the daytime, spots and defects, reveling in their deceit while they feast with you; 14. having eyes full of adultery, and who can’t cease from sin; enticing unsettled souls; having a heart trained in greed; children of cursing; 15. forsaking the right way, they went astray, having followed the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of wrongdoing; 16. but he was rebuked for his own disobedience. A mute donkey spoke with a man’s voice and stopped the madness of the prophet. 17. These are wells without water, clouds driven by a storm; for whom the blackness of darkness has been reserved forever. 18. For, uttering great swelling words of emptiness, they entice in the lusts of the flesh, by licentiousness, those who are indeed escaping from those who live in error; 19. promising them liberty, while they themselves are bondservants of corruption; for a man is brought into bondage by whoever overcomes him. 20. For if, after they have escaped the defilement of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in it and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. 21. For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after knowing it, to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them. 22. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb, “The dog turns to his own vomit again,” and “the sow that has washed to wallowing in the mire.” 1. This is now, beloved, the second letter that I have written to you; and in both of them I stir up your sincere mind by reminding you; 2. that you should remember the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior: 3. knowing this first, that in the last days mockers will come, walking after their own lusts, 4. and saying, “Where is the promise of his coming? For, from the day that the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.” 5. For this they willfully forget, that there were heavens from of old, and an earth formed out of water and amid water, by the word of God; 6. by which means the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished. 7. But the heavens that now exist, and the earth, by the same word have been stored up for fire, being reserved against the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. 8. But don’t forget this one thing, beloved, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9. The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some count slowness; but is patient with us, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 10. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fervent heat, and the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 11. Therefore since all these things will be destroyed like this, what kind of people ought you to be in holy living and godliness, 12. looking for and earnestly desiring the coming of the day of God, which will cause the burning heavens to be dissolved, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 13. But, according to his promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. 14. Therefore, beloved, seeing that you look for these things, be diligent to be found in peace, without defect and blameless in his sight. 15. Regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also, according to the wisdom given to him, wrote to you; 16. as also in all of his letters, speaking in them of these things. In those, there are some things that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unsettled twist, as they also do to the other Scriptures, to their own destruction. 17. You therefore, beloved, knowing these things beforehand, beware, lest being carried away with the error of the wicked, you fall from your own steadfastness. 18. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

1. The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son makes a glad father; but a foolish son brings grief to his mother. 2. Treasures of wickedness profit nothing, but righteousness delivers from death. 3. Yahweh will not allow the soul of the righteous to go hungry, but he thrusts away the desire of the wicked. 4. He becomes poor who works with a lazy hand, but the hand of the diligent brings wealth. 5. He who gathers in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps during the harvest is a son who causes shame. 6. Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but violence covers the mouth of the wicked. 7. The memory of the righteous is blessed, but the name of the wicked will rot. 8. The wise in heart accept commandments, but a chattering fool will fall. 9. He who walks blamelessly walks surely, but he who perverts his ways will be found out. 10. One winking with the eye causes sorrow, but a chattering fool will fall. 11. The mouth of the righteous is a spring of life, but violence covers the mouth of the wicked. 12. Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all wrongs. 13. Wisdom is found on the lips of him who has discernment, but a rod is for the back of him who is void of understanding. 14. Wise men lay up knowledge, but the mouth of the foolish is near ruin. 15. The rich man’s wealth is his strong city. The destruction of the poor is their poverty. 16. The labor of the righteous leads to life. The increase of the wicked leads to sin. 17. He is in the way of life who heeds correction, but he who forsakes reproof leads others astray. 18. He who hides hatred has lying lips. He who utters a slander is a fool. 19. In the multitude of words there is no lack of disobedience, but he who restrains his lips does wisely. 20. The tongue of the righteous is like choice silver. The heart of the wicked is of little worth. 21. The lips of the righteous feed many, but the foolish die for lack of understanding. 22. Yahweh’s blessing brings wealth, and he adds no trouble to it. 23. It is a fool’s pleasure to do wickedness, but wisdom is a man of understanding’s pleasure. 24. What the wicked fear, will overtake them, but the desire of the righteous will be granted. 25. When the whirlwind passes, the wicked is no more; but the righteous stand firm forever. 26. As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to those who send him. 27. The fear of Yahweh prolongs days, but the years of the wicked shall be shortened. 28. The prospect of the righteous is joy, but the hope of the wicked will perish. 29. The way of Yahweh is a stronghold to the upright, but it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity. 30. The righteous will never be removed, but the wicked will not dwell in the land. 31. The mouth of the righteous produces wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut off. 32. The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked is perverse.