22nd March

¹ These also are the generations of Aaron and Moses in the day that the LORD spake with Moses in mount Sinai.² And these are the names of the sons of Aaron; Nadab the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.³ These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the priests which were anointed, whom he consecrated to minister in the priest's office.⁴ And Nadab and Abihu died before the LORD, when they offered strange fire before the LORD, in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children: and Eleazar and Ithamar ministered in the priest's office in the sight of Aaron their father.⁵ And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,⁶ Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister unto him.⁷ And they shall keep his charge, and the charge of the whole congregation before the tabernacle of the congregation, to do the service of the tabernacle.⁸ And they shall keep all the instruments of the tabernacle of the congregation, and the charge of the children of Israel, to do the service of the tabernacle.⁹ And thou shalt give the Levites unto Aaron and to his sons: they are wholly given unto him out of the children of Israel.¹⁰ And thou shalt appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall wait on their priest's office: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.¹¹ And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,¹² And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn that openeth the matrix among the children of Israel: therefore the Levites shall be mine;¹³ Because all the firstborn are mine; for on the day that I smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I hallowed unto me all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast: mine shall they be: I am the LORD.¹⁴ And the LORD spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, saying,¹⁵ Number the children of Levi after the house of their fathers, by their families: every male from a month old and upward shalt thou number them.¹⁶ And Moses numbered them according to the word of the LORD, as he was commanded.¹⁷ And these were the sons of Levi by their names; Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari.¹⁸ And these are the names of the sons of Gershon by their families; Libni, and Shimei.¹⁹ And the sons of Kohath by their families; Amram, and Izehar, Hebron, and Uzziel.²⁰ And the sons of Merari by their families; Mahli, and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to the house of their fathers.²¹ Of Gershon was the family of the Libnites, and the family of the Shimites: these are the families of the Gershonites.²² Those that were numbered of them, according to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, even those that were numbered of them were seven thousand and five hundred.²³ The families of the Gershonites shall pitch behind the tabernacle westward.²⁴ And the chief of the house of the father of the Gershonites shall be Eliasaph the son of Lael.²⁵ And the charge of the sons of Gershon in the tabernacle of the congregation shall be the tabernacle, and the tent, the covering thereof, and the hanging for the door of the tabernacle of the congregation,²⁶ And the hangings of the court, and the curtain for the door of the court, which is by the tabernacle, and by the altar round about, and the cords of it for all the service thereof.²⁷ And of Kohath was the family of the Amramites, and the family of the Izeharites, and the family of the Hebronites, and the family of the Uzzielites: these are the families of the Kohathites.²⁸ In the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, were eight thousand and six hundred, keeping the charge of the sanctuary.²⁹ The families of the sons of Kohath shall pitch on the side of the tabernacle southward.³⁰ And the chief of the house of the father of the families of the Kohathites shall be Elizaphan the son of Uzziel.³¹ And their charge shall be the ark, and the table, and the candlestick, and the altars, and the vessels of the sanctuary wherewith they minister, and the hanging, and all the service thereof.³² And Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest shall be chief over the chief of the Levites, and have the oversight of them that keep the charge of the sanctuary.³³ Of Merari was the family of the Mahlites, and the family of the Mushites: these are the families of Merari.³⁴ And those that were numbered of them, according to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, were six thousand and two hundred.³⁵ And the chief of the house of the father of the families of Merari was Zuriel the son of Abihail: these shall pitch on the side of the tabernacle northward.³⁶ And under the custody and charge of the sons of Merari shall be the boards of the tabernacle, and the bars thereof, and the pillars thereof, and the sockets thereof, and all the vessels thereof, and all that serveth thereto,³⁷ And the pillars of the court round about, and their sockets, and their pins, and their cords.³⁸ But those that encamp before the tabernacle toward the east, even before the tabernacle of the congregation eastward, shall be Moses, and Aaron and his sons, keeping the charge of the sanctuary for the charge of the children of Israel; and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.³⁹ All that were numbered of the Levites, which Moses and Aaron numbered at the commandment of the LORD, throughout their families, all the males from a month old and upward, were twenty and two thousand.⁴⁰ And the LORD said unto Moses, Number all the firstborn of the males of the children of Israel from a month old and upward, and take the number of their names.⁴¹ And thou shalt take the Levites for me (I am the LORD) instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel; and the cattle of the Levites instead of all the firstlings among the cattle of the children of Israel.⁴² And Moses numbered, as the LORD commanded him, all the firstborn among the children of Israel.⁴³ And all the firstborn males by the number of names, from a month old and upward, of those that were numbered of them, were twenty and two thousand two hundred and threescore and thirteen.⁴⁴ And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,⁴⁵ Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle; and the Levites shall be mine: I am the LORD.⁴⁶ And for those that are to be redeemed of the two hundred and threescore and thirteen of the firstborn of the children of Israel, which are more than the Levites;⁴⁷ Thou shalt even take five shekels apiece by the poll, after the shekel of the sanctuary shalt thou take them: (the shekel is twenty gerahs:)⁴⁸ And thou shalt give the money, wherewith the odd number of them is to be redeemed, unto Aaron and to his sons.⁴⁹ And Moses took the redemption money of them that were over and above them that were redeemed by the Levites:⁵⁰ Of the firstborn of the children of Israel took he the money; a thousand three hundred and threescore and five shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary:⁵¹ And Moses gave the money of them that were redeemed unto Aaron and to his sons, according to the word of the LORD, as the LORD commanded Moses.

¹ Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the LORD from the heavens: praise him in the heights.² Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts.³ Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light.⁴ Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens.⁵ Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded, and they were created.⁶ He hath also stablished them for ever and ever: he hath made a decree which shall not pass.⁷ Praise the LORD from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps:⁸ Fire, and hail; snow, and vapours; stormy wind fulfilling his word:⁹ Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars:¹⁰ Beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl:¹¹ Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth:¹² Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children:¹³ Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven.¹⁴ He also exalteth the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints; even of the children of Israel, a people near unto him. Praise ye the LORD.

¹ Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints.² Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.³ Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.⁴ For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.⁵ Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds.⁶ Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand;⁷ To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people;⁸ To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron;⁹ To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the LORD.

¹ Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.² Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.³ Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.⁴ Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.⁵ Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.⁶ Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.

¹ There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.² And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?³ I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.⁴ Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?⁵ I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.⁶ He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.⁷ Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?⁸ And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:⁹ And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.¹⁰ And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath.¹¹ And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself.¹² And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.¹³ And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.¹⁴ And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day.¹⁵ The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering?¹⁶ And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?¹⁷ And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed: and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.¹⁸ Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it?¹⁹ It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it.²⁰ And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God?²¹ It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.²² And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem.²³ Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,²⁴ Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.²⁵ When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:²⁶ Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.²⁷ But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.²⁸ There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.²⁹ And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.³⁰ And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.³¹ The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee.³² And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.³³ Nevertheless I must walk to day, and to morrow, and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem.³⁴ O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!³⁵ Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

¹ And it came to pass, as he went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the sabbath day, that they watched him.² And, behold, there was a certain man before him which had the dropsy.³ And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day?⁴ And they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go;⁵ And answered them, saying, Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a pit, and will not straightway pull him out on the sabbath day?⁶ And they could not answer him again to these things.⁷ And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them,⁸ When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him;⁹ And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room.¹⁰ But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee.¹¹ For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.¹² Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee.¹³ But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:¹⁴ And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.¹⁵ And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.¹⁶ Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:¹⁷ And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.¹⁸ And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.¹⁹ And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.²⁰ And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.²¹ So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.²² And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.²³ And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.²⁴ For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.²⁵ And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,²⁶ If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.²⁷ And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.²⁸ For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?²⁹ Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,³⁰ Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.³¹ Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?³² Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.³³ So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.³⁴ Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?³⁵ It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.