Night Watch Devotion

To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Psalm of David.
¹ Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have given me relief when I was in distress. Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!
² O men, how long shall my honor be turned into shame? How long will you love vain words and seek after lies? Selah
³ But know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself; the LORD hears when I call to him.
⁴ Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. Selah
⁵ Offer right sacrifices, and put your trust in the LORD.
⁶ There are many who say, “Who will show us some good? Lift up the light of your face upon us, O LORD!”
⁷ You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound.
⁸ In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety. (ESV)

Aleph
¹ Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD!
² Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart,
³ who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways!
⁴ You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently.
⁵ Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes!
⁶ Then I shall not be put to shame, having my eyes fixed on all your commandments.
⁷ I will praise you with an upright heart, when I learn your righteous rules.
⁸ I will keep your statutes; do not utterly forsake me! Beth
⁹ How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.
¹⁰ With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments!
¹¹ I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
¹² Blessed are you, O LORD; teach me your statutes!
¹³ With my lips I declare all the rules of your mouth.
¹⁴ In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches.
¹⁵ I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways.
¹⁶ I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word. Gimel
¹⁷ Deal bountifully with your servant, that I may live and keep your word.
¹⁸ Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.
¹⁹ I am a sojourner on the earth; hide not your commandments from me!
²⁰ My soul is consumed with longing for your rules at all times.
²¹ You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones, who wander from your commandments.
²² Take away from me scorn and contempt, for I have kept your testimonies.
²³ Even though princes sit plotting against me, your servant will meditate on your statutes.
²⁴ Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors. Daleth
²⁵ My soul clings to the dust; give me life according to your word!
²⁶ When I told of my ways, you answered me; teach me your statutes!
²⁷ Make me understand the way of your precepts, and I will meditate on your wondrous works.
²⁸ My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to your word!
²⁹ Put false ways far from me and graciously teach me your law!
³⁰ I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I set your rules before me.
³¹ I cling to your testimonies, O LORD; let me not be put to shame!
³² I will run in the way of your commandments when you enlarge my heart! He
³³ Teach me, O LORD, the way of your statutes; and I will keep it to the end.
³⁴ Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart.
³⁵ Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it.
³⁶ Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!
³⁷ Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways.
³⁸ Confirm to your servant your promise, that you may be feared.
³⁹ Turn away the reproach that I dread, for your rules are good.
⁴⁰ Behold, I long for your precepts; in your righteousness give me life! Waw
⁴¹ Let your steadfast love come to me, O LORD, your salvation according to your promise;
⁴² then shall I have an answer for him who taunts me, for I trust in your word.
⁴³ And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, for my hope is in your rules.
⁴⁴ I will keep your law continually, forever and ever,
⁴⁵ and I shall walk in a wide place, for I have sought your precepts.
⁴⁶ I will also speak of your testimonies before kings and shall not be put to shame,
⁴⁷ for I find my delight in your commandments, which I love.
⁴⁸ I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on your statutes. Zayin
⁴⁹ Remember your word to your servant, in which you have made me hope.
⁵⁰ This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life.
⁵¹ The insolent utterly deride me, but I do not turn away from your law.
⁵² When I think of your rules from of old, I take comfort, O LORD.
⁵³ Hot indignation seizes me because of the wicked, who forsake your law.
⁵⁴ Your statutes have been my songs in the house of my sojourning.
⁵⁵ I remember your name in the night, O LORD, and keep your law.
⁵⁶ This blessing has fallen to me, that I have kept your precepts. Heth
⁵⁷ The LORD is my portion; I promise to keep your words.
⁵⁸ I entreat your favor with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise.
⁵⁹ When I think on my ways, I turn my feet to your testimonies;
⁶⁰ I hasten and do not delay to keep your commandments.
⁶¹ Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me, I do not forget your law.
⁶² At midnight I rise to praise you, because of your righteous rules.
⁶³ I am a companion of all who fear you, of those who keep your precepts.
⁶⁴ The earth, O LORD, is full of your steadfast love; teach me your statutes! Teth
⁶⁵ You have dealt well with your servant, O LORD, according to your word.
⁶⁶ Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe in your commandments.
⁶⁷ Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word.
⁶⁸ You are good and do good; teach me your statutes.
⁶⁹ The insolent smear me with lies, but with my whole heart I keep your precepts;
⁷⁰ their heart is unfeeling like fat, but I delight in your law.
⁷¹ It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.
⁷² The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces. Yodh
⁷³ Your hands have made and fashioned me; give me understanding that I may learn your commandments.
⁷⁴ Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice, because I have hoped in your word.
⁷⁵ I know, O LORD, that your rules are righteous, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.
⁷⁶ Let your steadfast love comfort me according to your promise to your servant.
⁷⁷ Let your mercy come to me, that I may live; for your law is my delight.
⁷⁸ Let the insolent be put to shame, because they have wronged me with falsehood; as for me, I will meditate on your precepts.
⁷⁹ Let those who fear you turn to me, that they may know your testimonies.
⁸⁰ May my heart be blameless in your statutes, that I may not be put to shame! Kaph
⁸¹ My soul longs for your salvation; I hope in your word.
⁸² My eyes long for your promise; I ask, “When will you comfort me?”
⁸³ For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke, yet I have not forgotten your statutes.
⁸⁴ How long must your servant endure? When will you judge those who persecute me?
⁸⁵ The insolent have dug pitfalls for me; they do not live according to your law.
⁸⁶ All your commandments are sure; they persecute me with falsehood; help me!
⁸⁷ They have almost made an end of me on earth, but I have not forsaken your precepts.
⁸⁸ In your steadfast love give me life, that I may keep the testimonies of your mouth. Lamedh
⁸⁹ Forever, O LORD, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens.
⁹⁰ Your faithfulness endures to all generations; you have established the earth, and it stands fast.
⁹¹ By your appointment they stand this day, for all things are your servants.
⁹² If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.
⁹³ I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have given me life.
⁹⁴ I am yours; save me, for I have sought your precepts.
⁹⁵ The wicked lie in wait to destroy me, but I consider your testimonies.
⁹⁶ I have seen a limit to all perfection, but your commandment is exceedingly broad. Mem
⁹⁷ Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.
⁹⁸ Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is ever with me.
⁹⁹ I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation.
¹⁰⁰ I understand more than the aged, for I keep your precepts.
¹⁰¹ I hold back my feet from every evil way, in order to keep your word.
¹⁰² I do not turn aside from your rules, for you have taught me.
¹⁰³ How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
¹⁰⁴ Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way. Nun
¹⁰⁵ Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
¹⁰⁶ I have sworn an oath and confirmed it, to keep your righteous rules.
¹⁰⁷ I am severely afflicted; give me life, O LORD, according to your word!
¹⁰⁸ Accept my freewill offerings of praise, O LORD, and teach me your rules.
¹⁰⁹ I hold my life in my hand continually, but I do not forget your law.
¹¹⁰ The wicked have laid a snare for me, but I do not stray from your precepts.
¹¹¹ Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart.
¹¹² I incline my heart to perform your statutes forever, to the end. Samekh
¹¹³ I hate the double-minded, but I love your law.
¹¹⁴ You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word.
¹¹⁵ Depart from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commandments of my God.
¹¹⁶ Uphold me according to your promise, that I may live, and let me not be put to shame in my hope!
¹¹⁷ Hold me up, that I may be safe and have regard for your statutes continually!
¹¹⁸ You spurn all who go astray from your statutes, for their cunning is in vain.
¹¹⁹ All the wicked of the earth you discard like dross, therefore I love your testimonies.
¹²⁰ My flesh trembles for fear of you, and I am afraid of your judgments. Ayin
¹²¹ I have done what is just and right; do not leave me to my oppressors.
¹²² Give your servant a pledge of good; let not the insolent oppress me.
¹²³ My eyes long for your salvation and for the fulfillment of your righteous promise.
¹²⁴ Deal with your servant according to your steadfast love, and teach me your statutes.
¹²⁵ I am your servant; give me understanding, that I may know your testimonies!
¹²⁶ It is time for the LORD to act, for your law has been broken.
¹²⁷ Therefore I love your commandments above gold, above fine gold.
¹²⁸ Therefore I consider all your precepts to be right; I hate every false way. Pe
¹²⁹ Your testimonies are wonderful; therefore my soul keeps them.
¹³⁰ The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.
¹³¹ I open my mouth and pant, because I long for your commandments.
¹³² Turn to me and be gracious to me, as is your way with those who love your name.
¹³³ Keep steady my steps according to your promise, and let no iniquity get dominion over me.
¹³⁴ Redeem me from man’s oppression, that I may keep your precepts.
¹³⁵ Make your face shine upon your servant, and teach me your statutes.
¹³⁶ My eyes shed streams of tears, because people do not keep your law. Tsadhe
¹³⁷ Righteous are you, O LORD, and right are your rules.
¹³⁸ You have appointed your testimonies in righteousness and in all faithfulness.
¹³⁹ My zeal consumes me, because my foes forget your words.
¹⁴⁰ Your promise is well tried, and your servant loves it.
¹⁴¹ I am small and despised, yet I do not forget your precepts.
¹⁴² Your righteousness is righteous forever, and your law is true.
¹⁴³ Trouble and anguish have found me out, but your commandments are my delight.
¹⁴⁴ Your testimonies are righteous forever; give me understanding that I may live. Qoph
¹⁴⁵ With my whole heart I cry; answer me, O LORD! I will keep your statutes.
¹⁴⁶ I call to you; save me, that I may observe your testimonies.
¹⁴⁷ I rise before dawn and cry for help; I hope in your words.
¹⁴⁸ My eyes are awake before the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promise.
¹⁴⁹ Hear my voice according to your steadfast love; O LORD, according to your justice give me life.
¹⁵⁰ They draw near who persecute me with evil purpose; they are far from your law.
¹⁵¹ But you are near, O LORD, and all your commandments are true.
¹⁵² Long have I known from your testimonies that you have founded them forever. Resh
¹⁵³ Look on my affliction and deliver me, for I do not forget your law.
¹⁵⁴ Plead my cause and redeem me; give me life according to your promise!
¹⁵⁵ Salvation is far from the wicked, for they do not seek your statutes.
¹⁵⁶ Great is your mercy, O LORD; give me life according to your rules.
¹⁵⁷ Many are my persecutors and my adversaries, but I do not swerve from your testimonies.
¹⁵⁸ I look at the faithless with disgust, because they do not keep your commands.
¹⁵⁹ Consider how I love your precepts! Give me life, O LORD, according to your steadfast love.
¹⁶⁰ The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever. Sin and Shin
¹⁶¹ Princes persecute me without cause, but my heart stands in awe of your words.
¹⁶² I rejoice at your word like one who finds great spoil.
¹⁶³ I hate and abhor falsehood, but I love your law.
¹⁶⁴ Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous rules.
¹⁶⁵ Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble.
¹⁶⁶ I hope for your salvation, O LORD, and I do your commandments.
¹⁶⁷ My soul keeps your testimonies; I love them exceedingly.
¹⁶⁸ I keep your precepts and testimonies, for all my ways are before you. Taw
¹⁶⁹ Let my cry come before you, O LORD; give me understanding according to your word!
¹⁷⁰ Let my plea come before you; deliver me according to your word.
¹⁷¹ My lips will pour forth praise, for you teach me your statutes.
¹⁷² My tongue will sing of your word, for all your commandments are right.
¹⁷³ Let your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts.
¹⁷⁴ I long for your salvation, O LORD, and your law is my delight.
¹⁷⁵ Let my soul live and praise you, and let your rules help me.
¹⁷⁶ I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant, for I do not forget your commandments. (ESV)

¹ Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you.
² For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
³ While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
⁴ But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief.
⁵ For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness.
⁶ So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.
⁷ For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. (ESV)

¹ The LORD spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they drew near before the LORD and died,
² and the LORD said to Moses, “Tell Aaron your brother not to come at any time into the Holy Place inside the veil, before the mercy seat that is on the ark, so that he may not die. For I will appear in the cloud over the mercy seat.
³ But in this way Aaron shall come into the Holy Place: with a bull from the herd for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering.
⁴ He shall put on the holy linen coat and shall have the linen undergarment on his body, and he shall tie the linen sash around his waist, and wear the linen turban; these are the holy garments. He shall bathe his body in water and then put them on.
⁵ And he shall take from the congregation of the people of Israel two male goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering.
⁶ “Aaron shall offer the bull as a sin offering for himself and shall make atonement for himself and for his house.
⁷ Then he shall take the two goats and set them before the LORD at the entrance of the tent of meeting.
⁸ And Aaron shall cast lots over the two goats, one lot for the LORD and the other lot for Azazel.
⁹ And Aaron shall present the goat on which the lot fell for the LORD and use it as a sin offering,
¹⁰ but the goat on which the lot fell for Azazel shall be presented alive before the LORD to make atonement over it, that it may be sent away into the wilderness to Azazel.
¹¹ “Aaron shall present the bull as a sin offering for himself, and shall make atonement for himself and for his house. He shall kill the bull as a sin offering for himself.
¹² And he shall take a censer full of coals of fire from the altar before the LORD, and two handfuls of sweet incense beaten small, and he shall bring it inside the veil
¹³ and put the incense on the fire before the LORD, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is over the testimony, so that he does not die.
¹⁴ And he shall take some of the blood of the bull and sprinkle it with his finger on the front of the mercy seat on the east side, and in front of the mercy seat he shall sprinkle some of the blood with his finger seven times.
¹⁵ “Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering that is for the people and bring its blood inside the veil and do with its blood as he did with the blood of the bull, sprinkling it over the mercy seat and in front of the mercy seat.
¹⁶ Thus he shall make atonement for the Holy Place, because of the uncleannesses of the people of Israel and because of their transgressions, all their sins. And so he shall do for the tent of meeting, which dwells with them in the midst of their uncleannesses.
¹⁷ No one may be in the tent of meeting from the time he enters to make atonement in the Holy Place until he comes out and has made atonement for himself and for his house and for all the assembly of Israel.
¹⁸ Then he shall go out to the altar that is before the LORD and make atonement for it, and shall take some of the blood of the bull and some of the blood of the goat, and put it on the horns of the altar all around.
¹⁹ And he shall sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it and consecrate it from the uncleannesses of the people of Israel.
²⁰ “And when he has made an end of atoning for the Holy Place and the tent of meeting and the altar, he shall present the live goat.
²¹ And Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over it all the iniquities of the people of Israel, and all their transgressions, all their sins. And he shall put them on the head of the goat and send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who is in readiness.
²² The goat shall bear all their iniquities on itself to a remote area, and he shall let the goat go free in the wilderness.
²³ “Then Aaron shall come into the tent of meeting and shall take off the linen garments that he put on when he went into the Holy Place and shall leave them there.
²⁴ And he shall bathe his body in water in a holy place and put on his garments and come out and offer his burnt offering and the burnt offering of the people and make atonement for himself and for the people. (ESV)

¹ After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go.
² And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.
³ Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.
⁴ Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road.
⁵ Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’
⁶ And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you.
⁷ And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house.
⁸ Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you.
⁹ Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’
¹⁰ But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say,
¹¹ ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near.’
¹² I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.
¹³ “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.
¹⁴ But it will be more bearable in the judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you.
¹⁵ And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You shall be brought down to Hades.
¹⁶ “The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me.”
¹⁷ The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!”
¹⁸ And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.
¹⁹ Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.
²⁰ Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
²¹ In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.
²² All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” (ESV)

¹ The allotment for the tribe of the people of Judah according to their clans reached southward to the boundary of Edom, to the wilderness of Zin at the farthest south.
² And their south boundary ran from the end of the Salt Sea, from the bay that faces southward.
³ It goes out southward of the ascent of Akrabbim, passes along to Zin, and goes up south of Kadesh-barnea, along by Hezron, up to Addar, turns about to Karka,
⁴ passes along to Azmon, goes out by the Brook of Egypt, and comes to its end at the sea. This shall be your south boundary.
⁵ And the east boundary is the Salt Sea, to the mouth of the Jordan. And the boundary on the north side runs from the bay of the sea at the mouth of the Jordan.
⁶ And the boundary goes up to Beth-hoglah and passes along north of Beth-arabah. And the boundary goes up to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben.
⁷ And the boundary goes up to Debir from the Valley of Achor, and so northward, turning toward Gilgal, which is opposite the ascent of Adummim, which is on the south side of the valley. And the boundary passes along to the waters of En-shemesh and ends at En-rogel.
⁸ Then the boundary goes up by the Valley of the Son of Hinnom at the southern shoulder of the Jebusite (that is, Jerusalem). And the boundary goes up to the top of the mountain that lies over against the Valley of Hinnom, on the west, at the northern end of the Valley of Rephaim.
⁹ Then the boundary extends from the top of the mountain to the spring of the waters of Nephtoah, and from there to the cities of Mount Ephron. Then the boundary bends around to Baalah (that is, Kiriath-jearim).
¹⁰ And the boundary circles west of Baalah to Mount Seir, passes along to the northern shoulder of Mount Jearim (that is, Chesalon), and goes down to Beth-shemesh and passes along by Timnah.
¹¹ The boundary goes out to the shoulder of the hill north of Ekron, then the boundary bends around to Shikkeron and passes along to Mount Baalah and goes out to Jabneel. Then the boundary comes to an end at the sea.
¹² And the west boundary was the Great Sea with its coastline. This is the boundary around the people of Judah according to their clans.
¹³ According to the commandment of the LORD to Joshua, he gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh a portion among the people of Judah, Kiriath-arba, that is, Hebron (Arba was the father of Anak).
¹⁴ And Caleb drove out from there the three sons of Anak, Sheshai and Ahiman and Talmai, the descendants of Anak.
¹⁵ And he went up from there against the inhabitants of Debir. Now the name of Debir formerly was Kiriath-sepher.
¹⁶ And Caleb said, “He who attacks Kiriath-sepher and captures it, I will give him Achsah my daughter as wife.”
¹⁷ And Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, captured it. And he gave him Achsah his daughter as wife.
¹⁸ When she came to him, she urged him to ask her father for a field. And she dismounted from her donkey, and Caleb said to her, “What do you want?”
¹⁹ She said to him, “Give me a blessing. Since you have given me the land of the Negeb, give me also springs of water.” And he gave her the upper springs and the lower springs.
²⁰ This is the inheritance of the tribe of the people of Judah according to their clans.
²¹ The cities belonging to the tribe of the people of Judah in the extreme south, toward the boundary of Edom, were Kabzeel, Eder, Jagur,
²² Kinah, Dimonah, Adadah,
²³ Kedesh, Hazor, Ithnan,
²⁴ Ziph, Telem, Bealoth,
²⁵ Hazor-hadattah, Kerioth-hezron (that is, Hazor),
²⁶ Amam, Shema, Moladah,
²⁷ Hazar-gaddah, Heshmon, Beth-pelet,
²⁸ Hazar-shual, Beersheba, Biziothiah,
²⁹ Baalah, Iim, Ezem,
³⁰ Eltolad, Chesil, Hormah,
³¹ Ziklag, Madmannah, Sansannah,
³² Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain, and Rimmon: in all, twenty-nine cities with their villages.
³³ And in the lowland, Eshtaol, Zorah, Ashnah,
³⁴ Zanoah, En-gannim, Tappuah, Enam,
³⁵ Jarmuth, Adullam, Socoh, Azekah,
³⁶ Shaaraim, Adithaim, Gederah, Gederothaim: fourteen cities with their villages.
³⁷ Zenan, Hadashah, Migdal-gad,
³⁸ Dilean, Mizpeh, Joktheel,
³⁹ Lachish, Bozkath, Eglon,
⁴⁰ Cabbon, Lahmam, Chitlish,
⁴¹ Gederoth, Beth-dagon, Naamah, and Makkedah: sixteen cities with their villages.
⁴² Libnah, Ether, Ashan,
⁴³ Iphtah, Ashnah, Nezib,
⁴⁴ Keilah, Achzib, and Mareshah: nine cities with their villages.
⁴⁵ Ekron, with its towns and its villages;
⁴⁶ from Ekron to the sea, all that were by the side of Ashdod, with their villages.
⁴⁷ Ashdod, its towns and its villages; Gaza, its towns and its villages; to the Brook of Egypt, and the Great Sea with its coastline.
⁴⁸ And in the hill country, Shamir, Jattir, Socoh,
⁴⁹ Dannah, Kiriath-sannah (that is, Debir),
⁵⁰ Anab, Eshtemoh, Anim,
⁵¹ Goshen, Holon, and Giloh: eleven cities with their villages.
⁵² Arab, Dumah, Eshan,
⁵³ Janim, Beth-tappuah, Aphekah,
⁵⁴ Humtah, Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), and Zior: nine cities with their villages.
⁵⁵ Maon, Carmel, Ziph, Juttah,
⁵⁶ Jezreel, Jokdeam, Zanoah,
⁵⁷ Kain, Gibeah, and Timnah: ten cities with their villages.
⁵⁸ Halhul, Beth-zur, Gedor,
⁵⁹ Maarath, Beth-anoth, and Eltekon: six cities with their villages.
⁶⁰ Kiriath-baal (that is, Kiriath-jearim), and Rabbah: two cities with their villages.
⁶¹ In the wilderness, Beth-arabah, Middin, Secacah,
⁶² Nibshan, the City of Salt, and Engedi: six cities with their villages.
⁶³ But the Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the people of Judah could not drive out, so the Jebusites dwell with the people of Judah at Jerusalem to this day.

¹ The allotment of the people of Joseph went from the Jordan by Jericho, east of the waters of Jericho, into the wilderness, going up from Jericho into the hill country to Bethel.
² Then going from Bethel to Luz, it passes along to Ataroth, the territory of the Archites.
³ Then it goes down westward to the territory of the Japhletites, as far as the territory of Lower Beth-horon, then to Gezer, and it ends at the sea.
⁴ The people of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim, received their inheritance.
⁵ The territory of the people of Ephraim by their clans was as follows: the boundary of their inheritance on the east was Ataroth-addar as far as Upper Beth-horon,
⁶ and the boundary goes from there to the sea. On the north is Michmethath. Then on the east the boundary turns around toward Taanath-shiloh and passes along beyond it on the east to Janoah,
⁷ then it goes down from Janoah to Ataroth and to Naarah, and touches Jericho, ending at the Jordan.
⁸ From Tappuah the boundary goes westward to the brook Kanah and ends at the sea. Such is the inheritance of the tribe of the people of Ephraim by their clans,
⁹ together with the towns that were set apart for the people of Ephraim within the inheritance of the Manassites, all those towns with their villages.
¹⁰ However, they did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer, so the Canaanites have lived in the midst of Ephraim to this day but have been made to do forced labor. (ESV)

¹ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
² He was in the beginning with God.
³ All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
⁴ In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
⁶ There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
⁷ He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him.
⁸ He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
⁹ The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
¹⁰ He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.
¹¹ He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.
¹² But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
¹³ who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
¹⁴ And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
¹⁵ (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”)
¹⁶ For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.
¹⁷ For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
¹⁸ No one has ever seen God; God the only Son, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.
¹⁹ And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”
²⁰ He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.”
²¹ And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.”
²² So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”
²³ He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”
²⁴ (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.)
²⁵ They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”
²⁶ John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know,
²⁷ even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.”
²⁸ These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing. (ESV)

To the choirmaster: according to Mahalath. A Maskil of David.
¹ The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity; there is none who does good.
² God looks down from heaven on the children of man to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God.
³ They have all fallen away; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.
⁴ Have those who work evil no knowledge, who eat up my people as they eat bread, and do not call upon God?
⁵ There they are, in great terror, where there is no terror! For God scatters the bones of him who encamps against you; you put them to shame, for God has rejected them.
⁶ Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When God restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad. (ESV)