Bible in a Year.

On day 280, Nehemiah 12 celebrates the dedication of Jerusalem's walls and the people's joy in keeping the Law. Esther 10:12 highlights Esther's wise leadership and positive impact on the nation. Proverbs 21:21-24 concludes the day with reflections on justice, integrity, and the rewards of wisdom applied to daily life.

1. Now these are the priests and the Levites, that went up with Zorobabel the son of Salathiel, and Josue: Saraia, Jeremias, Esdras,

2. Amaria, Melluch, Hattus,

3. Sebenias, Rheum, Merimuth,

4. Addo, Genthon, Abia,

5. Miamin, Madia, Belga,

6. Semeia, and Joiarib, Idaia, Sellum, Amoc, Helcias,

7. Idaia. These were the chief of the priests, and of their brethren in the days of Josue.

8. And the Levites, Jesua, Bennui, Cedmihel, Sarebia, Juda, Mathanias, they and their brethren were over the hymns:

9. And Becbecia, and Hanni, and their brethren every one in his office.

10. And Josue beget Joacim, and Joacim beget Eliasib, and Eliasib beget Joiada,

11. And Joiada beget Jonathan, and Jonathan beget Jeddoa.

12. And in the days of Joacim the priests and heads of the families were : Of Saraia, Maraia: of Jeremias, Hanania:

13. Of Esdras, Mosollam: and of Amaria, Johanan:

14. Of Milicho, Jonathan: of Sebenia, Joseph:

15. Of Haram, Edna: of Maraioth, Helci:

16. Of Adaia, Zacharia: of Genthon, Mosollam:

17. Of Abia, Zechri: of Miamin and Moadia, Phelti:

18. Of Belga, Sammua of Semaia, Jonathan:

19. Of Joiarib, Mathanai: of Jodaia, Azzi:

20. Of Sellai, Celai: of Amoc, Heber:

21. Of Helcias, Hasebia: of Idaia, Nathanael.

22. The Levites the chiefs of the families in the days of Eliasib, and Joiada, and Johanan, and Jeddoa, were recorded, and the priests in the reign of Darius the Persian.

23. The sons of Levi, heads of the families were written in the book of Chronicles, even unto the days of Jonathan the son of Eliasib.

24. Now the chief of the Levites were Hasebia, Serebia, and Josue the son of Cedmihel: and their brethren by their courses, to praise and to give thanks ac- cording to the commandment of David the man of God, and to wait equally in order.

25. Mathania, and Becbecia, Obedia, and Mosollam, Telmon, Accub, were keepers of the gates and of the entrances before the gates.

26. These were in the days of Joacim the son of Josue, the son of Josedec, and in the days of Nehemias the governor, and of Esdras the priest and scribe.

27. And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites out of all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem, and to keep the dedication, and to rejoice with thanksgiving, and with singing, and with cymbals, and psalteries and harps.

28. And the sons of the singing men were gathered together out of the plain country about Jerusalem, and out of the villages of Nethuphati,

29. And from the house of Galgal, and from the countries of Geba and Azmaveth: for the singing men had built themselves villages round about Jerusalem.

30. And the priests and the Levites purified, and they purified the people, and the gates, and the wall.

31. And I made the princes of Juda go up upon the wall, and I appointed two great choirs to give praise. And they went on the right hand upon the wall toward the dunghill gate.

32. And after them went Osaias, and half of the princes of Juda,

33. And Azarias, Esdras, and Mosollam, Judas, and Benjamin, and Semeia, and Jeremias.

34. And of the sons of the priests with trumpets, Zacharias the son of Jonathan. the son of Semeia, the son of Mathania; the son of Michaia, the son of Zechur, the son of Asaph,

35. And his brethren Semeia, and Azareel Malalai, Galalai, Maai, Nathanael, and Judas, and Hanani, with the musical instruments of David the man of God: and Esdras the scribe before them at the fountain gate.

36. And they went up over against them by the stairs of the city of David, at the going up of the wall of the house of David, and to the water gate eastward:

37. And the second choir of them that gave thanks went on the opposite side, and I after them, and the half of the people upon the wall, and upon the tower of the furnaces, even to the broad wall,

38. And above the gate of Ephraim, and above the old gate, and above the fish gate and the tower of Hananeel, and the tower of Emath, and even to the flock gate: and they stood still in the watch gate.

39. And the two choirs of them that gave praise stood still at the house of God, and I and the half of the magistrates with me.

40. And the priests, Eliachim, Maasia, Miamin, Michea, Elioenai, Zacharia, Hanania with trumpets,

41. And Maasia, and Semeia, and Eleazar, and Azzi, and Johanan, and Melchia, and Elam, and Ezer. And the singers sung loud, and Jezraia was their overseer:

42. And they sacrificed on that day great sacrifices, and they rejoiced: for God had made them joyful with great joy: their wives also and their children rejoiced, and the joy of Jerusalem was heard afar off.

43. They appointed also in that day men over the storehouses of the treasure, for the libations, and for the firstfruits, and for the tithes, that the rulers of the city might bring them in by them in honour of thanksgiving, for the priests and Levites: for Juda was joyful in the priests and Levites that assisted.

44. And they kept the watch of their God, and the observance of expiation, and the singing men, and the porters, according to the commandment of David, and of Solomon his son.

45. For in the days of David and Asaph from the beginning there were chief singers appointed, to praise with canticles, and give thanks to God.

46. And all Israel, in the days of Zorobabel, and in the days of Nehemias gave portions to the singing men, and to the porters, day by day, and they sanctified the Levites, and the Levites sanctified the sons of Aaron.

Chapter 10

1. And king Assuerus made all the land, and all the islands of the sea tributary.

2. And his strength and his empire, and the dignity and greatness wherewith he exalted Mardochai, are written in the books of the Medes, and of the Persians:

3. And how Mardochai of the race of the Jews, was next after king Assuerus: and great among the Jews, and acceptable to the people of his brethren, seeking the good of his people, and speaking those things which were for the welfare of his seed.

4. Then Mardochai said: God hath done these things.

5. I remember a dream that I saw, which signified these same things: and nothing thereof hath failed.

6. The little fountain which grew into a river, and was turned into a light, and into the sun, and abounded into many waters, is Esther, whom the king married, and made queen.

7. But the two dragons are I and Aman.

8. The nations that were assembled are they that endeavoured to destroy the name of the Jews.

9. And my nation is Israel, who cried to the Lord, and the Lord saved his people: and he delivered us from all evils, and hath wrought great signs and wonders among the nations:

10. And he commanded that there should be two lots, one of the people of God, and the other of all the nations.

11. And both lots came to the day appointed already from that time before God to all nations:

12. And the Lord remembered his people, and had mercy on his inheritance.

13. And these days shall be observed in the month of Adar on the fourteenth, and fifteenth day of the same month. with all diligence, and joy of the people gathered into one assembly, throughout all the generations hereafter of the people of Israel.

Chapter 11

1. In the fourth year of the reign of Ptolemy and Cleopatra, Dositheus, who said he was a priest, and of the Levitical race, and Ptolemy his son brought this epistle of Phurim, which they said Lysimachus the son of Ptolemy had interpreted in Jerusalem.

2. In the second year of the reign of Artaxerxes the great, in the first day of the month Nisan, Mardochai the son of Jair, the son of Semei, the son of Cis, of the tribe of Benjamin:

3. A Jew who dwelt in the city of Susan, a great man and among the first of the king's court, had it dream.

4. Now he was of the number of the captives, whom Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon had carried away from Jerusalem with Jechonias king of Juda:

5. And this was his dream: Behold there were voices, and tumults, and thunders, and earthquakes, and a disturbance upon the earth.

6. And behold two great dragons came forth ready to fight one against another.

7. And at their cry all nations were stirred up to fight against the nation of the just.

8. And that was a day of darkness and danger, of tribulation and distress, and great fear upon the earth.

9. And the nation of the just was troubled fearing their own evils, and was prepared for death.

10. And they cried to God: and as they were crying, a little fountain grew into a very great river, and abounded into many waters.

11. The light and the sun rose up, and the humble were exalted, and they devoured the glorious.

12. And when Mardochai had seen this, and arose out of his bed, he was thinking what God would do: and he kept it fixed in his mind, desirous to know what the dream should signify.

Chapter 12

1. And he abode at that time in the king's court with Bagatha and Thara the king's eunuchs, who were porters of the palace.

2. And when he understood their designs, and had diligently searched into their projects, he learned that they went about to lay violent hands on king Artaxerxes, and he told the king thereof.

3. Then the king had them both examined, and after they had confessed, commanded them to be put to death.

4. But the king made a record of what was done: and Mardochai also committed the memory of the thing to writing.

5. And the king commanded him, to abide in the court of the palace, and gave him presents for the information.

6. But Aman the son of Amadathi the Bugite was in great honour with the king, and sought to hurt Mardochai and his people, because of the two eunuchs of the king who were put to death.

21. He that followeth justice and mercy, shall find life, justice, and glory.

22. The wise man hath scaled the city of the strong, and hath cast down the strength of the confidence thereof.

23. He that keepeth his mouth and his tongue, keepeth his soul from distress.

24. The proud and the arrogant is called ignorant, who in anger worketh pride.