[I did this] because I was ashamed to ask the king for infantry and cavalry to protect us from enemies during the journey, since we had told him, "The hand of our God is gracious to all who seek Him, but His great anger is against all who abandon Him."

and who has shown favor to me before the king, his counselors, and all his powerful officers. So I took courage because I was strengthened by the LORD my God, and I gathered Israelite leaders to return with me.

And [let me have] a letter [written] to Asaph, keeper of the king's forest, so that he will give me timber to rebuild the gates of the temple's fortress, the city wall, and the home where I will live." The king granted my [requests], for I was graciously strengthened by my God.

think about Him in all your ways, and He will guide you on the right paths.

Then I summoned the leaders: Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah, and Meshullam, as well as the teachers Joiarib and Elnathan.

A house is built by wisdom, and it is established by understanding;

I will give you shepherds who are loyal to Me,and they will shepherd you with knowledge and skill.

In every matter of wisdom and understanding that the king consulted them about, he found them 10 times better than all the diviner-priests and mediums in his entire kingdom.

Brothers, don't be childish in your thinking, but be infants in evil and adult in your thinking.

Merari's sons by their clans were Mahli and Mushi. These were the Levite clans by their ancestral houses.

Merari's sons: Mahli and Mushi. These are the Levites' families according to their fathers:

I selected 12 of the leading priests, along with Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and 10 of their brothers.

Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah, who were Levites, explained the law to the people as they stood in their places.

Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani stood on the raised platform [built] for the Levites and cried out loudly to the LORD their God.

Then the Levites-- Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah-- said: Stand up. Bless the LORD your God from everlasting to everlasting. Praise Your glorious name, and may it be exalted above all blessing and praise.

Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah,

The leaders of the Levites-- Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua son of Kadmiel, along with their relatives opposite them-- gave praise and thanks, division by division, as David the man of God had prescribed.