Thematic Bible: Civil service


Thematic Bible



Joseph was brought unto Egypt, and Potiphar - a lord of Pharaoh's, and his chief marshal, an Egyptian - bought him of the Ishmaelites which brought him thither. And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a lucky fellow and continued in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD made all that he did prosper in his hand. read more.
Wherefore he found grace in his master's sight, and served him. And his master made him ruler of his house, and put all that he had in his hand. And as soon as he had made him ruler over his house and over all that he had, the LORD blessed this Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake, and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had: both in the house and also in the fields. And therefore he left all that he had in Joseph's hand, and looked upon nothing that was with him, save only on the bread which he ate. And Joseph was a goodly person and a well favored.

Then said Pharaoh unto his servants, "Where shall we find such a man as this is, that hath the spirit of God in him?" Wherefore Pharaoh said unto Joseph, "Forasmuch as God hath showed thee all this, there is no man of understanding nor of wisdom like unto thee. Thou therefore shalt be over my house, and according to thy word shall all my people obey: only in the king's seat will I be above thee." read more.
And he said unto Joseph, "Behold, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt." And he took off his ring from his finger, and put it upon Joseph's finger, and he arrayed him in raiment of byss, and put a golden chain about his neck, and set him upon the best chariot that he had, save one. And they cried before him "Abrech!" And that Pharaoh had made him ruler over all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, "I am Pharaoh; without thy will, shall no man lift up either his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt."

And this fellow Jeroboam was an active man. And when Solomon saw the young man, that he wrought so lustily in the work, he made him ruler over all the charges of the house of Joseph.

The same night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the Chronicles and the stories: which when they were read before the king, they happened on the place where it was written how Mordecai had told, that the king's two chamberlains which kept the thresholds sought to lay hands on king Ahasuerus. And the king said, "What worship and good have we done to Mordecai therefore?" Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, "There is nothing done for him." read more.
And the king said, "Who is in the court?" For Haman was gone into the court without before the king's house, that he might speak unto the king to hang Mordecai on the tree, that he had prepared for him. And the king's servants said unto him, "Behold, Haman standeth in the court." The king said, "Let him come in." And when Haman came in, the king said unto him, "What shall be done unto the man, whom the king would fain bring unto worship?" But Haman thought in his heart, "Whom desireth the king to bring unto worship, more than me?" And Haman said unto the king, "Let the man unto whom the king would be glad to do worship, be brought hither, that he may be arrayed with the royal garments which the king useth to wear: and the horse that the king rideth upon, and that the crown royal may be set upon his head. And let this raiment and horse be delivered under the hand of one of the king's princes, that he may array the man withal, whom the king would fain honour: and carry him upon the horse through the streets of the city, and cause it to be proclaimed before him, 'Thus shall it be done to every man, whom the king would fain honour.'" The king said, "Make haste, and take, as thou hath said, the raiment and the horse: and do even so with Mordecai the Jew that sitteth before the king's gate; and let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken." Then took Haman the raiment and the horse, and arrayed him, and brought him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, "Even thus shall it be done unto every man whom the king is disposed to honour!"

God gave now these four springaldes cunning and learning in all scripture and wisdom: but unto Daniel specially, he gave understanding of all visions and dreams. Now when the time was expired, that the king had appointed to bring in these young springaldes unto him: the chief chamberlain brought them before Nebuchadnezzar, and the king communed with them. But among them all were found none such as Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. read more.
Therefore stood they before the king, which in all wisdom and matters of understanding that he enquired of them, found them ten times better than all the soothsayers and charmers that were in all his realm. And Daniel abode still, unto the first year of king Cyrus.

"Likewise, as a certain man, ready to take his journey to a strange country, called his servants to him, and delivered to them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one: to every man after his ability, and straightway departed.

And his master said unto him, 'Well, good servant and faithful; Thou hast been faithful in little, I will make thee ruler over much: go in into thy master's joy.' Then he which had received the one talent came also, and said, 'Master, I considered that thou wast a hard man, which reapest where thou sowedst not, and gatherest where thou strawedst not, and was therefore afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: Behold, thou hast thine own.' read more.
His master answered, and said unto him, 'Thou evil servant and slothful, thou knowest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I strawed not: Thou oughtest therefore to have had my money to the changers, and then at my coming should I have received my mine own with vantage. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto every man that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance. And from him that hath not, shall be taken away, even that he hath. And cast that unprofitable servant into utter darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

He said therefore, "A certain noble man went into a far country, to receive him a kingdom, and then to come again. And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, saying unto them, 'Buy and sell till I come.' But his citizens hated him, and sent messengers after him, saying, 'We will not have this man to reign over us.' read more.
And it came to pass, when he was come again and had received his kingdom, he commanded these servants, to be called to him, to whom he gave his money, to know what every man had done. Then came the first saying, 'Lord, thy pound hath increased ten pounds.' And he said unto him, 'Well good servant, because thou wast faithful in a very little thing; Take thou authority over ten cities.' And the other came saying, 'Lord, thy pound hath increased five pounds.' And to the same he said, 'And be thou also ruler over five cities.' And the third came, and said, 'Lord, behold here thy pound, which I have kept in a napkin, for I feared thee, because thou art a strait man: thou takest up that thou laidst not down; And reapest that thou didst not sow.' And he said unto him, 'Of thine own mouth judge I thee, thou evil servant. Knowest thou that I am a strait man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow? Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank? That at my coming should I might have required mine own, with vantage.' And he said to them that stood by, 'Take from him that pound, and give it him that hath ten pounds.' And they said unto him, 'Lord he hath ten pounds.' 'I say unto you, that unto all them that have, it shall be given: and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken from him. Moreover, those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.'"


And Elisha said to him, "Say to her I pray thee, 'See, thou hast made all this provision for us, what shall we do for thee? Wouldest thou be spoken for to the king or to the captain of the Host?" And she said, "I dwell among mine own people."

But Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, "I will be king." And he gat him a chariot and horsemen and fifty men to run before him. And his father rebuked him not at any time, nor said so much to him as "Why dost thou so?" And he was thereto a goodly man and his mother bare him next, after Absalom. And he communed with Joab the son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest. And they helped Adonijah. read more.
But Zadok the priest, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei and Rei and the men of might which were with David, favored not Adonijah. And Adonijah sacrificed sheep and oxen and fatlings at the stone of Zoheleth which is fast by the well of Rogel, and bade all his brethren, the king's sons, and all the men of Judah, the king's servants. But Nathan the prophet and Benaiah and the mighty men and Solomon his brother he bade not. Whereupon Nathan spake unto Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, "Hast thou not heard how that Adonijah the son of Haggith doth reign, unwitting unto our master David? Now therefore come, that I may give thee counsel how to save thine own life and the life of thy son Solomon. Go and get thee unto king David, and say unto him, 'Didst thou not, my lord king, sware unto thy handmaid saying: Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my seat? Why, then, is Adonijah made king?' And see, while thou yet talkest there with the king, I will come in after thee and will end thy words." And Bathsheba went in unto the king into the chamber. And the king was very old, and Abishag the Shunammite ministered unto him. And Bathsheba stooped and made obeisance unto the king. And the king said, "What is thy matter?" And she answered and said, "My lord, thou hast sworn by the LORD thy God unto thine handmaid, 'Solomon thy son shall reign after me and he shall sit upon my seat.' But now see, Adonijah is king and thou my lord king knowest it not. And he hath offered oxen, fatlings and sheep abundantly, and hath called all the sons of the king, and Abiathar the priest, and Joab the captain of the Host. But Solomon thy servant hath he not bidden. And now, my lord king, the eyes of all Israel wait on thee, to tell them who shall sit on the seat of my lord the king after him. For else when my lord the king is laid to rest with his fathers, I and my son Solomon shall be sinners." And behold, while she yet talked with the king, Nathan the prophet was come. And they told the king, saying, "Here cometh Nathan the prophet." And when he was come before the king, he made obeisance unto the king upon his face unto the ground, and said, "My lord king, hast thou said, 'Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my seat?' For he is gone down this day and hath offered oxen, fatlings and sheep abundantly, and hath called all the king's sons and the captains of the host, and Abiathar the priest. And see, they eat and drink before him and say, 'God save king Adonijah.' But me, thy servant, and Zadok the priest and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and thy servant Solomon he hath not called. Is this thing done of my lord the king and yet wouldest not show me thy servant, who should sit on the seat of my lord the king after him?" Then king David answered, and said, "Call me Bathsheba." And she came in and stood before him. And the king sware, saying, "As sure as the LORD, that hath rid my soul out of all adversity, liveth: even as I sware unto thee by the LORD God of Israel, saying 'Solomon shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my seat for me,' so will I do this day." And Bathsheba bowed on her face to the earth and did obeisance unto the king, and said, "I pray God my lord king David may live ever." Then said king David, "Call me Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada." And when they came before the king, the king said unto them, "Take with you the servants of your lord, and set Solomon my son upon mine own mule and carry him down to Gihon. And let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there, to be king over Israel. And then blow ye with a trumpet and say, 'God save king Solomon.' And then come up after him, and let him come and sit upon my seat. For he shall be king in my stead. And him I have commanded to be captain over Israel and Judah." And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king and said, "Amen, and so I pray God that the LORD God of my lord the king say so too. And as the LORD hath been with my lord the king, even so I pray God he may be with Solomon, and that he make his seat greater than the seat of my lord king David." And Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada and the Cherethites and Pelethites went down, and set Solomon upon king David's mule and led him to Gihon. And Zadok the priest took a horn of oil out of the tabernacle and anointed Solomon. And they blew a trumpet, and they all said, "God save king Solomon!" And all the people came up after him piping with pipes and rejoicing greatly, so that the earth rang with the sound of them.

Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him. And he said unto her, "What wilt thou have?" She said unto him, "Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand in thy kingdom." Jesus answered, and said, "Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of? And to be baptised with the baptism, that I shall be baptised with?" They answered to him, "That we are." read more.
And he said unto them, "Ye shall drink of my cup, and shall be baptised with the baptism that I shall be baptised with. But to sit on my right hand, and on my left hand, is not mine to give you: but to them for whom it is prepared of my father."

And then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came unto him, saying, "Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we desire."


He hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul that he might loose him, wherefore he called him the oftener, and communed with him.

For the old captains that were before me, had been chargeable unto the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, and forty sicles of silver: yea and their servants had oppressed the people. But so did not I, and that because of the fear of God.

Wherefore the princes and lords sought to pick out in Daniel some quarrel against the kingdom: yet could they find none occasion nor fault upon him. For why? He was so faithful, that there was no blame nor dishonesty found in him. Then said these men, "We will get no quarrel against this Daniel, except it be in the law of his God." Upon this, went the princes and lords together unto the king, and said thus unto him, "King Darius, God save thy life forever. read more.
All the great estates of the realm - as the princes, dukes, senators and judges - are determined to put out a commandment of the king, and to make a sure statute. Namely, that whoso desireth any petition, either of any god or man within this thirty days, except it be only of thee, O king: the same person may be cast into the lions' den. Wherefore, O king, confirm thou this statute, and make a writing: that the thing which the Medes and Persians have ordained be not altered nor broken." So Darius made the writing, and confirmed it. Now when Daniel understood that the writing was made, he went into his house: and the windows of his hall toward Jerusalem stood open. There kneeled he down upon his knees, three times a day: there he made his petition, and praised his God, like as his manner was to do afore time. Then these men made search, and found Daniel making his petition and praying unto his God. So they came to the king, and spake before him concerning his commandment, saying, "O king, hast thou not subscribed the statute, that within thirty days whoso requireth his petition of any god or man, but only of thyself, O king, he shall be cast into the den of the lions?" The king answered, and said, "It is true. It must be as a law of the Medes and Persians, that may not be broken." Then answered they, and said unto the king, "Daniel one of the prisoners of Judah, O king, regardeth neither thee nor thy statute that thou hast made, but maketh his petition three times a day." When the king heard these words, he was sore grieved, and would have excused Daniel, to deliver him, and put off the matter until the sun went down, to the intent that he might save him. These men, perceiving the king's mind, said unto him, "Know this, O king: that the law of the Medes and Persians is, that the commandment and statute which the king maketh, may not be altered." Then the king had them bring Daniel, and cast him into the Lions' den. The king also spake unto Daniel, and said, "Thy God whom thou always servest, even he shall defend thee." And there was brought a stone, and laid upon the hole of the den: this the king sealed with his own ring, and with the signet of his princes: that the king's commandment concerning Daniel, should not be broken.



God gave now these four springaldes cunning and learning in all scripture and wisdom: but unto Daniel specially, he gave understanding of all visions and dreams. Now when the time was expired, that the king had appointed to bring in these young springaldes unto him: the chief chamberlain brought them before Nebuchadnezzar, and the king communed with them. But among them all were found none such as Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. read more.
Therefore stood they before the king, which in all wisdom and matters of understanding that he enquired of them, found them ten times better than all the soothsayers and charmers that were in all his realm. And Daniel abode still, unto the first year of king Cyrus.

And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the chief chamberlain, that he should bring him certain of the children of Israel, that were come of the king's seed and of princes, young springaldes without any blemish, but fair and well favored, instructed in all wisdom, cunning and understanding: which were able to stand in the king's palace, to read and to learn for to speak Chaldeish. Unto these, the king appointed a certain portion of his own meat, and of the wine which he drank himself, so to nourish them three years: that afterward they might stand before the king.

And after the ten days, their faces were better liking and fatter, than all the young springaldes, which ate of the king's meat.


And from the time forth that it was committed unto me to be a captain in the land of Judah, namely from the twentieth year even unto the two and thirtieth year of king Artaxerxes - that is twelve years - I and my brethren lived not of such sustenance as was given to a captain: For the old captains that were before me, had been chargeable unto the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, and forty sicles of silver: yea and their servants had oppressed the people. But so did not I, and that because of the fear of God.