Ezra 8 Cross References - KJ2000

¹ These are now the heads of their fathers’ houses, and this is the genealogy of them that went up with me from Babylon, in the reign of Artaxerxes the king. ² Of the sons of Phinehas; Gershom: of the sons of Ithamar; Daniel: of the sons of David; Hattush. ³ Of the sons of Shecaniah, of the sons of Parosh; Zechariah: and with him were registered by genealogy of the men a hundred and fifty. ⁴ Of the sons of Pahath-moab; Eliehoenai the son of Zerahiah, and with him two hundred men. ⁵ Of the sons of Shecaniah; the son of Jahaziel, and with him three hundred men. ⁶ Of the sons also of Adin; Ebed the son of Jonathan, and with him fifty men. ⁷ And of the sons of Elam; Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah, and with him seventy men. ⁸ And of the sons of Shephatiah; Zebadiah the son of Michael, and with him fourscore men. ⁹ Of the sons of Joab; Obadiah the son of Jehiel, and with him two hundred and eighteen men. ¹⁰ And of the sons of Shelomith; the son of Josiphiah, and with him a hundred and threescore men. ¹¹ And of the sons of Bebai; Zechariah the son of Bebai, and with him twenty and eight men. ¹² And of the sons of Azgad; Johanan the son of Hakkatan, and with him a hundred and ten men. ¹³ And of the last sons of Adonikam, whose names are these, Eliphelet, Jeuel, and Shemaiah, and with them threescore men. ¹⁴ Of the sons also of Bigvai; Uthai, and Zaccur, and with them seventy men. ¹⁵ And I gathered them together to the river that runs to Ahava; and there abode we in tents three days: and I viewed the people, and the priests, and found there none of the sons of Levi. ¹⁶ Then I sent for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemaiah, and for Elnathan, and for Jarib, and for Elnathan, and for Nathan, and for Zechariah, and for Meshullam, leading men; also for Joiarib, and for Elnathan, men of understanding. ¹⁷ And I sent them with commandment unto Iddo the chief at the place Casiphia, and I told them what they should say unto Iddo, and to his brethren the Nethinim, at the place Casiphia, that they should bring unto us ministers for the house of our God. ¹⁸ And by the good hand of our God upon us they brought us a man of understanding, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel; and Sherebiah, with his sons and his brethren, eighteen; ¹⁹ And Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, his brethren and their sons, twenty; ²⁰ Also of the Nethinim, whom David and the princes had appointed for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinim: all of them were registered by name. ²¹ Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our possessions. ²² For I was ashamed to ask of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him. ²³ So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he answered our prayer. ²⁴ Then I separated twelve of the leaders of the priests, Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brethren with them, ²⁵ And weighed unto them the silver, and the gold, and the articles, even the offering for the house of our God, which the king, and his counselors, and his lords, and all Israel there present, had offered: ²⁶ I even weighed unto their hand six hundred and fifty talents of silver, and silver articles worth a hundred talents, and of gold a hundred talents; ²⁷ Also twenty bowls of gold, worth a thousand darics; and two vessels of fine polished bronze, as precious as gold. ²⁸ And I said unto them, You are holy unto the LORD; the articles are holy also; and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering unto the LORD God of your fathers. ²⁹ Watch, and keep them, until you weigh them before the leaders of the priests and the Levites, and heads of the fathers’ houses of Israel, at Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of the LORD. ³⁰ So the priests and the Levites took the weight of the silver, and the gold, and the articles, to bring them to Jerusalem unto the house of our God. ³¹ Then we departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go unto Jerusalem: and the hand of our God was upon us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy, and of such as lay in wait by the way. ³² And we came to Jerusalem, and abode there three days. ³³ Now on the fourth day were the silver and the gold and the articles weighed in the house of our God by the hand of Meremoth the son of Uriah the priest; and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas; and with them was Jozabad the son of Jeshua, and Noadiah the son of Binnui, Levites; ³⁴ With the number and weight of everything: and all the weight was recorded at that time. ³⁵ Also the children of those that had been carried away, who had come out of the captivity, offered burnt offerings unto the God of Israel, twelve bullocks for all Israel, ninety and six rams, seventy and seven lambs, twelve male goats for a sin offering: all this was a burnt offering unto the LORD. ³⁶ And they delivered the king’s orders unto the king’s satraps, and to the governors on this side the river: and they aided the people, and the house of God.

³³ And all their villages that were round about the same cities, unto Baal. These were their dwelling places, and they kept their genealogy.

¹ So all Israel were recorded by genealogies; and, behold, they were written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah, who were carried away to Babylon for their transgression.

³⁴ These heads of the fathers’ houses of the Levites were leaders throughout their generations; these dwelt at Jerusalem.

³¹ These likewise cast lots even as their brethren the sons of Aaron in the presence of David the king, and Zadok, and Ahimelech, and the heads of the fathers’ houses of the priests and Levites; the principal fathers did even as their younger brethren.

³² And his brethren, men of valor, were two thousand and seven hundred heads of the fathers' houses, whom king David made officials over the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh, for every matter pertaining to God, and affairs of the king.

¹² The whole number of the heads of the fathers’ houses of the mighty men of valor were two thousand and six hundred.

⁵ Then rose up the heads of the fathers’ houses of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests, and the Levites, with all them whose spirit God had stirred, to go up to build the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem.

⁶² These sought their listing among those that were reckoned by genealogy, but they were not found: therefore were they, as defiled, excluded from the priesthood.

⁷ And there went up some of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the gatekeepers, and the Nethinim, unto Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.

¹³ I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and of his priests and Levites, in my realm, who are minded of their own freewill to go up to Jerusalem, may go with you.

⁷⁰ And some of the heads of the fathers’ houses gave to the work. The governor gave to the treasury a thousand darics of gold, fifty basins, five hundred and thirty priests’ garments. ⁷¹ And some of the heads of the fathers’ houses gave to the treasury of the work twenty thousand darics of gold, and two thousand and two hundred minas of silver.

¹ Now these were the sons of David, who were born unto him in Hebron; the firstborn Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; the second Daniel, of Abigail the Carmelitess:

²² And the sons of Shecaniah; Shemaiah: and the sons of Shemaiah; Hattush, and Igal, and Bariah, and Neariah, and Shaphat, six.

³ And the children of Amram; Aaron, and Moses, and Miriam. The sons also of Aaron; Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. ⁴ Eleazar begat Phinehas, Phinehas begat Abishua, ⁵ And Abishua begat Bukki, and Bukki begat Uzzi, ⁶ And Uzzi begat Zerahiah, and Zerahiah begat Meraioth, ⁷ Meraioth begat Amariah, and Amariah begat Ahitub, ⁸ And Ahitub begat Zadok, and Zadok begat Ahimaaz, ⁹ And Ahimaaz begat Azariah, and Azariah begat Johanan, ¹⁰ And Johanan begat Azariah, (he it is that executed the priest’s office in the temple that Solomon built in Jerusalem:) ¹¹ And Azariah begat Amariah, and Amariah begat Ahitub, ¹² And Ahitub begat Zadok, and Zadok begat Shallum, ¹³ And Shallum begat Hilkiah, and Hilkiah begat Azariah, ¹⁴ And Azariah begat Seraiah, and Seraiah begat Jehozadak, ¹⁵ And Jehozadak went into captivity, when the LORD carried away Judah and Jerusalem by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar.

¹ Now these are the divisions of the sons of Aaron. The sons of Aaron; Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. ² But Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and had no children: therefore Eleazar and Ithamar executed the priest’s office. ³ And David distributed them, both Zadok of the sons of Eleazar, and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, according to their offices in their service. ⁴ And there were more chief men found of the sons of Eleazar than of the sons of Ithamar; and thus were they divided. Among the sons of Eleazar there were sixteen heads of their fathers’ houses, and eight heads of their fathers’ houses among the sons of Ithamar. ⁵ Thus were they divided by lot, one group as another; for the officials of the sanctuary, and officials of the house of God, were of the sons of Eleazar, and of the sons of Ithamar. ⁶ And Shemaiah the son of Nethanel the scribe, one of the Levites, wrote them down before the king, and the leaders, and Zadok the priest, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, and before the heads of the fathers’ houses of the priests and Levites: one father’s house being taken for Eleazar, and one taken for Ithamar.

³ The children of Parosh, two thousand one hundred seventy and two.

⁸ The children of Parosh, two thousand one hundred seventy and two.

¹⁴ The leaders of the people; Parosh, Pahath-moab, Elam, Zattu, Bani,

⁶ The children of Pahath-moab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand eight hundred and twelve.

¹¹ The children of Pahath-moab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand and eight hundred and eighteen.

¹⁵ The children of Adin, four hundred fifty and four.

²⁰ The children of Adin, six hundred fifty and five.

¹⁶ Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin,

⁷ The children of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four.

³¹ The children of the other Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four.

¹² The children of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four.

³⁴ The children of the other Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four.

⁴ The children of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy and two.

⁹ The children of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy and two.

⁴ And at Jerusalem dwelt certain of the children of Judah, and of the children of Benjamin. Of the children of Judah; Athaiah the son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalalel, of the children of Perez;

¹¹ The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty and three.

²⁸ Of the sons also of Bebai; Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai.

¹⁶ The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty and eight.

¹² The children of Azgad, a thousand two hundred twenty and two.

¹⁷ The children of Azgad, two thousand three hundred twenty and two.

¹³ The children of Adonikam, six hundred sixty and six.

¹⁸ The children of Adonikam, six hundred threescore and seven.

¹⁴ The children of Bigvai, two thousand fifty and six.

¹⁹ The children of Bigvai, two thousand threescore and seven.

¹² Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah,

²⁴ Also we inform you, that concerning any of the priests and Levites, singers, gatekeepers, Nethinim, or servants of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom, upon them.

² Of the sons of Phinehas; Gershom: of the sons of Ithamar; Daniel: of the sons of David; Hattush.

²¹ Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our possessions.

³¹ Then we departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go unto Jerusalem: and the hand of our God was upon us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy, and of such as lay in wait by the way.

¹ By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.

¹ Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the river of Chebar, that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.

¹⁵ Then I came to them of the captivity at Tel-abib, that dwelt by the river of Chebar, and I sat where they sat, and remained there astonished among them seven days.

¹³ And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a riverside, where prayer was accustomed to be made; and we sat down, and spoke unto the women who met there.

¹¹ And God said unto him, Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked for yourself long life; neither have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies; but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice;

³² And of the children of Issachar, who were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were under their command.

¹⁴ And the lot eastward fell to Shelemiah. Then for Zechariah his son, a wise counselor, they cast lots; and his lot came out northward.

¹² Huram said moreover, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, that made heaven and earth, who has given to David the king a wise son, endued with prudence and understanding, that might build a house for the LORD, and a house for his kingdom.

¹³ And of the last sons of Adonikam, whose names are these, Eliphelet, Jeuel, and Shemaiah, and with them threescore men.

¹⁸ And by the good hand of our God upon us they brought us a man of understanding, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel; and Sherebiah, with his sons and his brethren, eighteen;

²¹ And of the sons of Harim; Maaseiah, and Elijah, and Shemaiah, and Jehiel, and Uzziah.

³⁹ And Shelemiah, and Nathan, and Adaiah,

⁶ For the LORD gives wisdom: out of his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.

⁵ Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.

² For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof: but by a man of understanding and knowledge its state shall be prolonged.

²¹ And he changes the times and the seasons: he removes kings, and sets up kings: he gives wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:

⁷ Consider what I say; and the Lord give you understanding in all things.

²⁰ And we know that the Son of God is come, and has given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

¹⁵ And you shall speak unto him, and put words in his mouth: and I will be with your mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what you shall do.

²² And after that went the Levites in to do their service in the tabernacle of meeting before Aaron, and before his sons: as the LORD had commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so did they unto them. ²³ And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying, ²⁴ This is what pertains to the Levites: from twenty and five years old and upward they shall go in to wait upon the service of the tabernacle of meeting: ²⁵ And from the age of fifty years they shall cease waiting upon the service thereof, and shall serve no more: ²⁶ But shall minister with their brethren in the tabernacle of meeting, to keep the charge, and shall do no service. Thus shall you do unto the Levites regarding their duties.

⁶ And I, behold, I have taken your brethren the Levites from among the children of Israel: to you they are given as a gift for the LORD, to do the service of the tabernacle of meeting.

¹⁸ I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto you, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.

³ And come to the king, and speak in this manner unto him. So Joab put the words in her mouth.

¹⁹ And the king said, Is not the hand of Joab with you in all this? And the woman answered and said, As your soul lives, my lord the king, none can turn to the right hand or to the left from anything that my lord the king has spoken: for your servant Joab, he bade me, and he put all these words in the mouth of your handmaid:

³ Now the Levites were numbered from the age of thirty years and upward: and their number, man by man, was thirty and eight thousand. ⁴ Of which, twenty and four thousand were to look after the work of the house of the LORD; and six thousand were officers and judges: ⁵ Moreover four thousand were gatekeepers; and four thousand praised the LORD with the instruments which I made, said David, for praise. ⁶ And David divided them into divisions among the sons of Levi, namely, Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

²⁶ And also unto the Levites; they shall no more carry the tabernacle, nor any vessels of it for the service thereof. ²⁷ For by the last words of David the Levites were numbered from twenty years old and above: ²⁸ Because their office was to wait on the sons of Aaron for the service of the house of the LORD, in the courts, and in the chambers, and in the purifying of all holy things, and the work of the service of the house of God; ²⁹ Both for the showbread, and for the fine flour for meal offering, and for the unleavened cakes, and for that which is baked in the pan, and for that which is mixed with all kinds of measures and sizes; ³⁰ And to stand every morning to thank and praise the LORD, and likewise at evening; ³¹ And to offer all burnt sacrifices unto the LORD on the sabbaths, on the new moons, and on the set feasts, by number, according to that required of them, continually before the LORD: ³² And that they should attend to the needs of the tabernacle of meeting, and the needs of the holy place, and the needs of the sons of Aaron their brethren, in the service of the house of the LORD.

⁴³ The Nethinim: the children of Ziha, the children of Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth,

⁵⁸ All the Nethinim, and the children of Solomon’s servants, were three hundred ninety and two.

⁹ Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in your mouth.

¹⁹ Therefore thus says the LORD, If you return, then will I bring you again, and you shall stand before me: and if you take forth the precious from the vile, you shall be as my mouth: let them return unto you; but return not you unto them.

⁵ For this cause I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed you:

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.

¹⁹ The sons of Merari; Mahli, and Mushi. And these are the families of the Levites according to their fathers.

⁶ This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a skilled scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him.

²⁸ And has extended mercy unto me before the king, and his counselors, and before all the king’s mighty princes. And I was strengthened as the hand of the LORD my God was upon me, and I gathered together out of Israel leading men to go up with me.

¹⁶ Then I sent for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemaiah, and for Elnathan, and for Jarib, and for Elnathan, and for Nathan, and for Zechariah, and for Meshullam, leading men; also for Joiarib, and for Elnathan, men of understanding.

²² For I was ashamed to ask of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him.

²⁴ Then I separated twelve of the leaders of the priests, Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brethren with them,

⁸ And a letter unto Asaph the keeper of the king’s forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the fortress which pertains to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the temple that I shall enter into. And the king so granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me.

⁷ Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the people stood in their place.

⁴ Then stood up upon the stairs, of the Levites, Jeshua, and Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani, and cried with a loud voice unto the LORD their God. ⁵ Then the Levites, Jeshua, and Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said, Stand up and bless the LORD your God forever and ever: and blessed be your glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise.

²⁴ And the heads of the Levites: Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel, with their brethren opposite them, to praise and to give thanks, according to the commandment of David the man of God, watch corresponding with watch.

⁶ In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths.

³ Through wisdom is a house built; and by understanding it is established:

¹⁵ And I will give you shepherds according to my heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.

²⁰ And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.

²⁰ Brethren, be not children in understanding: but in malice be children, but in understanding be men.

¹ The sons of Levi; Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

¹⁶ The sons of Levi; Gershom, Kohath, and Merari.

¹⁷ After him repaired the Levites, Rehum the son of Bani. Next unto him repaired Hashabiah, the ruler of the half district of Keilah, in his district.

¹¹ Mica, Rehob, Hashabiah,

² Now the first inhabitants that dwelt in their possessions in their cities were, the Israelites, the priests, Levites, and the Nethinim.

¹⁷ And I sent them with commandment unto Iddo the chief at the place Casiphia, and I told them what they should say unto Iddo, and to his brethren the Nethinim, at the place Casiphia, that they should bring unto us ministers for the house of our God.

³ And I entreat you also, true yokefellow, help those women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other of my fellow laborers, whose names are in the book of life.

²⁹ And this shall be a statute forever unto you: that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall humble yourselves, and do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger that sojourns among you:

³¹ It shall be a sabbath of rest unto you, and you shall humble yourselves, by a statute forever.

²⁹ For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be humbled in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people.

³ And why has the LORD brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt?

³¹ But your little ones, whom you said should be a prey, them will I bring in, and they shall know the land which you have despised.

²⁶ Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came unto the house of God, and wept, and sat there before the LORD, and fasted that day until evening, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.

⁶ And they gathered together to Mizpah, and drew water, and poured it out before the LORD, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against the LORD. And Samuel judged the children of Israel at Mizpah.

³ And Jehoshaphat feared, and set his face to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.

¹⁵ And I gathered them together to the river that runs to Ahava; and there abode we in tents three days: and I viewed the people, and the priests, and found there none of the sons of Levi.

⁸ Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness because of my enemies; make your way straight before my face.

² Out of the mouth of babes and infants have you ordained strength because of your enemies, that you might still the enemy and the avenger.

² Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he has redeemed from the hand of the enemy; ³ And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south. ⁴ They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in. ⁵ Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them. ⁶ Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses. ⁷ And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation. ⁸ Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

⁸ Cause me to hear your lovingkindness in the morning; for in you do I trust: cause me to know the way in which I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto you. ⁹ Deliver me, O LORD, from my enemies: I flee unto you to hide me. ¹⁰ Teach me to do your will; for you are my God: your Spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.

²¹ And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, This is the way, walk you in it, when you turn to the right hand, and when you turn to the left.

⁸ And a highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for others: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.

¹⁶ And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.

¹⁰ They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun strike them: for he that has mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them.

³ Why have we fasted, they say, and you see not? why have we afflicted our soul, and you take no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast you find pleasure, and exploit all your laborers.

⁵ Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? will you call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD?

²³ O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man who walks to direct his steps.

⁸ Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the ends of the earth, and with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her that travails with child together: a great company shall return there. ⁹ They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, in which they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.

⁴ In those days, and in that time, says the LORD, the children of Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah together, going and weeping: they shall go, and seek the LORD their God. ⁵ They shall ask the way to Zion with their faces toward it, saying, Come, and let us join ourselves to the LORD in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten.

¹⁴ Sanctify you a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the LORD your God, and cry unto the LORD.

¹² Therefore also now, says the LORD, turn you even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: ¹³ And tear your hearts, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and relents from sending calamity. ¹⁴ Who knows if he will return and have pity, and leave a blessing behind him; even a grain offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God? ¹⁵ Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: ¹⁶ Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that nurse: let the bridegroom go forth from his chamber, and the bride out of her chamber. ¹⁷ Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare your people, O LORD, and give not your heritage to reproach, that the nations should rule over them: why should they say among the people, Where is their God? ¹⁸ Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people.

⁵ So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.

¹³ And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. ¹⁴ But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Allow the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. ¹⁵ Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. ¹⁶ And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.

³⁹ For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

¹⁶ When you have transgressed the covenant of the LORD your God, which he commanded you, and have gone and served other gods, and bowed yourselves to them; then shall the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and you shall perish quickly from off the good land which he has given unto you.

⁹ And you, Solomon my son, know you the God of your father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands all the imaginations of the thoughts: if you seek him, he will be found of you; but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever.

² And he went out to meet Asa, and said unto him, {} Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin; The LORD is with you, while you are with him; and if you seek him, he will be found of you; but if you forsake him, he will forsake you.

⁹ For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. In this you have done foolishly: therefore from now on you shall have wars.

⁹ For upon the first day of the first month he began to go up from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him.

⁸ Your hand shall find out all your enemies: your right hand shall find out those that hate you. ⁹ You shall make them as a fiery oven in the time of your anger: the LORD shall swallow them up in his wrath, and the fire shall devour them.

¹⁸ Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; ¹⁹ To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.

¹⁵ The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. ¹⁶ The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

²² The LORD redeems the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.

¹¹ Who knows the power of your anger? even according to your fear, so is your wrath.

¹⁰ Say you to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their deeds. ¹¹ Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be done to him.

²⁵ The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeks him.

² I will utterly consume all things from off the land, says the LORD. ³ I will consume man and beast; I will consume the fowls of the heaven, and the fish of the sea, and the stumbling blocks with the wicked; and I will cut off man from off the land, says the LORD. ⁴ I will also stretch out my hand upon Judah, and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place, and the name of the idolatrous and pagan priests; ⁵ And those that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops; and those that worship and that swear by the LORD, and yet swear by Milcom; ⁶ And those that are turned back from the LORD; and those that have not sought the LORD, nor inquired for him.

²⁸ And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

¹⁵ But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my boasting void.

¹⁴ For if I have boasted anything to him of you, I am not ashamed; but as we spoke all things to you in truth, even so our boasting, which I made before Titus, is found to be truth.

³⁸ Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

¹² For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

²⁹ But if from there you shall seek the LORD your God, you shall find him, if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul.

²⁰ And they were helped against them, and the Hagrites were delivered into their hand, and all that were with them: for they cried to God in the battle, and he heeded their prayer; because they put their trust in him.

¹² And when he was in affliction, he sought the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, ¹³ And prayed unto him: and he received his entreaty, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD was God.

¹ Now in the twenty and fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, and in sackcloth, and earth upon their heads.

¹⁶ Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.

¹⁸ If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: ¹⁹ But verily God has heard me; he has attended to the voice of my prayer. ²⁰ Blessed be God, who has not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me.

²² And the LORD shall strike Egypt: he shall strike and heal it: and they shall return even to the LORD, and he shall be entreated by them, and shall heal them.

¹² Then shall you call upon me, and you shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. ¹³ And you shall seek me, and find me, when you shall search for me with all your heart.

³ Call unto me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you know not.

³ And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:

⁷ Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: ⁸ For every one that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened.

³⁷ And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, who departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.

³⁰ And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,

¹⁸ And by the good hand of our God upon us they brought us a man of understanding, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel; and Sherebiah, with his sons and his brethren, eighteen; ¹⁹ And Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, his brethren and their sons, twenty;

⁸ Even those did Cyrus king of Persia bring forth by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, and counted them out unto Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah.

¹⁴ For as you are sent by the king, and by his seven counselors, to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of your God which is in your hand; ¹⁵ And to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counselors have freely offered unto the God of Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem, ¹⁶ And all the silver and gold that you can find in all the province of Babylon, with the freewill offering of the people, and of the priests, offered willingly for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem:

³³ Now on the fourth day were the silver and the gold and the articles weighed in the house of our God by the hand of Meremoth the son of Uriah the priest; and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas; and with them was Jozabad the son of Jeshua, and Noadiah the son of Binnui, Levites;

²⁰ Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us: ²¹ Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

⁸ Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

⁹ And this is the number of them: thirty platters of gold, a thousand platters of silver, nine and twenty knives, ¹⁰ Thirty bowls of gold, silver bowls of a similar sort four hundred and ten, and other articles a thousand. ¹¹ All the articles of gold and of silver were five thousand and four hundred. All these did Sheshbazzar bring up with those of the captivity that were brought up from Babylon unto Jerusalem.

² The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, how are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter!

⁶ They shall be holy unto their God, and not profane the name of their God: for the offerings of the LORD made by fire, and the bread of their God, they do offer: therefore they shall be holy. ⁷ They shall not take a wife that is a harlot, or is defiled; neither shall they take a woman put away from her husband: for he is holy unto his God. ⁸ You shall sanctify him therefore; for he offers the bread of your God: he shall be holy unto you: for I the LORD, who sanctifies you, am holy.

² Speak unto Aaron and to his sons, that they separate themselves from the holy things of the children of Israel, and that they profane not my holy name in those things which they hallow unto me: I am the LORD. ³ Say unto them, Whosoever he be of all your descendants among your generations, that goes unto the holy things, which the children of Israel hallow unto the LORD, having uncleanness upon him, that soul shall be cut off from my presence: I am the LORD.

⁴ This shall be the service of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of meeting, about the most holy things: ⁵ And when the camp moves forward, Aaron shall come, and his sons, and they shall take down the covering veil, and cover the ark of testimony with it: ⁶ And shall put thereon the covering of badger skins, and shall spread over it a cloth wholly of blue, and shall put in its poles. ⁷ And upon the table of showbread they shall spread a cloth of blue, and put thereon the dishes, and the spoons, and the bowls, and covers to cover them: and the showbread shall be on it: ⁸ And they shall spread upon them a cloth of scarlet, and cover the same with a covering of badger skins, and shall put in its poles. ⁹ And they shall take a cloth of blue, and cover the lampstand of the light, and its lamps, and its wick trimmers, and its trays, and all the oil vessels thereof, with which they minister unto it: ¹⁰ And they shall put it and all the utensils thereof within a covering of badger skins, and shall put it upon a carrying beam. ¹¹ And upon the golden altar they shall spread a cloth of blue, and cover it with a covering of badger skins, and shall put in its poles: ¹² And they shall take all the instruments of ministry, with which they minister in the sanctuary, and put them in a cloth of blue, and cover them with a covering of badger skins, and shall put them on a carrying beam: ¹³ And they shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth on it: ¹⁴ And they shall put upon it all its utensils, with which they minister about it, even the fire pans, the forks, and the shovels, and the basins, all the utensils of the altar; and they shall spread upon it a covering of badger skins, and put in its poles. ¹⁵ And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, as the camp is to move forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it: but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die. These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of meeting.

¹⁹ But thus do unto them, that they may live, and not die, when they approach unto the most holy things: Aaron and his sons shall go in, and appoint them every one to his service and to his burden: ²⁰ But they shall not go in to see when the holy things are covered, lest they die.

¹³ And his offering was one silver charger, the weight of which was a hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them were full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering:

⁸⁴ This was the dedication of the altar, in the day when it was anointed, by the leaders of Israel: twelve chargers of silver, twelve silver bowls, twelve spoons of gold: ⁸⁵ Each charger of silver weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, each bowl seventy: all the silver vessels weighed two thousand and four hundred shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary: ⁸⁶ The golden spoons were twelve, full of incense, weighing ten shekels apiece, according to the shekel of the sanctuary: all the gold of the spoons was a hundred and twenty shekels. ⁸⁷ All the oxen for the burnt offering were twelve bullocks, the rams twelve, the lambs of the first year twelve, with their grain offering: and the kids of the goats for sin offering twelve. ⁸⁸ And all the oxen for the sacrifice of the peace offerings were twenty and four bullocks, the rams sixty, the male goats sixty, the lambs of the first year sixty. This was the dedication of the altar, after it was anointed.

⁸ And of Levi he said, Let your Thummim and your Urim be with your holy one, whom you did test at Massah, and with whom you did strive at the waters of Meribah;

⁴⁸ And Solomon made all the vessels that pertained unto the house of the LORD: the altar of gold, and the table of gold, on which was the showbread, ⁴⁹ And the lampstands of pure gold, five on the right side, and five on the left, before the inner sanctuary, with the flowers, and the lamps, and the tongs of gold, ⁵⁰ And the bowls, and the wick trimmers, and the basins, and the ladles, and the censers of pure gold; and the hinges of gold, both for the doors of the inner room, the most holy place, and for the doors of the main hall of the temple. ⁵¹ So was ended all the work that king Solomon made for the house of the LORD. And Solomon brought in the things which David his father had dedicated; even the silver, and the gold, and the furnishings, did he put among the treasures of the house of the LORD.

²⁸ Because their office was to wait on the sons of Aaron for the service of the house of the LORD, in the courts, and in the chambers, and in the purifying of all holy things, and the work of the service of the house of God;

¹⁴ And when they had finished it, they brought the rest of the money before the king and Jehoiada, of which were made articles for the house of the LORD, even articles for ministering, and for offering, and spoons, and vessels of gold and silver. And they offered burnt offerings in the house of the LORD continually all the days of Jehoiada.

⁷ Also Cyrus the king brought forth the articles of the house of the LORD, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought forth out of Jerusalem, and had put them in the house of his gods; ⁸ Even those did Cyrus king of Persia bring forth by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, and counted them out unto Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah.

¹¹ Depart you, depart you, go out from there, touch no unclean thing; go out of the midst of her; be you clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD.

²⁰ And of the Levites, Ahijah was over the treasuries of the house of God, and over the treasuries of the dedicated things. ²¹ As concerning the sons of Ladan; the sons of the Gershonite Ladan, the heads of their fathers’ houses, even of Ladan the Gershonite, were Jehieli. ²² The sons of Jehieli; Zetham, and Joel his brother, who were over the treasuries of the house of the LORD. ²³ Of the Amramites, and the Izharites, the Hebronites, and the Uzzielites: ²⁴ And Shebuel the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, was overseer of the treasuries. ²⁵ And his brethren by Eliezer; Rehabiah his son, and Jeshaiah his son, and Joram his son, and Zichri his son, and Shelomoth his son. ²⁶ This Shelomoth and his brethren were over all the treasuries of the dedicated things, which David the king, and the heads of the fathers' houses, the captains over thousands and hundreds, and the captains of the army, had dedicated.

³³ Now on the fourth day were the silver and the gold and the articles weighed in the house of our God by the hand of Meremoth the son of Uriah the priest; and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas; and with them was Jozabad the son of Jeshua, and Noadiah the son of Binnui, Levites; ³⁴ With the number and weight of everything: and all the weight was recorded at that time.

³⁴ For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. ³⁵ Watch you therefore: for you know not when the Master of the house comes, at evening, or at midnight, or at the cock crowing, or in the morning:

³¹ Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn everyone night and day with tears.

⁵ But you watch in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fully carry out your ministry.

² Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God the gold for things to be made of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and the bronze for things of bronze, the iron for things of iron, and wood for things of wood; onyx stones, and stones to be set, glistening stones, and of various colors, and all manner of precious stones, and marble stones in abundance. ³ Moreover, because I have set my affection on the house of my God, I have of my own things, of gold and silver, which I have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house,

⁹ Because of the house of the LORD our God I will seek your good.

¹³ The glory of Lebanon shall come unto you, the cypress, the pine, and the box tree together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary; and I will make the place of my feet glorious.

²¹ Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our possessions. ²² For I was ashamed to ask of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him.

¹⁹ He shall deliver you in six troubles: yea, in seven there shall no evil touch you. ²⁰ In famine he shall redeem you from death: and in war from the power of the sword. ²¹ You shall be hid from the scourge of the tongue: neither shall you be afraid of destruction when it comes. ²² At destruction and famine you shall laugh: neither shall you be afraid of the beasts of the earth. ²³ For you shall be in covenant with the stones of the field: and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with you. ²⁴ And you shall know that your tabernacle shall be in peace; and you shall visit your habitation, and shall find nothing amiss.

⁹ Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge, even the most High, your habitation; ¹⁰ There shall no evil befall you, neither shall any plague come near your dwelling. ¹¹ For he shall give his angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. ¹² They shall bear you up in their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone. ¹³ You shall tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the serpent shall you trample under feet. ¹⁴ Because he has set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he has known my name.

¹⁰ Fear not; for I am with you: be not dismayed; for I am your God: I will strengthen you; yea, I will help you; yea, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness. ¹¹ Behold, all they that were incensed against you shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with you shall perish. ¹² You shall seek them, and shall not find them, even them that contended with you: they that war against you shall be as nothing, and as a thing not existing. ¹³ For I the LORD your God will hold your right hand, saying unto you, Fear not; I will help you. ¹⁴ Fear not, you worm Jacob, and you men of Israel; I will help you, says the LORD, and your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

³ And desired a favor from him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, plotting to kill him along the way.

²² Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:

⁸ And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king. ⁹ For upon the first day of the first month he began to go up from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him.

¹¹ So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days.

¹⁴ He gave of gold by weight for things of gold, for all articles of all manner of service; silver also for all articles of silver by weight, for all articles of every kind of service: ¹⁵ Even the weight for the lampstands of gold, and for their lamps of gold, by weight for every lampstand, and for the lamps thereof: and for the lampstands of silver by weight, both for the lampstand, and also for the lamps thereof, according to the use of every lampstand. ¹⁶ And by weight he gave gold for the tables of showbread, for every table; and likewise silver for the tables of silver: ¹⁷ Also pure gold for the forks, and the basins, and the cups: and for the golden bowls he gave gold by weight for every bowl; and likewise silver by weight for every bowl of silver: ¹⁸ And for the altar of incense refined gold by weight; and gold for the plan of the chariot of the cherubim, that spread out their wings, and covered the ark of the covenant of the LORD.

²⁶ I even weighed unto their hand six hundred and fifty talents of silver, and silver articles worth a hundred talents, and of gold a hundred talents;

³⁰ So the priests and the Levites took the weight of the silver, and the gold, and the articles, to bring them to Jerusalem unto the house of our God.

⁴ And next unto them repaired Meremoth the son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz. And next unto them repaired Meshullam the son of Berechiah, the son of Meshezabel. And next unto them repaired Zadok the son of Baana.

²¹ After him repaired Meremoth the son of Uriah the son of Hakkoz another section, from the door of the house of Eliashib even to the end of the house of Eliashib.

²⁴ After him repaired Binnui the son of Henadad another section, from the house of Azariah unto the turning of the wall, even unto the corner.

⁵ Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah,

⁹ And the Levites: both Jeshua the son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel;

¹ And the LORD called unto Moses, and spoke unto him out of the tabernacle of meeting, saying, ² Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man of you brings an offering unto the LORD, you shall bring your offering of the cattle, even of the herd, and of the flock. ³ If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of meeting before the LORD. ⁴ And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him. ⁵ And he shall kill the bullock before the LORD: and the priests, Aaron's sons, shall bring the blood, and sprinkle the blood round about upon the altar that is by the door of the tabernacle of meeting. ⁶ And he shall flay the burnt offering, and cut it into its pieces. ⁷ And the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire upon the altar, and lay the wood in order upon the fire:

²⁷ One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:

³¹ Then Hezekiah answered and said, Now you have consecrated yourselves unto the LORD, come near and bring sacrifices and thank offerings into the house of the LORD. And the congregation brought in sacrifices and thank offerings; and as many as were of a free heart burnt offerings. ³² And the number of the burnt offerings, which the congregation brought, was threescore and ten bullocks, a hundred rams, and two hundred lambs: all these were for a burnt offering to the LORD.

¹ Now these are the children of the province that went up out of the captivity, of those who had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away unto Babylon, and came again unto Jerusalem and Judah, every one unto his city;

¹⁷ And offered at the dedication of this house of God a hundred bullocks, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and for a sin offering for all Israel, twelve male goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.

¹⁰ For you, O God, have proved us: you have tried us, as silver is tried. ¹¹ You brought us into the net; you laid affliction upon our backs. ¹² You have caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water: but you brought us out into a wealthy place. ¹³ I will go into your house with burnt offerings: I will pay you my vows, ¹⁴ Which my lips have uttered, and my mouth has spoken, when I was in trouble. ¹⁵ I will offer unto you burnt sacrifices of fatlings, with the incense of rams; I will offer bullocks with goats. Selah.

¹² What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me? ¹³ I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD. ¹⁴ I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people. ¹⁵ Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints. ¹⁶ O LORD, truly I am your servant; I am your servant, and the son of your handmaid: you have loosed my bonds. ¹⁷ I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD. ¹⁸ I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people, ¹⁹ In the courts of the LORD's house, in the midst of you, O Jerusalem. Praise you the LORD.

⁷⁴ That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, ⁷⁵ In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.

⁷ And in the days of Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their companions, unto Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the writing of the letter was written in Aramaic, and set forth in the Aramaic language. ⁸ Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this fashion: ⁹ Then wrote Rehum the commander, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions; the judges, the governors, the officials, the Persians, the men of Erech, the Babylonians, the men of Susa, and the Elamites, ¹⁰ And the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Osnappar brought over, and settled in the cities of Samaria, and the rest that are on this side the river, and so forth . ¹¹ This is the copy of the letter that they sent unto him, even unto Artaxerxes the king; Your servants the men on this side the river, send greetings. ¹² Be it known unto the king, that the Jews who came up from you to us have come unto Jerusalem, building the rebellious and wicked city, and are finishing its walls, and repairing the foundations. ¹³ Be it known now unto the king, that, if this city is built, and the walls set up again, then will they not pay toll, tribute, and custom, and so you shall impair the revenue of the kings. ¹⁴ Now because we receive support from the king’s palace, and it was not proper for us to see the king’s dishonor, therefore have we sent and informed the king; ¹⁵ That search may be made in the book of the records of your fathers: so shall you find in the book of the records, and know that this city is a rebellious city, and harmful unto kings and provinces, and that they have incited sedition within the city from of old: for which cause was this city destroyed. ¹⁶ We inform the king that, if this city is built again, and its walls finished, by this means you shall have no dominion on this side of the river. ¹⁷ Then sent the king an answer unto Rehum the commander, and to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions that dwell in Samaria, and unto the rest beyond the river, Peace, and so forth. ¹⁸ The letter which you sent unto us has been plainly read before me. ¹⁹ And I commanded, and search has been made, and it is found that this city from of old has made insurrection against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been made in it. ²⁰ There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem, who have ruled over all countries beyond the river; and toll, tribute, and custom, was paid unto them. ²¹ Give you now command to cause these men to cease, and that this city be not built, until another command shall be given from me. ²² Take heed now that you fail not to do this: why should damage increase to the hurt of the kings? ²³ Now when the copy of king Artaxerxes’ letter was read before Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went up in haste to Jerusalem unto the Jews, and made them to cease by force and power.

⁶ The copy of the letter that Tattenai, governor on this side of the river, and Shethar-bozenai, and his companions the governors, who were on this side the river, sent unto Darius the king: ⁷ They sent a letter unto him, in which was written thus; Unto Darius the king, all peace. ⁸ Be it known unto the king, that we went into the province of Judea, to the house of the great God, which is built with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls, and this work goes on diligently, and prospers in their hands. ⁹ Then asked we those elders, and said unto them, Who commanded you to build this house, and to complete these walls? ¹⁰ We asked their names also, to inform you, that we might write the names of the men that were the chief of them. ¹¹ And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and build the house that was built these many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and finished. ¹² But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven unto wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried the people away into Babylon. ¹³ But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon the same king Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God. ¹⁴ And the articles also of gold and silver of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem, and brought them into the temple of Babylon, those did Cyrus the king take out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered unto one, whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor; ¹⁵ And said unto him, Take these articles, go, carry them into the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be built in its place. ¹⁶ Then came the same Sheshbazzar, and laid the foundation of the house of God which is in Jerusalem: and since that time even until now has it been in building, and yet it is not finished. ¹⁷ Now therefore, if it seems good to the king, let there be search made in the king’s treasure house, which is there at Babylon, whether it be so, that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.

¹³ Then Tattenai, governor on this side of the river, Shethar-boznai, and their companions, according to that which Darius the king had sent, so they did speedily.

²¹ And I, even I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers which are beyond the river, that whatsoever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, it be done promptly, ²² Unto a hundred talents of silver, and to a hundred cors of wheat, and to a hundred baths of wine, and to a hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much. ²³ Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done for the house of the God of heaven: for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons? ²⁴ Also we inform you, that concerning any of the priests and Levites, singers, gatekeepers, Nethinim, or servants of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom, upon them.

³ And all the princes of the provinces, and the satraps, and the governors, and officials of the king, helped the Jews; because the fear of Mordecai fell upon them.

⁶ Also the sons of the foreigner, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, everyone that keeps the sabbath from defiling it, and takes hold of my covenant; ⁷ Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all people.

²⁷ And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much who had believed through grace:

¹⁶ And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.