Ezra Cross References - NSB

¹ It was the first year of Cyrus, king of Persia. In order that the word of Jehovah (YHWH) given by the mouth of Jeremiah might come true, Jehovah moved the spirit of Cyrus, king of Persia. He made a public statement through all his kingdom, and put it in writing, saying: ² »These are the words of Cyrus, king of Persia: ‘Jehovah the God of heaven has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. He has made me responsible for building a house for him in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. ³ »‘May your God be with you and let you go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah. There you are to build the house of Jehovah the God of Israel. He is the God who is in Jerusalem. ⁴ »‘If any of his people in exile need help to return, their neighbors should give them help. They are to provide them with silver and gold, supplies and pack animals, as well as offerings to present in the Temple of God in Jerusalem.’« ⁵ The heads of the clans of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, the priests and Levites, and everyone else whose heart God had moved got ready to go and rebuild Jehovah’s Temple in Jerusalem. ⁶ Their neighbors helped by giving many things: silver utensils, gold, supplies, pack animals, other valuables, and offerings for the Temple. ⁷ King Cyrus gave back the bowls and cups that King Nebuchadnezzar took from the Temple in Jerusalem and put in the temple of his god. ⁸ And King Cyrus turned them over to Mithredath, chief of the royal treasury, who made an inventory of them for Sheshbazzar, the governor of Judah, ⁹ Now this was their inventory: 30 gold dishes, 1,000 silver dishes and 29 duplicates. ¹⁰ There were also 30 gold bowls, 410 matching silver bowls and 1,000 other articles. ¹¹ All the articles of gold and silver numbered 5,400. Sheshbazzar brought all of them along with the exiles who traveled from Babylon to Jerusalem.

¹³ He brought a silver plate that weighed three and one fourth pounds and a silver bowl that weighed one and three quarter pounds using the standard weight of the holy place. Each dish was filled with flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering.

¹⁹ He brought a silver plate that weighed three and three fourths pounds and a silver bowl that weighed one and three quarter pounds using the standard weight of the holy place. Each dish was filled with flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering. ²⁰ He also brought a gold dish that weighed four ounces, filled with incense; ²¹ a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering; ²² a male goat as an offering for sin; ²³ and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs as a fellowship offering. These were the gifts from Nethanel, son of Zuar. ²⁴ On the third day the leader of the descendants of Zebulun, Eliab, son of Helon, ²⁵ brought his gifts: a silver plate that weighed three and one quarter pounds and a silver bowl that weighed one and three quarter pounds using the standard weight of the holy place. Each dish was filled with flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering. ²⁶ He also brought a gold dish that weighed four ounces, filled with incense; ²⁷ a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering; ²⁸ a male goat as an offering for sin; ²⁹ and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs as a fellowship offering. These were the gifts from Eliab, son of Helon. ³⁰ On the fourth day the leader of the descendants of Reuben, Elizur, son of Shedeur, ³¹ brought his gifts: a silver plate that weighed three and one quarter pounds and a silver bowl that weighed one and three quarter pounds using the standard weight of the holy place. Each dish was filled with flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering. ³² He also brought a gold dish that weighed four ounces, filled with incense; ³³ a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering; ³⁴ a male goat as an offering for sin; ³⁵ and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs as a fellowship offering. These were the gifts from Elizur, son of Shedeur. ³⁶ On the fifth day the leader of the descendants of Simeon, Shelumiel, son of Zurishaddai, ³⁷ brought his gifts: a silver plate that weighed three and one quarter pounds and a silver bowl that weighed one and three quarter pounds using the standard weight of the holy place. Each dish was filled with flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering. ³⁸ He also brought a gold dish that weighed four ounces. It was filled with incense. ³⁹ He brought a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering; ⁴⁰ a male goat as an offering for sin; ⁴¹ and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs as a fellowship offering. These were the gifts from Shelumiel, son of Zurishaddai. ⁴² On the sixth day the leader of the descendants of Gad, Eliasaph, son of Deuel, ⁴³ brought his gifts: a silver plate that weighed three and one quarter pounds and a silver bowl that weighed one and three quarter pounds using the standard weight of the holy place. Each dish was filled with flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering. ⁴⁴ He also brought a gold dish that weighed four ounces, filled with incense, ⁴⁵ a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering; ⁴⁶ a male goat as an offering for sin; ⁴⁷ and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs as a fellowship offering. These were the gifts from Eliasaph, son of Deuel. ⁴⁸ On the seventh day the leader of the descendants of Ephraim, Elishama, son of Ammihud, ⁴⁹ brought his gifts: a silver plate that weighed three and one quarter pounds and a silver bowl that weighed one and three quarter pounds using the standard weight of the holy place. Each dish was filled with flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering. ⁵⁰ He also brought a gold dish that weighed four ounces, filled with incense, ⁵¹ a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering; ⁵² a male goat as an offering for sin; ⁵³ and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs as a fellowship offering. These were the gifts from Elishama, son of Ammihud. ⁵⁴ On the eighth day the leader of the descendants of Manasseh, Gamaliel, son of Pedahzur, ⁵⁵ brought his gifts: a silver plate that weighed three and one quarter pounds and a silver bowl that weighed one and three quarter pounds using the standard weight of the holy place. Each dish was filled with flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering. ⁵⁶ He also brought a gold dish that weighed four ounces, filled with incense, ⁵⁷ a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering; ⁵⁸ a male goat as an offering for sin; ⁵⁹ and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs as a fellowship offering. These were the gifts from Gamaliel, son of Pedahzur. ⁶⁰ On the ninth day the leader of the descendants of Benjamin, Abidan, son of Gideoni, ⁶¹ brought his gifts: a silver plate that weighed three and one quarter pounds and a silver bowl that weighed one and three quarter pounds using the standard weight of the holy place. Each dish was filled with flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering. ⁶² He also brought a gold dish that weighed four ounces, filled with incense, ⁶³ a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering; ⁶⁴ a male goat as an offering for sin; ⁶⁵ and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs as a fellowship offering. These were the gifts from Abidan, son of Gideoni. ⁶⁶ On the tenth day the leader of the descendants of Dan, Ahiezer, son of Amishaddai, ⁶⁷ brought his gifts: a silver plate that weighed three and one quarter pounds and a silver bowl that weighed one and three quarter pounds using the standard weight of the holy place. Each dish was filled with flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering. ⁶⁸ He also brought a gold dish that weighed four ounces, filled with incense; ⁶⁹ a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering; ⁷⁰ a male goat as an offering for sin; ⁷¹ and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs as a fellowship offering. These were the gifts from Ahiezer, son of Amishaddai. ⁷² On the eleventh day the leader of the descendants of Asher, Pagiel, son of Ochran, ⁷³ brought his gifts: a silver plate that weighed three and one quarter pounds and a silver bowl that weighed one and three quarter pounds using the standard weight of the holy place. Each dish was filled with flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering. ⁷⁴ He also brought a gold dish that weighed four ounces, filled with incense; ⁷⁵ a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering; ⁷⁶ a male goat as an offering for sin; ⁷⁷ and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs as a fellowship offering. These were the gifts from Pagiel, son of Ochran. ⁷⁸ On the twelfth day the leader of the descendants of Naphtali, Ahira, son of Enan, ⁷⁹ brought his gifts: a silver plate that weighed three and one quarter pounds and a silver bowl that weighed one and three quarter pounds using the standard weight of the holy place. Each dish was filled with flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering. ⁸⁰ He also brought a gold dish that weighed four ounces, filled with incense ⁸¹ a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering; ⁸² a male goat as an offering for sin; ⁸³ and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs as a fellowship offering. These were the gifts from Ahira, son of Enan. ⁸⁴ These were the gifts from the leaders of Israel for the dedication of the altar when it was anointed: twelve silver plates, twelve silver bowls, and twelve gold dishes. ⁸⁵ Each silver plate weighed three and one quarter pounds, and each bowl weighed one and three quarter pounds. Together all the silver dishes weighed sixty pounds using the standard weight of the holy place. ⁸⁶ The twelve gold dishes filled with incense weighed four ounces each using the standard weight of the holy place. Together all the gold dishes weighed about three pounds. ⁸⁷ The total number of animals for the burnt offerings was twelve young bulls, twelve rams, twelve one-year-old male lambs, along with their grain offerings. Twelve male goats were used as offerings for sin. ⁸⁸ The total number of animals for fellowship offerings was twenty-four bulls, sixty rams, sixty male goats, and sixty one-year-old male lambs. These were the gifts for the dedication of the altar after it was anointed. ⁸⁹ When Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with Jehovah, he heard the voice speaking to him from above the throne of mercy on the Ark containing the words of God’s Covenant, from between the two cherubim. This is how Jehovah spoke with Moses.

³¹ »Their rock is not like our rock! Their enemies know that their own gods are weak, not mighty like Israel's God.

⁹ »Have I commanded you? Be strong and of a good courage. Do not be afraid, neither be dismayed; for Jehovah your God is with you wherever you go.«

⁵⁰ dishes, snuffers, bowls, saucers, incense burners of pure gold, the gold sockets for the doors of the inner room (the Most Holy Place), and the doors of the temple.

²⁷ »Can you, O God, really live on earth? Not even heaven or the heaven of heavens is large enough to hold you. How can this Temple I have built be large enough?

¹³ The Babylonians carried off to Babylon all the treasures in the Temple and the palace. As Jehovah foretold, Nebuchadnezzar broke up all the gold utensils King Solomon had made for use in the Temple.

¹³ The copper pillars in the Temple of Jehovah, and the wheeled bases, and the great copper water-vessel in the Temple of Jehovah were broken up by the Chaldaeans. They took the copper to Babylon. ¹⁴ The pots and the spades and the scissors for the lights and the spoons, and all the copper vessels used in Jehovah’s Temple were taken away. ¹⁵ The captain of the guard took all of the incense burners and bowls that were made of gold or silver. ¹⁶ The bronze from the two pillars, the pool, and the stands that Solomon made for Jehovah’s Temple could not be weighed.

¹² »Praise Jehovah the God of Israel, Creator of heaven and earth! He has given King David a wise son, full of understanding and skill. He now plans to build a Temple for Jehovah and a palace for himself.

⁸ He made ten tables and put them in the temple. Five were on the south side and five on the north side. And he made one hundred gold bowls.

²⁰ David also told his son Solomon: Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do no be afraid or terrified. Jehovah God, my God, will be with you. He will not abandon you until all the work on Jehovah’s Temple is finished.

³ »Over and above all this that I have provided, I have given silver and gold from my personal property because of my love for God’s Temple.

⁹ The people gave willingly to Jehovah and were happy that so much had been given. King David also was extremely happy.

¹⁷ »I well know, O my God, that you test everyone’s heart and are pleased with people of integrity. In honesty and sincerity I have willingly given all this to you. I have seen how your people who are gathered here have been happy to bring offerings to you.

¹¹ Huram also made the pots, shovels, and bowls. So Huram finished the work for King Solomon in God’s Temple:

²¹ flowers, lamps, pure gold tongs, ²² snuffers, basins, dishes, incense burners of pure gold, the gold entrance to the temple, the gold doors of the most holy place, and the gold doors of the Temple.

¹⁴ When the repairs were finished, the remaining gold and silver was given to the king and Jehoiada. They used it to have bowls and other utensils made for the Temple. As long as Jehoiada was alive, sacrifices were offered regularly at the Temple.

⁷ Nebuchadnezzar also brought some of the utensils of Jehovah’s Temple to Babylon. He put them in his palace (temple) in Babylon.

¹⁰ In the spring King Nebuchadnezzar sent for Jehoiakin and brought him to Babylon with the valuable utensils from Jehovah’s Temple. Nebuchadnezzar made Jehoiakin’s uncle Zedekiah king of Judah and Jerusalem.

¹⁸ He brought to Babylon each of the utensils from God’s temple, the treasures from Jehovah’s Temple, and the treasures of the king and his officials.

²² In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of Jehovah by the mouth of Jeremiah, Jehovah stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia. He sent a proclamation throughout his kingdom, and also put it in writing. He said:

²² In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of Jehovah by the mouth of Jeremiah, Jehovah stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia. He sent a proclamation throughout his kingdom, and also put it in writing. He said: ²³ Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: »Jehovah, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. He has appointed me to build him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever there is among you of all his people, may Jehovah his God be with him, and let him go up!«

¹ It was the first year of Cyrus, king of Persia. In order that the word of Jehovah (YHWH) given by the mouth of Jeremiah might come true, Jehovah moved the spirit of Cyrus, king of Persia. He made a public statement through all his kingdom, and put it in writing, saying:

⁴ »‘If any of his people in exile need help to return, their neighbors should give them help. They are to provide them with silver and gold, supplies and pack animals, as well as offerings to present in the Temple of God in Jerusalem.’«

¹¹ All the articles of gold and silver numbered 5,400. Sheshbazzar brought all of them along with the exiles who traveled from Babylon to Jerusalem.

⁶⁸ And some of the heads of families, when they came to the house of Jehovah which is in Jerusalem, gave freely of their wealth for the building up of the house of God in its place: ⁶⁹ Every one, as he was able, gave for the work sixty-one thousand drachmas of gold, five thousand pounds of silver and a hundred priests' robes. ⁷⁰ So the priests and the Levites, the people and the music-makers, the doorkeepers and the Nethinim, took their places in their towns.

¹³ »‘In the first year of Cyrus, king of Babylon, Cyrus the king gave an order for the building of this house of God. ¹⁴ »‘The gold and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took from the Temple in Jerusalem, were put into the house of his god in Babylon. Cyrus the king took these from the house of his god in Babylon, and gave them to Sheshbazzar, whom he had made ruler.’

¹⁴ »‘The gold and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took from the Temple in Jerusalem, were put into the house of his god in Babylon. Cyrus the king took these from the house of his god in Babylon, and gave them to Sheshbazzar, whom he had made ruler.’ ¹⁵ He said to him: »Go, take these vessels, and put them in the Temple in Jerusalem. Let the house of God be constructed again in its place.« ¹⁶ »Then this same Sheshbazzar came and put the house of God in Jerusalem on its foundations. From that time until now the building has been going on, but it is still not complete.«

⁵ »And let the gold and silver vessels from the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took from the Temple at Jerusalem to Babylon, be given back and taken again to the Temple at Jerusalem, every one in its place, and put them in the house of God.

²² They joyfully kept the feast of unleavened bread for seven days. Jehovah filled them with joy by turning the heart of the king of Assyria to them to give them help in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.

¹⁵ »You are to take with you the silver and gold freely offered by the king and his wise men to the God of Israel, who’s Temple is in Jerusalem, ¹⁶ »As well as all the silver and gold which you get from the land of Babylon, together with the offering of the people and of the priests, freely given for the house of their God in Jerusalem.

¹⁶ »As well as all the silver and gold which you get from the land of Babylon, together with the offering of the people and of the priests, freely given for the house of their God in Jerusalem. ¹⁷ »Use this money to buy bulls, sheep, and lambs, with their meal offerings and their drink offerings, to be offered on the altar of the house of your God, which is in Jerusalem. ¹⁸ »Whatever seems right to you and to your brothers to do with the rest of the silver and gold, that do, as may be pleasing to your God.

¹² I got up in the night and took a small band of men with me. I said nothing to any man of what God put into my heart to do for Jerusalem, I had no beast with me but the one on which I was seated.

²⁷ Praise be to Jehovah, the God of our fathers, who has put such a thing into the heart of the king, to make fair the house of Jehovah that is in Jerusalem.

²⁵ I gave to them by weight the silver and the gold and the vessels, all the offering for the house of our God that the king and his wise men and his captains and all Israel there present had given: ²⁶ Measuring into their hands six hundred and fifty talents of silver, and silver vessels, a hundred talents' weight, and a hundred talents of gold, ²⁷ And twenty gold basins, of a thousand darics, and two vessels of the best bright brass, equal in value to gold.

²⁷ And twenty gold basins, of a thousand darics, and two vessels of the best bright brass, equal in value to gold. ²⁸ I said to them: »You are holy to Jehovah and the vessels are holy. The silver and the gold are an offering freely given to Jehovah, the God of your fathers.

³³ On the fourth day, the silver and the gold and the vessels were measured out by weight in the house of our God into the hands of Meremoth, the son of Uriah, the priest; and with him was Eleazar, the son of Phinehas; and with them were Jozabad, the son of Jeshua, and Obadiah, the son of Binnui, the Levites.

¹⁸ That they may know that you alone, whose name is Jehovah, are the Most High over all the earth.

⁴⁶ He let them find compassion from all those who held them captive.

³ Your people will volunteer in the day of your power. Your young people will come to you in holy splendor like dew from the womb of the dawn (in the early morning).

¹ Jehovah controls the mind of a king as easily as he directs the course of a stream. He turns it where ever he wishes.

¹ Preparations of the heart and the answer of the tongue, is from Jehovah.

⁹ Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their labor. ¹⁰ If they fall, the one will lift up his companion. Woe to him who is alone when he falls for he has no one to help him.

²⁶ »‘I make the word of my servant come true. I accomplish the purpose of my messengers. I say of Jerusalem, 'She will be inhabited!’ And I say to the cities of Judah, 'You will be rebuilt! I will make your ruins raise up.’

⁵ »I AM JEHOVAH AND THERE IS NO OTHER. THERE IS NO OTHER GOD BESIDES ME. I will strengthen you, although you do not know me.

¹² »I am the one who made the earth. I created human beings to live there. With my power I stretched out the heavens. I control the sun, the moon, and the stars. ¹³ »I have stirred Cyrus to action to fulfill my purpose and put things right. I will straighten out every road that he travels. He will rebuild my city, Jerusalem, and set my captive people free. No one has hired him or bribed him to do this.« Jehovah of Hosts has spoken.

¹ This is what Jehovah says: »Heaven is my throne. Earth is my footstool. Where can you people build a house or resting place for me?

¹⁰ Jehovah is the true (faithful) (right) God! He is the living God and the everlasting king. The earth quakes at his wrath. The nations cannot endure his indignation. ¹¹ You will say to the idolaters: »The gods that did not make the heavens and the earth will perish from the earth and from under the heavens.«

¹² »‘When the seventy years are over, I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation for their crimes,’ declares Jehovah. ‘I will turn Babylon into a permanent wasteland. ¹³ »‘I will bring on that land all the disasters I threatened to do to it, everything that Jeremiah prophesied against all the nations, everything written in this book. ¹⁴ »‘Many nations and great kings will make slaves of the people of Babylon. I will pay them back for what they have done.’«

¹⁰ »This is what Jehovah says: ‘When Babylon's seventy years are over I will come to you. I will keep my promise to you and bring you back to this place.

⁷ »I will restore Judah and Israel and rebuild them as they were before. ⁸ »I will cleanse them from all the sins that they have committed against me. I will forgive them for all the sins that they have committed against me and for rebelling against me. ⁹ »Jerusalem will be my source of joy, praise, and honor. All the nations on earth will hear about all the blessings that I will give to Jerusalem. They will be afraid and tremble because of all the prosperity that I will provide for it.’« ¹⁰ »This is what Jehovah says: ‘You have said that this place is ruined and that no people or animals live in it. It is true! The cities of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem are deserted. No people or animals live there. But once again you will hear, ¹¹ »Yes, you will hear the sounds of joy and happiness and the sounds of brides and grooms. You will hear those who bring thank offerings to Jehovah’s Temple.«’ »‘They will say: Give thanks to Jehovah of Hosts because Jehovah is good, because his mercy endures forever. I will restore the prosperity of the land to what they were before,«’ says Jehovah. ¹² »Jehovah of Hosts said: ‘In this land that is like a desert and where no people or animals live, there will once again be pastures where shepherds can take their sheep.’ ¹³ »‘In mountain towns, in the foothills, and in southern Judah, in the territory of Benjamin, in the villages around Jerusalem, and in the towns of Judah, shepherds will once again count their sheep.’ I Jehovah have spoken.«

⁶ »Now I have handed all these countries over to my servant King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. I have even made wild animals serve him. ⁷ »All nations will serve him, his son, and his grandson until Babylon is defeated. Then many nations and great kings will make him their slave.

²¹ ‘»Thus says Jehovah of Hosts, the God of Israel, concerning the vessels that are left in the House of Jehovah and in the house of the king of Judah and in Jerusalem, ²² »They will be carried to Babylon and they will be there until the day I visit them,« declares Jehovah. »Then I will bring them back and restore them to this place.«’«

³ »Within two years I will bring back to this place all the temple treasures that King Nebuchadnezzar took to Babylon.’« ⁴ »‘I will also bring back the king of Judah, Jehoiachin son of Jehoiakim, along with all of the people of Judah who went into exile in Babylon. I will break the power of the king of Babylon.’ I Jehovah have spoken!’« ⁵ In the presence of the priests and of all the people who were standing in the Temple, I said to Hananiah: ⁶ »Amen! I hope Jehovah will do this! I certainly hope he will make the prophecy come true and will bring back from Babylon all the Temple treasures and all the people who were taken away as prisoners.

² Jehovah (YHWH) allowed Nebuchadnezzar to capture Jehoiakim king of Judah. Nebuchadnezzar carried part of the vessels of the house of God into the Plain of Shinar [in Babylon]. He brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.

¹ It was the second year of his reign. He was troubled and could not sleep. Nebuchadnezzar had dreams and was disturbed by them.

²¹ »He changes the times and the seasons. He removes kings, and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise, and knowledge to the discerning.

²⁸ »There is a God in heaven that reveals secrets. He made known to king Nebuchadnezzar what will be in days to come. Your dream and visions are these:

³⁷ »You, O king, are king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, and the strength, and the glory. ³⁸ »He gave the children of men, the beasts of the field and the birds of the heavens to your hand. He made you the ruler over them all! You are the head of gold.

⁴⁷ The king spoke to Daniel: »It is true, your God is the God of gods, and the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing you were able to reveal this secret.«

²⁵ You will be driven from men. Your dwelling will be with the beasts of the field. You will eat grass like oxen and will be wet with the dew of heaven. Seven times shall pass over you until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever he will.

³² »You will be driven from men. Your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. You will have to eat grass like bulls. Seven times shall pass over you until you know the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever he will.«

² While he tasted the wine, Belshazzar commanded to bring the gold and silver vessels which Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken out of the Temple in Jerusalem. This way the king and his lords, his wives and his concubines, might drink from them. ³ Then they brought the gold vessels that were taken out of the Temple of the House of God that was at Jerusalem. The king and his lords, his wives and his concubines, drank from them.

¹⁹ »Because of the greatness he gave him, all the peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him. Whom he chose he killed and whom he chose he kept alive. Whom he chose he raised up, and whom he chose he put down. ²⁰ »But when his heart was lifted up, and his spirit was hardened with pride he dealt proudly. He was deposed from his kingly throne and they took his glory from him: ²¹ »He was driven from the sons of men, and his heart was made like the beasts. His dwelling was with the wild donkeys. He was fed with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven until he knew that the Most High God rules in the kingdom of men, and that he sets up over it whomever he will.

²³ »You lifted yourself up against the Lord of heaven. They have brought the vessels of his house before you and your lords, wives and concubines. They drank wine from them. You praise the gods of silver and gold, of copper, iron, wood, and stone, which you do not see, nor hear, nor know. You have not glorified the God whose hand holds your breath and life.

²⁶ »I make a decree, that in all the dominion of my kingdom men tremble with respect before the God of Daniel. He is the living God, and steadfast forever! His kingdom will not be destroyed. His dominion will be even unto the end.

¹ It was the second year that Darius was king of Persia. Jehovah spoke through Haggai the prophet in the sixth month, on the first day of the month. The message was delivered to the governor of Judah, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and to the High Priest, Joshua son of Jehozadak.

¹⁴ Jehovah inspired everyone to work on the Temple. That included: Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah; Joshua, the High Priest, and all the people who had returned from the exile. They worked on the house of Jehovah of Hosts, their God.

² »Speak to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people, saying: ³ ‘Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How do you see it now? Is it nothing in your eyes?’ ⁴ »Be strong Zerubbabel,« said Jehovah. »Be strong, Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land, said Jehovah. Work! I am with you,« said Jehovah of Hosts.

⁶ He answered: »This is the word of Jehovah to Zerubbabel.« Then Jehovah of Hosts said: ‘Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit.’« ⁷ ‘»Who are you, O Great Mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain. He will bring the head stone with shouts of blessing.’« ⁸ The word of Jehovah continued to come to me: ⁹ »The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house. His hands will also finish it! You should know that Jehovah of Hosts has sent me to you. ¹⁰ »For who has despised the day of small things? For these seven will rejoice, and will see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel. These are the eyes of Jehovah, which run to and fro through the whole earth.«

¹¹ Josiah was the father of Jechoniah and his brothers. They lived at the time when the people were exiled to Babylon. ¹² After the exile to Babylon, Jechoniah became the father of Shealtiel. Shealtiel was the father of Zerubbabel,

²⁹ »Do two sparrows sell for a penny? Not one of them will fall on the ground without your Father knowing. ³⁰ »Even the hairs of your head are all numbered. ³¹ »Do not fear! You are more valuable than many sparrows.

¹ John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming: ² »Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.« ³ Isaiah spoke of John when he said: »He is a voice shouting in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of Jehovah. Make his paths straight.’« (Isaiah 40:3)

⁸ Prompted by her mother, she said: »Give me John the Baptist’s head on a platter.«

²⁰ »Teach them to observe all the things I have commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.«

²³ He said: »I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness. Isaiah the prophet said: ‘Make straight the way of Jehovah (YHWH).’« (Isaiah 40:3)

³⁶ »You know the Word of God was sent to the children of Israel. He (Jehovah God) presented peace through the anointed Lord (or Master) of all, Jesus Christ. (Acts 2:36) (Jesus identified his father, Jehovah God, as Lord of all heaven and earth at Matthew 11:25)

¹⁷ »Now after many years I came to bring offerings and gifts of mercy to my nation.

²³ In that way he could make known the riches of his glory upon vessels of mercy that he had prepared in advance for glory.

¹⁶ But thanks to God, who puts the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus.

⁷ Let each man do according as he has purposed in his heart: not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loves a cheerful giver.

² Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.

¹³ It is God who works in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure.

¹⁹ The foundation of God stands firm having this seal: »Jehovah knows those who belong to him,« and: »Everyone who names the name of Jehovah is to abstain from wickedness.« ²⁰ Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor. ²¹ If anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.

¹⁶ Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. ¹⁷ Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above. It comes down from the Father of lights (truth and spiritual purity), with whom there is no variation. He does not change like shifting shadows.

⁶ They testify about your love seen by the congregation. You do well to send them forward on their journey worthily of God. ⁷ For the sake of the Name they went out, taking nothing from the people of the nations. ⁸ We ought to receive and welcome such ones, that we may be fellow-workers for the truth.

¹¹ Beloved, do not imitate that which is evil, but that which is good. He who does good is from God. He who does evil has not seen God.