Nehemiah 8 Cross References - NSB

¹ When the seventh month came, the children of Israel were in their towns. All the people came together like one man into the wide place in front of the Water Gate. They requested Ezra the scribe that he would bring them the book of the Law of Moses that Jehovah gave to Israel. ² Ezra the priest brought the law to the meeting of the people. They were all able to listen to it. It was the first day of the seventh month. ³ He read it in the wide place in front of the Water Gate from early morning till the middle of the day. Everyone who could understand it, men and women alike were able to listen to it. All the people got to hear the Book of the Law. ⁴ Ezra the scribe took his place on a tower (podium) of wood that they had made for the purpose. By his side were placed Mattithiah and Shema and Anaiah and Uriah and Hilkiah and Maaseiah on the right; and on the left, Pedaiah and Mishael and Malchijah and Hashum and Hashbaddanah, Zechariah and Meshullam. ⁵ Ezra took the book and opened it before the eyes of all the people for he was higher than the people. When it was open, all the people stood on their feet. ⁶ Ezra praised Jehovah, the great God. And all the people said: »Amen!« With lifted hands and bent heads they worshiped Jehovah. They dropped to their faces on the earth. ⁷ And Jeshua and Bani and Sherebiah and Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites made the law clear to the people: and the people kept in their places. ⁸ They read from the book the Law of God making it clear (translating it), so that their minds were able to take it in. ⁹ Nehemiah, who was the Tirshatha (Governor), and Ezra, the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were the teachers of the people, said to all the people: »This day is holy to Jehovah your God. Let there be no sorrow or weeping.« For all the people were weeping on hearing the words of the law. ¹⁰ He said to them: »Go away now, and take the fat for your food and the sweet for your drink, and send some to him for whom nothing is made ready. This day is holy to our Lord. Let there be no grief in your hearts. The joy of Jehovah is your strong place.« ¹¹ So the Levites made all the people quiet, saying: »Be quiet, for the day is holy; and do not give way to grief.« ¹² All the people went away to take food and drink, and to send food to others, and to be glad, because the words that were said to them had been clearly communicated. ¹³ The second day the heads of families of all the people and the priests and the Levites came together to Ezra the scribe, to give attention to the words of the law. ¹⁴ They saw that it was recorded in the law that Jehovah gave orders by Moses, that the children of Israel were to have tents for their living-places in the feast of the seventh month: ¹⁵ They were to give an order, and make it public in all their towns and in Jerusalem, saying: Go out to the mountain and get olive branches and branches of field olives (oil trees) and of myrtle, and palm branches and branches of thick trees, to make tents, as it says in the book. ¹⁶ The people went out and got them and made themselves tents. Every one on the roof of his house, and in the open spaces and in the open squares of the House of God, and in the wide place of the Water Gate, and the wide place of the Gate of Ephraim. ¹⁷ All the people who had been prisoners and had come back, made tents and were living in them. From the time of Jeshua, the son of Nun, till that day, the children of Israel had not done so. There was very great joy! ¹⁸ Day by day, from the first day till the last, he read from the book of the Law of God. They kept the feast for seven days: and on the eighth day there was a holy meeting, as it is ordered in the law.

¹¹ When the dove returned to him in the evening, there in its beak was a freshly plucked olive leaf! Then Noah knew that the water had receded from the earth.

²² But Abram said to the king of Sodom: »I have sworn to Jehovah, God Most High, maker of heaven and earth:

²⁶ The man knelt down and worshiped Jehovah.

¹⁷ Jacob moved on to Succoth. He built a house there for himself and made shelters for his livestock. That is why the place is named Succoth.

³¹ The people believed them. When they heard that Jehovah was concerned about the people of Israel and that he had seen their misery, they knelt, bowed low and worshiped.

²⁷ »You shall say: ‘It is a Passover sacrifice to Jehovah who passed over the houses of the sons of Israel in Egypt when He killed the Egyptians, but spared our homes. The people bowed low and worshiped.’«

²⁴ Fire came out from Jehovah’s presence and consumed the burnt offering and the pieces of fat on the altar. As soon as all the people saw this, they shouted and bowed with their faces touching the ground.

¹¹ »You must also teach the people of Israel everything that I commanded Moses to say to them.«

⁴ »‘The following are Jehovah’s appointed festivals with holy assemblies. You must announce these at their appointed times.

²⁴ »Observe a special day of rest on the first day of the seventh month. Gather together for worship when the trumpets sound.

³⁴ Inform the Israelites: ‘The fifteenth day of this seventh month is the Festival of Booths to Jehovah. It will last seven days.

³⁶ »‘Bring a sacrifice by fire to Jehovah for seven consecutive days. On the eighth day there will be a holy assembly. Bring Jehovah a sacrifice by fire. This is the last festival of the year. Do not do any regular work.

⁴⁰ »‘Take the best fruits, palm branches, the branches of leafy trees and poplars on the first day, and celebrate in the presence of Jehovah your God for seven days.

⁴⁰ »‘Take the best fruits, palm branches, the branches of leafy trees and poplars on the first day, and celebrate in the presence of Jehovah your God for seven days. ⁴¹ »‘It is Jehovah’s festival. Celebrate it for seven days each year. This is a long lasting law for generations to come. Celebrate this festival in the seventh month. ⁴² »‘Live in booths for seven days. Everyone born in Israel must live in booths. ⁴³ »‘This is how generations to come may learn how I made the people of Israel live in booths when I brought them out of Egypt. I am Jehovah your God!’«

¹ »‘Gather for worship on the first day of the seventh month. Do not work. Trumpets will be blown on that day.

¹ »‘Gather for worship on the first day of the seventh month. Do not work. Trumpets will be blown on that day. ² »‘Present a burnt offering to Jehovah. It is an odor pleasing to him: one young bull, one ram, and seven one-year-old male lambs, all without any defects. ³ »‘Offer the proper grain offering of flour mixed with olive oil: six pounds of flour with the bull, four pounds with the ram, ⁴ and two pounds with each lamb. ⁵ »‘Also offer one male goat as a sin offering. In this way perform the ritual of purification for the people. ⁶ »‘Offer these in addition to the monthly burnt offering with its grain offering, and the daily burnt offerings with their proper grain offerings and wine offerings. It is a soothing aroma, an offering by fire to Jehovah.

³⁵ »‘On the eighth day you must hold a religious assembly. Do no daily work.

³⁰ Caleb told the people to be quiet and listen to Moses. Caleb said: »Let us go now and take possession of the land. We should be more than able to conquer it.«

⁷ »You and your households should eat there before Jehovah your God, and rejoice in all your undertakings that Jehovah your God has blessed.

¹² »Rejoice (be filled with joy) before Jehovah your God, you and your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, and the Levite who is within your gates, since he has no portion or inheritance with you.

¹¹ »Enjoy yourselves in the presence of Jehovah your God along with your sons, daughters, male and female slaves, the Levites who live in your cities, the foreigners, orphans, and widows who live among you. Enjoy yourselves at the place Jehovah your God will choose as a dwelling for his name.

¹³ »Gather the grain from your threshing floor and make your wine. Then celebrate the Festival of Booths for seven days. ¹⁴ »Enjoy yourselves at the festival along with your sons, daughters, male and female slaves, the Levites, foreigners, orphans, and widows who live in your cities. ¹⁵ »For seven days you will celebrate this festival dedicated to Jehovah your God in the place he will choose. You will enjoy yourselves, because Jehovah your God will bless all your harvest and all your work. ¹⁶ »Three times a year all your men must come into the presence of Jehovah your God at the place he will choose. At the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the Festival of Weeks, and the Festival of Booths. But no one may come into the presence of Jehovah without an offering.

⁸ »When you build a new house make a parapet (wall) for your roof. This way you will not bring bloodguilt on your house if anyone falls from it.

¹¹ »You, the Levite and the alien among you will rejoice in all the good Jehovah your God has given you and your household. ¹² ‘Finish paying all the tithe of your increase in the third year, the year of tithing. Then you shall give it to the Levite, the stranger, and the orphan and to the widow, that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied. ¹³ »Say before Jehovah your God: ‘I have removed the sacred portion from my house. I also have given it to the Levite and the alien, the orphan and the widow, according to all your commandments that you have commanded me. I have not transgressed or forgotten any of your commandments. ¹⁴ »‘I have not eaten of it while mourning. I have not removed any of it while I was unclean, nor offered any of it to the dead. I have listened to the voice of Jehovah my God. I have done according to all that you have commanded me.

⁹ Moses wrote this Law and gave it to the priests, the sons of Levi who carried the Ark of the Covenant of Jehovah, and to all the elders of Israel. ¹⁰ Moses commanded them: »At the end of every seven years, at the time of the year of remission of debts, at the Feast of Booths, ¹¹ when all Israel comes to appear before Jehovah your God at the place he will choose, you shall read this Law in front of all Israel in their hearing. ¹² »Assemble the people, the men and the women and children and the alien who is in your town. Assemble them that they may hear and learn and respect Jehovah your God, and be careful to observe all the words of this Law. ¹³ »Their children, who have not known, will hear and learn to respect Jehovah your God, as long as you live on the land you will possess when you cross the Jordan River.

¹⁰ »They will teach your ordinances to Jacob, and your Law to Israel. They will burn incense before you, and whole burnt offerings on your altar.

¹ Moses the servant of Jehovah (YHWH) died. After his death Jehovah spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ minister, saying:

¹⁸ »When he first sits on the throne of his kingdom, he is to write for himself a copy of this law on a scroll taken in the presence of the Levitical priests.

²⁰ The king was sitting there alone in his cool room on the roof. Ehud went over to him and said: »I have a message from God for you.« The king stood up.

⁴⁸ He traveled up to Mount Zalmon with his men. He took an ax, cut a limb off a tree, and put it on his shoulder. He told his men to hurry and do the same thing. ⁴⁹ So everyone cut off a tree limb. They followed Abimelech and piled the wood up against the stronghold. They set the fort on fire. All the people of the fort died. About a thousand men and women died.

¹ The people of Israel came from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south, as well as from the land of Gilead in the east. They were united in Jehovah’s presence at Mizpah.

⁸ The people stood together and said: »None of us, whether he lives in a tent or in a house, will go home.

² Late one afternoon, David got up from his nap and went to the palace roof. He walked around on the roof. He saw a woman taking a bath. She was very beautiful.

¹⁴ King Solomon turned to face the people standing there. He asked God's blessing on them.

¹¹ When the king heard what the book of the Law said, he tore his clothes in distress.

¹⁹ ‘You had a change of heart and humbled yourself in front of Jehovah when you heard my words against this place and those who live here. I said that those who live here would be destroyed and cursed. You also tore your clothes in distress and cried in front of me. So I will listen to you,’« declares Jehovah.

¹³ Jehoash king of Israel made Amaziah king of Judah son of Jehoash, son of Ahaziah, prisoner at Bethshemesh. He went to Jerusalem and had the wall of Jerusalem pulled down from the Gate of Ephraim to the gate in the angle, six hundred feet.

⁸ Then Solomon and all Israel celebrated the Festival of Booths. A very large crowd came from the territory between the border of Hamath and the River of Egypt. ⁹ There was an assembly on the eighth day. They observed the dedication of the altar for seven days and celebrated the festival for another seven days. ¹⁰ Solomon dismissed the people to their tents on the twenty-third day of the seventh month. They rejoiced with cheerful hearts for all the blessings Jehovah had given David, Solomon, and his people Israel.

¹³ He did so according to the daily rule, offering them up according to the commandment of Moses, for the Sabbaths, the new moons and the three annual feasts, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks and the Feast of Booths.

²⁰ Then David commanded the people: Praise Jehovah your God! The entire assembly praised Jehovah, the God of their ancestors. They bowed low and gave honor to Jehovah and also to the king.

²² That day they were very happy as they ate and drank in the presence of Jehovah. For a second time they proclaimed Solomon king. In the name of Jehovah they anointed him as their ruler and Zadok as priest.

⁴ »Thanks be to Jehovah God of Israel. With his mouth he made a promise to my father David. With his hand he carried it out.« He said:

³ »Israel was without the true God for a long time. They were without a priest who taught correctly, and without law.

⁷ In the third year of his reign he sent out the following officials to teach in the cities of Judah: Benhail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah. ⁸ With them were the Levites Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, Tob Adonijah, and the priests Elishama and Jehoram. ⁹ They taught in Judah. They had the Book of Torah (the Law) (Jehovah’s Teachings) with them when they taught the people in all the cities of Judah.

⁵ In the new courtyard at Jehovah’s Temple, Jehoshaphat stood in front of the people.

¹⁸ »Then King Jehoshaphat bowed low. His face was touching the ground. All the people bowed with him and worshiped Jehovah.

³⁰ The king and the leaders of the nation told the Levites to sing to Jehovah the songs of praise that were written by David and by Asaph the prophet. So everyone sang with great joy as they knelt and worshiped God.

²¹ Thus the Israelites in Jerusalem celebrated the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days with great joy. Each day the Levites and priests praised Jehovah in song. They played Jehovah’s instruments loudly. ²² Hezekiah spoke encouraging words to all the Levites who had the skills to serve Jehovah. They ate the festival meals for seven days, sacrificed fellowship offerings, and confessed their sins to Jehovah the God of their ancestors.

²² Hezekiah spoke encouraging words to all the Levites who had the skills to serve Jehovah. They ate the festival meals for seven days, sacrificed fellowship offerings, and confessed their sins to Jehovah the God of their ancestors. ²³ Then the whole assembly decided to celebrate the festival for seven more days. So they joyfully celebrated for seven more days.

²³ Then the whole assembly decided to celebrate the festival for seven more days. So they joyfully celebrated for seven more days.

²⁶ There was great joy in Jerusalem. Nothing occurred like this in Jerusalem since the days of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel.

¹⁵ Hilkiah told the scribe Shaphan: »I have found the book of the Law in Jehovah’s Temple.« Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan.

¹⁹ As soon as the king heard what the Law said, he tore his clothes in distress.

²¹ »On behalf of those who are left in Israel and Judah and me, ask Jehovah about the words in this book that was found. Jehovah’s fierce anger has been poured on us because our ancestors did not obey the word of Jehovah by doing everything written in this book.«

³ He told the Levites, who instructed all Israel and performed ceremonies to make themselves holy to Jehovah: Put the Holy Ark in the Temple that Solomon, son of David and king of Israel, built. It should not be carried on your shoulders any longer. Serve Jehovah your God and his people Israel.

¹⁸ The Passover had not been celebrated like this since the days of the prophet Samuel. None of the former kings had ever celebrated a Passover like this one celebrated by King Josiah, the priests, the Levites, and the people of Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem

⁶³ The Tirshatha (Governor) said they were not to have the most holy things for their food, till a priest came to give decision by Urim and Thummim.

¹ When the seventh month came, and the children of Israel were in the towns, the people came together like one man to Jerusalem. ² Then Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and his brothers the priests, and Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, with his brothers, got up and built the altar of the God of Israel for burned offerings. This was according to the Law of Moses, the man of God. ³ The returning exiles were afraid of the people who were living in the land. Regardless of that, they rebuilt the altar where it had stood before. Then they began once again to burn on it the regular morning and evening sacrifices. ⁴ They celebrated the Festival of Booths according to what is written. Each day they offered the sacrifices required for that day.

⁴ They celebrated the Festival of Booths according to what is written. Each day they offered the sacrifices required for that day. ⁵ They also offered the regular sacrifices to be burned whole and those to be offered at the New Moon Festival and at all the other Festivals of Jehovah, as well as all the offerings that were given to Jehovah voluntarily. ⁶ The people had not yet started to rebuild the Temple. Yet they began on the first day of the seventh month to burn sacrifices to Jehovah. ⁷ They gave money to the stoneworkers and woodworkers. Meat and drink and oil were given to the people of Zidon and of Tyre, for the transport of cedar-trees from Lebanon to the sea, to Joppa, as Cyrus, king of Persia, had given them authority to do. ⁸ The second year and third month of their coming to the house of God in Jerusalem Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, took charge of the construction. Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and the rest of their brothers the priests and the Levites, and all those who had come from the land where they were prisoners to Jerusalem: and the Levites, of twenty years or older, were responsible for overseeing the work of the house of Jehovah. ⁹ Then Jeshua with his sons and his brothers, Kadmiel with his sons, the sons of Hodaviah, together took up the work of overseeing the workmen in the house of God: the sons of Henadad with their sons and their brothers, the Levites. ¹⁰ When the builders laid the foundation of the Temple of Jehovah, the priests, dressed in their robes, took their places with horns, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with brass instruments, to give praise to Jehovah in the way ordered by David, king of Israel. ¹¹ They praised Jehovah and thanked him, saying: »He is good; his loving kindness to Israel is for all generations.« All the people gave a joyful cry. They praised Jehovah because the foundation of Jehovah’s house was in place. ¹² Some of the priests, Levites, heads of families and old men who had seen the first house were present. When the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes they were overcome with weeping; and a number were crying out with joy: ¹³ So that in the ears of the people the cry of joy was mixed with the sound of weeping. The cries of the people were loud and came to the ears of those who were a long way off.

⁶ Ezra came from Babylon. He was a scribe (copyist) and an expert in the Law of Moses which Jehovah, the God of Israel, had given. The king was moved by Jehovah his God to give him whatever he requested.

¹¹ This is a copy of the letter King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra, the priest and the scribe-copyist, who put into writing the words of the orders of Jehovah and of his rules for Israel:

²² Of the sons of Pashhur, Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasah. ²³ And of the Levites, Jozabad, and Shimei, and Kelaiah that is Kelita, Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.

²⁹ Of the sons of Bani, Meshullam, Malluch, and Adaiah, Jashub and Sheal, Jeremoth.

³³ Of the sons of Hashum, Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, Shimei.

⁵ He built altars for the entire army of heaven in the two courtyards of Jehovah’s Temple.

¹⁸ With the help of our God they got for us Ish-sechel, one of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel; and Sherebiah with his sons and brothers, eighteen;

¹⁷ Then came the Levites and Rehum the son of Bani. By his side was working Hashabiah, ruler of half the division of Keilah, for his division.

¹⁹ And by his side was working Ezer, the son of Jeshua, the ruler of Mizpah, making good another part opposite the way up to the store of arms at the turning of the wall.

²³ After them came Benjamin and Hasshub, opposite their house. After them Azariah, the son of Maaseiah, the son of Ananiah, made good the wall by the house where he himself was living.

²⁶ Now the Nethinim were living in the Ophel, as far as the place facing the water doorway to the east, and the tower that comes out.

¹³ Shaking out the folds of my robe, I said: »So, may God send out from his house and his work every man who does not keep this agreement. Even so let him be sent out and made as nothing.« All the people said: »Amen!« They praised Jehovah. The people did as they said.

¹ Now those who put down their names were Nehemiah the Tirshatha (Governor), the son of Hacaliah, and Zedekiah, ² Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah, ³ Pashhur, Amariah, Malchijah,

⁷ Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin,

⁹ And the Levites: by name, Jeshua, the son of Azaniah, Binnui, of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel, ¹⁰ And their brothers, Shebaniah, Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan,

¹² Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah, ¹³ Hodiah, Bani, Beninu.

¹⁸ Hodiah, Hashum, Bezai,

²⁰ Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir,

²⁵ Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah,

⁵ And Maaseiah, the son of Baruch, the son of Col-hozeh, the son of Hazaiah, the son of Adaiah, the son of Joiarib, the son of Zechariah, the son of the Shilonite.

⁷ These are the sons of Benjamin: Sallu, the son of Meshullam, the son of Joed, the son of Pedaiah, the son of Kolaiah, the son of Maaseiah, the son of Ithiel, the son of Jeshaiah.

¹⁶ And Shabbethai and Jozabad, of the chiefs of the Levites, who were responsible for the outside business of the house of God;

¹⁹ In addition the gatekeepers, Akkub, Talmon, and their brothers who kept watch at the gates, were a hundred and seventy-two.

¹³ Of Ezra, Meshullam; of Amariah, Jehohanan;

²⁴ The chiefs of the Levites: Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua, the son of Kadmiel, with their brothers opposite them, to give blessing and praise as ordered by David, the man of God, watch against watch. ²⁵ Mattaniah, and Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, Akkub, were gatekeepers keeping the watch at the storehouses of the gates. ²⁶ These were in the days of Joiakim, the son of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the ruler and of Ezra the priest, the scribe.

³³ And Azariah, Ezra, and Meshullam,

³⁷ By the doorway of the fountain and straight in front of them, they went up by the steps of the town of David, at the slope up of the wall, over the house of David, as far as the water-doorway to the east.

³⁹ Over the Gate of Ephraim and by the old door and the fish door and the tower of Hananel and the tower of Hammeah, as far as the Sheep Gate: and at the doorway of the watchmen they came to a stop.

⁴¹ The priests; Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, with wind instruments; ⁴² And Maaseiah and Shemaiah and Eleazar and Uzzi and Jehohanan and Malchijah and Elam and Ezer. The makers of melody made their voices loud, with Jezrahiah their overseer.

⁶⁵ And the Tirshatha (governor) said that they were not to have the most holy things for their food, till a priest came to give decision by the Urim and Thummim.

⁷⁰ Some of the heads of families gave money for the work. The Tirshatha gave to the store a thousand darics of gold, fifty basins, and five hundred and thirty priests' robes.

¹ When the seventh month came, the children of Israel were in their towns. All the people came together like one man into the wide place in front of the Water Gate. They requested Ezra the scribe that he would bring them the book of the Law of Moses that Jehovah gave to Israel. ² Ezra the priest brought the law to the meeting of the people. They were all able to listen to it. It was the first day of the seventh month. ³ He read it in the wide place in front of the Water Gate from early morning till the middle of the day. Everyone who could understand it, men and women alike were able to listen to it. All the people got to hear the Book of the Law. ⁴ Ezra the scribe took his place on a tower (podium) of wood that they had made for the purpose. By his side were placed Mattithiah and Shema and Anaiah and Uriah and Hilkiah and Maaseiah on the right; and on the left, Pedaiah and Mishael and Malchijah and Hashum and Hashbaddanah, Zechariah and Meshullam.

⁴ Ezra the scribe took his place on a tower (podium) of wood that they had made for the purpose. By his side were placed Mattithiah and Shema and Anaiah and Uriah and Hilkiah and Maaseiah on the right; and on the left, Pedaiah and Mishael and Malchijah and Hashum and Hashbaddanah, Zechariah and Meshullam. ⁵ Ezra took the book and opened it before the eyes of all the people for he was higher than the people. When it was open, all the people stood on their feet. ⁶ Ezra praised Jehovah, the great God. And all the people said: »Amen!« With lifted hands and bent heads they worshiped Jehovah. They dropped to their faces on the earth. ⁷ And Jeshua and Bani and Sherebiah and Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites made the law clear to the people: and the people kept in their places.

⁷ And Jeshua and Bani and Sherebiah and Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites made the law clear to the people: and the people kept in their places. ⁸ They read from the book the Law of God making it clear (translating it), so that their minds were able to take it in.

⁸ They read from the book the Law of God making it clear (translating it), so that their minds were able to take it in. ⁹ Nehemiah, who was the Tirshatha (Governor), and Ezra, the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were the teachers of the people, said to all the people: »This day is holy to Jehovah your God. Let there be no sorrow or weeping.« For all the people were weeping on hearing the words of the law.

¹⁶ The people went out and got them and made themselves tents. Every one on the roof of his house, and in the open spaces and in the open squares of the House of God, and in the wide place of the Water Gate, and the wide place of the Gate of Ephraim.

⁴ Then Jeshua, and Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani took their places on the steps of the Levites and cried in a loud voice to Jehovah their God.

¹⁹ So the Jews of the country places living in unwalled towns make the fourteenth day of the month Adar a day of feasting and joy and a good day, a day for sending offerings one to another.

²² As days on which the Jews had rest from their haters, and the month which for them was turned from sorrow to joy, and from weeping to a good day: and that they were to keep them as days of feasting and joy, of sending offerings to one another and good things to the poor.

¹² »I have not departed from the command of his lips. I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

¹⁶ »If I have withheld anything that the poor desired, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail, ¹⁷ »If I have eaten my morsel alone, and the orphan has not eaten from it, ¹⁸ for from my youth I reared the orphan like a father, and from my mother’s womb I guided the widow.

⁸ The statutes of Jehovah are correct. They make the heart rejoice. The commandments of Jehovah are radiant. They make the eyes shine. ⁹ The reverence of Jehovah is pure. It endures forever. The decisions of Jehovah are true. They are completely fair. ¹⁰ They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even the drippings from a honeycomb. ¹¹ They warn your servant. There is a great reward in following them.

² Hear the voice of my prayer when I call to you for help, when I lift my hands [in prayer] toward your most holy place.

⁷ Jehovah is my strength and my shield. My heart trusted him, so I received help. My heart is triumphant and I thank him with my song. ⁸ Jehovah is the strength of his people and a fortress for the victory of his anointed.

¹³ Blessed be Jehovah, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Amen and Amen.

¹⁸ Blessed be Jehovah God, the God of Israel, who alone does miracles. ¹⁹ Blessed be to his glorious name forever. May the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and amen!

⁴ So I will bless (thank) you as long as I live. I will lift up my hands [in prayer] in your name.

¹⁴ I have rejoiced in the way of your written word, as much as in all riches.

¹⁶ I shall delight in your statutes. I shall not forget your word!

¹²⁷ Therefore I love your commandments more than gold, yes, more then fine gold.

¹³⁰ The unfolding of your words gives light. It gives understanding to the simple.

¹⁷¹ Let my lips utter praise, for you teach me your statutes.

¹⁷⁴ I long for your salvation, O Jehovah. Your law is my delight.

⁷² The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.

⁹⁷ O How I love your law! It is my meditation all day long.

¹⁰³ How sweet are your words to my taste! Sweeter than honey to my mouth! ¹⁰⁴ I get understanding from your precepts. Therefore I hate every false way.

¹¹¹ I have inherited your laws forever, for they are the joy of my heart.

¹ When Jehovah brought back the captive ones of Zion, it was like a dream. ² Then our mouths were filled with laughter and our tongues with joyful songs. Then the nations said: »Jehovah has done spectacular things for them.« ³ Jehovah has done spectacular things for us. We are overjoyed.

² Lift up your hands in holiness and bless Jehovah.

¹ My son, take my words to heart and treasure my commandments within you. ² Pay close attention to wisdom, and let your [mind and] heart (inner being) reach for discernment. ³ Call out for insight. Lift up your voice for understanding. ⁴ Search for wisdom as if it were silver. Hunt for it as if it were hidden treasure! ⁵ If you do these things you will have respect for Jehovah and you will find the true knowledge of God! ⁶ Jehovah gives wisdom. From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

¹⁰ Wisdom enters your heart. Knowledge gives you pleasure. ¹¹ Discretion will protect you. Understanding will watch over you.

³³ »Hear instruction, do not refuse it and be wise. ³⁴ »Blessed is the man who listens to me. He watches daily at my gates, waiting at my doorposts.

² Let my prayer be accepted as sweet-smelling incense in your presence. Let the lifting up of my hands in prayer be accepted as an evening sacrifice.

² Let Israel find joy in their creator. Let the people of Zion rejoice over their king.

¹ Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge. He that hates reproof is stupid.

²² A merry heart is good medicine but a broken spirit dries up the bones.

¹³ My son, eat honey because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to your taste. ¹⁴ The knowledge of wisdom is sweet to you. When you find the knowledge of wisdom there is a reward. Your hope will not fail.

²⁴ There is nothing better for a man than to eat and drink, and delight in his work. This also I saw was from the hand of God.

⁴ a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

¹³ Every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor. It is the gift of God.

¹⁸ This is what I have seen. It is good and fitting for one to eat and drink and enjoy the good of his labor. He labors under the sun all the days of his life. For God gives this to him as his allotment (inheritance).

⁷ Go your way, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart for God now accepts your works.

² Give a portion to seven, and even to eight. You do not know what calamity will be upon the earth.

¹ (The Beloved) »I came to my garden, my sister, my spouse. I gathered my myrrh with my spice. I ate my honeycomb with my honey and drank my wine with my milk. Eat, O friends; drink, yes, drink abundantly, O beloved.«

⁷ He touched my mouth with it and said: »See! This has touched your lips, your guilt is taken away and your sin forgiven (pardoned) (atoned for).« ⁸ I heard the voice of Jehovah. He said: »Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?« And I said: »Here I am. Send me!«

¹ In that day you will say: »I will praise you, O Jehovah. Although you were angry with me, your anger has turned away and you have comforted me. ² »Truly God is my salvation! I will trust and not be afraid. Jehovah… Jehovah is my strength and my song! He has become my salvation.« ³ With joy (gladness) you will draw water from the wells of salvation.

⁹ »Who is he is trying to teach? To whom is he explaining his message? To children weaned from their milk, to those just taken from the breast?

²⁰ They should go to the teachings and to the written instructions. If people do not speak these words, it is because there is no light (truth) in them.

¹ The desert will rejoice, and flowers will bloom in the wastelands. ² The desert will sing and shout for joy! It will be beautiful like the Lebanon Mountains. It will be fertile as the fields of Carmel and Sharon. Everyone will see Jehovah’s splendor. They will see his greatness and power. ³ Strengthen the tired hands and the knees that tremble with weakness. ⁴ Tell the discouraged ones with anxious heart: »Be strong and do not be afraid! God is coming to your rescue! He is coming to punish your enemies.«

⁸ »How can you say you are wise and that you have Jehovah’s Laws? The scribes have used their pens to spread falsehoods. ⁹ »Wise people are put to shame, confused, and trapped. They have rejected the word of Jehovah. They do not really have any wisdom.

³ to present a garland, instead of ashes, to those who mourn in Zion, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and the mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. They will be called oaks of righteousness. They are the planting of Jehovah, that he may be glorified.

¹⁰ I will rejoice greatly in Jehovah. I will exult in my God for he has clothed me with garments of salvation. He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

¹⁶ »You spoke to me, and I listened to every word. I belong to you, Lord Jehovah. Your words filled my heart with joy and happiness.

¹³ »‘The houses of Jerusalem and the houses of the kings of Judah will be defiled like Topheth. They burned sacrifices to the heavenly hosts and poured out drink offerings to other gods on the rooftops of all of their houses.’«

²⁹ ‘The Babylonians who are attacking this city will break in, set this city on fire, and burn it down. They will burn down the houses of people who made me furious by going up to the roofs to burn incense to Baal and to pour out wine offerings to other gods.’

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.

⁴¹ Let us lift up our hearts along with our hands to God in heaven.

⁶ My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you! You will not be a priest to me since you have forgotten the Law of your God. Therefore, I will forget your children.

²³ »Be glad you children of Zion, and rejoice in Jehovah your God! For he gives you the early rain in just measure, and he causes it to rain, the early rain and the latter rain, in the first month.

² Jehovah answered me: »Write the vision. Record it on tablets that he who reads it may run.

¹⁶ »Every one that is left of all the nations that came against Jerusalem will go up from year to year to worship the King, Jehovah of Hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. ¹⁷ »There will be no rain on those who do not go to Jerusalem to worship the King, Jehovah of Hosts. ¹⁸ »If the family of Egypt does not go it will not be upon them. There will be the plague and Jehovah will strike the nations that do not go to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. ¹⁹ »This will be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all the nations that do not keep the Feast of Tabernacles.

⁷ »The priests should teach the true knowledge of God. They are the messengers of Jehovah of Hosts. Therefore the people should learn (my will) the law from them.

¹³ »Another thing you do is drown Jehovah’s altar with tears, weeping and wailing. This is because he no longer accepts the offerings you bring him.

⁴ »You should remember the Law of Moses my servant. I commanded the statutes and ordinances (regulations and judgments) to him at Horeb for all Israel.

²¹ »You were told in the past, do not murder (kill). Any one who murders will be brought to trial. ²² »Now I tell you that everyone who is angry with his brother [without cause] shall be guilty before the court. Whoever speaks to his brother with words of contempt shall receive condemnation before the Sanhedrin [Supreme Court]. Curse your brother and you will be guilty enough to be destroyed by fire, with the burning trash, at the Valley of Hinnom, outside of Jerusalem (Greek: Gehenna).

²⁷ »You have heard it was said, ‘You should not commit adultery.’ ²⁸ »However, I tell you that whoever looks at a woman with lustful thoughts commits adultery with her in his heart.

¹³ »‘And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil (the wicked one).’ (Psalm 82:4) (Psalm 97:10) (Matthew 13:19) (John 17:15) (1 John 5:19)

²⁸ When Jesus had finished these words, the crowds were astonished at what he taught. ²⁹ He taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.

⁵² And he said to them: »Every scribe (journalist) (writer) who has been made a disciple to the kingdom of heaven is like a man that is a householder, who brings out of his treasure things new and old.«

² »The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat,« he said.

¹³ »Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You close the kingdom of heaven to people. You do not invite others to enter nor do you enter.

³⁴ »Look! I am sending you prophets, wise men, and scribes. Some of them you will torture and kill. Others you will torment and persecute from city to city.

¹ They were near Jerusalem at Bethphage. Jesus sent two disciples to the Mount of Olives.

³⁹ Then he went forward a little, and fell on his face, and prayed: »My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.«

³³ The people from all the cities knew they were going and they ran together on foot to arrive ahead of them. ³⁴ When he arrived and saw the great crowd he had compassion on them. They were as sheep without a shepherd. He taught them many things.

³⁷ »David called him Lord. How is it that he is his son?« The people were pleased with what he said.

¹⁶ Then he returned to Nazareth the place where he was raised. He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath day. This was his custom. There he stood up to read.

¹⁶ Then he returned to Nazareth the place where he was raised. He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath day. This was his custom. There he stood up to read. ¹⁷ He was given the book of the prophet Isaiah. He opened the book and found the place where it was written:

¹⁷ He was given the book of the prophet Isaiah. He opened the book and found the place where it was written: ¹⁸ »The Spirit of Jehovah is upon me. He anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind. To set at liberty those who are bruised. ¹⁹ »To proclaim the acceptable year of Jehovah.« (Isaiah 61:1) ²⁰ He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fastened on him.

⁴¹ »Give that which is within as charity. Then all things are clean for you.

¹⁸ »Pay attention and hear! Whoever has will be given more. Whoever does not have, more will be taken away, and even what he thinks he has will be taken.«

⁴⁷ Everyday he taught in the temple. The chief priests, scribes and other important men of the people looked for ways to destroy him. ⁴⁸ They could not find a way for the people listened to every thing he said.

⁴⁸ They could not find a way for the people listened to every thing he said.

²⁷ He explained to them all the Scriptures about the things concerning him. He spoke about Moses and all the prophets.

³² They said to each other: »Were our hearts not burning within us? When he spoke to us in the way and opened the scriptures to us?«

⁴⁵ He opened their minds that they might understand the scriptures.

¹⁴ The Word [Jesus] became flesh (a human being) and lived with us. We saw the glory of the only begotten son from the Father. He was full of loving-kindness and truth.

² It was time for the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles.

³⁷ On the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and shouted in a loud voice: »If any man thirst let him come to me and drink.

¹³ They took palm branches and met him. They cried out, »Hosanna: Blessed is he who comes in the name of Jehovah, even the King of Israel!« (Psalm 118:26)

¹ As they spoke to the people, the chief priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came to them.

³⁰ Philip ran to him, heard him read the prophet Isaiah, and said: »Do you understand what you are reading?« ³¹ »How can I«, the eunuch said: »unless someone explains it to me?« He invited Philip to come and sit with him. ³² The Scripture he read was this: »He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer so he did not open his mouth. ³³ »In his humiliation his judgment was taken away. Who will declare his generation? For his life is taken from the earth.« ³⁴ The eunuch asked Philip: »Please tell me of whom is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?« ³⁵ Then Philip began at the same Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.

⁴² When the Jews left the synagogue the people asked for this message to be preached to them the next Sabbath.

²¹ »Moses has been preached in the synagogues from old times until now every Sabbath day.«

¹⁴ A woman named Lydia who was a seller of purple came from Thyatira. She worshipped God because God opened her heart to listen to the things spoken by Paul.

² Paul went in, for it was his custom. He reasoned with them from the Scriptures for three Sabbath days. ³ He explained and proved that Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. And that Jesus is the Messiah.

¹¹ The Bereans were nobler than those in Thessalonica because they received the word with all readiness of mind and examined the Scriptures daily to see if what Paul told them was true.

⁷ On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul spoke to them. Intending to depart the next morning he prolonged his speech until midnight.

¹¹ He went up and they broke bread and ate. He talked with them a long time until morning. Then he left.

¹⁵ After the public reading of the law and the prophets the synagogue officials sent to them, saying: »You men and brothers if you have a message of encouragement for the people speak.«

²⁷ »The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not know Jesus. They fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath when they condemned Jesus.

²³ So they set a date with Paul. A large number of them came that day to the place where Paul was staying. From morning till night he explained his message about the Kingdom of God to them. He tried to convince them about Jesus by quoting from the Law of Moses and the writings of the prophets.

⁹ I was alive apart from the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.

¹⁸ I know that good does not live in my human nature. For even though the desire to do good is in me, I am not able to do it.

²⁰ No flesh will be justified before God by works of the law. Knowledge of sin comes from the law.

¹⁶ When you bless with the spirit, how will the audience of the unlearned say Amen at your giving of thanks, seeing he does not understand what you said?

⁹ I now rejoice, not because you were made sorry, but that you were made sorry to repentance; for you were made sorry after a godly fashion, that you might not suffer loss by us. ¹⁰ For godly sorrow works repentance leading to salvation. This is a repentance that brings no regret: but the sorrow of the world works death. ¹¹ This very thing that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it made in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, yes what vindication! You demonstrated yourself to innocent in the matter.

² Out of severe affliction they have an abundance of joy and their deep poverty abounds in the riches of their generosity.

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places through Christ.

⁴ I might have confidence even in the flesh. If any other man thinks to have confidence in the flesh, I have more!

⁸ Three times I prayed to God about this and asked him to take it away. ⁹ He told me: »My grace is sufficient for you for my strength is made perfect in weakness.« Most gladly therefore, I would rather glory in my infirmities (frailities), that the power of Christ may rest upon me (cover me like a tent) (descend upon me) (abide with me). (Isaiah 40:29-31)

¹³ For this purpose we also thank God without ceasing, that, when you received from us the word of the message, even the word of God, you accepted it, not as the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the word of God, which also works in you who believe.

¹⁷ Command those who are rich in this present system not to be high-minded (arrogant), not to have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. ¹⁸ They should do good works and be rich in good works, that they are ready to distribute, willing to communicate.

²⁴ The Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind (gentle) to all, able to teach, and patient when wronged. ²⁵ He should instruct those who oppose using meekness. Perhaps God will give them repentance that they may know the truth.

¹ Pay close attention to the things heard so we do not drift away. ² If the word spoken through angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward (penalty). ³ How shall we escape, if we neglect such a great salvation? It was first presented by the Lord and was confirmed to us by those who heard him.

⁸ I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without anger or argument.

⁸ If Joshua had given them rest, he [God] would not have spoken afterwards about another day.

⁹ By faith he became an alien in the Promised Land. It was not his land. He lived in tents with Isaac and Jacob. They were heirs with him of the same promise.

¹³ These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and greeted them from afar. They confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy he gave us a new birth to a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

²⁹ »'He who can hear let him hear what the Spirit says to the congregations.'«

²² »'He who can hear let him hear what the Spirit says to the congregations.'«

⁹ After this I saw a great crowd that no man could number. It was from all nations, and tribes, and people, and tongues. It stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes. They had palm branches in their hands.

¹¹ All the angels stood around the throne, and the elders and the four living creatures. They fell before the throne on their faces, and worshiped God.

¹⁰ The inhabitants of the earth will celebrate and rejoice over them. They will rejoice and send gifts to one another. This is because these two prophets tormented those who lived on the earth.