Ezra 7 Cross References - VIN

¹ After these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra son of Seraiah, son of Azariah, son of Hilkiah, ² the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub, ³ the son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth, ⁴ the son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki, ⁵ the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest; ⁶ this Ezra went up from Babylonia. He was a scribe skilled in the law of Moses, which the LORD the God of Israel gave. The king granted him all his requests, for the hand of the LORD was upon him. ⁷ Some of the Israelites, some priests and Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the temple servants went up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes. ⁸ and they arrived at Jerusalem in the fifth month of the said seventh year of the king. ⁹ He started his journey from Babylon on the first day of the first month. He arrived at Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month, by the good help of his God. ¹⁰ Ezra devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the LORD. He taught its decrees and laws in Israel. 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 the LORD and of his rules for Israel: ¹² Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, scribe of the law of the God of heaven, all peace; ¹³ From me was rendered a decree, that all the ones willing in my kingdom from the people of Israel, and priests, and Levites, to go to Jerusalem—with you let them go! ¹⁴ For you are sent from the king and his seven counselors to enquire about Judah and Jerusalem concerning the law of your God, which is in your hand. ¹⁵ Also, bring the silver and gold that the king and his advisors have freely offered to the God of Israel whose dwelling is in Jerusalem, ¹⁶ together with all of the silver and gold that you can raise in the province of Babylon, plus the freewill offerings given by the people and the priests, contributed for the temple of their God, which is 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 And if it seem good to thee, and to thy brethren to do any thing with the rest of the silver and gold, do it according to the will of your God. ¹⁹ The vessels that are given to you for the service of the house of your God, deliver before the God of Jerusalem. ²⁰ Whatever more will be needed for the house of your God, which you may have occasion to give, give it out of the king's treasure house. ²¹ And I, Artaxerxes the king, make a decree to all the treasurers who are Beyond the River, that whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of Heaven, shall ask of you, it shall be done exactly, ²² up to one hundred talents of silver, one hundred measures of wheat, one hundred baths of wine, one hundred baths of oil, and unlimited salt. ²³ "Whatever the God of heaven orders let it be done completely for the house of the God of heaven. Let there not be wrath against the kingdom of the king and his sons. ²⁴ Also we inform you that it shall not be lawful to impose tribute, custom, or toll, on any of the priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, temple servants, or laborers of this house of God. ²⁵ And you, Ezra, in accordance with the wisdom given to you by your God, shall appoint magistrates and judges to administer justice to all the people beyond the Euphrates River. All of them are to know the laws of your God, and you are to instruct those who do not know them. ²⁶ Whoever refuses to practice the law of your God and the law of the king shall see judgment executed quickly, whether to death, banishment, confiscation of goods, or imprisonment. ²⁷ Blessed be the LORD, the God of our fathers, who has put this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of the LORD in Jerusalem. ²⁸ and who extended to me loyal love before the king and his counselors, and before all of the mighty officials of the king. I took courage, for the hand of the LORD my God was upon me, and I gathered leaders from Israel to go up with me.

⁴ Go up to Hilkijah the high priest, that he may sum up the money which is brought into the house of the LORD, which the doorkeepers have gathered of the people,

⁸ And Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, "I have found the book of the law in the temple of the LORD." And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it.

¹⁸ And the captain of the guard took Seraiah the high priest, and Zephaniah the second in order, and the three doorkeepers.

⁴ Eleazar was the father of Phinehas, Phinehas the father of Abishua, ⁵ Abishua the father of Bukki, Bukki the father of Uzzi, ⁶ Uzzi the father of Zerahiah, Zerahiah the father of Meraioth, ⁷ Meraioth the father of Amariah, Amariah the father of Ahitub, ⁸ Ahitub the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Ahimaaz, ⁹ Ahimaaz the father of Azariah, Azariah the father of Johanan, ¹⁰ Johanan was the father of Azariah. It was he who served as priest in the temple Solomon built in Jerusalem), ¹¹ Azariah the father of Amariah, Amariah the father of Ahitub, ¹² Ahitub the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Shallum, ¹³ Shallum the father of Hilkiah, Hilkiah the father of Azariah, ¹⁴ Azariah the father of Seraiah, and Seraiah the father of Jehozadak.

¹¹ Azariah son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the official in charge of the house of God;

⁹ And they came to Hilkiah the high priest and gave the money that was brought for the house of God, which the Levites, the guardians of the threshold, had gathered from the hand of Manasseh, Ephraim, and from the whole remnant of Israel, and from all Judah and Benjamin and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

¹⁵ And Hilkiah answered and said to Shaphan the scribe, "I have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD," and gave the book to Shaphan.

¹⁴ So the elders of the Jews were building and prospering, through the prophecy of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah son of Iddo. They finished building by the command of the God of Israel and by the decree of Cyrus, Darius, and King Artaxerxes of Persia.

¹⁰ Ezra devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the LORD. He taught its decrees and laws in Israel.

¹² Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, scribe of the law of the God of heaven, all peace;

²¹ And I, Artaxerxes the king, make a decree to all the treasurers who are Beyond the River, that whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of Heaven, shall ask of you, it shall be done exactly,

¹ These were their patriarchal heads and those registered with them who came up with me from Babylon in the reign of king Artaxerxes: ² From the descendants of Phinehas: Gershom. From the descendants of Ithamar: Daniel. From the descendants of David: Hattush. ³ son of Shecaniah; from the sons of Parosh, Zechariah, and with him were registered 150 males;" ⁴ From the descendants of Pahath-Moab: Eliehoenai son of Zerahiah and with him two hundred males. ⁵ from the sons of Zattu, Shecaniah son of Jahaziel, and with him 300 males;" ⁶ From the descendants of Adin: Ebed son of Jehonathan, and with him fifty males. ⁷ From the descendants of Elam: Jeshaiah son of Athaliah, and with him seventy males. ⁸ From the descendants of Shephatiah: Zebadiah son of Michael, and with him eighty males. ⁹ From the descendants of Joab: Obadiah son of Jehiel, and with him two hundred and eighteen males. ¹⁰ and from the sons of Bani, Shelomith son of Josiphiah, and with him 160 males;"

¹ In the month Nisan in the twentieth year of king Artaxerxes, when the wine stood before him, I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king and I was heavy in his presence.

² So on the first day of the seventh month, Ezra the priest brought out the Law before the assembled people. Both men and women were in attendance, as well as all who could understand what they were hearing. ³ Ezra read from it, facing the plaza in front of the Water Gate, from early in the morning until mid-day in the presence of the men and women, as well as all who could understand. All the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. ⁴ Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden rostrum erected for that purpose. Beside him to his right stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Masseiah. Beside him to his left stood Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam. ⁵ Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, because he was above all of the people. When he opened it all the people stood up. ⁶ Then Ezra blessed the LORD the great God, and all of the people answered, "Amen! Amen!" while lifting their hands. Then they bowed down and worshiped the LORD with their noses to the ground. ⁷ Furthermore, Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites taught the Law to the people while the people remained standing. ⁸ So they read the book from the law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that they could understand the reading. ⁹ And Nehemiah, the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people, said to all the people, This day is holy to the LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep. For all the people wept when they heard the words of the Law.

¹¹ Seraiah the son of Hilkiah the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, was prince in the house of God:

²⁴ And the captain of the guard took Serayah the chief priest, and Zephanyah the priest second in rank, and the three door-keepers; ²⁵ From the city he also took an army commander, seven men who had access to the king whom he found in the city, the scribe who was in charge of the militia, and sixty common people whom he found in the city. ²⁶ Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, brought them to the king of Babylon at Riblah. ²⁷ And the king of Babylon put them to death at Riblah in the land of Hamath. So Judah was taken prisoner away from his land.

¹⁷ Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were priests, Seraiah was scribe,

³⁵ The king made Benaiah commander of the army in Joab's place and put Zadok the priest in Abiathar's place.

²⁵ But Eleazar the son of Aaron took a wife of the daughters of Phutiel: and she bore him Phinees. These are the heads of the Levitical families by their kindreds.

⁶ Then Moses said to Aaron and to his sons Eleazar and Ithamar, "You must not let your hair hang loosely, and you must not tear your garments, so that you will not die and he will be angry with all the community. But your brothers, all the house of Israel, may weep because of the burning that the LORD caused,

¹² Moses spoke to Aaron, and to Eleazar and to Ithamar, his sons who were left, Take the grain offering that remains of the offerings of the LORD made by fire, and eat it without yeast beside the altar; for it is most holy;

¹⁶ And Moses sought carefully for the goat of the sin offering; and, behold, it had been burned! And he was angry against Eleazar and against Ithamar, Aaron's remaining sons, saying,

³² The chief of all the leaders of the Levites was Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest. He was assigned overseer over those who take care of the services of the sanctuary.

²⁵ Take Aaron and his son Eleazar, and cause them to go up to Mount Hor; ²⁶ Strip off Aaron's garments, and put them on Eleazar his son; Aaron will be gathered to his people, and he will die there." ²⁷ Moses did what the LORD commanded. They went up Mount Hor in the sight of the entire congregation. ²⁸ Moses stripped Aaron of his garments, and put them on Eleazar his son. Aaron died there on the top of the mountain, and Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain.

⁷ Phinehas, son of Eleazar and grandson of the priest Aaron, saw this. He left the assembly and grabbed a spear in his hand. ⁸ and he went after the man of Israel into the tent and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel and the woman through her belly. So the plague of the sons of Israel was stayed. ⁹ - and they who die in the plague, twenty-four thousand. ¹⁰ And the Lord said to Moses: ¹¹ Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned My wrath away from the sons of Israel while he was zealous for My sake among them, so that I did not destroy the sons of Israel in My jealousy. ¹² `Therefore say, Lo, I am giving to him My covenant of peace, ¹³ and it will be for him and his offspring after him a covenant of an eternal priesthood because he was jealous for his God and made atonement for the Israelites.'"

² They came before Moses and Eleazar the priest and the chiefs and all the people at the door of the Tent of meeting, and said,

⁶ Moses sent them, one thousand of every tribe, to the war with Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, to the war, with the vessels of the sanctuary and the trumpets for the alarm in his hand.

³¹ Moses and Eleazar the priest did as the LORD commanded Moses.

⁵⁴ So Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold from the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and brought it to the tent of meeting as a memorial for the Israelites before the LORD.

¹ And these are the heritages which the children of Israel took in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar, the priest, and Joshua, the son of Nun, and the heads of the tribes of the children of Israel, gave out to them;

¹³ And the sons of Israel sent Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest to the sons of Reuben, and to the sons of Gad, and to the half tribe of Manasseh, to the land of Gilead,

³¹ Phinehas the priest, son of Eleazar, said to the descendants of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh, "Today we know that the LORD is among us, because you have not committed this treachery against the LORD. Therefore you have rescued the Israelites from the hand of the LORD."

³³ And Eleazar the son of Aaron died; and they buried him in the hill of Phinehas his son, which was given him in the hill country of Ephraim

²⁸ and Phinehas the son of Eleazar the son of Aaron ministered before it), Shall we yet again go out to fight against Benjamin our brother, or not? the LORD said, Go up, for tomorrow I will deliver him into your hand.

⁴ Eleazar was the father of Phinehas, Phinehas the father of Abishua,

⁵⁰ These were the descendants of Aaron: Eleazar his son, Phinehas his son, Abishua his son, ⁵¹ Bukki his son, Uzzi his son, Zerahiah his son, ⁵² Meraioth his son, Amariah his son, Ahitub his son,

¹ These were the divisions of the sons of Aaron. The sons of Aaron: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. ² And Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and they had no sons, so Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests. ³ And David, with Zadok of the sons of Eleazar and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, divided them according to their appointments for their service. ⁴ More leaders were located among Eleazar's descendants than among those of Ithamar, so sixteen leaders were appointed from the leaders of the ancestral households of Eleazar's descendants and eight from those of Ithamar. ⁵ And thus were they divided impartially by drawing lots; for there were officiers of the sanctuary, and officiers of God, both of the sons of Eleazar, and of the sons of Ithamar. ⁶ And Shemaiah the son of Nethanel the scribe, who was of the Levites, wrote them in the presence of the king and the princes and Zadok the priest and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar and the heads of the fathers of the priests and of the Levites, one fathers' house being taken for Eleazar and one taken for Ithamar.

¹¹ Look, Amariah the chief priest is over you in all matters of the LORD; and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, in all the king's matters: also the Levites shall be officers before you. Deal courageously, and may the LORD be with the good."

²⁰ And Azariah the chief priest, and all the priests, looked upon him, and, behold, he was leprous in his forehead, and they thrust him out from thence; yea, himself hasted also to go out, because the LORD had smitten him.

³⁰ Then Phinehas stood and intervened, and the plague was stayed; ³¹ That was credited to him for righteousness, for all generations to come.

⁴ No one takes this honor upon himself; he must be called by God, just as Aaron was.

²⁸ And he said, Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel: for in your fight with God and with men you have overcome.

⁵ »I have taught you laws and rules as the LORD my God commanded me. You must obey them when you enter the land and take possession of it.

¹ "Indeed, if you diligently obey the LORD your God to carry out all his commands that I'm giving you today, then the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth.

⁵ And the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, and they did not stop them until the report came to Darius, and then answer was received.

²² They joyfully kept the feast of unleavened bread for seven days. the LORD 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.

⁹ He started his journey from Babylon on the first day of the first month. He arrived at Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month, by the good help of his God.

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 the LORD and of his rules for Israel: ¹² Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, scribe of the law of the God of heaven, all peace;

²⁸ and who extended to me loyal love before the king and his counselors, and before all of the mighty officials of the king. I took courage, for the hand of the LORD my God was upon me, and I gathered leaders from Israel to go up with me.

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

²² For I was ashamed to ask the king for troops and horses to protect us from enemies on the way because we said to the king, "the hand of our God is favorable to all who seek him, but his strength and anger are against all who forsake them."

³¹ On the twelfth day of the first month we set out from the river of Ahava to go to Jerusalem. The hand of our God was on us and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy and from ambushing on the way.

¹⁰ and they are your servants and your people whom you redeemed by your great force and by your strong hand. ¹¹ O Lord, please let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight to revere in your name. Please, let your servant be successful this day and give him compassion before this man." I was cupbearer for the king.

⁸ and a letter to Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel by the temple, for the wall of the city, and for the house that I will occupy.” The king granted my requests, because of the good hand of my God on me.

¹² I got up during the night, I and a few men with me. I did not tell anybody what my God put in my heart to do for Jerusalem. No animal was with me except the animal that I was riding on.

¹⁸ Then I told them how good my God had been to me, and about what the king had said to me. They replied, "Let's get out there and build!" So they encouraged themselves to do good.

¹⁵ It happened when our enemies heard that their plan was known to us, that God had frustrated it, and we all returned to the wall—each to his work.

⁴ Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden rostrum erected for that purpose. Beside him to his right stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Masseiah. Beside him to his left stood Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam.

⁹ And Nehemiah, the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people, said to all the people, This day is holy to the LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep. For all the people wept when they heard the words of the Law.

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.

²⁶ These were in the days of Joiakim the son of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor, and of Ezra the priest and scribe.

³⁶ with his associates Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah, and Hanani, accompanied by the musical instruments of David, the man of God. Ezra the scribe led the procession.

¹ My heart overflows with a noble theme. I recite my verses for the king. My tongue is like the pen of a skillful writer.

⁶ In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

² Wherefore, When I came in, was there no one? When I called, was there none to answer? Is mine own hand, really shortened, that it cannot redeem? Or is there not, in me, strength to deliver? Lo! by my rebuke, I dry up the sea I make rivers a desert, Their fish Stinketh, for want of water, Yea dieth, for thirst:

¹ The hand of the LORD is not too weak to save or his ear too deaf to hear.

⁸ How can you say, "We are wise, and the law of the LORD is with us?" But, look, the false pen of the scribes has worked falsely.

⁵² He said to them: Therefore, every scribe that is trained for the kingdom of heaven, is like the master of a house, who brings out of his treasury things new and old.

²⁰ and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

²⁰ Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

¹ Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, and in which you stand firm.

¹ Now then, brothers, you learned from us how you ought to live and to please God, as in fact you are doing. We ask and encourage you in the Lord to do so even more. ² For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.

³¹ These are the men David put in charge of the music in the house of the LORD after the ark came to rest there. ³² They ministered with music before the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting, until Solomon built the temple of the LORD in Jerusalem. They performed their duties according to the regulations laid down for them. ³³ Here are the men who served, together with their sons: From the Kohathites: Heman, the musician, the son of Joel, the son of Samuel, ³⁴ the son of Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Eliel, the son of Toah, ³⁵ the son of Zuph, the son of Elkanah, the son of Mahath, the son of Amasai, ³⁶ the son of Elkanah, the son of Joel, the son of Azariah, the son of Zephaniah, ³⁷ the son of Tahath, the son of Assir, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, ³⁸ the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, the son of Israel. ³⁹ and Heman's associate Asaph, who served at his right hand: Asaph son of Berekiah, the son of Shimea, ⁴⁰ the son of Michael, the son of Baaseiah, the son of Malkijah, ⁴¹ the son of Ethni, the son of Zerah, the son of Adaiah, ⁴² the son of Ethan, the son of Zimmah, the son of Shimei, ⁴³ the son of Jahath, the son of Gershon, the son of Levi. ⁴⁴ and from their associates, the Merarites, at his left hand: Ethan son of Kishi, the son of Abdi, the son of Malluch, ⁴⁵ the son of Hashabiah, the son of Amaziah, the son of Hilkiah, ⁴⁶ the son of Amzi, the son of Bani, the son of Shemer, ⁴⁷ the son of Mahli, the son of Mushi, the son of Merari, the son of Levi. ⁴⁸ Their fellow Levites was assigned to all the other duties of the tabernacle, the house of God.

¹⁷ The gatekeepers: Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman and their brothers, Shallum their chief ¹⁸ being stationed at the King's Gate on the east, up to the present time. These were the gatekeepers belonging to the camp of the Levites. ¹⁹ Shallum son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his fellow gatekeepers from his family, the Korahites, were responsible for guarding the thresholds of the tent just as their fathers had been responsible for guarding the entrance to the dwelling of the LORD. ²⁰ In earlier times Phinehas son of Eleazar was in charge of the gatekeepers, and the LORD was with him. ²¹ Zechariah son of Meshelemiah was the gatekeeper at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. ²² Altogether, those chosen to be gatekeepers at the thresholds numbered two hundred and twelve. They were registered by genealogy in their villages. David and Samuel the seer had assigned the gatekeepers to their positions of trust. ²³ They and their descendants were in charge of guarding the gates of the house of the LORD, the house called the tent. ²⁴ The gatekeepers were on the four sides: east, west, north and south. ²⁵ Their brothers in their villages had to come from time to time and share their duties for seven-day periods. ²⁶ But the four principal gatekeepers, who were Levites, were entrusted with the responsibility for the rooms and treasuries in the house of God. ²⁷ They would spend the night stationed around the house of God, because they had to guard it; and they had charge of the key for opening it each morning.

¹ David and the commanders of the army set apart for the service some of the sons of Asaph and of Heman and of Jeduthun, who were to prophesy with lyres, harps and cymbals; and the number of those who performed their service was: ² of the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asharelah. The sons of Asaph were under the hand of Asaph, who prophesied at the order of the king. ³ Of Jeduthun, the sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah and Mattithiah, six, under the direction of their father Jeduthun with the harp, who prophesied in giving thanks and praising the LORD. ⁴ Of Heman: the sons of Heman; Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, and Romamtiezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth: ⁵ All these were sons of Heman, the king's seer in the words of God. And to make great his power God gave Heman fourteen sons and three daughters. ⁶ All these were under the direction of their father to sing in the house of the LORD, with cymbals, harps and lyres, for the service of the house of God. Asaph, Jeduthun and Heman under the direction of the king. ⁷ They and their relatives who had been skillfully trained in singing to the LORD, numbered 288. ⁸ And they cast lots, for duty, the small as well as the great, the teacher as the pupil.

⁴⁰ The Levites:the sons of Jeshua and Kadmiel, of the sons of Hodaviah--74. ⁴¹ The Singers: Descendants of Asaph: 128 ⁴² The Descendants of the Gatekeepers: Descendants of Shallum, Ater, Talmon, Akkub, Hatita, and Shobai, totaling: 139 ⁴³ The temple Servants: Descendants of Ziha, Hasupha, and Tabbaoth. ⁴⁴ the Kades', the Siaas', the Phadons', ⁴⁵ the Labanos', the Agabas', the Akubs', ⁴⁶ Descendants of Hagab, Shalmai, and Hanan. ⁴⁷ the Geddels', the Gaars', the Raias', ⁴⁸ Descendants of Rezin, Nekoda, and Gazzam. ⁴⁹ Descendants of Uzza, Paseah, and Besai. ⁵⁰ the Asenas', the Moouninis', the Nephusims', ⁵¹ the Bakbuks', the Akuphas', the Arurs', ⁵² Descendants of Bazluth, Mehida, and Harsha. ⁵³ the Barkos', the Sisaras', the Themas', ⁵⁴ Sons of Neziah, sons of Hatipha. ⁵⁵ The Descendants of Solomon's Servants: Descendants of Sotai, Hassophereth, and Peruda. ⁵⁶ the Jehelas', the Darkons', the Gedels', ⁵⁷ Descendants of Shephatiah, Hattil, Pochereth-hazzebaim, and Ami. ⁵⁸ All the Nethinim and the sons of the servants of Solomon--392. ⁵⁹ These were those who went up from Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Cherub, Addan, and Immer; but they could not show whether their fathers' house, and their descent, were from Israel: ⁶⁰ Descendants of Delaiah, Tobiah, and Nekoda: 652 ⁶¹ Descendants of the Priests: Descendants of Habaiah, Hakkoz, and Barzillai, who married one of the daughters of Barzillai from Gilead and took that name. ⁶² These sought their record in the genealogy records, but they were not found, and were excluded from the priesthood as unclean. ⁶³ The governor told them that they should not eat of the most holy things, until there stood up a priest with Urim and Thummim. ⁶⁴ The entire assembly numbered 42,360, ⁶⁵ besides their male servants and their maidservants, those being 7,337; They also had 200 male singers and female singers. ⁶⁶ In addition, they had 736 horses, 245 mules, ⁶⁷ 435 camels, and 6,720 donkeys. ⁶⁸ When they arrived at the temple of the LORD in Jerusalem, some of the heads of the families contributed toward building the temple of God on its former site. ⁶⁹ According to their fortune they gave to the treasury of the work:gold--61,000 darics, silver--5,000 minas, and tunics for priests--100. ⁷⁰ As a result, the priests, Levites, certain people, the singers, door-keepers, and the temple Servants were able to settle in their original cities, with the rest of the Israelites in their cities.

²⁴ Also we inform you that it shall not be lawful to impose tribute, custom, or toll, on any of the priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, temple servants, or laborers of this house of God.

¹ These were their patriarchal heads and those registered with them who came up with me from Babylon in the reign of king Artaxerxes: ² From the descendants of Phinehas: Gershom. From the descendants of Ithamar: Daniel. From the descendants of David: Hattush. ³ son of Shecaniah; from the sons of Parosh, Zechariah, and with him were registered 150 males;" ⁴ From the descendants of Pahath-Moab: Eliehoenai son of Zerahiah and with him two hundred males. ⁵ from the sons of Zattu, Shecaniah son of Jahaziel, and with him 300 males;" ⁶ From the descendants of Adin: Ebed son of Jehonathan, and with him fifty males. ⁷ From the descendants of Elam: Jeshaiah son of Athaliah, and with him seventy males. ⁸ From the descendants of Shephatiah: Zebadiah son of Michael, and with him eighty males. ⁹ From the descendants of Joab: Obadiah son of Jehiel, and with him two hundred and eighteen males. ¹⁰ and from the sons of Bani, Shelomith son of Josiphiah, and with him 160 males;" ¹¹ From the descendants of Bebai: Zechariah son of Bebai, and with him twenty-eight males. ¹² and from the sons of Azgad, Johanan son of Hakkatan, and with him 110 males;" ¹³ And of the sons of Adonikam, the last, whose names were Eliphelet, Jeuel, and Shemaiah; and with them sixty males. ¹⁴ Of the sons also of Bigvai; Uthai, and Zaccur, and with them seventy men. ¹⁵ And I gathered them together by the water that runneth toward Ahava, and there abode we three days. And when I looked among the people and the priests, I found no Levites there. ¹⁶ Then sent I to Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah, and Meshullam, the rulers, and Joiarib and Elnathan, which were men of understanding. ¹⁷ I sent them out to Iddo the chief at the place Casiphia; and I told them what they should tell Iddo, and his brothers the temple servants, at the place Casiphia, that they should bring to us ministers for the house of our God. ¹⁸ And by the good hand of our God on us they brought us a man of understanding, from the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel, and Sherebiah, with his sons and his brothers, eighteen; ¹⁹ Hashabiah and Jeshaiah from the descendants of Merari and 20 of his brothers and their sons; ²⁰ 220 descendants of the temple Servants whom David and the leaders had appointed to serve the Levites, listed by name.

⁴⁵ The children of Asaph, a hundred forty-eight. ⁴⁶ The temple Servants: Descendants of Ziha, Hasupha, and Tabbaoth. ⁴⁷ Descendants of Keros, Sia, and Padon. ⁴⁸ the sons of Lebana, ⁴⁹ the Anans, the Gadels, the Gaars', ⁵⁰ the Raaias, the Rassons, the Nekodas', ⁵¹ Descendants of Gazzam, Uzza, and Paseah. ⁵² the Besis', the Meinons', the Nephosasis', ⁵³ Descendants of Bakbuk, Hakupha, and Harhur. ⁵⁴ Descendants of Bazlith, Mehida, and Harsha. ⁵⁵ Descendants of Barkos, Sisera, and Temah. ⁵⁶ the Nisias, the Atiphas'. ⁵⁷ The Descendants of Solomon's Servants: Descendants of Sotai, Sophereth, and Perida, ⁵⁸ Descendants of Jaala, Darkon, and Giddel, ⁵⁹ Descendants of Shephatiah, Hattil, Pochereth-hazzebaim, and Ammon; ⁶⁰ All of the temple Servants and descendants of Solomon's servants numbered 392. ⁶¹ Here is a list of returnees from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addan, and Immer, who could not prove their ancestry and lineage from Israel: ⁶² Descendants of Delaiah, Tobiah, and Nekoda 642 ⁶³ Of the Priests: Descendants of Habaiah, Koz, and Barzillai, who married one of the daughters of Barzillai from Gilead and took that name. ⁶⁴ These sought for their family register, but it was not found: wherefore they were excluded, as unfit, from the priesthood. ⁶⁵ The governor ordered them not to eat anything holy until a priest would be installed with Urim and Thummim. ⁶⁶ The entire assembly numbered 42,360, ⁶⁷ not including their 7,337 male and female servants. They had 245 men and women singers. ⁶⁸ They had 736 horses, 245 mules, ⁶⁹ 435 camels, and 6,720 donkeys. ⁷⁰ Some of the heads of the families contributed to the work. The governor contributed 1,000 gold drachmas to the treasury, along with 50 basins, and 530 priestly garments. ⁷¹ Some of the heads of the families gave to the treasury 20,000 gold drachmas and 2,200 silver units for the work. ⁷² The rest of the people gave 20,000 gold drachmas, 2,000 silver units, and 67 priestly garments. ⁷³ So the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, some of the people, the temple servants, and all Israel settled in their cities. When the seventh month came, the Israelites were in their cities.

²⁸ "The rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the temple servants, and all who separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to observe the law of God—their wives, their sons, their daughters, and all who know and understand—

⁶ this Ezra went up from Babylonia. He was a scribe skilled in the law of Moses, which the LORD the God of Israel gave. The king granted him all his requests, for the hand of the LORD was upon him.

¹² "Remember that you were slaves in Egypt. Carefully obey these laws.

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.

³ And Samuel said to all the house of Israel, saying, If you are returning to the LORD with all your heart, put aside the alien gods from among you, and the Ashtoreths. And prepare your heart to the LORD, and serve Him only, and He will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.

¹⁸ "the LORD, God of our ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, keep such devotion always strong in your people’s hearts and keep them always faithful to you.

¹⁴ And he did evil, for he did not set his heart on seeking the Lord.

⁸ With them were the Levites Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, Tob Adonijah, and the priests Elishama and Jehoram. ⁹ and they taught throughout Judah, and, with them, was the book of the law of the LORD,—so they went round throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught the people.

³ But good things have been found with you, for you have burned the Asherahs out of the land, and have fixed your heart to seek God.

²² Hezekiah spoke encouragingly to all the Levites who had good understanding in the service of the LORD. So they ate throughout the feast for the seven days, offering sacrifices of peace offerings, and making confession to the LORD, the God of their fathers.

²⁵ And you, Ezra, in accordance with the wisdom given to you by your God, shall appoint magistrates and judges to administer justice to all the people beyond the Euphrates River. All of them are to know the laws of your God, and you are to instruct those who do not know them.

¹ And all the people gathered as one man into the plaza before the Water Gate. And they spoke to Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel.

¹³ "Yet if you devote your heart to him and stretch out your hands to him,

² But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.

¹⁷ LORD, you heard the desire of the afflicted; you will strengthen them, you will listen carefully,

⁷ The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul, The testimonies of the LORD are stedfast, Making wise the simple,

⁷ My heart is steadfast, O God; My heart is steadfast. I will sing and give praise.

⁴⁵ I will walk in liberty, for I have sought your precepts.

⁹⁶ Of all perfection I saw a limit; thy command is very broad. ⁹⁷ O How I love your law! It is my meditation all day long. ⁹⁸ Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, because they are ever with me. ⁹⁹ I have more insight than all my teachers, for your laws are my meditation. ¹⁰⁰ I have more common sense than the elders, for I observe your precepts.

⁷ For the lips of the priest should guard knowledge, and they should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.

¹⁹ So then, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do likewise will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

²⁴ "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

¹⁷ If you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

¹ In my first book, O Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach,

² Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,

² preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and exhort, with great patience and instruction.

¹ But you must teach what accords with sound doctrine:

¹⁵ These are the things you should teach. Encourage and refute with full authority. Do not let anyone look down on you.

¹⁴ Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.

¹¹ This is the copy of the letter that they sent: To King Artaxerxes, From your servants the men beyond the River.

⁶ This is a transcript of the letter that Tattenai viceroy Beyond-the-Stream, and Shethar-Bozenai and their colleagues, the officials Beyond-the-Stream, sent to king Darius.

² The scholars and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat.

¹³ Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let in those who wish to enter.

¹ The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus; ² they saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. ³ (For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, do not eat unless they wash their hands and forearms, holding to the tradition of the elders. ⁴ When they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash themselves. And there are many other traditions which they observe, the washing of cups and pitchers and copper vessels.) ⁵ So the Pharisees and the scribes asked Jesus, "Why don't your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders? Instead, they eat with unclean hands." ⁶ He told them, "Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites. As it is written, 'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. ⁷ They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’ ⁸ You let go of the commandment of God, and hold on to the tradition of men." ⁹ And he said to them, "You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God, in order to keep your tradition! ¹⁰ For Moses said, ‘Honor your Father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever curses his father or mother must be put to death.’ ¹¹ But you say that if a man says to his father or mother, 'Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is Corban' (that is, a gift devoted to God), ¹² then you no longer let him do anything for his father or mother, ¹³ making void the word of God by your tradition, which you have handed down. You do many things like this."

²⁴ For he had dominion on this side of the river, and he was at peace on all sides round about.

¹ King Benhadad of Syria mustered his entire army, accompanied by thirty-two other kings with their horses and chariots, he laid siege on Samaria, and launched attacks against it.

¹⁰ and the rest of the peoples, whom the great and noble Osnappar hath exiled, and set in the city of Samaria,—and the rest Beyond the River, and so forth: ¹¹ This is the copy of the letter that they sent: To King Artaxerxes, From your servants the men beyond the River.

¹⁷ The king sent a reply: "To Rehum the royal officer, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their associates who live in Samaria and the rest of the province Beyond the River, greetings. And now

⁸ For he says, Are not my commanders all like kings?

⁷ For thus says the Sovereign LORD: Behold, I will bring on Tyre Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, king of kings, from the north, with horses, with chariots, with horsemen and a company, and many people.

³⁷ You, O king, are a king of kings: for the God of heaven has given you a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory.

⁴⁷ The king answered Daniel and said, "Truly your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings, and he reveals mysteries, for you are able to reveal this mystery."

¹⁵ Which he will bring about in his own time, he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;

¹⁴ These will make war with the Lamb and the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those called and chosen and faithful with him.

¹⁶ and on his robe and on his thigh he has this name written-- 'KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.'

⁵ They decided to send an announcement throughout Israel from Beersheba to Dan. They summoned everyone to come to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover of the LORD God of Israel. These people had not celebrated it in large numbers as the written instructions said they should.

³ Whosoever now among you is of his people, the LORD his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel. He is the God that is at Jerusalem.

¹³ However, in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon, king Cyrus gave an order to build this house of God.

¹ Then king Darius gave orders, and they searched in the library of the books that were laid up in Babylon,

¹⁵ The couriers went out quickly by order of the king, and the law was issued in the citadel of Susa. The king and Haman sat down to drink; and the city of Susa was bewildered.

¹⁴ So the king ordered it to be done in this way; an edict was issued in Susa, and they hanged the ten sons of Haman.

³ Your people will volunteer in the day of your power. In holy splendor, from the womb of the dawn, you will have the dew of your youth.

⁶ And he put them in place forever and ever, by a decree he gave that will not pass away.

¹³ For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good pleasure.

¹⁷ And the Spirit and the bride say Come. And let him who hears, say Come. And he who is thirsty, let him come. And whosoever will, let him take of the living water freely.

¹⁸ When he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he must write for himself a copy of this law in a book, out of that which is before the priests, the Levites. ¹⁹ And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, so that he may learn to revere the LORD your God by diligently observing all the word of this law and these rules,

⁸ May it be known to the king that we went to the province of Judah, the house of the great God. It is being built with stone blocks and timber is being put in the walls. This work is being done with diligence and is making progress in their hands.

¹² May the God who has set his name there overthrow any king or people who sets his hand to alter or to destroy this house of God in Jerusalem. I, Darius, issue forth a decree. Let it be done with diligence."

¹⁵ Also, bring the silver and gold that the king and his advisors have freely offered to the God of Israel whose dwelling is in Jerusalem,

²⁵ And you, Ezra, in accordance with the wisdom given to you by your God, shall appoint magistrates and judges to administer justice to all the people beyond the Euphrates River. All of them are to know the laws of your God, and you are to instruct those who do not know them. ²⁶ Whoever refuses to practice the law of your God and the law of the king shall see judgment executed quickly, whether to death, banishment, confiscation of goods, or imprisonment.

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:

¹⁴ and those next to him were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, Memucan, the seven officials of Persia and Media who had access to the king and sat first in the kingdom—

²⁰ To the Law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this Word, it is because no light is in them.

²⁰ And when he drew near to the den, he cried out with a loud voice, Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lion's mouth?

²⁶ "I hereby decree that in every area of my kingdom men are to fear and tremble before the God of Daniel. For he is the living God, who endures forever. His kingdom is one that will not be destroyed, and his dominion continues forever.

⁶ Then the leaders of the ancestral houses, and the leaders of the tribes of Israel, and the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, with the officers over the king's work, offered willingly;

⁶ But who is able to build him a house, seeing the heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain him? who am I then, that I should build him a house, except only to burn sacrifices before him?

² But I have built you a house and home, a place for you to dwell in forever.”

⁶ But I have chosen Jerusalem for My name to be there, and I have chosen David to be over My people Israel.

⁴ with three layers of great stones and a layer of timber. Let the new expenses be paid from the house of the king.

⁸ Moreover I make a decree what you shall do for these elders of the Jews for the building of this house of God: that of the king’s goods, even of the tribute beyond the River, expenses must be given with all diligence to these men, that they not be hindered. ⁹ And that which they need, both young bulls and rams and lambs, for the burnt offerings of the God of Heaven; wheat, salt, wine, and oil, as say the priests in Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day without fail, ¹⁰ so that they may offer sacrifices of sweet odor to the God of Heaven, and pray for the life of the king and of his sons.

¹¹ Sing praises to the LORD, who dwells in Zion, and declare among the people what he has done.

⁸ LORD, I love the habitation of your house, the place where your glory dwells.

²⁹ Because of your temple at Jerusalem kings will bring gifts to you. ³⁰ Rebuke the beasts in the reeds, the herd of bulls with the calves of the peoples, trampling the pieces of silver. Scatter the nations who delight in battles.

¹⁰ The kings of Tarshish and of the isles will bring tribute (presents). The kings of Sheba and Seba will offer gifts.

² His abode is in Salem, his dwelling place in Zion.

¹¹ Make vows to the LORD your God, and fulfill them. Let all of his neighbors bring presents to him who is to be feared.

²¹ Blessed be the LORD from Zion, Who dwells at Jerusalem. Praise the LORD.

⁶ »Many camels will cover your land, young camels from Midian and Ephah. Everyone from Sheba will come. They will bring gold and incense. They will sing the praises of the LORD. ⁷ All the flocks of Kedar will be gathered together to you. The rams of Nebaioth will serve you. They will be accepted as offerings on my altar; and I will beautify my glorious house. ⁸ "Who are these people that fly by like clouds and like doves to their nests? ⁹ Surely the islands shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring your sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, for the name of the LORD your God, and for the Holy One of Israel, because he has glorified you.

²⁴ The nations will walk by its light; the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. ²⁵ And its gates will not be shut by day; for there will be no night there; ²⁶ and the glory and honor of the nations shall be brought into it.

⁹ Then the people rejoiced, for they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the LORD: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy.

¹⁷ And I know, my God, that You try the heart and are pleased with uprightness; I, in the uprightness of my heart, have offered willingly all these things; and now I have watched with joy Your people who are present here offering willingly to You.

⁴ And whoever remains in any place where he sojournes, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, beside the freewill offering for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.

⁶ And all of their neighbors helped them with objects of silver, gold, possessions, domestic animals, and with valuable gifts—besides all of the freewill offering.

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 divided among them 650 silver talents, silver utensils weighing 100 talents, 7,500 gold talents, ²⁷ Also twenty bowls of gold, worth a thousand darics; and two vessels of fine polished bronze, as precious as gold. ²⁸ I said to them, "You are holy to the LORD, and the vessels are holy; and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering to the LORD, the God of your fathers.

¹² For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.

⁷ Each one should give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or from compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

⁴ then he who offers his offering shall offer to the LORD a meal offering of one tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with one fourth of a hin of oil. ⁵ "With each sheep or goat for the burnt offering or any other sacrifice, also give an offering of one quart of wine. ⁶ “'For a ram, you shall prepare for a meal offering two tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with the third part of a hin of oil; ⁷ and an offering of one and one quarter quarts of wine. Offer them as a soothing aroma to the LORD. ⁸ When you prepare a bull as a burnt offering or a sacrifice to fulfill a vow or a fellowship offering for the LORD, ⁹ then he shall offer with the bull a meal offering of three tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with half a hin of oil; ¹⁰ And you shall bring for a drink offering half a hin of wine, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor to the LORD. ¹¹ »Do this for each bull, each ram, and each sheep or goat. ¹² "Do it for each animal, however many you sacrifice. ¹³ "'All who are native-born shall do these things in this way, in offering an offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to the LORD.

⁵ ¶ But ye shall seek the place which the LORD your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put his name there for his habitation, and thou shalt go there. ⁶ and bring your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, the wave offering of your hand, your vows, your freewill offerings and the firstborn of your herd and of your flock. ⁷ and there ye shall eat before the LORD your God, and ye and your households shall rejoice in every work of your hands in which the LORD thy God has blessed thee. ⁸ "You must not act as we have been doing here today, where every one acts as they see fit, ⁹ »For you have not as yet come to the resting place and the inheritance that the LORD your God is giving you. ¹⁰ "When you cross the Jordan and live in the land the LORD your God gives you to inherit, and he gives you rest from all your enemies around you so that you live in security. ¹¹ then to the place which the LORD your God shall choose, to cause His name to dwell there, you must bring all that I command you: your burnt offerings and your sacrifices, your tithes and the wave offering of your hand and all your chosen vows which you vow to the LORD.

²⁴ If the way is too long for you, so that when the LORD your God shall bless you, you are not able to carry it because the place which the LORD your God shall choose to set His name there is too far from you, ²⁵ "If so, exchange the tenth part of your income for silver. Take the silver with you, and go to the place the LORD your God will choose. ²⁶ Use the silver to buy whatever you want: cattle, sheep, goats, wine, liquor-whatever you choose. Then you and your family will eat and enjoy yourselves there in the presence of the LORD your God.

¹² Then Jesus went into the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those selling doves. ¹³ "It is written," he said, "My house shall be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of thieves."

¹⁴ In the temple courts He found men selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and money changers seated at their tables.

¹⁵ Furthermore, they required no accounting from the men into whose hand they had paid the money to do the work, because the workers acted in good faith.

⁷ Only they did not call them to account for the money that was given to them, because they dealt faithfully.

²⁶ Whoever refuses to practice the law of your God and the law of the king shall see judgment executed quickly, whether to death, banishment, confiscation of goods, or imprisonment.

¹⁷ Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.

¹⁹ And they spoke of the God of Jerusalem as of the gods of the peoples of the earth, the work of man`s hand.

²⁷ Also twenty bowls of gold, worth a thousand darics; and two vessels of fine polished bronze, as precious as gold. ²⁸ I said to them, "You are holy to the LORD, and the vessels are holy; and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering to the LORD, the God of your fathers. ²⁹ Be alert and guard them until you weigh them out in the rooms of the House of the LORD before the priests' chiefs and the Levites and the heads of the fathers' houses of Israel in Jerusalem. ³⁰ So the priests and the Levites took the weight of the silver, and the gold, and the articles, to bring them to Jerusalem, to the house of our God.

³³ On the fourth day, the silver, gold, and vessels were weighed in the house of our God into the hand of priest Meremoth, the son of Uriah, and with him Eleazar son of Phinehas. With them were the Levites, Jehozabad son of Jeshua and Noadiah son of Binnui. ³⁴ Everything was checked by number and by weight; and the entire weight was listed. At that time

¹⁷ At that time they will call Jerusalem 'The Throne of the LORD,' and all the nations will be gathered to it, to the name of the LORD, to Jerusalem, and they will no longer go after the stubbornness of their evil heart.

⁸ Moreover I make a decree what you shall do for these elders of the Jews for the building of this house of God: that of the king’s goods, even of the tribute beyond the River, expenses must be given with all diligence to these men, that they not be hindered. ⁹ And that which they need, both young bulls and rams and lambs, for the burnt offerings of the God of Heaven; wheat, salt, wine, and oil, as say the priests in Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day without fail, ¹⁰ so that they may offer sacrifices of sweet odor to the God of Heaven, and pray for the life of the king and of his sons. ¹¹ And I have given orders that if anyone makes any change in this word, one of the supports is to be pulled out of his house, and he is to be lifted up and fixed to it; and his house is to be made waste for this; ¹² May the God who has set his name there overthrow any king or people who sets his hand to alter or to destroy this house of God in Jerusalem. I, Darius, issue forth a decree. Let it be done with diligence." ¹³ Because of what King Darius had mandated, Tattenai, the Trans-Euphrates Governor, Shethar-boznai, and their colleagues carried out his orders quickly. ¹⁴ So the elders of the Jews were building and prospering, through the prophecy of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah son of Iddo. They finished building by the command of the God of Israel and by the decree of Cyrus, Darius, and King Artaxerxes of Persia. ¹⁵ The temple was completed on the third day of the month Adar during the sixth year of the reign of King Darius. ¹⁶ And the Israelites, the priests, the Levites, and the rest of the returned exiles celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy. ¹⁷ They offered at the dedication of this house of God one hundred bulls, 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. ¹⁸ And they set the priests in their divisions, and the Levites in their separate orders, for the services of God in Jerusalem, according to the writing of the Book of Moses

¹⁶ We inform the king that, if this city is built and the walls finished, then you will have no possession beyond the River.

²⁰ and mighty kings have been over Jerusalem, even rulers over all beyond the river, and toll, tribute, and custom is given to them.

⁶ Now you, Tattenai viceroy Beyond-the Stream, Shethar-Bozenai, and you, their colleagues, the officials of Beyond-the-Stream, stay away from there.

¹⁰ Ezra devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the LORD. He taught its decrees and laws in Israel. 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 the LORD and of his rules for Israel: ¹² Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, scribe of the law of the God of heaven, all peace; ¹³ From me was rendered a decree, that all the ones willing in my kingdom from the people of Israel, and priests, and Levites, to go to Jerusalem—with you let them go!

¹³ "'Season every grain offering with salt. Do not leave the salt of the covenant of your God out of your grain offering. All of your offerings must have salt.

¹⁴ and the set portion of oil, of the bath of oil, one tenth of a bath out of the cor, which is ten baths, even a homer; (for ten baths are a homer;)

⁶ "'A hundred measures of oil,' he answered. "He said to him, 'Take your bill and sit down quickly and write fifty." ⁷ Then he asked another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ he replied. ‘Take your bill and write eighty,’ he told him.

¹⁰ so that they may offer sacrifices of sweet odor to the God of Heaven, and pray for the life of the king and of his sons. ¹¹ And I have given orders that if anyone makes any change in this word, one of the supports is to be pulled out of his house, and he is to be lifted up and fixed to it; and his house is to be made waste for this; ¹² May the God who has set his name there overthrow any king or people who sets his hand to alter or to destroy this house of God in Jerusalem. I, Darius, issue forth a decree. Let it be done with diligence."

¹³ From me was rendered a decree, that all the ones willing in my kingdom from the people of Israel, and priests, and Levites, to go to Jerusalem—with you let them go!

¹⁸ And if it seem good to thee, and to thy brethren to do any thing with the rest of the silver and gold, do it according to the will of your God.

⁴ You have commanded your precepts, that we should fully obey them.

³ And in that day I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who lift it shall be slashed. And all the nations of the earth will be gathered against it.

³⁶ The Priests: Descendants of Jedaiah from the household of Jeshua: 973 ³⁷ the sons of Immer--1,52;" ³⁸ the sons of Pashur--1,247;" ³⁹ the sons of Harim--1, 17. ⁴⁰ The Levites:the sons of Jeshua and Kadmiel, of the sons of Hodaviah--74. ⁴¹ The Singers: Descendants of Asaph: 128 ⁴² The Descendants of the Gatekeepers: Descendants of Shallum, Ater, Talmon, Akkub, Hatita, and Shobai, totaling: 139 ⁴³ The temple Servants: Descendants of Ziha, Hasupha, and Tabbaoth. ⁴⁴ the Kades', the Siaas', the Phadons', ⁴⁵ the Labanos', the Agabas', the Akubs', ⁴⁶ Descendants of Hagab, Shalmai, and Hanan. ⁴⁷ the Geddels', the Gaars', the Raias', ⁴⁸ Descendants of Rezin, Nekoda, and Gazzam. ⁴⁹ Descendants of Uzza, Paseah, and Besai. ⁵⁰ the Asenas', the Moouninis', the Nephusims', ⁵¹ the Bakbuks', the Akuphas', the Arurs', ⁵² Descendants of Bazluth, Mehida, and Harsha. ⁵³ the Barkos', the Sisaras', the Themas', ⁵⁴ Sons of Neziah, sons of Hatipha. ⁵⁵ The Descendants of Solomon's Servants: Descendants of Sotai, Hassophereth, and Peruda.

¹³ Now be it known to the king that if this city is built and the walls are finished, they will not pay tribute and toll, and the royal revenue will be reduced.

⁷ Some of the Israelites, some priests and Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the temple servants went up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes.

²¹ "You shall look for capable men among the people, men who fear God, men of integrity who hate dishonest gain. You shall set these men over them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. ²² They shall judge the people at all times. Let them bring every major matter to you, but let them judge every minor matter. It will lighten your burden, and they'll bear it with you. ²³ If you do this, and God so commands you, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will also go to their homes in peace." ²⁴ Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. ²⁵ Moses chose capable men from all Israel and appointed them as heads over the people, as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens.

¹⁸ "Appoint judges and officers for your tribes in every city the LORD your God gives you. They are to judge the people fairly.

²⁸ And when all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had given, they feared the king; for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to exercise justice.

¹² "May the LORD give you discretion and understanding when he puts you in command over Israel, so that you may keep the law of the LORD your God.

⁴ David said: Of these, twenty-four thousand are to supervise the work of the LORD’s Temple and six thousand are to be officials and judges.

⁷ In the third year of his reign he sent his officials, Ben-Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah;

⁸ In Jerusalem also Josaphat appointed some of the priests and Levites and patriarchs of Israel, for the judgment of the Lord, and to judge the inhabitants of Jerusalem. ⁹ He told them: »Faithfully serve the LORD! ¹⁰ And whatever cause shall come to you from your brothers that dwell in their cities, between blood and blood, between law and commandment, statutes and judgments, you shall even warn them so that they do not sin against the LORD, and wrath come on you and your brothers. Do this and you shall not sin.

¹⁴ For you are sent from the king and his seven counselors to enquire about Judah and Jerusalem concerning the law of your God, which is in your hand.

¹ And all the people gathered as one man into the plaza before the Water Gate. And they spoke to Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel. ² So on the first day of the seventh month, Ezra the priest brought out the Law before the assembled people. Both men and women were in attendance, as well as all who could understand what they were hearing. ³ Ezra read from it, facing the plaza in front of the Water Gate, from early in the morning until mid-day in the presence of the men and women, as well as all who could understand. All the people were attentive to the Book of the Law.

⁷ Furthermore, Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites taught the Law to the people while the people remained standing. ⁸ So they read the book from the law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that they could understand the reading.

³ They stood up in their place and read from the book of the law of the LORD their God for a fourth part of the day, and for a fourth they were confessing and worshiping the LORD their God.

¹ On that day the book of Moses was read in the hearing of the people and it was found written in it that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever come into the assembly of God ² because they did not meet the Israelites with bread and water; but hired Balaam against them to curse them; but our God turned the curse into a blessing. ³ And when they heard the law, they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.

⁶ For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

²³ For instruction is a lamp, and law is a light, And the reproofs of discipline are the way to life,

² The scholars and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat. ³ So practice and observe everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.

³⁴ When Jesus stepped ashore and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And He began to teach them many things.

¹⁴ How then can they call on the One they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach? ¹⁵ And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” ¹⁶ But not all of them welcomed the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” ¹⁷ Consequently, faith comes of hearing; and hearing, through the word of Christ.

⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

¹⁷ But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere. ¹⁸ Peacemakers who sow in peace reap the fruit of righteousness.

¹ These are the laws which thou shalt set before them: ² "If you buy a Hebrew servant, he shall serve six years and in the seventh he shall go out free without paying anything. ³ If he came in alone, he shall go out alone: if he had a wife, then his wife shall go out with him. ⁴ "If his master gives him a wife, and she bears him sons or daughters, the wife and her children will belong to her master. He shall go out alone. ⁵ And if the servant shall say: I love my master and my wife and children, I will not go out free: ⁶ Then let his master bring him unto the judges and set him to the door or the doorpost, and bore his ear through with an awl, and let him be his servant forever. ⁷ "If a man sell his daughter to be a servant: she shall not go out as the menservants do. ⁸ If she's displeasing to her master who selected her for himself, he must let her be redeemed. He does not have the right to sell her to foreign people because he has dealt unfairly with her. ⁹ If he marries her to his son, he shall deal with her as a daughter. ¹⁰ If he takes another wife to himself, he shall not diminish her food, her clothing, and her marital rights. ¹¹ If he doesn’t do these three things for her, she may go free without paying any money. ¹² “One who strikes a man so that he dies shall surely be put to death, ¹³ but not if it is unintentional, but God allows it to happen; then I will appoint you a place where he shall flee. ¹⁴ »If a man schemes and kills a man deliberately remove him from my altar and put him to death. ¹⁵ "Anyone who attacks his father or his mother shall be surely put to death. ¹⁶ Anyone who kidnaps someone and sells him, or if he is found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death. ¹⁷ "Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death. ¹⁸ "If men quarrel and one strikes the other with a stone, or with his fist, and he doesn't die, but is confined to bed; ¹⁹ »If the injured man is able to stand up again and walk around outside with a cane, the one who hit him must not be punished. He must pay the injured man for the loss of his time and for all his medical expenses. ²⁰ "If a man strikes his male or female servant with a stick and he or she dies as a direct result, the master must be punished. ²¹ Notwithstanding, if he gets up after a day or two, he shall not be punished, for he is his property. ²² "If men fight and hurt a pregnant woman so that she gives birth prematurely, and yet no harm follows, he shall be surely fined as much as the woman's husband demands and the judges allow.

¹ And the Lord said to Moses, ² »Tell the Israelites: ‘If Israelites or foreigners living among you give one of their children as a sacrifice to the god Molech, they must be put to death. The common people must stone them to death. ³ And I will set my face against that man, and will cut him off from among his people; because he has given of his children unto Molech, to defile my sanctuary, and to profane my holy name. ⁴ And if the people of the land truly hide their eyes from that man, as he gives his seed to Molech, so as not to put him to death, ⁵ then I will set my face against that man and against his family and will cut him off with all those that fornicated after him, prostituting themselves after Molech. ⁶ As for the person who turns to the mediums and the soothsayers to prostitute after them, I will set my face against that person, and I will cut him off from the midst of his people. ⁷ "'Keep (consecrate) yourselves holy, because I am the LORD your God! ⁸ And keep my rules and do them: I am the Lord, who make you holy. ⁹ For he who curses his father or his mother will surely be put to death. He has cursed his father or his mother; his blood will be upon him. ¹⁰ And a man who commits adultery with a man's wife, who commits adultery with the wife of his neighbor, the adulterer and the adulteress are surely to be put to death. ¹¹ And the man who lies with his father's wife has uncovered his father's nakedness. Both of them will surely be put to death, their blood will be upon them. ¹² "'If a man lies with his daughter-in-law, both of them shall surely be put to death: they have committed a perversion; their blood shall be upon them. ¹³ And a man who lies with a male as one lies with a woman, both of them have done a detestable thing; they shall certainly be put to death; their blood shall be on them. ¹⁴ And if a man take a woman and her mother, it is incest: in fire shall they burn him and them; that there be no incest among you. ¹⁵ " 'As for a man who has sexual relations with an animal, he shall surely be put to death, and you must kill the animal. ¹⁶ "'If a woman approaches any animal, and lies down with it, you shall kill the woman, and the animal: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them. ¹⁷ And if a man takes his sister, daughter of his father or his mother, and has sex relations with her and she with him, it is an act of shame: they are to be cut off before the children of their people; he has had sex relations with his sister, and his sin will be on him. ¹⁸ "'If a man lies with a woman having her monthly period, and uncovers her nakedness; he has made naked her fountain, and she has uncovered the fountain of her blood: and both of them shall be cut off from among their people. ¹⁹ And you may not have sex connection with your mother's sister or your father's sister, for they are his near relations: their sin will be on them. ²⁰ If a man lies with his aunt, he has uncovered the nakedness of his uncle; they shall bear their sin; they shall die childless. ²¹ "'If a man takes his brother's wife, it is an impurity: he has uncovered his brother's nakedness; they shall be childless. ²² Guard all my statutes and all my judgments and work them: that the land where I bring you to settle not vomit you. ²³ You must not walk in the customs of the nations which I drive out from before you. Because they did all these things, therefore I held them in abhorrence, ²⁴ But I have said to you, You shall surely possess their land; and, I, I am giving it to you to possess it, a land flowing with milk and honey; I am the LORD your God, who has set you apart from the nations. ²⁵ And you shall distinguish between the clean and the unclean animal and between the unclean and the clean bird; and you shall not defile yourselves with the animal or with the bird or with anything that moves along the ground that I have set apart for you as unclean. ²⁶ and you shall be holy to Me, for I, the LORD, am holy; and I have set you apart from the nations to become Mine. ²⁷ “'A man or a woman that is a medium or is a wizard shall surely be put to death. They shall be stoned with stones. Their blood shall be upon themselves.'”

¹ If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you, and he gives you a sign or a wonder, ² and the sign or the wonder which he foretold to you occurs, saying, Let us go after other gods which you have not known, and let us serve them, ³ you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams. For the LORD your God is testing you to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. ⁴ You must follow the LORD your God, fear him, observe his commandments, listen to his voice, serve him, and cling to him. ⁵ That prophet or diviner of dreams must be executed, because he advocated rebellion against the LORD your God, who brought you from the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slavery, and because he lured you from the way in which the LORD your God instructed you to live. Purge the evil from among you." ⁶ "If your brother, your mother's son, or your son or daughter, or the wife you cherish, or your very best friend tries to secretly entice you, saying: 'Let us go and serve other gods, gods neither you nor your fathers have known, ⁷ Gods of the peoples round about you, near or far, from one end of the earth to the other; ⁸ neither will to him nor hearken to him; your eye neither pity him nor spare him nor cover for him: ⁹ but you must surely kill him. Your hand shall be first on him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people. ¹⁰ Stone him to death, because he sought to lure you from the LORD your God who brought you from the land of Egypt, from the land of slavery. ¹¹ »All Israel will hear and be afraid, and will never again do such a wicked thing among you. ¹² "You may hear in one of your towns that the LORD your God is giving you to inhabit ¹³ some worthless men have gone out from among you and have mislead the inhabitants of their city, saying: Let us go and serve other gods you have not known. ¹⁴ then you shall inquire and make search, and ask carefully; and, behold, if the thing is truly established, that this abominable thing has been done among you, ¹⁵ Then take up arms against the people of that town and give it up to the curse, with all its cattle and everything in it. ¹⁶ "Gather all its treasure into the middle of its open square and burn the city and all its treasure with fire as a whole burnt offering to the LORD your God. It shall be a ruin forever. It shall never be rebuilt. ¹⁷ Nothing of the devoted thing shall cling to your hand; that the LORD may turn from the fierceness of his anger, and show you mercy, and have compassion on you, and multiply you, as he has sworn to your fathers; ¹⁸ if you obey the voice of the LORD your God by observing all his commands that I'm commanding you today. Do what is right in the sight of the LORD your God."

¹² Also in Judah the hand of God was to give them one heart to do the commandment of the king and of the princes, according to the word of the LORD.

¹¹ And I have given orders that if anyone makes any change in this word, one of the supports is to be pulled out of his house, and he is to be lifted up and fixed to it; and his house is to be made waste for this;

⁵ but God will pull you down forever. He will snatch you and tear you away from your tent, and he will uproot you from the land of the living. Selah

²⁸ Nebuchadnezzar spoke up and said: 'Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego! He sent his angel to deliver his servants who trusted in him. They disobeyed the king's command and were willing to risk their lives in order not to serve or worship any god except their own God. ²⁹ "Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut into pieces. Their houses shall be made a dunghill. There is no other god that is able to deliver like this."

¹⁰ and blessed the Lord in the presence of the assembly, saying, Blessed art thou Lord God of Israel, our Father, from everlasting to everlasting. ¹¹ Yours, O Lord, is the strength and the power and the glory, and the authority and the honour: for everything in heaven and on earth is yours; yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are lifted up as head over all. ¹² Wealth and honour come from you, and you are ruler over all, and in your hand is power and strength; it is in your power to make great, and to give strength to all. ¹³ "Now, our God, we give you thanks, and we praise your glorious name. ¹⁴ But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly as this? For all things come from you, and we have given you of your own. ¹⁵ For we are aliens and vagrants in your presence, as were all of our ancestors. Our days on the earth pass away like shadows, and we have no hope. ¹⁶ O LORD our God, all this abundance that we have provided to build for you a house for your holy name is from your hand, and all of it is yours. ¹⁷ And I know, my God, that You try the heart and are pleased with uprightness; I, in the uprightness of my heart, have offered willingly all these things; and now I have watched with joy Your people who are present here offering willingly to You. ¹⁸ "the LORD, God of our ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, keep such devotion always strong in your people’s hearts and keep them always faithful to you. ¹⁹ Grant to Solomon my son a heart of peace to keep your commands, your statutes, and your regulations to do everything, and to build the citadel for which I have provided." ²⁰ And David said to all the assembly, Now praise the LORD your God. And all the assembly praised the LORD, the God of their fathers and bowed down their heads and bowed-down to the LORD and the king. ²¹ And they sacrificed sacrifices unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings unto the LORD, on the next day, even a thousand bullocks, a thousand rams, and a thousand lambs, with their drink offerings, and sacrifices in abundance for all Israel: ²² And they ate and drank before the LORD on that day with great joy, and made Solomon the son of David king a second time, and anointed him before the LORD as ruler, and Zadok as priest. ²³ So Solomon sat on the throne of the LORD as king in the place of his father David. He prospered, and all of Israel obeyed him. ²⁴ And all the officials and mighty warriors, and also all the sons of King David, pledged allegiance to King Solomon. ²⁵ The LORD magnified Solomon exceedingly in the sight of all Israel, and bestowed on him such royal majesty as had not been on any king before him in Israel. ²⁶ Now David the son of Jesse was king over all Israel. ²⁷ seven years in Hebron, and thirty-three years in Jerusalem. ²⁸ He died at a very old age, wealthy and respected, and his son Solomon succeeded him as king. ²⁹ Now, the acts of David the king, first and last, behold them! written in the records of Samuel the seer, and in the records of Nathan the prophet, and in the records of Gad the seer: ³⁰ Together with all his rule and his power, and the events which took place in his time, in Israel and in all the kingdoms of other lands.

⁵ And my God put into my heart to gather together the nobles, and the rulers, and the people, for registration by genealogy. And I found a genealogical register of those that had come up at the first, and I found written in it:

¹ The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD as streams of water. He turns it wherever he will.

¹³ The glory of Lebanon shall come to you: the juniper, the box tree, and the cypress together, to beautify the place of My sanctuary; yea, I will glorify the place of My feet.

¹⁶ But thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same devotion I have for you.

¹⁰ Now I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.

¹⁰ For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord: I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.

¹⁶ “This is the covenant I will make with them after those days, says the Lord. I will put My Laws in their hearts and inscribe them on their minds.”

¹⁷ Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, with whom there is no change or shifting shadow.

¹⁷ For God has put in their hearts to accomplish his purpose, by agreeing to give their sovereignty to the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.

¹⁴ And God Almighty give you mercy before the man, so that he may send away your other brother and Benjamin. If I am bereaved, I am bereaved.

⁹ For we were slaves; yet our God has not forsaken us in our bondage, but has extended mercy unto us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to rebuild the house of our God, and to repair its ruins, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem.

¹¹ O Lord, please let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight to revere in your name. Please, let your servant be successful this day and give him compassion before this man." I was cupbearer for the king.

⁷ And he cried out and said in Nineveh by the decree of the king and his great ones, saying, Do not let man or beast, herd or flock taste anything; do not let them feed, nor drink water.

¹⁷ But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was rescued from the lion's mouth. ¹⁸ The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory for ever and ever. Amen.