Ezra 7 Cross References - NHEB

¹ Now after these things, in the reign of Artachshasta king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the 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 Babylon: and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD, the God of Israel, had given; and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God on him. ⁷ There went up some of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the gatekeepers, and the Nethinim, to Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artachshasta the king. ⁸ He came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king. ⁹ For on the first day of the first month he began to go up from Babylon; and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, for the good hand of his God was on him. ¹⁰ For Ezra had set his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and ordinances. ¹¹ Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artachshasta gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe, even the scribe of the words of the commandments of the LORD, and of his statutes to Israel: ¹² Artachshasta, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect and so forth. ¹³ I make a decree, that all those of the people of Israel, and their priests and the Levites, in my realm, who are minded of their own free will to go to Jerusalem, go with you. ¹⁴ Because you are sent of the king and his seven counselors, to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of your God which is in your hand, ¹⁵ and to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counselors have freely offered to the God of Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem, ¹⁶ and all the silver and gold that you shall find in all the province of Babylon, with the freewill offering of the people, and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem; ¹⁷ therefore you shall with all diligence buy with this money bulls, rams, lambs, with their meal offerings and their drink offerings, and shall offer them on the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem. ¹⁸ Whatever shall seem good to you and to your brothers to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, do that after 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 shall be needful for the house of your God, which you shall have occasion to bestow, bestow it out of the king's treasure house. ²¹ I, even I Artachshasta the king, do 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 require of you, it be done with all diligence, ²² to one hundred talents of silver, and to one hundred measures of wheat, and to one hundred baths of wine, and to one hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much. ²³ Whatever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be done exactly for the house of the God of heaven; for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons? ²⁴ Also we inform you, that touching any of the priests and Levites, the singers, doorkeepers, Nethinim, or servants of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose tribute, custom, or toll, on them. ²⁵ You, Ezra, after the wisdom of your God who is in your hand, appoint magistrates and judges, who may judge all the people who are beyond the River, all such as know the laws of your God; and teach him who doesn't know them. ²⁶ Whoever will not do the law of your God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed on him with all diligence, whether it be to death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment. ²⁷ Blessed be the LORD, the God of our fathers, who has put such a thing as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem; ²⁸ and has extended loving kindness to me before the king, and his counselors, and before all the king's powerful officers. I was strengthened according to the hand of the LORD my God on me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.

⁴ "Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, that he may sum the money which is brought into the house of the LORD, which the keepers of the threshold have gathered of the people.

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

¹⁸ The captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, and Zephaniah the second priest, and the three keepers of the threshold:

⁴ Eleazar became the father of Phinehas, Phinehas became the father of Abishua, ⁵ and Abishua became the father of Bukki, and Bukki became the father of Uzzi, ⁶ and Uzzi became the father of Zerahiah, and Zerahiah became the father of Meraioth, ⁷ Meraioth became the father of Amariah, and Amariah became the father of Ahitub, ⁸ and Ahitub became the father of Zadok, and Zadok became the father of Ahimaaz, ⁹ and Ahimaaz became the father of Azariah, and Azariah became the father of Johanan, ¹⁰ and Johanan became the father of Azariah, (he it is who executed the priest's office in the house that Solomon built in Jerusalem), ¹¹ and Azariah became the father of Amariah, and Amariah became the father of Ahitub, ¹² and Ahitub became the father of Zadok, and Zadok became the father of Shallum, ¹³ and Shallum became the father of Hilkiah, and Hilkiah became the father of Azariah, ¹⁴ and Azariah became the father of Seraiah, and Seraiah became the father of Jehozadak;

¹¹ and Azariah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the ruler of the house of God;

⁹ They came to Hilkiah the high priest, and delivered the money that was brought into God's house, which the Levites, the keepers of the threshold, had gathered of the hand of Manasseh and Ephraim, and of all the remnant of Israel, and of all Judah and Benjamin, and of the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

¹⁵ Hilkiah answered Shaphan the scribe, "I have found the scroll of the law in the house of the LORD." Hilkiah delivered the scroll to Shaphan.

¹⁴ The elders of the Jews built and prospered, through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. They built and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the decree of Koresh, and Daryavesh, and Artachshasta king of Persia.

¹⁰ For Ezra had set his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and ordinances.

¹² Artachshasta, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect and so forth.

²¹ I, even I Artachshasta the king, do 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 require of you, it be done with all diligence,

¹ Now these are the heads of their ancestral houses, and this is the genealogy of those who went up with me from Babylon, in the reign of Artachshasta the king: ² Of the sons of Phinehas, Gershom. Of the sons of Ithamar, Daniel. Of the sons of David, Hattush ³ the son of Shecaniah, of the sons of Parosh, Zechariah; and with him were reckoned by genealogy of the males one hundred fifty. ⁴ Of the sons of Pahath-Moab, Eliehoenai the son of Zerahiah; and with him two hundred males. ⁵ Of the sons of Zattu, Shecaniah the son of Jahaziel, and with him three hundred males. ⁶ Of the sons of Adin, Ebed the son of Jonathan; and with him fifty males. ⁷ Of the sons of Elam, Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah; and with him seventy males. ⁸ Of the sons of Shephatiah, Zebadiah the son of Michael; and with him eighty males. ⁹ Of the sons of Joab, Obadiah the son of Jehiel; and with him two hundred and eighteen males. ¹⁰ Of the sons of Bani, Shelomoth the son of Josiphiah, and with him one hundred sixty males.

¹ It happened in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artachshasta the king, when wine was before me, that I took up the wine, and gave it to the king. Now I had not been sad before in his presence.

² Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly, both men and women, and all who could hear with understanding, on the first day of the seventh month. ³ And he read it before the square that was before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women, and of those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the scroll of the law. ⁴ Ezra the scribe stood on a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Uriah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchijah, and Hashum, and Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam. ⁵ Ezra opened the scroll in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up: ⁶ and Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. All the people answered, "Amen, Amen," with the lifting up of their hands. They bowed their heads, and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground. ⁷ Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, explained the law to the people, and the people stayed in their place. ⁸ They read in the scroll, in the law of God, distinctly; and they gave the sense, so that they understood the reading. ⁹ Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest the 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, nor weep." For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law.

¹¹ Azariah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the ruler of God's house,

²⁴ The captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, and Zephaniah the second priest, and the three keepers of the threshold: ²⁵ and out of the city he took an officer who was set over the men of war; and seven men of those who saw the king's face, who were found in the city; and the scribe of the captain of the army, who mustered the people of the land; and sixty men of the people of the land, who were found in the midst of the city. ²⁶ Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard took them, and brought them to the king of Babylon to Riblah. ²⁷ The king of Babylon struck them, and put them to death at Riblah in the land of Hamath. So Judah was carried away captive out of his land.

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

³⁵ The king put Benaiah the son of Jehoiada in his place over the army; and the king put Zadok the priest in the place of Abiathar.

²⁵ Eleazar Aaron's son took one of the daughters of Putiel as his wife; and she bore him Phinehas. These are the heads of ancestral houses of the Levites according to their families.

⁶ Moses said to Aaron, and to Eleazar and to Ithamar, his sons, "Do not let the hair of your heads go loose, neither tear your clothes; that you do not die, and that he not be angry with all the congregation: but let your brothers, the whole house of Israel, bewail the burning which the LORD has kindled.

¹² Moses spoke to Aaron, and to Eleazar and to Ithamar, his sons who were left, "Take the meal 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 Moses diligently inquired about the goat of the sin offering, and, look, it was burned: and he was angry with Eleazar and with Ithamar, the sons of Aaron who were left, saying,

³² Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest shall be chief of the leaders of the Levites, with the oversight of those who keep the requirements of the sanctuary.

²⁵ Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up to Mount Hor; ²⁶ and strip Aaron of his garments, and put them on Eleazar his son: and Aaron shall be taken, and shall die there." ²⁷ Moses did as the LORD commanded: and they went up into Mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation. ²⁸ Moses stripped Aaron of his garments, and put them on Eleazar his son; and Aaron died there on the top of the mountain: and Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain.

⁷ When Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from the midst of the congregation, and took a spear in his hand; ⁸ and he went after the man of Israel into the pavilion, and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her body. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel. ⁹ Those who died by the plague were twenty-four thousand. ¹⁰ The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, ¹¹ "Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned my wrath away from the children of Israel, in that he was jealous with my jealousy among them, so that I did not consume the children of Israel in my jealousy. ¹² Therefore say, 'Look, I give to him my covenant of peace: ¹³ and it shall be to him, and to his descendants after him, the covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he was jealous for his God, and made atonement for the children of Israel.'"

² They stood before Moses, and before Eleazar the priest, and before the princes and all the congregation, at the door of the Tent of Meeting, saying,

⁶ Moses sent them, one thousand of every tribe, to the war, them and 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 Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold of the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and brought it into the Tent of Meeting, for a memorial for the children of Israel before the LORD.

¹ These are the inheritances which the children of Israel took in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest, Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of ancestral houses of the tribes of the children of Israel, distributed to them,

¹³ The children of Israel sent to the descendants of Reuben, and to the descendants of Gad, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, into the land of Gilead, Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest,

³¹ Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest said to the descendants of Reuben, to the descendants of Gad, and to the descendants of Manasseh, "Today we know that the LORD is in the midst of us, because you have not committed this trespass against the LORD. Now you have delivered the children of Israel out of the hand of the LORD."

³³ Eleazar the son of Aaron died. 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, stood before it in those days), "Shall I yet again go out to battle against the people of Benjamin my brother, or shall I cease?" The LORD said, "Go up; for tomorrow I will deliver him into your hand."

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

⁵⁰ These are 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 and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. ² But Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and had no children: therefore Eleazar and Ithamar executed the priest's office. ³ David with Zadok of the sons of Eleazar, and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, divided them according to their ordering in their service. ⁴ There were more chief men found among the sons of Eleazar than of the sons of Ithamar; so they were divided like this: of the sons of Eleazar there were sixteen heads according to their ancestral houses, and eight according to their ancestral houses among the sons 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 descendants of Eleazar, and of the descendants 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 officiers, and Zadok the priest, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, and the heads of the ancestral houses of the priests and of the Levites; one fathers' house being taken for Eleazar and one being 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 Azariah the chief priest, and all the priests, looked on him, and look, he was leprous in his forehead, and they thrust him out quickly from there; yes, himself hurried also to go out, because the LORD had struck him.

³⁰ Then Phinehas stood up, and executed judgment, so the plague was stopped. ³¹ That was credited to him for righteousness, for all generations to come.

⁴ Nobody takes this honor on himself, but he is called by God, just like Aaron was.

²⁸ Then he said, "Your name will no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have prevailed."

⁵ Look, I have taught you statutes and ordinances, even as the LORD my God commanded me, that you should do so in the midst of the land where you go in to possess it.

¹ It shall happen, if you shall listen diligently to the voice of the LORD your God, to observe to do all his commandments which I command you this day, that the LORD your God will set you on high above all the nations of the earth:

⁵ But the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, and they did not make them cease, until the matter should come to Daryavesh, and then answer should be returned by letter concerning it.

²² and kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy: for the LORD had made them joyful, and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria to them, to strengthen their hands in the work of God's house, the God of Israel.

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

¹¹ Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artachshasta gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe, even the scribe of the words of the commandments of the LORD, and of his statutes to Israel: ¹² Artachshasta, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect and so forth.

²⁸ and has extended loving kindness to me before the king, and his counselors, and before all the king's powerful officers. I was strengthened according to the hand of the LORD my God on me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.

¹⁸ According to the good hand of our God on us they brought us a man of discretion, of 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 of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way, because we had spoken to the king, saying, "The hand of our God is on all those who seek him, for good; but his power and his wrath is against all those who forsake him."

³¹ Then we departed from the river Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go to Jerusalem: and the hand of our God was on us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy and the bandit by the way.

¹⁰ "Now these are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power, and by your strong hand. ¹¹ Lord, I beg you, let your ear be attentive now to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants, who delight to fear your name; and please prosper your servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man." Now I was cup bearer to 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 shall enter into." The king granted my requests, because of the good hand of my God on me.

¹² I arose in the night, I and some few men with me. And I told no one what my God put into my heart to do for Jerusalem; neither was there any animal with me, except the animal that I rode on.

¹⁸ I told them of the hand of my God which was good on me, as also of the king's words that he had spoken to me. They said, "Let's rise up and build." So they strengthened their hands for the good work.

¹⁵ It happened, when our enemies heard that it was known to us, and God had brought their counsel to nothing, that we returned all of us to the wall, everyone to his work.

⁴ Ezra the scribe stood on a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Uriah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchijah, and Hashum, and Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam.

⁹ Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest the 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, nor weep." For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law.

¹³ On the second day were gathered together the heads of ancestral houses of all the people, the priests, and the Levites, to Ezra the scribe, even 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 the scribe.

³⁶ and his brothers, Shemaiah, and Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, and Judah, Hanani, with the musical instruments of David the man of God; and Ezra the scribe was before them.

¹ [For the Chief Musician. Set to "The Lilies." A contemplation by the sons of Korah. A wedding song.] 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 Why, when I came, was there no man? When I called, was there none to answer? Is my hand shortened at all, that it can't redeem? or have I no power to deliver? Look, at my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness: their fish stink, because there is no water, and die for thirst.

¹ Look, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it can't save; neither his ear heavy, that it can't hear:

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

⁵² And he said to them, "Therefore, every scribe who has been made a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like a man who is a householder, who brings out of his treasure new and old things."

²⁰ teaching them to obey all things that I commanded you. And look, I am with you every day, even to the end of the age."

²⁰ Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Hasn't God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

¹ Now I declare to you, brothers, the Good News which I preached to you, which also you received, in which you also stand,

¹ Finally then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to live and to please God, even as you are living, that you excel more and more. ² For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

³¹ These are they whom David set over the service of song in the house of the LORD, after that the ark had rest. ³² They ministered with song before the tabernacle of the Tent of Meeting, until Solomon had built the house of the LORD in Jerusalem: and they waited on their office according to their order. ³³ These are those who waited, and their sons. Of the descendants of the Kohathites: Heman the singer, 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 Abiasaph, the son of Korah, ³⁸ the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, the son of Israel. ³⁹ His brother Asaph, who stood on his right hand, even Asaph the son of Berechiah, the son of Shimea, ⁴⁰ the son of Michael, the son of Maaseiah, the son of Malchijah, 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 Gershom, the son of Levi. ⁴⁴ On the left hand their brothers the descendants of Merari: Ethan the 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 brothers the Levites were appointed for all the service of the tabernacle of the house of God.

¹⁷ The gatekeepers: Shallum, and Akkub, and Talmon, and Ahiman, and their brothers (Shallum was the chief), ¹⁸ who were previously stationed at the King's Gate on the east: they were the gatekeepers for the camp of the descendants of Levi. ¹⁹ Shallum the son of Kore, the son of Abiasaph, the son of Korah, and his brothers, of his father's house, the Korahites, were over the work of the service, keepers of the thresholds of the tent: and their fathers had been over the camp of the LORD, keepers of the entry. ²⁰ Phinehas the son of Eleazar was ruler over them in time past, and the LORD was with him. ²¹ Zechariah the son of Meshelemiah was gatekeeper of the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. ²² All these who were chosen to be gatekeepers in the thresholds were two hundred and twelve. These were reckoned by genealogy in their villages, whom David and Samuel the seer did ordain in their office of trust. ²³ So they and their descendants had the oversight of the gates of the house of the LORD, even the house of the tent, by wards. ²⁴ On the four sides were the gatekeepers, toward the east, west, north, and south. ²⁵ Their brothers, in their villages, were to come in every seven days from time to time to be with them: ²⁶ for the four chief gatekeepers, who were Levites, were in an office of trust, and were over the chambers and over the treasuries in the house of God. ²⁷ They lodged around the house of God, because that duty was on them; and to them pertained its opening morning by morning.

¹ Moreover, David and the captains of the army set apart for the service certain of the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, were to prophesy with harps, with stringed instruments, and with cymbals: and the number of those who did the work according to their service was: ² of the sons of Asaph: Zakkur, and Joseph, and Nethaniah, and Asarelah, the sons of Asaph, under the hand of Asaph, who prophesied after the order of the king. ³ Of Jeduthun; the sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, and Zeri, and Jeshaiah, and Shimei, and Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the hands of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with the harp in giving thanks and praising the LORD. ⁴ Of Heman; the sons of Heman: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shubael, and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, and Romamti-Ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, Mahazioth. ⁵ All these were the sons of Heman the king's seer in the words of God, to lift up the horn. God gave to Heman fourteen sons and three daughters. ⁶ All these were under the hands of their father for song in the house of the LORD, with cymbals, stringed instruments, and harps, for the service of God's house; Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman being under the order of the king. ⁷ The number of them, with their brothers who were instructed in singing to the LORD, even all who were skillful, was two hundred eighty-eight. ⁸ And they cast lots, watch with watch, the small as the great, the teacher as the pupil.

⁴⁰ The Levites: the descendants of Jeshua and Kadmiel, of the descendants of Hodaviah, seventy-four. ⁴¹ The singers: the descendants of Asaph, one hundred twenty-eight. ⁴² The descendants of the gatekeepers: the descendants of Shallum, the descendants of Ater, the descendants of Talmon, the descendants of Akkub, the descendants of Hatita, the descendants of Shobai, in all one hundred thirty-nine. ⁴³ The Nethinim: the descendants of Ziha, the descendants of Hasupha, the descendants of Tabbaoth, ⁴⁴ the descendants of Keros, the descendants of Siaha, the descendants of Padon, ⁴⁵ the descendants of Lebanah, the descendants of Hagabah, the descendants of Akkub, ⁴⁶ the descendants of Hagab, the descendants of Shalmai, the descendants of Hanan, ⁴⁷ the descendants of Giddel, the descendants of Gahar, the descendants of Reaiah, ⁴⁸ the descendants of Rezin, the descendants of Nekoda, the descendants of Gazzam, ⁴⁹ the descendants of Uzza, the descendants of Paseah, the descendants of Besai, ⁵⁰ the descendants of Asnah, the descendants of Meunim, the descendants of Nephusim, ⁵¹ the descendants of Bakbuk, the descendants of Hakupha, the descendants of Harhur, ⁵² the descendants of Bazluth, the descendants of Mehida, the descendants of Harsha, ⁵³ the descendants of Barkos, the descendants of Sisera, the descendants of Temah, ⁵⁴ the descendants of Neziah, the descendants of Hatipha. ⁵⁵ The descendants of Solomon's servants: the descendants of Sotai, the descendants of Hassophereth, the descendants of Peruda, ⁵⁶ the descendants of Jaalah, the descendants of Darkon, the descendants of Giddel, ⁵⁷ the descendants of Shephatiah, the descendants of Hattil, the descendants of Pokereth Hazzebaim, the descendants of Amon. ⁵⁸ All the Nethinim, and the descendants of Solomon's servants, were three hundred ninety-two. 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 the descendants of Delaiah, the descendants of Tobiah, the descendants of Nekoda, six hundred fifty-two. ⁶¹ Of the descendants of the priests: the descendants of Habaiah, the descendants of Hakkoz, the descendants of Barzillai, who took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called after their name. ⁶² These sought their place among those who were registered by genealogy, but they were not found: therefore were they deemed polluted and put from the priesthood. ⁶³ The governor said to them, that they should not eat of the most holy things, until there stood up a priest with Urim and with Thummim. ⁶⁴ The whole assembly together was forty-two thousand three hundred sixty, ⁶⁵ besides their male servants and their female servants, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty-seven: and they had two hundred singing men and singing women. ⁶⁶ Their horses were seven hundred thirty-six; their mules, two hundred forty-five; ⁶⁷ their camels, four hundred thirty-five; their donkeys, six thousand seven hundred and twenty. ⁶⁸ Some of the heads of ancestral houses, when they came to the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem, offered willingly for God's house to set it up in its place: ⁶⁹ they gave after their ability into the treasury of the work sixty-one thousand darics of gold, and five thousand minas of silver, and one hundred priests' garments. ⁷⁰ So the priests, and the Levites, and some of the people, and the singers, and the gatekeepers, and the Nethinim, lived in their cities, and all Israel in their cities.

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

¹ Now these are the heads of their ancestral houses, and this is the genealogy of those who went up with me from Babylon, in the reign of Artachshasta the king: ² Of the sons of Phinehas, Gershom. Of the sons of Ithamar, Daniel. Of the sons of David, Hattush ³ the son of Shecaniah, of the sons of Parosh, Zechariah; and with him were reckoned by genealogy of the males one hundred fifty. ⁴ Of the sons of Pahath-Moab, Eliehoenai the son of Zerahiah; and with him two hundred males. ⁵ Of the sons of Zattu, Shecaniah the son of Jahaziel, and with him three hundred males. ⁶ Of the sons of Adin, Ebed the son of Jonathan; and with him fifty males. ⁷ Of the sons of Elam, Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah; and with him seventy males. ⁸ Of the sons of Shephatiah, Zebadiah the son of Michael; and with him eighty males. ⁹ Of the sons of Joab, Obadiah the son of Jehiel; and with him two hundred and eighteen males. ¹⁰ Of the sons of Bani, Shelomoth the son of Josiphiah, and with him one hundred sixty males. ¹¹ Of the sons of Bebai, Zechariah the son of Bebai; and with him twenty-eight males. ¹² Of the sons of Azgad, Johanan the son of Hakkatan; and with him one hundred ten males. ¹³ Of the sons of Adonikam, who were the last; and these are their names: Eliphelet, Jeuel, and Shemaiah; and with them sixty males. ¹⁴ Of the sons of Bigvai, Uthai and Zakkur; and with them seventy males. ¹⁵ I gathered them together to the river that runs to Ahava; and there we camped three days: and I viewed the people, and the priests, and found there none of the sons of Levi. ¹⁶ Then sent I for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemaiah, and for Elnathan, and for Jarib, and for Elnathan, and for Nathan, and for Zechariah, and for Meshullam, chief men; also for Joiarib, and for Elnathan, who were teachers. ¹⁷ I sent them forth 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 According to the good hand of our God on us they brought us a man of discretion, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel; and Sherebiah, with his sons and his brothers, eighteen; ¹⁹ and Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, his brothers and their sons, twenty; ²⁰ and from the temple servants, whom David and the officials had given for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty temple servants. All of them were mentioned by name.

⁴⁵ The gatekeepers: the descendants of Shallum, the descendants of Ater, the descendants of Talmon, the descendants of Akkub, the descendants of Hatita, the descendants of Shobai, one hundred thirty-eight. ⁴⁶ The Nethinim: the descendants of Ziha, the descendants of Hasupha, the descendants of Tabbaoth, ⁴⁷ the descendants of Keros, the descendants of Siaha, the descendants of Padon, ⁴⁸ the descendants of Lebana, the descendants of Hagaba, the descendants of Salmai, ⁴⁹ the descendants of Hanan, the descendants of Giddel, the descendants of Gahar, ⁵⁰ the descendants of Reaiah, the descendants of Rezin, the descendants of Nekoda, ⁵¹ the descendants of Gazzam, the descendants of Uzza, the descendants of Paseah. ⁵² The descendants of Besai, the descendants of Meunim, the descendants of Nephusim,, ⁵³ the descendants of Bakbuk, the descendants of Hakupha, the descendants of Harhur, ⁵⁴ the descendants of Bazluth, the descendants of Mehida, the descendants of Harsha, ⁵⁵ the descendants of Barkos, the descendants of Sisera, the descendants of Temah, ⁵⁶ the descendants of Neziah, the descendants of Hatipha. ⁵⁷ The descendants of Solomon's servants: the descendants of Sotai, the descendants of Hassophereth, the descendants of Peruda, ⁵⁸ the descendants of Jaalah, the descendants of Darkon, the descendants of Giddel, ⁵⁹ the descendants of Shephatiah, the descendants of Hattil, the descendants of Pokereth Hazzebaim, the descendants of Amon. ⁶⁰ All the Nethinim, and the descendants of Solomon's servants, were three hundred ninety-two. ⁶¹ These were those who went up from Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Cherub, Addan, and Immer; but they could not prove their ancestral houses, nor their descent, whether they were of Israel: ⁶² The descendants of Delaiah, the descendants of Tobiah, the descendants of Nekoda, six hundred forty-two. ⁶³ Of the priests: the descendants of Hobaiah, the descendants of Hakkoz, the descendants of Barzillai, who took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called after their name. ⁶⁴ These searched for their genealogical records, but couldn't find them. Therefore were they deemed polluted and put from the priesthood. ⁶⁵ The governor said to them, that they should not eat of the most holy things, until there stood up a priest with Urim and Thummim. ⁶⁶ The whole assembly together was forty-two thousand three hundred sixty, ⁶⁷ besides their male servants and their female servants, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty-seven: and they had two hundred forty-five singing men and singing women. ⁶⁸ Their horses were seven hundred thirty-six; their mules, two hundred forty-five; ⁶⁹ their camels, four hundred thirty-five; their donkeys, six thousand seven hundred twenty. ⁷⁰ Some from among the heads of ancestral houses gave to the work. The governor gave to the treasury one thousand darics of gold, fifty basins, and five hundred thirty priests' garments. ⁷¹ Some of the heads of ancestral houses gave into the treasury of the work twenty thousand darics of gold, and two thousand two hundred minas of silver. ⁷² That which the rest of the people gave was twenty thousand darics of gold, and two thousand minas of silver, and sixty-seven priests' garments. ⁷³ So the priests, and the Levites, and the gatekeepers, and the singers, and some of the people, and the Nethinim, and all Israel, lived in their cities. When the seventh month had come, the children of Israel were in their cities.

²⁸ The rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the Nethinim, and all those who had separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, everyone who had knowledge, and understanding—

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

¹² You shall remember that you were a bondservant in Egypt: and you shall observe and do these statutes.

¹⁰ They shall teach Jacob your ordinances, and Israel your law. They shall put incense before you, and whole burnt offering on your altar.

³ Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, "If you do return to the LORD with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you, and direct your hearts to the LORD, and serve him only; and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines."

¹⁸ The LORD, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep this forever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of your people, and prepare their heart for you;

¹⁴ He did that which was evil, because he did not set his heart to seek the LORD.

⁸ and with them the Levites, even Shemaiah, and Nethaniah, and Zebadiah, and Asahel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehonathan, and Adonijah, and Tobijah, and Tobadonijah, the Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram, the priests. ⁹ They taught in Judah, having the scroll of the law of the LORD with them; and they went about throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught among the people.

³ Nevertheless there are good things found in you, in that you have put away the Asheroth out of the land, and have set your heart to seek God."

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

²⁵ You, Ezra, after the wisdom of your God who is in your hand, appoint magistrates and judges, who may judge all the people who are beyond the River, all such as know the laws of your God; and teach him who doesn't know them.

¹ All the people gathered themselves together as one man into the square that was before the Water Gate; and they spoke to Ezra the scribe to bring the scroll of the law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel.

¹³ "If you set your heart aright, stretch out your hands toward him.

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

¹⁷ LORD, you have heard the desire of the humble. You will prepare their heart. You will cause your ear to hear,

⁷ The LORD's Law is perfect, restoring the soul. The LORD's testimony is sure, making wise the simple.

⁷ My heart is steadfast, God, my heart is steadfast. I will sing, yes, I will sing praises.

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

⁹⁶ I have seen a limit to all perfection, but your commands are boundless. ⁹⁷ MEM. How I love your Law. It is my meditation all day. ⁹⁸ Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, for your commandments are always with me. ⁹⁹ I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation. ¹⁰⁰ I understand more than the aged, because I have kept your precepts.

⁷ For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth; for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.

¹⁹ Therefore, whoever will break one of these least commandments, and teach others to do so, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever will do and teach them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

²⁴ "Everyone therefore who hears these words of mine, and does them, will be compared to a wise man, who built his house on a rock.

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

¹ The first account I wrote, Theophilus, concerned all that Jesus began both to do and to teach,

² The overseer, therefore, must be beyond criticism, the husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, modest, hospitable, good at teaching;

² proclaim the word; be urgent in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with all patience and teaching.

¹ But say the things which fit sound doctrine,

¹⁵ Say these things and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one despise you.

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

¹¹ This is the copy of the letter that they sent to Artachshasta the king: Your servants the men beyond the River. And now,

⁶ The copy of the letter that Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, and Shetharbozenai, and his companions the Apharsachites, who were beyond the River, sent to Daryavesh the king;

² saying, "Upon the seat of Moses the Pharisees and scribes sit.

¹³ "But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites. For you devour the houses of widows, and for show make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.

¹ Then the Pharisees, and some of the scribes gathered together to him, having come from Jerusalem. ² Now when they saw that some of his disciples ate bread with defiled, that is, unwashed, hands, they found fault. ³ (For the Pharisees, and all Jewish people, do not eat unless they wash their hands and forearms, holding to the Tradition of the Elders. ⁴ They do not eat when they come from the marketplace unless they wash. And there are many other things which they have received and hold to, the washing of cups and pitchers and copper vessels and dining couches.) ⁵ The Pharisees and the scribes asked him, "Why do your disciples not walk according to the Tradition of the Elders, but eat their bread with unwashed hands?" ⁶ He said to them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, 'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. ⁷ And in vain do they worship me, teaching instructions that are the commandments of humans.' ⁸ "For you set aside the commandment of God, and hold tightly to human tradition." ⁹ He said to them, "Full well do you reject the commandment of God, that you may establish your tradition. ¹⁰ For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother;' and, 'Anyone who speaks evil of father or mother, let him be put to death.' ¹¹ But you say, 'If anyone tells his father or mother, "Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban, that is to say, given to God;"' ¹² then you no longer allow him to do anything for his father or his 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 over all on this side the River, from Tiphsah even to Gaza, over all the kings on this side the River: and he had peace on all sides around him.

¹ Ben Hadad the king of Aram gathered all his army together; and there were thirty-two kings with him, and horses and chariots: and he went up and besieged Samaria, and fought against it.

¹⁰ and the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Asnappar brought over, and set in the cities of Samaria, and in the rest of the country beyond the River. ¹¹ This is the copy of the letter that they sent to Artachshasta the king: Your servants the men beyond the River. And now,

¹⁷ Then the king sent an answer to Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions who dwell in Samaria, and in the rest of the country beyond the River: Peace, and so forth.

⁸ For he says, "Aren't all of my officials kings?

⁷ "For thus says the Lord GOD: 'Look, I will bring on Tyre Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, king of kings, from the north, with horses, and with chariots, and with horsemen, and a company, and many people.

³⁷ You, O king, are king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, and the strength, and the glory;

⁴⁷ The king answered Daniel and said, "Surely your God is the God of gods, and the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing you have been able to reveal this secret."

¹⁵ which in its own times he will show, who is the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;

¹⁴ These will war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings. They also will overcome who are with him, called and chosen and faithful."

¹⁶ He has on his garment and on his thigh a name written, "King of kings, and Lord of lords."

⁵ So they established a decree to make proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beersheba even to Dan, that they should come to keep the Passover to the LORD, the God of Israel, at Jerusalem: for they had not kept it in great numbers in such sort as it is written.

³ Whoever there is among you of all his people, may his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD, the God of Israel (he is God), which is in Jerusalem.

¹³ But in the first year of Koresh king of Babylon, Koresh the king made a decree to build this house of God.

¹ Then Daryavesh the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the archives, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon.

¹⁵ The couriers went forth in haste by the king's commandment, and the decree was given out in the citadel of Shushan. The king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city of Shushan was perplexed.

¹⁴ The king commanded this to be done. A decree was given out in Shushan; and they hanged Haman's ten sons.

³ Your people offer themselves willingly on the day of your power. On the holy mountains at sunrise the dew of your youth will be yours.

⁶ He has also established them forever and ever. He has made a decree which will not pass away.

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

¹⁷ The Spirit and the bride say, "Come." He who hears, let him say, "Come." He who is thirsty, let him come. He who desires, let him take the water of life freely.

¹⁸ It shall be, when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law on a scroll, 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; that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them;

⁸ Be it known to the king, that we went into the province of Judah, to the house of the great God, which is built with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls; and this work goes on with diligence and prospers in their hands.

¹² and the God who has caused his name to dwell there overthrow all kings and peoples who shall put forth their hand to alter the same, to destroy this house of God which is at Jerusalem. I Daryavesh have made a decree; let it be done with all diligence.

¹⁵ and to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counselors have freely offered to the God of Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem,

²⁵ You, Ezra, after the wisdom of your God who is in your hand, appoint magistrates and judges, who may judge all the people who are beyond the River, all such as know the laws of your God; and teach him who doesn't know them. ²⁶ Whoever will not do the law of your God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed on him with all diligence, whether it be to death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.

²⁵ and weighed to them the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, even the offering for the house of our God, which the king, and his counselors, and his officials, and all Israel there present, had offered:

¹⁴ and the next to him were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven officials of Persia and Media, who saw the king's face, and sat first in the kingdom),

²⁰ Turn to the law and to the testimony. If they do not speak according to this word, surely there is no morning for them.

²⁰ When he came near to the den to Daniel, he cried with a lamentable voice. The king spoke and said to Daniel, "Daniel, servant of the living God. Is your God, whom you serve continually, able to deliver you from the lions?"

²⁶ I make a decree, that in all the dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel; for he is the living God, and steadfast forever. His kingdom shall not be destroyed; and his dominion shall be to the end.

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, since heaven and the heaven of heavens can't contain him? Who am I then, that I should build him a house, except just to burn incense before him?

² But I have built you a house of habitation, and a place for you to dwell in forever."

⁶ but I chose Jerusalem, that my name may be there; and I chose David to be over my people Israel.'

⁴ with three layers of great stones, and one layer of timber. And let the expenses be given out of the king's house.

⁸ Moreover I make a decree what you shall do to 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 be given with all diligence to these men, that they be not hindered. ⁹ That which they have need of, both young bulls, and rams, and lambs, for burnt offerings to the God of heaven; also wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the word of the priests who are at Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day without fail; ¹⁰ that they may offer sacrifices of pleasant aroma 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 shall bring presents to you. ³⁰ Rebuke the wild animal of the reeds, the multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the peoples. Being humbled, may it bring bars of silver. Scatter the nations that delight in war.

¹⁰ The kings of Tarshish and of the islands will bring tribute. The kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.

² And his abode is in Salem, and his lair 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 The multitude of camels shall cover you, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come; they shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praises of the LORD. ⁷ All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together to you, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister to you; they shall come up with acceptance on my altar; and I will glorify the house of my glory. ⁸ "Who are these who fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows? 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 in its light. The kings of the earth bring their splendor into it. ²⁵ Its gates will in no way be shut by day (for there will be no night there), ²⁶ and they will bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it.

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

¹⁷ I know also, my God, that you try the heart, and have pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things. Now have I seen with joy your people, that are present here, offer willingly to you.

⁴ Whoever is left, in any place where he lives, let the men of his place help him with silver, with gold, with goods, and with animals, besides the freewill offering for God's house which is in Jerusalem.'"

⁶ All those who were around them strengthened their hands with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, and with animals, and with precious things, besides all that was willingly offered.

²⁵ and weighed to them the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, even the offering for the house of our God, which the king, and his counselors, and his officials, and all Israel there present, had offered: ²⁶ I weighed into their hand six hundred fifty talents of silver, and silver vessels one hundred talents; of gold one hundred talents; ²⁷ and twenty bowls of gold, of one thousand darics; and two vessels of fine bright bronze, 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 readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what you have, not according to what you do not have.

⁷ Each person should give according as he has determined in his heart; not grudgingly, or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver.

⁴ then he who offers his offering shall offer to the LORD a meal offering of a tenth part of an ephah of fine flour mixed with the fourth part of a hin of oil: ⁵ and wine for the drink offering, the fourth part of a hin, you shall prepare with the burnt offering, or for the sacrifice, for each lamb. ⁶ "'Or for a ram, you shall prepare for a meal offering two tenth parts of an ephah of fine flour mixed with the third part of a hin of oil: ⁷ and for the drink offering you shall offer the third part of a hin of wine, of a pleasant aroma to the LORD. ⁸ When you prepare a bull for a burnt offering, or for a sacrifice, to accomplish a vow, or for peace offerings to the LORD; ⁹ then shall he offer with the bull a meal offering of three tenth parts of an ephah of fine flour mixed with half a hin of oil: ¹⁰ and you shall offer for the drink offering half a hin of wine, for an offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to the LORD. ¹¹ Thus shall it be done for each bull, or for each ram, or for each of the male lambs, or of the young goats. ¹² According to the number that you shall prepare, so you shall do to everyone according to their number. 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 to the place which the LORD your God shall choose out of all your tribes, to put his name there, even to his habitation you shall seek, and there you shall come; ⁶ and there you shall bring your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, and your tithes, and the wave offering of your hand, and your vows, and your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herd and of your flock: ⁷ and there you shall eat before the LORD your God, and you shall rejoice in all that you put your hand to, you and your households, in which the LORD your God has blessed you. ⁸ You shall not do after all the things that we do here this day, every man whatever is right in his own eyes; ⁹ for you haven't yet come to the rest and to the inheritance, which the LORD your God gives you. ¹⁰ But when you go over the Jordan, and dwell in the land which the LORD your God causes you to inherit, and he gives you rest from all your enemies around you, so that you dwell in safety; ¹¹ then it shall happen that to the place which the LORD your God shall choose, to cause his name to dwell there, there you shall bring all that I command you: your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, your tithes, and the wave offering of your hand, and all your choice vows which you vow to your God.

²⁴ If the way is too long for you, so that you are not able to carry it, because the place is too far from you, which the LORD your God shall choose, to set his name there, when the LORD your God shall bless you; ²⁵ then you shall turn it into money, and bind up the money in your hand, and shall go to the place which the LORD your God shall choose: ²⁶ and you shall bestow the money for whatever your soul desires, for cattle, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatever your soul asks of you; and you shall eat there before the LORD your God, and you shall rejoice, you and your household.

¹² Jesus entered into the temple, and drove out all of those who sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the money changers' tables and the seats of those who sold the doves. ¹³ He said to them, "It is written, 'My house will be called a house of prayer,' but you have made it a den of robbers."

¹⁴ And he found in the temple those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, and the money changers sitting.

¹⁵ Moreover they did not demand an accounting from the men into whose hand they delivered the money to give to those who did the work; for they dealt faithfully.

⁷ However there was no accounting made with them of the money that was delivered into their hand; for they dealt faithfully."

²⁶ Whoever will not do the law of your God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed on him with all diligence, whether it be to death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.

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

¹⁹ They spoke of the God of Jerusalem, as of the gods of the peoples of the earth, which are the work of men's hands.

²⁷ and twenty bowls of gold, of one thousand darics; and two vessels of fine bright bronze, 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 Watch, and keep them, until you weigh them before the chiefs of the priests and the Levites, and the leaders of the ancestral houses of Israel, at Jerusalem, in the rooms of the house of the LORD." ³⁰ So the priests and the Levites received the weight of the silver and the gold, and the vessels, to bring them to Jerusalem to the house of our God.

³³ On the fourth day the silver and the gold and the vessels were weighed in the house of our God into the hand of Meremoth the son of Uriah the priest; and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas; and with them was Jozabad the son of Jeshua, and Noadiah the son of Binnui, the Levite; ³⁴ the whole by number and by weight: and all the weight was written at that time.

¹⁷ At that time they shall call Jerusalem 'The throne of the LORD;' and all the nations shall be gathered to it, to the name of the LORD, to Jerusalem. Neither shall they walk any more after the stubbornness of their evil heart.

⁸ Moreover I make a decree what you shall do to 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 be given with all diligence to these men, that they be not hindered. ⁹ That which they have need of, both young bulls, and rams, and lambs, for burnt offerings to the God of heaven; also wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the word of the priests who are at Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day without fail; ¹⁰ that they may offer sacrifices of pleasant aroma to the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons. ¹¹ Also I have made a decree, that whoever shall alter this word, let a beam be pulled out from his house, and let him be lifted up and fastened thereon; and let his house be made a dunghill for this: ¹² and the God who has caused his name to dwell there overthrow all kings and peoples who shall put forth their hand to alter the same, to destroy this house of God which is at Jerusalem. I Daryavesh have made a decree; let it be done with all diligence. ¹³ Then Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, Shetharbozenai, and their companions, because Daryavesh the king had sent a decree, did accordingly with all diligence. ¹⁴ The elders of the Jews built and prospered, through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. They built and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the decree of Koresh, and Daryavesh, and Artachshasta king of Persia. ¹⁵ This house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Daryavesh the king. ¹⁶ The children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the people from the exile, kept 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 They set the priests in their divisions, and the Levites in their courses, for the service of God, which is at Jerusalem; as it is written in the book of Moses.

¹⁶ We inform the king that, if this city be built, and the walls finished, by this means you shall have no portion beyond the River.

²⁰ There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem, who have ruled over all the country beyond the River; and tribute, custom, and toll, was paid to them.

⁶ Now therefore, Tattenai, governor beyond the River, Shetharbozenai, and your companions the Apharsachites, who are beyond the River, you must stay far from there.

¹⁰ For Ezra had set his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and ordinances. ¹¹ Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artachshasta gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe, even the scribe of the words of the commandments of the LORD, and of his statutes to Israel: ¹² Artachshasta, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect and so forth. ¹³ I make a decree, that all those of the people of Israel, and their priests and the Levites, in my realm, who are minded of their own free will to go to Jerusalem, go with you.

¹³ Every offering of your meal offering you shall season with salt; neither shall you allow the salt of the covenant of your God to be lacking from your meal offering. With all your offerings you shall offer salt.

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

⁶ He said, 'A hundred batos of oil.' He said to him, 'Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.' ⁷ Then he said to another, 'How much do you owe?' He said, 'A hundred cors of wheat.' He said to him, 'Take your bill, and write eighty.'

¹⁰ that they may offer sacrifices of pleasant aroma to the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons. ¹¹ Also I have made a decree, that whoever shall alter this word, let a beam be pulled out from his house, and let him be lifted up and fastened thereon; and let his house be made a dunghill for this: ¹² and the God who has caused his name to dwell there overthrow all kings and peoples who shall put forth their hand to alter the same, to destroy this house of God which is at Jerusalem. I Daryavesh have made a decree; let it be done with all diligence.

¹³ I make a decree, that all those of the people of Israel, and their priests and the Levites, in my realm, who are minded of their own free will to go to Jerusalem, go with you.

¹⁸ Whatever shall seem good to you and to your brothers to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, do that after the will of your God.

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

³ It will happen in that day, that I will make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all the peoples. All who burden themselves with it will be severely wounded, and all the nations of the earth will be gathered together against it.

³⁶ The priests: the descendants of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy-three. ³⁷ The descendants of Immer, one thousand fifty-two. ³⁸ The descendants of Pashhur, one thousand two hundred forty-seven. ³⁹ The descendants of Harim, one thousand seventeen. ⁴⁰ The Levites: the descendants of Jeshua and Kadmiel, of the descendants of Hodaviah, seventy-four. ⁴¹ The singers: the descendants of Asaph, one hundred twenty-eight. ⁴² The descendants of the gatekeepers: the descendants of Shallum, the descendants of Ater, the descendants of Talmon, the descendants of Akkub, the descendants of Hatita, the descendants of Shobai, in all one hundred thirty-nine. ⁴³ The Nethinim: the descendants of Ziha, the descendants of Hasupha, the descendants of Tabbaoth, ⁴⁴ the descendants of Keros, the descendants of Siaha, the descendants of Padon, ⁴⁵ the descendants of Lebanah, the descendants of Hagabah, the descendants of Akkub, ⁴⁶ the descendants of Hagab, the descendants of Shalmai, the descendants of Hanan, ⁴⁷ the descendants of Giddel, the descendants of Gahar, the descendants of Reaiah, ⁴⁸ the descendants of Rezin, the descendants of Nekoda, the descendants of Gazzam, ⁴⁹ the descendants of Uzza, the descendants of Paseah, the descendants of Besai, ⁵⁰ the descendants of Asnah, the descendants of Meunim, the descendants of Nephusim, ⁵¹ the descendants of Bakbuk, the descendants of Hakupha, the descendants of Harhur, ⁵² the descendants of Bazluth, the descendants of Mehida, the descendants of Harsha, ⁵³ the descendants of Barkos, the descendants of Sisera, the descendants of Temah, ⁵⁴ the descendants of Neziah, the descendants of Hatipha. ⁵⁵ The descendants of Solomon's servants: the descendants of Sotai, the descendants of Hassophereth, the descendants of Peruda,

¹³ Be it known now to the king that if this city is built, and the walls finished, they will not pay tribute, custom, or toll, and in the end it will be hurtful to the kings.

⁷ There went up some of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the gatekeepers, and the Nethinim, to Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artachshasta the king.

²¹ Moreover you shall provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God: men of truth, hating unjust gain; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. ²² Let them judge the people at all times. It shall be that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they shall judge themselves. So shall it be easier for you, and they shall share the load with you. ²³ If you will do this thing, and God commands you so, then you will be able to endure, and all of these people also will go to their place in peace." ²⁴ So Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law, and did all that he had said. ²⁵ Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.

¹⁸ You shall make judges and officers in all your gates, which the LORD your God gives you, according to your tribes; and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment.

²⁸ All Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do justice.

¹² May the LORD give you discretion and understanding, and put you in charge of Israel; that so you may keep the law of the LORD your God.

⁴ David said, "Of these, twenty-four thousand were to oversee the work of the house of the LORD; six thousand were officers and judges;

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

⁸ Moreover in Jerusalem Jehoshaphat appointed Levites and priests, and of the heads of the ancestral houses of Israel, for the judgment of the LORD, and for controversies. They returned to Jerusalem. ⁹ He commanded them, saying, "Thus you shall do in the fear of the LORD, faithfully, and with a perfect heart. ¹⁰ Whenever any controversy shall come to you from your brothers who dwell in their cities, between blood and blood, between law and commandment, statutes and ordinances, you shall warn them, that they not be guilty towards the LORD, and so wrath come on you and on your brothers. Do this, and you shall not be guilty.

¹⁴ Because you are sent of the king and his seven counselors, to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of your God which is in your hand,

¹ All the people gathered themselves together as one man into the square that was before the Water Gate; and they spoke to Ezra the scribe to bring the scroll of the law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel. ² Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly, both men and women, and all who could hear with understanding, on the first day of the seventh month. ³ And he read it before the square that was before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women, and of those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the scroll of the law.

⁷ Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, explained the law to the people, and the people stayed in their place. ⁸ They read in the scroll, in the law of God, distinctly; and they gave the sense, so that they understood the reading.

³ They stood up in their place, and read in the scroll of the law of the LORD their God a fourth part of the day; and a fourth part they confessed, and worshiped the LORD their God.

¹ On that day they read in the scroll of Moses in the audience of the people; and in it was found written, that an Ammonite and a Moabite should not enter into the assembly of God forever, ² because they did not meet the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, to curse them: however our God turned the curse into a blessing. ³ It came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.

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

²³ For the commandment is a lamp, and the Law is light. Reproofs of instruction are the way of life,

² saying, "Upon the seat of Moses the Pharisees and scribes sit. ³ All which they will say unto you, observe and do; but their works do not do, because they say, and do not do.

³⁴ And he came out, saw a large crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he began to teach them many things.

¹⁴ How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without someone preaching? ¹⁵ And how will they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of peace, who bring good news of good things." ¹⁶ But they did not all listen to the Good News. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our report?" ¹⁷ So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

⁵ But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without finding fault; and it will be given to him.

¹⁷ But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, without hypocrisy. ¹⁸ Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

¹ "Now these are the ordinances which you shall 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 comes in by himself, he shall go out by himself. If he is married, 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 shall be her master's, and he shall go out by himself. ⁵ But if the servant shall plainly say, 'I love my master, my wife, and my children. I will not go out free;' ⁶ then his master shall bring him to God, and shall bring him to the door or to the doorpost, and his master shall bore his ear through with an awl, and he shall serve him for ever. ⁷ "If a man sells his daughter to be a female servant, she shall not go out as the male servants do. ⁸ If she doesn't please her master, who has married her to himself, then he shall let her be redeemed. He shall have no right to sell her to a foreign people, seeing he has dealt deceitfully with her. ⁹ If he marries her to his son, he shall deal with her after the manner of daughters. 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 comes presumptuously on his neighbor to kill him, you shall take him from my altar, that he may die. 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 possession, he shall surely be put to death. ¹⁷ "Anyone who curses his father or his mother shall surely 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 he rises again and walks around with his staff, then he who struck him shall be cleared: only he shall pay for the loss of his time, and shall provide for his healing until he is thoroughly healed. ²⁰ "If a man strikes his servant or his maid with a rod, and he dies under his hand, he shall surely 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 strike a pregnant woman so that her child is born prematurely, but there is no injury, he shall be surely fined as much as the womanʼs husband demands and the judges allow.

¹ The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, ² "Moreover, you shall tell the children of Israel, 'Anyone of the children of Israel, or of the foreigners who sojourn in Israel, who gives any of his offspring to Moloch; he shall surely be put to death. The people of the land shall stone him with stones. ³ I also will set my face against that person, and will cut him off from among his people because he has given of his offspring to Moloch, to defile my sanctuary, and to profane my holy name. ⁴ If the people of the land all hide their eyes from that person, when he gives of his offspring to Moloch, and do not put him to death; ⁵ then I will set my face against that man, and against his family, and will cut him off, and all who play the prostitute after him, to play the prostitute with Moloch, from among their people. ⁶ "'The person that turns to spirits of the dead, and to familiar spirits, to prostitute himself with them, I will even set my face against that person, and will cut him off from among his people. ⁷ "'Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be holy; for I am the LORD your God. ⁸ You shall keep my statutes, and do them. I am the LORD who sanctifies you. ⁹ "'For everyone who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death: he has cursed his father or his mother; his blood shall be upon him. ¹⁰ "'The man who commits adultery with another man's wife shall surely be put to death, both the adulterer and the adulteress. ¹¹ The man who lies with his father's wife has uncovered his father's nakedness: both of them shall surely be put to death; their blood shall 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 "'If a man has sexual relations with a male, as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them. ¹⁴ "'If a man takes a wife and her mother, it is wickedness: they shall be burned with fire, both he and they; that there may be no wickedness among you. ¹⁵ "'If a man lies with an animal, he shall surely be put to death; and you shall 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 "'If a man takes his sister, his father's daughter, or his mother's daughter, and sees her nakedness, and she sees his nakedness; it is a shameful thing; and they shall be cut off in the sight of the children of their people: he has uncovered his sister's nakedness; he shall bear his iniquity. 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 "'You shall not uncover the nakedness of your mother's sister, nor of your father's sister; for he has made naked his close relative: they shall bear their iniquity. ²⁰ If a man lies with his uncle's wife, he has uncovered his uncle's nakedness: 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 "'You shall therefore keep all my statutes, and all my ordinances, and do them; that the land, where I am bringing you to dwell, may not vomit you out. ²³ You shall not walk in the customs of the nation, which I am casting out before you: for they did all these things, and therefore I abhorred them. ²⁴ But I have said to you, "You shall inherit their land, and I will give it to you to possess it, a land flowing with milk and honey." I am the LORD your God, who has separated you from the peoples. ²⁵ "'You shall therefore make a distinction between the clean animal and the unclean, and between the unclean fowl and the clean: and you shall not make yourselves abominable by animal, or by bird, or by anything with which the ground teems, which I have separated from you as unclean for you. ²⁶ You shall be holy to me: for I, the LORD, am holy, and have set you apart from the peoples, that you should be mine. ²⁷ "'A man or a woman that is a medium, or is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones; their blood shall be upon them.'"

¹ If there arise in the midst of you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and he give you a sign or a wonder, ² and the sign or the wonder come to pass, of which he spoke to you, 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 to that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proves you, to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. ⁴ You shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and you shall serve him, and cling to him. ⁵ That prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death, because he has spoken rebellion against the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to draw you aside out of the way which the LORD your God commanded you to walk in. So you shall put away the evil from the midst of you. ⁶ If your brother, the son of your father, or the son of your mother, or your son, or your daughter, or the wife you embrace, or your friend who is closest to you, entice you secretly, saying, "Let us go and serve other gods," which you have not known, you, nor your fathers; ⁷ of the gods of the peoples who are around you, near to you, or far off from you, from the one end of the earth even to the other end of the earth; ⁸ you shall not consent to him, nor listen to him; neither shall your eye pity him, neither shall you spare, neither shall you conceal him: ⁹ but you shall surely kill him; your hand shall be first on him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people. ¹⁰ You shall stone him to death with stones, because he has sought to draw you away from the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. ¹¹ All Israel shall hear, and fear, and shall not do any more such wickedness as this is in the midst of you. ¹² If you shall hear tell concerning one of your cities, which the LORD your God gives you to dwell there, saying, ¹³ Certain base fellows are gone out from the midst of you, and have drawn away the inhabitants of their city, saying, "Let us go and serve other gods," which you have not known; ¹⁴ then you shall inquire, and make search, and ask diligently; and, look, if it be truth, and the thing certain, that such abomination is done in the midst of you, ¹⁵ you shall surely strike the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, destroying it utterly, and all that is in it and its livestock, with the edge of the sword. ¹⁶ You shall gather all its plunder into the midst of its street, and shall burn with fire the city, and all its plunder as a whole burnt offering to the LORD your God: and it shall be a ruin forever; it shall not be built again. 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 when you shall listen to the voice of the LORD your God, to keep all his commandments which I command you this day, to do that which is right in the eyes of the LORD your God.

¹² Also in Judah came the hand of God to give them one heart, to do the commandment of the king and of the leaders by the word of the LORD.

¹¹ Also I have made a decree, that whoever shall alter this word, let a beam be pulled out from his house, and let him be lifted up and fastened thereon; and let his house be made a dunghill for this:

⁵ God will likewise destroy you forever. He will take you up, and pluck you out of your tent, and root you out of the land of the living. Selah.

²⁸ Nebuchadnezzar spoke and said, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel, and delivered his servants who trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and have yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God. ²⁹ Therefore I make a decree, that every people, nation, and language, which speak anything evil against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be reduced to rubble; because there is no other god who is able to deliver in this way."

¹⁰ Therefore David blessed the LORD before all the assembly; and David said, "You are blessed, LORD, the God of Israel our father, forever and ever. ¹¹ Yours, LORD, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. For all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, LORD, and you are exalted as head above all. ¹² Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all; and in your hand is power and might; and it is in your hand to make great, and to give strength to all. ¹³ Now therefore, our God, we thank you, and 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 of your own have we given you. ¹⁵ For we are strangers before you, and foreigners, as all our fathers were. Our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is no remaining. ¹⁶ The LORD our God, all this store that we have prepared to build you a house for your holy name comes from your hand, and is all your own. ¹⁷ I know also, my God, that you try the heart, and have pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things. Now have I seen with joy your people, that are present here, offer willingly to you. ¹⁸ The LORD, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep this forever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of your people, and prepare their heart for you; ¹⁹ and give to Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep your commandments, your testimonies, and your statutes, and to do all these things, and to build the palace, for which I have made provision." ²⁰ David said to all the assembly, "Now bless the LORD your God." All the assembly blessed the LORD, the God of their fathers, and bowed down their heads and prostrated themselves before the LORD and the king. ²¹ They sacrificed sacrifices to the LORD, and offered burnt offerings to the LORD, on the next day after that day, even one thousand bulls, one thousand rams, and one thousand lambs, with their drink offerings, and sacrifices in abundance for all Israel, ²² and ate and drink before the LORD on that day with great gladness. They made Solomon the son of David king the second time, and they anointed him to the LORD to be prince, and Zadok to be priest. ²³ Then Solomon sat on the throne of the LORD as king instead of David his father, and prospered; and all Israel obeyed him. ²⁴ And all the leaders, the mighty men, and also all of the sons of king David submitted themselves to Solomon the king. 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 reigned over all Israel. ²⁷ The time that he reigned over Israel was forty years; he reigned seven years in Hebron, and he reigned thirty-three years in Jerusalem. ²⁸ He died in a good old age, full of days, riches, and honor: and Solomon his son reigned in his place. ²⁹ Now the acts of David the king, first and last, look, they are written in the history of Samuel the seer, and in the history of Nathan the prophet, and in the history of Gad the seer, ³⁰ with all his reign and his might, and the times that went over him, and over Israel, and over all the kingdoms of the countries.

⁵ My God put into my heart to gather together the nobles, and the rulers, and the people, that they might be reckoned by genealogy. I found the book of the genealogy of those who came up at the first, and I found written in it:

¹ The king's heart is in the LORD's hand like the watercourses. He turns it wherever he desires.

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

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

¹⁰ Now I rejoice in the Lord greatly that at last you have revived your concern for me; in which you were indeed concerned, but you lacked opportunity.

¹⁰ "For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel. After those days," says the Lord; "I will put my laws into their mind, I will also write them on their heart. I will be their God, and they will be my people.

¹⁶ "This is the covenant that I will make with them: 'After those days,' says the Lord, 'I will put my laws on their hearts, I will also write them on their minds.'"

¹⁷ All generous giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, nor turning shadow.

¹⁷ For God has put in their hearts to do what he has in mind, and to be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God should be accomplished.

¹⁴ And may El Shaddai grant you mercy before the man, that he may release to you your other brother and Benjamin. If I am deprived of my children, then I am deprived."

⁹ For we are bondservants; yet our God has not forsaken us in our bondage, but has extended loving kindness to us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, and to repair its ruins, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem.

¹¹ Lord, I beg you, let your ear be attentive now to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants, who delight to fear your name; and please prosper your servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man." Now I was cup bearer to the king.

⁷ He made a proclamation and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, "Let neither man nor animal, herd nor flock, taste anything; let them not feed, nor drink water;

¹⁷ But the Lord stood by me, and strengthened me, that through me the message might be fully proclaimed, and that all the non-Jewish people might hear; and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. ¹⁸ And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me for his heavenly Kingdom; to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.