Thursday 3 October 2013

1All the people gathered themselves together as one man into the wide placethat was in front of 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.2Ezra 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.3He read from it before the wide placethat was in front of the water gate from early morning until midday,in the presence of the men and the women,and of those who could understand.The ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law.4Ezra the scribe stood on a pulpit of wood,which they had made for the purpose;and beside him stood Mattithiah,Shema, Anaiah, Uriah,Hilkiah, and Maaseiah,on his right hand;and on his left hand,Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah,Hashum, Hashbaddanah,Zechariah, and Meshullam.5Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people (for he was above all the people),and when he opened it,all the people stood up.6Then 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.7Also Jeshua, Bani,Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub,Shabbethai, Hodiah,Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah,Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah,and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law;and the people stayed in their place.8They read in the book, in the law of God, distinctly;and they gave the sense,so that they understood the reading.

9Nehemiah, who was the governor,Ezra the priest and scribe,and the Leviteswho taught the people said to all the people,“Today is holy to the Lord your God.Don’t mourn, nor weep.”For all the people weptwhen they heard the words of the law.10Then he said to them, “Go your way.Eat the fat, drink the sweet,and send portions to him for whom nothing is prepared,for today is holy to our Lord.Don’t be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

11So the Levites calmed all the people,saying, “Hold your peace,for the day is holy.Don’t be grieved.”

12All the people went their way to eat,to drink, to send portions,and to celebrate, because they had understood the wordsthat were declared to them.

8The Lord’s law is perfect, restoring the soul.The Lord’s covenant is sure, making wise the simple.

9The Lord’s precepts are right, rejoicing the heart.The Lord’s commandment is pure, enlightening the eyes.

10The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever.The Lord’s ordinances are true, and righteous altogether.

11They are more to be desired than gold, yes, than much fine gold,sweeter also than honey and the extract of the honeycomb.

1Now after these things,the Lord also appointed seventy others,and sent them two by two ahead of him into every cityand place where he was about to come.2Then he said to them,“The harvest is indeed plentiful,but the laborers are few.Pray therefore to the Lord of the harvest,that he may send out laborers into his harvest.3Go your ways.Behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves.4Carry no purse, nor wallet, nor sandals.Greet no one on the way.5Into whatever house you enter,first say, ‘Peace be to this house.’6If a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on him;but if not, it will return to you.7Remain in that same house,eating and drinking the things they give,for the laborer is worthy of his wages.Don’t go from house to house.8Into whatever city you enter and they receive you,eat the things that are set before you.9Heal the sick who are there and tell them,‘God’s Kingdom has come near to you.’10But into whatever city you enterand they don’t receive you,go out into its streets and say,11‘Even the dust from your city that clings to us,we wipe off against you.Nevertheless know this,that God’s Kingdom has come near to you.’12I tell you, it will be more tolerable inthat day for Sodom than for that city.