Tuesday 26 September 2017

7Leave the work of this house of God alone;let the governor of the Jewsand the elders of the Jews build this house of God in its place.8Moreover I make a decree regarding what you shall do for these elders of the Jews for the building of this house of God:that of the king’s goods,even of the tribute beyond the River,expenses must be given with all diligence to these men,that they not be hindered.· · · verses 9–11 are not read12May the God who has caused his name to dwell there overthrow all kingsand peoples who stretch out their hand to alter this,to destroy this house of God which is at Jerusalem.I Darius have made a decree.Let it be done with all diligence.

· · · verse 13 is not read14The elders of the Jews built and prospered,through the prophesying of Haggai the prophetand 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 Cyrus,Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.15This house was finished on the third day of the month Adar,which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king.

16The children of Israel,the priests, the Levites,and the rest of the children of the captivity,kept the dedication of this house of God with joy.17They 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.18They set the priests in their divisionsand the Levites in their courses,for the service of God which is at Jerusalem,as it is written in the book of Moses.

19The children of the captivity kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month.20Because the priestsand the Levites had purified themselves together,all of them were pure.They killed the Passover for all the children of the captivity,for their brothers the priests,and for themselves.

1I was glad when they said to me,“Let’s go to the Lord’s house!”2Our feet are standing within your gates, Jerusalem!

3Jerusalem is built as a city that is compact together,4where the tribes go up, even the Lord’s tribes,

4according to an ordinance for Israel,to give thanks to the Lord’s name.5For there are set thrones for judgment,the thrones of David’s house.

19His mother and brothers came to him,and they could not come near him for the crowd.20Some people told him,“Your mother and your brothers stand outside,desiring to see you.”

21But he answered them,“My mother and my brothers are thesewho hear the word of God and do it.”